RUKI: "For all mankind" on AppleTV+ Drama. Science fiction. Strong character developments. Good actors.

As that is a TV series not a movie shouldn't this be in:  Apple TV+ Shows or What TV series episode did you watch and how was it?

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

Ok - I'll admit, I am kind of old and don't really "do" gaming, but I have kids that are gamers and I am familiar with the common tropes. 

This movie is largely based in the gaming world and many of the cameos were lost on me, but the kids knew them all. 

I have to say, this was a really funny, silly, suspend-your-belief movie that I ended up watching twice this weekend and picked up little things I'd missed the first time (when viewing for the second time). 

Is it an instant classic? no. Is it a really fun, silly movie? yes. 

Handsomedan:

 

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

 

Suitable for Date night do you think? Was on our list for this week.

Handsomedan:

 

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

 

Ok - I'll admit, I am kind of old and don't really "do" gaming, but I have kids that are gamers and I am familiar with the common tropes. 

 

This movie is largely based in the gaming world and many of the cameos were lost on me, but the kids knew them all. 

 

I have to say, this was a really funny, silly, suspend-your-belief movie that I ended up watching twice this weekend and picked up little things I'd missed the first time (when viewing for the second time). 

 

 

 

Is it an instant classic? no. Is it a really fun, silly movie? yes.

coming to NEON 24th Oct 

networkn:

 

Handsomedan:

 

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

 

 

Suitable for Date night do you think? Was on our list for this week.

 

 

 

Handsomedan:

 

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

 

Ok - I'll admit, I am kind of old and don't really "do" gaming, but I have kids that are gamers and I am familiar with the common tropes. 

 

This movie is largely based in the gaming world and many of the cameos were lost on me, but the kids knew them all. 

 

I have to say, this was a really funny, silly, suspend-your-belief movie that I ended up watching twice this weekend and picked up little things I'd missed the first time (when viewing for the second time). 

 

 

 

Is it an instant classic? no. Is it a really fun, silly movie? yes. 

 

Also viewed this last night. As with your kids, Miss 20 also knew a bunch of the cameos (maybe not all?). Was a good movie to escape reality yesterday, which is what I needed. I may also watch it a second time in the coming days.

Stu:

 

Handsomedan:

 

Free Guy (Disney+/Star)

 

Ok - I'll admit, I am kind of old and don't really "do" gaming, but I have kids that are gamers and I am familiar with the common tropes. 

 

This movie is largely based in the gaming world and many of the cameos were lost on me, but the kids knew them all. 

 

I have to say, this was a really funny, silly, suspend-your-belief movie that I ended up watching twice this weekend and picked up little things I'd missed the first time (when viewing for the second time). 

 

 

 

Is it an instant classic? no. Is it a really fun, silly movie? yes. 

 

 

 

 

Also viewed this last night. As with your kids, Miss 20 also knew a bunch of the cameos (maybe not all?). Was a good movie to escape reality yesterday, which is what I needed. I may also watch it a second time in the coming days.

 

I felt like the movie made me feel "Adjective". 

🤣

The Misfits 6/10

After being recruited by a group of unconventional thieves, renowned criminal Richard Pace finds himself caught up in an elaborate gold heist that promises to have far-reaching implications on his life and the lives of countless others.

Pierce Brosnan paying off the alimony or mortgage or both

budget = us$15,000,000
Worldwide gross =$1,508,000

say no more

Seven Days In May 7.5/10 DVD

Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster star in a pretty decent political thriller with most of the Joint Chiefs of Staff plotting to take over the US government from what they perceive as a weak President.

Good performances from both leads and some great dialogue reminding us what political thrillers of the 1960's were like. This one also reminds me of Twilight's Last Gleaming which Burt Lancaster also starred in (if anyone can remember that one).

No Time to Die - 9/10 (Focal Point Cinemas Palmerston North)

Some may remember from previous posts that I am a major Bond fan (movies and books).  For the most part, I have enjoyed Daniel Craig's films as James Bond, but I didn't really feel that any of his films after Casino Royale really lived up to that initial potential.  Quantum of Solace was a mess, as most people acknowledge, Skyfall was good but I don't think I enjoyed as much as others, and Spectre was okay.  I've rewatched all the films countless times and have my views on the highs and lows of the entire series and individual actors' runs - recently I rewatched all the Craig-era films, and found myself appreciating Skyfall and Spectre a little more.  But I would still describe the middle three films of Craig's series as being a middling set.

