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list/discuss/rate - your recently watched movies
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Equality 7-2521 View Drop Down
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Points: 15784 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Equality 7-2521 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 02 2012 at 17:12
Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

I'd say District 9's aliens are a problem too. Why do they always have to picture them as ugly monsters? Even in other planets in other systems, I'm sure evolution would've favored beings of more or less similar characteristics to us. 


I think this acted as sort of a plot device. Because of the appearance, your initial reaction to them is fear, disgust, and a general strangeness. You initially sort of side with the occupying human force. Then as the movie progresses, you begin to sympathize with them and last against the humans. I believe this to be why they made them ugly, but still anthropomorphic so that those feelings would be reclaimable when desired.

I find your statement highly dubious though. I can't imagine strong evolutionary reasons to suggest that all intelligent beings resemble humans.


Edited by Equality 7-2521 - April 02 2012 at 17:13
"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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Your point is good. Had they been less horrendous, other problems could've appeared but clearly the fear and disgust would've been diminished. Now a talented script and director could do wonders with a nice-looking alien in similar situation and I found the typical use of ugly aliens as a somewhat easy out. But yes, it makes sense. 

On the other part, of course is pure speculation and true, not all evolved life forms need to be humanoid, but one sees those creatures and has a difficult time imagining how their quite grotesque limbs and fingers and many of their other features managed to not be a obstacle in their development of tools and their acquisition of intelligence. Anyway, my comment is really to humano-centric. 
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Originally posted by Equality 7-2521 Equality 7-2521 wrote:

I just saw Forbidden Planet last night. Oh wow. One of the best movie's I've seen in awhile.
One of my favorites, the sci-fi template for years to come--  and those mat paintings !
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More trains, more movies

Blade Runner (uhm The Final Cut if it counts) 

Being John Malkovich - Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich. Malkovich / Malkovich
On a slightly more serious note, rather splendidly absurd first ten minutes, after which I'm not sure whether everything becomes screwed up in brilliant way or otherwise. Clear thing is, I went in excepting just highbrow comedy and it developed slightly more bittery and depressing than that.

Moon - or the mandatory Gazz recommendation - not as mindbendy as Primer past its essential twist, but was okay to watch. And a constant thought amused me, that Gerty 3000 would be the friendlier, more caring version of Hal 9000.

Senna, which I would consider to be a straightforward, clinical even documentary. No Morgan Freeman narrating, no couch interviews with people reflecting on the past, footage only. It doesn't to glorify him too much, although I'm probably wrong here. Still, highlighting his love for pure racing, how much on the edge he was most of times or his vexations with the politics of the sport those days. The coverage of the black days at San Marino '94 make for a duanting 20-minute climax. Worth watching. 
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Creator

Peter O'Toole as an eccentric scientist trying to incubate his long-dead wife using an egg and a few cells, Creator is off-beat, funny, sentimental but not sappy, a rare little movie with a good cast including David Ogden Stiers and Mariel Hemingway.
 
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Medianeras 

Argentinian, from 2011, what a surprise! Fantastic stuff! Great work of images used to tell parts of the story, very simplistic, lovely, just lovely. Straight to the point and with lots of original ideas.
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Pumping Iron

The dated but still entertaining cult classic holds up fairly well though is as much a reflection of its time as it is a document about bodybuilders, the strangeness of the 70s, clash between the drug culture and extreme athleticism, and a model of the much-imitated "docudrama" approach.   The 25th Anniversary edition has some good extras and, funnily, Lou Ferrigno looks by far the best among his aging, and presumably once-juicing, peers.   Worth catching if you've not seen it in awhile.
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Personal Best

Sometimes interesting but mostly tawdry sexploitation with Mariel Hemingway and track star Patrice Donnelly as athletes in training for the 1980 Olympics.   Praised for its "realism and sensitivity", the film is largely a mess with vague plot lines and confused sexuality.   This one hasn't aged well.
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Terms of Endearment

I am pretty confused with the fact that this movie won ... 5 Oscars, one of which is for the screenplay. The script, I think, is too crazy and unrealistic. Years had passed, and Aurora has finally agreed to go on a date with her neighbor Jack Nicholson. Next thing you know, they are out on the beach, drunk, having a ball in the car (on the car? at the car? Jack was a crazy driver.) How could this allegedly rational woman go out with this weirdo? Go figure.

