Movie Tab II [Archive] - Page 60

akatemple

11-14-11, 07:42 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/wallpapernightofthecomet.jpg

Night of the Comet (1984)
Directed by: Thom Eberhardt
Written by: Thom Eberhardt

“Since before recorded time, it had swung through the universe in an elliptical orbit so large that its very existence remained a secret of time and space. But now, in the last few years of the twentieth-century, the visitor was returning. The citizens of Earth would get an extra Christmas present this year, as their planet orbited through the tail of the comet. Scientists predicted a light show of stellar proportions. Something not seen on Earth for 65 million years. Indeed, not since the time that the dinosaurs disappeared, virtually overnight”

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/53955921cad80d90adf15efa6419dca0_l.jpg

This movie follows two valley girl sisters in a post apocalyptic Las Angeles, after the strange comet passes by Earth everyone who was outside it seems has been reduced to dust just leaving there clothing behind. Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Samantha (Kelli Maroney) find a radio broadcast and decide to track the signal and head to the radio station thinking that the signal is live. Once at the radio station they find another survivor Hector (Robert Beltran, better known as Chakotay from Star Trek: Voyager). Hector is a truck driver who has to head to San Diego and try to find his family promising that he will return and find the sisters. While Hector is gone a underground laboratory somewhere in the desert find out about the two girls who have survived and send people to bring them back to the lab for further testing. The people in the lab seem innocent at first but they might not be quite what they seem. There are a few other survivors it shows in the movie, but they are the typical looters and generally bad people you would expect in this kind of movie.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/500px-Comet9.jpg

There are some great early 80’s shopping montages set alongside the incredible 80’s horror film music. The shopping scenes are hilarious and have one of the best quotes of the movie when the younger sister asks the older which outfit she should take and the sister responds, "That one, it'll stay in style longer". It’s only a good line if you remember this is in a post apocalyptic world. The music, and especially the clothing fashion is one of the things that just makes this movie so awesome, if somebody tried to do a modern remake and change all of that it would be such a disaster. I saw this movie about fifteen years ago and just watched it again 16 years later and it’s still just as good as I remember, Horror/Zombie fans have probably already seen this movie but if not then you have to watch it.

4

akatemple

11-15-11, 12:29 AM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/incendies.jpg

Incendies (2010)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Denis Villeneuve and Wajdi Mouawad

Starting in Canada twins Jeanne Marwan (Melissa Desormeaux-Poulin), and Simon Marwan (Maxim Gaudette) are being read their mothers Last Will and Testament. The dead mother, Nawal Marwan (Lubna Azabal) asks that the twins go and find their father whom they thought was dead and a brother that they did not know existed. Simon does not have much of a part in the first half of the film, mainly it is Jeanne somewhere in the middle east (I believe in Lebanon as most of the flashbacks take place during the Lebanese civil war during the 1970’s) trying to find anyone who has a connection or any information about her mother. There are flashbacks during a lot of this showing Nawal Marwan taking a major role in the civil war and ending up in prison, the flashing from past to present at times for me was a little confusing, this is one of those films where you really have to concentrate and not miss a single line of dialogue. I think that’s all I will say about the flashbacks as to not spoil anything for others who have not seen this because most of the story and twists in this movie happen during those moments.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/0406fdde4705ab8a1fd287c683bc.jpg

During the second half of the film the brother has a large part when he starts helping his sister retrace their mother’s past, but for the most part I did not feel like he made much of an impact in the movie at all. The twins start discovering stuff about their mother that they would never have imagined and parts of their childhood that they were much too young to remember. I really think this is an amazing story of what a mother will do for her children as well as the lengths the children will go to too make their mother’s last wishes happen no matter what obstacles come up along the way. There is a bit of violence in the movie and it is the kind that is quite disturbing as most of it happens to very young children, but I am sure a lot of that kind of violence especially in that part of the world happened much too often in real life. This is an amazing movie, a very moving movie, and a twist ending that I did not see coming and it blew my mind, everyone should watch this.

4

Monkeypunch

11-15-11, 08:22 PM

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas - Crude, crass, tasteless, and I loved every minute of it. Somehow it's also a kind of heartwarming Christmas film...sort of...

Transformers - Dark of the Moon - Expected to not like this one, and I actually loved it. Crazy action, for once well directed by Michael Bay who must have remembered to take his Ritalin...It downplays all the things that were annoying about the second film, and offers up a coherent and even sort of clever plot. Plus Leonard Nimoy!

Tyler1

11-16-11, 10:18 AM

Incendies
4

Excellent film. Fantastic review akatemple!

Brodinski

11-16-11, 11:07 AM

What I've watched over the past couple of weeks. Some sci-fi, some horror and a slight H.G. Clouzot binge. Curiously, I haven't yet watched his 2 most famous and revered films. Saving those for a rainy day.

Gattaca (1997, Niccol): 3.5+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/Gataca_Movie_Poster_B.jpg

Re-Animator (1985, Gordon): 2+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Reanimator_poster.png

Le Corbeau (1943, Clouzot): 4 (rewatch)

http://www.cinema-francais.fr/images/affiches/affiches_c/affiches_clouzot_henri_georges/photos/le_corbeau02.jpg

The Amityville Horror (1979, Rosenberg): 3

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Amityville_poster.jpg

The Sound of Music (1965, Wise): 3.5+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Sound_of_music.jpg

The Duellists (1977, R. Scott): 3.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/Duellistsposter.jpg

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, Wyatt): 3+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/81/Rise_of_the_Planet_of_the_Apes_Poster.jpg

Quai des Orfèvres (1947, Clouzot): 3+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/QuaiDesOrfevres.jpg

La Vérité (1960 Clouzot): 3.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Verite.jpg

Silent Running (1972, Trumbull): 2.5+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/46/Silent_running.jpg

Clueless (1995, Heckerling): 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Clueless.jpg

Night of the Demon (1957, Tourneur): 4

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/Nightofthedemonposter.jpg

mark f

11-16-11, 11:27 AM

Looking for Brodinski's post...

akatemple

11-16-11, 11:30 AM

Yeah that was weird, took forever to show up.

Tyler1

11-16-11, 11:35 AM

I would love to hear your thoughts on Clouzot's Les Diaboliques and Wages of Fear. I think Les Diaboliques is his greatest film.

mark f

11-16-11, 11:35 AM

I thought if I posted it might make it turn up. Looking at it now, I see a continued pattern of low-rated comedies but how the heck did The Amityville Horror piece of junk rate so high? I also know that Night of the Demon is a cult flick, but I think it's overrated by most cultists. :cool:

Brodinski

11-16-11, 02:16 PM

I would love to hear your thoughts on Clouzot's Les Diaboliques and Wages of Fear. I think Les Diaboliques is his greatest film.

Well, I haven't watched them yet, so I can't give you my thoughts on them. What I can say is that H.G. Clouzot is a fabulous director. I haven't watched a single one of his films that I'd categorize as mediocre or bad. Le Corbeau is a beautifully painted film about the pettiness of smalltown bourgeois communities and the nature of good and evil. It's surprisingly straight-forward in the topics it treats, especially drug addiction and adultery, which must've been absolute no-no subjects in that era, and it has an unforgivingly dark ending.

I thought if I posted it might make it turn up. Looking at it now, I see a continued pattern of low-rated comedies but how the heck did The Amityville Horror piece of junk rate so high? I also know that Night of the Demon is a cult flick, but I think it's overrated by most cultists. :cool:

You know me, Mark, I like to watch comedies, but there's rarely a comedy that I really like. If I smile occassionally and laugh out loud a couple of times, that's a homerun for me. Clueless was especially annoying, because it's got such a layer of pubescent behavior all over it, which was probably the point, but didn't sit well with me.

And I thought The Amityville Horror was unintentionally funny, hence the relatively high rating. It was good fun watching that, although if its purpose was to scare anyone, it horribly failed.

honeykid

11-16-11, 10:08 PM

Clueless is brilliant. That is all.

akatemple

11-17-11, 01:45 AM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/The_Horde_Quad.jpg

The Horde (2009)
Aka La horde
Directed by: Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher
Written by: Arnaud Bordas and Yannick Dahan

I remember when I was younger wishing that there were more zombie movies to watch, and now they are everywhere and coming from all different countries which is a good thing in my opinion. The movie starts with four police officers entering a huge condemned apartment building in order to get revenge for one of their friends that had been killed. Things immediately go bad, there is no wasting time in this movie. People start dying really quickly and equally as fast start coming back to life, the zombies in this movie are very fast, very strong, and almost impossible to kill (again). The cops and criminals soon join together to survive even though there is a ton of mistrust throughout the rest of the movie. The director said that he wanted to make an action movie and not just a zombie movie, he pulled it off very well I think. Parts of this movie will remind you of 80’s style Rambo films, tons of violence and way more than enough blood to please any horror/zombie fan. If you are the type of person who does not like fast zombies and prefers more of a Romero feel to their zombie films then this is not your kind of movie. The thing that stuck out to me was that I did not feel as if there was a lead/main actor, all of the actors were all equally intense and there was no real take charge person. The female actress (yes there is only one unless you count zombie women) is intense and quite often steals the spotlight off of the rest of the crew.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/the-horde-review-1.jpg

The movie was just zombie insanity, I believe the director said there were 300 extras and in some scenes it seems like they are all attacking the actors at the same time, like a huge zombie mosh-pit. I would compare this movie to 28 days/weeks later, the ferocity and intensity of the zombies felt the same to me. It’s a movie for the whole family.

I love the description written on the top picture.
“A ZOMBIE MOVIE that bypasses the BRAINS and goes straight for THE NUTS.”

3.5

Iroquois

11-17-11, 03:34 AM

Another day, another huge gap between tab posts. There's probably some movies I'll miss, but here are the ones I remember...

Empire Records 3.5
Howl's Moving Castle 4
Hobo with a Shotgun 2

Yeah, I really don't watch movies anymore.

Used Future

11-17-11, 09:24 AM

Re-Animator (1985, Gordon): 2+

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Reanimator_poster.png

You're just a talking head...get a job in side show ;)

mark f

11-17-11, 10:44 AM

Yep, I was counting Re-Animator as a "comedy" too. I cammot understand The Amityville Horror getting a higher rating.

akatemple

11-18-11, 09:47 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/shaolin-2011-movie.jpg

Shaolin (2011)
Directed by: Benny Chan
Written by: Alan Yuen and Chi Kwong Cheung

Shaolin takes place during the early 20th century shortly after the collapse of the Imperial reign. This movie is all about different warlords trying to claim their piece of the pie, the main one being General Hou Jie. Hou Jie barely escapes with his life after a failed assassination on another warlord that goes very wrong, with his wife missing and his daughter dying he goes to the people who he thinks can help, the Shaolin monks. After suffering major losses Hou Jie find himself helping the cook (Jackie Chan) to get food to the starving refugees that had gathered outside the temple. Hou Jie starts to reflect on his life and all of the violence that has led him to this path in his life, he starts to embrace the Shaolin monk way of thinking which is completely different to the violent and heartless character that we see for the first 30 minutes of the film. Once Hou Jie’s brother realizes that the assassination attempt failed and Hou is still alive this forces the monks to decide how they are going to help Hou and also to save the refugees that are being held captive by Hou’s brother.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Andy-Lau-and-Jackie-Chan-collaborated-again-in-Shaolin-2011-after-Island-of-Fire-twenty-20-years-ago-photo02.jpg

This is where the movie turned for me, even though this is not a Jackie Chan movie, he has his parts in the film but he is by far not the main character he is “just the cook”. The cook still plays a really important part in helping to guide Hou from his life of violence to the tranquility of the monk’s life. When Jackie Chan goes to help rescue the refugee’s we get transported back to every film he’s ever made. I was hoping I would make it through this movie without seeing Jackie Chan using some kind of prop to kick some ass, I thought I was going to get what I wanted but I just don’t think he can help himself. This is a great movie but Jackie Chan killed it for me, luckily he is such a small part that you can kind of just ignore it and move on.

I think the moral of this story is that Karma is a bitch.

3

TylerDurden99

11-18-11, 10:26 PM

Been re-watching some childhood favourites, a extraordinary political thriller I haven't watched in some time, and some films I've heard of, but never decided to see.

Highlander (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

It's very dated in parts, but still very enjoyable, the performances are likeable enough (Sean Connery especially), the sword-fighting sequences are still amazing, the Queen soundtrack is awesome, the dialogue is endlessly quotable and compared to the very poor sequels, it's a goshdarn masterpiece.

Behind Enemy Lines (2001) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif+

Despite a good central performance from Owen Wilson and some exciting moments, it is still bogged down in predictability and near-headache inducing camerawork.

Queen: Live At Wembley Stadium (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

Just plain epic.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif+

One of the funniest, most memorable teen comedies ever made. Matthew Broderick, Jeffrey Jones, Alan Ruck & Jennifer Grey are all great in their roles, and the film itself is iconic.

JFK (1991) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

Superbly acted, edited, written and directed, this is Oliver Stone's best work.

meatwadsprite

11-20-11, 01:50 AM

https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRdADpJpcWe-NMG5qxhXFJyDeR-FPPMUO-M2Q0ospOVmKW_y620gg 3.5

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVUJDc4JMO-sHIkeG8oc29m5_gthfp-k4VXqmJ1iS_Cmkul2Ei 3

https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm7uZ1PibApqNMSbYJ12myvSeuWlIkTcDA2NcQUaWrTet0uSQ9zw 3

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbRSizwKLU7aqbumAN_ov837H9Y5QAVuRcp3awVNtWNQ_19ogr 5

mark f

11-20-11, 02:14 AM

Highlander (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

Holy Creepin' Crap, Batman!

Used Future

11-20-11, 04:24 PM

Highlander (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/5box.gif

Holy Creepin' Crap, Batman!

Yeah, nobody seems to mind the terrible casting (I know lets make Scottish Connery Spanish, and French ham Lambert Scottish) not to mention the slushy sentimentality and general boneheadedness of the whole thing.
Maybe Tyler's a Queen fan.

akatemple

11-20-11, 04:29 PM

I thought this song was the best part of the movie, and I am not even a fan of Queen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jtpf8N5IDE&ob=av3e

akatemple

11-20-11, 04:45 PM

Random movies I have watched in the past week.

Bad Teacher (2011)
I thought this movie was going to be hilarious, but it seemed like they just tried too hard to make it funny and it just came off as crass. 1.5

Mindhunters (2004)
I have not watched this movie since it originally came out and it was just as great as I remember, I think the casting is excellent and just the whole idea and the carrying out of the ideas was done IMO perfectly, the dark and intense feeling, the great twists just make for a really great movie. 4

Labyrinth (1986)
How can anyone not like this movie, directed by Jim Henson and with all the amazing creatures that came out of his imagination, Also David Bowie dressed up as David Bowie, Jennifer Connely is also amazing in this film. 5

The Dark Crystal (1982)
So I kind of got off on a Jim Henson kick, this is one of the greatest movies that I grew up watching, I have lost count of how many times I have seen this. This movie IMO still is great when compared to modern movies in the same genre, again crazy characters and the puppets that all came from the great mind of Jim Henson. 4.5

akatemple

11-20-11, 11:42 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/bellflower-movie-review.jpg

Bellflower (2011)
Directed by: Evan Glodell
Written by: Evan Glodell

Woodrow (Evan Glodell) and Aiden (Tyler Dawson) have been best friends since growing up in Wisconsin where their favorite movie was Mad Max and they watched it until they became obsessed with how they will survive after the apocalypse. Now they live in California where they spend their time building flame throwers and trying to build their own Mad Max car Medusa. Out at a bar one night the two guys meet Milly and Courtney, Milly get’s in a competition with Woodrow to see who can eat the most live grasshoppers, I was immediately hooked at this point. Woodrow and Milly begin to spend most of their time together thus making Aiden jealous and throwing a wrench in their plans to finish building there post apocalyptic devices. After some relationship issues and an extended stay in the hospital Woodrow and Aiden start drinking heavily, that is more than the already heavy drinking in the first half of this movie.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/bellflower_exclusive630.jpg
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/bellflower-slice.jpg

From this point on starts a chain reaction of some very psychotic, self-destructive, disturbing, and depressing actions that are just so awesome. There are some crazy twists in this movie that I did not see coming, I really loved this movie because I could identify with some of the characters, I have been waiting to see this ever since I randomly stumbled upon the trailer and it didn’t disappoint me.

4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3KX2IPTbjE

TylerDurden99

11-21-11, 05:51 AM

Maybe Tyler's a Queen fan.

I'm a BIG Queen fan, and the Highlander soundtrack contains some of their very best work as a group. But there's much more to my love of Highlander than the soundtrack. I watched it when I was maybe 9 or 10, and I'll never forget the first viewing. I wasn't very interested in watching the film, but I gave it a chance on account of me being interested in swords and the art of sword-fighting. But even at that young age, to me, the premise sounded a bit dodgy. But I gave it a chance.

Needless to say, I loved it. Having watched it at a young age, I didn't really notice, or for that matter, care about the terrible acting. Christopher Lambert looked and fought with a sword like a hero, so I liked him as Connor Macleod/Russell Nash, although I thought he sounded a bit weird. The Kurgan was a solid villian, hammy and over-the-top, yes, but provided Macleod with a physical and moral obstacle. He raped his wife and killed his best friend. I wanted to see Macleod take this guy's head off. Clancy Brown was pretty good as the Kurgan.

The sword-fighting sequences were pretty damn cool when I watched the film the first time, and they still are. I consider Highlander a first-rate fantasy adventure, an excellent action picture, and a classic '80's film.

http://www.highlanderworldwide.com/images/slideshow/H48.jpg
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTio20pGo56vMeSOD32anIO6A8SmO_X-s5lMJf3g-wNJ_vG5F0wuNub_ShClw

Iroquois

11-21-11, 07:13 AM

Yeah, nobody seems to mind the terrible casting (I know lets make Scottish Connery Spanish, and French ham Lambert Scottish) not to mention the slushy sentimentality and general boneheadedness of the whole thing.
Maybe Tyler's a Queen fan.

Yeah, Highlander is terrible. In fact, it's trash. Eighties trash. The worst kind.

(for the record, I kind of like Highlander, even though I know it's pretty silly and has done the inconceivable by spawning an even sillier franchise - also, do you count Clancy Brown's Kurgan among the terrible casting?)

Used Future

11-21-11, 10:20 AM

Now now there's no need for sarcasm.:p

You know I love 80's trash movies - but even so, I'm still allowed to be selective and criticise films I'm not so fond of. Besides with an estimated budget of $16,000,000 (it probably cost a lot more) I hardly think Highlander fits into the same category - and thus I'm less forgiving.

Clancey Brown is very well cast in the movie, but one out of three (the other two being leads) isn't really enough to save it for me.

I find Highlinder to be heavy handed and mawkish in it's sentimentality, and can't stomach the ever wooden Christopher Lambert (though I do like Stuart Gordon's Fortress and Besson's Subway).

My initial post was more of a reaction to the five popcorn rating meted out by Tyler which I think is excessive. Judging by Mark's post he probably thinks the same thing.

So hey, I'm sorry if I upset you guys by bashing Highlander, but I doubt it'll dampen your (and the thousands of others) future enjoyment of the movie:)

Matcat

11-21-11, 03:17 PM

So since Saturday I've watched these movies: Artificial Intelligens: A.I., Batman Begins, Nowhere Boy and Pulp Fiction.

Okay so I'm not really sure what I thought of A.I. It was fine in the beginning with the robotboy (Haley Joel Osment) living with a family and trying to get the mother to love him. Then the mother abandons him and he meets Jude Law's character. Jude Law and HJO then go to Manhattan to find the blue fairy (From Pinnochio). HJO then ends up sitting in a boat-thing under water for 2000 years pleading the blue fairy statue to make him a real boy... And then it just got more and more ridiculous.

Well enough with the robots 'cause Batman Begins was awesome. I really enjoyed watching it and I was entertained the entire time, I'd already seen The Dark Knight so it was great to get the beginning. And finally I understood why one would call himself "Batman".

Nowhere Boy: So the movie is about John Lennon's (played by Aaron Johnson) teen years. John living with his aunt Mimi (and Uncle, but he died a few minutes into the movie) and trying to rebuild a relationship with his (in my opinion) inappropriate mother, Julia. Forming a band, meeting Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Over all I liked the movie but I felt like something was missing, though it was both funny and sad. I liked Aaron Johnson's performance, but I am not one to judge that.

Pulp Fiction: I expected a lot from this movie. So I was disappointed when I didn't get a lot. The movie was funny and absurd and it made me laugh. But nothing more. I didn't care about the characters 'cause I never really got to know them... I'm sure it in fact is a great movie and that it's just me who can't see the greatness. Well I guess I'm too much of a girl for Pulp Fiction.

akatemple

11-22-11, 02:18 AM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/TordenfilmNyttNorskHaap.jpg

Norwegian Ninja (2010)
Directed by: Thomas Cappelen Malling
Written by: Thomas Cappelen Malling

What the hell, the movie is called "Norwegian Ninja." It takes one of the largest political scandals in Norwegian history and writes an alternate, and absolutely lunatic, version of actual events. However, I'm afraid some of the humor and satire might be lost in the translation for overseas audiences as we may not be particularly familiar with the source material, I know that I did not get much of the comedy, Norwegian comedy?. If you are expecting non-stop fighting and comic mayhem due to the "Ninja" in the title, you'll likely be disappointed by the non combatant way of the film. The movie plays more as an outlandish spy spoof than as an action epic. And the film's humor doesn't rely so much on jokes or pranks but on an absurd hyper-reality.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/norwegian-ninja-bad-guy.jpg

Mixing newsreel footage and fake educational films with the central narrative, "Norwegian Ninja" starts off with the capture of a high ranking diplomat spy. Based on the real life incident in 1984, It seems so according to first time filmmaker Thomas Cappelen Malling. Malling builds an elaborate world that includes international intrigue, secret plots, and an island paradise inhabited by an elite team of ninjas. It's all very cheesy, by design, capturing the feel of early era Bond with unusual contraptions, gadgets, and a flying car or two. This just reeked of a really bad late 70’s early 80’s very low budget action film, I really don’t know what to make of this movie except that I did not really care for it, but someone else might.

2

Iroquois

11-22-11, 08:44 AM

Deadite

11-22-11, 09:25 AM

Highlander won the Academy Award for "Best Movie Ever Made".

Incidentally, I recently watched Hanna, an absorbing thriller starring Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, and most importantly the phenomenal Saoirse Ronan as the titular character. I really enjoyed the mix of action, suspense, and character drama. I give Hanna 8 out of 10 for fine performances, clever direction, and a solid story.

It's no Highlander, though.

Tyler1

11-22-11, 11:41 AM

Goodbye Dragon Inn (Tsai Ming Liang)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0DqeN_c85k&feature=relmfu

To understand more of Tsai's films, please watch this clip on youtube.

http://www.reverseshot.com/files/images/pre-issue22/CE5_GoodbyeDragonInn2.jpg

The deliberately slow pace constantly reminds us that we are watching a movie.

http://www.filmcritic.com/assets_c/2010/02/Goodbye,-Dragon-Inn-thumb-560xauto-24170.gif

The recurrent theme in this film is 'loneliness'. An old theatre is closing down. The whole movie depicts the final night of the theatre.

http://a.onionstatic.com/images/articles/article/46257/Goodbye-Dragon-Inn_jpg_300x1000_q85.jpg

Nostalgia. The end of an era.

And did i mention ghosts?

Final rating - 4.5/5

thracian dawg

11-22-11, 11:53 AM

The two guys in the audience are the actual stars of the film "Dragon Inn" playing on screen.

akatemple

11-23-11, 03:15 AM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/229_l_a0e4bfc01c54cdb59e0f7b90d05d3d77.jpg

Breathing Room (2008)
Directed by: John Suits and Gabriel Cowan
Written by: Gabriel Cowan and John Suits

Thrown naked into a room with 13 strangers making Tonya (Ailsa Marshall) number 14, apparently the last person and the one they’ve been waiting for to start the game. None of the 14 can remember how they got there and there are no obvious connections between any of them, the one thing they all do have in common is not knowing what is going on or how to escape. There are clues hidden all over the room (very large room) and finding them and interpreting them is very important, the only problem with that is that you can’t trust anyone because not everyone is what they seem. There are lots of rules posted throughout the room such as, wash your hands, do not step over this line, anyone who breaks these rules are killed. Everyone has a leash around there neck and one of the main rules is that you cannot adjust your own collar, but if you don’t have a collar then the rules do not apply to you. Out of the 14 starters the number starts to dwindle down quite quickly from the start, each time the lights go out someone dies, is it someone in the room or someone entering under cover of darkness.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/broom01.jpg

About halfway through they find a clue that sais there are three bad people in the room, a pedophile, a serial killer and a rapist, this is what starts the paranoia. Trying to track down the bad 3 in a room full of let’s say 14 is not an easy thing to do, and it is very interesting who is who. There are weapons in the room such as a gun with no bullets and a hammer, also some alcohol, there are others who have bullets, lighters, key’s, and clues but no one is willing to share because everyone is paranoid of what the other people might be.
This is a very low budget film of 25,000 dollars and it is painfully obvious as in the collars being made out of the tie downs you use on car hoses, the acting is good but the set is horrible. This could have been a great movie if it had more money thrown into it, but it is still a pretty good thriller regardless. The twists that happen are great and you don’t see them coming, the ending is awesome, another twist in the story that throws you for one. I would recommend watching this movie, it is good but could have been great if they had more money (or talent) to throw into this movie.

3

linespalsy

11-23-11, 11:50 AM

Mostly odds and ends that I forgot to mention in my last few posts plus several recent watches.

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/starstruck.jpg
Starstruck (Gillian Armstrong, 1982) 4
The Last Theft (Jirí Barta, 1988) short rating: 3
Army of Darkness (Sam Raimi, 1992) 3.5
Family Plot (Alfred Hitchcock, 1976) 2.5
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/pianotuner%20of%20earthquakes.jpg
The PianoTuner of EarthQuakes (Stephen and Timothy Quay, 2005) 2.5+ (I like this better than I'm rating it, but the penultimate scene was really disappointing)
Emma (Douglas McGrath, 1996) 3.5
Triangle (Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, Johnnie To, 2007) 3
Nadja (Michael Almereyda, 1994) 3
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/once%20upon%20a%20time%20in%20the%20west%2003.jpg
Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, 1968) 4.5 (from my top 100)
The Return of the King - Extended Edition (Peter Jackson, 2003) 3
The Merchant of Venice (Michael Radford, 2004) 3
Othello (Oliver Parker, 1995) 3+
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/impressions%20underwater%20c.JPG
Underwater Impressions (Leni Riefenstahl, 2003) 3.5
Scent of a Woman (Martin Brest, 1992) 2.5
I Wake Up Screaming (H. Bruce Humberstone, 1941) 2
Forbidden City Cop (Stephen Chow, 1996) 3.5-
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/oceans.jpg
Oceans (Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud, 2009) 3.5-
Season of the Witch (Dominic Sena, 2011) 2
Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies (Stephen and Timothy Quay, 1991) short rating: 2.5+
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/who%27ll%20stop%20the%20rain.jpg
Who'll Stop the Rain (Karel Reisz, 1978) 3.5+
Stagecoach (John Ford, 1939) 4
Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (Bill Condon, 2011) 2+
Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1996) 3.5

Used Future

11-23-11, 12:00 PM

I fell asleep midway through Nadja the first time around. Quite an offbeat vampire flick that one, and the pixelated vamp-vision is cool for a low budget outing. I prefer Ferrara's The Addiction slightly, which is similar (i.e. cheapo black and white contemporary bloodsucker) but neither are particularly great. At least Almereyda's flick isn't trying to make a muddled political statement, but Christopher Walken spouting Burroughs is still pretty hard to top.

linespalsy

11-23-11, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the comment. I think I'm actually under-rating Nadja slightly since I saw it a month ago. I really enjoyed it, but then I'm also a big fan of Hal Hartley and it was a pleasant surprise seeing two of the leads from Amateur in an offbeat NY vampire movie from the same year. (Peter Fonda was fun in it too).

I saw The Addiction around when it came out but don't remember much from it. I'm pretty sure my friends who I saw The Addiction with had already seen Nadja at the time and liked it less then the Ferrara flick, but I can't really compare the two.

Godoggo

11-23-11, 04:40 PM

Lake Mungo (2008 Joel Anderson)

http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a476/ashafer_bucket/lake-mungo-1.png

So this is an Australian supernatural mockumentary dealing with the grief of a family after Alice (daughter and sister) drowns at Lake Mungo. At first I was more than put off by the documentary style and if I didn't have this quirk that I have to finish everything that I start to read or watch, I may have turned it off. I'm extremely happy I gave it a chance. It's a slow burner for sure, but once you get caught up in the mystery surrounding Alice's life, it's a strangely affecting film. It's not a scary movie, but rather a creepy one that gets under your skin and stays there. We can't possibly know anymore than Alice's family knows, so therefore many questions go unanswered. I've complained about this being limiting in another film, but it adds weight here. You feel the frustration the family feels. You want closure for them.

This movie handles the issue of grief so well. The obsessive search for answers that an untimely death leaves behind, then the peace that you have to make with the fact that your never going to know. A

The Tunnel Movie (2011 Carl Ledesma)

Another Aussie movie. This one cuts back and forth between found footage and documentary style. I've been thrilled with just about everything I've seen from Australia lately, but this time I got let down. First of all, the documentary style lets you know who does and does not make it. This is the first time I can recall where a movie spoils itself. It's a little insulting. They take so much time to let us get to know these characters and want us to care about them. Why would I waste my time? I already know they're dead.

This movie takes itself so seriously and wants so badly to be an "intelligent" monster movie that it takes all the fun and joy out of what makes monster movies so entertaining to watch. It's not a horrible movie; it's well acted and well produced, but it's boring and devoid of any soul. C-

HitchFan97

11-24-11, 12:16 PM

The Boston Strangler (1968)

http://meansheets.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/the-boston-strangler-movie-poster.jpg?w=450

A fascinating motion picture; one of the best true crime films ever made. The use of split screen is unique and fits the film perfectly, while Tony Curtis gives one of the greatest portrayals of a diseased mind ever put on screen.

