The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I remember liking this in general (had an awesome time watching this with "Memento" all at once). Will probably get the BD, either as an after-Christmas splurge, or if it's cheap.

Well its the BEST (quality wise) digibook out there. They use high quality photo like paper for the digi. Its pretty d@mn cool.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Nah. I'm buying them. Im suppose to wait months to watch them at home. I've picked only my War films to wait to see at home. The Thin Red Line, Apocalypse Now. I've got others too because of mood effect or special effects Days of Heaven (Squid forced me) Iron Man 2 etc.

I got u. Yea I have a few war films I want to see also like A Thin Red line, Flag of our Fathers, Saving Private Ryan etc...Got Em!!

[iam1bearcat]

Videodrome

year: 1983
director: david cronenberg
starring: james woods, deborah harry, sonja smits

just finished this up a little bit a go.

it's really good, but just didn't quite completely win me over. and certainly doesn't have replay value for me, which immediately makes it a 'no sale' for me. ut certainly very original and whatnot

incredible atmosphere and cinematography and overall feel.

but i wouldn't buy it. so thanks netflix for saving me $30

as one user review on imdb says: "a mix of Brazil, A Clockwork Orange and Network = Videodrome". i haven't seen Network yet, but i'm sure it fits well because the film does have the wild, spastic feel of Brazil and the at times cruel, grim, brutal violence of (even more so than) A Clockwork Orange.

i respect the originality of Cronenberg's vision here. but not a film that is worth a purchase.

3.5/5

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Indeed I did. That and Inglourious Basterds (<thats hard to type with the incorrect spelling) for $20.00. Cant beat that.

DJ, I am 99% sure you will rave about Mad Men. As we were chatting about yesterday, keep an eye open for all the fabulous clothes and hairstyles. The sets have great period detail too. Typewriters, corded phones, crazy wallpaper and funiture. You'll dig it. Oh, and the PQ is

I'm excited

Only thing is I hope I dig the material too. I've seen Thank You For Smoking and while a good film, I didn't find the subject very interesting. I know Mad Men deals with advertising execs (I previewed the first 10 min of episode 1), but I hope I like it. I'm not big or very experienced on TV shows because I simply haven't invested the time in all the great new shows. Thus far, my favorite are medical shows and sci-fi/supernatural type shows.

My 5 favorite drama TV series:

1. House

[Show spoiler]("classic" House: seasons 1-4)

2. Nip/Tuck
3. Rome
4. Firefly
5. Heroes

[Show spoiler](first two seasons)

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Thus far, my favorite are medical shows and sci-fi/supernatural type shows.

My 5 favorite drama TV series:

1. House

[Show spoiler]("classic" House: seasons 1-4)

2. Nip/Tuck
3. Rome
4. Firefly
5. Heroes

[Show spoiler](first two seasons)

i seriously hope then that LOST is off this list (and not at the #1 spot to be exact) because you haven't seen it yet. and if you have seen it and it's not on this list... we have an issue because LOST is the best show ever created. hands down. miles ahead of everything else. no matter what the genre.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i seriously hope then that 24 is off this list (and not at the #1 spot to be exact) because you haven't seen it yet. and if you have seen it and it's not on this list... we have an issue because 24 is the best show ever created. hands down. miles ahead of everything else. no matter what the genre.

This goes for me. Got Em!!

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i seriously hope then that LOST is off this list (and not at the #1 spot to be exact) because you haven't seen it yet. and if you have seen it and it's not on this list... we have an issue because LOST is the best show ever created. hands down. miles ahead of everything else. no matter what the genre.

I've seen the first episode when it aired. That's it. I'm sure I'd like it.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by CZAR

This goes for me. Got Em!!

i haven't seen all of 24 yet (not even close, only season 1). and season 1 was pretty awesome, but i've heard later seasons have some stupid stories (

[Show spoiler]like jack fighting / chasing a tiger

) which sounds ridiculous lol.

and either way, for me, nothing can touch LOST
which by the way, i haven't seen any new season reviews in the tv thread Czar
what's the excuse for this?

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I've seen the first episode when it aired. That's it. I'm sure I'd like it.

once the seasons drop in price, you gotta snatch them up. great stuff
i'm envious just thinking of all the stuff you'd encounter and how often your jaw would / will be on the floor when / if the time comes you watch the show for the very first time. i couldn't believe what i was witnessing as the show progressed. i wouldn't have guessed any of it in a million chances

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

once the seasons drop in price, you gotta snatch them up. great stuff
i'm envious just thinking of all the stuff you'd encounter and how often your jaw would / will be on the floor when / if the time comes you watch the show for the very first time. i couldn't believe what i was witnessing as the show progressed. i wouldn't have guessed any of it in a million chances

Yea I might some day down the road. Not anytime soon though . Like I said, I'm not much of a TV person. I don't have the patience to plow through seasons very often because I feel it's too time consuming (compared to feature-length movies). That's why I'm pretty selective when I buy series. I'm not picky, just rarely watch them. I haven't seen the second seasons of True Blood or Terminator and haven't even opened my BSG blind-buy (and won't until I have time to watch them all). A friend got me Dexter for my birthday and haven't opened that yet either.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i haven't seen all of 24 yet (not even close, only season 1). and season 1 was pretty awesome, but i've heard later seasons have some stupid stories (

[Show spoiler]like jack fighting / chasing a tiger

) which sounds ridiculous lol.

and either way, for me, nothing can touch LOST
which by the way, i haven't seen any new season reviews in the tv thread Czar
what's the excuse for this?

