list/discuss/rate - your recently watched movies

The Boss of It All - another von Trier film, more of a comedy with loads of dialog, I've seen hundreds of subtitled movies and this one probably had the most reading Ive ever had to do with a flick, from the beginning to end these people "yap!, yap!, yap! yap! yap!"...shut the f**k up for a moment would ya!? it was about an actor who believes his skills to be better then which they really are, he's hired on as the fake top CEO-Boss if it All to cover for another guy who turns out to be The Boss of It All after all, it was kind of clever, quick paced, expertly shot, but so far this is my least favorite von Trier effort, - 5.5/10

Titus - a stylized film adaptation Shakespeare' s Titus Andronicus - known as Shakespeare's most graphic play, I really enjoyed this movie and I dare say probably the best(if not most enjoyable) movie adaptation/interpretation of Shakespeare's work I've ever seen, I will also add everyone involved seemed to be comfortable reciting Shakespeare dialect unlike some others I've seen, all excellent points: scenic design, stage design, costumes, props, filming, color, sound, etc, I was unfamiliar with the actual play Titus Andronicus so I briefed myself on it last night and was surprised how incredibly accurate the movie follows the play...be it in the-Titus/Movie-unique fashion, too bad it didn't get much notoriety during its short run at the box office but it seems to have gained more of a following in the years afterward, 8.5/10 or maybe even a 9/10

stonebeard wrote: WALL-E. Definitely the best Pixar film and for me the most enjoyable if not seminal American animation movie ever. There is very little dialog, and almost all of the small amount is from humans, not the main characters. Emotions are conveyed in beeps and boops, and excellently. The film is very very funny, easily the funniest Disney-Pixar movie. And it feels for once like it was made for adults and not just for kids with a few stupid cultural references adults would get. Animation is excellent as well, thought I can't really judge, it must be one of the most impressive visual movies I've seen in awhile. The plot was surprisingly not predictable, but still nothing crazy. 9/10

Loved the depiction of humans as blobs on a hovering chair only paying attention to their screens. Plus the robot in the bridge of the ship reminded me of GLADOS from Portal.
The camera work was fantastic, looked like it was filmed with real cameras.

Wanted -  Guy with dead end job and a girlfriend that is cheating on him with his best friend suddenly becomes part of a group of superhuman  assassins . It was really hit and miss. Not all of the one-liners worked, and not all of the acting was great. The lead actor was just transparent most of the time, same with the rest of the cast. Angelina Jolie, eh, not that hot. Don't know why she gets that much attention. The action was a rehash of The Matrix. The soundtrack was cool, lots of NIN and heavy guitar rifs, not much else.



Edited by KoS - June 30 2008 at 05:24

KoS wrote: The last horror film which scared me for days was 28 weeks later. .

Edited by mithrandir - June 30 2008 at 14:56

The City of Lost Children - Wow! This film is incredible! The City of Lost Children is directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the same director of Amelie, who some of you may be familiar with. One can immediately recognize the similarities in terms of cinematography, art direction, an...(read more) d characterization - all of which are executed in Jeunet's extremely unique style.

The story is unique, yet simple. A mad scientist kidnaps children and steals their dreams in an attempt to cheat aging. At one point he kidnaps the adopted little brother of the movie's main protagonist, Mr. One, played by Ron Perlman (and very well if I might add). One teams up with orphaned child, Miette, and goes on a mission to rescue his brother.

Seems like a simple fairy tale plot right? Hmm, maybe, but the way it's told and directed it what makes this movie so beautiful. If you thought Tim Burton was an artsy dark version of Dr. Seuss, you have yet to witness Jean-Pierre Jeunet. This film is a fairy tale, yes, but it's a fairy tale for adults and you've never seen anything like it.

I urge anyone who reads this mini review to go see it. Afterwards you may just find that your creative spark has been heightened a bit. 10/10

Wanted - I have to admit that I had low expectations going into this movie. Actually, make that extremely low. In the preview they curved a bullet. Come on... curving a bullet? You've got to be kidding me.

But anyway, this movie started off catching my inter...(read more) est. Right away I could tell it would be a little more unique than your typical mindless summer action flick. This is mainly due to James McAvoy's character being the primary focus of the movie rather than ass-whooping stunts and visual effects. But wait a minute, don't get me wrong, ass-whooping and visual effects are still a pretty f**king big focus of this movie.