Also, James L. Brooks seems to be making a very general attack at New Yorkers. "I don't think I was treating her badly." "Then you must be from New York." That can really hit home for some people. 

As for the other aspects of the film, I can't complain. 

A very standing-out, if not outstanding, film.
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 ^ Ordinary People better
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Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

 ^ Ordinary People better

I will check it out. Thanks.
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S.O.B.

Blake Edwards' affectionate demolishment of Hollywood is as funny and absurd now as it was thirty years ago and welcomes us with open arms into the flagrant pill-popping orgies of the close knit film community of Malibu.   Amazing cast including Edwards' wife Julie Andrews in a topless scene as her director ex-husband tries to turn his G rated flop into an X rated hit.   Lots of fun with an atmosphere later to turn up in other comedy gems as Weekend at Bernie's.   Recommended.
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Universal Soldier

A classic action romp with a novel concept. It's a story about a dude who becomes a renegade from a platoon of soldiers upgraded on every level ... well, except for intelligence and emotions. Besides the concept, there are three little things that I like about this movie that make it different from many other regular action-movies, particularly those that flopped.

1) elements of comedy
2) mockery of conventional action movie pretensions
3) lack of pornography. Well, actually, you will see Van Damme nude, but comedy jams in again.

***/****


Edited by Dayvenkirq - April 30 2012 at 06:55
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No Country For Old Men.

The sort of film that plays on your mind after watching. Wonderful cinematography and a gripping tale. Happy I finally saw it. Coen brothers make truly remarkable films.

*****


Edited by Snow Dog - April 30 2012 at 07:18
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Avengers Assemble

A film that lives up to it's hype. In turns funny and exciting. Great action sequences and wonderful CGI. Josh Whedon does really have something. Every character gets full use.  A great ability to add that bit extra to his projects. Watched in 3D IMAX. I'm still not convinced by 3D. Would like to watch it as a regular print but next time it will probably be on DVD.

*****



Edited by Snow Dog - April 30 2012 at 07:18
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Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior

Despite Muay Thai boxer Tony Jaa's terrific performance, Ong-Bak is a disappointingly typical Asian martial arts flick complete with chases through grimy village alleyways, one-against-six fight scenes, and absurd pit-fighting between mismatched freaks.   The story is weak, the script is weaker and absolutely nothing new is brought to the party.   For old fashioned chopsocky, Hong Kong still rules.
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Contagion

Well made movie with a great cast; doesn't linger on the effects of the disease, more on how it affects ordinary lives. Almost a semi-documentary style going on which makes it all the more realistic/believable & going through the centre of all of it is Jude Law's everyblog-conspiracy-theorist: a character essential to the premise of the movie, but I defy anyone to get 2/3s of the way through the film without hoping someone shoots him.

For me, a solid, entertaining & thought provoking

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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OK, here's one which will probably get me lambasted for enjoying a film which is not considered intellectual/enlightening enough:

War Horse

You can tell from the first frame this is a Spielberg movie; beautifully shot by Jasusz Kaminski & John Williams again in the musical director's seat. War Horse is not a deep movie, it's an old fashioned, entertaining, well made film with a great story. Unusually, it introduces new characters & storylines throughout the movie, the only constant being the horse itself. Yes, it's unashamedly sentimental & yes, the chances of the final reunion actually happening are remote in the extreme, but for me at least the film works & is hugely enjoyable.

Thoroughly & unreservedly recommended

So there

Edited by Jim Garten - May 14 2012 at 06:17

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Originally posted by Equality 7-2521 Equality 7-2521 wrote:

Originally posted by The T The T wrote:

I'd say District 9's aliens are a problem too. Why do they always have to picture them as ugly monsters? Even in other planets in other systems, I'm sure evolution would've favored beings of more or less similar characteristics to us. 
I think this acted as sort of a plot device. Because of the appearance, your initial reaction to them is fear, disgust, and a general strangeness.


As the whole movie is a thinly veiled rant against the post apardheit shanty towns & treatment of the majority population of SA even since apardheit ended, I think the director could have been making a point of how the minority white population sees the majority...

...just a thought

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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^ Did you quote the right one, Jim? Maybe you meant to quote "Cry Freedom" on the "What are you watching" thread?

Edited by Dayvenkirq - May 14 2012 at 16:22
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