The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

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.

I think you'll like it. In terms of rom-coms, I found this one more enjoyable than most. Most of my points come from its fresh prespective and some smart dialogue; something that's missing from so many cookie-cutter rom-coms.

It's still not my favourite genre by a long shot .

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

+1! I thought I might be too old for this one, but now will reconsider seeing it in theaters.

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

[Show spoiler]

I consider her the hottest Asian alive, hope she's in a lot of it.

Kristen Kreuk is my number one. The things I wouldn't do to her.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Thats because your brain is defective. I'd contact the manufacturer for a replacement.

I'm still surprised at how undewhelmed you were.

haha

It's not that I'm that underwhelmed, I just think it's far from a fantastic film and even further from a modern masterpiece. I think it was hokey at times and relied too much on "gotcha" moments, as well as borrowing too heavily from films like The Red Shoes and Repulsion.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Guess you were none too impressed by it then.Maybe you're right,but think it might be a stayer depending on the stayingpower of facebook itself.To me it wasn't DF best movie,but it was in this decade.Think maybe DF is the best director working with actors amongst the hollywood establishment.Can't fault one performance in the movie.I am almost adicted to the movie these days,but the fad will wear off I guess.Doesn't have the depth of neither Se7en or FC,but extremely well-made.Anyone want to venture an analyzis of the rowing scene with Grieg's Mountain hall's alternativ take?It was the stand-out scene in the movie.Why were they filming it like it was a miniature set?A comment on the harvard establishment?Oh,well.Bought the music cd,and it is very well made.One last disjointed thought:Feel somewhat that many movies these days(last two decades:90's and 00's)are kind of like a series of musicvideos linked together Like better original scores written for the movie and not the charts.

Is that because of the fan-boy base?Was on sale,and bought it to check if my original opinion was too harsh.It wasn't.While viewing it for the second time,it just came out boring.There is not much character development-as in none,and for a movie trying so desperate to be deep,it comes off as a series of moments disjointed to me.It felt to me like a moviegame without the interaction,and that's the worst kind.No offence to those who like it,but I'm not one of them.

About the Black swan.Think it was a very hit-and-miss movie.Just drifted through the movie without connecting,but the ending was very good,although one could really see it coming a mile off.It felt kind of like The hurt locker.The director trying hard to come to a point where you had to engage the suspention of disbelief rather actively.There are huge wholes in the movies,but as an experience they are greater than the sum of their parts.Black swan is obviously better,but they share commonalities.

I certainly appreciate the depth of your comments. For me, Social Network's importance and lasting power will have little to do with Facebook. There's no doubt Facebook will continual to be a massive global entity, but as we all know the film isn't concerned with Facebook itself, but rather with the relationships that led to it. Nothing about the film is so exceptional that will make it remembered. Mind you, I gave it 3 1/2 (out of 4), so I wasn't underwhelmed. I think it's a very good film, just not memorable.

My comments about Inception are in part due to the fanbase, of course. How many films are still remembered due to the respective fanbase or "cult" status? A ton, even many that aren't of high quality. I think Inception certainly has depth to it, but it's not this huge complex mystery that everyone makes it out to be. Social Network is a better film. Inception has more lasting power.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by 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.

I liked the film a lot. Hathaway could've gotten an Oscar nom. The flaw of the movie is that it has scenes of juvenile humor that, while funny, detract from the seriousness of what the film is about.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

+1! I thought I might be too old for this one, but now will reconsider seeing it in theaters.



Kristen Kreuk is my number one. The things I wouldn't do to her.

I've always disliked Kristen, one of the few intended hotties on Smallville that I never thought was pretty

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I liked the film a lot. Hathaway could've gotten an Oscar nom. The flaw of the movie is that it has scenes of juvenile humor that, while funny, detract from the seriousness of what the film is about.

Looking forward to getting it next week since it finally won't be $30.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

haha

It's not that I'm that underwhelmed, I just think it's far from a fantastic film and even further from a modern masterpiece. I think it was hokey at times and relied too much on "gotcha" moments, as well as borrowing too heavily from films like The Red Shoes and Repulsion.

Fair criticisms for sure. I think I was just very successful at suspending sophistication and memory. I wanted to love it, and therefore did.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

My comments about Inception are in part due to the fanbase, of course. How many films are still remembered due to the respective fanbase or "cult" status? A ton, even many that aren't of high quality. I think Inception certainly has depth to it, but it's not this huge complex mystery that everyone makes it out to be. Social Network is a better film. Inception has more lasting power.

Yep, that's the way I see it. Just like "The Matrix," "The Terminator," "Alien," "Star Wars," and countless other solid sci-fi franchises. They never really win awards or are considered as cinematically prestigious, but they remain successful to this day thanks to their fans always replenishing their popularity.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Yep, that's the way I see it. Just like "The Matrix," "The Terminator," "Alien," "Star Wars," and countless other solid sci-fi franchises. They never really win awards or are considered as cinematically prestigious, but they remain successful to this day thanks to their fans always replenishing their popularity.