4.5

mark f

11-24-11, 02:44 PM

While I agree that it's a very good film, told extremely stylishly with the multiple- screen technique, you should know that several films used this method in the mid-to-late 1960s, most notably Grand Prix and Charly. Then, a decade later, More American Graffiti resurrected it, almost as an homage to the '60s.

akatemple

11-24-11, 10:47 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/taegukki.jpg

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
Directed by: Je-gyu Kang
Written by: Je-gyu Kang and Sang-don Kim

Jin-tae is a street smart shoe shiner who also works odd jobs to help his younger brother Jin-seok to study and go to college to be the savior of their very poor family, Jin-seok is the smart one in the family on his way to university and a much better life. The joy of this South Korean family fills the screen for the first moments of the film, only to change abruptly on June 25, 1950 when suddenly the North Koreans attack at the 38th parallel, forcing communism and death down the throats of the South Koreans. Jin-seok get’s drafted the South Korean way by being put into the back of a truck and being told you are going to fight, older brother Jin-tae forces himself into a situation where he will be drafted so he can look after and make sure his younger brother is safe. The degree of honor and camaraderie amongst the entire South Korean platoon, and especially between the two brothers is a very touching and emotional element portrayed in this film. Jin-tae makes a deal with his CO that if he can get a medal that they will discharge his brother, Jin-tae becomes obsessed with killing and volunteering for every suicidal mission that comes up. This leads to a rift between the two brothers, the younger not wanting the older to take care of him, and thinking that all the killing is starting to affect him in a very bad way.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Tae-Guk-Gi-The-Brotherhood-of-War-thumb-560xauto-25667.gif

The remainder of the film explores the progress of this war with great detail, visually depicting the atrocities of war more brutally than any other war film that I have ever seen. But overriding the visuals of the war is the relationship of the two brothers and what they go through to stay together to try and make it back to their mother and Jin-tae’s fiancé. The ending to this movie is great and I have to admit that this goes on the very short list of movies I have cried at the end of.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/taegukgi_4.jpg

There are very few films that I am familiar with about the Korean war, I believe that this movie did it justice in the way of showing all the brutality and the way people can turn on each other under those types of situations. This film has all violence and limbs being blown everywhere as Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, and Hamburger Hill combined. If you like war movies then you have to watch this, I have never seen a movie of that genre that can compare.

5

meatwadsprite

11-25-11, 01:38 PM

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http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFqplkq1e-sgnknVHxKqRgInGLiYairaG63lIdzdM8Ms9qs3h4CA 3 http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYPe0pH0LdX-GuYdkUMqDsY3C5mufpiLFJv0vDlIsLOi8SayU1 3

akatemple

11-25-11, 06:17 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/thirstposter.jpg

Thirst (2009)
Directed by: Chan-wook Park
Written by: Chan-wook Park and Emile Zola

Sang Hyun (Kang-ho Song) is a Catholic priest who volunteers in a local hospital. He provides last rites when necessary as well emotional support to its patients. Father Hyun is well-respected but he secretly suffers from emotions that can be defined as doubt, as he witnesses the suffering going on around him. Yet, he cherishes life, so he volunteers to take part in an experiment to eradicate the lethal EV virus, which is a threat to every Caucasian and Asian male. Father Hyun becomes stricken with the deadly virus and a blood transfusion is ordered up for him to save his life; in turn he becomes the first survivor of the deadly virus and some folks begin to regard him as a saint. But soon after his new lease on life, Hyun finds out that the blood he had received is infected and he is now living as a vampire and only the consumption of human blood can stave off the virus.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Thirst.jpg

Father Hyun struggles with his new found desire for blood, and now also, his faith is put to the test when a childhood friend's wife, Tae-Ju (Kim Ok-Vin) comes to him to escape her horrible life. Sang-Hyun becomes overwhelmed as he plunges deep within the world of physical and sexual desires. The vampirism as seen by Park's rendition does have similarities to the established myths about vampires; vulnerability to sunlight, superhuman strength and speed, with a strong need for human blood--curiously this vampire does not grow fangs. Hyun becomes a compelling character as we see him torn between the need to survive while avoiding the need to kill. Hyun resorts to slowly drinking the blood from comatose patients in the hospital (but never killing them) and people who wish to commit suicide. Tae-Ju is one imbalanced woman who is manipulative of any situation. She seduces the kindly priest and manipulates him into believing that she is an abused wife, she is a woman torn between being dependent on her and the need to be free. The sex scenes between Kang-Ho and Ok-Vin are quite erotically creepy at times, and very graphic, comparable to some Japanese ultra-gore films. This film is funny, bizarre, and gritty. There is one very bizarre scene when Hyun and Tae-ju is having sex, with a vision of Tae-ju's dead husband sandwiched between them because of the guilt of murdering him. If you are a fan of Vampire films and would like to see a different take on the genre they you should watch this movie.

3

akatemple

11-26-11, 07:23 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/my-date-with-drew-original.jpg

My Date with Drew (2004)
Directed by: Jon Gunn and Brian Herzlinger

Brian (honeykid's evil twin) wins 1100 dollars on a game show and decides to use that money to make his dreams come true by getting a date with Drew Barrymore. They have 30 days to do this due to financial issues, they go to Circuit City and buy the most expensive video camera they have because they can return it within 30 days and get their money back. After the camera starts the endless amounts of phone calls trying to track down someone who knows someone who might in some way be able to contact Drew and let her know about this documentary and hopefully agree to be part of it. Somehow they actually get in touch with and get interviews with John August (writer of Charlie’s Angels), Corey Feldman, and Eric Roberts but none of them can offer any advice or any way of getting in contact with Drew.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/MDWD2.jpg

Finally they get the idea to put up a website about their documentary and do a radio interview to promote the site, unfortunately the site crashes 10 minutes before the interview. 30 days go by without anything, they leave the website up and running and on day 87 they get a call that gets the documentary back up and running after going to a different Circuit City and doing the whole 30 day transaction all over again. The movie has a happy ending and a pretty straight forward message throughout the whole movie which is to never give up on something you want. Seriously HK this is like a video tutorial for how to meet Drew Barrymore.

3 Would have gotten a higher rating but the main guy Brian just bugged me, he was such a spaz about everything IMO.

ash_is_the_gal

11-27-11, 08:45 AM

One Day
2011, Lone Scherfig

mirrorThis movie totally kicked my ass. It's my own fault, really, for not finding out more about it before I decided to watch it, but a friend of mine reviewed it on her blog, and wrote something along the lines of "it reminded me of all the good things I remembered from my long distance relationship", which immediately peaked my interest, so I downloaded it, and watched it hoping for good, bittersweet times.

The film follows the lives of fresh college graduates Emma and Dexter (played by a really cute Anne Hathaway in the role she was made for and a fun-loving Jim Sturgess), chronicling the ups and downs of their friendship and eventual romance over an 18-year period. They meet shortly after their graduation ceremony through friends on July 15, 1988 and end up spending an awkward, not-quite-sexual-but-rather-flirty night together. They soon after become fast friends. We then sit back and watch as the film continually brings us back to July 15 each and every year of their friendship.

Easily the best thing about this film is how versatile it is. It stretches over an 18 year period, so we see these two sail through their twenty somethings well into their late 30's. The mood of the film tends to mirror their age and maturity levels. The scenes depicting their lazy summer holiday together takes place in the early 90's and has a very Before Sunrise feel to it.

There is so much about this film to like. For one, Anne Hathaway's character development mirroring the transformation of her taste in clothing was so charming

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/5/4/1304497878758/One-Day-3-007.jpg
http://marieclaire.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11116%7C000052e8b%7C8a39_orh100000w624_One-Day-61.jpg
http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/30006024/2011/06/2011-06-29-11-46-33-4-.jpeg

and Jim Sturgess did a damn good job of putting me off with his obnoxious, shallow 20-something act, which quickly turned to adoration after watching him deal with heavy-handed situations such as addiction, inferiority complexes, and the death of his mother; he matured into a subdued yet loveable version of that.

3.5

thracian dawg

11-27-11, 08:44 PM

The Extra Man (2011) - Berman and Pulcini
I had expected something slightly dramatic, along the lines of say "The Man from Elysian Fields" with Keven Kline mentoring a young gigolo. However this film was just plain goofy. Major Brownie points to Paul Dano who plays a sexually confused English Lit professor discovering cross dressing. He plays him like a Forrest Gump character which makes the film kind of sweet and harmless. His walk on the wild side, could have been incredibly creepy.

2.5

The Owl and the Pussycat (1970) - Ross
Nice little romance from a mismatched and slightly self-deluded couple. He thinks he's a struggling novelist. She thinks she's a model. It's bit of a chamber piece, with George Segal and Barbra Streisand jibber jabbering endlessly at one another. It comes from a stage play so there's a structure to it and the dialogue is snappy. I actually liked that it's kind of dated, this is as raunchy as it got back in 1970.

3

Cocaine Cowboys (2006) - Corben
The strange thing about this documentary is the main protagonist is actually the city of Miami. This sleepy little retirement community became the frontier town for cocaine and it's money laundering center. The funny thing is, they didn't have a problem with it, until the outlaws began shooting up the local denizens. It became so out of control and lawless they had to send the special rangers into Tombstone to clean it up. It's close enough in memory that most of the people they interview can state all those skyscrapers are filled and covered in blood. But in time, this will fade from memory when you look at that picture postcard skyline.

3
　
Surviving progress (2011) - Roy
The theme? Innovation and technological advancement, although always championed as an improvement over the last version, some of it may be actually detrimental to our health.

Example: fishing. In recreational terms, a rod and reel is great sport; however is you actually have to feed your family from this, not so good and a little perilous. Technical innovation: Drift nets miles and miles long. But we've gotten to the point where we are literally emptying the oceans of food. What happens on that day when there's no more fish?

The only difference genetically between the hunter gatherers of 50.000 years ago and ourselves is merely a thin veneer of education and culture. Thoughtful planning and change may be impossible, since everything is perceived like a saber toothed tiger suddenly appearing before us in the tall grass: we filter everything through self-interest---or the fight or flight response. This documentary states the obvious but also suggests some answers. Parts of it were thought provoking and funny. I loved David Suzuki shredding the "science" of economics.

3.5

The Descendants (2011) - Payne
The set-up? Clooney's wife is in the hospital from a boating accident, and he takes this as a sign to reconnect and reinvigorate their marriage. However, when she slips into a coma, all of her secrets spill out into the open.

Payne spends enough time with each character so they become complex and emotional. All the changes in the story are driven by these messy interactions. There's a wonderful counterpoint to Clooney's relationship with his wife to the secondary story to sell off of the family's ancestral land holdings, on which he's the soul executor. We're taking Hawaii here, so it's quite literally a humongous slice of heaven on earth about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. A thoughtful drama.

3.5

ash_is_the_gal

11-27-11, 09:28 PM

Tyrannosaur
2011, Paddy Considine

mirrorwarning: this is NOT an easy film to watch, and it's probably not a good idea to watch it if you're in a dismal mood. I wasn't in a particularly depressed state when I watched it and it still kicked my ass (that's been a thing with me lately, I guess?)

I watched this with the boyfriend, who described it as, "the British version of Gran Torino", which right after "NO, this is not a dinosaur action film" would actually make the perfect tagline, if you ask me.

Peter Mullan plays Joseph, a man beaten down by life, who reacts with abrupt violence to many of his life's hiccups. Little things which most normal people would just put up with (overhearing young kids play a loud, obnoxious game of pool while he tries to enjoy his beer at the pub, for example) tend to bring the guy over the edge.

Despite his violent outbursts, it's apparent he doesn't enjoy being that way. It all seems to change when he has some kind of wake up call after 'accidentally' taking it too far and killing his dog and is forced to bury him. Soon after these chain of events take place he meets Hannah, a sweet-hearted, timid Christian woman who runs a charity shop nearby. A lot of the stuff I found particularly hard to watch had to do with scenes between her and her husband, as he's a drunk who treats her quite awful most of the film. Eventually, something happens to Hannah and she herself 'snaps' - which threatens her state of mind as well as Peter's, who is trying to become a better man.

This is one of those films that seems to end with all of the characters going in exactly the opposite of direction they had been going at the start. This might have been part of the reason it was so hard for me to watch - it's not formulaic and predictable and it also has a very realistic, gritty quality that feels a bit raw. Despite all of this, the ending isn't exactly 'Children Of Men bleak', either.

4

Monkeypunch

11-28-11, 03:12 AM

Thanksgiving week movie going tally:

The Muppets - Jason Segel and his crew knocked this one out of the park. It's so darn loveable. I left with the biggest smile on my face, and hoping for a sequel.

Happy Feet Two - Completely adorable.

Immortals - I'mboredals. A lack of likable characters leaves you not caring how this turns out.

TylerDurden99

11-28-11, 03:35 AM

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif+

Damn, I used to really love this, but this time I found it laughable and a bit cringeworthy. I still totally love the last twenty minutes or so, those scenes perfectly capture the magic of Star Wars.

akatemple

11-28-11, 10:21 PM

Movies I watched over the weekend.

Beetlejuice - 4
I have always loved this movie, just never get's old no matter how many times I watch it.

The Muppets Take Manhattan - 3.5
I love all the muppet movies, and have been watching them since I was a kid.

The Dark Side of the Moon - 3.5
I watched this movie years ago and just re-watched it again this past weekend, it is still a great and intense Sci-fi/Horror movie.

mark f

11-29-11, 12:45 AM

The Owl and the Pussycat ...this is as raunchy as it got back in 1970.

Interesting comment about raunch considering this was also the year of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Where's Poppa?, The Boys in the Band and Myra Breckinridge. Some non-Hollywood films would include El Topo, The Music Lovers and Performance.

By the way, did you notice Richard Dreyfuss in The Owl and the Pussycat? He's the punk kid in the back seat of the car which holds three guys who chase and harrass Streisand and Segal near the end of the movie. Not even IMDb has a credit for Dreyfuss in the flick, and I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on the net. I think Dreyfuss was using the bogus name "Stan Bryant", but I don't know why he doesn't own up to that part. His face is plain as day and you can also recognize his voice.

thracian dawg

11-29-11, 02:35 AM

Out of those movies you mentioned I've only seen Where's Poppa? and El Topo, but I can't recall them as being raunchy. But wow! Great eyes, that's definitely Dreyfuss at 3:42

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOir8XTHG4A&feature=related

mark f

11-29-11, 04:16 AM

That's interesting too since that's the scene where Streisand uses the F-word when she turns away from the car, but the last part of the line is completely deleted.

akatemple

11-29-11, 05:45 PM

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The Perfect Host (2010)
Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay and Krishna Jones

John Taylor (Clayne Crawford who in my opinion looks just like a young Ray Liotta) has just robbed a bank and gotten away with 300,000 dollars, when he limps into a convenience store to get some bandages for his foot (I don’t think it ever shows how he hurt his foot) he catches a glimpse of himself on TV and realizes that there is a citywide search out for him, he has to find a place to lay low for a while. John abandons his car and starts walking through a random neighborhood, he finds a mailbox with a postcard inside, the postcard is from the residents’ daughter who is on vacation in Australia. When John knocks on the door you get your first look at Warwick (David Hyde Pierce), John pretends he is a friend of his daughter in Australia and tells Warwick that she told him that he should look up her father when he got back in town. Warwick invites John inside to stay for a little bit, in the beginning Warwick comes off as a very accommodating host offering wine and snacks to his guest so he basically plays his character Niles from Frasier with the same mannerisms and everything (but just in the beginning). A radio broadcast about the robbery makes John stop pretending, and starts getting violent and letting Warwick know who he really is. After John passes out from a few glasses of wine is when the movie really get’s interesting. I am not sure how much I want to say without giving away to much for someone who has not seen this.

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I really was only familiar with David Hyde Pierce from the Frasier sitcom (I looked up some info on him and he’s mainly just done a ton of voice over’s and other smaller TV sitcom’s), his character in this movie after the twists start happening is amazing. He plays a character that in my opinion could come really close to competing with Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lamb’s, the sick and psychotic way that he acts and thinks in this film just blew me away. I kind of knew what this film was about before I watched it but there are just so many twists, you see a few of them coming but the really huge twists in the story I did not see coming at all and it just blew me away. This movie is great, watch this movie if you have not already, an awesome Psychological Thriller with minimal blood, so it’s great for people that don’t like all the gore.

4.5

Pyro Tramp

11-29-11, 06:55 PM

Monkeypunch

11-30-11, 02:26 AM

Pearl Jam Twenty - Cameron Crowe's documentary about Pearl Jam is a fan's love letter to one of their favorite bands. It's fascinating, heartfelt, and sometimes even funny. The band's drunken performance at the party for Crowe's film Singles is a must see, and the tense, frightening performance of the protest song "Bushleaguer" for an angry crowd is another. Eddie Vedder looks determined, while the band looks terrified. Fact: If you bought the album Ten when it first came out in 1991, this film will make you feel old. But it's also wonderful.

akatemple

11-30-11, 01:46 PM

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The Final (2010)
Directed by: Joey Stewart
Written by: Jason Kabolati

The Final is a story about 5 high school kids (Dane being the main character) who get harassed on a daily basis by the jocks and popular kids, the bullying has been going on for so long and gotten so severe that the 5 have had enough and gotten to a point where they cannot take it anymore. Dane and his four friends are all avid horror movie fans and have devised a plan to throw a fake party, drug everyone, and torture them as payback for all the harassment that they have had to endure. Their plan is not to kill them but to inflict pain and punishment on them so they will know what it’s like to be “different”. That is pretty much the plot, there are some minor things that shake stuff up towards the end, but this is a story that’s all too familiar in the news in this day and age, Bully picks on boy and boy does something stupid to hurt, scare, kill the bully. From watching the trailer I had high expectations going into this and was disappointed, there is a huge buildup with the bully’s picking on the weaker boys and you find yourself wanting the bullies to get what is coming to them.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/THE-FINAL.jpg

That is where the disappointment comes in, the revenge they get is just boring, it is all stuff you have seen if you have watched a few horror films, nothing really new was thrown in. The acting was what you get when you have bullies playing the stereotypical bullies and the weaker kids playing the stereotypical nerd, goth, foreigner. Oh and the all too familiar “Mean Girls” that say stuff like “We are going to be the hottest bitches at the party”, it’s just all been done before. If you are looking for a weak revenge flick where bullies get some weak torture and you see the ending coming a mile away then go for it.

2

Sedai

12-01-11, 10:09 AM

Well, I know Tron : Legacy is a crap film, but it sure is awesome! ;)

http://scifimafia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Tron-Legacy-OW-Quorra-2wide-560x281.jpg

You know, in a HD, Surround Sound turned way up kinda way. I just adore the score and let's face it, the narrative is about as solid as the original, which isn't saying much. Also, Ms. Wilde sure is easy on the eyes.

Sexy Celebrity

12-01-11, 11:20 AM

Jackie Brown (twice)

Love & Other Drugs

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge

Monkeypunch

12-02-11, 02:38 AM

Limitless - Pretty great Sci-Fi, starring Bradley Cooper as a depressed, unfocused author who finds a drug that makes him smarter, less inhibited, and more motivated, but at what cost? I actually didn't see this film going as dark as it did. Great film for debating about later, too.

makdnite

12-02-11, 04:06 AM

this is cool! are the actors of the film even popular? just asking :)

TylerDurden99

12-02-11, 07:18 AM

Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/2.5box.gif

I can honestly say this is one of the worst movies ever made, but through all of the bad acting, terrible writing and cringeworthy moments, I kind of dig it. Christopher Lambert is still awesomely bad as Macleod and Michael Ironside is so camp, it's hilarious.

akatemple

12-02-11, 01:45 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/the_rig.jpg

The Rig (2010)
Directed by: Peter Atencio
Written by: Scott Martin and C.W. Fallin

While starting a new drill line into the bottom of the ocean the drill bit hits some kind of unknown pocket and wakes something up that has been unseen up till now. With a hurricane coming oil rig C is evacuated except for all vital personnel, that leaves 9 people on the rig to ride out the storm. The killing off of the crew starts quick and in such a generic way with some blood splashing on the window or on a wall, this was obviously a very low budget film. More and more start dropping dead until just 2 crew members are left, the communication is down (of course) and there is no way off of the rig, also no weapon except one gun with a few bullets and then it’s just using pipes to try and beat up the monsters. About the monsters, they really reminded me a lot of the Morlocks from The Time Machine (1960), yep this was low budget and not in a fun way just in a really bad attempt at making a horror film. Just do yourself a favor and don’t watch this movie.

1

akatemple

12-02-11, 08:27 PM

To spare everyone's eyes from having to see the horrible images from this movie I thought I would put some of the original art from the book on here instead.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/islandcov2.jpg

The Three Investigators And The Secret of Skeleton Island (2007)
Directed by: Florian Baxmeyer
Written by: Philip Lazebnik and Thomas Oliver Walendy

I grew up reading the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigator series even though they were all released in the 60’s and early 70’s which is a bit before I was born. I still read these books to this day, they are great, you can easily finish one or two in a day, they are cheesy and corny but still my favorite books ever. I found out that they had made two of the books into movies, Skeleton Island and Terror Castle, it has taken me forever to get hold of a copy of this movie, and it hurts me to say that it sucks it just plain old sucks.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/endpapers.jpg

There are your three main characters in any Three Investigators story, Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews and Pete Crenshaw, these three are described over and over again at the beginning of every book, the cast in the movie is entirely wrong and they just make the characters look like a bunch of prepubescent dumbasses. In the book the characters are 14 – 15 years old and the story is set on or before the years that the books were written (1960-197?), so taking the nice story from 50 years ago and putting it in the present day was just one of the worst mistakes they could have made. Half of the fun of the books were the cool gadgets they would make with spare parts, stuff that was not easy for kids to afford or maybe even get their hands on at that time but in the movie they have modern day gadgets which takes away a lot of the stuff I enjoyed while reading the books.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/hitchcockthreeinvestigators.jpg

Now just about the story of the Secret of Skeleton Island, the part I liked best about the book was the haunted merry go round and all the spooky stuff that was scaring off the workers from building the amusement park on Skeleton Island, yeah forget that it is not in the movie at all in fact there are no ghosts or haunted anything. 90 percent of this movie does not even take place on the Island, when these books were made the three boys still thought that girls had cooties but in the movie they threw in a romantic interest for the boys it's just wrong. Even though this is just so bad I am still going to try and find the next one which is The secret of Terror Castle, but anyone who is normal should just not watch this movie, DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE.

0

makdnite

12-02-11, 08:52 PM

these movies are good.... but we're in the new era now! THe one's that you and of course will and must watch is Tom Cruise! haha or resident evil! I'm just saying! too bad! I still can't post any link here! But you can check my site in my profile! And by the way! I'm not spam! I love movies and that's what I write! thanks :)

akatemple

12-03-11, 02:10 AM

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bk9iu4BPL._SX500_.jpg

Horrible Bosses (2011) – I thought this was a hilarious movie, Jennifer Aniston played a role that I have never seen her do, the filthy crude lewd seductress. Colin Farrell’s part was good, but Charlie Day is my favorite, I thought his part was the best. This is a great movie to watch if your wanting a laugh but other than that it’s nothing special. 3

Caught the first 2 Batman movies on HDnet, such a great channel.
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/c2/c5/c87a81b0c8a0224d0fbec110.L.jpg

Batman (1989) – Directed by Tim Burton and Starring the best cast including Michael Keaton, Jack Nicksolson, Kim Basinger and Billy Dee Williams. I know most people would disagree with me but this is my favorite Batman movie, I really like the Christian Bale movies but this one is just a personal favorite. 4.5

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JIyU5jZfL._SX500_.jpg

Batman Returns (1992) – Again Directed by Tim Burton and such an awesome cast that I have to say this is my second favorite of the Batman franchise. Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Christopher Walken. Michelle Pfeiffer is my favorite Catwoman up to now, I’ll have to see how I feel after Dark Knight Rises. I think this was the darkest Batman movie that has ever been made IMO. I love it. 4.5

I thought I would go for a surf movie marathon.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zEl-3dfxL._SX500_.jpg

In Gods Hands (1998) – I watched this movie when it first came out and loved it, I just within the past couple of days watched it again and it is the same. You really bond with these characters making for a much more emotional movie, and just the balls these guys have to surf these 60 foot waves is incredible. It is listed as action/drama but to me this seemed more like a docudrama but that’s just my opinion. 4

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KM4HFQMBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

The Endless Summer (1966) – A great story about a group of surfers going around the globe in search of the perfect wave, in my opinion this is like the ultimate surfing documentary. 4

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519SAYE1XML._SL500_AA300_.jpg

The Endless Summer II (1994) – Bruce Brown (Director of The Endless Summer) returns after thirty years to follow 2 surfers in their efforts to find the perfect wave just as in the first and filmed at a lot of the same locations as the first, if you like surfing films then it’s a good one. 3

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41yNRJg0knL._SX500_.jpg

Alien (1979) – Since the prequel to Alien is coming out sometime soon I thought I should watch this since I have not seen it all the way through in quite a few years and it still does not disappoint. This movie is still scary, startling, and with enough gore to satisfy me. Normally I would say that I like Aliens the most but having just watched this I have to say that Alien is much much better. 5

Brodinski

12-03-11, 09:00 AM

This is all I've watched in the past 3 weeks or so. I'm watching more series and regular tv shows now, because my time during the evening is limited and I only watch films during the weekends.

http://static.cinebel.be/img/movie/poster/full/1003417_nl_the_chaser_1310562468332.jpg

The Chaser (2008, Hong-Jin): 3.5+

I watched this on HK's recommendation and while his taste of movies isn't really my style (he probably thinks of this as a compliment), this was a very accomplished film. It has to be said, I'm a sucker for cat-and-mouse / chase films. The Chaser is well-paced and thoroughly entertaining, switching between character-establishing scenes, all-out chases and tense interrogation sequences. There's a pretty strange twist in the middle to keep the story going I think, but that's just a minor gripe of mine, because what followed after the twist was still pretty good.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/Chicagopostercast.jpg

Chicago (2002, Marshall): 2.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Redcliffposter.jpg

Red Cliff (2008; 2009 (part 2), Woo): 4

I was very impressed by this epic war film, especially the strategic aspect of ancient Chinese warfare. It wasn't just about outwitting each other during battle (which is discussed at length), but war is also shown to be a waiting game during which various tactical ploys are used to gain a psychological as well as strategic advantage during the actual battle. I was also a sucker for the Dynasty Warriors videogames during my childhood, so seeing all of those characters come to life was a treat.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/86/Contagion_Poster.jpg

Contagion (2011, Soderbergh): 3.5

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/Intimefairuse.jpg

In Time (2011, Niccol): 3

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/Blacknar.jpg

Black Narcissus (1947, the Archers): 4

mark f

12-03-11, 08:50 PM

Chicago should be 3.5, at least in my diseased mind.

akatemple

12-04-11, 01:51 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/attack-the-block-620x420.jpg

Attack the Block (2011)
Directed by: Joe Cornish
Written by: Joe Cornish

I started watching this movie thinking that it was just going to be another clichéd alien invasion movie, but it definitely is not, the director did not go the safe way with using the boring kids from the American suburbia but instead used a bit more rough group of kids. Beginning of the movie starts out with aliens crashing into one of what I am guessing is a pretty bad part of London and start converging on one particular ‘council block’ I am guessing in America that would be what we would call ‘low income housing’. The council block in question is home for a street gang of young thugs who make up most of the main characters in the film, the movie does not waste any time and the movie quickly evolves into a fight for survival as the thugs try to evade/kill the aliens attacking “their block” especially when it becomes increasingly obvious that the aliens are coming after them in particular. The aliens in this movie are not the cute and curious type nor are they the super soldier with amazing technology variety. They are not here to make contact, or to study us, and definitely not trying to take over the world, they are here for a reason but I cannot give that away without spoiling the movie for people who have not seen it yet.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/541361-2011_attack_the_block_017_super.jpg

The aliens are done in an interesting way in that less is more, they are so black that they are almost invisible seeing how this whole movie was at night or in dark hallways and rooms. They have teeth and eyes that glow a very nice shade of blue, when there is only one on the screen it is nothing special but when there are twenty in one hallway then it becomes a very cool looking affect. The kids in this movie are your tuff young gang members who swear and smoke pot, they do not play it safe. There are parts of the movie that gives you a glimpse into the kids and their hard edges and street tough swagger, but it also lets you see that they are still just kids when it comes down to it. I really liked the little side story surrounding the pre-teen baby thug wannabees, they keep trying to join up with the older boys insisting that they be called Probs and Mayhem, but are always told to leave and go home. I really like the line from the exasperated Probs when he sais to Mayhem "No one is going to call you Mayhem if you keep acting like such a pussy!” The two pre-teens do actually have a very nice moment in the movie where they are very helpful to the cause of killing aliens.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/attack-the-block-what-the-hell.jpg

I as an American had to use subtitles to watch this movie and still a lot of the time had no idea what they were talking about or what the words meant, but that is a very small complaint and does not get in the way of the story. I thought it was funny that they put Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) as the stoner with the weed room, which is the referred to in the movie as Fort Knox because it is the most secure room in the building for the boys to take cover in from the aliens. This was a good movie, not great but I would say it is worth watching if your into SciFi movies, if you are looking for a gorefest then you will have to look somewhere else.

2.5

Brodinski

12-04-11, 04:21 PM

Chicago should be 3.5, at least in my diseased mind.

Mark, the plot was paper thin. You can write that kind of ***** on the back of a napkin.

