The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

I hated it when I was a child.
What made me to fall in love with this movie (now one of my top 10 all time favorite movies) is that its polished to perfection, I mean prefection.

well which one is it? pERfection, or pREfection?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

I hated it when I was a child.
What made me to fall in love with this movie (now one of my top 10 all time favorite movies) is that its polished to perfection, I mean prefection.

Plus, this is no overestimation, this is the best looking and especially sounding blu ray animation. Especially sounding, yet again.

Here is where it stands in my top 12 movies.
1) Terminator 2
2) Ratatouille
3) Avatar
4) Wall-E
5) Beauty and The Beast
6) Godfather
7) Dumb And Dumber
8) Boondock Saints
9) Terminator Salvation
10) Ip Man
11) American Psycho
12) The Lion King

Beauty and the Beast is one of my top 5 Disney movies of all-time and it's definitely one of my top 50 movies of all-time, don't think it'd be in the top 10 though.

[two40]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

and after watching it again tonight / this morning i rest assured that this is sandler's best performance to date (although Reign Over Me ain't far behind). his facial expressions, his speech delivery... honestly, all sandler traits are 'subdued' here and if you were just listening to him speak, you wouldn't recognize him. he's outstanding and shows he actually can act and not just scream and holler.

Glad you like this film. It has a certain charm doesn't it? Adam Sandler has proven that he can act and it's with films like this one and Funny People. But then again he makes stuff like You Don't Mess With The Zohan.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by two40

Glad you like this film. It has a certain charm doesn't it? Adam Sandler has proven that he can act and it's with films like this one and Funny People. But then again he makes stuff like You Don't Mess With The Zohan.

definitely has a charm and heart behind it. great stuff
as for Zohan... eesh i have no idea what makes him do that. maybe he's just a big goofball kid at heart? at least i would hope so with such an awful film as that lol

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

definitely has a charm and heart behind it. great stuff
as for Zohan... eesh i have no idea what makes him do that. maybe he's just a big goofball kid at heart? at least i would hope so with such an awful film as that lol

I like that movie, it was beyond silly but Chriqui is gorgeous in it and it made me laugh a lot. The guy obviously loves trying to make people laugh but he still does the dramatic roles from time to time.

[P@t_Mtl]

Modern Times

Year = 1936
Director = Charlie Chaplin
Country = USA
Actors = Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard.

Of couse it's not my first time seeing it but it was my first viewing on Blu-ray. It's hard to say anything about this movie that as not been said a million other times before. A silent film which is not all silent, made almost a decade after sound took over. A movie that even 74 years after being made as a message that still hold's true today. The iconic Little Tramp take's on big business and the modern world. Everyone as seen the images of the Little Tramp with the machinery but there are so many other scenes that are just so funny even after all this time and seeing time countless times. The true genius of Chaplin, the diving in the water, the rollerblade scene..no matter how often you have seen them, you still laugh. Like all other films of Chaplin there is a message, you can agree with it or disagre but one way or another it does not change the appreciation you can have for this movie.

If you haven't seen this movie in a while, then rent it and see it once more on Blu-ray, it's beautiful. If you see this for the first time on Blu-ray, then you are extremely lucky, this movie as not look this good in 74 years. You will enjoy every moment of it.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I read in the Salvation review thread that the events of Terminator Salvation pretty much cancels out 3, I think.

I seem to remember hearing that the filmmakers made "T:S" under the assumption that the events of "T3" did not happen.

Frankly, I think it's no different than when they made "Superman Returns" while discounting "Superman III" and "IV." It doesn't necessarily mean that one can't watch the series in sequence without having any huge disruption in the story arc. Especially in the "Terminator" series; I don't remember anything in "T:S" that fully discounted the events of "T3," and the two could still stand together.

Just roll with it. I hope they're making more sequels!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Modern Times

[Show spoiler]
Year = 1936
Director = Charlie Chaplin
Country = USA
Actors = Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard.

