The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Diesel]

IMDB says

Writers: Brian Nelson (screenplay), M. Night Shyamalan (story)

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Diesel

IMDB says

Meaning M Night wrote the basic story and Brian Nelson adapted it into a movie, yes?

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Meaning M Night wrote the basic story and Brian Nelson adapted it into a movie, yes?

Yep, M. Night wrote the story and Nelson turned out a screenplay based on that.

[Trogdor2010]

I feel like derailing a subject and talking a little bit about "Aguirre The Wrath of God" and how heavily the Jack Sparrow character from Pirates of the Carribean came from the character Aguirre. I thought Herzog wasn't taking so much of his films seriously (I think he rarely does anyway), such as

[Show spoiler]a character's death sequence remarks on usage of long spears and the slave gets shot by an arrow, not even noticing it.

even Aguirre has a walk, manner, and posture similar to Jack Sparrow. I keep thinking how similar they actually are, for being considered an arthouse film in 1972, then taken to the hollywood in 2003 (the narrative style was inspired in 1979 in "Apocalypse Now" but that is another story). Does anyone that watched both films feel this way?

[Marcus Wright]

Diesel, what does Iron Giant have to do with Van Diesel?

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

This is the format I'll be using for my reviews from now on (stole it from Bearcat mostly...hey he didn't copyright, its fair game)


__________


Open Range

[Show spoiler]

• 2003 | R | 139 Minutes
  
  
• Director: Kevin Costner
  
  
• Stars: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner
  
  
• Drama | Romance | Western

One of my buddies on the site recommended for me to watch this so I gave it a look tonight. Well, it ended up being a good recommendation.

I highly enjoyed this movie. It was okay at first, but around 30 minutes in the movie shifted gears and took off for me.


The story of the film is about a small group of free-grazers (Duvall, Costner, Luna, Benrubi) making their way through Montana in 1882 that come into conflict with the corrupt law and land owner in a small town.


Duvall plays Boss Spearman. Costner's Charley has been working with Boss for years, whereas the other two guys are more recent additions to the group.

The two work very well together and each has a character that is interesting. Charley has things in his past he'd rather not remember and this plays into his character in the film. I've not seen Costner in many movies, probably a handful at most, but I really enjoyed his work in this movie. He really made me like the character and had more than a few moments. Particularly when he

[Show spoiler]walks right up to the guy who killed Mose and puts a bullet into his forehead without hesitation or warning I said out loud, "DAAANG!!"

When Charley

[Show spoiler]finds out that Baxter's men killed his dog, I knew right away, "Oh crap...its go time!"

There's also room in his character for a little humor as well;

[Show spoiler]kicking Button off the horse when he said he stunk

was freaking hilarious and so out of nowhere

Duvall is very good as Boss as well. The character plays as somewhere between an older brother and a father figure for Charley the way I saw it. I don't enjoy his character quite as much as I do Costner's but he's definitely the #2 for me in the film. He's got his own past and secrets (much different than Charley) and also his share of moments.

The supporting cast of characters are all good; no one is really a standout (actor or character) but they all serve their purposes quite well.


Most of the movie is set inside the town, but the shots that we do get of the landscapes and the horizon are beautiful. Very well shot scenes


If you've never seen this movie, I definitely recommend checking it out. It most likely won't suck you in right away, but at the 20 or 30 minute mark you'll know if you are into the movie or not. It's available to watch on Youtube if you don't want to wait for that Netflix disc to arrive When I went to look up one of the names of an actor on IMDB I saw that it will be playing on AMC on January 7th as well.

Rating - 4.5/5

dammit!!!!

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by KaiGusto

Its not? I'm sure M Night came up....... checking..... ok he wrote it

he was a producer. and i guess had the original story idea, but didn't write it or direct it.

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Diesel, what does Iron Giant have to do with Van Diesel?

Van Diesel? nothing.
however, Vin Diesel did the voice of the character.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

dammit!!!!

[Show spoiler]

Always copyright your stuff

Van Diesel? nothing.
however, Vin Diesel did the voice of the character.

[Show spoiler]

[Diesel]

Blood Diamond

• 2006 | R | 143 Minutes
  
  
• Director: Edward Zwick
  
  
• Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou
  
  
• Adventure | Drama

I went into this movie hoping to really like it...I came out, well, not.

It wasn't a bad film really, I just never got into it. It never hooked me in.

The only character and actor I cared about was Djimon. He was great in this
I didn't care about his family (of course we didn't see them for more than a few minutes at most, so that may be why mostly), but I cared to watch the entire movie to find out

[Show spoiler]if he was reunited with them or not.

