Movie Review Thread

Samurai Banners (1969) is a Japanese movie staring Mifune Toshiro about Yamamoto Kansuke who was a trusted general of Takeda Shingen. He even incorporates the limp, which Kansuke may have had, in his portrayal. He gives a very good performance as does everyone involved. It's an epic story that stays true to history, and the banners portrayed are supposedly accurate and quite spectacular. The armies are not of one homogenous color and banner as there are various factions and auxiliaries involved. The battle scenes are well done, but the movie is more about the strategy involved in the Takeda conquests over a 20 year period. I think this is an excellent movie, and has recently been released on DVD.

The Hills Have Eyes (2006) has no reason to exist. It's almost an exact copy of Wes Craven's 1977 original with what passes for mainstream gore now, and there is less focus on the evil (1977)/mutated (2006) family's dynamics. Kathleen Quinlan is wasted.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) is a very well done Korean thriller/horror/drama about two young sisters who return home after spending time in a mental institution. It developes slowly, but delivers quite an impact in both its scares and dramatic story.

Night Watch & Day Watch: Two great Russian fantasy movies. Very dark, very cool, modern era. Also have the coolest subtitles of any movie I've seen, when the vampire is calling the boy the subtitles are red and dissolve like blood etc.

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Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

Night Watch & Day Watch: Two great Russian fantasy movies. Very dark, very cool, modern era. Also have the coolest subtitles of any movie I've seen, when the vampire is calling the boy the subtitles are red and dissolve like blood etc.

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Did you like both of them ? Is Day Watch better than the first one ?
I've watched Night Watch, and, tbh, I got kinda bored and frustrated: imo, the way the movie was shot and the plot developed all seemed somewhat incoherent to me, and game me a general feeling of anxiety. Was this intended ? I dunno.
I thought Night Watch was okay at best, hence I didn't bother trying the second one. I take it you're of the opinion that it's worth watching the second one ?

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Originally Posted by Blodrast

Did you like both of them ? Is Day Watch better than the first one ?
I've watched Night Watch, and, tbh, I got kinda bored and frustrated: imo, the way the movie was shot and the plot developed all seemed somewhat incoherent to me, and game me a general feeling of anxiety. Was this intended ? I dunno.
I thought Night Watch was okay at best, hence I didn't bother trying the second one. I take it you're of the opinion that it's worth watching the second one ?

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Yes, day watch was far better than night watch. Night watch had cool moments and interesting ideas, but the main reason to watch it is that it makes day watch understandable. The story in day watch is much more coherent.

Okay, Sasaki, thank you. I guess I'll give it a try then :)

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Originally Posted by Puzz3D

The Hills Have Eyes (2006) has no reason to exist. It's almost an exact copy of Wes Craven's 1977 original with what passes for mainstream gore now, and there is less focus on the evil (1977)/mutated (2006) family's dynamics. Kathleen Quinlan is wasted.

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I heard it was quite gory, particularly a scene involving some animal abuse.

I went to an old theatre downtown and paid nine bucks to see Seven Samurai (1954) on the big screen. I didn't know it was going to be that long! A great movie. I'd buy it on DVD if I could find it, but this is doubtful, since the movie has a very unorthodox aspect ratio.

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I'm almost sure Seven Samurai was released on DVD. Let me look it up...

Here you go! Remember; when in doubt, try IMDB. ~;)
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I saw Alexander last night and was pleasantly surprised. It was not a great film - I confess Oliver Stone, like Tarantino, does not seem to get better as he ages. But it was surprisingly watchable and focussed on the rather quixotic nature of the man. You did end up thinking: what on earth was he trying to achieve by his relentless conquests? In this, it reminded me a little of Troy, which focussed on Achilles lust for fame and glory. Knowing relatively little of Alexander, it was quite educational for me and seemed fairly authentic, for example, in the costumes and battles. It was fun, for a TW fan, to see scythed chariots, phalanxes, war elephants and companions - they were all suitably impressive. The splendours of Babylon, the Hindu Kush and India were all nicely recreated too.

The acting was pretty decent across the board and the intelligent dialogue did not grate in the leadened way that it does in most historical films. A lot of criticism was levelled against Farrell's blond hair and Irish accent, but I thought he made a fair stab at the part - he had the necessary charisma and leavened it with humanity. I did not mind all the gay references that caused so much offense at the time. The central gay relationship was portrayed as a deep love and could have been platonic, given how ungraphic the depiction was. I have not seen Angelina Jolie in other parts, but watching her vamp it up wonderfully as Alexander's mother, I could understand how Brad Pitt could leave Jennifer Aniston for her.The one-eyed Val Kilmer almost matched her, as a boorish Phillip. In some ways, the three-way relationships between Alexander and his parents were the most compelling parts of the film. It seemed to lose some focus as it drifted away from them, only regaining it with the flashback interlude about Phillip's murder.

