Kelly's Heroes
WW2 action/comedy, I give it a 9 :2thumbsup:
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Kelly's Heroes
WW2 action/comedy, I give it a 9 :2thumbsup:
Saw LA Confidential again, love that movie, I'd rate it a 8,5:2thumbsup:
LA Confidential is at least a 9.5, IMO.
I just watched Pan's Labyrinth. It is a very unconventional story - part Spanish Civil War tragedy; part child's fairy tale. Both parts work very well. The tragedy part is well acted and really engages your emotions. The fantasy is characterful and innovative (the sleeping ogre thing is amazing). It is pretty gory for kids (a 15), although kids around 9+ might find it rivetting. The ending seemed incredibly depressing, although that may be because I don't believe in fairies. Sort of like a live action Spirited Away, but darker and more "realistic". High recommended.
Pan's Labyrinth is stunning. I enjoyed it right the way through, and it contains one of the few villains who can make me cringe as soon as he just walk into a scene, due to his frequent sudden violence.
I thought the end could have been a bit stronger.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I really want to see it. What I've seen reminds me of Princess Bride, that has to be a good thing. And it's directed by the guy who did Layercake (and is working on Thor!).Quote:
Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro
I must also mention The Illusionist. Great movie, it was fairly predictable but done very well. Style was perfect and the acting spot-on. Just a bit obvious.
And while I'm at it, Dark City. I think I've found a new personal favourite. I'm not saying anything about the plot, just that if you do decide to watch it don't read the back of the box, and perhaps skip the voiceover at the start. If that's done one of the most original movies I've seen in ages awaits, with a well-realised plot and a beautiful setting. It's probably one not everyone will enjoy, but I loved it.
//adds Pan's Labyrinth to must see list
Pan's Labyrinth is exquisite, and painful in a way that very few US made films ever manage. A whole genre of bad action movies has never been within spitting distance of the simple brutality found in some scenes from this film. :hmg:
Just thinking about some of those scenes again... the bottle, the tools, that creature... damned creepy film.
"A long time ago, in the underground realm, where there are no lies or pain, there lived a Princess who dreamed of the human world. She dreamed of blue skies, soft breeze, and sunshine. One day, eluding her keepers, the Princess escaped. Once outside, the brightness blinded her and erased every trace of the past from her memory. She forgot who she was and where she came from. Her body suffered cold, sickness, and pain. Eventually, she died. However, her father, the King, always knew that the Princess' soul would return, perhaps in another body, in another place, at another time. And he would wait for her, until he drew his last breath, until the world stopped turning... And it is said that the Princess returned to her father's kingdom. That she reigned there with justice and a kind heart for many centuries. That she was loved by her people. And that she left behind small traces of her time on Earth, visible only to those who know where to look." - El Laberinto del Fauno
An individual's perception of reality is subjective. The film seamlessly weaves together two different perceived realities with many parallel elements linking the two. I can't recall ever seeing it done as well as it's done in this film.
I saw Hot Fuzz recently, and would like to recommend this film to others. While explaining it any more would give away the film, the twist of which is unexpected and hilarious, I would say that a rental, at the very least, is worth it.
Silk (Guisi) (2006) is a sci fi/horror film written and directed in Taiwan by Chao-Bin Su. This is a quite well done blend of science fiction and ghost story. It develops slowly in the first half which sets up the mystery and characters. The story becomes quite interesting and the action suspenseful and fairly scary in the second half. This is one of the few asian ghost films where the grotesque expression on the victims actually makes sense to me. The ghost is not a supernatural being which scares the victim to death.
Are there by the way even any GOOD new movies made? I generally stopped watching the "new(er)" movies ages ago.
Hitch, a terrible movie. Explanation would be too much effort to this one so I leave it.
Moulin Rouge, oh please.... someone give me that bullet right now :laugh4:
Now Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a good movie. A good satire on the tension between the US and the USSR. Dr. Strangelove himself is a splendid character whom I enjoyed seeing in the film from the moment my eye caught the ****** :laugh4: The whole film is great.
