It's Joker. Such a silly movie, in my opinion, but it doesn't know it. All the dancing, the posing, the goofy laugh, the theft from other, better movies. Full comedy, but I don't think Todd Phillips realizes it's comedy, considering how he talked about the movie when he was doing press abut it.
@@CerealAtMidnight I thought that might be it. It's hard for me to make a call on that because I dislike the movie so much. I think there's a big difference between homage and flat out stealing someone else's work and calling it your own. I know you struggle with Tarantino over this same issue. For me, at least I feel Tarantino winks at you when he uses another filmmaker's moves but Todd Philips just made a Cliffs Notes version of Taxi Driver but never owns up to it in the movie. Younger people see it and rave about how cool it is because they've never seen Taxi Driver or even something like Goodfellas. Guhhh this movie really sets me off lol. Uncut Gems and Adam Sandler should be sitting in Osxar history where Joker currently resides.
Joker even has a "you talking to me" scene taken straight from Taxi Driver. All I know is I giggled all the way through the movie, and I don't think I was supposed to. For me, it's impossible for an actor to give a performance like Phoenix did and not see the laugh-out-loud ridiculousness of be-bopping all over a set like it's a disco and saying the silly things the script had him say. Here's a possibility: Todd Phillips was making a post-modern statement on the superhero genre and leaned fully into camp, a la Batman 1966, but didn't tip his hand to let anyone know. Joaquin Phoenix himself has been known to conduct societal experiments on the nature of fame, as per his talk show appearance on Letterman for that movie way back when, I forget the title. It is indeed possible that Joker is the most subversive comedy of the last 20 years, full of biting sarcasm about how seriously we take the superhero genre (and ourselves) in current society and exposing the folly of our "grit." But I doubt it.
@@CerealAtMidnight I wish that were true. More likely is it's, let's make him super twisted and show how crazy he is and this will be the edgiest movie is the super hero genre ever. Instead, it comes off silly, not disturbing, and plagiaristic along the way. I believe once the luster wears off that cinema history will not be kind to Joker. Fathom Events needs to do some Special screenings of Taxi Driver lol.
Hi Heath. Great video. I've seen Wait Until Dark and just ordered from Warner today. Actually ordered 12 films during the 4 for $44 which is a great sale. Thanks for talking about the magic of older films (black and white classics). I watched an old Michael Curtiz film on Friday called The Unsuspected (1947) which is an absolute brilliant film noir. Curtiz is one of my favorite directors and I seem to easily connect with his films. I really enjoy these longer form film/review discussion videos. Thanks as always for the amazing content.
Great stuff, Heath. I especially enjoyed your family friendly take on the Franco film. I wonder if you can do that with Sadomania? ;) If you're ever looking for a fun, lighter side to Franco check out Attack of the Robots. Kino put it out last year (I still need to upgrade from my old VHS copy). Didn't know that about Burt Reynolds. Have you seen Sharky's Machine? That's a good one.
Ha! Could you tell how hard I was trying to stay PG in that Jess Franco segment? Wow, was I dancing. Attack of the Robots sounds fun, I don’t think I knew that was him. I saw Sharky’s Machine long ago on TV, so I’m way overdue to revisit it. I’m all in on Burt, even on the less-successful movies. I wish Evening Shade was on DVD!
I always enjoy these lengthy review videos because it allows me to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding the movies that you've picked up. I always appreciate the enthusiasm and positive energy. There are certain titles that I would enjoy and others that just aren't my cup of tea. Movies much like any piece of entertainment, are strictly opinion based and I respect your opinion even if it's something that I myself wouldn't necessarily watch. Having said that, with today's current situation, it's important that we as a society find a way to occupy our time with things to do, whether it's movies, TV shows, video games, books, music, etc.. It's a rough time, but by the grace of God, things will hopefully get better for everyone. Otherwise, thanks once again for another fun and informative video. I really appreciate the hard work. Keep it up!
Covergirl was a really pleasant surprise. The 80s fashion, robot and Atari/arcade video games make this an awesome time capsule. I'm glad a very obscure flick that's not a horror or action/sci-fi got a release on bluray.
