What film did you watch last night?

[cougie uk]

The Fifth Step at NT Live last night. Great two hander with Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden. Just pure acting for a tight 90 minutes. Well worth catching if you can.

 

[AndyRM]

Indiana Jones and the Dial of destiny not the best Indiana but good enough

View attachment 794105

Better than the final third of Crystal Skull, where it all goes wrong, and better than all of Temple of Doom. Still miles behind Raiders and Last Crusade though.

Nerdy fact: The PG-13 rating was introduced following criticism of the more violent bits in Temple. Spielberg basically went to the MPAA and said,

"It's not my fault it doesn't fit in your ratings system."

So they added it in.

 

[Legs]

For the first time in my life, It's A Wonderful Life.

The boys and I really enjoyed it - I can see why it's regarded as a Christmas classic.

 

[Adam4868]

Pose....
Thriller starring James McEvoy,which to be honest is probably the only good thing I can say about it.That and it's reasonably short at an hour and twenty mins.
Don't bother

 

[Binky]

Mission Impossible : Final Reckoning.

Hugely impressive action scenes, got to hand it to Cruise he's brilliant at them. However, definitely a feeling the series has run out of steam.

 

[MichaelW2]

So... It was safe then?!

When I was in NY I happened upon the diamond quarter and the pump house in central park. Just checking that it is still safe. Those 1970s NY movies have a really special atmosphere that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

 

[Psamathe]

Ballerina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballerina_(2025_film)
Part of John Wick series (though not significantly featuring John Wick)

Overall "a bit silly". Fight sequences that are more synchronised dancing. No real point, just passing time with nothing at the end. Not bad, just daft and pointless and predictable.

 

[Tashman]

The Killer (2023) on Netflix. Fassbender being all growly and intense.
Good enough to pass some time on a Sunday afternoon, but not sure I would look to rewatch.

 

[Dadam]

I gather there is a new (ish?) trend for watching with subtitles permanently on.

Yes it corresponds with the new(ish) trend of not being able to hear the dialogue!
Maybe because the sound mix is muddy or because the sound effects are too prominent or other reasons. I've heard it said it is because the studios mix it for big screen theatre audio systems so the explosions etc are very loud for "immersion", but that doesn't cut it for why it seems to be the same for TV series and movies made for streaming services.

Subtitles on/off is about 50/50 in our house. My son wants them on all the time, but he's autistic so perhaps sensory processing issues come in. I don't really like them as I find they distract from the visuals, but turn them on if I can't hear what's being said! Often find myself rewinding, turning them on for a muddled phrase, then turning off again. Where's the "immersion" in that?!

 

[Pblakeney]

Maybe because the sound mix is muddy or because the sound effects are too prominent or other reasons.

That is a real problem. It's not even as if it is an unknown issue as most TVs have a setting to boost dialogue. Still doesn't resolve it. 😡
Sound engineers can, and should, do better.

Edit - Background music is all the more annoying as it has become foreground music. Fair enough in silent scenes, but while there are conversations?

 

[Dadam]

Went to see The Running Man last night at the cinema, quite enjoyed it.
Obviously a lot different to the original, more updated for today's market.

The general public are now included in the hunt, not confined to the game zone either, the runners can and should go as far as they can to escape capture!

7/10.

Went last month more or less on opening night, at least opening night for iMax. The wife is really into Glenn Powell (lead actor) so she booked it in as soon as she could.

Apparently much closer to the King/Bachman book than the Schwarzenegger one. I quite fancy checking out the book now too.

I think it was a solid action flick and quite thought provoking, in a not-very-subtle way. 8/10

 

[craigwend]

If you like the dark humour Deadpool, you probably may like this * and watch through your fingers whilst crying with laughter (or I did...)

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novocaine_(2025_film)

 

[Psamathe]

Yes it corresponds with the new(ish) trend of not being able to hear the dialogue!
Maybe because the sound mix is muddy or because the sound effects are too prominent or other reasons. I've heard it said it is because the studios mix it for big screen theatre audio systems so the explosions etc are very loud for "immersion", but that doesn't cut it for why it seems to be the same for TV series and movies made for streaming services.

That is a real problem. It's not even as if it is an unknown issue as most TVs have a setting to boost dialogue. Still doesn't resolve it. 😡
Sound engineers can, and should, do better.

I have a fairly good soundbar and I tried enabling dynamic range restrictions and setting auto boost for quiet bits but doesn't help enough with some films, set the volume such that loud action sound effects don't deafen neighbours and the dialog is too quiet to hear.

With so many films being almost direct to TV/streaming or at least with TV/streaming forming such a significant part of the market (income) I can't understand why they can't do better.

 

[ColinJ]

... but that doesn't cut it for why it seems to be the same for TV series and movies made for streaming services.

Sound engineers can, and should, do better.

They know how to do it properly, but if the producers and director order them to do it that way for 'artistic reasons' then they don't have a lot of choice.

I am hard of hearing so I really struggle with that muddy sound. It makes me angry that they make it like that deliberately!

Sometimes though the sound mixing is really done on the cheap...

I started watching a film the other night but quickly gave up. I use headphones late at night (so I can turn the level up without disturbing my neighbours!) and I thought the headphone cable or plug had developed a fault during an early scene in an office. A character on the left was speaking and his voice came 100% from the left. Then someone on the right spoke, 100% into my right ear. Totally unnatural!

The sound on another film was so bad that I gave up after a few minutes. A couple were apparently talking in a forest clearing but even my dodgy hearing could clearly tell that the acoustic environment was actually that of a small vocal booth.

Sometimes though, real professionals get to do things properly. I am currently really enjoying watching Better Call Saul again, this time on a OLED TV. I love the storyline and the acting, but then it struck me how good it looks and sounds***.


*** The credits at the end of that particular episode included a dedication to "Our friend, Eric Justen". I searched and found that he was a talented sound engineer who had worked on Breaking Bad, and then the 'prequel', Better Call Saul. He had died, aged just 43.

 

[ColinJ]

Oops - duplicate!