One notable character is the commander of a US bomber who has a stereotypical accent, and another worty one would be of course the American General who orders the plane to attack the Soviets. One notable good scene as he speaks to his English officer has a great typically known shot on him from below as he has a cigar in the mouth. It displays him as some kind "superior or powerful commander" (while he talks about communists). Great film :laugh4:
(Language - Beirut)
3:10 to Yuma (2007) is a remake of the same western done in 1957. This film is receiving a lot of hype, but, aside form the acting and production design, I found the movie to be disappointing. It's nowhere near as good or realistic as Unforgiven (1992) or Open Range (2003). A lot of time is spent developing the two main characters, but in the end their motivations are confusing and the antagonist's actions are not at all believable. I had my doubts when the Lion's Gate logo came up at the beginning of the fiim, and sure enough this film ended with a chase scene featuring overblown action which is typical of Hollywood movies these days. I suspect that Lion's Gate insisted on including this action sequence where gunmen who never missed when shooting at anyone else, suddenly cannot hit the protagonist despite hundreds of rounds being fired at him as he runs with a wooden leg. That's just one of many unbelievable things in this supposedly gritty and realistic western film. There is a lot of graphic killing with guns which is the reason for the R rating.
Don't tell my mother, it would greatly worry her, but I love that movie. There is real chemistry between whatshisname and Nicole Kidman, the music is terrific, the movie just shines. The Roxanne song is one of the cleverest scenes ever made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bijo
Knocked Up: hilarious. Great movie.
Knocked Up: A one joke gag where the joke simply wasn't funny ~:(
No, no... NO! It cannot be! You are to dislike this movie. *hypnotizes you* :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Fragony
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To save time I will generalize some movies under one label: typical average (or lower) French films; no need to watch them... watch one of them and you've seen many of them since they will probably regard triangular relationships and the likes :laugh4:
That sounds promisingQuote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey S
SHOOT 'EM UP- Ridiculous and really cheesy which left a smile on my face after the movie was over due to the cheesy and ridiculous action scenes that erupted from the beginning of the movie to its very end.
Ewan McGregor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fragony
And I agree wholeheartedly. :yes:
:stupido2:
Does that mean we have to get married? :shocked2:
Wow. And here I thought I was the only heterosexual male on the planet who admitted to liking Moulin Rouge. Good to know I'm not alone. :2thumbsup:
High Noon-A good 'ole fashioned western, and a mighty good one at that. I had a fun time watching this movie and I noticed a lot of things that have persisted throughout westerns. One thing I did notice that stood out to me was that(from what it sounds like anyways) is that 3:10 To Yuma seems to kinda resemble High Noon a little bit and especially the train station. It looks kinda like the same(from what I've seen in the previews, have yet to see it). All-in-all a good fun western. 10/10
Yes, it's excellent - although I think at the time it was regarded as not being 'ole fashioned, but revisionist. The depiction of the townspeople as cowards foreshadows some of the Clint Eastwood/spaghetti westerns and the gradual disaffection with the Wild West myth that killed the Western. Apparently, High Noon annoyed John Wayne so much, he made Rio Bravo - where the Marshall is so kick-ass, he can rout the bad guys while turning down the offers of help from the townspeople. But to me, Rio Bravo is rather like a cartoon, whereas High Noon is real drama.Quote:
Originally Posted by Decker
I never thought about that, but you are right. The original 3:10 to Yuma was a lower profile film than High Noon, but thoroughly enjoyable.Quote:
One thing I did notice that stood out to me was that(from what it sounds like anyways) is that 3:10 To Yuma seems to kinda resemble High Noon a little bit and especially the train station.
I watched it in my English class and my teach said that it came out during the time of McCarthyism and the director was blacklisted. So the film is seen as a kind of allegory of the Cold War and US foreign policy during the Korean War and that's probably one reason why John Wayne disliked it so much as he was quite the pro-American action hero kinda guy and totally macho too. And the townspeople thing is so true and you could almost feel for them at the same time you feel for the main guy. I thought it was pretty well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by econ21
Prix de Beaute (Beauty Prize) (1930) is a drama co-written and directed by Rene Clair and G.W. Pabst with Clair doing the first half and Pabst the second half. The film features Louise Brooks in her last starring role, since after this 3rd European film she returned to the USA and obscurity in a film industry that blacklisted her. Stunningly beautiful with very expressive face and eyes, she is effervescent in this film, and the final scene as poignant and mesmerizing as anything you're likely to see in cinema. Her acting sytle is of the silent era, but is understated enough to give her performance more of a natural impression. The character she plays is infinitely more likable than the one she played in Pandora's Box (1929).