Man I havnt been able to watch jack lately! I am gonna get back on it though no doubt! Also I dont remember

[Show spoiler]Jack chasing a tiger

and if so it sure wasnt a a big part of no plot so u dont have to worry about that. U need to get back on that series though. Got Em!!

[iam1bearcat]

The 40 Year-Old Virgin

very funny. very raunchy. but it's been collecting dust on my shelf for some time now.

and as much as i enjoy the film. i don't love it like i used to. and i barely have the urge to watch it anymore. hell, it was essentially on my pending shelf, but i couldn't even bring myself to watch it to decide if it was worth keeping. what does that say!

bought it months ago because it was $10. but it won't be a member of my collection anymore.

4.5/5

[Rudeboy2025]

Quick reviews of movies seen in the last week.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - As a fan, I liked it a lot better than the last couple of movies. It stuck relatively close to the book. Awesome effects, humor is still there, and overall a very satisfying buildup to the finale. 9.5/10

The Expendables - Simply an awesome action movie. Don't expect anything else. 9/10

Piranha (2010) - Didn't enjoy it too much even though I knew what I was gonna get from it. Kelly Brooks in the movie (10/10). The movie itself not so good. Maybe it would have been better if I saw it in 3D but I doubt it. 6/10

Easy A - I was intrigued by it b/c it was so well received by the critics even though it was a "teen comedy". I really enjoyed it and Emma Stone was great in it. It had a 80s feel to it and influenced by John Hughes movies, which is a great thing. Recommended! 8/10

Machete - A great time. Exactly what I expected and wanted from the Grindhouse trailer. 9/10

Despicable Me - A lot funnier than expected and the third best animated film I've seen this year (have yet to see Tangled). 8.5/10

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) - They don't make 'em like this anymore. First time watching it and loved it. I love Frank Capra's movies. 10/10

[Al_The_Strange]

“The Perfect Storm.”

Back when this first came out, it seemed like the bomb. The SFX are impressive for its time, effectively animating gargantuan waves and dark skies that give “The Perfect Storm” a hellish life of its own. I remember being thoroughly woozy at the theater, for I almost felt like I was in the sea with the characters.

I suppose that’s the film’s greatest strength; it's immersive. Coming out long before “The Deadliest Catch” series, this film provides an insightful and harrowing view of a fisherman’s life. Between this movie and the show, I can’t help but to appreciate these hard-working folks for facing such rough challenges and dangers, pitting themselves against the elements, and straining all their energy and willpower into their work. I really don’t know how realistic this movie really is, but it appears so, and the portrayal seems spot-on.

Story-wise, it’s not the most involving, but it does focus really well on the character’s relationships (both loving and hateful, but in the end the connections really stand out), and the man-vs-nature themes are ever-present. Some parts of the movie can be a little irrelevant, but it’s hardly dull.

The film shows decent photography, editing, and production value. Acting is not bad, though the accents might be a little hokey (I don’t really know; maybe somebody from the same area can say for sure), and some parts can be a bit overly-sentimental. But, it is a great cast. SFX show their age these days, especially regarding particle effects, but still look really cool. Music is…sappy…

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4/5, emotional impact: 3/5)

This Blu-Ray is quite the catch. Picture quality has a few soft spots, but detail is very good. It is a bit grainy, but still mostly clean. Color is good for what it’s supposed to be, and contrast is excellent. Sound quality seemed pretty good.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 4/5

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

You must want everyone to go crazy. Well i went crazy good enough? On a serious note for critics to go ape sh1t about a gangster film it has to be totally original and more motivating than "The Godfather". I like The Departed but i've heard from many sources its a rip off from the foreign movie called "Internal Affairs". Maybe this is only reason that its not as big as you want it.

Not only that, but it's not even Scorecese's best Gangster film. It's like his 4th best.
Jack was great, but i had a real hard time believing this badass gansta would be fooled by Leo's character. That was a major leap of faith that kinda made me do this:

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i seriously hope then that LOST is off this list (and not at the #1 spot to be exact) because you haven't seen it yet. and if you have seen it and it's not on this list... we have an issue because LOST is the best show ever created. hands down. miles ahead of everything else. no matter what the genre.

Lost is good (i've not seen them all), but nothing can be miles ahead of Deadwood can it? Them's fighting words!!

