2021 Films League Table

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
6. Freaky
7. Reminiscence
8. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
9. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
10. Jungle Cruise (okay)
11. Mortal Kombat
12. Godzilla vs Kong
13. A Quiet Place Part 2
14. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
15. Monster Hunter

Jungle Cruise is very much in the image of 'The Mummy', the brother and sister roles are exactly the same, and Emily Blunt fills the shoes of Rachel Weisz very well.

My problem with it was the casting of the Rock. I like him in most things. He was superb in the Jumanji films. And he's fine in the humour scenes. But the thing is this: Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser could flip between cocky overconfidence and I'm-going-to-die panic. Dwayne Johnson cannot do panic. His voice and presence are too confident and reassuring. This deprives this kind of film of the suspense and tension that the Indy, Mummy and Pirates films had.

It was never scary.

Martin

[Stomski]

Aug 25, 2021 18:03:18 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

Dwayne Johnson cannot do panic.

Disagree... He really didn't want to get in the ring with Goldberg.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Aug 25, 2021 19:59:24 GMT Stomski said:

He really didn't want to get in the ring with Goldberg.

I stand corrected.

I guess it must have been poor direction, then, rather than casting.

Martin

[The Doctor]

The Tomorrow War: a perfect example of how to take a great premise and produce it in the most dull, stupid and insipid way possible. Utter shite.

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (the second-best MCU film currently on general release)
6. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
7. Freaky
8. Reminiscence
9. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
10. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
11. Jungle Cruise
12. Mortal Kombat
13. Godzilla vs Kong
14. A Quiet Place Part 2
15. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
16. Monster Hunter

Half-way through Shang-Chi I still thought it was the run-of-the-mill martial arts movie suggested by the trailer, which I was only watching because it had the MCU logo slapped on it - and I was expecting to put it around level with Snake Eyes in the league table.

The second half of the film is largely not represented in the trailer, and is where it comes into its own... and where it requires a big screen to appreciate.

The main weakness is that whereas Black Widow has real chemistry between the four 'family' members, who all have their own charisma and screen presence, that chemistry is lacking in Shang-Chi, and Tony Leung out-charismas the rest of the cast combined (even Michelle Yeoh), eclipsing everyone else in every scene he's in.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Correction: I've just seen the 'final trailer' on YouTube. It does reveal a bit too much of the second half of the film. Recommend avoiding it if you can.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
6. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
7. Freaky
8. Copshop (slick shoot-'em-up)
9. Reminiscence
10. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
11. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
12. Jungle Cruise
13. Mortal Kombat
14. Godzilla vs Kong
15. A Quiet Place Part 2
16. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
17. Monster Hunter

Martin

[Andy Turnbull]

1. Black Widow - really enjoyed it, great chemistry between the 4 principle characters.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. No Time to Die (solid 4-star Bond)
6. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
7. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
8. Freaky
9. Copshop
10. Reminiscence
11. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
12. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
13. Jungle Cruise
14. Mortal Kombat
15. Godzilla vs Kong
16. A Quiet Place Part 2
17. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
18. Monster Hunter

Re: No Time to Die:

- If your memory of Spectre is vague, you must re-watch it before seeing the new one or much of it will fall flat - it's very much Part 2 of 2.
- Avoid spoilers like the plague.

Martin

[The Doctor]

But Spectre was pish.

-Ralph

[Pinwig]

Is this one on a short turnaround for the Blu-ray? Or are we back to normal?

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Oct 1, 2021 22:29:48 GMT Pinwig said:

Is this one on a short turnaround for the Blu-ray? Or are we back to normal?

Intelligent guesses are currently for the second half of December - either to arrive on doormats just before Christmas, or else New Year.

It's not a film that has to be seen on the big screen, but spoilers will utterly ruin it, so if you care about this film and plan to wait for the Blu-ray, you should probably go back into lockdown for 3 months, but without TV or Internet.

Er... you're a school teacher. You're screwed. Better see it before Monday or else call in sick.

Oct 1, 2021 21:47:01 GMT The Doctor said:

But Spectre was pish.

Then you'll probably think this one is pish also.

Martin

[Pinwig]

Oct 2, 2021 5:07:37 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

It's not a film that has to be seen on the big screen, but spoilers will utterly ruin it, so if you care about this film and plan to wait for the Blu-ray, you should probably go back into lockdown for 3 months, but without TV or Internet.

Er... you're a school teacher. You're screwed. Better see it before Monday or else call in sick.

That's a worry. Although I can't see any of the kids in my class being interested in James Bond. Hmm. Not sure what to do.

[The Doctor]

Free Guy is on Disney Plus and Black Widow is next week. Looking forward to seeing them both.

-Ralph

[Pinwig]

Oh really? Wow. Black Widow on as in watchable, or as in pay us extra first?

[The Doctor]

For regular subs with no extra fee on Wednesday IIRC.

-Ralph

[Pinwig]

That's great.

He says, knowing Black Widow is the only MCU Blu-Ray he doesn't own and will inevitably buy it anyway.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Free Guy is awesome. Everyone must watch it.