The version available on DVD is sound dubbed in french, and has some syncronization problems since it was one of the first if not the first French talking picture. Brooks didn't speak french, so it's not her voice. It has some very nice singing by Edith Piaf, especially over the final scene. There is apparently a very well done restoration of the silent version of this film, but it's not available on DVD. This film also has quite a bit of mean spirited actions, intended as comedy, from the male protagonist towards another male character in the first half which is quite annoying. It's interesting to contrast the resolution of the narrative in Prix de Beaute with that of L'Atalante (1934) since both are about husbands who cannot really provide what the wife wants out of life.
While this version of Prix de Beaute on Kino is certainly worth renting, I would say the recent restoration of Pandora's Box by Criterion is a much better value for a purchase. Although it's still missing about 10 minutes of footage, I don't think there is a better version available.
Severance (2006) directed by Christopher Smith, who also did the horror film Creep (2004), is a biting satire of corporate employees who work for a company that makes anti-personnel weapons. The satire quite funny in places, and a sombre aspect of responsibility for producing such weapons is also present. The filmmakers skillfully blend satire and horror elements, and this film has a lot more to say than what happens to a few corporate employees who go on a team building weekend in an Hungarian forest. The film is rated R.
Moliere
I enjoyed this movie immensely. Despite some sloppy translation (it was in French) I enjoyed it all. The scenery, dialogue, it was all very enjoyable.
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Thumbs up for High Noon. It's one of the two only Westerns (along with Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven) that I often return to watching again.
I'm starting to become a fan of Guillermo del Toro's works, after seeing his latest Pan's Labyrinth and earlier Cronos.
Other goodies, in no particular order:Recently seen The Rogue Assasin with Jet Lee and Jason Statham. Not an ordinary kill'em all; recommended. Spoiler hint:
- Dead Calm (Nicole Kidman, Sam Neil)
- Doctor Zhivago
- The Recruit
- A Farewell to Arms (David O. Selznick's 1957 version with Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones and Vittorio de Sica)
- Animal
- Capitães de Abril (About the democratic military coup in Portugal, getting rid of Salazar and co.)
- January Man
- Million Dolar Baby
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
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Haven't seen Unforgiven~:( . I did see The Good, the Bad, the Ugly the other day tho, don't think I really need to give a super review for it tho as I am sure that most might have seen it. Let me say this....Quote:
Originally Posted by Mouzafphaerre
Quote:
You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.
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Unforgiven fits in the revisionist basket along with High Noon. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly stands somewhere in between.
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Tonight seen Casomai. :2thumbsup:
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Welcome back, Mouzafphaerre! It's been a while. :bow:
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Always a pleasure to be back, drone. :bow:
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I watched We were soldiers last night on TV.
Overall, it felt authentic - as you might expect, being based on the book of the Colonel commanding the battle. The only bit that did not ring true to me was the last day - with the American bayonet charge at dawn being a lure for helicopter straffing of the NVA base. That felt a bit "Braveheart", where the seemingly doomed Scots suddenly revealed their stakes/pikes to the charging English cavalry etc. Strangely, my impression at the end - when they showed the list of US dead - was how few Americans died (60 or so?) despite landing on top of an NVA division of 4000. Even the cut off platoon seemed not to have been wiped out. However, the film did depict sufficiently impressive US fire support (helicopters, artillery, napalm) to help me understand that.
