Recent Viewings, Part 2

[lester1/2jr]

ahhh now I get it

[indianasmith]

SHE WALKS THE WOODS (2019) - This was a fairly routine found footage movie that really amped up the tension in the last 15 minutes.  After a quick intro of some guys running through the woods, screaming, chased by an unknown predator, followed by a disclaimer that "16,000 people have gone missing in America's National Parks," the story gets underway.
Three young men are shooting an "ultimate survival" video on some property belonging to this girl Hope's family - so of course she goes along.  They spend a LOT of time just talking, shooting footage for their channel, and finally in he last 15 minutes they run afoul of some bizarre female humanoid who makes short work of them all. I will say, the makeup job of the monster is the best thing about the whole film, and the payoff makes the long wait for any action worthwhile.  If you like found footage films, you might enjoy this.

[lester1/2jr]

Second to Die (2002) - Erika Elaniak from Baywatch plays a duel role as two sisters, one who is reading about the other sister's life and one who is the sister being read about. It's pretty mid range as far as Lifetime movies, not terrible and not great. They will have the main story then every once in a while they cut to the other sister sitting there reading the diary and being like "Wow, that is really something". That kind of thing.

A woman is in an unhappy marriage and plots to kill her mean husband, but ...is everything as it appears???? It wouldn't be Lifetime if it didn't have some campy/ entertaining stuff, but most of the movie isn't super exciting. Elaniak is nude briefly, but it's with her creepy ginger boyfriend.

I think I probably decided to watch it, and stayed with it, because Elaniak is blonde. "Passably entertaining" pretty much covers it.

3.5 /5

good ending

[zombie no.one]

does she jump out of a cake? hard pass if no.


DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE (1995)

maybe 3rd of 4th rewatch since ever, I reeealy want to like it, but always get so far in then realise I don't know or care what's going on. I get the overall plot obviously but it just all turns to random actiony run around mush about half way in.

a military style version of 'The Animals Went In Two By Two' keeps playing over everything and it's perhaps the worst choice of music ever.

f u n fact: according to wiki this movie was originally supposed to have a pirates/sea plotline, but that was scrapped and eventually became SPEED 2... then a movie pitch called SIMON SAYS which was originally supposed to be a Brandon Lee vehicle (until he died), and which had already been re-purposed as a LETHAL WEAPON sequel and abandoned, was then turned into DIE HARD 3... what an in-organic merry go round of corperate bs, I think it shows in the final product tbh

[Rev. Powell]

THIRTY TWO SHORT FILMS ABOUT GLEN GOULD (1993): As the title promises, the movie delivers a patchwork of short segments---interviews, recreations, and abstract experimental tributes---to the eccentric piano virtuoso. An invigorating and offbeat approach that creatively overcomes the stale cliches of the typical biopic. 4.5/5.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Absolutely Anything" (2015)
Space aliens endow a bumbling Englishman (Simon Pegg) with absolute power as a "test" of humanity. If he uses these powers for good, they will leave the Earth in peace, but if he uses them for evil, they will destroy the planet. As Pegg gets the hang of his new abilities, they naturally cause chaos for everyone around him.
This British comedy is kinda like a sci-fi spin on "Bruce Almighty."  It was directed by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame (his fellow Pythons provide the voices of the aliens), and the cast includes Robin Williams (who voices Pegg's dog "Dennis"), Kate "Underworld" Beckinsale and Eddie Izzard. Enjoyably silly stuff.