Original poster - credit: Associated Film Distribution
(according to Wikipedia anyway)
Plot
The film starts with the Muppets holding a screening of their first movie (yeah, before Spaceballs, Mel Brooks was in this movie, probably where he got the idea for a movie within a movie, WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID BROOKS!!!! (Warning - the last sentence might contain sarcasm, for a brighter tomorrow). It's rather silly, as you'd come to expect with a Muppet movie, lots of one-liners and then the opening credits roll.
Imagine trying to keep this lot
under control, no wonder Kermit
always sounds stressed!
No credits, can't find any.
Kermit the Frog is living in his swamp, singing about rainbows and being a mate with a crocodile, when a talent agent called Bernie (the late, great, da-da-DDDDDDAAAAA, Dom DeLuise) bumps into Kermit and convinces him to attend a talent audition in Holywood. When he starts this journey, he meets Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) and his assistant Max (Austin Pendleton), who try to persued him to be their spokes-frog for Hoppers' Fried Frog Legs Business. Kermit gives a hard pass, but they won't take no for an answer and a pursuit throughout the film starts.
Along the way to Holywood, Kermit meets up with Fozzie (bar-fight), Scooter (managing the Electric Mayhem band), Gonzo and Camilla (car crash), Sweetums (selling said cars to a shady car salesman), Miss Piggy (beauty pageant) and others along the way. Somehow, they all join Kermit on his dream to entertain the world, apart from Sweetums who they forget, and the Electric Mayhem, who are too busy jamming. To be honest, it sounds more like a cult when you read it on Wikipedia, but Kermit is too nice for that. Fozzie though, he'd be in a cult in a flash, never trusted him.
Mel Brooks, stealing material! ;-)
No credits, can't find any!
After a date between Miss Piggy and Kermit goes wrong (oh, those guys and their misunderstandings), they are kidnapped by Hopper and his goons, taken to Professor Max Krassman (Mel Brooks aka, scene-stealer (We know what you did!!!! (Must confess, love his stuff, but also love being silly))), a scientist who is going to brainwash Kermit. This ultimately fails, because of reasons, you know what you're getting with a Muppets film, they're not going to end up harmed. That would be a dark and silly film if they did that, see The Happytime Murders for further details of that.
After they escape, the gang escape and get stranded in the desert. But they're rescued by the Electric Mayhem band, as the gang had given them a script so they'd know where to find them. It's a plot twist that would make Deadpool laugh. :-) Whilst this is happening, Hooper is sick of his gangs' failure to capture Kermit, so he hires a Frog Killer to hunt them down. This prompt Max to dress as a Motorcycle Cop to warn Kermit and the gang. Kermit decides enough is enough, telling Max to inform Hopper to meet Kermit in the conveniently close ghost-town, which looks nothing like an abandoned cowboy set.
Muppets doing their Warriors take
No credits, can't find any!
Before Hooper and his cronies arrive, Kermit and Co meet Dr Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, who are using the town to conduct experiments in secret. Mostly making things bigger with marshmallows, which they leave carelessly around. Hooper arrives and after a heartwarming shout with Kermit, decides to kill the frog as he will not be his spokes-frog (a dark twist which was not expected). However, Animal has eaten one of the giant growing marshmallows, smashing through the roof of Honeydew's lab building, scaring away the bad guys.
This leaves the group very little time to make it to Holywood, where they go into the offices of studio executive Lew Lord (Orson Wells), asking if he would consider giving them a shot at fame. He agrees, giving them the standard 'rich and famous' contract. This leads to the gang singing a song in front of a pastiche of their adventures, which is destroyed because of "reasons". Then, a rainbow shines on them, more muppets (and the gang from Sesame Street) turn up. Then Sweetums runs through the screen of the original screening (remember the start of the movie) and a big argument starts, roll credits, etc.
Pros
Muppets were always big on
musical numbers, part of their charm.
No credits, can't find any.
