tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post4034805586076680997..comments2023-11-17T11:08:31.857-06:00Comments on Michael May: My Top 10 Movies from 2015Michael Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12514945570212261283noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-57661242095199806312016-02-03T11:10:06.304-06:002016-02-03T11:10:06.304-06:00Yes! Huge difference. :DYes! Huge difference. :DMichael Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514945570212261283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-81778227852373447092016-02-03T10:44:02.908-06:002016-02-03T10:44:02.908-06:00Well, The Room is pretty unbelievable, yes, but fo...Well, The Room is pretty unbelievable, yes, but for other reasons. Make sure your see Room, no article ;)Siskoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-78806713523926978422016-02-03T10:39:51.741-06:002016-02-03T10:39:51.741-06:00It's a recurring theme with me that I'll p...It's a recurring theme with me that I'll put off seeing a movie because it's been described as hard to watch, only to realize once I've seen it that I'd made it into a much bigger deal in my imagination than it actually is. I'll rush to see <i>The Room</i>. I hear that kid is unbelievable.<br /><br />I hear you about Guy Ritchie, too. Obviously people are still paying him to make movies, so why downplay his involvement? Michael Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514945570212261283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-15497206869509911092016-02-02T10:43:30.918-06:002016-02-02T10:43:30.918-06:00Oh, Room isn't that heavy, thanks to how the b...Oh, Room isn't that heavy, thanks to how the boy sees the world. We know what's inferred, but he often doesn't, so there's a lightness and a wonder to it. I think you have courage enough :).<br /><br />The Gift appears generic so that it surprises you when you do watch it. Not quite the worst marketing of the year, which should go to Spy. And I still don't understand why Man from UNCLE didn't play up Guy Ritchie's involvement and that it could be the next Sherlock Holmes.<br /><br />Far from the Madding Crowd or, Cary Mulligan can do no wrong.Siskoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-20139690897861162432016-02-02T10:35:33.575-06:002016-02-02T10:35:33.575-06:00I honestly don't know how I left Shaun the She...I honestly don't know how I left <i>Shaun the Sheep</i> off my Movies I Missed list. I've heard nothing but compliments about that movie and I'm a big fan of the studio. Definitely one I'll catch up on.<br /><br />I need to be in the mood for <i>Brooklyn</i>, but I have no doubt that I'll love it once I see it. I'm a big fan of <i>Far and Away</i>, a very different movie, but what looks like a similar theme.<br /><br />Building up my courage to see <i>Room</i>.<br /><br />Always happy to add another Western to the pile. Hadn't heard of <i>Slow West</i>, so thanks for that!<br /><br />Sounds like I need to get over my prejudice against <i>The Gift</i>. There were a couple of months when I saw the same trailer for it EVERY TIME I went to the movies (which is about once a week) and I got so tired of it that I ended up closing my eyes whenever it came on. It also looked generic and predictable. But other people I trust have recommended it as well.<br /><br />I love me a good costume drama, so thanks for the reminder about <i>Far from the Maddening Crowd</i>. I'll give that a shot, too. Michael Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514945570212261283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-17347038572979924332016-01-30T18:30:05.459-06:002016-01-30T18:30:05.459-06:00So the ones you neither saw nor mentioned that you...So the ones you neither saw nor mentioned that you didn't see. Any recommendations I can make?<br /><br />Shaun the Sheep: Totally great. It was a great year for animation, of all kinds.<br /><br />Amy: The documentary about Amy Winehouse. I knew nothing of her, not even the name, but found myself interested in the rise and fall of this unusual singer.<br /><br />Brooklyn: Classically made, the lead eats up the screen, but Julie Walters steals the show as the amusingly acerbic boarding house lady.<br /><br />True Story: It's about too much, doesn't give you enough of a decoder key, and ends up being dull. Much better on a second viewing I bet, but would you want to go there twice?<br /><br />Youth: A beautiful film about what happens to creative types when they go on the decline. Just gorgeous to look at, inventive, and with great performances by Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel (among others).<br /><br />Blackhat: A fairly cool action-hacker movie, but definitely in the Hong Kong vein. Don't start picking at its logic.<br /><br />Room: Props to the film for sticking with the kid's POV, making a lot of the film elliptical and well judged. Excellent.<br /><br />Chappie: Not as bad as you've heard, but not too good either. Largely a failure.<br /><br />Slow West: A lyrical western shot in New Zealand, it has a dream-like quality I quite enjoyed.<br /><br />Steve Jobs: A great Aaron Sorkin script (unless you're tired of his particular tics), built like a three-act play. It doesn't matter if you don't care about Apple. I sure didn't.<br /><br />Sicario: A good thriller, though I'm not sure it deserved all the hype it got. I'd still watch it again, given the chance.<br /><br />Black Mass: It was just okay. I mean, it was good, and then the "true story" of it made it so there wasn't really an ending or much of a motivation for key characters.<br /><br />The Gift: A lovely thriller with plenty of earned twists and turns. Not a forgettable formulaic flick.<br /><br />Far From the Madding Crowd: A well-made adaptation; Carey Mulligan continues to dazzle and she's well surrounded.<br /><br />And that's it! Can't wait to see what you're looking forward to next! Siskoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-36542399868720525532016-01-30T18:10:02.843-06:002016-01-30T18:10:02.843-06:00Star Wars: Great characters, plot not remixed enou...Star Wars: Great characters, plot not remixed enough, but I'm with you in putting in my top 2. But then, I'm a well-known Star Wars curmudgeon ;).<br /><br />Mission Impossible: I liked MI III better when it was called Alias' pilot ;), but since Ghost Protocol, the series has gone from strength to strength.