haha, that seems to be what a lot of people feel about Big Fish. hopefully i'm the same way, but i'll go in with tempered expectations so i don't go in expecting something super awesome and maybe getting disappointed. but i always give films at least two shots, so even if it doesn't do much on the first viewing, i will give it another chance later on before deciding on keeping it or not. but as long as i don't hate it, it'll stay put
You will hate it. Its about feelings and relationships and, you know, since you are a heartless bastard, it will rub you the wrong way.
Quote:
and don't worry about Control. at least you didn't pick an eight hour napfest in space
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama Synopsis: An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years. Running Time: 87 minutes
Director: Richard Schenkman Writer: Jerome Bixby (Star Trek) Stars: David Lee Smith (Mysterious Skin), Tony Todd (Candyman), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise), Annika Peterson (Moment in Time), Alexis Thorpe (Days of Our Lives), Richard Riehle (Office Space)
Who said you need visual effects to make a science-fiction movie? "The Man from Earth" is probably the best unorthodox film of its genre in that it doesn't showcase any special effects whatsoever. All it really is is just one long conversation between a group of people inside a cabin. Sounds boring? Well, it isn't. It's surprisingly so compelling and thought-provoking that you'd probably be inspired to pick up a pen, write a story, and make a movie yourself.
Technically, it isn't the prettiest and most polished -- the cinematography is of straight-to-DVD quality, the acting is stilted at times, and the score is, well, not that good. But the fact that the late, great sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby's script overshadows all of the film's flaws is astounding and a testament to the sheer importance of having a good screenplay. Sure, the twist towards the end is not for everybody, but there's no denying that the movie as a whole is commendable for its amazing achievement in filmmaking.
"The Man from Earth" proves that you don't need a million-dollar budget, fancy effects, elaborate sets, or big-name stars to make an entertaining movie. All you really need is a good story.
I love how "simple" the story is. Mainly three people in the film and one pesky screw up involving a fly. I love how simple some films can be while still holding your complete attention, and The Fly does just that.
Hell, the film kind of starts off as an odd, weird romance film. The first 30 minutes nothing really sci-fi or horror happens. We just spend a lot of time with the characters getting to know each other. But once the weird, creepy and scary stuff does happen, it REALLY happens!
+ make up / costumes. Much like how The Thing amazed me with visuals and make up, so does The Fly. A few moments yes, look very costume-like, but a lot of scenes made me cringe because it was so creepy and detailed. Awesome
+ Jeff Goldblum. Awesome in this role. He + the script = pure genius. He adds a charisma and genuine goodness to a very dark script and story. And there is also some very dark humor and LOL moments and Goldblum delivers lines terrifically.
+ atmosphere. We all know I'm a big fan and The Fly succeeds! Love the dingy, dark, cold looking world that Cronenberg creates here. Love it!
Probably gonna turn into one of my favorite horror films although labeling it as just a horror film would be an insult to the film.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama Synopsis: An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years. Running Time: 87 minutes
Director: Richard Schenkman Writer: Jerome Bixby (Star Trek) Stars: David Lee Smith (Mysterious Skin), Tony Todd (Candyman), John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise), Annika Peterson (Moment in Time), Alexis Thorpe (Days of Our Lives), Richard Riehle (Office Space)
Who said you need visual effects to make a science-fiction movie? "The Man from Earth" is probably the best unorthodox film of its genre in that it doesn't showcase any special effects whatsoever. All it really is is just one long conversation between a group of people inside a cabin. Sounds boring? Well, it isn't. It's surprisingly so compelling and thought-provoking that you'd probably be inspired to pick up a pen, write a story, and make a movie yourself.
Technically, it isn't the prettiest and most polished -- the cinematography is of straight-to-DVD quality, the acting is stilted at times, and the score is, well, not that good. But the fact that the late, great sci-fi writer Jerome Bixby's script overshadows all of the film's flaws is astounding and a testament to the sheer importance of having a good screenplay. Sure, the twist towards the end is not for everybody, but there's no denying that the movie as a whole is commendable for its amazing achievement in filmmaking.
"The Man from Earth" proves that you don't need a million-dollar budget, fancy effects, elaborate sets, or big-name stars to make an entertaining movie. All you really need is a good story.
Rating: **** out of 5
IThe Man From Earth is definitely not perfect, but its one of my faavorite movies ever.
This is as good as any sc-fi movie can get.
With 72% on Rotten Tomatoes as at March 17, 2011, The Adjustment Bureau is one of the best reviewed films of 2011. I am not convinced that is the case. To me, The Adjustment Bureau is one of those films that seems better than it actually is on Rotten Tomatoes because it is no where bad enough to get a “Rotten” tag but on the other hand, no where good enough to be remembered come December 2011. In simple terms, it is not bad but it is just not that good either.
The Adjustment Bureau reminds me a lot of North By Northwest and I am not just talking about the poster that clearly bears resemblence to the Alfred Hitchcock classic. The Adjustment Bureau tells the tale of a man who has to run for love, his freedom and his life (not necessarily in that order) from ‘men in suit’ who can be referred to as The Adjustment Bureau who keep track of ordinary people’s lives to ensure that their lives are running on track. David Norris (Matt Damon) manages to escape the Bureau’s plans when his tracker Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) doses off in a nap and fails to distract Norris and next thing you know David Norris’ life deviates from his pre-destined fate when he meets Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) and falls in love with her. That is where The Adjustment Bureau threatens to harm him and Elise if Norris ever attempts to pursue a relationship with Elise.