Harry Lime

12-04-11, 05:04 PM

Mark, the plot was paper thin. You can write that kind of ***** on the back of a napkin.
Yeah, when I want to watch a movie with lots of plot I usually think of Musicals first.

mark f

12-04-11, 05:07 PM

No, I get it even if "something was lost in translation".

meatwadsprite

12-04-11, 05:52 PM

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQwuC-bKbYZ1HPeco7IUlMWoGF4XbAecr0NeRxh9qjHSiwWvOTg 3.5 http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuLl9_-f35mjxDI13l6xOGp7_olkWzR-15OkWgyhd8vUq6aZM_ 3.5

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSh7zjS1u9u_vwKqUswy9YCFhwikB1YcrBshdmnFLClOoG1XiyM 3 http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrK3gkjQObFmvwkx6gPw87_qTsJ4VlqspI0h-kG_E2ZwdzR6UKdw 3

1. Tom Hard and Joe Ed are awesome.
2. Drive uses a song from the Trent Reznor score for Social Network. Which is weird for so many reasons.
3. More Rye Gos movies please.

Monkeypunch

12-06-11, 02:34 AM

What We Do Is Secret - Biopic about late Germs frontman Darby Crash. Exhilarating, but a bit of a downer. Shane West is note perfect as Crash, a closeted poet/junkie/rock star with delusions of grandeur.

Airplane! - Classic comedy, never gets old, and I always see new things when I watch it.

Airplane II: The Sequel! - Haven't seen this before, but I enjoyed it almost as much as the first.

Brodinski

12-06-11, 02:30 PM

No, I get it even if "something was lost in translation".

I knew you were going to mention Lost in Translation. There's lots of depth in Lost in Translation. Most is boiling under the surface and conveyed by means of body language. I (naturally) really dug the implicit nature of the film. Chicago is all style and zero substance, all look but no feel. And Bill Murray was WAY better than Zellweger.

Pyro Tramp

12-06-11, 02:35 PM

I as an American had to use subtitles to watch this movie and still a lot of the time had no idea what they were talking about or what the words meant?

For real? You some kinda pussy 'ole or suming blad?

akatemple

12-06-11, 02:58 PM

For real? You some kinda pussy 'ole or suming blad?

I can't understand half the slang in America. :D

akatemple

12-06-11, 04:12 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/wrecked_movie-review.jpg

Wrecked (2010)
Directed by: Michael Greenspan
Written by: Christopher Dodd

A man (Adrien Brody) wakes up and finds himself in a wrecked car, looking in the mirror he can see his face is badly broken and bloody, his leg is trapped and the door to the car will not open. Trying to get his bearings the man starts looking around, there is a body that looks like it has been thrown from the car there is also a body in the back seat. If this wasn’t bad enough the man seems to have amnesia and has no idea how he got there or if he even knows the obviously dead people around him. Searching the car or where he can reach from where he is trapped turns up a pistol that was hidden under the driver’s seat and a credit card with the name Raymond Plazzy, is the man Raymond Plazzy? Finally getting the door open and turning the radio on which still works amazingly the man is sitting outside the car when a news alert comes across the radio about a bank robbery that ended with the bank teller and a security guard being shot, one of the suspects names they say on the radio is Raymond Plazzy.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Wrecked-movie-photo-03-550x366.jpg

This is when things start to get confusing and interesting, the man doesn’t remember anything so he has no idea if he is Raymond or not, or if he had anything to do with the robbery and shootings. The man’s leg is really messed up from where it was trapped, he makes some splints and rig’s them together so he can move around. If his present situation wasn’t bad enough at the moment there is also a very big Mountain Lion (or some other large feline, I am not sure.) which has already taken the other two bodies and seems to want him. He realizes that if he crawls back to the road and gets caught then his life is over, so he heads for a nice long walk down the mountain down a river, this part I really did not understand. After walking/crawling for a long time (it’s hard to tell time and days in this film because it just never tells you how long it’s been) it turns out he’s been going in circles and winds up right back at the crashed car.

The man is having hallucinations all through the movie that really annoyed me until they made sense at the very end, and there are some really good twists in the film. I really liked this movie it kind of reminded me of Buried as it is a one man film, if you’re looking for action and violence then this is not something you would enjoy, but this is a pretty good Psychological Thriller.

3

Pyro Tramp

12-06-11, 05:37 PM

I can't understand half the slang in America. :D

You dizzy blad?

akatemple

12-06-11, 06:01 PM

You dizzy blad?

:D:eek::cool: I am not sure which.

Pyro Tramp

12-06-11, 06:25 PM

:D:eek::cool: I am not sure which.

Think you a bad man? Gonna shank you up big time, you get me blud?

This reply is taking bare times to smash out, allow this. Ain't be dealing with all this beef getting up in my grill when gots to be getting blazed wiv me mandem and some buff chickies.

- And other translations can be found here - http://www.timwoods.org/the-london-slang-dictionary-project/

akatemple

12-06-11, 08:51 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIaiW1XrzxA

ash_is_the_gal

12-07-11, 11:03 PM

Another Earth
2011, Mike Cahill

mirrorStill on a Melancholia buzz, all I had to do was look at the picture to the left and I was all, "Need to see this now please!" This is quite an interesting little hidden indie gem, if I do say so. Oh, and it's really not anything like Melacholia, which I love love loved. But there are some similarities, the biggest one being that the '2nd planet in our solar system' thing is sort of a backdrop to the story at play. I say backdrop because it's literally in every other outside shot, hovering over the horizon or behind the trees in a backyard. Unlike Melancholia, it's not a threat to human life, at least not in the respect of safety or extinction.

I guess I should stop talking about Melancholia like everyone reading this review has seen it. (hint: SEE IT).

Brit Marling plays a smart, capable young girl with her whole life ahead of her until she throws it all away with one decision. She drinks, she drives, she hits a family of three and ends up killing the little boy and the mom. She goes to jail (as a minor), does her time, and when she gets out she decides she just wants to get a job where she can keep her head down and clean toilets and scrub floors and not have to look at anybody. I strongly feel there's a metaphor to be had here somewhere. Anyway, all the while she's trying to deal with her guilt and feelings of self-worth, and decides that she needs to find the man whose family she creamed so she can formally apologize to him. She tracks him down and knocks on his door, but when she's faced to face with him, she can't bring herself to say the words, so she makes up a fake cleaning company and blah blah blah next thing you know she's in like flynn, scrubbing away at the last several years of his decay. The bloke whose life she ruined is in a pretty big funk, so his house is a mess.

In the backdrop, there's that duplicate Earth, just dancing around the horizon. Over the span of the movie it looms closer. When a connection is made and it is discovered that Earth II is actually a literal duplicate with the same people who possess the same memories, only now that they know of each others' existence, that's all gone to hell in a handbasket, so there have been deviations. Which means that on Earth II maybe Rhoda didn't **** up her life and the life of that nice man who is now family-less.

This movie had more loopholes than a basketball net, but it really didn't matter to me at all because it really wasn't the director's intent to tell a scientifically sound movie (also like Melancholia!). Moreover, it's about human behavior... and I don't know if this was intentional, but it really got me to thinking about pre-determined fate. Thinking about it too much - especially the ending whichIwon'tgiveawaybutmakesyoukindagoWHAT - made me feel exactly the way I feel when I stare at THIS (http://www.subliminalmessages.com/loans_40.htm) for too long.

4

Monkeypunch

12-09-11, 02:15 AM

Troll 2 - Troll 2 is kind of awesome. It's like a stupid but adorable puppy that just did a turd on the carpet. You want to be angry, but you can't! The acting is bad, the dialogue is atrocious, and for a film called Troll 2, there's not a troll in sight. Not one. I laughed hysterically the entire time.

Sexy Celebrity

12-09-11, 03:19 AM

I can't believe the popularity Troll 2 has. I remember ordering that movie off pay-per-view in the early 1990's and loving it but thinking I was probably the only person on Earth who knew what it was. And for awhile, it seemed that way, then suddenly it's a cult phenomenon. It's even on Blu-ray now.

linespalsy

12-09-11, 01:49 PM

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/prosperos%20books%2002%20c.JPG

Prospero's Books (Peter Greenaway, 1991)

This is a visually-lush, meta-theatrical, frame within a frame within a frame adaptation of The Tempest, starring John Gielgud as both Prospero and Shakespeare (in fact, that's one of the main framing narratives of the movie). The outer frame of Prospero's library has documentary-style descriptions of the books -- narrated by the voice of Gonzalo -- that accompany relevant parts of the play. It's sort of like a filmed version of an annotated Tempest, except that each of these annotations is a "magical" text which requires a ton of annotations itself, and hides as much as it reveals. The inner frame is a performance of the play, that is itself a frame narrative since the tempest is a theatrical spectacle that Prospero inflicts on an unwitting audience/actors, with all sorts of self-aware commentary on the magic of performance and spectacle.

One of the things I love about this movie is that it's the only adaptation that captures Prospero as a true magician in the renaissance sense of being a polymath like John Dee, Robert Fludd or Thomas Hariot: someone for whom the study of nature and science, and the practice of art, astrology and poetry are almost indistinguishable.

Near the end of the play Prospero destroys his magic staff and closes his books, and in the film this marks a point where the visual style of the movie suddenly becomes deliberately spare and cold. It's my least favorite part of the movie because all of the lush mise-en-scene that I love disappears into the "books", but it sets up the most affecting moment -- when Prospero drowns his magic and sets Ariel "free". The ending also has many of my favorite lines in the play, including the final speech:

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,
I must be here confined by you,
Or sent to Naples. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands:
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
Which pierces so that it assaults
Mercy itself and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

E.T.
I found this uneven but overall probably liked it more than I did the last time I saw it. This has some amazing lighting and some really tense scenes (especially early on -- the beginning with E.T. in the forest is great, even if it was hard to me to "get" how he can wander so far from his ship on those stumpy little legs). I also thought Drew Barrymore was kind of amazing as the most innocent character in the story (except for E.T.). On the other hand I didn't think the actors for the two little boy characters were that great, and the plot and melodrama were way too heavy and distended in the final act. Glad I saw it though. Rebecca fell asleep.
3.

Aliens
I still like this movie, which I've seen way too many times. This time I'd probably give it a 3, but if I was watching it again for the first (or tenth) time I'd probably rate it higher.

Zulu
Beautiful cinematography of Africa with a pretty thin story that goes on and on.
2.5

The Gang's All Here
Another uneven (and very corny) one but I love how much the camera swoops way up over the actors' heads in this. The staging and camerawork are very good throughout.
2.5

And here's the rest that I've seen recently:

Body Double 3.5
How Do You Know 3-
Kansas City 3
Hugo 3
The Muppet Movie 5
The Muppets 3
Ruggles of Red Gap 3
Go 3.5
Infernal Affairs II 2.5

akatemple

12-09-11, 04:50 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/fright_night.jpg

Fright Night (1985)
Directed by: Tom Holland
Written by: Tom Holland

For me this was the first time getting to enjoy this classic vampire flick, I thought I should watch this first before I watch the Collin Farrell remake. This movie starts out like most 80’s teen horror movies with the high school boyfriend and girlfriend Charley (William Ragsdale) and Amy (better known to most as Marcy D’Arcy from Married with Children) getting into a stupid fight because he would rather spy on the neighbor then have sex with the girl. While watching his neighbor out his window Charley sees them moving a casket into the basement of the house next door, after asking his mom it turns out that someone just bought the house a Jerry Dandrige (much better know to me as Prince Humperdinck). Charley’s favorite TV show is Fright Night, it is kind of a late night black and white horror film marathon hosted by Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) the great Vampire Killer. After telling his best friend Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys), who is such an annoying character and his girlfriend that he is going to go into the neighbors house that night and kill the vampire his first thought is to go to the local TV studio and try and find Mr. Vincent. Mr. Vincent says he believes in Vampires until he realizes that Charley is serious then decides the kid is insane and drives off. Amy and Evil Ed decide to track down Mr. Vincent themselves and wind up paying him to go with Charley just to help prove that Mr. Dandrige is not a Vampire hoping that Charley will just drop the idea and everything can get back to normal. When they all go inside of Mr. Dandrige’s house it becomes apparent really quickly that Charley was right all along and they must kill the Vampire.

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Oh yeah and Charley’s girlfriend Amy is identical to a painting of an old flame that the Vampire has in his house, so there is a different kind of romantic twist in this movie. I enjoyed this movie, it was cheesy and had really bad acting but that’s what a 1985 horror film should have IMO. Evil Ed is such an annoying character, you will really hate him from the first time he is introduced. The special effects were not that bad at the end with the vampire waking up out of his coffin (definitely my favorite scene) and just the ending in general. The only really bad thing I have to say is that there was not enough action and the final fight scene was way too easy and much too short. If you are one of the few who have not seen the movie then please go and watch it.

3

akatemple

12-09-11, 05:22 PM

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Bridesmaids (2011) – I think this was supposed to be a female version of The Hangover or at least that is what I was told but it really isn’t. Something else that it is not is FUNNY, NOT FUNNY, out of the entire film I found there to only be like 3 scenes that got a chuckle out of me. I was expecting something closer to The Hangover and what I got was more of a serious Drama/Comedy. 2

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Elf (2003) – With Christmas coming up all that is on TV now are Christmas movies which is fine with me because I enjoy quite a few of them just like Elf. I think this is definitely one of Will Ferrell’s best movies that he has ever done, I am not that big of a fan but Elf is great. The cast is amazing with Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Zooey Deschanel and James Cann as Buddy’s (Will Ferrell) father. 3.5

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Christmas Vacation (1989) – This is definitely my favorite Christmas movie, I will watch it every time it comes on TV and around Christmas that’s like every other day. Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Doris Roberts and best of all Randy Quaid. There just isn’t much better than a fried cat under a recliner, septic gas exploding and of course the Christmas lights that almost drive Chevy Chase insane. 4

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Alive (1993) – Well it’s not a Christmas movie but it has a lot of snow in it so I will still count it. This is first time I have watched this movie since somewhere around 1996, and I still really enjoyed it. In my opinion one of the best survival movies ever, such an amazing story. Plus you get to see them make people jerkey on the wing of the plane. 4

honeykid

12-09-11, 05:51 PM

I was expecting something closer to The Hangover
I'd heard this, too, which was the main reason I hadn't bothered with it.

... what I got was more of a serious Drama/Comedy. 2

Cool. Maybe it's worth watching after all.

Godoggo

12-09-11, 06:03 PM

I thought Bridesmaids was really funny and I went in thinking I would hate it. I've never seen The Hangover and don't plan on it, so I don't know how it compares to that.

akatemple

12-09-11, 07:35 PM

Bridesmaids was mainly about the girls failed love life, there were a few crass jokes and a few funny parts but just not what I thought it was going to be, plus it's over 2 hours long, really stretched out.

TylerDurden99

12-10-11, 01:25 AM

Fight Club (1999) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

Akira (1988) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif

Pyro Tramp

12-11-11, 07:17 PM

Warrior

Wow. How an advertising campaign can totally ruin a film. It would have been interesting two-for-one Rocky film had the trailer not pissed away the whole story. Anyway, it was enjoyable although splitting the focus between two leads left both pretty undeveloped and the 'emotional' climax didn't quite have the cathartic impact it thought it did. Giving the brothers only one prior scene together didn't really highlight the bond they had or had been broken well enough. Edgerton's underdog can only remain believable as an underdog if winning is believable, after taking a pounding in every fight and still winning, believability becomes tenuous. Hardy's good in as the one dimensional brother which seemed more a warm up for Bane than anything else

3

Cowboys vs Aliens

Harrison Ford seems to be enjoying himself but doesn't quite make up for underusing the brilliant Rockwell and Goggins in roles they could bring a lot more to. The creature designs are pretty evocative of Super 8 and Cloverfield in what's becoming an almost cliche. The genre mash up was intriguing, the Western setting was ripe yet doesn't really utilise the genre tropes effectively enough for a satisfying hybrid. The plot was a disappointingly simple rescue mission with no real drama and bizarre character revelations. Oh and Daniel, don't try to be American again.

2

JayDee

12-11-11, 08:25 PM

Struggling to try and keep up just now, not finding a lot of time for writing reviews so a few of these are fairly short

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Once

An absolutely adorable film. From just about the first minute of it starting I felt myself falling in love with it. Just utterly charming.

It's a fairly simple, low-key little movie but works all the better for it. The understated, natural performances of the two lead actors and the lovely, engaging folksy songs mean I just loved it.

Just wonderful

4.5+

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Saboteur

An absolutely cracking thriller. It's a film with one great scene after another, full of interesting and memorable characters. Perhaps not as polished as Hitchcock's best but still immensely good fun. And the whole thing ends with another of Hitchcock's thrilling, trademark last reel set-pieces; this time atop the Statue of Liberty.

4++

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Detective Dee – Mystery of the Phantom Flame

A very fun piece of adventure this. It reminded me a lot of Guy Ritchie's recent version of Sherlock Holmes; as well the investigation angle it has the action, the thrills, the big effects and a touch of the paranormal about it.

There are moments throughout the film which just feel so epic and sumptous; it looks spectacular. And with a number of interesting, memorable characters all interacting with each other in scenes of romance, comedy, adventure and incredible action scenes, it really is a cracking, rip-roaring piece of entertainment.

4+

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Rebecca

A really classy offering from the Master of Suspense this. From very early on I was gripped by the mysterious, brooding tone that just drew me right in. It's very haunting. For the whole film my mind was creating possible scenarios about the outcome.

Despite the big name of Lawrence Olivier being involved the acting honours must go to Judith Anderson as the deliciously sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers, who torments and tortures the new lady of Manderley.

4

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Brief Encounter

Not usually my kind of film but I just found it to be a lovely, touching effort. Beautifully and tenderly acted it completely pulled me in. Really beautiful.

And I found the ending to be really heartbreaking as the couple are denied the goodbye they so desire, all due to a chatty friend who won't shut up

4

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Four Lions

I don't know how right or wrong this film is, whether it's in poor taste or not. The one thing I do know however is that I found it absolutely hysterical at times. There are just some hilarious moments scattered throughout, mostly of a daft and slapstick nature.

All of the main characters have their moments but most certainly stealing the show is Nigel Lindsay as Barry, an angry white convert to Islam. He is just fantastic.

4

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Notorious

It took me a while to really get into this film, mostly due to my expectations being wrong. I was expecting an espionage thriller, but instead found that was more of a background element to the relationship between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. Their scenes together are a treat as they lie to each other and indeed each other about how they feel. And Hitchcock's directing is fantastic.

The last scene in particular is a fabulous ending, very suspenseful and intelligently played out. As I said it took a while to get into but by the end it had hooked me in. I can definitely see it getting a higher rating on a repeat viewing when I know what I'm getting.

3.5++

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Adam

A sweet, touching little film that is elevated by a standout turn from Hugh Dancy, and a nice understated performance by Rose Byrne. There are a few really nice scenes which come across as very romantic even if Adam perhaps doesn't perceive them as so.

I don't know much at all about Asperger's Syndrome, so I don't know how accurate the portrayla of the disorder is, but it certainly felt like it was presented sensitively and with respect. I felt like it was also successful in presenting the problems such a relationship may have honestly, but without taking it too far into dark and depressing territory.

3.5+

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Network

I know a lot of people love this film so I may step on a few toes here. It's certainly a very interesting and at times very entertaining film. It's an absolutely brutal satire of television, the media, news reporting and big business companies in general. It has a couple of great scenes and a few laughs. And there is no doubt it's very prescient. Watching it for the first time just now with the investigation into press ethics going on over here in the UK it felt very resonant. There are a couple of great performances, especially from William Holden, but there are others which I felt were just too hammy and overblown.

However I just found it a bit overwrought; too desperate to hammer home the point. It crossed the line into being just too silly and completely ridiculous, making it impossible for me to buy. Perhaps you could argue that as it's a satire that's ok but I'd prefer something just a little more subtle. I'd say the same for much of the dialogue which just seemed so unrealistic and heavily scripted. Instead of characters actually talking, the film just felt like a series of monologues.

I just feel that such heavy-handed and over the top satire perhaps works better as a 20 minute episode of South Park than a two hour long feature film. But I know a lot of people on here will disagree. And to be fair there were points were I felt myself teetering on a tightrope, close to thinking 'this is great' so maybe on a repeat viewing I'll like it more.

3.5-

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Tower Heist

A fairly decent little film. The lack of laughs is disappointing and it's quite slow to get going but its reprieved by the heist itself. It's quite fun and rather creative in it's preposterousness. The film's main attraction for me was its cast and its certainly one of, if not its main strength. As a fan of Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller (sorry HoneyKid if you're reading! :D), Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, Alan Alda and Judd Hirsch there was a lot for me to enjoy. Alda for me is the star of the show, going from kindly old man to a real sleeze fantastically.

And the film also gets bonus points for bringing Eddie Murphy somewhat back to his old form. It's the closest I've seen him to the fun, edgy energy of 48Hrs, Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places etc for a long time.

3-

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Bell Book and Candle

I was sure this would be a real winner with me. The concept sounded fun and it stars two classic actors who I've really taken to in a big way (Jack Lemmon and James Stewart). And it reteamed Stewart with his Vertigo co-star Kim Novak which I was interested to see. But in the end it just felt really flat for me. The romance didn't really appeal to me and I found it very low on laughs. I'll maybe give it another shot someday and will hopefully 'get it' that time, but for now disappointing.

2+

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Whisky Galore

I wanted to love this. It's a part of Scottish history when it comes to popular culture and I like to support anything related to the country I love, but I just couldn't when it came to this. I just found it slow, dull and just painfully quaint and twee. And for a classic, acclaimed comedy I'm not sure there was a single laugh for me to be found.

2-

mark f

12-12-11, 12:39 AM

I thought you reviewed some of those first ones in that group before. I'm disappointed as much with your ratings for the last two flicks as you were apparently disappointed with them.

Tyler1

12-12-11, 07:38 AM

Also from my 'Japanese Canon' thread, here's Sonatine ;)

Sonatine (Kitano, 1993)

Sonatine is an anti-gangster movie. One thing I like about these 'anti-' movies is that they break free from the pre-existing boundaries, so called rules, which dictate how and what the movie should be like. These limitations stifle the 'genre' films, inhibiting these films from exploring new realms of uncharted territory. Before this movie was made, the director Takeshi “Beat” Kitano was already well known in Japan, not for violent gangster films but as a comedian. As a result, this movie took Japanese audiences by surprise... and it performed poorly in Japan. However, Kitano's gangster persona was well-received in the West. Why? It was something Western audiences were unprepared for. Like I mention before, the 'gangster' movie genre was thought to be about violent, cruel men. Who wants to see childish gangsters? Who wants to see the more jovial, fun-loving side of the life of Yakuza members? But dont worry, this movie does deliver on the violence... and you would be caught unaware as well.

For most part of the film we follow Kitano's character, Murakawa as he and 4 other gang members retreat to a sea-side house after being ambushed by the rival Anan clan. As they wait for things to blow over, Murakawa and the others engage in light-hearted games. They cant escape from their past though, and in the end, as well already know, tragedy would befall them.

What I like about this film is that Kitano does not force us to like his character. (In an earlier scene we see Murakawa beating up another member without flinching at all.) Instead, through those innocent games (okay some arent really innocent. The Russian Roulette scene for example) we get to sympathise with our characters. We get to know them, we laugh with them. Throughout the scenes at the beach there is this pervading sense of dread which we know, would inevitably come. Therefore we the audience, like Murakawa and his gang, try to cherish these fun times as much as we can. We do not know what is going on on the 'outside world' – what about the negotiation between the 2 rival gangs we know nothing about that. Murakawa himself, despite having a tough Yakuza persona, is clearly shown to be afraid of death (as seen from his dream). In this tranquility, we see that our anti-heroes behave just like ordinary men, not like some blood thirsty Scarface superhero who does not fear death.

But the violence does not disappoint. Scenes of violence are very abrupt and sudden (a devise which Kitano would employ in his later more successful film Hana-Bi). Such heightens the brutality of those violent scenes. There is one scene in particular which is extremely well done; Kitano's character realises that two of the guys in the elevator are the ones he plan to kill. And then following a shoot-out, the camera cuts to the dead bodies. I love this scene a lot.

There is nothing much to analyse here like the previous film Woman In The Dunes. This is one of the best films I've seen from modern Japanese cinema. Don't miss this one out (and Hana-Bi).

Rating: 4.5 / 5 (Grade: A)

Pyro Tramp

12-12-11, 02:08 PM

Glad you liked Four Lions, that's definitely sitting around my all-time top 20 whenever get to update new list

JayDee

12-12-11, 04:57 PM

I thought you reviewed some of those first ones in that group before. I'm disappointed as much with your ratings for the last two flicks as you were apparently disappointed with them.

Did I? Might have. Still trying to get into a settled routine since getting our new wee dog so still a bit frazzled at times.

Sorry to disappoint you Mark. I hate when I do. :( I see you as the main man around here - the big cheese, the oracle, the head honcho, the big kahuna, the grand poobah. :D So it feels like letting down your dad or something! :p

Not sure what it was with those two. Whether they just didn't work for me. Whether I just wasn't in the right mood for them. Or maybe it was down to expectations. I thouht I would like both, and indeed with Whisky Galore I wanted to like it (as I like to support anything Scottish) but it didn't happen. Whereas with Tower Heist I expected nothing really and was quite pleasantly surprised with a somewhat decent little film

akatemple

12-12-11, 08:08 PM

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AGAIN TO SAVE YOUR EYES FROM THE HORROR I WILL JUST PUT ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE BOOK.

The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle (2009)
Directed by: Florian Baxmeyer
Written by: Philip LaZebnik and Aaron Mendelsohn

I wrote a short review of the last Three Investigators movie recently and even though it was horrible in every way I had to watch the second one (technically first if you go by the books) just because I am a huge fan of the original books so this review is going to be more of a comparison of the movie to the book. The best thing I have to say is that it is great that they kept the same characters from the book, Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews, and Pete Crenshaw, but that is the only thing they kept from the book other then the title. In the book it was a Castle (thus the title), in the movie it was a large house. They went and threw another romantic childish love interest in the movie which is just wrong if you’ve read the books. In the movie they find a 8mm video tape and it turns out that it is Jupiters dead parents leaving a message that he must go to Terror Castle and finish solving the puzzle, while trying to get to the house they meet up with a backwoods sheriff and his daughter who believes that she and Bob were lovers in another lifetime.

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The sheriff is obviously trying to keep the kids from the house for a reason but the boys sneak back and enter the house, in the movie the owner of the house is long dead but he was an inventor and has rigged his entire house to run on steam power, such as a moving hallway to save you the trouble of walking, automatic doors, automatic coat rack, and even a roll top desk that opens for your convenience (it is just plain ridiculous). Eventually you find out that the Sheriff and another masked man are trying to figure out the puzzle also and that is why they want the kids to stay away, however the kids outsmart the adults and find the secret basement first and thus finding the prize. I can’t tell anymore about the ending without giving away to much, but I still say just to not watch this movie and go find the book, because everything I just wrote about the story in the movie is absolutely not in the book, none of it and that is a really good thing.

0

akatemple

12-13-11, 06:55 PM

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In Bruges (2008)
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Written by: Martin McDonagh

Two hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are on a sort of makeshift holiday in Bruges, Belgium after a hit gone wrong. While awaiting word from their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), Ken is interested in sightseeing and the history of the place, while Ray couldn't be more unimpressed and can't wait to just get to the bars for some pints. Ray is bored with the whole place, he’s also got a guilty conscience since it was his fault that the hit got screwed up. Ken is the older and more mature one, he enjoys art, architecture and learning about the local architecture, I think he knew what was coming so he was using this time to relax and have a brief respite from what he knows is a powder keg waiting to explode. I am not a huge Colin Farrell fan but I found his acting in this to be excellent and it was nice that he got to play an Irish character so he actually got to use his native accent. When Ray’s mistake is finally revealed it is quite a heartbreaking story, I thought that Farrell managed to portray Ray’s guilt and his attempt at redemption in a very moving way, I also love that Ray is charming, annoying, childish, and totally screwed up nut about to crack. Gleeson’s acting is also very convincing in playing the exact opposite as the quiet, calm person. He seems to be tired of the whole business of death but he knows he’s got to do what has to be done even if it means coming to blows with his evil boss Harry. When Harry is offered the Uzi his riff is hilarious about how he’s not in LA looking to go on a drive by and shoot twelve ten year olds.

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The movie has a great ending, the kind of ending I love and I think I can say that without giving away too much since I do not believe I have voiced my opinion about the type of endings I love, it is very emotional and has an interesting twist right at the end. Oh yeah I haven’t mentioned the racist midget (Dwarf) who while on a cocaine bender starts going off on a rant about how there’s a war coming between the black people and the white people and not to mention the Vietnamese people, I should probably just stop there before I get into trouble but I thought the midget did the perfect job as some great comic relief. If you haven’t watched this movie then I really suggest you do.

3.5

meatwadsprite

12-13-11, 11:08 PM

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1. Animal Kingdom is better than I thought.
2. I had no idea that JGL was in Brick until I saw him
3. Margin Call may be one of the better movies of this year, but I gotta see it again.
4. Swingers is awesome.

akatemple

12-14-11, 10:07 PM

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Red Cliff (2008)
Directed by: John Woo
Written by: John Woo and Khan Chan

The year is 208 AD. After years of civil war, a deathly calm has fallen of northern China. One by one, the rebel warlords have met their end under the sword of Prime Minister Cao Cao. Now, even the Han Emperor bows before his power. Yet from the south, a challenge is heard. Two leaders arise against Cao Cao's tyranny, the aging Liu Bei, and the inexperienced Sun Quan. So Cao Cao petitions the Emperor to brand these men as traders, and declare a new war against the peaceful Southlands.

I watched this movie a couple years ago and got it again thinking that I was getting the International version but wound up with the Theatrical version which I had seen before. I was disappointed but I watched it again anyways because it is just the kind of Epic Asian film with huge battles that I love, when you are watching this you might think that this was a movie written by Sun Tzu the famous writer of the Art of War (500 BC), this movie is all about military battle planning and strategies to use against your enemy. The only thing I bad I have to say about this movie is that there is only one character that you really get an emotional attachment too and that was Zhuge Liang (Takashi Kaneshiro from House of Flying Daggers and more).

