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Powdered Water
12-14-07, 08:36 PM
Bad Santa, just simply a raunchy and utterly ridiculously funny movie. The Coen Bothers helped produce this little gem by the way.

4.5
linespalsy
12-14-07, 11:34 PM
http://www.vitalsourcemag.com/files/cinema/2007-07_FilmPaprika.jpg
I just saw Paprika. This was the first new anime that I've seen in quite a long time that I actually liked (hooray!). It's by Satoshi Kon, the same director as Millennium Actress and Paranoia Agent. Thankfully it is a lot better than Paranoia Agent in some important ways. Particularly, the ways it merges the base reality of the movie and the dream reality are a lot more varied and visually imaginative. The movie is worth seeing for these alone, though it's also got some excellent scenes and overall a pretty decent story and interesting cast of characters too. Unfortunately it also has some of the same flaws as Paranoia Agent and lots of other anime. Heavy-handed exposition that is both super convoluted and also kind of trite (it's all a dream, but you already knew that). My biggest complaint is how it boils down to a fight between giant monsters/robots. This has been done so many times that it has to be really exceptionally bizarre to succeed. Hasn't worked since AKIRA in my estimation (maybe in The End of Evangelion, not sure if that counts though). Not that it was poorly done, but Japanese animators need to start thinking of some other ways to produce a fantasy climax.

EDIT: oh yeah: 3.5

And for the record:
Millennium Actress: 4.5
Perfect Blue: 3
Tokyo Godfathers: 2.5
Paranoia Agent: 2
Sci-Fi-Guy
12-15-07, 06:55 AM
Watched Soylent Green tonight.
Always heard of this one but never saw it before.

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7182/soylentgreennz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm sure the movie would have had a greater impact to me if the ending wasn't so well known.
Depressing as hell vision of the future though with over-population and poverty.
After watching it, I feel like I need a shower and to brush my teeth for an hour. Then pig out on some steak and potatoes or chicken or something. Maybe lobster?:p
adidasss
12-15-07, 07:04 AM
@Lines: Your rating is all wrong, it should go like this:

Perfect Blue 5
Paprika 4.5
Paranoia Agent 4
Millennium actress 3.5
Tokyo godfathers 3

Fix it. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/durise.gif
Powdered Water
12-15-07, 10:39 AM
About ten years ago a clerk at Blockbuster video of all places mentioned this film.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/51FSZEPMN6L_SS500_.jpg

I just happen to love Cary Grant and David Niven so I gave it a whirl, boy am I glad I did! This is an absolute gem. For whatever reason it has never been quite as popular as It's A Wonderful Life but I'd say it's just as good. Its such a simple story and yet its powerful at the same time. I'm not much for getting right with Jesus, but I can understand why so many other's do. But I do understand faith and belief and a movie like this makes it all seem so much simpler than it is today.

5
Ðèstîñy
12-15-07, 10:49 AM
I'm sure the movie would have had a greater impact to me if the ending wasn't so well known.
Depressing as hell vision of the future though with over-population and poverty.
After watching it, I feel like I need a shower and to brush my teeth for an hour. Then pig out on some steak and potatoes or chicken or something. Maybe lobster?:p

Get the steak and lobster. You only live once. It's funny how movies can affect us. I've barely slept since mine.
I don't suppose I've seen Soylent Green. I'll try to check it out later on some time.
linespalsy
12-15-07, 11:38 AM
@Lines: Your rating is all wrong, it should go like this:

Perfect Blue 5
Paprika 4.5
Paranoia Agent 4
Millennium actress 3.5
Tokyo godfathers 3

Fix it. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/durise.gif

Guess you really liked Paranoia Agent. These days to get me to watch a series it's gotta be something really rewarding, even more than it would be as a movie. I could be forgetting something, but in my mind Paprika does most of the cool that Paranoia Agent did but better and isn't 4+ hours long. So no way would I rate it as worth seeing. The only think keeping me from rating Perfect Blue higher is the ending, which turns an otherwise really messed up and unique story into a standard thriller. It's good though, and I can understand putting it so high, but why is Millennium Actress so low in your estimation?
adidasss
12-15-07, 12:14 PM
The lack of an actual story? It's just a gimmick, a reasonably interesting and original way of storytelling but for me it all made little sense at the end, I just couldn't buy her motives, she devoted her entire life to a fairly insignificant event in her childhood? I suppose I like my films to have a beginning and an ending, this one just didn't provide any satisfactory answers for me to rate it any higher. It's still worth seeing, the only really sub par film of his is TG...far too ordinary to merit attention.

Oh and slight digression, I can't believe you haven't finished Tekkonkinkreet. The animation alone is so amazing I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. Even if the script has it's faults, there are some really sublime moments in it and ending is worth it...at least I thought so...
B-card
12-15-07, 03:04 PM
Casshern(Kazuaki Kiriya 2004)-3

http://www.kanpai.fr/images/japon/casshern01.jpg
Caitlyn
12-15-07, 03:18 PM
A Beautiful Mind (2001) ~ 4/5
mark f
12-15-07, 03:35 PM
I just watched Paprika and gave it 3, but I have nothing of his to compare it to. I can say that I also watched Soderbergh's Ocean's Thirteen, and I gave it 2.5.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
12-15-07, 04:17 PM
Five Easy Pieces :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/t0/44/t044915a2pb.jpg

Last night, it was the weirdest-coolest thing. I was at a questionable establishment, where the girls dance around poles and their clothes end up on the floor beneath them. Your typical Friday evening in Portland, Oregon. I may have or may not have had too many Long Islands and was kind of doing a mental drift around the walls and tables until I saw a lady dancing in a stage across the bar. I would have bet you money, last night, that it was Karen Black's character from the movie Five Easy Pieces. It all made sense. Jack Nicholson's character leaves her at a gas station and then she wondered around, lost, until she wound up dancing at a strip club. For that night, I felt like I had run into a subject from a documentary.

Anyways, the movie is good.
mark f
12-15-07, 04:36 PM
That would have been a "relatively good" ending for her character then, since she told Bobby that if he ever left her, she'd kill herself.

http://www.ganymedearts.org/Five%20Easy%20Pieces.jpg
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
12-15-07, 04:44 PM
That would have been a "relatively good" ending for her character then, since she told Bobby that if he ever left her, she'd kill herself.

http://www.ganymedearts.org/Five%20Easy%20Pieces.jpg
I don't buy the fact that she'd actually kill herself, but I could see her being picked up by some other dude that treats her the same way Nicholson's character did.
adidasss
12-15-07, 04:55 PM
I just watched Paprika and gave it 3, but I have nothing of his to compare it to. I can say that I also watched Soderbergh's Ocean's Thirteen, and I gave it 2.5.

I've noticed that you give such grades to films you appear to have liked so I'm thinking either your grading system is a little odd, or (more probably) unlike me you've seen (almost?) as many films as Holden and are not easily impressed...http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/unsure-1.gif

Anyhoo, just seen
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/ratatouille.jpg

Predictable, 20 minutes too long, generally sub par (and by par I mean films like Shrek, Monsters Inc., The incredibles etc.). I had a feeling it's going to be like this, but I saw it get mentioned a few times in Holden's critic's awards thread so I thought I'd give it a chance...it passed the time I guess.http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/shrug.gif
3
linespalsy
12-15-07, 05:12 PM
I don't know about mark, but for me 3 is still above average and good. That could mean I really liked it but it had some severe flaws, or it was overall good but not in a particularly original or unique way, or that it was bad but saved by some odd touch of genius. (In the case of Perfect Blue I'd say the first). Anyway, it means I liked the movie.

it all made little sense at the end, I just couldn't buy her motives, she devoted her entire life to a fairly insignificant event in her childhood? I suppose I like my films to have a beginning and an ending, this one just didn't provide any satisfactory answers for me to rate it any higher.

You're probably right about this. Still, do you think any of Satoshi Kon's films so far don't suffer from that to some extent or other? IEall the messed up stuff in Paranoia Agent being traced back to... guilt over a dead puppy. :bored:
or in
The woman chewed up by "the biz" so she becomes a psychopathic murderer

Anyway those things bothered me a little but not enough to keep me from enjoying Millennium Actress and Perfect Blue.

Oh and slight digression, I can't believe you haven't finished Tekkonkinkreet. The animation alone is so amazing I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen. Even if the script has it's faults, there are some really sublime moments in it and ending is worth it...at least I thought so...

I'll probably give it a second try some time. I did think the animation was pretty cool, even if I wasn't blown away by it like you were (I was blown away by some of the sequences of Paprika though, like the one I put pictured in my original post and the first few scenes, and I also really liked the bits of repetition and nonlinearity in the plot/imagery). I'm not really satisfied with this response, but I'd have to give Tekkon Kinkreet a much closer look than I'm willing to at this time, to be able to take apart what I liked/didn't like about the style.

I just watched Paprika and gave it 3.

Did it just not impress you that much or was there something specific that dragged it down (from greatness) for you? If you ever feel up to seeing them, I'd like to hear your thoughts on Millennium Actress or Perfect Blue.
mark f
12-15-07, 05:42 PM
Well, maybe my system is odd because I rarely give anything above 4. I probably give about 50 films 4.5 and maybe 15 films 5. So, maybe the average person should raise my ratings an extra box, but then again, I'm pretty sure that I've seen a whole lot more older movies than anybody here, and some might think I overrate some of those. So, yes, 3 is a good movie to me. Paprika is worth watching for the visuals alone. On that level, I'd rate it higher, but somehow it just doesn't add up to as wonderful an overall experience as I think the material deserves. By the way, my brother did a very long review of it for Cinefantastique. http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/06/film-dvd-review-paprika/
adidasss
12-15-07, 05:44 PM
You're probably right about this. Still, do you think any of Satoshi Kon's films so far don't suffer from that to some extent or other? IEall the messed up stuff in Paranoia Agent being traced back to... guilt over a dead puppy. :bored:
or in
The woman chewed up by "the biz" so she becomes a psychopathic murderer Agreed about the PA ending (which actually took the whole series down a notch) but I thought that many of the episodes were so good on their own, such great character studies, that I just decided to take the ending as one bad episode. The ending of Perfect blue actually made perfect sense to me so don't have much to say on that...

I'll probably give it a second try some time. I did think the animation was pretty cool, even if I wasn't blown away by it like you were (I was blown away by some of the sequences of Paprika though, like the one I put pictured in my original post and the first few scenes, and I also really liked the bits of repetition and nonlinearity in the plot/imagery). If there's one thing that bothered me a little with most anime I've been watching it's that it all looks the same. I've only just recently seen a few works from Studio 4C and was just so pleased to see some deviation from the standard. In the case of Tekkonkinkreet I've learned that the very peculiar stylization is due to the original manga, Black and White. If you haven't already, try to get a hold on Mind game, which, like Tekkonkinkreet, also suffers from some gaping plot holes, but it takes you on a quite an extraordinary journey nonetheless...:yup:
linespalsy
12-15-07, 05:48 PM
Well, maybe my system is odd because I rarely give anything above 4. I probably give about 50 films 4.5 and maybe 15 films 5. So, maybe the average person should raise my ratings an extra box, but then again, I'm pretty sure that I've seen a whole lot more older movies than anybody here. So, yes, 3 is a good movie to me. Paprika is worth watching for the visuals alone. On that level, I'd rate it higher, but somehow it just doesn't add up to as wonderful an overall experience as I think the material deserves. By the way, my brother did a very long review of it for Cinefantastique. http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2007/12/06/film-dvd-review-paprika/

I don't think there's anything wrong with your rating system. I probably give out more 4's and 5's than you, but still probably not all that many.

Liked your brother's review by the way. It seems I'd completely overlooked the cautionary stance on technology, which after reading that and thinking back was pretty heavy in the movie. Maybe I've just seen that in so many anime over the years that I just take it for granted now.
linespalsy
12-16-07, 12:34 AM
If there's one thing that bothered me a little with most anime I've been watching it's that it all looks the same. I've only just recently seen a few works from Studio 4C and was just so pleased to see some deviation from the standard. In the case of Tekkonkinkreet I've learned that the very peculiar stylization is due to the original manga, Black and White. If you haven't already, try to get a hold on Mind game, which, like Tekkonkinkreet, also suffers from some gaping plot holes, but it takes you on a quite an extraordinary journey nonetheless...:yup:

Is Mind Game a series or a film? I'm interested but to be honest, I have a hard time making it through any overly long anime these days.

Have you read much manga? If you ever exhaust your interest in anime, I think there's a bit more variety and experimentation done in manga that you might find rewarding. With the Black & White movie vs. the manga though, it did seem to me that other than the quirky jumbled-up look of the characters and Treasure Town, the movie wasn't really trying to translate the graphic feel of reading a manga (in the way that AKIRA did, for example) into a cinematic format. Not necessarily a complaint, just something to pay attention to when/if I eventually get back to it.

Also, have you seen Memories? It's an anthology of three short films by three different directors (though organized as a sort of tribute to Katsuhiro Otomo). Anyway, Satoshi Kon didn't direct any of it, but I think he did have some creative input on the first segment, Magnetic Rose, which is very similar thematically and stylistically to his oeuvre (it's about astronauts who wander into a space station that seems to be haunted by the ghost of a long-forgotten opera star.) My favorite segment is the one Otomo directed, Cannon Fodder, which you should definitely check out if you liked AKIRA, as it compliments it very nicely. The story is pretty minimal but I've never seen anything quite like what Otomo did with the backgrounds and scene transitions in that film.

Back to regular Movie Tab business:

Tonight I saw The Chinese Feast, a martial arts/cooking movie by Tsui Hark. Another one I'm not so sure about. I liked what I saw but it seemed that there was quite a lot that I was missing due to a combination of complicated romance plot, an extremely incomplete and confused translation, and unreadable subtitles (the downfall of way too many HK films, though at least this one seemed to preserve the original aspect ratio.) Anyway, after one viewing I'd say it's either not that great or if it is, it's probably only of interest to Tsui Hark completists like me. The cooking scenes were pretty great though.

Then I re-watched Peking Opera Blues, to see something by Tsui that is a bit more accessible (the subtitles on the version I own make a lot more sense, for one thing). Love this one.
mark f
12-16-07, 03:44 AM
Meet Me in St. Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944) 4

http://www.cinematographers.nl/GreatDoPh/Films/MeetStLouis2.jpg

The greatest movie musical of the 1940s is also one of the great Christmas movies and one of the best family films ever made. The songs: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "The Boy Next Door", "Skip to My Loo" and "The Trolley Song" have passed into folklore. Judy Garland's chemistry with Margaret O'Brien is indelible. The Halloween scene where Maggie goes to the scariest house on the block, throws flour in the owner's face and tells him that she hates him is incredible. Basically, this is a film, which is full of joy and laughter, yet makes you cry almost non-stop. If it's not at the top of your Christmas movie list, watch it and move it up. Trust me: the more you watch it, the more you move it up. :)

http://www.movieactors.com/freezeframes510/MeetMeStLouis21.jpeg http://www.moma.org/images/collection/FullSizes/Minnelli_StLouis.jpg
jrs
12-16-07, 04:45 AM
Finding Nemo HD-DVD
Shrek HD-DVD
mark f
12-19-07, 08:33 PM
Zelary (Ondrej Trojan, 2003) 3.5

http://www.kfilmy.cz/images/zelary2.jpg

During WWII, in German-occupied Prague, a medical student/nurse/Resistance member (Anna Geislerová) is forced to flee to the country to hide from the Nazis. She goes by train with a man (György Cserhalmi) whose life she's recently saved by giving him her blood in a transfusion. Once they arrive at his village, she learns that she will have to marry the man to blend in and be accepted by the villagers. Eventually, all manner of problems arise from all sides of the conflict and the village hothead.