+ The story is a simple one, it plays to the strength of the muppets. A thin plot to have some comedy beats, chicken flirting, bad-bear jokes from a cult leader in the making, a million cameos and a happy ending to send the audience home with a smile. What more would you want from one of these movies?
+ Whilst you get the whole gang here, it focuses on the core of Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and Piggy. Each of the other Muppets gets their time to shine but never to the determent of the movie. It's rather quick in that regard.
+ The songs are catchy and will be familiar to anyone who grew up with The Muppets. Nothing is out of place there, as it's standard for these movies to have musical numbers. It would be a rather strange movie if it didn't have such numbers, a dark and depressing world indeed.
+ It's also an easy movie to watch, you don't need to read too much into it, as it's got the depth of an empty can of pop. But this isn't a serious film, it's the first Muppet Movie, so you're not gonna get something like a Wes Anderson production!
Cons
Have you had an accident that wasn't
your fault?
No credits, can't find any!
+ Like a lot of Muppets films, it's over heavy on the cameos. I mean there are sixteen cameos in this movie alone. Some of them I didn't know, but when said person has a line or two, you soon realise that they are the cameo for that scene. I've always been a fan of just a few famous faces turning up, but, to be honest, this is just me splitting hairs.
Final Verdict
The Muppet Movie is a perfect, all-ages entertainment film, it's as offensive as your favourite meal and still makes me chuckle. It's by no means a perfect movie, some parts look a little rough around the edges. However, that's part of its charm, because it has that innocent, rough and ready edge. The real art of the muppets is when they break the fourth wall, it feels natural. When people encounter them, they don't look shocked at these puppets, they live in a reality where the Muppets are part of the everyday encounters that they have. People just accept them for who they are, which is a lesson some people need to learn about other humans, just so you can get the subtle hint, respect everyone and don't be a douche canoe. You don't come into a Muppet movie looking for high drama, you watch it to be entertained for an hour and a bit, some positive message and Gonzo being shot out of a cannon. For full disclosure, I've always identified with Gonzo, we could make a business called Whatever Incorporated. Take that Disney, me and my blue buddy will take on the world!
Who wears short shorts!
No credits, can't find any
I know I put the cameo's in the cons, but to be honest, that was only to prevent you from looking at an empty piece of screen. Cameo's are part of the deal, a natural step from their guts of the week on the Muppets show. Look at the list of people who were cameos here: Richard Pryor, Steve Martin (my favourite of the lot), James Coburn, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, Elliott Gould, Telly Savalas, Carol Kane and more. It was a good section of up & comers, with some legends (see Dom DeLuise and Orson Wells), just like the Muppets themselves.
And here is the happy ending....
Before Sweetums runs in....
No credits, can't find any!
If people are expecting a bashing, they'll have to go to another blog, as it ain't happening here. For me, The Muppet Movie is the start of a series of movies, one which starts with the right tone, a little gem of innocence and fun. Well, apart from the wanting to kill Kermit bit, that was just strange. But overall, you would be hard pushed to find a film that was not originally owned by Disney (which it is now, more on that in other reviews) that still feels as comforting now as it would have done when it was new. Sure, it's no 10-star classic, but it's a good one all the same.
7 out of ten - A fun-filled caper to the Muppets cinematic catalogue, one which sets the tones for movies to come.
This man would be no use in a
Supermarket Sweep challenge!
No credits, couldn't find any.
In 1936, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is in Peru, trying to “retrieve” (also known as “stealing”) a valuable idol, lost deep in the jungle. He’s double-crossed, left for dead, and has to escape a massive boulder, as he’s no good at guessing the weight of a small, golden statuette (I bet Cash for Gold would have given him £12-fiddy for it). The main swerve comes just after he’s escaped the boulder to be confronted by French archaeologist Dr. René Belloq (Paul Freeman). He and his hired help “retrieve” the idol for themselves. laughing in an evil way, to show they're bad guys. Dr. Jones runs off and flies away with his whip and a snake between his legs (in a plane, he’s not a bird mutant, that would be weird).