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Tony Leung (from Hero) did play an excellent part as Viceroy Zhou Yu, all the acting was really well done but again I only felt connected with the one character. The movie is all about the Great North trying to take over the peaceful and very beautiful south land’s, Cao Cao is the great and undefeated General of the North who is sent south with over eight hundred thousand soldiers again a much much smaller army in the south. The main battle takes place at Red Cliff, this is where Zhuge Liang who is the master military advisor shows how talented he is and that he can predict the weather by knowing history (weather patterns) and paying attention to the movement and shape of the clouds, Liang uses this knowledge to try to change the odds in the favor of the greatly out numbered south. Anyone who likes epic medieval war films I think would really like this movie.

4

Tyler1

12-14-11, 10:54 PM

^ I love the battle sequence where they set fire to those wooden ships and then ram them against the enemy ships. And because of the winds the inferno couldnt be extinguished. Genius!

mark f

12-14-11, 11:59 PM

Roman Polanski's (The Tragedy of) Macbeth (1971) 4

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The Beginning: On a deserted beach, the Three Weird Sisters ("Witches") dig a hole in the sand and place a human arm with a dagger in its hand and some blood into it. They cover it up and talk about meeting Macbeth later. As they walk away, fog enshrouds the screen and the titles come on. Over the titles we hear what sounds like an enormous battle raging. We also see the credit "Executive Producer Hugh M. Hefner". The credits end, the fog lifts, and armored soldiers appear on the bloody beach as we watch a victor bash to a bloody pulp the back of a combatant from the losing side.

The Cinematography of Gilbert Taylor: Taylor was the DP of such films as Dr. Strangelove, Star Wars, A Hard Day's Night, The Omen, Frenzy and Repulsion. Here he paints a world separated from our own by over a millenium's distance - mid-11th century Scotland. It is a brutal, primitive world, yet somehow it's occasionally bathed in warm sunlight or the beautiful green of the unscathed countryside. But mostly, even (or especially so) in its characters' dreams, their flawed humanity outshines whatever goodness may be buried within.

The Shakespeare Dialogue: This is a somewhat faithful version of the play but it's an incredibly cinematic one. Even so, many of the film's highlights include some of the best dialogue ever written. Some of my faves are: "Nothing in this life became him like the leaving of it"; "Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble"; "Out, damned spot! Out I say."; "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!"; and my favorite, "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time; and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

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The Music by the Third Ear Band: The sounds heard in Macbeth are just as eerie as the visuals. The score sounds like something Roxy Music might have recorded if asked to go even more medieval and lose Bryan Ferry's vocals. The strings and oboe-sounding instrument, in particular, are often enough to drive one up a wall, so it's a perfect accompaniment to the guilty and hateful inner lives of Lord and Lady Macbeth.

Polanski's Direction, especially in response to the Murder of his wife and unborn child: The film has many blatant references to the murder of Sharon Tate by the Manson Family, but that is why Polanski choose this subject to film next after that terrible incident. There are numerous penetrating knives, including one into a woman's abdomen, and children are killed on screen. There are decapitations, hangings and loads of blood. I would call this film suspense/horror, so it definitely fits into Polanski's films thematically, but often the personal nature of what this film shows adds an extra dimension of true terror to the watching of it. The staging of the Mirror Scene, the Future shown in the Witches' Bubbling Cauldron, and all the other Fantasy/Dream scenes are extremely well done and make this film perhaps the most "modern" Shakespearean film which still keeps it setting intact.

The Acting: All the acting seems to be at least good, but much of it, especially Jon Finch's Macbeth, is extraordinary. The play is written and staged so that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have to be the standouts and get most of the best lines and scenes, but here, Martin Shaw's Banquo, Nicholas Selby's Duncan and Terence Bayler's Macduff almost match him. This is a realistic depiction shot in castles and forests so the acting is not overly theatrical, yet it is certainly Shakespearean, if you believe there can be a difference. Finch is great whether he's doing a mental soliloquy, a physical one or interacting with other actors.

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The Verisimilitude: This appears to be one of the most-realistic depictions of the Middle Ages ever. Unlike Excalibur, another of my fave films, this one has totally believable armor, costumes and sets. They look so great, you can almost feel them. The land itself is seen as clean and capable of beauty, but the skies above it are often very dark and the humans scheming beneath them are even darker. Technically, this film takes place after the Dark Ages, but it's difficult to conceive of a darker, yet more-realistic, world set in the Middle Ages.

The Climax: When birnam wood does come to Dunsinane, Macbeth still shows no fear, as he does battle and makes child's play out of all attackers. It's a violent and well-staged action set-piece. It's only after an announcement that there may actually be someone who is "not of woman born" that Macbeth starts to go psycho and the tables are turned on him in.

The Ending: The film's ending, back at the home of the Three Weird Sisters, implies that the themes of the play and the film are a never-ending cycle where whoever is not in power will do whatever is necessary to try to gain it. It really does paint humanity in a dark light, but I'm sure that many will accept it just as readily as I do.

Eternal (?) Themes: While telling a semi-historically-based Shakespearean tragedy, this film shows Mankind at its most barbaric and greedy. Human life is shown as perhaps the cheapest commodity on earth. I realize that these themes date back to the Bible and other cultural tomes, but Polanski is able to bring it up to date by using his own personal tragedy while also tying the actions in this film into something resembling a gangster saga. All the different sides here seem to have their own ethics up to a point but those who feel undervalued or shunned will sell themselves to the highest bidder. At least "The Family" in a film such as The Godfather (released the year after Macbeth) will tend to stick together, but that only goes so far, and often water is thicker than blood. The "gangs" in this film don't resemble the ones in Romeo + Juliet, except that they are willing to kill, but in that case it's for pointless, stubborn family pride. Here, Macbeth and his wife seem more akin to the Manson Family, willing to kill to fulfill some prophetic dream ("Helter Skelter") which makes no sense to anyone at all, except themselves. As time goes on in the real world, heartless greed seems to extend beyond obvious murders, pointless wars and bureaucratic power struggles. It now seems to involve the collapse of peoples' modest savings and homes so some amoral punk can grab millions of dollars and actually be proud of it. Today, there seems to be no guilt, which was the bane of Macbeth. Is this the new Dark Ages?

TylerDurden99

12-15-11, 06:26 AM

Purple Rain (1984) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/2.5box.gif+
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Purple Rain is a visually cool, but very hollow film that failed with me for a few reasons. I like Prince's music, but not enough to call myself a fan. His soundtrack for Purple Rain features some of his best work, especially the wonderful title track, but he just doesn't cut it in the lead role. Not very talented in the acting area and his character is really unlikeable. Plus, I found a few scenes mishandled and not needed. On the plus side, the finale where Prince & The Revolution play "Purple Rain" brought chills to my spine and the scene where Prince confronts his father playing the piano is genuinely moving. Overall, I liked it's '80's vibe and music, but most of the time, it isn't deserving of your attention.

Wayne's World (1992) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif
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Big Trouble In Little China (1986) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif
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A likeable enough action-adventure, with Kurt Russell on top form as Jack Burton and some exciting set pieces.

akatemple

12-15-11, 05:35 PM

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Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Written by: James Bridges and D.F. Jones

This is another example of a movie I should have watched years ago but anyways. At the beginning of the movie we learn that the United States has completed there self-sufficient, impregnable, impervious, A.I computer called Colossus, the Brainchild of Dr. Charles Forbin (Braeden). The purpose of this computer is to automate the defense system for the United States thereby completely remove the annoying human element from the decision making process regarding nuclear weapons. The thinking behind that is that we can’t trust ourselves with that kind of power because humans are volatile, erratic, and usually use their emotions to make decisions rather than making logical decisions. When they flip the switch on Colossus they are basically opening Pandora’s Box, Colossus discovers that the Russians have also came up with their own version called Guardian and the two computers begin communicating with each other and eventually combine there computing resources to become one ever-growing, faster learning god like mechanical entity that decides that humans have their uses but should not be left in charge of managing themselves or the planet, so the computer decides to take control of everything and uses nuclear annihilation as it’s means to an end. Dr. Forbin must find a way of stopping Colossus before the computer can turn the human race into slaves, once Colossus realizes this he keeps the Dr. locked in his room unless absolutely needed, but is nice enough to give the good Dr. some female companionship when Colossus decides he needs it.

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I thought this was a really good movie, considering that this film came out in 1970 it seems like maybe this was a catalyst for the Terminator or Matrix films, in that the system created by humans surpasses it’s programming and reaches the point of self realization, and basically making humans it’s bitch. If you haven’t seen this movie then I highly recommend watching this.

3

thracian dawg

12-16-11, 10:28 PM

Bananas!* (2006) - Gertten
Jiminy crickets! This is one depressing documentary---and kind of boring since the majority of the scenes are taken from the court room cameras and legal strategy talk. The culpability of the Dole company is obvious when the pesticide was banned everywhere in the world for causing sterility, so they simply moved their operations to Latin America where they could spray their illiterate workers with impunity. The film is touted as a David versus Goliath story but it's more like another day in the life of Goliath who slices another challengers head clean off at the neck. The accident Lawyer foresees a whole string of lucrative cases. The first one is mildly successful. Unfortunately the epilogue reveals with the second case, the big corporate law firm simply tarred and feathered the lawyer as a pathological liar and a cheat, effectively ruining his career and ending any further litigation against the corporation. Rather than wasting it's money trying to suppress this film, The Dole company should actually help distribute it. The perils of penniless individuals going up against mega-corporations who can litigate for decades is obvious: they will kill you dead---in this case, over the price of a single banana.

2

Noah Chomsky and the Media (1992) - Achbar & Wintonick
Originally released in 92, I found this documentary just slightly dated and a little simple. Although it may still might be a good introduction primer for anyone unclear on the level of thought control in democratic societies; the filters haven't changed all that much. Some things in the film even work a little better now. The Nim chimpsy reference pops with the recent release of Project Nim. Also Helen Tomas is held up as a bright example of a great independent journalist in the film; now she's the perfect cautionary tale of the perils of deviating from the official lines. The final scene encapsulates a current idea (that may have originated here) now circulating widely, that democracy is not only important, but it may actually be essential for human survival. Since the system is locked in a death spiral.

2.5
　
Still small voices (2007) - Azzopardi
Low budget mystery. Granted, there's a little bit of effort involved getting over the rickety set-up: a 911 operator receives a call from a dead girl, but once over that hump and into the actual heart of the film, it's an easy watch. Catherine Bell spends a lot of time in Capri pants. Yowzer!

3

Sunrise: a song of two humans (1927) - Murnau
There's a real confidence in the camera work; the framing and the variety of shots and editing (montage). Loved the glimpse at the traffic back then---that was completely insane: no traffic lights, no right of way, although the tramways kept to their tracks, everyone else went their merry way, from cars to pedestrians to horse and buggies. The carnival game where you hit a widget and make a live piglet fall down a slide? One funny gag: they're getting their picture taking in a big city photography studio and they accidentally knock over a winged victory statue when the photographer disappears into an adjoining room. Of course, being country bumpkins they scramble to look for, but never find for her missing arms and head.

3
　
The Killing of Sister George (1968) - Aldrich
There's a great clash between the warm hearted and affectionate nurse this actress plays on her long running soap and the slightly vulgar and boozy woman she is in real life. She lives with Childie, who seems about 20 years younger than her--and she mistreats her something fierce. Sister George has the distinct impression they are going to kill off her character, which will make great changes in her life.

There's a wonderfully sticky layer of the sexual politics between the three main characters. On one hand, there seems to be something slightly masochistic in Childie's relationship with Sister George and when the TV producer makes a play for her, this same power relationship seems to repeat itself however, maybe Childie is the one wielding all the power.

3.5

The Five Obstructions (2003) - Leth
A wonderful glimpse at Von Trier's film making process. Wow! The first 20 minutes of this film are almost electrifying. With Von Trier's restrictions on his short film commissions, he literally places his hands on the throat of this other director and begins to wring the great art from him. Unfortunately, the other director beats a hasty retreat from the psychic discomfort and dizzying heights from where Von Trier has tossed him---and since film is a collaborative medium he has no choice but to follow him backwards from raw invention to familiar mannerisms; emotionally safe cliches and commercial templates. Gradually the film loses all it's sizzle.

3.5

JayDee

12-17-11, 08:06 PM

Another few small reviews which I think clears my backlog of films to write about

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Yojimbo / Sanjuro

Two highly enjoyable films from Akira Kurosawa as he reunites with one of the stars from The Seven Samurai, Toshiro Mifune.

Smartly written, wonderfully directed and with charismatic turns from Mifune as Sanjuro they are another couple of cracking samurai efforts from Kurosawa. They are both very good films but I would perhaps slightly give the edge to Sanjuro. Yojimbo is perhaps the 'better' film but with Sanjuro emphasising more comedy than its predecessor I found it more 'enjoyable.' I was actually quite surprised by just how much comedy there was, especially the odd moment where it approaches something slightly slapstick.

Oh and Yojimbo has a wonderful scene that I just loved. It's a fairly small moment but there was just something about it that put a big smile on my face. It's actually the opening scene where this wandering ronin comes to a crossroads and chooses his path by throwing a stick in the air, following the direction that it points him in. Just a small moment but which I felt perfectly captured the character and his motivations.

Yojimbo – 4 / Sanjuro – 4

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Mirage

I don't know how well known this film is, or what the general feeling about it is, however I absolutely loved it! I just found it to be a fantastic, absorbing story right from the first moments.

Filmed in black and white and in location in New York city the film certainly looks great, really evoking the city in the 60s. The film also earns itself at least one or two stars for Walter Matthau alone. His performance as a quirky private detective is wonderful, an absolute joy. Sadly that means the film takes a big hit when he departs.

While it perhaps lacks the sophistication of a Hitchcock film it is certainly made in that same vein, and I just thought it was great fun.

4+

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Trading Places

While I still found this enjoyable I have to admit to being a bit disappointed as well. It didn't live up to my memory of it. I had even been thinking this was perhaps a film that could/should have just snuck into my top 100 but after going back to sadly not. It still has some funny moments and some great performances from the cast, Eddie Murphy in particular, but just not the classic comedy I remembered.

3.5++

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The Man in the White Suit

While this film still suffered from some of the same problems as Whisky Galore and Passport to Pimlico (old-fashioned, twee) it was on a different level to those two. It's not quite as cosy and quaint, bringing in a bit of clever satire. And it has a great finale as Guinness' character is chased through the streets by what has become essentially a lynch mob. What elevated this particular film however was probably the performance of Alec Guinness.

Mark told me I had to see some more of Alec Guinness' work. Having seen Bridge on River Kwai, Lavender Hill Mob and now this over the last few months I think you may be on to something Mark.

3.5

akatemple

12-17-11, 08:22 PM

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Before the Fall (2008)
Directed by: F. Javier Gutierrez
Written by: Juan Velarde

This is a Pre-Apacolyptic movie, and a kind of interesting one at that, the movie starts with the people of a small village learning about the meteor coming towards Earth and nobody can do anything about it, so they say everyone will be dead in a few days. But the Apocalyptic part of it only takes like five percent of the movie, the rest of the story lies somewhere else. When all the panic from the meteor starts getting everybody moving the police abandon their post allowing everyone to escape from prison, this normally would be just part of the ordeal but the main character Ale and his mother have something else to worry about. Ale’s brother Tomas put a man in prison a number of years back and the man always swore he would kill Tomas and his family, Ale’s mother finds out about the prison breaks and knows this is going to happen. Ale’s mother goes to see her grandkids and spend some time with them before the end of the world, the kids do not know about the news and Tomas their father is out of town. After the death of one of the last remaining family members Ale knows that the convict is close and goes into fortifying there little house to keep the kids safe. The convict does show up and finds out that Tomas is out of town and not there so he decides to try and pick off the kids and Ale one by one.

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This was a good movie and a good story but the world is coming to an end and they only bring it up at the beginning of the movie, so I think it just goes without saying that the ending to this movie sucks and just leaves you wanting to know more

2

rice1245

12-18-11, 03:06 AM

The Graduate: 5/5
http://www.xtra.ca/blog/vancouver/image.axd?picture=the-graduate.jpg
It was a rewatch but it definitely reinvigorated my love for the movie. I forced my boyfriend to watch it with me and he loved it too, this coming from a 20 year old boy whose movie collection consists of every Will Ferrel movie ever made, i've been educating him slowely ;) But that's proof that this movie is able to transcend generations as far as being awesomely entertaining but also having an interesting message and I freaking love Dustin Hoffman.

also, i'm ashamed to say it has been so long that i've forgotten how to do the popcorn ratings...so for now here's 5/5

Tyler1

12-18-11, 03:20 AM

^ Great movie. I dont know how to do the popcorn ratings as well. :eek:

akatemple

12-18-11, 11:43 AM

popcorn rating

[*rating]5[*/rating]

This is the 5/5 popcorn rating, just remove the *

Tyler1

12-18-11, 01:01 PM

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance
http://www.slantmagazine.com/images/dvd/koyaanisqatsipowaqqatsi.jpg

I dont know what to say of this "movie". It actually isnt a movie in the strictest sense of the word... Not a single word is said in this film, which i find absolutely puzzling for a film which seeks to observe human behaviour. And since speech is an integral part of what makes us human, why did the director choose to film this without spoken word? The soundtrack used is repetitive, but never superfluous. Some of the scenes I feel however, are redundant such as the moving cars on the roads.

The final sequence in this film is spectacular: a rocket blasts off to space, a few seconds later imploding in the air. The camera follows a burnt piece of scrap metal of the once glorious space rocket as it descends from the sky, highlighting the consequences of (unbridled?) human ambition.
Overall: 4

meatwadsprite

12-18-11, 02:48 PM

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mark f

12-18-11, 04:36 PM

Since Koyaanisqatsi does mean "life out of balance", perhaps that's a good reason to not have any dialogue or narration. It's also true that although the film is a bit critical of technologically-advanced Mankind, it really is about all humans, so we have far too many different languages to incorporate into a film which wants to basically describe our current state through imagery. Philip Glass's score does repeat the mantra of the title which is in the Hopi language.

Tyler1

12-18-11, 08:33 PM

so we have far too many different languages to incorporate into a film which wants to basically describe our current state through imagery.

If that is the case then I am astonished to see that this film showed North American cities ONLY. You are quite right that there are too many languages that could be used. I'm curious as to why Japanese or Chinese or any other civilisations are not shown at all.

And I agree that Koyaanisqatsi was rather critical of technology, "life out of balance" makes me wonder about the motives of this film. What does it mean to be "out of balance"? From the superfluous use of images which show how overpopulated we are, does it mean that the balance can be corrected if the numbers are made right? Or the "out of balance" simply means that we are too reliant on technology (as seen from the final sequence of the failing space rocket); that we are not living closer enough to nature?

akatemple

12-19-11, 02:20 AM

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) – I watched this right when it came out and honestly did not remember anything because I was quite faced when I saw it. With the sequel coming out sometime soon I thought I should watch it again and see what I think. This is a good movie if you are just in the mood for really unrealistic violence and action scenes, my favorite character growing up was Snake Eyes, and he is awesome in this movie. So again a good movie if you just want to see some violence. 3

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An American Werewolf in London (1981) – This is a movie I have not watched in probably 10 years until it randomly came on TV the other day and I thought it was time to watch it again even though there were commercials and stuff was cut out. But even with the commercials and all this is still a great movie that everyone should see at least once. 4

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Road Trip (2000) – I was extremely bored and this thing came on TV and I cannot explain it but I watched this thing. This is just another example of stuff everyone has seen in tons of movies before, Seann William Scott being the college douche, Tom Green being annoying (seriously how did he get so famous) and Amy Smart well just playing her normal part of getting naked and that’s the only reason to watch the movie which really makes me wonder why I watched this on TV. 1

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I Love You, Man (2009) – I have seen this movie many times, this is just a movie if your ever wanting a good laugh to watch. Paul Rudd is awesome in this movie about him trying to find a friend, when he finally does it goes a little over the top but just is all good laughs and a good ending. 3

JayDee

12-19-11, 04:55 PM

American Werewolf is a great film and I love I Love You, Man. "Slappa da bass man!" :D

akatemple

12-19-11, 06:21 PM

I have never looked at the soundtrack for I Love You, Man but I wonder now if it is all Rush songs.

Pyro Tramp

12-19-11, 06:47 PM

A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

Very dumb comedy. Worth watching if you're a fan of the others but it's not quite as surreal or outrageous. Lacks focus and is naturally contrived with less interesting set pieces but some enjoyable cast additions. NPH is the highlight, yet again, and gave some laugh out loud moments. I'd find it hard to recommend if you don't watch it stoned as a lot of the humour is stupid and childish, a sober mind would make you roll your eyes and wonder who the hell thought this would be funny. Combined with the 3D that is very self aware, along with a lot of the script, it plays at the fact you're probably high already or just aware the movie itself is a joke.

3

akatemple

12-19-11, 06:50 PM

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Harsh Times (2005)
Directed by: David Ayer
Written by: David Ayer

This is another one of those movies I watched when I was really faded so I decided to watch it again seeing as I don’t remember anything from my first viewing. I really liked this movie I am a big fan of Christian Bale and Freddy Rodriguez. Jim (Christian Bale) is an ex army ranger who was honorably discharged trying to find a job as a cop in Los Angeles, his best friend Mike (Freddy Rodriguez) is also looking for a job just to make his girlfriend happy, but when these two get together the job hunting goes out the window and they just spend the day drinking and smoking. You can tell from the beginning that Jim is the Alpha Male in this movie, also that he is quite crazy and always getting himself into crazy and sometimes dangerous situations. They never really say in the film but I am guessing that Jim is dealing with PTSD after coming back from Iraq, this explains a lot about the way he behaves and some of the flashbacks that happen during the film. Jim does not get a job with the police but instead get’s offered a job with the DEA and is going to have to take a drug test, the scene with the saline solution and the turkey bayster just made me hurt all over. After Jim gets the job he wants to take Mike and another of his friends down to Mexico to see his girlfriend and get a couple nights of partying under their belt before they both have to get serious with their new jobs. This is where it just starts going crazy, Jim seriously starts to lose his mind and Mike is barely able to control him, I really can’t say anymore about the ending without giving away to much.

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I really liked this movie I thought it was great acting by Christian Bale and especially Freddy Rodriguez. I wish they had of said why he was honorably discharged out of the army maybe that would have answered the question of why Jim is so messed up. American Psycho was definitely where Christian Bale got to show off how great he is at playing a psycho but Harsh Times gave Bale another chance to show what he can do to make you (the audience) scared about what he is going to do next which happens in quite a few scenes in this movie. If you haven’t seen this it does not matter what Genre you are into everyone should watch this.

4

linespalsy

12-20-11, 03:20 PM

The last ten:

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/death%20defying%20acts.jpg

Death Defying Acts (Gillian Armstrong, 2007)
This highly fanciful movie is about Houdini's encounter with a mother-daughter pair of con-artist performers, and their attempt to win $10,000 by contacting the spirit of his dead mother. I doubt there's much historical truth to the love that develops between Houdini (Guy Pearce) and the psychic Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta Jones) but it's portrayed with a lot of emotional sensitivity and cinematic lushness. Really enjoyed this great romance.
3.5

Master of the Flying Guillotine (Wang Yu, 1976)
"Jimmy" Wang (Yu) directed and starred in this over-the-top sequel to the one-armed boxer. Most of the movie is a pretty run-of-the-mill chop sockie with some mild spice added by the plethora of outlandish martial-arts styles. Fortunately it really starts moving near the end, as Wang (the one-armed boxer) comes up with a whole slew of highly creative dirty tricks to defeat the titular villain (who also happens to be a blind geriatric).
2.5

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The Passenger (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1976)
Indeterminate plot points, vague politics and thematic structure, but in spite of that I liked it and never found it boring. I think it kind of helps that Antonioni doesn't even try to build up much credibility in the two main characters, so I didn't end up feeling too frustrated that the story appears somewhat vacant. I would rate it lower but for a few things that most viewers probably don't care about (so feel free to drop my popcorn rating by a box or so). One of those "things" is pictured above.
3

Cliffhanger (Renny Harlin, 1993)
My favorite part about this is the setting for an action movie, otherwise I found it pretty bland.
2.5

Lethal Weapon 4 (Richard Donner, 1998)
This one likewise has a couple good action sequences, but damn do I find the attempts at humor and emotion overly precious and corny. I think it helped me pinpoint my main problem with the franchise in general: a constant barrage of generic witty banter delivered by Mel Gibson, who seems to be trying too hard to be funny. I think it's mostly the writer's fault though, since the attempts to back him up with other funny actors fall even more flat (Chris Rock delivering the obligatory cell phone rant). The beginning is the funniest (and best) part.
2 (probably a low 2.5 if I was being more mature about being annoyed.)

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Last Tango in Paris (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1972)
Marlon Brando plays a character who tries to "lose himself in the moment" by having lots of sex with a willing young woman. There are some other things going on with the woman, who's in a film directed by her oblivious boyfriend, but for the most part the movie seems to be both anti-intellectual and anti-emotional, while also expressing dissatisfaction with everything. Worth watching for Brando's performance of a performance, and for its daring visual style. Those two things kept me from getting too annoyed with it, so this rating seems a little low to me.
2.5

Holiday Inn (Mark Sandrich, 1942)
On the other hand I don't feel bad at all about rating this "classic" turkey a low 2. I'd probably rate it even lower if it weren't for the bizarre black-face tribute to Abe Lincoln.

The Party (Blake Edwards, 1968)
The opening scene re-making Gunga Din is hilarious.
2.5

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Young Guns (Christopher Cain, 1988)
Solid "revisionist" western with enough good scenes and lines to fill a couple movies. It also has some borderline-corny bits and a preposterous escape at the end, but it's important to remember that by that point in the story the characters have all explicitly become larger-than-life folk (anti)heroes. Emilio Estevez revels in that aspect of the role and gives his best performance.
3.5

What About Bob? (Frank Oz, 1991)
Decent performances by both Murray and Dreyfuss. Besides that I think its humor is a bit darker than some of Oz's other movies and works better.
2.5+

Brodinski

12-20-11, 03:41 PM

The Passenger (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1976)
Indeterminate plot points, vague politics and thematic structure, but in spite of that I liked it and never found it boring. I think it kind of helps that Antonioni doesn't even try to build up much credibility in the two main characters, so I didn't end up feeling too frustrated that the story ends up appearing somewhat vacant. I would rate it lower but for a few things that most viewers probably don't care about (so feel free to drop my popcorn rating by a box or so). One of those things is pictured above.

I think that one of the reasons why Antonioni doesn't build Nicholson's credibility as a reporter is, because that's not part of his purpose or absolutely necessary to advance the plot. Everything is very low-key; the viewer must deduct much for Nicholson's behaviour. And then when he finally adopts someone else's identity, there's an interesting exploration of the consequences of doing so. This is one of those films that rewards repeated viewings, especially because there's little dialogue and much has to be deduced through behaviour. I've only watched it twice myself (and plan to watch it again soon), but you really do pick up on little things you hadn't noticed before.

Add to that Nicholson's stellar performance. Seriously, I haven't ever seen him as good as he is in The Passenger, except for As Good As It Gets and Chinatown. It's mind-blowing excellence really.

Still, knowing how critical you are of films, 3 means you still found it to be quite good.

Nice entry there, lines, by the way.

Sedai

12-20-11, 04:48 PM

I would have to rate The Passenger a bit higher than that, personally. I think it's one of Jack's top 3 performances, really.

linespalsy

12-20-11, 05:40 PM

Nice entry there, lines, by the way.

Thanks. And I appreciate that you recognized that I like it from my "low" rating. Right now I think my favorite Nicholson performance is in Easy Rider, but he was great in so many movies, including The Passenger.

After one viewing, I'm not sure I agree that the film really explores the consequences of swapping identities with a dead illegal arms-smuggler. There's just so little psychological or plot narrative behind Jack's character that it seems kind of silly to me when it's suggested -- by Maria Schneider -- that he's even looking for something as basic as a cause or motive. There seemed to be some vague metaphorical implication that Maria represents an abstracted viewer-within-a-film type character, along with her study of strange architectural spaces that mimic nature, and that was interesting to me, as well as the vicarious thrill of experiencing some of those and other odd spaces - in the Sahara, in Barcelona and in the Hotel at the end.

Overall I certainly enjoyed it even if I can see why others might find it pretty dull and/or frustrating. But I'm glad you and Sedai like it as well.

mark f

12-20-11, 07:59 PM

I like Nicholson better in Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Cuckoo's Nest, Chinatown, The Last Detail, Carnal Knowledge, As Good As It Gets, Terms of Endearment and probably a few more. However, I know that Holden really loves Jack in The Passenger, so there must be more there than meets my eye. I think the thing which is so interesting about this performance is that it IS JUST SO understated. That's not what you think of from Jack.

Tyler1

12-20-11, 09:28 PM

I guess I have to clear all of the Antonioni hate in my system and give The Passenger a chance.

mark f

12-20-11, 09:50 PM

Have you watched Blowup? That's easily my fave.

Tyler1

12-20-11, 09:59 PM

Have you watched Blowup? That's easily my fave.

Blowup, L'avventura and L'Eclisse. The best of the three is Blowup. But I cant stand the other two.

linespalsy

12-20-11, 10:15 PM

I haven't seen Blowup in years, it's overdue for a re-watch. Of the ones I've seen more recently it's a toss-up between Red Desert and The Passenger, but given your hatred of L'avventura, I don't know if you'd get a whole lot more out of either of them.

mark f

12-20-11, 10:16 PM

Zabriskie Point has to be the worst.

linespalsy

12-20-11, 10:17 PM

Then maybe I'll watch that next! :D

akatemple

12-21-11, 04:53 PM

I love how Netflix has almost all of the Mystery Science Theater available for Streaming.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus – 4.5

MST3K: The Movie – 4.5

MST3K: Gamera – 4.5

MST3K: Soultaker – 4.5

MST3K: The Atomic Brain – 4.5

MST3K: The Unearthly – 4.5

MST3K: The Girl in Gold Boots – 5

MST3K: The Final Sacrifice – 3

MST3K: Beginning of the End – 4.5

TylerDurden99

12-21-11, 10:29 PM

Last Action Hero (1993) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif
http://yesterdaysmovies.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/last_action_hero.jpg

I Love You, Man (2009) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif+
http://hwcdn.themoviedb.org/posters/0ea/4c8c0caa5e73d609ed0000ea/i-love-you-man-mid.jpg

The Waterboy (1998) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif
http://movi.ca/im/mio/thewaterboydvd.jpg

Boogie Nights (1997) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/5box.gif
http://www.publispain.com/posters/boogie_nights.jpg

Sexy Celebrity

12-23-11, 08:09 PM

The Sitter
http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Jonah-Hill-The-Sitter.jpg
0 (in case you can't tell, that's 0 popcorn boxes right there.)