However, the reason I enjoyed Wanted was because of the character. Wes (James McAvoy) was quite believable in his role, a bummed out accountant (oh wait, I mean account MANAGER), who is suddenly thrown into a fraternity of assasins (wtf?), has no idea what the hell is going on, but thinks it's a hell of a lot better than his piece of sh*t life, so what the f**k?

That's pretty much the plot in a nutshell.

There's a few twists and turns that I'd like to say I didn't see coming, but I kind of did. So what if the plot's a little predictable? The movie is fun as hell and actually has some character heart. Except Angelina Jolie's character. Sorry Angelina, but that little flashback of yours just didn't do it at all for me. She lacked depth, and only really added some ass to the movie, which is really all it comes down to in summer blockbusters, right?

Whatever.

If what you're looking for is a kickass action movie, then go see Wanted. Or go see Iron Man (if that's still around). Be warned though: Don't think too much, because too much sh*t in the movie makes no sense. Remember: they curve bullets. BULLETS.

But it's fun! 7/10

Koyaanisqatsi - "A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."

Whoa. What a journey. Throughout this movie I felt as if I was having a dream in which I witnessed the destiny of the Earth.

Koyaanisqatsi, ...(read more) a Hopi word which translates to "life out of balance", is quite a unique film. It features no dialogue, no actors, and absolutely no storyline. Only music, imagery, and the message accompanying it. A message communicating the nature of man and his effect on the planet.

Considering the lack of dialogue and plot, the film's theme works very well. There were times when I felt genuinely creeped out by its representation of man's perpetual destruction; as was I also knocked breathless by some of the hyperspeed flight shots. My only complaint is that it gets a bit repetitive. After about 30 minutes I was thinking "okay, I get the message."

Despite its shortcomings, though, it's still quite entertaining to admire the cinematography and offers a great opportunity for one to contemplate his place in the universe. 9/10

Grave of the Fireflies - This is a movie I've been meaning to see for years and now have finally had a chance to. Grave of the Fireflies is an animated film about a brother and sister trying to make it through life in the midst of WWII Japan. And it's tough.

I had heard m...(read more)any great things about this movie and that it was supposedly one of the saddest movies you could ever see. Well, my expectations were set pretty high, and it wasn't quite as sad as I thought it would be. However, there were things I liked about it more than its heart-wrenching level.

For one thing, very few animated movies engage you in the characters as much as this one. There's such a connection between the two siblings that I had to remind myself for a minute that these weren't even real actors. It's quite a feat.

Roger Ebert also says about this movie "Because it is animated and from Japan, 'Grave of the Fireflies' has been little seen. When anime fans say how good the film is, nobody takes them seriously. Now that it's available on DVD with a choice of subtitles or English dubbing, maybe it will find the attention it deserves. Yes, it's a cartoon, and the kids have eyes like saucers, but it belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made."

I agree. But don't expect to be QUITE as depressing as everyone says it is. 9/10

Lucky # Slevin - An interesting thriller with Morgan Freeman,Ben Kingsley,Bruce Willis,Lucy Liu and Josh Harnett. I like how it pieced past actions and how they applied to the story in present time. I had a feeling that Josh Harnett's character was going to be the son of the guy who got killed in the begining of the movie. 6.5/10

A few more movies I've seen recently...

Garden State - Garden State isn't the movie I originally expected it to be. The concept it a familiar one and it could have been a cliched love story if not for the unique aspects included. The character introspection gives this movie more heart and creates and ove...(read more) rall more memorable experience than one would usually expect from a typical melodramatic romance. Thumbs up to Zach Braff for making a great movie! 7.5/10

Unforgiven - Clint Eastwood's 1992 western is a melancholy account of what it means to take a life. Unforgiven takes a look at one's moral values and the repercussions of killing. It may not be as depressing as his later films such as Mystic River, Million Dollar...(read more) Baby, or Letters from Iwo Jima, but it still makes a powerful statement.

