| GratefulFan 05.06.2010 12:38 |
I really love film. Any point in running a movie review thread to share thoughts and shittiness warnings etc? Anyway, I went to see 'Splice' last night somewhat against my better judgement largely on the relative strength of Roger Ebert's review. I used to find near perfect agreement with his choices but lately he's been letting me down a lot. He's gotten kind of soft and ranty at the same time. Anyway, I wouldn't give this movie any more than 5 out of 10. Even Rotten Tomatoes had it at about 70%. I found nearly every plot turn completely predicatable 30 minutes before, and nobody would act the way these people did outside a movie script. The best movies make you supend the reality that you're actually watching a movie. Not so this one. And some really grating gender stereotypes which did males no favours. Overall, just OK. Anybody else see it, or anythig else interesting lately? |
| tcc 05.06.2010 19:06 |
Iron Man 2 - very enjoyable. Scarlett Johansson has opened up a new perspective of herself as a action movie actress. They played a short bit of Another One Bites The Dust in this movie. Robin Hood - very nice. The cinematography is very good - all the scenes are framed like a postcard. Cate Blanchett's acting is very good. Russell Crowe is also good as usual. |
| tcc 05.06.2010 19:43 |
The Hurt Locker - the movie is very good. It really deserves the Oscar for Best Picture. It shows the trials and tribulations of a bomb disposal team in the Iraq war. You can really feel the tension and suspense in the bomb disposal scenes and sympathy for what the soldiers have to put up with in Iraq. |
| The Real Wizard 05.06.2010 20:19 |
My vote still goes for Avatar. The scene with the tree falling was far more symbolic and powerful than anything in a movie about soldiers who chose to go to war. |
| tcc 05.06.2010 20:50 |
I also saw Avatar. I find the movie a bit saccharine and very predictable. The hype is on the 3-D aspect of the movie. The Hurt Locker is about real life human drama and such genre usually wins. |
| The Real Wizard 05.06.2010 21:49 |
The 3d was secondary to its message that we as a human race have much to learn about the existence of those who are different from us - the very opposite of the war on Iraq, which was an attack on someone else irrespective of their history and culture in the interest of oil, money, and power. The west meddles in other countries' business for decades, and we scratch our heads wondering why airplanes are flown into buildings. No wonder the war movie won best picture... people still don't get it. |
| john bodega 06.06.2010 07:59 |
I didn't see Avatar in 3D so I have no idea on whether or not it makes it a 'better' movie. All I remember was a series of two dimensional caricatures, a few facsimiles of scenes from better movies, and feeling like the same story could've been told in two thirds of the time it took them. I sincerely hope the sequel is better because there's nothing lacking in the visuals. With that much money, they have a real opportunity to do something different and interesting, and it's a crying shame to see the opposite. How many Oscars does it take to shut James Cameron up? Just the one - give it to his ex instead. |
| Major Tom 06.06.2010 08:42 |
It seems that there are no more new stories to be told, but new ways of telling them. I found Avatar to be a great movie, but it's basiclly Pocahontas in a offworld enviroment. Same with the new Robin Hood. One could say that Russel Crow always do a solid preformance, but that's all he got in my opinion. It turned out to be a Gladiator/Robin Hood hybrid. I tend to enjoy "tough" movies, the onces that makes you think. Due to that, Blade Runner always tops my list! |
| john bodega 06.06.2010 09:26 |
Thanks for reminding me about Gladiator II... eugh. Painful. It's times like this you're glad you didn't pay to see a movie; rather you endured about 50 minutes of it from over someone's shoulder as they sat slack jawed at their laptop, muttering "well this was a waste of freaking bandwidth". |
| Holly2003 06.06.2010 10:19 |
The Hurt Locker is powerful and no doubt captures some of the madness, confusion, terror and bravery of war. Like a lot of American war films, it doesn't show the British in a good light (what's up with that anyway?). Even though it's based on a true story it seems too implausible, and I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief throughout. |
| Saif 06.06.2010 10:30 |
Hurt Locker is over-rated in my opinion. I was also disappointed with Shutter Island. Hard to believe this came from the same guy who gave us GoodFellas. Has anyone ever seen City of God(Cidade de Deus)??? Great film, a good GoodFellas clone. I was lucky enough to catch Avatar in one of the few theaters in India showing it in 3D(as it's meant to be). I had previously watched it last December(not 3D). Watching it in 3D is a different experience indeed, but only visually. I think it's a great film despite its lack of originality. It reminds of Dances With Wolves. Thankfully, this film doesn't have Kevin Costner. :) Anyway, stuff doesn't always have to be original to be good. The PC/PS3/X360 game Fallout 3 by no means revolutionized the FPS or RPG genres but I'd rank it among the best games of the decade(2000-2010). It merely improved upon the genre-defining principles established in Deus Ex, System Shock 2, Oblivion and the previous Fallouts. But, only a fool could criticize this game having played it. |
| GratefulFan 06.06.2010 12:58 |
