The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Zero_Cool]

SUPER TROOPERS 10/10

This looks and sounds great. I would upgrade ASAP. It was only $9.99 on amazon.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Godfather II

Film: 5/5
-part 1 was always my favorite, but I've seen part 1 about 10 times and part II only about 3 times, so watched it again. With each viewing of part II, its harder and harder to pick a favorite between I and II. They're both perfect films on every level. I'd love to see a poll thread on which is everyone's favorite and why. For me, Brando alone is good enough reason for part 1. However, part 2 is very tempting, with the incredible way coppola shows

[Show spoiler] vito's origin in america and voyage from italy

.
-anyone who thinks pacino is overrated needs to watch the scene of

[Show spoiler] fredo spilling the beans at the dance place in cuba about how he knows johnny ola. pacino's non-verbal performance was A+ and is only possible by a cream-of-the-crop actor, IMO. that scene alone excludes him from any overrated thread

-one scene struck me as the script was WORD FOR WORD identical to a scorcese film (casino):

[Show spoiler] pacino is telling keaton that its pointless for her to try and take the kids as "you know i'd never let that happen. you know me. don't you know i'd do everything in my power to stop you? that won't happen." (accurate to 1-2 words). in casino, deniro says ALMOST identically the same thing to stone in the attorney's office: "look in my eyes. you know me. do you really think i would let someoen in your condition to take my kids away from me? you know that won't happen." maybe i've overassessing it, but its pretty close. is the screenwriter the same in casino (puzo)?

PQ and AQ are 5/5 (i don't think it can look or sound much better than this, given the source material. loved the transfer)

Great write up. I love both of them but prefer part 1 for many reasons. My main issue with part 2 is that I don't particularly love the flashback seens of Vito, played by Deniro. I know I'm probably in the minority about that, though.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Great write up. I love both of them but prefer part 1 for many reasons. My main issue with part 2 is that I don't particularly love the flashback seens of Vito, played by Deniro. I know I'm probably in the minority about that, though.

yeah i can understand that viewpoint, as they're not technically essential to understand the michael/roth plot. i think the main purpose of them is

[Show spoiler] to show how the whole "godfather system" started - pretty cool, IMO. but more importantly, by showing how Vito's start in the U.S. heavily influenced michael's improbable rise to godfather - from a mere baby to a marine corps signup (discussed in last scene ). a GREAT visual of this is the train leaving the station in italy with don (deniro) and baby michael on the train. don is waving michael's little hand at the family at the station as the train pulls away - a great visual symbolizing don's influence of michael's life/future. i think any kid can relate

[surfdude12]

The Last Metro

Film: 3.5/5
-good film involving WW2 in Paris and Jewish theater owner who is hiding from the SS.
-i just generally felt detached from many of the characters, and didn't seem to understand why there was so many in the small setting (theater)
-a lot happened in the last 30 minutes, which i just wasn't convinced was possible, based on the previous 90 minutes. it was still somewhat convincing, but i felt myself really stretching to accept it.
-i'd be on the fence about buying this: probably yes, as i love WW2 films.
-EDIT: after further reflection, i think part of my issue with the film is the genre (romance) within the setting (WW2/Nazi occupation). i'm just not accustomed to this combo, as i dont think many are. so perhaps that was why my brain resisted the plot as it did. still though, very good film.

PQ: 4.5/5

AQ: 4/5

[CZAR]

Dreamcatcher - Didnt know what to expect goin into this film. Heard bad things about it but I am always intrigued to see a film based off a Stephen King novel. Weird at times but very interesting at times. I am not sure how much it resembles the book but I think if they did a couple things different it couldve been a great film. There were a couple of things I didnt like but overall I thought it was a decent film but had potential to be a lot better. I would rate it 3/5 Got Em!!

[monikaluchi]

I found Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland very interesting and delightful. The imagery is bold and ravishing. Alice in Wonderland will be BOX OFFICE hit no doubt about that.