Although the story is simple, it's filled with suspense and human drama (and comedy, for that matter). The photography and setting are also beautiful. In some ways, the film reminded me of Paul Verhoeven's Black Book, but with the melodrama turned down a notch, and, of course, a different Czech perspective. Thanks to Aniko for reminding me about this film. :)

--------

I also watched The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Ken Loach's recent tale of 1920s Ireland, focusing on the Republicans attempt to oust the English presence. I enjoy and admire all of Loach's films, and this one seems to be his most-epically-cinematic yet. Even so, my first reaction is 3. I'm going to watch it again though becuase I feel I missed some details at the beginning. Either way, I do recommend it, and if I change my mind or rating, I'll come back to post that.

EDITED: 3.5

http://www.indiewire.com/movies/Barley.jpg
linespalsy
12-19-07, 09:41 PM
Hope you don't mind if I ape your format a little, mark.

Don (Chandra Barot, 1978)

The criminal mastermind "Don" (see image) meets an untimely death running from the law. One cop sees him die and comes up with a scheme to infiltrate the Don's smuggling ring, using a singing country bumpkin look-a-like. At almost 3 hours, the movie comes in as rather unevenly paced with lots of characters (more than a few playing dual roles), a couple revenge plots, and a dramatic structure built around karma. There's a pair of orphans, a crippled ex-tightrope walker/ex-criminal, a free-agent female martial artist driven by revenge, plenty of identity confusion and absurd climaxes (for exampled when the crippled circus performer has to carry his kids on a tightrope over a busy freeway to escape some gangsters), seemingly out of place slapstick, songs... all the confusing enticements you can expect from an alien (both in space and time) pop-culture...

http://movies.sulekha.com/moviepics/don5.jpg

Overall I can't rate it too high because I don't think I laughed all that much until the last 45 minutes or so (the big fight at the end is great, characters you would never expect doing back flips and handsprings) and when I did I suspect the gags were unintentional more often than they were intentional. With something like Amar, Akbar, Anthony to compare this to, I'll give it a 2.5.
Powdered Water
12-19-07, 10:19 PM
More Christmas movies, Micheal, I'm an idiot when it comes to cheesy romance type movies so naturally I love this one. Christmas and cheesy romance= gah-rooo-veh!
3.5

The Incredibles, apparently this is a Christmas movie now so we watched it again, I'm just a big goof, I know, but I get a kick out that flick every time I see it. "He starts monologuing!"

4
mark f
12-19-07, 10:55 PM
This bears no reflection on you, Powdered (it only reflects on me), but since I haven't rated those flix yet here, I'll show you where I'm coming from.

Michael 2
The Incredibles 5

Now, what were you saying about goofs?
Powdered Water
12-19-07, 11:18 PM
This bears no reflection on you, Powdered (it only reflects on me), but since I haven't rated those flix yet here, I'll show you where I'm coming from.

Michael 2
The Incredibles 5

Now, what were you saying about goofs?

:p Lmao! I almost dropped Michael down to a solid 3 stars but its Christmas. And most days I would probably give The Incedibles a 5 as well, but it occurred to me I give every movie I like a 5 so maybe I should try to be a little more objective. I should probably just rate any way I damn well please eh? :)
B-card
12-20-07, 04:12 PM
The Invasion 2007-5

Death Sentence 2007-3
ImNotGibson
12-20-07, 05:12 PM
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
1_5

I could imagine myself hating this movie with every fiber of my being if I was a fan of the comics, but I'm not so I don't. My favorite part of the first movie is here in this one too, Josh Evans. The man's got a real presence on screen and he makes me laugh when he wants to. He even got a few chuckles out of me during Sunshine. This movie was bad, but it was forgettably bad so you won't be finding it on my "Worst Movies of All-Time" list.
mark f
12-21-07, 04:34 AM
Besides changing my earlier rating of The Wind That Shakes the Barley from 3 to 3.5, I have another mini-review.

Sunrise: The Story of Two Humans (F.W. Murnau, 1927) 3.5

http://daily.greencine.com/archives/murnau-sunrise.jpg

The epitome of American silent expressionism is found here in Murnau's greatest film, and with the possible exception of Metropolis, the greatest silent visual presentation of any film. The story is a simple fairy tale, filled with suspense, horror, nightmares, romance, fantasy, comedy, more romance, more horror, and ultimately, true love. However, the visuals are incredibly sophisticated and come at you at an almost dizzying pace. This is a good film to discuss pace. Some of the earlier scenes are extended to highlight suspense, but later, the scenes cascade to show giddy happiness and the almost surreal nature of being in love. It's also surprising how humorous many of the scenes in the middle are, but they all serve to enhance character. For those of you who don't understand my ratings, give this film a shot and tell me if I'm right, a rating too low or I overrated the sucka. No matter what, everyone should watch it, preferably with a loved one.

http://www.siffblog.com/sunrise-thumb.jpg
Thursday Next
12-21-07, 02:08 PM
I think I will give Sunrise a go if I can get hold of it. Sounds a lot more interesting than A Walk in the Clouds, which was the kind of film my mum would probably like...
ImNotGibson
12-21-07, 03:25 PM
Paris, Je T'aime
4

This movie is made up of a gaggle of short films about love in Paris and surprisingly, at least to me, they all worked on some level or another. I've always been impressed by a short that could cut right into me and play with my emotions with only a few minutes to do so and that happens a lot in this movie, in fact all but a few of them manage to do so. Don't get the wrong idea about this film though it's not all lovey dovey artsy fartsy, there are quite a few shorts that go for the funny bone and succeed. I couldn't stop laughing at the Coen brothers contribution which starred Steve Buscemi as a tourist clearly in over his head when he attracts the negative attention of an angry Parisian lover. There's just a lot of great stuff in this thing. And I cannot stress enough how hot Natalie Portman is in this movie. Cannot stress enough.
undercoverlover
12-21-07, 09:25 PM
^been meaning to see that one for ages

Golden compass - amazing but the ending let me down. I appreciate that there of course would be unanswered questions in the first part of a trilogy but to point them all out right before the credits roll, it just made me feel annoyed. Overall a very entertaining movie
jrs
12-22-07, 05:00 AM
National Treasure: Book of Secrets 2
Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street 4_5
Brothers Solomon 5
Powdered Water
12-22-07, 11:25 AM
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, While technically not a movie, I don't care. Although at 52 minutes it seems like one. can you imagine a T.V. show today being 52 minutes? Most shows nowadays are topping off right at 41 to 42 mins ahhhh, progress.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/Rudolf_red_nosed_reindeer.jpg
Just good stuff, and sooooo much better than most of that digital crap they have on today.
5
Tacitus
12-22-07, 12:51 PM
ahhhh, progress.


ahhhh, adverts. ;)
Iroquois
12-23-07, 08:19 PM
Superbad - 1.5
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - 3
Dazed and Confused - 5
Live Free or Die Hard - 2.5
Knocked Up - 1
jrs
12-24-07, 02:24 AM
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story 4_5
Boogeyman 2 1_5
B-card
12-24-07, 11:06 AM
I am Legend(Francis Lawrence 2007)-2
Powdered Water
12-24-07, 11:07 AM
Man, I love, love, love, Christmas movies. We really enjoyed this,
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/D63845.jpg
3.5

Bing is just so good, I always turn up the volume on the radio station here that plays all the Christmas music when he comes on. He just sang the song, you know? And that voice, Wow! Anyway, the movie was pretty damn decent. I'm in the market for some old timey Christmas movies, so if you have some ideas for me please feel free. I have so far:

It's A Wonderful Life
The Bishop's Wife
Scrooge or A Christmas Carol (Allastair Simm)
The one and only A Miracle on 34th St.
I'm adding The Bells of St. Marys and I saw a couple more from Bing the last time I was at the store, Holiday Inn and White Christmas.

So any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Now on to the rest of the Christmas silliness,
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/gremlins_ver1271x378.jpg
I still love this flick and I'm sure I probably always will, I rarely watch the second one but this one is quite good.
3.5

And one of the biggies,
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/51DHP05FPHL_AA280_.jpg
I don't know and don't really care how many versions there have been of this film. To me, this is the only one.
5
linespalsy
12-24-07, 04:47 PM
Best in Show - moronic dog pageant. Funniest moments were all Guest on his own practicing his ventriloquism, talking about nuts &c. 3
Meet Me in St. Louis - I found several of the characters pretty obnoxious. That might not bother me except that I think I was meant to accept them as cute. Judy Garland and Lucille Bremer (who I've never seen before) were both very pretty, but Garland had a horrible haircut (sort of a weird front roll). 3
Paris, Texas - I rented it on vhs over the summer. As I suspected (from seeing Don't Come Knocking), seeing this widescreen without the faded colors brought a whole new level of beauty. Still a great story but now it's visually transcendent as well. Lots of brilliant neons, and for some reason all the white-lit scenes are an artificial green. 4
The Princess and the Warrior - I didn't like Lola Rennt, but now after Heaven and this I've got to try it again. This one is not quite as good as Heaven but still worth multiple viewings. 4
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
12-24-07, 05:07 PM
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix :shrug:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/67/u46742il05t.jpg

I don't even care about this movie. Who the eff' is Harry Potter? Everyone loves Harry. Harry Potter walks into a room with his friends and its, "Oh Harry!" "Oh Harry!" That's bullsh_t. There's other people too. His supposed friends. Bull crap. I don't believe his character for a minute. He was spoon fed through every obstacle he faced. He road the coat tails of all the people around him. Why? At least that hobbit with the ring was a chosen one. Was Harry chosen? For any particular reason? Was he? Harry is one of the most annoying types of characters. Of course he's going to stand up to any challenge, you know why, because someone else is going to be holding his hand while he completes it. I'd be nice if someone punched Harry Potter in the ribs. He's the star athlete of his broom stick team? He's always the shining example of everything.

This is my beef with the majority of movies coming out. They star blue eyed, perfect, idiots. Complete idiots. It's like their making movies to be sold next to the checkout counter in The Gap. Maybe you can pick up a copy of Harry Potter or Transformers during your next trip to Starbucks. It'll probably be right next to Ashlee Simpson's new CD.

Eff' this crap.
mark f
12-25-07, 12:40 AM
Diner (Barry Levinson, 1982) 4.5


http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_03_img1317.jpg

One of the greatest Christmas films is this awesome flick which fully shows why males are immature compared to females, but even so, you can love them, warts and all. This movie establishes some of the most archetypal characters ever and then throws them all together. The dialogue is tremendous, whether it's from the script or completely ad-libbed. I know people who believe that the film is sexist and misogynistic, but I find those individuals to have no clue about anything, let alone what they believe about art.
adidasss
12-25-07, 01:37 PM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/I_know_where_im_going.jpg/200px-I_know_where_im_going.jpg

Wooden acting and a cheesy ending make for an average viewing experience. On the upside, it manages to create a believable portrait of life in an isolated part of Scotland. I'm hoping The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp will be better...
3
Sedai
12-25-07, 02:26 PM
Blade Runner - The Final Cut

Blade Runner - Workprint

Dangerous Days - The Making of Blade Runner

I really liked the Workprint, warts and all. I REALLY liked some of the experimental ambient music that was used in some of the Deckard apartment scenes. I didn't care for the temp symphonic stuff near the end, as it took away some of the identity of the film I have become accustomed to, but I actually thought the stuff in the middle was a better fit than the sax music in the current cuts...
emir
12-26-07, 02:47 PM
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix :shrug:

I don't even care about this movie. Who the eff' is Harry Potter? Everyone loves Harry. Harry Potter walks into a room with his friends and its, "Oh Harry!" "Oh Harry!" That's bullsh_t.
:laugh:

My biggest problem with the Potter movies is the fact that every time, while watching a new movie in the series, I have a scary feeling that I've already seen the same movie before. And it's not just the "oh, this looks familiar", but a feeling that, a few years ago, I saw a movie that had entirely same plot, twist, visuals and characters. My theory: every new movie is not a continuation, but a remake of the first one. How else could you explain the fact that everyone still treats him the same way they did when he first came to school, even though he'd saved the school and, probably, the world, more than once?
linespalsy
12-26-07, 04:30 PM
My family was watching that new Harry Potter movie the other day and I walked in for the last hour. I agree that the characters are pretty dumb and boring folks, but I still liked the second and third movies, both of which I took my little brother to see on the big screen. Both of those had complicated plots, strong atmosphere and a cool, detached floating camera.

What I saw of this new one had no cool cinematography and the special effects were probably the worst that I've seen in a blockbuster all year and weren't even as good as the ones in the first movie. The bit where the giant picked up the evil fat racist woman might be a worse example of an actor interacting with computer animation than in The Phantom Menace.
Caitlyn
12-26-07, 07:57 PM
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix :shrug:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/67/u46742il05t.jpg

I don't even care about this movie. Who the eff' is Harry Potter? Everyone loves Harry. Harry Potter walks into a room with his friends and its, "Oh Harry!" "Oh Harry!" That's bullsh_t. There's other people too. His supposed friends. Bull crap. I don't believe his character for a minute. He was spoon fed through every obstacle he faced. He road the coat tails of all the people around him. Why? At least that hobbit with the ring was a chosen one. Was Harry chosen? For any particular reason? Was he? Harry is one of the most annoying types of characters. Of course he's going to stand up to any challenge, you know why, because someone else is going to be holding his hand while he completes it. I'd be nice if someone punched Harry Potter in the ribs. He's the star athlete of his broom stick team? He's always the shining example of everything.

This is my beef with the majority of movies coming out. They star blue eyed, perfect, idiots. Complete idiots. It's like their making movies to be sold next to the checkout counter in The Gap. Maybe you can pick up a copy of Harry Potter or Transformers during your next trip to Starbucks. It'll probably be right next to Ashlee Simpson's new CD.

Eff' this crap.




:laugh: ... Sounds like I just need to skip this one too....
Iroquois
12-26-07, 09:10 PM
:laugh: ... Sounds like I just need to skip this one too....

