28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[MacGuffin]

Have you seen The Passion of Joan of Arc? I can't imagine anybody disliking that one... Well, I can imagine it, but I'd prefer not to.

No, I'll put it towards the top of my Netflix queue.

[Sycophant]

Nice to see some Rope love indeed. It's been a while since I watched it, but it's easily top five Hitch for me.

[baby doll]

Nice to see some Rope love indeed. It's been a while since I watched it, but it's easily top five Hitch for me.Let's not go nuts. It's a good film, but it lacks the moral nuance of Hitchcock's best work (Notorious is the most obvious example if not necessarily the best). Personally, I like things a little less clear-cut.

[megladon8]

Besides the wishy-washyness of James Stewart's character, I thought it was terrific. I'd probably put it third, after Vertigo and Psycho (though I've only seen about 10 of Hitch's films, which is a pretty small fraction).


I, too, have only seen 12 of his films.

I'd rank them like this (best to worst)...

North By Northwest
Rope
Vertigo
Rebecca
Psycho
Rear Window
Shadow of a Doubt
The Wrong Man
Dial 'M' For Murder
The Birds
To Catch a Thief
The Man Who Knew Too Much ('34)


He's one of the few directors who consistently astounds me. Even his lesser films have incredible elements to them.

I wouldn't rate any of these lower than a 6. And everything from Shadow of a Doubt up is an 8 or higher.

[megladon8]

Let's not go nuts. It's a good film, but it lacks the moral nuance of Hitchcock's best work (Notorious is the most obvious example if not necessarily the best). Personally, I like things a little less clear-cut.


Notorious, Suspicion and The Lady Vanishes are three I've been dying to see.

Also, Jen gave my dad Strangers on a Train for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to see that one.

[Sycophant]

It's a good thing your Rope love didn't manifest itself in the same place as your North by Northwest love, meg. Otherwise I almost certainly wouldn't have repped you. As many times as I've tried to, I simply can't like that movie.

[Sycophant]

Also, Jen gave my dad Strangers on a Train for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to see that one.Sweet. My favorite after Vertigo.

[megladon8]

It's a good thing your Rope love didn't manifest itself in the same place as your North by Northwest love, meg. Otherwise I almost certainly wouldn't have repped you. As many times as I've tried to, I simply can't like that movie.


:) Thanks for the rep!

I know North By Northwest is not looked upon too highly around here.

Perhaps it's the Bond-lover in me. It is, afterall, very similar to the Bond films.

I often thought Grant/Hitchcock could have made a wonderful addition to the series.

[Melville]

Let's not go nuts. It's a good film, but it lacks the moral nuance of Hitchcock's best work (Notorious is the most obvious example if not necessarily the best). Personally, I like things a little less clear-cut.
Yeah, that's why the wishy-washyness of Stewart's character bothered me. It was like Hitchcock wasn't prepared to actually face up to the characters' philosophy. More ambiguity would definitely have been better. Still, the style of the film works perfectly, and the basic set-up and central characters (except for Stewart's unearned change of heart) were great.

[Rowland]

I need to see Rope again. I wasn't aware of the homosexual subtext at the time, and my impression of it over the years has diminished in retrospect. I think I prefer Hitchcock when he is tight and proficient with his filmmaking, rather than the languorous long-take style here. Still, I may feel differently if I see it again.

[megladon8]

I noticed the homosexuality of the characters right away, but part of that was because we were studying the Leopold & Loeb case in school at the time that I saw the film.

It's a really interesting case to read about, although (obviously) unsettling.

[Qrazy]

I can somewhat understand yours and Antoine's arguments against 40s films.

I can't.

Oh and The Maltese Falcon is tits. Big juicy titties.

[Qrazy]

Besides the wishy-washyness of James Stewart's character.

Yeah, he really should have helped them murder the sod. ;)

[monolith94]

Basically, I pretty much used up my whole day taking the train in to Boston to watch Bondarchuk's "War and Peace" and then getting home again. I think it was worth it, though. Not a perfect adaptation of Tolstoy's loose, baggy, monster of a book, but an excellent one nonetheless. The Battle of Borodino is certainly a high point, but I think that the French occupation of Moscow, or the first grand ball, may be more awesome moments, despite their smaller length.

[Mr. Valentine]

Notorious, Suspicion and The Lady Vanishes are three I've been dying to see.

Also, Jen gave my dad Strangers on a Train for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to see that one.


add Lifeboat to that list, i think you would really dig it.

[jesse]

M is a good start to get a sense of the movement, and is more accessible since it has sound, then try some of the 20s stuff (like Caligari and Sunrise). But are these films going to change the mind of a person who has issues with a film taking place on a set and not an actual location? I'm not sure...

[Eleven]

Because of his undeniable formal mastery, the on-the-surface digestibility of his genre work, and probably his accessibility on video and DVD, Hitch is really the only one who has stayed near the top of my favorite directors list since my first stirrings of cinephilia. Vertigo and Rear Window are the wholly conventional binary stars of greatness for me, but Strangers, The Wrong Man, Psycho, The Birds, Shadow of a Doubt, and Frenzy are also up there. Everyone who really gets into him has bizarre, vastly underrated favorites, and mine are Saboteur, Stage Fright, and Frenzy.

The only disappointing ones so far have been Topaz, The Paradine Case, Torn Curtain (despite the tremendous murder scene), and to an extent Spellbound.

[jesse]

I noticed the homosexuality of the characters right away, but part of that was because we were studying the Leopold & Loeb case in school at the time that I saw the film.

It's a really interesting case to read about, although (obviously) unsettling. Have you (or anybody else) seen Compulsion? That's one I keep meaning to take a look at.

Oh, and count me as a big Rope fan as well.

[Mysterious Dude]

But are these films going to change the mind of a person who has issues with a film taking place on a set and not an actual location? I'm not sure...
I'm not sure if you're talking about me or not. But in any case, let me clarify that I'm not strictly against artificial sets, and I love the German Expressionist films.

I don't find that American films from the 40's are stylized in the same way that German Expressionist films are stylized. I think Caligari and M have very different styles. But the 40's films have a rather homogeneous style -- the acting and filmmaking styles are very similar throughout such films, and I don't think they were attempting to be stylized, either. The Big Sleep may seem stylized now, but I think it is standard 1940's filmmaking. And I do admit that, when a story is fairly grounded in reality, I prefer real locations to artificial sets. I think The Naked City is a much stronger film for this reason. It's a true artifact -- we get to see what New York City really looked like in 1948, whereas in The Big Sleep, we get a city that is completely fake.

I don't mind so much, though, that The Wizard of Oz used artificial sets.

[Sycophant]

My feelings about Heaven Can Wait are a little mixed. Some of the performances seemed lacking in depth, some of the comedy seems forced and belabored, but goddamn if the movie didn't make me cry. There are some real moments of beauty in this film. I'm going to need some time to work this out.

[Philosophe_rouge]

My feelings about Heaven Can Wait are a little mixed. Some of the performances seemed lacking in depth, some of the comedy seems forced and belabored, but goddamn if the movie didn't make me cry. There are some real moments of beauty in this film. I'm going to need some time to work this out.
We're talking about the Lubitsch one? My thought parallel yours very closely, although it's been awhile since I've seen it... I remember it being romantic enough to tug at my heartstrings, but not really enough to leave a big impression. I should rewatch it. I loved the look of it though, and off the top of my head it's the only colour film I've seen by Lubitsch... the underworld was wonderful :p Tierney was also made for Technicolor.

[Sycophant]

We're talking about the Lubitsch one? My thought parallel yours very closely, although it's been awhile since I've seen it... I remember it being romantic enough to tug at my heartstrings, but not really enough to leave a big impression. I should rewatch it. I loved the look of it though, and off the top of my head it's the only colour film I've seen by Lubitsch... the underworld was wonderful :p Tierney was also made for Technicolor.This was only my second Lubtisch. There were some very striking images (the dancing in particular just about killed me with just how beautiful it was), but a lot of it--especially in the duller, more cliché-ridden first half--didn't strike me as that visually magnificent (some good production design work, though--each period recognizably its own even on the same set). I did like the depiction of hell, though, particularly "His Excellency" and that wonderful staircase. Interestingly "hell" gets a couple verbal references, but I don't believe "heaven" is ever named except for the title. It's simply "up there."

[Yxklyx]

Have you (or anybody else) seen Compulsion? That's one I keep meaning to take a look at.

Oh, and count me as a big Rope fan as well.

Compulsion is excellent but not as good as Rope. Totally different movie too.

Young and Innocent is one of my favorite Hitchcocks. I like it more than The Lady Vanishes.

[Watashi]

Who's the shrub?

[mindstream]

Basically, I pretty much used up my whole day taking the train in to Boston to watch Bondarchuk's "War and Peace" and then getting home again. I think it was worth it, though. Not a perfect adaptation of Tolstoy's loose, baggy, monster of a book, but an excellent one nonetheless. The Battle of Borodino is certainly a high point, but I think that the French occupation of Moscow, or the first grand ball, may be more awesome moments, despite their smaller length.

Bondarchuk truly knew how to make an epic film. His rendition of Napoleon's downfall, Waterloo, is all kinds of great. Although his version of Quiet Flows the Don left me highly disappointed. That said, I still want to check out more of his work.

[Philosophe_rouge]

This was only my second Lubtisch. There were some very striking images (the dancing in particular just about killed me with just how beautiful it was), but a lot of it--especially in the duller, more cliché-ridden first half--didn't strike me as that visually magnificent (some good production design work, though--each period recognizably its own even on the same set). I did like the depiction of hell, though, particularly "His Excellency" and that wonderful staircase. Interestingly "hell" gets a couple verbal references, but I don't believe "heaven" is ever named except for the title. It's simply "up there."

It's on the bottom tier of my Lubitsch appreciation, above Ninotchka, Eternal Love, and Bluebeard but well below everything else. I HIGHLY recommend checking out To Be or Not To Be, Trouble in Paradise and if possible Cluny Brown. Those are the crowning achievements of his career in my opinion.