Do not bother with it. COMPLETE DRECK.

Pyro Tramp

12-23-11, 08:16 PM

Contagion

Pretty dull and unfocussed ensemble piece. Some good performances but stretched too thin for the widely talented cast to get much out of. Wasn't a lot of urgency to the outbreak or sense of threat. Tuned out a lot towards the end.

2

Tyler1

12-23-11, 10:40 PM

Also from my Japanese Canon thread:

Grave Of The Fireflies (Takahata, 1988)
http://img.dooyoo.co.uk/GB_EN/orig/0/3/4/9/2/349258.jpg

Grave Of The Fireflies reduces me to a bawling baby everytime I watch it. It is the highest ranking anime on my top favourite movie list. What sets Grave of the Fireflies apart from most of the Japanese anime is that it has that human heart; and it would reach out and rip your heart to shreds. Its simplicity is what makes it work. Unlike the beautifully crafted anime such as Akira, Ghost In The Shell and Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies chose to abandon dazzling visuals in favour of tugging at your heart-strings.

The anime follows the story of the young boy and his sister (Seita and Setsukuo) as they overcome the loss of their mother and father as they try to survive during the last weeks of the war. Blamed and dismissed by one of their relatives for being a burden (as the aunt believes that they were not contributing to the war efford and deserve lesser food than her family), Seita and Setsukuo flee to the countryside and live in an abandoned bomb shelter.

Metaphor of the Firefly
Setsukuo and Seita live near a garden of fireflies. Note the similarites of the firefly and the incendaries which are dropped onto Tokyo. In one scene, Setsukuo marvelled at the distant bombs, comparing them to fireflies,although it would be far-fetched to link benovolent-looking flies to the death-bringing bombs.
Surrounded by darkness (the world around Setsukuo and Seita is indifferent or even hostile towards them) , yet they struggle to stay optimistic and survive. Everyone around them seems to be preoccupied with their own needs; taking little notice of the plight of the 2 children. Indeed, Setsukuo and Seita are like fireflies.

Use of animation: One of the strengths of animation is that it is able to portray characters without resorting to over-sentimentalisation. We dont empathise with Setsukuo and Seita because they are special, but because they represent one of the many unfortunate families caught in the whirlwind of war. This is something which live actors fail to convey; as it is easier for us to put ourselves into the shoes of the universal characters.

“The Grave”
When Setsukuo dies and is cremated on top of a hillside, we see the fireflies surrounding her, and it struck me as to how spiritual this scene was. That final scene is absolutely beautiful and poignant at the same time-we see the spirits of Setsukuo and Seita finally united as they look down onto the modern Tokyo cityscape. This grave, in actual fact, represents all those lost souls who died during the war.

5

mark f

12-24-11, 07:47 AM

Not too much to say here. I mean, I'm awake and can mention the last few movies I've seen without going into too much depth or pain.

Harlan County USA (Barbara Kopple, 1976) 3 - This is a movie which hits home with simple people and I don't mean that as an insult. The families here may speak differently than I do, but I realize how significant the real-life events in this documentary affect the heart and soul of America. It's a powerful film and something which most people nowadays don't even realize although it's recurring: the fact that people live and die, often at the whim of somebody who doesn't really care even how they do or even if they somehow cause it.

Where the Money Is (Marek Kanievska, 2000) 2.5 - Paul Newman is good, as always, and Linda Fiorentino is one tremendously-sexy 40+-year-old in this caper flick which certainly keeps your attention, even if it never amounts to anything too great. Dermot Mulroney is also very pumped up for those who enjoy sleek male bodies, but his character is still a wimp compared to his high school sweetheart/wife Linda. It's not a bad flick, but I do wish it were better.

Meet Me in St. Louis (Vincente Minnelli, 1944) 4 - A wonderful film to watch any time of the year but especially near Halloween and Christmas. I recall a MoFo or two around here badmouthing the "children" characters in the flick, but that just separates me from the naysayers in any legit reason concerning anything too serious they have to say about movies, history, culture or families. This is one of the all-time classics, so check it out if you don't think I'm already too-far gone.

Foul Play (Colin Higgins, 1978) 4 - Colin Higgins left us far too young when he died in his forties from AIDS, but at least, he gave us the immortal script for Harold and Maude and a few wonderful commercial flicks, the best of which was this Hitchcockian pastiche. Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn make an electric team, even if they don't approach Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, but they are working in a different era, and I can remember fondly, every single time I watched this in the theatre (at least eight or nine times), the fact that the finale generated more laugh-out-loud noise than almost any other flick I can think of, at least the other side of Richard Pryor Live in Concert. Of course, that one's a very personal flick for me and this one is very personal for probably a lot more people. You must realize how great I think this film is; it's got a Barry Mannilow theme song and at the time I was 100% sure it was the best flick of its year! Nowadays, I tend to act all snooty and say Days of Heaven, but that's not necessarily anything for me to be proud about.

akatemple

12-25-11, 05:04 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/l_p1003745874.jpg

Dumplings (2004)
Directed by: Fruit Chan
Written by: Pik Wah Li

A wealthy woman, Mrs. Lee is losing her good looks and she fears her husband as well. To try and boost her looks and self-esteem she tries to find Aunt Mei (Bai Ling) a local chef, Mei cooks special dumplings which she claims to help you look more youthful. From the beginning Mrs. Lee is aware that Mei uses unborn fetuses “imported” from the abortion clinic where Mei used to work. Mrs. Lee keeps seeking more powerful youthful remedies and turns out she is in luck, Mei performs a black market abortion on a girl five months pregnant who was impregnated by her father. There was a really disturbing part when Mei reveals that she has done more than 30,000 abortions in China.
Mrs. Lee get’s a look in the kitchen and sees the fetus, being initially disgusted and leaving (rookie mistake, you never look in the kitchen at a Chinese restaurant) but wanting to look young she later comes back for the delicious fetus dumplings which Mrs. Lee devours, and has an amazing affect on her libido making her husband temporarily happy. There is a disturbing flashback where they show the young girl and her mother walking, the girl collapses on the road and the mother can only watch as the girl whispers “I don’t want to die” then slips away (never really sais but I am guessing it’s from a ruptured uterus from the abortion).

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/dumplings1.jpg

When Mrs. Lee starts smelling like fish in front of her friends she gets really embarrassed and immediately calls Mei, Mei tells her that the inbred fetuses are the most potent causing the smell. Mr. Lee overhears the conversation and goes to see Mei himself, he decides to try a dumpling for himself to see if it works and then has some crazy sex with Mei finding out that she is really sixty-four years old (but she looks like Bai Ling) and credits her youthfulness to her cannibalism. Mrs. Lee realizes that she cannot stay young without more and more of Mei’s dumplings, however by now Mei is now Mr. Lee’s mistress and ignores any pleas for more dumplings from Mrs. Lee. Cutting to the apartment of the girl with the inbred fetus the police break in and find that the mother has stabbed her sick husband nearly to death. I did not make the connection but in the movie somehow the police while searching the apartment they find out Mei’s identity and raid her apartment but Mei has already fled. The ending is disturbing (not that the rest of the movie isn’t) and has a twist ending that I thought was good and fitting for the movie.

3.5

Sexy Celebrity

12-25-11, 10:46 PM

http://www.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2011/08/13/the-help-behind-the-scenes-on-the-movie/_jcr_content/body/inlineimage.img.jpg/1313268380421.jpg
THE HELP
(directed by Tate Taylor, 2011)

The Help is an instant classic -- a wonderfully non-boring comedic drama/period piece revolving around the lives of black house servants in the early 1960's. Emma Stone is here to get the stories from all of these women, who were treated like nobodies. I thought it was going to be not my kind of movie, but these characters were fabulous and the story is well told and has the perfect balance of charm, delight and seriousness. Even its darkest, more depressing moments are treated with vigor and life. Never dull. Viola Davis' praise for this movie is a bit overrated, though -- Octavia Spencer was better and so was Jessica Chastain and Allison Janney. Bryce Dallas Howard was totally unrecognizable to me and she did a great job playing a nasty character. Chris Lowell was very sexy as Emma Stone's beau, Sissy Spacek still rocks and Cicely Tyson was divine.
5

http://ology.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/post-image/ryan-gosling-crazy-stupid-love-trailer-04072011-lead.jpg
Crazy, Stupid, Love
(directed by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, 2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a mostly forgettable, incoherent, sloppy, though sometimes interesting piece starring Steve Carell as a man who's just been separated with his wife (Julianne Moore) who has cheated on him and now wants a divorce. Ryan Gosling comes in to turn Steve into a real man instead of a sobbing, style-less mess. The movie had real promise in the beginning but unfortunately it turned into a sappy fixation about finding your one true soul mate and never giving up on what your heart wants -- I didn't buy it one bit. The film lacks real intelligence and honesty. A couple of funny scenes here and there, but mostly, Crazy, Stupid, Love is exactly what it says it is -- stupid. I enjoyed it, but I'm bothered by it. I swear to God it almost felt like two different movies when Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were together and Steve Carell was off somewhere else. Ryan and Emma's story was a lot more interesting -- Steve Carell and Julianne Moore's story should have been trashed. Kevin Bacon is totally wasted as the man Julianne Moore had an affair with and then there's a bizarre subplot about Steve Carell's son who has a SERIOUS crush on his babysitter. I dunno -- not much thought and experience was put into this movie. It felt like a very early rough draft. 2.5

akatemple

12-26-11, 02:42 AM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/the_man_from_earth1.jpg

The Man From Earth (2007)
Directed by: Richard Schenkman
Written by: Jerome Bixby

As professor John Oldman (David Smith) is getting ready to leave town after being there for only ten years all of his good friends, a biologist, a archeologist, a psychiatrist and other professor’s come by to see him off. Not with the best judgment he starts to propose a topic of a person starting off as a caveman and not dying, what would that person experience and how would that affect everything. This movie gets into a lot of religious discussion as John sais he was a caveman and just kept living, eventually studying with Buddha and then becoming whom we know today as Jesus Christ. There is much more to the story then that according to John, he goes on to tell that history changes the more and more stories are passed down and rewritten and so on. The part about him being Jesus was really interesting to me because it was just such an interesting thing to think about, he said that the Bible got it all wrong and that he was just doing the stuff Buddha had taught him, basically being a good person, he says that the Sermon on the Mount was not that big of a deal, a few people were there but most of them left. John cannot scar so when asked to see the nail holes in his hands that is his answer also that they did not use nails but rope to tie him up, the discussion can go on forever if you ask me.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/the-man-from-earth.jpg

John has no proof to give anyone so the movie is really just a long and interesting philosophical debate about whether or not this is even possible. The ending is amazing and sad, this film really leaves you with stuff to think about and discuss with others, probably getting yourself into a huge argument but that’s just how good I thought this was, it is worth it.

4

mack

12-26-11, 05:47 AM

Conan the Barbarian - 2.5/5
Jason Momoa has come a long way since Stargate Atlantis, and I have to say that his stint as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones really gave him some street cred as a barbarian warlord. You know, oiled biceps and all that. Anyway, this one works because Momoa does hulking good guy with a limited vocabulary really well, and looks good doing it, so no bones there. So why the low rating? Because I like him better with heavy brows, a scruffy beard and dreads - you know, questionable ethnic origins and all that. Its like they cleaned him up and turned him into a 2000's remake of Fabio - wet hair and all. Its so......80s of them. Lets not go back to the 80s. :nope: The movie also distinctly felt like it was set in a middle eastern climate - sort of Ottoman empire-ish, and I expected a sultan or something to jump out at any time - yet none of the actors looked ...well.....middle eastern. It was kinda like when they cast Gyllenhaal as the Prince of PERSIA. I mean, seriously - cmon. They should have given the role to Oded Fehr - it wouldve at least been more believable. This flick plods along and is full of basic battle carnage - Im a girl that can really get into epic war films filled with blood, but this one seemed mediocre. Doable, for die hard fans.

Super 8 - 1/5
Saw this one with my bro, and as an avid alien invasion fan - was not impressed. The best way to describe it would be to characterize it as this generation's version of E.T. with a lot more carnage and near-death experiences. Edgier, but essentially the same story. Boy missing a parent discovers alien and govy conspiracy. Boy and friends "fight the man" and help alien. Rinse. Repeat. It was actually quite a bland movie - not attention grabbing at all, and I found the table conversation more interesting. But then, Im not a huge fan of the guy from Friday Night Lights.

akatemple

12-26-11, 03:02 PM

^ That is really weird, I watched both of those for the first time yesterday.

mack

12-27-11, 01:00 AM

hey, they say great minds think alike. ;)

mark f

12-27-11, 04:26 PM

The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen Before (William Friedkin, 1973/2000) 4

http://thatwasabitmental.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/the-exorcist.jpg

Years after the original release, Friedkin added almost 10 minutes to the film to show some of the physical/medical treatment for Regan before her meeting with Father Karras. Also added was a scene between Fathers Merrin and Karras during a lull in the actual exorcism, a brief prologue and epilogue and much of the sound was pumped up and some spare music was added to some of the original scenes to accentuate the suspense. Now, I mentioned before that I thought this version disrupted the flow of the film and threw off the pacing but I now have to admit that was not an accurate atatement. I believe this version can certainly stand up to the original and perhaps even surpass it since it may clarify a few things which went over people's heads the first time. There is nothing really in this version which detracts from anything that anybody loves about the original, and that even includes the spiderwalk.

Exorcist II: The Heretic (John Boorman, 1977) 2+

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ja51IYJlbws/TNmoa4vPcQI/AAAAAAAAJMo/tbGxi6Lxf3w/s1600/ex2.jpg

I rewatched this film which I labeled a camp classic just a few months ago, but it too seems to have improved with age. It doesn't seem as completely idiotic as it did originally. Part of this probably has to do with the fact that Boorman reedited the film after I watched it on opening day. Another thing going for it is that Boorman seems deadly serious in exploring the horrors of The Exorcist from a completely different perspective. In the original, we feel the demon is working to trash the faith of the two priests who ultimately perform the exorcism. Here, Regan is seen as a "super-good" person who attracts the demon Pazuzu who wants to destroy her. The original had carvings of a strange Iraqi demon to infer the dreaded evil. This film, which begins seriously enough, later introduces a locust stand-in for Pazuzu and when James Earl Jones shows up spitting an orange and the locusts attack Washington, D.C. a la The Swarm, the whole film turns laughable. While it's true that back in the day, the new scenes showing some of what might have happened in Regan's bedroom during the original exorcism would incur the wrath of the original's fans, nowadays, they simply seem silly and almost twisted in the way they reinterpret the events. However, The Heretic still has a trippy Ennio Morricone score, some evocative William A. Fraker cinematography, especially the set-bound scenes supposedly taking place in Africa, and a kind of misplaced desire to freak people out with that strobe machine/hypnosis do-hickey. It's not really as bad as I thought before, and it's certainly no worse than many horror films and sequels coming out in the late 1970s.

We Can't Go Home Again (Nicholas Ray, 1976) 2-

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2PsDgR0aL0/TrS5cdxlXeI/AAAAAAAAITc/ZMzViGYgKnk/s400/WE-CAN%2527T-GO-HOME-AGAIN.jpg

I'm being generous with my rating for this experimental film which Ray attempted to finish before his death although he never quite completed it. The content of the film is almost incomprehensible but the form is somewhat interesting. Often times the screen is framed by some red outline and inside this area, there are often four images projected at once. Each image also comes with dialogue, sound and/or music. The frames could be interracting with each other or seemingly showing things which are not interrelated. Occasionally, more images may be superimposed over one of these four images, and then at other times there may be less than four images. What it all means is open to interpretation, but some of it is distinctly political in nature. This film as it is now runs about 90 minutes. It seems to take on more meaning if you watch it in conjunction with the following film.

Don't Expect Too Much (Susan Ray, 2011) 3

http://media.tiff.net/contents/stills/Dont-Expect-Too-Much.jpg

This documentary, about the attempt by broken director genius Nicholas Ray to take a class of amateur film students, teach them all from scratch how to perform most every single operation a filmmaker has to do to get a film made, and then put it all together in the form of an experimental film, is much more fascinating than Ray's unfinished movie. It also helps you to put some faces and backgrounds to the actual film We Can't Go Home Again because we see the film students' personalities and concerns in the documentary, and after all, these are the same people who are the actors in Ray's film. In other words, the documentary, besides explaining a lot about Nicholas Ray and the process of making a film, adds some context which the original film doesn't bother to include within itself. This film runs about 70 minutes.

Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980) 4

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Anybody calling this a "mellow Ken Russell flick" seems out of his mind but I stand by that statement based on most of the work he had done during the previous decade. Somehow this film is able to juggle intellectualism, extreme drug use, sensory deprivation tanks, the search for the first self, the concept of faith, at least in the context of loving another person, religious imagery, especially of the Judeo-Christian ethic, sexual attraction and obsession. overlapping dialogue, genetic changes and reconstitution, etc., so obviously it has plenty of fish to fry and can topple over into absurdity at almost any moment. Screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky apparently thought it did and had his name removed from the screenplay credits, but Ken Russell got the last laugh as he was able to turn the whole thing into a 2001-ish trip while never being boring and filling the screen with memorable imagery provided by cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, complimented by an intense musical score by John Corigliano. William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban and Charles Haid all give solid acting turns, and look fast for several actors in early roles, including a pre-E.T. Drew Barrymore.

Sexy Celebrity

12-28-11, 02:51 AM

Picnic
(directed by Joshua Logan, 1955)
http://monsterhunter.coldfusionvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/PicnicPoster.jpg

Thoroughly enjoyed this. 5

Tyler1

12-28-11, 11:34 AM

Revisiting Kurosawa.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Ikiru_poster.jpg/220px-Ikiru_poster.jpg

There was a point in time when I considered Ikiru to be Kurosawa's greatest achievement. (Now the title would go to High And Low) The first half of the film is flawless. Upon second viewing however, I did not really like the last hour of the film which shows the flashbacks. IMO, Kurosawa should not have messed up the narrative. It would be better if we had the chance to witness how our dear character struggled and perservered, against all odds, to fight back against the system. The second half of the film shifts the film's focus to the bunch of drunk men who offered only glimpses of the final moments of the lead character. Had Kurosawa chosen to follow a linear narrative, this film would have been much better. Nevertheless, it's still a strong four out of five from me.

4

akatemple

12-28-11, 07:37 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/postera.jpg

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)
Directed by: Hark Tsui
Written by: Kuo-fu Chen and Jialu Zhang

Wu Zetian is about to become China’s first Empress and is building a giant standing Buddha that will be completed for the inauguration. Very weird murders start happening where people start catching fire and burning from the inside out, Wu Zetian is forced to bring in the best detective even though he is in prison for treason because he was against Wu becoming Empress. Detective Dee (Lau) has to put aside his feeling about the empire and try and solve the mystery of the Phantom Flame. There are some excellent fight scenes and some of your usual bizarre Asian characters thrown in such as an 6 armed enemy which turns out to be three people and can split into three and go back and fight as one person when it wants, definitely my favorite enemy and fight scene in the movie. The talking Deer and fighting Deer are also interesting and kind of disturbing if you’re an animal lover because Detective Dee has to fight the Deer in one scene.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/detectivedee.jpg

You find out that there is more to this mystery then the first impression you get, there are different factions who want the throne and ones that strictly oppose Wu Zetian from taking the throne. The tag-line says Crouching Tiger meets Sherlock Holmes and that is a really good description that I can’t say anything bad about, if you like Asian martial arts and crazy enemy’s and weapons then this is a really great movie, I liked this a lot and suggest this to all fans of this Genre.

3.5

Tyler1

12-29-11, 08:16 AM

The Hole (1998) - dir: Tsai Ming Liang

http://shihzhu.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/theholear8.jpg

I've seen this film 3 times in the past 2 weeks, because I loved it so much. Without the musical numbers the film observes alienation in modern appartment living dwellers. Add the infectious musical numbers and this film is just perfection. This is my favourite Tsai, followed by Goodbye Dragon Inn. 4.5

The Color Of Pomegranates - dir: Parajanov

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/The_Color_of_Pomegranates_cover_art.jpg

Visuals aside, i dont know what to think of this esoteric film. Maybe i'm not 'getting' what this film meant. This warrants a second viewing. All I can say is that this is like Tarkovsky, though more abstract and cold. 3

Pyro Tramp

12-29-11, 02:52 PM

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Fincher)

I had built my hopes up high for this one and after an incredible opening credits accompanied by that thumping Immigrant Song cover, I was expecting greatness. Sadly, it wasn't quite that satisfying. I think my main problem lies with a story more confident than it is, which also failed to make an impression the Swedish original. The ending is such a let down, there's an awkward lack of closure to the main narrative and the sub narrative is resolved in a very contrived and overly simple manner. Fincher didn't really bring much new to the table, except for his trademark visual style which fits in well with the setting. Skarsgard was excellent, however and excels in the type of role he was in and Mara performs a lot better than anticipated. Overall, it's a slightly more stylistic version but still feels redundant.

3_5

Sexy Celebrity

12-30-11, 08:03 AM

http://i.usatoday.net/life/_photos/2011/02/03/schneiderx-large.jpg
Last Tango in Paris 4.5
-- A great movie. I really love Marlon Brando in this. It could be a little better. The score bugs me somewhat and not in a good way.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EndYDAw5atw/TeQs0XjbVfI/AAAAAAAAAFw/NvMu428YFNw/s1600/three-amigos-med.jpg
Three Amigos! 2
-- It's not really funny. It's kinda charming and the movie is nice... in that rated PG way. But it should have been a lot better, especially coming from John Landis (not that I'm a huge John Landis fan, but I just think he should have done better.) It feels too much like a silly kid's movie to me, even though it does have some adult humor. Would probably be more enjoyable if you were intoxicated. Steve Martin is really the only interesting amigo.

honeykid

12-30-11, 12:02 PM

Steve Martin, Martin Short and Chevy Chase and you expected funny? That would go against almost everything they've ever done. :p

akatemple

12-30-11, 01:42 PM

Conan the Barbarian (2011) – This was a good hack and slash sword fighting movie, and even a good Conan movie but I did not see the Remake part, this just seemed like Conan 3, maybe it’s just me and it’s true I have not seen the original in a while but from what I remember of it the (2011) version had nothing in common with it, but if your wanting to see a huge muscular man slashing people up with a big sword then this is your movie. 2.5

Super 8 (2011) – I have been waiting to see this movie for a long time and was so horribly disappointed by this that I felt like all the reviews and people on TV had just been lying to me, you must remember that this is just my opinion. This movie to me was more like having two TV’s and watching E.T on one and Stand by Me on the other, put those two movies together and you get Super 8. 2

Hot Coffee (2011) – This is a great Documentary about the Judicial system, this starts with the lady who sued McDonalds because the coffee was too hot and she spilled it and burned herself, I have always thought that case was just ridiculous and a waste of money and then I watched this movie, there is so much to that case that they did not tell everyone and I am glad the lady got the money. Warning this movie will make you mad at how broken the Judicial system is, it is so pathetic that the girl that went to Iraq to help feed the starving people got drugged, gang raped, and beaten, then she went to talk to the higher ups at the company and because she signed her contract when she got hired the small print said that she signed away her right to sue or do anything that would harm the company so they just told her to either keep her mouth shut or quit. Everyone should watch this movie. 4

The Change-Up (2011) – I have been waiting quite a while to see this movie, I am so-so on Ryan Reynolds but a big fan of Jason Bateman. I thought this movie was hilarious, it is crude, raw, offensive to just about everyone and that just makes it so awesome because that is exactly what they were going for when they were making this movie. If you are just wanting a really good laugh and don’t mind really offensive language then I really suggest this movie to you. 3.5

Pyro Tramp

12-30-11, 09:10 PM

I've resolved to give Super 8 another go as just didn't see where the praise came from, seemed like a hollow Spielberg without the magic. Glad you liked Conan though, found it to be a pretty serviceable flick

Tyler1

12-30-11, 11:22 PM

Tale Of Tales (1979)
http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/movies/tale-of-tales.png

A charming, innocent piece of animation which has won the "Best animated film of all time" in two festivals. It did not live up to my expectations for the "best animated" film. 3

Dimensions of Dialogue (1982)
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A simple but direct work by surrealist Jan Svankmajer. And obscene. 5

The Old Man and the Sea (1999)
http://img.movieberry.com/static/photos/35286/poster.jpg
Painstakingly hand-painted and then made into a 20-min short animation which took years for completion. My highest recommendation 5

Tyler1

12-31-11, 06:35 AM

Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
http://www.weirdwildrealm.com/filmimages/sanshobailiff-box.jpg

Some of you may recall that when I first joined this site, I listed Sansho The Bailiff as my second favourite film of all time. It's been more than 1 year since I've last watched this masterpiece and so, I thought to myself, 'Has it lost any of its appeal or edge over time?' Granted that my movie taste has changed so much over the past year that I became, initially, hesitant to watch this film, afraid that I might ruin its spell and charm. Let me put it in all honesty that Sansho The Bailiff remains at that slot, above all the pantheons and echelons of the hundreds of other films, second only to Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and that it shall remain as it is - a timeless, universal film for the ages.

Of all the things that this film succeeds at, it's the cinematography which stands out the most from all other films shot in that period in time. Each shot is so precise and well positioned that it's almost like you're viewing authentic Japanese paintings. Mizoguchi's direction is so prominent, as with his other films, but in Sansho, the Japanese director has found the correct formula. None of his common themes such as feminism and the female character struggling in a cruel world have been compromised in this tale of tragedy, and combined with the brilliant camerawork, marks the director's most accomplished work.

In this film Mizoguchi tackles slavery set in 11th Century Japan, a time as Mizoguchi says, when “Man has not yet awakened as human beings”. It follows two children Zushio and Anju as they were taken away from their mother when their father, a local governor was deposed and sent into exile because he was compassionate to the slaves. The children were sold as slaves to a rich man named Sansho. Now this Sansho is one of the most brutal and tyrannical piece of **** I've ever seen on film, and he would resort to cruel measures such as branding by fire to deter slaves from escaping.

Sansho the Bailiff is a cruel film. The children struggle to survive for years in Sansho's compound, finding hope and strength through their father's words that “without mercy, man is like a beast” and to show compassion to others. His words are strangely ironical, because they do not reflect the real world of slavery. We wonder to ourselves if those words are merely high ordeals that are impossible to be realised in Mizoguchi's world plagued by sufferings. Even the barren and crooked trees which pervade the frame in a very expressionistic manner, as one reviewer observes.

The final sequence is summarised aptly by critics – Mother and son finally become united while the camera pulls back, dwarfing them in comparison to the serene landscape. It is as if nature is indifferent to the ephemeral triumphs of the unification of mother and son, while a nearby fisherman continues his daily routine of drying seaweed, totally oblivious of our main characters.

5

akatemple

01-02-12, 04:55 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/the-horseman-poster.jpg

The Horseman (2008)
Directed by: Steven Kastrissios
Written by: Steven Kastrissios

I randomly put this movie on my Netflix Queue because it sounded like something I would be interested in and I am really glad that I did. The story starts out with Christian (Peter Marshall) beating the crap out of someone with a crowbar, taking a video, covering the room and guy with gasoline and setting everything on fire. You quickly learn that the video was a underground porn movie that his daughter was involved in right before she was killed, the rest of the film is Christian traveling around New Zealand tracking down everyone that was involved in the film. Along the way he befriends Alice who is a down on her luck teenager that he tries to help and protect by giving her fatherly type advice.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Horsemanjpg728x520_q85.jpg

This is a fairly low budget movie, you can tell because of the way they filmed the torture and fighting scenes, it worked for this movie because it left more to your imagination. Even though the budget was low the brutality of the torture and fighting is very realistic and in certain scenes you almost feel sorry for the bad guys until Christian finds out the rest of the story then you find yourself really wanting Christian to just kill everyone that had anything to do with his daughter. Sadly what happened to his daughter is probably not far from the truth that happens to a lot of young girls in real life. Christian is a ass kicking character but not in a cheesy way where he kills all these people and does not get a scratch, he gets his face kicked in during probably half the movie along with the bad guys. This movie is brutal but if you like that kind of stuff like me then you should watch this.

3.5

HitchFan97

01-02-12, 10:28 PM

Mulholland Drive (2001)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/Mulholland.png/220px-Mulholland.png

This film is unlike anything i've ever seen, and I don't think i'll ever see anything quite like it again. Mulholland Drive is the first Lynch i've viewed, and after careful contemplation I think it's a masterpiece. This is a surreal, confounding piece of work without any logical explanation; but it's also a fascinating mystery, an indictment of Hollywood, and a beautifully shot and amazingly well-acted film. The best movie of the 21st century so far, at least out of those i've seen.

5

Tyler1

01-04-12, 11:37 PM

Fitzcarraldo - 3

I'm more interested in the making of this film rather than the film itself. Not as tight and focused as Aguirre.

Rabbit Proof Fence - 3

Heart-breaking story with good performances.

Fist Of Legend - 4

This is the best Jet Li film i've seen. The fight scenes are awesome, though not good as the penultimate 'ladder' fight scene in Once Upon A Time In China, also a fantastic Li film.