tcc wrote: Iron Man 2 - very enjoyable. Scarlett Johansson has opened up a new perspective of herself as a action movie actress. They played a short bit of Another One Bites The Dust in this movie. Robin Hood - very nice. The cinematography is very good - all the scenes are framed like a postcard. Cate Blanchett's acting is very good. Russell Crowe is also good as usual. ================================== We're taking my mom to see Iron Man 2 tonight for her birthday. Liked Iron Man a lot, so expect to like this too, even though it has generally not been reviewed as well. Huge fan of Robert Downey Jr.'s acting, and frankly a huge fan of just looking at him. Didn't see Robin Hood or Avatar yet. I'm terrible for avoiding most blockbuster type movies, except when I'm making exceptions for Robert Downey Jr. as above. |
| GratefulFan 06.06.2010 13:25 |
I liked, though didn't love, The Hurt Locker. There were huge howls of protest from actual Iraq vets about the lack of authenticity (see the IMDB entry for examples). I didn't regret either the time or the money as it was generally effective and definitely engaging, but on another level it was without purpose. Very early in he movie the thought is "Wow. What a cowboy adrenalin junkie." Two hours later it's "Wow. What a cowboy adrenalin junkie." There was no story arc, little character development and little tying one scene to the next. Just a series of well executed, compellingly shot war vignettes. The ending in particular was unsatisfying. Played like Bigelow suddenly realized she only had 1000 feet of film left and had to wrap it up. Wouldn't have won by a long shot in other years. |
| GratefulFan 06.06.2010 13:42 |
Ever walk out of a movie? Me: Original Jaws (scared little kid), Rocky III (annoyed at my date), Saw version whatever (bored and disgusted) The DaVinci Code (just bored) and Munich (thought it might be an appropriate historical film for my young son but quickly realized I was an idiot). Ever pay to see something more than once? Many for me, but the last one was 'No Country for Old Men'. |
| Holly2003 06.06.2010 15:19 |
It Might Get Loud was rather good. Jimmy Page gets cooler as he ages (and what a great record collection he has) and even though I'm not a huge fan, Jack White comes across as an interesting dude. The Edge had the least interesting tales/modus operandi: someone like Billy Gibbons might've been included instead. Definitely worth a watch. |
| tcc 06.06.2010 19:42 |
Holly2003 wrote: The Hurt Locker is powerful and no doubt captures some of the madness, confusion, terror and bravery of war. Like a lot of American war films, it doesn't show the British in a good light (what's up with that anyway?). Even though it's based on a true story it seems too implausible, and I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief throughout. If you find that it seems implausible, it is because the main character is a composite of many people. The events are all real experiences of different people but they were made to happen in the one character's life in the movie. This information is from the Wikipedia page on the movie. |
| GratefulFan 07.06.2010 22:13 |
Iron Man 2 was great last night. Tony Stark is such a great character and RDJ is a truly fantastic actor. Scarlett J. was great as well, and looking gorgeous in dark hair. Does everybody know that Gwyneth Paltrow sings? (Not in this movie, but previously) She did a duet with Huey Lewis with a slow, sexy groove that is really down to her smooth expressive voice. I love the song. |
| Micrówave 07.06.2010 22:43 |
@ Saif For Scorsese, you would probably enjoy The Departed, Casino, or Gangs of New York. Shutter Island was his first foray into this type of film in recent years, and, indeed, it was far too long. Other Scorsese stuff that is great (and totally unlike GoodFellas) are Kundun, Last Temptation Of Christ, or Taxi Driver. We need more directors like this, who are more concerned with storyline than special effects. Cameron is a Special Effects director, nothing more. You won't find deep meaning in The Terminator, Aliens, or Rambo II. And when he does try, we end up with sappy Special Effects movies like Titanic, The Abyss, and Avatar. See I know about the war in Iraq or 9/11, I don't need a 3 hour optical orgasm to "get it". Perhaps that's why I thought the new Star Trek movie was far better than Avatar. It had a good story. Sure the characters may have been a little green (no pun intended Avatar Blue People) but you weren't bored halfway thru the film as you were at Avatar, awaiting the next political reference. |
| GratefulFan 10.06.2010 15:52 |
Review for 'Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage'. Love the music doc genre of film. Sadly, I can't see it just yet because I live in a bit of a cultural armpit. But the outdoors life is great, to be fair. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/movies/Rush+Beyond+Lighted+Stage+metal+geek+chic/3132811/story.html |
| tcc 14.06.2010 01:53 |
I saw a Japanese film titled "About Her Brother". It tells of a sister's care for her black sheep brother to the extent of still looking for him when his disappeared after they had a big row over his debts and her sacrifice to pay off his debts. When her daughter could not understand her actions, she explained to the daugher that when she gave birth to her, she had in mind numerous names to give to the daughter. However, her husband (the girl's father) put aside her suggestions and instead got her black sheep brother to pick a name for their daugher so that the black sheep brother could at least do one good thing in his life. Towards the end, the black sheep brother asked the sister why she did not remarry after the husband died at a young age. She replied that she had not come across any man who could match the husband's kindness and love for her. |
| Micrówave 14.06.2010 05:01 |
EW gives the new Rush video a positive review as well...