<br /><br />Inside Out: Just wonderful.<br /><br />Mad Max: Great action flick.<br /><br />The Man from UNCLE: Probably my choice for favorite spy movie that came out this year. I kept thinking that if Cavill played Superman this way, he'd make great Silver Age Superman movies.<br /><br />Mr. Holmes: Yes, definitely deserving of being seen by more people. The last mystery Holmes must solve is... himself.<br /><br />Avengers: Lots to love, I don't get why people think the movie just stops when they get to the farm; those are some of the most memorable bits for me. Could do with less infinity gems infodumps though. Like, in every movie now?<br /><br />Jurassic World: As you've already guessed, this is the only movie I saw in theaters last year that I actively disliked. The original Jurassic Park was cool, but when you walked out of the theater, it all seemed to fall apart. J. World did that for me WHILE I WAS WATCHING IT. I understand why people have liked it (often as a "guilty pleasure"), but for me it was frankly terrible, and there are scenes in there that are just some of the most misjudged moments I've seen in many a year.<br /><br />Crimson Peak: A good "Jane Eyre" type film, though a bit slim for me.<br /><br />Ex Machina: The intellectual sf thriller of the year; quite excellent and even profound.<br /><br />For my next trick, I'll list the 2015 films I saw, but that you didn't!Siskoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266365376486695812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-12609023827440020612016-01-29T21:03:02.057-06:002016-01-29T21:03:02.057-06:00Yeah, Michael we all know you're rushing out t...Yeah, Michael we all know you're rushing out to the theater to be first in line to buy tickets to see Marlon Wayans in "Fifty Shades of Black" this weekend. Erik Johnson Illustratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11184274387021011687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-39762924126165336922016-01-29T15:06:58.129-06:002016-01-29T15:06:58.129-06:00Definitely working on a Most Anticipated list for ...Definitely working on a Most Anticipated list for 2016. Though I may have seen one of them by the time it goes up. Michael Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514945570212261283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-31923500502690805602016-01-29T10:36:14.864-06:002016-01-29T10:36:14.864-06:00Well, Erik, I actually liked Terminator Genisys an...Well, Erik, I actually liked Terminator Genisys and I'm a little baffled by the backlash because it's LOADS better than the last two movies. I like the twist on the timeline. And Emilia Clarke was AWESOME as Sarah Connor. <br /><br />Star Wars - Like you said, I said my say on Nerd Lunch. I really like it. It's on my favs list as well. I'm now in anticipation mode for Rogue One.<br /><br />MI: Rogue Nation - I love these movies. This is on my list as well. It's as good as 3 and 4 for me. I'm still sifting my thoughts on Rogue Nation, but it had to beat Part 4 for me which is my current fav (but may be overtaken by Rogue Nation). 3 is pretty great though and I 100% agree that Phillip Seymore Hoffman is BAD ASS and AMAZING as the villain.<br /><br />Dammit, I really need to see Inside Out and Ex Machina. What the hell am I waiting for?<br /><br />Mad Max Fury Road - It's on my fav list too. It's just amazing and gets better every time I watch it. I even relistened to the Nerd Lunch drilldown on this recently.<br /><br />Man from UNCLE was much better than I was expecting. I like the setting and the music. Cavill was great. Hammer was uncomfortable at first but warmed up as the movie went on. I love seeing Hugh Grant in anything. I need him in the sequel.<br /><br />Mr Holmes!! It was on my "to see" list and I completely forgot about it. I need to rectify that IMMEDIATELY.<br /><br />Avengers 2 - It's really good. I wouldn't put it in my fav list, but honestly it gets better the more times you watch it because your expectations are adjusted (not lowered, necessarily, just adjusted).<br /><br />Thank you for loving Jurassic World. I do too. #solidarity<br /><br />Crimson Peak - I want to see this but I've sort of stopped watching horror in the last 5-8 years or so. The cast and Del Toro nearly make me change my mind.<br /><br />Paxtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04883124901219059661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7857882.post-70125700775909014262016-01-29T08:29:23.279-06:002016-01-29T08:29:23.279-06:00* WHAT?! Star Wars was your favorite movie of the ...* WHAT?! Star Wars was your favorite movie of the year! I haven't been this shocked since I discovered the secret to a long and healthy life was breathing!<br /><br />* You took the words out of my mouth about Mission Impossible vs James Bond. While theres little character continuity in Mission Impossible (you could easily renamed Tom Cruise's character "Action Man" and not make a lick of difference) and despite their over the top tech, the series (or at least the last three) manage to be fun without being farcical. <br /><br />* Age of Ultron was my most anticipated feature for this year and it turned out... okay. I have no qualms with the Bruce/Nathasa relationship or Hawkeye's family, I feel story wise its over-stuffed and that I didn't like James Spader as Ultron. Not that he doesn't do a good job, in fact, he does a great performance, it just feels too jokey for a killer robot. I can understand them not wanting to go the route of yet another cold emotionless HAL 9000 type, but his snark made it difficult to take seriously.<br /><br />Although in hindsight at least they went for intentionally funny killer robot rather than laughably bad acting killer robot. Yeah, I'm looking at you Terminator Genisys. "I'm becoming Skynet" HAHAHAHA!!!<br /><br />* Jurassic World is a tough nut to crack because its clearly nostalgia exploitation, but surprisingly self aware of what it is. It feels more like a sequel to "Gremlins" than Jurassic Park.<br /><br />It was fantastic how real the dinosaurs acted, I just wish they could have done the same for the humans. <br /><br />Always fun to see you wrap up your movie year in review. Will we be seeing a most anticipated movies of 2016 list soon?Erik Johnson Illustratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11184274387021011687noreply@blogger.com