Evil, but dashing!
No credits, couldn't find any!
Back at his day job as a University/College lecturer, a perfect cover for a grave robber, his students make inappropriate passes at him., whilst he gives infrequent lectures on lost art and archaeology. He is approached by Dr. Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to meet with two Army agents, who want to talk to him, probably about his gold fixation. But no, it turns out that his old tutor, Abner Ravenwood, is in danger from Nazis who want something in his possession. They figure out that as he owned “The staff of Ra”, and that the Nazi’s were probably looking for the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Due to its mystical properties, it’s a formidable weapon, which could make any army invincible (cue spooky music).
Indian goes to Nepal in search of Abner, with a Nazi in tow (see what happens when you sleep on a plane, not something I would do), where he finds Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), bar owner, daughter of Abner. She is now in possession of the Staff of Ra as Abner is dead, sad times that are swept under the rug. But Indiana is not getting the medallion any time soon, as Marion holds a grudge over the way that her "inappropriate" relationship with Indiana had previously ended. After kicking him out, Arnold Thoht (Ronald Lacey) and Nazi soldiers arrive and try to “retrieve” said staff, along with a bit of torture (no laughs at this point). Cue the return of Dr. Jones, big fight ensues, Nazis are branded, the medallion is rescued but Marion’s bar is burnt down in the process. So, she gives the medallion to Indiana, but as he burnt down her bar, she’s coming along for the ride.
Fight or toilet, what a choice.
No credits, can't find any!
Next stop, Egypt! They meet up with Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), another “retriever” of items for museums, bad boy that he is, but loveable too. He has a monkey, this is a subplot. They are in a race against time, as Belloq and the Nazis are there, looking for the “Well of Souls”. They know this is the key to finding the Ark of the Covenant, spooky music, moody Indiana with a bad belly, drama. There is a brief meeting between Belloq and Jones, Marion is kidnapped/killed in an explosion (similar to what was happening in real life for Harrison Ford, as he had a jippy tummy), and the monkey turns out to be a Nazi spy and accidentally eats poisoned food intended for Indiana. Never trust cutie animals, Scooby-Doo is probably a closet Tory.
I hope he's got some sunscreen on!
No credits, couldn't find any!
Due to Indiana realising that the Nazis still need the medallion to find the Well of Souls, he figures he still should look for the Ark. Never mind mourning your dead ex-girlfriend, looking for a shiny trinket weapon is more important! With the Staff of Ra completed with a big stick, it's a map that will show anyone who’s in the right place, at the right time, the exact location of the Ark. So, they go to the Nazi digging site, where Indiana finds Marion is alive (there was much rejoicing), promptly leaving her, so not to stop him finding the Well of Soul. What a bastard! The said bastard found the Ark site in a dramatic scene with a model and sunlight, which led to him finding (dum, dum, dum) the Ark. But, the Nazis and Belloq “retrieve” the Ark from Indiana, rough up Sallah, and throw Marion into the Well of Souls with a lot of snakes. Spooky music, C-3PO & R2-D2 hiding the hieroglyphics, lots of screaming - standard.
Being the resourceful chap he is, Indiana and Marion escape their snakey death, Indiana and Marion chase the Nazis by air, sea, and land until a Belloq gets sick of their constant pursuit. After Indiana stops them whilst holding a bazooka, he dares Dr. Jones to destroy the Ark, knowing he won’t as he’s too committed to the preservation of knowledge and artefacts. Know thy enemy and you will know yourself! The Nazis capture Indiana and Marion, taking them along to secret location where Belloq is going to “test” the Ark. Why did he not just be done with them there, is a mystery, but it proves to be a flaw (sort of, I'll get to that).
Shits about to get real, time to hide!
No credits, couldn't find any!
