Official last movie you saw thread

The Compatriot (2023)

Czech drama short film. It's about two men who meet on New Year's Eve in 1944 in the middle of a snowstorm in a cottage cut off from civilization, one of them being an old Czech widower, the other one an SS officer. This is pretty much a single-location short film and they only really talk to each other, but the acting is very good so overall I can recommend it.

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (2024)

Croatian drama short film. It's about the Štrpci massacre of 1993, when 24 Bosniak Muslims were pulled off a train by the Serbian White Eagles paramilitary group and massacred and it centres on the sole non-Bosniak passenger on the train who tried to stand up against the attackers. This one's really good. We don't actually see the massacring, only the soldiers boarding a train and taking people with them. And then there's that one guy who actively stands up against them. And then the short film is over and the credits start with a dedication to that brave man. What's interesting is that he's not even the main character in this short about him. That would be another guy in his compartment that we follow around, get lots of closeups of and so on. For me it only really clicked when the credits started rolling and the dedication popped up. We're a bystander in that guy's story. Fascinating. Overall I thought this was really good so I can highly recommend it.

Young Guns (1988)

American Western action film. It's about the adventures of Billy the Kid during the Lincoln County War in 1870s New Mexico. Great cast (Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, Terry O’Quinn and more plus an uncredited appearance by Tom Cruise) delivering very good performances. The story is alright and I liked the final shootout, but I'm not really a big fan of Westerns, so for me this movie was just good. But overall I think I can recommend it, based on the cast alone.

Young Guns II (1990)

American Western action film. It's about the adventures of Billy the Kid in the years following the Lincoln County War and the years leading up to his documented death, as told by Brushy Bill Roberts, a man who in 1950 appeared claiming to be the real Billy the Kid. Great cast (Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christian Slater, James Coburn, Alan Ruck, Viggo Mortensen, Bradley Whitford, Scott Wilson and more plus an uncredited appearance by Jon Bon Jovi) delivering very good performances. For some reason I like this one more than the original. I can't really pinpoint the how and why, but I just enjoyed this one more. So yeah, I can recommend this.

The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

American crime drama thriller film. It's about two friends who are taken hostage by a murderous hitchhiker during an automobile trip to Mexico. Written and directed by the legendary Ida Lupino (which makes this the first American mainstream film noir directed by a woman), this movie feels very realistic, like something that could happen to you. I mean the opening credits prologue is "This is the true story of a man and a gun and a car. The gun belonged to the man. The car might have been yours-or that young couple across the aisle. What you will see in the next seventy minutes could have happened to you. For the facts are actual." It's also only 70 minutes long, so a really tightly paced movie. It never drags. And Edmond O’Brien, Frank Lovejoy and especially William Talman as the three main characters deliver some great performances. Overall I can definitely recommend this one.

All We Imagine as Light
This movie was not selected for the Oscar's becz my country's committee decided it wasnt 'Indian' enough. BS ofcourse. The film is about the bleak life of someone who left their home state to work in a metro city and how they deal with the hopelessness, but also how they find some hope within the experience. The director Payal K, used to be someone who in her student days, protested against the National Film School's appointment of a terrible chairperson. All We imagine as Light also had a tiny budget, non existent marketing. Inspite of such disheartening support at home, this film in 2024 has won the hearts of critics world wide. Famously to become the first film directed by an Indian woman to win the Grand prix at Cannes. It has won other awards at other festivals, I dont recall.

I actually watched this late November, on the big screen. The weird thing was that, this was the first movie id ever seen with just 2 other viewers in the entire theatre hall !! Still Im glad that I went, it was a wonderful film. And it felt great to support something that really deserved every bit of support.

Why did i suddenly decide to share about it today? Becz I just saw an Obama movie tweet recommending it haha

Transcendence (2014)

American science fiction thriller film. Rewatched this yesterday. It's about a scientist's drive for artificial intelligence takes on dangerous implications when his own consciousness is uploaded into one such program. It's been a while since I've watched this (anywhere between 2014 and 2017, because from 2018 on I've written down everything I've watched and I can't find it in there) and I kinda remember falling asleep the last time I've seen this. Yesterday I again felt like it went on for too long. It has a very good cast, though (Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Kate Mara and more). Last time I've seen this (let's just say 2017 for simplicity's sake) AI wasn't as prevalent and omnipresent as it is now, in 2024. So it's interesting to compare my viewpoint from 7 years ago with my current one. Overall I think this is a lot shallower than it felt last time around. As Peter Griffin would say "It insists upon itself.", so wether you want to watch it should be up to you. All I can say is that it's not that good, but also not that bad.

I usually don't go all out for the reviews of movies I'm only rewatching, but I felt that this one needed that added context. Maybe I'll do this for future rewatches of other movies, too. Maybe not.

Room Taken (2023)

Irish drama short film. It's about a guy who needs somewhere to sleep, so he secretly moves into the home of an elderly blind woman, leading them to form a unique bond. What stands out most for me is Gabriel Adewusi's performance, I'd definitely like to see more from him. Overall this is a very good short drama and I can recommend it.

