The "last movie I saw" thread

[Northwestcoug]

Is this your way of saying Coco is for simpletons? That’s funny. Though I admit, Coco is an easy film to adore. Because it’s brilliant. Indeed, I submit that Coco is just as imaginative and unique as Soul, if not more so.

Bro, don't take offense. I'm not saying that at all. It's me saying that it's such a good film that it's easy to love. I don't think I've talked to anyone who doesn't like it.

I enjoyed the plot of Coco very much. But I think Soul really tried to do something different with their version of the 'pre-existence' and how our personalities and essences are derived with abstract concepts.

[Northwestcoug]

I loved Soul and thought it was brilliant in all the ways people have mentioned. I ALSO loved that I wasn't a blubbering mess by the end of it.

Coco is so amazing, but is there some team of sadists at Pixar that insist on emotionally ruining the audience?

YES! That too.

Pixar movies, ranked by amount of tears produced (as best as I can recall):

1) Coco. The scene where the abuela recognizes the song is like a broken dam. Ain't no amount of abdominal muscle contracture and force of will can stop them from flowing.
2) Finding Nemo. When Marlin sees Nemo after the net breaks and he's not responding, and the flashback with Nemo as a baby occurs. Sublime and heart-breaking.
3) Toy Story 3. When the toys are about to be incinerated, and they accept their fate and hold hands. Also, when Andy struggles at first to give his toys to the girl.
4) Onward. When the dad appears at the end, and the younger brother allows the older one to spend the last few moments with him. This isn't a top tier Pixar movie, but given our family circumstances during the time that scene was pretty powerful.
5) Up. Not really a huge tear producer per se, but I need to add it because it contains one of the most moving montages ever produced in film history. The first few minutes of the film are just perfect.
6) Inside Out. I'm hazy on the exact part. But it's where Joy is looking at memories of Riley growing up. You know that tears are going to flow like a couple of minutes before it happens. And there is nothing you can do about it.
6) Toy Story 2. The Sarah McLaughlin song is a beautiful tune, and the montage with it was just heart-aching.
7) Wall-e. When Wall-e 'wakes up' after Eve fixes him at the end. Which is absolutely silly to think about. But it shoes you how good Pixar is at this.
8) Soul. When Joe and 22 are hurtling towards earth, and Joe lets go of her hand.
9) Monsters Inc. When Sully sees Boo at the end of the film, and it ends when he smiles.

I don't remember tearing up much for Toy Story, Toy Story 4, Ratatoille, Finding Dory, Monsters University, Incredibles 1 and 2, and Cars 1 and 2. Not to say that it didn't happen, and if you know me, it probably did.

Haven't seen Brave, Good Dinosaur, or Cars 3.

[Pelado]

YES! That too.

Pixar movies, ranked by amount of tears produced (as best as I can recall):

1) Coco. The scene where the abuela recognizes the song is like a broken dam. Ain't no amount of abdominal muscle contracture and force of will can stop them from flowing.
2) Finding Nemo. When Marlin sees Nemo after the net breaks and he's not responding, and the flashback with Nemo as a baby occurs. Sublime and heart-breaking.
3) Toy Story 3. When the toys are about to be incinerated, and they accept their fate and hold hands. Also, when Andy struggles at first to give his toys to the girl.
4) Onward. When the dad appears at the end, and the younger brother allows the older one to spend the last few moments with him. This isn't a top tier Pixar movie, but given our family circumstances during the time that scene was pretty powerful.
5) Up. Not really a huge tear producer per se, but I need to add it because it contains one of the most moving montages ever produced in film history. The first few minutes of the film are just perfect.
6) Inside Out. I'm hazy on the exact part. But it's where Joy is looking at memories of Riley growing up. You know that tears are going to flow like a couple of minutes before it happens. And there is nothing you can do about it.
6) Toy Story 2. The Sarah McLaughlin song is a beautiful tune, and the montage with it was just heart-aching.
7) Wall-e. When Wall-e 'wakes up' after Eve fixes him at the end. Which is absolutely silly to think about. But it shoes you how good Pixar is at this.
8) Soul. When Joe and 22 are hurtling towards earth, and Joe lets go of her hand.
9) Monsters Inc. When Sully sees Boo at the end of the film, and it ends when he smiles.

I don't remember tearing up much for Toy Story, Toy Story 4, Ratatoille, Finding Dory, Monsters University, Incredibles 1 and 2, and Cars 1 and 2. Not to say that it didn't happen, and if you know me, it probably did.

Haven't seen Brave, Good Dinosaur, or Cars 3.

The bolded items were the biggest tear-jerkers for me on your list.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We usually spend $30-40 every week visiting the cineplex so, awash with cash since the pandemic stifled our habit, I feel no compunction about blowing $20 to stream a new release if it interests me. Thus, this past weekend we watched both Promising Young Woman and News of the World. They're very good, although I liked PYW better; my wife preferred NOTW. PYW may do for bar-hopping men on the prowl what Fatal Attraction did for married men in the '80s--in short, don't do it! Carey Mulligan (always good) exacts revenge with guys [including McLovin in a particuarly good bit] who force themselves on women unwilling or unable to consent. A few of the plot points strain credulity, but it was still entertaining and rather sobering. Watch the trailer as it's an accurate representation of what you'll be in for

NOTW tells the story of a Confederate Army veteran who finds and tries to return to her family a young girl who had been taken by the Kiowa tribe years earlier. The story moves slowly, but is beautifully filmed with some fine performances, and it paints a fine if depressing picture of American life in post-bellum Texas. Mostly, it's Tom Hanks being serious Tom Hanks, representing the way we Americans like to think of ourselves: sacrificing, caring for others, cognizant of our failings--you know, the exact opposite of our soon-to-be former president.

