West Ham Online

Another year and another set of movies being released.

As always there are a few surprises throughout the year that come out but the big movies look to be good ones this year:

- The Gentlemen
- Jojo Rabbit
- 1917
- Uncut Gems
- Bombshell
-Bad Boys for Life
- The Lighthouse
- Just Mercy
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood
- Parasite
- Birds of Prey
- Dolittle
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Bloodshot
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Dark Waters
- Onward
- A Quiet Place: Part 2
- Mulan
- Bond: No Time to Die
- The New Mutants
- Black Widow
- Scoob!
- Fast and Furious 9
- Wonder Woman 1984
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife
- Minions: The Rise of Gru
- Tenet
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Jungle Cruise
- Morbius
- Bill & Ted Face the Music
- The King's Man
- Halloween Kills
- Eternals
- Gozilla vs. Kong
- Dune
- Coming 2 America
- West Side Story

This idea that films and tv used be greenlit based on quality is nonsense really. It was always based around box office and viewing figures and what is and is not marketable. Data driven algorithms are just the modern technological extension of that. The idea that in the past a studio would prefer a good script with a has-been director and unknown actor over a bad script with a famous movie star and trendy director is just laughable really.

"""Ben Stiller is the highest paid actor in the world, and Jason Statham isn't too far behind"" I think you mean Adam Sandler, not Ben Stiller. In any case, Statham earned so much in the last year because he starred in 5 films, 3 of which he produced himself. The Meg 2 and Fast X alone made over half a billion dollars in profit. Adam Sandler has that Netflix deal and makes 3-4 films a year, most of which he produces and some of which he also writes. What these people earn hasn't got that much to do with data driven algorithms. It's how much work they put in. On the other hand, someone you presumably respect, Leo diCaprio, earned as much as Statham last year and he's made just one film in the last 3 years."

"I like Gyllenhaal too but like a lot of actors does some bad ones, he was in 'Ambulance' a year or so back which is meant to be shocking. Won't be bothering with Roadhouse, loved the original though."

"Agree about Road House, the original is far better. But all films were better back then. I'm presently doing a polish on a script about a fairly famous 1970s footballer's early life. The original script is seriously shit but it fits Netflix's algorithm and is more or less green lit, however, the footballer in question is refusing to sign the rights over, as it's not a true reflection of what happened and is dreadfully clunky. Yet it's attracted some trending actors, as they want to make some money, as the writers strike as restricted their income, Sadly, the films and tv you watch on streaming services are no longer based on quality, but data driven algorithms, which is why Ben Stiller is the highest paid actor in the world, and Jason Statham isn't too far behind. I could take a stunning script to Netflix, or Amazon, to be directed by a long time collaborator of mine, who has won an Oscar and a Bafta (20 years ago), and starring a brilliant, yet unknown, young actor, and they'd pass. Or, I could take a shit script with JLo attached, with a hip young director, and they'd write a Cheque for $50,000,000. Unfortunately, I don't have an in with JLo. Or a shit script. Apologies for the rant."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR_Yqn1D00w ....... Roadhouse .................

Well Cillian Murphy should rest easily. McGregor ain’t coming for his Oscar any time soon. Leave your brain at the door. It’s inoffensive enough. And you won’t remember by tomorrow.

"Takashi Miike 9:12 Fri Mar 22 Watched it last night and thought it was poor. I like Gyllenhaal as an actor but agree with you the charisma was lacking and McGregor was just bizarre. Found that the action sequences were choreographed so much none looks off the cuff and it seems like they are dancing rather than fighting. CGI effects for sequences looked just that, CGI effects. Acting was crap which is saying something compared to a cheesy but enjoyable original and not sur what films are doing these days with these irritating young villains. At least Ben Gazzara had a nastiness to him in the original whereas these new kids just need putting over a knee and given a slap."

"watched most of the new Roadhouse. it's watchable if you're bored, but nothing special. Gyllenhaal is probably a better actor the Swayze, but I think he lacks his charisma for such a role. also, Connor McGregor is very annoying :.)"

Anyone seen or familiar with Baahubali 2: The Conclusion and Baahubali The Beginning? Looks to have amazing graphics.

"Statham made $44mil last year putting him in the top 10 earners for acting. Fair play to him, he's made a great living off of little talent. Watched Rickey Stinkey with the family last night, enjoyable 90mins of family fun."

A remake of Roadhouse is coming on the 21st March. Looks pretty good going by the trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0ZsLudtfjI&ab_channel=PrimeVideo

"The Beekeeper, Jason Statham's latest effort on Sky. A mate, who is a big fan, got me into Statham's films a couple of years ago. Most I have seen are 10 or 15 years old. Some are enjoyable enough, some not as much. This though is by far the worst I have seen. Everything wrong with modern day films is in here, even Statham looks embarrassed. The fighting choreography looks like they are dancing, the villains are comical and Jeremy Irons must need the money. Makes The Meg look Oscar winning material."

MMG. Somehow I'd missed Kingdom when it came out....great to watch a good old fashioned epic with 30000 extras instead of cgi. Cheers

Dune: Part 2. Visually good. Deafening soundtrack. But nowhere near as great as some are claiming.

Anyone interested in Kingdom of Heaven should try and find the Directors Cut. Far superior to the theatrical release.

Really enjoyed The Last Duel he done... and yeah there might have been some artistic licence with that but seeing as I knew fuck all about the story I didn't give a Monkeys (same as with Kingdom of Heaven)

Napoléon was shit. Some of dialogue between him and Josephine was comical . Did they bring Barbara Cartland from the dead to write the script . Wellington looked like a caricature from a Punch comic. I don’t think R Scott has done anything good since Kingdom Heaven

"Manuel - Yeah me too, it was great entertainment and the lovely Kelly Lynch was pleasing on the eye. I heard a rumour that Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel is allegedly over budget and may need to make £600 - £700 million to break even. Madness if true. Scott has made some absolute classics but a tad hit and miss in recent years. Why remake such a classic, you can't recreate such a great film."

"Manuel - Yeah me too, it was great entertainment and the lovely Kelly Lynch was pleasing on the eye. I heard a rumour that Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel is allegedly over budget and may need to make £600 - £700 million to break even. Madness if true. Scott has made some absolute classics but a tad hit and miss in recent years. Why remake such a classic, you can't recreate such a great film."

"Watched Napoleon, thought it a bit too long and drawn out, Battle scenes are great but in between its a bit meh for long periods! Joaquin Phoenix is ok as the main man, but clearly a bit of an oddball, as was Napoleon i suppose. LOL Also had the trigger warning at the start (watching on Apple TV) that had me rolling my eyes, but i think this type of thing is going to become the norm."

"Another remake out soon - Roadhouse, with Jake Gyllenhaal. I loved the original film with Patrick Swayze."

".. Soldo ... no, haven't been there , dont know why not, i've now decided to go soon ! (sorry for late reply) ."

The Campaigns of Napoleon: The mind and method of History greatest Soldier. By David G. Chandler. Is the book by witch all others are judge by. On military matters of the little Corsican. Cost about a tenner for a E copy. But a actual copy runs into the hundreds.!

Wow the site is properly spazzing out on me today.

"The public never really took to Wellesley like they did Nelson and like his great grandson was a great war politician but a poor prime minister in a time of peace. In fact the windows of his London home, Aspley House had the windows smashed so regularly that he had a wrought iron high fence put around the property, hence the periodical Punch satirising him and where he got his nickname 'the iron Duke' from."