City of darkness in a movie theatre

It was just incredible. Chinese John Wick but with a (really) stronger scenario.
We laughed, we were impressed, we also cried.
If you like Ip Man or John Wick, 100% you would love this one too.

Faust – Eine deutsche Volkssage/Faust – A German Folktale (1926)

German silent fantasy drama film. It's about the Devil making a bet with an Archangel that he can corrupt a righteous man's soul and the elderly alchemist who he makes a pact with. The cinematography is incredible, especially considering this movie is almost 100 years old. I can't really compare the story to the novel it's mainly based on, because while I'm sure we went through Goethe's Faust in school, it has been a while and to be honest, I don't remember much from it. But according to it's Wikipedia page "Murnau's film draws on older traditions of the legendary tale of Faust as well as on Goethe's classic 1808 version." anyway. This movie is a great example of German Expressionism. From the set designs to the cinematography and everything. Pure German Expressionism. So wether you read Faust in school because you had to, in private because you wanted to, or not at all, I think you should watch this great movie. It is highly entertaining, even a century later. And the cast is very good, too. Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings, William Dieterle, Camilla Horn and more. Overall I can highly recommend it.

Venom the Last Dance
It was ok, it is certainly not as good as the Deadpool franchise but it's still better than nothing
Looks like there will be some interesting movies coming out this spring

A Boy Called Christmas

A really warm and creative take on a Christmas story with a really nice cast (Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent, Kristen Wiig, Stephen Merchant, Toby Jones, Michiel Huisman) but the standout are by far the young boy who plays the main character, Henry Lawfull, and the very missed Dame Maggie Smith who narrates the story.
It has all the elements of Christmas movie but in a very original package that kids and adults will like. Be warned though, there are talks of loss and some mature themes that might require explaining to the smaller kids.
Highly recommended if you're looking for some Christmas warmth without the usual schmaltz.

Red One (2024)

American Christmas action film. It's about the head of North Pole security who teams up with a hacker to locate a kidnapped Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Good cast (Chris Evans, J. K. Simmons, Dwayne Johnson, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Marc Evan Jackson and more) in a decent Christmas movie with some nice action and some interesting lore. Overall, if you're looking for some light entertainment over the holidays, I can recommend this.

Trapped in Paradise (1994)

American Christmas crime comedy film. It's about three ex con brothers who rob a bank on Christmas Eve, but when their car crashes in the snow, they have to stay in the city they robbed until they can leave. It's a not that well known charming little Christmas movie with a good cast (Nicolas Cage, Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz, Mädchen Amick, Donald Moffat, Richard Jenkins and more). At its heart it's about the kindness of strangers, especially around Christmas. Sure, Nic Cage and Dana Carbey both kinda overplay their roles a bit and the movie might be a bit cheesy towards the end, but come on. It's a Christmas movie. It can get away with a seemingly perfect small town with the kindest of people living there. Overall I can recommend it.

Good old "Waterworld" 1992. Watched it as a kid, decided to rewatch now. Basically it's mad max only in post apocalyptic world where ice is melted because of global warming and most of the land is flooded with the sea. The main character is going to help a wiman with the child find an island which is not affected by the flood.

28 Days Later https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/

Transformers One
DAMN that was good! Michael Bay should take notes on how a REAL Transformers movie is done.

8/10

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

American animated family Christmas musical comedy short film. It's about a grumpy hermit who hatches a plan to steal Christmas. For some reason I haven't seen this. Of course I already know most of it through cultural osmosis, but I don't think I've actually deliberately watched this yet. And after watching this, it definitely deserves its status as an iconic Christmas classic. A great story, Boris Karloff as narrator and the Grinch himself... what more do you want? Highly recommended.

The Happytime Murders (2018)

American adult puppet buddy cop crime comedy film. It's about a puppet private investigator and a human police detective who must solve a murder spree of retired sitcom stars in a world where humans and living puppets co-exist. On IMDb there's one point of trivia that simply says "Silly string was used as puppet semen." and that should already tell you that this movie is definitely not for kids, despite being full of puppets. But yeah, it's not great. Then again, it doesn't take itself too serious anyway, so it's kind of a mixed bag. A story that feels like something you've already seen a lot of times but with some shock humour. What does stand out is the puppetry. That's very well made. Overall I think I can recommend it.

wallace and gromit: vengeance most fowl - such a great film
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_%26_Gromit:_Vengeance_Most_Fowl
and

Matilda the Musical - not as good as the original for me but still good
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_the_Musical_(film)

and finally saw Ron gone Wrong - which is fantastic best film of the 3 would totally pick this one if I had to recommend just one
and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron%27s_Gone_Wrong

1st - Rons gone wrong -
2nd - Wallace and gromit
3rd - Matilda the musical

Carry-On 🤙🏻

La Palma (S01) 🤙🏻

Bølgen / The Wave 🤙🏻

The Division: Agent Origins 👍🏻

The Impossible (2012)

Spanish biographical disaster drama film. It's about a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Crazy that this was Tom Holland's movie debut and he could absolutely hold a candle to Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor with his performance in it. Overall I think this was really good and I can definitely recommend it.

London Has Fallen 🤙🏻