The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

I don't think its as simple as

[Show spoiler]"humans" v. "animals". I 100% agree with you when you said "she is nurturing and caring and willing to put herself in harms way to help the innocent. An Animal." I would just simply not restrict "the innocent" to animals. I think Mia saw the daughter as no less "innocent" than that horse, period.

Otherwise, we're lumping all humans into the same category, in Mia's eyes, and I don't think she did...although maybe she did, you may very well be right. I just can't believe that she views the innocent daughter with the same kind of hostility as those dancing girls, who she had previous fueds with. Yes, she treated her badly after she didn't do what Mia asked (no i'm not defending mia's acts), but that was Mia treating the daughter the way her Mom treated Mia when Mia didn't do what her Mom asked, so it was the only reaction she was taught and hence the only one at her disposal, not some premeditated angry reaction to vent her anger at the dad. she even wrestled and fought with her little sister (curiously same size/age as daughter) in a twisted display of affection. remember when she said goodbye to sis? they were hugging, crying and name calling at the same time!!! that's part of the problem in trying to evaluate mia's motives here: she used hostile acts to show both anger and affection, since her "fish tank" was so twisted. so IMO its not bullet proof evidence to suggest her hostility towards daughter was evidence of anger at daddy.

No no no.

[Show spoiler]I am NOT saying that the hostility towards the child was evidence of anger towards the Dad. I am just saying that the hostilty towards the child was evidence that Mia wasnt concerned with the kids best interests. If Mia was taking the kid for the kids safety, I do think that Mia would treat the kid nicely (different than her own mother treats her) because Mia at that point would be doing an act that her own mother would never be doing (something selfless and in the best interest of a child). The whole act would be out of character, and therefore Mia would behave differently. If Mia is going to do something her mother would never do, she wouldnt act LIKE her mother.

Was there ANY human that Mia trusted? I saw none. Was there ANY human that she wasnt at odds with? I saw none. In fact, I think the film went OUT OF ITS WAY to show that MIA was completely disconnected from ALL Humans. That was the beautiful and tragic irony of the film. We watched her SLOWLY start to believe that she could like someone (Moms boyfriend). Slowly she began to trust him. Slowly she allowed him into her world and heart. Then, KABOOM, ultimate and massive betrayal. Again, reinforcing in her mind that all humans are bad.

You have to admit, when Mia was saying goodbye to her sister, that was a "changed" Mia. Genuine care. Before that she didnt give a rats ass about her sister.

[SquidPuppet]

Compliments of the Fogmeister on the TV forum...

Originally Posted by Foggy

Breaking Bad Season 3

...............

If the ending of this Season was anything to go by, I won't be shutting up till the end of time about this masterpiece of a show!

10/10

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

The main problem with Alien cube is that it came after Aliens for many people. Alien back in 1979 gave new meaning to suspense and terror in the way Scott directed the movie and the confine of the sets.

Then in 1986, Cameron turn Aliens into a action movie compared to the slower pace of the original. When cube came along and try to return to the style and atmosphere of the original, not only did it disapointed a lot of people but it also failed badly.

Originally Posted by Foggy

It only came to me today

I think P@t put it perfectly, it's trying to bring it back to what it did back in 1979, but it just didn't understand how that film did it

Right on!

I also blame the studio for fudging up David Fincher's vision. I haven't seen the extras yet, but I heard that this movie was originally meant to be something totally different.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Compliments of the Fogmeister on the TV forum...

I still gotta check this out someday!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Squid argued (I think, he'll correct me if I'm wrong) that

[Show spoiler]she peed intentionally, for retaliation, which she then followed up with the kidnapping

. I argued that

[Show spoiler]like those war soldiers we see in films who pee down their leg when they're nervous or experiencing trauma, right before she pees we see (a) her watching video of his daughter, (b) she realizes he's getting his daughter to sing, like he got Mia to dance = YUCK! , (c) then the camera scans the room, showing photos of the family, the daughter, etc, after which the camera almost seems to spin and spin, like as if Mia is disoriented.

what does (a), (b) and (c) tell me? when she was watching the video in (a), she had no idea it was his daughter, just some girl, and it made her sick in (b) when he was treating her like he did Mia. Then in (c), it hit her HARD that he is a Dad with a daughter and wife. And perhaps the cumulative effect of (a)-(c) on Mia caused her an enormous level of emotional trauma which caused her to involuntarily pee. I could be wrong, but I thought the camera in (c) began to spin around the room, which seemed to convey a disorienting feeling of Mia. It was already coming out. No time to run to the girl's room. Only enough time to pull her pants down and squat.