[BluraySe7en]

Shutter Island 2010

It's 1954 and U.S Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess patient from a mental institution for the criminally insane located on a remote and barren island off the coast of Massachusetts. Daniels also has ulterior motives and one of the other patients is linked to a tragic incident in his past but comes up against resistance from Institution Senior Psychologists Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and Naehring (Max Von Sydow). The circumstance of the patients escape seem suspect and Daniels starts to suspect the two Psychologists are involved in a cover up of unethical experiments.

As a violent thunderstorm erupts the Island is cut off and the two Marshall's are forced to stay, Teddy starts to experience surreal dreams linked to his past and feels that he might be being drugged as the evidence racks up of a possible conspiracy and efforts taken to suppress his and Chuck's investigation.

Since Scorcese was finally awarded his first academy award for best director for The Departed ( a fine film no doubt but nowhere near his best). It seems his reputation is taking a knock as the perception is he is far past his best, an Oscar for the better and far more suitable Aviator would have seemed more appropriate than a remake of an acclaimed Asian cop/gangster thriller. This film has gained on the whole favourable reviews but it seems some people think Marty is wasting his time with these genre pieces. It would be worth considering though that Scorcese is one of the most impressive directors of all time and his body of work is not only on the whole full of solid gold classics but also his influence is immense on the film makers that followed him, he has given us enough bar raising films and it wants like with The Departed and here to dip his toe in other genre's and not want to craft more Taxi Driver's or Raging Bull's because his audience expects it of him.

The last time Scorcese ventured down this road was the disposable and on the whole not successful remake of J Lee Thompson's Cape Fear, I am happy to report Shutter Island, Marty's take on Dennis Lehaine's best seller (an author who's Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone have received the big screen treatment) is an entirely far more impressive take on the genre than the adventures of Max Cady. Scorcese as anyone who's read interviews and witnessed is incredibly informative documentaries has a love for Hitchcock and here he employs his influence ( although not as obviously as might be expected), there is an influence of certain 50's B movies the subjects covered here aren't exactly new ground although he manges to make a transition from hard bolied mystery into Gothic melodrama with a sense of ease that doesn't jar or bring the proceeding to a halt, considering it's running time Shutter Island never feels laboured or drags

Scorcese is having a ball here, there a clues from the offset and those amongst us who might work it out, Scorcese aided by now regular DOP Robert Richardson, veteran collaborator, editor Thelma Schoonmaker and Dante Feretti's set design collaborate together to make an enthralling and intriguing ride. With surreal dream sequences and dark corridors and spiral staircases. A Nazi death camp flash back which includes a vividly shot firing squad sequence, which put us in the cross hairs of the rifle sights. With bouts of misdirection that might question what you might have deemed to think his true, it's true to say some plot points are red herrings and it up to us as viewer to decipher these how we choose as he continues to pull the rug from underneath our heroes feet. He invests the film with the assistance of his team with a foreboding sense of unease, elements of horror are expertly navigated and other genres are thrown in the process as the story unfolds.

Dicaprio has become the actor like DeNiro's was in the 70's and 80's was to Scorcese who his go to guy, some might balk this now there fourth picture together, that a rest is in order but when the collaboration bears this kind of fruit it's hard to complain. Dicaprio just seems to get better, his performance alongside Matt Damon in the Departed is what drove the story and not the phoned by numbers approach of Jack Nicholson, his beyond his years handling of Howard Hughes was at times astonishing and even in such fare as Ridley Scott's adequate Body of Lies, is an actor you can't take your eyes off, Leo puts many of the actors of his generation in the shade and has more than held himself against such heavy weights as Russell Crowe and Jack Nicholson.