Dramatically, I thought the film was well done. Even Mel Gibson, who I do not warm to, was rather good - he looked old and grizzled enough to be the hard-ass Colonel. The stand-out sequence to me was the telegrams coming by taxi and the Colonel's wife taking over their distribution. That was very moving, with Madeleine Stowe doing an excellent job. The contrast between the sleepy American suburbs and the hellish jungle combat was jarring and brought home the strangeness of men dying in a war thousands of miles away from home. The supporting actors were also good - Sam Elliot and the chap playing the journalist. The Vietnamese were portrayed as humans, although not given depth. A depiction of the war from the side of the NVA or VC soldier would be fascinating, although we may not see it until the Communist Party in Vietnam has fallen or reformed itself out of recognition.
I missed the opening 30 minutes or so, when they introduced the characters, so if I had seen it, I probably would rate it even higher. However, I would include it among the small set of authentic and well made war movies.
I....am.....gratefull..........to...have served.....my country..........gasp
:laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
MAN that movie sucked jumbo-jets through a straw
Well, I could not hear what he said, but yeah that sounds a plausible record.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fragony
I admit, I was a little in two minds about the film, as it could be seen as rather flag-waving. But then I read on a BBC blog a comment by someone claiming to the son of Snake, the brave helicopter pilot in the film. He made the interesting observation that all the lines that posters claimed were sentimental, overly patriotic or banal were things that the real people actually said or wrote. It seemed a valid point to me. 7th Air cavalry soldiers in war time in 1967 (or whenever) probably were a patriotic bunch.
I remember a writer saying about the American Civil War: the language and sensibilities of the people at the time were so sentimental and archaic[1], modern day readers could not accept it and so it had to be changed. Maybe something similar is going on here? Euro-weenies like you and I find it hard to stomach the language and mindset of those American soldiers?
The recent British film Atonement based on a modern novel but covering Dunkirk has received the opposite criticism from some in the UK - that by giving the character's "modern" sensibilities, it falsely gives them a lot of namby-pamby new age sensibilities and self-doubt, and fails to portrary the Dunkirk spirit of the real participants.
[1]This is my favorite example of such language - it is pretty sublime:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Couple of films need mentioning. Ran, for starters. Having told myself ages ago that I'd watch that movie someday, I finally did. And it is thoroughly worth every minute, every line, every expression. I've rarely, if ever, seen quite such a moving film and I recommend it to all, considering it among my most highly rated movies. Just free up about three hours and let it move you too.
Also, Dark City. I found it surprisingly good. It's flawed, and a bit too ambitious for its means, but there were many moments in which I found the genius shone through. Genuinely original, certainly worth seeing as long as you're willing to overlook certain issues.
Renaissance. Impressive CG, good music, and a decent plot. It's just not very original, and too rarely attempts to make good use of the tricks computer imagery can offer. Nice visuals though.
Malibu's Most Wanted. Well, bits of it. What I saw was rather funny to be honest, plenty of jabs at hip-hop culture.
BTW, my hunch was right - the movie was authentic on those last words:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fragony
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/htherrick.htmQuote:
One reviewer, for instance, took umbrage with, among other things, the line in the movie where a dying Lieutenant Henry Herrick softly and proudly tells his buddies, "I’m glad I could die for my country." The reviewer saw this as offensively maudlin and false. But Sergeant Ernie Savage, who was there at Herrick’s side amidst the blood and gore, says it is true. According to Savage, "He was lying beside me on the hill and he said: ‘If I have to die, I’m glad to give my life for my country.’"
Wikipedia is quite good on the film - it agrees that the final bayonet charge was "overdramatised". Apparently fixed wing aircraft supported the attack on the NVA base, not the film's converted "attack helicopters".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Were_Soldiers
I still think it was a pretty good film. I'm keen to watch it again and may read the book.
Well, the heli support coulda been a budget issue or something of that source.Quote:
Originally Posted by econ21
Excellent review of one of the better movies on Vietnam(imo).Quote:
Originally Posted by econ21
Spiderman 3 is horrible.
I must admit to be being a big fan of this film and pretty much anything directed by Guillermo del Toro. The Devil's Backbone is also a must see ghost story in an orphanage also set during the Spanish Civil War, by the same director.Quote:
Originally Posted by Puzz3D
I went to see Across the Universe the other day, and whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in the Beatles. It's essentially Yellow Submarine meets Moulin Rouge, with the cast singing a vast selection of the fab four's hits in new arrangements-with a little help from Bono and Eddie Izzard along the way. The story is slightly trite-Liverpool docker goes to the States to seek his estranged father, ends up living in the east village-but it really doesn't matter, as this is all about the musical numbers and the sumptuous visuals. Superb fun. Big fans will also revel in all of the in-jokes and sight-gags.