While there may be shades of Hitchcock in the film, the film is actually based on Phillip Dick’s short story “The Adjustment Team” which explains the tinge of science fiction about the film. Inside the love story, the chase thriller and science fiction fable, I was never truly impressed by the Adjustment Bureau. I never really felt the chemistry between Norris and Elise and as likable as Damon and Blunt are as actors, I never really cared enough about them to be really bothered to find out what happened to them. Instead, I was more interested in finding out on the fate of Anthony Mackie who is immensely likable as Harry Mitchell, Norris’ proverbial guardian angel. However, I am much impressed by John Slattery as Richardson, another member of the Bureau. With a touch of class, humor and cunning, Slattery has managed to transfer everything that makes him so magnetic in Mad Men to the big screen. Admittedly, I am sure the 60s coat
For those expecting The Adjustment Bureau to be something along the lines of Bourne IV, you will be disappointed. Most, if not all of the chase sequences are on foot and that would be okay if any of the chase sequenses instilled some sense of excitement or thrill.
The Adjustment Bureau is an average film with a premise that could have been a great film if it had been in better hands. If the film had more dare and provided us with an ending that was not a complete and utter letdown, I may have enjoyed the film a little bit more. As it is, the film turns out being a little lame.
Directed by Walter Hill
Starring Michael Beck, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly
93 minutes
The future is ours...if you can count.
I have a small pile of unwatched Blu-rays, but last night I was in the mood for something I already knew. After much deliberation, I went with The Warriors.
I like to analyze why I enjoy certain movies so that I can understand myself more, but this one is tricky.
I know that I don't like watching violence or people getting beaten up, unless there's a point to it. I certainly don't think it's cool to watch a fight or someone being hurt. I have no fascination for gangs in general. The acting isn't up to much and dialogue is limited. I couldn't pick out a selection of scenes that were meaningful or memorable. So why do I enjoy watching this movie?
I do like the setting. Released in 1979, it was intended to have a somewhat futuristic look. It still seems dated to me though.
The first 15 minutes sets up the story so I don't think talking about it is much of a spoiler. The gangs are requested to attend a meeting by Cyrus, the leader of the biggest gang. Those attending are allowed to send nine members from their gang and weapons aren't allowed. Cyrus points out that members from rival gangs are standing together without anyone getting wasted. He also observes that there are 60,000 gang members in New York and only 20,000 police. Instead of fighting over a few yards of turf, the combined force could take over the city. That's an interesting idea. Unfortunately, gangs being what they are, one of the gang members (Kelly, Twin Peaks) hasn't obeyed the truce and shoots Cyrus, killing him. He points at the Warriors, claiming they did the shooting.
So the nine gang members are surrounded by rival gangs, weaponless, fifty miles from home. Both the police and the rival gangs are after them. The story shows what happens when they try to make it back to their home turf. Nine innocent men on the run; Hitchcock would be proud.
As I said, that's the first 15 minutes. The remainder of the story deals with the journey home. Will they all make it? Will any of them?
The soundtrack adds something and a local radio station monitors the progress of the Warriors. The original music by Barry De Vorzon fits in well and makes the whole thing an atmospheric experience.
Various encounters with other gangs and the police ensue. The gangs all have their own colors and way of doing things.
It's such a simple story, but it works. It's become something of a cult classic over the years in the same way that Escape From New York has.
I'm still not sure why I like it so much. Do I place myself in their position? Is it nostalgia for my childhood? Most of the characters are merely sketches, although some have a bit more depth. There are quiet periods where we just see the Warriors walking around, although the scenes are filled with tension because a threat could appear at any time.
After all that, I'm still not sure.
Would I recommend this? Sure. It's not what you would think just by looking at the title or the cover. If you can see it for free, it's worth checking out. Maybe you'll have the same reaction as me.
This is a surprisingly good transfer for a movie of its age and limited budget. The sound quality is a little lacking, being just DD 5.1.
[Show spoiler]Year: 1986
Director: David Cronenberg
Another blind buy. Another success!
I love how "simple" the story is. Mainly three people in the film and one pesky screw up involving a fly. I love how simple some films can be while still holding your complete attention, and The Fly does just that.
Hell, the film kind of starts off as an odd, weird romance film. The first 30 minutes nothing really sci-fi or horror happens. We just spend a lot of time with the characters getting to know each other. But once the weird, creepy and scary stuff does happen, it REALLY happens!
+ make up / costumes. Much like how The Thing amazed me with visuals and make up, so does The Fly. A few moments yes, look very costume-like, but a lot of scenes made me cringe because it was so creepy and detailed. Awesome
+ Jeff Goldblum. Awesome in this role. He + the script = pure genius. He adds a charisma and genuine goodness to a very dark script and story. And there is also some very dark humor and LOL moments and Goldblum delivers lines terrifically.
+ atmosphere. We all know I'm a big fan and The Fly succeeds! Love the dingy, dark, cold looking world that Cronenberg creates here. Love it!
Probably gonna turn into one of my favorite horror films although labeling it as just a horror film would be an insult to the film.
Will movies continue to deteriorate in quality and be aimed solely at the biggest demographic?
Will the aging population eventually force things to change?
Can we do anything about it?
Does anyone care?
Will it make us even dumber than we are now?
Let's take a look at last year's Top 100 movies by US box office revenue. How many do you consider worth owning? I realize that some on the list have gone on to accumulate 2011 revenue, but this is just to give us an idea. Gross takings (US) are shown to the right of the title.
I'll highlight mine as I go. Those in blue are things I own. Those in green are things I will eventually own. Titles in red are things I own and wish I hadn't bothered.
