Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 12, 2010, 11:30:08 PM
Let's see what can be achieved.
Reviews to be found in this thread:
American Hustle (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg171344.html#msg171344)
Amsterdamned (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg131203.html#msg131203)
Antichrist (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg142055.html#msg142055)
Astro Boy (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg128556.html#msg128556)
Awakenings (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136594.html#msg136594)
Babel (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136647.html#msg136647)
Being Julia (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg129443.html#msg129443)
Black Hawk Down (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg131643.html#msg131643)
The Butterfly Effect (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg130489.html#msg130489)
Carrie (2013) (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg171695.html#msg171695) (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/Themes/OceanBlue/images/english/new.gif)
Chiko (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg130733.html#msg130733)
Coach Carter (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg135323.html#msg135323)
The Contract (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg135761.html#msg135761)
The Counselor (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg170734.html#msg170734)
Cradle 2 the Grave (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg129321.html#msg129321)
Crazy Heart (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg140254.html#msg140254)
District 9 (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg137908.html#msg137908)
Enigma (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg131937.html#msg131937)
The Fall (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg130167.html#msg130167)
Fanboys (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg129719.html#msg129719)
A Film With Me in It (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg137180.html#msg137180)
The Great Gatsby (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg167428.html#msg167428)
How to Train Your Dragon (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg128767.html#msg128767)
The Hunting Party (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg140194.html#msg140194)
Inception (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg133170.html#msg133170)
Jack the Giant Slayer (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg167412.html#msg167412)
Legion (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg127972.html#msg127972)
Letters to Juliet (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136887.html#msg136887)
La Linea - The Line (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg130740.html#msg130740)
Lions for Lambs (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg135361.html#msg135361)
Malcolm (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136701.html#msg136701)
Man of Steel (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg167359.html#msg167359)
Mary and Max (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg132760.html#msg132760)
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg128528.html#msg128528)
Moon (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg137830.html#msg137830)
Natural Born Killers (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg131391.html#msg131391)
El Orfanato (The Orphanage) (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg128922.html#msg128922)
Perrier's Bounty (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg140661.html#msg140661)
The Road (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg154485.html#msg154485)
The Shipping News (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg130849.html#msg130849)
The Squid and the Whale (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136124.html#msg136124)
Sucker Punch (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg145361.html#msg145361)
Synecdoche, New York (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg142863.html#msg142863)
Take Shelter (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg167365.html#msg167365)
True Romance (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg131398.html#msg131398)
Up in the Air (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg136000.html#msg136000)
Wrong (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg169930.html#msg169930)
Zero Dark Thirty (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6784.msg170982.html#msg170982)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 13, 2010, 12:02:34 AM
Legion (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038686/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51u%2BrjXne1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
An out-of-the-way diner becomes the battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael.
My Thoughts:
A movie that sadly is unable to decide what it wants to be: Splatter, Horror, Apocalyptic, Mystery, Thriller, Action, Romance all these genres can be found. In fact this movie seems to contain just about any genre except Comedy and Musical. While it has elements of them all it belongs to none, because it misses them all.
The characters remain strangely underdeveloped, the plot jumps around in a way that is sometimes very hard to follow, many strings remain unsolved and/or unexplained.
While watching this film I came to the conclusion that the original concept must have been for a movie with a running time of about 2.5 - 3 hrs, this got (for what reason ever) downsized to about 1.5 hrs. (equivalent to T2, which needed the "Director's Cut" to show it's full greatness). What remained is a random collection of good (sometimes even great) action and CGI sequences, which nevertheless always have a very familiar touch.
What's positive?: The remaining fragments show the intended quality. The photography is of a sometimes breathtaking beauty (especially the opening sequence). The acting of the leading cast (Bettany, Quaid, Walsh) is good (with tendencies to great), within the limitations of the script.
I think this is the first movie I know of for which the parody got released before the "original": It's "Dogma"
What a pity about the wasted potential (in story and talent).
I'm hoping and waiting for a "Director's Cut"
My Rating (out of possible 5):
Post by: Antares on October 13, 2010, 12:39:12 AM
Since I'm not much involved in the marathons, I thought I'd open my "Review Thread" here.
Let's see what can be achieved.
Glad to see you participating!
This is the truly great thing about this forum. I have never seen a forum that matches our review writing output. :thumbup:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 19, 2010, 10:48:23 PM
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970468/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QKtmIGNTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand), a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams).
My thoughts:
This was a nearly complete blind-buy (seen the trailer, took a look at the cast list, bought it) and I must say I was impressed.
This is a movie for those that love old fashioned romantic comedies (and I mean old-fashioned), the whole construction of the story reminded me of the Oscar Wilde plays.
The actors are all in their best mood and obviously had a lot of fun at their work (recommended special feature: B-Roll!) and by this make this a light, easy to follow, enjoyable and in it's full length entertaining feature.
A special praise goes to the production design, for reviving the decadence of the "Art Deco".
Not a great movie, but far above average and for sure worth watching (and if only for the delightful performances of Frances McDormand, Mark Strong, Amy Adams, Lee Pace and Ciarán Hinds).
My rating (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 20, 2010, 11:35:16 AM
Astro Boy (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375568/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Qhm0cUimL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving man's expectations, our hero embarks on a journey in search of acceptance, experiencing betrayal and a netherworld of robot gladiators...
My thoughts:
This was recommended to me by a friend who wanted to show me how good Asian animated movies can be ... Well he achieved the direct opposite.
While from the technical POV this may be a great a movie, it lacks one thing I want to see in any movie I watch: A story worth telling!
The whole script seems to be a slightly changed remake of A.I. - Artificial Intelligence, without ever reaching it's depth.
It's the first time I noticed that a rating actually described the maximum age at which one should watch this movie (6 years)
The disappointment is even bigger when you realize that the (English) voice-over actors represent some of the creme de la creme of Hollywood (Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Nicholas Cage, Alan Tudyk, etc), one would think that they normally wouldn't want their names attached to such a junk.
A note that every director (especially this one) should have attached to his bathroom mirror is: "If you don't have a story to tell: DON'T MAKE A MOVIE!"
My rating:
:puke:
(If I was only 6 years old and had never watched A.I. this might have been 3.5 stars. But sadly both premises are wrong for me)
Post by: dfmorgan on October 20, 2010, 05:22:39 PM
My thoughts:
This was recommended to me by a friend who wanted to show me how good Asian animated movies can be ... Well he achieved the direct opposite.
Michael, Sorry to say your friend was wrong to say that this is a good Asian animated film because so far as I remember this was not an Asian production. The original Japanese Astroboy was a manga drawn by Osamu Tezuka in the 1950's and this was then made into an anime in the 1960's and 1980's but this film I'm fairly sure is American.
If you want good Asian animation there is plenty around, depending upon tastes of course. Some of my personal favourites can be seen the marathon thread I did for the Studio Ghibli releases here (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,6394.0.html) but there are many others:-
Akira (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094625/) - this was my major introduction into the world of anime
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093207/) - another one of my favourites
Ghost in the Shell (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113568/)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347246/) - not quite as good as its predecessor
The Animatrix (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328832/) - assorted short films set in the Matrix environment
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808506/)
As you can see from above I'm mainly into the science-fiction but there is much much more in all genres.
Dave
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 20, 2010, 05:48:21 PM
but this film I'm fairly sure is American.Except for the character design (typical "anime"-style for my eyes), the movie seemed "American" to me too.
The production company is "Imagi (http://www.imagi.com.hk/)" though, which I always considered to be Asian.
I think I'll give "Anime" another try, since I already own "The Animatrix" I'd just have to put it into my player.
Post by: Tom on October 20, 2010, 07:48:35 PM
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808506/)
One of my favorite movies. Definately recommended :thumbup:
Post by: dfmorgan on October 20, 2010, 08:29:14 PM
The production company is "Imagi (http://www.imagi.com.hk/)" though, which I always considered to be Asian.
I think I'll give "Anime" another try, since I already own "The Animatrix" I'd just have to put it into my player.
Thanks for the Link. I had a look and yes they do appear to be Asian with a Hong Kong base but looking further in at the details for Astroboy they say:-
With a screenplay by Timothy Hyde Harris (Kindergarten Cop, Space Jam, Trading Places) and David Bowers, from a story by Bowers, the film is based on "Astro Boy," the manga created by Osamu Tezuka. Producer is Maryann Garger (Flushed Away). Cecil Kramer (Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit), Ken Tsumura (Curious George), Paul Wang (TMNT) and Francis Kao (TMNT) are executive producers. Music is by John Ottman (Valkyrie).
So this film would appear to be non-Asian, David Bowers is English the director of Flushed Away. I guess though that they wanted to keep Astroboy true to his manga beginings and therefore drew it in the style of Osamu Tezuka.
Yes please try anime again for further ideas look at my Ghibli marathon which has my absolute favourite My Neighbour Totoro (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/), and as Tom reiterates The Girl who Leapt Through Time is worth a look.
Dave
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 23, 2010, 12:06:48 AM
How to Train Your Dragon (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-7O0Q8SnL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Long ago up North on the Island of Berk, the young Viking, Hiccup (voice: Jay Baruchel), wants to join his town's fight against the dragons that continually raid their town. However, his macho father and village leader, Stoik the Vast (voice: Gerard Butler), will not allow his small, clumsy, but inventive son to do so. Regardless, Hiccup ventures out into battle and downs a mysterious Night Fury dragon with his invention, but can't bring himself to kill it. Instead, Hiccup and the dragon, whom he dubs Toothless, begin a friendship that would open up both their worlds as the observant boy learns that his people have misjudged the species. But even as the two each take flight in their own way, they find that they must fight the destructive ignorance plaguing their world.
My Thoughts:
This movie came with a lot of praise in advance, so I was somewhat skeptic if it could keep up with my expectations.
To cut a long story short: It could do this easily.
I wish I was more eloquent to describe this little masterpiece of modern animation.
The story is kept simple, but every time you feel inclined to say it's predictable, it adds a little surprising turn. Not too much to distract from the mainplot, but always enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
BTW: "Glued to the screen", the programming is simply breathtaking, in the flying scenes enjoy the clouds, it's the first time they are not coming around as cotton candy in the sky. Even though the programmers did a great job this movie does not drown in beauty, it's always and only there to support the plot. Other than for example "Ratatouille" where after the umptienth headshaking even the dumbest should have understood that they are now able to trace hair.
