Carl Mendoza87 said:If $20M counts as a micro budget, then sure 😬
The last one was total nonsense, but still fun enough to watch. This one? Barely watchable and zero fun...
Seriously, what's the deal with twenty million being considered a budget for a movie now? Most directors wouldn't even bother getting off the couch for that kind of money! 🙂
Honestly, this one is such a massive departure from its predecessor! While the original was clearly trying way too hard to be a legitimate horror flick, this sequel doesn't take itself seriously for even a second. It’s filmed on a shoestring budget and leans heavily into that cheeky, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. To be fair, the special effects are pretty terrible, but honestly, for a movie like this—full of gratuitous nudity and some decent enough gore—that’s almost part of the charm rather than a flaw. You definitely shouldn't watch Jaws looking for deep cinematic meaning... but if you grab a cold beer, it’s an absolute blast!
Here are a few little nuggets of info that might actually convince you to give it a watch... the director is the same guy behind the Feast trilogy, and we get to see Vin Diesel, Paul Scheer, and Christopher Lloyd reprising their roles from the first installment. Plus, the legendary Gary Busey makes a cameo! But the real cherry on top? Of course, it's the king of the beach, the patron saint of cheap booze, bad acting, and singing, David Hasselhoff... playing himself. 🙂
This looks absolutely fantastic, and I’m genuinely crossing my fingers that it doesn't fly under the radar like A Monster in Paris did, or get completely overshadowed by massive hits like ParaNorman or Frankenweenie... plus, we've got Rise of the Guardians trying to squeeze into that same space too! 🙂
Mute has honestly never felt more tempting than it does right now... I just can't help myself! It’s way too much to look at, and frankly, it’s just brutal to listen to... nothing more, nothing less... call me a caveman if you want, but hey... I'm a caveman with really sophisticated taste in music! 😁
Strange Days is hands down one of the absolute best and most underrated films I’ve ever laid eyes on... I remember catching it back in '95 at a small local theater in a sleepy town outside of Chicago... there were maybe eight people in the whole auditorium including myself... honestly, what a tragedy to have such a masterpiece sitting there almost empty! 😢
It’s the exact same story with Blue Steel... just a fantastic crime thriller... I can't recommend it enough.
Sandra Brooks28 said:The end? What were you expecting, some big Hollywood happy ending? 🤣 Look, honey, life doesn't always wrap up with a bow. This story was just meant to be tragic.
Honestly, most found-footage movies don't bother with happy endings, so that sarcastic jab about a "Hollywood finish" wasn't even on my radar! Plus, let's be real—most films in this genre don't hand you a neat little explanation for everything that happened, so I wasn't holding out for a grand revelation either. To put it simply, the ending just didn't hit home for me the way, say, The Blair Witch Project... Cloverfield... [REC]... or even Paranormal Activity did. But if I’m being totally blunt? I just expected a better movie overall.
Rachel Ortiz33 said:Exactly that plus one to this, right?
I'd give it a 7/10; would've been higher if the second half (that last thirty minutes) was on the same level as the first part.
Yeah, tell me about it... but I don't want to spoil too much because the ending is what really sends it soaring... I actually found myself scratching my head for a few moments trying to figure out that title... yeah. 🙂
It’s honestly their loss because this movie is just fantastic. Sure, we aren't exactly breaking new ground here, but goodness, there is something so charming about seeing a slightly more weathered, yet somehow even more hilarious Mel Gibson who looks like he is absolutely starving for screen time... bullets are flying everywhere, there’s a cigarette practically in every single frame, you've got heroin being kicked around, intense violence, torture, and plenty of gritty action; it is truly the perfect kind of flick to just switch your brain off and enjoy, especially paired with a solid script that keeps all that chaos tightly wound. I have to say, they really earned that R rating... though, to be fair, considering this is a low-budget production compared to those massive Hollywood blockbusters, they could have easily afforded to take that route. Just wonderful... what a wonderful little movie!
What an absolute rollercoaster of a movie! Now, don't get me wrong—I am a massive sucker for a good revenge flick, I really am. There’s just something about that gritty satisfaction of seeing justice served that gets my heart racing. But honestly? All that heavy-handed James Bond style action felt a little out of place to me. It was just constant explosions and those pseudo-intellectual plot twists that felt like they were trying way too hard to be clever. I went into this expecting something much more atmospheric—you know, a moody, slow-burn crime drama that really sits heavy on your chest, maybe something reminiscent of a classic noir or even a deep psychological dive into a character's psyche, similar to how Freud might analyze a breakdown. I wanted grit, not glitter! Oh, I absolutely love revisiting the classics, and speaking of movies that really stick with you, I was just thinking about Death Sentence from 2007! It’s one of those gritty, intense thrillers that really grabs you by the collar from the very first scene. You have Gerard Butler delivering such a powerhouse performance—he has this incredible way of portraying raw, unfiltered emotion that makes you feel every bit of his character's desperation and rage. It’s such a heavy, thought-provoking story about justice and how far a person might go when they feel like the system has completely failed them. I remember watching it for the first time on a rainy Friday night in Chicago, curled up with a huge bowl of popcorn, and I was just totally mesmerized by the tension. Even though it deals with some pretty dark themes, there's something so compelling about the momentum of the plot. If you haven't seen it in a while, or if you've never experienced it at all, I highly recommend giving it a watch—it’s a total ride! And then, to top it all off, I ended up getting handed this sugary little concoction! Honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up—it was like they were trying to give me a massive sugar rush right when I least needed it.