It would be hard to think of a rock & roll band with more chops, and fewer hooks, than Rush. Yet {Beyond The Lighted Stage} is a doc that anyone can enjoy. Fans will gorge on this deft, year-by-year portrait of the ultimate enduring cult band. And even a skeptic may come away with an affection for the intricate labor of Rush's skewed-time-signature epics. Geddy Lee, the banshee-voiced lead singer who's like a peacock Howard Stern, grew up a nice Jewish boy, and for 40 years he has stayed nice: Even on tour with Kiss, the band avoided groupies. Maybe that explains what's missing from Rush's music. They're the sound of all rock and no roll. B+ |
| GratefulFan 14.06.2010 10:27 |
We rented Shutter Island off the dish Saturday night, but I was restless and couldn't give it the attention it needed, though I still look forward to watching it soon. I went outside instead and just for the hell of it took cell phone video of a cheeky raccoon mucking about in my yard and garbage. Anybody feel the need to review it? Bet I'd get three stars for it from Roger Ebert these days. It would still be better than 'Splice', whatever he said. |
| tcc 14.06.2010 10:49 |
Shutter Island is a waste of time. They copied the same technique from A Beautiful Mind. Much Ado About Nothing. |
| GratefulFan 03.07.2010 00:07 |
'Beyond the Lighted Stage' arrived today, and it was a terrific use of an evening. Runs about 1:45 and includes bonus material - mostly new, some already seen other places. The format was typical- a chronological run through with archival video and stills (including some old family video, which was neat) with commentary by the band, management, fans and other artists who were inspired by Rush. Some of those people could be anticipated, and some less so. Didn't expect Taylor Hawkins, for example, but he was great. One always hopes to hear some great music and see some great behind the scenes stuff and some great images and gain more insight into the band in films like this, and this absolutely did not disappoint. What I didn't expect was to feel as moved by their personal and business relationship as I did. An inspiring example of the value of long, old friendships and shared history. One of the best lines in the film- when talking about some of Rush's more average work: "Rush's middle of the road is still everybody else's left field'. Some great bonus footage of them getting progressively drunk on wine at at a hunting lodge while sharing a private (if filmed) dinner for just the three of them. |
| GratefulFan 09.07.2010 15:47 |
Making my list of top 10 (ahem) songs made me think of this scene in Almost Famous. I really loved this scene a lot. Anybody else? Favourite scenes? I've got lots more. |
| GratefulFan 19.07.2010 10:57 |
Saw 'Inception' last night and loved it. One of those I and probably a whole bunch of other people will see twice because you want to watch it again knowing what you know. Unlike pure phsychological/sci-fi thrillers in the vein of Memento (same diretor), The Machinist, Vanilla Sky (hated it) etc. this has a generous action/special effects element. Intruiging plot advancement that almost always surprises. Apparently director Christopher Nolan has been writing this movie for a a decade. It shows. It's intricate and satisfying. Great ending that leaves you hanging, but not annoyed. Highly recommended! But be prepared to have to focus. |
| john bodega 19.07.2010 11:40 |
"Inception" sounds fun but I think Ellen Page would prefer "Insemination". I'll have to ask her next time. |
| GratefulFan 19.07.2010 11:48 |
"This article has multiple issues" Ah ahahha haha ha haahah! |
| Holly2003 24.07.2010 14:40 |
Just spent two hours laughing at Superbad. Crude but very funny. |
| Amazon 27.07.2010 07:15 |
Holly2003 wrote: "Just spent two hours laughing at Superbad. Crude but very funny." I agree. :D It's a great film! |
| GratefulFan 15.08.2010 13:24 |
Went to see 'Eat Pray Love' last night fully expecting to love hating it for 2 hours while feeling vaguely sorry for this woman and her self absorbed navel gazing and earnest attempt to solve her non problems at various spots on the globe. Julia Roberts ruined all that by proving once again that her natural appeal makes it simply impossible not to like her. I don't know who I'd recommend this film to exactly, or even if I would recommend it at all. But Julia is gorgeous, the various men along the way are handsome, the location shots are a pleasure and it's not completely without some bits of wisdom. Seems pretty squarely aimed at 30 or 40 somethings, mostly female. |
| StoneColdClassicQueen 15.08.2010 16:29 |
@ Saif :D I was just talking about City of God in another thread! >< One of my all time favorite movies!!! Hmmm... I live for 80s teen movies and foreign films. Favorites include: The Breakfast Club, Revenge of the Nerds, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Paris Je T'aime, Le (or Les, I forget) Chorale, Like Water for Chocolate, Amelie, and more I can't remember the names of haha. |
| Saint Jiub 15.08.2010 21:09 |
Dinner with Idiots is one of the worst movies I ever saw. Avoid at all costs You've been warned. |
| GratefulFan 22.08.2010 03:00 |
Panchgani wrote: Dinner with Idiots is one of the worst movies I ever saw. Avoid at all costs You've been warned. ================ Do you mean 'Dinner for Schmucks'? I went to see it tonight kind of by default and actually laughed acceptably hard and acceptably often. Carrel was great. It had it's lame moments, but overall it worked. I'm surprised it hasn't been reviewed better, though my Ebert gave it three stars, which I think is about right. |
| tcc 25.08.2010 05:42 |
The reviewer in our local newspaper did not give many points for the storyline of Salt but said that Angelina Jolie could act. However, I found myself enjoying the the fast paced action movie very much. As the supporting cast are relatively unknown, I find the ending surprising. Thumbs up for Angelina Jolie :-) |
| StoneColdClassicQueen 27.08.2010 00:11 |
:O How could I forget The Graduate!?! A very young Dustin Hoffman is excellent :] |
| Dan C. 27.08.2010 07:05 |
I've seen "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" three times in the past week and a half. Do with that what you will. |
| GratefulFan 03.10.2010 14:26 |
I finally saw 'Private Parts' last night, which has been on my movie bucket list for some time. I'm glad I saw it, and enjoyed it as I thought I would. I'm probably switching to XM satellite radio (the companies are still separate entities in Canada) if Howard Stern leaves Sirius at the end of the year, because XM carries the NHL. In fact, it's my theory that the companies haven't merged in Canada yet because XM Canada knows there will be a mass migration for NHL coverage when and if Stern leaves, and as such the ultimate business picture is not yet clear. I'll definitely follow Howard to internet broadcasting because the 80% of the stuff he does that is worthwhile is really worthwhile. His interviews especially are really, really good. The other 20%, well I can just change the channel. |
| GratefulFan 03.10.2010 14:33 |
Oh and somebody made me go see 'Devil' Thursday night somewhat against my will. It turned out okay. Decent enough 'B' movie. |
| john bodega 10.10.2010 00:58 |
Last two new movies I saw were Inception and Toy Story 3. They were both a lot better than I thought they would be. It turns out I really am far too sensitive to watch something like Toy Story 3. A much older movie I just watched was John Wayne's last one, "The Shootist". Damned fine movie - I can't say it's his best because I've never actually watched a John Wayne movie from start to finish. There's something to be said for the credibility that a film can gain by throwing an old codger with some experience in it, though. |