1 Toy Story 3 (Disney) $415,004,880
2 Alice in Wonderland (2010) (Disney) $334,191,110
3 Iron Man 2 (Paramount) $312,128,345
4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Summit) $300,531,751
5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Warner Bros.) $294,735,705
6 Inception (Warner Bros.) $292,576,195
7 Despicable Me (Universal) $251,513,985
8 Shrek Forever After (Paramount / DreamWorks) $238,395,990
9 How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount / DreamWorks) $217,581,231
10 Tangled (Disney) $196,675,983
11 The Karate Kid (2010) (Sony / Columbia) $176,591,618
12 TRON: Legacy (Disney) $171,590,201
13 True Grit (2010) (Paramount) $169,459,796
14 Clash of the Titans (2010) (Warner Bros.) $163,214,888
15 Grown Ups (Sony / Columbia) $162,001,186
16 Megamind (Paramount / DreamWorks) $148,415,853
17 Little Fockers (Universal) $148,410,330
18 The Last Airbender (Paramount) $131,601,062
19 The King's Speech (Weinstein Company) $129,762,441
20 Shutter Island (Paramount) $128,012,934
21 The Other Guys (Sony / Columbia) $119,219,978
22 Salt (Sony / Columbia) $118,311,368
23 Jackass 3D (Paramount) $117,229,692
24 Valentine's Day (Warner Bros. / New Line) $110,486,000
25 Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) $106,032,171
26 Robin Hood (Universal) $105,269,730
27 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Fox) $104,146,318
28 The Expendables (Lionsgate) $103,068,524
29 Due Date (Warner Bros.) $100,539,043
30 Yogi Bear (Warner Bros.) $98,826,848
31 Date Night (Fox) $98,711,404
32 The Social Network (Sony / Columbia) $96,962,694
33 Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros. / New Line) $95,347,692
34 The Book of Eli (Warner Bros.) $94,835,000
35 The Fighter (Paramount) $93,051,862
36 The Town (Warner Bros.) $92,186,262 $23,808,032
37 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Disney) $90,759,676
38 Red (2010) (Summit) $90,380,162
39 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) $88,761,720
40 Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) $84,752,907
41 Unstoppable (2010) (Fox) $81,562,942
42 Eat Pray Love (Sony / Columbia) $80,574,010
43 Dear John (Sony / Screen Gems) $80,014,521
44 The A-Team (Fox) $77,222,099
45 Knight and Day (Fox) $76,423,035
46 Dinner for Schmucks (Paramount / DreamWorks) $73,026,337
47 The Tourist (Sony / Columbia) $67,631,157
48 The Bounty Hunter (Sony / Columbia) $67,061,228
49 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Fox) $64,003,625
50 The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Disney) $63,150,991
51 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) (Warner Bros. / New Line) $63,075,011
52 The Last Song (Disney) $62,950,384
53 The Wolfman (Universal) $61,979,680
54 Get Him to the Greek (Universal) $60,974,475
55 Resident Evil: Afterlife (Sony / Screen Gems) $60,128,566
56 Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (Lionsgate) $60,095,852
57 The Tooth Fairy (Fox) $60,022,256
58 Secretariat (Disney) $59,713,955
59 Easy A (Sony / Screen Gems) $58,401,464
60 Takers (Sony / Screen Gems) $57,744,720
61 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Warner Bros.) $55,675,313
62 Life As We Know It (Warner Bros.) $53,374,681
63 Letters to Juliet (Summit) $53,032,453
64 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Fox) $52,474,616
65 Predators (Fox) $52,000,688
66 Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) $50,288,000
67 Kick-Ass (Lionsgate) $48,071,303
68 Killers (Lionsgate) $47,059,963
69 Saw 3D (Lionsgate) $45,710,178
70 Cop Out (Warner Bros.) $44,875,000
71 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (Warner Bros.) $43,585,753
72 Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros.) $43,313,294
73 Death at a Funeral (2010) (Sony / Screen Gems) $42,739,347
74 Gulliver's Travels (2010) (Fox) $42,667,214
75 Step Up 3D (Disney) $42,400,223
76 The Last Exorcism (Lionsgate) $41,034,350
77 Legion (Sony / Screen Gems) $40,122,704
78 Burlesque (Sony / Screen Gems) $39,440,655
79 The Crazies (Overture) $39,123,589
80 For Colored Girls (Lionsgate) $37,729,698
81 The Back-up Plan (CBS Films)$37,490,007
82 Vampires Suck (Fox) $36,661,504
83 The American (Focus) $35,606,376
84 Green Zone (Universal) $35,053,660
85 Marmaduke (Fox) $33,644,788
86 Devil (Universal) $33,601,190
87 Hereafter (Warner Bros.) $32,746,941
88 When in Rome (Disney) $32,669,056
89 Love and Other Drugs (Fox) $32,367,005
90 She's Out of My League (Paramount) $31,628,317
91 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal) $31,524,275
92 Charlie St. Cloud (Universal) $31,162,545
93 Morning Glory (2010) (Paramount) $31,011,732
94 How Do You Know (Sony / Columbia) $30,212,620
95 Daybreakers (Lionsgate) $30,101,144
96 Nanny McPhee Returns (Universal)
97 The Switch (2010) (Miramax) $27,779,426
98 Brooklyn's Finest (Overture) $27,163,593
99 Machete (Fox) $26,593,646
100 Ramona and Beezus (Fox) $26,167,002
Best picture nominees:
Toy Story 3 ($415,004,880)
Inception ($292,576,195)
True Grit ($169,459,796)
The King's Speech ($129,762,441)
Black Swan ($106,032,171)
The Social Network ($96,962,694)
The Fighter ($93,051,862)
The Kids Are All Right ($20,811,365)
127 Hours ($18,251,709)
Winter's Bone ($6,527,448)
Four sequels and one remake/re-imagining in the Top 5?
How many were original ideas?
How many had decent actors/directors attached to the project?
See many foreign or foreign language films on the list?
Is it acceptable to throw together a few explosions, large breasts, and watch people get hit in the groin repeatedly?
I guess I am adding to the problem by owning or planning to own nine of the top 11. But seriously, should we continue to reward cynical decisions to put out complete crap?
On a related note, will texting soon rob people of the power to communicate properly?
Will movies continue to deteriorate in quality and be aimed solely at the biggest demographic?
Will the aging population eventually force things to change?
