Alan's Eyes & Ears #019 - Movie Countdown III
In
this new episode 19 of this podcast, Alan begins by covering a bit of feedback from prior episodes, and then counts down the most recent 20 movies that he has watched.
Among the films that are discussed in this episode are: all 5 original Planet of the Apes films, The Flash, Lucy, Madame Web, Glass Onion, and the most recent entries in 2 separate action film franchises.
Listen to this episode ... and find out!
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Promo: Is It Jaws?
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Settle in Prof! I have a lot to say.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I probably watch 20 movies a month, maybe more (thanks TCM!) so I'm shocked by the time it took you to get here. Now some thoughts on some of these movies.
Exodus - as you say, this is a pretty lifeless movie for such a story. I expect more from Ridley Scott. Yahweh being seen as a child was interesting but not enough to save the film which just seemed to plod through what should have been exciting.
Maze Runner - makes no sense. My kids loved it. Makes NO SENSE!
The Flash - I am 'multiversed' out right now. There have just been too many. I think the movie did a good job with old Bruce. I liked the Supergirl in this, a riff on the Project Superman character in Flashpoint. I did not like seeing her killed over and over. And yes, I was one of those people who loved all those cameos/Easter Eggs at the end but not enough to save this movie. And for a normie, like my girlfriend, she had no idea what they all meant and so got nothing out of it.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes - As you say, putting the apes in our time is a new wrinkle. That ending with the baby ape saying 'mama' is still vivid in my head. I rank this one 4th of the original 5.
Thor Love and Thunder - this is a terrible movie and should have been much lower. I got more enjoyment out of the 2 seconds of Sydney Sweeney in the Spider-Woman outfit in Madame Web than I got out of this movie. What is this movie? A screwball comedy? A sad love story with a dying girlfriend? An action movie about god-killer who is ready to slaughter children? A movie about a sympathetic villain grieving (even though as a villain he has killed pantheons)? YOU CANNOT BE ALL OF THESE THINGS! YOU CANNOT! This was a terrible omelet of a movie. Should have been #21 out of 20.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes - my second favorite movie of the Apes. The race allegory is strong here and for a movie made in 1972 that was very timely. I am fascinated by the story that Caesar's end speech was initially much stronger, asking for violence to overthrow. The studio was so scared it might lead to actual riots that they toned it down ('we aren't human but we will be humane'). The reason there are so many close-ups of Caesar's eyes in that speech because they had McDowell record the new speech and they needed to overlay it on something. Wish the original existed!
Beneath - my 3rd fave. As you say, ambitious. Lots to go about here. The lead actor looks enough like Heston to make me blink sometimes. Psionic mutants worshipping nuclear weapons?? And blowing up the planet at the end! Insanity. Worth watching.
Planet of the Apes - the best of the Apes movies. So solid. Works even when you know the twist. Just wonderful.
Thanks for letting me rant.