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SMB Film Thread 2026
- Thread starter Fletch73
- Start date
Doogie Hauser
Midfield
Gremlins (1984)
Haven’t seen this for at least 20 years. As a kid, I enjoyed its chaotic gruesomeness and comic violence. As a teen/twentysomething I enjoyed it as a subversive satire on America.
Today I enjoyed it for both reasons. I really loved the small town America feeling, set at Christmas. It does it so much better than 99% of that Hallmark channel Christmas rubbish. It also felt like a visual and auditory historical document, in the same way as the Goonies does, since it’s over 40 years old.
I’d forgotten about some of the dark conversations, such as the suicide one, and the Santa one. As a kid they just passed me by.
Enjoyable nonsense with a dark edge, and a really terrific sense of time and place.
8/10
Haven’t seen this for at least 20 years. As a kid, I enjoyed its chaotic gruesomeness and comic violence. As a teen/twentysomething I enjoyed it as a subversive satire on America.
Today I enjoyed it for both reasons. I really loved the small town America feeling, set at Christmas. It does it so much better than 99% of that Hallmark channel Christmas rubbish. It also felt like a visual and auditory historical document, in the same way as the Goonies does, since it’s over 40 years old.
I’d forgotten about some of the dark conversations, such as the suicide one, and the Santa one. As a kid they just passed me by.
Enjoyable nonsense with a dark edge, and a really terrific sense of time and place.
8/10
Kborom
Striker
The Battery - zombie flick about a couple of baseball players wandering through the wasteland. Funny in parts, OK 6/10
The Running Man - Latest version, more serious and more up to date and still watchable but when I finished I thought they didn't really need to do it. 6.5/10
Fackham Hall - Laughed all the way through the trailer but as a movie it was all a bit shit. A few nicely set-up gags and plenty of unfunny cringe. 5/10
The Running Man - Latest version, more serious and more up to date and still watchable but when I finished I thought they didn't really need to do it. 6.5/10
Fackham Hall - Laughed all the way through the trailer but as a movie it was all a bit shit. A few nicely set-up gags and plenty of unfunny cringe. 5/10
Speakeasy
Full Back
Sentimental Value (2025) - Omniplex
Really, really good. First film I've seen at the pictures this year, and it's set a pretty damned high standard. Tender, contemplative and completely absorbing. Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning are are the only two names I recognised off the cast list, but it's the two actors who play Skarsgard's daughters that steal the show.
9.5/10
Really, really good. First film I've seen at the pictures this year, and it's set a pretty damned high standard. Tender, contemplative and completely absorbing. Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning are are the only two names I recognised off the cast list, but it's the two actors who play Skarsgard's daughters that steal the show.
9.5/10
Fletch73
Midfield
Have you watched The Worst Person in the World? Same director and lead actress. I watched them both recently.
Sisu 2 - Batsh*t mental once again, from the train scene onwards its ludicrous 6.5/10
Drexl
Striker
Oslo, August 31st could also be your friend here.
OOOSH YEAH
Striker
Pink Flamingos 1977.
Fancied watching this for about 20 years as I’ve always loved exploitation films. This is pretty much the hardest slog I’ve had with one. You have to be really interested in the history of film to get through this one. Clear as day they simply were going to attempt to make a film to disgust you and gain notoriety. I really can’t score this as it isn’t comparable to anything but it is in the US National Film Registry so who am I to argue
Fancied watching this for about 20 years as I’ve always loved exploitation films. This is pretty much the hardest slog I’ve had with one. You have to be really interested in the history of film to get through this one. Clear as day they simply were going to attempt to make a film to disgust you and gain notoriety. I really can’t score this as it isn’t comparable to anything but it is in the US National Film Registry so who am I to argue
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Speakeasy
Full Back
I haven't, but I IMDB'd get straight afterwards and saw the trailer for that film. Definitely on my list!
Fletch73
Midfield
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid [1969] 8/10
No memory of watching this as a kid so counting it as a first viewing.
Really enjoyed it. Redford and Newman have such great chemistry it's a surprise they only met for the first time wile filming this. Like most films it needed more Katharine Ross.
No memory of watching this as a kid so counting it as a first viewing.
Really enjoyed it. Redford and Newman have such great chemistry it's a surprise they only met for the first time wile filming this. Like most films it needed more Katharine Ross.
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Doogie Hauser
Midfield
Finding Father Christmas (2025)
Don’t know if this is strictly a film. Seemed more like a tv movie. James Buckley is a grieving husband who is bringing up his son, sixteen year old Lenny Rush. His son still believes, and when his dad tells him that Santa isn’t real, he sets out to prove that he is.
It’s very cheaply produced but it has a lot of heart. There’s some decent cameos from people like Stephen Fry and Greg Davies. It’s borderline mawkish, but the enthusiasm of Rush, and watchability of Buckley, make this a thoughtful treat. There’s something to say about what Christmas represents to some people, and how important it is to recognise that. Enjoyed it.