Methinks you might as well skip all of them... ;)
Aniko
12-26-07, 09:58 PM
Zelary (Ondrej Trojan, 2003) 3.5

Although the story is simple, it's filled with suspense and human drama (and comedy, for that matter). The photography and setting are also beautiful. In some ways, the film reminded me of Paul Verhoeven's Black Book, but with the melodrama turned down a notch, and, of course, a different Czech perspective. Thanks to Aniko for reminding me about this film. :)

Oh good Mark....I'm really glad you were able to see Zelary and you that you liked it. I was a little afraid I might have talked it up a bit too much and raised expectations. Thanks for watching it. :)

And, I loved your review on Meet Me in St. LouisMark. It's one of those movies I'll watch on any holiday. There's quite a few scenes I love in it, so I won't mention them all. Keep writing! :)
Caitlyn
12-27-07, 12:33 AM
In the Name of the Father (1993) 5/5
Iroquois
12-27-07, 06:42 AM
Blade Runner: The Final Cut - 4.5
Tacitus
12-27-07, 08:47 AM
In the Name of the Father (1993) 5/5

Go to the 'What are you listening to?' thread. ;)
Powdered Water
12-27-07, 10:53 AM
Had a pretty sweet movie Christmas, Had a Die Hard marathon Christmas day. I'll take them in order.

Die Hard 5
Die Hard 2 4.5
Die Hard 3 4.5
Live Free or Die Hard Unrated edition 3.5(don't know what all the fuss was about, really enjoyed the unrated version with all the typical F-words in all the right places:))

Rob Zombie's Halloween 4
This was really good, much better than the original.

Stardust 3.5
Really enjoyed this, haven't read the book.

The Bourne Ultimatum 3.5
Not bad follow up for the first 2, the camera work at times did start to make me a little motion sick though.
B-card
12-27-07, 02:36 PM
Mr. Woodcock-2

Scent of a Woman-this is one of those movies that you watch with a big grin on your face 5

Land of the Dead-hmm it seems that i am addicted to movies about infected just love them 5
linespalsy
12-27-07, 11:05 PM
Cruel Story of Youth (Nagisa Oshima, 1960)

A gritty tale of doomed young lovers, though I'm not sure if they were doomed by their own stupidity and recklessness or "society". I felt the former but the exposition seemed to be going the other way. The Sun's Burial, though similar, was simultaneously bleaker and yet more fantastical, less didactically straightforward. That one presents a world I would readily visit again, this one not so much.

2.5
Monkeypunch
12-28-07, 12:33 AM
Sweeney Todd - 5/5 Excellent fim version of Stephen Sondheim's musical. Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman are fantastic, as is Helena Bonham Carter, who is also gorgeous in this. My favourite movie of the year.

Halloween (Rob Zombie remake) - 3/5 I never cared much about the original, I mean it was good, but it wasn't as great as it was made out to be, so I had no problems with this remake. This one's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be.
Sedai
12-28-07, 10:13 AM
Key Largo (Huston, 1948) - Great stuff. Can't get enough Bogie these days. That said, I wasn't as impressed with Bacall this time 'round. I guess I shouldn't have watched The Big Sleep as my entry into Bacall/Bogie, instead working up to it... Meanwhile, Claire Trevor and Edward G. Robinson were Stellar.

http://www.filmsondisc.com/images/key_largo.jpg
B-card
12-28-07, 04:47 PM
Galaxy Quest-very funny 4
linespalsy
12-28-07, 11:07 PM
Le Cercle Rouge (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1970)
http://www.librairielabourse.com/journal/fevrier01/images/le%20cercle%20rouge.jpg

There aren't too many movies like this French heist film. There are so many threads that are easy to miss because they don't feed any of the action we see but add complexity to the filmworld. The dossier is one example, but also somehow every time a bystander walks through, you get the feeling that they have an entire back story that we could potentially follow.

4
Iroquois
12-29-07, 04:18 AM
Apocalypse Now - 4.5

I finally got to see the original cut (not Redux). The DVD skipping and having to change DVDs were unwelcome interruptions. As well, I've gotten used to watching the Redux version, so watching the original was a bit...weird. I'll have to watch it again or something.
mark f
12-29-07, 05:38 AM
Interesting comments very recently above.

My problem is that you guys will have no idea whatsoever what I'm tabbing about. In that way, you're probably just like me.

Island in the Sky (William Wellman, 1953) 2.5 - This movie isn't that good, but I'd never seen it before Dec. 26, 2007, so it was very interesting to watch it. It contains one of the Duke's greatest (and certainly most human) performances. Wellman's direction adds all kinds of cool airplane details but most people would have no clue (except Holden, of course).

A Guy Named Joe (Victor Fleming, 1943) 2.5 - The only reason to talk about this is the ending where Dunne destroys the "Japs'" stronghold, and the fact that Spielberg could take such an old-fashioned story and later turn it into both an action extravaganza and an old-time romance (Always), well worth watching. Casts like Hunter and Dreyfuss are worth their weight! Just check out one of my faves: Once Around!!
adidasss
12-29-07, 06:03 AM
Gone baby gone
http://images.apple.com/moviesxml/s/miramax/posters/gonebabygone_l200707121516.jpg

The triple plot twist with the predictable "moral dilemma" resolution kinda ruined it for me. Plus, I resented the forced hyper realism of a Boston neighborhood, Casey Affleck's "lazy drunktard" acting (and especially narration, where it felt like they had just woken him up and he wasn't too keen on reading that pretentious babble). On the upside, Harris is stupendous as usual, and the film does provide some exceptionally tense moments. Overall, it's been done to death and has no artistic value whatsoever (save for Harris' acting)...but...if there's nothing else on the telly...:\

3.5
Iroquois
12-29-07, 09:19 AM
Clerks - 5
Powdered Water
12-29-07, 10:18 AM
After I got done playing with my little Blade Runner hologram (which is pretty cool) and my little Blade Runner hover car (which is cooler) and then my little Silver Unicorn (which I promptly gave a little kick across the floor), I watched the final cut. I'm going to go look and see if there is a thread somewhere on the differences between this cut and his directors cut he did in 92. I noticed a few and am wondering how many I missed. Anyway, 5 Duh!

And this one just for kicks...

Sex and Fury.
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/248629.jpg
Wow, what a bad movie and yes, sadly, I rather enjoyed it. Its got a lot of Shogun Assassin in it, just not quite as good.

2.5
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
12-29-07, 02:18 PM
Simpsons: The Movie :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/86/u48650iojmy.jpg

Definitely not as funny as some of the television episodes, but it was still funny. Where was my favorite character?
http://www.kpbs.org/blogs/culturelust/files/2007/07/groundskeeper_willie.jpg

Hatchet :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/99/u49903b1g8j.jpg

Just like the cover says, "Old School American Horror." Limbs are torn off while the blood sprays helpless trees, there's boobs, and plenty of dumb people. I enjoyed it for what it was and wouldn't have a problem recommending it to anyone looking for some cheesy horror fun.
linespalsy
12-30-07, 12:09 AM
Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, 1995)

It's a strange experience watching a film adaptation shortly after reading the book. It gives all the drama a sort of schematic feel, knowing all the ups and downs and seeing how they shuffled and cut props and characters to fit the main parts in. One of the best things about the novel is Austen's ironic narration, which I imagine would be hard to do well in a film. Still, there was some fun in the casting, I couldn't help thinking that Lee deliberately cast the most unappealing actors he could think in the male leads. Especially Hugh Grant, who had the hopeless look of someone who's just realized he's about to vomit every time he had to talk. My mother and I kept cracking up at that expression, which if anything enhanced the film. If it sounds like I'm dissing this film, I'm not. Good movie: looked fantastic and Emma Thompson and Kate Winslett are lovely and talented. I wanted to watch Hamlet but nobody else was up for starting a 3+ hour film at 11pm.
3
Thursday Next
12-30-07, 04:21 AM
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Better than I thought it would be and reminded me how much I liked the books when I was younger. They toned up the action and wisecracks (and toned down the sexism and some of the religious symbolism). I thought they made Edmund too nice - or at least too understandably grouchy- at the start, which took away from the whole story of his redemption. The acting was good, especially young Lucy, although I could have done without the cockney beavers. 3.5/5
Tacitus
12-30-07, 06:01 AM
King Kong (The Widdly 'I'm too precious to leave anything out, even the padding' Edition) (Peter Jackson, 2005)

2/5

The rating is probably a good point, maybe more, worse than the first time I watched the (less lardy version of the) film...

Firstly the good stuff: The ape still looks good and Naomi Watts has never been lovelier.

Sadly: The effects, Kong apart, just don't cut it for me. They're not as cohesive or organic as, for instance, those in that little Tolkien adaptation Jackson made a while back. Seriously, this film could have been made (the live action parts, anyway) in a reasonably sized, green-coloured front room - everything that's 20 feet in any direction from the main actors is bloody CGI!

And looks it.

Maybe if I hadn't listened to the commentary and had to endure Jackson's increasingly smug "Yeah, those guys walking across the street behind Adrian are CGI" this wouldn't have rankled so much, I dunno.

The probable reason is that my viewing came not long after watching Blade Runner, a film that deals with an equally other-worldly premise and depends on special effects for a large proportion of its 'look'. The problem is that Scott's film looks FAR better (even in the non-Photoshopped versions). Sadly, the Douglas Trumbull's of this world have been replaced by boffins...

Blade Runner is a quarter of a century old.

Ok, Blade Runner didn't have marauding dinosaurs but, to be honest, the ones in Kong didn't look that great. No better than Jurassic Park actually, and CGI has supposedly progressed markedly since that film was made.

We don't watch this kind of blockbuster (Kong, not BR, heh) for stellar performances, snappy direction or a killer script but for the feeling of total immersion in another time/place. The above problems mean that Kong just doesn't cut it for me.

Add this to the fact that, try as I might, I can't friggin' stand Jack Black - an actor who's expression (and every variation thereof) reminds me of someone who's just discovered that the dog on their lap has farted.

A shame, as I'd remembered the film as decent enough entertainment. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood... ;)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/2005_king_kong_59.jpg

Thankfully Naomi and her legs are real. Everything else in this shot isn't, though. It's Who Framed Roger Rabbit in reverse.
Sinny McGuffins
12-30-07, 11:28 AM
This is England
4

Zodiac
5
Powdered Water
12-30-07, 12:15 PM
Add this to the fact that, try as I might, I can't friggin' stand Jack Black - an actor who's expression (and every variation thereof) reminds me of someone who's just discovered that the dog on their lap has farted.



:rotfl:There's funny and then there's funny, that my friends is funny!

I, on the other hand did actually watch Blade Runner, The Theatrical cut, last night and was more than a little surprised to sit there and see that this is not really a completely different movie from the Director's cut or the new photo shopped Final (and this time we really mean it) cut as some might lead you to believe.

Personally, I don't really have a problem either way with the narration, I can take it or leave it. But I had forgotten about the ending. Call me a big softy if you want but I happen to like happy endings. and I like that Rachel wasn't going to die, remember in which ever version you watch Tyrell always says that Rachel is *special*, and I don't think he means football helmet and juice box special. Anyway it was fun to see it again, I've been watching the Director's cut since 92, and I don't think I've seen this version in almost 20 years.

Next up I believe I'm going to dive in to the big Documentary disc and see what's crackin on there

4
Tacitus
12-30-07, 01:27 PM
The documentary disc is, indeed, big. Pretty good too though I was a little disappointed that the BBC doc On The Edge of Blade Runner didn't make it into the set. I seem to remember hearing somewhere that it had but the producers probably took fright at Mark Kermode, a man so supremely smug that Brad Pitt comes to him for tips on how to perfect his look on waking up in the morning and discovering who's sleeping next to him...

True story - Werner Herzog once got shot while being interviewed by Kermode. It's amazing what lengths people go to in order to escape the be-quiffed pseud's next line in preposterous questioning. ;)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/kermode-index.gif

Seriously, that's a face that wants punching, yeah?
Powdered Water
12-30-07, 04:55 PM
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/kermode-index.gif

Seriously, that's a face that wants punching, yeah?

If you ever get tired of that excellent signature you have now, I'd say that this right here would make a fine one. :yup: :laugh:
adidasss
12-31-07, 06:05 AM
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/TheBandsVisit2007.jpg
A charming little Israeli comedy/drama, a would-be Israeli candidate for the Oscars had it not been disqualified for having over 50% of the dialog in a foreign language (in this case English). It centers around an Egyptian Police band that was invited to play at the opening of an Arab cultural center but due to a misunderstanding, ends up in the middle of the Israeli outback.
It's filled with interesting characters and awkward humor as well as some really moving drama and an abundance of good spirit. It's won plenty of awards, so if you get a chance go see it.

4.5
Iroquois
12-31-07, 10:22 AM
Trainspotting (5th viewing) - 4
Powdered Water
12-31-07, 12:52 PM
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/HOSTEL2teaser2MPAA200x297.jpg
Certainly not even close to the worst horror movie I've ever seen. I did like the first one better though, more of the obligatory boobies! :randy:
2.5

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/mimzy_poster.jpg
This was kind of fun. I don't think it was really the best family movie since E.T., like it said on the cover. But it was fun to watch.
3.5
Tacitus
12-31-07, 02:40 PM
If you ever get tired of that excellent signature you have now, I'd say that this right here would make a fine one. :yup: :laugh:

Heh, gramatically it wouldn't quite cut the proverbial mustard and as I like my sigs to match my user pics I'd need to have a photo of me polluting every post I make. :eek:
Powdered Water
12-31-07, 02:55 PM
Heh, gramatically it wouldn't quite cut the proverbial mustard and as I like my sigs to match my user pics I'd need to have a photo of me polluting every post I make. :eek:
:laugh:
Powdered Water
01-01-08, 01:26 PM
Live Free or Die Hard Unrated again, guess I just have no taste, I still enjoyed it.

Art of the Devil 2 from Thailand
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/ArtofTheDevilII.jpg
Nothing really ground breaking or anything but still its always interesting to watch these types of films from other countries, to me anyway.

2.5
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-01-08, 03:23 PM
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End :down: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/40/u44023euryy.jpg

So, this is what millions of dollars gets you....

Skinwalkers :up: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/59/u45915cqlkd.jpg

Yes, I would rather watch this than Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Would I recommend it to anybody? No.
Iroquois
01-01-08, 08:25 PM
Ninja Scroll (2nd viewing) - 4
undercoverlover
01-01-08, 08:29 PM
flight of the navigator - sweet kids sci fi from the 80's cant beat it
jrs
01-01-08, 10:38 PM
Juno
Cloverfield (Paramount Screening)
The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount Screening)
Rough workprint of Iron Man - Screened with director Jon Favreau
Hellboy 2 (Universal Screening)
Sedai
01-02-08, 10:57 AM
Too Late For Tears (1949, Haskin) 4
Well done noir with a GREAT dame. I just wish the transfer on the DVD was better, so as to better see Ms. Scott...

http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t42307d0u5y.jpg


Kiss of Death (1947, Hathaway) 4
OK, so Widmark is amazing, that's all there is to it. This guy is SUCH a great character actor, and this turn as Udo is such fun to watch.