.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cambyses II
I saw El Laberinto del Fauno and Cronos, and loved them both, especially the Laberinto. :2thumbsup:
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3 best movies
Texas Chainsaw Masscre, Resident Evil, Pirates of the Carribian 2 Dead man's chest.
Hotel Rwanda
I was initially very skeptical about the movie when I first heard about it. I, personally, was very glad that I didn't see it when I heard about it.
No, really. I probably would've been too immature to understand the movie. As I watched it, it felt so real. So alive. So painful, terrible, sad, true, and repulsive.
I, as a man, have trouble admitting it, but I cried. I cried so hard, and it felt like such a catharsis. It was just an outpouring of emotion, grief, pain, and sadness. It was a life-changing movie, to say the least.
I suggest the movie. I advise you to watch it.
Didn't do it for me, so forced. I found myselve not caring at all which is strange because terrible things happen.
Went to see Resident Evil: Extinction the other day. The action was good, and the film contained more horror than the previous two. Only one remark: it was rather short and again it had an open-ending to allow more movies to be made.
We Were Soldiers is one of the best Vietnam war movies I have seen, among Platoon and Apocalypse Now and some others I have probably forgotten.
Just saw The Heartbreak Kid with Ben Stiller. Aaaand wholly moley, what a nutjob that was lol. Definitely not a date movie as I found out imo. Stiller was good tho but there were parts that were just crazy weird for me(personally).
And I also saw 3:10 to Yuma. A better than average Western movie than any of the recent ones(which ever those maybe- and the *blank* I aint talkin about BBM cuz that's just no), I wouldn't go as so far to say that it's the "best" movie of the summer or that it's the best western for that matter but, it definitely is one of the better ones made and the acting is top notch.
The two movies right know that I absolutely cannot wait for, is American Gangster and We Own The Night.
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The Legend of 1900 ()Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Tim Roth was... I can't find any suitable words at all! :2thumbsup:
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Dead Calm, what a great claustrophobic thriller, a shame about the ending that was no doubt forced upon the makers by suits. OWWWWWWW NICOLE KIDMAN
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ny/Kidman3.jpg
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Absolutely! :2thumbsup: One of the best Nicole movies. :smitten:
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Just seen The Number 23. It is the best film I have seen in some time.
Big thumbs up to Jim Carrey for a masterful portrayal of a man falling to pieces by paranoia. Nice twist in the plot, and a nasty aftertaste of something being just a little more than paranoia. :2thumbsup:
Also recently seen Outlaw. Sean Bean and friends set out to right some wrongs in society in a dark, violent manner that is becoming a trademark of British films recently. Liked it. :2thumbsup: It may not appeal to our American friends, but it is worth watching if you like gritty, believable violence instead of sanitised slaughter with big guns.
All time favourites of mine include The Sting, Dumb And Dumber, Angel Heart, Donnie Darko, The Village (remake) and Jacobs Ladder
My all time stinkers include Braveheart, Tankgirl, Psycho remake, The Magnificent Seven (inferior in every way to The Seven Samurai) and Four weddings And A Funeral.
One huge recommendation for the sick puppy's under us. Or, how to make an effective horror movie without any horror. If it's anything, it's a family-drama. Absolutily fantastic acting, fantastic pace; you get the clue but it's no BAM but a hunch going to certainty.
'The Hamiltons '
A truly unique horror movie, or family drama whatever
gogo
Blade Runner - The Final Cut - This Saturday I took a trip to the Ziegfeld Theater to catch this wonderful film. Blade Runner is one of my top ten favorite films and the experience was made even more special by the fact that even though I caught the Director's Cut in the theater back in the early 90s this was my first time seeing it in a top notch theater and digitally projected in its 70mm glory. All I can say is wow... Seriously, just wow.