| GratefulFan 09.07.2011 00:55 |
Ahh hahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Horrible Bosses. Go see it! :) |
| paulosham 09.07.2011 01:33 |
I'm looking forward t o The Tree Of Life Paris At Midnight Martha Marcey May Marlene |
| catqueen 09.07.2011 15:09 |
Just rewatched I Hate Valentines Day and Sleeping with the Enemy... both good :) |
| catqueen 09.07.2011 15:10 |
Anyone watch Transformers 3? I heard really mixed stuff about it. |
| thomasquinn 32989 10.07.2011 08:28 |
I recently saw a 2009 film, called "Valhalla Rising" by a Danish director called Nicolas Winding Refn. Although promoted as an action-adventure film (and that is not usually my kind of film) the plot summary I had read seemed enough to give it a try. I was both disturbed and pleased by this film. It is very raw and explicit in its action and violence scenes, but strangely melancholic and humane in its unfolding plot. The story, which I'm not going to give away, was captivating, as well as historically quite acceptable. During the entire 93 minute feautre, which is divided into six parts, each with titles, only 17 actors (plus some background parts in the final scene) appear, and of these, only eight are on screen for any length of time. There is very little dialogue. What little there is is in English. The cinematography is very much in line with the theme and plot, and is very good but also a little unreal, which seems intentional. I don't advise this film if you don't want to see graphic violence, but on the other hand, I don't advise it if you want to see loads of graphic violence either. It'll probably be rated 'R' in America. Although the three are in no way related, I somehow think that if you like both Sin City and Reservoir Dogs, you'll love this one. |
| GratefulFan 10.07.2011 18:08 |
paulosham wrote: I'm looking forward t o The Tree Of Life Paris At Midnight Martha Marcey May Marlene =================== The first two are on my list as well, and the third one likely will be. Most of the really good films simply never show up in my small city, so my tactic is to build a list of all the movies Roger Ebert gives 3 1/2 or 4 stars to every week and seek them out in iTunes or DVD when they become available. It's so discouraging sometimes to have to wait. I'll miss Ebert immensely when he's gone or no longer working. I've never found a reviewer with whom I'm so in sync. He's only let me down I'd say twice in all the years by sending me to see crap. |
| GoRog! 14.07.2011 09:42 |
just bought and watched moon on dvd , i looove the soundtrack , i wish they release it on cd , movie is great |
| GratefulFan 06.08.2011 23:56 |
Just came back from seeing Harry Potter. Somehow, despite all the movies I see, I have until tonight avoided seeing a feature film in 3D. Anyway, movie was what I expected. They are always great romps through a brilliant imagination with great special effects. |
| catqueen 08.08.2011 18:06 |
GratefulFan wrote: Just came back from seeing Harry Potter. Somehow, despite all the movies I see, I have until tonight avoided seeing a feature film in 3D. Anyway, movie was what I expected. They are always great romps through a brilliant imagination with great special effects. Its good isnt it :D i hadn't seen any of the other harry potters, but i still really enjoyed it when i saw this :D |
| catqueen 08.08.2011 18:08 |
Just watched Sliding Door this morning. Its really good, although a bit odd.... but a really interestiing idea, basically it tells two parallel stories - one if the main character was able to get on a train when she tried to, one when she just missed the train, and all the different ways things went in each scenario. |
| GratefulFan 11.02.2012 11:36 |
Went to see "The Grey" last night and when I woke up this morning it was still stuck to me a little. A grim, vivid film. One of the most realistically terrifying plane crash sequences I have ever seen set an early tone that just darkened from there. It suffered a little from not quite reaching it's existential goals, making it a very good rather than great adventure/survival film, but I'd still recommend it. Worth seeing on the big screen for the jarring and unsettling effectiveness of the visual effects and for the vastness of the Alaskan (actually British Columbian) vistas. Was tipped at Roger Ebert's site to wait for a final brief scene after the credits. They were interminable, but it was worth it I think. Be warned though that if you wait you're waiting for about a 5 second camera shot. |
| paulosham 11.02.2012 14:30 |
This week I went to see The Artist - I loved it Chronicle - I liked it The Descendants - I didn't like it Man on a Ledge - It was ok, Genesis Rodriguez made it watchable. The Woman in Black - I didn't like it, I was disappointed by how much of a cliche horror film it was. The Scene in the marsh was good though. |
| GratefulFan 30.04.2012 14:23 |
Excellent movie weekend. Watched both The Descendants and Shame. Each great, though almost diametrically opposed in tone and character. Would recommend either, but you have to be in the mood for Shame. It's kind of slow and dark and grim and there is no real resolution. One of the most compelling scenes was the very last where Fassbender's talent is so evident through the almost micro differences in his face from a near identical earlier scene. And there was so much to like about The Descendants. I thought Clooney and the movie captured the complexities of family and human nature and obligation in moving and surprising ways. Criticism generally seems to centre around a sense that the characters are unlikable and unbelievable and the story too depressing, but to me it was just real the way life is, and ultimately hopeful even through cataclysmic loss and change. |
| waunakonor 01.05.2012 21:24 |
I'm no movie critic, but I'd just like to say that The Avengers is freaking awesome. The Hulk is incredible. |
| GratefulFan 06.05.2012 12:52 |
Watched a couple of good docs this weekend: Project NIM about a chimp co-opted in the early 70's for language research through Columbia University which documents a collision of human and animal nature and of human pursuits and animal rights. It is as much about the people as it is about the chimp. Also watched Dear Zachary, a film in the form of a dedication to a new baby about the murdered father he will never know produced and filmed by the murdered man's long time best friend. Events during filming changed the course of not only the film, but many lives and the justice system in another country. A compelling mix of warmth and fury and heartbreak likely able to wring empathy out of a rock for the principal characters. Best to watch it as I did I think, without seeking much information about it beforehand. Has anybody seen either? |
| GratefulFan 02.07.2012 22:46 |
Desperately needed a laugh so went to see 'Ted' this weekend. Crass and crude and, yes, funny. Flash Gordon - the movie and the character - was a running theme so nice unexpected bonus hearing Flash's Theme here and there. |
| MEDUSA-RULES 04.07.2012 13:19 |
more shocking than the exorcist we need to talk about kevin funnier too. but warning v shocking wish i didnt watch it to be honest started getting angry afterwards put it down to subconscious anger at the movie. its really sick. |
| waunakonor 04.07.2012 13:40 |
Anyone seen Pixar's Brave? I really want to like it, but I'm seeing mixed reviews on Rotton Tomatoes. I'll probably see it whether or not it's any good. I feel like Pixar probably peaked with Up and Toy Story 3 (I absolutely love both, and they got a 98 and 99% respectively on RT), but maybe there's still hope.