I'm no physician but that's just how the scene struck me when I watched it, so I was a little surprised when i read people saying she might have done it intentionally. However, after reading squid's discussion about how she was retaliating, its definitely possible. That was just how I took it each time I've watched it (3-4 times). Also, if you look at her facial expression when she pees, its "OMG I'm peeing!!?!" face, not "haha take that and Call Stanley Steemer b&$ch" face. Yes, I am familiar with both faces! Also, let's assume she peed intentionally for retaliation. Then why run when he gets home? If retaliation is your mission, stay and tell the wife! She's about to come home! Peeing on a rug is nothing compared to ratting him out to the wife, but what does Mia do? RUNS! Consistent with innocent, involuntary peeing, not retaliatory, voluntary peeing

Which brings me to another point of (friendly) contention:
Regarding the

[Show spoiler]kidnapping, I wasn't sure if
(a) she took her out of retaliation (continuation of voluntarily pee for retaliation theory), or
(b) she took her out of self-less concern (i.e., save this girl from this man, since he's already videotaping her like he did me, and thus will soon hurt her like he did me) - continuation of involuntarily pee theory (here, Mia isn't necessarily on a retaliation mission)

squid made a great point here: Mia is 15!! she's not a 30 year old PhD. She doesn't have the intellect to act like a Dept CHildren Families worker. SHe's more likely to act like an angry 15 year old = pee on his rug and take his daughter, as a big old "F*@$ YOU!!"

here i go again: i actually LOVE how this sequence is open to interpretation (even if Squid says I'm looney ). Let's me pick a different interpretation on each viewing

I think you make excellent points, which I find credible. I'm not a vehement supporter of either theory, like I usually am with things, because I too think it's open to interpretation. As for the

[Show spoiler]kidnapping, I think that's much more clear-cut, in that she's doing it for retaliation. I think that regardless of how you interpret the pee scene, the retaliation theory of the kidnapping makes sense.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

wow, its already in 2 weeks???

I haven't rented a Criterion in forever. That whole Netflix fiasco caused me to put my account on hold. Are you guys still using NF? No issues? What you guys think going forward?

I'll look at those you listed, thanks man. I did watch Everlasting Moments again last night. My third-fourth viewing. I told you I loved it on my second viewing right? For some reason, I didn't like it on the first viewing.

Everlasting Moments

Film: 5/5
-fantastic film about early 20th century woman in Sweden trying to survive with an alcoholic husband and raising kids
-uses a lovely brown-yellowish hue which is intentionally done to have the film resemble those photos our parents would show us of our grandparents. it's like you're watching a moving photo of your grandparents
-lovely themes about marriage and what are the limits of love and the vows of marriage? must they be taken literally until death do us part, regardless of the circumstances?
-the art in this film is absolutely breathtaking. not just the art of the film itself but the art within the film (photos). one of them is so gorgeous its hard to not well up.
-you also get a great 101 on early 20th century photography. one thing is obvious: you had to be VERY SKILLED to take great photos back then. you couldnt just snap an Iphone 100 times and pick the 9 photos you like

PQ: 4.5/5

AQ: 4/5

I've had no issues with netflix and continue to use it, despite my annoyance at their snaffoos of late.