Of couse it's not my first time seeing it but it was my first viewing on Blu-ray. It's hard to say anything about this movie that as not been said a million other times before. A silent film which is not all silent, made almost a decade after sound took over. A movie that even 74 years after being made as a message that still hold's true today. The iconic Little Tramp take's on big business and the modern world. Everyone as seen the images of the Little Tramp with the machinery but there are so many other scenes that are just so funny even after all this time and seeing time countless times. The true genius of Chaplin, the diving in the water, the rollerblade scene..no matter how often you have seen them, you still laugh. Like all other films of Chaplin there is a message, you can agree with it or disagre but one way or another it does not change the appreciation you can have for this movie.

If you haven't seen this movie in a while, then rent it and see it once more on Blu-ray, it's beautiful. If you see this for the first time on Blu-ray, then you are extremely lucky, this movie as not look this good in 74 years. You will enjoy every moment of it.

You just broke the first two rules of Movie Club.

Nah, just kidding. ...do we even have any rules?

Anyway, nice review. I can't wait to get my copy and see it for the first time ever!

You mentioned a rollerblading scene? I think I saw that part before...

[two40]

Chinatown (1974)

The past shapes who we are for better or worse. It silently makes decisions for us. Ever so tenderly pushing us over the edge or holding us back. Putting words in our mouth or stifling intentions. It defines us and J.J. ‘Jake’ Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is no exception. He is a man completely shaped by his past. It’s one he hides and avoids with obscure answers. He even uses the expression, “Let sleeping dogs lie” and notes, “Sometimes you’re better off not knowing.” But we do want to know. This is a mystery after all, and like Gittes, you will keep guessing until the credits roll.

“Let me explain something to you, Walsh. This business requires a certain amount of finesse.” Says a confident and well presented J.J. Gittes speaking of his profession. Although you are watching a noir detective film, Gittes does not conform to the classical disillusioned detective working out of a shabby poorly lit office with slumped shoulders and a poisonously cynical outlook. Gittes is self assured and financially well off with a secretary and two assistant detectives. His office looks elegant, organised and efficient – just like Gittes.

Retired from the police force, he now mostly takes on adultery cases. Cue wealthy woman with a cheating husband. She hires Mr Gittes to follow her husband, Hollis Mulwray, a well-known chief engineer of L.A.’s ‘Water and Power’ company. Gittes and his assistants waste no time in wrapping up the case. Like the classical noir detective, Gittes follows his own set of morals and values which do not preclude him from making a quick buck by selling out the high profile Mr Mulwray and his adulterous ways to the newspapers. A buck is a buck and Mr Gittes is in business.

The first of many twists surprises us when

[Show spoiler]the real Mrs Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), along with her lawyer, shows up at Gittes’ office and presents him with a defamation lawsuit

. “There’s no point getting tough with me.” Gittes says to Mrs Mulwray, who in turn responds, “I don’t get tough with anyone, Mr Gettis. My lawyer does.” And with that, I fell in love. Her pencil lined eyebrows and blood red lipstick framing a cold, almost detached expression as she sizes up and back-foots the ever in charge Mr Gittes. She’s confident and intriguing and I had to exercise great control to only rewind that scene twice.

Gittes realises he was set up and used for some other purpose. “I’m not supposed to be the one who’s caught with his pants down.” He does not intend on letting anyone use him. And so begins the game of who and why. A mystery takes shape and slowly unfolds, keeping your attention for the whole 130 minutes.

His curiosity, along with ours, grows further when

[Show spoiler]Mr Mulwray turns up dead and the girl Mr Mulwray was seeing goes missing

. Thugs try to ‘persuade’ him to quit it when he starts snooping around Water and Power’s interests and one of them, played by the director Roman Polanski, splits his nostril with a switch-blade. Not one to back down, Gittes gives as much as he takes and driven by his need to solve the case, clear his name and help the leading lady, he calmly and relentlessly navigates the twists and turns to the bitter end.

