The Big Picture: Summer's End

[TiberiusEsuriens]

Finished the episode and saw that there were still two minutes remaining, "Here goes MovieBob's book plug again...."

Was not disappointed. You got me laughing on the floor for two minutes, Bob! Very subtle.

 

[josemlopes]

Moviebob really needs to calm down, his usual "I hate this movie" thing is always bringing down every video.

Its already Transformers, Expendables, The Dark Knight Rises, Amazing Spiderman and Man Of Steel, in the end it all falls down to "I didnt like it because reasons" after hearing him complain so much (at first the complaints are moderate and sensible but after a month or two its like he watched a different movie directed by a 10 year old).

 

[Riobux]

Pacific Rim is transnational?

Let's apply that logic and conclude that Dr Strangelove is a transnational film because, oh, there's that German guy in the film. Then again, love does make people say stupid things.

 

[Baresark]

Not a bad list at all. I saw a good portion of those. Some of them I just don't care about because the whole concept is god awful uninteresting. I don't need to see a list of bad movies for the summer. I don't need to hear or see any more pessimism. You accumulate this flock of people who harbor your exact opinion and though I really enjoy your videos, I can safely say that your reasoning has never actually swayed me to or away from anything. But, I respect your opinion because at least you have the balls to explain yourself and know how to do it.

As far as Man of Steel in concerned, I daresay that no one cares anymore. No matter how much your opinion of the movie changes, mine hasn't. I like it. It was flawed. I don't see an unsure Superman who is not clear on who or what he is or wants to be as a bad thing. All the people attacking this movie sound like, "blah blah blah, it's not the same as the comic". I daresay, we have had Superman movies that were very much like the comic and most of them have been considered failures, including the exceedingly well done Superman Returns. The only real failing of the movie was that it was far too invested into the Superman/Clark Kent dichotomy. This one wasn't (which is much closer to the modern Superman books) and instead explored the character from a new and refreshing perspective. We saw him evolve, make hard choices and become a man who knows who he is. We should all be hoping for just a little more of that in most movies. I also don't understand why people can't deal with the amount of destruction in this movie. The fact that he was new at at it aside, I get the impression most people have never read a lot of the larger stories involving Superman. The truth is, had there been a Justice League at this time, the threat of Zod and a bunch of people like him would have warranted the entire team. My biggest problem with that movie was the massive gaping plot hole that was Zod's motivation. "A whole species of super people who are stronger than everything.. nah, it will be uncomfortable for them to adjust so we will go with what we know". Talk about a miss as far as writing was concerned.

 

[RTK1576]

Well, next week should be fun.

Interesting list. I can't say that anything this summer excited me. Pacific Rim, Elysium, and Iron Man 3 were all "good, but not exciting" films, Star Trek: Into Darkness and Man Of Steel were "disappointing but not exactly bad", and... that's all I went and saw.

Personally, I'm glad Bob is giving MoS a full episode. It needed to be done.

 

[delroland]

Spoiler

I'm not sure if I wanna read all the butt hurt comments about Superman, it was a decent film but some people have been getting reeeeeeeeal defensive about it.

As for the list, I didn't see that many films this summer but i'd proberly agree that Pacific Rim is on top, it had flaws but it was good to see Hollywood embrace that sort of thing properly.

I saw Elysium yesterday and I gotta say I was disappointed. The story was so message driven it became cheesy, I mean surely they could have had one of those med-bays in the factory, just one to fix any workers that got hurt. I understand that the film was trying to make a point but theres a line between obvious and agressive and the film crossed it. What the hell was that little girl about!? They didn't need her in the story she was just there out of some cliched counter argument to the defence ladies 'think of the children' line, pointless character. The mercs were fun but just made the morality of the thing laughable, Spider was the only character I could really take seriously.

Sorry but Elysium not Man of Steel is the most disappointing film of the summer period.

It spent too much time on flashbacks and then all the action was a blurry shaky-cam mess the worst i've ever seen and I have never been more disappointed.


This year overall has been terrible with 4 films I was really looking forward to Man of Steel, Iron Man 3, Elysium and Pacific Rim all suffering the same problem!

The 3rd act battle was BORING!

Also this, I have never liked shaky cam and although it can suit a films aesthetic (gritty realism, etc) Kung Fu films can acheive this look and still produce kick ass fight scenes. Hollywood, pan the f*ck out! I wanna see the giant robot kill the alien Godzilla!!!

