Bright - Netflix

Agent Coulson

Written by Max Landis directed by David Ayer and starring Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Noomi Rapace & Edgar Ramírez coming to Netflix.

Teaser.

pixelburp

Hmmm, that sounds like a genuinely interesting concept, but the double whammy of Max Landis AND David Ayer makes me more than a little cautious. To be fair, while Landis' adaptation of Dirk Gently was pretty polarising, I myself enjoyed it a lot & would probably give the writer the benefit of the doubt. Ayer though. Blergh.

The old board/video game Shadowrun notwithstanding, I'm surprised more use hasn't been made of transplanting the high fantasy races into a modern setting before...

kunst nugget

pixelburp wrote: »

Hmmm, that sounds like a genuinely interesting concept, but the double whammy of Max Landis AND David Ayer makes me more than a little cautious. To be fair, while Landis' adaptation of Dirk Gently was pretty polarising, I myself enjoyed it a lot & would probably give the writer the benefit of the doubt. Ayer though. Blergh.

Will Smith would put me off more at this stage… can't remember the last movie that I enjoyed with him in it. I like Dirk Gently but I had no preconceptions going into it and I enjoyed Training Day, End of Watch and Fury so I'll be cautiously optimistic about it.

Slydice

Comic Con trailer

Not bad..

pixelburp

Will Smith playing Will Smith then. Looks like it might be half-decent, feels like it'd be a good TV series too, maybe the film will be a jumping-off point for Netflix...

I was with it until I saw "Director of Suicide Squad".

What I would have loved to have seen if this had been directed by someone much better. Hell, even Guillermo del Toro!

pixelburp

Yeah, I wouldn't exactly flash that up as something to boast about; but then presumably somebody out there likes Suicide Squad. I just don't like Ayer's movies though, he's so obsessed with this macho, swaggering tone it gets in the way of his films half the time.

Agent Coulson

Looks good.


Can't help think of Alien Nation watching it.

The_Valeyard

I like the looks of this. Could be interesting.

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson

Final trailer it drops on the 22nd.

Agent Coulson

It dropped on Netflix this morning

Unearthly

It's got panned by critics but i actually liked it. Thought the action scenes were really well done and the comedy was good. Nothing amazing but a decent watch

Slydice

yikes :eek: 32% on RT and this is one of the first headlines google chooses to show me:
"The worst movie of 2017" – Review round-up of Netflix’s original movie, Bright
http://www.gamesradar.com/the-worst-movie-of-2017-review-round-up-of-netflixs-original-movie-bright/

Agent Coulson

Nearly the opposite of Star Wars re critic vs audience.... Critic score on RT 32 Audience score 87.

Varik

Liked it a lot.

Only issue was the end for me.

Didn't like the cover up to much, what with the scumbag cops getting honoured.

Would really like to see more of this world.

judeboy101

Going to watch tonight, if I've learnt anything from star wars TLJ, critics don't know their arses from their elbows.

Hector Savage

Nice, just out on Netflix, will watch tonight ...

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

yikes :eek: 32% on RT and this is one of the first headlines google chooses to show me:
"The worst movie of 2017" – Review round-up of Netflix’s original movie, Bright
http://www.gamesradar.com/the-worst-movie-of-2017-review-round-up-of-netflixs-original-movie-bright/

Click bait journalism of the worst kind, if bright is the worst film of 2017 then obviously the writer only watched a handful of film. I've yet to see Bright but am looking forward to it, it's refreshing to have a well-budgeted fantasy film that isn't based on an existing product, isn't an adaptation or remake, isn't tailored directly for as young an audience as possible and actually looks good. I'm not expecting Bright to rock the world and I dislike Landis' work but the trailer was good, the cast are great, Ayer has delivered in the past and honestly as long as it isn't just scene after scene of cheap looking CGI it may work.

Slydice

Yes, please do report back.

RT seems to be having trouble aligning their reviewers and audiences with multiple scifi/superhero/fantasy shows and films

kerplun k

Watched it. It’s good.

Slydice

Also watched it and thought it was good!

