Movie Review Thread

Not certain if I've mentioned Children of Men, but I shall now. Brilliant film, stunningly shot, and absolutely haunting. Rarely have I seen a film containing so little hope that I was at the edge of my seat for every bit that presented itself. Clive Owen proves that he can act, as do all other actors and in particular Michael Caine (yet again, after The Prestige).

A shame the same can't be said for Paycheck. I presume Affleck, Thurman and Woo got a big one, because no money went into the script or anything else. Thoroughly boring.

Originally Posted by Fragony

A shame the main character was the least interesting character of the movie, that's a pretty big nono for this genre.

I don't know. I sort of liked it.However, it didn't leave much room for character development, I will admit that.

Originally Posted by ajaxfetish

My most recent forays to the cinema:

Casino Royale
Quite possibly my favorite Bond movie to date. It's much grittier than the average Bond flick, and is a separate beginning rather than a continuation of the series, so could potentially upset some loyal fans. A free running chase scene early in the film is one of the most gripping and original chase scenes I've seen in a long time, and the shower scene is the single manliest moment I've ever seen in a Bond movie. That won my respect. My biggest gripe: the movie continues for about another half hour after the main story arc winds to a close. Throughout that portion it's uncertain how much longer it will go on. Somewhat anticlimactic and confusing from a literary perspective.

Ajax

i just saw it, it was great totally agree you there.

Little Miss Sunshine: funniest road movie/disfunctional family movie in ages, see it !

Just saw Hot Fuzz

It's well worth a look

Originally Posted by Soulforged

Solyaris(Solaris)
Andrei Tarkovsky (Russian)
with Donatas Banionis and Natalya Bondarchuk
209 minutes
1972
Original language: Russian
Score 8.5 out of 10

You've probably seen the remake of this movie by now, directed by Soderbergh and starring George Clooney (on 2002). And if you're like me you also probably have been sucked in by the unpenetrable of the subject.

In the end this movie will make you question a lot of things, not exactly reality, but it will make you doubt of how you see reality, even if it's in the most basics of aspects: What's an human relationship? But still it doesn't get a full score because it could have used a little more pace, and some things could have been cut out. This is a mistake that Soderbergh tries to overcome, and finally achieves, unfortunatelly it loses a part of its ambition too.

i saw the original solaris about a year ago. i dislike slow paced movies unless there's some witty dialogue going on, and i dislike mood movies if the whole point of a movie is to evoke a certain emotion. nothing wrong with those types of movies, just personal preference. i liked the mystery aspect of the movie in terms of bondarchuk's reappearances and what exactly is going on down there on solaris as well as the station, but the dialogue and those long shots just bored me. and then there's the things like the rain inside the house which i guess is part of russian religious cinematography, but if i have to research russian religious cinematography to understand why its raining inside of the house, then the movie kinda loses some of its appeal to me. in conclusion, i am glad i saw it, but i would never want to watch it again. not necessarily because it's bad, but rather because it's not my type of movie.

Originally Posted by nokhor

i saw the original solaris about a year ago. i dislike slow paced movies unless there's some witty dialogue going on, and i dislike mood movies if the whole point of a movie is to evoke a certain emotion. nothing wrong with those types of movies, just personal preference. i liked the mystery aspect of the movie in terms of bondarchuk's reappearances and what exactly is going on down there on solaris as well as the station, but the dialogue and those long shots just bored me. and then there's the things like the rain inside the house which i guess is part of russian religious cinematography, but if i have to research russian religious cinematography to understand why its raining inside of the house, then the movie kinda loses some of its appeal to me. in conclusion, i am glad i saw it, but i would never want to watch it again. not necessarily because it's bad, but rather because it's not my type of movie.

That's exactly why it looses some points: pace. However the philosophic value of the movie is undeniable, not only because it exists, but because it persists. Are you going to tell me that you could erase this movie completely from your mind? I certainly couldn't, it arises strong questions and the final scene is one of the most powerful ever made.

Originally Posted by Soulforged

That's exactly why it looses some points: pace. However the philosophic value of the movie is undeniable, not only because it exists, but because it persists. Are you going to tell me that you could erase this movie completely from your mind? I certainly couldn't, it arises strong questions and the final scene is one of the most powerful ever made.

I saw Solyaris in 1972 during its theatrical release, and it has stayed with me all these years. I recently saw Avalon (2001) which is another film that explores the boundary between dream and reality. Both films are slow paced. I don't see that as a problem in a contemplative film.