So, on an unspecified island in the Aegean Sea, Indiana and Marion are tied to a post, whilst Belloq recites the ritual to open the Ark. At this point, Dr. Jones tells Marion to close her eyes, which they both promptly do. After thinking that the ritual has failed, Angels come out of the Ark and proceed act all nice and then they MELT THE NAZIS and make Belloq’s head explode. The Angels leave Indiana and Marion alone, go back into the sand and the Ark closes. The film ends with the Ark is in the ends of the Americans, locked in Area 51, whilst Dr. Jones and Marion walk away after Jones and Brody have been given hush money. End film, roll credits, da-da-da-DA-da-da-daaaaaaa......
For a detailed plot, you can look at the Wikipedia page here.
Pros
+ This is a classic movie, in terms of visual effects, storytelling and iconic moments. At the time of its release, the public loved it and it was an international smash. Not hard to see why it's a joy to the eyes in terms of love letters to the silver screeen.
+ Because of the lack of computers at the time, the effects/models were used to fantastic effect. Whilst the melting Nazis still scares me to this day (more on that later), I cannot fault them, as they worked so well!
See, beards are cool!
No credits, couldn't find any!
+ As the story is basic, it’s very effective. The basic idea is an Action Saturday drama the influenced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg into becoming filmmakers. It a swashbuckling drama, plot not too deep, plenty of action, and the hero goes into the sunset. Somethings don’t need to be complicated, they just need to be to the point. This is something that George Lucas will lose over the years, see Attack of the Clones for proof.
+ The action sequences (the boulder scene, looking for Marion in Egypt, burning bar barney, etc) are excellent, with lots of quotable lines too. How many people have wanted to do the scene with the man flourishing a sword, only to be ad-libbed shot as Harrison Ford had the trots that day? See, there is a good side to food poisoning.
Boo, bad guys!!!!
No credits, can't find any!
+ Paul Freeman as Dr. René Belloq is one of the best pieces of film casting ever. Yes, he is a flat two-dimensional villain who's only on the side of the Nazis as he wants to find the Ark first. He's only doing it for the glory, and to beat Dr. Jones once again. He is, after all, merely the shadowy version of Jones. To be honest, that character should have fallen flat on its thin arse! However, Paul Freeman fills the role in a way that makes him dashing, dynamic, and dare I say it, sympathetic to a certain degree. Both he and Indiana Jones are after the same thing, the pursuit of the Ark and to have their names attached to its legend. He's just cast as the bad guy in this one, but he can wear a white suit in a way that I cannot.
She could drink us all under
the table and still be up the
next day to have a fry up!
No credits, couldn't find any!
+ Karen Allen's portrayal of Marion Ravenwood was spot on. She can drink people under the table, is never useless, and is willing to beat up anyone who wants to fight her. I always thought they should have made a spin-off of adventure with her too, instead of The Temple of Doom (that review will be coming soon).
Cons
- The Big Bang Theory ruining this. If you’ve not seen the episode (Season 7, Episode 4 The Raiders Minimization), here is the spoiler. The characters Sheldon Cooper and his girlfriend Amy Farrah Fowler watch Raiders of the Lost Ark, Amy stuns Sheldon by pointing out the fact that Indiana Jones's actions have no effect on the ending of the movie. This is sadly true, cause if Dr. Jones was not there, the Nazis would have got the medallion sooner, found the Ark sooner and melted sooner. Whilst this has nothing to do with the contents of the film which onscreen, every time I think of it, I sigh a little. It really makes me sad that when you truly look at it, the theory holds water. This was the sort of flaw I was referring to before, even there, it made no difference. Damn you, Amy, damn you!
Just looking at this photo gives
me the shivers, not in a good way!
Please, someone, check my house for
melting bad guys!
No credits, couldn't find any!
- Now, about those melting Nazis. Why is one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history in the cons? Well, you have to go back to 1981, an age where the internet didn’t exist, and a five-year-old Eddie saw in the cinema and screamed...a lot. To this day, I still get the shivers and nausea thinking about it. It’s not a real con to anyone but me, I get that. But this cons’ list is very short, so I need to add something here.
- Whilst you never need too much depth in these movies, it might have been nice to have Sallah have more of a backstory. No, just me again, okay.
