The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

that's for sure! i'm hoping the latest blind buys will be better (The Rock and The Exorcist) than the last two and i had such a good run for awhile

and then i still have to watch: Big Fish, Southland Tales, and John Adams. so i hope those are big winners as well

I enjoyed The Rock. Didn't love it by any means, but it was definitely entertaining.

honestly i forgot that this was Disney, which usually means cheesy feel good crap that is hollow and cold. and then a bunch of people said, "but wait! it's not like a regular Disney film! it's special and not like what they usually make!" (including one water-based member who visits this forum quite regularly ) which made me think this would be different from the standard Disney films, which i don't enjoy a whole lot (aside from a select few which i absolutely love) but i guess i was wrong

will be keeping it though since i didn't hate it and it may grow on me, we'll see

I was quite that the movie got so much love around here. Like I said, I'm more inclined to believe I'll feel closer to your opinion than some of the other feelings I've read on it.

I'm not that big on the Disney animated movies as a whole. Like you there are a few that I do LOVE (Lion King, Aladdin) but the majority of them are just okay or worse for me .

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I'm not that big on the Disney animated movies as a whole. Like you there are a few that I do LOVE (Lion King, Aladdin) but the majority of them are just okay or worse for me .

Haha those are the same two for me I don't know if I've even really seen many others now that I think about it. The rest, especially older ones just didn't interest me. Or if I did see them when I was younger I disliked them (101 Dalmatians, Snow White) and thus stayed away from them.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Haha those are the same two for me

I don't know if I've even really seen many others now that I think about it. The rest, especially older ones just didn't interest me. Or if I did see them when I was younger I disliked them (101 Dalmatians, Snow White) and thus stayed away from them.

I haven't seen many of them in a while...but I don't have any interest in revisiting them either.

I just looked through the list of all 50:

I've seen 34 out of 50.

Love: Lion King and Aladdin

Really Like: Tarzan and The Fox and the Hound (I forgot about these two)

Like: Hercules, Atlantis: The Lost Empire


Everything else is either 1) , 2) or 3) Haven't seen it.


Lion King and Aladdin are the only purchase worthy ones for me.


There's also A Goofy Movie...which I love that one...but it isn't one of the 50 theatrical ones for Walt Disney Animation, it's DisneyToons.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Tangled

91 minutes

[Show spoiler]
year: 2010
director: Nathan Greno & Byron Howard
starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy (voices)

dammit! another blind buy. another film leaving me feeling

i liked Tangled. but that was pretty much it.

some funny moments sure, along with about sixty billion generic, Disney cliches that are done to death. and i've only seen about 10 Disney animated films and am quite sick of them. i can't imagine someone seeing all 50 of their animated full feature lengths and not getting sick of this tried and true (but for me tiresome and dull) formula.

Pascal stole every scene he was in. what an adorable little guy he is!

felt super long for being only 91 minutes, which isn't good.

3/5

I'm very surprised. I figured this would be a sure thing for you, but I guess it being a keeper is something at least. I have a good feeling I'll be giving this a higher rating.

Originally Posted by Diesel

You've gotta stop with the blind buys

Maybe he just needs to not blind buy so many. He blind buys more than even I do. It seems he usually does a good job with them, but you can't win with them all.

[iam1bearcat]

Awwwwww yeahhhhh! A Goofy Movie! love that one. Would love to see that on blu

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I'm very surprised. I figured this would be a sure thing for you, but I guess it being a keeper is something at least. I have a good feeling I'll be giving this a higher rating.

Oh yes. A definite keeper. I enjoyed it. Just wasn't anywhere near the level of a Pixar film, or something like Fantastic Mr. Fox for me. But since I got it for 11.49 I'm not gonna go sell it. No way. And hopefully you enjoy it like so many are. You'll definitely enjoy Pascal

Maybe he just needs to not blind buy so many. He blind buys more than even I do. It seems he usually does a good job with them, but you can't win with them all.

Of my first 100 blus, 46 were blind buys lol. And of the next 5 purchases, 4 of those are blind buys too! but since I don't go to the theatre, and don't really rent or use netflix my blind buying will almost surely go up in percentage of my collection.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Of my first 100 blus, 46 were blind buys lol. And of the next 5 purchases, 4 of those are blind buys too! but since I don't go to the theatre, and don't really rent or use netflix my blind buying will almost surely go up in percentage of my collection.