Originally Posted by Puzz3D

I saw Solyaris in 1972 during its theatrical release, and it has stayed with me all these years. I recently saw Avalon (2001) which is another film that explores the boundary between dream and reality. Both films are slow paced. I don't see that as a problem in a contemplative film.

Yes but it has an excess of slow pace, long scenes without nothing in particular, 20 minutes long, is no kosher. Contemplative films need them to allow the viewer to understand what just happened, but when there's an excess it also serves to bore the public, wich is not something you want. And by the way I'll try to see Avalon, wasn't that an anime project?

Originally Posted by Soulforged

And by the way I'll try to see Avalon, wasn't that an anime project?

Avalon (2001) also known as Gate to Avalon directed by Mamoru Oshii is a fantasy/sci-fi/drama which explores the boundary between reality and virtual reality, and between individual effort and teamwork. Oshii has done anime films such as Ghost in the Shell which explore boundaries, but in Avalon he uses live actors. I've seen this picture 5 times, and I noticed new things each time. I find it thought provoking, but it is slow paced.

Originally Posted by Soulforged

That's exactly why it looses some points: pace. However the philosophic value of the movie is undeniable, not only because it exists, but because it persists. Are you going to tell me that you could erase this movie completely from your mind? I certainly couldn't, it arises strong questions and the final scene is one of the most powerful ever made.

no, the movie certainly sticks in my mind, i will give it that. and i can see why it is often compared to '2001'. both movies came out around the same time and while nominally sci-fi about human-alien exchange are really about the human condition and what it means to be human.

that being said though, i hated the ambiguity of the ending of 2001. it's a pretty linear film until the ending where it just veers off. to me the ending of 2001 would have fit in something like 'a clockwork orange' or a david lynch film, it seemed way out of character for the rest of '2001.'

Originally Posted by nokhor

that being said though, i hated the ambiguity of the ending of 2001. it's a pretty linear film until the ending where it just veers off.'

It's still linear, but the ending is symbolic of the death of the Homo Sapien species along the path of evolution as well as the death of each individual along that path. The middle part of the film is about the threat of man's technology to cause his own extinction. The moving part of the film is that if man does loose control of his technology and become extinct then the star child will never be born, and that after millions of years of the evolution of life originating on Earth, that star child is still an infant in evolutionary terms.

Hard Candy, dear god, but you go girl! Brilliantly acted, great story, great idea.

Saw The Persuit of Happyness and I have to say it's a very good movie. Quite inspirational.

Grindhouse is the best movie ever made.

Saw Hot Fuzz, it's rubbish. Did not laugh once.

300 was well weak (the movie not the men). The acting was poor and the dialogue worse. The script was like a potholed road, its going along fine one minute, and then they open their mouths and boom its like a slap in the face. Many of the scenes were downright ridiculous and looked fake, like the rhino and the opening scene with the horses. However, some of the cinematography was impressive, such as the oracle scene and the fighting.

All-in-all, rather average.

Borat. Switched it of first time, think I wasn't in the mood.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL that guy is nuts. I haven't laughed like this in a long time, the Kazachstan song at the rodeo, absolute genius, maybe not smart, but genius nonetheless. Bear in icekart, dear god, 5 minutes afterwards I was still out of breath. Who would do such a thing, hehe.

Whenever I think about Borat I can't stop myself thinking about how much funnier it'd be if you didn't know it was a joke

The Good Shepherd

Not as good as I heard or as good as it could have been. Most of the movie is Matt Damon looking wide eyed, stone faced, and silent. If he got paid by the word, he would have made about $50 for the flic. Interesting at times, but way beneath the level that a movie with this much talent should be.

It's billed as the best spy movie ever made. Ummmm... not likely.

The Ring: I had the impression it was some cheesy horror movie but it was quite well done. Really nice atmosphere and ending.

Deliverance: Great movie. I'm amazed that it was directed by the same guy who directed "emerald forest". Rednecks make really good villains.

The Aviator: a biogrpahy about someone who doesn't turn out to be all that interesting after all, and worsethan that, rather unlikable. Rarely more than simply entertaining, it does have two great scenes (hitting on the waitress and meeting the parents). The senate hearings toward the end feel rather unrealisitc (commitee chairmans do have some control over a hearing, I presume) and the weak explanation for the main characters insanity is well, weak.

It's not a bad movie, but I wouldn't recommed it.

Shooter: Fun action movie. Mark wahlberg does an excellent job. Ending was a bit tacked on but otherwise it was good.

