Search
Search results
Pete Wareham recommended Back With A Banger by Wiley in Music (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Half Baked (1998) in Movies
Jul 4, 2021
Ironically, not even that much better while high. I liked this for the majority of the runtime but that third act really tried my patience - falls into the exact line as other late 90s/early 00s buddy comedies in vein of 𝘋𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘔𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘳? and the like that I just fucking hate, where the film completely gives up and a bunch of tiring 'wacky' stuff happens until it abruptly ends. Pretty typical hit-or-miss stoner comedy of the era but easy to forgive when the thing isn't even 85 minutes in length. It's agreeable enough with some seriously funny shit in it every now and again, mostly only holding its own in the sea of other similar movies due to its trio of three sharp, exuberant lead performances - Jim Breuer's final boss tie-dyed pothead steals the show with extreme prejudice (seriously, has anyone else in a movie ever exuded *more* stoner energy than this guy?). Can be lumped right in with 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 in the "kind of funny, semi-decent films written by people who are clearly above such work but also maybe that was the point of it to begin with?" pile. But Bob Saget's "I used to suck dick for coke!" bit remains as iconic and effortlessly hysterical as ever.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Indecent Proposal (1993) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020 (Updated Nov 26, 2020)
Okay, look - I'm a straight man... but I'd let Robert Redford fuck *me* for a million dollars. First hour >>> second hour, but some seriously luscious looking pulp from one of the resounding kings of shooting gorgeous people looking into picturesque backgrounds. Still to date one of my favorite film premises, so it's a shame that it goes for a more conventional romance and doesn't hold all its weight in the second half like it did in the much more mysterious, sick intrigue of the first. God-level Redford, I'd like to think this is what Alexander Pierce from 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳 did in his free time. Harrelson overreacting to everything is fucking hilarious, can't believe they played all this deliciously goofy portent straight. Speaking of which, the fact that we're supposed to empathize with either of these assholes is demeaning. Though as a result, rather than viewing this perhaps deservedly maligned piece as outright misogyny - imo I think this works best at showing the lengths either extreme of man will go to treat women like property, a vaguely cartoonish version mind you, but it isn't too far off from the unfortunate reality. Lurid, engaging, occasionally funny (intentional and not so) 90s psychopathic businessman trash.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Flatliners (1990) in Movies
Sep 19, 2020
Stupid, to be sure (Kiefer Sutherland gets his ass kicked by a supernatural 8-year-old on multiple occasions) - and I do side with the critiques that this could have been a lot deeper, but this is still completely righteous. A ghostly, heavily portentous, lush modern day gothic-medical melodrama that came out in the 90s yet *screams* 1985 right down to the haircuts. Try to picture 𝘚𝘵. 𝘌𝘭𝘮𝘰'𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 as a gen X YA horror flick. One of my all-time favorite film premises, and even Schumacher's (RIP) supporters I don't think give him enough credit for making all these interesting camp spectacles that - of all things - you can hardly say are unoriginal *nor* forgettable. A bunch of medical students chill out in an old cathedral thing which doubles as a medical lab where they perform clandestine death experiments on each other out in the open and argue about who can die the longest lmao, it's whoppingly silly stuff that thankfully takes itself dead (no pun intended) seriously. Pulpy, moody, atmospheric, and just looks extraordinary to boot - the visuals really tie that bind between our world and whatever lies beyond in an increasingly unstable way, as if some sort of constant (losing) struggle. So good that I actually even liked the infamous sentimental ending.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Twin Peaks - Season 1 in TV
Sep 7, 2019 (Updated Sep 7, 2019)
I was only introduced to Twin Peaks a few years back, not long before the much anticipated season 3 was announced.
I wasn't overly excited to watch an early 90s show that on the surface seemed like a run of the mill murder mystery. I had heard to the odd thing or two, about how it was actually quite unsettling etc.
But I wasn't prepared for what I witnessed - a truly great series of television - as mentioned, on the surface, a murder mystery, sometimes verging into lighthearted sitcom territory, bit with some seriously disturbing undertones.
Twin Peaks made my skin crawl on more than one occasion. As I slowly fell in love with the quirky characters, and beautiful American log town setting, I found myself almost constantly on edge. Mainly because of Bob. Goddamn Bob.
The first time Bob graces the screen will stick in my mind for the rest of time.
The unsettling nature of Twin Peaks, woven so lovingly with the less serious moments, and woven again with the just straight up bizarre moments, proves that David Lynch is a master of his craft.
Angelo Badalamenti's musical score elevates the show to even greater heights.
It's hard to truly describe Twin Peaks - but it's something I'm damn glad I was made to watch.
I wasn't overly excited to watch an early 90s show that on the surface seemed like a run of the mill murder mystery. I had heard to the odd thing or two, about how it was actually quite unsettling etc.
But I wasn't prepared for what I witnessed - a truly great series of television - as mentioned, on the surface, a murder mystery, sometimes verging into lighthearted sitcom territory, bit with some seriously disturbing undertones.