Like any good mystery thriller, Chinatown is full of twists and none of them feel tacked on for effect. Each one cleverly progresses the story, redefines relationships and your suspicions on who is behind the murder and whether it’s related to the larger conspiracy of the water kind. It keeps you guessing and interested and as the film progresses, two distinct arcs develop interrelated by the murder.

The grand arc concerns itself with who controls the water and what they stand to gain by denying L.A.’s citizens its use. We imagine many unseen figures in high places with resources behind them. Going against them is a lone detective. An ex-police officer who couldn’t cut it in the force perhaps? As capable as Gittes seems, the odds area heavily stacked against him. A real underdog for the viewer to cheer.

I referred to the water arc as the ‘grand’ one because it affects the whole city, not because it’s more interesting or more important than the small-scale arc, one of skeletons in the closet and family secrets coming to a head. If anything, this story arc, as intertwined as it is with the grand one, is the more intriguing and ultimately more memorable one. The family history, their relationships current and past, is what makes this detective story such a compelling one.

A third arc yet, more subtle but just as important, is played out by the man himself. It deals with his past while working in the police force in L.A.’s Chinatown. Nothing specific is alluded to but we glimpse enough to know that he was disillusioned. Despite his best efforts, he made little difference. There was a woman he cared for and in trying to help her, he hastened her demise. More than likely, Gittes quit the police force as a direct result of this event.

Most of this information is revealed in one great scene where

[Show spoiler]our two leads lay naked in bed in lazy abandon of all their troubles. Jake comes across as a deeply troubled man haunted by his past. Evelyn, for her part, has let her guard down and is honestly affectionate and caring for the first time. She has just asked whether the girl he cared for died when the phone rings. And it rings as she holds his eyes waiting, hoping as much as us for an answer. It doesn’t come. She answers the phone and we’re racing off into more suspense

.

Chinatown is a masterful blend of mystery, thriller, romance and suspense packaged in a hard boiled detective noir story. It features outstanding performances from the two leads in their prime. Coupled with confident direction from Roman Polanski and an Oscar winning script from Robert Towne, it’s sure to please every fan of cinema.

4/5



ps. i rate my movies using the whole scale from 1 to 5 so a 4 from me is very good. just saying

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by two40

Chinatown (1974)

[Show spoiler]
The past shapes who we are for better or worse. It silently makes decisions for us. Ever so tenderly pushing us over the edge or holding us back. Putting words in our mouth or stifling intentions. It defines us and J.J. ‘Jake’ Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is no exception. He is a man completely shaped by his past. It’s one he hides and avoids with obscure answers. He even uses the expression, “Let sleeping dogs lie” and notes, “Sometimes you’re better off not knowing.” But we do want to know. This is a mystery after all, and like Gittes, you will keep guessing until the credits roll.

“Let me explain something to you, Walsh. This business requires a certain amount of finesse.” Says a confident and well presented J.J. Gittes speaking of his profession. Although you are watching a noir detective film, Gittes does not conform to the classical disillusioned detective working out of a shabby poorly lit office with slumped shoulders and a poisonously cynical outlook. Gittes is self assured and financially well off with a secretary and two assistant detectives. His office looks elegant, organised and efficient – just like Gittes.

Retired from the police force, he now mostly takes on adultery cases. Cue wealthy woman with a cheating husband. She hires Mr Gittes to follow her husband, Hollis Mulwray, a well-known chief engineer of L.A.’s ‘Water and Power’ company. Gittes and his assistants waste no time in wrapping up the case. Like the classical noir detective, Gittes follows his own set of morals and values which do not preclude him from making a quick buck by selling out the high profile Mr Mulwray and his adulterous ways to the newspapers. A buck is a buck and Mr Gittes is in business.