I'm like you in preferring to blind buy rather than see a movie in the theater. I will go to the theater at most three times a year. I just don't buy movies at the rate you do, that's all.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Maybe he just needs to not blind buy so many. He blind buys more than even I do. It seems he usually does a good job with them, but you can't win with them all.

We sound like the little guys sitting on his shoulders

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Awwwwww yeahhhhh! A Goofy Movie! love that one. Would love to see that on blu

I have these two songs on my phone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnDlvcKRBMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoIFa94fD3c

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Of my first 100 blus, 46 were blind buys lol. And of the next 5 purchases, 4 of those are blind buys too! but since I don't go to the theatre, and don't really rent or use netflix my blind buying will almost surely go up in percentage of my collection.

Originally Posted by killowertz

I'm like you in preferring to blind buy rather than see a movie in the theater. I will go to the theater at most three times a year. I just don't buy movies at the rate you do, that's all.

As killowertz already knows...I'm the opposite
I love going to the theater.

I've been to the theater over 60 times from 2007 to 2010. I've been 3 times so far this year and will be going at least 11 more times before the year is over.


As far as blind buys, I have only 2 (Quantum of Solace/Into the Blue). 3 if you count the Director's Cut of Kingdom of Heaven.

[Hep]

Love and Other Drugs

The title is perfectly apt, and it seems this is another romantic comedy trying to define love. True, but wait there’s more, and it surprised me. This movie is about a journey of discovery that sees a man (Jamie) rocket through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from the base to the pinnacle. She (Maggie) is a soul, unbalanced in her need for love and belonging, with trust issues that prevent any real peace.

The movie sets up their personalities with smart dialogue and wit. The comedy works best when it’s subtle. The sidekick rarely adds much to the mix, but is necessary for a few good gags. In any case, the laughs are pretty relentless throughout the first act.

Don’t fall into the trap that this film is about Parkinson’s or Viagra; that would confuse the plot with the theme. The movie’s achievement is its ability to strip the notion of love down to nothing, and then build it from the bottom up. He is a ludic lover, in it for the game, without commitment. For her it starts as pragmatism. For both it quickly becomes erotic and all about the “me” - that is, until becomes about each other. She is as emotionally guarded as a medieval maiden’s virginity. She understands the burden awaiting any potential life partner, and protects herself with cold distance.

The transformation happens first for him, and necessarily so. He has an epiphany that brings him to realise he needs more from life than what lies on his current path. No sooner does he change direction than he is presented with one of the best conflicts I’ve seen in a rom-com. In a particularly sobering scene, he is hit with the realization that success for him means making a monumental choice toward being unconditionally selfless. This is called agape love, and it is particularly rare. What is more impressive is that Jake Gyllenhaal makes this transformation believable, an impressive feat given where his character started.

We aren’t done yet. The next poignant event is to break through Maggie’s protective shell. Jamie’s hard sell (mirroring his job as a drug salesman) is to prove that he has indeed made the journey from dick to unconditional lover. Both actors perform wonderfully and the emotional intensity is dense.

The director here does a fantastic job taking the audience along with Jamie’s journey. This is also where he loses part of his unsuspecting audience. The transition scene is off-putting, both for Jamie and the audience. The movie takes on a much more serious tone, and supporting characters (like the sidekick) become trivial and distracting. Those able to successfully navigate this change are able to tap into a unique and brilliant idea about what it really means to fully love another.

4.5/5

Food rating:

[Show spoiler]
It all starts with fire, but you must break through the crust to get to the sweet creme inside.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

We sound like the little guys sitting on his shoulders

Who you callin little?

Originally Posted by Hep

Love and Other Drugs

[Show spoiler]
The title is perfectly apt, and it seems this is another romantic comedy trying to define love. True, but wait there’s more, and it surprised me. This movie is about a journey of discovery that sees a man (Jamie) rocket through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from the base to the pinnacle. She (Maggie) is a soul, unbalanced in her need for love and belonging, with trust issues that prevent any real peace.

The movie sets up their personalities with smart dialogue and wit. The comedy works best when it’s subtle. The sidekick rarely adds much to the mix, but is necessary for a few good gags. In any case, the laughs are pretty relentless throughout the first act.