[Sycophant]

It's on the bottom tier of my Lubitsch appreciation, above Ninotchka, Eternal Love, and Bluebeard but well below everything else. I HIGHLY recommend checking out To Be or Not To Be, Trouble in Paradise and if possible Cluny Brown. Those are the crowning achievements of his career in my opinion.
Thanks. I'm planning to watch To Be or Not To Be soon. The only other film I've seen of Lubtisch was The Shop Around the Corner, which I adored.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Thanks. I'm planning to watch To Be or Not To Be soon. The only other film I've seen of Lubtisch was The Shop Around the Corner, which I adored.
For whatever reason I thought you'd seen Design for Living, someone else has recently. I just watched The Shop Around the Corner for the first time last year, it really is wonderful... very endearing and romantic. I think it's a film that'll grow on me too.

[DSNT]

I HIGHLY recommend checking out To Be or Not To Be, Trouble in Paradise.
I'll second these. They are my two favorite Lubitsch's.

I'm not crazy about Heaven Can Wait or Ninotchka.

The Merry Widow is very good if you like musicals.

[jesse]

...and if possible Cluny Brown. Those are the crowning achievements of his career in my opinion. How were you able to see this? It's always piqued my interest, but it looks completely unavailable (outside of a R2 Spanish import).

[number8]

Gun Crazy is pretty darn awesome.

It's going to be playing at a noir film festival here in 2 weeks. I should try checking it out on the big screen.

[Philosophe_rouge]

How were you able to see this? It's always piqued my interest, but it looks completely unavailable (outside of a R2 Spanish import).
I downloaded it

[jesse]

I'm not sure if you're talking about me or not. But in any case, let me clarify that I'm not strictly against artificial sets, and I love the German Expressionist films.

I don't find that American films from the 40's are stylized in the same way that German Expressionist films are stylized. I think Caligari and M have very different styles. But the 40's films have a rather homogeneous style -- the acting and filmmaking styles are very similar throughout such films, and I don't think they were attempting to be stylized, either. The Big Sleep may seem stylized now, but I think it is standard 1940's filmmaking. And I do admit that, when a story is fairly grounded in reality, I prefer real locations to artificial sets. I think The Naked City is a much stronger film for this reason. It's a true artifact -- we get to see what New York City really looked like in 1948, whereas in The Big Sleep, we get a city that is completely fake.

I don't mind so much, though, that The Wizard of Oz used artificial sets. Yeah, I assumed you didn't have issues with the use of artificial sets across the board, but I guess even if it wasn't intentional (I think the filmmakers would probably have liked their setting to pass as reality) I can only see the set for a film like The Big Sleep as being inevitably stylized. It's also an artifact, only in a different way (an artifact of a now esoteric filmmaking style, not of a place).

But then, it doesn't bother me in a film like The Clock, which features an obviously artificial New York City, so in the end it comes down to personal taste. It just seems like a rather bizarre one to me (especially when there are so many delicious elements to compensate in a film like The Big Sleep).

[jesse]

I downloaded it Oh. Kids and their newfangled technology... ;)

[megladon8]

While watching Friday the 13th Part II last night, I remembered that Jen and I had watched Mario Bava's Bay of Blood (aka Twitch of the Death Nerve) the night before.

Why did I remember this?

Because Friday the 13th Part II is such a blatant rip off, it's not even funny.

Not in terms of plot, because it doesn't have one, but the kills are exactly the same.

It's pretty shameless.

[Ezee E]

While watching Friday the 13th Part II last night, I remembered that Jen and I had watched Mario Bava's Bay of Blood (aka Twitch of the Death Nerve) the night before.

Why did I remember this?

Because Friday the 13th Part II is such a blatant rip off, it's not even funny.

Not in terms of plot, because it doesn't have one, but the kills are exactly the same.

It's pretty shameless.
DRINK!

[Winston*]

While watching a movie by myself last night, I suddenly, out of the blue, remembered that I'd watched another different movie by myself the night before. Then I cried a bit.

[EvilShoe]

While watching a movie by myself last night, I suddenly, out of the blue, remembered that I'd watched another different movie by myself the night before. Then I cried a bit.
This may be a weird coincidence, but it has happened before that when I watch a movie I remember I have seen other movies on other occasions in the past.

I'm not making this up.

[Sycophant]

I'm not making this up.
I call bullshit.

[Rowland]

While watching a movie by myself last night, I suddenly, out of the blue, remembered that I'd watched another different movie by myself the night before. Then I cried a bit.Because you were by yourself?

I suppose I'm used to watching movies alone. I generally prefer it that way, unless it's a repeat viewing.

[megladon8]

I like watching movies with others, but I'm getting pretty tired of watching them with my friends - they're the worst movie companions one could possibly have.

It's astounding how annoying it can be to have someone sitting beside you checking their watch every 5-10 minutes.

While we were seeing No Country For Old Men at one point my friend Nick actually let out a huge groan, put his head in his hands and said "oh my god...I've had enough!"...and that was only 70 minutes into the movie.

[Winston*]

Because you were by yourself?

The lights were out and I got frightened.

[Sycophant]

I watch most movies by myself, simply because no one else I know is intent on watching as many as me. However, I'm less and less inclined to have group viewings with people I'm not sure are going to love a movie or I'm not sure about the movie myself.

[Rowland]

The lights were out and I got frightened.Heh. That was more of a rhetorical question. It sometimes strikes me as odd that people consider watching movies such a social event. For me, it isn't much different than reading a book. I don't need someone reading over my shoulder, you know? :lol:

[Sycophant]

Heh. That was more of a rhetorical question. It sometimes strikes me as odd that people consider watching movies such a social event. For me, it isn't much different than reading a book. I don't need someone reading over my shoulder, you know? :lol:The main draw for watching movies together is to have a shared experience to talk about later, I find.

[EvilShoe]

I call bullshit.
Reported.

[Sycophant]

The Criterion essay (http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=291&eid=419&section=essay&page=1) by William Paul for Heaven Can Wait provided a good read and is a good argument for the film's genius, which I largely agree with, most of which is manifest in its structure. What the article doesn't address is the kitschy and hokey quality of the comedy, which ultimately is where the film stumbles.

[megladon8]

Heh. That was more of a rhetorical question. It sometimes strikes me as odd that people consider watching movies such a social event. For me, it isn't much different than reading a book. I don't need someone reading over my shoulder, you know? :lol:


I feel this way quite often, as well, but only with certain films.

The Fountain, for example, I don't find to be a good example of "hey guys, let's all go see a movie!"

But something like Shoot 'Em Up or I Am Legend is great for a few people to see together.

...which is kind of funny, because I saw Shoot 'Em Up in the theatre by myself.:confused:

I also have to say I hate going to the theatre in a large group - it always spells disaster. 4 people is probably my cut-off number.

[Derek]

The main draw for watching movies together is to have a shared experience to talk about later, I find.

And to have fond memories to think about when you watch a different movie the next day. :)

[megladon8]

Wow...lame.

[Derek]

For plane movies, I really could've done worse than The Game Plan. Obviously, it's not a good movie, but more charming and less pandering than I imagined. Not to say much of what happened made a lick of sense, but The Rock's adjustment to fatherhood was fortunately free of the type of epiphanies I figured would be included in a Disney.

[Sven]

Bick, thoughts on Walk Hard and The Game Plan. Shame... I had middling to positive expectations for the latter, given my love for Keaton.

Edit: D'oh! I was thinking of a different movie.

[Yxklyx]

I'm not crazy about Heaven Can Wait or Ninotchka.
...

I pretty much couldn't stand either of these though I like everything else he's done that I've seen especially his silents.

[Derek]

Wow...lame.

Oh come on, meg. Everyone else can joke about it, but as soon as I say something, you get all offended?

[megladon8]

Bick, thoughts on Walk Hard and The Game Plan. Shame... I had middling to positive expectations for the latter, given my love for Keaton.


Bick?

Am I missing something? Is Derek Travis Bickle??

[megladon8]

Oh come on, meg. Everyone else can joke about it, but as soon as I say something, you get all offended?


No, it was a reply to all of the jokes, not just yours.

That's why I didn't quote you.

And I'm not offended...but it's getting old.

[Rowland]

What jokes? I must have missed something.

[Derek]

Bick, thoughts on Walk Hard and The Game Plan. Shame... I had middling to positive expectations for the latter, given my love for Keaton.

Walk Hard had a few amusing parts, but so much of it was simply the characters literally stating cliches and trying painfully hard to shove them down your throat. It's very uninspired and telegraphs nearly every punch, content to riff off other films rather than attempting to build something of its own.

[megladon8]

What jokes? I must have missed something.


Apparently it's annoying when I say that Jen and I watch movies together.

I only see her for small amounts of time every few months, so sorry if I like to talk about the times we spend together. I didn't realize saying we watched a movie together was so aggrovating.

[Derek]

Bick?

Am I missing something? Is Derek Travis Bickle??

I was TBickle on the old MatchCut, though I do occasionally scrub cum off of cab seats and plan assassinations of political leaders in my spare time. ;)

[Rowland]

Apparently it's annoying when I say that Jen and I watch movies together.

I only see her for small amounts of time every few months, so sorry if I like to talk about the times we spend together. I didn't realize saying we watched a movie together was so aggrovating.Oh. I guess I missed all the jokes.

Well I think it's just adorable. ;)

[megladon8]

I was TBickle on the old MatchCut, though I do occasionally scrub cum off of cab seats and plan assassinations of political leaders in my spare time. ;)


:)

Wow...you lead a charming life.

[EvilShoe]

Apparently it's annoying when I say that Jen and I watch movies together.

I only see her for small amounts of time every few months, so sorry if I like to talk about the times we spend together. I didn't realize saying we watched a movie together was so aggrovating.
???
I was merely joking about you remembering seeing a movie the day before, as if it's easy to forget such a thing.