As for Everlasting Moments, I remember your "decent" review of the film the first time you saw it but didn't know that you've grown to rate it so highly. You know I've always given it top marks, finding it to be extremely moving and have some of the best direction and cinematography of the 2000s. I find it much superior to A Christmas Tale, which received the Oscar nom over it that year.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Christmas Tale

Film: 4.5/5
-wow, this held up VERY WELL to repeated viewing!
-lovely story about family get-together for Christmas in France
-like most families, you have some siblings who don't get along, others who do = anyone can relate to this!
-I loved the setting in France as the European nature of it reminds me of Ireland somewhat (streets, size of cars, buildings, etc) since there is some commonality across Europe
-the family dynamics have a depth that could be analyzed for days. one sibling

[Show spoiler]died, and neither of the 2nd or 3rd siblings were a "match" for saving him, so its those 2nd/3rd siblings who are now in conflict to be a "match" for their dying mother. they're trying to avenge their inability to save their dead brother. a horrific emotional state to be put in for both of them growing up, and now they hate each other, and are at each other's throats trying to prove they are more worth than the other to their parents, who they see as unhappy with them for not saving their brother

PQ and AQ: 4.5/5

I seriously need to rewatch this, as I love French films and films about family. I remember that my rating was such because I felt there were some odd directing choices and bc I didn't feel the depth I expected in the film.

[jhiggy23]

High and Low (Criterion)

PQ and AQ: 4 (out of 5)

Film: 4 stars (out of 4)


An exceptional film with great performances, a great script, and great directing. Specifically,

[Show spoiler]the pink smoke is a moment of genius, and can be looked at from both a plot perspective and a thematic perspective. Spielberg was obviously influenced by it for Schindler's List, in which he utilized it even more effectively.

There were a lot of great scenes, but the famous "police briefing" sequence is one of the best police-based scenes I've ever seen. Highly recommended.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

If hating The American makes me dumb, then I embrace the fact. That's how much I disliked it, especially the ending.

haha, ironic since i love the ending!

[jhiggy23]

Diabolique (Criterion)

PQ and AQ: 4 stars (out of 5)

Film: 4 stars (out of 4)

The first film reviewed in this thread! It's been called the "greatest film Hitchcock never directed," and I think this is an apt proclamation. I think it holds up very well today and although this is the second time I've seen it and I know the ending, it was still very effective. The last 15 min is as good of a filmed scene in a horror-thriller as you'll see.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

He he he he. I see you have changed your style.

As time allows

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Compliments of the Fogmeister on the TV forum...

My second favorite television show of all time behind The Wire.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[/spoiler]

No no no.

[Show spoiler]I am NOT saying that the hostility towards the child was evidence of anger towards the Dad. I am just saying that the hostilty towards the child was evidence that Mia wasnt concerned with the kids best interests. If Mia was taking the kid for the kids safety, I do think that Mia would treat the kid nicely (different than her own mother treats her) because Mia at that point would be doing an act that her own mother would never be doing (something selfless and in the best interest of a child). The whole act would be out of character, and therefore Mia would behave differently. If Mia is going to do something her mother would never do, she wouldnt act LIKE her mother.

Was there ANY human that Mia trusted? I saw none. Was there ANY human that she wasnt at odds with? I saw none. In fact, I think the film went OUT OF ITS WAY to show that MIA was completely disconnected from ALL Humans. That was the beautiful and tragic irony of the film. We watched her SLOWLY start to believe that she could like someone (Moms boyfriend). Slowly she began to trust him. Slowly she allowed him into her world and heart. Then, KABOOM, ultimate and massive betrayal. Again, reinforcing in her mind that all humans are bad.

You have to admit, when Mia was saying goodbye to her sister, that was a "changed" Mia. Genuine care. Before that she didnt give a rats ass about her sister.

