(2020-07-22, 10:05 PM)FreaQ Wrote: I hate "The Big Lebowski". It is just so boring and tries so hard to be cool. But then it is from the Cohens. What else would was I expecting?

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Indy 4. I just watched it recently for the second time. First time was on release date in cinema. God, I hated it for all the obvious reasons. But after rewatching the whole trilogy + 1 I came to the conclusion, it is not as bad as I remembered. In fact it has all the Indy nonsense from the previous movies. The only scene which is still over the top is Tarzan LeBoeuf. Still don't like it. But in general I rate it higher than Temple of Doom.

I loved lebowski originally but with subsequent viewings don't find it as good any more - I think you hit it in the head that it is trying hard to be cool which undermines it.

Well, I liked quite much Monster Hunter (2020) for beauty (Milla) and the beasts!

(2021-02-27, 07:42 PM)spoRv Wrote: Well, I liked quite much Monster Hunter (2020) for beauty (Milla) and the beasts!

I went in expecting it to be totally rubbish after all the bad reviews but also enjoyed it for what it is.

(2021-02-27, 08:15 PM)Hitcher Wrote:

(2021-02-27, 07:42 PM)spoRv Wrote: Well, I liked quite much Monster Hunter (2020) for beauty (Milla) and the beasts!

I went in expecting it to be totally rubbish after all the bad reviews but also enjoyed it for what it is.

Sound is good as well. I didn't have any expectations and wasn't disappointed.

(2021-02-27, 06:47 PM)jjsanford1979 Wrote: ok, apologies for the long post:

So from previous posts gonna give a big shout out to both Highlander 2 and Rambo 3 - love em both. Also I like the Avengers movie (based on the uk tv series not the Marvel one)

For me H2 is the only Highlander live action sequel that feels bigger and expands on as well as continues the original story/mythos - even if the way it went about it didn't go down well.
In comparison H3 & H4 both feel like they are remakes/re-imaginings of the original with different characters. Whilst I like them both they don't have the ambition of H2. H5 again tries to expand the mythos but feels so small visually - the Highlander Heart interview with Brett Leonard is really fascinating on the BTS on this film.
The best movie sequels such as Aliens & Terminator 2 all take the same approach as H2 -they feel bigger, expand the story/mythos and feel ambitious, just they did it better.

Rambo 3, again has its failings but it is never less than really really entertaining. A friend once said he saw no point in watching the hot shots movie which parodies R3 as  R3 itself is such an (unintentionally) fun parody of the Rambo series in its own way and far more enjoyable. Some of the set pieces are really well done and it lends itself well to being seen on a large screen with a couple of drinks and a few mates round.

I also like The Avengers movie despite its flaws. I dont know too much about it but do recall that there is a lot more footage/scenes which still exists and could be used to make a DC/different edit. The main issue is it took the oddness of the tv series and didn't quite understand what to do with it/how to make it work. However Connery in full get up is a blast as the villain and Fiennes makes an excellent Steed. I dont think ive ever come across a fan edit using alternate/cut scenes, but would love to see it revisited.

I'm curious which cut of Highlander 2 you prefer. I've never really understood the differences, but I also have refused to watch that movie for a decade or so. I see your point though. Later sequels are good by themselves (especially H3), but are retreads and make little sense since the first movie is closed ended.

As far as the 1998 Avengers movie, I'm right there with you. That movie needs a directors cut (and it's always funny posting #ReleaseTheChechikCut of the Avengers since people expect something else.)
It's nearly great, but the studio's forced editing ruined it. According to sources (and Wikipedia) 26 minutes were removed because they figured it would bomb and they wanted to make more on additional screenings.

IF you can, I strongly recommend picking up the novel based on the screenplay. It's called the Avengers (of course) and it's by Julie Kaewert. All the missing bits are in there and those confusing storylines suddenly make (Avengers-type) sense. It's out of print, but it's easy enough to find cheaply (you'll probably pays as much for shipping as the book). (Try Abebooks.com: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchR...&kn=&isbn=).

Btw, I have ALWAYS hated the Big Lebowski, but see my previous post about the Cohen brothers...