The characters are simply gorgeous, you have to love them all.
The sound is ... let's say it this way: Great!
DreamWorks did it all correct again and once more set up a hallmark for other animated films to measure up against.
If you haven't done so already: Watch it, you will not regret it.
My rating: (out of possible 5)
The fifth star is not there, because I'm well aware that "technical perfection" influenced my rating a lot, but doesn't last long in this genre
Post by: Critter on October 23, 2010, 05:15:41 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 23, 2010, 10:29:25 AM
I'm hoping to get this on blu-ray, maybe around Christmas. I can't wait to see what it looks like then.Why wait?
The German Blu has everything you need, the DVD at least is "Multi-Region" (2,4,5), so probably the same is correct for the Blu-Ray too. Kahless owns it so you can ask him.
I can see how 3D adds to the fun in this movie, but it definitely isn't necessary to enjoy it.
I have to agree, the end is somewhat too much candy on the top, obviously designed to calm down the kids again. But as said in "Stranger than Fiction": "Kill them all and you have a great story, give it a happy ending and it's average"
Post by: Critter on October 23, 2010, 11:07:45 AM
I don't think 3D is really 'necessary' to enjoy any movie, except perhaps Avatar, as apart from the 3D visuals there really wasn't a lot else to offer there, but it certainly does look good in some films. I find that 3D looks great in the cinemas when it comes to computer animated films. Live-action films not so much, 3D often looks tacky with them.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 25, 2010, 12:46:52 AM
El Orfanato (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ikoEiTwkL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, where she wants to open a boarding school for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.
My Thoughts:
del Toro shows again that you don't need the budget of a medium sized country to produce a decent film.
This film virtuously handles all the elements needed for a scary, spooky ghost story and still isn't one, or is it?
The director leaves it to the audience to decide whether this is a ghost story, or a story about a mother losing her mind over the loss of her child, both is plausible and the conclusion you reach may change by a slight change of perspective.
It's great how the script fools us with our expectations and shows that ugly is not necessarily an equivalent for bad, not even in a ghost story.
One of the very rare movies you can watch over and over again and will always find new details, hints, ideas.
My rating (out of possible 5)
One star has gone amiss for a severe and annoying logical error
(click to show/hide)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 29, 2010, 10:55:54 PM
Cradle 2 the Grave (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306685/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TFM9EWBXL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
When his daughter is kidnapped and held in exchange for priceless diamonds, Fait (DMX), the leader of a crew of highly skilled urban thieves forges an unlikely alliance with a Taiwanese Intelligence officer (Jet Li) to rescue her. Their race against the clock to find the precious stones ultimately unravels a plot to distribute a deadly new weapon of war.
My Thoughts:
This film comes in the tradition of Exit Wounds (with better acting, since there's no Steven Seagal) and Romeo Must Die and just like them it's a festival of martial arts scenes.
The story comes along as a classical "No-Brainer" (and because of some severe plausibility leaks it's actually better to leave your brain in "StandBy), nevertheless this flick is highly enjoyable.
Not much to say against this movie: Decent story, decent acting, decent directing, ...
If you like the movies above and/or flicks like Bad Boys this film is highly recommended to you.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 31, 2010, 09:02:19 PM
Being Julia (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340012/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J93SKDP0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Tale of amorous folly and revenge set in the world of the London stage in the late 1930's. Reigning diva Julia Lambert's (Annette Bening) success and fame grow suddenly wearisome. She falls head over heels for a young American, Tom (Shaun Evans), and begins a passionate May - December affair. When she realizes that Tom is just a young social climber whose real passion is ambitious young starlet Avice Crichton (Lucy Punch), Julia begins to plot a delightful revenge.
My Thoughts:
The summary really (nearly) says it all, the original material is by W. Somerset Maugham, so no real surprises in the plot are to be expected.
The first time I partially watched this movie was when I accidentally zapped into it on TV. I arrived to enjoy the preparations for the revenge with the final execution of the career of a young actress. Until I finally watched the complete story on DVD I had to ask myself: "What might this girl have done to deserve this?"
What really is great about this movie is the extremely good and ambitioned acting starting with Annette Bening as aging actress over Jeremy Irons as her husband and Michael Gambon as ... let's call it "the spirit of inspiration". The whole cast is extremely well chosen and all down to the tiniest supporting role are doing an amazing job here, which alone is worth watching.
Highly enjoyable
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 03, 2010, 09:49:08 PM
Fanboys (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489049/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FvVjTnMEL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Star Wars fans travel to Skywalker Ranch to steal an early copy of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
My Thoughts:
Not quite sure what I actually expected of the movie.
But definitely not this: A "Road - Coming of Age - Comedy - Screwball" Movie. And believe it or not, it's actually good (provided you're not a Trekkie, then you are allowed to hate it :P).
The story is way too much off the track to be "believable", but hey, it's a comedy, if you expect realism watch a documentary.
Many of the scenes look familiar and this is intended: We are talking about a hommage to the look and feel of the pre-"Episode I"-era here and so of course you'll find some hints on the movies the nerds wasted their time with until Episode I was released.
What made this film so nice for me is that one of the characters seemed to be me (Hell, I even had the same T-Shirt and for some reason the cassette-player in my car only ever knew one band :bag:)
So all you nerds out there: If you want to make a time travel and remember how it was to wait for Episode I (the, as it later showed, by far worst part of the franchise), watch this movie, it's about you.
All the others get a quite enjoyable flick about 5 friends on a mission impossible.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on November 04, 2010, 12:35:40 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 04, 2010, 11:13:45 AM
Great review! I've never got around to seeing this and I really should. :thumbup:Definitely a "Must" if you can tell (without checking at Google first) the home planet of Chewie.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 07, 2010, 12:48:01 AM
The Fall (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SOWIk3a2L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
At a Los Angeles hospital in the 1920s, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) is a child recovering from a broken arm. She befriends Roy Walker (Lee Pace), a movie stunt man with legs paralyzed after a fall. At her request, Roy tells her an elaborate story about six men who are on a quest to kill the corrupt governor Odious (Daniel Caltagirone).
My Thoughts:
Tarsem Singh once more tries to capture the realms of fantasy onto celluloid and doesn't quite make it.
Don't get me wrong this movie is a masterpiece, it shows pictures of a beauty only very scarcely seen on screen, some of them too beautiful to be real, but they all are (some of them with a little help by the production designer, though).
What limits the effect is that the story is subordinated to the pictures and by this appears to be somewhat pretentious. It's a nice little story, which changes with the moods of "Roy Walker" and is because of that quite surprising at times, but never too much, so that you aren't distracted from the beauty of the pictures.
So, yes I like this movie, but with a slight bitter after-taste: It might have been so much more.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on November 07, 2010, 02:14:12 PM
???
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 09, 2010, 11:26:59 PM
The Butterfly Effect (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289879/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5153E32660L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A young man (Ashton Kutcher) blocks out harmful memories of significant events of his life. As he grows up, he finds a way to remember these lost memories and a supernatural way to alter his life.
My Thoughts:
This was the second time I watched this movie.
I didn't quite like it the first time and rewatched it today (two years after the first attempt), because I'm frequently told that this is a great movie and I surely must have missed something important if I don't like it.
I still don't really like it, probably never will!
And that for two reasons:
1. Ashton Kutcher is a terrible actor, even though for his capabilities he's doing quite well here, it's still far below what a talented actor might have made of this role.
2. The script is full of plausibility leaks! A Fantasy movie on time travel doesn't have to be realistic (how could it be that?), but at least it should keep to the logical system it set up. While I can accept that those who caused the change of the present still have memories of the alternative pasts, it's hard to see why some of the involved have this too and others don't.
I admit that it's quite entertaining (provided you keep your brain in "Sleep Mode") and has an interesting story, but that's about it.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on November 10, 2010, 02:07:36 AM
Post by: Dragonfire on November 10, 2010, 08:37:25 AM
Post by: kahless on November 10, 2010, 08:43:59 AM
If you've seen part 2 and 3 you'll love the 1st one! ::)
Post by: Dragonfire on November 10, 2010, 09:02:47 AM
I have all three parts! :bag:
Ummm...why?
Post by: Achim on November 10, 2010, 02:11:17 PM
Ummm...why?I guess he thought it wad a good idea at the time :laugh:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 10, 2010, 04:04:32 PM
Or the boxset was cheaper than the single DVD.Ummm...why?I guess he thought it wad a good idea at the time :laugh:
Post by: Dragonfire on November 10, 2010, 08:57:02 PM
Post by: Achim on November 11, 2010, 05:22:07 AM
Tom, I believe has at least the first 2 of the films.
Post by: Tom on November 11, 2010, 06:01:46 PM
Tom, I believe has at least the first 2 of the films.
I have all three (I buy almost anything if it has to do with time-travel :laugh:). Though I have to admit that I don't remember anything from the second one. Just that it was not something special. I quite enjoyed the third one though. Here my review (http://www.dvdcollectorsonline.com/index.php/topic,646.msg88989.html#msg88989).
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 12, 2010, 08:26:09 PM
Chiko (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132474/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s6HcSttLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
The two friends Chiko (Denis Moschito) and Tibet (Volkan Özcan) don't have any illusions about their future. That's why Chiko is going for a career as drug dealer. Therefore he contacts Brownie (Moritz Bleibtreu) the boss of a cocaine cartel. One day Chiko has to ask himself whom he owes loyalty, his friend or his boss...
My Thoughts:
This was nearly a blind-buy, never heard of this film until I saw the trailer. I bought it because it was shot in my hometown and the concept looked very promising.
The film is a classical Buddy-Thriller with not too much surprises, it still gives this genre some new perspectives.
What makes this film special is the extremely good and intense acting, which is virtuously supported by a highly ambitioned photography.
A great piece of German cinema, that shows that not all good flicks from here have to be comedies.
An enthralling movie which deserves much more attention.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 12, 2010, 11:26:32 PM
La Linea - The Line (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111918/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gauR3fUKL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
While the old boss (Andy Garcia) is terminally ill, the new kingpin (Esai Morales) of a Tijuana drug cartel is trying to open a new supply chain from the Taliban. The CIA gets to know this and sends an assassin for elimination.