Prior to Saturday night I wasn't a believer in digitial projection systems but after Saturday night you can call me a convert. Back in the 90s I saw the restored version of Lawrence of Arabia projected in its native 70mm in a top notch theater and came away thinking it was the best looking film I had ever seen... until now. Speaking purely in terms of visuals and picture quality Blade Runner: The Final Cut is simply the best looking movie I have ever seen and a testament to Ridley Scott's extraordinary eye for framing and detail and Jordan Cronenweth's fantastic talents as a cinematographer. Technically speaking the experience was flawless; vivid colors, consistent picture quality and nary a scratch, smudge or speck of dirt to be found (or pixel for that matter). And, as you would expect from a digitally projected film, there was no trace of the famous 'cigarette burn' indicator on a single frame (the telltale dot that briefly appears in the upper right hand corner to warn the person running the projector to switch reels).
My only qualm with the film was Scott's insistence on keeping that incongruous unicorn sequence for the final cut.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Even if you cannot stand Blade Runner or sci-fi movies in general do yourself a favor and catch this one on the big screen, you won't regret it.
The Remains of the Day
The story is followed through the eyes of the butler James Stevens (Anthony Hopkins, great performance as usual), who served an English aristocrat, Lord Darlington, throughout the thirties and fourties. Darlington was quite active in foreign politics, often receiving guests of various nationalities, trying to prevent the outbreak of another large war, what we now call appeasement. An important part of the film is the relationship between Stevens and the housekeeper, Ms. Kenton. Mrs. Kenton is probably just as proffessional as he but she doesn't hide her emotions or frustrations (such as when Darlington dismisses two housemaids because they're jewish), while Stevens always remains cold and distant.
Years later the war is over, Darlington is dead, Kenton has been gone for years and the mansion has a new owner, an American with more relaxed mannerisms. Under the pretence that the house needs more qualified staff, Stevens tries to contact Ms. Kenton again to see if she's willing to take back her old job.
Most of the story is told through flashbacks. The film really captures the atmosphere of an old English aristocratic household (or makes it feel authentic, anyway) during a time when the world is slowly sliding towards another world war. I give it a 9 out of 10.
Turned on the TV today, and BAM!, Forest Gump was showing. It was really touching, and silly. Enjoyed it.
Fantastic Four: The Silver Surfer
Gah! What a stinking pile of rotting and boring trash. Bleah! Even Jessica Alba didn't look good. The movie was boring, stupid, silly, badly written and acted, just trash from start to finish.
The Surfer guy did look cool and there were perhaps 45 seconds of neat effects, but the movie was terrible.
Did I mention it was boring, badly acted and horribly written?
One Star out of Five.
Letters from Iwo Jima
For some reason it just didn't grad me. Can't say there was anything really wrong with it, it just didn't click.
Love that movie, the part where he apologizes for 'ruining the Panther party' is hilarious. Also, Tom Hanks is great as Forrest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rythmic
:balloon2:
I know I'm about three months behind the times, but I just recently saw it.
Transformers:croc:
Biggest problem with the movie: they couldn't decide on their target audience. Half of the movie seems designed for kids and half for adults. It's a show that I could see working well either way, but trying to do both at once didn't work. Most of the humor is directed toward a very young audience, I would say roughly 8-12. This includes especially the whole segment with the Autobots hiding from the parents in the backyard, or anything involving Sector 7. As a child, I would have been pissing myself in glee at the sheer hilarity. As an adult, I find it cheesy beyond all measure, boring, and a needless distraction from the plot. Other parts would either bore such young children or make their parents really nervous, such as the violence, the romance, and the remaining humor (e.g. the Mom's masturbation lines). Prime's moral statements and defenses of human potential again would be perfectly satisfactory for a child, but seem incredibly shallow and simplistic to me as an adult. This could have been a great kids' film. It could have been a great adult action film. It ended up being neither.
Other cons: the shallowness and inaccessibility of the main characters. There was no one I really identified with, empathized with, or worried about. Also, there was too much going on. Stories such as the lost soldiers in Qatar or the intrigues of Sector 7 or the female computer analyst could each have been the central plot of a movie. As it was, they were all side-shows which looked more promising than they were able to be in the time given them.