(2021-02-27, 09:36 PM)Doctor M Wrote:

(2021-02-27, 06:47 PM)jjsanford1979 Wrote: ok, apologies for the long post:

So from previous posts gonna give a big shout out to both Highlander 2 and Rambo 3 - love em both. Also I like the Avengers movie (based on the uk tv series not the Marvel one)

For me H2 is the only Highlander live action sequel that feels bigger and expands on as well as continues the original story/mythos - even if the way it went about it didn't go down well.
In comparison H3 & H4 both feel like they are remakes/re-imaginings of the original with different characters. Whilst I like them both they don't have the ambition of H2. H5 again tries to expand the mythos but feels so small visually - the Highlander Heart interview with Brett Leonard is really fascinating on the BTS on this film.
The best movie sequels such as Aliens & Terminator 2 all take the same approach as H2 -they feel bigger, expand the story/mythos and feel ambitious, just they did it better.

Rambo 3, again has its failings but it is never less than really really entertaining. A friend once said he saw no point in watching the hot shots movie which parodies R3 as  R3 itself is such an (unintentionally) fun parody of the Rambo series in its own way and far more enjoyable. Some of the set pieces are really well done and it lends itself well to being seen on a large screen with a couple of drinks and a few mates round.

I also like The Avengers movie despite its flaws. I dont know too much about it but do recall that there is a lot more footage/scenes which still exists and could be used to make a DC/different edit. The main issue is it took the oddness of the tv series and didn't quite understand what to do with it/how to make it work. However Connery in full get up is a blast as the villain and Fiennes makes an excellent Steed. I dont think ive ever come across a fan edit using alternate/cut scenes, but would love to see it revisited.

I'm curious which cut of Highlander 2 you prefer.  I've never really understood the differences, but I also have refused to watch that movie for a decade or so.  I see your point though.  Later sequels are good by themselves (especially H3), but are retreads and make little sense since the first movie is closed ended.

As far as the 1998 Avengers movie, I'm right there with you.  That movie needs a directors cut (and it's always funny posting #ReleaseTheChechikCut of the Avengers since people expect something else.)
It's nearly great, but the studio's forced editing ruined it.  According to sources (and Wikipedia) 26 minutes were removed because they figured it would bomb and they wanted to make more on additional screenings.

IF you can, I strongly recommend picking up the novel based on the screenplay.  It's called the Avengers (of course) and it's by Julie Kaewert.  All the missing bits are in there and those confusing storylines suddenly make (Avengers-type) sense.  It's out of print, but it's easy enough to find cheaply (you'll probably pays as much for shipping as the book).  (Try Abebooks.com: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchR...&kn=&isbn=).

Btw, I have ALWAYS hated the Big Lebowski, but see my previous post about the Cohen brothers...

In regards to H2 I think my favourite version is a cross between the 2004 special edition in regards to story structure and special effects but with all the Zeist material as originally intended, rather than changing it to the distant past.  There is a fan edit (which ive never been able to get called the special Zeist edition) which sounds like it would be what id prefer.
The whole "they're from a different planet" may not fit in respect of the intention of the 1st film- but any sequel to the H1 is going to be a retcon of some sort: But in regards to H2 as a standalone movie it works better with what you actually see.

Thanks for the heads up about the novel, have just bought from the link you provided - also found a site on Facebook: The avengers 1998 campaigning for a DC. It would be interesting to try and track down a copy of the preview version on 35mm to have scanned.

yeah, im definitely less a fan of Lebowski these days.

(2021-02-27, 10:17 PM)jjsanford1979 Wrote: In regards to H2 I think my favourite version is a cross between the 2004 special edition in regards to story structure and special effects but with all the Zeist material as originally intended, rather than changing it to the distant past.  There is a fan edit (which ive never been able to get called the special Zeist edition) which sounds like it would be what id prefer.
The whole "they're from a different planet" may not fit in respect of the intention of the 1st film- but any sequel to the H1 is going to be a retcon of some sort: But in regards to H2 as a standalone movie it works better with what you actually see.

There is a Special Zeist Version and Extended Zeist Version on MySpleen. Is that what you're referring to?
Btw, hope you enjoy the book. Abebooks has been around for a very long time. It's an online way to shop independent used books stores online... and used books stores have been disappearing. I prefer it to finding sellers on Amazon.