Can we do anything about it?
Does anyone care?
Will it make us even dumber than we are now?
[Show spoiler]
Let's take a look at last year's Top 100 movies by US box office revenue. How many do you consider worth owning? I realize that some on the list have gone on to accumulate 2011 revenue, but this is just to give us an idea. Gross takings (US) are shown to the right of the title.
I'll highlight mine as I go. Those in blue are things I own. Those in green are things I will eventually own. Titles in red are things I own and wish I hadn't bothered.
1 Toy Story 3 (Disney) $415,004,880
2 Alice in Wonderland (2010) (Disney) $334,191,110
3 Iron Man 2 (Paramount) $312,128,345
4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Summit) $300,531,751
5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Warner Bros.) $294,735,705
6 Inception (Warner Bros.) $292,576,195
7 Despicable Me (Universal) $251,513,985
8 Shrek Forever After (Paramount / DreamWorks) $238,395,990
9 How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount / DreamWorks) $217,581,231
10 Tangled (Disney) $196,675,983
11 The Karate Kid (2010) (Sony / Columbia) $176,591,618
12 TRON: Legacy (Disney) $171,590,201
13 True Grit (2010) (Paramount) $169,459,796
14 Clash of the Titans (2010) (Warner Bros.) $163,214,888
15 Grown Ups (Sony / Columbia) $162,001,186
16 Megamind (Paramount / DreamWorks) $148,415,853
17 Little Fockers (Universal) $148,410,330
18 The Last Airbender (Paramount) $131,601,062
19 The King's Speech (Weinstein Company) $129,762,441
20 Shutter Island (Paramount) $128,012,934
21 The Other Guys (Sony / Columbia) $119,219,978
22 Salt (Sony / Columbia) $118,311,368
23 Jackass 3D (Paramount) $117,229,692
24 Valentine's Day (Warner Bros. / New Line) $110,486,000
25 Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) $106,032,171
26 Robin Hood (Universal) $105,269,730
27 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Fox) $104,146,318
28 The Expendables (Lionsgate) $103,068,524
29 Due Date (Warner Bros.) $100,539,043
30 Yogi Bear (Warner Bros.) $98,826,848
31 Date Night (Fox) $98,711,404
32 The Social Network (Sony / Columbia) $96,962,694
33 Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros. / New Line) $95,347,692
34 The Book of Eli (Warner Bros.) $94,835,000
35 The Fighter (Paramount) $93,051,862
36 The Town (Warner Bros.) $92,186,262 $23,808,032
37 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Disney) $90,759,676
38 Red (2010) (Summit) $90,380,162
39 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) $88,761,720
40 Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) $84,752,907
41 Unstoppable (2010) (Fox) $81,562,942
42 Eat Pray Love (Sony / Columbia) $80,574,010
43 Dear John (Sony / Screen Gems) $80,014,521
44 The A-Team (Fox) $77,222,099
45 Knight and Day (Fox) $76,423,035
46 Dinner for Schmucks (Paramount / DreamWorks) $73,026,337
47 The Tourist (Sony / Columbia) $67,631,157
48 The Bounty Hunter (Sony / Columbia) $67,061,228
49 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Fox) $64,003,625
50 The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Disney) $63,150,991
51 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) (Warner Bros. / New Line) $63,075,011
52 The Last Song (Disney) $62,950,384
53 The Wolfman (Universal) $61,979,680
54 Get Him to the Greek (Universal) $60,974,475
55 Resident Evil: Afterlife (Sony / Screen Gems) $60,128,566
56 Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (Lionsgate) $60,095,852
57 The Tooth Fairy (Fox) $60,022,256
58 Secretariat (Disney) $59,713,955
59 Easy A (Sony / Screen Gems) $58,401,464
60 Takers (Sony / Screen Gems) $57,744,720
61 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Warner Bros.) $55,675,313
62 Life As We Know It (Warner Bros.) $53,374,681
63 Letters to Juliet (Summit) $53,032,453
64 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Fox) $52,474,616
65 Predators (Fox) $52,000,688
66 Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) $50,288,000
67 Kick-Ass (Lionsgate) $48,071,303
68 Killers (Lionsgate) $47,059,963
69 Saw 3D (Lionsgate) $45,710,178
70 Cop Out (Warner Bros.) $44,875,000
71 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (Warner Bros.) $43,585,753
72 Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros.) $43,313,294
73 Death at a Funeral (2010) (Sony / Screen Gems) $42,739,347
74 Gulliver's Travels (2010) (Fox) $42,667,214
75 Step Up 3D (Disney) $42,400,223
76 The Last Exorcism (Lionsgate) $41,034,350
77 Legion (Sony / Screen Gems) $40,122,704
78 Burlesque (Sony / Screen Gems) $39,440,655
79 The Crazies (Overture) $39,123,589
80 For Colored Girls (Lionsgate) $37,729,698
81 The Back-up Plan (CBS Films)$37,490,007
82 Vampires Suck (Fox) $36,661,504
83 The American (Focus) $35,606,376
84 Green Zone (Universal) $35,053,660
85 Marmaduke (Fox) $33,644,788
86 Devil (Universal) $33,601,190
87 Hereafter (Warner Bros.) $32,746,941
88 When in Rome (Disney) $32,669,056
89 Love and Other Drugs (Fox) $32,367,005
90 She's Out of My League (Paramount) $31,628,317
91 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal) $31,524,275
92 Charlie St. Cloud (Universal) $31,162,545
93 Morning Glory (2010) (Paramount) $31,011,732
94 How Do You Know (Sony / Columbia) $30,212,620
95 Daybreakers (Lionsgate) $30,101,144
96 Nanny McPhee Returns (Universal)
97 The Switch (2010) (Miramax) $27,779,426
98 Brooklyn's Finest (Overture) $27,163,593
99 Machete (Fox) $26,593,646
100 Ramona and Beezus (Fox) $26,167,002
Best picture nominees:
Toy Story 3 ($415,004,880)
Inception ($292,576,195)
True Grit ($169,459,796)
The King's Speech ($129,762,441)
Black Swan ($106,032,171)
The Social Network ($96,962,694)
The Fighter ($93,051,862)
The Kids Are All Right ($20,811,365)
127 Hours ($18,251,709)
Winter's Bone ($6,527,448)
Four sequels and one remake/re-imagining in the Top 5?
