list/discuss/rate - your recently watched movies

Ricochet wrote: Primer, thanks Gazz. I didn't get much of it the first time (although I didn't have major trouble with following the techy-stricken dialogue per se). Watching again some sequences, the basics stick to me now, I suppose, but I still don't understand the second half (from the "f-ups" / "messy permutations" onwards). This has been interesting. Nothing else I can say right now. Let the Right One In - Having already seen the remake (Let Me In), it makes for a weird backwards rant. Yes, it is annoyingly more and more modish these days to adapt in English a foreign hard-boiled success (this, Fincher with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Yes, the remake is strict and verbatim. Yes, the Americans wouldn't have made the movie as sound and good, had they come up with the original idea. But what I loved about Let Me In hasn't diminished and I can't discount now its source either. I liked the Swedish children's acting less, but at the same time the characters are slightly more disturbing. Let the Right One In or Let Me In, I find the whole thing great on so many levels.

Ricochet wrote: Let the Right One In - Having already seen the remake (Let Me In), it makes for a weird backwards rant. Yes, it is annoyingly more and more modish these days to adapt in English a foreign hard-boiled success (this, Fincher with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). Yes, the remake is strict and verbatim. Yes, the Americans wouldn't have made the movie as sound and good, had they come up with the original idea. But what I loved about Let Me In hasn't diminished and I can't discount now its source either. I liked the Swedish children's acting less, but at the same time the characters are slightly more disturbing. Let the Right One In or Let Me In, I find the whole thing great on so many levels.

I know what you mean when it comes to remakes of foreign movies; so often they just do not work as well. However, I was pleasantly surprised with 'Let Me In'... having already seen the original & loved it, I thought the English language remake was as good, if not slightly better.

Haven't quite decided whether to watch the 'Dragon Tattoo' remakes yet, as the Swedish originals were done so well...

The Hunger Games, in a rare occasion of going to the cinema (where I'll likely return only for Prometheus and Dark Knight Rises later this year). Reviews already flowing, calling it either a compelling or simply put on film adaption, something that'll probably never be my case to tell. Synopsis exists as well, so I'd rather not draw too much of it here: future America rebuilt from ashes, still socially unequal - life quality going downwards from the heavily satirized cosmopolitan Capitol to the last and poorest of the Districts, from where our pure-hearted, nature trained and sacrificial for the family's sake heroine emerges - and rullingly authoritarian and Big-Brother-y. The movie travels in three acts from the ennui of said District to the sickeningly reality show glitter and snobbery and finally the cruel  Games themselves.

How good the movie is depends. Lawrence is doing everything very well and there's even Harrelson being cynical before turning fatherly. There is at least one, if not two scenes, of great audio-visual effect (and I don't mean FX / CGI, but serious montage and soundtrack), that have wowed me. The movie doesn't simply head into action, it is heavy on subtext and questioning. But just like you can wonder how perfect the book, put this way - with the teen heroics, the rebellious hopefulness and everything -, can be as a dystopic one, so can the movie - made approachable, predictable in its rush, only with dread in all its situations - have its afterthoughts.

***

Warrior or how boring and bland of a drama it can get. And honestly, with The Wrestler and The Fighter seen already in close succession these past years, I was about as thrilled seeing another fighter as I am waiting for the next war (in the Middle East) movie. Having mentioned The Fighter, that one is unspeakably more inspirational, high tempo and with stand-out characters. This is platitude in its family issues, character despairs and everything else up to the gnarly (if ludicrously plotted) punching fests.

Edited by Ricochet - March 25 2012 at 09:07

Wow, Insomnia is a remake?

 ^ and scripted by Rod Serling 

Ricochet wrote: The Hunger Games, in a rare occasion of going to the cinema (where I'll likely return only for Prometheus and Dark Knight Rises later this year). Reviews already flowing, calling it either a compelling or simply put on film adaption, something that'll probably never be my case to tell. Synopsis exists as well, so I'd rather not draw too much of it here: future America rebuilt from ashes, still socially unequal - life quality going downwards from the heavily satirized cosmopolitan Capitol to the last and poorest of the Districts, from where our pure-hearted, nature trained and sacrificial for the family's sake heroine emerges - and rullingly authoritarian and Big-Brother-y. The movie travels in three acts from the ennui of said District to the sickeningly reality show glitter and snobbery and finally the cruel  Games themselves. How good the movie is depends. Lawrence is doing everything very well and there's even Harrelson being cynical before turning fatherly. There is at least one, if not two scenes, of great audio-visual effect (and I don't mean FX / CGI, but serious montage and soundtrack), that have wowed me. The movie doesn't simply head into action, it is heavy on subtext and questioning. But just like you can wonder how perfect the book, put this way - with the teen heroics, the rebellious hopefulness and everything -, can be as a dystopic one, so can the movie - made approachable, predictable in its rush, only with dread in all its situations - have its afterthoughts.

Nice review, Rico - was in 2 minds about seeing this one, but on your recommendation, may just make the effort (therefore, if I don't like it, it is all down to you & you will receive an invoice for a full refund of the cinema ticket )

Ricochet wrote: Wow, Insomnia is a remake?

Curse of the Cannibal Confederates

 

I expect better from Troma films with ridiculous names like this.  Where is the over the top gore, zaniness,  and goofy acting?  All you get here is stiff line delivery and some very disappointing confederate zombie attacks.  Not to mention most of the movie takes place in near complete darkness.  Ultra low budget films with titles like this are supposed to be fun but this one is just boring.

ah yes symbolism, the sci-fi kiss of death

Equality 7-2521 wrote: District 9 is great until Michael Bay takes over the film 2/3 of the way through. There was absolutely no need for any of the fight scenes and the magical mech warrior bull. A better ending could have made it go from good original story for its time to great movie. I just saw Forbidden Planet last night. Oh wow. One of the best movie's I've seen in awhile.

I fully agree with this quote.