All in all, a historical film I suspect Total War fans would enjoy. :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by econ21

I saw Alexander last night and was pleasantly surprised.

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The director's cut of Alexanderis much better than the theatrical release. The flashbacks are better placed to show how Alexander's relationships with his parents shaped his character. I thought the film did an excellent job of conveying Alexander's personality and what motivated him as best we can understand it from the historical record which is, unfortunately, composed of secondary sources since all the primary sources were lost when the Library of Alexandria was destroyed.

Lady in the Water
Excellent movie, one of M.night's best so far. Only criticizim I have is that at times he showed a bit too much special effects than were neccessary.

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Originally Posted by Puzz3D

Samurai Banners (1969) is a Japanese movie staring Mifune Toshiro about Yamamoto Kansuke who was a trusted general of Takeda Shingen. He even incorporates the limp, which Kansuke may have had, in his portrayal. He gives a very good performance as does everyone involved. It's an epic story that stays true to history, and the banners portrayed are supposedly accurate and quite spectacular. The armies are not of one homogenous color and banner as there are various factions and auxiliaries involved. The battle scenes are well done, but the movie is more about the strategy involved in the Takeda conquests over a 20 year period. I think this is an excellent movie, and has recently been released on DVD.

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I am still waiting for that one to be released on DVD in Europe - saw it about 20 years ago on TV and have not seen it since (what a shame).
Well perhaps one can hope (after all Ran and Kagemusha were released on DVD not that long ago here in Europe)

Ah, Ran. That's one I've been meaning to watch for some time. I loved Kagemusha.

Back to Alexander, if it'd been less bombastic it'd have reminded me quite a lot of the Renault books (must reads for anyone interested in the chap), which is a good thing. It had the same feel to it when he was older, showing his faults but also his motivation; the bits when he was younger fell flat in that regard. Like econ21, I liked the portrayel of his parents, but I beg to differ about Alexander when he was younger. Colin Farrell just didn't look young enough, and came across as a whining git, it absolutely wasn't clear how he inspired so many Makedonians. More sequences with his future generals (Ptolemy, younger Hephaistion, etc.) would have helped, also perhaps showing brief bits of him fighting and inspiring others; perhaps against the Sacred Band.

I forgot how I stopped watching the Phantom menace and the attack of the clones after 10 minutes, and watched the Sith Lords.

It is actually Starwars, no need for further comment.

Frag: The Sith Lords.. as in the video game? ... and, checking out your nephew? :inquisitive:

Anyway, Lord of War is great, being quite realistic. It's about a gun dealer and how he does his business and how the government deals with people like him.

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Originally Posted by Tiberius

Frag: The Sith Lords.. as in the video game? ... and, checking out your nephew? :inquisitive:

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It's not my nephew, I am his father. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not the videogame, I mean the Revenge of the Sith of course.

Thank you for pointing out my mistake.

























How dare you.

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Originally Posted by Puzz3D

The director's cut of Alexanderis much better than the theatrical release. The flashbacks are better placed to show how Alexander's relationships with his parents shaped his character. I thought the film did an excellent job of conveying Alexander's personality and what motivated him as best we can understand it from the historical record which is, unfortunately, composed of secondary sources since all the primary sources were lost when the Library of Alexandria was destroyed.

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after watching Alexander again (this time with subtitles some times i dunno what there saying) i really enjoyed it acting was nice battles were nice. i thinked i liked it a lot more now cause i didnt understand it before.

Pretty much all I have heard about Lady in the Water, is that is was stupid and I dont plan on seeing it any time soon. I am not a big fan of M Night, Signs was one of the most boring and stupest movies I have ever seen.

every time i here M Night (whatever) i always think its a movie. M Night's name sounds like a movie to me.

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Originally Posted by The Spartan

after watching Alexander again (this time with subtitles some times i dunno what there saying) i really enjoyed it acting was nice battles were nice. i think i liked it a lot more now cause i didnt understand it before.

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Although the movie captures the reason Alexander was wounded, it altered the details to save time. Here is a well written account of how Alexander was actually wounded: Battle of the Hydaspes River

i wish Alexander said "to the best" more clearly.