Ratcatcher -2

Subtitles needed. The accent is very heavy. Does not go into the details of this 'coming-of-age' drama; the content is surprisingly little.

meatwadsprite

01-05-12, 01:37 AM

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https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRd2IoaM1TkkNM9-aI324W0rMknO1Yn9Cjpn4YvLC9l5w_OcF-U8A 3.5 https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgNRawWyJ88r8_xdIoq1Kp4b5bH-CNO_I-u1uBkXd5n78GBTjD 5

Holden Pike

01-05-12, 11:22 AM

Fitzcarraldo - 3

I'm more interested in the making of this film rather than the film itself. Not as tight and focused as Aguirre.

I assume then that you have already seen, or are at least aware of, Les Blank's documentary Burden of Dreams?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYOYi9WLLVU

akatemple

01-05-12, 11:42 PM

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Feast (2005)
Directed by: John Gulager
Written by: Marcus Dunstan, and Patrick Melton

Honeykid brought this movie to my attention, but until I watched it I had no idea what this was about or anything about the story at all, also HK did not mention that this movie has Henry Rollins in it. The movie starts in a dive bar in the middle of nowhere and starts introducing the characters you will be watching for the next little bit. I thought I would put the introductions the same way they do in the movie, it’s not an original idea for a movie to do this to the characters but I liked the humorous swing that they put on these so I apologize for the extra room it is going to take up, but let’s get started…

Name: Bozo
Job: Not Likely
Occupation: Town Jackass
Life Expectancy: Dead by Dawn

Name: Harley Mom
Fun Fact: Robbing Bar in Ten Minutes
Life Expectancy: Wild Card

Name: Hot Wheels
Occupation: Selling Fireworks to 7th Graders
Life Expectancy: They Wouldn’t Kill A Cripple, Would They?

Name: Coach (my idol Henry Rollins)
Occupation: Motivational Speaker
Reputation: The Poor Man’s Tony Robbins
Life Expectancy: Stay Far, Far Away

Name: Grandma
Fun Fact: Blew Mick Jagger… Recently
Life Expectancy: May Be Dead Already

Name: Jason Mewes (it is Jason Mewes aka Jay from Jay and Silent Bob)
Occupation: Actor
Life Expectancy: Already Surpassed Expectations

Name: Beer Guy (Judah Friedlander – 30 Rock)
Occupation: Beer Guy & Part Time Host at Red Lobster
Life Expectancy: Losers and Dorks go First… He’s Both

Name: Bartender
Fun Fact: Shot 4 Times, Stabbed 6 Times, Bit by 1 Squirrel
Life Expectancy: Horrifying Death in 70 Minutes

Name: Tuffy
Occupation: Career Waitress
Job: Single Mom
Life Expectancy: Expects Nothing From Life

Name: Vet
Fun Facts: Has Never Had Fun
Life Expectancy: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Name: Bossman
Vibe: Mean, Stoned and Horny
Life Expectancy: Regular or Extra Crispy

Name: Honey Pie
Occupation: Actress/Singer/Dancer/Model
Fun Fact: Dying To Get Out Of Town
Life Expectancy: May Get Her Wish

Name: Cody
Occupation: Tax Break
Skill: Can Fit Into Tight Spaces
Life Expectancy: A Wonderful, Full Life

After the lineup of the films main characters who are all obviously locals and regulars at the bar some action starts to happen and in pops…

Name: Hero
Occupation: Kicking Ass
Life Expectancy: Pretty F*cking Good

Hero charges in with a gun (completely Bruce Campbell Evil Dead 2 style) in one hand and a dead Alien/Monster in the other telling everybody that a storm from hell is about to come down on the bar, upon hearing this then exactly that starts happening. We start off with a lot of blood (always a good beginning), an amputation and a couple of people get shot by accident, wow these people that it just spent the first bit of the movie taking all the trouble to introduce are starting to drop like flies already, also and I don’t consider this a spoiler since it’s so close to the beginning of the movie but the one just introduced as Hero immediately dies right after the introduction. Just before they get the first alien taken care of something I found disturbing and funny happened and the alien starts dry humping the stuffed Deer head on the wall. 15 minutes into the movie and someone else pops in uninvited and another introduction takes place…

Name: Heroine
Occupation: Wear Tanktop, Tote Shotgun, Save Day.
Life Expectancy: Hopefully Better Than The Last Hero

Even with all the guns that everyone seems to have in the bar they do not seem to really do any good against the monsters, people continue dying, seriously I thought they were going to run out of actors 30 minutes in. There is some comedy to balance out the horror for example the monster puking green stuff mixed with maggots, ok it’s gross humor but that’s the kind of movie this is, oh yeah and the monsters having sex on the hood of the car and then immediately after dropping a baby onto the ground, or slamming a monsters penis in a door and then cutting it off, yeah it’s pretty much all dark comedy. Well now I thought I was through with this but then it’s time for another introduction…

Name: Heroine 2
Occupation: Childless Mother
Fun Fact: Dealing With The Loss Fairly Well
Life Expectancy: Let’s All Hope For The Best This Time

I could not find a picture of Henry Rollins in the Pink Sweats so I just thought I'd put an awesome picture of him on here instead.
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/63707108_0fd1ecf836.jpg

As with all movies where a group of people are trapped in a confined space throughout the movie everyone starts having personal problems or personality problems with other people leading to violence amongst themselves, makes sense to save the monsters the trouble and just do it to yourselves. The movie is great, tons of blood and gore throughout, enough to please any horror/monster movie fan. And I have to give this a really good rating just for Henry Rollins wearing a pair of very Pink sweatpants then having his head used as a battering ram. Thanks HK for making me aware of this movie I really thought it was great.

4

Iroquois

01-06-12, 12:37 AM

Very behind on my tabbing, so this is what I've seen in the past week and a half (barring re-watches and ones I've forgotten...)

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Brad Bird, 2011) - 3.5

I don't go in for new blockbusters very often and even then I only saw this because Tintin was sold out. Despite this, it was still a decent if disposable-feeling piece of action fun.

The Way (Emilio Estevez, 2010) - 3.5+

Admittedly a rather schmaltzy comedy-drama about a father (Martin Sheen) coping with the death of his son by taking his remains on a religious pilgrimage through Europe and meeting a handful of colourful characters along the way. Personally, I liked it, though I imagine other people's opinions will vary wildly - I honestly don't know if I can recommend it to others.

Falling Down (Joel Schumacher, 1993) - 4

Somehow, it took me about seven years between first reading about this movie (and spoiling it as a result, damn it) and actually seeing this on late-night TV. All in all, it's kind of flawed but still competently made on all levels - plus I can't stop thinking of that recent Foo Fighters video that parodied it.

Deep Blue Sea (Renny Harlin, 1999) - 2.5

Another one that just showed up on TV and I just had to watch it. Fairly amusing in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way, but admittedly it's a mediocre (albeit likeably mediocre) killer shark movie through and through.

Dillinger (John Milius, 1973) - 4+

Just when I thought Public Enemies couldn't get any more unimpressive, I end up watching this. Sure, it lacks the nuances that Mann's film attempted to grant the characters - not to mention the technological advances and whatnot - but the rough-and-ready "hey, it's cinema in the Seventies, let's get wild" vibe fit just perfectly with the tale of the titular bank robber (as played by the suitably gruff Warren Oates) and the G-man that pursues him (Ben Johnson, who almost completely steals the show here). The Peckinpah-style action sequences and character development are welcome stylistic choices as well.

linespalsy

01-06-12, 11:17 AM

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/cranes%20are%20flying.jpg
The Cranes are Flying (Mikhail Kalatazov, 1957) 4
Picture Snatcher (Lloyd Bacon, 1933) 3.5-
House of Strangers (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1949) 2
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/thing.jpg
The Thing (John Carpenter, 1982) 3.5+
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Brad Bird, 2011) 2.5
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (David Fincher, 2011) 2.5
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/cul-de-sac.JPG
Cul-de-sac (Roman Polanski, 1966) 2
Shaolin Soccer (Stephen Chow, 2001) 2.5
Angels with Dirty Faces (Michael Curtiz, 1938) 2.5
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/cj7.jpg
CJ7 (Stephen Chow, 2008) 2.5+
Yes, Madam! (Corey Yuen, 1985) 2.5+
Vanishing Point (Richard C. Sarafian, 1971) 3
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/sherlock%20holmes%202.jpg
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Guy Ritchie, 2011) 4
The Circus (Charlie Chaplin, 1928) 3.5
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius, 2011) 2.5
http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/magnificent%20obsession.jpg
Magnificent Obsession (Douglas Sirk, 1954) 2.5
Hamlet (Michael Almereyda, 2000) 4
Scott of the Antarctic (Charles Frend, 1948) 3

Tyler1

01-06-12, 11:28 AM

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/cranes%20are%20flying.jpg
The Cranes are Flying (Mikhail Kalatazov, 1957) 4

Love this film. Better than I Am Cuba.

linespalsy

01-06-12, 11:38 AM

akatemple

01-06-12, 10:07 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/ts.jpg

The Football Factory (2004)
Directed by: Nick Love
Written by: Nick Love and John King

So being an American it is hard for me to grasp the point of these football organizations or firms I believe they called themselves, also what is even more mind blowing to me is that these firms or whatever they are called actually exist to some extent, not saying that this movie is a documentary. I watched Green Street Hooligans a while back and when I started this film I immediately was reminded of it, the main difference in my opinion was Green Street Hooligans was more of a youthful thing whereas The Football Factory is more grown up and older people that are involved in these “firms”. As I said I am American so if I am getting this wrong that they really exist just let me know and I will correct my mistake.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/football-factory-800-75.jpg

I am a big fan of Danny Dyer who plays the main character who is going through something big in his life, everyone telling him that he needs to grow up and stop kicking peoples face’s in. Dyer’s character starts thinking he is having some kind of breakdown because he starts seeing things on TV and Billboards that he thinks are talking directly about him, also he keeps having the same nightmare over and over where he is the one getting kicked in the face. The movie is basically building up to the big match between their team (it never sais exactly where this takes place so I have no idea) and their arch rivals, basically planning how they are going to beat the piss out of the other people that really is what this movie is about. There is a sad kind of side story about Dyer’s grandfather and his best friend, they had went through WWII together and bean best friends ever since. They have plans to move to Australia and live out there few remaining days drinking and enjoying the girls in bikinis. This was a good movie but just boggled my mind that people would actually go through all the trouble just to beat the crap out of another group of people over a football match, still I suggest if you have not seen this then you should watch it.

3

Tyler1

01-07-12, 12:46 PM

Both are great. Cranes is beautiful, has a strong story and really touching characters; Soy Cuba has the best/most over-the-top camerawork I've ever seen and a constant barrage of fantastic imagery. My personal preference right now is I am Cuba

Precisely. While I admire the audacious camerawork in I Am Cuba, i found it to be emotionally vacant. I'm leaning towards Cranes. I remember I teared up a little bit as I watched this film a year ago. Bleh.. I feel sad easily nvm..

Alice In The Cities (1974) 4

My third Wenders film (also seen: Wings Of Desire & Paris, Texas). Good black&white cinematography with decent performances from the 2 lead characters. Nothing much happens but it puts you in a state of calmness :rolleyes: PS.. I think the guy is a pedo. :eek:

Down To The Cellar (1983) 5

Special thanks to re93animator for recommending me this brilliant, beautifully shot short film by czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer. It is amazing how a trip into the basement by a young girl to collect potatoes can be made into such a phantasmagoric nightmare. Think of Tarkovsky, think of Pedro Costa.

thracian dawg

01-07-12, 05:50 PM

Good Morning, Night (2003) - Bellocchio
The domestic side of armed struggle with Maya Sansa as the lone female member in the apartment where they hold the kidnapped Aldo Moro. There are telling scenes when the Red Brigades scratch their heads when the working class don't spontaneously rise up and follow them in armed revolt---contrasted with their own passivity. They zone out before the TV after a hard day at the office; or the way they all bless their food and themselves mechanically at the dinner table, reveals just how far they have to go, before even liberating their own minds.

3.5

The Postman always rings twice (1946) - Garnett
This has a really nice structure to it. The typical film noir has the sappy guy and femme fatale taking a long stroll and ending up in the gas chamber. Here, they add on another act where they get away with it, and then are left to stew in their own growing bitterness and distrust. Great supporting actors. Lana Turner was insanely bewitching in all those white outfits.

3.5

Gigi (1958) - Minnelli
Every so often one of those mofo "best of" lists show provides a film that transcends it's genre; with it's exquisite set decoration; extravagant costumes; natural Parisian settings and the cleverness in the lyrics and songs: this is one of them. I was almost to the end of the film when I noticed the obvious distress of Louis Jordan, parading around his new sex kitten for the creme de la creme of Parisian society when it suddenly dawned on me: this young girl wasn't being prepared to marriage by her aunts---but was being trained to become a high class prostitute to live off rich men. How in the hell did this ever get made in 1958? Wonderfully subversive.

4

La Commune (2000) - Watkins
Herzog believes the doom of mankind is contained in commercial imagery, gradually attention spans will be so eroded collectively, we'll only be unable to understand a 15 second spot television commercial or a billboard. So the length of this film (6 hours) is wonderfully immersive.

What if there were a couple of reporters doing man in the street interviews during the Paris commune of 1871? This anachronism is more than a little clunky and blunt, but there are some nice subtleties in the film. The blackout transitions appear to be the embedded commercials excised from a television broadcast---and without them, they allow the audience to digest the content of the preceding scenes. The film is part history lesson; part cautionary tale; part teach in about techniques of mass media and the strangle hold and control they have on information.

4

Tyler1

01-08-12, 05:43 AM

Harakiri (Kobayashi, 1962)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QhCgu9IQAho/SFyDOYJs-3I/AAAAAAAAApw/bZ5-52bDzuM/s400/harakiri3.jpg

Think of 12 Angry Men meeting Rashomon, and you'd get this superbly crafted “courtroom” drama called Harakiri. An aging samurai wishes to perform harakiri in the house of a samurai clan. However after learning about the gruesome methods which were carried out against another samurai, who happened to be his godson, he began to rebel against the the samurai code. Through flashbacks we witness how his godson, out of desperation for money, was forced to perform harakiri with a bamboo sword. This particular scene can be quite shocking for some; Kobayashi gives a no holds barred indictment of the ritualised act. The ending of this film is strongly reminiscent of Tarantino's Crazy 88 in Kill Bill part1.

Twenty minutes into the film and you have the aging samurai sitting in the courtroom, ready for his sacrificial ritual. Then, he begins to recount and narrate the story of his son to the rest of the samurai. It is interesting to note how calm and composed he is in the face of death. Now he is actually mocking the house of Iyi and all the samurai. These were the same people who embarrassed his godson earlier on.

This is an interesting technique which forces the viewer to be engaged in the flashbacks, while very aware that our protagonist is surrounded by blood-thirsty samurai who are more than willing to cut him down should he refuse to perform harakiri. One just cant wait for the finale which he already knows, right from the very start of the film, is surely inevitable.

The immaculate setting, the unflinching attitude of the samurai despite being mocked at, the samurais' refusal to apologise for their mistakes and the final attempt to cover-up the incident all point to the austerity and fanaticism of the “code of samurai” which Kobayashi intended to censure.

Question to ponder about: Why did the aging samurai commit harakiri at the end of this film when he clearly denounced the act of harakiri, claiming that the samurai code was merely a “facade”?

4.5 Grade: A

mack

01-09-12, 05:50 AM

Henry Fool / Fay Grim - 4/5
I wanted Fay Grim (FG), but ended up deciding to get Henry Fool (HF) as well, so that I could start at the beginning of the tale. The movies are quite different in many respects, and I can see how most people enjoyed the sequel better than the original. I am one of them. I get that HF was more a work of art - imo FG was more entertaining, and I was halfway through the movie before I was able to tell that the dutch angles were persistent, and not just a particular shot in the beginning of the film. I thought it was really bold of Hal Hartley to give the actors so much time on screen in certain shots - there were a lot of long, drawn out silences or dragged on sentences, and I was like for what? It was less obnoxious in FG than in HF, though, and since I watched HF first, I was able to get through FG's interminable scenes of silence. On a random note: my god, I knew Saffron Burrows was tall, but Parker Posey made her look like a giant!

Monkeypunch

01-11-12, 11:33 PM

Shrooms - Crazed Irish horror film about a bunch of twenty somethings who take the titular drug, trip, and get murdered. Much better than I'd expected, and one of the few twist endings that feels totally plausible and even earned.

re93animator

01-12-12, 03:58 AM

Ikiru (1952) - 3
I don’t think that cinematic sentimentalism resonates as well with me as it does most others. I know Ikiru has more to it than sentimentalism, but (though I find the conscious enlightenment theme poignant) it honestly just didn’t ‘move’ me. I still like it though.

Punk: Attitude (2005) – :up:
Punk rock documentary. A good early panorama, though it seemed primarily concerned with ‘proto’ punk and I would’ve liked to see some more coverage of the 80’s HC punk movement, especially with the interviewees they had at their disposal.

The Running Man (1987) – Camp rating: 3
Fun, and cheesy even by Arnie standards.

Sleuth (1972) – 4
First half is held together firmly by an idiosyncratic Lawrence Olivier; second half by wonderful storytelling. Fantastic overall.

Brodinski

01-14-12, 11:59 AM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Looking_for_eric_ver2.jpg

I watched Looking for Eric (2009, Loach) in the morning and it knocked me clean off my block. You think you've got it all figured out and then it turns into something else entirely. You can't really categorize it either, it's like a comedy turned drama with hints of TRUE romance and a great, great ending. Some of the lines and scenes are laugh-out loud fun, whereas others just make you want to cry. And it's unexpectedly uplifting and feel-good. And it's a bloody fine line that Loach is walking on, because it could've very easily been ridiculous and predictable.

It's a well-written, expertly paced, funny, dramatic film with some remarkable performances and unexpected twists. And one of the best films I've watched in a long time. *****, it might be the best film that was released in 2009. Flawed ******* genius I tell ya...

4.5

honeykid

01-14-12, 12:33 PM

I agree, it's a real emotional rollercoster. Funny, touching, sad, jovial, serious, violent and it all feels real. Actually real, not "gritty" real, with its accompanying blue hue, staring at the floor acting and 'this is serious' music. There again, it is Loach, so that should be a given. Despite this, it did catch me off guard.

I didn't like it as much as you, but that's probably because I have a much harder time dealing with films like this now. I'd certainly recommend it though and think it should be seen by a wider audience.

Tyler1

01-14-12, 01:58 PM

For the past few days, I'm on the Hou Hsiao Hsien film spree.

Ratings:

Dust In The Wind - 10/10
A Time To Live and A Time To Die -10/10
Summer at Grandpa's -10/10
City Of Sadness - 10/10
The Puppetmaster -9/10
Three Times - 8/10
The Boys From Fengkuei - 8/10
Millenium Mambo - 7/10
Flowers Of Shanghai -6.5/10

His 80s output is marvellous. Flowers Of Shanghai is my least favourite so far.

Still need to watch:

Cafe Lumiere
Good Men, Good Women

mack

01-14-12, 06:25 PM

Columbiana - 4.5/5
I wasnt aware this was Luc Besson film until I watched it, though when I did, it was obvious. The guy has a love affair with parkour, and this film was no exception. I mean, watching a 9 year old perform death-defying acts of gymnastics and free climbing/falling was.......amazingly cool. Other than that, I have to chalk this movie up as just another La Femme Nikita type flick, where a female assassin hunts down them that done her wrong. I truly did not find the storyline all that inspiringly different or new, so nothing going on there. No. I was just happy to see Lennie James on the big screen, and to watch Luc Besson make a movie that highlighted a largely mexican/central/south american issue and place and keep it as the main plot, and pull it off. Others have tried and failed (or turned out an indie movie instead). Worth a one time watch. :up:

Tyler1

01-17-12, 11:59 AM

Goodbye South, Goodbye (1996)

http://i2.listal.com/image/productsus/1000/B00005MEVF/movies/nanguo-zaijan-nanguo.jpg

Hou's transition from rural to contemporary Taiwan was, imho, not a successful one. Maybe its because cinema has a plethora of such films which analyse and dissect issues such as alienation, fraud, family problems etc. in a much deeper way. Dont get me wrong- Hou is arguably one of the finest contemporary directors. He would go on to release another masterpiece, Three Times (2005), ever since The Puppetmaster (1993).

Hou, Ranked
Dust In The Wind - 10/10
A Time To Live and A Time To Die -10/10
Summer at Grandpa's -10/10
City Of Sadness - 10/10
The Puppetmaster -9/10
Three Times - 8/10
The Boys From Fengkuei - 8/10
Millenium Mambo - 7/10
Flowers Of Shanghai -6.5/10
Goodbye South, Goodbye -6/10

akatemple

01-17-12, 02:13 PM

Weekend movie marathon, lots of good movies on TV this past weekend.

Kill Bill - In my opinion this movie is the best thing that Uma Thurman has ever done, awesome action scenes, tons of blood and gore and last but definitely not least Lucy Liu. 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9iIKn1Bl6c

Kill Bill 2 - Really not as good as the first one but still some nice fight scenes and the whole punching your way out of a coffin and than digging up to the surface, I don't know if anyone saw it but Mythbusters did an episode on that part of a movie to see if you could possibly do that in real life. 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8y9US7ajWo

Law Abiding Citizen - This is just another movie that shows that Gerard Butler can really do the unexpected, when I first saw this movie I really thought this was going to be your basic action movie but was pleasantly surprised by the meticulous and psychotic character that is out for revenge that Butler plays so well. 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24xRinsQaM

Okay so maybe not a marathon but I really don't usually watch movies on TV so for me it was one.

Pyro Tramp

01-17-12, 03:58 PM

And could they?

I was underwhelmed by Vol 2 after bar set by first and the complete change in tone but after a while, Vol 2 is possibly my top 2 QT film. Was this your first watch of it?

honeykid

01-17-12, 09:07 PM

Kill Bill - In my opinion this movie is the best thing that Uma Thurman has ever done...

Really? :eek:

The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Gattaca, Mad Dog And Glory, Dangerous Liaisons, Pulp Fiction. I prefer Jennifer Eight to Kill Bill as well, but I'm well aware that I'm in the minority on that one. I'd also be willing to bet that Henry & June and Sweet And Lowdown are better too, though I've not seen either.

Can you tell I wasn't impressed with Kill Bill? :D BTW, I'd take Vol.2 over Vol. 1 each and every time.

akatemple

01-18-12, 04:36 PM

And could they?

I was underwhelmed by Vol 2 after bar set by first and the complete change in tone but after a while, Vol 2 is possibly my top 2 QT film. Was this your first watch of it?

No this was far from the first time I have watched the movie, and no on the Mythbusters thing, it is completely impossible to escape from a wooden coffin and dig your way out, did no really surprise me that that was the outcome.

re93animator

01-18-12, 05:46 PM

Ganheddo/Gunhed (1989) – 2
A little too cheesy for its own good, as it almost comes across like a kids’ movie in presentation, but it does have some awesome prop, set and costume design.

Trancers (1985) – 3_5
Low budgeted sci-fi noir that takes cue from Blade Runner, but evolves into something pretty original.

Tyler1

01-18-12, 07:58 PM

Ganheddo/Gunhed (1989) – 2
A little too cheesy for its own good, as it almost comes across like a kids’ movie in presentation, but it does have some awesome prop, set and costume design.

Cool! You watched the FLA Mindphaser music video movie!

re93animator

01-19-12, 12:09 AM

Cool! You watched the FLA Mindphaser music video movie!
That's why I watched it.:D

Miss Vicky

01-19-12, 12:26 AM

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjAzNTkzNjcxNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNDA4NjE3._V1._SY317_.jpg

300 (rewatch)

Hated it when I watched it for the first time a few years ago, hated it all over again the second time around. Overstylized, soulless, boring.

1

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNjY4OTc5NTY0NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDMxMjYyMQ@@._V1._SY317_CR10,0,214,317_.jpg

Dave (rewatch)

Had completely forgotten about this movie until I stumbled across it on Amazon Prime Instant Viewing. A sweet, optimistic little flick and a nice break from my typical heavy dramas

3+

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjUzMDY0NDYzN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjgxMDI5Mg@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg
Did You Hear About the Morgans (first viewing)

Pretty much what I expected given the premise and the cast (I am not a fan of Grant or Parker). Not a terrible movie. Mildly entertaining, though the best parts I'd already seen in the trailer.

2+

Tyler1

01-20-12, 10:53 AM

Long Arm Of The Law - 4

http://chinesemoviefan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/long-arm-of-the-law.jpg

Brilliant!

Used Future

01-20-12, 05:46 PM

For anyone who's interested I've written full reviews of these films in my Reviews from the Future thread here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=787143)

The Candy Snatchers (Guerdon Trueblood, 1973) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/4box.gif

The Devil's Rain (Robert Fuest, 1975) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/2.5box.gif+

The Frightened Woman aka Femina Riddens aka The Laughing Woman (Piero Schivazappa, 1969) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/3.5box.gif

Bonnie's Kids (Arthur Marks, 1973) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/3box.gif

Venus In Furs aka Paroxismus (Jess Franco, 1969) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/2box.gif

ash_is_the_gal

01-23-12, 12:53 AM

The Future
2011, Miranda July

mirrorThis movie kinda reminded me of Synecdoche, New York in that there were several instances where I was laughing heartily but I wasn't sure if i was "supposed" to actually find it all that funny; though I suppose that's a ridiculous thing to say. The way one feels about a film is always open to swing a great deal of ways. Either way, I enjoyed it much more this way.

The Future is about a couple in their mid-thirties, Sophie and Jason, who have a mid-life crisis of sorts upon discovering that the cat they are soon to adopt will be ready to take home in 30 days. Their reasoning is since in 5 years they'll both be 40 (I guess the cut-off age representing all things liberal) this window of time up until the cat is theirs is really the last chance either of them will ever have to be "free". In other words, the movie takes place over the span of about 30 days, which this odd twosome decides are their last days to accomplish something great. The idea that the age of 40 is the last year in one's life to do something great is beyond strange, but nevertheless, this is the mind-set of both of them.

mirrorAnyway, they both end up quitting their jobs (him an IT Tech from the house, her a dance instructor for children) and focus all of their attentions on things they have deemed "worthwhile causes" - Sophie has a goal to "create a dance a day" in hopes of creating a solo dance masterpiece, while Jason begins soliciting door-to-door on behalf of an environmental group, asking people if they would like to buy a tree to help reduce global warming. MEANWHILE, there is also a running commentary sandwiched in between by the cat that is waiting to be adopted. The cat, Paw Paw, speaks to the audience in an extremely delicate, fragile voice about how it's patiently waiting for its owners to come for it, how it knows that once it is theirs, it knows it will be loved and secured for life, and "will never spend a night outside again". This is probably by far the strangest part of the film but it kind of grows on you as the film progresses.

There are lots of good, surreal bits to enjoy here: a crawling security blanket (t-shirt) that stalks its owner, a narrating cat, an old man philosopher and his dirty-talk greeting cards, a discussion with the moon, a young girl who buries herself in the backyard with the approval of her dad, and a couple who believe they each have special powers: Sophie can move things with her mind (!!!!) and Jason can stop time (???), and has to help the moon bring the tide back in so that time will be righted again.

Hanyway, overall this was an enjoyable experience of a movie. It's probably something I'll have to watch at least twice more to get the full experience, but it's a definitely good enough for that. Miranda July, who directed and starred in it, was absolutely brills to watch. Definitely gonna watch Me, You, and Everyone We Know now.

rating: (undecided)

Tyler1

01-23-12, 12:39 PM

The House Is Black (1963) - 5
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z43/sevenarts/cinema/houseisblack1.jpg

Transcendent. A film that screams to be watched and appreciated as a cry for help.

A Page Of Madness (1926) - 3
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b6FST2JiSZ8/Rq5JlRYrsII/AAAAAAAAAl8/5E5tksx5te4/s400/Kurutta.jpg
The Japanese answer to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is this demented, disturbing film about a man who attempts to free his delusional wife in a mental institude.

linespalsy

01-23-12, 01:17 PM

A Page Of Madness (1926) -

I've been trying to remember the title of that for a while now. It looks like the University Library has it. The other one looks interesting too.

HollyG

01-23-12, 02:46 PM

So I haven't really been on MOFO to much lately because life has been really busy and crazy and fun but I'm back and I haven't watch to many films lately because of my latest addiction to Lost but here is some that I have seen over the last little while.

Moneyball 2011 Bennett Miller

Overall I have to be honest I had a hard time getting into this film I'm not really big a fan of baseball and it was Plainview's pick but it was interesting and I enjoyed Jonah Hills Character.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M5C-dW6n5OY/TnKXYG3d_5I/AAAAAAAAAE8/RIIqkXiOEOE/s320/Moneyball%2BMovie.jpg

3.5

The Skin I Live In 2011 Pedro Almodovar

I found myself really disappointed by this film I was really excited to sit down and watch it but I just found the plot silly and some what trashy and its just really icky. On the Plus size the acting was great and Almodovar defiantly made the film one of kind but all this film did was give me freaking nightmares.
http://www.istarin.com/thumb/2011/20111116/20111116064507A8BBC00D0000B49E_bigthumb.jpg

2.5

Drive 2011 Nicolas Winding Refn
http://www.museumofcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/drive_pane_12.jpg
4

Wait Until Dark 1967 Terence Young
http://sharetv.org/images/posters/wait_until_dark_1967.jpg
4

filmgirlinterrupted

01-23-12, 08:56 PM

Some movies I've watched over the past couple of weekends (theater & home-viewings)

"Haywire" 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpffbDjWlog

Stylish, smart, and simple. I really enjoyed this one. Gina Carano is a badass!

"Don't Be Afraid of The Dark" 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFE4lGvRt8E

Just plain awful. I was bored throughout. Horrible ending.

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" 4.5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7leC4YClrI

Gary Oldman is incredible. The whole movie just put me in a trance.

"Killer Elite" 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lft48yFsHGU

All over the place, but worth watching for the combat sequences.

"Cowboys and Aliens" 2.5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqbUVMjndx4

Not as bad as some made it out to be, but still a lot of problems.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" 4.5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdaMGcOyfjM

Loved it more than the first - the visuals alone are stunning!

