Movie Review Thread

[Mouzafphaerre]

Gran Torino:

A+ movie... Clint Eastwood still has. I'd highly recommend.

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[Kralizec]

Underworld
Blech. I recall reading somewhere that this movie was supposed to be good and I was terribly dissapointed. I'm going to be generous and give it a 5/10 for the sole reason that Kate Beckinsale is a hottie.

[Decker]

Harry Potter - The movie was good and I did not find any serious problems from what I can tell (never read the books tho as they bored the heck outta me). Tho, I will say it probably could have been longer.
8/10

[seireikhaan]

Dragon Wars

Utterly ridiculous movie. Also happens to be a lot of fun. 8/10

Plus, an easy and awesome Los Angelos joke that must be made at the beginning of the last scene.

[Fragony]

(never read the books tho as they bored the heck outta me)

You are missing out on a whole lot of fun, try again.

[Decker]

You are missing out on a whole lot of fun, try again.

Haha maybe one day. I have a LOT of books to read lol

[econ21]

I also saw the new Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince. I loved it. I'd read the book, but had forgotten it all except the spoileriffic ending - which added to the enjoyment, as it all seemed unfamiliar to my greying brain.

The main enjoyment for me was the characterisation and the acting - the monsters and the plot seemed secondary, to the extent you start to wonder if they are present at all. I particularly enjoyed the interplay of the three young leads, with Hermione Granger again wanting me to scream at JK Rowling for following her wallet instead of her gut in making drab Harry the star inside of the wonderful Hermione. The "raging hormones" and romantic triangles seem to take centre stage in the movie, but I found them humourously and sweetly depicted.

The ensemble of veteran Brit actors as usual gave bravura performances as the adults - with Jim Broadbent this time shining as the new Professor. But Alan Rickman was on the top of his game as Snape and Michael Gambon at last coming into his own as Dumbledore. The spoileriffic ending had a real kick but also was nicely built up to throughout the film, with the Snape/Malfoy relationship being understated but well signalled.

I imagine fans of the books or films who have enjoyed the series will savour the film - others, I am not sure, at is very much a middle film with much to be resolved in the last book/two films.

[Marshal Murat]

Lions for Lambs I was skeptical at first because of the negative press I've heard about it, but I popped it in, watched it, and I actually enjoyed it. It wasn't a white flag about the war, it wasn't very leftist. I was a very good movie that should've been a play not a movie.

[Hooahguy]

Gladiator
the battles were fantastic, but sometimes the plot was kinda hard to follow.
9/10

[Crazed Rabbit]

Twilight. Almost so bad it's good, but not quite. Yielded some unintended laughter nevertheless. The acting of the female lead is Razzie worthy. Many of the lines are funny too (again, unintentionally):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This is the skin of a killer!

And, of course, all the serious glaring between various males. Oh, I almost forgot - the hairstyles of the 'vampires'. They all look like they spend all night styling their hair. You've heard, I imagine, how these creatures would be better called fairies than vampires. But I laughed out loud when I saw the doctor 'vampire' - with hair I cannot imagine any doctor anywhere sporting.

On the other end of the spectrum I saw Heat, a magnificent film. Great action, acting, characters, and a subtle but powerful score.

I also spent about 20 minutes skimming through Troll 2 on Hulu, which is definitely in the so bad it's good (or past it) category. Terrible script, acting, plot, etc., etc. But some of the lines are funny;

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You can't piss on good hospitality! I won't allow it!

CR

[Togakure]

[B]...
On the other end of the spectrum I saw Heat, a magnificent film. Great action, acting, characters, and a subtle but powerful score. ...
CR

Heat as in Deniro/Pacino Heat? Own that one; will always be a favorite. I can't tell which character I identify with more. Both really, depending on the context.

[Decker]

Twilight. Almost so bad it's good, but not quite. Yielded some unintended laughter nevertheless. The acting of the female lead is Razzie worry. Many of the lines are funny too (again, unintentionally):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This is the skin of a killer!

And, of course, all the serious glaring between various males. Oh, I almost forgot - the hairstyles of the 'vampires'. They all look like they spend all night styling their hair. You've heard, I imagine, how these creatures would be better called fairies than vampires. But I laughed out loud when I saw the doctor 'vampire' - with hair I cannot imagine any doctor anywhere sporting.

CR

For me it turned into a comedy when I watched it as well. I'd say the best part was the older Indian guy mugging one of the other characters. That was the best acting in the movie imho.