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/protectedimage.php?image=clydefrojones/Kiss_of_Death2.jpg_08102007


Planet of the Apes (1968, Schaffner) 3_5
Good Stuff! It had been ages since I saw this, and I still really enjoyed it, even with Heston going over the top like he does. Going to pop Burton's remake in in the next few days. I like how Burton filled in some of the ape history and gave us a back story for the ape intellect. Some people think the new version doesn't make sense, but it definitely does.

http://www.biocrawler.com/w/images/thumb/6/61/300px-Statue_of_liberty_in_planet_of_the_apes.jpg


Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Spielberg) 4_5
Still love it!

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Ss/0082971/IJ1_IA_454_R.jpg
Aniko
01-02-08, 11:17 AM
The Night of the Iguana (1964) ~ :)
I put this on my 'Q" when Deborah Kerr died. It's one of hers I hadn't seen yet, and Richard Burton in the cast was a plus. It was an interesting character study of a fallen man and Burton was wonderful. I'm glad I saw it but, it's not something I'd watch multiple times.
voneil7
01-02-08, 12:24 PM
Ocean's Thirteen.

Not quite as good as the first one, but still entertaining. The end absolutely cracks me up.
Powdered Water
01-02-08, 03:25 PM
Reign Over Me (Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle) 2.5

Dr. No
Sean Connery is still the best Bond ever!
4

You Only Live Twice (also Connery)
4
jrs
01-02-08, 05:53 PM
Charlie Wilson's War (Oscar Screener)
Thursday Next
01-02-08, 06:36 PM
Marie Antoinette 3/5

A very odd film. Some parts were fun, some parts looked great and at the end it suddenly became almost dramatic and involving, but overall it was very uneven in tone and what meadwadsprite would describe as 'horribly paced'. The soundtrack was a big feature of the film so I suppose it didn't help that the sound quality on the copy I rented was poor and buzzy. It was no La Reine Margot, but I definitely didn't dislike it for what it was.
Iroquois
01-02-08, 11:02 PM
To Live and Die in L.A. - 3.5
mark f
01-03-08, 03:17 AM
I have seen a gazllion movies lately, but I'm trying to deal with my mafo list. In the meantime, here's my ratings (with no comments). Ask me about them, and I WILL comment eventually.

The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass, 2007) 4
Rope (Alfred Hitchcock, 1948) 3.5
Saboteur (Alfred Hitchcock, 1942) 3
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tim Burton, 2007) 4
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001) 3
The Gay Divorcee (Mark Sandrich, 1934) 3.5
Shall We Dance (Mark Sandrich, 1937) 3
Top Hat (Mark Sandrich, 1935) 3
Swing Time (George Stevens, 1936) 3
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (John Turteltaub, 2007) 3
Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg, 2007) 2.5
The Warriors (Walter Hill, 1979) 3
Diary of a Country Priest (Robert Bresson, 1951) 3
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Harold Young, 1934) 3
My Man Godfrey (Gregory La Cava, 1936) 4
emir
01-03-08, 10:15 AM
I've seen Urban Legends, adding to a bunch of other terrible Scream rip-offs I've been seeing lately, and it got me thinking about how it would be a better idea to make a horror movie consisting simply of series of disturbing images, rather than create ridiculous plots and idiotic characters.

Other than being as unpredictable as a porn movie and as scary as, say, a bunch of bananas, one of this movie's main problems is the killer - a person who's got nothing better to do than kill some stupid teens. I know that's much easier than collecting stamps, but it seems that these movies don't even try to explain their killers' motivations - it's the usual "I'm so crazy, look at how crazy I am" clever-clever explanation. I guess that "craziness" explains the fact that killers use hooks or some other terribly inefficient weapons rather than using guns, and that they wear stupid masks which can only obstruct their vision and make the killings much more difficult to commit.

One other thing - who in their right minds would think that it would be a good idea to sneak up on someone in an empty parking lot in the middle of the night when there's a crazy killer on the loose, just to ask them the time or something stupid like that? False alarms are created to shock us for a tiny bit of a second, and H20 (another atrocity I've seen recently) is an even worse example of bad horror than Urban Legends, because it uses it as its only thriller tool.
Monkeypunch
01-03-08, 10:35 AM
Balls of Fury - :up:, surprisingly. I guess I'm getting less picky in my old age, but I laughed enough times during this to say that I enjoyed it. It's dumb, but a funny sort of dumb.

Futurama - Bender's Big Score - :up: :up: I suppose you need to be a hardcore fan of the cancelled Matt Groening Sci-Fi show (and possibly every sci-fi movie ever made) to get every joke in this, but you don't need to be to enjoy the film as a whole. Honestly, this is funnier than The Simpsons movie was, and it has a cameo appearance by Al Gore, gamely sending himself up.
voneil7
01-03-08, 02:51 PM
Vacancy - Not great, but better than I expected. I didn't go into this movie expecting much, but I thought overall it was pretty suspenseful. I found the snuff tapes on the extras to be slightly disturbing. I thought Frank Whaley did a really good job with his character in the movie.
linespalsy
01-03-08, 03:00 PM
The last movie I saw was Music and Lyrics. Pop went my heart. It was pretty good.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-03-08, 07:35 PM
Shoot Em' Up :down: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/88/u48832nnp3t.jpg

This woman, Monica Bellucci, is gorgeous.
http://www.gulum.net/biyografi/images/biography/monica-bellucci.jpg

That's all the movie had going for it.
linespalsy
01-03-08, 07:44 PM
Pimp, you are honing your critical movie watching skills lately. Maybe?

Me, I'm weak, I like any movie with pretty girls and blinky lights.

And mark f (for fake? What would Sue Grafton say?):

Would you mind giving me one of your mini-review treatments of Lagaan? I saw that a long time ago and it was my first exposure to Bollywood epic-patriotic-sports-musical-soap-operas. I thought it was pretty cool except for the English musical scenes, which didn't have the exotic weirdness of the rest of it. Have you seen any other Bollywood movies? If you can find it, I recommend Amar, Akbar, Anthony. I've only seen three so far, but that one blows the other two away.
mark f
01-03-08, 09:52 PM
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif

I have seen other Indian films, but they're mostly older ones. I enjoyed this film quite a lot, and my rating would be on the high side of those boxes, but I believe how much you enjoy the movie will depend on your tolerance of the sport cricket. I'm not an expert on cricket, but I watched some when I was in New Zealand a couple of years ago. This film is three hours and 45 minutes long, and the last hour and 20 minutes is all about a three-day-long cricket match. To me, it flew by.

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/sony_pictures_classics/lagaan/aamir_khan/lagaan.jpg

It's set at the end of the 19th century in Central India. There's basically a Snidely Whiplash-type English captain who hates the Natives and is going to charge them double the tax (lagaan) of grains, even though the country is in the second year of a drought. The only way they can get out of paying the tax is to beat the British Army in a cricket match. The film tells you right upfront that it's completely untrue and basically a fantasy alternative universe, but the characters' reactions are certainly believable enough; at least considering it's a David Vs. Goliath story.

http://denhibui.com/img_foreign/LagaanOnceUponATimeInIndia.jpg

As far as the musical numbers go: there are seven of them, spaced about a half hour apart. My faves were certainly the first two where there was lots of dancing under the day and night sky. The songs are actually quite catchy pop, but a slight annoyance was that they were recorded totally differently than the rest of the movie. In that way, they kinda sound like they were done in an echo chamber. That's a minor quibble though.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-03-08, 10:25 PM
Pimp, you are honing your critical movie watching skills lately. Maybe?

Me, I'm weak, I like any movie with pretty girls and blinky lights.
Are you telling me that you enjoyed this movie?

Maybe you're under the impression that I don't have critical movie watching skills..... ?
linespalsy
01-03-08, 11:24 PM
No, just observing (perhaps mistakenly) that you seem to be a little more negative in your recent movie tab comments than you may have been in the past. If anything, I meant to compliment you on your critiques, which I often find interesting. Sorry if that was confusing (I'm not being sarcastic either).

I haven't seen the movie, but it did look like something I might enjoy.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8240/knockofffu9.jpg

I just watched this movie Knock Off, starring Jean Claude van Damme (sp.?). I couldn't follow the movie that well because everyone else in the room was making too much noise mocking it (and to be fair to them, it had a pretty confusing plot and awful dialog), but it was about a terrorist plot to hide miniature bombs inside knock off designer jeans and then ship them to America and blow us up. There were CIA quadruple-agents, cops, crooked fashion designers and blackmarketers, missiles hidden in safes, an into-the-sneaker swoop shot with the camera attached to the bottom of van Damme's foot, Rob Schneider, fireworks, a brutal charity rickshaw race through the streets of Hong Kong. It was pretty good. I think at this point Tsui Hark -- having just come off the floppy 'Double Team' -- knew his Hollywood career wasn't to be, knew his movie was basically going to be a crap knockoff of his Hong Kong career (which has produced plenty of crap itself), and just wanted to make the most dumb, over the top action movie about that he could. Horribly acted but I think I would have enjoyed it quite a bit if I watched it on my own without other people loudly disparaging it.
3
mark f
01-04-08, 02:44 AM
Seems Like Old Times (Jay Sandrich, 1980) 3

http://www.movieactors.com/freezes1/SeemsLikeOldTimes14.jpeg

I used to think this Neil Simon film was hilarious, but now I see it as only amusing. However, there are the occasional set pieces; for example, the foot standing on the hand under the bed while the other hand silently communicates pain and retribution which make me think maybe I was in a bad mood. Certainly not up to Chevy and Goldie's Foul Play, but cute.

Pretty Poison (Noel Black, 1968) 3.5

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a150/tuesdayweld/prettypoison22.jpg

This is certainly a step up from the last film. Psychotic Anthony Perkins more than meets his match in high school drum majorette Tuesday Weld. The film is offbeat and darkly himorous, and just when youi think you know what's happening, it twists around a few more corners. Highly recommended to MoFos.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Mario Bava, 1963) 2.5

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/protectedimage.php?image=MichaelMackenzie/girl-4.jpg

This is a pretty good suspense flick. My rating is on the high side. My main flaw with it is the revelation of the killer. Even so, this is the kind of film where every time someone opens a door, it's scary. And a lot of doors get opened...
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-04-08, 03:42 AM
No, just observing (perhaps mistakenly) that you seem to be a little more negative in your recent movie tab comments than you may have been in the past. If anything, I meant to compliment you on your critiques, which I often find interesting. Sorry if that was confusing (I'm not being sarcastic either).

I haven't seen the movie, but it did look like something I might enjoy.
Awe, I see. Isn't it glorious to witness the power of tone and presentation by experiencing the lack of it? That's why I don't text message any ladies I'm interested in.

Anyways, if my thumbs have been pointing down recently, it's because I've been on a new release binge for, I don't know, maybe the last couple of years, and I'm tired-tired-tired of it. They're all the same. Boring repetitive pieces of crap. I very badly want to see original movies. Give me a movie by Brackhage, I don't care, I just want something original. Shoot Em' Up, Transformers, Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter, etc., etc., have all been very disappointing to me, and all for the same reason. They all look the same. They all feel the same. All their "dirty" textures are perfect. All their scores are perfect. Theirs no sense of individualism in the movies coming out. They're like clipart and they all have left me feeling numb, like I slipped into a trance for an hour and a half without falling asleep. I'd rather see a movie with no color correction and a good original story than the newest CGI software render fake water beneath some over-hyped-already-tested-and-approved-love-story.

Knaw' mean? ;D
Sedai
01-04-08, 10:42 AM
Legend (Scott, 1985) - Extended cut with the restored Goldsmith score. Still flawed, but I liked this version better. I must say, this was the WORST possible fit for Cruise, and I just can't buy his performance, at all. Curry is magnificent and I like Blix and Gump, too... I still think that with a different lead and a couple of minor tweaks this thing could have been amazing...

http://content9.flixster.com/skin/profile/57/20/88/5720887_profile_mbox_background.jpg



Full Metal Jacket (Kubrick, 1987)

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/fullmetaljacket4.jpg
Powdered Water
01-04-08, 04:05 PM
Still on a bit of a James Bond kick...

Diamonds Are Forever, I actually had not seen this before, I rather enjoyed it.
3.5

Goldeneye, My second favorite Bond (Pierce Brosnan) good flick too.
3.5

And then Under Siege, Tommy Lee Jones is just to funny in this flick, It's not my favorite Seagal flick but its pretty close.
3
emir
01-04-08, 04:11 PM
What's your favorite Bond, kitten? I'm guessing Goldeneye, people usually love that one. I myself am more of a From Russia With Love fan.
undercoverlover
01-04-08, 04:55 PM
Waitress - i love this film so much, its just so pretty
Powdered Water
01-04-08, 06:29 PM
What's your favorite Bond, kitten? I'm guessing Goldeneye, people usually love that one. I myself am more of a From Russia With Love fan.

Man that's tough, after just watching the DVD version of Dr. No, I would probably put that one right up there. I grew up with all the Roger Moore versions so Moonraker with Jaws is also a favorite. I also haven't seen all of them believe it or not. What are there now, like 25 of them? I also really like The World is Not Enough, just because I love Sophie Marceau almost as much as Jennifer Connelly. Good question, I may have to get back to later after I see the rest of them.
mark f
01-05-08, 01:43 AM
No Country For Old Men (Coen Bros., 2007) 3.5

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/10/23/books/pc-nocountry533.jpg

This is a terrific film, but the Coens just love to throw curves towards the end at the audience. They did it in Barton Fink and The Man Who Wasn't There, and I believe they do it here too. This flick grabs you from the beginning and is so unusual and suspenseful that it slowly wraps its fingers around your throat and tightens. The scene where the dog chases Llewelyn in the river almost had me giddy; I couldn't believe I was watching something that I should have seen long ago. The shootout in the deserted smalltown streets between Llewelyn and Anton was even better. I never once cared that nobody reared their head. There are several other classic suspense scenes in the film, especially involving cheap motels and a botched drug transaction. Tommy Lee Jones' Sheriff is a terrific character, but somehow, the three strong characters seem to be hung out to dry during the last 20 minutes.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/images/arts_old-men_392.jpg
http://interactive.myvillage.com/mv/image_server/images/1191912175622.jpg


These unanswered questions are what I find lessens the impact of the film. My fave character is Llewelyn. We never see what happens to him. We can imply it, but I don't think it's fair that such a cool character "just disappears". What happened to the money? Where did Anton's character go when the Sheriff was outside the motel crime scene? We saw him. We saw the opened vent, but that was too small for him to get away through. Is Anton actually a "part-time ghost" as the Sheriff hypothesizes? Who is the family member in the wheelchair that the Sheriff talks to? (Again, I can imply who it is, and if you read the story, maybe you know, but that's not fair. Movies aren't novels and they often change things.) Does Anton kill Llewelyn's wife? The Carson Wells character implies that Anton lives by a code (even if it's a psychotic's code). Did Anton spare the wife and violate his own code, thus causing the "accident" at the end of the film? Was that crackup at the end even an "accident"? What happens to Anton? How do the Sheriff's two dreams tie the entire story together?
Iroquois
01-05-08, 01:57 AM
These unanswered questions are what I find lessens the impact of the film. My fave character is Llewelyn. We never see what happens to him. We can imply it, but I don't think it's fair that such a cool character "just disappears". What happened to the money? Where did Anton's character go when the Sheriff was outside the motel crime scene? We saw him. We saw the opened vent, but that was too small for him to get away through. Is Anton actually a "part-time ghost" as the Sheriff hypothesizes? Who is the family member in the wheelchair that the Sheriff talks to? (Again, I can imply who it is, and if you read the story, maybe you know, but that's not fair. Movies aren't novels and they often change things.) Does Anton kill Llewelyn's wife? The Carson Wells character implies that Anton lives by a code (even if it's a psychotic's code). Did Anton spare the wife and violate his own code, thus causing the "accident" at the end of the film? Was that crackup at the end even an "accident"? What happens to Anton? How do the Sheriff's two dreams tie the entire story together?


