28 Film Discussion Threads Later [Archive] - Page 95

Spinal

01-21-2009, 12:06 AM

Raimi hasn't made a film to compare with Heavenly Creatures.

Jackson's Dead Alive pales in comparison to the Evil Dead films.

Slight edge to Jackson on The Lord of the Rings trilogy over the Spiderman films, but Spiderman 2 is probably the best single effort out of the six.

Jackson made Meet the Feebles and King Kong. Points for Raimi.

Raimi made A Simple Plan and Crimewave. Points for Jackson.

I kind of like The Quick and the Dead. I kind of like The Frighteners.

Final edge goes to Raimi because I like Darkman and The Gift more than Forgotten Silver.

Eh, it's a wash.

Melville

01-21-2009, 12:30 AM

Spider-Man 2 > Heavenly Creatures > A Simple Plan > Spider-Man > LOTR: TT > LOTR: FOTR > Spider-Man 3 > Army of Darkness > Evil Dead II > The Frighteners > LOTR: ROTK > Meet the Feebles > The Gift

Beyond Spider-Man 2 and Heavenly Creatures, I'm not a big fan of either Raimi or Jackson. However, I prefer Raimi's exuberant, slickly cartoony style to Jackson's grimier aesthetic with its irritating blurry slow-motion.

Edit: forgot about The Frighteners

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 12:40 AM

Heavenly Creatures > Brain Dead > TTT > The Frighteners > King Kong > FOTR > ROTK > The Quick and the Dead > A Simple Plan > Meet the Feebles > The Gift > Bad Taste > Spider-Man 2 > Spider-Man > Spider-Man 3 > Evil Dead > >>>>>>> Crimewave

Watashi

01-21-2009, 12:41 AM

Spiderman 3 above Return of the King?

Craziness.

Melville

01-21-2009, 12:46 AM

Spiderman 3 above Return of the King?

Craziness.
That stupid ghost-army winning the battle in Return of the King was worse than anything in Spider-Man 3. Emo-Spider-Man was better than anything in Return of the King. The pacing was equally problematic in both.

The Mike

01-21-2009, 12:46 AM

Spiderman 3 above Return of the KingI was gonna say this too. I'll take an idiotically inventive failure over a boringly repetitive failure any day.

Ezee E

01-21-2009, 12:52 AM

I won't go through and rank all their films, I'll just say that I'd anticipate a new Peter Jackson far before a Sam Raimi movie.

Especially this year's one.

Raiders

01-21-2009, 12:53 AM

I'm not getting into this, but a couple of the opinions over the last few posts have left me a little queasy.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 12:55 AM

There are sequences in the Spider-Man films that thrilled me more than anything in the LOTR films. But the LOTR films worked better as whole pieces than any of the SM films. Can't speak much about either director before those series, which yeah, makes my contribution here pretty much worthless.

Scar

01-21-2009, 01:15 AM

Ok, I'm no fan of the LOTR films, but I can certainly recognize that Return of the King is far and away a better movie then that cluster fuck known as Spider Man 3.

Rowland

01-21-2009, 01:19 AM

Deliverance (John Boorman, 1972) 66

The first act is so brilliant that the following acts, which remain largely involving, prove to be a considerable letdown, albeit in a manner pretty clearly designed to thwart audience expectations. The film's thematic insights aren't as thought-provoking as they may have once been, but Boorman holds it together with reasonable flair and restraint. The old-fashioned day-as-night cinematography is terribly distracting during an important suspense-ratcheting sequence, as is some of the hokey dialogue (Burt Reynolds' on-the-nose declaration to Jon Voight during a key role-swapping scene is flat-out hilarious), but they also imbue the film with a certain charm. What's the deal with the church and cemetery being moved in the closing act?

The Tracey Fragments (Bruce McDonald, 2008) 36

Exasperatingly mawkish and visually cluttered, which I understand reflects the self-absorbed mindset of its teenage protagonist in a broad sort of way, but it comes across for the most part as graceless noise, an insight-free feedback loop littered with embarrassing contrivances, bad acting, overtly precious dialogue, and an overriding sense of amateurishness. Yes, this can all be argued as the sheer formal embodiment of teenage narcissism or whatever, but I'm not buying it. Ellen Page is annoying, while the dude whose apartment she winds up staying in is funny and given far too little screen time.

The Lost (Chris Sivertson, 2008) 58

Admirably ambitious for a direct-to-video cheapie, Sivertson gives his all in this two-hour epic. His predilection for color-coded lighting schemes is as evident here as it was in I Know Who Killed Me, only here it's a few degrees more subtle, and his use of cheapie fast-forward effects and what have you are counterbalanced by his keen eye for framing and smart use of tracking shots and slow motion. The film's portrait of a pathetic asshole driven to insanity by his self-perceived social/sexual inadequacy proves surprisingly engaging and even moving at times, but its extended length is unjustified, allowing for too much downtime in the middle act, especially when Sivertson indulges in unnecessary flashbacks. When the shit hits the fan during the deranged climax, some of its extremes don't register as entirely validated, but the film's compassion towards the pain and anger expressed by those who failed to stop this miserable prick is all too palpable. Strong performances all-around and a sly sense of humor help this go down smoothly.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 01:30 AM

Guys, is it just me or are we talking more about "nerd" movies than we used to?

The Mike

01-21-2009, 01:38 AM

Guys, is it just me or are we talking more about "nerd" movies than we used to?

As opposed to "snob" movies? :P

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 01:40 AM

Yeah, exactly.

Melville

01-21-2009, 01:41 AM

Andrei Rublev > Ordet > Solaris > The Mirror > The Passion of Joan of Arc > The Sacrifice > Gertrud > Vampyr > Day of Wrath > Nostalghia > Stalker > Ivan's Childhood

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 01:45 AM

Andrei Rublev > Ordet > Solaris > The Mirror > The Passion of Joan of Arc > The Sacrifice > Gertrud > Vampyr > Day of Wrath > Nostalghia > Stalker > Ivan's Childhood

Thank you. That did my heart good.

Melville

01-21-2009, 01:50 AM

Ok, I'm no fan of the LOTR films, but I can certainly recognize that Return of the King is far and away a better movie then that cluster fuck known as Spider Man 3.
Define 'better'. Pretty much everything in Return of the King irritated me, from Denethor's slobbering feast to the bloated, saccharine ending, from the ruination of Faramir's character to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAlt4Sfl7Q). I complained about it at length in another thread a while ago, so I won't bother doing so again.

Raiders

01-21-2009, 01:53 AM

I complained about it at length in another thread a while ago, so I won't bother doing so again.

Thank you. Sometimes, you make me feel like Charlie Brown in your av.

But I still love you.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 01:56 AM

Andrei Rublev = Ordet = Solaris = The Mirror = The Passion of Joan of Arc = The Sacrifice = Gertrud = Vampyr = Day of Wrath = Nostalghia = Stalker = Ivan's Childhood......

.....because I haven't seen any of them.

Mysterious Dude

01-21-2009, 02:03 AM

Watashi

01-21-2009, 02:03 AM

Nerd Movies > Snob Movies

Melville

01-21-2009, 02:13 AM

Thank you. Sometimes, you make me feel like Charlie Brown in your av.

But I still love you.
:) Count yourself lucky; I always make myself feel like Charlie Brown in my av.

And funnily enough, your taste is probably more similar to mine than is almost anybody else's on here. You just like movies about male bonding and gritty, forceful pulp aesthetics more than I do, and I just like ponderous, spiritually-draining art movies more than you do.

eternity

01-21-2009, 02:29 AM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.

jesse

01-21-2009, 02:32 AM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Boner M

01-21-2009, 02:44 AM

The Graduate, obv.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 02:50 AM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.

Just tell us before I punch you in the kidney.

Dead & Messed Up

01-21-2009, 02:58 AM

Guys, is it just me or are we talking more about "nerd" movies than we used to?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/deadandmessedup/VENNMOVIES.jpg

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 03:07 AM

I don't like the implication that "snob" movies are a subset of "nerd" movies (Punisher fans can keep the fuck off my Bergman), but good work.

chrisnu

01-21-2009, 03:20 AM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.
EDIT: Nevermind, it's probably Valley of the Dolls.

megladon8

01-21-2009, 03:20 AM

Fellowship of the Ring - 10
The Evil Dead - 10
Evil Dead II - 10
Spider-Man - 8.5
Dead Alive - 8
Spider-Man II - 8
Army of Darkness - 7.5
Bad Taste - 7.5
Darkman - 7.5
A Simple Plan - 7
The Gift - 7
Return of the King - 7
The Quick and the Dead - 6.5
The Frighteners - 6.5
The Two Towers - 6.5
Spider-Man III - 5
King Kong - 4.5

Dead & Messed Up

01-21-2009, 03:22 AM

I don't like the implication that "snob" movies are a subset of "nerd" movies (Punisher fans can keep the fuck off my Bergman), but good work.

I figure most snob movies gain their appreciation from nerds. Maybe the two circles should overlap, instead of "snob" being so firmly inside "nerd."

Let's call it a work in progress. :)

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 03:23 AM

I figure most snob movies gain their appreciation from nerds. Maybe the two circles should overlap, instead of "snob" being so firmly inside "nerd."

Let's call it a work in progress. :)Then I will rep it under the understanding that it's version 0.1b.

Watashi

01-21-2009, 03:26 AM

2001 is both a nerd movie and a snob movie.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 03:27 AM

Venn, mofo.

megladon8

01-21-2009, 03:29 AM

I think most snobs are nerds convinced of their superior nerdness.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 03:31 AM

Okay, this is only going to get more retarded than it was at the beginning. Pretend I didn't say anything.

Yxklyx

01-21-2009, 03:32 AM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.

The Dirty Dozen?

Spinal

01-21-2009, 03:32 AM

The Mirror can't carry Joan of Arc's jock.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 03:34 AM

The Dirty Dozen?

Thoroughly Modern Millie?

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 03:47 AM

True. And The Frighteners > All of the above.

Doesn't make up for how much awesomer Raimi is than Jackson, but that's OK.

The Frighteners is disposable slush, bottom tier Jackson. Meet the Feebles and Bad Taste round out the trifecta of his least interesting work.

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 03:57 AM

That stupid ghost-army winning the battle in Return of the King was worse than anything in Spider-Man 3. Emo-Spider-Man was better than anything in Return of the King. The pacing was equally problematic in both.