How many were original ideas?
How many had decent actors/directors attached to the project?
See many foreign or foreign language films on the list?
Is it acceptable to throw together a few explosions, large breasts, and watch people get hit in the groin repeatedly?
I guess I am adding to the problem by owning or planning to own nine of the top 11. But seriously, should we continue to reward cynical decisions to put out complete crap?
On a related note, will texting soon rob people of the power to communicate properly?
Yes, I'm getting old.
Great points. In Korea, the highest grossing films are typically a good indicator of movie quality. It's interesting that the correlation holds up over there.
I'll highlight mine as I go. Those in blue are things I own. Those in green are things I will eventually own. Titles in red are things I own and wish I hadn't bothered.
[Show spoiler]1 Toy Story 3 (Disney) $415,004,880
2 Alice in Wonderland (2010) (Disney) $334,191,110
3 Iron Man 2 (Paramount) $312,128,345
4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Summit) $300,531,751
5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Warner Bros.) $294,735,705
6 Inception (Warner Bros.) $292,576,195
7 Despicable Me (Universal) $251,513,985
8 Shrek Forever After (Paramount / DreamWorks) $238,395,990
9 How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount / DreamWorks) $217,581,231
10 Tangled (Disney) $196,675,983
11 The Karate Kid (2010) (Sony / Columbia) $176,591,618
12 TRON: Legacy (Disney) $171,590,201
13 True Grit (2010) (Paramount) $169,459,796
14 Clash of the Titans (2010) (Warner Bros.) $163,214,888
15 Grown Ups (Sony / Columbia) $162,001,186
16 Megamind (Paramount / DreamWorks) $148,415,853
17 Little Fockers (Universal) $148,410,330
18 The Last Airbender (Paramount) $131,601,062
19 The King's Speech (Weinstein Company) $129,762,441
20 Shutter Island (Paramount) $128,012,934
21 The Other Guys (Sony / Columbia) $119,219,978
22 Salt (Sony / Columbia) $118,311,368
23 Jackass 3D (Paramount) $117,229,692
24 Valentine's Day (Warner Bros. / New Line) $110,486,000
25 Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) $106,032,171
26 Robin Hood (Universal) $105,269,730
27 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Fox) $104,146,318
28 The Expendables (Lionsgate) $103,068,524
29 Due Date (Warner Bros.) $100,539,043
30 Yogi Bear (Warner Bros.) $98,826,848
31 Date Night (Fox) $98,711,404
32 The Social Network (Sony / Columbia) $96,962,694
33 Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros. / New Line) $95,347,692
34 The Book of Eli (Warner Bros.) $94,835,000
35 The Fighter (Paramount) $93,051,862
36 The Town (Warner Bros.) $92,186,262 $23,808,032
37 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Disney) $90,759,676
38 Red (2010) (Summit) $90,380,162
39 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) $88,761,720
40 Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) $84,752,907
41 Unstoppable (2010) (Fox) $81,562,942
42 Eat Pray Love (Sony / Columbia) $80,574,010
43 Dear John (Sony / Screen Gems) $80,014,521
44 The A-Team (Fox) $77,222,099
45 Knight and Day (Fox) $76,423,035
46 Dinner for Schmucks (Paramount / DreamWorks) $73,026,337
47 The Tourist (Sony / Columbia) $67,631,157
48 The Bounty Hunter (Sony / Columbia) $67,061,228
49 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Fox) $64,003,625
50 The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Disney) $63,150,991
51 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) (Warner Bros. / New Line) $63,075,011
52 The Last Song (Disney) $62,950,384
53 The Wolfman (Universal) $61,979,680
54 Get Him to the Greek (Universal) $60,974,475
55 Resident Evil: Afterlife (Sony / Screen Gems) $60,128,566
56 Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (Lionsgate) $60,095,852
57 The Tooth Fairy (Fox) $60,022,256
58 Secretariat (Disney) $59,713,955
59 Easy A (Sony / Screen Gems) $58,401,464
60 Takers (Sony / Screen Gems) $57,744,720
61 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Warner Bros.) $55,675,313
62 Life As We Know It (Warner Bros.) $53,374,681
63 Letters to Juliet (Summit) $53,032,453
64 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Fox) $52,474,616
65 Predators (Fox) $52,000,688
66 Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) $50,288,000
67 Kick-Ass (Lionsgate) $48,071,303
68 Killers (Lionsgate) $47,059,963
69 Saw 3D (Lionsgate) $45,710,178
70 Cop Out (Warner Bros.) $44,875,000
71 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (Warner Bros.) $43,585,753
72 Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros.) $43,313,294
73 Death at a Funeral (2010) (Sony / Screen Gems) $42,739,347
74 Gulliver's Travels (2010) (Fox) $42,667,214
75 Step Up 3D (Disney) $42,400,223
76 The Last Exorcism (Lionsgate) $41,034,350
77 Legion (Sony / Screen Gems) $40,122,704
78 Burlesque (Sony / Screen Gems) $39,440,655
79 The Crazies (Overture) $39,123,589
80 For Colored Girls (Lionsgate) $37,729,698
81 The Back-up Plan (CBS Films)$37,490,007
82 Vampires Suck (Fox) $36,661,504
83 The American (Focus) $35,606,376
84 Green Zone (Universal) $35,053,660
85 Marmaduke (Fox) $33,644,788
86 Devil (Universal) $33,601,190
87 Hereafter (Warner Bros.) $32,746,941
88 When in Rome (Disney) $32,669,056
89 Love and Other Drugs (Fox) $32,367,005
90 She's Out of My League (Paramount) $31,628,317
91 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal) $31,524,275
92 Charlie St. Cloud (Universal) $31,162,545
93 Morning Glory (2010) (Paramount) $31,011,732
94 How Do You Know (Sony / Columbia) $30,212,620
95 Daybreakers (Lionsgate) $30,101,144
96 Nanny McPhee Returns (Universal)
97 The Switch (2010) (Miramax) $27,779,426
98 Brooklyn's Finest (Overture) $27,163,593
99 Machete (Fox) $26,593,646
100 Ramona and Beezus (Fox) $26,167,002
Best picture nominees:
Toy Story 3 ($415,004,880)
Inception ($292,576,195)
True Grit ($169,459,796)
The King's Speech ($129,762,441)
Black Swan ($106,032,171)
The Social Network ($96,962,694)
The Fighter ($93,051,862)
The Kids Are All Right ($20,811,365)
127 Hours ($18,251,709)
Winter's Bone ($6,527,448)
Four sequels and one remake/re-imagining in the Top 5?