- Are we going to discuss Marion saying “I was a child!” at Indiana when discussing their past relationship? No, just brushing it under the carpet? Okay........
Final Verdict
This is how you find Wally!
No credits, couldn't find any!
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a classic, one of the cornerstones which both Spielberg and Lucas have rested their reputation on. For being a film that is influenced by those early cinematic shorts of years gone by, it's a love letter to a simpler time. A time where a man can pursue his dreams of finding treasure, be a lecturer on the side, have a dashing adventure, and wear a wide-brimmed hat in style! You're technically rooting for a grave robber, but he's the good guy, the American hero who is all about the pursuit of history, so stop your shouting!
Whilst I sound very sarcastic in that last sentence, I do hold this movie in high regard. Yes, some of it has started to date awfully, and I don't mean the effects (still terrified, damn your special effects team Lucas and Spielberg, damn them to hell). Yes, the "I was a child" has always made my skin crawl, always will. But in terms of iconic scenes, stupid, yet effective dialogue, Nazis melting, and short fights due to a jippy tummy, it's a true cornerstone of late 20th-century cinema. It won five Oscars and many other awards along the way, leading to three sequels of differing quality.
Sallah doesn't like the idea of a
the fifth film either!
No credits, can't find any!
As I write this, there's a 5th film in this series being created, with Harrison Ford doing the fedora once more. I hoped that The Crystal Skull (which I will review at some point) would be the end of it. But no, Disney wants some Indiana Jones bucks to add to their treasure chest. I don't think I'm alone in saying I hope it doesn't happen. There does not need to be another movie! The end to the third one (The Last Crusade, again, a review will happen at some point) with him, his Dad, Brody and Sallah riding off into the sunset was perfect. But, that is a discussion for another day.
Thin plot aside and questionable moral judgments, Raiders of the Lost Ark is a film that will live on in history for years to come. It will continue to influence young directors and writers, in the same way, that Lucas & Spielberg were influenced by the source material. Hollywood has always loved a love letter to itself, this is no exception to that rule. So, if someone could confirm there are no melting Nazis in my house, I might be able to sleep with the light off tonight......
9 out of ten - Guaranteed to raise a smile, a quote and a laugh. But seriously, could someone check for the melting Nazis ghosts?????
During the final battle between Superman (Henry Cavill - swoon) and General Zod (Michael Shannon/Body Double) in Man of Steel, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck, aka Sad-fleck for this movie. A mean name I felt, but he does look sad a lot here, poor love) is in downtown Metropolis, just in time to recuse one of his workers' from under a steel girder, be on the phone whilst the manager of the Wayne Enterprises office is destroyed in the fighting/demolition of the building, and give a little girl a hug whilst looking moody and angry at the on-going alien pow-woo battle over the city.
With various scene of looking back with a moody expression, a court explosion due to a legless man subplot that kills half the subplots in one go, the film continues until Batman and Superman have fisty cuffs, with Superman being told that he has to kill Batman of his mother Martha (Diana Lane) will be killed. Cue a rather long barney rubble (fight for you Yanks who are reading this), which only ends when Superman reveals that his mothers' name is Martha, the same as Moma Batsy. As Batman runs off to save Matha Kent, Superman heads off to have words with Lex, who's back at the Super spaceship. It's at this point that Lex unleashes "Doomsday", aka the creature created by Lex via diabolic means (off-screen). There's another big barney, this time with Wonder Woman (I know, never saw that one happening either) turning up and having a go too. Superman and Doomsday are both killed in the film (what!!!), Superman is buried, as is Clark Kent (and still no-one guesses they're the same guy), with Sad-fleck asking Wonder Woman to help him find the other Meta-humans. Supermans' coffin starts to vibrate, end film.
For a more detailed version of the plot, with less swearing, you can read the Wikipedia article here.