Anyway, can't wait for The Dark Knight Rises.
GratefulFan wrote: Desperately needed a laugh so went to see 'Ted' this weekend. Crass and crude and, yes, funny. Flash Gordon - the movie and the character - was a running theme so nice unexpected bonus hearing Flash's Theme here and there.I already wanted to see that, and when I found out from reading a review in my paper that it references Flash Gordon I wanted to see it anymore. Problem is, I'll need to convince my mom to let me see it (I'm 16!) :\ |
| Holly2003 14.07.2012 14:12 |
Quick DVD and cinema review : Let Me In -- good, creepy, not as good as the original Let the Right One In (Sweden). Unstoppable -- usualy everything with Denzel is worth watching for him alone and that's the case here. Mundane, run of the mill thriller, but -- hey -- Denzel's in it so watch it. Rampart -- slow, arty feel to it, but not much substance. Woody looked half asleep for most of the film. Hardly riveting viewing. The Grey -- a little bit of a surprise. Some existentialist musings. A little cliched at times but worth watching esp. as Liam Neeson doesn't attempt an American accent and so isn't a figure of ridicule :) Ice Age 4 -- enjoyable enough. My two kids liked it and it kept their attention so it must be doing something right. Abraham lincoln: vampre hunter -- being an SF/horror fan I had to watch this even though I assumed it would be a bit crap. But it wasn;t. If you can get past the premise, its very enjoyable. It does drag a bit in the middle but not too much. Enjoyable Mirror, Mirror -- took my 12-year old daughter to see this and it was just okay. Why must that chick out of Twilight always jump into the ocean or a lake? Why must there be 20 minutes in her films when nothing whatsoever happens? Think Jacob, Edward and her in a tent up a mountain and substitute that for some dwarves in a forest looking at flowers. Oldies: Skyline and Battle LA -- both a waste of money and effort. Monsters is really good (not Monsters Inc. -- a different film. Haven't seen it.) Scott Pilgrim and Get Him to the Greek both amusing and worth renting for the evening. The latter is the only film in which Russell Brand is remotely funny. |
| Holly2003 14.07.2012 14:21 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Last two new movies I saw were Inception and Toy Story 3. They were both a lot better than I thought they would be. It turns out I really am far too sensitive to watch something like Toy Story 3. Yes I know what you mean. There must have been a lot of dust in the cinema because I had to wipe my eyes a bit when the toys were being put away at the end ... |
| Holly2003 14.07.2012 14:27 |
GratefulFan wrote: Excellent movie weekend. Watched both The Descendants and Shame. Each great, though almost diametrically opposed in tone and character. Would recommend either, but you have to be in the mood for Shame. It's kind of slow and dark and grim and there is no real resolution. One of the most compelling scenes was the very last where Fassbender's talent is so evident through the almost micro differences in his face from a near identical earlier scene. And there was so much to like about The Descendants. I thought Clooney and the movie captured the complexities of family and human nature and obligation in moving and surprising ways. Criticism generally seems to centre around a sense that the characters are unlikable and unbelievable and the story too depressing, but to me it was just real the way life is, and ultimately hopeful even through cataclysmic loss and change. Re Descendants, yes yes yes, totally spot on. Did Clooney really say "We're haole as fuck" or was I hearing things? lol! Hard to believe some Native Hawaiians are pissed off at this film. I thought it was very fair and didn't make the same mistakes as other cinemaic and tv portayals of Hawaii. |
| GratefulFan 14.07.2012 16:56 |
Holly2003 wrote:Re Descendants, yes yes yes, totally spot on. Did Clooney really say "We're haole as fuck" or was I hearing things? lol! Hard to believe some Native Hawaiians are pissed off at this film. I thought it was very fair and didn't make the same mistakes as other cinemaic and tv portayals of Hawaii.I think it was "We're haole as shit", but essentially, yes. :) In The Grey did you wait for the post credit final scene I mentioned in my review up thread? I wondered if they would leave that as it was - after interminable credits - on DVD. However assuming you saw it on DVD may be a lousy assumption. |
| Holly2003 14.07.2012 17:02 |
I fast forwarded until that final scene. Still not quite sure how it ended though. Various reviews give different interpretations. The wolf's breathing (dying breath?) is a link to previous scenes where Neeson sat over a dying wolf and a dying plane passenger. But as we can't quite see clearly what's going on, it's hard to know who survived. I'll bet there were at least two final scenes shot and they went for the one which got the best test audience reception :) |
| GratefulFan 14.07.2012 17:14 |
My take was that neither would survive, which was in it's way a victory for Neeson's character. Thinking about this movie as I haven't done for some time I can recall viscerally the gloom I felt beginning as soon as I allowed in the previously unconsidered possibility that there would be nothing for anyone. The movie stuck to me for hours, and apparently still can in moments. |
| Holly2003 14.07.2012 17:28 |
That makes sense. Both "pack leaders" mortally wounded and contemplating life and death. The film has a number of moments when it ponders how close the gap is betwen life and death. Why did some passengers die and some survive? One slips and hurts his ankle, which is enough to lead to his death a short time later. Another drowns an inch or two below the water. Neeson was seconds away from shooting himself. I suppose the film asks what's important in life, what is there to live for, and what do we leave behind (wallets, photos, memories?) I won't say the film's "deep" but it's certainly more ambitious than the average action flick. ps I don't know if you get this programme in Canada but here's a clip that cracks me up of Liam Neeson doing deadpan comedy in Life's Too Short: link |
| GratefulFan 14.07.2012 23:02 |