[megladon8]

I just realized I still have my DVD of The Conformist to watch...it's been sitting on my shelf since September :confused:

[Sven]

I just realized I still have my DVD of The Conformist to watch...it's been sitting on my shelf since September :confused:

It's incredible. One of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen.

[Watashi]

Spinal... thoughts on Porco Rosso?

The rating is a tad low.

[megladon8]

It's incredible. One of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen.


Is it very explicit, sexually?

My dad thinks it looks interesting, but I wouldn't want to watch it with him if it's terribly sexual.

Just wondering, since it's Bertolucci and all...

[jesse]

Is it very explicit, sexually?

My dad thinks it looks interesting, but I wouldn't want to watch it with him if it's terribly sexual.

Just wondering, since it's Bertolucci and all... Do you find my avatar sexually explicit?

Actually, I don't remember if there is, quite honestly.

[Buffaluffasaurus]

Thanks. I'm planning to watch To Be or Not To Be soon.
This is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. Highly recommended.

I also watched Trouble in Paradise for the first time the other night, having spent years trying to hunt it down as it's not available on DVD here. And it was... alright. It was charming and with good performances, but somehow the drama didn't really stick for me and it wasn't half as funny as I expected it to be. High expectations (due a great deal to To Be Or Not To Be's brilliance) left me feeling underwhelmed. Not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, but hardly a memorable one for me.

7.5/10

[Buffaluffasaurus]

Gun Crazy is pretty darn awesome.

It's going to be playing at a noir film festival here in 2 weeks. I should try checking it out on the big screen.
Do it. It rocks on the big screen. Makes the brilliant visual execution of it even more evident.

[Sven]

No, The Conformist just has some nudity in one, maybe two scenes, but it's not explicit at all.

[Ezee E]

I never thought I would like Pride and Prejudice, but it is pretty good. I'm really curious if Joe Wright was a theater director at some point because I really like the blocking of the actors/actresses. He relies more on the acting here rather then the showmanship and story of Atonement, which makes it work much better. I haven't read the novel, so I don't know what was left out or what was changed, but I'm pretty sure the choices were made for the better.

Keira Knightley, what a surprise, was wonderful. Behind Naomi Watts, she is probably my second favorite actress right now.

[Bosco B Thug]

Time (first Ki-duk film!) is a nice and edgy and upfront appraisal of cruel emotional politics ingrained in serious relationships, but I'm not sure shaky dialogue and overwroughtness help much Ki-duk's spare directing.
Keira Knightley, what a surprise, was wonderful. Knightley should've been as good in Atonement as she was in P&P. All the film allows her to do is talk in short clips, either too uptight or too tearful. Time isn't helping Atonement very much in my mind, I guess!

[Rowland]

Time (first Ki-duk film!) is a nice and edgy and upfront appraisal of cruel emotional politics ingrained in serious relationships, but I'm not sure shaky dialogue and overwroughtness help much Ki-duk's spare directing.I find that he's at his best when he keeps the dialog to a minimum. 3-Iron is probably my favorite effort of his.

[Bosco B Thug]

I find that he's at his best when he keeps the dialog to a minimum. 3-Iron is probably my favorite effort of his. Yeah, Slant's review said Time probably has more dialogue than all his previous films combined. 3-Iron has gotten a lot of praise from some, well, Koreaphiles I know. :| I've always assumed it's his most popular among cinephiles, too, though.

[megladon8]

Mario Bava's Lisa and the Devil was a confusing but ultimately rewarding film.

As can be expected with anything by Bava, it's beautifully shot. But there are some exceptionally impressive scenes here - one shot I liked in particular was a spilled bottle of red wine, with Telly Savalas' devilish grin reflected in the blood-like liquid. Very cool.

Speaking of Savalas, it did bother me a bit that his presence was a little too much of a "wink" at audiences. The constant presence of a lollipop in his hand and/or mouth was obviously a tribute to Kojak, which went on the air the same year. I half expected him to say "who loves ya, baby?" in the final shot on the airplane.

I think the best way I could describe this film is that it's a phantasmagorical soap opera.

[origami_mustache]

It's incredible. One of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen.

QFT

[number8]

Bick, thoughts on Walk Hard and The Game Plan. Shame... I had middling to positive expectations for the latter, given my love for Keaton.

Edit: D'oh! I was thinking of a different movie.

This made me laugh.

[number8]

Do it. It rocks on the big screen. Makes the brilliant visual execution of it even more evident.

I was reading about it after I saw it, and found it amusing that apparently the only direction ever given to the actors throughout the shoot were "Your cock's never been harder" and "You're a female dog in heat". Now that's directing.

[Watashi]

I'm going to get some serious flak for laughing harder and enjoying myself more to Talladega Nights than The Awful Truth, but I just didn't find the latter all that funny outside a really funny gag of hide-and-seek (seriously, Mr. Smith > You).

[Buffaluffasaurus]

I was reading about it after I saw it, and found it amusing that apparently the only direction ever given to the actors throughout the shoot were "Your cock's never been harder" and "You're a female dog in heat". Now that's directing.
Yeah, I heard those same techniques are used by the guy who directed Tango and Cash.

[Sycophant]

I'm going to get some serious flak for laughing harder and enjoying myself more to Talladega Nights than The Awful Truth, but I just didn't find the latter all that funny outside a really funny gag of hide-and-seek (seriously, Mr. Smith > You).Truthfully, I probably laughed out loud more at Talladega Nights. However, I'd certainly say that The Awful Truth is the superior film.

Both are four-star films.

[Rowland]

Which reminds me that I really need to see Talladega Nights.

[Qrazy]

Both are four-star films.

Um...

[Philosophe_rouge]

I'm going to get some serious flak for laughing harder and enjoying myself more to Talladega Nights than The Awful Truth, but I just didn't find the latter all that funny outside a really funny gag of hide-and-seek (seriously, Mr. Smith > You).
I am that person who ALWAYS laughs at anything, anywhere at anytime in usually an endearing but ocasionally obnoxious way. My family STILL makes fun of me because I even laugh at absolute crap like Joey. If I were to assemble the three films that made me laugh the most, and really gave me the most joy a comedy could offer, The Awful Truth would be in the top three. It's sickening how much it makes me laugh, it's a really good workout :P I haven't seen Talledega Nights though, so who knows!

[Qrazy]

I am that person who ALWAYS laughs at anything, anywhere at anytime in usually an endearing but ocasionally obnoxious way. My family STILL makes fun of me because I even laugh at absolute crap like Joey. If I were to assemble the three films that made me laugh the most, and really gave me the most joy a comedy could offer, The Awful Truth would be in the top three. It's sickening how much it makes me laugh, it's a really good workout :P I haven't seen Talledega Nights though, so who knows!

Did you go check out Soy Cuba? I'm going tomorrow night with a concordia film studies friend.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Did you go check out Soy Cuba? I'm going tomorrow night with a concordia film studies friend.

No :( I've been sick all weekend, and my only friends who would go with me are busy tomorrow. I hate going to Parc by myself, just creeps me out.

[origami_mustache]

So I'm watching the new American Gladiators since I was actually at the taping of the first show just for the hell of it, and the technical direction is almost making this unwatchable. They are making all sorts of unnecessary cuts to slightly different camera angles every second...so annoying.

[Bosco B Thug]

Mario Bava's Lisa and the Devil was a confusing but ultimately rewarding film.

I think the best way I could describe this film is that it's a phantasmagorical soap opera. I had convinced myself this was a horror favorite of mine for years after first viewing, probably mostly because of Telly Savalas (grew up on Kojak), but my most recent 2nd viewing, though, I think I found it a little slow... Hate it when that happens. But it is an evocative and amusing little horror movie!


I'm going to get some serious flak for laughing harder and enjoying myself more to Talladega Nights than The Awful Truth, but I just didn't find the latter all that funny outside a really funny gag of hide-and-seek (seriously, Mr. Smith > You). :( re: 'Awful Truth.' Haven't seen Talladega Nights.

[Qrazy]

Things to Come was awful, just awful.

[ledfloyd]

I just watched Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies. I'm a bit torn on it. The opening shot might be the best I've ever seen. After that I was thinking it might be a brilliant film. I'm not sure that it isn't. But I was quite confused by the ending. Not entirely sure what happened. I'm also not sure what I was supposed to get out of it. Maybe the quick cutting confused me :P

Tarr's style is definitely mesmerizing. It was funny cause watching the film I was noticing where other director's would've put cuts. At first it feels odd and unnatural, but then the shots develop into something beautiful. It never felt gimmicky, I think his style definitely suited the story he was telling. Even if I'm not 100% sure what that story was.

[Spinal]

Spinal... thoughts on Porco Rosso?

The rating is a tad low.

There's a lot to like about it. Particularly the way it blends fantasy elements with a historical setting. But, I don't know. There's a sameness to Miyazaki's work that prevents me from getting super fired up about it. I find myself appreciative, but not super involved. Voiceovers were good with this one. Brad Garrett was actually cracking me up.

[number8]

Watched Mean Girls again tonight.

It's funnier than I remembered it.

[soitgoes...]

Things to Come was awful, just awful.
That's a shame. I have this DVRed, and was gonna check it out this coming week. I hope your tastes are opposite to mine.

[Yum-Yum]

Watched Mean Girls again tonight.

It's funnier than I remembered it.

"My nanna takes her wig off when she's drunk."

[Yxklyx]

Things to Come was awful, just awful.

Well, not very good, I don't know about awful. Did you have the DVD with Journey to the Center of Time on it because THAT was very entertaining.

[megladon8]

Has anyone seen that film Robinson Crusoe on Mars?

It was recently released on Criterion, and I was looking at it at Best Buy the other day.

Looks interesting.

[Rowland]

Since I posted that interview with Armond White where he spent half of it blasting Noah Baumbach while the sycophantic interviewer caved in, here is an interview with Baumbach (http://tischfilmreview.com/?p=101).

