The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[dag]

Two more films at TIFF today.

I saw Drive today at TIFF. It's a small film, not grand in scope, that stays pretty true to its limited ambitions. I'll overlook the plot holes that troubled me. It's a very decent suspense story, taut, well-filmed, and satisfying on the whole.

I know many posters here have a particular fondness for the film Baraka, a visually stunning documentary from the early 1990s. The same team that made that film have produced a very similar effort, Samsara.

[Show spoiler]

Like its predecessor, Samsara enjoys absolutely stunning technical achievement. Before the film was screened, the producer briefly described the technical features behind the movie, filmed with a 65mm negative, and then digitally converted, creating pictures of the highest calibre in quality.

There are images of natural landscapes, time-captured overnight with stars circling over head; towering cityscapes; ancient monuments; wretched poverty; ladyboy prostitutes dancing in a Bangkok go-go bar; modern architecture (Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai), and cathedrals, mosques, and temples.

To be honest, despite the beautiful images, I found Samsara did not pack the same emotional punch as Baraka. It seemed, at times, more of the same. However, this feast for the eyes definitely celebrates the natural wonders of this planet and our cultural and racial diversity, and generates empathy with our fellow man and the plight of our environment. I know you will like it.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by dag

I know many posters here have a particular fondness for the film Baraka, a visually stunning documentary from the early 1990s. The same team that made that film have produced a very similar effort, Samsara.

[Show spoiler]

Like its predecessor, Samsara enjoys absolutely stunning technical achievement. Before the film was screened, the producer briefly described the technical features behind the movie, filmed with a 65mm negative, and then digitally converted, creating pictures of the highest calibre in quality.

There are images of natural landscapes, time-captured overnight with stars circling over head; towering cityscapes; ancient monuments; wretched poverty; ladyboy prostitutes dancing in a Bangkok go-go bar; modern architecture (Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai), and cathedrals, mosques, and temples.

To be honest, despite the beautiful images, I found Samsara did not pack the same emotional punch as Baraka. It seemed, at times, more of the same. However, this feast for the eyes definitely celebrates the natural wonders of this planet and our cultural and racial diversity, and generates empathy with our fellow man and the plight of our environment. I know you will like it.

ohmygodohmygodohmygod...it's been a while since I last heard about it, so I'm glad it's out. I hope it makes it to Blu-Ray!

[Hep]

Originally Posted by dag

[Show spoiler]Two more films at TIFF today.

I saw Drive today at TIFF. It's a small film, not grand in scope, that stays pretty true to its limited ambitions. I'll overlook the plot holes that troubled me. It's a very decent suspense story, taut, well-filmed, and satisfying on the whole.

I know many posters here have a particular fondness for the film Baraka, a visually stunning documentary from the early 1990s. The same team that made that film have produced a very similar effort, Samsara.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]Like its predecessor, Samsara enjoys absolutely stunning technical achievement. Before the film was screened, the producer briefly described the technical features behind the movie, filmed with a 65mm negative, and then digitally converted, creating pictures of the highest calibre in quality.

There are images of natural landscapes, time-captured overnight with stars circling over head; towering cityscapes; ancient monuments; wretched poverty; ladyboy prostitutes dancing in a Bangkok go-go bar; modern architecture (Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai), and cathedrals, mosques, and temples.

To be honest, despite the beautiful images, I found Samsara did not pack the same emotional punch as Baraka. It seemed, at times, more of the same. However, this feast for the eyes definitely celebrates the natural wonders of this planet and our cultural and racial diversity, and generates empathy with our fellow man and the plight of our environment. I know you will like it.

My ears are burning....

...thanks for the preview

[Nielsb90]

Omfg I just watched some of "The Room" HOW DID I MISS THIS??? Troll 2 move aside! A new king in town!

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

Omfg I just watched some of "The Room" HOW DID I MISS THIS??? Troll 2 move aside! A king in town!

Oh! Hi, Mark.

---

Caught Win Win over the weekend. Excellent all around. Slice of life dramadies that I continue to love - in the vein of Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine, Sideways, Little Miss Sunshine, Up in the Air, etc. etc.

Thomas McCarthy is 3/3 in efforts as far as I'm concerned.