That Liam Neeson thing made me laugh right out loud. I watched it twice and then spent another 20 minutes poking around other clips from the show. It's on HBO Canada apparently, but I'm not a subscriber currently. I don't know how it escaped me all these years, but Neeson appears to be a mildly gigantic human being. He looks about 6 and a half feet tall! He's always been a striking and compelling presence in his movies. Maybe his imposing size was always a part of that, but I just didn't notice for whatever reason. It's funny...it truly never occurred to me in The Grey that he might have lived. If it had, it might have felt like a different movie to me. My heart sunk when the second to last guy just packed it in, and then when Neeson started with the wallets I was just struck dumb with dread and something almost like grief. I think I was waiting for the sound of a helicopter or something right until the end. I don't always need or want a Hollywood ending, but I couldn't easily accept the ultimate grim futility of it all. We work so hard to cling to our lives in the toughest of circumstances, and sometimes despite our best efforts it's just futile, and completely out of our control. Not as artful or insightful as your observations, but my emotional experience of the movie nonetheless. As you say, the fact that it leaves one thinking about anything at all is a class above most action/adventure films. In the end, a good solid movie I'm glad I saw. |
| Holly2003 17.07.2012 15:30 |
Guess nobody apart from us watches movies then :) Watcha doin Saturuday night GF? I'll buy the popcorn :) Course I'll be in the UK and you in Canada but still ... ;) ps Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Daniel Craig version)is excellent. It is a bit of a slow burner but the plot is strong so it kept my attention. Some disturbing scenes though: don't watch with kids or vicar around. pps Mission Impossible: Ghost Protoclo is excellent. I've never really liked the series that much and I generally can;t stand Tom Cruise but this is entertaining and has some humourous moments. Very enjoyable, leave-brain-at-door-and-enjoy-film-plus-improbably-large-kitkat movie. |
| GratefulFan 17.07.2012 22:17 |
Holly2003 wrote: Guess nobody apart from us watches movies then :) Watcha doin Saturuday night GF? I'll buy the popcorn :) Course I'll be in the UK and you in Canada but still ...;)It would be so sad! You'd be at the cinema and I'd be in a theatre and we'd never, ever find each other! And you'd have too much popcorn! My conviction that you'd be awfully fun to go to the movies with remains unshaken anyway. :) I saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in it's original subtitled version several months ago. I should check out the other just for interest. I haven't looked up if there was any substantial differences in treatment. It was enjoyable - riveting and tense - but what was almost something like underlying misandry throughout got uncomfortable at times. I mean every male character in that film was a predator of some kind, or so it seemed. Overall, definitely worthwhile. Didn't see MI. I rewatched Winter's Bone last weekend. It's excellent and didn't get on the radar of many people. Well worth a watch. A tension driven and stomach clenching vision of backwoods America. link |
| Holly2003 26.07.2012 11:01 |
The Sitter - Jonah Hill. Very dull. I really like Jonah Hill. Superbad is really funny and he usually plays sympathrtic and likeable characters (which, from a grown-up p.o.v, is unusual in teen comedies). But this isn't funny and the plot is boring. Cowboys and Aliens. Not quite as bad as it sounds. Mildly diverting action movie but don't expect anything deep, new or terribly exciting. |
| Micrówave 26.07.2012 13:21 |
I saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in it's original subtitled version several months ago. I should check out the other just for interest.The originals are better. Both Michael Nyqvist & Noomi Rapace gave riveting performances, unlike their US counterparts... Daniel Craig & Rooney Mara. Later on, Rapace was great in Prometheus and Sherlock Holmes #2. |
| Holly2003 26.07.2012 13:32 |
Prometheus is rubbish though. The plot can be summed up like this: Find a ship something bad happens So return to their ship something bad happens so go back to the other ship something bad happens Go back to their own ship something bad happens Go back to the other ship: surely their luck must improve? something bad happens Quick, run back to their ship. Surely it must be safe now? something bad happens Go back to the alien ship. Maybe the neighbourhood has improved? something bad happens Maybe their ship wasn't so bad after all? Let's go back and find out something bad happens Did I leave my coat in the alien ship? I'll be back in a minute something bad happens Back again! something bad happens and so on until both ships are destroyed when something really bad happens so ... let's find another ship. Which they do. Surely nothing can go wrong with that one? Well you wil have to wait for the sequel to find out. |
| Holly2003 29.08.2012 05:51 |
GratefulFan wrote: Desperately needed a laugh so went to see 'Ted' this weekend. Crass and crude and, yes, funny. Flash Gordon - the movie and the character - was a running theme so nice unexpected bonus hearing Flash's Theme here and there.Although it's a little bit hit and miss, when it's funny it's REALLY funny. I was in tears at times. And the Flash Gordon/Sam Jones stuff was great! Also good to hear the soundtrack played very loudly! |
| Holly2003 31.08.2012 18:47 |
Observe and Report. Not very good, but it does at least have It's Late and The Hero as part of the soundtrack. Must be a Queen fan in there somewhere. |
| paulosham 01.09.2012 17:27 |
Ted has some of the songs from Flash Gordon in it. |
| qz08927 03.09.2012 23:48 |
Holly2003 wrote: Observe and Report. Not very good, but it does at least have It's Late and The Hero as part of the soundtrack. Must be a Queen fan in there somewhere.Quite a good comedy, rare to get funny comedies bad teacher was v good, don't think it had any queen music in it though or did it?. |
| GratefulFan 06.12.2012 12:10 |
Watched a Story of Anvil-like doc on a guy named Bobby Liebling and the 70's & 80's band Pentagram. It was significantly darker than the Anvil doc with much of the warmth and unintentional humour replaced with drugs and despair. But if you like stories of people who just missed fame the first time around and are trying to have another go at it spurred on by people who believe in the music, check out 'Last Days Here'. |
| Holly2003 25.01.2013 17:05 |
