list/discuss/rate - your recently watched movies

Recently rented:

Naked Lunch (1991) - 7/10 from me.  David Cronenberg's adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel (which I have yet to read). The story set in the early 50's of an exterminator who finds his wife is getting high on his insecticide supply, and in turn, starts getting high on the stuff himself. At which point, an entire can of worms is opened up, or should I say, centipedes. This film starts out a little slow but picks up soon enough, and before you realize it, you're staring wide-eyed at the screen wondering what could possibly happen next. Complete with some great performances, most notably from Peter Weller (William Lee, lead role) and Ian Holm (Tom Frost). I loved the ending. This film is a real trip. Recommended for fans of grotesque, nightmarish, hallucinatory art films.

The Illusionist (Animated, 2010) - 5.5/10  This is the animated film from France about an aging, lonely illusionist traveling through late 50's Paris, London, Scotland, etc.. performing at parties, theaters, bars, and the like when he meets a little girl that is entranced with his magic tricks and joins him on his journey. This entire film has almost no dialogue, besides the occasional "Hey!" or "Oh!" or "Ah!". You definitely need patience for this one, as it relies heavily on the animation, but the animation is superb. Visually, this is a beautiful film, but one that would better entertain a younger audience. I hated the ending, but I won't ruin it for anyone that might see it.


Edited by EchidnasArf - July 14 2011 at 02:55

I loved the animation. I just thought that this could have been a better short film. It became somewhat repetitive with the illusionist repeatedly buying the little girl a new gift to make her happy, and nothing really happening at all. There is no climax in the plot, besides the little girl meeting the younger guy and dating him towards the end. And for this to be the climax of the film is just too lackluster. Like I said, the film was visually stunning, but I was left bored with the plot, or lack thereof. It would have been a 7/10 if it were 30-45 minutes long as opposed to an hour and 20.

The Sentinel

Well-paced but ultimately flat suspense thriller with Michael Douglass as a Secret Service agent accused of a plan to kill the President and Kiefer Sutherland the agent after him.  Potentially good plot squandered by a muddled script and absurd story twists.

Not to be confused with the creepy and effective 1977 horror flick based on the Konvitz novel.

Last night in theaters: Cowboys and Aliens - more fun than I was expecting, and I was hoping it was good - my hopes did not die.  Some of the dialog was...iffy, maybe, but as far as a fun, summer action flick with aliens, it did not disappoint. 

Today on TV: Law Abiding Citizen - excellent movie.  I think it's well-plotted, well-acted, all around well made. 
Blade II - not a great movie, but I watch it anyway when it's on because I can always deal with a bit of mindless violence.

KoS wrote: pretty interesting

I found it very odd that people will drink part of Maynard's mother........


For me:  Horrible Bosses- INCREDIBLY funny 9/10
                Cowboys/Aliens- it was OK- 7/10

Source Code

Right to the action and no time wasted in this Twilight Zonean suspense yarn about a soldier who wakes-up on a train under highly bizarre circumstances.  As he struggles to comprehend what's happening, his (and our) belief is suspended through the use of some very clever quantum physics and a little imagination.  Clean plot that eschews the trappings of Inception but incorporates the effectiveness of Hitchcock. 

The gun is good, the penis is evil

Saw Up last night.  Nearly cried.  Twice.

presdoug wrote: Zardoz (5 stars)                                            Beyond 1984                                  Beyond 2001                                     Beyond Life                                        Beyond Death

It is seriously the crowning achievement of cinema. 

Edited by Henry Plainview - September 12 2011 at 00:26

A Person wrote: Up was good but I still like Finding Nemo more I think

+1