I was just sitting here thinking back to 1998, and I honestly can't help but get a little misty-eyed over *The Negotiator*. You know, there’s just something about that era of filmmaking that felt so much more substantial, wasn't there? I remember watching this one on a rainy Saturday afternoon—probably curled up with a huge bowl of popcorn—and I was absolutely hooked from the very first scene. It’s such a masterclass in tension! You have Gerard Butler delivering this incredibly grounded performance, and the way the plot unfolds is just brilliant. It isn't just your typical high-stakes action flick; it has this deep, psychological layer that really pulls you in. I remember discussing it once with Justin Rogers5, and we both agreed that the pacing is absolutely perfect. It doesn't rush you, but it never lets you settle, either. The dynamic between the characters feels so authentic, too. It makes you think about those split-second decisions people have to make when everything is spiraling out of control. Every time I revisit it, I find some tiny detail or a bit of dialogue I missed before. It’s one of those rare gems that stays with you long after the credits roll. Truly a classic! Honestly, I still find myself coming back to the idea that F. Gary Gray has directed my absolute favorite film! There’s just something about his style that hits differently every single time you watch it.
Angela Alvarez10 said:Give me a break...😲 what Bradley and what remake🙄 You don't have to remake everything. Some things are sacred; just leave them alone.😍
I’m right there with you! It feels almost impossible for anyone to top the original masterpiece (though, if I'm being totally honest, The Crow: City of Angels (1996) is a total guilty pleasure of mine because of that vibrant neon aesthetic, the early fashion design, the killer soundtrack, and having Iggy Pop on it). Long before Sin City or Watchmen came along, I don't think I ever saw a movie get so incredibly close to capturing the soul of its comic book source material. 🙂
By the way, in case you didn't know, the inspiration behind Eric Draven actually came from a very dark place; the comic creator James O'Barr came up with the idea after his fiancée was tragically killed by a drunk driver, and he was also haunted by a news story about a couple murdered over an engagement ring. On top of all that, the character himself was partially inspired by Iggy Pop.
Well, my suspicions were spot on. It’s just another one in that endless line of found-footage flicks, and while I usually have a soft spot for the genre, this one was just completely washed out, dull, and totally lacked any sense of originality. I actually ended up watching it half-distracted, jumping back and forth between a game of Solitaire on one screen and the movie on the other. Even though those quiet stretches at the beginning are technically logical for this kind of setup, I just can't shake the feeling that the ending was a total bait-and-switch... honestly, I felt cheated. Just a bad movie, plain and simple.
Thank goodness they finally scrapped those plans for a Raven remake or reboot... well, for now! I heard rumors that Bradley Cooper was being eyed for the lead role, and honestly, I have to say, that felt like such a bizarre casting choice to me.
Gary Hernandez3 said:Honestly, Gina Carano was totally fine in the movie, though the film itself really could have been much better. She clearly knows how to throw a punch, she probably just needs to sign up for a quick acting workshop or something. 😁
I couldn't help but feel like her potential wasn't even half-utilized here, and I'm not just talking about her acting skills! Personally, I would have much rather seen her in some high-octane, adrenaline-fueled Michael Bay action flick where things are exploding in your face every five minutes and someone's getting a massive haymaker to the jaw at every turn, instead of sitting through this tedious, dry pile of garbage! And all that given such an incredible cast of actors? Good grief!
John Peterson3 said:I actually haven't sat down to watch Old Boy yet because I’ve been feeling a bit hesitant about all that extreme far-eastern style action. To be honest, I even stayed away from Battle Royale for the longest time, and then one day out of pure boredom I finally gave in, watched it, and was absolutely blown away! So, I really can't say how they handle things in Old Boy.
But if you want an example of a properly filmed fight scene, look at that moment in The Bourne Identity when the blond guy comes crashing through the window. In the older movies, there are way too many quick cuts, but once the fight moves into the room in that one, it hits major league status. There's a very simple reason for that.
What makes that fight feel so incredibly dynamic is the way Joseph Morgan constantly circles the characters with the camera. They stay centered in the frame, but the background is always shifting and moving around them. While those extra cuts they throw in definitely add some energy, it's that constant circling that makes the whole scene just spectacular.
If I had one critique, it would be that I'd love to see a little less dancing and a little more actual shoving. It’s been ages since I’ve been in a scrap myself—aside from some light sparring, of course—but what sticks in my mind from my own experience is that most real fights just turn into a messy scramble before any actual punches even start flying.
Anyway, for me, that specific fight serves as the gold standard for how to pull off a dynamic action sequence.
Just compare that one scene to anything in Haywire, and the difference is night and day.