LAST STAND It's just okay. It of course stars Ahh-nee in a comeback of sorts (he played a cameo role in one of the Expendables films). It's been getting good reviews. However, I suspect that's because a lot of reviewers don't want Arnie's comeback film to be a stinker. And it's not. But it's nothing special either. It's a bit of a throwback to 1980s action films but you would be better off just digging out an old video of Commando or Raw Deal because it falls somewhere in the middle of those two. One of those films that's mildly diverting but you will think afterwards that you should have waited for the DVD. |
| tomchristie22 26.01.2013 04:06 |
I enjoyed Last Stand for it's smaller scale (i.e. the fate of the entire world isn't at stake), which was very much in the vein of those 80's action movies that it's throwing back to. It was refreshing that the climax of the film was as straightforward as two people having a fistfight. It has to be said though that it wasn't a great movie, and while Arnold has never been a good actor, he's definitely gotten worse with age. |
| waunakonor 26.01.2013 14:44 |
Django Unchained was excellent. Tarantino really knows how to make viewers root for a main character and then become really satisfied when everything turns out all right for said protagonist. Also, Moonrise Kingdom was a lot of fun. Such a good, quirky little film by Wes Anderson. That is all. I'm not much of a movie reviewer. |
| tomchristie22 26.01.2013 20:53 |
I really enjoyed Django, although it did seem to come to a climax, then kept going for another 10 or 15 minutes. The pacing at that point felt a bit funny, but I still loved it. The huge blood splatters were nice too, and much nicer looking than the cgi blood sprays added in post production in movies like The Expendables which I'm slowly coming to expect. Whether you like him as a person or not (I don't), Tarantino is fantastic at creating entertaining movies. I saw Moonrise Kingdom recently as well, I thought it was very nice, don't really have much to add though. It was nice to see some fairly big name actors pop up (Harvey Keitel, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis). |
| waunakonor 27.01.2013 21:18 |
tomchristie22 wrote: I really enjoyed Django, although it did seem to come to a climax, then kept going for another 10 or 15 minutes. The pacing at that point felt a bit funny, but I still loved it.SPOILERS! DO NOT READ ON IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN DJANGO UNCHAINED AND PLAN ON DOING SO: I noticed that, too. I thought the movie would be over with the huge shootout in the plantation house, which would have been a pretty satisfying climax by itself, but noooope. However, I knew that Tarantino would be able to come up with an even more satisfying climax, so I stuck with it. I was not disappointed. So, yeah, the pacing felt a bit funny, but it was worth it. On a related note, as soon as I saw Samuel L. Jackson, I thought I would really enjoy his character, but he turned out to just be super despicable. Everything about that character was so annoying. That made it all the more enjoyable when he finally got what was coming to him. Finally, what about Leonardo DiCaprio's performance? I didn't know what to expect from Leo trying to play a rich southern plantation owner, but I thought he played the part pretty well in general. |
| tomchristie22 28.01.2013 00:42 |
I enjoyed Samuel L Jackson's performance. I found myself laughing at his liberal use of the n-word, which is really uncomfortable when nobody else in the theater is laughing. I also read that the Leo cut his hand with the saw and continued the scene with his hand covered in blood, which is what appears in the final movie. |
| waunakonor 28.01.2013 08:17 |
tomchristie22 wrote: I enjoyed Samuel L Jackson's performance. I found myself laughing at his liberal use of the n-word, which is really uncomfortable when nobody else in the theater is laughing. I also read that the Leo cut his hand with the saw and continued the scene with his hand covered in blood, which is what appears in the final movie.I enjoyed Samuel's performance, I just didn't enjoy his character even though I thought I would. Interesting story about Leo. Do you know where in the movie that is? |
| waunakonor 28.01.2013 08:23 |
This seems like a good place to ask this question. Has anyone seen Furia? If so, how is it? Is it one of those movies like Flash Gordon where it's more watchable for the music than the actual movie, or is there actually a quality film underneath the beautiful music? |
| GratefulFan 28.01.2013 11:46 |
I watched Deadfall at a second run theatre the other week. It was an odd movie, oddly acted and strangely grim. Dysfunction in all manner of relationships was the recurrent and defining theme. Not really a pleasant watch. Don't think I'd recommend it. Good soundtrack that I picked up though! |
| GratefulFan 20.02.2013 16:47 |
I went to see 'Side Effects' on Monday night. Much of the action took place between Jude Law's ears, and it was a paced and fascinating uncurling of an aggressively twisting plot. If there was a recurring theme it was perhaps self interest and vengeful and vicious indifference. By the end everybody was both victim and victimizer. It's one of those I could watch again to pick up subtleties missed the first time given the eventual plot arc. |
| waunakonor 20.02.2013 19:37 |
About a month ago I saw Wreck-It Ralph. It was pretty much what I expected. Plenty of really fun video game references, mainly in the first third or so of the movie, mixed in with a typical Disney plot. At a couple points I was laughing my ass off while my brother stared at me not getting the joke. On a technical side it seemed to suffer a bit for trying to throw in a few too many plot elements just to make the story bigger, something that Django Unchained also had from quite a bit of in retrospect. However, all in all it was a fun little film. That's not what I wanted to talk about, however. For those who saw the movie, at one point the badass first person shooter woman was having a flashback of that one guy she was about to marry. When they were about to get married, the "Here Comes the Bride" theme was being played...on electric guitar. Now, it only played for a second or so, but I could have sworn in that brief time I could have sworn that was Brian May from Flash Gordon. Did anyone else catch that? |
| GratefulFan 04.04.2013 15:05 |