My Thoughts:
The movie is as confusing as the summary promises.
For about the first half of the movie I was wondering where it wanted to take me, the other half I wasn't interested anymore.
It seems to be a crude mix-up of pseudo-intellectual post-traumatic-stress-recovery, thriller, action, whatever ...
The shoot-out sequences at least have a nice choreography but they don't fit in, the characters are thrown into the story without any background (except for the character of Ray Liotta), the script gives them implausible activities. The whole plot has holes as wide as Minnesota.
Avoid this
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 13, 2010, 10:41:17 PM
The Shipping News (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120824/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KZKNVQGAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
An inksetter in New York, Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) returns to his family's longtime home, a small fishing town in Newfoundland. Though Quoyle has had little success thus far in life, his shipping news column in the newspaper "The Gammy Bird" finds an audience, and his experiences in the town change his life.
My Thoughts:
This is one of my all-time favourites.
Robert Nelson Jacobs did a great job in adapting the novel of E. Annie Proulx. Hallström did a hell of a job when he directed it.
This movie perfectly catches the melancholic optimism of the book and even adds something to it.
Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett, this noble cast (and all in their best moods) is one of the main reasons for the high quality of this movie.
Director Lasse Hallström once more made a touching, beautiful picture on human weakness and strength, love, life and friendship.
I could go on for (p)ages with this ...
If you love movies that have a story to tell and do so at their own (and needed) pace: Watch it, you won't regret it.
If you don't: Watch it anyhow, it's highly likely that you get to love this movie via the characters.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Antares on November 13, 2010, 11:38:46 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 16, 2010, 11:33:56 PM
Amsterdamned (Uncut) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094651/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hWO3rSVOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A mysterious diver hiding in Amsterdam's canal system embarks on a rampage of gruesome murders, terrifying city officials and leaving few clues for the city's best detective...
My Thoughts:
Bought this because it showed up as #2 on my Amazon recommendations and I was open for experimenting with a Dutch movie.
The question for me now is: How to write a review on a thriller, without saying too much?
Let me try:
This Thriller leaves the viewer as clueless as the detective.
It has a well constructed plot which keeps your attention until the very end. The not to often seen scenery of Amsterdam adds beautifully to the atmosphere, in fact I cannot think of another city where this movie might have worked that well.
Very nicely integrated are the director's kowtows to "Jaws" and "James Bond".
The director (Dick Maas) is a talented story teller with a very good feeling for timing. Huub Stapel is giving one of the best detectives I've ever seen (even though in many passages he reminds me of Jean Reno)
I actually like it, and if it wasn't for the annoying presentation of the murderer I would have awarded 4 stars.
Not necessarily a "Must Watch" but enjoyable and enthralling.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Critter on November 16, 2010, 11:41:09 PM
I've always shied away from this film, and I don't know why. But after reading this, I'm going to give it a shot.
I agree. For some reason I have never seen this film either, despite reading the book about 7 times. In my High School literature class two years ago I had to study The Shipping News and read it over and over again, I absolutely loved the book and still plan on picking it up more times in the future. I honestly don't know why I haven't seen the film yet.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 20, 2010, 01:19:31 AM
Natural Born Killers (Director's Cut) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110632/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XCW79187L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
They kill 52 people in only 3 weeks, Mickey (Woody Harrelson) & Mallory (Juliette Lewis). Everytime they leave one survivor to tell about the "M&M"-murders. The massmedia sense a profitable story and make them famous...
My Thoughts:
Another one of my all-time favourites.
Based on the same script as "True Romance" we get a completely different film:
One of the best Oliver Stone has ever made.
Uncompromising, disturbing, surprising, innovative... or... sick, NBK polarizes its viewers. Hate it or love it, for this movie there's no inbetween.
But no matter if you love or hate it, it keeps you glued to your seat with eyes and mouth wide open.
The effect starts with the opening sequence and isn't over when the screen goes black, as is true for many good movies this one too makes you think.
Oliver Stone is using a quite unusual mix of photographic styles here, which always support the intent of the movie and cleared the way for later films like Kill Bill Vol. 1.
Great to watch and definitely a "Must See", but not necessarily a "Must Like"
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Antares on November 20, 2010, 01:39:10 AM
NBK polarizes it's viewers. Hate it or love it, for this movie there's no inbetween.
This
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 20, 2010, 02:01:05 AM
True Romance (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108399/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OjyN9j8pL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Clarence (Christian Slater) and Alabama (Patricia Arquette) are newlyweds who acquire an unexpected wedding present. Unknown to the blissfully happy couple, ruthless gangsters are on their tail, determined to reclaim their lost property.
My Thoughts:
As said before: I love "Natural Born Killers" and since this is based on the same script by Quentin Tarantino, it was merely a question of time until I got this too.
Now this wasn't quite what I expected.
It's a good movie, but nevertheless something's missing.
Tony Scott was very ambitioned to fill this script with life and seems to have lost it on the way. I can't really put my finger on what went wrong: The acting is great, the photography is OK, the editing is very good ... nevertheless this whole film seems ... hollow, with a bit too much "mainstream" than needed. Or in other words: What comes around as "ironic" in NBK is "pathetic" here.
It's worth watching though, and if it's only for the great appearances of Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken and Tom Sizemore.
An enjoyable flick and by far better than average.
It only has the problem (for me) that I will always compare it to the other one (and Christian Slater is not nearly as charismatic as Woody Harrelson).
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on November 20, 2010, 02:30:44 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 21, 2010, 11:40:18 PM
Black Hawk Down (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LTTQoD2lL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
123 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Mogadishu (Somalia) to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis.
My Thoughts:
One of the very few films with Jerry Bruckheimer involved that actually need some brains, possibly that happened because Ridley Scott was involved too.
I watch this film frequently about once a year, simply because I really like it.
Put the Hollywood-bullshit about bravery aside and you get a quite realistic movie on how a military operation can go horribly wrong.
Ridley Scott did it almost all correct again. The characters are well introduced and have a sufficiently lighted background. The photography puts you in the middle of the scenery and more than once you get the feeling that you're actually participating and not just observing. The actors are all giving their very best to give life to the characters. The sound is simply amazing.
In this movie you can see what happens if stupidity rules because of hierarchy. It's not the obvious kind of stupidity, but the one that results from underestimating the enemy's capabilities, overestimating the own capabilities and the pressure to succeed.
Great script, great directing, great acting, great post-production = great movie!
A gripping movie that will keep your mind working for hours.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: KinkyCyborg on November 22, 2010, 01:32:36 AM
I watch this film frequently about once a year, simply because I really like it.
Me too! :thumbup: I think it is a dynamo combat film. I recently picked up the bluray and will have to write a review for it after my next viewing.
Post by: dfmorgan on November 22, 2010, 08:06:43 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 22, 2010, 11:35:21 PM
Have you read the book by Mark Bowden? It's very interesting and much less gung-ho than the film. It still does illustrate the stupidity of the commanders though.No, haven't done this yet.
But for some reason it shows up on my "to-do"-list now :readthis:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 25, 2010, 12:11:12 AM
Enigma (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0157583/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5194d1bfwsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
During the heart of World War II, in March of 1943, cryptoanalysts at Britain's code-breaking center have discovered that the Germans have changed their Enigma Code. Authorities enlist the help of a brilliant young man named Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) to help them break the code again. The possibility of a spy within the British code-breakers' ranks looms and Tom's love, Claire (Saffron Burrows), has disappeared. To solve the mysteries, Tom joins Claire's best friend, Hester Wallace (Kate Winslet).
My Thoughts:
Nice one.
This movie has everything a good spy-thriller needs, a broken (anti)-hero, a mysterious beautiful woman, a conspiracy that was built to cover-up another (even greater) conspiracy ... all packed into enthralling 2 hours.
The plot turns and twists so that until the very end you never know where exactly it may want to take you. It's never actually misleading though, you just follow the traces with the main characters until the whole thing is lying spread out before you.
Nice to watch, mediate paced thriller that actually makes you want to know the end.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on November 25, 2010, 12:53:59 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on December 03, 2010, 11:06:30 PM
Mary and Max. (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978762/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lO%2BV34JdL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary (Toni Collette), a lonely, nine-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York.
My Thoughts:
I bought this, because it was recommended in this forum ... and well ... it's great!
Starting with the old fashioned "Stop-Motion" over the gorgeous details and the great "Voice-Over"-Cast to the outstanding story, this little masterpiece is simply adorable.
In Germany this was advertised as "Comedy", which it isn't. It's funny, yes, and transports loads of deep black humour and finest irony, but ever so often the laughs get stuck in your throat.
The comment of the best of all possible wives was: "Compared to this "Coraline" was a delightful movie", and she is correct. Even though this movie has it's funny scenes you always see the deep tragedy behind the comedy. In the end there were actually tears rolling from my eyes.
I love it and am glad to have this in my collection.
Thanks to Sophie for this recommendation, this little gem would have otherwise passed completely unnoticed from me.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Critter on December 03, 2010, 11:23:04 PM
Quote
The comment of the best of all possible wives was: "Compared to this "Coraline" was a delightful movie"
This made me laugh a bit, although I think that Coraline and Mary and Max are just too different to compare, they are both very dark and sometimes bleak movies in their own right. While Mary and Max' darkness comes from harsh reality Coraline is almost completely opposite with a dark fantastical world coming to life.
Post by: Najemikon on December 03, 2010, 11:55:43 PM
Just as an interesting aside, I think "Comedy" is becoming a misunderstood term and is a very wide genre. Comedy doesn't have to be funny, in fact it can be just the opposite, because it covers irony and satire. Basically, if a story manipulates its characters to demonstrate a point, it can be considered "comedic". They are not acting naturally.
The flip-side of this is that you could have a drama and the actions of its characters make you laugh out loud until your sides hurt and you can't breath. That doesn't make it a comedy. ;)
Interesting you mentioned Kick Ass, Sophie, as it was based on a "comic". Marvel and DC make comics, amongst others, but when was the last time Batman or Spider-Man set out to make you laugh? Another example is Dante's Divine Comedy, a poem about travelling through Hell and Purgatory! ???
This is why Monsters is so brilliant and an important development. It should be Fantasy Horror, but in fact it is a Drama because the characters act naturally, without provocation or intention, and the Fantasy stays very much in the background.