So like.. if ye're gonna watch this.. ye're gonna need to buy into the present day world have Orcs and Elves and magic and all that now.

Then David Ayer brings a similar cop film feel as he had in End of Watch. The story is different though and more actiony than I remember EoW being.

I didn't think it was as good as EoW.. just to be clear.

It was a cool enough take on the behaviour and what would be going on between the races and how magic is used and all that.

I liked Noomi Rapaces performance. It's good to see her in a role that plays to he strength which seems to be

getting into action and close combat regardless of being a goodie or baddie.

One weakness I thought too much humour from Will Smith but maybe that'll be liked by more audience. It felt like maybe he had a say in ligthening up the feel of the film. I dunno.

Bar that, there was some early uses of clear spoken language as and to me it looked like that was to allow for easier translations to other languages for subbing and dubbing.

Gatling

Didn't think it was too bad ,for the most part but I believe it would be better suited to a limited series ,
Plenty of back story could be added

Varik

Mr.S wrote: »

Critics are quick to bash high budget Netflix original films, as it's easy and makes for clickbait headlines. I think it's a mix of Netflix original films being generally 'meh' and a non-theatrical release is instantly marked down. Plus bad reviews for Netflix being Netflix.

Same critics who booed Okja's Cannes premiere before it even started.

Don't think it matters too much, the way the worlds going their opinions don't matter any more than any one else.

pixelburp

Varik wrote: »

Same critics who booed Okja's Cannes premiere before it even started.

Wasn't this mis-reported, that the boos were because the projector broke down, not because of the Netflix logo? Okja reviewed pretty well in the end iirc, and got a good public reception too (mystery Netflix viewership notwithstanding )

Varik

pixelburp wrote: »

Wasn't this mis-reported, that the boos were because the projector broke down, not because of the Netflix logo? Okja reviewed pretty well in the end iirc, and got a good public reception too (mystery Netflix viewership notwithstanding )

Happened twice, they booed at the start when the logo appear and then later when they had to stop since someone fooked up the aspect ratio.

pixelburp

Varik wrote: »

Happened twice, they booed at the start when the logo appear and then later when they had to stop since someone fooked up the aspect ratio.

Ah ok, knew there was something about the projection. That booing seems understandable anyway, but it's Cannes; the audiences boo over evvvvverything, it's a tradition / right of passage and rarely a serious protest against the target.

pixelburp

Something I wasn't aware of and just read in a review, was that David Ayer personally made rewrites to Max Landis' script, with Landis apparently disowning the final product. I was looking forward to this, but suddenly more cautious that this will have less of Landis' smartmouth shtick and more of Ayers chest thumping nonsense.

pixelburp

pixelburp wrote: »

Something I wasn't aware of and just read in a review, was that David Ayer personally made rewrites to Max Landis' script, with Landis apparently disowning the final product. I was looking forward to this, but suddenly more cautious that this will have less of Landis' smartmouth shtick and more of Ayers chest thumping nonsense.

Ayer is a pretty decent writer and far better than Landis who let's be honest here is coasting by on name for the most part. Ayer has written End of Watch, Harsh Times, Fury, Training Day and Dark Blue, all of which are damn fine films with very strong scripts. Sure he has a couple of more generic action films but over all he's a far more interesting voice than a lot of what passes for Blockbuster cinema at the minute.

Sad Professor

I had it on in the background earlier. Low budget and very vulgar, but mostly harmless SyFy-esque shlock. Takes itself very seriously, nothing like American Ultra which I quite liked. It’s basically a tv movie version of Suicide Squad minus the studio interference. I can’t say the reviews are undeserved, but it is fun in places and there’s clearly a market for this kind of thing.

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

A number of allegations of sexual assault coming out in relation to Landis. Claims that his father has in the past covered stuff up and that Dirk Gently being cancelled was as a result of a heads up that this was coming.

pixelburp

[Deleted User] wrote: »

A number of allegations of sexual assault coming out in relation to Landis. Claims that his father has in the past covered stuff up and that Dirk Gently being cancelled was as a result of a heads up that this was coming.