DiCaprio annoyed me throughout this movie. It wasn't a bad performance, it just irked me.
Maybe I didn't think the accent fit him, maybe it was because I didn't like the character. I don't know, he was just annoying to me


I didn't care for the story of the film. I can honestly say that I was bored for the majority of the film; which was quite a shock to me considering the events of the movie.


And that's really all I have to say, a very non-review inspiring movie for me.

Do I think its a crappy film? No, not really; I can perfectly understand people really liking this movie. It just didn't jive with me at all outside of Djimon. I didn't hate it by any means, but I was also far from really liking it.


Rating - 2.5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Blood Diamond

[Show spoiler]

• 2006 | R | 143 Minutes
  
  
• Director: Edward Zwick
  
  
• Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou
  
  
• Adventure | Drama

I went into this movie hoping to really like it...I came out, well, not.

It wasn't a bad film really, I just never got into it. It never hooked me in.

The only character and actor I cared about was Djimon. He was great in this
I didn't care about his family (of course we didn't see them for more than a few minutes at most, so that may be why mostly), but I cared to watch the entire movie to find out

[Show spoiler]if he was reunited with them or not.

DiCaprio annoyed me throughout this movie. It wasn't a bad performance, it just irked me.
Maybe I didn't think the accent fit him, maybe it was because I didn't like the character. I don't know, he was just annoying to me


I didn't care for the story of the film. I can honestly say that I was bored for the majority of the film; which was quite a shock to me considering the events of the movie.


And that's really all I have to say, a very non-review inspiring movie for me.

Do I think its a crappy film? No, not really; I can perfectly understand people really liking this movie. It just didn't jive with me at all outside of Djimon. I didn't hate it by any means, but I was also far from really liking it.

Rating - 2.5/5

Same thing happened to me. Never captured my attention fully. Wound up turning it off after the first twenty minutes or so.

[menaceuk]

Doubt 3.5/5

Honestly, I am not sure how to go about writing a review of this movie.


Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are both fantastic in this movie, I found the subject matter to be more about Ignorance and the discovering of, rather than doubt like the title suggests.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Blood Diamond

[Show spoiler]

• 2006 | R | 143 Minutes
  
  
• Director: Edward Zwick
  
  
• Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou
  
  
• Adventure | Drama

I went into this movie hoping to really like it...I came out, well, not.

It wasn't a bad film really, I just never got into it. It never hooked me in.

The only character and actor I cared about was Djimon. He was great in this
I didn't care about his family (of course we didn't see them for more than a few minutes at most, so that may be why mostly), but I cared to watch the entire movie to find out

[Show spoiler]if he was reunited with them or not.

DiCaprio annoyed me throughout this movie. It wasn't a bad performance, it just irked me.
Maybe I didn't think the accent fit him, maybe it was because I didn't like the character. I don't know, he was just annoying to me


I didn't care for the story of the film. I can honestly say that I was bored for the majority of the film; which was quite a shock to me considering the events of the movie.


And that's really all I have to say, a very non-review inspiring movie for me.

Do I think its a crappy film? No, not really; I can perfectly understand people really liking this movie. It just didn't jive with me at all outside of Djimon. I didn't hate it by any means, but I was also far from really liking it.

Rating - 2.5/5

Damn Diesel I wouldnt have ever guessed this. I am now scared for u to watch The Karate Kid lol. Got Em!!

[Al_The_Strange]

Picked out a good stack of films for this afternoon (or heck, this whole week) and randomly picked one. Invariably, my finger landed on…

“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”

I must have been a “Terminator” fan since I was 12 or so. I have fond memories of having my first “Terminator” marathon with my folks. To this day, I still hold the first two films in high regard (the second taking the cake as my 5th favorite movie of all time). So naturally, the thought of T3 has always thrilled me. I remember seeing footage years ago and thinking it would be sweet seeing the end of the world on screen (turns out I was looking at the “Terminator 3-D” theme park footage…dammit! ). So the years passed, and I gave up hope on seeing a “T3” …until 2003 came around…by which point I was just all like “yeah, whatever!”