How many were original ideas?
How many had decent actors/directors attached to the project?
See many foreign or foreign language films on the list?
Is it acceptable to throw together a few explosions, large breasts, and watch people get hit in the groin repeatedly?
I guess I am adding to the problem by owning or planning to own nine of the top 11. But seriously, should we continue to reward cynical decisions to put out complete crap?
On a related note, will texting soon rob people of the power to communicate properly?
Yes, I'm getting old.
I'll join it
Red = Good
Blue = Ok
Green = Crap
1 Toy Story 3 (Disney) $415,004,880
2 Alice in Wonderland (2010) (Disney) $334,191,110
3 Iron Man 2 (Paramount) $312,128,345
4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Summit) $300,531,751
5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (Warner Bros.)$294,735,705
6 Inception (Warner Bros.) $292,576,195
7 Despicable Me (Universal) $251,513,985
8 Shrek Forever After (Paramount / DreamWorks) $238,395,990
9 How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount / DreamWorks) $217,581,231
10 Tangled (Disney) $196,675,983
11 The Karate Kid (2010) (Sony / Columbia) $176,591,618
12 TRON: Legacy (Disney) $171,590,201
13 True Grit (2010) (Paramount) $169,459,796
14 Clash of the Titans (2010) (Warner Bros.) $163,214,888
15 Grown Ups (Sony / Columbia) $162,001,186
16 Megamind (Paramount / DreamWorks) $148,415,853
17 Little Fockers (Universal) $148,410,330
18 The Last Airbender (Paramount) $131,601,062
19 The King's Speech (Weinstein Company) $129,762,441
20 Shutter Island (Paramount) $128,012,934
21 The Other Guys (Sony / Columbia) $119,219,978
22 Salt (Sony / Columbia) $118,311,368
23 Jackass 3D (Paramount) $117,229,692
24 Valentine's Day (Warner Bros. / New Line) $110,486,000
25 Black Swan (Fox Searchlight) $106,032,171
26 Robin Hood (Universal) $105,269,730
27 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Fox) $104,146,318
28 The Expendables (Lionsgate) $103,068,524
29 Due Date (Warner Bros.) $100,539,043
30 Yogi Bear (Warner Bros.) $98,826,848
31 Date Night (Fox) $98,711,404
32 The Social Network (Sony / Columbia) $96,962,694
33 Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros. / New Line) $95,347,692
34 The Book of Eli (Warner Bros.) $94,835,000
35 The Fighter (Paramount) $93,051,862
36 The Town (Warner Bros.) $92,186,262 $23,808,032
37 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Disney) $90,759,676
38 Red (2010) (Summit) $90,380,162
39 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) $88,761,720
40 Paranormal Activity 2 (Paramount) $84,752,907
41 Unstoppable (2010) (Fox) $81,562,942
42 Eat Pray Love (Sony / Columbia) $80,574,010
43 Dear John (Sony / Screen Gems) $80,014,521
44 The A-Team (Fox) $77,222,099
45 Knight and Day (Fox) $76,423,035
46 Dinner for Schmucks (Paramount / DreamWorks) $73,026,337
47 The Tourist (Sony / Columbia) $67,631,157
48 The Bounty Hunter (Sony / Columbia) $67,061,228
49 Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Fox) $64,003,625
50 The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Disney) $63,150,991
51 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) (Warner Bros. / New Line) $63,075,011
52 The Last Song (Disney) $62,950,384
53 The Wolfman (Universal) $61,979,680
54 Get Him to the Greek (Universal) $60,974,475
55 Resident Evil: Afterlife (Sony / Screen Gems) $60,128,566
56 Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (Lionsgate) $60,095,852
57 The Tooth Fairy (Fox) $60,022,256
58 Secretariat (Disney) $59,713,955
59 Easy A (Sony / Screen Gems) $58,401,464
60 Takers (Sony / Screen Gems) $57,744,720
61 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Warner Bros.) $55,675,313
62 Life As We Know It (Warner Bros.) $53,374,681
63 Letters to Juliet (Summit) $53,032,453
64 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Fox) $52,474,616
65 Predators (Fox) $52,000,688
66 Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) $50,288,000
67 Kick-Ass (Lionsgate) $48,071,303
68 Killers (Lionsgate) $47,059,963
69 Saw 3D (Lionsgate) $45,710,178
70 Cop Out (Warner Bros.) $44,875,000
71 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (Warner Bros.) $43,585,753
72 Edge of Darkness (Warner Bros.) $43,313,294
73 Death at a Funeral (2010) (Sony / Screen Gems) $42,739,347
74 Gulliver's Travels (2010) (Fox) $42,667,214
75 Step Up 3D (Disney) $42,400,223
76 The Last Exorcism (Lionsgate) $41,034,350
77 Legion (Sony / Screen Gems) $40,122,704
78 Burlesque (Sony / Screen Gems) $39,440,655
79 The Crazies (Overture) $39,123,589
80 For Colored Girls (Lionsgate) $37,729,698
81 The Back-up Plan (CBS Films)$37,490,007
82 Vampires Suck (Fox) $36,661,504
83 The American (Focus) $35,606,376
84 Green Zone (Universal) $35,053,660
85 Marmaduke (Fox) $33,644,788
86 Devil (Universal) $33,601,190
87 Hereafter (Warner Bros.) $32,746,941
88 When in Rome (Disney) $32,669,056
89 Love and Other Drugs (Fox) $32,367,005
90 She's Out of My League (Paramount) $31,628,317
91 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Universal) $31,524,275
92 Charlie St. Cloud (Universal) $31,162,545
93 Morning Glory (2010) (Paramount) $31,011,732
94 How Do You Know (Sony / Columbia) $30,212,620
95 Daybreakers (Lionsgate) $30,101,144
96 Nanny McPhee Returns (Universal)