Don’t fall into the trap that this film is about Parkinson’s or Viagra; that would confuse the plot with the theme. The movie’s achievement is its ability to strip the notion of love down to nothing, and then build it from the bottom up. He is a ludic lover, in it for the game, without commitment. For her it starts as pragmatism. For both it quickly becomes erotic and all about the “me” - that is, until becomes about each other. She is as emotionally guarded as a medieval maiden’s virginity. She understands the burden awaiting any potential life partner, and protects herself with cold distance.

The transformation happens first for him, and necessarily so. He has an epiphany that brings him to realise he needs more from life than what lies on his current path. No sooner does he change direction than he is presented with one of the best conflicts I’ve seen in a rom-com. In a particularly sobering scene, he is hit with the realization that success for him means making a monumental choice toward being unconditionally selfless. This is called agape love, and it is particularly rare. What is more impressive is that Jake Gyllenhaal makes this transformation believable, an impressive feat given where his character started.

We aren’t done yet. The next poignant event is to break through Maggie’s protective shell. Jamie’s hard sell (mirroring his job as a drug salesman) is to prove that he has indeed made the journey from dick to unconditional lover. Both actors perform wonderfully and the emotional intensity is dense.

The director here does a fantastic job taking the audience along with Jamie’s journey. This is also where he loses part of his unsuspecting audience. The transition scene is off-putting, both for Jamie and the audience. The movie takes on a much more serious tone, and supporting characters (like the sidekick) become trivial and distracting. Those able to successfully navigate this change are able to tap into a unique and brilliant idea about what it really means to fully love another.

4.5/5

Food rating:

[Show spoiler]
It all starts with fire, but you must break through the crust to get to the sweet creme inside.

I blind bought this when it came out and really enjoyed it. Like you said, I thought Jake and Anne both did very well in their roles. I'm surprised it didn't get more love from critics and the public.

[dag]

Someone - anyone! - please, please, PLEASE tell me who this is and every movie she's ever appeared in (even as a voiceover), and I will add them to my Zip list!

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by dag

Someone - anyone! - please, please, PLEASE tell me who this is and every movie she's ever appeared in (even as a voiceover), and I will add them to my Zip list!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1512166/
Jamie Chung

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Tangled

91 minutes

year: 2010
director: Nathan Greno & Byron Howard
starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy (voices)

dammit! another blind buy. another film leaving me feeling

i liked Tangled. but that was pretty much it.

some funny moments sure, along with about sixty billion generic, Disney cliches that are done to death. and i've only seen about 10 Disney animated films and am quite sick of them. i can't imagine someone seeing all 50 of their animated full feature lengths and not getting sick of this tried and true (but for me tiresome and dull) formula.

Pascal stole every scene he was in. what an adorable little guy he is!

felt super long for being only 91 minutes, which isn't good.

3/5

Tangled and Black Swan get so-so reviews.

I sense you are going into burn out mode again.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Tangled and Black Swan get so-so reviews.

I sense you are going into burn out mode again.

It always seems like he's in burnout mode to me.
I kid, I kid. Watching "Avatar" right now, the Japanese version. Still surprised Tom Cruise gets so little love for this role.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I agree completely but I respect Al's take on it--it's a film that despite the flaws I personally think it has, which Al acknowledges may be there, it's still a film that resonates with him, which is great. There are certainly films that I like that have a lot of flaws but resonate with me, in spite of the flaws. In the end, that's what matters.

Right on!

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

As for your comments Darth, I've been a vocal critic of the film (which I gave 3 stars out of 4 I believe, due to its entertainment value) for its editing, direction, and laughably cliche themes and thematic scenes. I agree with you that Eckhart was outstanding, and I think his performance got kind of lost in the shuffle. Sure, Ledger was great and deserved the Oscar, but it bordered on overacting. I think Eckhart wasn't far behind him in terms of his performance.

Funny thing is, last time I watched "TDK" I thought he was under-acting. I think because compared to Jack Nicholson he was pretty straight. And having seen some more of Heath Ledger's performances beforehand I started to see how Ledger's typical acting style fits with his portrayal of the Joker, and it seemed a little less crazy.

Originally Posted by Diesel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DRZLJzzHls

The single most amazing scene in cinematic history.

GUMMY BEARS!!!!!!

I love it when Steve rips out the one bear's heart!