Elysium was basically Straw Man: The Movie.

I mean, these hospital beds apparently require no significant energy to function, so why aren't they in use everywhere? It's a one time fix for everything. But nope, the rich people keep it away just to be dicks.

Population control: can't have your cheap-as-free labor force living forever.

 

[RJ 17]

No, seriously, at the end of the video when I saw there was a minute or so left as the credits were rolling and NEW that another ad for Bob's book was coming up, I was already planning on looking up the "Buy My Book!" clip from The Critic on youtube and saying something like "You know Bob, recently after all you're videos, this is all I've been hearing: (insert said Critic clip)"

Looks like I didn't have to do that.

 

[Osaka117]

With everyone commenting about Man of Steel instead of movies that were actually in this list, I just wanna mention that The World's End deserves it's spot and I highly recommend anyone who hasn't seen it yet to do so. Even if you have, see it again, I know I'm gonna. It's my favorite summer movie, and movie of the year so far.

 

[RJ 17]

Nah dude, I don't get why people get so offended and defensive about the shit Bob says either....discussing disagreements is one thing, but it's so annoying when people constantly try to undercut or discredit him to make it seem like he's "objectively wrong" about what he thinks. Oh he's a just "fanboy" or a "feminist" or a "liberal" or whatever so CLEARLY he's wrong and we should do the opposite of what he says because he's Mr. Fanboy Feminist Liberal Wrongster McWrongGuy. Shit like that drives my head right onto the desk.

I think it's more the fact that he quite clearly lets his politics color his reviews and that's what gets people upset. I really don't mind, as reviewing things through a political prism is just another way of reviewing them, but a lot of people tend to get pissed off when "Liberal Reviewer Only Likes The Movie Because It's Liberal Propaganda!"

Hell, I'm a conservative and I just kinda chuckle and say "Ohhhhh Bobby, Bobby Bobby Bobby...really? You just LOVED the movie about every single right-wing stereotype invading the White House to take out "Not-Obama" purely because it makes fun of conservatives?" Maybe it's just the fact that I like reviewers that talk fast that I keep coming to watch his videos, but really I take his political stances with a grain of salt...I'd imagine there's a lot of people on this forum that can't take ANYTHING involving politics so lightly, however.

Incidentally, that's why I stay the hell away from the Religion and Politics forum on this site. Seriously, you say ONE thing on there - doesn't matter what - and your in-box will be full for the next three weeks with pissed off people that are more than eager to tell you just who incredibly wrong you are.

 

[startrekmike]

I can't be the only one that kinda rolled my eyes when I learned that we were going to get yet another episode about Bob's almost obsessive dislike of the 'The man of steel'.

Look, I get it, WE ALL get it, you did not like the film and that is perfectly fine, however, your dislike of the film has turned from being a honest critique to a borderline obsessive need to crap on the movie whenever you can find a chance, often to the detriment of your content.

'Man of steel' will always be a film that is either loved or hated, I personally (as a Superman film and comic fan for more than 20 years) thought it was great, it had flaws but I think it was a fine film that made it's intentions clear from the beginning, I mean, how was anyone surprised that it was serious in tone? Really? We saw the trailers, we saw Watchmen, we knew EXACTLY what this film was going to be.

However, when it came out, we had Bob (and many others) asking "where is the joy?", well, this film is not a part of the borderline campy Christopher Reeve filmverse, it is not trying to be comedic or lighthearted, it tackles Superman in much the same way he is tackled in many comics and it really works (in my opinion) because of that.

What I am saying really is that I respect Bob's opinion about the film, he has every right to feel the way he does but we have all heard how he feels, we all know exactly what he does not like about the film, do we REALLY need another video (on top of the review and the countless and often awkwardly placed jabs in later vidoes), think about it.


Sorry for the rant.

 

[Redd the Sock]

Sadly, the high point of my summer flicks was a Rifftrax live showing. Pacific Rim was oversold to the point where I left the theater saying "that's it? That's what's giving the internet orgasms?" I had no investment in any of the cast, and in complete honesty, found the last 20 minutes of The Loner Ranger more fun than any of PR's fights. That and, minor issue: mention why you don't toss a nuke down the hole before the 2/3 mark of your movie.

Iron Man 3 was a decent follow up to Avengers, and the best of the 3 Iron Man movies, I just lost investment by the end. Between a final battle that was more toy commercial than anything, and all the gender issues making me think about how we have yet another movie to be bitched about because Pepper got damseled, I just stopped caring.