Thumbs!! up!! Police Academy I don't know what it is but love those films the first three were good the after that they got bizarre but still watch them
Very enjoyable review-palooza as you covered many off the beaten path releases. 1) I'm still going through my Warner Archives recent pick ups, but I highly recommend MERRILL'S MARAUDERS a Sam Fuller war film starring Jeff Chandler and several regulars from WB western series of the late 50's including Ty Hardin (Bronco), Will Hutchins (Sugarfoot), Peter Brown (Lawman) and Claude Akins. This film really emphasizes the fatigue of war. I also recommend MY FAVORITE YEAR which is loosely based on Mel Brooks' experiences on Your Show of Shows when Errol Flynn was a guest. Peter O'Toole is wonderful, and the supporting cast is very good. 2) Not sure if you are aware, but Twilight Time is selling off all of their blu--rays for $14.99 or less. As you know, they cater more to the fans of classic films, but there are many movies from the seventies and eighties. In my new batch, I opted for RAPID FIRE, with Brandon Lee, which has a commentary by the late Nick Redman and the film's composer Christopher Young. Redman's commentaries, typically with Julie Kirgo, will be missed.
Thanks for the Warner Archive recommendations! I've been debating Merrill's Maraudiers for ages, it seems. I did place another order for four more titles yesterday, and I may end up placing a second new order before the sale ends at the close of the weekend.
I have a VHS tape recorded in the 80's of Conan the Destroyer and Stick is advertised being aired on Fox 53 I think. I grew up without seeing this movie until years later when I found the VHS which I still have. I expected an action film but it isn't a big action film.
I enjoyed Titans a lot more than I thought I would. And I feel like the first two seasons were really just the prologue. And I've watched five episodes so far of Doom Patrol, and I have to say that it is so insanely good. They lean into the weirdness, and it makes the show so great. And the cast is great as well. Have you watched the series based on What We Do in the Shadows? It is hilarious. Matt Berry is one of the stars, and he is great. The second season starts this Wednesday, and if you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend it. Thanks for the reviews Heath, you've given me ideas for future buys.
I haven't seen the series of What We Do in the Shadows, as I don't have cable or pay for premium streaming services. We have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, but I don't think it's showing on any of those platforms. I could be wrong, though. I'm so excited to start Doom Patrol, just trying to get through some more movies first. I know once I start on the series, it will take a lot of my time!
Cereal At Midnight The first season of What We Do in the Shadows is currently available on Hulu. It’s 10 half hour episodes, and I think you would enjoy them. When you’ve got the time of course.
I had no interest in 'Titans' for the same reasons you mentioned, but your reaction to season 1 as a whole has me considering picking up the bluray and giving it a chance. Glad to hear you enjoyed 'Wait Until Dark' and 'The Thin Man'. 'Wait Until Dark' is a criminally little known gem, and one of Audrey Hepburn's best performances. Regarding 'The Thin Man', I really hope WAC will eventually remaster and release the 5 sequels on Bluray, or at least the first one 'After The Thin Man' (with a young James Stewart in an early supporting role). Shawn Weatherly was the female lead in 'Police Academy 3' (I keep meaning to get the Bluray collection as I loved those films as a kid), so you'll get to see her again soon. She was the sole reason I watched 'Baywatch' in it's first season in 1989-90, before it got lightly revamped and camped up for first-run syndication a year after NBC canceled it.
If you do watch Titans Season 1, I hope you enjoy it. I may have over-praised it for some folks, but it really did impress me quite a bit and make me care about characters I have no personal affection for, like Hawk and Dove. The season is 11 episodes long, and I enjoyed 10 of them. The ones written by Geoff Johns are just fantastic.
@@CerealAtMidnight Hawk and Dove are definitely characters I have personal affection for as their 1988/89 series is what changed me from being a casual comic book buyer as a kid to an actual collector when I was in junior high. A large part of my initial disinterest in the 'Titans' series was the original trailer showing Dove, the noted pacifist superheroine who doesn't use aggressive tactics, shredding a guy's face off with her talons, blood spraying everywhere. I'm still fairly concerned about that.
It's definitely something to be concerned about, especially since you're familiar with the source material. Every character in Titans is much darker and more tortured than their comics counterpart. They've all got deep emotional damage, even Dove, though she is written to be gentle. I wonder what Marv Wolfman, George Perez, the Kesels, and Liefeld think about the adaptation. That darkness is what put me off, but I found the writing to be so good, I couldn't help but appreciate the layers they've shown these characters to have and how deeply character-driven the story is. And there is that promise of moving toward the light.
Wait Until Dark is so good. Best jump scare of all-time! Another lesser loved Hepburn film I like a lot is The Children's Hour, have you seen that one?
I just ordered Wait Until Dark when the 4 for 44 went live today. I have been burnt by a couple blind buys lately and was worried. Hearing your take has me feeling much better.
@@CerealAtMidnight No worries, I guard my expectations like Fort Knox. I just feel confident it will be at least decent now. Oh I also ordered Papillion, Starsky and Hutch, and Mask of the Phantasm. Pumped.