In the weeks leading up to No Time to Die's much-delayed release, I found myself reflecting on the challenge the producers faced.  For the first time in the franchise they have attempted to tell an ongoing arc over a series of films, and with a few clunky steps along the way (trying to retcon the connections between Quantum and Spectre felt really forced) the task of landing it in a meaningful way was always going to be huge.  Moreover, history wasn't on their side.  Of all the actors to portray Bond, none have been able to go out on a high - Connery's Diamonds are Forever was one of his worst films IMO; Lazenby only had the one film, so can't really be counted in this exercise; Moore's A View to a Kill isn't his worst film (I award that "accolade" to Moonraker) but definitely isn't one of the best; Dalton's Licence to Kill again isn't terrible in the context of the franchise, but I rate The Living Daylights higher; and finally, Brosnan's Die Another Day is definitely his worst (despite a few cool moments).  So, I tempered my expectations significantly with No Time to Die.

I needn't have worried or bothered - No Time to Die is fantastic, a worthy end to Craig's run as Bond, and for my money close to the opening act of Casino Royale.  So much of this movie works well for me.  The depth of character for Bond is retained (and I'll acknowledge that for many people, Bond is a pretty shallow character to begin with), but the work that has been done since his first film is kept and honoured.  Craig manages to convey the emotions that Bond is grappling with - betrayal, loyalty and service, and even love.  No-one can pretend that Bond is a truly deep character, but I have to recognise the effort gone into developing him as a meaningful character rather than simply a man with a gun and a martini.

The pacing of the film is good, despite it's run time.  I never felt that it was bloated, and good use is made of the time to cover off the story and key elements.  There is fan service, but I feel like it is fan service done right.  With the Avengers' films, for instance, there were many moments where they showed different team-ups as clear fan service moments, but often they just ran down the clock.  With Bond, there is a lot to call back and they haven't always done it well in the past.  I remember in Die Another Day there was a gratuitous walk-through of Q's lab showing various gadgets from the past, nudge/winks to Bond's watch ("your 20th, I believe).  Those all felt clunky and forced, like viewers were idiots who needed to be reminded about what they being reminded about.  Here, there are thoughtful touches - using music from the classic series (won't spoil it for any other fans), cars turning up, phrases.  One which I will spoil (because it's in the trailer already) is the use of the gadgets in the Aston Martin DB5.  Long-time fans will recognise that the gadgets featured were part of the original car in Goldfinger, but many never made their way into that film (or even the following film, Thunderball).  By using them here, it acknowledges the long history of the franchise.

Speaking of gadgets, they get it right in this film.  Since Casino Royale, they have made a point of stripping back much of the silliness that reached its crescendo with Die Another Day's invisible car.  Gadgets were minimal or functional, as were the throw-away one-liners and humour.  With No Time to Die, they achieve what I think is the perfect equilibrium.  Gadgets appear without being too over the top, the humour is there without being jammed in (the influence of the amazing Phoebe Waller-Bridge is evident throughout, with her deft touch for dialogue sprinkled throughout).  It finally feels like they got the formula right.

In terms of other characters, time is given to continuing characters such as Madeleine Swann (from Spectre) and the usual crew of M, Moneypenny and Q slot nicely into their roles.  Lashana Lynch as Nomi is fantastic - there's a shot of her driving an Aston, wearing cool sunglasses, and she totally owns the spy chic look that has been cultivated over the past 25 films.  Ana de Armas as CIA agent Paloma has a great (single) scene and Jeffrey Wright returns to give Felix Leiter a deserved send off.  Wright is the first actor to appear as Leiter in three films, and it's nice to see the continuity with his character.  The friendship with Bond is evident, and captures much of what the books tried to convey - Bond trusted few people, but Leiter was one of them.

Lastly, in terms of plot - it's okay, but plot has never been the strongest aspect of a Bond film.  This is where I'd give Casino Royale the edge over No Time to Die.  I don't want to say too much, as the trailers (fortunately) didn't explain much of the plot at all.  But I would say that the film succeeds despite the plot not being particularly strong.  It carries things along, but more by force of momentum and performance.  It exists to support the development of the characters, to carry them to their culmination.  Thinking back over the film for days afterwards, I found I couldn't coherently articulate the plot, and started to pick holes.  But I feel generous about those deficiencies because they managed to land the plane with a flourish, which is something to applaud.

One of the easter eggs I picked up is a call back to one of the books - You Only Live Twice (of which the film of the same name is only loosely related) - and I'm looking forward to re-reading the book in light of the film to see what other connections may have been sprinkled into No Time to Die.  I'll happily rewatch it, and it places a neat cap on the end of an historic chapter in the Bond franchise.

The Buddy Holly Story 8/10 DVD

Gary Busey produces an Oscar deserving performance turning an at best average film into something that is extremely watchable. He is BH reincarnated.

The music is great of course.

For anyone who enjoys a good warflick, The Forgotten Battle on Netflix.  A gritty WWII drama based around the battle of the Scheldt.

Good acting and cinematography with just the right amount of action and a gripping story with 3 plot-streams that merge together well.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A bit special for me as it is set and partially shot in and around where I was born and grew up.