28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[endingcredits]

It's so much better than 99.9% of all other films.

Indeed. Naysayers be damned!

[B-side]

Not yet; as I'm going through his filmography in order, it will be my last.

Ah, unfortunate. Looking forward to your thoughts on some of his oft-neglected works -- namely A Gentle Woman, The Devil, Probably and Four Nights of a Dreamer.

Actually, since you said you've been going in order, what did you think of Trial of Joan of Arc?

[megladon8]

If it weren't for the retarded a completely unnecessary twist at the end, The Book of Eli would have been a half-decent high-concept action movie.

Also, The Hughes Brothers could learn a thing or two about action direction.

[Ezee E]

If it weren't for the retarded a completely unnecessary twist at the end, The Book of Eli would have been a half-decent high-concept action movie.

Also, The Hughes Brothers could learn a thing or two about action direction.

Funny, I thought the action was great and which twist are you talking about?

[megladon8]

Funny, I thought the action was great and which twist are you talking about?

The scene in the bar when he kills all the guys after the one guy confronts him about the cat was filmed terribly.

Every time they got a good angle on the action and I thought "oh yeah this shot will be good", the camera swoops around to some other angle that obscures the best part of what was going on.

The most interesting action scene in the whole movie was that first fight with the hijackers, where it's played out in shadow from a single, straight-on angle. And it's not even that it's a good action scene, it was just cool stylistically.


[

Show Spoiler

That he's blind and has been the whole time.

Not only does it betray a lot of what came before - he's clearly not blind when he's constantly LOOKING at things, people, around the environment, etc.

It was unnecessary to be used as a twist. They should have said he was blind from the beginning, then have the book be opened by Gary Oldman at the end to find out that it's braille.

]

[Ezee E]

The scene in the bar when he kills all the guys after the one guy confronts him about the cat was filmed terribly.

Every time they got a good angle on the action and I thought "oh yeah this shot will be good", the camera swoops around to some other angle that obscures the best part of what was going on.

The most interesting action scene in the whole movie was that first fight with the hijackers, where it's played out in shadow from a single, straight-on angle. And it's not even that it's a good action scene, it was just cool stylistically.


[

Show Spoiler

That he's blind and has been the whole time.

Not only does it betray a lot of what came before - he's clearly not blind when he's constantly LOOKING at things, people, around the environment, etc.

It was unnecessary to be used as a twist. They should have said he was blind from the beginning, then have the book be opened by Gary Oldman at the end to find out that it's braille.

]

Eh, the twist worked for me. It wasn't jawdropping, but I didn't roll my eyes at it.

I still liked the idea of several journeys to Alcatraz occurring in the same fashion as Eli's, only with that person's significant beliefs...

[megladon8]

I did roll my eyes at it though, because, like I said, it was done so poorly as to betray scenes and events that came before it.

It's still a competent movie in many regards, filmed beautifully for the most part and with quite a neat (albeit simplistic) message about religion. I also really liked a lot of the music.

But yeah, that twist didn't need to exist at all.

[megladon8]

Here's a question about the end of The Book of Eli...


[

Show Spoiler

How/why did Denzel die at the end? Yes, he was injured. But with how slowly he was reciting the Bible to McDowell and how many pages were written, it was kind of implied that he spent a long time doing that after the injury.

So what...did he just keel over and die after reciting the last word?

Was it sheer force of will that kept him alive to finish it?

If so...that's pretty stupid.

]

[endingcredits]

The semi-arousing deranged erotica in Szamanka (Zulawski, 1996) was, well, semi-arousing. Otherwise, Zulawsky's smatter in the genre left everything but my pecker underwhelmed.

[B-side]

The semi-arousing deranged erotica in Szamanka (Zulawski, 1996) was, well, semi-arousing. Otherwise, Zulawsky's smatter in the genre left everything but my pecker underwhelmed.

Of the 4 Zulawski's I've seen, That Most Important Thing: Love was my favorite. Granted, all of them could use a rewatch. Not sure why I haven't watched The Devil yet.

[endingcredits]

Of the 4 Zulawski's I've seen, That Most Important Thing: Love was my favorite. Granted, all of them could use a rewatch. Not sure why I haven't watched The Devil yet.

I would have been more into That Most Important Thing: Love if the male lead had a bit more life in him. He was pretty bland as a character. My ratings thus far are

Possession - 10
The Devil - 9
On A Silver Globe - 9
That Most Important Thing: Love - 7
Szamanka - 6.

[B-side]

I would have been more into That Most Important Thing: Love if the male lead had a bit more life in him. He was pretty bland as a character. My ratings thus far are

Possession - 10
The Devil - 9
On A Silver Globe - 9
That Most Important Thing: Love - 7
Szamanka - 6.

I may recall that being an issue with me as well. The Klaus Kinski factor negated most of my concerns, though.

[Melville]

The semi-arousing deranged erotica in Szamanka (Zulawski, 1996) was, well, semi-arousing. Otherwise, Zulawsky's smatter in the genre left everything but my pecker underwhelmed.

All I remember is the girl being completely insane and eating the guy's brain. I guess that's erotic. Anyway, her insanity was enough for me.

Possession - 10
The Devil - 10
Szamanka - 8
That Most Important Thing: Love - 7

[B-side]

All I remember is the girl being completely insane and eating the guy's brain.

/prioritizes

[endingcredits]

All I remember is the girl being completely insane and eating the guy's brain. I guess that's erotic. Anyway, her insanity was enough for me.

Yeah, I love how she goes from a nymphomaniac to a brain eater without passing Go.

[B-side]

Yeah, I love how she goes from a nymphomaniac to a brain eater without passing Go.

So she didn't collect the 200 dollars?

[

Show Spoiler

Terrible. I apologize.

]

[endingcredits]

So she didn't collect the 200 dollars?

[

Show Spoiler

Terrible. I apologize.

]

:lol:

I wish I had the photoshop skills to make a customized monopoly card for this.

[MadMan]

So lucky - you get to watch all his films for the first time.

I guess so. Maybe I'll devout a month to watching his movies. Or not.

[Derek]

I guess so. Maybe I'll devout a month to watching his movies. Or not.

:|

[MadMan]

You know me....

[Dead & Messed Up]

Land > Survival > Diary

More to come...

[MadMan]

Diary is better than Survival. Haven't seen Land yet.

[Watashi]

I just got back from seeing Hans Zimmer live.

It was awesome.

[Ezee E]

Here's a question about the end of The Book of Eli...


[

Show Spoiler

How/why did Denzel die at the end? Yes, he was injured. But with how slowly he was reciting the Bible to McDowell and how many pages were written, it was kind of implied that he spent a long time doing that after the injury.

So what...did he just keel over and die after reciting the last word?

Was it sheer force of will that kept him alive to finish it?

If so...that's pretty stupid.

]

[

Show Spoiler

Well, the whole thing has me to believe that God is leading him the way. Hence him "being blind, but now he can see" and also being protected throughout. The whole thing is quite Biblical in nature. Once he finishes his mission, he's done what he had to for his God, and now he can rest peacefully.

God has then moved on to Kunis to spread the good word properly instead of it getting into the hands of Gary Oldman.

That right there was something I wish it could've expanded on. Religion being put into the hands of the wrong person.

]

[Rowland]

Land > Survival > Diary

More to come...

Ahh, so you finished Survival after all? Did you at least end up on the positive end of the spectrum?