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list/discuss/rate - your recently watched movies

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mithrandir View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mithrandir Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 12:07
Originally posted by Toaster Mantis Toaster Mantis wrote:

Contact. For the most part it was okay even if the soapboxing for the validity of SETI was a bit heavy-handed (do they really have that much trouble getting funding in real life?), but I absolutely loved the second act where they decoded the alien message etc.. I still don't know what to think about the climax, though, where it seemed like the people making the movie were trying way too hard to one-up the mindscrewy conclusions of Solaris and 2001.


yeah, Carl Sagen was definitely attempting to move in on Arthur C Clarkes territory, I don't think he'd deny the influence though they were very good friends, the book "Contact" is much more rewarding than the movie,

 Solaris, the original Tarkovsky masterpiece is one of may all time favorite movies - at least top 10, very meditative and contemplative film definitely not for everyone! of course the Staninslaw Lem novel is a must too if you haven't already! Wink


Edited by mithrandir - June 01 2008 at 12:10
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mithrandir Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 11:59
Snow Falling on Cedars - movie about a small town the has a good sized Japanese immigrant community, set before and after WW2, the more interesting part of the film was the portrayal of the prejudice and internment camps at the time, which was depressing and very enraging, oh yeah there's a murder mystery in here somewhere too, but over all really kind of a dull movie - 4/10

The Shipping News - eh, not even worth writing about, Kevin Spacey in an uninteresting roll and uninteresting story, I must be harsh - 2/10

Ever Since the World Ended - I like the idea of this movie, a mock documentary about a plague that wiped out the majority of the population and a group of people going around interviewing the few that remain on their feelings and experiences and how they manage to currently survive, I only wish it was a bit more rugged looking and the acting was improved upon, it definitely wasn't a professional job the cast pretty much consisted of a group of art/film school students, another thing I noticed is that none of the takes were ever filmed at night...it would have enhanced the mood a bit more if they did I think, I do like the shots they got of a seemingly desolate Golden Gate Bridge and some panoramic shots of the city apparently abandoned (Im assuming most of this was done in the wee hours of the morning) oh yeah...Adam from Mythbusters is also in this movie WTF? ha! - the idea of this movie a 10/10 but the over all finished product I'll have to just say about 5/10
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toaster Mantis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 05:32
Contact. For the most part it was okay even if the soapboxing for the validity of SETI was a bit heavy-handed (do they really have that much trouble getting funding in real life?), but I absolutely loved the second act where they decoded the alien message etc.. I still don't know what to think about the climax, though, where it seemed like the people making the movie were trying way too hard to one-up the mindscrewy conclusions of Solaris and 2001.
"The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stonebeard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 03:48
The Fifth Element:

Pretty enjoyable. Obviously not brilliant or anything, but campy and fun. Didn't really care that the plot was stupid at all.

6/10


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drew Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 02:57
Tsotsi

AMAZING foreign film.

10/10



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BroSpence Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 01 2008 at 02:51
The Strangers: What a well done horror movie.  A genre that is pretty tough to accomplish.  I believe this was a remake, but nevertheless it was brilliantly done.  I don't know if it was just my theater, but the bass was quite loud which actually complimented the movie.  8/10.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Toaster Mantis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2008 at 09:14
Clap @ Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.
 
What I liked about it was how there were really no clear-cut heroes or villains, both the green-haired foundry worker and the businessman were equally sympathetic which made the horrible things they did to each other all the more disturbing. I also liked how the glossy, dreamy, high colour visual style (almost impressionistic!) contrasted with the rather depressing storyline.
 
But I think it's actually less impenetrable than Oldboy, being nowhere as ambiguous in its themes even if it doesn't have as much of a 1970s exploitation movie feel.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stonebeard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2008 at 02:56
Absolute Power

I very much enjoyed it. Eastwood was excellent, and the film had that swagger and charm (probably because of the lens and camera angles as well) that you don't see very often these days. The tense moments were gripping, and amidst the somewhat predictable plot there were some unexpected...means to ends rather than ends themselves. Also directed by Eastwood. Nothing really elevated it to excellence, it was just a good film.

7/10


Video X: The Dwayne and Darla Jean Story

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1016256/

Words cannot describe how awful this film is. It is essentially Natural Born Killers with the camera perspective of Cloverfield, but beyond worse than imagination. The acting is awful, the plot is predictable and boring, the "special effects" consist of the worse computerized blood for gunshots anyone can imagine (and for the really realistic moments, maybe strawberry syrup is used), and like putting salt in a gunshot wound, the characters speak in the most hillbilly annoying accents for the entire film (all 150 minutes of it!). This is not even one of those fun "bad" movies. It's a bad bad movie. Possibly the worst thing I've ever seen. No value here whatsoever.