[Qrazy]

Has anyone seen that film Robinson Crusoe on Mars?

It was recently released on Criterion, and I was looking at it at Best Buy the other day.

Looks interesting.

It's stupid but stellar set design makes it somewhat enjoyable. The alien attacks are terribly cut and obnoxious though.

[Qrazy]

Well, not very good, I don't know about awful. Did you have the DVD with Journey to the Center of Time on it because THAT was very entertaining.

I guess given that it was a 30's film some of the long shot model work deserves a modicum of respect, but that's about it. The script and dialogue were absolutely abysmal as was the acting, the thematics and pretty much everything else.

Didn't have Journey unfortunately.

[Sven]

Since I posted that interview with Armond White where he spent half of it blasting Noah Baumbach while the sycophantic interviewer caved in, here is an interview with Baumbach (http://tischfilmreview.com/?p=101).

He wasn't that sycophantic.

[Qrazy]

Did anyone see Attenborough's new Closing the Ring? I've heard good things.

[Mysterious Dude]

That's a shame. I have this DVRed, and was gonna check it out this coming week. I hope your tastes are opposite to mine.
For what it's worth, I enjoyed Things to Come, though it's quite a silly movie. Great special effects, though.

[Ivan Drago]

He wasn't that sycophantic.

Not as sycophantic as....well....Sycophant. ;)

[Sycophant]

Not as sycophantic as....well....Sycophant. ;)
Armond once mused within earshot that it was too dark in the room to be able to read a letter easily. I set myself on fire to give him light.

Boone looked for a flashlight. He ain't got shit on me.

[Qrazy]

Brighton Rock was terrific. An incredibly overlooked English crime flick from Graham Greene and the Boulting Brothers. The script is as tight as the cat's cradle wrapped around Pinky's anxiously wandering palms. If you like your noirs black as sin and teeming with hate, contempt and despair, don't pass this one up.

[Sven]

Brighton Rock was terrific. An incredibly overlooked English crime flick from Graham Greene and the Boulting Brothers. The script is as tight as the cat's cradle wrapped around Pinky's anxiously wandering palms. If you like your noirs black as sin and teeming with hate, contempt and despair, don't pass this one up.

The book is incredible, albeit I'm not particularly one for Graham's anti-human exposes (however witty they may be). I had no idea there was a movie. Sounds miserable.

[lovejuice]

The book is incredible, albeit I'm not particularly one for Graham's anti-human exposes (however witty they may be). I had no idea there was a movie. Sounds miserable.

curious. it's greene's first book i've read, and i actually could not finish it. during the past two years i've read more and more good things by him, so i'll perhaps give it another chance.

[number8]

My nanna takes her wig off when she is drunk.

"Where's Cady?"
"She's out."
"But she's grounded."
"Are they not allowed to be out when they're grounded?"

[number8]

I'm meeting Michel Gondry in an hour. Anybody got a specific question they want me to ask him?

[Sycophant]

I'm meeting Michel Gondry in an hour. Anybody got a specific question they want me to ask him?So who do you hate more? Yourself? Or the avatar for yourself in The Science of Sleep?

...I wish I could think of something. I'll have a great question by this time tomorrow.

[MadMan]

I'm meeting Michel Gondry in an hour. Anybody got a specific question they want me to ask him?Cool. I wish I've seen more of his films so I could think up a good question. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a great film and Block Party rocks.

[Sycophant]

Cool. I wish I've seen more of his films so I could think up a good question. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a great film and Block Party rocks.You have seen half of his feature films. The good ones.

[MadMan]

You have seen half of his feature films. The good ones.Huh I thought he'd made more. I still want to see The Science of Sleep, a film I think I'd like a good deal.

[Watashi]

The Science of Sleep is his best film.

[Rowland]

I kinda love The Science of Sleep. It's intensely, disarmingly personal and frank, a movie that feels like nobody but Gondry could have made.

[Ezee E]

I'm meeting Michel Gondry in an hour. Anybody got a specific question they want me to ask him?
His special effects tend to be rather simple, but successful. I'm curious what he thinks of the BIG CGI like King Kong, Gollum, and whatnot.

[Qrazy]

I quite liked Science of Sleep as well and am really looking forward to Be Kind Rewind. I'll eventually get around to Human Nature, not expecting much, but I'm a completionist.

Oh and Brighton Rock is on the BFI's top 100 films that's how I heard of it. I have about 14 of their films left to go... to hell with the AFI's list. I wonder if there's a CFI, JFI, etc.

[MacGuffin]

And now, a question about alphabetizing foreign movies. I'm listing the movies I've seen so far from 2007 by title and rating, and I come across a film I saw last night called Les Amants réguliers, whose English title is called Regular Lovers. You may have heard of it. I thought it was a good movie. Anyways, would I list this under "L", "A", or "R"?

[EvilShoe]

And now, a question about alphabetizing foreign movies. I'm listing the movies I've seen so far from 2007 by title and rating, and I come across a film I saw last night called Les Amants réguliers, whose English title is called Regular Lovers. You may have heard of it. I thought it was a good movie. Anyways, would I list this under "L", "A", or "R"?
I'd go with A.
I prefer to stick with the original titles of movies. Often the English versions make it sound so much lamer.

[Sven]

The pretentious go with the original language. However, I doubt many of those people would list Seven Samurai as Shichinin no Samurai, so I opt to mostly always use the English title (in cases where the foreign title is more popular, I'll go with that). Lastly, the "Les" is an article: we don't alphabetize "The"s under "T".

In other words, file under "R".

[Philosophe_rouge]

And now, a question about alphabetizing foreign movies. I'm listing the movies I've seen so far from 2007 by title and rating, and I come across a film I saw last night called Les Amants réguliers, whose English title is called Regular Lovers. You may have heard of it. I thought it was a good movie. Anyways, would I list this under "L", "A", or "R"?
I'd go with "A", honestly I hate organizing alphabetically for this reason. Too much stress on my little brain

[jesse]

And now, a question about alphabetizing foreign movies. I'm listing the movies I've seen so far from 2007 by title and rating, and I come across a film I saw last night called Les Amants réguliers, whose English title is called Regular Lovers. You may have heard of it. I thought it was a good movie. Anyways, would I list this under "L", "A", or "R"? I thought it was a good movie too; an excellent one in fact. How you alphabetize it depends on if you use the original foreign title or the English translation. If you opt to use the French (as I do), you would list it under "a." Unless, of course, you're one of those people who alphabetize a title starting with "the" under the "t" section. I hope not, but if you do, then it would go under "t" (as "les" is "the" in French).

[Rowland]

Ten Canoes (2006) ***½Cool, someone else has seen this. I liked it too, very funny and inventive.

[jesse]

The pretentious go with the original language. However, I doubt many of those people would list Seven Samurai as Shichinin no Samurai, so I opt to mostly always use the English title (in cases where the foreign title is more popular, I'll go with that). Lastly, the "Les" is an article: we don't alphabetize "The"s under "T".

In other words, file under "R". Fair enough, and in this situation it's a judgement call, I think. And I think just as many people in this case, if not more, would recognize Amants réguliers over Regular Lovers. It's a similar situation to Breathless, which I think just as many people would recognize as A bout de souffle.

[MacGuffin]

I thought it was a good movie too; an excellent one in fact. How you alphabetize it depends on if you use the original foreign title or the English translation. If you opt to use the French (as I do), you would list it under "a." Unless, of course, you're one of those people who alphabetize a title starting with "the" under the "t" section. I hope not, but if you do, then it would go under "t" (as "les" is "the" in French).

No, I'm not one of those people. I thought it was "A" also, so I was just making sure. I'm using foreign titles for French and Spanish movies, since I want to learn those languages.

Anyways, as for it being an excellent movie. I'll stay with good. It was too long in that there was lots of excess. The first hour had lots of stuff that didn't belong, and you know, I know Garrel was trying to create an atmosphere with the first hour, but he didn't need a twenty minute battle sequence to show that this was a time of war, especially one that doesn't look the least intimidating (that said, I'll be the first to admit, that scene with François running from the police up to the rooftops was really good, and really intense).

I also felt some scenes in the next two hours were too short, and again, some didn't belong. Clotilde Hesme was brilliant, and I really wanted to see her for longer, just because the ending might have been more emotionally devastating if we weren't so distanced from their relationship. I think it's a rather contradicting choice Garrel has to make: show Lille interested in other guys to furthermore display a Hedonistic, and I'd imagine, realistic environment, or don't, and make the ending more devastating.

So yeah, I liked it as a time capsule, much like I did for Killer of Sheep, and I liked them pretty much the same, having no history or real understanding of those time periods. I respected them and their technological achievements, and I enjoyed them. I found them worth my time, but they're flawed.

[MacGuffin]

The pretentious go with the original language. However, I doubt many of those people would list Seven Samurai as Shichinin no Samurai, so I opt to mostly always use the English title (in cases where the foreign title is more popular, I'll go with that). Lastly, the "Les" is an article: we don't alphabetize "The"s under "T".

In other words, file under "R".

I don't see how it is pretentious, since technically the foreign title is the movie's original title.

[D_Davis]

I'd file it under Regular Lovers, because English is the best goddamn language ever made.

[jesse]

Anyways, as for it being an excellent movie. I'll stay with good. It was too long in that there was lots of excess. The first hour had lots of stuff that didn't belong, and you know, I know Garrel was trying to create an atmosphere with the first hour, but he didn't need a twenty minute battle sequence to show that this was a time of war, especially one that doesn't look the least intimidating (that said, I'll be the first to admit, that scene with François running from the police up to the rooftops was really good, and really intense).

I also felt some scenes in the next two hours were too short, and again, some didn't belong. Clotilde Hesme was brilliant, and I really wanted to see her for longer, just because the ending might have been more emotionally devastating if we weren't so distanced from their relationship. I think it's a rather contradicting choice Garrel has to make: show Lille interested in other guys to furthermore display a Hedonistic, and I'd imagine, realistic environment, or don't, and make the ending more devastating.