Reaction
Good points
+ If you have ever since the theatrical cut of this movie, you will know that it's a bit of a mess, by which I mean that it's bloody awful. It was too rush, too dark and didn't make sense in place. The Ultimate Cut (why not call it the Directors' Cut, that would have been much better) have thirty minutes of extra footage, including some extra plot point. It does fill in the movie, giving some scenes more depth.
+ The casting of Henry Cavill as Superman (although this was for Man of Steel) was perfect, he is a better Superman than Christopher Reeve, as he does both parts perfectly, not just one (sorry Mr Reeve, but we still miss you. RIP). Seriously, the man can act, he also can make his own computer and is into nerd things. Me and Mr Oyston might have a man-crush on him, swoon.
+ This was the debut of Ben Affleck as Batman, and I think he was one of the better points of this movie. He had to be sad a lot, angry a lot and talk in a gruff voice. He also brought the older version of Batman to life, which really worked for me. I really enjoyed the opening scene when he was running around, trying to help and feeling helpless. It was well-acted, no Martha shouting, he looked vulnerable and pissed off in equal measure. A believable performance from a great actor, someone who gets too much shit (so of which is his own fault, but not on this one or JL).
Sadfleck sad, give him a cuddle HC!
No credits, could not find any.
+ The first half of the movie does have some good points, the build towards the courtroom scene is great, your internal itching to have someone beat up Lex, the mystery of who Diana really is (not really, just grasping at straws in a way) are really good.
+ I prefer the moody direction for DC movies, it suits the product and the characters. Whilst I do love all my Superhero movies, regardless of studio, the grim reality that the DC universe is set just seems to work for me.
+ The computer file introductions of Cyborg, The Flash and Aquaman were very good. Small hints at what was to come, creating a little bit of intrigue.
+ Whoever thought of Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth deserve a knighthood (see what I did there), a perfect Alfred!
+ You could say it's not as bad as you heard (again, straws being grab at).
Bad Points
- This film is still very messy in places. It tries to put into one movie about three films worth of content. You needed a slower build towards the inevitable Justice League film, but DC was trying to catch up with Marvel Studio at the time. This would be one of many mistakes by DC/Synder. The many, many, many mistakes.
Creepers gonna creep!
No credits, couldn't find any.
- Jesse Eisenberg is just awful as Lex Luthor, just awful. I've tried to defend him before, but this re-watch just confirmed his portrayal of the legendary character was just a swing and a miss. Also, following of from Gene Hackman, that was a tall order for anyone. I'm sorry Jesse, it's not you....actually, it is you this time, please don't be Lex again.
- The whole "Martha" thing was another cop-out, one which saw them go from almost killing each other to best buds in seconds. They also trusted Wonder Woman too fast for my liking, she might have been a rogue agent! I know, splitting hairs on that last point, but I do think that they went from "stabby with a kryptonite spear" to pally-wally far too fast.
- Since when have Metropolis and Gotham been that close!!!! I know a lot is going on in this movie, but come the fuck on!
- Jimmy Olsen as a CIA agent!!! I can understand you trying to do a spin on this, but this sort of this brings my geek anger to full keyboard warrior.
Look at me with my BIG BURNING
EYES!!!!
No credits, couldn't find any.
- The use of Doomsday is up there with Bane being Poison Ivy's lackey in Batman & Robin. You could have had a whole movie with Doomsday, but it was reduced to twenty or so minutes of us wondering what could have been one brilliant fight-movie. A missed opportunity on a legendary piece of comic book history, more lost Synder points.
- Whilst we're on the subject, why did Batman rescue the Super-Mom? I know that Doomsday is more attached to Superman, but the audience didn't know it was Doomsday at this point, so it makes no sense to send his new best-cape-buddy to rescue his mom! Unless, and this is a long shot to be honest, unless he thinks they should be dating. No, that's just creepy, forget I said it.
- I've always had an issue about DC films not using people who portray characters on DC TV Shows. Whilst Ezra Millers' Flash is a delight, Grant Gustin was already delighting the world on The Flash TV show. I know that this has all been sorted with the recent Crisis of Infinite Earth Arrowverse TV special, where the two Flash's meet, but it's been a long time coming to sort this. It's always felt like a slap in the face of the TV product, but that's just me (as well as a million other nerds).