0/10


Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310775/

Chan-wook Park runs circles around my mind again. This is probably the most impenetrable of his Vengeance Trilogy, as it starts out with no explanation or introduction, and the main character is mute (and deaf I think). But the story unfolds beautifully as always and you get used to the situation after awhile. Like the others in the trilogy there are parts that wrench your guts, not necessarily because they're gory (because while there is a lot more explicit violence in here, it's never really anything like Saw or Hostel), but because the situations are so human and filled with emotion. You want the characters to have their revenge, but they way they get it...you're mouth will drop. This is a curious one to rate, however. It's not grandiose like all the Hollywood films you'd expect to get full marks because of their elaborate sets and historical settings, but it feels more like an anime come to life. Maybe it's just a superficial association with the Asian setting and characters, but I think the director, in this trilogy, has directed it very...obviously "cinematically"...as if it was transposed from frames in a comic book (OK I guess that would make it a manga.) Anyway, full marks for being thought-provoking, shocking, well-written, with the characters identifiable, and the course of events stunning and unexpected.

10/10



Edited by stonebeard - May 31 2008 at 02:58
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Atavachron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2008 at 02:36
Fandom    strange little documentary about a disturbed fan of Natalie Portman, though it becomes clear the whole thing is staged.. funny at times but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mithrandir Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2008 at 02:23
its a shorty, you could probably read it in like a 3 hour sitting, they usually have it pared with a bunch of his other short stories these days:




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote avalanchemaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 31 2008 at 00:16
I will add the book to my "to read" list for this summer.....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mithrandir Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 23:23
well read it than brother! then you'll understand why feel so strongly, 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote avalanchemaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 23:20
Originally posted by mithrandir mithrandir wrote:

Richard Matheson brain probably melted at what they did with his classic, there's a reason why the story is called "I Am Legend" and they dont even get that right haha! I'll never see that movie,

Pan's Labyrinth was good, I preferred The Devils Backbone, the stories were awfully similar though, I can't wait to see his new one The Orphanage,
 
I think he only produced The Orphange, but that is one of the ones I mentioned at the beginning of this thread, great movie.  I don't blame you for not wanting to see I am Legend....the things they do nowadays with classic books/graphic novels can be rather short-sighted......and maybe even criminal, sadly I have not read the original, so I cannot comment.....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mithrandir Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 23:04
Richard Matheson brain probably melted at what they did with his classic, there's a reason why the story is called "I Am Legend" and they dont even get that right haha! I'll never see that movie,

Pan's Labyrinth was good, I preferred The Devils Backbone, the stories were awfully similar though, I can't wait to see his new one The Orphanage,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote avalanchemaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 21:06
Originally posted by ebag7125 ebag7125 wrote:

^ that one was ok.  will smith did a good job but i didn't like overall effect, i guess.
 
PAN'S LABRYNTH   .....  wow.   that movie was surprisingly good. Clap
 
I would give Pan's Labyrinth a 10/10.  outstanding movie!
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ebag7125 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 20:36
^ that one was ok.  will smith did a good job but i didn't like overall effect, i guess.
 
PAN'S LABRYNTH   .....  wow.   that movie was surprisingly good. Clap
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote avalanchemaster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 30 2008 at 13:49
I am Legend-
much better than I expected.  There were some really gripping moments in this film....some real emotionally powerful scenes as well.  Over all, the most frightening thing is wondering if a viral epidemic will be the next holocaust....... 7.5/10
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BroSpence Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2008 at 01:49
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

sorry, I thought 'Falling Down' was a bizarre, misguided look at societal ills... some modern 'white man's burden' that failed to show any real insight, intelligence or objectivity, and seemed to play right into the fears at that time   ..and as I recall, becomes more of a stalker movie by the end




Ditto.  It was actually kind of boring as I remember it.  It seemed like there wasn't really enough of a reason for him to go....all crazy because of bad traffic and being laid off.  Also the picture quality was pretty lame.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote micky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 17:11
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

sorry, I thought 'Falling Down' was a bizarre, misguided look at societal ills... some modern 'white man's burden' that failed to show any real insight, intelligence or objectivity, and seemed to play right into the fears at that time   ..and as I recall, becomes more of a stalker movie by the end




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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Atavachron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2008 at 16:54
sorry, I thought 'Falling Down' was a bizarre, misguided look at societal ills... some modern 'white man's burden' that failed to show any real insight, intelligence or objectivity, and seemed to play right into the fears at that time   ..and as I recall, becomes more of a stalker movie by the end


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