1. Anton got the money. Earlier in the film Anton checks out Llewellyn's motel room and learns that Llewellyn keeps the money in the air ducts of a motel room. When the Sheriff investigated the room Llewellyn died in, he finds the air duct grate has been removed using a coin to unscrew the screws. Earlier on, Anton also removes an air duct grate using a coin. Therefore, Anton undid the grate and took the money.
2. The explanation I've often heard is that Anton would've punched out two locks on two separate rooms, and the one that the Sheriff went into was the one that Anton wasn't in.
3. No idea about the part-time ghost thing myself. I always thought of it as random conjecture.
4. The family member in the wheelchair is the Sheriff's uncle, who is also a retired lawman.
5. When Anton leaves the house with Llewellyn's wife in it, he stops and checks his shoes. It implies he's checking to make sure he doesn't leave bloody footprints, further implying that he did kill the wife. So no, he didn't spare the wife.
6. I think it was an accident. Why would someone crash a car at full speed into Anton? After all, since nobody gets out of the other car, it can be assumed that the other driver is dead. Not worth the risk for taking out Anton. It's just meant to be an accident, to show that even with all the precautions Anton takes, he can still fall victim to a simple car crash.
7. Anton gets away, pure and simple.
8. I have no idea about the dreams. I'll have to see it again.
mark f
01-05-08, 02:01 AM
Nice answers, but when Anton leaves at the end, he has no case with him.
Iroquois
01-05-08, 02:03 AM
Nice answers, but when Anton leaves at the end, he has no case with him.

My guess is he stashed it before he went to visit Llewellyn's wife. That makes sense.
mark f
01-05-08, 02:10 AM
We don't even know if he found the case. The dime means he opened the grate, but it doesn't signify "Bingo!" Having hundred dollar bills means nothing either. But, maybe what I find flaws, you find assets?
Iroquois
01-05-08, 02:11 AM
^ When he checks out the first motel room, he finds some trail of scratches along the vent, so he knows Llewellyn would've dragged something through there (ie, the money)
mark f
01-05-08, 02:13 AM
I agree with you, but that doesn't mean he found anything the second time.:)
Iroquois
01-05-08, 02:20 AM
If he knows how to look, there's a good chance that he finds it. But yeah, it's all open to interpretation. I think he got the money.

Back on topic...

Ikiru - 4
mark f
01-05-08, 02:34 AM
Juno (Jason Reitman, 2007) 3.5

http://www.gatewaytosedona.com/image/articles/1606/Main2.jpg

This is a solid comedy-drama filled with "hipper-than-thou" dialogue. Some of it is cool and some is affected, but the relationships of the characters are very real and make the movie as enjoyable as it is. If she wasn't before, Ellen Page is a true star, and everyone else supports her wonderfully. I guess I could read the roll, but this is a kind of movie which is generous to all its characters and allows the twists in the plot to proceed from them, instead of vice versa. If it sounds like I should raise my rating, that's a possibility, but one of Juno's qualities is that it is low-pro and modest. Therefore, my recommendation is enough since it doesn't need any overrating to find an audience.

http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/movies/j/juno/281x211.jpg
Powdered Water
01-05-08, 11:30 AM
Still on a bit of an action kick...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/tomorrowneverdies250x375.jpg
I enjoy Michelle Yeoh in this, I like her in most things though.
3.5

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/5128FGY4KHL_AA280_.jpg
I don't know if any of the stuff he's talking about at the beginning of the film is true or not, namely where he learned his martial arts skills, but even now when watching this film I can still appreciate his style, he had a very different way of dispatching the *baddies*. Not a particularly good movie but still fun to watch now and then.

2.5
jrs
01-05-08, 05:19 PM
One Missed Call 3_5

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/jason_1973/Posters/poster_ONE_MISSED_CALL_Rated_1Sht.jpg
Sci-Fi-Guy
01-05-08, 05:27 PM
Just watched The Man From Earth.

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/633/themanfromearthcc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I never even heard of this one before this week.
Not what I expected and despite the fact that it had no action, adventure or special effects I thought it was an excellent movie.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9995/themanfromearth1my5.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6974/themanfromearth6fn3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plot:
An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years.
Acclaimed Sci-Fi writer Jerome Bixby conceived this story back in the early 1960's. It would come to be his last great work, finally completing it on his deathbed in April of 1998.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8650/themanfromearth2lj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9654/themanfromearth4qo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After a group of friends and collegues gather to say their good-byes they are posed a question:
"What if a man from the upper Paleolithic survived until the present day?"

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9702/themanfromearth5yn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/329/themanfromearth3mz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The group including an anthropologist, archeologist, Christian literalist, and psychologist begins to theorize the possibilities of how it could be possible until John Oldman reveals that he is such a being.
Questions, debates and arguements follow as emotions flare and each tries to cope with this knowlege and the revealations he brings forth.
Is he telling the truth, lying or crazy?
:cool: 4/5
Sinny McGuffins
01-05-08, 07:59 PM
The Third Man

http://www.cinematical.com/images/2005/12/3man2.jpg

I love everything about this film, but there are three things I love especially: the wonderful score, the outstanding black and white cinematography, and the forever-iconic character of Harry Lime. The brilliant backdrop of Vienna, policed by four different nations at the time, also has a lot to do with this being such a classic. Such a great film.
Iroquois
01-06-08, 01:29 AM
The Salton Sea - 3.5
Iroquois
01-06-08, 03:48 AM
The Last of the Mohicans - 4.5
Sedai
01-06-08, 06:08 PM
Legend (Scott, 1985) - On a bit of a Legend kick this weekend. Watched both cuts, and then watched the director's cut with commentary, which was fascinating. I am VERY impressed with what these people achieved in 1985 in order to create a convincing world. Some of the visuals are absolutely mind blowing, and it was all done live, in-camera. The film is flawed, for sure, but I really like some aspects, a lot.

http://thisdistractedglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Legend%20pic%203.jpg


Barton Fink (Coens, 1991) - Gets better every time...

http://www.fortheretarded.com/images/barton13.jpg
Powdered Water
01-06-08, 07:35 PM
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/worldisnotenoughfull.jpg

This may be my favorite Bond movie, it's pretty hard to pick though.

4
Lennon
01-06-08, 07:38 PM
Hello Denise Richards..... hubba hubba
Powdered Water
01-06-08, 07:59 PM
Hello Denise Richards..... hubba hubba

She's alright, I prefer her though...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/SophieMarceauFondsdecran_137765512x.jpg
She's a 'good un'
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-06-08, 08:33 PM
Robocop 2 :up: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/t4/23/t42335u2f21.jpg

By no means is this a classic, but it does have some crap in it that raises some interesting topics. What amount of prosthetics can a person have before they're no longer a human? What is a human?

I love that stuff. I think Robocop was a human. I even think the other robot, the "bad" robot, was a human too. I might change my mind after this, hold on.

I look at the whole robot human thing the same way I decide whether a glass is half full or half empty. If you poured water into a cup until it becomes half full, then it's half full. It you pour out half a cup of a full cup then you're left with a half empty glass. When a glass is poured half way, you can't absolutely assume that the rest of the glass would be full in the future. But it you dump out half the glass, you now what is missing and what used to be there, and that makes it safe to say it's half empty, or something like that. So, do I go back and change my mind? Let me go back and check....

Robocop is a human because the robot was added to him. Murphy, the cop's personality (body parts too) inside Robocop, were there before the robot parts. The robot parts that became Robocop were created FOR Murphy, and that makes the human the most important part of the whole equation..... damnit, I'm losing my point. Murphy was the reason the robot parts were put together. Without Murphy there would be no robocop. Therefor Robocop is human. Anyone, feel free to tear that apart, but I am kind of making sense.

As for the other robot, it is not human. That robot was created as a robot before it even had a human brain selected. The robot came before the human, making the "bad" robot unhuman.

I am so smart. ;D

FYI..... Frank Miller wrote both Robocop 2 and 300 and I'd rather watch Robocop 2.
Iroquois
01-06-08, 09:21 PM
Pink Floyd - The Wall - 3.5

The Evil Dead - 4.5
Sci-Fi-Guy
01-06-08, 11:43 PM
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2830/warposter2jetlika0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1164/mrwoodcockfl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Watched both War and Mr. Woodcock today.
War was the better of the two but Woodcock had a few funny moments, just not enough.

I totally wasn't happy with the sudden ending of War though. It was like they ran out of time or something and decided to throw the credits up.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-07-08, 03:42 AM
WAR :down: :down: :down: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/81/u48191t3hli.jpg

I'd rather eat vomit out of an oxen's mouth than to have to watch this again.
Sci-Fi-Guy
01-07-08, 03:59 AM
WAR :down: :down: :down: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/81/u48191t3hli.jpg

I'd rather eat vomit out of an oxen's mouth than to have to watch this again.


http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1935/muskoxenzw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:p
Iroquois
01-07-08, 04:02 AM
Slacker - 4

Raiders of the Lost Ark - 5
Caitlyn
01-07-08, 12:19 PM
Steel Magnolias (1989) 4/5
Forrest Gump (1994) 4/5
Benny and Joon (1993) 4½/5
Boondock Saints (1999) 4/5
3:10 to Yuma (2007) 4½/5
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-07-08, 05:18 PM
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1935/muskoxenzw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:p
I finally get to use the spork that I got for Christmas.
http://www.backcountrygear.com/images/SnowpeakTitaniumSpork.jpg

Thanks. :up: :D
undercoverlover
01-07-08, 07:39 PM
American History X - gets better every time i see it, norton is amazing
Lennon
01-07-08, 07:42 PM
American History X - gets better every time i see it, norton is amazing

I watched it once, it scaried me so much, I can never watch it again:(
Caitlyn
01-07-08, 11:51 PM
Chinatown (1974) 5/5
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-08-08, 01:28 AM
Dick Tracy :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/t1/78/t17886x9bcs.jpg

I'm giving it two thumbs up because I'm already looking forward to the time in the future when I stumble across this movie, again. I didn't realize how hot Madonna used to be, and she does well as an actress too.

http://www.madonnaturk.com/haber/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/52b.jpg

FYI.... Dustin Hoffman, as the character Mumbles, delivers one of the greatest looks I've ever seen. Dick Tracy is offering Mumbles some water while he's being interrogated beneath a lamp. Dick Tracy holds the glass of water up and "it" cuts to a high angle of Mumbles looking at the water. The look in Mumbles eyes makes you feel sorry for him. Its a very impressive delivery.

Two thumbs up for Hoffman as Mumbles in Dick Tracy. :up: :up:
Sedai
01-08-08, 10:30 AM
The Man From Earth (Shenckman, 2007) - I really liked this. Quite thought provoking, and well played for the most part.

http://twitchfilm.net/archives/pics/MFE.jpg

4
Powdered Water
01-08-08, 10:45 AM
Mission Impossible, 2.5

Mission Impossible 2, 3

Mission Impossible 3, 3
undercoverlover
01-08-08, 12:00 PM
^^^ really wanna check that one out
voneil7
01-08-08, 12:39 PM
O Brother, Where Art Thou? 4/5. I love this movie, Clooney's role in this is terrific.
Thursday Next
01-08-08, 05:14 PM
Gods and Monsters 4/5. I don't know how many liberties they were taking with Whale's life story here, but as a dramatic film rather than a factual biography it was good.

http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/images/issue/420/gods-and-monsters_420.jpg
Iroquois
01-08-08, 11:51 PM
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - 4
ImNotGibson
01-09-08, 03:05 AM
http://www.indiewire.com/people/TenCanoesInterv.jpg
Ten Canoes
"Ten canoes, three wives, one hundred and fifty spears...trouble."
3_5

Anybody else catch this? What a weird and fun movie. It's about this unmarried Aboriginese guy who's got the hots for his older brother's youngest wife. The older brother is well aware of his brother's feelings and while they and some other natives are out hunting for goose eggs he decides to tell his younger brother a cautionary tale about a young single guy falling for one of his brother's wives. Familiar right? So that's how this movie works. It's a very simple picture and the story moves along at a nice clip with only a few hiccups along the way. I felt pretty good when it was over. It was one of those movies that's so irresistibly likable you can't help but smile through a lot of it. Definitely worth tracking down.
Caitlyn
01-09-08, 10:43 AM
City Lights (1931) 5/5
emir
01-09-08, 01:55 PM
I saw Revenge of the Sith. I'm not a Star Wars fan, but I was really annoyed by Lucas managing to ruin most of the characters from the franchise, and turn them into cowards, egomaniacs, hypocrites and racists.

Cowards and egomaniacs: instead of going on a stealth mission with the remaining jedis to assassinate Darth Sidious, Yoda decides to go through the front door on his own, obviously completely sure that he would defeat Sidious. When he doesn't, him and Obi Wan escape and, instead of joining the resistance, they go to distant planets to live with lizards and snakes and contemplate for the next twenty years. Also, they separate two twin siblings and send them to different parts of the galaxy for no apparent reason.

Racists and hypocrites: When Anakin kills a group of children, everyone's shocked and appalled, but when he killed a bunch of alien children in the previous installment, they considered it to be a phase he was going through.

I don't think much of this was done on purpose. It's simply a matter of lazy writing and Lucas' desperate attempt to tie the events of the movie to those in the original trilogy. And that would have been fine, if the movie was any fun. As I said, I don't think any of the movies from the series were great, but they were very entertaining. As for this one, I don't think that anyone would consider Ewan MacGregor riding a 20-foot long lizard and chasing a coughing robot who's riding a huge wheel entertaining. Insane yes, not entertaining.