Sorry. It's just I've always been fascinated by the theory of Genre for some reason... :-[
Post by: Critter on December 04, 2010, 12:02:08 AM
Post by: Najemikon on December 04, 2010, 01:03:34 AM
Of course I haven't seen it yet and it's probably full of slap-stick you just didn't laugh at! :laugh:
Post by: Critter on December 04, 2010, 01:45:29 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on December 08, 2010, 10:14:39 PM
Inception (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513Lu2zVw3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.
My Thoughts:
What a hype, what a nothing of a movie.
This could have been really great, people maneuvering through the subconsciousness and there encountering the strangest dangers ever.
Instead Nolan directed a "Mission: Impossible in Dreamland" with a complete lack of "Dreamland". Instead of using fantasy supported by CGI he completely reduced to CGI. The whole concept for this film screams: "Place your ideas here!", possibly someone even did this, but obviously Nolan forgot to use those.
Sad, after the Batman movies I expected much more.
Even the main cast is remaining totally flat, DiCaprio is playing the same role as in "Blood Diamond" even though he has proven in "The Departed" and "Shutter Island" that he's absolutely capable of presenting us the haunted, hunted and lost individual. Maybe he should stick with Scott and Scorsese, because they obviously get the best from him. Nolan didn't, maybe because he didn't demand it. Strange how the director that made Heath Ledger immortal can be satisfied with the extremely average performance of DiCaprio in this movie.
Movies trying to capture the realms of fantasy should be left to Tarsem Singh or Gilliam, hell, even Burton would have made a better movie out of this concept. Nolan obviously was overstrained here.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: goodguy on December 08, 2010, 10:48:07 PM
What hype, what a nothing of a movie.
...
Instead Nolan directed a "Mission: Impossible in Dreamland" with a complete lack of "Dreamland".
Nolan is certainly the most overrated of contemporary directors. I watched it with severely lowered expectations and found it kinda okay-ish as an action movie, at least on first viewing. On a second viewing, all the exposition crap will probably get boring very fast.
Post by: Critter on December 08, 2010, 11:23:48 PM
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 08, 2010, 11:30:52 PM
I loved this movie, but I actually agree with you that DiCaprio was nothing special. I did love the rest of the cast though, especially the woman who played Mal. She managed to be so terrifying in some scenes!
I believe it's out on DVD and Blu-ray today. I'm very tempted to buy now it but I'm going to wait until my massive DVD spend-up on Boxing Day.
Post by: Critter on December 08, 2010, 11:32:20 PM
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 08, 2010, 11:39:23 PM
Post by: Critter on December 08, 2010, 11:41:08 PM
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 08, 2010, 11:53:39 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on December 09, 2010, 12:03:44 AM
Well I guess I'm not a crazy collector. I just think it's just a waste of money, especially if it's just the tin and no extra content.Heretic!
(http://cdn.techipedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/ban_him_sm1.jpg) :laugh:
Post by: Rogmeister on December 09, 2010, 12:08:12 AM
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 09, 2010, 12:14:03 AM
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 09, 2010, 12:20:19 AM
Well I guess I'm not a crazy collector. I just think it's just a waste of money, especially if it's just the tin and no extra content.Heretic!
(http://cdn.techipedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/ban_him_sm1.jpg) :laugh:
Watch it Lassie, I'll be running this place in 12 months :laugh:
Post by: Critter on December 09, 2010, 01:06:00 AM
:tease:
I actually only have one tin myself, that an a tin box set of a TV series. Although I do wish I had more.
Post by: Jimmy on December 09, 2010, 02:20:13 AM
Well I guess I'm not a crazy collector.Don't worry, I consider myself a big collector and I won't do a special to get a dvd because it came in a metal box or with a little toy or a non-sense case (like the Planet of the Apes monkey head). I want the movie and the extra contents not the container (I even throw the slipcase in the garbage).
I watch movies not dvd case or movie credit (as many do on the dvdp forum) :laugh:
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 09, 2010, 02:24:16 AM
And you call yourself a collector? For shame! How can one resist seeing a lovely handsome DVD tin sitting on the shelf?
:tease:
I actually only have one tin myself, that an a tin box set of a TV series. Although I do wish I had more.
And how many DVDs do you own Sophie? :tease:
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 09, 2010, 02:32:27 AM
Well I guess I'm not a crazy collector.Don't worry, I consider myself a big collector and I won't do a special to get a dvd because it came in a metal box or with a little toy or a non-sense case (like the Planet of the Apes monkey head). I want the movie and the extra contents not the container (I even throw the slipcase in the garbage).
I watch movies not dvd case or movie credit (as many do on the dvdp forum) :laugh:
I actually have the Planet of the Apes monkey head. That was the one time I really spent the money on a limited edition. Plus I'm a massive fan of the movies.
Post by: Critter on December 09, 2010, 02:35:11 AM
And how many DVDs do you own Sophie? :tease:
Oh I have a feeble little pile somewhere. :whistle:
Also, we are actually supposed to watch the movies? Man, so many wasted years of just staring at the pretty cases.
Post by: Dr. Hasslein on December 09, 2010, 02:40:33 AM
And how many DVDs do you own Sophie? :tease:
Oh I have a feeble little pile somewhere. :whistle:
You got that right! :laugh:
Post by: Najemikon on December 09, 2010, 10:17:55 PM
What a hype, what a nothing of a movie.
This could have been really great, people maneuvering through the subconsciousness and there encountering the strangest dangers ever.
Instead Nolan directed a "Mission: Impossible in Dreamland" with a complete lack of "Dreamland". Instead of using fantasy supported by CGI he completely reduced to CGI. The whole concept for this film screams: "Place your ideas here!", possibly someone even did this, but obviously Nolan forgot to use those.
Sad, after the Batman movies I expected much more.
Even the main cast is remaining totally flat, DiCaprio is playing the same role as in "Blood Diamond" even though he has proven in "The Departed" and "Shutter Island" that he's absolutely capable of presenting us the haunted, hunted and lost individual. Maybe he should stick with Scott and Scorsese, because they obviously get the best from him. Nolan didn't, maybe because he didn't demand it. Strange how the director that made Heath Ledger immortal can be satisfied with the extremely average performance of DiCaprio in this movie.
Movies trying to capture the realms of fantasy should be left to Tarsem Singh or Gilliam, hell, even Burton would have made a better movie out of this concept. Nolan obviously was overstrained here.
Granted Gilliam et al make better movies about dreams, but that wasn't what Nolan was trying to do. This was an action movie about death and politics, not a fantasy and if you went in wanting that you would be disappointed. Yes, you're right, Gilliam et al make marvellous fantasy films. This isn't one though.
I thought it was marvellous and I'm looking forward to it again. It's one of the modern great action movies, DiCaprio works very hard and brilliantly so, and it is so much better than The Matrix because it's clear from frame 1 that Nolan understands this world perfectly to deliver a very confident heist movie with a twist.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on December 10, 2010, 12:15:41 AM
This was an action movie about death and politics, not a fantasyAre you sure you don't mix this with "Body of Lies"?
But even if not (even though I don't recall any deaths and politics was very hard to find either), they should have chosen a completely different setup then. Why sending people into dreamland if you wouldn't want to use at least a bit of fantasy?
But what really finished this movie for me was the extremely annoying "If you die in dreamland you get out ... oooops, this would have made the story significantly shorter, so you only get out if the screenwriter lets you, or you really die, or we just let your brain get toasted".
I hate such major plausibility leaks
Post by: Najemikon on December 10, 2010, 12:51:14 AM
Part of what is now counting against the film is the analysing. Nolan did an interview for Film 2010 and my respect for him has only increased. He smirked at the theories and admitted surprise because it's deceptively simple. Asked if he understands the story fully, he replied yes, of course. He said he couldn't expect anyone else to take it seriously if he didn't. He developed the script over ten years, so he said, he'd better know by now!
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 02, 2011, 11:11:55 AM
Coach Carter (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393162/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s7l9DrIsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. He immediately imposes a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes a undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the overconfident team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in class, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the gym until the team shows acceptable academic improvement...
My Thoughts:
Yet another movie on how discipline and a positive role-model (in combination with a replacement father) can solve all problems. I guess there has to be one for every sport.
This is a quite entertaining sports movie on Highschool-Basketball, not more, not less.
The story as such is well known and highly predictable, nevertheless it has some twitches that keep you interested.
The few occasions on which this flick begins to shine is when Coach Carter is meeting the disaffected faculty and tries to motivate them again.
A nice movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 02, 2011, 11:24:20 PM
Lions for Lambs (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0891527/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wNfxXMFFL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Three stories told simultaneous in ninety minutes of real time: a Republican Senator (Tom Cruise) gives an hour-long interview to a skeptical television reporter (Meryl Streep), detailing a strategy for victory in Afghanistan; two special forces (Michael Peña and Derek Luke) ambushed on an Afghani ridge await rescue as Taliban forces close in; a political-sciences professor (Robert Redford) at a California college invites a promising student (Andrew Garfield) to re-engage. Decisions press upon the reporter, the student, and the soldiers.
My Thoughts:
This is a movie about decisions and their consequences. From the small everyday decisions of individuals to the "big" decisions of whole nations.
Redford did a great job with this movie which sadly isn't as well known as it would have deserved.
The great combination of three (seemingly) independent plot strings works extremely well. The Cast is doing a hell of a job.
It's a slow movie that tells it's story in the pace needed and it makes it's point clear. It is a movie with a mission, but not with an agenda, which is good.
It leaves a bunch of lose ends, but it wouldn't work if they were all solved.
This is one of those very rare movies that need (and easily get) your full attention, and since it's a movie about decisions it leaves the decision to you what you want to take out of this movie.
I simply love it.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Dragonfire on January 02, 2011, 11:31:12 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 05, 2011, 12:02:40 AM
The Contract (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445946/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ay-E-mykL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Ray Keene (John Cusack), a father who wants to redeem himself in the eyes of his son (Jamie Anderson), is trying to bring Carden (Morgan Freeman), a world-class assassin to justice. All the while, he must protect his son and evade the assassin's team who are methodically hunting them down in the wilderness.
My Thoughts:
Now here we have a movie with a world-class start, that sadly can't keep up with its extremely promising beginning.