97 The Switch (2010) (Miramax) $27,779,426
98 Brooklyn's Finest (Overture) $27,163,593
99 Machete (Fox) $26,593,646
100 Ramona and Beezus (Fox) $26,167,002
Best picture nominees:
Toy Story 3 ($415,004,880)
Inception ($292,576,195)
True Grit ($169,459,796)
The King's Speech ($129,762,441)
Black Swan ($106,032,171)
The Social Network ($96,962,694)
The Fighter ($93,051,862)
The Kids Are All Right ($20,811,365)
127 Hours ($18,251,709)
Winter's Bone ($6,527,448)
[Show spoiler]I love how "simple" the story is. Mainly three people in the film and one pesky screw up involving a fly. I love how simple some films can be while still holding your complete attention, and The Fly does just that.
Hell, the film kind of starts off as an odd, weird romance film. The first 30 minutes nothing really sci-fi or horror happens. We just spend a lot of time with the characters getting to know each other. But once the weird, creepy and scary stuff does happen, it REALLY happens!
+ make up / costumes. Much like how The Thing amazed me with visuals and make up, so does The Fly. A few moments yes, look very costume-like, but a lot of scenes made me cringe because it was so creepy and detailed. Awesome
+ Jeff Goldblum. Awesome in this role. He + the script = pure genius. He adds a charisma and genuine goodness to a very dark script and story. And there is also some very dark humor and LOL moments and Goldblum delivers lines terrifically.
+ atmosphere. We all know I'm a big fan and The Fly succeeds! Love the dingy, dark, cold looking world that Cronenberg creates here. Love it!
Probably gonna turn into one of my favorite horror films although labeling it as just a horror film would be an insult to the film.
4.5/5
Just saw it.
Very great movie, drama in the first place and than only horror.
The ending was really sad, I really felt for the hero. Almost cried.
year: 1997
director: mike figgis
starring: nicolas cage & elisabeth shue
finally watched my blu of this today. what a bright, cheerful, uplifting film that makes you love the whole wide world
juuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding.
probably one of the more depressing, bleak films out there.
i mean, the film is about a guy who deliberately goes to Vegas to blow all his money on alcohol and kill himself after losing his job. so, yeah, not really a fun family centered flick
shue delivers a terrific performance, as does Cage. and as they say, one of the hardest performances to give is trying to come across as drunk. and hell, maybe he was because he was exceptional. but it's not a "wow. best performance ever" type deal that catches your attention. it's the little details and actions of Cage that carry his character through this abysmal hell hole.
and of course, i love it
not perfect though. the "story" is incredibly bleak and just kind of carries on and on with no uplifting moments or anything that breaks up what we see through two odd ball, connected lovers (one of the oddest relationships ever seen in a film). and the musical score at times is way too much and a few instances, incredibly cheesy and awful and have not aged well. but no real issues. love it, but definitely not a personal favorite or anything like that.
glad i own it. of course, the blu doesn't look or sound all that great, but i wasn't expecting something spectacular. the lack of any sort of extras though is incredibly disappointing
Man o Man, this is the second time I have tried watching "The Conformist." I can't get into this movie whatsoever. Anyone try watching it or have seen it have the same issues as me?
[Show spoiler]Directed by Walter Hill
Starring Michael Beck, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly
93 minutes
The future is ours...if you can count.
I have a small pile of unwatched Blu-rays, but last night I was in the mood for something I already knew. After much deliberation, I went with The Warriors.
I like to analyze why I enjoy certain movies so that I can understand myself more, but this one is tricky.
I know that I don't like watching violence or people getting beaten up, unless there's a point to it. I certainly don't think it's cool to watch a fight or someone being hurt. I have no fascination for gangs in general. The acting isn't up to much and dialogue is limited. I couldn't pick out a selection of scenes that were meaningful or memorable. So why do I enjoy watching this movie?
I do like the setting. Released in 1979, it was intended to have a somewhat futuristic look. It still seems dated to me though.
The first 15 minutes sets up the story so I don't think talking about it is much of a spoiler. The gangs are requested to attend a meeting by Cyrus, the leader of the biggest gang. Those attending are allowed to send nine members from their gang and weapons aren't allowed. Cyrus points out that members from rival gangs are standing together without anyone getting wasted. He also observes that there are 60,000 gang members in New York and only 20,000 police. Instead of fighting over a few yards of turf, the combined force could take over the city. That's an interesting idea. Unfortunately, gangs being what they are, one of the gang members (Kelly, Twin Peaks) hasn't obeyed the truce and shoots Cyrus, killing him. He points at the Warriors, claiming they did the shooting.