JayDee

01-23-12, 09:07 PM

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/ThereWillBeBlood-1.jpg

There Will Be Blood

See full, detailed review at the bottom of the page here JayDee's Movie Musings (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=25468&page=2//)

4.5

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/Zodiac.jpg

Zodiac

After some very stylish efforts in the past you could call this a more 'grown-up' film from David Fincher, substituting some of his flash to tell a solid, very detailed story. Unlike most films that detail the story of a serial killer, this is not a film concerned as much with the killer's actions as with the effect his actions have on the community at large, and on three men in particular. It is a meticulous film that concerns itself with the minutiae of an investigation, all the little details that go into searching for the killer and trying to convict someone.

A lot of credit has to go to the central trio of Gyllenhaal, Ruffalo and Downey Jr. While there isn't much 'showy' acting here they all give impressive, powerful and for the most part restrained performances which show the detrimental effects that such obsession can have. Applause also has to go to the realisation of the 60s/70s period. Created through the use of costumes, hairstyles etc it is very impressive.

The film starts and ends very strong. In particular the last 45 or so minutes are especially gripping as we see the obsession really start to have an effect; on Gyllenhaal's character in particular, and feel like the net is closing around the killer. I actually felt like I had to keep reminding myself that I knew how this turned out - “the killer is never caught, you shouldn't be getting this caught up!” :D The middle stretch of the film however I found dragged at times, just becoming too bogged down in all the little details.

I'm also unsure about the ending of the film. While the film is not so much the 'true' story but based on one man's book (who is sure of the killer's identity) I understand how it ended, but it just comes across a touch like Fincher is making a bit of a definitive, black and white call on a case that is still very much unsolved.

As for my rating I'm a little unsure. It's certainly an extremely 'worthy' film, but not one I can really see myself revisiting that often. My rating for it's quality would certainly be higher than my rating of enjoyment, so I'm going to compromise a little and go somewhere in the middle with a...

4

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/Artist.jpg

The Artist

While storywise it can most obviously be compared to the likes of Sunset Boulevard and A Star is Born, I personally was hoping to be able to compare this to Amelie. I was sure it was going to fall into that enchanting, magical category for me. But it just didn't quite happen.

It does have some wonderful moments where it approaches the kind of magic I was hoping for – the cast lists showing Penny's ascent up the Hollywood ladder, finding out what footage it was Valentin had saved, the moment sound bursts onto the screen etc but there just weren't enough. Even with a cute dog! :D

While I'm going on about how it didn't live up to expectations it's hard for me to actually find any criticisms that I can label it with. Jean Dujardin is very impressive and charming while Berenice Bejo is just adorable. And I expect it will gets lots of Oscar nominations in the technical awards such as sound, music, editing etc as it's all very impressive.

One thing I should say is that when I went to see it the cinema was actually quite a bit busier than I was expecting. As someome who suffers from claustraphobia and some social phobias I'm not entirely comfortable in a busy cinema, especially when people are sitting right behind him. So as a result I felt a bit uptight and tense, perhaps meaning I was not able to enjoy it as much as I should have. So I am very interested in seeing it again in a more comfortable setting. And I may be completely wrong but with it being a silent, 'small' movie I feel it may actually work better on a TV screen, a smaller and more personal viewing.

Will it sweep the Oscars? Probably. Does it deserve to? Yeah I wouldn't argue against it as on a technical level it is very impressive. It just wasn't quite the stunning piece of movie magic I had my heart set on seeing.

4-

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/Super.jpg

Super

A very interesting film. It has a mix of dark comedy and extreme violence but at times remains really quite touching. While Rainn Wilson is good if a little uneven at times, and the ever adorable Ellen Page is great as the unhinged sidekick, for me the star of the whole thing has got to be Kevin Bacon. He just seems to be having an absolutely fantastic time as the slimy, repulsive villain of the piece.

It's certainly not as straightforward as you might think. These aren't people who just want to dress up and play superhero, they both seem to be rather disturbed individuals. Ellen Page's character in particular certainly isn't all there. If anything her maniacal cackle is just as, if not more disturbing, than anything the bad guys do throughout the movie.

There are some interesting ideas and some wonderfully creative moments sprinkled throughout, particularly touches that echo back the days of the 60s Batman show and a moment where we see into Frank's mind. However for me the film just goes a little too dark and depressing; and the violence a touch too vicious, as it goes along to prove extremely enjoyable. The tone of the film seems all over the place at times. Is it a dark comedy? Satire? Character drama? Brutal vengeance flick? A tragedy?

Wilson's character doesn't really seem to go anywhere in terms of arc. He seems to be just the same loser at the end of the film as he was at the start, except he's gotten a little bit of a reward for his vicious, psychotic actions. And it's hard to find sympathy for someone who so brutally exacts revenge on people, no matter their crime.

Comparisons with Kick-Ass are almost inevitable and while I won't argue that Kick-Ass is a hugely 'better' film, for me it was a film that had more heart to it, as opposed to Super's more bleak, nihilistic nature. As I said at the start it is an interesting film, and as a a result one that I will watch again and hopefully enjoy more that time.

3+

Skepsis93

01-23-12, 10:13 PM

Hard Eight
Paul Thomas Anderson, 1996
Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson
3

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1285/4677539866_4e4cd4e8e2_z.jpg

Anderson's first, and in comparison, worst feature. It's him finding his feet more than anything else, but I wouldn't call it awful by any stretch. The story works and has some good bits mainly during the first half and a fun twist climax. Patrow and PTA regulars Hall and Reilly are inconsistent, especially Hall who didn't really work as a leading man, for me. Jackson and a bit-part role by Philip Seymour Hoffman were the stand-outs in terms of performances. Didn't quite feel it, but as it was a stepping stone to four masterpieces, all is forgiven as far as I'm concerned.

re93animator

01-24-12, 01:18 PM

A Page Of Madness (1926) - 3

The Japanese answer to The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is this demented, disturbing film about a man who attempts to free his delusional wife in a mental institude.
How did you watch this? I've been wanting to see it for years. I have a copy on my CPU, but the quality is horrible.

TylerDurden99

01-25-12, 06:32 AM

Pyro Tramp

01-26-12, 07:23 PM

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol.

Wow, i'd heard action film of the year thrown around. It wasn't. The first half has such an unnatural flow and sequences tacked together with no overall rhythm driving the a weak script. I suppose it's a testament to Bird's directing in his live action debut that he keeps the pace on a very awkward script but also stops any of the story having any time to breath. A lot of the plot beats are obviously written with a predetermined set piece in mind thus a lot of their actions seem to never amount to anything in an unthought out script.

We never really get to know any of the characters and Cruise just plays Cruise. I was mainly looking forward to Sawyer who's hardly in it and Nyqvist's plays a pop baddie with nothing to do except appear when the plot needs moving. Some of action scenes were well done, the Dubai scenes in particular and an interesting setup for the finale. Yet some elements were unsuitably stupid- portraits drawn on palm of your hand, people driving along a motorway during a sandstorm, a 50 year old college professor beating Cruise down etc. It did seem at one point the script would pick up some intelligence with Renner's almost meta questioning on how Cruise's character knew a dumb ploy would work, and then a little shot jibbing at Cruise's diminutive stature, however they were small glimpses. I can't even really say there was potential, it was a confident effort from Bird but a very slack picture without any particularly memorable scenes or exciting setups which aren't spoiled by deus ex tech. And Simon Pegg, if you could stop selling out. Thanks

2_5

mark f

01-26-12, 07:35 PM

I haven't seen the movie, but for comparison's sake, Tom Cruise is 49. :)

Pyro Tramp

01-26-12, 08:35 PM

Ha and Nyqvist is seemingly 51. Odd. Even so, the line of work alone should have given the Cruiser an edge on the fight.

filmgirlinterrupted

01-26-12, 09:17 PM

And Simon Pegg, if you could stop selling out. Thanks

Wait a minute, now. Don't talk sh*t about Simon Pegg. He's been around forever and he's paid his dues, and just because he's recently landed roles in super-mega blockbusters (Star Trek, Star Trek 2, MI:4) it doesn't mean he's "selling out." I have a lot of respect for Pegg, and I think he's just fantastic.

akatemple

01-26-12, 11:40 PM

Memories of Murder (2003)

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/memories-of-murder.jpg

I have been trying to figure out how to sum up a brief summary of this movie as well as my feelings about this movie. I will start with the beginning of the movie, 1986 South Korea's first serial killer strikes and a dead body is found in a ditch in I guess what you would call the backwoods of South Korea. I am kind of bored with the movie already, there is no blood in a serial killer movie and the story is just starting off really slow. An investigator from Seoul comes to the small town to help out the police with the obvious disaproval of the local police. I thought it was interesting but I am not sure how true of how they depicted police interigations in South Korea at the time, but honestly I would completely believe that is not far from the truth, I think that American police wish that they could get away with doing some of that roughing up stuff sometimes. The interigations are quite brutal and basically they kept you in the basement at the Police Headquarters with no food or water, sometimes hanging you upside down until you confess to the crime wether you comitted it or not, so yeah it's not the most effective way to go about that.
Murders continue to happen and patterns start to emerge one of which is that the women that are killed are always wearing red shirts or tops, also that it is always raining and the same song is always requested on the radio just before the killings happen. They try to lure him out on rainy night using a female police officer dressed in a red dress on a rainy night, nothing happens, something that is a continuing theme it seems in this movie. I really wanted to like this movie but it was just way to long and drawn out, and the fact that a lot of this film is just botched police work and interogations that go nowhere. The movie is way over 2 hours long and should have been condensed down to 90+ minutes IMO.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Memoriesof-Murder.jpg

I probably would have enjoyed this movie much more but the DVD that I got was dubbed which I always hate, and because of thin walls and annoying neighbors I had to use the subtitles anyways, normally there would be nothing wrong with that except that the subtitles did not match the dubbed dialoge and that just annoyed me so much. If you are going to watch this movie then make sure you do not get a dubbed copy.

3
The DVD copy I got. 1.5

honeykid

01-26-12, 11:40 PM

Tyler1

01-27-12, 01:07 AM

Pfft.. What a shame... you know how much I love Memories of Murder :)

Mr. Vampire (1985)
http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/vlimgdata/4529264108223.jpg

I just realised that I have watched this funny chinese vampire movie a long time ago, but i had forgotten its title. Anyway, this movie has some original slap-stick jokes that will make you giggle. The ending was a little bit predictable and un-original but its still a fun movie overall. Thanks lines. 3.5

The Incredibles (2004)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/Tiposter.jpg/220px-Tiposter.jpg

Surprisingly deep and insightful Pixar movie about superheroes (and delivers its ideas better than The Dark Knight). 5

Ranking the Pixar movies:
1. Wall-E
2. Ratatouille
3. The Incredibles
4. Up
5. Monsters, Inc.
6. Toy Story 3
7. Toy Story 2
8. Finding Nemo
9. Toy Story 1
10. Cars

Havent seen A Bug's Life. :o

Skepsis93

01-27-12, 07:00 PM

The Descendants
Alexander Payne, 2011
George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause
4.5

http://www.xavierpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/george-clooney-as-matt-king-in-the-descendants-e1318880126500.jpeg

Alexander Payne doesn't make a lot of films, but when he does you'd better not expect anything but quality. I thoroughly enjoyed The Descendants, not just for Payne's trademark wit, unique characters and intelligent, realistic story arcs, but also for some truly outstanding performances.

George Clooney is Matt King, a real estate lawyer in Hawaii whose life is coming to a crossroads. His wife has suffered a boating accident she may not recover from, leaving him the sole carer of two volatile daughters. Pressure to complete the sale of the land, of which his is the sole trustee, is building from his seemingly endless supply of cousins/co-owners, and as if that wasn't enough, he discovers his comatose spouse has been having an affair.

The drama that transpires is awash with sharp, understated humour, brought to life from an expertly crafted script by Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (Community's Dean Pelton), and like Election, About Schmidt and Sideways before it, The Descendants neglects big set-pieces and exaggerated characters in favour of something much more real - in this case a genuinely touching and true-to-life study of a family in crisis. Clooney's turn provokes everything you want it to, a genuine sympathy for the man as we see him try to navigate his impossible situation as best he can. His co-stars are superb - newcomer Amara Miller displays a remarkable capacity for comic timing, and Shailene Woodley comes close to stealing every scene she's in. Payne clearly invested a lot in the chemistry between the three, and it shows in abundance. Supporting players Nick Krause, Matthew Lillard, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster and Judy Greer have small parts but each brings something unique and very, very valuable - especially Krause whose character injects more humour and subtly; ingeniously (and inadvertently) seems to drive the story's twists and turns.

It's an expertly crafted film, the careful arcs coming together to bring a low-key story to a moving, but hopeful, conclusion.

Pyro Tramp

01-27-12, 08:11 PM

Pyro, did you think the previous 3 were good or were you thinking 4th time's a charm?

As for Pegg, I like him, but seeing he's cast in something is usually enough for me not to bother with it. He's the latest in my line of great indicatiors of a film I'm not going to like.

Wait a minute, now. Don't talk sh*t about Simon Pegg. He's been around forever and he's paid his dues, and just because he's recently landed roles in super-mega blockbusters (Star Trek, Star Trek 2, MI:4) it doesn't mean he's "selling out." I have a lot of respect for Pegg, and I think he's just fantastic.

HK- I really liked all 3 to be honest. This one just left me cold.

I like Pegg, I just don't like how he's become the American go-to British geeky character, instead of being 'one of us' (geeky Brits). He was awful in Star Trek and hasn't really done anything of note without Wright directing him. I'm pleased he's finding success but like HK, don't enjoy seeing him try and be something he's not

TylerDurden99

01-28-12, 12:28 AM

Rocky (1976) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif
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Rocky II (1979) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif+
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Rocky III (1982) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif
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Rocky IV (1985) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif+
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Rocky V (1990) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif
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The Adventures Of Tintin (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif+
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Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif
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Tower Heist (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3box.gif
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The Green Hornet (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/2box.gif
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The Change-Up (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/2_5box.gif
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Love Actually (2003) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4.5box.gif
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JayDee

01-30-12, 05:07 PM

Tyler - As a huge Rocky fan interested to see your scores. As such I'd probably give all of them a slightly higher score than you did (except 5 which would get a lower score). Although I have to applaud you for seeing the sheer cheesy greatness of Rocky IV!! :D

linespalsy

01-30-12, 05:12 PM

I've seen a lot of movies since my last post here, and while I don't intend to write them all up here are some highlights.

http://www.princeton.edu/~ddunham/cinema/color%20of%20pomegranates%2001.JPG

The Color of Pomegranates (Sergei Parajanov, 1968)

It almost seems pointless for me to try to rate this movie based on the life of 18th century Georgian/Armenian troubadour Sayat Nova. The film consists of various beautiful cinematic tableau vivants illustrating episodes from the poet's life in the style of religious allegorical paintings, linked by inter-titles from his works. The books shown at the beginning of the film include originals, some of which have missing or mangled pages, all of which came across as mostly cryptic to this occidental viewer. Anyway, as it's clearly the work of a mature artist with a unique cinematic vision, whatever it's finished state may be I'd say its worth seeing by anyone with an interest in film and painting.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Tomas Alfredson, 2011) - I would like to see this again before committing to a rating. I found it pretty engaging from start to finish but I still have a couple questions about the story. I'm currently stuck between a 3 and a 3.5
African Queen (John Huston, 1951) 3 - A decent romance and an interesting vehicle for both of its stars.
Dodes'ka-den (Akira Kurosawa, 1970) 2.5
American Graffiti (George Lucas, 1973) 3.5
Caotica Ana (Julio Medem, 2007) 2 - Seemingly a very personal film by Medem relating both to his sister who died at a young age and his feelings about injustices around the world, but it didn't quite add up to anything special for me.
Infernal Affairs 3 (Alan Mak, 2003) 1.5
Kansas City Confidential (Phil Karlson, 1952) 2
Bob le flambeur (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1956) 2.5
Street Angel (Muzhi Yuan, 1937) 3.5 - remarkable Chinese melodrama that almost works as a silent picture with its universally accessible visual storytelling, interspersed with spoken dialog here and there.
The Story of the Fox (Wladyslaw Starewicz, 1930) 2.5 - Strong stop-motion animation used to tell a very basic fairy tale.
The Adventures of Tintin (Steven Spielber, 2011) 3 - I liked it for the most part. It had two or three sequences with acrobatic (virtual) camerawork that blew me away.
Groundhog's Day (Harold Ramis, 1993) 2.5
Star Trek IV (Leonard Nimoy, 1986) 2 - Camp rating: 3.5
Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) 3.5
The Music Room (Satyajit Ray, 1958) 3
The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kirshner, 1980) 4
The Return of the Jedi (Richard Marquand, 1983) 2.5
The Red Tent (Mikhail Kalatazov, 1969) 3 - a dramatically uneven "true" adventure story about a team of Italian explorers stranded near the north pole after their dirigible crashes. It has harrowing moments and beautiful imagery side-by-side with a ham-fisted structure of personal-introspection and a plot that seems over-long spread across several characters and time-lines. The parts that are really effective are great though, and some of the best ones fall to side-characters. There's a minor story about an Russian amateur ham-radio operator who discovers the signal of the missing explorers that is utterly heartbreaking, designed so effectively that it belongs in a great film.
Amigo (John Sayles, 2012) 2 - I could be underrating this slightly as I felt I couldn't give it my full attention when I watched it, but it seems to be Sayles' weakest film so far, even though it tells a little-broached and somewhat depressing episode of American imperialism.
White Heat (Raul Walsh, 1949) 3
Mrs. Soffel (Gillian Armstrong, 1984) 4 - An unlikely but eventually highly compelling romance story between a death-row inmate and the wife of the warden of a Pittsburgh prison. It starts kind of slow but by the end I was hooked (and really sad.)
Haywire (Stephen Soderberg, 2012) 3 - fairly run-of-the-mill espionage caper story with some excellent action choreography, beautiful locations around the world and an interesting new star. May be over-rating this slightly but it's a pretty enjoyable action movie, about on par with Hanna IMO.
Out of the Past (Jacques Tourneur, 1947) 2.5
Outside the Law (Tod Browning, 1921) 2 - somewhat typical early melodrama by Tod Browning, in which the always-enjoyable Lon Chaney plays two characters (including an inscrutable chinaman).
Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie, 2011) 3.5
Sneakers (Phil Alden Robinson, 1992) 2
Not Mozart (Peter Greenaway, 1991) 3 - A short, made-for-tv "tribute" to Mozart with questionable relevance but some fantastic dancers and choreography.
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, 2011) 2.5
Beverly Hills Cop (Martin Brest, 1984) 3
The Beach (Danny Boyle, 2000) 2.5
Wise Blood (John Huston, 1979) 2.5 - A fairly faithful adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's novel of the same title. It tells the story of a modern-day martyr with questionable methods, in a south that seems to be populated by opportunist charlatans and just an all-around broken society, and it has some of the great under-celebrated actors of its generation. Like the book it is based on I found it somewhat inert, and couldn't really get into it but its worth a look.
Everybody Wins (Karel Reisz, 1990) 3

I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting some others that I've seen over the last month, but I'll post any that I can remember with the next batch.

Skepsis93

01-30-12, 10:55 PM

High Fidelity
Stephen Frears, 2000
John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black
4.5

http://justinquizon12.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/high-fidelity-3.jpg

What a superbly fun and unexpectedly complex flick. I loved the way the themes of relationships and music were weaved together rather than running parallel to each other, we see how Rob's (Cusack) obsessive personality (manifested in his record collection and compulsion to list everything, something I relate to all too much) factored into his past relationships and how it is affecting the one he's in now. It's not a performance-centric piece, but the cast all do great work, right down to a surprising but very welcome cameo from Tim Robbins. It's always fun to watch Jack Black do his thing. The screenplay is surprisingly complex for such a simple premise, but it's executed extremely well. It will come as no surprise that the soundtrack is a star in its own right, and rightly so - it rocks.

akatemple

01-31-12, 05:12 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Huntforgollumposter1.jpg

The Hunt For Gollum (2009)
Directed by: Chris Bouchard
Written by: Chris Bouchard

This is a British film that takes place just before the first Lord of the Rings film, I had never heard of this film until stumbling upon this on Youtube so I figured it had to do with the LOTR story so I would give it a shot, this is a short film coming in around 39 minutes. I thought that they did a great job keeping in mind that the film was made with less then a 4,000 dollar budget, the makeup on the orcs was done well and coming up with a lookalike for Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen if that is what they were trying to do then I give them an A for effort.
Basically the story is Gandalf getting Aragorn to find Gollum because Gandalf belives that he knows the location of the ring, Aragorn sets out on his journey with a few decent fight scenes along the way (less then 4,000 dollars), this being a short film I am not sure how much more I can say without giving away to much. If you are a LOTR fan and you have not seen this then definitely give it a shot, it's only 39 minutes so even if you don't like it than it's no big deal.

2.5 I did not like the way it ended, all I am gonna say on that.

akatemple

02-01-12, 06:53 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/ImmortalAdVitam.jpg

Immortal (Ad Vitam) (2004)
Directed by: Enki Bilal
Written by: Enki Bilal

Nyc year 2095. A floating pyramid has emerged in the skies above inhabited by
ancient egyptian gods. They have cast judgment down upon Horus one of their
own. Now he must find a human host body to inhabit & search for a mate to
continue his own life. There is a series of gruesome murders going on where
all the peoples heads have exploded, turns out that if Horus tries to inhabit
your body and your not a match then that is what happens to you. Horus
finally finds a fitting body of a man who has just escaped from prison, during
his accidental escape Alcide Nikopol (Thomas Kretschmann) loses one of his
legs which Horus replaces with a steal beam he magically turns into a
perfectly good replacement. Having a steal leg turns out to be not such a
great thing as it weighs a ton and that's the catch, as long as he agrees to
help Horus then Horus will make sure Alcide can move just fine and the weight
will not bother him if not then he will have to drag his leg around for the
rest of his life.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/Immortal.jpg

Horus uses Nicopol to find the girl that he has already selected, Jill (Linda
Hardy) is a blue haired blue skinned hot girl. Her character I really didn't
understand all that well, she is some kind of alien that was brought to Earth
for some reason that I did not understand. With the help of Horus's magic
Nikopol is able to seduce Jill so that Horus can use her to procreate, this is
another part I didn't understand but for some reason Horus needs to have a
child and it has to be with Jill. The bad part of using "magic" to seduce a
woman is that when it wears off in the morning she does not remember anything
and needless to say she feels extremely violated, luckily Nicopol calms her
down and is able to form a friendship with Jill that blooms into something
more throughout the movie. This is a really interesting movie and beautifull
movie as the characters and movie are half live action and half CGI, I
definitely suggest this movie to anyone that likes the bizzare and unusual.

3.5

akatemple

02-01-12, 07:08 PM

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/right_at_your_door_593.jpg

Right At Your Door (2006)
Directed by: Chris Gorak
Written by: Chris Gorak

Brad (Rory Cochrane) and Lexi (Mary McCormack) are living together in Los Angeles and on this fateful morning she goes off to work. The next thing Brad nows there are reports on the radio of a series of blasts in the city. It turns out that not only is this a terrorist attack, but that the bombs were dirty bombs that are filling the air with toxic clouds of deadly ash. Of course Brad tries to contact Lexi, but the phone lines are jammed and when he jumps in his car to try and go and find her, his efforts are stopped by the police. Chances are she is already dead, but Brad simply does not know one way or the other. So he returns home and seals up his doors and windows against the toxic cloud that is coming, and waits for Lexi to call or get back home.
Of course his wife shows up after sealing himself in, he can't allow her in or else risk contaminating himself so a lot of the movie is spent with them sitting seperated by plastic talking about the good memories of their past.

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc406/akatemple/rayd1b.jpg

I should have been bored but I wasn't, I found this movie entertaining from beginning to end and the movie did have a shocking twist ending that I did not see coming. There is a very minimal cast in this with only 3 characters that have any real amount of screen time and maybe another 3 that get about a minute or less screen time, the music was good and I thought the acting was really good also. This really makes you wonder if you would be able to do this to someone you love, if you could go on watching the person you love getting sicker and sicker, hopefully a choice I will never have to make.

3

re93animator

02-01-12, 08:10 PM

Immortal (Ad Vitam) (2004)

3.5
I liked this. I thought the writing/acting was pretty weak, but the visuals were incredible. And even though I didn't really like the look of the CG characters, I love that kind of experimentation in cinema.

B-card

02-01-12, 08:26 PM

Chronicle(Josh Trank)2012-I had high hopes for that film and they were justified as I just came back from the cinema and talked about the movie all the way to home. Despite the fact that it looks a little bit like an indie film in terms of low budget it was done very well and had some very innovative ideas. Its very controversial from the typical comic book hero movies such as Superman,Spider-man, Iron Man and so on where there is always a moral goal that the character tries to achieve whereas in Chronicle it was completely the opposite as the film tries to disassociate itself from the comic book standard. Camera work is amazing I love the idea again of the documentary style of shooting like in Cloverfield and actually in a lot other movies lately, but in Chronicle the continuity in terms of changing angles is done very creatively. I would say that in 2012 that is the best Super hero movie(if I can call it that) and I am not sure what can top it up.

http://www.blogomatic3000.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DF-04400.jpg
http://cdni.wired.co.uk/620x413/a_c/Chronicle.jpg

Monkeypunch

02-02-12, 01:43 PM

Shaolin - Excellent and heart rending period drama from China about a ruthless warlord who after a botched coup, takes refuge in a Shaolin temple and learns to be a man of peace in a world that loves war. I was pleasantly surprised to see Jackie Chan in a supporting role as a cook at the monastery who is unsure of his place in the world. Thumbs way up for me.

filmgirlinterrupted

02-03-12, 05:44 PM

Moneyball 3.5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiAHlZVgXjk

Good movie, but lacking magic. Brad Pitt is magnetic, Jonah Hill was underwhelming.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTcpgDrwMcU

I thought I was getting "punk'd" this movie was so horrible.

50/50 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMaJET7mD0M

A flawless movie. Not a minute is wasted, and everyone in the film performed brilliantly. One of the best of 2011.

JayDee

02-03-12, 08:56 PM

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

see full, detailed review here JayDee's Movie Musings (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=789967#post789967//)

4.5-

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/Chronicle.jpg

Chronicle

If you were to ask people which genres are worn out, two common answers would probably be the found footage, POV film (Rec, Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield etc) and the superhero film. Well this films takes both of those and combines them together, creating something that I found to be just a piece of cracking entertainment.

It tells the typical superhero origin but in a fresh, exciting manner. And even with it's meagre 83 minute running time, it still finds the time to throw in some elements of sci-fi and darker character drama as we focus on a troubled teenager. I've seen it mentioned a couple of times as being like 'Cloverfield meets Heroes' and I'd say that is quite an apt description. It's not a fantastically original film, but it does feel very fresh and just a little bit different.

A lot of credit has to go to the young trio in the main roles. They all give very strong performances (Dane DeHaan is especially impressive as troubled teen Andrew), neatly toeing the line between natural and realistic which fits with the handheld camera feel, while still being charismatic and entertaining. They are also helped immensely by the script. A lot of these handheld, found footage films are criticised for not having fleshed out characters. That's not the case here however. As well as coming up with strong, natural dialogue the script provides the kids with a realistic story arc when it comes to using their powers. Yes it's nice to think that anyone who gets powers will immediately want to fight crime with them, but it's very unlikely. Here we get teenagers acting like teenagers. They use their powers for girls, for committing Jackass-style stunts on camera and generally just for messing about in an immature manner. It creates likeable characters that we can relate to and understand.

The film takes its time before breaking out the big action, meaning that when it does come we buy it and care about it. By establishing the story and characters first we care about the characters and what happens to them; and we can find the unbelievable...well, believable. And there is a POV scene featuring a car and the Seattle Space Needle which is really quite impressive, and for a moment even made me feel a little uneasy as if I was there.

If rumours are to be believed the film's director, Josh Trank, is apparently already being lined up to helm the Fantastic Four reboot and I'm not surprised. This is a very impressive debut and could herald an exciting new talent. And he might not be the only one. Trank is 26. The writer, Max Landis, is also 26. And the three young actors are all in their mid twenties.

Chronicle will most certainly be crushed under the might of Spider-Man, Batman and the Avengers at the box-office, but in terms of quality I'd say it has thrown down a strong gauntlet to its big name counterparts. I think it's a real little gem. And one I can see still being around my top 10 come the end of the year.

4.5

and here's a short review for a film that I watched months back but forgot to write anything about.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/JayDee87/MovieForums/easy_a_poster01.jpg

Easy A

An immensely enjoyable and winning film which features a star-making turn from the adorable Emma Stone. Although it has to be said that any scene she's in with her parents is just about stolen out from under her by the wonderful Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson.

3.5++

mark f

02-03-12, 09:33 PM

Lies My Father Told Me (Jan Kadar, 1975) 4

"Rags, Clothes, Bottles!"
http://s1.moviefanfare.com/uploads/2010/12/Lies-My-Father-Told-Me-1975.jpg

Wonderful, life-affirming tale about a boy growing up in a Jewish household in Ottawa, Canada, circa 1930. Jan Kadar, who made the hauntingly-beautiful Czech film The Shop on Main Street, feels right at home translating Author Ted Allan's tale to the screen. The "no-name" cast is tremendous led by dignified Grandpa Zaida (Yossi Yadin) and the lead character, his inquisitive grandson David (Jeffrey Lynas in his first film). The simple story revolves around these two's trips throughout the area on Sundays with their ancient, but magic horse, collecting junk to raise money to support the family. David's father (Len Birman) is a struggling inventor and his mother (Marilyn Lightstone) is pregnant, and the entire family lives in town (next to their stable) in the midst of several other colorful characters.

http://www.shalomlife.com/img/3968/1264108107388414/400_300_1264108107388414.jpg

The terrific thing about this film is that it's never really nostalgic. It all seems to take place in the here and now, and young David really begins to mistrust the older generation because he says they tell lies. For example, his dad tells him that his Grandpa is a crazy old man and makes up stories about how the Earth, Nature and Man interact. Grandpa's stories are wonderful, and although he's only read One Book in his life, he's not what you would call an Orthodox Jew. David says that is all a lie, but then when his younger brother is born, and David watches him breastfeed, he tells his mom, "I want that!", pointing at her breast. She says that babies do it and that David did it when he was young, but that he's too old now. Then he asks Zaida and he agrees, saying it's only done with babies and their mothers. However, as David sees through a neighbor's window along with other local children, grown-up men and women do it too, even if they're not married (at least to each other!) David now thinks his mom and granpa are liars. The film is always surprising and especially frank about sex, which is one of its great charms. There's this cute girl who talks to David about where babies come from since her dog is pregnant. David doesn't understand how they can come out of a Doggie or Human mother. The little girl explains to him calmly that they come from the vagina, and when he says he doesn't know where that is, she shows him by pointing it out on the pregnant dog.