Oops my bad, I misinterpreted this statement you made:

[Show spoiler]"Mia believes that swiping her will bring pain and sadness to the Dad. This what the Dad caused Mia to feel, and this is what she wants to make him feel." and must have over read in there that you thought her anger was based on anger at the Dad. No harm, no foul

Haha, its funny how we're thinking completely opposite on your first paragraph:

[Show spoiler]I'm thinking that she's incapable of showing genuine caring acts to fellow humans (her acts of affection are subliminal via. mild aggression/hostility), since she's only been taught hostility (i.e., you only know what you know). You're saying that if Mia genuinely cared for the kid, she would treat her different than her Mom treated her. The problem I have there is - she can't do something she hasn't been taught. It's like a monkey suddenly deciding to swim when all he knows is how to climb and swing. But I guess your argument on the horse demonstrates that she does know how to show affection (even to humans, if the circumstnaces are right)?

great second paragraph!

you lost me inbetween the second and third paragraph:

[Show spoiler]what "changed" about her to suddenly have her care for her sis? the daughter's near drowning? i agree it definitely was a huge eye opener for her and made her more emotionally tender (realizing that she could harm people too)

just so I don't pi$$ off Diesel and we don't bring thread off topic, I'll post a review here

Summer Hours

Film: 4.5/5
-watched this last weekend for second?third? time
-like Christmas Tale, a film about family reunion in France, except this is rural French setting, while Christmas Tale is urban French setting
-anyone can relate to this because it involves such topics as: your parents coming near their end, what should each kid do?, who determines who gets what?
-another very relevant theme for 2011: globalization.

[Show spoiler]the prior generations all lived within a mile of each other. the current generation siblings are sprawled across the globe for business reasons = loss of the family core. materialism is put ahead of family. the siblings living in Asia could survive in France, and live in the house owned by their Mom (they inherited it), which they'd have literally no expenses except food, but choose to live in China for employment, while simultaneously having much more costs (rent, mortgage, etc). in the end, its a wash (income =expenses), but they lose the infinite value of having a family nearby. just my 2 cents.

-also: if you love art, antique furniture (i.e., if you watch the antique road show religiously), WATCH THIS!!! I believe if you watch it, it fulfills 10 credit hours towards being an antique appraiser j/k

PQ & AQ: 4.5/5

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I think you make excellent points, which I find credible. I'm not a vehement supporter of either theory, like I usually am with things, because I too think it's open to interpretation. As for the

[Show spoiler]kidnapping, I think that's much more clear-cut, in that she's doing it for retaliation. I think that regardless of how you interpret the pee scene, the retaliation theory of the kidnapping makes sense.

Yes, the

[Show spoiler]kidnapping is definitely more likely for retaliation

. Squid's other arguments (

[Show spoiler]her NEVER showing care for a human, and the point that, if she was truly rescuing her, she would NEVER have taken her back, drowning or no drowning

) were very persuasive.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

You know I've always given it top marks, finding it to be extremely moving and have some of the best direction and cinematography of the 2000s.

Very true! OMG that Zeppelin scene of the shadow on the building!
Also, one of my favorite moments was her showing

[Show spoiler]the photographer the photos she took that she thought were no good, including the one of the dead girl, with the kids looking in the window that she told to go away for the other photo. GORGEOUS!

by the way, I do remember my first review. I was just angry with her

[Show spoiler]for staying with the drunk

. I realize now that she was just

[Show spoiler]doing what her Dad said

, which was presumably what people were expected to do then. I can't impose 2011 standards on a 1911 Swedish woman

I find it much superior to A Christmas Tale, which received the Oscar nom over it that year.

MUch different film but yes, Everlasting Moments is better. I'd compare CHristmas Tale more to Summer Hours. BOth family reunion films in modern day France with an aging mother. Christmas Tale by a hair, but probably only because the siblings are more

[Show spoiler]emotionally disturbed

which I eat up

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Oops my bad, I misinterpreted this statement you made:

[Show spoiler]"Mia believes that swiping her will bring pain and sadness to the Dad. This what the Dad caused Mia to feel, and this is what she wants to make him feel." and must have over read in there that you thought her anger was based on anger at the Dad. No harm, no foul

Haha, its funny how we're thinking completely opposite on your first paragraph:

[Show spoiler]I'm thinking that she's incapable of showing genuine caring acts to fellow humans (her acts of affection are subliminal via. mild aggression/hostility), since she's only been taught hostility (i.e., you only know what you know). You're saying that if Mia genuinely cared for the kid, she would treat her different than her Mom treated her. The problem I have there is - she can't do something she hasn't been taught. It's like a monkey suddenly deciding to swim when all he knows is how to climb and swing. But I guess your argument on the horse demonstrates that she does know how to show affection (even to humans, if the circumstnaces are right)?