So the nine gang members are surrounded by rival gangs, weaponless, fifty miles from home. Both the police and the rival gangs are after them. The story shows what happens when they try to make it back to their home turf. Nine innocent men on the run; Hitchcock would be proud.
As I said, that's the first 15 minutes. The remainder of the story deals with the journey home. Will they all make it? Will any of them?
The soundtrack adds something and a local radio station monitors the progress of the Warriors. The original music by Barry De Vorzon fits in well and makes the whole thing an atmospheric experience.
Various encounters with other gangs and the police ensue. The gangs all have their own colors and way of doing things.
It's such a simple story, but it works. It's become something of a cult classic over the years in the same way that Escape From New York has.
I'm still not sure why I like it so much. Do I place myself in their position? Is it nostalgia for my childhood? Most of the characters are merely sketches, although some have a bit more depth. There are quiet periods where we just see the Warriors walking around, although the scenes are filled with tension because a threat could appear at any time.
After all that, I'm still not sure.
Would I recommend this? Sure. It's not what you would think just by looking at the title or the cover. If you can see it for free, it's worth checking out. Maybe you'll have the same reaction as me.
This is a surprisingly good transfer for a movie of its age and limited budget. The sound quality is a little lacking, being just DD 5.1.
year: 2005
director: david slade
starring: ellen page & patrick wilson
first time i've watched my blu of Hard Candy.
first time seeing the film in about 5 years. and i must say, the film has held up exceptionally well! right from the get go there are some cringe worthy scenes that make you shake with fear, anger, disgust and a million other things. and those feelings very rarely let up.
i honestly think david slade creates a very Hitchcock-esque type film. and what i mean by that is that i hear that Hitchcock creates films where you find yourself sympathetic to the character you are least likely to connect and feel sorry for. and that his films sometimes come off as one thing and quickly turn into something else. i've only seen Psycho of his, which starts off almost as a romance and turns into a murder / horror suspense title. and Hard Candy is a lot like that.
you hear a film is about a 14 year old girl and a 32 year old man who seems interested in her, and you suddenly feel vile, sick, and hate the 32 year old. but, as Hard Candy plays out, neither character seems as they are. now, i'm not saying either character is "right" in what they do, but man, when Hayley (Page) and Jeff (Wilson) are
[Show spoiler]on the roof and Jeff has to decide to hang himself so Janelle doesn't find out about he may have done, does, or did
i was really sympathetic towards Jeff, which really doesn't make a lot of sense, but i thought of it on a level maybe others didn't
performance wise, Page and Wilson are TERRIFIC. Page is wise beyond her years and while a few lines of dialogue are a bit cliche or cringe worthy (almost ripped from a comic book), the film succeeds and is carried to high heights by the performances of the two main leads. i think Wilson is the better of the two though because of the character he has to play and has more subtleties than Hayley's character.
well worth the $9.99 and i cannot wait to listen to Page and Wilson's commentary track. that's gotta be good
highly recommended for thriller / psychological suspense fans, but subject matter might turn some off, but for the wrong reasons. this is not a film filled with blood, violence or gore. sure, there are some scenes that make you tense up because of what is being talked about, done off camera, but none of it is ever shown. genius film making
Man o Man, this is the second time I have tried watching "The Conformist." I can't get into this movie whatsoever. Anyone try watching it or have seen it have the same issues as me?
cannot say i have seen it, or maybe even heard of it will have to look it up.
is it just too slow, story not connecting for you? what are the issues you're having with it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pondosinatra
I like her performance when they're at the pool....
year: 2005
director: david slade
starring: ellen page & patrick wilson
first time i've watched my blu of Hard Candy.
first time seeing the film in about 5 years. and i must say, the film has held up exceptionally well! right from the get go there are some cringe worthy scenes that make you shake with fear, anger, disgust and a million other things. and those feelings very rarely let up.
i honestly think david slade creates a very Hitchcock-esque type film. and what i mean by that is that i hear that Hitchcock creates films where you find yourself sympathetic to the character you are least likely to connect and feel sorry for. and that his films sometimes come off as one thing and quickly turn into something else. i've only seen Psycho of his, which starts off almost as a romance and turns into a murder / horror suspense title. and Hard Candy is a lot like that.
you hear a film is about a 14 year old girl and a 32 year old man who seems interested in her, and you suddenly feel vile, sick, and hate the 32 year old. but, as Hard Candy plays out, neither character seems as they are. now, i'm not saying either character is "right" in what they do, but man, when Hayley (Page) and Jeff (Wilson) are
[Show spoiler]on the roof and Jeff has to decide to hang himself so Janelle doesn't find out about he may have done, does, or did
i was really sympathetic towards Jeff, which really doesn't make a lot of sense, but i thought of it on a level maybe others didn't
performance wise, Page and Wilson are TERRIFIC. Page is wise beyond her years and while a few lines of dialogue are a bit cliche or cringe worthy (almost ripped from a comic book), the film succeeds and is carried to high heights by the performances of the two main leads. i think Wilson is the better of the two though because of the character he has to play and has more subtleties than Hayley's character.
well worth the $9.99 and i cannot wait to listen to Page and Wilson's commentary track. that's gotta be good
highly recommended for thriller / psychological suspense fans, but subject matter might turn some off, but for the wrong reasons. this is not a film filled with blood, violence or gore. sure, there are some scenes that make you tense up because of what is being talked about, done off camera, but none of it is ever shown. genius film making
4.5/5
Nice review. I also loved the movie but i am a huge Ellen Page fan.
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seems to be what a lot of people feel about Big Fish. hopefully i'm the same way, but i'll go in with tempered expectations so i don't go in expecting something super awesome and maybe getting disappointed. but i always give films at least two shots, so even if it doesn't do much on the first viewing, i will give it another chance later on before deciding on keeping it or not. but as long as i don't hate it, it'll stay put 
will have to look it up.
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