Both of these statements are absurd.

http://www.freewebs.com/lord_ofthe_rings/ROTK/ROTKRohirrim4.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lord_ofthe_rings/ROTK/ROTKShelob3.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/lord_ofthe_rings/ROTK/Smeagol.jpg

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 03:59 AM

Thank you. That did my heart good.

It didn't for me, the ordering gave me a palpitation.

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 04:01 AM

Define 'better'. Pretty much everything in Return of the King irritated me, from Denethor's slobbering feast to the bloated, saccharine ending, from the ruination of Faramir's character to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAlt4Sfl7Q). I complained about it at length in another thread a while ago, so I won't bother doing so again.

It has it's problems to be sure and it's the weakest of the three but it's still infinitely better than Spiderman 3.

Better: Greater in excellence or higher in quality.

Raiders

01-21-2009, 04:03 AM

My own minority opinion, and believe me I know it is in the minority here, is that ROTK is the best of the trilogy.

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 04:06 AM

My own minority opinion, and believe me I know it is in the minority here, is that ROTK is the best of the trilogy.

When it's at it's best it has moments that are at the top of the trilogy but I have to agree with Melville that there are many weak scenes sprinkled throughout and that the pacing is a problem. And I'm someone who loves The Lord of the Rings so I like most of the stuff at the end and think it ought to be included, it just needed to be assimilated more efficiently. All the fading to black was a retarded idea.

Ezee E

01-21-2009, 04:12 AM

2009 needs a good movie to come out. Now.

thefourthwall

01-21-2009, 04:18 AM

Thoroughly Modern Millie?

:sad:

I rather like this movie, but I sense derision.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 04:20 AM

:sad:

I rather like this movie, but I sense derision.
Actually, I saw it years (like more than half my lifetime) ago and have vaguely fond memories of it. It would just be an amazing thing to see on a top list.

thefourthwall

01-21-2009, 04:31 AM

Actually, I saw it years (like more than half my lifetime) ago and have vaguely fond memories of it. It would just be an amazing thing to see on a top list.

Okay--I accept that. But Julie Andrews is pretty hard to resist, in fact I'm pretty sure it's futile.

megladon8

01-21-2009, 04:35 AM

When it's at it's best it has moments that are at the top of the trilogy but I have to agree with Melville that there are many weak scenes sprinkled throughout and that the pacing is a problem.

Bingo.

Return of the King has times when it feels like more of a follow-up to Fellowship of the Ring than to the second film, but it also has just as many problems.

But it does have the hands-down best CGI work of all three the films. There are some incredible visuals there.

Watashi

01-21-2009, 04:40 AM

2009 needs a good movie to come out. Now.
March 6th, my good man.

number8

01-21-2009, 05:04 AM

My own minority opinion, and believe me I know it is in the minority here, is that ROTK is the best of the trilogy.

I think I'm with you.

lovejuice

01-21-2009, 06:24 AM

:sad:

I rather like this movie, but I sense derision.

never saw the movie, but i love the play!!

Morris Schæffer

01-21-2009, 10:54 AM

Hell yes, I remember those days. That trailer was class and made me a Lord of the Rings obsessive... one of the things that got me into film really.

Here's to The Hobbit and hoping that it'll make us relieve those wonderful emotions!

Raiders

01-21-2009, 12:46 PM

March 6th, my good man.

I don't know. All About Steve looks pretty bad to me.

Ezee E

01-21-2009, 01:01 PM

March 6th, my good man.
I'm hoping The International will be the first.

Melville

01-21-2009, 02:19 PM

Both of these statements are absurd.
I'm not a big fan of those visuals. They look like middling fantasy oil paintings to me. (I promise Raiders that will be the last time I criticize the LOTR films in 2009.)

Better: Greater in excellence or higher in quality.
Well, that doesn't really help unless you define 'excellence' and 'quality' in relation to movies.

Qrazy

01-21-2009, 02:52 PM

I'm not a big fan of those visuals. They look like middling fantasy oil paintings to me. (I promise Raiders that will be the last time I criticize the LOTR films in 2009.)

I was trying to call to mind the scenes more so than the visuals themselves although I disagree with you on the visuals. The scenes being the Ride of the Rohirrim, Gollum's montage transformation at the beginning of the scene and Shelob. There are many other good scenes as well... Eowyn/Theoden, the majority of Gandalf stuff, etc.

Well, that doesn't really help unless you define 'excellence' and 'quality' in relation to movies.

Was just joking around with that part.

Morris Schæffer

01-21-2009, 03:37 PM

Fellowship of the Ring - ****
Spider-Man - ***
Dead Alive - ***
Heavenly Creatures - **½
Spider-Man II - ***
Darkman - ***
A Simple Plan - ***
The Gift - *½
Return of the King - ****
The Quick and the Dead - **
The Two Towers - ****
Spider-Man III - *½
King Kong - ***

Evil Dead I've seen a long time ago, but honestly remember very little of. Truth is, as far as I can remember, I wasn't too enamored of its cultish, cheapish qualities and never subscribed to the idea that Bruce Campbell is God. I chose not to rate it because I'm not sure if I still feel this way. The Lord of the Rings movies sometimes feel like the greatest movies ever made to me.

Dead & Messed Up

01-21-2009, 04:59 PM

Meet the Feebles - *½
Dead Alive - ***½
The Frighteners - **
Fellowship of the Ring - ***½
The Two Towers - ***½
Return of the King - ***½
King Kong - ***

The Evil Dead - ***½
Evil Dead II - ****
Darkman - ***
Army of Darkness - ***
A Simple Plan - ****
The Gift - ***
Spider-Man - **½
Spider-Man 2 - ****
Spider-Man 3 - ***

Favorites in red.

Evil Dead I've seen a long time ago, but honestly remember very little of. Truth is, as far as I can remember, I wasn't too enamored of its cultish, cheapish qualities and never subscribed to the idea that Bruce Campbell is God. I chose not to rate it because I'm not sure if I still feel this way. The Lord of the Rings movies sometimes feel like the greatest movies ever made to me.

The Evil Dead is a demo reel film, designed by Raimi for maximum impact on an unsuspecting audience. I think part of the pleasure of the film is watching his energetic, forceful filmmaking collide with all the ragged edges (the bad acting, the cheap effects). It's hardly a perfect film, but I'd call it an admirable one, and clearly the work of a talented craftsman.

As for the LotR films, I get behind you feeling like they're great, because there were many times during my initial views where the films pack that kind of joy and imagination and scope. I wouldn't put it on an equal level with Lawrence of Arabia, but I would place it in Larry's company, and that's not small praise.

Raiders

01-21-2009, 05:09 PM

Jackson:

Heavenly Creatures [9.5]
LOTR: Return of the King [9.0]
LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring [8.5]
Forgotten Silver [8.5]
Braindead [8.0]
LOTR: The Two Towers [8.0]
Bad Taste [7.5]
King Kong [7.5]
The Frighteners [7.0]
Meet the Feebles [5.0]

Raimi:

Spider-Man 2 [7.5]
The Evil Dead [7.5]
Darkman [7.0]
A Simple Plan [7.0]
Spider-Man 3 [6.5]
Evil Dead 2 [6.5]
The Quick and the Dead [6.0]
Spider-Man [5.5]
Army of Darkness [4.5]
The Gift [4.0]

Not even close.

MadMan

01-21-2009, 05:17 PM

My own minority opinion, and believe me I know it is in the minority here, is that ROTK is the best of the trilogy.I join number8 in agreeing with you. When the trilogy ended, I thought that FOTR was the best. Two more viewings of ROTK later I ended up realizing that ROTK is the better film.

And I'm tired of rating/ranking director's films outside of the threads dedicated to that purpose. Plus I'm rather lazy :P

PS: I also haven't seen enough of either Jackson or Rami's work to properly judge which one is better. But I dig both about equally, honestly.

The Mike

01-21-2009, 05:22 PM

Jackson:
LOTR: Return of the King 5.5
LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring 9.5
LOTR: The Two Towers 8.0
King Kong 9.5
The Frighteners 9.5

Raimi:
Spider-Man 2 9.5
The Evil Dead 10.0
Darkman 8.0
A Simple Plan 8.5
Spider-Man 3 7.5
Evil Dead 2 9.0
The Quick and the Dead 5.5
Spider-Man 10.0
Army of Darkness 10.0
The Gift 9.0

Not even close.

(I think I just equated ROTK to The Quick and the Dead. Then I thought, and realized I'm OK with that. :eek:)

Wryan

01-21-2009, 05:38 PM

I can't rate 'em. Too tricky for me. Jackson's highs are more robust than can possibly be dragged down by his excesses, many and varied as they can be.

And what the hell is wrong with his King Kong? It was exactly what it should have been as a remake. I get such a thrill out of watching that movie. It hits all the right notes (and hits 'em hard) and only has a few missteps.

Tho not directly comparable, watch Crystal Skull and Kong back to back, both a modern return to form for a classic action-adventure-fantasy film/series. They even have similar looks. The result, though, couldn't be farther apart.

I do like several Raimi films though. All told, I'd expect Jackson to keep doing what he does well, and I wouldn't expect him to change his ways soon either, and I'd look forward to a PJ film with higher expectations than a SR film.

Derek

01-21-2009, 05:49 PM

A new movie just kind of creeked into my top 10. I'll give you some hints: It came out in 1967 and everyone here probably hates it.

I'll let it slide this one last time, but the next person who asks a question like this and doesn't answer it within a few hours gets neg-repped.

I'm with Wats in assuming it's The Graduate and if so, that's great.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 06:48 PM

Tho not directly comparable, watch Crystal Skull and Kong back to back, both a modern return to form for a classic action-adventure-fantasy film/series. They even have similar looks. The result, though, couldn't be farther apart.
.

Not only that, Crystal Skull rips off directly the action scene where the brontosaurs herd chases the crew onto the edge of the cliff, except the dinosaurs become Nazis. Neat trick!

Ezee E

01-21-2009, 06:49 PM

I'll let it slide this one last time, but the next person who asks a question like this and doesn't answer it within a few hours gets neg-repped.

I'm with Wats in assuming it's The Graduate and if so, that's great.
What's so bad about Frozen River? I know nothing about it except that it's Melissa Leo looking like she's playing Melissa Leo, only as the main character instead of a cameo.

Bosco B Thug

01-21-2009, 06:51 PM

I was very happy to find out recently Braindead is as wonderful as I remember it. That film and Heavenly Creatures alone, in the span of the last month or two, have skyrocketed Jackson in my esteem. I don't really care to re-visit any of his other films, though, which makes me even more eager about The Lovely Bones.