So yeah, I liked it as a time capsule, much like I did for Killer of Sheep, and I liked them pretty much the same, having no history or real understanding of those time periods. I respected them and their technological achievements, and I enjoyed them. I found them worth my time, but they're flawed. Well, I dig films that create a dense sense of atmosphere and dares allow the viewer to just linger in it, something Amants réguliers definitely does.

The thing that I think is really unique (and special) about what you dismiss as a "twenty minute battle sequence" is how the first hour shatters the glamour and romance that has since sprung up around May '68. All you have to do is compare it to a film like The Dreamers (which uses the May '68 events in the same springboard manner Amants does, though it veers off in a completely opposite direction) which makes the street fights exciting, even fun. No doubt there was certainly an element of that in the actual events, however, Garrel (who witnessed the events himself) reveals what I would guess is closer to reality--that the entire experience was dirty, sweaty, physically taxing, even dull. And it was also extremely dangerous, as the ensuing chase scene attests. Still, it was a giddy, heady time, and for a brief moment anything[i/] seemed possible, and it sets up the two hours that follow: [i]what happens next? Where do you go now?

I'll agree that it was a bit bewildering how (as you say) distanced Garrell the younger and Hesme's relationship was depicted, but I ultimately thought it fit in with the general malaise and indifference the character's experience, born out of not knowing how to move on with their lives (they say they care, but do they really?).

Personally, I thought the film seemed like the construction (reconstruction?) of a very personal mythology. I wrote a long review of the film if you're interested. It can be found here (http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/regularlovers.php).

P.S. - Garrel and Hesme actually costar in a film made right after this one called Chansons d'amour (Songs of Love). Hesme plays a completely different character than the one she does in Amants (and even sings!), and she's absolutely delightful. I hope we see much more of her.

[MacGuffin]

Personally, I thought the film seemed like the construction (reconstruction?) of a very personal mythology. I wrote a long review of the film if you're interested. It can be found here (http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/regularlovers.php).

P.S. - Garrel and Hesme actually costar in a film made right after this one called Chansons d'amour (Songs of Love). Hesme plays a completely different character than the one she does in Amants (and even sings!), and she's absolutely delightful. I hope we see much more of her.

I think I saw that review already. I'll try to look it over later. I want to see that movie you mention, but Netflix doesn't have it yet. I'll try to catch her earlier one before Les Amants réguliers. Rep for you!

[jesse]

I think I saw that review already. I'll try to look it over later. I want to see that movie you mention, but Netflix doesn't have it yet. I'll try to catch her earlier one before Les Amants réguliers. Rep for you! If you haven't come across it yet, another great analysis of the film (and a big more negative, or at least more reserved) is the one Rosenbaum wrote for Sight and Sound (found here (http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49306/)).

I caught Chansons d'amour at the Toronto Film Festival a few months ago, and honestly, given its subject matter I'd be a bit surprised if it got a theatrical release Stateside (I have no idea how they would market it). So I'm just hoping for a DVD release sooner than later.

[Rowland]

War is a pretty rote b-movie. There isn't much to say about it esthetically, besides noting how its use of hand-crank cinematography and some of the lighting schemes reminded me of Running Scared, but it's more toned down in these respects. For the most part, this is an old-school action exploitation that smacks of Yojimbo, with one element introduced in the third act that, besides possibly being racist, is so ludicrous that the house of cards tumbles just trying to imagine the logistics involved. Otherwise, I give it credit for approaching the genre with a straighter face and less pretension than most of the action fare these days, but it never ignites. Jet Li's performance sucks too, especially when considered in retrospect after the aforementioned third act reveals. Sorry Armond, but there isn't much to see here. War should at least make for passable 2 AM viewing on cable in the near-future, but it has nothing on the best recent work Li and Statham have starred in (Crank and Unleashed, respectively).

[number8]

I alphabetize by a simple rule. I put it in the title I remember it most. If I constantly refer to the movie in its original language, then I put it in that letter. For example, I put "Ichi the Killer" in I and not K for "Koroshiya Ichi", but I put "Hana-Bi" in H and not F for "Fireworks".

Why? Because the reason I alphabetize so I can find it easier when I need it. It makes more sense this way.

[Sycophant]

I'd file it under Regular Lovers, because English is the best goddamn language ever made.

HELL YEAH!

*headbutts Daniel Davis in the most manly fashion ever*

[Qrazy]

I don't see how it is pretentious, since technically the foreign title is the movie's original title.

I don't see why you're talking about the movie in English when it was originally in French.

[MacGuffin]

I don't see why you're talking about the movie in English when it was originally in French.

I'm not French.

[Bosco B Thug]

The Servant is appropriately high strung and kinda scary in its portrayal of the perils of lethargy. Losey expresses really well his character's mentalities. Very compelling pic!

[Qrazy]

I'm not French.

Bingo.

[MacGuffin]

Bingo.

But the movie isn't called Regular Lovers. That's simply a translation.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I file mine by the title that's on the DVD case, excluding The, Le, Les, or any other articles. Novel concept, I know.

[Mysterious Dude]

I used to organize mine chronologically. But I hardly ever watch the movies I have now, so I just throw them in my closet.

[Rowland]

Novel concept, I know.How DARE you so frivolously brush aside such a significant issue.

[Sycophant]

But the movie isn't called Regular Lovers. That's simply a translation.But for purposes in English-speaking territories, it is called Regular Lovers. Its American distributor called it that. I call Malle's Au revoir les enfants Au revoir les enfants because in its American distribution, that's what it was called, not Good-Bye, Kids!. However, I'm content to call Kikujiro no natsu simply Kikujiro instead of Kikujiro's Summer, because that's its name for the intent of its release here in the States. The translation is official (and literal, unlike, say the Weinstein's pathetic changing of Yip's SPL or Sha Po Lang to Killzone). Hooray for translation!

If this is not considered acceptable, I don't want to see anyone ever quote a non-English-language film's dialogue in English.

[Rowland]

By Scott Foundas, from Slate's Move Club (http://www.slate.com/id/2181157/entry/2181159/):

"Finally, while my natural instinct remains "iPod, shmypod," Nathan's reminiscence of watching The New World on his laptop reminded me that, at Cannes this year, no less august a cinematic eminence than David Cronenberg rhapsodized to me about how much he enjoys watching movies on his laptop, propped on his stomach as he lies in bed, perusing a few chapters at a time the way one reads a book, and having an altogether different—but by no means illegitimate—experience of cinema than one has in a proper theater."

[Qrazy]

But the movie isn't called Regular Lovers. That's simply a translation.

Amazing.

[D_Davis]

HELL YEAH!

*headbutts Daniel Davis in the most manly fashion ever*

Suck it non-English languages!

[D_Davis]

(and literal, unlike, say the Weinstein's pathetic changing of Yip's SPL or Sha Po Lang to Killzone).

You had to bring this up. Damn this pisses me off. Sha Po Lang is such a poetic title, one that adds another layer of meaning to the narrative. Killzone sounds like dumb video game. God I hate the Weinsteins.

[number8]

Violent movies lower crime rates (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/business/media/07violence.html?em&ex=1199941200&en=cc815109ad31bfe9&ei=5087).

Although I don't like the insinuation that people who watch violent movies are secretly harboring violent tendencies and have to watch them to satisfy urges.

[megladon8]

Violent movies lower crime rates (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/business/media/07violence.html?em&ex=1199941200&en=cc815109ad31bfe9&ei=5087).

Although I don't like the insinuation that people who watch violent movies are secretly harboring violent tendencies and have to watch them to satisfy urges.


I think everyone has violent urges. We're not robots - anger can't be turned off, and sometimes incredible frustration makes you wish you could just go wild.

But yeh, I don't like when things are written to make it sound like only "certain people" have violent thoughts.

[origami_mustache]

It feels like I haven't watched a film in so long...think I'll see There Will Be Blood tonight.

[MacGuffin]

What was it like interviewing Michel Gondry, number8?

[Qrazy]

Violent movies lower crime rates (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/business/media/07violence.html?em&ex=1199941200&en=cc815109ad31bfe9&ei=5087).

Although I don't like the insinuation that people who watch violent movies are secretly harboring violent tendencies and have to watch them to satisfy urges.

So much for deduction, holy jesus christ that study is one of the stupidest things I've read in ages.

[lovejuice]

So much for deduction, holy jesus christ that study is one of the stupidest things I've read in ages.

yep. sorta remind me of a "study" in which numbers of practising pirates are plotted against average world temperature, and lo and behold! global warmming is caused by the decrease in piracy.

[baby doll]

But for purposes in English-speaking territories, it is called Regular Lovers. Its American distributor called it that. I call Malle's Au revoir les enfants Au revoir les enfants because in its American distribution, that's what it was called, not Good-Bye, Kids!. However, I'm content to call Kikujiro no natsu simply Kikujiro instead of Kikujiro's Summer, because that's its name for the intent of its release here in the States. The translation is official (and literal, unlike, say the Weinstein's pathetic changing of Yip's SPL or Sha Po Lang to Killzone). Hooray for translation!

If this is not considered acceptable, I don't want to see anyone ever quote a non-English-language film's dialogue in English.By that logic, we should refer to The Madness of King George III as The Madness of King George because it's North American distributor feared people might think it was a sequel. It's obscenely stupid and insulting, but it's officially stupid and insulting. Generally speaking, I refer to foreign-language films by their most common English title, though I've made an exception in the case of French movies simply because I need all the practice I can get. In the case of shortened versions of the original title, like Ugetsu I generally go by the full title (similarly, I've been calling Sunrise by its full name, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans). For a while I was calling Mizoguchi's film Tales of a Pale and Mysterious Moon After the Rain but that seemed to confuse people so I'm back on Ugetsu Monogatari.