Goodfellas: Saw this for the first time. Tremendous acting. I prefer movies where I can sympathize with the main characters a bit more, so I'd still say Donnie Brasco is a better mafia movie, but this was a good movie. I don't know why ray liotta didn't become a bigger star.

Zodiac: I don't think this worked well in movie form. There was nothing in the movie that couldn't have been done better in a book. Also, it followed real events which hurt it a lot in terms of keeping the story going.

Babel: Terrible. There's no point to this movie unless you can sympathize with the main characters, and how can you do that when almost all of them are retarded? I don't like movies where the main characters do stupid things.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie: an awesome introduction to a cult franchise. I'm going to watch all eleven (!!!) seasons of the TV shows now. Hi-freaking-larious.

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

Babel: Terrible. There's no point to this movie unless you can sympathize with the main characters, and how can you do that when almost all of them are retarded? I don't like movies where the main characters do stupid things.

I didn't see the movie, but the main subject of the director has always been real people'a life on a fiction. Real people do a lot of stupid things. Still you're perfectly on your rights to say that you didn't like it.

Just watched The Inside Man on TV, a heist movie by Spike Lee. It's an entertaining film - the plot is decent in a "how - dunnit" kind of way, although like the detective, I found it lacked closure. The acting is excellent - I could watch Denzil Washington, Jodie Foster and Willem Dafoe read a telephone directory, they are all so good. Thankfully, Spike Lee gave them much better material to work with - straighter than most of his trademark stuff, but with some characteristic touches (the angry Sikh mistaken for an Arab and stripped of his turban by the police).

Possibly the best part of the film though was the amazing Bollywood song that played on the credits, so good I chased it down on Youtube. The original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsv3MrbDcs

And in the opening sequence to the Inside Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4I477MP5VY

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

[B]Goodfellas: Saw this for the first time. Tremendous acting. I prefer movies where I can sympathize with the main characters a bit more, so I'd still say Donnie Brasco is a better mafia movie, but this was a good movie. I don't know why ray liotta didn't become a bigger star.

That's a very good movie. I'd say one of the best mafia films around. I'd even say that movie is flawless in its execution.

Originally Posted by econ21

Just watched The Inside Man on TV, a heist movie by Spike Lee. It's an entertaining film - the plot is decent in a "how - dunnit" kind of way, although like the detective, I found it lacked closure. The acting is excellent - I could watch Denzil Washington, Jodie Foster and Willem Dafoe read a telephone directory, they are all so good. Thankfully, Spike Lee gave them much better material to work with - straighter than most of his trademark stuff, but with some characteristic touches (the angry Sikh mistaken for an Arab and stripped of his turban by the police).

Possibly the best part of the film though was the amazing Bollywood song that played on the credits, so good I chased it down on Youtube. The original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsv3MrbDcs

And in the opening sequence to the Inside Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4I477MP5VY

I quite liked the movie. Clever things going on, but it was too drawn out and the end repeated too many things. The main revelation was made halfway the film, and there wasn't much more to add.

Agreed, the Bollywood song was brilliant. It has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the movie but I loved it.

Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro

Babel: Terrible. There's no point to this movie unless you can sympathize with the main characters, and how can you do that when almost all of them are retarded? I don't like movies where the main characters do stupid things.

Gotta agree with ya here. The characters we are supposed to sympathize with are (SPOLIERS)


A creepy perverted arab kid who spies on his sister and has no concept of gun safety.

A slutty Japanese girl who is sad because she can't get laid. (she is the only one I would call retarded...I just wanted to punch her in the face the whole movie, it's a miracle she doesn't get raped)

Two parents who went to a crappy third world country for no reason....and left their kids with their Mexican nanny.


A Mexican nanny who takes her employers children to mexico without permission. And later on has them get into a car with a drunk driver....then to top it off she leaves them in the desert!


All the while the movie tries its best to make you like the characters who are just well...unlikeable. There were three good characters. Creepy arab kid's dad, and The children of the parents who went to a third world country.

Originally Posted by econ21

Possibly the best part of the film though was the amazing Bollywood song that played on the credits, so good I chased it down on Youtube. The original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsv3MrbDcs

And in the opening sequence to the Inside Man:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4I477MP5VY

If you like musicals go and see Bombay Dreams by Andrew Lloyd Webber. One of the more enjoying ones I have seen. The song is also featured there.

Quid

Saw Hot Fuzz earlier today.

A hilarious, brilliant movie throughout. The humor is great - none of the lame toilet jokes that pass for comedy in so many movies today. I'm just sad he didn't use the FAL more.

CR