Re-watching Happy Feet and watching Kung Fu Panda nearly back to back was not good for Kung Fu Panda.

Robby P

01-21-2009, 06:55 PM

Heavenly Creatures is the only movie from either Jackson or Raimi that I'd consider exceptional.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 07:21 PM

Re-watching Happy Feet and watching Kung Fu Panda nearly back to back was not good for Kung Fu Panda.

Ick. KFP is leagues better than the faintly annoying HF.

Rowland

01-21-2009, 07:25 PM

I only managed to watch half of it, but I'm just about willing to concede that I was wrong about Step Brothers the first time around. I'll try to rewatch its entirety before I come to any conclusions, but yeah... it can be pretty damn funny, its satire is scathing, and most importantly, I'm beginning to believe that it's meant to grow increasingly annoying, which is an important distinction to make in my final evaluation.

Derek

01-21-2009, 07:38 PM

What's so bad about Frozen River? I know nothing about it except that it's Melissa Leo looking like she's playing Melissa Leo, only as the main character instead of a cameo.

Leo: "There's food!"
Son: "Popcorn and Tang?"

*A couple scenes later - cut to close-up of popcorn and tang*

Son: "This again?"

That pretty much sums up how bluntly and gracelessly Hunt conveys the difficulty of being a poor mother. As far as the commentary on White/Native American relations goes, it doesn't fair much better. The smuggler repeatedly says "They won't pull you over. You're white!" or her friend "Lila, you don't like white people." And these are literal quotes that come off as even more painfully direct in context. The film is lifeless and everything is surface - no subtext, no depth to the emotions, no commentary aside from what is laid out right in front of your eyes and belabored for 90 minutes.

Ezee E

01-21-2009, 07:45 PM

Leo: "There's food!"
Son: "Popcorn and Tang?"

*A couple scenes later - cut to close-up of popcorn and tang*

Son: "This again?"

That pretty much sums up how bluntly and gracelessly Hunt conveys the difficulty of being a poor mother. As far as the commentary on White/Native American relations goes, it doesn't fair much better. The smuggler repeatedly says "They won't pull you over. You're white!" or her friend "Lila, you don't like white people." And these are literal quotes that come off as even more painfully direct in context. The film is lifeless and everything is surface - no subtext, no depth to the emotions, no commentary aside from what is laid out right in front of your eyes and belabored for 90 minutes.
Sounds about what I was predicting.

Morris Schæffer

01-21-2009, 07:59 PM

(I think I just equated ROTK to The Quick and the Dead. Then I thought, and realized I'm OK with that. :eek:)

But am I ok with that? :P

Raiders

01-21-2009, 08:01 PM

I'm more surprised by Derek's middling score for Davies' doc. Hopefully it gets released around here soon.

Wryan

01-21-2009, 08:15 PM

Not only that, Crystal Skull rips off directly the action scene where the brontosaurs herd chases the crew onto the edge of the cliff...

I have such affection for that daffy-as-hell scene.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 09:51 PM

Svenosos has started a new blog (http://ijustknowit.blogspot.com/) which will mostly contain film-related thoughts.

FYI!

megladon8

01-21-2009, 09:56 PM

Where has Sven been, anyways?

So I watched Return of the King last night to finish off my re-watchings of the trilogy, and my thoughts remain the same.

It has moments of brilliance akin to Fellowship of the Ring, but it also has many, many shortcomings.

Best effects of the trilogy - actually, some of the best CGI work I've yet seen.

I quite liked the epilogue material, but I agree with whoever it was who said that all the fading to black was a terrible idea.

Sycophant

01-21-2009, 10:23 PM

Where has Sven been, anyways?He announced his departure/Match Cut resignation at the beginning of the month to focus on other life things. He hasn't completely left, as he'll be stopping in from time to time to do things like vote in Joe Dante consensus threads, but he's pretty much left us.

megladon8

01-21-2009, 10:35 PM

He announced his departure/Match Cut resignation at the beginning of the month to focus on other life things. He hasn't completely left, as he'll be stopping in from time to time to do things like vote in Joe Dante consensus threads, but he's pretty much left us.

Ah, well, that sucks.

Melville

01-21-2009, 10:41 PM

Svenosos has started a new blog (http://ijustknowit.blogspot.com/) which will mostly contain film-related thoughts.

FYI!
His post about Blue Velvet is the wrongest thing ever.

Bosco B Thug

01-21-2009, 11:07 PM

Ick. KFP is leagues better than the faintly annoying HF. Can't even conceive that, "leagues better." KFP is frequently, innocuously cute, sure (I didn't even find it all that funny, to be honest), but HF is frequently, consistently, bulldozingly often frickin' mind-blowing.

The animation is gorgeous, the scope of the thing is gigantic, the daring and innovative integration of live-action and/or photorealistic rendering didn't throw me for a loop, the pop music numbers put Moulin Rouge to its rightful shame, and the story is really well thoughtout. Is anyone familiar with the movie and/or musical The Light in the Piazza? There's a certain premise shared between them that I think I've recently concluded I'm a sucker for.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 11:08 PM

His post about Blue Velvet is the wrongest thing ever.

So at least we know it is really iosos now. It'd be suspicious if he liked the right things.

transmogrifier

01-21-2009, 11:09 PM

Can't even conceive that, "leagues better." KFP is frequently, innocuously cute, sure (I didn't even find it all that funny, to be honest), but HF is frequently, consistently, bulldozingly often frickin' mind-blowing.

The animation is gorgeous, the scope of the thing is gigantic, the daring and innovative integration of live-action and/or photorealistic rendering didn't throw me for a loop, the pop music numbers put Moulin Rouge to its rightful shame, and the story is really well thoughtout. Is anyone familiar with the movie and/or musical The Light in the Piazza? There's a certain premise shared between them that I think I've recently concluded I'm a sucker for.

Oh. I get it. There is another movie called Happy Feet that I haven't seen yet. My mistake. I thought you were talking about the atonal, unfunny, thematically banal penguin thing.

megladon8

01-21-2009, 11:11 PM

I can't decide what to move onto watching, now that I've re-watched all the Lord of the Rings'.

Probably has to be a re-watch because, during the week, I most often put something on to go to sleep to before heading off to work.

Maybe I'll just try to finish up the first season of "The Dead Zone"...

Bosco B Thug

01-21-2009, 11:17 PM

Oh. I get it. There is another movie called Happy Feet that I haven't seen yet. My mistake. I thought you were talking about the atonal, unfunny, thematically banal penguin thing.
Well played. Or Touche. Just tell me you think KFP is mediocre and you just really really really hate that animated penguin movie.

Oh, and HF's action scenes are also awesome. Great stuff.

Spinal

01-21-2009, 11:26 PM

Best kids' movies of the 2000s:

1. Happy Feet
2. City of Ember
3. The Emperor's New Groove
4. Speed Racer
5. Finding Nemo
6. Wall-E
7. Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
8. The Incredibles
9. Ratatouille
10. Peter Pan

megladon8

01-21-2009, 11:28 PM

I so love The Emperor's New Groove.

I still think it's one of the funniest movies I've seen, kids movie or not.

Dead & Messed Up

01-21-2009, 11:55 PM

megladon8

01-21-2009, 11:59 PM

Watch some David Lean, Cecil B. DeMille, other directors working on a huge campus.

I've actually owned Lawrence of Arabia for about three years, but still never seen it.

*hides*

Dead & Messed Up

01-22-2009, 12:01 AM

I've actually owned Lawrence of Arabia for about three years, but still never seen it.

*hides*

Damn. You quoted my mistake.

Let it be known that Lean rarely worked on a large campus.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 12:04 AM

Damn. You quoted my mistake.

Let it be known that Lean rarely worked on a large campus.

:lol:

The mistake didn't even register with me. I knew what you were saying.

I'd really like to see some of his Dickens adaptations, since I'm a huge Dickens fan.

I remember like two years ago they were basically in "scheduling hell" as for DVD releases - there was supposed to be a huge David Lean boxed set released containing Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, etc. but it kept getting pushed back and pushed back and pushed back again.

Do you know if those films ever saw the light of day on DVD?

megladon8

01-22-2009, 12:15 AM

transmogrifier

01-22-2009, 01:16 AM

I so love The Emperor's New Groove.

I still think it's one of the funniest movies I've seen, kids movie or not.

Streak broken! :pritch:

transmogrifier

01-22-2009, 01:17 AM

Best kids' movies of the 2000s:

1. Happy Feet - no
2. City of Ember - don't know
3. The Emperor's New Groove - YES
4. Speed Racer - eh
5. Finding Nemo - YES
6. Wall-E - YES
7. Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - eh
8. The Incredibles - no
9. Ratatouille - no
10. Peter Pan - don't know

...and scene.

eternity

01-22-2009, 02:01 AM

dreamdead

01-22-2009, 02:31 AM

The Israeli film Jellyfish, co-directed by Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret, is solid work. The film’s formalism is quietly understated except for a few interesting moments where it slips in with some remarkable bit of imagery or theme. I like the tinge of magical realism that is ingrained throughout the whole affair, as it infuses the film with a connectedness that is revelatory. This is a film that understands how to weave in flashbacks and make them mean something while allowing the surreality to nonetheless stand out (i.e. the ice cream seller on the beach). At times the action in the film feels too over-determined and choreographed, see those moments where characters of diverse narrative arcs bump into one another, but it’s hard to ignore the poetic vigor of the scenes where everyone is stranded in the rain or when the note is finally completed and read. Very good cinema.

Maurice Pialat’s Loulou isn’t quite the revelation that I’d hoped for, but that’s largely because I expected a more nuanced and narrative-based study of cultural disaffection. Instead of being that film, though, Pialat is more interested in episodic moments and the almost non-cultural interplay between Nelly (Isabelle Huppert) and Loulou (Gérard Depardieu). Though far more beautiful today, Isabelle Huppert comes across the best, with Pialat offering numerous silent studies of Huppert with his camera, letting us interpret her process of maturity even as Loulou remains far more abstract and undefined (which feels purposeful rather than a bad sketch). Her reactions to Loulou when the whole generational family is eating dinner contain multitudes; it’s a wonder of her understated doubt and skepticism about his intentions.

Derek

01-22-2009, 02:49 AM

My apologies.

Anyway, it's Week End.

Oh sweet. Great film, one of Godard's funniest.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 02:52 AM

No thoughts on The Lookout?

Ezee E

01-22-2009, 02:54 AM

No thoughts on The Lookout?
Not a bad movie by any means, but it still follows cliches. The talent involved makes it better than it has any right to be.

DavidSeven

01-22-2009, 02:56 AM

My apologies.

Anyway, it's Week End.

You would have found more hate with The Graduate.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 02:56 AM

Not a bad movie by any means, but it still follows cliches. The talent involved makes it better than it has any right to be.

I'm just wondering if this is something my dad would like.

Is there much focus put on the actual heist, or is it more of a character-driven film?

My dad loves heist films, but I find he can be put-off by films that are entirely dialogue-driven.

Ezee E

01-22-2009, 03:08 AM

I'm just wondering if this is something my dad would like.

Is there much focus put on the actual heist, or is it more of a character-driven film?

My dad loves heist films, but I find he can be put-off by films that are entirely dialogue-driven.
It's a fair balance.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 03:18 AM

Spinal

01-22-2009, 03:21 AM

Ivan Drago

01-22-2009, 04:18 AM

My apologies.

Anyway, it's Week End.

One of my favorites. Glad you liked it.

The Mike

01-22-2009, 04:33 AM

Anyone have thoughts on 2007's The Lookout with Joseph Gordon-Levitt?

I have to admit, when I saw the trailers in 2007 it looked awful - especially that line "I have the money, I have the power!" which stood out to me for some reason as quite awful.

But I've been reading lots of reviews and write-ups about it recently saying its advertising was quite deceiving - that it's not a by-the-numbers heist film, but rather a very well constructed character piece, whose handling of a character with memory problems easily stands up against Memento.

I think I'd like to see it.

I agree 100% with the bolded part. From a psychological standpoint, I love how it builds him up as a real person dealing with both his condition and the trauma he relives through it. Levitt does it perfectly, it really felt sincere. Better performance than Pearce in Memento? Definitely. Better movie? Not quite, but it's closer than I expected.

The fact that the kid from 3rd Rock is now one of the actors that draws me toward a movie still scares me bigtime. :lol:

megladon8

01-22-2009, 05:12 AM

I agree 100% with the bolded part. From a psychological standpoint, I love how it builds him up as a real person dealing with both his condition and the trauma he relives through it. Levitt does it perfectly, it really felt sincere. Better performance than Pearce in Memento? Definitely. Better movie? Not quite, but it's closer than I expected.

The fact that the kid from 3rd Rock is now one of the actors that draws me toward a movie still scares me bigtime. :lol:

See, you're making it sound like I must see this now :)

But seriously, here's the deal-breaker when it comes to my dad - is it depressing?

If it's filled with sadness, and/or the ending is a giant "everyone dies" or "the hero loses everything and has no redemption", then he will definitely hate it.

The Mike

01-22-2009, 05:22 AM

See, you're making it sound like I must see this now :)

But seriously, here's the deal-breaker when it comes to my dad - is it depressing?

If it's filled with sadness, and/or the ending is a giant "everyone dies" or "the hero loses everything and has no redemption", then he will definitely hate it.

As I saw it, the movie is most about dealing with our shortcomings and finding hope. I wouldn't say it's depressing, but I'm very big on personal redemption tales.

In tone, it's kind of like the Bourne films, but without the secret agent stuff. And it's in the Midwest only.

The Salton Sea or Red Rock West would be good comparisons too.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 06:30 AM

As I saw it, the movie is most about dealing with our shortcomings and finding hope. I wouldn't say it's depressing, but I'm very big on personal redemption tales.

In tone, it's kind of like the Bourne films, but without the secret agent stuff. And it's in the Midwest only.

The Salton Sea or Red Rock West would be good comparisons too.

Well, The Salton Sea is one of the most depressing films I've seen.

So, to put it lightly, I'm torn.

Perhaps I'll rent it first, see if it's something he'll like, and if it is I'll get him a copy.

soitgoes...

01-22-2009, 08:25 AM

2008 Weekend Possibilities: The Sequel

Revanche
The Last Mistress
Jellyfish
Three Monkeys
Hunger
Gomorra
Silent Light
Flight of the Red Balloon

Probably a few of the above with a sprinkling of the below.

Hamlet (1996)
Five Deadly Venoms

Boner M

01-22-2009, 08:35 AM

A few of these:

The Class
Role Models
Doubt
Milk

And a few of these:

Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana
The Apple
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
Border Incident
The Godfather

origami_mustache

01-22-2009, 10:27 AM

2008 Weekend Possibilities: The Sequel

Revanche
The Last Mistress
Jellyfish
Three Monkeys
Hunger
Gomorra
Silent Light
Flight of the Red Balloon

Did not care for Jellyfish or Silent Light much...really want to see Hunger and Gomorra...Flight of the Red Balloon is excellent.

Raiders

01-22-2009, 12:47 PM

While watching Aragorn's speech to the Riders of Rohan ("A day may come when the courage of men fails...but it is not this day!") I kept expecting (or hoping) that Bill Pullman would pop up and yell "Today...is our independence day!"

Only Aragorn's speech, as unfortunate as it is in its rally-the-troops montage that exists in all epic war movies, is written about 100x better than the one in Independence Day... or maybe just delivered with much more emotion and conviction.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 01:01 PM

Only Aragorn's speech, as unfortunate as it is in its rally-the-troops montage that exists in all epic war movies, is written about 100x better than the one in Independence Day... or maybe just delivered with much more emotion and conviction.

Indeed.

I wasn't commenting on the quality of Aragorn's speech, just making a funny.

However, I will say this with regards to his speech - the take they used for the film's trailer was much better than what they used in the final film.

EDIT: Question - does the Extended Edition restore any of Saruman's footage?

I was bewildered by his disappearance in the third film. I felt cheated, and that was one of my biggest problems with the film - they just eliminated the main villain of the first two films without even showing what happened to him. Just a couple of lines of dialogue about him "having no power now", just because some trees smashed up his land.

Ezee E

01-22-2009, 01:31 PM

The Godfather[/b]

First time?

For me:
Charley Varrick
The Howling
The Wrestler
Revolutionary Road

Scar

01-22-2009, 01:37 PM

The Third Man has arrived from Blockbuster....

Boner M

01-22-2009, 01:59 PM

First time?
...in nearly a decade, which is basically the same deal. I can only remember the iconic scenes.

Wryan

01-22-2009, 02:42 PM

Indeed.

I wasn't commenting on the quality of Aragorn's speech, just making a funny.

However, I will say this with regards to his speech - the take they used for the film's trailer was much better than what they used in the final film.

EDIT: Question - does the Extended Edition restore any of Saruman's footage?

I was bewildered by his disappearance in the third film. I felt cheated, and that was one of my biggest problems with the film - they just eliminated the main villain of the first two films without even showing what happened to him. Just a couple of lines of dialogue about him "having no power now", just because some trees smashed up his land.

The extended editions put a lot of great material back in. Mostly character stuff, course, but I love the extended editions, each a little more than their theatrical counterparts, but only by small degrees. You should certainly watch the extended editions at some point.

Qrazy

01-22-2009, 02:49 PM

Indeed.

I wasn't commenting on the quality of Aragorn's speech, just making a funny.

However, I will say this with regards to his speech - the take they used for the film's trailer was much better than what they used in the final film.

EDIT: Question - does the Extended Edition restore any of Saruman's footage?

I was bewildered by his disappearance in the third film. I felt cheated, and that was one of my biggest problems with the film - they just eliminated the main villain of the first two films without even showing what happened to him. Just a couple of lines of dialogue about him "having no power now", just because some trees smashed up his land.

Yes, you get to witness his death.

On another note The Salton Sea and The Lookout were both bad movies.

MadMan

01-22-2009, 05:11 PM

*Devil in a Blue Dress(1995)
*The Great Escape(1963)-Maybe

I don't have anything else planned viewing wise this weekend. Maybe something will pop up.

balmakboor

01-22-2009, 05:13 PM

...in nearly a decade, which is basically the same deal. I can only remember the iconic scenes.

So, you can basically remember everything?

Scar

01-22-2009, 07:40 PM

Didn't care much for The Third Man, but Akira Kurosawa's Dreams is wonderful.

Raiders

01-22-2009, 07:41 PM

Didn't care much for The Third Man, but Akira Kurosawa's Dreams is wonderful.

Opposite Day!

number8

01-22-2009, 07:42 PM

Opposite Day!

I believe he is quite right.

*is typing this literally in front of the big Dreams poster on my living room wall*

Derek

01-22-2009, 07:46 PM

Didn't care much for The Third Man, but Akira Kurosawa's Dreams is wonderful.

The casting call for the new iosos isn't until next week, but it looks like you're all ready for it.

Derek

01-22-2009, 07:47 PM

I believe he is quite right.

*is typing this literally in front of the big Dreams poster on my living room wall*

I can understand liking Dreams, but I didn't think it was possible to dislike The Third Man.

Stay Puft

01-22-2009, 07:50 PM

Weekend:

The Edge of Heaven
The Fall
Chop Shop
Flight of the Red Balloon
CJ7
Paraguayan Hammock

Knocked off three last week, perhaps will try for three more.

Scar

01-22-2009, 08:03 PM

I can understand liking Dreams, but I didn't think it was possible to dislike The Third Man.

The music took me right out of it.

Scar

01-22-2009, 08:03 PM

I believe he is quite right.

*is typing this literally in front of the big Dreams poster on my living room wall*

*crosses fingers for eventual Blu Ray release*

Watashi

01-22-2009, 08:22 PM

The music took me right out of it.
The score is awesome.

balmakboor

01-22-2009, 08:22 PM

I think it says something that I share a birthday with the Macintosh computer. Remember that Super Bowl commercial inspired by Orwell’s 1984 (directed by Ridley Scott)? It aired on January 22, 1984.

Not sure what it says, but it says something. I’ve always been a Mac kind of guy.

MadMan

01-22-2009, 08:24 PM

The music took me right out of it.The film's score is utterly amazing :|

My friend received Caligula from Netflix. I want to hear his opinion, as he has similiar taste in film (to a degree). I wasn't in the mood tonight to watch such a film.

Oh and Confidence was surprisingly well made. The cast is damn good, the dialogue rather sharp, and the last act was better than Matchstick Men's last act. Overall I think this film is better than Scott's effort, although I give both the same grade simply because "Matchstick" features better acting. I like the con in "Confidence" better, although I wonder if I saw it coming simply because I had already seen "Matchstick," which also featured a surprise twist con near the end of the movie.

Scar

01-22-2009, 08:27 PM

The score is awesome.

To me, it had a very 'light hearted' feel to it, which did not fit what was going on.

Scar

01-22-2009, 08:29 PM

The film's score is utterly amazing :|

Wow. You've actually seen a movie!

MadMan

01-22-2009, 08:30 PM

Wow. You've actually seen a movie!I know! Its like, totally crazy! :P

Philosophe_rouge

01-22-2009, 08:54 PM

To me, it had a very 'light hearted' feel to it, which did not fit what was going on.
I think that's exactly why it's so effective. The film is deceptively light... or deceptively dark, as it twists a very dog eat dog environment into something of a perverse game orchestrated by Harry Lime. I've always seen the music as representing the looming whimsy of Lime. Even before we see him, his presence is imprinted on the entire film. It's really his song, and there is no denying even in context of the horrible actions he has done, he treats it all like a fun time. His entire manner is light and without any expectation of consequence. He holds meetings in amusement parks, and he has no sense of empathy or seriousness. The film does a fairly effective job at matching the music with his presence and even his state of mind and effect on the world. Before his first "appearance", notice the silence, but the moment we see his face, it resumes again. During the final chase through the sewers, there is a very obvious lack of score. Things have finally caught up with Lime, and the lightness and humour is finally gone. The whole film is a twisted vision, perversely light, nothing is as it seems. The use of dutch angles emphasizes a sort of upside down world, and how nothing is quite as it seems. The score fits the environment and it's characters with a very ironic and clever bend. I think it would be an entirely different film with a more "serious" score, and it would suffer for it.

Melville

01-22-2009, 09:32 PM

I think that's exactly why it's so effective. The film is deceptively light... or deceptively dark, as it twists a very dog eat dog environment into something of a perverse game orchestrated by Harry Lime. I've always seen the music as representing the looming whimsy of Lime. Even before we see him, his presence is imprinted on the entire film. It's really his song, and there is no denying even in context of the horrible actions he has done, he treats it all like a fun time. His entire manner is light and without any expectation of consequence. He holds meetings in amusement parks, and he has no sense of empathy or seriousness. The film does a fairly effective job at matching the music with his presence and even his state of mind and effect on the world. Before his first "appearance", notice the silence, but the moment we see his face, it resumes again. During the final chase through the sewers, there is a very obvious lack of score. Things have finally caught up with Lime, and the lightness and humour is finally gone. The whole film is a twisted vision, perversely light, nothing is as it seems. The use of dutch angles emphasizes a sort of upside down world, and how nothing is quite as it seems. The score fits the environment and it's characters with a very ironic and clever bend. I think it would be an entirely different film with a more "serious" score, and it would suffer for it.
That is almost exactly what I was going to say. Lime is a puckish character, not a straight villain, and one of the movie's functions is to provide a fleeting portrait of him; within this context, the music works as his theme, haunting and skirting around the film the same way he does. And the music (along with, as you say, the dutch angles) is essential in creating the atmosphere of the film: its ironic contrast with the serious narrative creates a sense of unbalance suitable to the post-war setting and the constant uncertainties of the narrative; and its distinct Viennese sound adds immeasurably to the sense of place and time—wherein the stereotypical Vienna and its waltzes have been destroyed, but the city remains bustling with an odd, idiosyncratic life.

Edit: also, the music is just plain awesome.

Qrazy

01-22-2009, 09:41 PM

So, you can basically remember everything?

Haha yeah I was going to say the same thing. The Godfather, Casablanca and Citizen Kane are the three films that come to mind for me when I think wall-to-wall iconic scenes.

Qrazy

01-22-2009, 09:44 PM

I can understand liking Dreams, but I didn't think it was possible to dislike The Third Man.

I prefer The Third Man slightly to Dreams but I don't think either is a great film. They're both quite good... Dreams is somewhat more uneven. The Third Man just doesn't feel significant enough in it's first 2/3's but the last third is class.

Qrazy

01-22-2009, 09:45 PM

The film's score is utterly amazing :|

My friend received Caligula from Netflix. I want to hear his opinion, as he has similiar taste in film (to a degree). I wasn't in the mood tonight to watch such a film.

Why would you ever be in the mood to watch such a film?

Ezee E

01-22-2009, 09:52 PM

The score is okay. Nothing more, nothing less. Unique, sure.

Mysterious Dude

01-22-2009, 11:27 PM

To me, it had a very 'light hearted' feel to it, which did not fit what was going on.
Irony, dammit. Irony.

megladon8

01-22-2009, 11:32 PM

If anyone's interested, the National Film Board of Canada has posted more than 700 films on its website today to be viewed for free.

Here's the link. (http://www.nfb.ca/playlists/)

Scar

01-22-2009, 11:48 PM

Irony, dammit. Irony.

Yeah, I know, but it irritated the hell out of me. Here we're on this investigation involving someone responsible for the deaths of children, and the music is just too much (for me).

With that said, I did like the scenes with Orson Wells, but the rest of the movie leading up to it just, bleagh.

I'll give it a rewatch someday, just not in the near future.

MadMan

01-23-2009, 01:05 AM

Why would you ever be in the mood to watch such a film?Probably in the same mood as I was when I watched I Spit on Your Grave. Perhaps I have not fully learned my lesson, yet. My friend only made it through the first 30 minutes.

The Third Man is film noir mastered to perfection. Even though the film does not end with the hero dying, its still depressing in that he's killed his best friend and lost the girl.

Not only does it feature what I feel might be the best character reveal ever, its ending is just flat out brilliant. I wonder if the book mirrors the film in any way.

megladon8

01-23-2009, 01:13 AM

My dad just watched and absolutely loved We Are Marshall.

The Mike

01-23-2009, 01:45 AM

My dad just watched and absolutely loved We Are Marshall.
Smart guy. :cool:

megladon8

01-23-2009, 01:46 AM

Smart guy. :cool:

I'm thinking if he liked this one I should also get him to check out Friday Night Lights.

The Mike

01-23-2009, 02:11 AM

I'm thinking if he liked this one I should also get him to check out Friday Night Lights.
I wouldn't go that far. Football movies are fickle mistresses. I'd say We Are Marshall is easily the best of them over the past decade, possibly the only one that's any good, even.

megladon8

01-23-2009, 02:12 AM

I wouldn't go that far. Football movies are fickle mistresses. I'd say We Are Marshall is easily the best of them over the past decade, possibly the only one that's any good, even.

So you're not endorsing Friday Night Lights, then?

I actually remember Remember the Titans being pretty good. Then again, I saw it nearly 10 years ago...

EDIT: Holy crap, it's almost surreal saying that.

The Matrix came out 10 years ago...how wacked is that?

Raiders

01-23-2009, 02:13 AM

I have seen about 30 minutes of We Are Marshall. I am positive that Friday Night Lights is much, much better.

The Mike

01-23-2009, 02:17 AM

So you're not endorsing Friday Night Lights, then?

I actually remember Remember the Titans being pretty good. Then again, I saw it nearly 10 years ago...
True. Then again, having lived with a high school football coach for 20 years has made me find most movies about high school football ridiculous.

I won't diss on Titans...but I never really liked it either. Too cookie cutter/paint by numbers/Denzel annoys the crap out of me for me. Will Patton was fantastic though.

Invincible would probably be my number two rec from that span, actually. Can't decide if that's really sad or just really awesome.

Bosco B Thug

01-23-2009, 11:18 AM

With that said, I did like the scenes with Orson Wells, but the rest of the movie leading up to it just, bleagh.
I'll take any one Alida Valli scene over the Orson Welles scenes, personally. I don't know if I should admit this, but I think back on my three or four viewings of the film and I always recall boredom slowly setting in during the sewer sequence. (I love the film, btw.)

EvilShoe

01-23-2009, 11:26 AM

origami_mustache

01-23-2009, 11:53 AM

weekend:
Animal Collective
Mr. show: Season 1
Trouble Every Day

Boner M

01-23-2009, 11:57 AM

Mr. show: Season 1
I luvz Mr. Show, but S1 is pretty weak for the most part. I say just start with 2 if you haven't seen any.

balmakboor

01-23-2009, 12:32 PM

Thank you Oscar. Finally got Slumdog, Frost/Nixon, and The Reader in my town. Still waiting for Milk.

Wryan

01-23-2009, 02:08 PM

I thought Friday Night Lights was really damn effective. Very genuine and heartfelt.

Melville

01-23-2009, 02:29 PM

I watched Let the Right One In and rewatched Edvard Munch yesterday. I love Scandinavia. From Kierkegaard to Hamsun, Strindberg to Bergman, and Munch to Alfredson, no one does bleak, snow-covered despair like the Scandinavians.

thefourthwall

01-23-2009, 03:33 PM

I luvz Mr. Show

Yo tambien.

I watched [...] Edvard Munch yesterday.

Thoughts? Never heard of it, but I think he's an interesting artist at an interesting time.

origami_mustache

01-23-2009, 03:44 PM

I luvz Mr. Show, but S1 is pretty weak for the most part. I say just start with 2 if you haven't seen any.

Eh I can't do that...I have to start from the beginning and see how it progresses.

Melville

01-23-2009, 04:00 PM

Thoughts? Never heard of it, but I think he's an interesting artist at an interesting time.
It's one of my favorites. It uses Peter Watkin's typical mix of narrative and documentation, but to much greater effect than in the other films I've seen from him. It is primarily a biography of Munch, but it also contains detailed analyses of his art and his social milieu. My favorite thing about it is its evocation of Munch's subjectivity via a very dense use of montage and layers of sound. "Present-day" scenes are constantly intercut with pivotal moments from his past; the sound of sobbing continues over interviews and voiceovers about his art. The method is very reminiscent of Faulkner's style in The Sound and the Fury, in the way that pivotal past moments anchor and define Munch's ongoing experience, but the layers of sound and imagery are a denser, more textured style only possible in film. The film is also magnificently self-reflexive: Munch is fixated on capturing his experience in his art, and the movie is fixated on capturing his experience as well as his capturing his fixation on that experience. This self-reflexivity is aided by his stares toward the viewer, allowing the film to take on his subjectivity in multiple ways, not only as consciousness but as self-consciousness. But it goes still further by insisting on the subjectivity of everybody around him. It delves into their past and their own experience, and they too turn and look at the viewer. Furthermore, seemingly random contextualizing bits of history are related in voiceover. But all of this is related back to Munch; it is his experience as a contextualizing and contextualized subject, a subject in an intersubjective context.