Pros: The action sequences were very nice, and the transformation graphics were superb. Visually the film was very rewarding. The idea of having your car choose you or come to your defense in peril is very cool (part of the appeal of the transformer concept itself). Also, it featured the A-10, albeit briefly. The heroin is easy to look at.
Ajax
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Great review there ajax! I urge you to submit it to imdb mate. :yes:
I saw part of Checking Out tonight on TV, with Peter Falk! :2thumbsup: He and Laura SanGiacomo make it a great movie single handed. Recommended!
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Have to agree here; the movie was an alright one if you had no expectation of there being a plot (which, as far as I can tell, there wasn't :grin2:)Quote:
Originally Posted by ajaxfetish
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At First Sight. :2thumbsup:
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Stardust
:balloon: :2thumbsup: :balloon2: :smitten: :balloon3:
It's a little bit predictive, considering one of the ends, but that doesn't hurt the least. A must see! :yes:
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Stardust is indeed great, I should havve written a review for that as well. Robert de Niro in one of his best roles yet ~D
Lust, Caution (2007) by director Ang Lee is advertised as an espionage thriller, but is actually a character study of a young woman who gets caught up in a resistance plot to assassinate a high ranking official in the collaborationist Chinese government in 1942 Shanghai. At 158 minutes in length, english subtitles and NC-17 rating (should have been R rated), this slowly developing film is not for everyone, but it's very well made with a lot of attention to detail. The tension builds slowly but steadily towards a very non-hollywood but believable resolution. Wei Tang, in her first film, gives an excellent performance as does Tony Leung who starred in In The Mood for Love (2000). The theme has some similarity to the films Purple Butterfly (2003) and Zwartboek (2006), but those films are more action oriented and have less psychological depth.
I belatedly caught the latest James Bond, Casino Royale, staring Daniel Craig. To my amazement, I enjoyed it. I liked the first few James Bond movies (Dr No, From Russia with love, Gold Finger), but then found them cliched, repugnant, camp, mindless and boring. The whole genre should have been sucked up into the void of 1970s trash, as far as I was concerned.
However, Casino Royale was rather fun. The action was fast paced, without being too absurdly over the top. Craig was arguably too ugly to play James Bond, but captured the physicality of the role very well. ("Shaken or stirred, sir?" "Do I look like I give a damn?"). Eva Green was the most interesting Bond girl for a long while, with amazing big Goth eyes and some nice dialogue skewering Mr Bond.
The whole plot was daft - why play poker with a terrorist financier rather than just nab him? - the villains under-written and the protracted ending rather weak. But given my terrible tilt against James Bond films as a whole, I would have to rate this one a marked success.
I just saw Lions for Lambs with Meryl Streep(spelling?), Robert Redford, and Tom Cruise. There's more too it than meets the eye. It covers a lot of aspects of the USA at the moment. From a top government official(Tom Cruise) representing the GOP(republicans), a TV reporter who, in the middle of the review, decides that she needs to report the actual "truth" all the while knowing that it probably wouldn't work because the media has become all about politics/ratings while not actually reporting the news (as in things that are against the norm).
Then there is the perspective of 3 students and Robert Redford's character. And out of these scenes and interactions, you are "given"(depends on how you look at this), 3 choices and how you are going to live and drive your life. 1 is to sign up for the military and go on the ground and literally fight so that when you come back, you have something to stand, experience, so that when you decide to do something about it, you have fought and bled for it. 2 is become some sort of official/activist who is doing something to change the what is going on in the country's government and or with its people. 3 is sitting on your ass and doing nothing.
I could go into more but then it'd all become backroom stuff or mostly my opinion. I'd suggest that everyone goes to see it even if some movie review guy says it was boring, old, bland, nothing exciting. It should be for you to judge and not for somebody else to decide if you should/shouldn't see it. IMHO, this is nearly everything that you should know little about what is going on in the country, media, politically, and individually(in a way), in a nutshell- with a good script, top notch acting, and long enough so that you do not become tired of it.
10/10
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Beowulf & Grendel. Great take on a part of the deathless story. Not a Beowulf movie per se, mind you, but not a 13th Warrior either.