And damn. Will Munny is one cold motherf**ker. 8.5/10

Trois Couleurs: Bleu, Blanc & Rouge - I am at a loss for words right now. I could even see this rating increasing in the future right now. These movies are drenched in subtle nuances. I can't even describe them at this point. 10/10 for Bleu, 9.5/10 for Rouge, 9/10 for Blanc

Sideways - I had reasonably high expectations for this movie with it's good reviews, but I really can't pinpoint what the fuss is about. 15 minutes into the movie, I knew exactly where it was heading. The character development is unoriginal, there's no psychoan...(read more) alysis revealing anything most people don't already know, and it was generally rather uninteresting.

The movie had it's fair share of comedic moments, but in no ways would I call it a comedy. At first glance this movie doesn't have much to offer, and even with further analysis I can't find any subtleties to latch onto. Overall, this movie didn't really do anything for me. 6/10

American Gangster - Ridley Scott has had quite a remarkable career. Between Alien and Blade Runner, which take their places as two of my all time favorite science fiction movies, I can't deny seeing his take on a crime drama.

This movie is told from two sides, that of ...(read more) a NJ police officer, Richie Roberts, and that of heroin mafia boss, Frank Lucas. Richie seems to be the only honest cop within 50 miles and is just as likely to be shot in the streets as Frank Lucas is. Two men with equal amounts of enemies, one aiming to keep his business going, the other aiming to bring it down, yet I couldn't help finding myself rooting for both sides.

The entire movie tensely works its way up to its enthralling conclusion, which if I might add is just... great. American Gangster, borrowing many elements of The Godfather, especially towards the ending, in my opinion takes its place among the top mob movies of the decade. 8.5/10

Thank You for Smoking - I really enjoyed this movie. I really didn't have any idea of the plot prior to viewing it, which is usually the way I prefer it. This is a pretty much the pinnacle of satire. It relies heavily on its charismatic central character, Nick Naylor, whose...(read more) quick witty dialogue really spices things up.

A mistake many "comedies" seem to fall into is the emotional melodramatic trap. Such examples being Wedding Crashers or Meet the Parents. What starts out as laugh-out-loud humor regresses into either sappy romance or common chick-flick cliches. Thank You for Smoking does neither. It follows a unique and unpredictable storyline without ever straying from its comedic backbone. As a result I believe Thank You for Smoking will take its place as one of the leading cult comedies of the decade. 8.5/10

Capote - Philip Seymour Hoffman gives a great performance in this film revolving around the key period in this unique figure's life. It starts out as a mere article about the townspeople reacting to four brutal murders, but evolves into much more. We see who ...(read more) these murderers truly are, Truman Capote begins to see within himself, and realizations ultimately take their toll on him. It's a sad and powerful story and I recommend it. 8/10

Groundhog Day - Groundhog is one of those movies that I'd been wanting to see for a long time and took me a while to get around to. I really enjoyed it and I don't they could have taken the concept and made it work better. There's great humor, some clever plotting, ...(read more) and character development. Even if the story is pretty predictable, it's a great comedy. 7.5/10

The Return - What the f**k. This was such an emotionally painful film to watch. I can't think of many instances where a movie gave me such a pissed off feeling of anxiety the whole way through. I felt the younger kid's frustration the entire time; it was just as ...(read more) if I got out of a huge family argument myself. That nasty feeling in the back of your throat, you know?

But yeah, throughout the whole duration I was just dying for the father to get his ass handed to him; what a f**king jabr!?!?!sjbdhf But then I ended up feeling sorry for him by the end, and feeling even worse for the two boys. This movie just moves further and further down hill and never rises back up. Geezus, it's depressing. Like... I thought The Elephant Man was depressing, but at least that had some inkling of hope behind it. This movie just left a flat out sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Be warned, this is a great movie, and really engages you in the characters, but only watch it if you REALLY want to be pissed off! 8.5/10