Twin Peaks made my skin crawl on more than one occasion. As I slowly fell in love with the quirky characters, and beautiful American log town setting, I found myself almost constantly on edge. Mainly because of Bob. Goddamn Bob.
The first time Bob graces the screen will stick in my mind for the rest of time.
The unsettling nature of Twin Peaks, woven so lovingly with the less serious moments, and woven again with the just straight up bizarre moments, proves that David Lynch is a master of his craft.
Angelo Badalamenti's musical score elevates the show to even greater heights.
It's hard to truly describe Twin Peaks - but it's something I'm damn glad I was made to watch.
David McK (3251 KP) rated Blue Moon Rising (Forest Kingdom #1) in Books
Jun 24, 2022
Once upon a time ...
this was my favourite book.
That was back in the early 90s, back when I was in my tweens and back before I had discovered the likes of Terry Pratchett or Bernard Cornwell.
I then lost track of the author for a good two decades or so, only recently re-discovering him when I happened to chance across the 'GraphicAudio' version of the novel on Audible.
I did wonder what a GraphicAudio meant: simply that it was fully dramatized with a full cast, background music, sound effects etc etc - basically, everything but the actual visual aspect! - instead of only one, maybe two, no more than a handful of people reading the story.
As for that story? Firmly in the fantasy genre - Princes, dragons, unicorns, Princesses, magic, royal politics et al - however I do remember when I first read it all those years ago thinking that I had never come across anything quite like it before. That still holds true to this day: yes, it does have all those familiar elements of a classic Good vs Evil story, but the real delight is in the subverting of expectations, and in the story of Rupert and Julia and the DarkWood / Blue Moon.
this was my favourite book.
That was back in the early 90s, back when I was in my tweens and back before I had discovered the likes of Terry Pratchett or Bernard Cornwell.
I then lost track of the author for a good two decades or so, only recently re-discovering him when I happened to chance across the 'GraphicAudio' version of the novel on Audible.
I did wonder what a GraphicAudio meant: simply that it was fully dramatized with a full cast, background music, sound effects etc etc - basically, everything but the actual visual aspect! - instead of only one, maybe two, no more than a handful of people reading the story.
As for that story? Firmly in the fantasy genre - Princes, dragons, unicorns, Princesses, magic, royal politics et al - however I do remember when I first read it all those years ago thinking that I had never come across anything quite like it before. That still holds true to this day: yes, it does have all those familiar elements of a classic Good vs Evil story, but the real delight is in the subverting of expectations, and in the story of Rupert and Julia and the DarkWood / Blue Moon.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Equals by Ed Sheeran in Music
Jan 28, 2022
Mix of up beat and heart wrenching songs (1 more)
Lovely cover art
Bloody Gooz Album
It has been sooooo long since I last got a CD. And oh how I have missed it! To my fellow 90s peeps: lyric booklets with art!!!!
I know, you can just Google the words, or watch a lyric version on YouTube, but this is different. Nostalgic. Plus, the art is wonderful. The colour and style is great, works well with the tone of the album and has a great simplicity to it.
Anyway, on to the music. I avoided Ed Sheeran at first, never one to hop on the hype train. But Toot Toot, thus guy does not dissapoint, and this album is no exception.
A great mix of up-beatand catchy songs, with some deep heart breakers to balance it out. It has something for all moods. Listen to it, then go back and listen again. There is wit and tenderness in his words that you do not see too often these days, and in a world of mainstream multiples, this album equals a little bit of diversity. From balards to rap, is there nothing he can't do?
Thanks Ed, and thanks @Smashbomb for my treat xxx
I know, you can just Google the words, or watch a lyric version on YouTube, but this is different. Nostalgic. Plus, the art is wonderful. The colour and style is great, works well with the tone of the album and has a great simplicity to it.
Anyway, on to the music. I avoided Ed Sheeran at first, never one to hop on the hype train. But Toot Toot, thus guy does not dissapoint, and this album is no exception.
A great mix of up-beatand catchy songs, with some deep heart breakers to balance it out. It has something for all moods. Listen to it, then go back and listen again. There is wit and tenderness in his words that you do not see too often these days, and in a world of mainstream multiples, this album equals a little bit of diversity. From balards to rap, is there nothing he can't do?
Thanks Ed, and thanks @Smashbomb for my treat xxx
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) in Movies
Feb 17, 2018 (Updated Feb 17, 2018)
Four's a crowd
Twenty-sixth Godzilla movie (also eleventh Mothra movie, eighth Ghidorah movie and third Baragon movie, in case anyone's counting) recruits director Shusuke Kaneko, helmsman of the brilliant 90s Gamera trilogy; results are (perhaps inevitably) disappointing. A new incarnation of Godzilla threatens Japan, but a young tabloid TV journalist encounters a mysterious old man in an equestrian safety helmet who tells her of three legendary Guardian Monsters who will defend the country against this menace (Baragon is also a Guardian Monster but not famous enough to get his name in the title).