6.5/10
Click and Collect (2018)
Another tv movie. Asim Chaudhrey and Stephen Merchant star in this cross between Jingle All the Way and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Without strong leads, this would be awful, but it’s not. I found it entertaining and sweet. There’s some genuinely funny lines in it. Definitely one
I’d watch again next year.
7/10
Don’t know if this is strictly a film. Seemed more like a tv movie. James Buckley is a grieving husband who is bringing up his son, sixteen year old Lenny Rush. His son still believes, and when his dad tells him that Santa isn’t real, he sets out to prove that he is.
It’s very cheaply produced but it has a lot of heart. There’s some decent cameos from people like Stephen Fry and Greg Davies. It’s borderline mawkish, but the enthusiasm of Rush, and watchability of Buckley, make this a thoughtful treat. There’s something to say about what Christmas represents to some people, and how important it is to recognise that. Enjoyed it.
6.5/10
Click and Collect (2018)
Another tv movie. Asim Chaudhrey and Stephen Merchant star in this cross between Jingle All the Way and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Without strong leads, this would be awful, but it’s not. I found it entertaining and sweet. There’s some genuinely funny lines in it. Definitely one
I’d watch again next year.
7/10
Howard the Duck
Striker
Where did you get Eephus now? Another I’ve looked everywhere for with no luck…
Similar to Baltimorons?
Monty Pigeon
Striker
Doogie Hauser
Midfield
More Christmas catch-ups, watched with the young un.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas (1999)
A trilogy of short stories.
My rating: 7.5/10
His: 9/10
Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas (2004)
Another anthology.
My rating: 6/10
His rating: 8/10
The Grinch (2018)
Animation featuring Dr Strange.
My rating: 7/10
His rating: 9/10
The Polar Express (2004)
Mind-warp animation.
My rating: 7/10
His rating: 8/10
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Modernisation-themed animation.
My rating: 7.5/10
His rating: 8/10
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas (1999)
A trilogy of short stories.
My rating: 7.5/10
His: 9/10
Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas (2004)
Another anthology.
My rating: 6/10
His rating: 8/10
The Grinch (2018)
Animation featuring Dr Strange.
My rating: 7/10
His rating: 9/10
The Polar Express (2004)
Mind-warp animation.
My rating: 7/10
His rating: 8/10
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Modernisation-themed animation.
My rating: 7.5/10
His rating: 8/10
TheManFromSunderland
Central Defender
Predator: Badlands
What a disappointment, really looking forward to it after enjoying PREY. Jesus what have they done with the Predator franchise, it gets worse…4/10….hope he doesn’t direct the next one be like sesame street but with predators.
What a disappointment, really looking forward to it after enjoying PREY. Jesus what have they done with the Predator franchise, it gets worse…4/10….hope he doesn’t direct the next one be like sesame street but with predators.
Speakeasy
Full Back
Marty Supreme (2025) - Omniplex
It was good, but can't help be a little bit let down after all the Golden Globe/Oscar hype had raised expectations so high. Chalamet is tremendous and absolutely carries the movie, but just felt like there was just one or two mad caper or ridiculous plot twists too many. After 2.5hrs of non-stop ridiculous scams and escapades it got to the point of just being exhausting, and I was glad it was over in the end.
Can't deny that there were some great moments in there, but didn't think it was a great film overall.
7/10
It was good, but can't help be a little bit let down after all the Golden Globe/Oscar hype had raised expectations so high. Chalamet is tremendous and absolutely carries the movie, but just felt like there was just one or two mad caper or ridiculous plot twists too many. After 2.5hrs of non-stop ridiculous scams and escapades it got to the point of just being exhausting, and I was glad it was over in the end.
Can't deny that there were some great moments in there, but didn't think it was a great film overall.
7/10
Motor City Cobra
Striker
The Tank. Amazon prime
German war film about a tank crew on the Russian front in 1943 ( tiger tank)
They are given a dangerous mission right on the front line.
Few excellent scenes, some decent tension and interesting how the story comes together.
I love films like this like.
Solid cobra score of 7/10
German war film about a tank crew on the Russian front in 1943 ( tiger tank)
They are given a dangerous mission right on the front line.
Few excellent scenes, some decent tension and interesting how the story comes together.
I love films like this like.
Solid cobra score of 7/10
errant
Striker
100% this... i couldnt quite put into words why i came away from it mildly disappointed. i thought it was good but not great & everything you said i agree with whole heartily. i think i thought the plot was slightly shallow but now it was the non-stop scams\escapades scene to scene to scene.
i remember seeing wes anderson's the phoenician scheme last year, and now i think about it that film also probably suffers the same problem in format - can you put too much into a films plot? i often wonder if those films are better on the small screen? or are screenwriters for the big screen attempting to take on tv series who have time & room to throw more at a story?