Outside of James Cameron’s skillful hands, the “Terminator” franchise is certainly not on the same level as the first two films. “T3” offers a story that works, but with one or two cheesy moments and one or two moments that are unoriginal and totally ripped off from previous films. Characters are passable; John Connor (played adequately by Nick Stahl) is certainly not as tough as he was when he was 10. As far as the Terminator machines go, Ahnold is still the man, but at this point it’s not the same; the comedy’s become a little too over-the-top (for better or for worse; I think it is pretty darn funny when he enters the ladies bar naked) and the deadly robot demeanor is not quite as menacing as the first original film. The Terminatrix (played by the ever-hot Kristanna Loken ) is the real standout; I think its brilliant the way she combines the best aspects of the T-101 and T-1000 models (liquid metal skin over metal endoskeleton). It’s as if SkyNet saw the failures of the first two Terminators and combined them to create a better Terminator, exactly as an artificial intelligence should think.

Yeah, there are some weaknesses, but it’s all very nit-picky. “T3” is actually one of the most entertaining Terminator movies in the series; it hits the ground running and maintains steady and even pacing, and is loaded with chases, fights, and gorgeous special effects. The chase scene with the crane is probably one of my favorite car chases ever! There’s hardly a dull moment! There are some cheesy unrealistic scenes, but it never really bothered me much.

The film is pretty solidly-made too, with good steady photography, fairly good acting, a quality production design, and a pretty good music score.

Comparatively, I rank this over “Terminator: Salvation,” but beneath “T1” and “T2.” These first three films could work together as a singular cohesive trilogy, but I don’t mind seeing more.

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

Recommendation: Definitely for "Terminator" fans and action junkies. Everybody else ought to rent it and see what you think.

Looks like I got the 1080p pressing of this Blu-Ray; it looks really slick. Sharpness and detail are good. There is some film grain and noise, but it’s not terribly intrusive. Colors are a bit dim and contrast is okay. Sound quality is okay (looks like its standard-def Dolby Digital 5.1 only).

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 3/5

[CZAR]

Devil - I dont care who directed it, who adapted it or who ate it! This movie has M. Night written all over it and I consider it his film as the direction, setting, cinematography etc....looked just like an M. Night film. We all know its his story anyway. What can I say being I am a huge M. Night fan? This was another great film to add to his list in my book. I completely understand everything he trys to accomplish in his films and the creativity he brings. His climax/endings are 2nd to none in my book.

I loved the opening of the film and was hooked in right from the jump. The film had some cool jump scenes as M. Night usually does and the atmosphere was intense throughout. The acting was pretty good and the way things were unveiled was excellent. As for the climax or the twist that we are used to seeing from M. Night, boy was it a shocker and boy was it brilliant! This really turned this from a good film into a great film! Definite recommendation and u wont be disappointed! Got Em!!

Film Rating - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

PQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

AQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Devil - I dont care who directed it, who adapted it or who ate it! This movie has M. Night written all over it and I consider it his film as the direction, setting, cinematography etc....looked just like an M. Night film. We all know its his story anyway. What can I say being I am a huge M. Night fan? This was another great film to add to his list in my book. I completely understand everything he trys to accomplish in his films and the creativity he brings. His climax/endings are 2nd to none in my book.

I loved the opening of the film and was hooked in right from the jump. The film had some cool jump scenes as M. Night usually does and the atmosphere was intense throughout. The acting was pretty good and the way things were unveiled was excellent. As for the climax or the twist that we are used to seeing from M. Night, boy was it a shocker and boy was it brilliant! This really turned this from a good film into a great film! Definite recommendation and u wont be disappointed! Got Em!!

Film Rating - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

PQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

AQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Personal interest in this film has suddenly raised by %150...

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i forgot to ask earlier. when you said "close enough" for my Funny People review, did you mean "close enough to my score of it being great"? or "close enough to my score of being crap?"

i have the impression you enjoyed it, but not positive.

Close enough to MY score, which is the accurate one.

When I say "Accurate" its because you got the review "right", as it is aligned with my opinion.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Henceforth, every response I make will be using public domain smilies...

Yes, I am looking to corner the market on the English language. I figure if I eventually own every single word, I'll have a comfortable retirement.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Personal interest in this film has suddenly raised by %150...

Haha yea man u gotta peep this one out. I know M. Night gets hated on a lot on this forum but he did it with this one. Got Em!!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Yes, I am looking to corner the market on the English language. I figure if I eventually own every single word, I'll have a comfortable retirement.

Ah so! Dann muss ich auf Deutsch schreiben!

Originally Posted by CZAR

Haha yea man u gotta peep this one out. I know M. Night gets hated on a lot on this forum but he did it with this one. Got Em!!

Sehr gut!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Accura...no, I mean, accepta...no, wait! I mean...

Ah heck, good review. I agree; the visuals and photography are the highlights here.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I'll rent it by the end of next month. I don't want you going all SquidPuppet on me like with the whole Troy debacle

[Show spoiler]

: