28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Watashi]

Just saw The Box. Awesome movie.

I can't believe Warner Bros. had faith thinking this film would have mass appeal.

[Dukefrukem]

Was gonna post this in the horror thread, but probably better here.

Without a conscious decision and only realized through a series of retroactive examinations, I've concluded that the movies I cherish most are the ones that make me sad, upset or angry. It might explain my continuing waning interest in comedies, cult movies and trashy horror, all of which I used to convince myself I adore. Either I've been fighting my original pretentious nature or I'm subconsciously preparing myself for an easily explainable mass murder.

This is exactly why I love horror movies so much. I made a post about this a few months ago... in a particular thread. I don't think it either of those; I just think those emotions are more commonly shared among people, which is why we want to see revenge in movies, why we want to feel fear and why we want continue to support disaster movies. We are violent by nature.

[Ivan Drago]

Just saw The Box. Awesome movie.

I can't believe Warner Bros. had faith thinking this film would have mass appeal.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES.

What'd you think of the score from The Arcade Fire?

[Sycophant]

This is exactly why I love horror movies so much. I made a post about this a few months ago... in a particular thread. I don't think it either of those; I just think those emotions are more commonly shared among people, which is why we want to see revenge in movies, why we want to feel fear and why we want continue to support disaster movies. We are violent by nature.

Your assessment seems pretty off to me. Remember, you like these things more than a lot of other people. And being somewhat titillated by violent images does not reveal all of humanity to be fundamentally violent. Not to deny that violence is a strong component of human nature by any means, but this strikes me as cynical and possibly self-justifying.

[BuffaloWilder]

It might sound like a pretty vague cliche, but I've always thought that we like violent horror films because they remind us that we're alive - because they're visceral, often both visually and emotionally. Gets the adrenaline pumping, gets the juices flowing. I don't think there's any inherent attraction to the violence by itself, though.

[RoadtoPerdition]

Just saw The Box. Awesome movie.

I can't believe Warner Bros. had faith thinking this film would have mass appeal.

I've been wanting to see this ever since it came to theaters but haven't had the chance. It's going to premiere on, I think, Cinemax this weekend, so I'll be catching it then. I was surprised at how bad the reviews were for this, but I love movies and shows based on Richard Matheson stories, so I don't imagine it's that bad.

[number8]

Who gave it a positive review? Meeeee.

[Skitch]

I've been wanting to see this ever since it came to theaters but haven't had the chance. It's going to premiere on, I think, Cinemax this weekend, so I'll be catching it then. I was surprised at how bad the reviews were for this, but I love movies and shows based on Richard Matheson stories, so I don't imagine it's that bad.

People either seem to love it or hate it. I personally thought it was fantastic and can't wait to pick it up on bluray. Pretty much every friend I have (generally the more mainstream type) did NOT like it. I understand, though. Its not a clear cut written film, but that's why I like it. I like when a film pushes me to solve the plot on my own.

[Derek]

Yeah, I liked The Box more than I ever thought I'd like a Richard Kelly film. Not great, but an odd, intriguing film.

[StanleyK]

The film allows you to understand each of the character's motivations and allows you to understand why they are acting the way they are. However, it suggests that from the outside, all of this stuff would seem crazy. I think it falls well short of misanthropy and is nothing to get worked up over. It's basically a paraphrase of 'Lord, what fools these mortals be.' You may as well accuse Shakespeare of misanthropy for writing A Midsummer Night's Dream. But then, you're the one who thinks Buster Keaton is a hateful asshole, so maybe you would.

Yeah, but all their motivations are so shallow. Cox writes a memoir just to get back at the CIA, Harry wants to have sex with tons of women while still being with his wife, Chad wants money and a cheap thrill, Linda thinks she's worthless without cosmetic surgery... They're simple, one-note characters, made to be mocked.

[transmogrifier]

The Box starts well, but gets worse and worse and worse as it goes along. By the end, I was actively annoyed by it.

The Coens have yet to make a comedy that has caused me to laugh out loud. Their "comedies" are genial, well-drawn, immersive....but not all that funny.

[BuffaloWilder]

Man, trans - you don't like anything good. Except for A Serious Man and Where The Wild Things Are, apparantly.

[Skitch]

The Coens have yet to make a comedy that has caused me to laugh out loud. Their "comedies" are genial, well-drawn, immersive....but not all that funny.

Their comedies are, imo, their best work.

The Box starts well, but gets worse and worse and worse as it goes along. By the end, I was actively annoyed by it.

This is how I feel about the Coens highly reguarded drama, I.e. No Country and Fargo.

[Spinal]

Yeah, but all their motivations are so shallow. Cox writes a memoir just to get back at the CIA, Harry wants to have sex with tons of women while still being with his wife, Chad wants money and a cheap thrill, Linda thinks she's worthless without cosmetic surgery... They're simple, one-note characters, made to be mocked.

You're basically talking about the entire history of farce.

[Rowland]

I thought The Box was fine, but nothing to get worked up over. A considerable improvement over Southland Tales, in any case.

While we're on the topic, what was the deal with the "Choose Your Bubble" scene?

[Philosophe_rouge]

With exception of A Serious Man, I'm not a fan of the Coen comedies... I am mostly indifferent to their body of work outside No Country and A Serious Man though.

[MacGuffin]

Border Incident is great if uneven. In any case, the scene where the American and the undercover agent rendezvous probably makes it into in my top 50 scenes ever.

[Watashi]

Aren't ALL Coen movies comedies?

Am I missing something?

[Sycophant]

Would you consider No Country a comedy?

[Watashi]

Would you consider No Country a comedy?

There's a lot of classic Coen comedic moments in there. I mean, it's not Raising Arizona, but it has the laughs.

[Derek]

Aren't ALL Coen movies comedies?

Am I missing something?

No and yes, apparently.

Blood Simple and No Country for Old Men are not comedies. Fargo, The Man Who Wasn't There and Miller's Crossing have comedic elements, but it'd be a stretch to call them comedies.

[Winston*]

I don't consider A Serious Man a comedy.

[Watashi]

Coens just have various types of comedies from screwball, dark, slapstick, and satire.

Fargo being a dark comedy doesn't make it less comedic than a screwball comedy like The Hudsucker Proxy.

[Derek]

I don't consider A Serious Man a comedy.

That and Barton Fink both walk a thin line, but I can at least understand why someone would classify them as comedies.

[MacGuffin]

How do you all get that sleek half symbol? Tell me your secret.