Some interesting innovations: first film to address (even obliquely) issues of Japanese culpability for events of the Second World War, first film where King Ghidorah is a good guy, first film with a scene set in Godzilla's intestinal tract. However, the end result is let down by a fatally uncertain tone - seemingly serious scenes of death and carnage are intercut with knockabout cheesy humour and in-jokes (in the English dub at least). The retro feel of the movie, hearkening back to the 60s films of the series, is not unwelcome, but its take on the formula is just plain weird. Most importantly it lacks the mythic grandeur of the Kaneko Gamera trilogy. Still better than the films which immediately preceded it, though.
Some interesting innovations: first film to address (even obliquely) issues of Japanese culpability for events of the Second World War, first film where King Ghidorah is a good guy, first film with a scene set in Godzilla's intestinal tract. However, the end result is let down by a fatally uncertain tone - seemingly serious scenes of death and carnage are intercut with knockabout cheesy humour and in-jokes (in the English dub at least). The retro feel of the movie, hearkening back to the 60s films of the series, is not unwelcome, but its take on the formula is just plain weird. Most importantly it lacks the mythic grandeur of the Kaneko Gamera trilogy. Still better than the films which immediately preceded it, though.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Just Mercy (2019) in Movies
Feb 7, 2020
Exactly what you'd expect
After much deliberation, I decided on watching Just Mercy today - in all honesty because out of my 3 choices, it was on the earliest.
From seeing the trailer, Just Mercy is exactly the film you'd expect it to be. Which in a way was a tad disappointing, but as it's a true story, it would have been a surprise if it had turned out differently. The performances are very good, Michael B Jordan admittedly using the same facial expressions in most scenes but still a good turn. Jamie Foxx excels as you'd expect him to, it's just a shame he's not on screen as much as you'd like and Brie Larson is underused too. There's a lot of feels in this film too, I'd dare anyone not to be welling up by the end and it's also telling a true story that is important and meaningful, yet slightly worrying that this sort of injustice and racism was still happening in the early 90s!
The problem I think is that whilst this is a good film, it is your typical Oscar fodder. Which is odd considering it's lack of nominations. Films like this are far too common nowadays and there wasn't anything in this that made it stand out. But despite this it's still good and worth a watch for the story alone.
From seeing the trailer, Just Mercy is exactly the film you'd expect it to be. Which in a way was a tad disappointing, but as it's a true story, it would have been a surprise if it had turned out differently. The performances are very good, Michael B Jordan admittedly using the same facial expressions in most scenes but still a good turn. Jamie Foxx excels as you'd expect him to, it's just a shame he's not on screen as much as you'd like and Brie Larson is underused too. There's a lot of feels in this film too, I'd dare anyone not to be welling up by the end and it's also telling a true story that is important and meaningful, yet slightly worrying that this sort of injustice and racism was still happening in the early 90s!
The problem I think is that whilst this is a good film, it is your typical Oscar fodder. Which is odd considering it's lack of nominations. Films like this are far too common nowadays and there wasn't anything in this that made it stand out. But despite this it's still good and worth a watch for the story alone.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) in Movies
May 12, 2021
To be clear, I absolutely love the first two Bill & Ted films, and I've been pretty excited to check this out, but now, a few days after finally getting around to watching it, I realise that I'm not, and never was, too sure what I wanted from it.
On the one hand, I have a huge amount of respect for the filmmakers in respect to how hard they commited to sticking to the original tone and comedy style. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it just didn't work. The zany comedy of the first two are perfect for the late 80s/early 90s era, but these days, the whole thing comes across as try hard and occasionally cringe worthy. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly some funny moments, but the overall experience left me cold.
I'm sad that I feel this way, as it's an unnecessary sequel that I hoped would turn out to be surprisingly great, but a few days down the line, and I've largely forgotten most of what happens.
Bill & Ted Face the Music is a good natured attempt at recapturing the magic, but ultimately falls flat. I know that a lot of people liked it, so if you are a fan of the series in any way, then certainly check it out, and I hope you find something to love, but it just wasn't for me (sad face)
On the one hand, I have a huge amount of respect for the filmmakers in respect to how hard they commited to sticking to the original tone and comedy style. Unfortunately, for me anyway, it just didn't work. The zany comedy of the first two are perfect for the late 80s/early 90s era, but these days, the whole thing comes across as try hard and occasionally cringe worthy. Don't get me wrong, there are certainly some funny moments, but the overall experience left me cold.
I'm sad that I feel this way, as it's an unnecessary sequel that I hoped would turn out to be surprisingly great, but a few days down the line, and I've largely forgotten most of what happens.
Bill & Ted Face the Music is a good natured attempt at recapturing the magic, but ultimately falls flat. I know that a lot of people liked it, so if you are a fan of the series in any way, then certainly check it out, and I hope you find something to love, but it just wasn't for me (sad face)