great second paragraph!

you lost me inbetween the second and third paragraph:

[Show spoiler]what "changed" about her to suddenly have her care for her sis? the daughter's near drowning? i agree it definitely was a huge eye opener for her and made her more emotionally tender (realizing that she could harm people too)

just so I don't pi$$ off Diesel and we don't bring thread off topic, I'll post a review here

Summer Hours

Film: 4.5/5
-watched this last weekend for second?third? time
-like Christmas Tale, a film about family reunion in France, except this is rural French setting, while Christmas Tale is urban French setting
-anyone can relate to this because it involves such topics as: your parents coming near their end, what should each kid do?, who determines who gets what?
-another very relevant theme for 2011: globalization.

[Show spoiler]the prior generations all lived within a mile of each other. the current generation siblings are sprawled across the globe for business reasons = loss of the family core. materialism is put ahead of family. the siblings living in Asia could survive in France, and live in the house owned by their Mom (they inherited it), which they'd have literally no expenses except food, but choose to live in China for employment, while simultaneously having much more costs (rent, mortgage, etc). in the end, its a wash (income =expenses), but they lose the infinite value of having a family nearby. just my 2 cents.

-also: if you love art, antique furniture (i.e., if you watch the antique road show religiously), WATCH THIS!!! I believe if you watch it, it fulfills 10 credit hours towards being an antique appraiser j/k

PQ & AQ: 4.5/5

I've only seen Summer Hours once but love it. Great blind-buy. Also interesting to realize how the film came about, with Assayas being commissioned by the Musee d'Orsay (which is a SPECTACULAR museum). Crazy to think this same director did Carlos.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I seriously need to rewatch this, as I love French films and films about family. I remember that my rating was such because I felt there were some odd directing choices and bc I didn't feel the depth I expected in the film.

don't recall the odd directing. just watched it again last week. it definitely has some odd French family dynamics. you know those French
but that was part of the joy of it - SO REAL - almost TOO REAL. the fact that the family dynamics got so heated and chaotic made it real because you felt like you were sitting in a real house. IMO, an ordinary Hollywood film shows family dynamics that are INSTANTLY recognizable as fake and coming from a script. With Christmas Tale, it just felt so real and spontaneous, like it was an actual hidden camera in a French home. something as subtle as leaving the camera on the empty table when people leave. or show the old Dad reading his book at the table after everyone has left - if even for 10 seconds - just to really drive home that "this is real" feeling.

i realize i just said the same thing over and over but the point can't be emphasized enough, IMO.

hey! Maybe we could get Squid to end his Criterion boycott and watch this!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

High and Low (Criterion)

PQ and AQ: 4 (out of 5)

Film: 4 stars (out of 4)

An exceptional film with great performances, a great script, and great directing. Specifically,

[Show spoiler]the pink smoke is a moment of genius, and can be looked at from both a plot perspective and a thematic perspective. Spielberg was obviously influenced by it for Schindler's List, in which he utilized it even more effectively.

There were a lot of great scenes, but the famous "police briefing" sequence is one of the best police-based scenes I've ever seen. Highly recommended.

I want it!

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Diabolique (Criterion)

PQ and AQ: 4 stars (out of 5)

Film: 4 stars (out of 4)

The first film reviewed in this thread! It's been called the "greatest film Hitchcock never directed," and I think this is an apt proclamation. I think it holds up very well today and although this is the second time I've seen it and I know the ending, it was still very effective. The last 15 min is as good of a filmed scene in a horror-thriller as you'll see.

This was one of the films I blind-bought in the last Criterion B&N sale, and I loved it!

[Al_The_Strange]

Looking at the official review for it this morning, I decided that my next greatest Criterion blind-buy during the next sale will be "Island of Lost Souls."

[Foggy]

No alien film today was stuck finishing off my media trailer, long story made short, 5 people test screened it and they all jumped out of their skin while watch it