Very soon it's obvious that Cusack and Freeman are taking this as a routine-job. These two alone could make a movie sparkle, but both lack the necessary esprit for this here, so we learn that these two alone could pull a movie down to an average mass-production.
It's an entertaining movie, but it's only another variation of the old "Run & Hide"-genre.
The several implied subjects (father-/son conflict, or "the assassin as a tool of politics"), remain strangely flat and are miraculously solved at the end of the movie.
This movie is a "Must" for fans of either Cusack, Freeman or the genre. All others don't miss much if they never saw it. Most of it looks awfully familiar anyway.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 09, 2011, 04:32:11 PM
Up in the Air (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DWFiA2c9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams (Vera Farmiga).
My Thoughts:
Don't really know what took me so long.
I got interested in this movie after seeing the trailers, but it took me nearly half a year to finally buy and watch it.
I expected a light comedy, what I got was a complete film that covered just about any emotional aspect of life. So yes, there were elements of comedy, sometimes even absurdity, but so was drama, romance, tragedy as well as sheer stupidity and astonishing intelligence.
You will find absolutely hilarious scenes (Ryan and Alex lying on a Hotel bed and comparing their bonus-program cards) just to be faced with heartbreaking sad scenes (Ryan visiting Alex at her home).
It's a great movie that gets you with it's adorable opening sequence and keeps you glued to the screen unto the endcredits.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 10, 2011, 06:46:39 PM
The Squid and the Whale (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mp0kLd3lL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Based on true childhood experiences The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys (Owen Kline and Jesse Eisenberg) dealing with their parents' (Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels) divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.
My Thoughts:
Got this film as part of a boxset that was less expensive than the other movie would have been if bought seperately.
It is, as I learned a highly praised movie and the winner of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
It too is a film that tries to capture life as it is and it turns out that "life" is mostly dull, boring and banal.
The acting of all participants is great, sadly the plot cannot compete with the capabilities of the cast. It took all my mental powers to get through this movie and I was extremely annoyed in the end.
But Jeff Daniels is giving us a pseudo-intellectual college teacher that would rescue the whole film if this role wouldn't be so dislikeable that you'd wish for brass-knuckles should you ever meet this guy in real life.
Two very annoying plausibility-leaks (out of many more):
1) The younger brother (about 10 years old!) gets caught twice with a beer can in his hands (once by his older brother, once by his father) and this results in ... nothing.
2) In 1986 the attempt to say that the Pink Floyd song "Hey You" (from the quite unknown album "The Wall") was written by yourself, is so obviously doomed to fail that no one with a working brain would have tried this. Walt (the older brother) does this, and even wins a poetry contest (until he gets caught some time later)
So my rating is 5 stars for the acting 0 stars for the plot. In total this is
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on January 10, 2011, 10:15:10 PM
By the way, apologies to Matthias. Ever since he first enthusiastically reviewed RGM, it's become my de facto "brilliant, but awful" benchmark. :-[ It's really not fair of me...
Post by: goodguy on January 10, 2011, 11:28:31 PM
I haven't seen any of Noah Baumbach's films yet. Both The Squid and the Whale and Margot at the Wedding sounded kinda interesting, but I never got that must-see vibe from any of the reviews. And Greenberg has Ben Stiller, so I'm excused.
Post by: Najemikon on January 10, 2011, 11:50:13 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 11, 2011, 12:35:36 AM
I thought The Squid and the Whale was fantastic. But as with Rachel Getting Married, I just didn't like it.
Almost agreed, it's not the movie that is brilliant, it's the acting, which is so intense that you don't even realize the acting anymore.
Sadly this performance was (for me) completely wasted on this film.
There may be people who actually like this, I'm just not sure if I would like them.
Post by: Najemikon on January 11, 2011, 01:11:07 AM
I thought The Squid and the Whale was fantastic. But as with Rachel Getting Married, I just didn't like it.
Almost agreed, it's not the movie that is brilliant, it's the acting, which is so intense that you don't even realize the acting anymore.
Sadly this performance was (for me) completely wasted on this film.
There may be people who actually like this, I'm just not sure if I would like them.
That's true, they were superb. I particularly remember thinking how they had focused on the character I liked least. I would have liked it more from Jeff Daniels perspective, because I sympathised with him. In some ways it has similarities with Wes Anderson films, but he seems to succeed more in the dysfunctional stakes.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 11, 2011, 05:20:52 PM
I would have liked it more from Jeff Daniels perspective, because I sympathised with him.:o You sympathise with a pseudo-intellectual, socially challenged asshole that tries to rape a student? :o
Wow. Wouldn't have expected that. ;D :laugh:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 19, 2011, 01:05:38 AM
Awakenings (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099077/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Mp0kLd3lL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A new doctor (Robin Williams) finds himself with a ward full of comatose patients. He is disturbed by them and the fact that they have been comatose for decades with no hope of any cure. When he finds a possible chemical cure he gets permission to try it on one of them (Robert de Niro). The cure works...
My Thoughts:
Now here we have one of the best movies of the last century.
Based on a true story this movie really has it all. The plot is gripping, sad, amusing, romantic, all in one go. The only thing that's missing is a car chase (just kidding).
Directing, acting, cinematography, editing and soundtrack they all grip seamlessly into each other and by this create an unforgettable film. What makes this truly outstanding is one of the best performances of an actor ever: Robert de Niro as Leonard Lowe. I still can't believe that the Oscar went to Jeremy Irons that year.
It's a minimalistic movie that develops its characters very carefully, no scene, no sentence and no cut is redundant. Nevertheless is a rather slow-paced movie because it gives the characters the time and room needed to be recognized as individuals with each their own story.
When you watch it: Keep the Kleenex-box near by!
I can't really believe that it took me so long to finally get it on DVD.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on January 19, 2011, 05:34:36 AM
That seemed surprising to me... IMDb credits Randy newman. Did Eastwood make some additional music or is it just a typo...?Awakenings (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099077/)
My Thoughts:
[...]
not to forget the soundtrack by Clint Eastwood.
[...]
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 19, 2011, 10:34:33 AM
Eastwood wrote the title-song. My comment aimed at the parts by Randy Newman though.
Must stop writing reviews at 1 A.M.
Error is duly corrected
Post by: Najemikon on January 19, 2011, 09:47:42 PM
I would have liked it more from Jeff Daniels perspective, because I sympathised with him.:o You sympathise with a pseudo-intellectual, socially challenged asshole that tries to rape a student? :o
Wow. Wouldn't have expected that. ;D :laugh:
Only just saw this! All I can say is, at least he was honest... :whistle:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 19, 2011, 10:50:27 PM
Babel (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Cj0KE7ElL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
4 interlocking stories all connected by a single gun all converge at the end and reveal a complex and tragic story of the lives of humanity around the world and how we truly aren't all that different.
My Thoughts:
I shied away from this movie for quite some time, simply because it was so highly praised by the critics, that I thought there has to be something wrong with it ...
... well, there isn't.
This movie is a masterpiece and might as well work as the definition of how an episode movie has to be. It works with time-shifts that are not confusing, builds up the required tension while taking the needed time to develop the story as well as the characters. And it does this so virtuously that you'd like to press the replay-button immediately, not because there would be any open questions, but because of the elegance of the plot and the beauty of the cinematography.
Great one ... and from now on on my "rewatch frequently"-list.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on January 20, 2011, 12:43:55 AM
Post by: Dragonfire on January 20, 2011, 02:01:32 AM
Post by: Achim on January 20, 2011, 05:55:07 AM
I wanted to like Babel more than I did, but ultimately I found it flat and contrived. Looked fantastic, played out well, but the characters just didn't gel for me... :-[I felt a bit similar. I thought the idea was great (kind of like chaos theory :laugh:) and it is well executed, but it didn't connect with me enough. Except the "third story" (the one in the US/Mexico)
(click to show/hide)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 20, 2011, 11:19:00 PM
Malcolm (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091464/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r%2BPziprHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Malcolm (Colin Friels) is a slow witted, painfully shy young man who has a talent for creating mechanical devices. He also has a great obsession with trams. Malcolm lives on his own in a quiet street in an outer suburb of Melbourne, Collingwood to be exact. When he becomes in need of financial assistance Malcolm decides to rent out a spare room in his house as to the advice of the local shop keeper. In no time at all Frank, (John Hargreaves) an ex-convict and serial burglar moves in, followed soon after by his girlfriend Judith (Lindy Davies) who works as a waitress. This is when Malcolm begins to come out of his shell and slowly begins to form a bond with Frank and Judith that then develops into a friendship. During this time Judith loses her job and decides to team up with Frank and Malcolm to embark on a career as bank robbers. With Frank’s naturally aggressive persona, Malcolm’s genius for mechanics and a ladies touch from Judith it proofs to be a perfect and unique match.
My Thoughts:
Wish I would have known this movie about 25 years earlier.
Not because it's such a great movie, but because then it would have had the status of a "Classic" for me now.
It's a good movie, entertaining with funny moments, on some occasions one might even realise black humour. Sadly this mid-eighties film didn't age too well, at least not if watched for the first time in 2011.
Can't really say why I didn't get into this movie, the acting is "Good" with a tendency to "Awesome" (especially John Hargreaves), the story has all it needs to make a good film, there's nothing to say against editing and directing. It's all OK, but sadly only OK.
Quite an entertaining movie for a mid-season Friday evening.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 24, 2011, 12:27:01 AM
Letters to Juliet (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892318/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516mPrCGecL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
In Verona, Italy the beautiful city where Romeo first met Juliet there is a place where the heartbroken leave notes asking Juliet for her help. It's there that aspiring writer Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) finds a 50-year-old letter that will change her life forever. As she sets off on a romantic journey of the heart with the letter's author, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), now a grandmother, and her handsome grandson (Christopher Egan), all three will discover that sometimes the greatest love story ever told is your own.
My Thoughts:
What a wonderful idea for a romantic movie, what a beautiful scenario, now really is there a better environment for a romance than Tuscany?
Vanessa Redgrave as Claire! Haven't seen anything of her in a long time and she is brilliant in this movie.
"Letters to Juliet" is exactly what it wants to be: a classical romantic movie with the easily foreseeable Happy Ending, a Feel-Good-Movie that's enjoyable as long as it lasts and is forgotten one hour later.