It goes without saying that Kadar uses terrific visuals and is a master at nightmare imagery when the film calls for it, but he's also great at mise-en-scene. I just wish that I could see more of his films. I still haven't even seen The Angel Levine in its entirety. I am so happy that TCM showed it on Groundhog Day as a sorta birthday present to me because I hadn't seen it for 25-30 years. It's definitely worthy of my Top 100.

The Big Country (William Wyler, 1958) 4

http://i22.lulzimg.com/i/22990e.png

Glorious Movie-Movie is one of the best westerns ever made, with a ton of memorable characters, albeit centered around a rather strange central character for a western. That character is former ship captain Jim McKay (Gregory Peck) who has gotten fianced into a Texas ranching family by way of Pat Terrell (Carroll Baker), who eventually shows herself to misunderstand him and be extremely superficial. Pat's father, The Major (Charles Bickford), tries to rule his neck of the prariie with the help of his practically-adopted son Steve Leach (Charlton Heston) who has a yearning for Pat himself. What McKay doesn't know is that he's walked into the middle of a feud between The Major and rival Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives) who has his own cross to bear in the person of his oldest son Buck (Chuck Connors). The person who seems to hold the key to this war is schoolteacher Julie (Jean Simmons) who owns the Big Muddy, the river where both families need to water their cattle.

http://s1.postimage.org/k812zodn2/The_Big_Country_1958_m720p_robin_coolhaunt_coolhd_org_00_52_12_00012.jpg

Aside from just being tremendous cinematic storytelling on every level, The Big Country shows a love of the land even when the humans roaming over that land are incredibly corrupt and violent. Nobody seems to respect McKay, except for perhaps the Major's Mexican jack-of-all-trades Ramón (the awesome Alfonso Bedoya). They constantly think that he's a coward, a dude, or just plain stupid, but they have no concept of what it takes to navigate a ship through two oceans and command the men onboard at the same time. All the acting is beautiful, almost all of them playing iconic characters. William Wyler likes to emphasize how "big" the "country" is, and he's aided by DP Franz Planer and especially composer Jerome Moross, whose score seems to have later been interpolated into both Elmer Bernstein's The Magnificent Seven and the Marlboro commercials.

I suppose if The Big Country were to remind me of another movie it would be George Stevens' Giant which I also need to add to my mafo 100. The Big Country needs to go in there, and I'm putting it there when I'm done with this Tab. :cool:

Also seen recently:

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (John Huston, 1948) 4+
The Quiet Man (John Ford, 1952) 4.5
Zabriskie Point (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1970) 0.5
Red Desert (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1964) 2
Billy Liar (John Schlesinger, 1963) 3
Nosferatu - Phantom der Nacht (Werner Herzog, 1979) 2.5
The Story of Adele H. (Francois Truffaut, 1975) 3
Mary, Queen of Scots (Charles Jarrott, 1971) 4
Laura (Otto Preminger, 1944) 4
The Night They Raided Minsky's (William Friedkin, 1968) 3
Thriller - A Cruel Picture (Bo Arne Vibenius, 1974) 2.5 How did you know, Used Future? :cool:
Innerspace (Joe Dante, 1987) 3.5
Hard Times (Walter Hill, 1975) 3.5
Rock, Rock, Rock! (Will Price, 1956) 2
Wild Guitar (Ray Dennis Steckler, 1962) 2

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_s77XPQZjRl0/StfDzlD5iLI/AAAAAAAAEpg/753eWemuLmU/s400/wild+guitar.jpg

Wildly-underrated no-budget trash classic with mostly awful acting makes up for it with some startling film-noirish camerawork (some by Vilmos Zsigmond, credited as William Zsigmond) and a wall-to-wall surf score provided by some great unknown band. Arch Hall Jr. overdoes his bug-eyed hick routine, but the guy sometimes sings like Chris Isaak, and a few scenes have decent acting. I can understand why Steckler (who's credited as "Cash Flagg" when he plays the mousey jerk Steak) is considered the second coming of Edward D. Wood, Jr., but he has much more talent, at least in whom he surrounds himself visually and aurally. Still, much of the film is plain bad, but when you hear a cool surf riff or see a wicked shadow, it's not that hard to take when you're not laughing.

JayDee

02-03-12, 09:59 PM

Great post as always Mark. The way you write about the films you like just makes me want to go right out and watch them. :D

As always a lot I've not seen but I agree that Laura is a great film. And it's nice to see you give quite a strong score to Innerspace which is such a fun, underrated little film.

re93animator

02-05-12, 05:58 AM

Ghostwatch (1992) – 3_5
Haunted house mockumentary. The haunted house scenes towards the end of the film are fantastic, but the séance being brought into the actual studio felt way too exaggerated for something trying to seem so realistic. Great Halloween movie though:)

The Hands of Orlac (1924) – 2_5
Just saw it a week ago; already beginning to forget it. I found it somewhat entertaining though.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1986) – 4
Surrealist animated film from Jiri Barta. This is definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but Barta is a visionary.
http://i39.tinypic.com/nvaby9.png

The Singing Detective (1986) – 3_5
The series as a whole is good (though most consider it to be much better than I'm making it out to be), but my interest was really peaked during the final two episodes, which I'd separately give a 9/10.

meatwadsprite

02-05-12, 11:39 AM

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT759Wz2UQtcG_WW424qztlF6oBPlvIvC85nPdlrG7X1FbhVaNbkQ 3.5 https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRA5J2uFGezZ3q7wHbMMUXpjUUc1Wy0eQRNKp6-5A6lA94ZPB5m 3 https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS48H0LmLtPBtMFIwDgPQK_388ZzMns4ukjCqGVfHSPalu3iz6jKQ 3.5

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTi-y-TjnsX85XcDG9onuLF7dm2CLHpZwd2LoU65okvcc6rQB0u 3.5

mack

02-05-12, 07:11 PM

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 2.5/5
Its not that this was a bad movie, but it felt like the exact same movie as the first two - a vanity project, if you will, for all the folks who just love Johnny Depps weird Jack Sparrow so much that they can't let him rest. Beyond that, at 2+ hours, the movie was entirely too long, and they filled the time with unnecessary digressions. I honestly believe they could have edited 1 hour out of the film and told the exact same story, minus nothing. Further, it was nothing new for Depp, or for Penelope Cruz - in fact, I spent the movie rooting for the priest's love affair with the mermaid. Beautiful visuals though.

Abduction - 5/5
I was genuinely surprised to discover that this was a John Singleton movie - surprised, and impressed. I know they do different types of movies, but the only thought I had was that Singleton was about to unseat Spike Lee as the leading black filmmaker. And not that I dont have mad respect for Spike, but its about time. The cast was a veritable who's who of beautiful people, rounded with Taylor Lautner, who is the kind of head-turning young guy you just wish was 10 years older - real, real easy on the eyes. ;) I saw the preview once, so I didnt have a good grip on the story, and was truly able to watch it unfold as the movie progressed. The film starts slow, but quickly builds into a pulse-pounder, with non-stop action until its conclusion. In saying that, I easily place this one up there as this teenage generations' Goonies, Red Dawn, License to Drive, Edge of Honor, etc. Its one of those coming of age, bridge-the-gap to adulthood films, where the young "fight the man." Watch out Shia LeBouf - here comes Taylor Lautner at top speed! ;)

Skepsis93

02-06-12, 06:06 PM

Seen lately:

Fast Times at Ridgemont High 4
Thor 3
Horrible Bosses 4
Tangled 4
Dazed and Confused 4.5
Clerks 2.5
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies 4

Sexy Celebrity

02-06-12, 07:01 PM

Over the weekend:

Cold Mountain 4
Drive 4.5

Might review Drive in my review thread later.

Monkeypunch

02-06-12, 09:34 PM

Real Steel - I loved this movie. The idea of boxing robots is fantastic, and the cast give good performances. I do agree that the film could have used more robots and less set up, and maybe it leaves a few things unresolved, but it's so much fun to watch, I can overlook that.

Sexy Celebrity

02-07-12, 07:17 AM

DRIVE
(directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011)

http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Ryan-gosling-drive-movie-mask-rubber.jpg

I loved this movie, yet I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I think that Drive has a sort of old, classic, 1960's, 1970's obscure, Taxi Driver kind of feel to it, and I love how bloody and violent it gets (eventually....)

But there's something wrong about it. Let me try to explain to you what I'm feeling is wrong: Okay, so, hopefully you all know what Drive is about. In short: Ryan Gosling plays a Hollywood car stunt driver for the movies who also works as a mechanic. He lives next to a woman in an apartment building - the woman has a young son. Her husband is in jail. Her husband gets out of jail. Unfortunately, trouble still finds the husband once he gets home. Ryan Gosling, as "The Driver", gets caught up in it all when he learns that the woman and her son now have their lives threatened because of the husband. He wants to protect them and an interesting, surprising twist unfolds.

For starters, Ryan Gosling is gorgeous. Ryan Gosling interests me.

BUT HE'S A MANNEQUIN!

And everytime I see Ryan Gosling in a movie, I feel like I'm watching an autistic actor or something. Drive full on exploits this. He plays the ultimate male mannequin character. He is a Crash Test Dummy. Actually, I take that back, because I remember the Crash Test Dummies and they actually had more life in them! All Ryan seems to do in this movie is just... be quiet! He's like Michael Myers in Halloween. In fact, I think Drive would have been a lot better if it had been a horror movie. Ryan Gosling is the perfect quiet murderer. There is something about him that just screams... crazy. In Lars and the Real Girl, he was having sex with that love doll (mannequin!!!) In All Good Things, he was a wacko that eventually became a mute transvestite murderer. Ryan Gosling is just... he's the sexiest mental patient in the world. I want to see him do strait jacket porn.

I don't really like the ending. Yet, I think my feelings about the ending are contributed by all the other elements that I feel are wrong with Drive. Technically, I think Drive works, as a story -- but technical is emotionless. Major spoiler below....

He should have went back for the woman and her child. I’m very glad that he lived — I had seen a picture of him getting stabbed and I feared it meant he died. I was so relieved that he lived, but it feels wrong that he drove off and I guess left town without the woman and her child. I get that in a way it’s saying a pretty serious job was taken care of by him - the man who is incredible - but for all that protection he did for her… willingly… and for the passionate love he seemed to have for her… it feels so wrong to me. I don’t agree with it. The ending left me unsatisfied. If he and the other guy had both died… I actually, even though I didn’t want it, think it would have been more suitable.

There is a very narcissistic aspect to the Driver character in Drive. Drive is about male beauty. The movie is really a woman's movie disguised as a rough and dirty violence and cars male movie. Note the soundtrack: All of the songs, from what I remember, are sang by women. And it feels odd to me. I'm also noticing that this movie is extremely popular with girls. This is a movie about a Ken doll if Ken wanted to go and do something - a motion picture - without Barbie - but the Barbie corporation still had to have a hand in it. This is Ken meets Quentin Tarantino. And in the end, when all is said and done, Ken must leave Quentin and go back to Barbie.

Drive's failure to pick up any Oscar nominations is because of what I'm saying here. Imagine if Justin Bieber had played the Driver -- it would look ridiculous. Yet, he COULD have played the Driver, because that's what Drive is -- it's a pretty boy girly film trying to be manly. It's very covered up because that's what Ryan Gosling is required to do -- he is a very masculine looking stud, but he is also doing a mannequin role here. He is window dressing. He is the ultimate secret agent.

The fact that The Driver never truly feels invincible -- the fact that he does seem like he could be killed -- adds to the truth that he's not quite a real man. He is a silent pinup male model -- he never feels invincible. This movie reminded me of the Pam Grier 1970's Blaxploitation films that I love, like Coffy and Foxy Brown, where Pam is a badass mofo who is getting revenge and always succeeding. Pam had more life and power than Ryan Gosling does here. It bothers me that Ryan Gosling didn't. I blame the script for the most part. Ryan's silent presence doesn't come off as silent but deadly. He's sexy, but it's all surface. He is not sexy under the surface. If any ugly guy had played that character, nobody would care about Drive. Nobody. He really needed more life in him. It was frustrating just watching him act like a stump. The other men in this movie were loud and intimidating -- I can't really buy that Ryan Gosling was able to do battle with them. At least when Pam Grier went to battle, she was loud, she was sassy - she was a killer mama. Ryan Gosling is like cancer -- he might win, but he might lose. And for a movie like Drive, where he's a stunt driver and a mechanic... I don't think it works. He's hollow and he should be filled up with all kinds of complex stuff. There's nothing interesting about his mysteriousness. Even his apartment is really seen only in darkness. There's nothing to give him life. He's dead.

I even feel like there's a possible homosexual undertone to the Driver character, as well. But I've written a lot already and I've only seen the film once, so... not now.

Besides all this, though, I liked the movie.

http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/4.5box.gif

Used Future

02-07-12, 06:35 PM

As usual full reviews of the following two films in my thread here (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=790521)

The Fourth Man/ De Vierde Man (Paul Verhoeven,1983) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/4box.gif+

Daughters Of Darkness (Harry Kümel, 1971) http://www.movieforums.com/community/../images/popcorn/4box.gif

Also recently watched...

Red State (Kevin Smith, 2011) 2.5+

The Guard (John Michael McDonagh, 2011) 4

Drive (Nicholas Winding Refn, 2011) 4+

JayDee

02-07-12, 08:05 PM

Seen lately:

Fast Times at Ridgemont High 4
Thor 3
Horrible Bosses 4
Tangled 4
Dazed and Confused 4.5
Clerks 2.5
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies 4

Fast Times at Ridgemont High was one I just didn't get it when I got round to watching it a good few years ago now. Surprised you watched and relatively enjoyed Thor, didn't think superhero films and big blockbusters seemed like your kind of film. Of the others the only one I've seen is Tangled which was a very enjoyable little film. The lantern scene is lovely

Sexy Celebrity

02-08-12, 09:11 AM

http://images2.static-bluray.com/reviews/3230_8_large.jpg
Tommy
5
What a WONDERFUL movie! How come this film isn't on any of the MoFo Lists? For shame. No wonder I've been so against those lists. This movie TRIPPED ME OUT - and I was sober. Unfortunately. On some level, my new favorite movie.

honeykid

02-08-12, 06:43 PM

I'm not a big fan of Tommy, but I am a fan of Ken Russell, even when I don't like his films. I'd recommend seeing as much Russell as you can, including his tv stuff. That man was cinema.

Sexy Celebrity

02-08-12, 06:56 PM

I saw that he died recently - why do I always discover somebody famous immediately after they die? I wondered if you liked Tommy, being that you're from the U.K. and all. I'm quite surprised that I really liked it. It kinda reminded me of The Rocky Horror Picture Show -- the style of the film. But much... much more trippy.

I might watch it again tonight!

JayDee

02-08-12, 07:09 PM

I'm trying out a new layout for this set of mini reviews. And I'll try to figure out which works best. Any opinions on which to go with will be very welcomed. Edit - Thanks to Ash for inspiring the format and for helping me achieve it.

mirror
Charlie Wilson's War

An intriguing and thoroughly entertaining film. It tells a very interesting story, of a very interesting man and does it with a great degree of fun. Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are both excellent in their respective roles, but it's when their characters are brought together that the film really sparks. Some of their scenes together are just fantastic.

The witty script is full of some fantastic dialogue, although coming from Aaron Sorkin I suppose that really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It takes a serious subject, makes some good points about it but always remains thoroughly enjoyable.

4.5

mirror
Point Blank

This is a cracking French thriller. In the opening seconds we are thrown right into the middle of a frenetic chase scene, and the pace never really lets up for the next 80 minutes. In that respect it reminded me a bit of Run Lola Run. It truly is worthy of all those clichés available for thrillers - edge of the seat/ a real rollercoaster/ a breathless ride etc.

With gritty action, and twists and turns aplenty it really is a gripping experience throughout. With subtitled films I can sometimes struggle to really appreciate the performances (maybe having to focus too much on the subtitles) but Gilles Lellouche is fantastic in the lead role, really grasping the sheer desperation of the situation he finds himself trapped in. Do yourself a favour and see this film before Hollywood gets the idea to remake it.

4

mirror

Crazy Stupid Love

For a while I was actually a bit disappointed with this. It wasn't living up to the fairly high expectations I had for it. I was expecting a much higher laugh rate than I was getting. By the end however I had come round. The laughs increased as the film went along, but it was more just the fact that the film was 'nice' that eventually drew me in. In that respect it reminded me of the 90s sitcom, Mad About You. It wasn't always the funniest but that's because it wasn't constantly trying to get big belly laughs every two seconds. It could be content for stretches just being a nice and sweet show about likeable characters. It's a film where its talented cast definitely lift it up to another level.

4-

mirror
Duck Soup

Up until now I had never seen a Marx brothers film. I know, shock horror right? Not sure why. Maybe due to my mum not being a fan. Anyway I spotted this on DVD for just £2 so thought I'd buy it and finally give them a shot.

So what's the verdict? Well the film does have some very funny lines and sight gags, and some extremely creative and amusing sketches (the lemonade stand and the mirror scene in particular) but I have to admit to finding Groucho a tad annoying at times. As a result it was the antics of Chico and Harpo that really entertained for me.

So am I completely converted to the ways of that Marx brothers? Not quite. Did I see enough to want to track down more of their work? Absolutely..

3.5

mirror
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Maybe I was just in a good mood (which would be rare for me! :D), or maybe it was enjoyment by proxy from my nieces, but I actually really enjoyed this. For the type of film it is I think it did a very good job. Most of the credit goes to Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson for the improvement on the first film. For these kinds of films I think he's just about the best candidate out there currently. He's likeable, charismatic, has good comic timing, can handle the physical stuff and actually act.

Oh and I'm not sure whose idea it was to make a double act out of Johnson and Michael Caine but it comes close to a piece of genius. They seem to have really good fun just taking little digs at each other throughout.

3+

mirror

Laws of Attraction

A fairly run of the mill romantic comedy, where both the writing and directing could be described similarly. Therefore it has to rely heavily on the charms of its cast and it's here where the film succeeds, as I think Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore are amongst the most charming and likeable actors out there. Yes they deserve better, but their efforts at least lift this up to something fairly decent and enjoyable.

2.5

honeykid

02-08-12, 11:16 PM

Well, I like the format JD, it's this bit I didn't understand.

...but I have to admit to finding Groucho a tad annoying at times.

That's this level of crazy.

http://www.geekologie.com/2010/07/15/westboro-church.jpg

Forget it, I've just noticed you've given Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3+/5. You've obviously gone completely doolally. :D

Monkeypunch

02-09-12, 04:56 AM

This Film is Not Yet Rated - Pretty entertaining documentary about the MPAA and how they indulge in censorship while not actually calling it that. It was kind of infuriating, too.

Deep Blue Sea - Oh, how I love this silly B-Movie about super sharks. I laugh every single time when Samuel L Jackson...oh wait, spoilers....right. :D

Gnomeo and Juliet - Yes, I watched this. Having expected just about nothing from it, I was pleasantly surprised. Strange celebrity voice casting, a total bastardization of Shakespeare, and quite a few jokes that were kind of too adult for the kids audience they were courting...it was better than all the Shrek sequels, I will give it that.

JayDee

02-09-12, 02:57 PM

:laugh: Very good HK. I particularly like your reasons for editing. :D

Well, I like the format JD, it's this bit I didn't understand.

Forget it, I've just noticed you've given Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3+/5. You've obviously gone completely doolally. :D

Sorry about that. I was sure someone would pick me up on it and after seeing it on your top 100 list (which actually inspired me to watch it) I thought it might be you. I did find some of his antics funny, but just found myself being overwhelmed by him. Perhaps the fact that I've seen his act so much already through spoofs and imitations meant I struggled to appreciate the original. That's also one of the reasons I've not watched The Godfather yet. I feel I know so much of it already through references in everything from the Simpsons to You've Got Mail - horse's head, an offer he can't refuse, going to the mattresses, you broke my heart etc - that it won't have the impact it should, or that I won't be able to take it seriously. Has happened with a few films before I feel

Hey now! Have you seen Journey 2? No I didn't think so, so you have no right commenting! :D Obviously if I was judging it by general film standards that would be a very high score. If I put it up against Zodiac (which I gave 4 stars) and judged purely on quality then it would get crushed. But I'm judging it on its own terms; as a family fantasy/comedy film. And as such I think it was an admirable and enjoyable effort.

You quite like Charlie Wilson's war by the way don't you?

honeykid

02-09-12, 06:38 PM

Sorry about that. I was sure someone would pick me up on it and after seeing it on your top 100 list (which actually inspired me to watch it) I thought it might be you. I did find some of his antics funny, but just found myself being overwhelmed by him.
Y'see, for me it's all about the verbal comedy. I don't like slapstick and I dont 'do' the musical interludes, so without Groucho I probably wouldn't bother with the Marx Brothers. For me, there's no such thing as too much Groucho. In comedy, I see stand-up as king and Groucho could be as close as film comedy gets to stand-up.

Perhaps the fact that I've seen his act so much already through spoofs and imitations meant I struggled to appreciate the original. That's also one of the reasons I've not watched The Godfather yet. I feel I know so much of it already through references in everything from the Simpsons to You've Got Mail - horse's head, an offer he can't refuse, going to the mattresses, you broke my heart etc - that it won't have the impact it should, or that I won't be able to take it seriously. Has happened with a few films before I feel
I completely understand what you mean here. However, don't be afraid of The Godfather because of that. If you don't like it, you don't like it, but I don't think knowing those scenes and lines will ruin it. I mean, it could do, obviously you know yourself better than I know you, but I can't see why you wouldn't like it despite knowing those things. I think it's much more likely that if you don't like it, you would't have liked it anyway, regardless of what you did or didn't know.

Hey now! Have you seen Journey 2? No I didn't think so, so you have no right commenting! :D Obviously if I was judging it by general film standards that would be a very high score. If I put it up against Zodiac (which I gave 4 stars) and judged purely on quality then it would get crushed. But I'm judging it on its own terms; as a family fantasy/comedy film. And as such I think it was an admirable and enjoyable effort.
Of course I've not see it. I'm not certifiable. :p And, unlike you, I have the certificate to prove it. :D Did you hear Mark Kermode's review of it? I thought it was pretty funny.

You quite like Charlie Wilson's war by the way don't you?
I do. I've seen it a couple of times and really enjoyed it on both viewings.

TylerDurden99

02-10-12, 03:40 AM

I was pleasantly surprised by Johnny English Reborn. Pointless, but very funny sequel to the disappointing 2003 spy film parody. There is some very Mr Bean-ish physical humor from Rowan Atkinson, and it's very enjoyable in it's execution.

TylerDurden99

02-10-12, 07:44 PM

Cast Away (2000) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4.5box.gifhttp://www.traileraddict.com/content/20th-century-fox/castaway.jpg

What a powerful film. The first half is very solid, developing it's lead character and his surroundings. The second half is an emotional rollercoaster, which has some strong acting, especially from Tom Hanks and the magnificent score. I don't usually cry in films, but I did in Cast Away.

Johnny English Reborn (2011) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/3.5box.gif+
http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/johnny-english-reborn-poster.jpg

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4box.gif
http://slapnose.com/images/blog/0606/0606-inconvenient-truth.jpg

Skepsis93

02-13-12, 02:05 AM

Cast Away is great until the ending. The last 20 minutes are completely unnecessary and dragged out. Killed the whole experience, for me.

Brodinski

02-13-12, 02:31 PM

That scene where Tom Hanks manages to make fire is good fun though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7Og1zvdy8

TylerDurden99

02-13-12, 04:36 PM

I... Have made fire!

JayDee

02-13-12, 05:22 PM

Cast Away (2000) http://www.movieforums.com/images/popcorn/4.5box.gif

So glad that you seemed to massively enjoy it. Now I feel let off the hook after you used my list as a recommendation. :D

I completely understand what you mean here. However, don't be afraid of The Godfather because of that. If you don't like it, you don't like it, but I don't think knowing those scenes and lines will ruin it. I mean, it could do, obviously you know yourself better than I know you, but I can't see why you wouldn't like it despite knowing those things. I think it's much more likely that if you don't like it, you would't have liked it anyway, regardless of what you did or didn't know.

Afraid?!!! Who said I'm afraid? I fear no film! :D It's not that I'll dislike it because of that, more just that it would hurt the chances of me really liking it. Kind of in the same way that people go to see a film and say "yeah I enjoyed it but all the best bits were in the trailer." I just imagine that the scenes/moments may not have the same impact or power they should with me already knowing many of them. Not sure I'm making it that clear to be honest. Oh and I do certainly plan on watching it at some point quite soon

Of course I've not see it. I'm not certifiable. :p And, unlike you, I have the certificate to prove it. :D Did you hear Mark Kermode's review of it? I thought it was pretty funny.

No didn't hear it. Never bother with his stuff usually

Skepsis93

02-14-12, 02:49 AM

Of course. The scenes leading up to and on the island are brilliant.

akatemple

02-14-12, 01:41 PM

Cast Away is one of those weird movies for me that I can watch over and over, 4.5 completely agree.

JayDee

02-14-12, 04:39 PM

Cast Away is one of those weird movies for me that I can watch over and over, 4.5 completely agree.

Right with you there. BBC1 seems to show it quite a lot and I always end up watching at least part of it. I just need to see a few seconds of it and I'm drawn in.

mark f

02-14-12, 09:30 PM

Time Regained (Raoul Ruiz, 1999) 3 Art House Rating 4

http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/marcel-prousts-time-regained/w448/marcel-prousts-time-regained.jpg?1289434972

I'm no expert on Chilean director Raoul Ruiz or Marcel Proust, but I do believe that I understand them both much better after watching this epic film, basically covering the entirety of Proust's life. The film is fractured in that the time frames are constantly changing, and I can understand why it may confuse some people, but the film is so lush, so well-acted and so floridly-directed that the pure cinematics will have to draw you in, and if you feel the need to give up (hopefully not) before the ending, I suggest going to the final scene because it has a very simple way of understanding this movie, and dare I say it, almost any movie, at least if it's about someone you recognize as a human being. The cast includes Catherine Deneuve, Emmanuelle Beart, Victor Perez, Marie-France Pisier (R.I.P.), John Malkovich and various actors playing Proust. The real fun for a film freak is to watch Ruiz's technique which uses all sorts of sleight-of-hand, including freeze frames, moving platforms to increase viewer disorientation, extreme long shots with dozens of characters, visual, literary and musical motifs, filters to accentuate which time frame we're seeing and just a general overall command of almost anything which could be considered avant-garde but plays out as a way to reveal rather than to mask.

Donkey Skin (Jacques Demy, 1970) 3 Art House Rating 3.5

http://deeperintomovies.net/journal/image09/donkeyskin3.jpg

A lush, "realistic" Charles Perrault (Cinderella) fairy tale with the luscious Catherine Deneuve as both a Queen who dies too young and her daughter who plays the central character here. Demy makes another musical with Deneuve and composer Michel Legrand, following their popular The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort. This one has Jean Marais (the Beast from Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast) as the King, Delphine Seyrig as the Princess's Fairy Godmother (literally the Lavender Fairy) who has an axe to grind with the King, and Jacques Perrin makes a somewhat eccentric Prince Charming who sees the Princess (known as "Donkey Skin" when he sees her) for what she truly is and not a scullery maid. The cinematography is gorgeous, the color scheme is witty and various plot points are very strong, including the use of the Donkey. I won't mention anything else so as not to spoil it, but this is a very adult-themed G-rated flick.

Two Women (Vittorio De Sica, 1960) 3 Art House Rating 4

http://finemoviesonline.net/wp-content/images/sophialoren2.jpg

This is a latter-day neorealist classic from De Sica, just as good (or better) than his The Bicycle Thief and Umberto D., focusing on a mother (Sophia Loren) and her twelve-year-old daughter (Eleonora Brown) trying to make it throughout Italy during WWII. Jean-Paul Belmondo follows up his Breathless breakthrough here playing a sympathetic Communist who's attracted to Loren. Without any noticeable use of makeup to glamorize her here, Sophia Loren is as beautiful as she's ever been on screen, and what's more, she deserved her Oscar for Best Actress of 1961, no matter how hard it may be for you to believe that someone speaking Italian got an Oscar for such a major category over 50 years ago. Although it may seem to be something of a spoiler, most plot synopses do reveal that the film is about a gang rape suffered by the mother and her daughter and how it affects their relationship and their lives. Perhaps that makes it easier to understand how powerful the film truly is.

Strange Brew (McKenzie Brothers, 1983) 2.5 Cult Rating 3.5
J.W. Coop (Cliff Robertson, 1971) 2.5 Gets better as it goes along
Brideshead Revisited (Julian Jarrold, 2008) 2.5
As Good As It Gets (James L. Brooks, 1997) 4
Passion aka The Passion of Anna (Ingmar Bergman, 1969) 2 Art House Rating 3.5 - Note - This film actually has NO TITLE
Far From the Madding Crowd (John Schlesinger, 1967) 3.5
Destry Rides Again (George Marshall, 1939) 3.5
Same Time, Next Year (Robert Mulligan, 1979) 4
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Jake Kasdan, 2007) 3.5
The Postman (Kevin Costner, 1994) 3