Current movies other than Star Wars

[Pardon My Dinger]

So it's like a twist of The Little Mermaid?

Yes, but if prince Eric looked like Michael Shannon.

[ashbury]

Curious to hear what others thought about the shape of water...

Just got back from seeing it. Since I liked La La Land very much, I probably should have felt the same way about this one, but for me it was too realistic to be a fantasy, and far too silly to be taken at face value.^* The symbolism and moral values were administered with anything but a light touch. That said, it's good, and probably benefits more from the big screen than the average (non-"action") film - with regard to Carole's comment about waiting for Netflix. I'll also say that, for someone with exactly the right mindset, it might be the most genuinely erotic movie of the year. Unfortunately, that exact mindset isn't mine.

 

* _{My one-iine review is probably that it's a Donald Trump movie: meant to be taken seriously, but not literally.}

[Squirrel]

I'll also say that, for someone with exactly the right mindset, it might be the most genuinely erotic movie of the year. Unfortunately, that exact mindset isn't mine.

tmi

[ashbury]

tmi

Fair warning, more like. It's rated R for several reasons.

[Squirrel]

Fair warning, more like. It's rated R for several reasons.

I think Dinger’s post made that pretty clear. But I just noticed it’s Golden Globe nominated for best picture, so I might go see it despite seeing a relationship between a woman and a fish man not really my thing, either.

[glunn]

I saw Shape of Water tonight and overall I liked it. I was with my wife and two other women and they liked it more than I did. 

 

Things that I liked included the early 1960's setting (especially the cars) and the character development. The story was solid but... [spoiler omitted]

 

On the downside, some of the violence made me close my eyes. Also, I agree with ash that a lighter touch would have been better, but I am told that the movie falls into the genre of "magical realism", so maybe that explains it. 

 

As for the erotic elements, I am told that a lot of money spent on the creature costume to make it erotic, but without any hint of male genitalia. My sense is that a significant percentage of women will find the movie erotic. 

[ashbury]

I think Dinger’s post made that pretty clear.

Only if one equates "romantic" with "erotic". I think there's quite a line separating the two. Glunn elaborated further in that vein. The comparison to Beauty and the Beast goes only so far.

 

And this hard-R movie contains many triggers for different people, as glunn also alluded to, so I don't think it's especially wrong to spell those out a little. Someone who likes cats an awful, awful lot might want to be forewarned, for instance. (That's a mild spoiler, but not a crucial plot point.) And, like glunn probably, I was moved to tears by (another mild spoiler, sorry) the sight of a pristine vintage Cadillac getting mutilated in an unfortunate accident, in a scene gratuitously set up by this edgy director. Isn't there a concept called Chekhov's Chevy, where a car featured early in the film is bound to figure into the denouement?

[Squirrel]

Only if one equates "romantic" with "erotic". I think there's quite a line separating the two. Glunn elaborated further in that vein. The comparison to Beauty and the Beast goes only so far.

 

And this hard-R movie contains many triggers for different people, as glunn also alluded to, so I don't think it's especially wrong to spell those out a little. Someone who likes cats an awful, awful lot might want to be forewarned, for instance. (That's a mild spoiler, but not a crucial plot point.) And, like glunn probably, I was moved to tears by (another mild spoiler, sorry) the sight of a pristine vintage Cadillac getting mutilated in an unfortunate accident, in a scene gratuitously set up by this edgy director. Isn't there a concept called Chekhov's Chevy, where a car featured early in the film is bound to figure into the denouement?

Well, now I’m back to ‘Meh, this is sounding more and more like something that would not interest me.’ Unless I have no other options and just have to see a movie, maybe I’ll see it.

[ashbury]

You're welcome.

[Squirrel]

You're welcome.

Um, for what?

[ashbury]

For helping in your decision process.

[Squirrel]

For helping in your decision process.

If you recall, I had my mind already made up after Dinger’s very efficient review. You just muddied things until I came back to a decision already made.

 

And now, between you and glunn, we’ve spent way more time on a movie that really doesn’t seem worth it.

[ashbury]

I live to serve.

[Craig Arko]

Hmm, this has piqued my curiosity about this film.

 

Either way, we’re only about a month away from Black Panther.

[glunn]

 

If you recall, I had my mind already made up after Dinger’s very efficient review. You just muddied things until I came back to a decision already made.

And now, between you and glunn, we’ve spent way more time on a movie that really doesn’t seem worth it.

I will not be surprised if it wins some major awards. Now that I have slept on it, I see more meaning than I did last night.