- Whilst we're dealing with the Flash, why was that bit when he popped up in raggy clothes not mentioned in Justice League. Big continuity error Synder, you lose Synder points for that!
Final verdict
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (The Ultimate Cut) is a messy movie, no matter which version of it you watch. For all the good that Synder puts it to the film, he also throws in far too much into the mixer, which creates an overcooked plot, delivery and the long, long, long ending. As I mentioned earlier, you plot devices which could have fueled three other movies in this one film, giving the film an air of desperation. At one point in the ending, I was sure I saw two hobbits with a ring, it was that long.
For the most part, the casting is spot-on, Henry is dreamy as ever, Sad-fleck is really good, so good that I'm Glad-fleck (see what I did there, I'm hilarious.... please stop crying). The casting of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is good, even if not exactly Glamour-zon for my tastes. However, she is one of only a few people that seems to have anything heading towards substance. Everyone after that, and we're including Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne et al play out parts with a 1-d flourish. They come and go, they're on and off-screen without so much as a bye, or a leave. Jesse Eisenberg, on the other hand, is so good at being punchable in this movie, that he ruins what could have been an average performance and takes one of the best villains and makes him a douche canoe.
Yet, for all it's faults, for all the problems, BvS: DoJ is still a watchable movie. I mean, OK, I won't be watching it again this year, even if Covid-19 is keeping me indoors, sad times but could be worse. But I've watched this three times now, I must have some sort of enjoyment there, or maybe I just like trash-superhero-beat 'em up's. For my money, I can see the ideas within the film, all fighting for their moment to shine. They achieve this to various degrees of success, but I like a few parts of it. The Batman dream sequences are pretty good, Superman saving Louis was actually fun, Alfred with his no-so-thinly-veiled barbs at Bruce, there's no CGI moustache, I could go on (but not for much longer).
No Synder, I will fix it! Leave it alone!
No Credits, can't find any,
At the end of the day, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (The Ultimate Cut) is the best version of this movie. Yes, it couldn't have been much worse, but it does fill in a few blanks. I still think that the current DC Universe is too rushed and all over the place. The TV and Movies don't link, which gives it a Jeykll and Hyde vibe. BvS: DoJ is a product of that "KEEP EVERYTHING SEPERATE, IT WILL MAKE US STAND OUT FROM MARVEL! LOOK, WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING MARVEL, WE'RE SEPERATE" mentality that is part of the mindset. I'm not going to be saying anything shocking here, it's not like I think it should've won an Oscar or even a Saturn award. But it's looked down on a little too harshly, it just needed someone to have attempted to keep the script in one piece. If you've not seen it, give it a go as it fills in some gaps. Just don't expect anything more than an "alright" movie, one which is better than a couple of Marvel films, but not many. Another thing it's got going for it is that it's not Aquaman, that is a whole other blog. File under "leave the brain at home".
5 out of ten - Slap bang in the middle, not cause too much trouble or harm, but not doing much good either.
I don't know really, I guess reading the rather wonderful words of me old mucker Oyston on The Tantobie Internet Tattler and other blogs started the "itch" once again, but I just can't bring myself to write about albums this time.
So, for this blog, I'm going to be reviewing old movies that I like. Hence the title, as the spoilers' for these films will be well out of the bag by the time I write about them.
There will still be spelling mistakes and such things, if you used to read my work on All The Time I Was Listening To My Own Wall Of Sound, you will be very aware that I have issues with spelling (dyslexia is a very damaging disease). But I have this urge to post, so that's what I'll do.
There might be a marking system, but I haven't worked out the details of it. There will also be photos of the movies and a link to the film on IMDb, with a trailer too. Nothing too fancy, but with probably a little bit of swearing when required. I'll also be open to suggestions, apart from the two Sex in the City movies, as life is far too short.