It's just that the leading cast cannot compete with the plot, I don't know who told Amanda Seyfried that she is an actress, but he/she lied, Seyfried has the same acting capabilities as Ashton Kutcher and exactly the same mimic capabilities as Steven Seagal and this way always looks like the first walking and talking Barbie. Not to forget Christopher Egan, he would easily win any Heath Ledger look-alike contest and for this even copies the mimic of the antetype, sadly the look and the mimic alone don't make a Heath Ledger.
But hey, they are beautiful, and no one expected this film to get an Oscar nomination anyway.
This is a nice flick for Valentine's Day, not more not less. And it's OK this way, because it doesn't want to be more.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on January 28, 2011, 10:45:36 PM
A Film With Me in It (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139319/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UtQMOHENL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Mark (Mark Doherty) is an actor and really down on his luck. When his brother (David O'Doherty), landlord (Keith Allen) and dog are killed in a series of freak accidents, he calls on friend and neighbour Pierce (Dylan Moran), a wannabe-screenwriter with a severe alcohol problem, for help. As the series of deaths would appear suspicious, aspiring writer Pierce advises Mark not to call the police, and instead the two try to re-work the days events as if they were a film script.
My Thoughts:
Absolutely hilarious!
A "Must" for all friends of the dark humour from the British islands. But where the black humour of the Brits comes with surgical precision, this Irish production works with sledge hammers. Which in this case is definitely not a minus point.
From this movie you will get just about anything you expect from a good comedy: laughs, chuckles, several wide grins and a lot of "That didn't actually just happen!".
Great one! And once more the proof for my thesis that a good idea and enthusiasm make up for any lack of money.
What adds to the fun are the guest appearances of Jonathan Rhys Myers and Hugh O'Conor.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on February 11, 2011, 11:53:09 PM
Moon (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EC86v4cHL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the completion of his 3-year-long contract with Lunar Industries, mining Earth's primary source of energy on the dark side of the moon. Alone with only the base's roboter "Gerty" (voiced by Kevin Spacey) as his sole companion, Bell's extended isolation has taken its toll. His only link to the outside world comes from satellite messages from his wife and young daughter. He longs to return home, but a terrible accident on the lunar surface leads to a disturbing discovery that contributes to his growing sense of paranoia and dislocation so many miles away from home.
My Thoughts:
This film has been compared to genre classics as 2001, Blade Runner, ... and has won prizes on just about any festival it was presented on.
Enough praise to make me somewhat skeptic.
I would be among the first to say that Rockwell is an extraordinary actor, I love his work ever since I first noticed him in "The Green Mile". But I doubted that he would be good enough for a 97 minutes one-man-show.
Well I'm proven wrong, he is good enough, hell, he's even better than that.
We have a masterpiece of the genre here. Just about everything is perfect, the cast (OK, it's not that many), the directing, the photography, even the CGI is only there to support and promote the story and not to blindfold you for the weaknesses of the plot (not that there were any). It could have easily been as long-winded as 2001, instead it's gripping and keeps you in front of the screen with eyes wide open.
A "Must" for all "SciFi" fans . . . and for those that usually don't like "SciFi" too.
It's a great movie and the fact that the plot is located sometime in the future is merely a sidenote.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: goodguy on February 12, 2011, 12:59:25 AM
Post by: Najemikon on February 12, 2011, 02:54:13 AM
I had this on my wishlist for some time, but then I saw the ridiculous trailer for Source Code, Duncan Jones' next sci-fi movie, and lost interest. Yes, you can call me silly for judging one movie by the trailer for another.
Matthias... you're silly! :laugh:
In all seriousness though, it is a mistake to judge Moon based on that trailer, because I agree it does come across as a typical sci-fi thriller. It could be great, but this smacks of Hollywood giving Jones a boatload of cash and him going a bit nuts. Moon was such a small production, it's entirely possible he's found himself out of his depth on a bigger production and got himself railroaded. I hope I'm wrong, but the premise seems like it will be monotonous.
I agree with Michael. Moon is something special and important to note that it is small and subtle, not big and in your face. I was particularly fond of Kevin Spacey's voicing of the robot that is trying to keep Rockwell sane.
Post by: Antares on February 12, 2011, 04:32:13 AM
Post by: kahless on February 12, 2011, 08:11:26 AM
I'm glad you reviewed this, it reminded me to seek it out.
Yes, this one is still on my unwatched pile...
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on February 14, 2011, 12:30:25 AM
District 9 (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cMh2DqF6L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.
My Thoughts:
Wow,
a film about racism from South Africa that doesn't use the word Apartheid and in fact is entertaining.
I'm loving it, even though I liked the approach of a fake documentary (beginning and ending) much more than the "Enemy Mine"-clone the flick is in the middle part.
This is a movie with a message, which is well wrapped into a nice story with a Happy Ending, probably to make the bitter pill go down better.
But the great thing about it are the two integrated viewing modes:
You can watch it with your brain on StandBy and you'll see a great SciFi-Thriller with enough explosions to keep you entertained.
or
You can watch it with your brain on and you will see a parable on the human tendency to segregate other beings for real or imaginary differences.
Nice one. And if it wouldn't have copied "Enemy Mine" that obviously, I would have awarded 5 stars.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on February 14, 2011, 04:35:31 AM
This is a movie with a message, which is well wrapped into a nice story with a Happy Ending, probably to make the bitter pill go down better.You must have watched a different movie than me. While not exactly a downer, I didn't find the ending particularly "happy". but then again, it depends whose story line had you enganged more... :hmmmm:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on March 26, 2011, 12:08:31 PM
The Hunting Party (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455782/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KabChLb7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A young journalist (Jesse Eisenberg), a seasoned cameraman (Terrence Howard) and a discredited war correspondent (Richard Gere) embark on an unauthorized mission to find the no. 1 war criminal in Bosnia; they find themselves in serious jeopardy when they are mistaken as a CIA hit squad and their target decides to come after them.
My Thoughts:
I got this movie with my TV-magazine and have never heard anything about it before.
Which in fact is strange if you take into consideration it's gripping story and the terrific cast. After just about 10 minutes it became clear why this movie passed completely unnoticed by the masses: It's so cynical that it sometimes hurts.
Nevertheless (or probably: because of this), it's a great movie. The interaction between the three main-actors is absolute fun to watch, the guest appearance of Diane Kruger would have been worth an Oscar (if it wouldn't have been that short). The plot gets your full attention within the first two seconds and doesn't let you go until the end-credits. The photography is absolutely fabulous, the directing is so good that you actually don't notice it is there.
This movie has just about anything it needs to make a great movie an unforgettable movie, possibly even an all-time classic.
The most disturbing part is that this movie is based on a true story and was shot on the original places.
Highly recommended (especially if you want to know how it is possible that a 100.000 men seem completely unable to find a single man (may the name be Karadcic, Mladic, Bin Laden, ...))
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on March 26, 2011, 12:45:30 PM
This is a movie with a message, which is well wrapped into a nice story with a Happy Ending, probably to make the bitter pill go down better.You must have watched a different movie than me. While not exactly a downer, I didn't find the ending particularly "happy". but then again, it depends whose story line had you enganged more... :hmmmm:
I was thinking exactly the same! :laugh:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on March 26, 2011, 12:54:40 PM
Well at least the two "prawns" make it back home, and I'm not entirely sure that Wikus is really unhappy with his fate.This is a movie with a message, which is well wrapped into a nice story with a Happy Ending, probably to make the bitter pill go down better.You must have watched a different movie than me. While not exactly a downer, I didn't find the ending particularly "happy". but then again, it depends whose story line had you enganged more... :hmmmm:
I was thinking exactly the same! :laugh:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on March 26, 2011, 11:44:30 PM
Crazy Heart (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1263670/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515s0h%2BWEzL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who's had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and far too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can't help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician.
My Thoughts:
A movie like a freight-train: Slow and Powerful
In fact this movie is more or less a One-Man-Show, granted, there are other actors and actresses appearing but what makes it exceptional is the performance of Jeff Bridges.
And what a performance this is, Bridges is giving us the down-on-his-luck musician struggling for survival with such an intensity ... it's simply breathtaking.
The, besides the acting of Mr. Bridges, best thing about this movie is what it isn't.
It isn't a movie about an alcoholic drowning in his addiction.
It isn't a movie about an egomaniac doomed to destroy himself and all that love him.
It isn't a movie about a big comeback of an almost forgotten former idol.
And best of all: It isn't a fairytale, in which the ugly frog miraculously turns into a prince.
In the end we find Bad Blake exactly where he was at the beginning of the movie, with just one important difference: In the beginning he had to be there, in the end he wants to be there.
Highly recommended to all but Pete (too much music)
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on April 01, 2011, 12:39:55 AM
Perrier's Bounty (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1003034/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DXcueCx3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Michael (Cillian Murphy) is having a bad day. He owes money to Perrier (Brendan Gleeson), a local thug. When two enforcers demand payment by nightfall, Michael does a burglary with two others but won't be paid till morning. All he has to do is stay away from the thugs until he can get the money then give it to Perrier. But the lads catch Michael and start to deliver a beating, but Brenda (Jodie Whittaker), Michael's suicidal neighbor, shoots one. Now they must run for their lives, accompanied by Jim (Jim Broadbent), Michael's estranged father who claims to be dying and has come to reconcile with his son. Will any of the trio see the sun rise? And can Michael become enlightened, become a better man?
My Thoughts:
I bought this movie because the trailer looked very promising.
And that's exactly what this flick is: Promising. Sadly it's not willing to keep it's promises.
The movie is a mix of three genre-classics ("Lucky # Slevin", "In China They Eat Dogs" and "The Boondock Saints"), it's taking parts of these three and tries to create something new out of it. While this "Sampling" might work in music, it definitely is no good idea for movies. You find too much plagiarism to make it a hommage.
On the positive side this flick creates several good laughs (intended!) and is sufficiently thrilling to keep you entertained for the roughly 90 minutes it takes to bring this movie to it's foreseeable ending.
Nothing special, but entertaining.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on April 01, 2011, 12:42:32 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on April 27, 2011, 11:51:27 PM
Antichrist (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870984/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qwtPM-X5L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
A grieving couple (Willem Dafoe & Charlotte Gainsbourg) retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.
