Recent Viewings, Part 2

[M.10rda]

Lester, definitely avoid the more recent STRANGERS: CHAPTER ONE, among the worst new movies I've seen the past couple years. Like the STRANGERS you reviewed, it criminally misuses a nice redhead (Madeline Petsch). 90 minutes of nothing-sandwich, then it ends on a "Cont'd" title, and indeed CHAPTER TWO came out last year and CHAPTER THREE is coming in 2026. Naturally I skipped #2 and the Letterboxd reviews acquit me. If you thought the one you just watched was a drag, imagine that story stretched to 3x's the length!

[Dr. Whom]

Ghostbusters (1984)

Way back, when it came out I somehow decided that this wasn't a movie for me so I never saw it. Perhaps the ubiquitous theme song put me off. In the meantime it has become so much a part of pop culture that you're familiar with its main scenes whether you want to or not. So, although it now holds few surprises, it is entertaining.

When did we stop thinking that car crashes were funny and ought to be included in any chaotic scene?

[M.10rda]

Car crashes went over big for Dan Ackroyd in THE BLUES BROTHERS. GHOSTBUSTERS was originally supposed to be a follow-up w/ Belushi in Bill Murray's role. That's possible to imagine but also what is GHOSTBUSTERS w/o Murray???

[lester1/2jr]

I thought that said "car washes". Yeah, what happened to car washes in movies!

[chainsaw midget]

As the silent Movie Metropolis is public domain and anybody can do whatever they want with it, I found a youtube link that scored the entire movie with various videogame sound tracks.  There was a time or two when it was distracting, but for the most part I enjoyed it. 

I'd never actually watched the entire movie before. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kRkk9ImSFg&t=4735s

[FatFreddysCat]

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" (2018)
Alden Ehrenreich tries to fill some very big shoes as the young Han Solo in this prequel set ten years prior to the original "Star Wars." It's basically an "origin story" showing Han as a youthful thief and wanna-be smuggler, joining up with a criminal crew for his first big score, meeting Chewbacca and Lando for the first time, and taking possession of the famed Millennium Falcon.
I thought this movie was great fun but it wasn't well received at the time. A troubled production and backlash from fan boys made it the least successful of the new "Star Wars" flicks. That's a shame because I would've liked to see more of these stand-alone tales.

[indianasmith]

My weekend double feature:

HERETIC (2024) - This is a great suspense flick.  Two young, female Mormon missionaries are taken captive by the sinister Mr. Reed (played with villainous perfection by Hugh Grant), who proceeds to ensnare them in a deadly game of cat and mouse in order to show them the uselessness of all religion.  Will they be able to turn the tables on him?  This movie keeps you guessing till the last minute - and beyond!  4.5/5

VICIOUS (2025) Dakota Fanning stars as Polly, a troubled young woman trying to pull her life together after the loss of her Dad.   Late one night, a creepy old lady rings her doorbell, says some crazy and ominous things, and leaves her with a wooden box and an hourglass.  If Polly is to survive the night, the box must be fed with something she hates, something she needs, and something she loves. But what is real and what is imagined in the long, nightmarish ordeal that follows?  I must say I enjoyed the heck out of this one.  Great concept, great acting, and lots of twists and turns along the way.  GREAT movie!  5/5