In other words, see this movie.

jesse

01-23-2009, 06:55 PM

In other words, see this movie. Yes, yes, YES. One of my favorites as well--Watkins is such an fascinating, underrated director, and while his highly-charged political analysis is always interesting, it's simply stunning when applied to art. Sure, it's technically a biopic, but I love how it forgoes any attempt at objectivity and dives headlong into subjectivity, and it becomes just as much an examination of a historical moment as it is about a single man's life. While watching it, it becomes extremely obvious how rare that really is.

Have you seen The Freethinker? I've had it for over a year now but I've yet to find the 4 hours plus to devote to it...

Dead & Messed Up

01-23-2009, 07:00 PM

A capsule review of Transsiberian:

If Alfred Hitchcock sided with the good men wrongfully accused, Brad Anderson sympathizes with the unfortunately guilty. Session 9, The Machinist, Sounds Like, and now Transsiberian explore characters who sinned greatly, and yet we feel for them, because that guilt hangs on them with terrific weight. Also like Hitchcock, Anderson loves watching the pressure accelerate until his protagonist's entire perspective is shattered. Which is all a long-winded way of saying that Transsiberian deserves the comparisons to Hitchcock; it's suspense at its finest.

Ivan Drago

01-23-2009, 07:14 PM

Weekend:

Irreversible
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire (2nd)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2nd)

Bosco B Thug

01-23-2009, 07:44 PM

I don't know what I found to be more annoying in the new X-Files film: The way the main characters kept saying variations of "I WANT TO BELIEVE" (coincidentally also the title!), or how Dr. Scully researches an upcoming stam cell surgery by using google. Okay, I'm kind of an ardent defender of the film, but yes, that last thing you note was goofy as hell. I don't know what they were thinking.

A capsule review of Transsiberian: I really liked The Machinist, so I'm still hoping I like Transsiberian and you're capsule review is very enticing. It's gotten some scathing remarks against it, though.

Derek

01-23-2009, 07:46 PM

Okay, I'm kind of an ardent defender of the film, but yes, that last thing you note was goofy as hell. I don't know what they were thinking.

I really liked The Machinist, so I'm still hoping I like Transsiberian and you're capsule review is very enticing. It's gotten some scathing remarks against it, though.

Seriously, any legitimate doctor would use Wikipedia.

Dead & Messed Up

01-23-2009, 08:00 PM

Okay, I'm kind of an ardent defender of the film, but yes, that last thing you note was goofy as hell. I don't know what they were thinking.

I really liked The Machinist, so I'm still hoping I like Transsiberian and you're capsule review is very enticing. It's gotten some scathing remarks against it, though.

72% Metacritic, 90% Tomatometer seems like a pretty safe bet.

Melville

01-23-2009, 08:33 PM

Have you seen The Freethinker? I've had it for over a year now but I've yet to find the 4 hours plus to devote to it...
I've never even heard of it until now. Thanks for making me aware of it; 4 hours plus of Strindberg biography in the style of Edvard Munch sounds spectacularly awesome.

Edit: Spinal's review (http://www.match-cut.org/showpost.php?p=57381&postcount=12) just tempered my expectations a bit.

Spinal

01-24-2009, 12:10 AM

Yeah, I'm a huge Watkins fan, but The Freethinker was somewhat of a chore. I would prioritize pretty much anything else he's done before that one.

megladon8

01-24-2009, 12:12 AM

If movie posters told the truth. (http://www.kontraband.com/pics/15702/If-Movie-Posters-Told-The-Truth/?gpage=1#show)

Russ

01-24-2009, 12:46 AM

If movie posters told the truth. (http://www.kontraband.com/pics/15702/If-Movie-Posters-Told-The-Truth/?gpage=1#show)
The Life Aquatic one is hilarious.

megladon8

01-24-2009, 12:50 AM

The Life Aquatic one is hilarious.

I liked the Wall-E one, myself :lol:

"Some kids' movies are better on ECSTAC-E"

MadMan

01-24-2009, 01:13 AM

If movie posters told the truth. (http://www.kontraband.com/pics/15702/If-Movie-Posters-Told-The-Truth/?gpage=1#show)The one for The Happening was pretty funny.

Stay Puft

01-24-2009, 01:18 AM

A heads up for those who missed Jia Zhangke's 24 City @ TIFF: Cinematheque Ontario will be screening it with the short film Cry Me A River in March (13th, 15th, and 18th).

Not sure what other chances there will be. I saw Useless back when it premiered and am still waiting for it to be released in some fashion so I can see it again (Karagarga doesn't even have it).

megladon8

01-24-2009, 02:14 AM

I'll probably watch a movie this weekend.

Ezee E

01-24-2009, 02:20 AM

I'll probably watch a movie this weekend.
That's not offensive, hurtful, or morally reprehensible.

Try again, but with spite.

megladon8

01-24-2009, 02:21 AM

That's not offensive, hurtful, or morally reprehensible.

Try again, but with spite.

OK let's try this...

I'm going to watch a movie this weekend. It'll probably star someone who's worthless, and by that I mean that I am relieving them of any humanity they once had - though in my opinion, they didn't have any to begin with, since I'm not a fan of their looks.

Also, I'm dismissing your opinion on everything, ever. To me, you're just a piece of meat with a voice.

Ezee E

01-24-2009, 02:26 AM

OK let's try this...

I'm going to watch a movie this weekend. It'll probably star someone who's worthless, and by that I mean that I am relieving them of any humanity they once had - though in my opinion, they didn't have any to begin with, since I'm not a fan of their looks.

Also, I'm dismissing your opinion on everything, ever. To me, you're just a piece of meat with a voice.
I prefer this dismissive and careless meg to the self-martyr version of meg.

Nerd meg is the best though.

The Mike

01-24-2009, 02:27 AM

megladon8

01-24-2009, 02:31 AM

I prefer this dismissive and careless meg to the self-martyr version of meg.

Nerd meg is the best though.

That's funny, it seems the only meg people see lately is the constantly unintentionally offensive and mean-spirited meg.

I've never seen myself as mean-spirited at all, but apparently that's what I am.

So shut up, you worthless piece of man-flesh.

Spinal

01-24-2009, 02:58 AM

I've never seen myself as mean-spirited at all, but apparently that's what I am.

Perhaps it's your avatar. You are a profound threat to the human race.

megladon8

01-24-2009, 02:25 PM

I thought The Amityville Horror was actually pretty good. It seems to have quite a terrible rep, but I don't know where this comes from.

I wouldn't rank it among the best horrors I've seen, but it creeped me out, had decnt enough acting from James Brolin and Margot Kidder, and communicated some strong themes underneath its horror story.

Raiders

01-24-2009, 04:50 PM

I thought The Amityville Horror was actually pretty good. It seems to have quite a terrible rep, but I don't know where this comes from.

It's just so dull and stupidly opens up the film to the outside of the house--but that's OK, I guess, because the house has unlimited powers to randomly control evil well away from the inside of said abode. To see how this film so monumentally fails is simplest by just comparing it to the similar The Shining. The worst part may be the ending where it is obvious there simply was no saving this sad affair, or maybe the worst part is actually the pig. Wait, never mind, the lameness of the pig might actually be the best part.

Spinal

01-24-2009, 05:12 PM

Raiders

01-24-2009, 05:22 PM

Portland Film Festival line-up. (http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/nwfilm/piff/32/films/?cid=a)

Coraline and Tokyo Sonata are the only things that jump out at me. Already seen Nightwatching. Any recommendations/suggestions?

I have heard nothing but great, great things about Steve McQueen's Hunger. I think Boner currently has it as his #1 of '08.

Again though, I always recommend in situations like this to seek out films that sound interesting that you likely won't really get to see another way (some of these may never even make DVD--at least not anytime soon).

Kurosawa Fan

01-24-2009, 06:09 PM

I just found out that a little theater in my area is showing Let the Right One in tomorrow at 3pm! It's the only time they're showing it. They usually just handle local plays, but every once in awhile they'll show a movie like this. I can't wait.

Milky Joe

01-24-2009, 07:07 PM

I'm not really one for horror/gore films, but it seems that I should go ahead and take advantage of having a theatre where I can go see Let the Right One In. Would this be a correct assumption, those of you who've seen it?

EyesWideOpen

01-24-2009, 07:16 PM

number8

01-24-2009, 07:46 PM

I caught I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry on HBO last night. Nathan Lee was right. This movie is better than Brokeback Mountain. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kurosawa Fan

01-24-2009, 08:06 PM

So this theater (http://www.templetheatre.com/Pages/Films.html) of mine does 4-6 six week independent/foreign film series per year. I just found out about this. The fact that I didn't know about this until now is distressing. Anyway, are either of the other films worth seeing? I'm definitely seeing Let the Right One in tomorrow, but the two that come after I've never heard anything about. Anyone here know anything about either of them, good or bad?

soitgoes...

01-24-2009, 08:07 PM

Portland Film Festival line-up. (http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/nwfilm/piff/32/films/?cid=a)

Coraline and Tokyo Sonata are the only things that jump out at me. Already seen Nightwatching. Any recommendations/suggestions?
I might to try and see Tokyo Sonata, The Baader Meinhof Complex, The Song of Sparrows, Lorna's Silence, 24 City and/or Lake Tahoe. Likely only a couple of those I'll make it to Portland to see.

I have seen Lemon Tree and The Chaser, both were good (Lemon Tree was better), as well as Katyn which was not.

Winston*

01-24-2009, 08:20 PM

Horton Hears a Who - good
3:10 to Yuma - not good
We Own the Night - good
13 Tzameti - not good
Crank - good
Across the Universe - not good
The Real Dirt on Farmer John - not good

Ezee E

01-24-2009, 09:01 PM

Portland Film Festival line-up. (http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/nwfilm/piff/32/films/?cid=a)

Coraline and Tokyo Sonata are the only things that jump out at me. Already seen Nightwatching. Any recommendations/suggestions?
O'Horten is pretty good. Revanche was at Telluride and played out decently.

No Gomorrah?

Spinal

01-24-2009, 09:34 PM

No Gomorrah?

It's on there. Is it worth seeing?