@Cereal at Midnight Hi Heath, I'm happy to see you Loved Blood Fest as much as I did. I bought it when it first came out in October 2018. What movie won awards & is unintentionally funny to you? Is it The Lighthouse or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?? Don't leave us with that doubt, spill please! 😀😉😎 I find both those movies mentioned funny.... 😂😂
all of the police academy movies are fun, heath i especially like the early ones with steve guttenberg michael winslow is really hilarious making all of those sound effects he also does them in the mel brooks comedy, spaceballs
Big fan of THX AND American Graffiti. THX-1138 suffers from the legacy of who George Lucas would become and what he would later create, but if you look at it as an early film from a new director, it's pretty great. Full of big ideas and some shockingly-accurate statements about how people are controlled. One of the things I dig about Lucas is that he was always against huge monopolies and corporations. He left the director's guild by his own choice because he didn't like the control they asserted. So much of his anti-authority attitude is in his work, especially THX-1138. Kind of ironic that he would go on to be one of the richest people in the world, but worth mentioning that he also uses his money in his community on things like public housing, green spaces, and building new spaces for learning. And this is total speculation, but I think that, if he had it to do again, he would not have sold Lucasfilm to Disney. I think he immediately regretted it.
Haven't seen it, so can't comment. From the marketing, it looked like a "blockbuster by the numbers" with lots of CGI shenanigans and animals saying stuff like "I know you di-n't!" The Doolittle books always had a lot of sincerity and warmth, so if they translated that to the movie, good on 'em.
Well, I love the Doom Patrol episode of Titans. I'm REALLY looking forward to starting it, just trying to knock a few more movies off my watch list before I do. Especially since it has more episodes than Titans did.
@@CerealAtMidnight A dirty version my wife and i use to say after that one Horror movie featured that song from Tiny Tim! I may be a 'Weird' Al in the making haha! Have a good one buddy time to go see what are odd neighbors are up to!
I think Titans does improve, but I find it spins its wheels at some point during the season, and this is true in the second season. It still gets better through the second season. If you are open minded, it can be worth while to watch the series.
Titans is great! I honestly wanted to hate it so much. The preview was garbage and pissed me off. The best episode is "Hank and Dawn." Best television I'd seen all year.
@@CerealAtMidnight Yes. I got sucked into this series so quickly. Brenton Thwaites was a perfect Dick Grayson and Conor Leslie was a perfect Donna Troy -finally. Season 2 is even better.
when i saw the trailer for titans , i too was like "what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" robin acting all emo saying a F Bomb , sounds more like the definition of immature to put it best by george clooney's take on batman on one of his batman movies, this is why superman works alone any time someone says the F bomb or this aint your dad's titans, it is the kind of garbage writers do that needs to be given the respectful sterm middle finger saying to them , please dont , just because its a effort for comedy, it doesnt mean that people would put up with robin being emo
What we do in the shadows will probably get a proper rerelease when the tv series gets a "complete series set" they're on S2 now. I figured you were singing Hawaiian music. "Ma lika liki liki low"
I have to agree that older movies are way mature and ahead of their time. For instance, look at James Cagney in White Heat and his very cringe relationship with his mother. Even with the Hayes Office this film still hints at incest (James Cagney's character Cody Jarrett's Oedipal Complex) as well as Jarrett's wife cheating while Cody is in prison.
I do find older films can be great once you remove yourself from modern day. I think this is true with every age of film. However there definitely is films where it's hard to do that because the acting and writing may not hold up.
Oh My, Ethan! That stack is deserved of a thumbnail. Time to sit back for a while... :) Regarding Titans: I REALLY liked the show. It hit home for me, as a grown adult who was a big fan of the comic. Sure, there's fan-service throughout, like alluding to Bruce Wayne or the Justice League, but seeing Dick and the story of how the characters find each other was pretty satisfying to me. If you didn't hear, this is an adult show, for adult Titans, so they are allowed to swear on occasion. PS: Wait until you watch Season 2. I have a feeling you'll HATE all the swears! ;)
It was just the first F word from Dick Grayson/Robin, particularly who he was directing it at (Batman) that bothered me. Felt so juvenile for a character who appears to be in his 20s and has a grown up job. I can't imagine ANY incarnation of Robin in the comics talking to Bruce that way. Bruce gave him a home, shelter, trained him to use his anger in a productive way. Even in the comics, when Dick walked away from being Robin, it was because he'd outgrown it. Not because he hated Batman.
