The Brutalist. It sucked.

Police Story

It was a bit disjointed and silly for my taste, but Jackie Chan is always fun and the stunts were insane. Will likely watch the sequels.

I’ve been working my way chronologically through They shot pictures don’t they for ten or more years, and was stuck in 1975 for nine or so months. Finally got through with a big push:

• Dog Day Afternoon
• Picnic at Hanging Rock
• Grey Gardens
• Xala
• The Man Who Would Be King
• Welfare
• Seven Beauties
• Sholay
• Numéro deux

I watched the ‘Melchior the Apothecary’ trilogy over three nights. I was surprised at how great the sets, costumes and sound design were. It seems like they shot these films within a relatively short period and on a reasonably low budget, but I thought they looked and sounded great and that helped connect me to the world and the characters which, again somewhat surprisingly, really paid off in the final film. All three are around the 90 minute mark, but don’t feel rushed (although I think they all could have benefitted from a slight extension to the runtime). The mysteries are passable but nothing special - actually I’d say they’re probably one of the weaker aspects of the films. However, if you enjoy historical dramas or medieval settings then I think you’d really enjoy these three films like I did. I’d like to read the novels they are based on, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem like many have been translated from the original Estonian to English.

Alien Romulus. It’s the first alien movie I’ve ever seen. I loved it and am very excited for the sequels.

After finishing, I just started doing some googling and came across a Reddit thread that was bashing this movie to pieces. None of it made sense, but I could only assume it was cause I’ve never seen the first two.

Anyway, I will definitely watch the first two at some point, but I doubt it will make me dislike this movie the way the alien die cards do.

Gladiator 2. Meh. Would’ve gone over better if they left out the baboons and sharks. Or maybe not.

I’ve watched Finch. It’s a serviceable, small scope post apocalyptic movie with a reliably charming Tom Hanks.

Also there was Tetris - I thought I’d love this movie but it’s just ok. Sadly it’s another movie about entrepreneurship and the struggle to be a ‘good’ capitalist so it falls a little flat in the end. The struggle with communism and the fall of the Soviet Union is more of a backdrop and not really explored well. It has its moments but overall it’s not for me.

The last one was The Greatest Beer Run Ever which I’ve liked. There’s not much to it but another coming to terms with the Vietnam War, the lies and the uselessness of it all. It’s told in a farcical manner and the pacing was ok.

All those movies are Apple TV because I’m in the trial period so I’m watching it dry. What stood out to me was the use of very prominent music which I presume is very expensive. Oh and all of the movies were at least 20 minutes too long.

I finally finished On the Silver Globe. What started out as an amazingly ambitious sci-fi for being shot in the late 70s, it falls of a cliff after the prologue. It’s probably budget constraints but later parts are something between way too artsy theatre play and a Burning Man festival. Watch first half an hour and then go check out stills from the rest of the movie because scene compositions and art direction is insane. Alternatively just watch a modern trailer, leave everything to imagination and skip it entirely.

Nosferatu. Everyone acts their socks off and it’s entertaining enough but the drama felt, I don’t know, a little overcranked? And I’d call it creepy rather than scary. I enjoyed it though.

And last night I rewatched The Transporter for the first time in years. It pains me to say it’s not as good as I remember. I don’t think I’d noticed how edited the fights are, sooo many cuts so it all seems so much faster than it is. And I love Jason Statham, his movies are reliably entertaining if a little formulaic, but his acting wasn’t great in this, I felt he came off a little wooden at times. I remember at the time finding Matt Schulze’s character a bit weird and he still is. What’s with stroking the envelope of cash? And had Ric Young had plastic surgery? Super weird looking. Anyway, even with all my complaints it’s still good fun.