Ezee E

01-24-2009, 09:45 PM

It's on there. Is it worth seeing?
I'd say so. It sure covers a lot of ground for mafia in Naples. It definitely doesn't take it from the romantic approach either.

Boner's seen it as well and liked it a lot if I remember right.

Rowland

01-24-2009, 11:39 PM

I caught I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry on HBO last night. Nathan Lee was right. This movie is better than Brokeback Mountain. Thoroughly enjoyed it.Yeah, it's a lot better than the critical reception would lead you to anticipate. Not great or anything, but good... and better than many of this year's over-regarded comedies.

Boner M

01-24-2009, 11:45 PM

Hunger is awesome and definitely a Spinal-y kinda film.

GOMORRAH - Great, but you've probably heard about this already
TULPAN - Quite good, kinda Herzog-ian in its blend of documentary and fictional narrative, didn't quite deliver on its promise for me. Probably more compelling if you read up on the making of it.
THE BLACK BALLOON - Aussie crowdpleaser about a family with an autistic son. Was very surprised by this one, a lot more affecting and complex than I'd expected. Toni Collette is very good.
OF TIME AND THE CITY - I went wild for this one when I saw it last year, but over time I think I'd overrated it. Still excellent, though you have to have high tolerance for pompous theatrical British voiceovers.
LORNA’S SILENCE - Pretty good, but start with another Dardenne.
TOKYO SONATA - Loved it, probably my favorite film released anywhere last year. Can't seem to find a whole lot of enthusiasm in other circles, though.

Raiders

01-25-2009, 12:00 AM

TOKYO SONATA - Loved it, probably my favorite film released anywhere last year. Can't seem to find a whole lot of enthusiasm in other circles, though.

I haven't seen anyone claiming it the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I also haven't really read a less-than-moderately-positive review yet. I'm psyched.

soitgoes...

01-25-2009, 12:02 AM

It's on there. Is it worth seeing?
Just watched this, and yes, 'twas great.

transmogrifier

01-25-2009, 12:09 AM

Tootsie - funny at times, sharp look at acting, but totally muddled sexual politics. The scenes between Hoffman and Pollack are the highlights.

Stay Puft

01-25-2009, 12:14 AM

Portland:

24 CITY - Good, but a little tiring by the end (one too many talking heads). Mixes fact and fiction more explicitly than Useless to less interesting results. Joan Chen segment basically amounts to being cute. Tao Zhao is endlessly appealing, as always.

GOODBYE SOLO - Souleymane Sy Savane and Red West are fantastic together in this. Enjoyed it a lot more than Man Push Cart (still haven't seen Chop Shop).

TOKYO SONATA - With Boner on this one. Wonderful, one of Kurosawa's best, one of the best films I watched last year, etc. I hope it gets picked up for distribution (I don't think his last two films were ever released in the US).

megladon8

01-25-2009, 12:46 AM

It's just so dull and stupidly opens up the film to the outside of the house--but that's OK, I guess, because the house has unlimited powers to randomly control evil well away from the inside of said abode. To see how this film so monumentally fails is simplest by just comparing it to the similar The Shining. The worst part may be the ending where it is obvious there simply was no saving this sad affair, or maybe the worst part is actually the pig. Wait, never mind, the lameness of the pig might actually be the best part.

Plenty of "haunted house" films open it up to the house influencing things outside itself. The Changeling, The Haunting, even The Shining.

And the pig and the flies I took as very direct references to "Lord of the Flies". The pig was quite hoaky, though, I'll give you that. :)

One big problem I had - and it's something I've felt with many haunted house films - is...WHY DON'T THEY JUST LEAVE?

In The Amityville Horror it's shown that they feel they can't leave the house due to their financial situation...but really, is the safety of their children less important than their finances? Go stay with some relatives until business picks up again with his company and he can afford to get another place...do anything that gets them away from this place that is so obviously dangerous.

number8

01-25-2009, 01:09 AM

Yeah, it's a lot better than the critical reception would lead you to anticipate. Not great or anything, but good... and better than many of this year's over-regarded comedies.

Yeah. The only thing I didn't like was the Jessica Biel subplot, but the Sandler/James stuff was pretty well executed. The trial scene where it's revealed that they know each other better than most married couple would is pretty great. It really challenges the definition of homosexual and heterosexual love under one microscope. If one of them was a woman, surely a relationship that close would convince everyone that they'd be a great couple--so what's the difference if it's two men?

I'd even go so far as to defend the icky-homophobic jokes that critics were calling it hypocritical for. They are absolutely necessary to ground the reality of why gay acceptance is so hard for most straight men to comprehend. It's a clever entry point (zing!), and as Nathan Lee said, much more effective in stating a message of tolerance than gay-martyr dramas like Brokeback.

Yah, not too bad of a film indeed.

Raiders

01-25-2009, 02:11 AM

Plenty of "haunted house" films open it up to the house influencing things outside itself. The Changeling, The Haunting, even The Shining.

Hm, I'm not so sure I have ever really seen it like it is here (Poltergeist, House on Haunted Hill, etc. all seem to be pretty confined to the actual house). Can you remind me in the latter two when that happened? Especially The Shining, where I can't remember a single incident outside the hotel and its grounds where anything evil happened. "The shining" itself, Danny's so-called powers, have nothing to do with the evil directly.

And the pig and the flies I took as very direct references to "Lord of the Flies". The pig was quite hoaky, though, I'll give you that. :)

It may actually just be from the book. I don't really know why this would reference Golding's book... but whatever.

One big problem I had - and it's something I've felt with many haunted house films - is...WHY DON'T THEY JUST LEAVE?

In The Amityville Horror it's shown that they feel they can't leave the house due to their financial situation...but really, is the safety of their children less important than their finances? Go stay with some relatives until business picks up again with his company and he can afford to get another place...do anything that gets them away from this place that is so obviously dangerous.

Yeah, well, I guess the obvious answer is there wouldn't be a movie. But, as I said above, the film makes it not really feasible since it seems the house interacts with stuff well away from its own foundation. Saying it is "Satan" doesn't really seem to cover it, though.

megladon8

01-25-2009, 02:19 AM

Hm, I'm not so sure I have ever really seen it like it is here (Poltergeist, House on Haunted Hill, etc. all seem to be pretty confined to the actual house). Can you remind me in the latter two when that happened? Especially The Shining, where I can't remember a single incident outside the hotel and its grounds where anything evil happened. "The shining" itself, Danny's so-called powers, have nothing to do with the evil directly.

Maybe I interpreted events from the film wrongly (is that a word?) but I thought Jack Torrence was kind of...brought to the hotel by the hotel.

I thought the entire incident was caused by the hotel's ability to bring these damaged souls to it. It brought Mr. Grady and his family through its power of influence. It was like it could reach out into anyone it had to in order to collect the souls it wanted.

Of course this is not as obvious a physical interaction as the car-wrecks in both The Amityville Horror and The Changeling, but I still definitely felt that its power extended beyond the borders of the hotel.

Yeah, well, I guess the obvious answer is there wouldn't be a movie. But, as I said above, the film makes it not really feasible since it seems the house interacts with stuff well away from its own foundation. Saying it is "Satan" doesn't really seem to cover it, though.

I suppose given your hate of the film you don't own the DVD, but there's actually a really interesting commentary track by the lead paranormal psychologist who investigated the Amityville case.

He said that - again, a large similarity between this and The Shining - the house was built on an Indian burial ground. He explains his feelings that it wasn't actually the house that was evil, but the land itself. Regardless of what was built there, people would be tormented by these spirits of the dead.

The Mike

01-25-2009, 02:52 AM

Wasn't Amityville revealed as a hoax like 15 years ago? (Edit: Guess not)

As Raiders speculated, the pig is a huge part of the book. (At least that's what I remember, I was 12ish when I read it.) Regardless, It was definitely a failure in the movie.

Double Edit: The accounts from the real Lutzes state that the "evil" followed them out of the house when they left, so the film moving the events outside the house isn't surprising.

Rowland

01-25-2009, 06:45 AM

Neil Marshall's Doomsday embodies some of the best and worst traits one can attribute to iPod-generation filmmaking. Sadly, the worst traits eclipse the positive ones by a hair. The last action sequence kicks fucking ass though, all the more so for being scored to Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Watashi

01-25-2009, 06:52 AM

Doomsday had the potential to be one of the coolest films of the decade, but it ended up being an "I Spy" of superior films Marshall was saluting. Loved the entrace of that crazy villain guy.

Rowland

01-25-2009, 07:02 AM

Doomsday had the potential to be one of the coolest films of the decade, but it ended up being an "I Spy" of superior films Marshall was saluting. Loved the entrace of that crazy villain guy.Marshall mixes and matches genres and specific influences, some more blatant than others, like one would assemble an iPod play list of disparate elements for a personalized hybrid, not unlike Kill Bill, only not as sophisticated or cool. Unfortunately, another iPod-ish trait rears its head, that being a severe case of ADD. Mind you, this isn't essentially negative, but when it results in action sequences artlessly edited into borderline-incoherent ribbons, then it's a problem (because of this, only the closing desert chase leaves an impression), as well as a certain shapelessness in an emotional sense that lends the film a certain detached quality.

number8

01-25-2009, 07:07 AM

Yesterday I forced the wife to watch Armageddon for the first time. Tonight, I did the same with The Rock.

Ah, love.

Qrazy

01-25-2009, 07:28 AM

13 Tzameti - not good

Bah what's wrong with it? It's mediocre but not awful.

Spinal

01-25-2009, 07:29 AM

Rowland

01-25-2009, 07:45 AM

For most of the runtime, Tell No One is a really gripping and often bewildering thriller. One key chase scene was, in my experience, literally a jaw-dropper. Unfortunately, the resolution is not nearly as fun as the set-up. By that point, the mystery has become so convoluted that the solution must necessarily be somewhat inelegant. Still, you can put Marie-Josée Croze, Kristin Scott Thomas and Nathalie Baye together in a film anytime and you won't hear me complaining. What? No Ludivine?I found the opening act a reasonably involving mystery/thriller, slightly heightened in a very French kind of way. The second act is a disparate mix of increasingly bewildering mystery-solving and one of the year's best action sequences (the chase you mentioned), which frankly had me wishing the film was more action-orientated. The closing act settles in with wrapping up its at-best moderately involving mystery, mixing plot threads and revealing new information in a manner I found emotionally and thematically unsatisfying because of clunky foundation-laying and inelegant writing. Still, I admired the effort and enjoyed enough of it to give a slightly positive score.