 

Maybe this article will change your mind -- https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/movies/the-shape-of-water-meet-guillermo-del-toro-doug-jones.html?action=click&contentCollection=Movies&module=RelatedCoverage%C2%AEion=Marginalia&pgtype=article

[Pardon My Dinger]

See I, Tonya. Hilarious, extremely well acted, thought provoking, and moving in a relevant way.

[Mike Sixel]

Just watched dodgeball and war for the planet of the apes in the plane. One was very funny, one had a bad ending

[ashbury]

Good to know about the Greatest Showman. My family's going to the movies this weekend and we're deciding between that and Three Billboards.

Mrs Ash and I saw Three Billboards last night. Not necessarily an easy movie to watch, but very rewarding for the performances.

[Vanimal46]

Miss Vanimal and I went to The Post earlier tonight. It's definitely worth your time and money.

 

The acting is fantastic - which I expected with Hanks, Streep, and sneaky star power mixed in throughout (Carrie Coon, Bob Odenkirk, Jesse Plemons)

 

And the plot is effectively relevant today... Given that political figures threaten freedom of the press on a near daily basis.

 

Go see it.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Just saw Phantom Thread. I thought it was a terrible waste of talent.

[Squirrel]

Just saw Phantom Thread. I thought it was a terrible waste of talent.

I might still go see it as Daniel Day Lewis has said this was his last movie.

 

Side story, when the CSO made the soundtrack for Lincoln, both Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis were there during recording. Was pretty cool.

[Squirrel]

Taking my Mom to see ‘Early Man’ for hopefully some Wallace and Grommet like humor.

[D. Hocking]

 

Just saw Phantom Thread. I thought it was a terrible waste of talent.

 

I saw this Sunday (wanted to see the Post or Darkest Hour, but my friend had seen them - said they were great), and yes, well acted, and someone spent a lot of time getting the look of the 1950's upper class.   Other than that by the end of the seemingly 8 hour movie the whole cast could have been eaten by sharks and I would not have cared.   Not that people need to be likable in a movie, but you need to care about them someone even if it is hoping to see them get their just desserts.

 

It might be worth seeing for Lewis's last performance, but I would be tempted to wait until you can rent it and watch it at home.

 

My friend hosts an Oscar party and always tries to see all the movies.   She said in a way, she might have enjoyed Get Out the most, but that a number of the movies were good (although she did not care for Phantom Thread).

Edited February 23, 2018 by D. Hocking

[ashbury]

Mrs Ash and I went to see showings of the Oscar nominated shorts. Divided into three sessions, for Documentaries, Animation, and Short Subjects. Lots of good stuff out there.

https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/

[Squirrel]

 

Well, now I’m back to ‘Meh, this is sounding more and more like something that would not interest me.’ Unless I have no other options and just have to see a movie, maybe I’ll see it.

Lol ... well, so much for listening to all your reviews ... I never saw 'Shape of Water' and I see that it won for best picture ... not sure how that is possible after seeing 'Three Billboards ...' but now I'm intrigued again but will have to wait, unless it's still in a theatre somewhere.

[ashbury]

Lol ... well, so much for listening to all your reviews ... I never saw 'Shape of Water' and I see that it won for best picture ... not sure how that is possible after seeing 'Three Billboards ...' but now I'm intrigued again but will have to wait, unless it's still in a theatre somewhere.

These nominated movies are all so different that I find it impossible to rank them. Just see Shape of Water and enjoy it for the vision the creators delivered, rather than try to compare.

[Squirrel]

 

These nominated movies are all so different that I find it impossible to rank them. Just see Shape of Water and enjoy it for the vision the creators delivered, rather than try to compare.

My only comparison is the degree I liked the whole thing, because there are other categories for all those other things. Unfortunately, I can't see every single one. Each year I say 'I'm going to see every good movie out there' and then I go months without seeing one.

[jimmer]

Well, winning an Oscar doesn't always mean the movie is good

[D. Hocking]

I just saw Get Out on Sunday - figured it would be a good one to see in a dark theater.  I thought it was good, but am not sure it was "best picture" good.  Better than average - good - but not as great as some of its hype.

[ashbury]

Well, winning an Oscar doesn't always mean the movie is good

We're dealing with fuzzy terms now, but a Best Picture film is unlikely to be not well written, not well directed, not well acted, etc, so at worst it's likely a film worth seeing unless it's in a genre you detest or you have learned it contains triggers or something like that. It's virtually certain to be "good", in fact usually quite good.

 

Winning an Oscar in some category, sure, the other parts of the movie could conceivably be unwatchable.

 

I harken back to when The Sting won Best Picture. I thought it was not that great, and was very surprised, although I don't remember now what would have been a better choice. But, it was good.