Wait, as in Max is the perpetrator and his father covered it all up, or the other way round?

Agent Coulson

John Landis covered stuff up for his son or himself?

Found these.
Netflix.

Hey guys, totally forgot to mention this until right now, but we made a Will Smith movie and it’s coming out in 3 hours @BrightNetflix

Anna Akana‏Verified account

Written by a psychopath who sexually abused and assaults women, right? Cool

https://twitter.com/AnnaAkana/status/944091631484944384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com%2Fentertainment%2F2017%2F12%2Fmax-landis-sexual-assault-bright-writer%2F

Definitely watch that big Netflix movie coming out, written by that ****ing psychopath who is one of the worst people alive

https://twitter.com/weismanjake/status/942874390403809280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com%2Fentertainment%2F2017%2F12%2Fmax-landis-sexual-assault-bright-writer%2F

pixelburp

pixelburp wrote:

Wait, as in Max is the perpetrator and his father covered it all up, or the other way round?

Agent Coulson wrote:

John Landis covered stuff up for his son or himself?

That's the accusation being made.

BattleCorp

I watched it last night. I wouldn't call it brilliant but it wasn't bad. Worth a watch. Plenty of room for a sequel.

Skerries

it felt like Alien Nation meets Training Day mixed with The 5th Element

kept expecting Tikka to say Multi-Pass!

pixelburp

A solid, entertaining B-movie, and exactly the kind of mid-budget, blockbuster "lite" you just don't get these days in the cinema; Smith was on autopilot with the kind of wise-cracking character he has played a dozen times before, while Edgerton came off better with an earnest, boy scout performance. You could definitely spot the Ayer rewrites in places and it made the tone distinctly inconsistent; the swaggering, generic gang & police patter exactly the kind of one-note stuff Ayer usually comes out with, bookended by the more jabbering Landis material.

The concept alone was intriguing & original enough; I'd happily spend more time in this world, although a TV spin-off feels like it would have more potential. A feature film can only ever hope to skim across the basics of this world & its alternate history, while a TV series would obviously have more room to deep-dive into all those issues of class & race that the film hinted at. It wouldn't surprise me if in a few months Netflix announce something, the film definitely gave off a distinct "to be continued..." vibe.

Deleted User wrote: »

Ayer is a pretty decent writer and far better than Landis who let's be honest here is coasting by on name for the most part. Ayer has written End of Watch, Harsh Times, Fury, Training Day and Dark Blue, all of which are damn fine films with very strong scripts. Sure he has a couple of more generic action films but over all he's a far more interesting voice than a lot of what passes for Blockbuster cinema at the minute.

I think both writers are guilty of being one-note to be honest: and while I've enjoyed some of Ayers films, to me there's a distinct sense of "seen one, seen 'em all" with his scripts. Sure, most writers tend to lean into certain eccentricities, styles or viewpoints, but nearly all Ayer's material has exactly the same tone - not to mention setting too. Bright being no exception. As I said above, you could really tell which parts were re-written by Ayer, because it was exactly the same kind of ... 'foxhole brotherhood' schtick he does time and time again. I did enjoy the film, but despite the LA Cop Posturing, not because of it.

JP Liz V1

Deleted User wrote: »

A number of allegations of sexual assault coming out in relation to Landis. Claims that his father has in the past covered stuff up and that Dirk Gently being cancelled was as a result of a heads up that this was coming.

I didn't know Max is John Landis son

Manach

I found it fairly entertaining. After a shaky 15m start, it developed into fairly cop-buddy film within an urban fantasy. While not the best performance ever of Mr. Smith, he still made the outing worth watching in spite of lack of real plot, poor world building and average SFX. Hopefully the sequel will remedy these.

ThisRegard

Can't see where the critics that are panning it are coming from, I found it enjoyable. As others have said before there's a world and backstory there that has plenty of potential for a TV series.

DeadHand

Mediocre and excessively bleak film.

Edgerton is outstanding in a difficult role.

The setting is intriguing and deserves revisiting.