[Al_The_Strange]

My parents’ next greatest rental: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”

So I finally bridged the gap between #4 and #6. It’s been a long time since I read the book for this, but offhand the film looks to be a decent-enough adaptation. A lot of the major plot points that I remember are present in the movie, progressing the story arc and characters along pretty well. Pacing can be a little uneven, as it drags in some spots and skips over others, but I feel it flows much better than “The Goblet of Fire.” I also think this movie has enough awesome SFX and action scenes to satisfy (I don’t even remember the final confrontation being so big in the book; the movie’s finale is pretty darn awesome).

As it is with all the latest HP films, “The Order of the Phoenix” is very slick and stylishly filmed, with a superb production quality. Acting seems pretty strong.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4/5)

[Al_The_Strange]

I've been planning on posting some reviews around the Internet, like I used to, but haven't really bothered to make one up that's worth posting. I think I will post this one officially; feedback is welcome.

“Troy.”

Personally, I am not familiar with the original story for the battle of Troy, so I can’t comment on how historically/mythically/culturally accurate this movie really is. Whether it’s fully embellished or not, it is a rather fun and timeless story; it is only appropriate that Hollywood should someday film it with such a high production cost and a full list of A-list actors.

This is such a film; a slick and stylish production with plenty of large-scale set-pieces, exotic-looking locations, huge battles and fight scenes, ambitious CGI effects, and a smidgeon of classic romance. The talents of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean, and even Peter O’Toole are all dispensed here. Watching “Troy” is about as rewarding of an experience as the long list of other Hollywood epics (such as "Jason and the Argonauts," or "300"), for better or for worse.

The best part about this film is that it is tremendously entertaining. Whether watching the original two-hour theatrical cut or the sublime three-hour director’s cut, the film is tightly paced and hardly ever dull. Battle scenes are spectacular and often times bloody. Individual fight scenes are pretty swell too. The CGI work is a little fake-looking, but still well-realized and quite slick to look at. Outside of the battles, the film is quite pretty to look at, with so many unique settings and solid camera work.

The most negative aspects about this film would likely be reserved for the pickiest of viewers. Despite the film’s quality production, it is not even comparable to the most highly-rated epics in this genre; movies like “Gladiator” and “Braveheart” can easily out-match “Troy.” After all, “Troy” does not have the same quality writing and acting, much less the same thematic prowess or emotional power. It is certainly not as immersive, deep, or insightful.

In the end, “Troy” is a polished and entertaining film.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: Yep. It comes recommended to most casual audiences, but those looking for full artistic valor can do better.

This Blu-Ray is like a gift from the gods. The picture quality is supremely colorful, vibrant, clean, and has excellent sharpness and detail. Sound quality is uncompressed, and it is really clear and clean, but I did have to turn the volume up quite a bit more than usual; it seems rather subdued. Some parts also seemed a bit muffled; possibly due to source issues from reinserted footage.

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 4/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I'm excited

Only thing is I hope I dig the material too. I've seen Thank You For Smoking and while a good film, I didn't find the subject very interesting. I know Mad Men deals with advertising execs (I previewed the first 10 min of episode 1), but I hope I like it. I'm not big or very experienced on TV shows because I simply haven't invested the time in all the great new shows. Thus far, my favorite are medical shows and sci-fi/supernatural type shows.

My 5 favorite drama TV series:

1. House

[Show spoiler]("classic" House: seasons 1-4)

2. Nip/Tuck
3. Rome
4. Firefly
5. Heroes

[Show spoiler](first two seasons)

Thats a pretty safe bet.

Put these on the MUST "get to it some day list". Just put them on a list so they are not lost or forgotten. These are all serialised....its the only kinda TV I can do.

1. Damages: Glen Close leads heavy hitter all star cast in this legal drama. There is no court room stuff, its all the behind the scenes corrupt, evil, heavy drama.

2. Deadwood: Yeah, its a western, so what. You want dialogue and characters that ooooze authenticity? Brought to you by the same good folks as Rome. This show may have the best dialogue in the history of TV. Poetic soliloquy, utilizing the F word 1.56 time per minute.

3. Breaking Bad: Its winning a zillion awards because it deserves it. This show shouldnt work. The "good guys" cook meth. Dont ask, just check it out. Incredible writing and acting and chemistry (no pun intended)

4. LOST: Best TV show in the history of forever. You want to feel involved and care about characters? Here it is.

I consider all these shows to be written, directed, acted and shot better than 95% of what makes it to the theaters nowadays.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Yea I might some day down the road. Not anytime soon though . Like I said, I'm not much of a TV person. I don't have the patience to plow through seasons very often because I feel it's too time consuming (compared to feature-length movies). That's why I'm pretty selective when I buy series. I'm not picky, just rarely watch them. I haven't seen the second seasons of True Blood or Terminator and haven't even opened my BSG blind-buy (and won't until I have time to watch them all). A friend got me Dexter for my birthday and haven't opened that yet either.

Do what I do. Watch a couple episodes = 90 minutes. Next day watch a film. Next day watch a couple episodes. Repeat. Breaks it up, keeps it fresh.