Across the Universe - OK, so it's time to review Across the Universe, which I recently viewed this past week...
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Well, this is a very strange movie for me. There are some aspects of this movie that really want to make me put a gun to my head. On the other hand, the good...(read more) things about this movie are so good that it almost makes me forget all about the negative aspects.
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For one thing, the art direction and cinematography are outstanding. It's all so well balanced with the music that it brings feelings of fleeting joy to me. The music was excellent of course, and I actually really liked the modern renditions of Beatles classics. All of this was all artistically integrated very well into the construct of the movie.
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However, I still can't get over how disjointed it all feels. In the end it's pretty clear all of the scenes were loosely connected based on a fictional concept arranged out of Beatles songs. In the cinema world music is designed to aid in conveying the mood, but the problem with musicals is that the movie is designed to aid in conveying the music =P In my opinion this works in broadway, but is no-no for film.
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Of course, I expected that considering the fact that it is a musical, but it's just such a prevalent factor in the overall quality of a film, that I just can't overlook it.
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There is another thing I am also bothered by. When one thinks about the nature of most Beatles songs, would one not agree that they are generally happy? How can a movie really have a convincing conflict with all happy music? Don't get me wrong, the scenes including "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Helter Skelter" work rather well, but Jude was utterly pissed off in the "Revolution" scene, and despite the lyrical nature, "Revolution" is quite an upbeat song.
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Overall, in terms of plot structure the movie ends up feeling quite thin, but if what you're looking for is a visually beautiful adaption of your favorite band's music, then Across the Universe will satisfy. 6.5/10

Amelie - When I was first recommended this movie, I had no idea what I was in for. I expected a decent film, what I got was something completely different.

Amelie is a simple story about a lonely girl going through life in one of the most unique manners you'...(read more) ll ever see. Beautiful, witty, unconventional, whimsical, and excellently written - Amelie will have you wanting to run to the streets hugging every person you meet. I might also mention that it's hard not to fall in love with Audry Tautou's character =)

But all in all, this is a great film. It's not cheesey and cliche feel good movie that you might be used to. Amelie exceeded everything I could have hoped for it to be. Go see it! 10/10

Once - A simple story told in a heart-felt manner that a lot of American romance seems to miss these days. It was obviously made on a low budget though as it was hard for me not to notice the consistent hand-held camera and rare use of unnatural lighting. S...(read more) till nice movie though, and I should also mention that the soundtrack is excellent. 7.5/10

damn, Fight Club you've been busy!

Hancock - When I first saw the preview for Hancock I thought "hey, that's a great idea!" and it became one of two movies I was most looking forward to this summer, the other being The Dark Knight. Then I read some terrible and reviews of Hancock and th...(read more) ought "sh*t, they f**ked it up..." Well, they didn't.

The movie basically toys with the concept of "what would happen if there was a super hero that just didn't give a sh*t?" It takes the idea and pulls it off remarkably well and makes it believable. OK, the resolution doesn't explain much and is (a little) ridiculous, but it doesn't matter. The movie is cool, fun, and unique among the flood of super hero movies. Will Smith's character is believable as the asshole (sorry) misfit hero. His actions lead to quite a few comical situations and there's funny moments all the way through with enough action to keep the summer moviegoers entertained.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this movie was that even with its super-high budget and massive amounts of special effects, it was rarely overused and wasn't used when unnecessary. In one segment Hancock threatens a couple of prison guards, they get what's coming to them, but you don't actually witness the process. Instead you hear an array of grotesque noises and only see the gruesome after effect. Shot any other way it would have been laughable and looked ridiculous. I wouldn't call Hancock's story, plot, or character development clever, but for what it is, a mindless summer action movie, the way its directed is cleverly done and should not disappoint.

Now this movie isn't without its flaws. Now, as I mentioned earlier, the resolution is a little well... stupid. The twists were predictable, but not (too) cliched, and there seems to definitely be some major plot holes due to some issues that didn't seem to be cleared up. But as long as you're not looking for a profound and life-changing oscar contender, you should be satisfied. Based on what I wanted this to be at first seeing the previews, I know I was. 7/10

I agree, The Haunting(1963) is amazing, and its rated 'G' ta boot! 

mithrandir wrote: Fight Club wrote: Amelie - When I was first recommended this movie, I had no idea what I was in for. I expected a decent film, what I got was something completely different. that movie has one of my absolute favorite moments in cinematic history..... """Spolier""" ...it's when we are told the cat enjoys listening to children's stories, the accompanying camera shot is from behind the cat's head showing him facing a trio of family members, his whiskers and ears twitching as he listens to the story the father is telling. Don't know what it is, but that moment was pure genius!

That movie is filled with some of my all time favorite moments in cinematic history. It's just so uniquely designed and so imaginative. It's definitely taken its place as one of my top 5 movies ever.