[transmogrifier]

I think the discussion about original vs. English titles should replace discussion about rating systems as the most pointless topic available to us here at GD.

:)

[Sycophant]

yep. sorta remind me of a "study" in which numbers of practising pirates are plotted against average world temperature, and lo and behold! global warmming is caused by the decrease in piracy.Yeah, but I blindly accept that as part of my belief system, so I'd rather people didn't attempt to talk about it who don't understand its holy significance.

[lovejuice]

Violent movies lower crime rates (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/business/media/07violence.html?em&ex=1199941200&en=cc815109ad31bfe9&ei=5087).

Although I don't like the insinuation that people who watch violent movies are secretly harboring violent tendencies and have to watch them to satisfy urges.

also i think it's curious the article mention freakonomic since -- from my reading -- if anything that book is actually against this sorta thinking.

[Li Lili]

I watched My Blueberry Nights at the cinema last night. Personally, I was expected the worse, and in the end I found it was better than 2046, which I liked the least (mainly due to the fact that I dislike Zhang Ziyi and she definitely doesn't fit in WKW film). Otherwise, as usual, there are many references to his previous films (even the theme music of In the Mood for Love). It reminded of Chungking Express, mainly the first part, and even sometimes Jude Law had some behaviours like Takeshi Kaneshiro's in Fallen Angels and Norah Jones a bit of early Maggie Cheung's characters, but she hasn't got the charisma and the sensuality of Maggie Cheung. I thought the actresses and actors managed to pull out something even though I felt they weren't in their elements, I guess Rachel Weisz had more presence and felt closer to a WKW film. I didn't find that he explored the landscape, the wide empty space very well, sometimes, it felt too much like a tourist postcard with flashy colours and beautiful images. I don't think it's because his environment is usual urban (in Days of Being Wild, Happy Together for instance, it was very well used). I still think his early films were the best.

[Sycophant]

I watched My Blueberry Nights at the cinema last night. Personally, I was expected the worse, and in the end I found it was better than 2046, which I liked the least (mainly due to the fact that I dislike Zhang Ziyi and she definitely doesn't fit in WKW film). Otherwise, as usual, there are many references to his previous films (even the theme music of In the Mood for Love). It reminded of Chungking Express, mainly the first part, and even sometimes Jude Law had some behaviours like Takeshi Kaneshiro's in Fallen Angels and Norah Jones a bit of early Maggie Cheung's characters, but she hasn't got the charisma and the sensuality of Maggie Cheung. I thought the actresses and actors managed to pull out something even though I felt they weren't in their elements, I guess Rachel Weisz had more presence and felt closer to a WKW film. I didn't find that he explored the landscape, the wide empty space very well, sometimes, it felt too much like a tourist postcard with flashy colours and beautiful images. I don't think it's because his environment is usual urban (in Days of Being Wild, Happy Together for instance, it was very well used). I still think his early films were the best.Thanks for the thoughts. My expectations for this one are really low, but I'm the littlest bit encouraged by the comparisons to Chungking Express, my favorite of Wong's films. I'm really curious to see how Jones is as an actor as well. Obviously, she can't be Maggie Cheung, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how she performs.

[Watashi]

How can anyone dislike Zhang Ziyi?

Is that even humanly possible?

[Sven]

How can anyone dislike Zhang Ziyi?

Is that even humanly possible?

It could be, given that somehow every single character she's ever played, save maybe two, has made me want to crush her skull in with my knee. She's a looker, though.

[Winston*]

I can't say I've ever felt the skull crushing urge watching a Zhang Ziyi film.

[Li Lili]

Thanks for the thoughts. My expectations for this one are really low, but I'm the littlest bit encouraged by the comparisons to Chungking Express, my favorite of Wong's films. I'm really curious to see how Jones is as an actor as well. Obviously, she can't be Maggie Cheung, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how she performs.
well, she was so so, but perhaps her character didn't appeal to me very much. Surely WKW could have done much better also. I think if I hadn't watched this film on big screen, I would have liked far less.
I love Days of Being Wild, almost every single scene does something to me. I love also Chungking Express too, for some reasons, this film feels so familiar to me, so close.

[Li Lili]

How can anyone dislike Zhang Ziyi?

Is that even humanly possible?
She annoys me.
I have strange tastes sometimes, I know. I even don't like very much Gong Li, but at least, she's a better actress and has more presence in films. But it's quite funny that I disliked them two in 2046, they felt too out of place.

[Sycophant]

She annoys me.
I have strange tastes sometimes, I know. I even don't like very much Gong Li, but at least, she's a better actress and has more presence in films. But it's quite funny that I disliked them two in 2046, they felt too out of place.Y'all are bogglin' my mind.

I'm surprised it's even possible to type things like that.

[mindstream]

So I found some time and watched Nigthwatching the other day. Maybe it's the die-hard Greenaway admirer inside me, but I really enjoyed the film. As usual Greenaway rejects the traditional narrative and provides us with two hours of pure cinematic poetry. I don't think I've fully conceptualized the film yet, since it’s a complex and convoluted jumble (then again, which Greenaway film isn't), but I look forward to seeing it again.
For now, I give it a strong *** out of ****.

[transmogrifier]

It could be, given that somehow every single character she's ever played, save maybe two, has made me want to crush her skull in with my knee. She's a looker, though.

You're strange.

[Li Lili]

Y'all are bogglin' my mind.

I'm surprised it's even possible to type things like that.
yes, I know, at least I'm direct and write what I think.
I guess it's a question of taste, I'm not questioning their acting talent (well not sure for Zhang Ziyi..., she's okay but that's all).
I'd say the same things for some actors too, I'm not crazy about Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and so on like so many girls are. But they are great actors.
I'm very difficult.
I like Zhou Xun but she isn't in great films (apart Suzhou River by Lou Ye is a great film though and Stolen Life too) and I like Liu Ye, but not as much as some many girls, I even saw him at the Beijing Screenings and took a picture with him and my friend (who loves him).
I'm trying to think of which actors and actresses I'm very fond of..... I think it depends on the films. I love Leslie Cheung in WKW's films and in A Chinese Ghost Story. I love Maggie Cheung hmmm... in most of the films.

[Spinal]

So I found some time and watched Nigthwatching the other day.

Where's it playing?

[Sven]

You're strange.

Maybe I was being a bit harsh, but she's always playing some variation of pampered brat princess. I liked her a lot in The Road Home, though.

[Bosco B Thug]

I can't say I've ever felt the skull crushing urge watching a Zhang Ziyi film. Rob Zombie redefined skull-involved antics this year anyway. I'd say his is a happy medium very close to iosos' intentions.

[Li Lili]

Also I like very much Simon Yam, especially in Johnnie To's films, but even in a silly film like Finding Mr. Perfect with Shu Qi, I like him (in fact, he's rather good in there, it's funny).

[Sycophant]

Also I like very much Simon Yam, especially in Johnnie To's films, but even in a silly film like Finding Mr. Perfect with Shu Qi, I like him (in fact, he's rather good in there, it's funny).Your appreciation of Simon Yam just redeemed your nuttiness up there. I was wondering who the hell you liked in Hong Kong.

[baby doll]

So I found some time and watched Nigthwatching the other day. Maybe it's the die-hard Greenaway admirer inside me, but I really enjoyed the film. As usual Greenaway rejects the traditional narrative and provides us with two hours of pure cinematic poetry. I don't think I've fully conceptualized the film yet, since it’s a complex and convoluted jumble (then again, which Greenaway film isn't), but I look forward to seeing it again.
For now, I give it a strong *** out of ****.I guess I should respond seeing as I'm likely the only other person here who's seen the film. As for rejecting traditional narrative, this is one of his straighter, allegedly more accessible films (don't go in expecting Prospero's Books), but that said, I think his theory about the painting--namely that Rembrandt's "The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch" (aka "The Night Watch," 1642) is a kind of accusation alluding to a conspiracy--works better as a thesis than a movie, despite the fact that he already made this film a quarter of a century ago when it was called The Draughtsman's Contract, except in that film, he was really in control of the tone of the piece, but here you have these endless scenes with Rembrandt/Martin Freeman just shouting obscenities at people. And I don't know what he was thinking casting Nathalie Press of My Summer of Love, who's in her late twenties, as a child prostitute; that whole subplot just didn't work at all. And it just goes on and on for two hours and fifteen minutes. This is the only one of Peter Greenaway's features that I have no desire to see again. (One hopes he recuts it before it gets released--that is, if it gets released.)

[mindstream]

Where's it playing?

There's a DVD screener on eMule. It's dubbed in Russian though. My couple years of study where enough to comprehend the flick.

[transmogrifier]

Maybe I was being a bit harsh, but she's always playing some variation of pampered brat princess. I liked her a lot in The Road Home, though.

Dude, Rush Hour 2!

:|

[jesse]

By Scott Foundas, from Slate's Move Club (http://www.slate.com/id/2181157/entry/2181159/):

"Finally, while my natural instinct remains "iPod, shmypod," Nathan's reminiscence of watching The New World on his laptop reminded me that, at Cannes this year, no less august a cinematic eminence than David Cronenberg rhapsodized to me about how much he enjoys watching movies on his laptop, propped on his stomach as he lies in bed, perusing a few chapters at a time the way one reads a book, and having an altogether different—but by no means illegitimate—experience of cinema than one has in a proper theater." Didn't Lynch refuse to allow a "scene selection" option on the Mulholland Dr DVD because he wanted the whole film to be watched, and not just sections? :crazy:

[Watashi]

Alright Davis, I saw Exiled. You gonna see Ratatouille now?

[megladon8]

I really wanna see Exiled.

Is it really "one of the best action films of 2007"?

[Sycophant]

Q:

Is it really "one of the best action films of 2007"?
A:

Yes.

[megladon8]

We were talking about Blade Runner in class today, and the prof. brought in her new DVD of it and put on the "Dangerous Days: The Making of Blade Runner" documentary.