[Surfah]

We rented Minari last night after seeing a lot of buzz about it. Set in the 80s, it's a story about the American dream as told through the eyes of Korean immigrants trying to make a life in Arkansas. The acting is terrific. It's heartbreaking at times. It would be a very heavy film if not for some levity provided by the youngest character and the dynamic relationship he develops with his grandmother. Gidget and I really enjoyed and thought it was worth the $20 rental. I deserves the Oscar buzz.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We finished Nomadland last night. Loved it. Beautiful score/soundtrack. Depressing at times, but deeply moving.

[Applejack]

We rented Minari last night after seeing a lot of buzz about it. Set in the 80s, it's a story about the American dream as told through the eyes of Korean immigrants trying to make a life in Arkansas. The acting is terrific. It's heartbreaking at times. It would be a very heavy film if not for some levity provided by the youngest character and the dynamic relationship he develops with his grandmother. Gidget and I really enjoyed and thought it was worth the $20 rental. I deserves the Oscar buzz.

You just love it because the director is a Ute!

[Pelado]

You just love it because the director is a Ute!

It's great that more native Americans are getting into filmmaking.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[PaloAltoCougar]

We rented Minari last night after seeing a lot of buzz about it. Set in the 80s, it's a story about the American dream as told through the eyes of Korean immigrants trying to make a life in Arkansas. The acting is terrific. It's heartbreaking at times. It would be a very heavy film if not for some levity provided by the youngest character and the dynamic relationship he develops with his grandmother. Gidget and I really enjoyed and thought it was worth the $20 rental. I deserves the Oscar buzz.

I loved the boy who was so good throughout the movie, and the back and forth with the grandma gave some needed lightheartedness amidst the heaviness. I also liked the fact that the struggles the family faced were natural consequences, rather than the result of xenophobic wrongdoers--thankfully, there weren't any. The husband/father's struggle to prove his value really resonated with me (the worthless male chicks being tossed into the poultry farm's incinerator was a not-so subtle point).

I work with a few immigrants and I'm always deeply moved by the persistence with which they try to succeed here. We need to welcome those who come here in search of a better life, not suspect they're trying to freeload--they're a major plus.

[Surfah]

I loved the boy who was so good throughout the movie, and the back and forth with the grandma gave some needed lightheartedness amidst the heaviness. I also liked the fact that the struggles the family faced were natural consequences, rather than the result of xenophobic wrongdoers--thankfully, there weren't any. The husband/father's struggle to prove his value really resonated with me (the worthless male chicks being tossed into the poultry farm's incinerator was a not-so subtle point).

I work with a few immigrants and I'm always deeply moved by the persistence with which they try to succeed here. We need to welcome those who come here in search of a better life, not suspect they're trying to freeload--they're a major plus.

Yes, excellent point about the natural consequences. I kept waiting for xenophobia and racism. I figured that would be the bulk of the conflict. Like when he first met Paul, goes to the hatchery, or to the bank. When they went to church, i thought oh boy here it comes. Lol. I guess I've been. conditioned to expect it, especially in Hollywood

[beefytee]

I definitely plan on seeing Minari. I'm pretty excited for it. I do have 3 questions to set my expectations:

1. How much of the movie is subtitled? More or less than The Farewell?
2. What are the chances of someone crying during this movie?
3. From the descriptions above, it sounds like there is some levity. Is that correct?

[PaloAltoCougar]

I definitely plan on seeing Minari. I'm pretty excited for it. I do have 3 questions to set my expectations:

1. How much of the movie is subtitled? More or less than The Farewell?
2. What are the chances of someone crying during this movie?
3. From the descriptions above, it sounds like there is some levity. Is that correct?

1. Certainly more than half, but then our advanced years have us using closed captioning for a lot of movies these days, so we didn't notice much. Will Patton has a fairly significant role and he speaks no Korean.
2. Not as certain as one might suspect/fear. It's more of the overall experience than individual moments, although you'll want to put your arm around some of the characters at times.
3. Some light moments, esp. with the grandmother and grandson (due in part to the grandma's mildly foul mouth).

I don't want to oversell the movie. I had excessively high expectations, but I still enjoyed it. It won the Golden Globe award this evening for best foreign language film (see 1, above).

[Bo Diddley]

Saw Avatar the other night. It was pretty meh. Maybe watch something else instead. I thought the bad guys were really overdone.

[beefytee]

I went and saw Minari last night. I need to temper my expectations for films going in. It didn't live up to my expectations but was still a good movie.

The grandmother is pretty typical for a korean harmoni. They have no inhibitions, don't care what others think and are pretty fun to be around usually. She made for great entertainment.

I did enjoy some of the themes of the movie, the major one being males trying to prove their worth and not be incinerated.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I went and saw Minari last night. I need to temper my expectations for films going in. It didn't live up to my expectations but was still a good movie.

The grandmother is pretty typical for a korean harmoni. They have no inhibitions, don't care what others think and are pretty fun to be around usually. She made for great entertainment.

I did enjoy some of the themes of the movie, the major one being males trying to prove their worth and not be incinerated.

I think our reactions were fairly similar, esp. since my expectations were also too high. But I did enjoy it and would recommend it. This morning I listened to a Fresh Air interview of the writer/director which increased my appreciation for the movie. He wasn't sure what his movie was going to be about, but he began by writing down specific memories of his childhood and came up with dozens, many of which are in the movie. It made me think about writing down my own, nearly all of which would be stupefyingly boring to others but would likely give me a greater appreciation for my parents; that did it for him.