Just watched it and really liked it, certainly enjoyed it more then The Last Jedi and think that if you removed the fantasy elements and made it a straight cop thriller that a lot of the reviews would be far more positive. How this is being critically mauled while the rather bland Last Jedi is being celebrated by critics is beyond me. Both films have their issues but honestly Bright is the better film and at it doesn't feel like they're making it up as they go along.

It's very much and Ayer film and I'd say that bar the set up Ayer rewrote most of Landis' script. Your enjoyment of the film will depend a lot on how much you like Ayer at his most base, this is End of Watch with a twist and works far better than it should. At the very least it hinted at a rich and vibrant world through some clever world building and I'd happily sit through a sequel or a mini series. It's nice to see a blockbuster that isn't neutered so as to appeal to a PG13 audience and is more than scene after scene if CGI and bombast. I've grown tired of Marvel's cookie cutter fare and the state of modern blockbuster cinema bores me but Bright is that odd bright spot. It strives to do and say something different.

pixelburp

pixelburp wrote:

The concept alone was intriguing & original enough; I'd happily spend more time in this world, although a TV spin-off feels like it would have more potential. A feature film can only ever hope to skim across the basics of this world & its alternate history, while a TV series would obviously have more room to deep-dive into all those issues of class & race that the film hinted at. It wouldn't surprise me if in a few months Netflix announce something, the film definitely gave off a distinct "to be continued..." vibe.

A sequel is already in development with the cast all signed up. If they do this right there is huge potential for spin offs

gandalf

Delivered for what it is a slightly above average popcorn film. Don't see why it's getting a panning. It's a formulaic cop movie with an interesting twist.

Varik

Be nice to see more of the other races in a sequel, only saw the single centaur and then all the elves, humans, and orcs.

Unearthly

Loved the bit where you just see a dragon flying over L.A.

darced

This post has been deleted.

Agent Coulson

Very enjoyable film and lots of promise for some world building via more films or tv series.



Will Smith set to return in the sequel

“Bright” is the company’s first attempt at a big-budget Hollywood production, bringing together a bona fide movie star in a fantasy, buddy-cop tale that could have come from any studio playbook. Directed by David Ayer, who also made “Suicide Squad,” it’s a warning shot to studios and theater owners that Netflix is targeting a big chunk of the $38.6 billion global box office. To underscore the commitment, the company has already ordered a sequel with Smith signed on.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-20/netflix-attempts-a-couch-potato-blockbuster-with-sequel-on-way

johnny_ultimate

Hot grabage. Inspidly directed and the writing is even worse. Landis' script is hilariously terrible at times (it constantly feels like he - or Ayer, if he did indeed take over - is high-fiving himself when there's another clunky one-liner), and even at its best it's clear the actors are battling against the script's painful artifice. But Ayer's competent yet flavourless direction sometimes achieves the not inconsiderable feat of making it merely instantly forgettable rather than jaw-droppingly awful.

It should be stressed that Ayer does not, however, have anywhere the imagination or flair to bring its hybrid fantasy world to life: it's just another one of his 'gritty' cop movies, with some bad special effects and makeup to mix things up. The world is uninteresting; the situations derivative (of course they end up in a strip bar: the 'titty bar' line is a fine contender for this year's worst); the efforts at social commentary / context so misguided it's a good thing they're largely discarded around half an hour in; it's an endless parade of cop / gangster / buddy movie movie cliches; and the whole thing basically feels like a bad idea badly realised.

To end on some positive notes: Large chunks of the running time are more dull than actively annoying, but sometimes it's a bit of both. The petrol station scene was OK. A few bonus points to the effects team for the charred neon bodies.

Netflix really need to up their standards. Okja and Meyerowitz Stories were steps in the right direction: this is yet another couple back (although not quite the crushing disappointment / sacrilege Blame! was).

Varik

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Very enjoyable film and lots of promise for some world building via more films or tv series.



Will Smith set to return in the sequel



https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-20/netflix-attempts-a-couch-potato-blockbuster-with-sequel-on-way

Turn around will hopefully be quick.