The Matrix - Sci-Fi
Terminator - Sci-Fi/Action
Alien - Suspense/horror
Star Wars - Fantasy

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

The Matrix - Sci-Fi
Terminator - Sci-Fi/Action
Alien - Suspense/horror
Star Wars - Fantasy

It's a very thin line sometimes.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

It's a very thin line sometimes.

Well I am one of those that considers sci-fi more of a sub genre than its own genre, since sci-fi movies are usually also action, horror or drama as well.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Well I am one of those that considers sci-fi more of a sub genre than its own genre, since sci-fi movies are usually also action, horror or drama as well.

I see. It's the total opposite for me. I think because I like Sci-Fi so much I count everything as Sci-Fi.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I liked the film a lot. Hathaway could've gotten an Oscar nom. The flaw of the movie is that it has scenes of juvenile humor that, while funny, detract from the seriousness of what the film is about.

I'd argue that the juvenile humour really fit Jamie's headspace at the begining of the movie, so it was all part of the journey. I agree that those moments did fall rather flat once things got more serious. The good thing is that they got more scarce as the end neared. Overall I think the shift in tone really worked for me; like an eureka! moment...and then behaviours changed. The whole movie felt more real than most rom-coms, be it the natual use of nudity, or the solid acting - nothing felt exploitive or forced.

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest rental: “Martyrs.”

This film started off looking edgy but mild, with an opening shot that reminded me a lot of “Heavenly Creatures.” But as it went on, things just got worse and worse, delivering enough blood and gore to satisfy the bloodthirsty little demon that lives in the dark recesses of my subconscious mind…

In all due seriousness, the film methodically and surgically injects more and more blood, guts, and brutality into each subsequent scene, until it achieves a level of bleakness so intense that it becomes almost unbearable. Watching this film felt more like an endurance test, especially toward the end as the one henchman kept beating one of the characters up over and over and over again… Ultimately, the experience of watching this film perfectly mirrors the film’s story; as the characters endure progressive and methodical pain and suffering, so does the audience.

Yes, the story’s all about dishing pain and suffering to the characters, like any good ol’ fashioned torture film. But in this case, the story really exceeds expectations; it spends the first half or so throwing out lots of intriguing questions and mysteries that will really keep your head scratching and keep your eyes glued to the screen (even if you don’t really want to! ). And the answers that are ultimately revealed are quite interesting;

[Show spoiler]the whole concept of straddling the line of life and death through martyrdom is perhaps way deeper of a premise than all previous torture films combined. The implications are deep, and with the climactic Madame’s suicide at the end, we’re left pondering the biggest mystery of them all: what did the character see beyond the veil of mortality?

It also makes me wonder if a sequel is in the works…

As a film, it shows superb photography; a little shaky perhaps, but never over-done. Acting and writing are not bad. Production value looks solid.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: If you can stomach the violence, then yeah!

Looks like I rented the UK Blu-Ray for this. It looks very sharp and highly detailed, with deep contrast and a proper color scheme. Grain can be a bit heavy, but is mostly unobtrusive. Sound quality did not disappoint.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 4/5

I believe this Blu-Ray is Region-B locked.



Next greatest blind-buy: “Machine Girl.”

While “Martyrs” is deep, dark, and bleak, “Machine Girl” is a gory flick on the total flipside of the gorefest coin. In the tradition of other fine Japanese films (“Tokyo Gore Police,” “Robo Geisha,” “Samurai Princess,” and more), “Machine Girl” is quite upbeat, a lot more kick-ass, with huge amounts of campy absurdity and over-the-top in-your-face scenes that would probably never be seen coming out of any American production company (well, except Troma). The character has a big freaking machine gun attached to her arm! She uses it to whittle ninjas down to their bones! Shuriken, chainsaws, swords, a deep fryer, and many other crazy weapons are dispensed, chopping, slicing, and butchering people all kinds of bloody death! Ah yeah, the bloodthirsty demon is pleased…

The story’s fairly hokey, as expected; there’s plenty of silly moments in the film that might make some viewers roll their eyes. But the story does have plenty of bright moments, moreso than most other films of this kind. Fundamentally, it’s a story that weaves revenge and family values cohesively together, with the protection of loved ones as the key theme to it all. It’s actually a little too incredible seeing how unreasonably evil and twisted the villains all were; it made the revenge scenes all that more sweet! Ultimately, it’s a fine excuse for all the mass murder we get to experience.

The film shows interesting photography, for better or for worse. There are a couple of shaky scenes, mostly for style points, but only in a couple of specific shots. The rest of the movie looks solid and slick, but some camera angles seemed really off-center to me. Editing shows a few weaknesses too, and with the wacky cameramanship it rather blatantly covers up some of the cheesier moments in the movie’s fights and special effects. Regardless, I’d call it decent. Acting is excellent; cheesy in some spots, but still strong and zany. Writing is rather weak. Production value is a little cheap, with some cheap-looking effects and props, but most of it is still effective. Gore and make-up effects will not disappoint. CGI effects are incredibly fake though. If I remember right, the music is not bad either.

4/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 4/5, film: 3/5)

Recommendation: For anybody who likes these kinds of films, then yeah!

This British Blu-Ray looks slick, with solid colors and contrast, and some decent sharpness. Some…anyway… Unfortunately, the film seemed laden with horrendous amounts of pixilation, resulting in loads of jagged lines, aliasing, digital noise, and other anomalies. It’s also probably not as sharp as it could be. I don’t know if this is a source issue (like “28 Days Later,” filmed on a camcorder), or if this is a 1080i transfer. I’m assuming it’s the latter, just like with the UK version of “I Spit On Your Grave,” and I hope that the eventual US release will clear it up. Sound quality seemed okay, but I don’t think it’s HD.

PQ: 3/5, AQ: 3/5

The disc is region-free.



Last greatest blind-buy: “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole.”

I popped this in last weekend, and became mostly background viewing while I posted all that James Bond stuff. From what I saw though, it looked gorgeous! The imagery is about as strong and vivid as “LOTR,” with lots of stunning fantasy settings and setpieces, an incredible animation style, and some really cool battles and action scenes. As expected, the eye candy is good!

The story is a little typical, but not quite as trite as I expected. In fact, it took some twists and turns that I totally did not expect, and parts of it really had me thrilled. I wouldn’t say that the characters caught my interest that much; there are a lot of quirky and silly side characters, and the main characters didn’t seem terribly deep to me. They all operate in an interesting mythos, but I never really got that much engrossed in it.

The film shows awesome quality, with beautiful animation style and quality. The shots are well-composed, the settings are very detailed and vivid, the owls look awesome, and the production designs are strong. Voice-acting seems strong. Music is okay.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4.5/5)

This Blu-Ray looks and sounds darn near perfect!

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 5/5

[Foggy]

I dunno why you guys will bother checking this out, but a lot of time and effort was put into this, plus you get to see me die for my Triangle overlookment

http://vimeo.com/21740331

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I dunno why you guys will bother checking this out, but a lot of time and effort was put into this, plus you get to see me die for my Triangle overlookment

http://vimeo.com/21740331

Good job.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I dunno why you guys will bother checking this out, but a lot of time and effort was put into this, plus you get to see me die for my Triangle overlookment

http://vimeo.com/21740331

Foggy got HAMMERED.

Nice bloodsplosions.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Tangled and Black Swan get so-so reviews.

I sense you are going into burn out mode again.

i had a thought of that as well

but maybe they just aren't my cup of tea, who knows?

not saying that anyone does the following, but something i've picked up on from this site (and maybe it's everywhere and just haven't noticed because all my friends suck at watching as many movies as i and we all do here) is that when a well known, or well liked movie comes out and some doesn't like it, the general consensus is: "well go watch it again" and "read about it then watch it again", or "once you read this and understand it then you will love it", which i find funny, irksome, and slightly puzzling / annoying.

now, yes, some films require more than one viewing to understand, but that's not always the case. and yes, sometimes you just find yourself liking (or disliking) a film more and more with subsequent viewings, but it seems like if someone dislikes something on the first viewing, once they watch it again, they will instantly like it a lot. which of course, couldn't possibly be always true, but it seems like has that effect with some. almost like a mental placebo:

"okay. people said if i watch this again i will like it."

90-120 minutes later

"holy crap! i love this!"



of course, this isn't 100% of the time, but i think some of you get where i'm coming from

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i had a thought of that as well

but maybe they just aren't my cup of tea, who knows?

not saying that anyone does the following, but something i've picked up on from this site (and maybe it's everywhere and just haven't noticed because all my friends suck at watching as many movies as i and we all do here) is that when a well known, or well liked movie comes out and some doesn't like it, the general consensus is: "well go watch it again" and "read about it then watch it again", or "once you read this and understand it then you will love it", which i find funny, irksome, and slightly puzzling / annoying.

now, yes, some films require more than one viewing to understand, but that's not always the case. and yes, sometimes you just find yourself liking (or disliking) a film more and more with subsequent viewings, but it seems like if someone dislikes something on the first viewing, once they watch it again, they will instantly like it a lot. which of course, couldn't possibly be always true, but it seems like has that effect with some. almost like a mental placebo:

"okay. people said if i watch this again i will like it."

90-120 minutes later

"holy crap! i love this!"



of course, this isn't 100% of the time, but i think some of you get where i'm coming from

I get where you are coming from.

I would classify your enjoyment level of Tangled as "It wasnt your cup of tea, and therefore didnt work for you".

I would classify your enjoyment level of Black Swan as "You missed enough important triggers that it couldnt work for you.

Now, of course, you may revisit Black Swan someday, and get the things you missed, and still not like it.

Thats where I am coming from.

[Batman1980]

I have so many acquired tastes I can't believe how much my taste in movies has changed in the last 11 years. Hopefully after a fourth viewing I will finally like Wall-E but I doubt it.