We've lost Roger Ebert today at 70 years old. I am, probably irrationally, in tears. I knew the day would come and sooner than probably was fair but the idea of being 'ready' for it was something perpetually pushed back and away. I can't find the words to express how much I will miss his work or how much he's meant to a person who loves film as much as I and so many others do. So many times he taught me how to watch a movie and how to see and feel the subtle expressions of the human condition through the tools of film making. There were latter periods where his work seemed to drift a little at times, his previous sharp insight dulled a little with a softer magnanimity that I tried to think of as the perspective of a dying man who no longer had an appetite to sweat the small stuff. But overall there has never been a critic who I trusted more, who I respected more or who guided me to better ideals in film making and story telling and observation that Roger Ebert. RIP Roger and thank you for everything. There will be no movie in the future for which I won't eternally miss your thoughts. |
| Holly2003 04.04.2013 15:42 |
I know who he is but we didn't get Siskel and Ebert in the UK. Our equivalent for many years was Barry Norman's film review show. He could always be relied on to give an honest opinion and not be bribed by sponsors (it was on BBC). From what I gather, Roger Ebert was the same (or maybe I am being hoplessly naive). Norman retired and the show was taken over, and ruined, by Jonathan Ross (a real film buff but has no taste) and then Claudia Winkelman (who is enthusiastic but not very knowledgable). One of the better film critics in the UK these days is Mark Kermode. Daft haircut aside, he gives an honest opinion and he's a real film buff. You can watch some of his reviews here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/ |
| GratefulFan 04.04.2013 16:17 |
Funnily, I barely watched Siskel and Ebert in the TV format. The two thumbs up stuff and the push and pull of the duo was catchy for TV and the cultural impact, but it was Ebert's writing that drew me. You can be thoughtful and expansive on 'paper' in a way that people just aren't looking for in a TV format. His reviews and essays going back decades remain at the Chicago Sun-Times site and I hope they always will. Many times I've searched for his 4 star movies from any era when looking for something to rent or even to help me process and digest after I've watched a film. The site is down right now probably because of being pummeled by traffic but anybody who appreciates film review and has never really checked him out might want to visit rogerebert.suntimes.com when it's available again. Many of the more recent reviews are by other reviewers due to his declining health but there is much in the archives. Thanks for the suggestion on Mark Kermode. I will definitely visit when I've stopped leaking. :) |
| MadTheSwine73 07.04.2013 15:53 |
The only reason I knew who Roger Ebert was (before I started to read movie reviews) was from Air Farce. Roger Abbot would play Ebert and Don Ferguson would play Siskel. |
| GratefulFan 08.04.2013 06:50 |
Roger was the first person to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in the film genre in 1975 and no other won it until 2003. Countless articles and tributes in recent days on Roger's passing of course but I think this short, simple summary of a life well lived from NPR is my favourite. link |
| GratefulFan 15.04.2013 14:28 |
I saw '42' Saturday night and enjoyed it. It was predictable but easy to forgive. It's always hard for me to believe how relatively close in time all that history is and how high its likely scrapheap of human potential. How many Jackie Robinsons were there before there was a Jackie Robinson, and over how many fields of endeavor? Anyway, in the movie all the good guys won and the bad guys lost. Some truly terrible acting from a little kid in the stands. Terrible. Do you have a kid? He should have been in this movie instead. I'm that sure. All in all a couple of hours well spent. Since I spent them with my mother I was grateful for the dark and the prohibition on talking. Ha ha! |
| GratefulFan 23.04.2013 23:06 |
I photographed this hot dog at '42' while purchasing hot chocolate because I was completely shocked that it looked so utterly, thoroughly horrifying. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It was....grey. And appeared to have the texture of dried mummy. |
| Holly2003 24.04.2013 03:56 |
GratefulFan wrote: I photographed this hot dog at '42' while purchasing hot chocolate because I was completely shocked that it looked so utterly, thoroughly horrifying. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It was....grey. And appeared to have the texture of dried mummy. Might be okay with ketchup and mustard ... However, I prefer gigantic Toblerones at the cinema. Nothing like rock hard, triangular chocolate to really exercise the jaw muscles :) |
| GratefulFan 24.04.2013 12:11 |
If my mind immediately jumped to the idea of a Jessica Biel-Toblerone endorsement campaign based on the specifics of your recommendation does that make me a pervert? I'm pretty sure it does. :( Oh well. I can live with that. :) But the hot dog. Holy shit the hot dog. It was a...display hotdog. Sitting beside display pretzels. They're all probably still there. The pretzels are surviving the ordeal with significantly greater dignity than that terrible wizened, gray hot dog that appeared to be fighting back by trying to eat itself. I have no explanation for the movie hot chocolate. I've never bought hot chocolate at the movie in my whole life but for that evening. |
| GratefulFan 27.04.2013 19:53 |
I went to see The Place Beyond the Pines last night. Interesting and ambitious in it's tryptych approach to a story that spanned about 20 years. I think it was the first thing I've ever seen Ryan Gosling in and he played a great loser/badass with a complex emotional life. A lot of things to consider in this film about relative morality and justice and destiny. If anybody has seen it let me know. |
| waunakonor 01.05.2013 16:55 |
You know what's a good movie? Plan 9 From Outer Space. Sheer brilliance. |
| GratefulFan 10.05.2013 17:36 |
I am going to see |
| Bohardy 10.05.2013 19:04 |
Just watched Upstream Color, which I doubt many of you will be aware of. 6 of us watched, and all but two hated it. I was one of the two. It was more arthouse than I was expecting, but I was well prepared for it to confound, confuzzle, and perplex me, as it did, as I'm a big fan of Primer, the first film from its creator. I'd recommend Primer over Upstream Color, but for fans of the more avant garde that like their movies to pose more questions than give answers, I'd still recommend it. And it practically doubles the canon of pig-based films in one fell swoop. And can you ever have too many porcine films? I think not. |