And one more thing, I always thought that Darth Sidious was either really old, or an alien creature, or that he had become ugly in his meanness, but no. There was a battle in which he became terribly scarred. Why didn't he undergo a plastic surgery or something?
Monkeypunch
01-09-08, 06:59 PM
3:10 to Yuma - a fantastic movie! Goes on my list of best of 2007 for sure.
ImNotGibson
01-09-08, 08:53 PM
Away from Her
4

Whew. There's some powerful stuff in this movie. I couldn't help, but get a little glassy eyed during some scenes. The story is simultaneously inspirational and heartbreaking. Grant and his wife of over forty years, Fiona, live happily together by themselves in a cabin out in the woods. They cross country ski. They have friends over for dinner. All is going well until it becomes apparent that Fiona is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. Together they decide that it would probably be best for her to be put in a nursing home. And from there the movie really gets going, but I don't want to spoil it so just watch.

Julie Christie stars as Fiona and has amassed a small army of statuettes, plaques, and what have you from various critical groups proclaiming her performance in Away from Her as the best delivered by a female in 2007. I've got no argument with that. She's so good in some scenes I almost can't watch! How ridiculous does that sound?! But it's true. Watching her struggling with everyday tasks, recollecting certain words, and remembering things that shaped her life. It really tugged at some heart strings. And I thought Gordon Pinsent, who plays Grant, was just as good! I'm so glad I finally got around to watching this.
Sedai
01-10-08, 03:50 PM
Sunshine (Boyle, 2007) - This is maybe the 5th time I have watched this, and I just love it. The score is SO well done. A must see.

http://www.popmatters.com/images/blog_art/s/sunshine.jpg
ImNotGibson
01-10-08, 07:11 PM
Sunshine (Boyle, 2007) - This is maybe the 5th time I have watched this, and I just love it. The score is SO well done. A must see.
Did you think that...


...the very last scene, on Earth, was a weak way to end the movie?

I thought that scene was unnecessary and would've preferred the conclusion being in space and leaving the fate of Earth a little up in the air.
Iroquois
01-10-08, 11:55 PM
Shoot 'Em Up - 3.5
susan
01-11-08, 12:12 AM
neverwas...excellent...ian mckellan is the standout in an overlooked starstudded film...a don't miss
linespalsy
01-11-08, 12:51 AM
Did you think that...


...the very last scene, on Earth, was a weak way to end the movie?

I thought that scene was unnecessary and would've preferred the conclusion being in space and leaving the fate of Earth a little up in the air.


I'm curious what Sedai thought about that but... I disagree.

...If I had my way it could have gone without the voice-over recap but even with it I liked it and thought it was well set up. I liked the setting with the Opera House in the background too. Did you think it was overkill or something? It would have been a pretty bleak film ending in space, and I don't think that's what Boyle was going for. Also feel that if he left it with Murphy's character at the sun it would have been a bit abrupt, as it stands it felt more like they were leaving his story up in the air a little but still finishing with something grounded and complete. I don't know how else to say it other than it just felt right to me.

Awesome, awesome movie to see on the big screen. I'm really happy I bought it but I would easily trade in my DVD for a chance to see it theatrically again (for a third time).
linespalsy
01-11-08, 01:01 AM
Oh, and I re-watched Dead Ringers (wanted to be see if it was as good as I remembered it before adding it to my top 100 list) and saw Final Victory, which I've been meaning to track down for a while because I'd heard it was excellent. Well, it is excellent. I'm mulling over feelings about the ending, it's a pretty lighthearted, almost a romcom. A Hong Kong new wave gangster rom com written by Wong Kar-wai (before he started directing), starring Tsui Hark and Eric Tsang. I think I'll watch it again tomorrow.

On a side note I'm glad I picked it up. I'm pretty happy with these Fortune Star DVD's that I've bought recently (this and Peking Opera Blues), it's really nice to have something other than those awful Tai Seng videos with the cropped screen and unreadable/chopped-off subtitles.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 01:28 AM
Shoot 'Em Up - 3.5
Did you like this movie?
Iroquois
01-11-08, 01:46 AM
Did you like this movie?

Yes.
Mr.Nobody
01-11-08, 04:30 AM
The Pink Panther(The Original. I wouldn't touch the Steve Martin remake unless you paid me.):

I had never seen this whole film until about two days ago. A very fun film and to my suprise it focused more on the suspense part rather than the nonsensical comedy of the later films(Which are also highly reccomended. Stay away from the posthumous Sellers film and everything after it though.),I was also suprised that Clouseau(Probably spelled wrong. I don't have the patience to go look up the proper spelling) was not the focal point of the movie.They chose instead to focus on The Phantom(Who David Niven plays to perfection with a good combination of sly trickster and a smooth talking man.The perfect combination for a con-man.)which lead to an interesting dynamic in the film and seperates it a good deal from it's successors.

The action in this is very entertaining and everyone here does a wonderfull job with their specific character's. It's not too plot heavy, But it's one of those fun saturday afternoon films that you just pop in every once and a while to enjoy with loved ones.
ImNotGibson
01-11-08, 05:38 AM
I'm curious what Sedai thought about that but... I disagree.

...If I had my way it could have gone without the voice-over recap but even with it I liked it and thought it was well set up. I liked the setting with the Opera House in the background too. Did you think it was overkill or something? It would have been a pretty bleak film ending in space, and I don't think that's what Boyle was going for. Also feel that if he left it with Murphy's character at the sun it would have been a bit abrupt, as it stands it felt more like they were leaving his story up in the air a little but still finishing with something grounded and complete. I don't know how else to say it other than it just felt right to me.




Awesome, awesome movie to see on the big screen. I'm really happy I bought it but I would easily trade in my DVD for a chance to see it theatrically again (for a third time).

The scene just felt out of place to me and I would've preferred them finishing it off in some other way. The ending is by no means terrible, but I found so much of the movie to be fiercely creative and exciting and I would've liked to have seen an ending that matched.
Sedai
01-11-08, 10:46 AM
Did you think that...


...the very last scene, on Earth, was a weak way to end the movie?

I thought that scene was unnecessary and would've preferred the conclusion being in space and leaving the fate of Earth a little up in the air.


Nah. I have a very small complaint about the voice over at the end, but I think the film needed that ray of hope, and I found it very moving. Again though, I think they should have discarded the voice over, which wasn't needed.

I really don't think there is anything at all wrong with this film. One of my favs...
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 12:49 PM
Yes.
Would you like to explain why?
adidasss
01-11-08, 03:35 PM
I've just seen Aguirre the wrath of God. I was convinced I had seen it a few years back but now I'm not so sure...(or I was under the influence of something mighty potent). I was under the impression that they were on a proper boat, not a raft...and I recalled the ending being somewhat different...is there some similar film about conquistadors going through the jungle? *confuzzled*

Edit: Nevermind, I'm pretty sure it was El Dorado I saw...ha...silly me...I remember being much more taken by that film than with Aguirre...:\
B-card
01-11-08, 04:37 PM
Office Space(Mike Judge 1999)-4
Iroquois
01-11-08, 10:14 PM
Would you like to explain why?

Because it was a very short, very ridiculous action movie with lots of cool-looking action in it.

I think that's the reason anyone likes it.

Evil Dead 2 - 3.5

I think I've watched this too many times now.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 10:32 PM
Because it was a very short, very ridiculous action movie with lots of cool-looking action in it.

I think that's the reason anyone likes it.
:shrug:
http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~ace/water2/samplepix/vw2d-1/fruit-marked.jpg
Iroquois
01-11-08, 10:42 PM
?
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 10:46 PM
?
http://msn.mess.be/data/thumbnails/359/beetle.gif
Iroquois
01-11-08, 10:49 PM
What? :confused:
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 10:50 PM
What? :confused:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/sgifs/Seahorse_bw.GIF
Mr.Nobody
01-11-08, 10:53 PM
Bad Taste:

Peter Jackson's first film and it's a entertaining little film, But has little to no substance. I probably wouldn't have watched this if it wasn't on Internet Archive(A site with public domain movies.).It's one of those films that has alot of "Oh that was cool!" kind of moments in it.But, following the film you really don't have the urge to watch it again.

It was neat to see what they did with a shoestring budget though and the alien showdown at the end was well filmed. It was cineamatic fluff and while it's probably a fun film to watch with your buddy's on a weekend, It's not something I could justify watching alone again.
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-11-08, 10:58 PM
Bad Taste:

Peter Jackson's first film and it's a entertaining little film, But has little to no substance. I probably wouldn't have watched this if it wasn't on Internet Archive(A site with public domain movies.).It's one of those films that has alot of "Oh that was cool!" kind of moments in it.But, following the film you really don't have the urge to watch it again.

It was neat to see what they did with a shoestring budget though and the alien showdown at the end was well filmed. It was cineamatic fluff and while it's probably a fun film to watch with your buddy's on a weekend, It's not something I could justify watching alone again.
I had no idea this movie was in the public domain, but it's in the internet archive.

Here's the link if anyone's interested: http://www.archive.org/details/BadTaste1987

If this isn't public domain and it's an illegal copy, I apologize. Take it down and my feelings wont be hurt.
ImNotGibson
01-12-08, 06:59 AM
The Apartment
5

This was my first time seeing The Apartment and it was such an experience. Not at all what I was expecting. I've somehow managed to make it through these last couple years of being a wannabe cinephile without ever finding out what the movie was about. On tv they only show the comedic clips of Jack Lemmon acting like a goofball so I went in thinking the movie was about an apartment building full of quirky likable characters and there was one apartment in specific in which some of them would often congregate. Jeez. But my lack of absolutely any knowledge of the film going in made for such a brilliant time! Someone just started a thread about that didn't they? Coincidence?

I was shocked at how bitter sweet the movie was. Wilder did a fantastic job of mixing the comedy with the drama and I really love the way he worked the camera in some scenes. Just as much credit for this film's success is due also to Jack Lemmon who delivered an outstanding performance as the nice guy much in need of a spine. There were points in the movie I actually thought his character was being too nice and understanding, but then I realized I know people like that. Shirley MacLaine also did an excellent job in convincing us that Lemmon's character could actually fall for Kubelik despite her flaws. It didn't hurt that I thought she was a knockout. Short hair rocks!! And I got to mention Fred MacMurray who played his role as a downright acidic sleezeball to perfection. Oh how I wanted to punch him.

Thank God for public libraries and their surprisingly impressive DVD selection.
Iroquois
01-12-08, 09:55 AM
The Lives of Others - 4
Powdered Water
01-12-08, 01:43 PM
Oh man check this out...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/ice-pirates.jpg

I haven't seen this in almost 20 years, dig this cast. Robert Urich, Angelica Huston, and Ron Perlman to name a few, the thing about a movie like this and say movies like Flash Gordon was they were really trying you know? I mean look at the costumes and all the little stuff going on in those movies. The bad movies today don't even make an attempt to be like this, I'm not trying to convince anyone that this is a good film, but they did try to make it entertaining. And to me when I was a kid watching Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers and Star Trek, this movie seemed pretty cool. And, honestly it still is.

4

Also watched this last night...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/dvd_casino_royale_us1.jpg
I thought it was really good, I'm not sold on Daniel Craig as Bond yet but this was supposed to be his first real mission, and I thought they did a pretty good job pulling that off. I'm now a little more interested in the next one.

3.5
Lennon
01-12-08, 01:50 PM
Scorched
http://www.horroria.com/i/nposters/00/86/8678-NN.jpg
0
emir
01-12-08, 05:35 PM
The Ninth Gate – for the most part, it’s an entertaining mystery thriller, and Depp’s character gives the movie a much-needed comic relief, making the movie feel much less pretentious than it might have been with all the religious elements present. It also features a great score, some pretty suspenseful scenes and a great cast, but the movie fails at too many levels to be nearly as good as any of the movies it pastiches (those directed by Polanski as well).

What struck me as some of The Ninth Gate’s biggest flaws were the supernatural elements of the story. I know that this movie tries to subvert genre rules 'n' all that (trying to fit into the Angel Heart-initiated supernatural neo-noir genre), and I don’t mind a bit of supernatural every now and then, but I’d like the movie much better had the mystery stayed unresolved, and had it been left to the audience to decide whether or not the events on the screen have really got to do with some otherworldly forces, or if it’s just some person’s cunning scheme. You may still argue that it’s the latter, but the extremely silly scene in which the girl shows her superpowers proves the contrary.

On the other hand, if everything depicted in the movie is a dream, then it’s much worse. “Everything is a dream” is a story device so overused, that it should be banned from movies for good. Okay, maybe it shouldn’t be, because I love Lynch movies and surrealism in general, but why do so many movies tend to use it so much nowadays?

A small cult following that this movie’s got according to Wikipedia most likely exists simply because of its much debated ending. And it would be a good ending, had the movie not ruin its premise earlier. The ending would, under different circumstances, feel like a natural progression to the story, but this way, it feels much more like an easy way out for a shoe-string budget.
jrs
01-12-08, 05:56 PM
Juno 5 - Second time
First Sunday 2_5
linespalsy
01-12-08, 06:48 PM
The Ninth Gate – On the other hand, if everything depicted in the movie is a dream, then it’s much worse. “Everything is a dream” is a story device so overused, that it should be banned from movies for good. Okay, maybe it shouldn’t be, because I love Lynch movies and surrealism in general, but why do so many movies tend to use it so much nowadays?

I suppose I'll have to examine why I like this movie so much in light of some of your complaints which seem valid. This one I quoted though, seems like a non sequitur to me. What things in the narrative could lead you to think it's a dream? I actually really liked how all the really odd supernatural elements in the story are almost just taken for granted after they happen. That was something cool and unusual about both this and Rosemary's Baby.
emir
01-12-08, 07:19 PM
I suppose I'll have to examine why I like this movie so much in light of some of your complaints which seem valid. This one I quoted though, seems like a non sequitur to me. What things in the narrative could lead you to think it's a dream? I actually really liked how all the really odd supernatural elements in the story are almost just taken for granted after they happen. That was something cool and unusual about both this and Rosemary's Baby.

Some of the supporting characters feel as if they were a product of Depp's imagination. For example, the girl is constantly one step ahead of him, and the fact that we are never actually shown who does the killings may also suggest that he's pulling all the strings, though he's unaware of it. The visuals also made the movie feel surreal and dream-like, and the final scene, with the sky looking extremely stylized and odd, hints that it all may be the protagonist's dream.

Of course, not much of what I said is a proof that it's a dream, but I did say "if". There is no evidence that it was intended to be that way, but it is a clever-clever resolution writers and directors tend to use lately, and the device isn't entirely unfamiliar to Polanski (he did use it in the masterpiece that is The Tenant).
Powdered Water
01-12-08, 07:41 PM
And another pip...
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/Streets_of_fire_1984.jpg
Sometimes I get all sentimental about the 80's and I know a lot of the films I love from that time aren't great or in this case even good, but I can't help the fact that I love this flick. It certainly doesn't hurt that I have a thing for Diane Lane always have ever since The Outsiders and still do. It's just an over the top goofy flick that I hold dear.

