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#1
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 07:56:42 AMDOS MONJES aka TWO MONKS (1934):
Here's a film that has developed a little cult following in recent times and exemplifies much of what I find alluring about early talkies and a ton of what I despise about many films of the era. It could have been a masterpiece, but manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Early on, two young-ish monks have a face-to-face reunion after a long parting. Almost nothing is said - instead they enter a fraught embrace that initially looks like they might make out, violently! But quickly real violence occurs, and it's legitimately shocking for a 1934 film.
Why the heck did this happen?! The film then enters a lengthy flashback to their younger adulthood. The murderous monk was a sensitive musician, his would-be victim was his globe-trotting playboy best friend. There are women involved in their relationship. Very little is ever said (or at least very little of concrete substance) while we watch this very off-kilter dynamic develop and eventually devolve. All of this action and post facto exposition happens against gloriously expressionist backgrounds, with deep contrast lighting, like from CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI or Ulmer's BLACK CAT. Because the screenplay provides so little clear evidence for interpretation, the viewer's mind fills in the blanks: it's confusing to be a sensitive young musician in Mexico in the early 1900s and to unravel your ambivalent feelings about girls and your powerful attachment to your very handsome and charismatic buddy. It makes perfect sense that the lead would compress all those unprocessed emotions into a highly pressurized explosive package somewhere deep in his gut and then go join a monastery. Heck, you could turn the volume down altogether on this one and still Get The Picture perfectly from the visual compositions and performances. For a long while, the film appears brilliant.
Unfortunately, the director of DOS MONJES is Juan Bustillo Oro, who also made the early 50s THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE. That later visually evocative thriller helplessly blows its "twist" ending by allowing a psychoanalyst to spend two-thirds of the film setting it up for the presumably moronic viewer. DOS MONJES fatally suffers the same affliction, though (for better or maybe worse) in its final act. Oro doubles back and assures us (for a good twenty minutes of dense dialogue scenes) that the schism was entirely about a girl!
So #nohomo, everybody! 
Maybe the producers or Mexico's own Hayes Code or something forced Oro's hand? Obviously I don't buy the denouement's heteronormative protestations. In fact the (mostly wordless) final scene is a full-scale symbolic freak-out that entirely reinforces the prominent themes of repression and gay panic. But the damage has been done - by insisting on talking too much, Oro ruins what could have been one of the greatest films of the 30s.
It's still worth watching with the sound off, I guess!
3.5/5
Like R.S. Fred said: Don't Talk, Just Kiss.
Here's a film that has developed a little cult following in recent times and exemplifies much of what I find alluring about early talkies and a ton of what I despise about many films of the era. It could have been a masterpiece, but manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Early on, two young-ish monks have a face-to-face reunion after a long parting. Almost nothing is said - instead they enter a fraught embrace that initially looks like they might make out, violently! But quickly real violence occurs, and it's legitimately shocking for a 1934 film.
Why the heck did this happen?! The film then enters a lengthy flashback to their younger adulthood. The murderous monk was a sensitive musician, his would-be victim was his globe-trotting playboy best friend. There are women involved in their relationship. Very little is ever said (or at least very little of concrete substance) while we watch this very off-kilter dynamic develop and eventually devolve. All of this action and post facto exposition happens against gloriously expressionist backgrounds, with deep contrast lighting, like from CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI or Ulmer's BLACK CAT. Because the screenplay provides so little clear evidence for interpretation, the viewer's mind fills in the blanks: it's confusing to be a sensitive young musician in Mexico in the early 1900s and to unravel your ambivalent feelings about girls and your powerful attachment to your very handsome and charismatic buddy. It makes perfect sense that the lead would compress all those unprocessed emotions into a highly pressurized explosive package somewhere deep in his gut and then go join a monastery. Heck, you could turn the volume down altogether on this one and still Get The Picture perfectly from the visual compositions and performances. For a long while, the film appears brilliant.
Unfortunately, the director of DOS MONJES is Juan Bustillo Oro, who also made the early 50s THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE. That later visually evocative thriller helplessly blows its "twist" ending by allowing a psychoanalyst to spend two-thirds of the film setting it up for the presumably moronic viewer. DOS MONJES fatally suffers the same affliction, though (for better or maybe worse) in its final act. Oro doubles back and assures us (for a good twenty minutes of dense dialogue scenes) that the schism was entirely about a girl!