The first of many twists surprises us when the real Mrs Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), along with her lawyer, shows up at Gittes’ office and presents him with a defamation lawsuit. “There’s no point getting tough with me.” Gittes says to Mrs Mulwray, who in turn responds, “I don’t get tough with anyone, Mr Gettis. My lawyer does.” And with that, I fell in love. Her pencil lined eyebrows and blood red lipstick framing a cold, almost detached expression as she sizes up and back-foots the ever in charge Mr Gittes. She’s confident and intriguing and I had to exercise great control to only rewind that scene twice.

Gittes realises he was set up and used for some other purpose. “I’m not supposed to be the one who’s caught with his pants down.” He does not intend on letting anyone use him. And so begins the game of who and why. A mystery takes shape and slowly unfolds, keeping your attention for the whole 130 minutes.

His curiosity, along with ours, grows further when Mr Mulwray turns up dead and the girl Mr Mulwray was seeing goes missing. Thugs try to ‘persuade’ him to quit it when he starts snooping around Water and Power’s interests and one of them, played by the director Roman Polanski, splits his nostril with a switch-blade. Not one to back down, Gittes gives as much as he takes and driven by his need to solve the case, clear his name and help the leading lady, he calmly and relentlessly navigates the twists and turns to the bitter end.

Like any good mystery thriller, Chinatown is full of twists and none of them feel tacked on for effect. Each one cleverly progresses the story, redefines relationships and your suspicions on who is behind the murder and whether it’s related to the larger conspiracy of the water kind. It keeps you guessing and interested and as the film progresses, two distinct arcs develop interrelated by the murder.

The grand arc concerns itself with who controls the water and what they stand to gain by denying L.A.’s citizens its use. We imagine many unseen figures in high places with resources behind them. Going against them is a lone detective. An ex-police officer who couldn’t cut it in the force perhaps? As capable as Gittes seems, the odds area heavily stacked against him. A real underdog for the viewer to cheer.

I referred to the water arc as the ‘grand’ one because it affects the whole city, not because it’s more interesting or more important than the small-scale arc, one of skeletons in the closet and family secrets coming to a head. If anything, this story arc, as intertwined as it is with the grand one, is the more intriguing and ultimately more memorable one. The family history, their relationships current and past, is what makes this detective story such a compelling one.

A third arc yet, more subtle but just as important, is played out by the man himself. It deals with his past while working in the police force in L.A.’s Chinatown. Nothing specific is alluded to but we glimpse enough to know that he was disillusioned. Despite his best efforts, he made little difference. There was a woman he cared for and in trying to help her, he hastened her demise. More than likely, Gittes quit the police force as a direct result of this event.

Most of this information is revealed in one great scene where our two leads lay naked in bed in lazy abandon of all their troubles. Jake comes across as a deeply troubled man haunted by his past. Evelyn, for her part, has let her guard down and is honestly affectionate and caring for the first time. She has just asked whether the girl he cared for died when the phone rings. And it rings as she holds his eyes waiting, hoping as much as us for an answer. It doesn’t come. She answers the phone and we’re racing off into more suspense.

Chinatown is a masterful blend of mystery, thriller, romance and suspense packaged in a hard boiled detective noir story. It features outstanding performances from the two leads in their prime. Coupled with confident direction from Roman Polanski and an Oscar winning script from Robert Towne, it’s sure to please every fan of cinema.

4/5



ps. i rate my movies using the whole scale from 1 to 5 so a 4 from me is very good. just saying

I've always had mixed feelings about this one; it is pretty interesting though. If they Blu-Ray it, I will buy it and watch again!

[Show spoiler]
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown!"

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I read in the Salvation review thread that the events of Terminator Salvation pretty much cancels out 3, I think.

Ah, I see.

Well they don't really make any specific mentions to it besides Kate being there.

And considering she IS there, it definitely happened; regardless if they want to acknowledge it specifically or not.

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest rental: “Into the Wild.”

Thank you surfdude and squidpuppet for the recommendation. It’s not really the type of film I’m usually interested in. But it is worthwhile seeing at least once.

