The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Yeah I think we're in general agreement. You hit the nail on the head by "had chances to be great," it seems to be in the "Knowing club" in that sense. I really really wanted to love it, but just didn't quite connect with it the way I wanted to. Like you said, the themes were hazy to me also, as I couldn't even figure out some of the basic facts from which the themes are structured. I guess I gave it 4 stars because it actually TRIED to be good, unlike all of the other "sci-fi" films in the past 5-10 yrs.

You are a theme seeker, which is very cool. I found the themes to be clear, and powerful.

[Show spoiler]Is cloning OK? There not real people because they are made in a test-tube. As long as we feed them and treat them well, then its OK right?

Or is it?

What are the consequences? To the makers, none really. But are there consequences to the clone and others? Who cares, hes just a clone, and NOT REAL.

But are they not real. To the clone, he feels real. Especially when he is implanted with memories of a family and a home to return to. Those memories create powerful emotions and a yearning to go home (that will never be realized)

There was a REAL Sam. He was the first. He was a real human who signed up for the job. The Company began cloning him befor his tour of duty (3years) was up. He died on the moon (the movie doesnt explain how) and the Company proceeded with the clones.

Consequences to clones? The pain of never going home is REAL to the clone. He suffers. Then he is killed when he begins to wear out, or begins to question things (which seems to be a 3 year cycle). Who gives a crap, right? He is not a real human. He thinks he is. He FEELS real. How much pain does he experience when he realizes that everything he knows is a lie? How much pain does he experience when he finds out he is not REAl and was manufactured?

Consequences to others. When Sam calls home he disrupts the lives of his family (who has tried to move on since the were notified of his death), but Sam sounds real and knows things. Would this cause confusion? Would this cause grief for the family? Did the family know and give permission for the Company to colne Sam? I think not. The company employees that went to the moon were clearly cleaning up and hiding the whole thing.

So, is cloning OK or sinister. I thought the movie did a great job of showing us through Sams eyes that his life felt real. He believed he was real. His suffering was something far beyond what we can ever experience because we are real. His entire life, all 30+ years was stolen from him, right before his eyes, without the courtesy of death.

But he was not real....so who cares....right?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by GreenScar

To some of your questions (I've only seen it once, so I am going off of memory);

[Show spoiler]I believe that downstairs there are the clones that have yet to be used. I believe the dead clones were reduced to ashes in the chamber that was supposed to send them home. It could've been an automated facility actually growing the clones. My understanding is that the hallucinations were an effect of the clone coming to the end of it's life (If I remember correctly the life span was approx 3 years). The crash was just an accident and I believe the only time it had happened. I'm trying to remember, I think the machine that was watching him (Kevin Spacey) was being a little annoying with all of the questions (Are you okay?). I would imagine that the machine was anticipating the symptoms to start (time-line of that clone).

My thoughts anyway.

100% accurate. Its a simple movie. Its not about minbending and psycho-halucination twisto stuff. It all real. What we see is real.

[Show spoiler]Clones on a cycle. But the first half of the movie we arent looking at it 3rd person, we are seeing it through sams eye and discover Sam is a clone simultaneously with Sam.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

The Deer Hunter - 5/5
Excellent film, hadn't seen it in a very long time, so glad I bought the blu. This is now one of my favorites

!

Where did you import from? Region free? PQ and AQ?

[SquidPuppet]

Crash (1996) NC 17

Well, that was a waste of time. I Netflixed this because it sounded odd, dark and twisted. And it was. But not in a good way. Huge and a loud WHATEVER MAN. Lame. Thats all I am typing....I've wasted enough of my life on this film.

1.5 /5

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

How did you like the ending when

[Show spoiler]he hung the flag upside down? I was

I loved it. Hey if u put yourself in his position u probably wouldve done the same thing. I get the metaphor of what he was stating and Im sure u did to and it fits with the film and what took place. Got Em!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CZAR

I loved it. Hey if u put yourself in his position u probably wouldve done the same thing. I get the metaphor of what he was stating and Im sure u did to and it fits with the film and what took place. Got Em!!

That movie did not get the attention it deserved. I thought it was excellent.

[SquidPuppet]

Cazy Heart

I liked it a lot. Acting was very good across the board, but Bridges was very very good. Casting was excellent. Colin Farrel was seemingly an odd choice for his role, but he looked the part and provided a great job, even nailing the accent. Directing was strong enough. Editing was seamless and fluid. Cinematography was quite good. And of course the music was great (and I am not even a country music fan)

I liked the simple tale. Never give up. We have seen it before, but its heartwarming and pleasant to revisit.

Film 4/5
PQ 4.25/5
AQ 4.25/5 (Dialog was crystal clear and well prioritized. Thats important to me for "talky" flicks)

[Q?]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[Show spoiler]Cazy

Heart

Wow, right there I didn't want to read your review...

[Show spoiler] j/k
Thanks for the review, I'm considering a blindbuy and your review helps me in that direction.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You are a theme seeker, which is very cool. I found the themes to be clear, and powerful.

[Show spoiler]Is cloning OK? There not real people because they are made in a test-tube. As long as we feed them and treat them well, then its OK right?