My Thoughts:
I bought this movie because I liked the idea for the story and was really curious what kind of movie that might be that you either love or hate.
I belong to the "Love it" side.
Watched it tonight and wouldn't dare to say that I entirely understood what von Trier is trying to say with this movie, but it's clear enough that exactly this was one of his intentions.
If you expect a movie to answer all questions it throws up, don't watch this one, in the end you'll find more open questions than answers.
And under no obligation watch this movie alone, you'll need some people to talk about it afterwards. It's disturbing, brutal, frightening and at the same time of an amazing beauty.
Probably the most important thing to say is that before watching this movie you should forget about everything you heard or read about it.
To be perfectly honest I don't know of many people that could handle this movie and I'm definitely not the one to tell if you would like it.
Watch it and you will find out, it's worth it.
Highly recommended, but for sure not easy to consume.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Najemikon on April 28, 2011, 12:03:46 AM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on April 28, 2011, 12:17:38 AM
I will try it one day...Do so,
you will find a visual masterpiece.
This movie got me with it's opening sequence, which is so perfectly shot, lighted (B&W) and edited that I couldn't believe eyes.
Even if I wouldn't have liked the plot at all, the visual power of the photography would have gotten me.
And it has to be "confused", because not the least part of the plot is the old struggle of ratio vs. emotion.
Post by: Achim on April 28, 2011, 06:34:31 AM
Watched it tonight and wouldn't dare to say that I entirely understood what von Trier is trying to say with this movie, but it's clear enough that exactly this was one of his intentions.Exactly what kermode said :laugh:
May favorite part of Kermode's review was, where he described sitting in the cinema and thinking to himself, when things on screen got really crazy, "Oh, Lars, you mean..., really...?" :hysterical:
Did you have the impression the German version was cut or is it uncensored (I doubt it, actually, but have been surprised before)?
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on April 28, 2011, 11:51:57 AM
Did you have the impression the German version was cut or is it uncensored (I doubt it, actually, but have been surprised before)?Since there are some very explicit scenes I seriously doubt that this is a cut version.
Post by: Danae Cassandra on April 28, 2011, 01:53:39 PM
Post by: goodguy on May 15, 2011, 07:25:09 AM
Antichrist
...
I belong to the "Love it" side.
...
It's disturbing, brutal, frightening and at the same time of an amazing beauty.
I'm sorry, but as an immediate reaction, I have to say that I'm a little indifferent about it. Of course I did flinch a couple of times during the last chapter, but that's besides the point. And while I don't deny that it often looks very beautiful, there is a falseness to its beauty (and I don't mean that in the "nature is Satan's church" sense), which makes the dedication to Tarkovsky in the end credits look like a bad joke (maybe it is - who knows with von Trier).
But thanks anyway for making me finally catch up with it.
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on May 20, 2011, 12:36:41 AM
Synecdoche, New York (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383028/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61SglwVjabL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Summary:
Theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is mounting a new play. Fresh off of a successful production of Death of a Salesman, he has traded in the suburban blue-hairs and regional theater of Schenectady for the cultured audiences and bright footlights of Broadway. Armed with a MacArthur grant and determined to create a piece of brutal realism and honesty, something into which he can put his whole self ...
My Thoughts:
This might have been the shortest review I'll ever write:
:o
But seriously:
Kaufmann is continuing his path to abstract reality.
I'm not aware of any movie this could be compared to, except for possibly Adaptation., which nevertheless is on a completely different level.
This piece of art is not easy to follow and I took a second go directly after the first and I'm still not sure if I got the message of the film (if there is any). It left me stunned and at the same time yearning for a third go which I will enjoy as much as the first two ...
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on August 06, 2011, 12:25:15 AM
Sucker Punch (Extended Cut) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978764/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61oqGfi9l-L._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
Summary:
A young girl (Emily Browning) is locked away in a mental asylum by her abusive stepfather (Gerard Plunkett) where she will undergo a lobotomy in five days' time. Faced with unimaginable odds, she retreats to a fantastical world in her imagination where she and four other female inmates at the asylum, plot to escape the facility. The lines between reality and fantasy blur as Baby Doll and her four companions, as well as a mysterious guide, fight to retrieve the five items they need that will allow them to break free from their captors before it's too late...
My Thoughts:
I had a premiere tonight!
What happens if you give a man that adapted 2 great comic books into visually stunning movies the chance to visualize his own script?
You get a visually stunning Nothing!
The story is as (un)-complex as the Overview promises which in fact should be marked as a spoiler. The plot is easily foreseeable, probably for not distracting you from the beauty of the pictures, which nevertheless only ever look like "Sin City" with more colour.
What we see has the look and feel of a premature wet dream. Barely dressed beauties are pole-dancing while trying to collect 5 items.
The fifth item the girls have to find is the answer to the question: WHY?
I failed on my personal "Why?", which was "Why should I want to watch this movie to the end?"
I didn't find any answer and drew the matching conclusion: For the first time I stopped a movie! Hell, I even made it through Astro Boy.
It's probably as Roger Murtaugh once said: "I'm too old for this shit!"
Or (to repeat myself from another review):
Quote
A note that every director (especially this one) should have attached to his bathroom mirror is: "If you don't have a story to tell: DON'T MAKE A MOVIE!"
My Rating:
:puke:
Post by: goodguy on August 06, 2011, 04:03:49 AM
Post by: Achim on August 06, 2011, 05:59:00 AM
I wonder what is tedious and what is brilliant in it. Maybe I should give it my own chance once it drops into a bargain bin somewhere...
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on May 10, 2012, 12:04:29 AM
The Road (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898367/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kfyBZzPNL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
112 minutes were taken from my life and spent in absolute boredom.
A short-flick of 40 minutes would have completely sufficed to transport the message "It's the end of the world as we know it" and "All hope is lost, but we're not going to accept this unto our last breath".
Come to think of it, a splash screen showing these two lines of text would have possibly been even more impressive.
For me it's even more implausible than "The Book of Eli"
Within the first 5 minutes two premises are given:
1) All plants are dead
2) All animals are dead (I just wonder what life form the dog at the end of the movie might have been then)
Since the human organism is somewhat specialized and sadly can't work if only nourished with dust and rocks this in fact only leaves two options for the survivors:
1) Die slowly
2) Die fast
The mother (Charlize Theron) picks option 2 when realizing that the battle for the remaining resources would sooner or later lead to becoming a resource.
The father picks option 1 and subsequently dies when realizing that really, as was to be expected, all hope is lost.
The kid has no chance of picking an option since all relevant decisions are made by it's parents and the first time it is given some responsibility it utterly fails.
40 minutes, really.
But as a short it would have passed even more unnoticed.
The technical aspects aren't that promising either.
Granted, it is beautifully photographed.
But what are these flashes of action sequences supposed to mean?
They are not connected to the rest of the storyline and stand out as random intermissions of external motivators.
Probably they are only there to prevent the audience from sinking into sleep too deep?
This is sad, because the cast is outstanding and they all are doing their best to work against the weakness of the script.
At least it gave me something to think about:
If really all hope is lost, which of the two options would I pick?
Avoid this under all circumstances.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on May 10, 2012, 06:14:41 AM
I quite liked it and while I can understand some of the flaws you (and others) point out I still found it an interesting watch with an ending that I still think about now sometimes. I don't remember the action scenes sticking out awkwardly to me either. But obviously these things arer subjective and will vary from viewer to viewer.
Post by: Najemikon on May 10, 2012, 10:04:33 PM
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on May 10, 2012, 10:28:51 PM
1 star? [...] Films have to be so bad I find them offensive to rate them so low!My point exactly ;)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 31, 2013, 12:37:37 PM
Man of Steel (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/?ref_=nv_sr_1/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RjT%2BkWbWL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
A young itinerant worker (Henry Cavill) is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.
My Thoughts:
Now I never ever want to hear anything bad about Tarantino again while on the same time celebrating Snyder as the health-bringer of modern cinema.
Snyder is using so many quotes in this flick that its hard to find anything he did on his own. Even worse he is trying to sell us these quotes as his own ideas.
As example let us take the opening sequence which is a wild mixture of Star Trek (2009), Taxi, The Fifth Element, Matrix, Gladiator (similarities found not only because of Crowe), etc.
At least he didn't copy from bad movies.
The acting is overall terrible.
The whole cast is constantly looking like asking themselves "What the hell are we doing here?"
Michael Shannon whom I adore since his appearance in "Take Shelter" is overacting so much that it's already on the funny side.
Henry Cavill, who showed us in "The Tudors" and "Whatever Works" that he is quite capable of acting, obviously wasn't allowed to show any of his capabilities here.
Don't even get me started about the most bored appearances of Costner, Crowe and Lane.
I didn't expect "Man of Steel" to be comparable to "The Dark Knight", even though Nolan was involved in MoS too, after all Superman was (to me) always the boring sidekick of Batman. He is always so clean you could use him to do your washing.
What I did expect though was a kind of decent story. Sadly the whole "storyline" is only an excuse to put as much (partially only mediocre) CGI into a feature as possible. And again most of the destruction sequences looked like a replay from several other disaster movies (If there was any justice "The Avengers" and "War of the Worlds" should have been mentioned in the credits).
Obviously Snyder is continuing his path to meaningless CGI-fests.
I loved his work in "300" and "The Watchmen" but found "Sucker Punch" absolutely unbearable.
Now after this rather disappointing experience with MoS, I'm sure it will take a loooong time until I will watch one of his movies again.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 31, 2013, 04:20:55 PM
Take Shelter (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675192/?ref_=nv_sr_1/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Xtb2BdYaL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father (Michael Shannon) questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.
My Thoughts:
This movie comes like a hard punch into the belly.
Don't want to say to much about the storyline, because this is too easily spoilered.
In fact there is not much happening in this film, it is more a very intense character-study (brilliantly delivered by Michael Shannon) of a man threatened by either the Apocalypse or mental insanity.
But the way how things do not happen is simply breathtaking, the pictures are of an enormous intensity and beauty.
The acting is of an intensity you don't often get to see nowadays.
Give it a try it's worth it.