3.5
mark f
01-12-08, 07:48 PM
I'd give Streets of Fire the same rating. Great eclectic cast, colorful sights and sounds, a sledgehammer duel, AND the Blasters!
Iroquois
01-12-08, 09:03 PM
Highlander - 4
Powdered Water
01-12-08, 10:29 PM
I'd give Streets of Fire the same rating. Great eclectic cast, colorful sights and sounds, a sledgehammer duel, AND the Blasters!

Yeah, they're just aren't nearly enough movies with sledgehammer fights in my ever so humble opinion.:)
Caitlyn
01-12-08, 10:45 PM
A River Runs Through It (1992) 3½/5
Mrs. Darcy
01-13-08, 12:36 AM
The River


4
jrs
01-13-08, 01:37 AM
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/jason_1973/HD%20and%20Blu-Ray/protectedimagephp.jpg
Lennon
01-13-08, 01:38 AM
Assualt on Precinct 13

3.5
mark f
01-13-08, 02:39 AM
The River


4

Which one?
ImNotGibson
01-13-08, 02:44 AM
The River


http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/4box.gif


The Renoir picture? That's one of my favorite movies...that's the one right? If it is, what didn't you like about it?
ImNotGibson
01-13-08, 06:04 AM
Black Book
3

This WWII era movie follows a Jewish woman's efforts to help the Dutch resistance was easy enough to get into and the 2 and a half hours go by pretty quick, but I found a lot of the supporting characters to be cheap caricatures with little depth. The supporting performances were just as standard and didn't do anything to raise their weakly written roles out of mediocrity. I did like the main character though, despite some rather quick (and major) changes in her that are never fully validated. Carice Van Houten who plays the lead went a little too far into the realm of melodrama for my taste in some scenes, but I enjoyed watching her on-screen for the most part. It's hard to believe that the guy responsible for Robocop directed this, but it's true and his confident direction along with the nifty production value kept me nice and entertained.

Word of advice. If you're interested in a great movie about the underground European resistance against the Nazis during WWII, check out Army of Shadows instead of this.
Mrs. Darcy
01-13-08, 10:15 AM
The Renoir picture? That's one of my favorite movies...that's the one right? If it is, what didn't you like about it?

Yes, the Renoir film. I liked that the director entwined the culture of India into the story about the family in a way that was sensitive to the people of India. It wasn't sterotypical, and it didn't force a western viewpoint of the country. The way the emotional issues with the Captain and the girls was developed and handled was also done with care. The Technicolor was beautiful, and the story by Godden was a wonderful coming of age tale. It was a lovely, gentle film, done extremely well by Renoir.
Powdered Water
01-13-08, 11:29 AM
The Guns of Navarone, 4

From Here to Eternity, 2
Sci-Fi-Guy
01-13-08, 03:19 PM
By all that's holy...
I just watched a horrendous movie called Mammoth.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3397/mammothao3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Stupid, stupid, stupidest movie I've ever seen (or at least one of the top stupedest).

How can a ginormous prehistoric mammoth sneak up on so many people in such a small town?
Lame. Lame. Lame!
That's an hour and 20 mins of my life lost forever.
Do not watch this movie. EVER!

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7404/mammoth001eh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ðèstîñy
01-13-08, 03:42 PM
By all that's holy...
I just watched a horrendous movie called Mammoth.

Stupid, stupid, stupidest movie I've ever seen (or at least one of the top stupedest).

How can a ginormous prehistoric mammoth sneak up on so many people in such a small town?
Lame. Lame. Lame!
That's an hour and 20 mins of my life lost forever.
Do not watch this movie. EVER!

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7404/mammoth001eh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


You kill me! That is hilarious. :p
Lennon
01-13-08, 03:49 PM
ghostbusters!
jrs
01-13-08, 09:03 PM
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd184/jason_1973/HD%20and%20Blu-Ray/394_front.jpg
Lennon
01-13-08, 09:08 PM
how is that? I heard it was ok
jrs
01-13-08, 09:12 PM
I thought it was ok. I give it a 3_5. Denzel is a good actor, and the time travel scenario was pretty interesting.
Lennon
01-13-08, 09:16 PM
Ok, I'll put it on my Netflix, thanks :)
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-14-08, 02:18 AM
Johnny Mnemonic :up: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/t0/04/t00417jmkuu.jpg

It's watchable and compliments a wide variety of moods.

Supposedly this is what the internet will look like in 2021. I can't wait.
http://www.moonpod.com/board/images/misc/Johnny_Mnemonic.jpg
adidasss
01-14-08, 03:40 AM
Who's afraid of Virginia Wolf
Ace in the hole
North by northwest

None of them managed to impress me...save for perhaps Richard Burton in WAOVW.

3.5
mark f
01-14-08, 04:14 AM
I'm very happy you watched it, but I hope you watch it again before you send it back...
Mr.Nobody
01-14-08, 04:39 AM
Road To Bali

Due to this falling into public domain(A copyright error made this one fall into PD. The other "Road" films aren't PD,But they are by far worth the money with the exception of Road To Hong Kong.) I was able to snag a really cheap no-frills disk. There are no extra's,But the picture quality is way better than I usually come to expect from PD releases. Plus, the menu has a clip of Hope and Crosby playing trombones what's cooler than that.

Anyways,this is(in my opinion) one of the lesser films in the Road to series. There are some high points in this with Hope and Crosby's comedy one-liners. But,the plot falls flat fast and there are several parts I wanted to fast foward through.

First off,everyone in the film sans Crosby and Hope deliver flat performances. The supporting characters mean almost nothing to me and even Lamour seems off in this one.

Secondly,there is so much downtime in this picture it's not funny. The whole gorrilla scene,the scene with the natives,the scene with Bob Hope getting into his diving suit,etc.It just seems to me
after the first twenty minutes the pace slows down so much that certain points of it are just plodding.Also way too many songs in this one.

Still,the funny parts were funny and the crazy humor that is to be expected is still here in decent form.It's just not as good as these two are capable of. Personally, I think this is neat for the novelty of color and the quirkyness of it. It's not as good as the first four films,But it's worth a watch(Avoid Hong Kong though,Like the plague.).
adidasss
01-14-08, 10:55 AM
I'm very happy you watched it, but I hope you watch it again before you send it back...

Who...me? What?
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-14-08, 04:06 PM
Silence of the Lambs :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/t1/26/t1265697l76.jpg

It's been way too long since the last time I've seen this. Even if you've already seen this, which I'm guessing everyone has, see it again.

It's going in my top ten.
B-card
01-14-08, 05:08 PM
Juno(Jason Reitman 2007)

http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/uploaded_images/juno3.jpg

5
Iroquois
01-14-08, 10:29 PM
Bad Taste - 3.5

EDIT

Before Sunrise - 4.5

EDIT (again)

Before Sunset - 4
adidasss
01-15-08, 07:13 AM
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc220/diezelpower/wages_of_fear.jpg

One of the most suspenseful films I've ever seen. It's a little rough around the edges, has some dubious casting choices and an ending that could have been dispenses with in my opinion, but it's still well worth a watch...if you don't mind a 2 and a half hour long elegy for the soon departed.
4
Iroquois
01-15-08, 07:28 AM
The Seventh Seal - 4
mark f
01-16-08, 03:57 AM
Who...me? What?

Yes, you. Sorry. I don't bother to quote somebody who's immediately above me, and I was referring to Virginia Woolf, but I know, it's long gone already. Darn...

I'm way behind again on movies watched, so here goes ratings. Once again, you can always ask me why, and I'll give you a very thorough and unacceptable list of reasons. :cool:

The Natural (Barry Levinson, 1984) 3.5
Once (John Carney, 2007) 3 (just saw three times)
Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007) 3 (just saw twice)
No Sad Songs For Me (Rudolph Maté, 1950) 2.5
Never a Dull Moment (George Marshall, 1950) 2.5
The Goat (Buster Keaton & Mal. St, Clair, 1921) 4
The River Wild (Curtis Hanson, 1994) 3.5
Under the Volcano (John Huston, 1984) 2.5
3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold, 2007) 3.5 (just saw twice)
Ratatouille (Brad Bird, 2007) 4
The Secret Bride (William Dieterle, 1934) 2 (yet still strangely watchable)
Berlin Alexanderplantz (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1980) 3 - I've watched the first eight episodes (about eight hours out of 15 1/2), and the ratings have varied between episodes from something getting close to 4/5 to others barely worth 2/5. I'm guessing it will add up better when I'm done, but I'm already committed to watching it twice!
ImNotGibson
01-16-08, 04:23 AM
Once (John Carney, 2007) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/3box.gif (just saw three times)
I wanna hear your thoughts on this one. Please.
mark f
01-16-08, 04:36 AM
I realize that I'm low-balling Once. I think it represents everything which is wonderful in independent cinema, plus I truly love "alternative" modern music. Some of the scenes are incredibly magical (most all the live music scenes, the way she hauls her vacuum around like she's walking a dog, the opening scene with the theft, etc.) Some scenes are just decent indie filmmaking to me, especially the montages. They seem to pale to the ones I mentioned earlier. Even so, if I'd had the film longer, I would have watched it several more times. I also love that scene where they go to get lunch, and it's filmed through all the passers-by and the reflections in the shop windows. I think it's an exemplary movie and one which is totally unexpected. I TRULY RECOMMEND it to everyone at this site!!

However, I believe that 3:10 to Yuma is a better movie. I realize that it's apples and oranges, but if I give something 3/5, that's a good recommendation. I admit that this film seems better each time I watch it, but I just have to try to fit them in where I see them. Once again, I see Juno as a 3.5/5. Now, my daughter swears that Once is better even though she loves Juno. I just try to get her to think and dig into herself about her feelings; I don't expect her (quite yet) to actually justify them, since I already know she's perfect. :cool:

OK, what did you really want me to discuss?
ImNotGibson
01-16-08, 05:00 AM
I was really just curious what knocked it down from a 3.5 or 4. I can see where you're going with some of the scenes being examples of merely "decent indie filmmaking" and usually a thing like that would bother me but in Once I found the two leads to be so overwhelmingly likable that the aesthetic qualities of the movie really ended up taking a back seat to the characters and the music in terms of how important it was to my enjoying the movie.

And I was also wondering what you thought about that crazed lunatic from Sunshine and how he fit (or didn't fit) into the rest of the movie.
linespalsy
01-16-08, 09:59 AM
Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007) 3 (just saw twice)


I'd like to hear what you thought about this, since it's the best new movie I saw last year.
Powdered Water
01-16-08, 10:53 AM
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/serenity.jpg
I'm sick, so I decided to see how many times I could watch Serenity yesterday, no not really but I did watch everything on the DVD all the extras and the film and then I watched the film again with Joss Whedon's commentary, which was interesting. I've never watched a film with the commentary running before. I learned a few more interesting things that I didn't learn from the extras. And then the wife came home and saw I had Serenity on so I ended up watching it again!

Why watch Serenity 3 times in one day you may ask? And maybe more importantly did it hold up 3 times in a row? Yes it did, very much so. I freely admit I'm in the bag for this film and frankly every time I watch it there is always going to be a pretty large sense of awe attached to it. Why? Because T.V. shows that get canceled do not get made into motion pictures, especially ones that don't even run for a whole season. Quick, name one. You probably can't can you?

It's people like me and several others on this site and many other's around the Internet that have started an amazing underground movement and it's still going on. Because honestly I want the show back on the air where it belongs. So I'm going to keep talking this film up and then I'll tell you to get the show called Firefly and watch that too. It's worth every penny.
5
B-card
01-16-08, 05:03 PM
Beowulf(Robert Zemeckis 2007)-4
PimpDaShizzle V2.0
01-16-08, 08:03 PM
3:10 to Yuma :up: :up:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u4/91/u49103xhpn4.jpg

This was radical. Its been awhile since my expectations were satisfied, but this movie definitely delivered. The motivation for all of the characters was simple and effective, the way it ought' to be. The ending was perfect.

I highly recommend this movie.

Family Guy: Blue Harvest :up: :down:
http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/large/u5/05/u50532akqem.jpg

Too many of the jokes had to explain to the audience why they were supposed to be funny, which made them not funny. Some of the jokes were funny though. If you're confused about whether or not I liked this movie, so am I. I'm leaning toward not liking it, but not so much to give it two thumbs down.
Lennon
01-16-08, 08:18 PM
The Princess Pride 3
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CV41N4TEL._SL210_.jpg
My humble opinion is in my review page

here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=406340#post406340)
Powdered Water
01-17-08, 12:18 PM
Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl
4

Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest
3.5

Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End
4

This is the first time of what I'm sure will be many viewings of these films back to back to back, and I gotta say I just really enjoyed them. I like the third film slightly better than the second but overall I'm highly entertained. This is another trilogy that I would lump together, and enjoy it for what it is. Pure campy fun with a lot of cool boats, I love me some boats.
adidasss
01-17-08, 03:33 PM
Wow...I thought At worlds end was one of the worst films I had seen in 2007...I almost walked out of the theater...I would've had I not come with my niece...
TheUsualSuspect
01-17-08, 04:32 PM
Bad Taste:

Peter Jackson's first film and it's a entertaining little film, But has little to no substance. I probably wouldn't have watched this if it wasn't on Internet Archive(A site with public domain movies.).It's one of those films that has alot of "Oh that was cool!" kind of moments in it.But, following the film you really don't have the urge to watch it again.

It was neat to see what they did with a shoestring budget though and the alien showdown at the end was well filmed. It was cineamatic fluff and while it's probably a fun film to watch with your buddy's on a weekend, It's not something I could justify watching alone again.

I love this film, it was indeed fun to watch. Then again, I really like watching films like this (Evil Dead is another) in which you see low budget films working very well because of the creative team behind them.
Mrs. Darcy
01-17-08, 09:53 PM
Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/small/Qui_etes_vous_Polly_Maggoo.gif (http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Qui_etes_vous_Polly_Maggoo.jpg)

A funny satire about 60s fashion, models, and France. Polly, an American, moved to France and became a high fashion model. She becomes the subject of a behind-the-scenes documentary of her life. She fantasizes about prince charming coming to take her away as she goes through her days with the cameras following her.

The opening scene with the models wearing sheet metal outfits on the runway is awesome.

4
mark f
01-17-08, 11:49 PM
I should probably watch that again, Mrs. Darcy. I was blown away by the costumes, art direction, photography, credits, and general overall design, but I had a hard time caring about anything. It also had a cool cast of people who got more famous later, but I couldn't relate to them. Maybe I was in a crap mood. But it is a cool artifact of the swingin' sixties. How did you happen to watch it? I saw it on TCM.
Holden Pike
01-18-08, 01:21 AM
I should probably watch that again, Mrs. Darcy. I was blown away by the costumes, art direction, photography, credits, and general overall design, but I had a hard time caring about anything. It also had a cool cast of people who got more famous later, but I couldn't relate to them. Maybe I was in a crap mood. But it is a cool artifact of the swingin' sixties. How did you happen to watch it? I saw it on TCM.