The cool thing about Old Boy—you’ve probably heard or read this somewhere already—is that the main guy takes on about ten people at once, but the entire brawl is captured in one single, continuous shot that lasts quite a while... it’s a truly fascinating piece of filmmaking. 😉
I have to admit, I don't remember much about Bourne, whatsoever... and honestly, I didn't think it was a great movie anyway... except for Frank Potenta and Julia Stiles, of course...
John Peterson3 said:It isn't really about how frantic the cuts are, but rather the total lack of energy when it comes to the fight scenes. Honestly, I don't think you even need that many cuts; what's actually missing is some decent camera movement. Those static shots from just a few different angles feel completely lifeless. I honestly don't get the feeling that a fight is even happening, and the soundtrack definitely doesn't help matters either.
I totally agree with you! This movie doesn't necessarily need those signature Paul Greengrass style rapid-fire edits or that specific Bourne soundtrack, but adding a little handheld camera work here and there would have done wonders for the pacing. As it stands, it just feels flat.
And you hit the nail on the head there... you don't need a million cuts to make a fight sequence gripping to watch... I mean, just look at Old Boy as the perfect example of how to do it right. 🙂
John Peterson3 said:Soderbergh's attempt at crafting a female version of Jason Bourne is honestly a massive flop; the whole thing feels poorly written, unnecessarily muddy, and just plain sluggishly filmed. While Paul Greengrass used to shake things up with that shaky cam during the action beats—but then knew exactly how to steady it during the slower moments to find that perfect middle ground—Soderbergh just keeps the camera completely lifeless from start to finish. Not a single scene actually makes you feel like there’s any real tension building up. To top it all off, the music choice is just a total disaster; instead of cutting through the noise, it somehow manages to do the exact opposite of what it should.
Honestly, it’s kind of a shame because the fights actually look pretty realistic... I mean, I always imagined this is how combat should look when you aren't dealing with a frantic cut every two seconds and that hyper-aggressive editing style... but then again, I suppose that's not really what people are looking for in a high-octane action flick like this. 🙂
Kevin Ward3 said:Yeah, it was boring—just incredibly dull—but honestly, I can't get over how much potential they just threw straight down the drain.🙂 What really got under my skin, though, was the soundtrack. I know that kind of melodic style is usually what Soderbergh goes for in his flicks, but here, it felt totally unnecessary and just plain grating. At one point, I actually considered hitting the mute button, but I ended up just turning the whole thing off instead.
Now I'm genuinely curious if Mendes is going to bring that signature musical vibe to the next James Bond movie.🤣
I have to admit, I didn't even catch the music myself (which is clearly a good thing!) because I was watching this sketchy low-quality rip where the audio was absolutely terrible. 🙂
And seriously, what was up with that sudden "Boo!" moment when Conor McGregor pops up on the beach at the end? WTF!? I was laughing my head off... 😕
Man, after building up so much hype in my head, I walked away from this one feeling incredibly let down—it’s such a shame because the cast had so much untapped potential. The whole thing felt incredibly messy and disorganized; honestly, I was struggling just to keep track of who was fighting whom and what their actual motivations were. The absolute biggest sin you can commit with an action flick like this is making it boring as hell. Seriously, I was expecting explosions or thrills, but I definitely wasn't expecting to be bored to tears! Total flop.
Angela Alvarez10 said:There’s this one scene in that horror flick My Bloody Valentine where a woman is sprinting away from the killer. She ducks into a room, slams the door, and he just starts hacking away at it with an axe. She spends several minutes just screaming her head off in pure panic while he keeps pounding on the door. It isn't until the very last second that she actually remembers there's an alarm right in front of her😂And of course, she triggers it just as things are wrapping up, but the main point is that she spent the whole time just shrieking uselessly🙄Anyway, when my friends and I were at the theater, we were absolutely losing it because the scene is just so moronic. By the end, you're practically rooting for the killer just because the writing is so bad.🤣
THE EXORCIST—honestly, the whole movie is a joke to me. I wasn't even remotely scared. All that vomiting, cursing, and shoving crosses up people's asses...🤣
Now that you've brought up horror movies, there’s this one part in one of the many Friday the 13th installments where Jason Voorhees is taking out an innocent victim, and the guy starts yelling, "He's killing me! He's killing me!" And get this... the creators apparently said they were inspired by a real-life incident where a homeless person attacked someone with a knife, which was probably a pretty shocking situation in reality, but on screen? It totally missed the mark. So the scene ended up being—definitely not by design, I'm sure—an absolute riot to laugh at.
nimbleridge5 said:It’s such a shame, really, because every single time that moment rolls around, I can't help but crack a smile. 😁 I actually read somewhere that Sergio Leone decided to just wing it right then and there, throwing a dog into the shot just to keep the whole thing from veering too far into heavy melodrama. Of course, Christopher Walken had absolutely no clue what was coming, so you can really see that genuine look of shock on his face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twNPXskWdGg Check it out at 1:20 if you somehow missed it! 🙂
It is absolutely fantastic stumbling upon these little moments where you find yourself totally surprised by a new detail every single time you rewatch it.
And while we're talking about the movie—and sorry for drifting off-topic here—I realized just the other day that Lee Van Cleef is actually missing the tip of his middle finger!🙂