Sporting a moustache and a shockingly garish tie, (something that doesn't go unmentioned) is a powerhouse which might seem one note to start with but is barely contained rage and pursuit for the truth however dark a direction it takes him is essential to pay off at the stories conclusion. Ruffalo who was so magnetic in Fincher's Zodiac is more subtle and gentle although his performance makes more sense when your in full disclosure of the facts and his a credit to his reading of the character. Kingsley's eccentric but kindly Doctor who the story is making us obviously distrust adds some subtle humour to the proceedings with his toying with Daniels during his investigation and hasn't been this good in sometime, obviously enjoying being part of a Scorcese production. Von Sydow no stranger to this genre, is as creepy and untrustworthy as is needed and two cinematic serial killers ironically are the Deputy and Head Warden of the facilty, John Carrolll Lynch (Arthur Leigh Allen in Zodiac) and Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill in Silence of The Lambs). Levine briefly but effectively appearing, delivers the memorable line, "we are men of violence".

Jack Earle Haley, Patricia Clarkson & Elias Koteas add to the story with small but key roles and Emily Mortimer is particularly chilling in her part within the proceedings. Michele Williams adds a haunting quality to the role of Daniels dead wife woven throughout the film either has dreams or hallucinations. Altogether not a foot is put wrong by anyone and Marty elicits performances that are key to making it all work. The choice to use existing works by the likes of Brian Eno and Krzysztof Penderecki is an unusual one for Scorcese of late but they more than complement the already impressive ingredients.

Which is not to say this film will not alienate some, your feeling on the finished product will depend on whether you can enjoy the outcome as opposed to the story you think you are first going into, the reveal isn't so much a revelation and as said before the clues are there from the start including a whacking huge great one which some reviews have had no problem wrongly disclosing.

How this is accepted will no doubt be mixed, although Scorcese does restore some ambiguity before the final sign off. Choosing to have fun with his audience and approach a not so familiar genre, Marty is delighting taking us on his journey and with the combination of another sterling turn from his lead man has delivered and extremely satisfying and intriguing addition to his already tremendously impressive roster.


****/*****

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Sounds great! I'll add it to my queue right in front of Rope

LOL. You are enjoying my pain too much.

[CZAR]

Live Free or Die Hard - This might be the best of the series. Enjoyed this from start to finish! McClane is a beast! Love Olyphant as a bad guy. Overall very good film with tons of great action! I would rate this film 4/5 Got Em!!

[BladeRunner2007]

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (SEE) 4/5

[ajvdbg]

Black Hawk Down
5/5
Wow, what an intense flick...excellent and no surprise directed by Ridley Scott!!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by ajvdbg

Black Hawk Down
5/5
Wow, what an intense flick...excellent and no surprise directed by Ridley Scott!!

The writer of Apocalypse Now said the other day in an interview that it's his least favorite war film and that he despises Ridley Scott. Why? I have no idea whatsoever.

I could not disagree more with him. I find Black Hawk Down to be one of the very best directed and shot war films and as a whole, the most intense war film of all-time (BoB does not count). It is relentless in its brutality and a very sad film but I love it. It's also one of the best quality blus imo.

[Steve46]

Dial M For Murder 5/5

I borrowed this from my local library after hearing the rumor that it will be the next Hitchcock film released on blu-ray. I may have seen it when I was a kid, but I had forgotten everything.

It is a superb story.

The plot is quite complex and it's an interesting mystery. Columbo ripped of the inspector's style somewhat

I'll definitely be picking this up when it gets released. It was well acted and didn't bore me at any stage. Hitchcock comes up with the goods yet again.

[jeffrow]

Boondock Saints 2 All saints day 0/5 F- Garbage They even messed up editing the movie. In the middle of a scene it cuts to Eunice doing detective work wtf!!!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Dial M For Murder 5/5

I borrowed this from my local library after hearing the rumor that it will be the next Hitchcock film released on blu-ray. I may have seen it when I was a kid, but I had forgotten everything.

It is a superb story.

The plot is quite complex and it's an interesting mystery. Columbo ripped of the inspector's style somewhat

I'll definitely be picking this up when it gets released. It was well acted and didn't bore me at any stage. Hitchcock comes up with the goods yet again.