Or is it?

What are the consequences? To the makers, none really. But are there consequences to the clone and others? Who cares, hes just a clone, and NOT REAL.

But are they not real. To the clone, he feels real. Especially when he is implanted with memories of a family and a home to return to. Those memories create powerful emotions and a yearning to go home (that will never be realized)

There was a REAL Sam. He was the first. He was a real human who signed up for the job. The Company began cloning him befor his tour of duty (3years) was up. He died on the moon (the movie doesnt explain how) and the Company proceeded with the clones.

Consequences to clones? The pain of never going home is REAL to the clone. He suffers. Then he is killed when he begins to wear out, or begins to question things (which seems to be a 3 year cycle). Who gives a crap, right? He is not a real human. He thinks he is. He FEELS real. How much pain does he experience when he realizes that everything he knows is a lie? How much pain does he experience when he finds out he is not REAl and was manufactured?

Consequences to others. When Sam calls home he disrupts the lives of his family (who has tried to move on since the were notified of his death), but Sam sounds real and knows things. Would this cause confusion? Would this cause grief for the family? Did the family know and give permission for the Company to colne Sam? I think not. The company employees that went to the moon were clearly cleaning up and hiding the whole thing.

So, is cloning OK or sinister. I thought the movie did a great job of showing us through Sams eyes that his life felt real. He believed he was real. His suffering was something far beyond what we can ever experience because we are real. His entire life, all 30+ years was stolen from him, right before his eyes, without the courtesy of death.

But he was not real....so who cares....right?

I had thought that when Sam called home,

[Show spoiler]his daughter answered and in the background the real Sam (original) asks who it is (asking about his wife/her mother).

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by GreenScar

I had thought that when Sam called home,

[Show spoiler]his daughter answered and in the background the real Sam (original) asks who it is (asking about his wife/her mother).

That's what I remember happening.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by GreenScar

I had thought that when Sam called home,

[Show spoiler]his daughter answered and in the background the real Sam (original) asks who it is (asking about his wife/her mother).

I could be wrong, but I thought it was her

[Show spoiler] new husband we hear.

[Al_The_Strange]

I've given "Moon" a bit of thought...

[Show spoiler]I'm proposing the theory that all of it is figurative. I believe that the moonbase is really some kind of mental thing in the main character's head, and all these clones are representations of parts of himself that he buried deep inside his own mind (perhaps as a result from marriage, work, etc). Thus, these parts of him become isolated, lonely, and dissilusioned.

The scene where he's talking to his family on Earth, I see it as he's seeing himself on the outside with his family (a "through the looking glass" kind of thing).

When he leaves the base at the end and returns to Earth, he is literally "coming down to Earth," in the sense that he is leaving behind this state of limbo and returning to reality.

But considering certain scenes, I'm not sure if this interpretation could work. But I still believe that it has something like this going on.

I might have to buy a copy after all...

[Adamant116]

First of all, let me admit my system isn't the best HD-ready 42" and 2.1.

300
Movie - 3/5
Just made for cheap adrenaline rushing. Cheesy lines and brainless action. But it sure looks good, cinematograpically (?) speaking.
PQ - 3/5
Awful lot of grain.
AQ - 4/5
Nice pressure. Very low volume during dialogues but very high during action sequences though.
Overall - 3.5/5

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Adamant116

PQ - 3/5
Awful lot of grain.
[/B]

That's how it was supposed to look though

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Adamant116

PQ - 3/5
Awful lot of grain.

First thing I learned here on Blu-Ray.com....THE GRAIN IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!



Seriously though, it is an artistic effect, albiet a somewhat gaudy one. I was still pleased with its sharpness and detail.

The movie itself rocks...usually...it seems like every odd-numbered times I see it it's just okay, and every even-numbered time is awesome.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

First thing I learned here on Blu-Ray.com....THE GRAIN IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!



Seriously though, it is an artistic effect, albiet a somewhat gaudy one. I was still pleased with its sharpness and detail.

The movie itself rocks...usually...it seems like every odd-numbered times I see it it's just okay, and every even-numbered time is awesome.

What number of tmes have you seen it now?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

What number of tmes have you seen it now?

Three...(once in theaters, once on DVD, once on BD). Next time should be awesome!

In fact, I should try out the Ultimate Experience thingamajig next time.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Johnothan Pedak

8mm
4/5

This film made me feel dirty!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

The Deer Hunter - 5/5
Excellent film, hadn't seen it in a very long time, so glad I bought the blu. This is now one of my favorites


Saving Private Ryan - 5/5
Always been a favorite of mine, but hadn't seen it in a year or 2. Imo, absolutely the best war film ever made, and I coulnd't ask for a better transfer. Killer soundtrack!

The Deer Hunter is one of the all-time best films. Where exactly I'd rate it, idk. Top 50 for sure. Probably around 30. That being said, I think it's DeNiro's best performance and the first roulette scene, as I've stated many times, I think is the best acting scene of all-time (followed by the cab scene in On The Waterfront).

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Where did you import from? Region free? PQ and AQ?

There's a version available from amazonuk. There's a review of it on this site.