It's been running on the Sundance Channel this month (it was on again earlier tonight, I saw). This is in advance of it being released on DVD by the Criterion Collection, due on March 18th, 2008. It'll be part of their Eclipse Series and the set is "The Delirious Fictions of William Klein" which includes Who Are You, Polly Magoo?, Mr. Freedom and The Model Couple.

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/eclipse/medium_boxshot/2000900_box_145x187.jpg http://www.criterion.com/content/images/large_boxshot/2000901_box_100x140.jpg http://estaticos02.cache.el-mundo.net/metropoli/imagenes/2005/05/31/1117556105_0.jpg (http://www.criterion.com/asp/boxed_set.asp?id=2000900)

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/large_boxshot/2000801_box_100x140.jpg http://www.criterion.com/content/images/large_boxshot/2000802_box_100x140.jpg http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:XhejbHfJyR1CrM:http://cinegor.granadaenlared.com/00778.jpg http://www.criterion.com/content/images/large_boxshot/2000803_box_100x140.jpg http://www.criterion.com/content/images/large_boxshot/2000804_box_100x140.jpg (http://www.criterion.com/asp/boxed_set.asp?id=2000800)

*by the by, Mark, the next Eclipse Series is "Lubitsch Musicals": The Love Parade (1929), Monte Carlo (1930), The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) and One Hour with You (1932). That one is due to street on February 12th.
:yup:
Holden Pike
01-18-08, 01:31 AM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/40/Who_Are_You_Polly_Magoo_poster.jpg/200px-Who_Are_You_Polly_Magoo_poster.jpg http://www.sundancechannel.com/UPLOADS/films/320x240/w/who_polly_magoo.jpg

And Who Are You, Polly Magoo? is airing on The Sundance Channel again tomorrow, Friday January 18th, at 2:15PM in the afternoon.
Mr.Nobody
01-18-08, 02:21 AM
Targets:

This movie was a choice film. It's the last film that Boris Karloff made(Last feature film.He did do some work in Mexico after this,Bu this was his last film of any significance.)and the first film of Peter Bogdonavitch(Who's work is very hit and miss from what I've heard.).It's very intriging and very suspensfull.

First,the performances from the top two actors were top notch. Karloff as an aging actor is a very good fit and the man who played Bobby(I think that's the crazed war vet's name) does it chillingly(The scene's where he has his finger on the trigger hold alot of shock and his emotionless stare just adds to it.). The rest of the cast didn't really do anything for me,But they were just paper thin characters(My only big gripe with this film is that they didn't put more time into the secondary characters.) used to help move things along anyway.

The direction is also quite solid and the composition of the shots really display the vibes they are trying to go for. Take for instance Bobby's house, You can tell by the shots that it is a place of discomfort for him and the performance just adds to that.

The final scene is also a very tight sequence and the drama builds quite well. The final standoff is very well done and it does a good job of concluding the film.It is also a testament to Karloff's body of work in film and concludes his career quite justly.

Overall,a very enjoyable film that packs the thrills and has a undeniable air of creepiness to it. I would definatly watch this again someday.
mark f
01-18-08, 03:12 AM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/40/Who_Are_You_Polly_Magoo_poster.jpg/200px-Who_Are_You_Polly_Magoo_poster.jpg http://www.sundancechannel.com/UPLOADS/films/320x240/w/who_polly_magoo.jpg

And Who Are You, Polly Magoo? is airing on The Sundance Channel again tomorrow, Friday January 18th, at 2:15PM in the afternoon.

Thanks for the Head's Up, Bro. :cool:
mark f
01-18-08, 03:16 AM
Targets:

This movie was a choice film. It's the last film that Boris Karloff made(Last feature film.He did do some work in Mexico after this,Bu this was his last film of any significance.)and the first film of Peter Bogdonavitch(Who's work is very hit and miss from what I've heard.).It's very intriging and very suspensfull.

First,the performances from the top two actors were top notch. Karloff as an aging actor is a very good fit and the man who played Bobby(I think that's the crazed war vet's name) does it chillingly(The scene's where he has his finger on the trigger hold alot of shock and his emotionless stare just adds to it.). The rest of the cast didn't really do anything for me,But they were just paper thin characters(My only big gripe with this film is that they didn't put more time into the secondary characters.) used to help move things along anyway.

The direction is also quite solid and the composition of the shots really display the vibes they are trying to go for. Take for instance Bobby's house, You can tell by the shots that it is a place of discomfort for him and the performance just adds to that.

The final scene is also a very tight sequence and the drama builds quite well. The final standoff is very well done and it does a good job of concluding the film.It is also a testament to Karloff's body of work in film and concludes his career quite justly.

Overall,a very enjoyable film that packs the thrills and has a undeniable air of creepiness to it. I would definatly watch this again someday.

Yep, I want to watch it again right now. I saw this sucka at a drive-in as the second feature to something I can't recall. The lead, Tim O'Kelly, never did anything of significance after this, but he did seem to fit in for what Bogdanovich was aiming for.
Holden Pike
01-18-08, 03:36 AM
Targets:
This movie was a choice film. It's the last film that Boris Karloff made and the first film of Peter [Bogdanovich] (Who's work is very hit and miss from what I've heard.). It's very [intriguing] and very [suspenseful].

http://theclassicfilmsclub.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/targets3.jpg http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:sUes8TaCPjYUAM:http://www.nova-cinema.org/archives/2002/56/targets.jpg

First of all as for Bogdanovich, a critic and film historian turned filmmaker, he has some very strong work to his credit. The Last Picture Show and Paper Moon alone are out-and-out classics, and I love What's Up, Doc?, Mask, They All Laughed, Saint Jack, Noises Off... and The Cat's Meow - all very much worth seeing (I think). He does have some real stinkers to his name as well, but most people who have been in the industry for forty years do. And his book of interviews with his friend and mentor, This is Orson Welles, is a must-read for anybody even remotely interested in Welles and the history of filmmaking. Yeah, much of it is filled with Welles reinforcing his own mythology, but doing it the way only Orson can.

First,the performances from the top two actors were top notch. Karloff as an aging actor is a very good fit and the man who played Bobby (I think that's the crazed war vet's name) does it chillingly (the [scenes] where he has his finger on the trigger hold [a lot] of shock and his emotionless stare just adds to it.). The rest of the cast didn't really do anything for me, but they were just paper thin characters (my only big gripe with this film is that they didn't put more time into the secondary characters) used to help move things along anyway.

The direction is also quite solid and the composition of the shots really display the vibes they are trying to go for. Take for instance Bobby's house, You can tell by the shots that it is a place of discomfort for him and the performance just adds to that.

For me this is probably the second best film made for Roger Corman's low-rent A.I.P. operation (the best being John Milius' Dillinger). It's also maybe the prime example from that learn-as-you-go B-movie haven of how even with a box full of limitations imposed if you have drive, invention and talent you can make cinematic lemonade out of lemons. With almost no money to work with and told he only had two days to use Karloff left over from his limited contract and forced to somehow incorporate footage from the previous production of The Raven, Bogdanovich with his then-wife Polly Platt and an uncredited helping hand from maverick legend Sam Fuller were able to make an excellent flick that was timely, chilling and entertaining, and much better than it probably had much right to be.


Overall,a very enjoyable film that packs the thrills and has a undeniable air of creepiness to it. I would [definitely] watch this again someday.

Yup, it is worth re-watching. But first do check out Peter's Paper Moon and The Last Picture Show, A.S.A.P. Great, great movies.
Iroquois
01-18-08, 04:43 AM
American Gangster - 3
Powdered Water
01-18-08, 10:12 AM
Casablanca, man I love this movie. It's funny, I've run across people that actually think Humphrey Bogart can't act. Whatever... I really need to get a nice new DVD copy of this flick though my old VHS copy is on its way out.

5
Aniko
01-18-08, 10:24 AM
Paris, Je T'aime (2006) :up:
I loved it for the most part. The Mime story was endearing and made me smile. Loved the story with Natalie Portman and the story with the couple that visited Oscar Wildes grave. The two stories that touched me the most and made cry were the mother who comes to terms with her sons death, and the parking garage worker who sings and wants to have a cup of coffee with a girl he just met. :bawling: However, there were a couple of stories that I could have done without, like the first story (ehh) or I wish had more time like the babtsitters story. All in all though I loved it.
Sci-Fi-Guy
01-18-08, 11:08 AM
Just watched the original The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) last night.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4052/daytheearthstoodstillth4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Haven't seen it in a while & I forgot how great it was.
Made me look forward even more now for the upcoming remake. I'm sure Keanu will be able to pull it off well enough. :cool:
Thursday Next
01-18-08, 05:48 PM
Cool Hand Luke - One of those films, like The Wizard of Oz, that is obviously a classic and has some really memorable bits, but wouldn't be in my personal top 100. Mr. Next liked it, though, thought it was a 'proper bloke's film'.

Candy - still not sure what to make of it...I thought it was good, but it was quite upsetting in places. Heath Ledger is good. He really can act.
Mrs. Darcy
01-19-08, 02:33 PM
Midnight Cowboy
Mark's synopsis of this movie is great and detailed, so I'll give my take on my first viewing.
I loved this movie for Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of Ratso. He was a pitiable character, and also slightly repulsive. You'd shrink away from him on the street, if you even noticed him. You know without a doubt that he's never fit in anywhere, never had a place in the world. The development of the friendship between Joe and Ratso is almost a mercy. I wanted it to happen because the two alone were so sad. There was something endearing about Voight's character, that he could maintain a sweetness when he kept getting stiffed, especially knowing his background. This film also made me aware of our place in the world. Kind of small, and really, unimportant except to those that love us. That's not a bad thing, it just makes the relationship between these two characters, who don't even have folks to love them (except for each other) more poignant.
There were a couple of obstacles to my viewing, like the party they went to. I hate that psychedelic 60s crap. I kind of got stuck thinking about how much Angelina Jolie looks like her dad a few times, too.
I do agree with Mark that the way they handled the back story on Joe was best done this way. Filling in the blanks for yourself ultimately tells the story better than just having it spoon-fed to us.

4.5
Lennon
01-19-08, 02:35 PM
The Ten- 1.5
Powdered Water
01-19-08, 02:36 PM
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/Powderedwater96/RabidCronenberg.jpg
One David Cronenberg's earlier films, also starring the Immortal Marilyn Chambers. Not bad, I'm sure a lot of folks out there probably wouldn't enjoy it all that much but I did. Marilyn chambers really was pretty hot back in those days.

3
Lennon
01-19-08, 02:38 PM
Marilyn chambers really was pretty hot back in those days.

3

I'll say :randy:
Sinny McGuffins
01-19-08, 07:29 PM
Hot Fuzz

"Forget it, Nicholas. It's Sanford."
Lennon
01-19-08, 07:46 PM
man On Fire

4
Mrs. Darcy
01-19-08, 08:05 PM
Days of Heaven



5
linespalsy
01-19-08, 11:16 PM
Spring in a Small Town (1948) 2
Stop Making Sense 4.5
Waitress 4
There Will be Blood 3
You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 2.5
The Ninth Gate 4.5
Sunshine 5
She Done Him Wrong 2
Iroquois
01-20-08, 07:54 AM
8½ - 4.5
emir
01-20-08, 08:30 AM
There Will be Blood 3
The Ninth Gate 4.5


Do reviews of these two, please. I want to hear your opinion on The Ninth Gate, and I want to know if There Will Be Blood is worth seeing.
linespalsy
01-20-08, 12:14 PM
Do reviews of these two, please. I want to hear your opinion on The Ninth Gate, and I want to know if There Will Be Blood is worth seeing.

Sure:

The Ninth Gate is Roman Polanski's adaptation of The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte. I haven't read that book yet (have a copy but just am perpetually finding other things to read) but in some ways it reminds me of Umberto Eco's work, particularly his densely-layered, ironic conspiracy thriller, Foucault's Pendulum. It shares that novel's love of books and fascination with shrewd fanaticism, if not much of the plot.

Inevitably compared with Polanski's earlier "Devil film", Rosemary's Baby, there are a few distinctions to make here; 'Baby' is more firmly rooted in the psychological terror and paranoia of a young pregnant woman and the magical scenes in that movie have an unsure, subjective face. Here Polanski grounds his story in the conventions of classic detective films and novels which allows him more leeway for introducing strange and artificial elements because he is already working in a highly artificial world. There's a scene where Devilish magic is first introduced into the action that is surprising not because of how out of place it is, but because it's shown in such a nonchalant, incidental manner. Polanski really knows hot to manipulate film conventions and does so expertly here. Much of the film is spent pouring over text with a magnifying glass but it never gets boring, partly because of the superb and humorous cast, partly because of the commonplace but otherworldly atmosphere.

What drops it half a popcorn box for me is that the plot is somewhat incomprehensible. It's about a book with magical powers (specifically magical pictures) that obviously bends the reality that we see in mysterious ways but a lot of it seems kind of slapdash and arbitrary. I guess if you're a stickler for these things it would probably drop a little bit more, but I've seen it about 8 times now and enjoyed it each one.

There Will be Blood is a similarly beautiful and atmospheric film. This time set in the American southwest at the turn of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. It is worth seeing for its mastery of visual narrative alone (it has an incredible, almost silent first leg that seems to last ages). Ultimately I was a little disappointed by the scope of this picture though. I think if The Ninth Gate had chosen to focus on the singular intensity of Johnny Depp or Frank Langella's spite and greed I would have rated that a bit lower too. I guess the difference in rating comes from the fact that I would rather have a beautiful film that teases the corners of my imagination than one built to support a single portrait, but both are good films.
Lennon
01-20-08, 12:16 PM
The People vs. Larry Flint 5
undercoverlover
01-20-08, 12:20 PM
It Happened One Night - i really liked this, i was surprised actually how funny but sexual it was for the time and the genre.

Annie Hall - i liked this a lot but after a while i got sick of hearing woody allens whiny voice. It was funny but a lil smug.

Manhattan - same as annie hall really
emir
01-20-08, 12:47 PM
Sure:

The Ninth Gate is...

Thanks for the insights.
Mrs. Darcy
01-20-08, 03:33 PM
http://images-partners-tbn.google.com/images?q=tbn:QQ6bAaOi8JyIMM:www.nooniefortin.com/images/HellInThePacific.jpg

This was a good movie! Very little dialogue, but great storytelling, nonetheless.

3
Thursday Next
01-20-08, 05:53 PM
28 Days Later Scary, but good. I liked the way that you cared about the characters, which made it harder to watch because you know at least some of them are going to die horribly, but it made it into a more complete and rewarding film than any of those dumb teen slasher horrors. Boyle is a a very interesting director. And Naomie Harris is great, although I'd have liked to have seen her kick ass a bit more, instead of screaming and waiting for Cillian Murphy to rescue her...