Originally Posted by Diesel

I really enjoy this one

I don't think it's as bad as everyone claims. Sure, the original "Day the Earth Stood Still" is a grade better in many ways, but the remake has some interesting ideas. Comparing the two ought to be as interesting as comparing the 60s and 70s versions of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Or the 60s and 80s versions of "The Thing."

Originally Posted by Diesel

This isn't directed specifically at you, but just out there in general.

I HATE when people say that. "Take away X and movie Y would not be as good"
Whatever they are talking about is PART OF THE MOVIE; you can't take it away and judge the movie without it.

It's like saying "Take away Darth Vader and Star Wars isn't as good" or "Take away Johnny Depp and the Pirates movies aren't as good".

While it may be true...it's ridiculous to say because those are pieces of the puzzle that makes a film what it is.


/rant

I was thinking the same thing.

Originally Posted by Diesel

While I highly disagree with the bolded, I completely agree with the underlined. Eckhart got lost in the storm of praise that Ledger got; he was very much deserving of praise of his own.

I thought Eckhart was darn near perfect.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

It always seems like he's in burnout mode to me.
I kid, I kid. Watching "Avatar" right now, the Japanese version. Still surprised Tom Cruise gets so little love for this role.

Had to think about that one for a minute...

[Show spoiler]when was Tom Cruise in "Avatar?" What is this Japanese cut of "Avatar?!"

Oh wait, "The Last Samurai," duh!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

Love and Other Drugs

[Show spoiler]The title is perfectly apt, and it seems this is another romantic comedy trying to define love. True, but wait there’s more, and it surprised me. This movie is about a journey of discovery that sees a man (Jamie) rocket through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from the base to the pinnacle. She (Maggie) is a soul, unbalanced in her need for love and belonging, with trust issues that prevent any real peace.

The movie sets up their personalities with smart dialogue and wit. The comedy works best when it’s subtle. The sidekick rarely adds much to the mix, but is necessary for a few good gags. In any case, the laughs are pretty relentless throughout the first act.

Don’t fall into the trap that this film is about Parkinson’s or Viagra; that would confuse the plot with the theme. The movie’s achievement is its ability to strip the notion of love down to nothing, and then build it from the bottom up. He is a ludic lover, in it for the game, without commitment. For her it starts as pragmatism. For both it quickly becomes erotic and all about the “me” - that is, until becomes about each other. She is as emotionally guarded as a medieval maiden’s virginity. She understands the burden awaiting any potential life partner, and protects herself with cold distance.

The transformation happens first for him, and necessarily so. He has an epiphany that brings him to realise he needs more from life than what lies on his current path. No sooner does he change direction than he is presented with one of the best conflicts I’ve seen in a rom-com. In a particularly sobering scene, he is hit with the realization that success for him means making a monumental choice toward being unconditionally selfless. This is called agape love, and it is particularly rare. What is more impressive is that Jake Gyllenhaal makes this transformation believable, an impressive feat given where his character started.

We aren’t done yet. The next poignant event is to break through Maggie’s protective shell. Jamie’s hard sell (mirroring his job as a drug salesman) is to prove that he has indeed made the journey from dick to unconditional lover. Both actors perform wonderfully and the emotional intensity is dense.

The director here does a fantastic job taking the audience along with Jamie’s journey. This is also where he loses part of his unsuspecting audience. The transition scene is off-putting, both for Jamie and the audience. The movie takes on a much more serious tone, and supporting characters (like the sidekick) become trivial and distracting. Those able to successfully navigate this change are able to tap into a unique and brilliant idea about what it really means to fully love another.

4.5/5

Food rating:

[Show spoiler]
It all starts with fire, but you must break through the crust to get to the sweet creme inside.

I received this from Netflix yesterday. After reading your review, my mindset will be different going in, and I bet I'll enjoy it more because of that.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by dag

[Show spoiler]

Someone - anyone! - please, please, PLEASE tell me who this is and every movie she's ever appeared in (even as a voiceover), and I will add them to my Zip list!

Then you better go see Sucker Punch.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Had to think about that one for a minute...

[Show spoiler]when was Tom Cruise in "Avatar?" What is this Japanese cut of "Avatar?!"

Oh wait, "The Last Samurai," duh!

I did the exact same thing. I was saying "WTF are you talking about.....Oh...Nevermind.

[dag]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Then you better go see Sucker Punch.

[Show spoiler] Touche!