(2021-02-28, 01:59 AM)Doctor M Wrote:

(2021-02-27, 10:17 PM)jjsanford1979 Wrote: In regards to H2 I think my favourite version is a cross between the 2004 special edition in regards to story structure and special effects but with all the Zeist material as originally intended, rather than changing it to the distant past.  There is a fan edit (which ive never been able to get called the special Zeist edition) which sounds like it would be what id prefer.
The whole "they're from a different planet" may not fit in respect of the intention of the 1st film- but any sequel to the H1 is going to be a retcon of some sort: But in regards to H2 as a standalone movie it works better with what you actually see.

There is a Special Zeist Version and Extended Zeist Version on MySpleen.  Is that what you're referring to?
Btw, hope you enjoy the book.  Abebooks has been around for a very long time.  It's an online way to shop independent used books stores online... and used books stores have been disappearing.  I prefer it to finding sellers on Amazon.

They are the two i'm looking for by the sounds of it but had a quick look for my spleen and it looks like its private/closed. I am very new to to all this so dont have much of a clue tbh.
Thanks for the abebooks link - im going to have a good look through to see if I can find a few other titles I want.

So, yeah, it looks like MySpleen doesn't just not have open registration, it looks like members don't even have invites any more.
It may be worth considering finding another site for uploading projects from here (and OT Forums).

On topic againg: I've yet to really like a Wes Anderson movie or really hate a Paul W.S. Anderson movie.

No.1: Blade Runner 2049 is a terrible sequel - unnecessary, unworthy of its spectacular predecessor; badly cast, shallow and pretentious misunderstanding of the original, devoid of all subtlety and filled with visual plagiarism that was supposed to mask its incompetence.

No.2: Cobra (1986) with Stallone is an action classic. Strong characters, iconic protagonist, ultimate badass, dark and mysterious atmosphere, flirting with slasher horror, great antagonist and a prime example of beauty in simplicity concept. Criminally underrated.

No.3: 1917 is a vastly overrated WWI film that, apart from being interestingly shot, has few things to offer, especially compared with the devastatingly emotional film it blatantly rips off - Gallipoli (1981). 

No.4: Nolan Batman trilogy is not a good Batman trilogy and is vastly inferior to Burton's films, and even Joel Schumacher ones in some ways. Batman is a dark, neo-noir, character driven story which heavily relies on its atmosphere, which separates the believable alternative world from a cringeworthy cosplay. Nolan, a completely plot based filmmaker has a fundamental misunderstanding of the source material. His plot heavy films feature forgettable characters (or overdone, like Joker) and awkwardly out of place costumes. Films would work the same in any other setting (albeit a less marketable one).

No.5: Mad Max reboot Fury Road is a cash grab that looks terrible. An ugly, pointless, CGI infested ad for the inferiority of 21st century filmmaking. I could've accepted bad plot, another self plagiarism or even inconsistencies atypical for Miller in Max trilogy, but this film had nothing to do with Max or the world we fell in love with decades ago whatsoever. Badly cast quasi-Max himself is reduced to a literal rifle stand as people around him try way too hard to be intimidating or bad*ss in their comic book-ish, carefully (over)designed, no shortage of anything, Instagram filtered world. It's an ugly, infantile, CGI-ised film that goes over the top but without the authentic feeling another over the top Max film it shamelessly plagiarises - Beyond Thunderdome. It's over the top in all the wrong ways, and I feel bad that it polluted the franchise so much.

No.6: Terminator 2 is vastly inferior to its predecessor. It is an unnecessary, dumbed down sequel/reboot that sloppily contradicted everything established in the original (future can't be changed) and is thus guilty of opening the door for a thousand half witted sequels. The original was a complete, marvelously told and wonderfully realised story. Not a happy one though. It didn't need a sequel, especially the one that changes the very rules of the universe the original exists in, cheapening the poetic tragedy of the brave original. While impressively shot, with incredible dedication to practical effects, rarely matched, as well as some great performances of Robert Patrick and buffed up Linda Hamilton, but not lean, ''I often forget I'm supposed to be a robot'' Arnold, the light hearted summer popcorn action flick T2 isn't the best in franchise.