I was surprised to find that the love scene between Deckard and Rachael (with the "say 'kiss me'" part, where he has her up against the blinds) was actually filmed as a fairly explicit love scene.

They showed what it originally looked like, and Sean Young got completely naked - there are even glimpses of crotch :shock:

Despite how amazingly, disgustingly gorgeous I thought Sean Young was in this movie, I have to say I prefer the love scene the way it is. It would have seemed out of place for a long, explicit sex scene to occur.

[Rowland]

I really wanna see Exiled.

Is it really "one of the best action films of 2007"?
I suspect you'll be disappointed.

[soitgoes...]

I really wanna see Exiled.

Is it really "one of the best action films of 2007"?




A:

Yes.
Seconded.

[megladon8]

Well, is it actually an action movie?

The DVD cover of Infernal Affairs describes it as an action movie, yet I definitely would not call it such.

[Winston*]

I really wanna see Exiled.

Is it really "one of the best action films of 2007"?

Not just of one of the best of 2007, but one of the best of all time, maybe the best. In any case, you should totally get your hopes up.

[Li Lili]

Your appreciation of Simon Yam just redeemed your nuttiness up there. I was wondering who the hell you liked in Hong Kong.hehehehe...
Yes, and he can dance too...
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/Lilili_pics/HKfilms/snapshot2.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/Lilili_pics/HKfilms/snapshot3.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg265/Lilili_pics/HKfilms/snapshot01.jpg

I thought I had lost the movie (Finding Mr Perfect), he's very funny in there.

[chrisnu]

Didn't Lynch refuse to allow a "scene selection" option on the Mulholland Dr DVD because he wanted the whole film to be watched, and not just sections? :crazy:
Yes. He changed his mind with the Inland Empire DVD, though. I believe he explains his new opinion in the extras, although I've forgotten what he says.

[Ezee E]

I alphabetize by a simple rule. I put it in the title I remember it most. If I constantly refer to the movie in its original language, then I put it in that letter. For example, I put "Ichi the Killer" in I and not K for "Koroshiya Ichi", but I put "Hana-Bi" in H and not F for "Fireworks".

Why? Because the reason I alphabetize so I can find it easier when I need it. It makes more sense this way.
Simply bizarro!

I do the same thing.

[Watashi]

The action in Exiled is very ballet-like and is staged like an endless video game level (the fight in the meadow reminded me of Duck Hunt). There is some silly stuff towards the end where it strangle-holds logic out of the gun-kata-lite climax (with a questionable CGIed Red Bull).

I mean it's certainly better than any big summer action film this year.

[Boner M]

I was surprised to go back to the old MC's Spike Lee consensus and find that He Got Game was rated so highly. I found it completely meh, largely due to Ray Allen's lifeless performance and the completely pointless Milla Jovovich subplot. Kept on thinking there was something I was missing though... I admittedly didn't give it the most attentive viewing.

[Watashi]

He Got Game is my favorite Spike joint. :sad:

On the surface, it's a great study of the sports media and the role of young star hiking up the hype market as he tries to juggle family life along with his college scouting. Though where it really gets me is at the personal level of Washington's incredible performance (might be his best after Malcolm X) losing grip with his son and his faith.

[Boner M]

He Got Game is my favorite Spike joint. :sad:

On the surface, it's a great study of the sports media and the role of young star hiking up the hype market as he tries to juggle family life along with his college scouting. Though where it really gets me is at the personal level of Washington's incredible performance (might be his best after Malcolm X) losing grip with his son and his faith.
I agree that Washington was the best thing about it, but that's hardly anything new. I dunno, I found all the father/son stuff unaffecting (again, Allen's performance probably has something to do with that), and Lee's usual stylistic brashness seemed way at odds with the story and the film's emotional pitch. The actual sports scenes and the portrayal of the highs of celebrity life were where Lee seemed to find his groove, but overall I found it underwhelming.

[number8]

I've only really liked Zhang Ziyi in The Road Home.

[number8]

What was it like interviewing Michel Gondry, number8?

Very nice guy. Extremely honest and upfront. He got this glee telling me all the details of his upcoming animated film and the jokes in it. It's like he doesn't care if he's spoiling his movies to his audience (later on in the Apple store thing, he spoiled Be Kind Rewind to the crowd, LOL), because all that matters is the enjoyment of seeing them.

I'm not gonna post the interview until closer to the movie's release date, but I posted this (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/be-kind-rewind/news/michel-gondry-to-do-video-for-mos-def.html).

[MacGuffin]

Very nice guy. Extremely honest and upfront. He got this glee telling me all the details of his upcoming animated film and the jokes in it. It's like he doesn't care if he's spoiling his movies to his audience (later on in the Apple store thing, he spoiled Be Kind Rewind to the crowd, LOL), because all that matters is the enjoyment of seeing them.

I'm not gonna post the interview until closer to the movie's release date, but I posted this (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/be-kind-rewind/news/michel-gondry-to-do-video-for-mos-def.html).

That's really cool. I've never been the biggest fan of his movies (I only really liked Dave Chappelle's Block Party), but I am looking forward to Be Kind, Rewind. Jack Black is a really funny character, and I've always thought Mos Def was charismatic: in his rap career, or even in Dave Chappelle's Block Party.

Anyways, I kind of figured that's how Michel Gondry would be. So it's cool that he's cool.

[Spinal]

Oh, for pete's sake, let David Lynch have his ideals. Goodness knows he's entitled to them.

[baby doll]

I was surprised to go back to the old MC's Spike Lee consensus and find that He Got Game was rated so highly. I found it completely meh, largely due to Ray Allen's lifeless performance and the completely pointless Milla Jovovich subplot. Kept on thinking there was something I was missing though... I admittedly didn't give it the most attentive viewing.Yeah, I had pretty much the same reaction; I much prefer Do the Right Thing (not surprisingly, still his best movie), Jungle Fever, Malcom X, Clockers, Summer of Sam, 25th Hour and She Hate Me, and I still haven't seen 4 Little Girls or When the Levees Broke.

[Yxklyx]

Yes. He changed his mind with the Inland Empire DVD, though. I believe he explains his new opinion in the extras, although I've forgotten what he says.

Well that explains a lot - I mean that he edited this one. Stick to directing David.

[jesse]

Oh, for pete's sake, let David Lynch have his ideals. Goodness knows he's entitled to them. Did I miss someone arguing the opposite?

I just wanted to clarify--as someone not interested in Lynch I wasn't aware he had reversed his opinions on the matter. And the only reason I remembered he had been against scene selection in the first place was that before I was able to track down an mp3 of it, I wanted to listen to the Linda Scott song sung halfway through Mulholland Drive, and I had to manually fast forward to get to that scene. I was a bit annoyed.

That's all.

[Ezee E]

Spike Lee tends to have a little too many subplots in his movies lately, but I like them still. Sure, he went overboard in She Hate Me, but the movie still has a few good stories out of them. He Got Game has even more good stories, and that includes Milla Jovovich.

Now Death Sentence. WTF? It's like Munich crossed with I Am Sam.

[Rowland]

It's like Munich crossed with I Am Sam.:| My brain hurts just trying to imagine this.

[megladon8]

Now Death Sentence. WTF? It's like Munich crossed with I Am Sam.


:)

That's the funniest comparison I've read in a while.

I can just imagine James Wan pitching it to the studio like that.

[Watashi]

Outside of the slick tracking shot in the parking garage, Death Sentence is absolutely worthless.

[number8]

Outside of the slick tracking shot in the parking garage, Death Sentence is absolutely worthless.

That tracking shot is pretty sloppy and predictable. The rest of the movie is much better.

[Sven]

Little Children was pretty great. Midway through the movie, I started to worry that it was setting itself to be a depressing cautionary tale (boooooooring). I was ecstatic when it began to edify.

The Twilight Zoney narrator was kind of weird, but it certainly added to the surreal-voyeur perspective, not to mention providing several laughs. This movie is funny, people, come on!

[Spinal]

The Twilight Zoney narrator was kind of weird, but it certainly added to the surreal-voyeur perspective, not to mention providing several laughs. This movie is funny, people, come on!

Where were you last year when I needed you? :)

My review (http://filmepidemic.blogspot.com/2007/02/little-children-field-2006.html), if you're interested.

[Rowland]

I was never able to build up enough interest in Little Children to seek it out. Too many of my trusted sources didn't dig it, and it struck me (I admit superficially) as an American Beauty redux. Still, with Todd Field involved, I'll probably see it someday.

[Spinal]

American Beauty has some nifty visual moments, but other than that, I prefer Little Children in pretty much every way.

[transmogrifier]

Little Children is bone-deep stupid.

[Spinal]

Little Children is bone-deep stupid.

Must ... resist ... snide Grease comment ...

[number8]

Little Children is bone-deep stupid.

Thanks.

[Boner M]

Little Children is bone-deep stupid.
Indeed. The Madame Bovary/book club scene is one of the worst in recent memory.

[Spinal]

Heeeere they come.

[transmogrifier]

Indeed. The Madame Bovary/book club scene is one of the worst in recent memory.

I've blocked most of the film out. I didn't like the book much, but one thing I did appreciate was that it ended with a bunch of people milling around a playground a little lost. That was cool. The ending to the movie is just ridiculous.

[number8]

Heeeere they come.

Come on. No need to be such an ape about it.

[transmogrifier]

Must ... resist ... snide Grease comment ...


Does Little Children have Stockard Channing imitating Elvis in a nightie?

I think not. Snide comment impossible.

*waits for Raiders to passionately argue that the Elvis connotations don't mesh with the overall worldview of the teenagers as presented in the movie, and seem to be tacked on in order to provide a cheap connection to a period of genuine musical revolution*

[Sven]

Indeed. The Madame Bovary/book club scene is one of the worst in recent memory.