Rowland

01-25-2009, 07:49 AM

Oh, and I'll officially eat crow by reassessing Step Brothers as one of the year's funniest and most astute comedies, after dismissing it upon theatrical viewing as a mostly unfunny missed opportunity (initial score: 43). I was wrong. *shrug*

Watashi

01-25-2009, 08:05 AM

Richard Jenkins dinosaur monologue is seriously one of the ten best scenes of the decade.

Rowland

01-25-2009, 08:08 AM

Richard Jenkins dinosaur monologue is seriously one of the ten best scenes of the decade.The totally unstressed revelation at the end of his monologue that he was seventeen when his father finally told him to stop being a fucking dinosaur is what makes it. Very funny stuff.

Dead & Messed Up

01-25-2009, 10:09 AM

The totally unstressed revelation at the end of his monologue that he was seventeen when his father finally told him to stop being a fucking dinosaur is what makes it. Very funny stuff.

"Dad, how is that even a skill?"

Winston*

01-25-2009, 10:13 AM

Bah what's wrong with it? It's mediocre but not awful.

Mediocre is not good.

Anyway just seemed to me to be kind of a useless film. A handful of tense Russian Roulette-ish sequences hung on a nothing of a movie. What's the point? Little to no point says I.

Winston*

01-25-2009, 11:18 AM

More in-depth movie thoughts:

All of Across the Universe's problems and naffness could've been overlooked had Julie Taymor had the good thought to include the line "Quit being so mean, Mr. Mustard".

If I teared up a little bit at the end of Horton Hears a Who, should I be ashamed? I'm thinking yes.

The only thing I liked about 3:10 to Yuma was it's dentistry.

Jason Statham. I now understand.

I know now to avoid any and all future film recommendations from former Vice President Al Gore. He's obviously too easily swayed by shots of organic vegetables.

I'm giving 75% odds that James Gray is going to release a masterpiece in the next 10 years.

Ezee E

01-25-2009, 11:23 AM

Dukefrukem

01-25-2009, 04:56 PM

Secret Window: One of the better films I've seen with a twist ending (and there are a lot of them). Johnny Depp's acting keeps it fresh and interesting even if the story was predictable. Depp is one of the few actors that can make a terrible or mediocre movie and still provide a huge level of enjoyment all the way through. I love the cliche 'ending' metaphor.

[81]

Qrazy

01-25-2009, 09:27 PM

Mediocre is not good.

Anyway just seemed to me to be kind of a useless film. A handful of tense Russian Roulette-ish sequences hung on a nothing of a movie. What's the point? Little to no point says I.

Fair.

I would argue there was some purposiveness to the style itself, but it did sort of feel like Melville-lite.

Spinal

01-25-2009, 09:56 PM

Look forward to this when it comes out on DVD in February.

Seems like one you would really dig.

soitgoes...

01-25-2009, 10:53 PM

Hunger is great. This month's film viewing has really been beneficial to my perception that 2008 will be as good as any other year. I still have a bunch to see.

Rowland

01-25-2009, 11:12 PM

Crank is very entertaining in its edited-for-USA-channel form.

"Frick! You fricking mother fricker!" :)

MadMan

01-26-2009, 01:39 AM

Bad Santa, even though it makes the common mistake of many comedies in "Going soft" near the end, is still pretty hilarious. Even though the main character is a complete asshole with very little to no redeeming qualities. Granted, he does sort of change near the end, which somehow works.

Bosco B Thug

01-26-2009, 04:19 AM

72% Metacritic, 90% Tomatometer seems like a pretty safe bet.
Wow, really? Man. Match-Cut and the internet fools they read (Slant, Reverse Shot) now make up a film's "critical reception" for me.

megladon8

01-26-2009, 01:13 PM

I posted this on another forum, but I thought the idea was so brilliant I had to share it here as well...

I want to see a Woody Allen Godzilla movie.

Godzilla would be a down-on-his-luck Jewish New Yorker with big dreams of terrorizing Tokyo.

He meets Diane Keaton, a fun and free-willed woman who shows him that the only person who can control his destiny is him.

Also starring Christopher Walken in a supporting role as Mothra.

Ezee E

01-26-2009, 02:44 PM

High much?

Dead & Messed Up

01-26-2009, 04:47 PM

This weekend, I watched two movies I might have been better off not watching...ever.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter has a slight rugged charm to it, with the off-sync dialogue, 16 mm film stock and exploitation elements (lesbians, Mexican wrestlers). But the film pads itself out terribly to feature length, and the creative team makes a tactical error by having Jesus get a shave and a haircut. The iconoclastic story really needs a traditional Jesus to engage in all these ridiculous events. I did like seeing a vision of God in ice cream.

The Toxic Avenger is so damn broad and obvious in all of its gags, but its energy makes it more successful than I expected. Not nearly successful enough to qualify as "good," but what does "good" even mean when discussing a movie where a psychopathic fitness whore masturbates to photos of human roadkill? Films like this exhaust me, because criticism is moot. Its fans would only laugh at me and point to the title, which doesn't imply anything of value save drunk chuckles.

Duncan

01-26-2009, 04:54 PM

High much?

:lol:

Watched Friday Night last night. It was good. Very textural, but very dark too. Not a lot of colours outside of heavy greens and skin tones. Also not sure about the ending. A little bit too much on the faux-freedom/poetic side of things, I thought. Not a bad film by any means, but Denis has made much better.

Raiders

01-26-2009, 05:05 PM

:lol:

Watched Friday Night last night. It was good. Very textural, but very dark too. Not a lot of colours outside of heavy greens and skin tones. Also not sure about the ending. A little bit too much on the faux-freedom/poetic side of things, I thought. Not a bad film by any means, but Denis has made much better.

I found it pretty amazing (only my second Denis, but I definitely preferred it to Beau travail).

My thoughts (http://www.match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=1289)

Dukefrukem

01-26-2009, 05:10 PM

why was the Repo thread locked?

Spinal

01-26-2009, 05:11 PM

why was the Repo thread locked?

Not sure. Fixed.

chrisnu

01-26-2009, 06:17 PM

Sycophant

01-26-2009, 06:27 PM

Over the weekend, I had a Johnny To party, where we watched the two Election films and Mad Detective. The Election dulogy is still immensely satisfying, though the second film felt a bit more uneven than I remember it being. Tony Leung as Big D is such a violent cartoon, I love him. May be one of my favorite film performances.

Mad Detective is pretty. That's about the best thing I can say about it. To and Wai seem much more interested in individual tricks and gimmicks than they are invested in the plot and characters in the film. Kind of played like a sloppy Running on Karma with more guns.

NickGlass

01-26-2009, 07:26 PM

The Panic in Needle Park was well-made, but it is one of the most depressing films I've ever seen. Absolutely desolate. I know that Al Pacino receives most of the recognition these days, but the gradual destruction of Kitty Winn's character was particularly devastating. I can easily see how this became the template for future "drug movies" like Requiem For a Dream, except this doesn't have the stylistic escapism of that film. This is just slow rot.

Depressing? Well, duh. However, I don't really understand calling it a "template" for Requiem, or other "drug movies." I haven't seen Drugstore Cowboy--which is said to borrow most liberally--but Panic struck me as a very singular film, and more relevant and truthful than any other flashy, drugs-are-bad experience.

It's no surprise that the trajectory of Winn's Helen is more devastating, since she's the centerpiece and she's the one brought under by influence, community and puppy love.

I'd recommend it.

So do I, certainly.

Here's a bit review (http://thelmagazine.com/7/2/Film/film13.cfm?ctype=2) I wrote on it for it's imminent release at the Film Forum.

chrisnu

01-26-2009, 10:54 PM

However, I don't really understand calling it a "template" for Requiem, or other "drug movies." I haven't seen Drugstore Cowboy--which is said to borrow most liberally--but Panic struck me as a very singular film, and more relevant and truthful than any other flashy, drugs-are-bad experience.
What I saw in Requiem that I also see in Panic is the sense of complete hopelessness, that a simple desire for change and loathing your place in life isn't going to be enough to save you. What I think that Panic does better is that instead of imagining the worst possible scenario for us, there's a listless, whimpering defeatedness to it, in leaving the story unresolved.

Thanks for the link.

The Mike

01-26-2009, 10:56 PM

The Toxic Avenger is so damn broad and obvious in all of its gags, but its energy makes it more successful than I expected. Not nearly successful enough to qualify as "good," but what does "good" even mean when discussing a movie where a psychopathic fitness whore masturbates to photos of human roadkill? Films like this exhaust me, because criticism is moot. Its fans would only laugh at me and point to the title, which doesn't imply anything of value save drunk chuckles.

I disagree entirely. There are sober chuckles in there for the deranged. Besides, it's The Toxic Avenger. :lol:

Dead & Messed Up

01-26-2009, 11:29 PM

I disagree entirely. There are sober chuckles in there for the deranged. Besides, it's The Toxic Avenger. :lol:

I hate you so much right now.

The Mike

01-27-2009, 12:08 AM

I hate you so much right now.

I do what I can. :cool:

Amnesiac

01-27-2009, 12:24 AM

Dead & Messed Up

01-27-2009, 12:30 AM

I was going to make a thread for this topic but then I figured I would just shove it in here.

I was wondering about what everyone's stance on "acquiring" films are. You know - screeners, torrents, rapidshare, etc.

As ardent film fans, do you feel that you are doing the industry a disservice or hurting it anyway by circumventing theatrical and DVD releases? Any guilt there?Or do you feel it is justified only when said film is completely unavailable otherwise? "It's the distributor's fault" sort of thing. If so, do you buy said film when it does become available through the more conventional/legal venues?

I'm not starting a witch-hunt or anything, but I am curious how many people on match-cut participate in this... and to what extent... and if they feel it's right, or merely a necessary evil.

It's justifiable, I think, in the case of entertainments that cannot be viewed any other way. Think of all the films that haven't been released on DVD or Blu-Ray, yet, as an example.

However, I do not download movies from torrents, free screeners. It bothers me, and it's made for awkward conversations with those I know who do illegally download.

My roommate downloaded six hundred movies from a friend recently. His justification is that if he likes the movie, he'll reward the filmmakers with a purchase. Which reminds me of Wimpy "gladly paying Tuesday for a hamburger today."

I say pay for the damn things. If your cash situation is such that you can't afford ten bucks for the ticket or the sale at Best Buy, you have more important things to focus on than movies.