So #nohomo, everybody! Maybe the producers or Mexico's own Hayes Code or something forced Oro's hand? Obviously I don't buy the denouement's heteronormative protestations. In fact the (mostly wordless) final scene is a full-scale symbolic freak-out that entirely reinforces the prominent themes of repression and gay panic. But the damage has been done - by insisting on talking too much, Oro ruins what could have been one of the greatest films of the 30s.
It's still worth watching with the sound off, I guess!
3.5/5
Like R.S. Fred said: Don't Talk, Just Kiss.
#2
Bad Movies / Re: The Ultimate So Bad It's G...
Last post by chainsaw midget - Today at 04:52:35 AMBefore I contribute, just one quick question?
Should we keep the list in alphabetical order or list the movies by ranking?
#4
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by FatFreddysCat - December 05, 2025, 10:23:21 PM"M3GAN 2.0" (2025)
The creator of the original "Megan" builds a new and improved version to combat "Amelia," a next-level killer droid that wants to kick off an A.I. apocalypse.
Overlong, chaotic sequel to the surprise horror hit leans more towards sci-fi action - less "Child's Play," more "Terminator," filtered through Anime and K-Pop. The first "M3GAN" was dumb fun; this sequel is mostly just dumb. Skip it.
"Violent Night" (2022)
David "Stranger Things" Harbour plays a burned out St. Nick, who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time when mercenaries invade the lavish home of a wealthy family. Yes, it's "Die Hard" in a Santa suit. A dark, cynical and gloriously ultra violent Holiday action comedy directed by Tommy Wirkola of "Dead Snow" fame.
The creator of the original "Megan" builds a new and improved version to combat "Amelia," a next-level killer droid that wants to kick off an A.I. apocalypse.
Overlong, chaotic sequel to the surprise horror hit leans more towards sci-fi action - less "Child's Play," more "Terminator," filtered through Anime and K-Pop. The first "M3GAN" was dumb fun; this sequel is mostly just dumb. Skip it.
"Violent Night" (2022)
David "Stranger Things" Harbour plays a burned out St. Nick, who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time when mercenaries invade the lavish home of a wealthy family. Yes, it's "Die Hard" in a Santa suit. A dark, cynical and gloriously ultra violent Holiday action comedy directed by Tommy Wirkola of "Dead Snow" fame.
#5
Bad Movies / Re: The Ultimate So Bad It's G...
Last post by claws - December 05, 2025, 10:22:32 PM10 The Atomic Submarine (1959)
10 Attack of the Puppet People (1958)
10 The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955)
10 Billy the Kid vs Dracula (1966)
10 Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
10 The Dragon Lives Again (1977)
11 Fatal Deviation (1998)
10 Gymkata (1985)
11 Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987)
11 The Howling Part 7: New Moon Rising (1995)
10 Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
10 Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (1954)
10 Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
10 Miami Connection (1987)
10 Mitchell (1975)
11 No Holds Barred (1989)
12 Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
10 The Protector (1985)
10 Reefer Madness (1936)
10 Return of the Family Man (1990)
10 Robot Monster (1953)
10 Robo Vampire (1988)
11 The Room (2003)
10 Samurai Cop (1991)
10 Santa Claus (1959)
10 Scanners 3: The Takeover (1992)
11 Showgirls (1995)
11 Space Mutiny (1988)
10 Starcrash (1978)
11 Troll 2 (1990)
10 The Wicker Man (2006)
10 Zardoz (1974)
New:
10 Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
10 Hobgoblins (1988)
10 Message from Space (1978)
10 Batman & Robin (1997)
10 Attack of the Puppet People (1958)
10 The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955)
10 Billy the Kid vs Dracula (1966)
10 Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
10 The Dragon Lives Again (1977)
11 Fatal Deviation (1998)
10 Gymkata (1985)
11 Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987)
11 The Howling Part 7: New Moon Rising (1995)
10 Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
10 Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (1954)
10 Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
10 Miami Connection (1987)
10 Mitchell (1975)
11 No Holds Barred (1989)
12 Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
10 The Protector (1985)
10 Reefer Madness (1936)
10 Return of the Family Man (1990)
10 Robot Monster (1953)
10 Robo Vampire (1988)
11 The Room (2003)
10 Samurai Cop (1991)
10 Santa Claus (1959)
10 Scanners 3: The Takeover (1992)
11 Showgirls (1995)
11 Space Mutiny (1988)
10 Starcrash (1978)
11 Troll 2 (1990)
10 The Wicker Man (2006)
10 Zardoz (1974)
New:
10 Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
10 Hobgoblins (1988)
10 Message from Space (1978)
10 Batman & Robin (1997)
#6
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Alex's even longer post th...