Then there's Elysium. I'm left leaning, but this was pretty one dimensional and it really hurt the film. Political statements kind of have to take reality into consideration, but since the magic healing device had no restrictions, we end up with a movie that ignores scarcity and limited resourced trying to fill unlimited wants and needs, and tells us the rich hoard due to being mean. Illegal immigrants are coming to use your bathroom and must be stopped at great military cost. Try to do better than a Captain Planet Villain. It doesn't even make sense in the context of the film. Apparently the rich like a labor force sick and dying hurting productivity, while at the same time, no one seems to be trying to steal one of these things or it's plans to build their own.

 

[RJ 17]

I think it's more the fact that he quite clearly lets his politics color his reviews and that's what gets people upset. I really don't mind, as reviewing things through a political prism is just another way of reviewing them, but a lot of people tend to get pissed off when "Liberal Reviewer Only Likes The Movie Because It's Liberal Propaganda!"

Hell, I'm a conservative and I just kinda chuckle and say "Ohhhhh Bobby, Bobby Bobby Bobby...really? You just LOVED the movie about every single right-wing stereotype invading the White House to take out "Not-Obama" purely because it makes fun of conservatives?" Maybe it's just the fact that I like reviewers that talk fast that I keep coming to watch his videos, but really I take his political stances with a grain of salt...I'd imagine there's a lot of people on this forum that can't take ANYTHING involving politics so lightly, however.

Incidentally, that's why I stay the hell away from the Religion and Politics forum on this site. Seriously, you say ONE thing on there - doesn't matter what - and your in-box will be full for the next three weeks with pissed off people that are more than eager to tell you just who incredibly wrong you are.

Yeah I don't bother really dabbling in politics either, which is why I guess I don't get rubbed either way when Bob brings in a political spin to what he's talking about. And just to be fair, that wasn't the ENTIRETY of the White House Down review, rather just one aspect of it he personally dug/found amusing. He's never been the one to outright say "Fuck [this side or that side]"; he pokes fun at everyone. Whatever's convenient/relevant for the review.

It's pretty clear though that he views things with a liberal/progressive skew, though. And yes, to be fair that wasn't the entire point of his review of that particular movie, but he certainly made it sound like that was one of his favorite parts of the movie.

Another thing that I was going to mention in my previous post is that a lot of people - myself included - don't like mixing their politics with their entertainment, even when said entertainment's politics happen to match their own. Take Elysium for example. As has been pointed out numerous times in this very topic, a lot of people didn't like the obscenely heavy-handed politicking going on in that movie and that's why they didn't like it in general, Bob on the other hand loved it. And that's where disagreements and rage start to seep in: people would rather have him criticize the unashamed lack of subtlety when a movie clearly has an agenda rather than buy into it whole-heartedly. Personally I treat such movies the same way I treat Bob when he gets political: I just role my eyes and move on.

In the end, people need to realize that Bob's a movie reviewer on the frickin' internet...surely there must be SOMETHING better these people can do than get all pissed off about his political views. If it REALLY bothers them that much, I just have to wonder why they bother watching his videos in the first place. I do it because as I mentioned before: I just find them to be entertaining, regardless of what he's "preaching".

 

[Ariseishirou]

Agree with many, but Elysium was heavy-handed to the point of outright dim, and it laid on the sap so hard at the end it tore me right out of the film. As my BFF pointed out to me later, it's also essentially just District 9 again, followning exactly the same formula, from "hero as minor functionary for the bad guys" to "accident forces him to join the good guys" to "friend amongst the good guys has an adorable child that causes him to sacrifice himself in the end". The only improvement Elysium had was Kruger.

Of course, it would have been greatly improved by an end credits scene that shows the medpods running out of power/resources in a couple of hours, then being ripped apart by the poor people for parts, while the people of Elysium reprogram their computer and nothing changes.

My BFF had an even harsher end credits scene in mind when I mentioned this: flash forward to months/years later, on Elysium, only it too is now overcrowded and covered in slums.

 

[tzimize]

Bob, I really dont get why you disliked Superman so much, but still think so much of Pacific Rim. Superman was pretty ok, except for a couple of things.
1: The fact that the whole movie was downbeat and depressing, when its about the character that best embodies hope.
2: Superman killed the bad guy. While it was refreshing that he didnt win in a stupid way, it just messes up the character (imo).