Just finished seeing Shindeler's List today and it was a pretty good movie. acting wasnt bad, good story. what can i say?

Just saw Kingdom of Heaven, and I liked this one. Good acting, a nice story about that time period with an interesting main character. Though I don't know how historically accurate it is, and am too busy to check now, I think it is a great movie, so you know, go see it.

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Originally Posted by Zalmoxis

Just saw Kingdom of Heaven, and I liked this one. Good acting, a nice story about that time period with an interesting main character. Though I don't know how historically accurate it is, and am too busy to check now, I think it is a great movie, so you know, go see it.

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When you have time there was a good thread on this a while back - I think in the monastery. I posted a link to a good historical account of what really happened. Needless to say, it was a lot more complicated and the film can't be taken as a literal representation of history. However, some of the essence was right - for example, IIRC, the guy who's throat Saladdin cut does seem to have been a villian and yes, Saladdin did kill him like that.

Incidentally, I think Brendan Gleason stole the film as the villain. For example, derangedly playing hopscotch in jail when the other villain approaches: "Give me a war" and Gleason answers lightly "It is what I do". :2thumbsup:

Glad to see my thread lives on! :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Incidentally, I think Brendan Gleason stole the film as the villain. For example, derangedly playing hopscotch in jail when the other villain approaches: "Give me a war" and Gleason answers lightly "It is what I do". :2thumbsup:

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actually its That is what i do. :yes: (yes smily means he nods)

Seen some pretty good movies recently.

Chronicles of Riddick - I loved Pitch Black and was somewhat worried about watching this one, since it sounded pretty awful. It is an entirely different kind of movie, and Riddick loses some of his charm now he's not really half villain, half saviour. But the film more than makes up for that with spectacular sets and special effects, definitely one of the more overwhelming sci-fi movies I've seen recently. Action is great, quite decent acting (particularly from Vin Diesel) but suffers from a too cliched plot, with some bad sudden switches between scenes when Riddick suddenly moves from one planet to the next; particularly right at the end, that is jarring.

But I'm glad I bothered to watch it, it's very spectacular and a very good movie to watch if you're in the mood for a good action movie.

...also...

The Jacket - I'd been hoping to see this one for a while, and it didn't disappoint. Adrien Brody shines as a former gulf war veteran locked in an asylum after apparently committing a crime. He finds out he can travel to the future when locked in solitary confinement, and uses that to find a way out of his mess. Incredible acting from all lead actors, nice camerawork, and in general a clever and moving plot. It reminded me a lot of a slicker Twelve Monkeys. Also had a great ending, one of the most satisfying in a while.

Fantastic track on the closing credits, too.

...also...

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou - Typical Wes Anderson movie, with fantastically original camerawork and a very surreal atmosphere. Good acting all-round, particularly from Bill Murray as misanthropic marine life documentary maker, in the kind of part he's great at. It's very funny in a strange kind of way, with lots of moments that seem slightly out of touch with reality, helped along by the carefully understated acting by all characters.

https://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2023/58mdx1.jpg

I saw M by Fritz Lang again yesterday.
It's an amazing German thriller from 1931. Set in Berlin the police fails to catch a murder that preys on little girls. The police is helpless and has no eye-witnesses and no conclusive evidence. Annoyed by the high police activity and frequent round-ups, the underworld bosses team together to get rid of the killer who is at large in their city and bad for their business. When they finally get him he's put in front of a gangster tribunal.
Apart from the tense story, the lighting, camera-perspectives and acting is supreme. I had to laugh when the fat police officer was introduced in one scene with the camera looking up from under his table. A perspective quite unusual, even today. It sure gave a good characterization. Another thing that strikes you is the insane amount of cigarettes and cigars being smoked throughout the film. During a longer passage where the police and underworld each hold council on how to get to the killer, the smoke fumes are as thick as if they'd burn tires. :stunned:
Another interesting thing is the language. I was surprised how many slang expressions survived till today. Highly recommended.

R'as

Nevermind.

Didn't they already make that movie? Farah Fawcett played a similar role in The Burning Bed, made in 1984.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087010/

Come on Hollywood, come up with some new ideas....

V for Vendetta (2005) (action, drama, socio-political thriller) I saw this in the theater and thought it was very good despite Alan Moore divorcing himself from the production. The ending is idealized and not true to the graphic novel, but I thought the message that you aren't going to easily change a political system that's in power came through anyway. It was just released on DVD this week. There is a thread in this forum about this movie here.

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

Nevermind