Buying it on disc tomorrow.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. No Time to Die
6. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
7. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
8. Freaky
9. Copshop
10. Reminiscence
11. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
12. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
13. Space Jam: A New Legacy (not this year’s worst film by a long shot)
14. Jungle Cruise
15. Mortal Kombat
16. Godzilla vs Kong
17. A Quiet Place Part 2
18. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
19. Monster Hunter

First time I can remember being literally the only person in a cinema auditorium, but it’s a children’s film released a while back, and I went at 10am on a school Monday in James Bond’s release week, so no big surprise.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. In the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. The Alpinist (mind-blowing and thought-provoking)
6. No Time to Die
7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
8. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
9. Freaky
10. Copshop
11. Reminiscence
12. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
13. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
14. Space Jam: A New Legacy
15. Jungle Cruise
16. Mortal Kombat
17. Godzilla vs Kong
18. A Quiet Place Part 2
19. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
20. Monster Hunter



Captain Kirk and Ethan Hunt, eat your hearts out!

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. in the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. The Alpinist
6. No Time to Die
7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
8. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
9. Freaky
10. Copshop
11. Reminiscence
12. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
13. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
14. Space Jam: A New Legacy
15. Malignant (sick and twisted, but clever)
16. Jungle Cruise
17. Mortal Kombat
18. Godzilla vs Kong
19. A Quiet Place Part 2
20. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
21. Monster Hunter

Martin

[The Doctor]

Black Widow: ok.

-Ralph

[browny87]

I have finally ventured out to the cinema post covid, went to watch Shang Chi, really enjoyed it, but i am a sucker for martial arts films and marvel and joining the 2 together was bound to be a winner.

Didnt realise how much i missed going to the cinema, really good night

[The Doctor]

Free Guy: ok.

-Ralph

[manmiles]

My Wife and I watched 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', the original which she was just seeing for the first time (never much of a horror fan when she was a teenager and I had a misspent youth and a lot of dodgy Brighton video shops) and I hadn't seen since VHS. A fun time was had by all and she wants to check out the sequels which I've never seen outside of 'New Nightmare. My slasher films of choice was mostly 'Halloween' and it's incredibly dire sequels back in my teens.

I've been re-watching a lot of old horror films I've not seen in a while (The Evil Dead, Halloween Friday the 13th, Hellraiser) and for some, it is weird to see them in such pristine picture quality, which is great if you want to see how good these films can look, but bad if you find yourself feeling nostalgic for the crappy quality of a VHS you bought from someone who definitely has some prior arrests on his record and whose store smells of some form of human waste materials. Although, it is nice to watch Halloween and actually see what's going on, my old video (which also contained Halloween II... the original sequel) was so dark, you were doing a lot of the filling in yourself. Really hoping 'Halloween Kills' is good though, I liked the 2018 sequelboot where Jamie Lee Curtis is playing Patti Smith.

That said, the remastered edition of Phantasm? *Chef's kiss.*

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Oct 13, 2021 22:17:02 GMT The Doctor said:

Free Guy: ok.

'Ok'? It's pure cinematic joy!

SPOILER: Click to show

Still, from you I'll settle for 'ok'.

Waiting for you to judge 'The Suicide Squad' as 'tolerable'.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

1. in the Heights
2. The Suicide Squad
3. Black Widow
4. Free Guy
5. The Alpinist
6. No Time to Die
7. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
8. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
9. Freaky
10. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (an improvement on the first one)
11. Copshop
12. Reminiscence
13. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
14. The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
15. Space Jam: A New Legacy
16. Malignant
17. Jungle Cruise
18. Mortal Kombat
19. Godzilla vs Kong
20. A Quiet Place Part 2
21. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
22. Monster Hunter

So...

SPOILER: Click to show

Venom has crossed over into the MCU. That's nice.

The trailers for Venom 2 include the Shang-Chi 4DX trailer, a trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home and a trailer for Morbius.

They talked about James Bond being the saviour of cinema, but seriously, he's got nothing on Marvel.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

My Free Guy steelbook is here.

Martin

[Bogatan]

1. In the Heights
2. Fast and Furious 9

3. Black Widow - Nice low stakes fun movie. Widows family are fun. Does feel like its got lost in the shuffle with all the Disney+ shows hogging the headlines.

4. Jungle Cruise - A film that is definitely set in the Pirates universe. The inevitable Disneyland Cinematic Universe in one step closer. But that shouldnt put you off seeing it.

5. The Suicide Squad - Its a Gunn film so I expected it to be good, but this was mostly better than that. And even better it means he can now focus on The Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special. Which I have to accept can neve rlive up to my expectations.

6. Free Guys - Im having a very good year of films. I suppose that makes sense as I really have to want to see something to go to a cinema to see it at the mo. Still Free Guy is fighting it out with Jungle Cruise for biggest surprise. Goes beyond the silly film shown in the trailers and gets a bit more out of the concept.

*Shang-Chi : Loved it.

* Venom 2 : Didn't hate it. I think its a better film than the first but in trying to recapture the madness that made the first one fun this one felt a bit forced at times.

What I did hate, with a passion was 4DX. My cinema has been refitted, I thought this would be a good thing, but all but the last showing of the night for Venom 2 are 4DX. I hadnt experienced it before so I thought okay lets give it a go. Its terrible, everything annoying about 3D but designed to annoy all your other senses at the same time. It added nothing to the experience. The wind machine drowned out a lot of the audio. The movements so jerky it was hard to pay any attention to what was on screen. And every so often they spray you with water.

The foot rests are too high for me so I had to dangle my feet over the edge. My foot then nearly got crushed under the machinary during a particularly violent bit of chair movement.

Literally will have to give up my cineworld card if they continue to make 4DX my only screening option in the future.