What recent films have you seen?

[Professional Tourist]

Lomm, regarding A Walk in the Woods -- I watched it again, while my internet was down, and actually liked it a little more on second viewing, probably because my expectations were low and so I was able to appreciate what good bits there were. But there were so many wasted opportunities to jazz up the story, particularly as concerns meetups with other people. For example, at one point they are entering a rest area where a lot of hikers are hanging out. Instead of stopping to talk/interact with some of them, they walk straight through and continue silently on their way. When they do interact with others, those encounters are usually brief, meaningless, and/or annoying. And I still had no idea where they were most of the time, or where they ended up -- even though I looked for license plates on the vehicles. Plus, one would expect a journey like this to be a life-changing experience, at least in some ways. But it's not. He's the same guy at the end, who's just come back home from a very long walk.

If, after seeing this film, you watch and compare it to Reese Witherspoon's 2014 film Wild, I think you'll see why that one is so much more successful.

[Lomm]

I really enjoyed Wild, and recommended it to several people. It sounds like Walk in the Woods missed its own point.

[RedRiver]

Is ROOM based on the book from a couple of years ago? Woman and her child held captive for long time? If so, I liked the book. Not sure how well it would translate to film.

[movieman1957]

At the heart of most MAD MAX films there lies a western. They are often short on plot, long on action and there is a group on the run. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD keeps to this tradition in fine and exciting form.

It's all about the chase. With the legends of the car chase from "Bullet" and the Indian chase on the desert from "Stagecoach" running through my head the action and destruction barely lets up for two hours. The plot involves a woman (Charlize Theron) and her small crew going on a supply run that really is an escape from a prison/colony to a place where she was born. Soon it is noticed they are off track and the lords of the colony are in hot pursuit. It is relentless, white-knuckle excitement the whole way.

At the helm of the picture is George Miller, who gave the previous MAX films and the wonderful BABE. I would imagine this man could fall within the bounds of mad scientist and film genius. This is more for pulling off a vision for the film than it being great drama. The costumes, makeup, vehicle designs and, most of all, the stunt work take this thing to another level of film making. It is a unique imagination that brings this kind of film to life.

Granted, this will not be to everyone's taste. Some may find it tedious and sparse but for pure imagination and exciting action it seems hard to better this one.

[Lomm]

Last week I watched Deadpool, the now top-grossing R rated movie of all time. It's crass, profane, irreverent...and so much fun. Not for everybody, but I thought it was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time.

[Masha]

I watched: Frozen (2013)

I found it to be much what I expected. It is glamorous Disney fare playing off classic fairy tale. I found the plot thin and storyline forced. I feel the animation was wonderfully superb in bringing characters to life. I did not particularly like: Olaf but: Sven was extremely well-done. A few less songs would have better suited my taste. I was sad that decision was made to depict: Elsa in her tower as buxom tramp.

There were elements in trailers and promotions which made me want to watch this movie as soon as it became reasonably available. I am glad that I was able to watch it but I doubt I will watch it again in near future.

[Lomm]

I watched A Walk in the Woods tonight, and quite enjoyed it. I love hiking and I'm getting old, so the combination was irresistible (though I'm not as old as the two stars). Made me wish summer was already here as I have two vacations planned, one solo and one with my kids, that involve lots of hiking and scenery, but hopefully less situational comedy than this film.

[moira finnie]

I liked A Walk in the Woods, but not nearly as much as Bill Bryson's marvelously inspiring and truly funny book. I had the feeling that the filmmakers were worried about the audience attention span throughout the movie, which only scratched the surface of the characters and their experiences. Every time there was a lull, and a moment that might have allowed a viewer to savor the relative quiet and beauty of a forest in Summer, Nick Nolte got a line, burped, or wore a garbage bag while doing his laundry. He was funny, (and occasionally moving) but after awhile his shtick got a bit annoying. That character did that in the book too, but didn't grate quite so much. I like Redford in the comic scenes when he throws away a dry line with style and in one recent movie, All Is Lost (2013), I thought he might be shedding his on-screen diffidence, letting his guard down as an actor for once and taking a bravura turn in the Autumn of his career. Alas, the turtle seems to have withdrawn again, at least that's how I sensed it here. Maybe it was the script, the director, or simply that Redford's many other interests affected his performance.

[Vienna]

I can go for months before I find a new film I want to see. Recently there have been several I have enjoyed, all within a short space of time.
Spotlight, Hail Caesar,Trumbo,The Truth. All of which I enjoyed ,especially Trumbo which is set in 1940s Hollywood at the time of the blacklisting. Bryan Cranston lead a great cast. It got me looking into this dark period and I found lots of clips of the hearings on You Tube. What a virulent, frightening time it was.

[RedRiver]

I'd like to see TRUMBO. I watched a documentary on the writer a few years ago. That was quite interesting.

[movieman1957]

I recently saw "Bridge of Spies." I thought Hanks and Mark Rylance were quite good. There is a deliberate pacing with no action to speak of and I also didn't get the sense of menace that one might feel dealing with the Communists in that time. This seemed especially pointed in that he goes without the official backing of the government.

Dark and cold to match the German winter the film evokes the time period well. It may not be something you would watch often but I think it is worth seeing.

[Lomm]

I saw Batman v Superman last week. I'm a fan of superhero movies but this one was just so dark. Wonder Woman was the best part, in her 2 minutes or so, which gives me hope for her upcoming solo movie. But the rest was just so grim.

[Rita Hayworth]

I saw Batman v Superman last week. I'm a fan of superhero movies but this one was just so dark. Wonder Woman was the best part, in her 2 minutes or so, which gives me hope for her upcoming solo movie. But the rest was just so grim.

I saw it and it's so bad and I just don't like the total darkness and like you said here Lomm, it's so grim! ... I find Ben a poor choice to play Batman and I'm not a fan of Henry playing Superman.

[RedRiver]

I am now officially out of touch with modern movies. I didn't know Affleck was playing Batman until about two days ago. Guess I'm getting old. I just don't care.

[Lomm]

Affleck wasn't bad as Batman, but the character was a psychopath. Visually, he was the best looking Batman ever on screen.