Last post by Alex - December 05, 2025, 10:19:17 PMTaking Ash to the North Pole tomorrow to meet Santa. He's been excited about doing this since we took him on that train last year. I'll finish my shift in 4 hours, grab some sleep then hopefully the three of us will go out to it, although if Kristi isn't feeling well we will go without her. Really hoping she can make it. She's been doing better on going for walks and no longer needs to stop for a rest on the way back from our local shop.
Signed up for a course on Autism. I am in the middle of doing the first exam. Just trying to learn as much as I can to help Ash. It makes a change from taunting scammers too.
Kristi is getting an additional treatment on the 17th now, which unfortunately means she'll most likely be feeling the effects come the holidays. I was hoping she'd get a break, but in the end of the day, if it helps save her life then I'll take that over the alternative.
It seems half the camp had their xmas do's tonight. All of them brought plates of food to the guardroom for us. Shame there is only about 5 of us in here at any time and there was no way we could make a dent in the amount of stuff we were given. It was late at night, and although I did try to contact some local charity to come get the excess they'd already went to bed so unfortunately the vast majority of it is just going to go in the bin.
Signed up for a course on Autism. I am in the middle of doing the first exam. Just trying to learn as much as I can to help Ash. It makes a change from taunting scammers too.
Kristi is getting an additional treatment on the 17th now, which unfortunately means she'll most likely be feeling the effects come the holidays. I was hoping she'd get a break, but in the end of the day, if it helps save her life then I'll take that over the alternative.
It seems half the camp had their xmas do's tonight. All of them brought plates of food to the guardroom for us. Shame there is only about 5 of us in here at any time and there was no way we could make a dent in the amount of stuff we were given. It was late at night, and although I did try to contact some local charity to come get the excess they'd already went to bed so unfortunately the vast majority of it is just going to go in the bin.
#7
Bad Movies / Re: The Ultimate So Bad It's G...
Last post by claws - December 05, 2025, 10:10:01 PM+1 Troll 2 (1990)
+1 Showgirls (1995)
Adding Batman & Robin (1997)
+1 Showgirls (1995)
Adding Batman & Robin (1997)
#8
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - December 05, 2025, 10:00:04 PMAlso WOLFEN is really interesting. Beautiful photography and great use of locations, good acting, lots of ideas... the rough cut was 4 hours long, which defies explanation (but man I wish a copy would surface).
#9
Bad Movies / Re: The Ultimate So Bad It's G...
Last post by pacman000 - December 05, 2025, 09:00:36 PMSpace Mutiny +1
Plan 9 +1
+Message From Space
Plan 9 +1
+Message From Space
#10
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - December 05, 2025, 07:07:10 PMQuote from: Rev. Powell on December 04, 2025, 12:03:35 PMQuote from: indianasmith on December 01, 2025, 07:11:51 AMEBBINGTON (2025) - OK, one of my students who has generally good taste in films recommended this, so I went in with high hopes. They were slowly, remorselessly crushed for the next two hours. This was one of those movies whose internal logic was so vague and the plot so meandering that I rarely had any clue what was going on. Set at the height of the COVID pandemic, a sheriff who is angry at mask mandates decided to run against the mayor who is enforcing them. Then he gets mad and shoots the mayor, and tries to pin it on BLM protestors. Then someone is chasing and shooting at the sheriff. COVID conspiracy theories are spouted by a different character every few minutes. The conclusion is . . . well, so bizarre I'm still scratching my head as to exactly what this movie was about. Either it was so subtly brilliant it's just beyond my grasp, or else it's an incomprehensible train wreck that stole two hours of my life. Either way, I think I would rather have watched NUREMBURG again. 2/5
John Waters hates you. He named EDDINGTON best movie of 2025: "My favorite movie of the year is a disagreeable but highly entertaining tale as exhausting as today's politics with characters nobody could possibly root for. Yet it's so terrifyingly funny, so confusingly chaste and kinky that you'll feel coo-coo crazy and oh-so-cultural after watching. If you don't like this film, I hate you." Personally, I liked EDDINGTON, but not nearly as much as Waters (whose year-end top 10 list sometimes reads like a put-on).
I don't hate anyone for not liking EDDINGTON, but otherwise I really vibe with Waters' take on it. Maybe we should start a "Waters Best Of" thread since we have one for Tarantino.