To get the negativity out of the way, my chief complaint about this film would be the same for any other film of this type (hence the reason I’m not into it that much). As a life’s-journey-type story, there’s not much conflict going on, aside from some man-vs-nature themes here and there, and perhaps man-vs-himself. Stories like these usually don’t keep my interest.

But, I can see some value in it, for sure. The first half-hour or so did remind me of a trip I took last year to Utah; I was on my own, free and independent in the wide-open desert, free to explore. In that respect, I could relate to the main character, his ideals, way of life, and everything else. Heck, it’s hard not to like the guy.

As such, I can also see the parallels between the guy’s journey and life in general, starting off in the safety of home and moving on independently, both literally and figuratively, into the wild. It’s also clear that this is a movement away from society toward nature. I’m sure there are other issues and themes buried beneath.

As a film, it’s pretty slick and stylish. Editing and transitions are interesting, and most of the photography looks splendid. Acting is strong, writing is not bad, and the narration adds a rather poetic flavor to the whole thing. And the music is rather interesting; perhaps even powerful in some parts.

3/5 (entertainment: 2.5/5, story: 3/5, film: 4/5, intellectual impact: 3/5)

Reccomendation: Yep!

[lDlisturb3d]

Summer Hours (L'Heure D'ete) (Criterion)

Director: Olivier Assayas
Writer: Olivier Assayas
Mains: Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling and Jérémie Renier

"The Critically Acclaimed Best Foreign Film of 09"

Plot: 3 siblings must agree and what to do with their mother's estate and valuable belongings that she left behind after her death. Challenged with many decisions these siblings will find a way to make it work even though they face the cold emotional feeling of their recently passed mother.

My Take: Summer Hours is warm and beautiful shot film. Some of the shots of their Summer home is worth the view alone. It was surprisingly overwhelming seeing this film for what its worth. There are many questions i still have about the overall meaning of the film. Especially the end, i kinda felt like her granddaughter was kinda walking in the same footsteps as her grandmother? Besides that i will never forget a couple scenes that grabbed my full attention and also made my eyes water. This film is very warm and slow paced but rewarding. The acting and direction are all good to go so you feel where they are coming from for the most part.

Conclusion: A treat indeed but i don't know how often i will watch this movie. My mom passed recently so it really hurts to see this film. Its so emotional at times and you really feel the authenticity from the actor/actresses. The music is very delightful and as i mentioned some to the beautiful scenes are unforgettable. While this film didnt take a huge toll on me i will still give it another shot to understand some of the meaning. Overall its a nice well made warm flick that will really bring your eyes to the beauty of art. The fact that its critically acclaimed over Slumdog Millionaire?? I cant agree, Slumdog had a very interesting story and this movie was just a little piece of art. Not to take anything away from it but i think Slumdog won fair and square.

Recommended

4/5

[Diesel]

Rocky III


I don't remember if I've reviewed this one or not before.

I really enjoy this movie. Opinions seem to vary a good bit on these movies. Some like just the first. Some the first and second. The first, second and sixth. The first and sixth. All but the 5th. And every other possible combination of the 6 films. Me, I like them all with V being the worst of the bunch but I can still enjoy it.

This one is either my second or third favorite of the group; not sure which I like better, III or Balboa. I'll decide after I see Balboa again.

I like the story of this one, with Rocky getting "soft" and not being "hungry" and having to get it back and change the way he operates with the help from Apollo.

Stallone is just flat out enjoyable as Rocky; he drops the speech pattern Rocky has for the first two and last two for this one and the fourth, which does make the character seem different, but its not that big of a problem. I would have preferred he kept it though.

Mr. T is good as the "bad***" Clubber who is actually more than
But I like that.

I don't watch the in-between films for some mostly serious dramas, I watch it for the Rocky character, because like I said, he's just an enjoyable character. If I want to see a slightly more "serious" toned one I'll watch Rocky or Rocky Balboa.