Pacific Rim, while it was a visual spectacle...was just weak. I was actually cringing in my seat more than once from the script. And while I know you shouldnt expect much from a summer-movie, I expected a BIT more since it was from Guillermo. Pacific Rim was a let-down. The action was spectacular, but the scenes in between (and there were a lot of them) were boring and/or stupid for the most part.

Agree with many, but Elysium was heavy-handed to the point of outright dim, and it laid on the sap so hard at the end it tore me right out of the film. As my BFF pointed out to me later, it's also essentially just District 9 again, followning exactly the same formula, from "hero as minor functionary for the bad guys" to "accident forces him to join the good guys" to "friend amongst the good guys has an adorable child that causes him to sacrifice himself in the end". The only improvement Elysium had was Kruger.

Of course, it would have been greatly improved by an end credits scene that shows the medpods running out of power/resources in a couple of hours, then being ripped apart by the poor people for parts, while the people of Elysium reprogram their computer and nothing changes.

My BFF had an even harsher end credits scene in mind when I mentioned this: flash forward to months/years later, on Elysium, only it too is now overcrowded and covered in slums.

I so much agree. Elysium had some pretty cool scenes, but the plot/ending was just awful.

 

[newwiseman]

I'll agree with everything but The Conjuring.

It certainly has the best build up of any horror movie I've seen in years but all the tension is lost the instant the witch ghost is revealed... she just looked like a bad Sam Raimi ripoff, and no matter how good the rest of the film is I'm not scared of Sam Raimi monsters. If they had kept her off screen or just invisible then maybe my pulse would had kept up through the film, as it was I got pretty sleepy during the very predictable third act.

 

[Kyrian007]

What has MoS fans sooooo defensive? It's not just here, I see it on other forums I frequent as well. I disagreed with several of the common arguments against MoS, even some that Bob has picked on. I guess I just like "grimdark," MoS's tone didn't bother me. I can suspend disbelief, so I don't nitpick every so-called "plot hole." In MOST areas I was ok with MoS. It didn't make my personal top 10 either, but it doesn't offend me. But to say "I'm not even watching next week. He'll just pile on some more." Well, take your ball and go home, just remember whom that solution is most often attributed to.

However to be completely honest (a search history check could "out" me here) yes, I hated MoS. I'm not even sure Bob even mentioned the one thing that makes me HATE that movie. All in all I didn't have a problem with much in that movie. But I had such a big problem with something that happened in every single second of MoS that I couldn't walk away without hating it. Persistent (indeed all-encompassing) shaky-cam. They never explained how or why Jimmy Olsen was able to capture all of those moments (even the ones on Krypton and during Clark's childhood) on his iPhone. So maybe I am just watching to see if he mentions the unforgivably crappy cinematography and terrible and unwatchable aesthetic choices. But mostly I'll watch because I respect Bob's reviews, even if I don't agree with them, even if they won't change my opinion of something I've already seen and we disagree on. Positive reviews from Bob have led me to a few movies I would not otherwise have bothered with. And with one exception ("Drive" if you must know) I've enjoyed them all. Just because someone (reviewer, commenter, whatever) has a different opinion than someone else, doesn't make them their arch-nemesis.

 

[Metalrocks]

wow, half of these movies are not even out yet in my country. "your next" comes out by the end of this year. some of them i rather wait until its out on dvd.

 

[Strazdas]

A nice list and a few movies i havent seen which i will get to (probably when they go out on DVD).
But please dont make Man Of Steel another Spider-Man. we get it, you dont like it, you dont have to repeat it in every video.

 

[thenightgaunt]

Great video and the new add for your book at the end surprised me and ended with me doubled over with laughter until my sides hurt. Well done sir. ^_^

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

It's similar with Pacific Rim. If Raleigh had died in Mako's arms in the end, saying something about how "now we're both free from what's been haunting us", it could have been with hope towards the future but with poignancy towards the losses incurred to achieve it. But it was more of a "WE WON!" elation

The problem with this is what exactly? Stacker and Chuck Hansen already had the heroic sacrifice part done and dusted; killing Raleigh in Mako's arms would have been needlessly twisting the knife, especially since I took his experience to be learning how to live again, rather than just exist.

Hell I was just grateful that Mako and Raleigh didn't fall in love, for avoiding that horse-shit plot point alone I hold Pacific Rim higher than most summer action films.