My second favorite Hitchcock....sorry Squid

[BladeRunner2007]

Jumanji 4.5/5

[surfdude12]

12 Angry Men (jhiggy recommendation)

Film: 4.5/5
-excellent film! wonderful recommendation from jhiggy!
-loved the small set, long uncut scenes, the moving/alive camera (from opening shot moving from hallway through court to jury room)
-i really needed to rate the film as a film, not a legal study, as it had some legal inaccuracies

[Show spoiler] such as jury consideration of prior convictions, jury consideration of history of abuse of the defendant by the dad (both admissible only in very rare circumstances), and my favorite: fonda's visiting the crime scene, which i believe would automatically DQ him. the biggest (and perhaps realistic, as many juries improperly do this) was the adoption of the "possible" standard for reasonable doubt. we constantly hear fonda say "but is it possible?". at least in florida, reasonable doubt is explicitly defined as EXCLUDING "a mere possible/speculative doubt" (i'd have to double check to be sure, but pretty certain). this is significant, as it formed the basis of fonda's arguments. however, in defense of fonda's arguments, they were based on facts in evidence, so if his inferences are reasonable, then IMO there should be reasonable doubt.

, but surprisingly very few for a film. i tried to just rate the film, based on the film, from an entertainment perspective.
-INCREDIBLE directing and acting, with the small group and set. reminded me a bit of Rope in that sense. Fonda was terrific, and the juror i most identified with: the dude in the beige suit sitting near the window (always had suit jacket on).
-Will definitely pick this up when it comes out on Blu!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

12 Angry Men (jhiggy recommendation)

Film: 4.5/5
-excellent film! wonderful recommendation from jhiggy!
-loved the small set, long uncut scenes, the moving/alive camera (from opening shot moving from hallway through court to jury room)
-i really needed to rate the film as a film, not a legal study, as it had some legal inaccuracies

[Show spoiler] such as jury consideration of prior convictions, jury consideration of history of abuse of the defendant by the dad (both admissible only in very rare circumstances), and my favorite: fonda's visiting the crime scene, which i believe would automatically DQ him. the biggest (and perhaps realistic, as many juries improperly do this) was the adoption of the "possible" standard for reasonable doubt. we constantly hear fonda say "but is it possible?". at least in florida, reasonable doubt is explicitly defined as EXCLUDING "a mere possible/speculative doubt" (i'd have to double check to be sure, but pretty certain). this is significant, as it formed the basis of fonda's arguments. however, in defense of fonda's arguments, they were based on facts in evidence, so if his inferences are reasonable, then IMO there should be reasonable doubt.

, but surprisingly very few for a film. i tried to just rate the film, based on the film, from an entertainment perspective.
-INCREDIBLE directing and acting, with the small group and set. reminded me a bit of Rope in that sense. Fonda was terrific, and the juror i most identified with: the dude in the beige suit sitting near the window (always had suit jacket on).
-Will definitely pick this up when it comes out on Blu!

Great write-up as usual and I'm glad you enjoyed it, especially after our previous discussion about it!

[CZAR]

Stephen King's Thinner - Its been a while since Ive seen this film. Pretty good adaptation of Stephen King. Nuthin spectacular about the film but it has its moments. I would rate it 3/5 Got Em!!

[Atreyu]

Just watched All The King' s Men with Broderick Crawford for which he took home the Oscar. It was about a guy who wants to become an honesty politician. Then he finds there is no way to become a politician and stay honest. Saw it on TCM and Robert Osbourne said movie was first sent to John Wayne who refused to do it as he thought it gave American Politics a bad name. Hate to say it but we don't need a movie for that. I also think Wayne refused to do it because it would have hurt his image to play a bad guy, and back then in Hollywood image was everything. My boyfriend says it was based on Louisiana Governor Hewey Long. It was allright but pretty much by the book. It was worth viewing though.