The fights are good to watch in the movies, but the movies aren't about the fights, the fights are just the end of the trip for the film, the movies are about the journey to get there. Well except maybe IV depending on how you want to take that one.

Oh and, come on, everyone loves Eye of the Tiger.


Rating - 4.25/5





(look, only two smilies!)



__________________________


Edit: I did review it before, check out my original review:

Originally Posted by Diesel

Rocky III

Again, not as good as the original, but better than Rocky II.
I pity the fool

4.5/5

Very in depth.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

You just broke the first two rules of Movie Club.

Nah, just kidding. ...do we even have any rules?

Anyway, nice review. I can't wait to get my copy and see it for the first time ever!

You mentioned a rollerblading scene? I think I saw that part before...

Ah no!!! Two rules!!! You guys need to post them



Yes you probably seen it, very popular scene and it's use a lot in documentaries about Chaplin.

I got three more movies that came in today, two I've sene before but will be the first time on Blu-ray, Monsoon Wedding & Hausu and the other The Last Airbender as a rental.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Ah, I see.

Well they don't really make any specific mentions to it besides Kate being there.

And considering she IS there, it definitely happened; regardless if they want to acknowledge it specifically or not.

Terminator 2 Judgment Day Special Extended Edition 5/5
PQ 3/5
AQ 5/5
Even better with an extra 17 minutes, the standard cut always felt incomplete. Best Terminator movie ever and possibly my favourite "Ahnald" movie of all-time.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Ah no!!! Two rules!!! You guys need to post them

You know...

First rule of the club is that we do not talk about the club.

Second rule of the club is we DO NOT TALK about the club!

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Rocky III


I don't remember if I've reviewed this one or not before.

I really enjoy this movie. Opinions seem to vary a good bit on these movies. Some like just the first. Some the first and second. The first, second and sixth. The first and sixth. All but the 5th. And every other possible combination of the 6 films. Me, I like them all with V being the worst of the bunch but I can still enjoy it.

This one is either my second or third favorite of the group; not sure which I like better, III or Balboa. I'll decide after I see Balboa again.

I like the story of this one, with Rocky getting "soft" and not being "hungry" and having to get it back and change the way he operates with the help from Apollo.

Stallone is just flat out enjoyable as Rocky; he drops the speech pattern Rocky has for the first two and last two for this one and the fourth, which does make the character seem different, but its not that big of a problem. I would have preferred he kept it though.

Mr. T is good as the "bad***" Clubber who is actually more than
But I like that.

I don't watch the in-between films for some mostly serious dramas, I watch it for the Rocky character, because like I said, he's just an enjoyable character. If I want to see a slightly more "serious" toned one I'll watch Rocky or Rocky Balboa.

The fights are good to watch in the movies, but the movies aren't about the fights, the fights are just the end of the trip for the film, the movies are about the journey to get there. Well except maybe IV depending on how you want to take that one.

Oh and, come on, everyone loves Eye of the Tiger.


Rating - 4.25/5


(look, only two smilies!)



__________________________


Edit: I did review it before, check out my original review:




Very in depth.

Yeah, this is my third favorite of the series after Rocky and Rocky 4.
The death scene of his coach is very touching.

And for the record, I love all rockies with the 5th one my least favorite but I still like it.

My rankings.

Rocky - 5/5
Rocky 4 - 5/5
Rocky 3 - 4.5/5
Rocky 6 - 4.5/5
Rocky 2 - 4/5
Rocky 5 - 3.5/5

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Yeah, this is my third favorite of the series after Rocky and Rocky 4.
The death scene of his coach is very touching.

And for the record, I love all rockies with the 5th one my least favorite but I still like it.

What Women Want 4/5
PQ 3.5/5
AQ 4/5
One of the best imports I own, still surprised it will probably never get an American release.

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

What Women Want 4/5
PQ 3.5/5
AQ 4/5
One of the best imports I own, still surprised it will probably never get an American release.

Why did you quote my rocky post?
I dont see any interrelation between my and your post.