Lions for Lambs. The best film...OK, one of the best, I've ever seen hitherto. Not your worn down Oliver Stone style left fist waving drama. Everybody can find something in it to his taste. The first time I acknowledge Tom Cruise a great actor, and place Robert Redford at the Pantheon, where Mery Streep already is. :yes:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Decker
I'm a dotard. :yes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mouzafphaerre
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Gone Baby Gone (2007) is a crime drama adapted from a novel by Dennis Lahane and directed by Ben Afflick. Very realistic and well produced and directed, this complex story goes beyond the story itself and illuminates several moral dilemmas concerning the well being of children. There is considerably more character development than is typical of crime stories. The acting and screenplay is excellent with the characters very believably portrayed, and the Boston neighborhoods depicted are accurately presented. Definitely a serious film aimed at an adult audience. This may very well be best USA picture for 2007.
Pan's Labyrit
Weird movie, it starts out as a war movie, and some violencescenes are just sadistic, want to see how it looks how a skull is crushed with a baton it's there dear god. No wonder the main character dives into a world of her own. But what she finds there is just as bad and horrifying and most of all alien. When it changes back you don't know what the worst one is. From there you are treated with a great story, very cruel! People wanting a vilain they can hate here's your thing. I would want to say better this and that but I have really nothing to compare it to because it is so unique. It is also one of the best movies I have ever seen. Everything is put together with such extreme care it's impossible not to apreciate the obvious effort to make it more then the usual thing. Nothing but utmost praise from here.
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I loved that one! Also what it's director says its spiritual prequel, Cronos.
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Just a few I've seen over the last few weeks:
Stardust. Must-see. An absolutely charming fairytale that doesn't take itself too seriously. Tempted to consider it a Princess Bride for a new generation. Different from the novel (far sweeter), but all that means is it has a place of its own.
Lucky Number Slevin. Smart. Better than expected, quite a strong plot with a nice style, let down a bit by the haphazard ending.
Mission Impossible 3. Dear me, that was awful. Worthless acting, a random plot, and it appears that all the budget went into hiring big names rather than making an impressive looking film. It's more like some awful tv-action series than the big movie it's meant to be.
Dark City. Not certain if I'd already mentioned this one, but it's now a personal favourite. No-one else that I know liked it, so be warned, but I loved the visual style and the ideas behind the movie. Some extremely memorable moments.
//makes noteQuote:
Originally Posted by Mouzafphaerre
hehe Syriane, it's a bit cheap but ah well what the hell, entertaining it is and well made. Tries too hard to show complexity. Bonuspoint for iranian hotties.
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Indeed! :2thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey S.
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Just got back from watching Beowulf. Rather silly but enjoyable CGI movie.
Children of men : Greatest Scifi I seen in ages.. Loved the setting in Britain too
Disturbia: Crappy ending.. I really enjoyed the rest so its a shame...
Elephant (2003)
One of the best movies I've seen. The camera work was very interesting, and since I'm a fan of great realism in movies dealing with real life/realistic events (i.e. not sci-fi, fantasy, whatever), be they based upon true events or fictional, I appreciated how silent, and sometimes slow, the movie was. Acting was nothing special, but it shouldn't be - real life rarely contains any dramatic lines, just everyday talk.
The best thing with the movie however must be that it wasn't preaching or anything. It just showed a series of events, end of story; letting the audience form their own opinion. The only letdown was that it wasn't any longer.
10/10
Kick in the teeth that one.
Superbad: Vul-gar, with a capital V. But funny if you like that, and with good jokes even if you don't like that stuff. But still, real, real vulgar.
Wild Hogs: A fun comedy, kept up a good pace throughout.
Beowulf and Grendel (2005): This was a poor movie, due to the plot disfiguration. Basically a politically correct version of Beowulf that loses almost all connection to the original story. Grendel becomes a noble, almost righteous beast, while Beowulf is hardly more than an ordinary man, not the legendarily strong man of myth. They also add in a new character, the embodiment of the film's politically correct 'man is bad' theme; a fortune telling witch, who, unlike every other character, speaks with a very out of place American accent.
CR