Lions for Lambs I was skeptical at first because of the negative press I've heard about it, but I popped it in, watched it, and I actually enjoyed it. It wasn't a white flag about the war, it wasn't very leftist. I was a very good movie that should've been a play not a movie.

Agreed. I thought it was a bit underrated and the press/critics should never be listened to imo. I found a decent message from it and am not sure where the critics got their ideas from. And a play?? I think it has a better chance of getting its message out rather than a play.

[naut]

Finally saw the Hangover. So funny.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Heat as in Deniro/Pacino Heat? Own that one; will always be a favorite. I can't tell which character I identify with more. Both really, depending on the context.

That's the one.

CR

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Letters from Iwo Jima

A magnificent movie. Absolutely 10/10
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[naut]

Public Enemy.

Was distinctly underwhelming, especially when you look at the wealth of talent in the cast. With the story being under-developed (and at times incoherent) and the action lacklustre.

The dialogue was stiff, boring and emotionless. Some of the lines were memorable, but mostly they were just to tie up the plot and keep the story ticking.

Visually the costumes, props, etc were impressive. Everything looked like it had been plucked out of the '30s. But, it's almost as if the director was more focused on that than the story he was telling.

The camera angles and usage was often incredibly irritating. Almost as if he was trying to make an art-house film. Often jerky and blurry for no real reason. Definitely detracted from the experience.

The music, although good, was poorly used. Kept stopping and starting abruptly and at odd moments.

And at the end of it all, (despite already knowing the historical events) it reached an abrupt anti-climax. One of those moments where you wish the director had forgone historical accuracy for the sake of story telling.

All in all a decent movie, but nothing to write home about.

2/5.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Funny People is great.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Letters from Iwo Jima

A magnificent movie. Absolutely 10/10
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Just seen its twin, The Flags of Our Fathers, a few hours ago. Brilliant, magnificent and striking. I think the two movies and their backgrounds shall keep haunting me for a while. Such a fatal blow to the universal delusion of the hero cult!

Unfortunately the version I saw was dubbed, due to my friend with whom I watched the films being unable to understand English and disliking subtitles but the phrase must have gone like this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"Soldiers may be fighting for their countries but they die for their friends."

Awesome!

10/10 for the Flags, 10+ for the diology.
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[Hooahguy]

wasnt the hurt locker filmed in jordan?

[Decker]

The Cove- Just saw this movie at a local theater. It was an eye opening experience and I think everyone should go see it imho. I can't believe people justify in slaughtering Dolphins, it's disgusting.
The Cove Trailer - Youtube
The Cove Website

[Fragony]

It was an eye opening experience and I think everyone should go see it imho.

No way I'm going to watch that. I can take a rediculous amount of violence even if it's real, cut that head of if that's your thing, but animal cruelty is a big no.

[miotas]

I just watched Birds of America and I was very dissapointed that it had nothing whatsoever to do with the title. I still liked it though, it was good, if somewhat depressing at times, and has some well delivered, very dry humour. I am tempted to mark it down for misleading title, but I will restrain myself and give it a 7/10.

[Marshal Murat]

Saw Julie & Julia

I actually liked it, there were some very funny parts in the movie, which surprised me because some of the reviewed panned the movie as "average" and such, which it is, but it was an enjoyable flick that I didn't mind at all. I actually wished they only did Julia Childs life and such, because she's really such a character.

[Decker]

No way I'm going to watch that. I can take a rediculous amount of violence even if it's real, cut that head of if that's your thing, but animal cruelty is a big no.

Why not?

[Fragony]

Why not?

I like dolphins

[Decker]

I like dolphins

I like them too. The whole movie is kinda funny up to the part where they show you what happens... It got real quite in the theater, and I kinda gasped out loud myself. It also has some very interesting facts about the IWC and the Dolphin captivity business... It's short to so you won't stay in the theater very long...

[Fragony]

Seen how it's done, it's sad to see such kind animals meet such a fate. Pigs are really fun, emotional and smart animals too though. But that's backroom stuff.

[Hooahguy]

I now pronounce you chuck and larry
the first half hours is good, but then it goes downhill. but i will say the BEST part of that movie was when jessica biel stripped to her bra and panties.
8/10 only because of jessica stripping.

[Fragony]

8/10 only because of jessica stripping.

And a 100% probability that I am going to watch that!

[Hooahguy]

no need to watch the whole thing.

or, the dramatized version.