[Film] Film 2019

Uncle Spielberg said:

Ad Astra best film of the year

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Acker79 said:

Gemini Man
It was a decent, if unspectacular, action movie. Having seen de-aging done so well in multiple Marvel movies, and in the Tron sequel almost a decade ago, it's surprising to see how poor it's done in a film that is being largely sold off the fact it includes a "young" Will Smith. I don't know the exact CG science behind it, but it feels like Marvel and Disney start from a base of a real person, and use the computer to remove the signs of aging. It feels like it is still them, the voice is coming out of the head we see. With this, while there were some scenes that looked like they were made that way, the overwhelming majority of them felt like they got a body double and used an animated version of a younger Will Smith and stuck it on someone else's body. That led to two problems, first, the technology isn't there yet, and it looked video game-ish, two, there is a disconnect - the voice you hear isn't coming from the head you see, it's a dubbing (yeah, I know most films involve looping and recording after the fact, but it is usually based on sound levels and simply recording the same thing that the person in the video is saying). But that aside, like I said at the start, a decent enough action flick.

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Oxy McFloppie-Tish said:

I've just watched and enjoyed it. Only noticed one odd CGI scene, and that didn't relate to the two Wills. It wasn't "deep", but there was enough besides the chases and fight scenes to keep it interesting. Some lovely locations. Worth a fiver with the "Monday Super Saver".

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Oxy McFloppie-Tish said:

I've just watched and enjoyed it. Only noticed one odd CGI scene, and that didn't relate to the two Wills. It wasn't "deep", but there was enough besides the chases and fight scenes to keep it interesting. Some lovely locations. Worth a fiver with the "Monday Super Saver".

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Uncle Spielberg said:

The main issue a lot of people have was the space monkeys moment. It was a wtf moment I agree but was a rationale as to why Brad carried on as the captain as the other captain was a complete melt so he had no choice but to take over, hence the mars landing so I do think there was a point to that scene

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Uncle Spielberg said:

Even if you did not relate to the premise the cinematography and musical score were stunnlngly brilliant so for that alone I would argue it is worth a look for anyone

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Uncle Spielberg said:

The main issue a lot of people have was the space monkeys moment. It was a wtf moment I agree but was a rationale as to why Brad carried on as the captain as the other captain was a complete melt so he had no choice but to take over, hence the mars landing so I do think there was a point to that scene

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Oxy McFloppie-Tish said:

I was replying to Acker's post about Gemini Man, not Ad Astra

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Oxy McFloppie-Tish said:

Okay, I love sci-fi, and also went to see Ad Astra today, and was very disappointed.
Spoiler - Brad never goes "to the stars".
There was a lot of nonsense. In no particular order... he climbs into the airlock of a rocket in a silo, as the countdown is descending through "5..4..3...". So one of the crew already on board decides to shoot him, misses, hits a cannister of some deadly gas, which escapes and kills those not wearing a spacesuit (i.e. those that aren't Brad). As a stowaway, he's the only crew-member left alive for the flight from Mars to Neptune.
On the moon, there's a shoot-up between him and unknown (or did I nod off) other spacemen on golf-carts. Brad's "rover" flies over the edge of a huge crater, and just carries on when it hits the bottom.
On an urgent 79 day flight to Neptune, he flies really close to Jupiter and Saturn. Did the planets just happen to line up? Brad seems to inject himself with some sort of bag - for urine while he hibernates? No, he's awake and floating, slowly going nuts.
Of course, Brad's mad, bad dad is at the centre of problems on the Neptune space station, hasn't been heard from in 30 years, and is assumed to be dead. He isn't but kills himself soon after Brad arrives. That really dealt with the issues.
Final spoiler - he triggers a nuclear explosion, to stop the "mysterious power surges that threaten the stability of the universe" ... and his spaceship "surfs" the blast-wave, taking him back to Earth.
Oh, and the en-route diversion to a ship transmitting a mayday signal - the crew have been killed by some sort of space monkeys. Totally irrelevant to the story.
Sorry, but the more I think about it, the worse it gets. Beautifully filmed, well acted, but a ridiculous plot.
If I ever watch it again, it will only be to put the above list in sequence and to add all the other stupid bits I missed.

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Recidivist said:

Spot on! Ludicrous plot without any attempt to stay the right side of credibility.

The bit that really got me was the attack on Brad’s moon buggy. What on earth do they want? Another moon buggy? They’ve got six (?) already!

In that environment even the smallest mistake means certain death. If there’s one place you’d expect cooperation by all inhabitants it’s the moon......

Also amazing that Brad’s super-intelligent father couldn’t figure out how to stop the pulses from his ship destroying the Earth/Universe after umpteen years brooding!?

Last, but certainly not least, Brad’s trip back to his own ship with just a metal panel protecting him from the umpteen bits of rock in the asteroid belt flying around at high speed.....


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Uncle Spielberg said:

I loved this film not for the science of it all I loved it for the loss of a dad, a disconnect. I loved it as it resonated very deeply wiith me. I thought it was a magnificent work. I think Ad Astra was an amazing film. Best this year by far

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The Clamp said:

The Peanut Butter Falcon.

Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagan play a man on run form justice and a man on the run form a care home where his Down’s syndrome has him treated like a child/old person, respectively.
A simple story, beautifully told with some lovely homages to Twain.
Shia gives a career best and Zack is a joy to watch.
I liked this. One of the best trips to the cinema in a while. Certainly better than the hugely overhyped Joker on the drama stakes.

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herecomesaregular said:

Thanks for the heads up. This one looks interesting.

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The Clamp said:

I rated it. It’s touching without being overly mawkish. It’s not showing in that many places but Odeon are showing it at midday for the next few days.

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Acker79 said:

It's also showing at the duke of york's as the evening film for the next few days at least.

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