MovieChat Forums > Upgrade (2018) Discussion > Good movie that's getting very little bu...

Good movie that's getting very little buzz

posted 6 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8292)
10 replies | jump to latest

I didn't even know this movie existed until I ran across a trailer a couple of days ago. It seems like the promotion is very limited and the buzz is almost non-existent.

I went to see it tonight though and enjoyed it a good bit.

It actually made me think if Ex Machina was re-written as an action movie then the result would be something kind of like Upgrade. It's better than the trailer would have you believe I think, and for once in the modern age the trailer does a good job of not showing you the whole movie.

Really strong and assured visual style. Good action. Some interesting twists and turns.

Easily one of the best films of the year so far I think, especially considering that this has been a fairly weak year.

8/10

[–] SlackerInc (1069) 6 years ago

I never saw the trailer, but I went because I have MoviePass and it had a high RT score. I was blown away by how great it was. My favorite movie of 2018 so far, even ahead of “Deadpool 2” and “Infinity War”, which I loved. And with a far lower budget, it’s WAY better than it has any business being.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 6 years ago

Cool, glad to hear you liked it!

I also have MoviePass and have seen around 30 movies this year so far, and I'd say of those 30ish Upgrade is easily Top 5. There are a few I'd put ahead of it, like Den of Thieves and Ready Player One, but I enjoyed it quite a bit and found it to be a pleasant surprise.

BTW, it's not as good as Upgrade, but if you want to check out another action movie that was surprisingly good but flew under the radar then give Braven a look.

Here's the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ejaw0F8-sY

[–] SlackerInc (1069) 6 years ago

RP1 was good, for sure, but it’s my #7 of 2018 thus far. My #’s 2-6:

Deadpool 2
Avengers: Infinity War
A Quiet Place
Black Panther
Game Night

I put “Den of Thieves” and “Braven” on my Netflix disc queue since they are out of theaters. Thanks for the recs!

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 6 years ago

Frankly, like I said earlier I haven't been too impressed with most of the films this year, but there are a few gems that have stood out. A few that come to mind:

Upgrade
Ready Player One
Den of Thieves
Braven
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Black Panther
A Quiet Place

Molly's Game, Hostiles and Chappaquiddick were also pretty good, though probably not films I'll ever revisit. And I think I liked the 15:17 to Paris a lot more than most other people seemed to. 12 Strong was okay, too.

My biggest disappointments:

Tomb Raider
Pacific Rim: Uprising
Deadpool 2
Solo
Unsane
Annihilation

Was hoping for good things from all of those and left feeling pretty unsatisfied every time.

My fingers are crossed that Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom really delivers.

[–] SlackerInc (1069) 6 years ago

Our only real disagreements (on movies we both saw): I loved “Deadpool 2”, and thought “Hostiles” fell apart in the final reel.

“Annihilation” was SO overrated, amirite?

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 6 years ago

Yeah, I know a lot of people liked Annihilation but I didn't understand that movie at all. But what's most important is that the movie didn't make me WANT to understand it.

Unlike something like 2001: A Space Odyssey, which grips me and makes me WANT to put the puzzle together, with Annihilation I just didn't really give a shit.

I liked Ex Machina and was looking forward to Annihilation but left feeling so unsatisfied.

Of all of my disappointments though, probably my biggest one was Tomb Raider. Not that it was BAD per se, but it was just so average. I am a HUGE fan of adventure movies like The Mummy and the Indiana Jones series, so I had high hopes for it. It was easily one of my most anticipated films of the year. But then I saw it and my reaction was basically: Yawn. It just seemed so paint-by-numbers.

[–] Slash (1) 6 years ago

Yep, I totally agree. I don't understand why so little attention is being paid to this movie. I left the theater thinking this was one of the best movies I've seen in a year or two.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1460) 6 years ago

I second that. This was a movie built around clever storytelling and fast, incredibly well shot action. Wish more people were seeing it.

Have a short review of this movie if anyone is interested- https://youtu.be/OM6fwdqlKz4

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 6 years ago

Yeah, people constantly complain about all the sequels, reboots and remakes that are coming out today, but then when an actual fun, well-made, totally original film comes along, no one goes to see it. The movie's made a pitiful $11 million so far and probably won't be taking in much more after this many weeks in release.

Hotel Artemis, another film I enjoyed and that is also an original property (despite some superficial similarities to John Wick), has only made $6 million.

Meanwhile, Avengers: Infinity War has crossed the $2 billion mark.

[–] modica (4169) 6 years ago

Very good movie that was overshadowed by crowd pleasing blockbusters. Happens all the time.