Whatever! Admittedly, it's a little simplistic read on a narrative level (the bitchy housewife talking about M. Bovary when she's actually talking about Winslet), but as it relates to Winslet's character and, eventually, the resolution of the film and how it's not about the action but about the choice of action, rings true.

Plus, the whole film is rather storybooky and literal like that. I argue that it's fine in context. You just didn't like the context.

[Spinal]

I have two green blocks!

Yahtzee!

[Boner M]

Whatever! Admittedly, it's a little simplistic read on a narrative level (the bitchy housewife talking about M. Bovary when she's actually talking about Winslet), but as it relates to Winslet's character and, eventually, the resolution of the film and how it's not about the action but about the choice of action, rings true.

Plus, the whole film is rather storybooky and literal like that. I argue that it's fine in context. You just didn't like the context.
Like trans, I've blotted most of the film out from memory. But what really irked me about that scene apart from it's hint-hint-subtext-*cough* nature was that it seemed to reinforce the cinematic hubris elsewhere in the film... the cartoonishly depicted housewife complains about not finding the main character of the book sympathetic, offering a rebuttal from Winslet's character that leaves her opponent stammering. It struck me as a way for Field to indirectly enter the narrative and pat himself on the back for making a film with 'flawed' characters, as if that's enough to warrant praise. I thought the entire film only ever played around with superficial attempts at depth instead of actually being deep.

Good performances, welcome sense of humour... blechfast in bed otherwise.

[Raiders]

*waits for Raiders to passionately argue that the Elvis connotations don't mesh with the overall worldview of the teenagers as presented in the movie, and seem to be tacked on in order to provide a cheap connection to a period of genuine musical revolution*

That's entirely too much thinking for such a lame film.

[transmogrifier]

That's entirely too much thinking for such a lame film.

*drink*

:)

[transmogrifier]

welcome sense of humour....

Really? If there was, it wasn't very funny.

[Raiders]

*drink*

:)

I think your problem is you believe only you're being facetious.

[Sven]

Like trans, I've blotted most of the film out from memory. But what really irked me about that scene apart from it's hint-hint-subtext-*cough* nature was that it seemed to reinforce the cinematic hubris elsewhere in the film... the cartoonishly depicted housewife complains about not finding the main character of the book sympathetic, offering a rebuttal from Winslet's character that leaves her opponent stammering. It struck me as a way for Field to indirectly enter the narrative and pat himself on the back for making a film with 'flawed' characters, as if that's enough to warrant praise. I thought the entire film only ever played around with superficial attempts at depth instead of actually being deep.

First of all, the bitchy housewife gets the last word in, making Winslet doubt herself. Secondly, there's not hint-hint-subtext; it was entirely textual. Only the old ladies from the book club were left in the dark. I see no point in complaining that the scene was too literal when it was trying very hard to be literal. Thirdly, you say "cartoonishly" as though the film accidentally portrayed her that way, which is not the case.

I was definitely worried about hubris (if thar be one thing in this vast ocean I can't's stand, it's hubris!), but I found that Field was fair in giving his characters the opportunity to be honest and flawed, with real passions and wants.

[transmogrifier]

I think your problem is you believe only you're being facetious.

Or I'm drinking because I like the taste. Stop hounding me. You don't now how I feel. I don't have a problem. I can quit any time.

[Ezee E]

Outside of the slick tracking shot in the parking garage, Death Sentence is absolutely worthless.
Eh. It wasn't really anything special except that it was just a long shot with car alarms. Big whoop.

John Goodman is the only person in that movie that doesn't take it serious. And that's a good thing.

Little Children is great.

Spinal wins the award for first to 100 rep.

[Boner M]

First of all, the bitchy housewife gets the last word in, making Winslet doubt herself. Secondly, there's not hint-hint-subtext; it was entirely textual. Only the old ladies from the book club were left in the dark. I see no point in complaining that the scene was too literal when it was trying very hard to be literal. Thirdly, you say "cartoonishly" as though the film accidentally portrayed her that way, which is not the case.
Well, I thought the scene was definitely supposed to act on a meta-level and have Winslet's character make an aggrandizing commentary on the film itself. That's the main thing that bugged me.

Mostly I thought the film had a huge task of lifting itself out of the gutter that is the 'suburbia has a DARK UNDERBELLY' subgenre, and failed to accomplish that.

[Sven]

Damn, son, that's a mighty fine review, Spinal. I'm inclined to think it may be your best.

[Boner M]

Spinals should make that monkey drop it's arms now that his goal is accomplished.

[Sven]

Well, I thought the scene was definitely supposed to act on a meta-level and have Winslet's character make a commentary on the film itself. That's the main thing that bugged me.

It wasn't trying to mask the commentary as subtext, though, that's the thing! When she's explaining "M. Bovary", she stops talking about the book and starts talking about herself. Explicitly. It is moved from suggestion to dialogue.


Mostly I thought the film had a huge task of lifting itself out of the gutter that is the 'suburbia has a DARK UNDERBELLY' subgenre, and failed to accomplish that.

But it doesn't even start in that genre. There is no DARK UNDERBELLY. It's just about an affair and a sex offender. It's not like there were any ears found in a field or dead bodies found in a cellar.

[Spinal]

Damn, son, that's a mighty fine review, Spinal. I'm inclined to think it may be your best.

Thanks, man. I'm pretty happy with that one. Back when I was in a groove.

[Sven]

Thanks, man. I'm pretty happy with that one. Back when I was in a groove.

I love the way you describe the relevance of the title and Ronnie's relation to the Wilson/Winslet storyline.

So far, the only thing I can think that is rubbing me the wrong way is the way it treated Winslet's husband. He should've been dealt with more. When she's like "We need to talk," we should've seen their talk. As it plays, he seems like an unfair punchline.

[Spinal]

So far, the only thing I can think that is rubbing me the wrong way is the way it treated Winslet's husband. He should've been dealt with more. When she's like "We need to talk," we should've seen their talk. As it plays, he seems like an unfair punchline.

Yes, totally agree. This is one place where I think the criticisms are valid. The "OMG my husband masturbates in an unusual way" stuff was pretty lame.

[ledfloyd]

i loved little children. it is much much better than american beauty. although, after reading the novel, i think they should've kept the original ending.

[transmogrifier]

I have two green blocks!

Yahtzee!

I always wondered what those green bricks were for. I didn't guess perpetuating a strict division of elitism that will eventually rip us asunder. Interesting feature.

[Watashi]

John Carpenter's Starman is some amazing cinema. I was surprised to see that Bridges was nominated for Best Actor because I didn't think the Academy would have the balls to nominate such a humorous, yet emotionally complex performance. Karen Allen has never looked more hotter.

[Ivan Drago]

John Carpenter's Starman is some amazing cinema.

There's a starrr-MAAAAAN waiting in the sky!
He'd like to come and meet us, but he thinks he'd blow our minds!
There's a starrr-MAAAAAN waiting in the sky!
He's told us not to blow it, 'cause he knows it's all worthwhile!
He told me - let the children use it!
Let the children lose it!
Let all the children boogie!
La la la la la la la la LAAA la la la la...

[Derek]

I've said all I'm going to say about Little Children. The worst film of 2006 in my book. Ok, now I guess I've said all I'm going to say about it.

[origami_mustache]

Little Children is bone-deep stupid.

you are correct sir.

[Spinal]

I always wondered what those green bricks were for. I didn't guess perpetuating a strict division of elitism that will eventually rip us asunder. Interesting feature.

I feel like a star-bellied Sneetch.

[Bosco B Thug]

28 Weeks Later was thoroughly engaging, always tense, recurrently effective as an approximation of the demoralizing atrocities of ill-defined militarism, fear, and warfare (whether in war, in the blood = the virus, or in the family)... but garddangit if that wasn't one of the most sloppiest, slap-dash, and ineptly put-together big-budget mainstream film I've ever witnessed. The director and editor seemed to only function on two modes: haphazard montage of beautiful imagery (a good thing ruined!) and incomprehensible action sequence.

Too overcooked and overdone to be really good, but I'm thinking I should bump it up to a 6 because it strikes me as a too somber and serious The Host.

[Sycophant]

Watched The Muppet Movie again tonight. Of course, it's a blast, though not quite as perfect as I remembered it. Shamefully, I haven't seen the other two Henson-involved Muppet films. Need to get on that.

In the meantime, is it correct to assume there's nothing redeemable about The Muppets Wizard of Oz?

[Sven]

John Carpenter's Starman is some amazing cinema. I was surprised to see that Bridges was nominated for Best Actor because I didn't think the Academy would have the balls to nominate such a humorous, yet emotionally complex performance. Karen Allen has never looked more hotter.

W. O. R. D.

[Yxklyx]

Two-Lane Blacktop has aged very well, I think mostly because it doesn't rely on dialogue to move the story forward. A very good film. James Taylor rulz!

[D_Davis]

John Carpenter's Starman is some amazing cinema. I was surprised to see that Bridges was nominated for Best Actor because I didn't think the Academy would have the balls to nominate such a humorous, yet emotionally complex performance. Karen Allen has never looked more hotter.

It is a great film. Criminally under appreciated.

[megladon8]

Starman is one of the few Carpenter films I haven't seen.

In terms of underrated Carpenter, I have to say The Prince of Darkness is really underrated.

The future video footage of the coming of Satan is genuinely chilling. I would put that high up in a list of scariest moments ever.

[Russ]

It is a great film. Criminally under appreciated.The deer resurrection gets me every time. What a great scene.

[megladon8]

Friday the 13th Part 3 had some of the worst writing I've seen in a long while.

But overall I found it more entertaining than Part 2, and it gets a higher score simply for not shamelessly ripping off a Bava film.

[Ivan Drago]

I didn't like the first Friday the 13th at all, and I hardly remember the 2nd, but what I do remember is worse than the first.

But they're masterpieces compared to Jason X - the worst horror movie of all time.

[megladon8]

Bah! Jason X is hilarious fun.