The trailer already gives a good hint on the oppressive atmosphere of this film.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 03, 2013, 11:41:49 PM
Jack the Giant Slayer (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1351685/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61MtYX23cGL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess (Eleanor Tomlinson), opens a gateway between the two worlds.
My Thoughts:
Here we have a nice adaptation of an old story and since the screenwriters didn't change too much of the original this leaves enough time to enjoy the pictures.
I'd really love to write a more enthusiastic review, since I really enjoyed this flick, but, in fact, it is not an outstanding movie.
You get decent acting, decent CGI, decent photography, decent directing, ... decent everything ... All "decent" but I couldn't avoid the impression that most of the participants were there for the money and not for the fun of it. Now while the thing as such may be quite common, it doesn't happen too often that this is becoming obvious to the viewer when watching the movie.
Overall an entertaining movie for a family-friendly DVD-evening. But that's about it.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on November 04, 2013, 05:07:09 AM
I'd really love to write a more enthusiastic review, since I really enjoyed this flick, but, in fact, it is not an outstanding movie.That really does sum up the movie quite nicely. It is remarkably unremarkable... :shrug:
Post by: DSig on November 04, 2013, 05:12:30 PM
At least i didn't feel that I was cheated for my time :)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 04, 2013, 06:31:24 PM
The Great Gatsby (2013) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61W6dxQZouL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
My Thoughts:
First of all I haven't read the novel by Fitzgerald, so this review will not be about the adaptation of the original material, just about the film itself (with a little comparison to its predecessor from 1974).
Sometimes Directors (and casting bureaus) are lucky because they can hire the best possible cast for their project. This was correct for the 1974 version (Redford / Farrow) and is so even more for Baz Luhrmann's attempt.
DiCaprio is not playing Gatsby, he is Gatsby. Maguire has it easy, since he even looks (a bit) like F. Scott Fitzgerald, and is definitely on his way to becoming a great actor that has more to offer than his boylike, astounded face. I was a bit skeptical about how Carey Mulligan would do as Daisy, but what a performance she delivers. Joel Edgerton, who for me up to now was more something like the ante-type of a second-row supporting actor with muscles, as Tom Buchanan, he too is giving us an outstanding performance.
Luhrmann doesn't limit himself to simply re-doing the 1974 version, he is adding and re-interpreting to each and every role and thereby is making the persons and their backgrounds more realistic.
Just like the 1974 version this is a slow-paced movie, and this is good because the story and the characters deserve and need this.
I think it is time to read the novel too.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Achim on November 05, 2013, 05:18:54 AM
Although it was unremarkable it was enjoyable. I didn't get any 'they are in it for the money' but did get that *something* was missing. Much like 'Oz the Great and Powerful'. I get the feeling they weren't all on the same page.Oh, I hope I didn't come across differently, as I totally agree. I had a good time, but once it was over I instantly moved on...
At least i didn't feel that I was cheated for my time :)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on May 24, 2014, 12:20:58 AM
Wrong (2013) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1901040/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510DVA8aYyL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
Dolph Springer (Jack Plotnick) wakes up one morning at 7:60 to realize he has lost the love of his life, his dog, Paul. During his quest to get Paul (and his life) back, Dolph radically changes the lives of others ... risking his sanity all the while.
My Thoughts:
Now this was an experience ...
Quentin Dupieux did it again and even more.
If you thought that Rubber (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/?ref_=tt_rec_tt)was weird you'd have to find new words for "Wrong".
The feature could be called Dadaistic if there wouldn't be something like a plausible main-story as a basis (even though this may stretch "plausible" a bit).
It could be called "Comedy", but only in the classical meaning (Play with an happy ending).
Most of all it seems to be an LSD-trip for the eyes, it has (like "Rubber") extremely powerful and well-composed pictures, which nevertheless never seem to make any sense, or (come to that) add anything to the main-story. Strangely though, this feature is highly entertaining and the (roughly) 90 minutes pass "in no time at all".
So if you expect a movie to move in a straight line from the beginning to the end, skip this one.
But if you are willing to watch a dream come true (and this is not meant in the fairytale meaning, but translates to: abrupt jumps on the timeline (all directions!) combined with surreal locations, situations and actions), give "Wrong" a chance.
After all, the title really says it all.
Highly recommended
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on September 11, 2014, 11:53:32 AM
The Counselor (2013) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2193215/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rHLQW6%2BSL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
The Counselor (Michael Fassbender) is about to get married to his fiancée (Penélope Cruz) but soon becomes entangled in a complex drug plot with a middle-man known as Westray (Brad Pitt). The plan ends up taking a horrible twist and he must protect himself and his soon to be bride as the truth of the drug business is uncovered and targets are eliminated.
My Thoughts:
A new film by Ridley Scott ... with an Allstar-Cast (Fassbender, Pitt, Bardem, Diaz, Cruz, ...) ... and even a Thriller, now how could this go wrong?
Don't know how, but it did. Being a film by Ridley Scott it did this with a certain grandesse though.
This film is like someone smashed a mirror, picked up the pieces and tried to re-assemble a mirror. Means: Even with all the shards being in the correct position the picture you will see will always be disturbed by the outline of the shards.
The film tries to tell its story with this fragments. The problem is: Many (important) fragments are missing, others are not placed in the correct position, some even seem to originate from another mirror.
Each fragment shows a beautifully photographed scene, they just don't add up to show a complete picture. And in this regard this movie is even worse than the original cut of "The Blade Runner" which at least had a Narrator to put the fragments into context.
An interesting concept, with some great acting, that sadly got messed up in the editing room.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Piffi on September 11, 2014, 04:30:12 PM
Post by: GSyren on September 11, 2014, 05:58:50 PM
You should write reviews more often! ;)Agreed!
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on September 11, 2014, 10:29:45 PM
You should write reviews more often! ;)
I'll try to. :bag:
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on October 16, 2014, 12:18:49 AM
Zero Dark Thirty (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51czMWXBu6L._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. ZERO DARK THIRTY reunites the Oscar-winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (2009, Best Picture, THE HURT LOCKER) for the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man.
My Thoughts:
Kathryn Bigelow ... if she continues with movies like this she may easily become the goddess of entertaining political films (if she isn't already).
There's a reason Zero Dark Thirty was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, the movie is just plain good. It may not be a movie for all audiences (especially patriotic Americans may have severe problems with the rather graphic torture scenes ("I'm not your friend. I'm not gonna help you. I'm going to break you. Any questions?")). If you go see this movie expecting to see a movie that looks like a James Bond or Jason Bourne action extravaganza, you might find yourself sorely disappointed. Zero Dark Thirty is an honest drama. There are no heroes in this film anywhere, just people doing their jobs.
This film is a big intense question mark. It asks us how far a state is allowed to go in its wish for revenge, how many of its ideals can be sacrificed in the name of vengeance?
The film doesn't judge, nor does it give us any answers on the questions. It ends with the biggest question marks of all: Was it worth it?
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on November 22, 2014, 11:46:46 PM
American Hustle (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51se6gyeKjL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
A con man (Christian Bale), along with his seductive partner (Amy Adams), is forced to work for a wild FBI agent (Bradley Cooper), who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.
My Thoughts:
This film resembles an All-Star line-up and from the Cast-Role alone it is clear why this flick got so many Oscar nominations.
If all this outstanding personnel could be covenanted it must be a great movie ...
WRONG!
After watching it I now know why from this long nomination-list actually no Oscar went to this production.
Granted, the actors are doing a hell of a job to make us forget we are watching a modernised version of "The Sting". But that's basically what "American Hustle" is: An overlong re-attempt on a genre that has been tried so often that it is full of cliché-roles. It could nevertheless have been a great movie, if David O. Russell would have tried one of two possible approaches (either avoid the clichés, or to overstate them so much that it becomes a caricature), sadly he didn't have the courage to try either side of the road, stayed in the middle, and got knocked over.
It's an interesting watch, even though not for the story, but for seeing this extra-ordinary cast in roles they don't appear in too often (except for Robert de Niro, possibly).
So, "No", this movie didn't get any Oscars, but not (as so often stated) because the Academy hates to give awards to comedies, but simply because the film as such is only mediocre (at best).
Watch the original, watch "The Sting" ... which, by the way, was awarded with seven Oscars (so much for the "Comedy-Theorem").
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: Mustrum_Ridcully on February 04, 2015, 10:50:33 PM
Carrie (2013) (http://www.dvdalistic.com/dvdcol/imdb-logo-30px.png) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1939659/)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Qn2ujRLDL._AA160_.jpg)
Summary:
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.
My Thoughts:
This is a remake nobody needs.
It is stuck somewhere in the middle between "Pretty in Pink" gone bad and a half-hearted attempt on the 1976 version by DePalma.
Granted, it is hard to do a new version of a genre-classic and then actually improve the original, or even add a new twist. But what Peirce is delivering here doesn't achieve any of these two basic goals.
Possibly she only wanted to get a PG rating, but managed to fail even on this.
Moretz seems to be overstrained, or at least has watched the 1976 version too often. Her imitation of Spacek's interpretation is (especially in the ballroom sequence) so obvious that it could be funny, if it wasn't that sad.
Unneeded, uncalled for and if it wasn't for the ambitioned acting of Julianne Moore my rating would be even lower.
It seems that Moretz should reconsider her appearances in remakes.
This now is the second time you can see this gifted talent in an (at best) mediocre remake.
My Rating: (out of possible 5)
Post by: DSig on February 05, 2015, 01:09:59 AM
Post by: Achim on February 05, 2015, 05:46:43 AM
Personally I prefer the originals.
The other remake you refer to must have been Let Me In (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_Me_In_%28film%29) which had none of the heart,terror or sensuality of Let the Right One In (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_the_Right_One_In_%28film%29) What could she have been thinking?She may have thought "Look at all that money in my account."...? She was surely approached for the roles and had the choice between letting someone else take it or do them herself.
There's that famous story about Michael Caine (actually two, either of which may not be true).
1. Clearly about Jaws 4: The Revenge, it is said that Michael opened the script and when he saw "Open in the Bahamas" he thought, "Cool, let's do this.".
2. This may be about Jaws 4 as well, or maybe that killer bee movie: When asked "Have you seen that film [how terrible it is]?" He answered "No, but I have seen the house it built."
But again, I would not lump in those two remakes in with neither Jaws 4 or that killer bee movie... They are decent films.