Paul Giamatti continues to shine as well.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

Hey guys. It's been a while since contributing on here, but the move to a new home and subsequent construction of a new Home Theatre is all but complete, so I thought it was time to start talking movies again. Here is my latest blind buy...

Hanna

Just in case there are any of you who haven’t seen this one, and haven’t already read a review, I’m not going to give much background info on the plot. Ok, it’s about a 16 year-old girl assassin, but that’s all I’m giving. I went in to this one nearly that blind...I didn’t read Ken’s review until after watching...and that mystery certainly facilitated the movie’s charm. Despite having a knack for watching movies with an open mind - ignoring preconceived notions - I’ll echo Ken’s advice from his review, go into this one blind. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love being surprised by originality, and Hanna delivers. This movie is one of those gems that cruises across genre boarders as effortlessly as the protagonist crosses political ones. The pace is dictated by the story, and happily not the other way round. Action occurs when required, but is not sustained at the expense of character development. When the action is gracing the screen, the film is awash with awesome industrial-synth groves courtesy of the Chemical Brothers. At the end I was left wanting more; I’m not sure if that’s a critique of the film itself, or a reflection of how much I liked it.

There are no concerns with PQ or AQ on this release; actually it’s downright impressive. I was particularly blown away with the clarity of the audio and the thumping of the aforementioned soundtrack. In fact, even on my new set-up, I didn’t notice the banding mentioned in Ken’s review; of course that that with a grain of salt since I tend to be forgiving of minor flaws when I’m completely engrossed by a good story unfolding on the screen.

4.5/5

Food rating:

[Show spoiler]Ninja Cookies: sweet but deadly.

Welcome back Hep!

Sony BDP-CX7000ES 400 Disc Blu-ray Disc Changer X 2..... LMAO.

Very clean work in the theater. Tidy, simple, precise, I dig it.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I DVR'd The Terminal again today


...come on Spielberg, where's the blu-ray?!

In want "Catch Me if You Can".

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by dag

Two more films at TIFF today.

I saw Drive today at TIFF. It's a small film, not grand in scope, that stays pretty true to its limited ambitions. I'll overlook the plot holes that troubled me. It's a very decent suspense story, taut, well-filmed, and satisfying on the whole.

I know many posters here have a particular fondness for the film Baraka, a visually stunning documentary from the early 1990s. The same team that made that film have produced a very similar effort, Samsara.

[Show spoiler]

Like its predecessor, Samsara enjoys absolutely stunning technical achievement. Before the film was screened, the producer briefly described the technical features behind the movie, filmed with a 65mm negative, and then digitally converted, creating pictures of the highest calibre in quality.

There are images of natural landscapes, time-captured overnight with stars circling over head; towering cityscapes; ancient monuments; wretched poverty; ladyboy prostitutes dancing in a Bangkok go-go bar; modern architecture (Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai), and cathedrals, mosques, and temples.

To be honest, despite the beautiful images, I found Samsara did not pack the same emotional punch as Baraka. It seemed, at times, more of the same. However, this feast for the eyes definitely celebrates the natural wonders of this planet and our cultural and racial diversity, and generates empathy with our fellow man and the plight of our environment. I know you will like it.

What was the score like in Samsara?

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

In want "Catch Me if You Can".

...and Indy

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Welcome back Hep!

Sony BDP-CX7000ES 400 Disc Blu-ray Disc Changer X 2..... LMAO.

Very clean work in the theater. Tidy, simple, precise, I dig it.

I don't even load the extras discs and they're nearly full, lol.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

What was the score like in Samsara?

Yes, please...I'm ultra curious!!!!!

[volcomsocal]

2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968

Ummmm, huh??

What the hell did I just watch? Seriously. What was this??







Yes, this was my first time watching this movie.


Netflix streaming

PQ - n/a
AQ - n/a

0.5/5

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968

Ummmm, huh??

What the hell did I just watch? Seriously. What was this??







Yes, this was my first time watching this movie.


Netflix streaming

PQ - n/a
AQ - n/a

0.5/5

Uh oh...be afraid...be very afraid

[Show spoiler]I've never seen it...don't plan on seeing it.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I DVR'd The Terminal again today


...come on Spielberg, where's the blu-ray?!

one of my all-time favorites!!!

Lady in Airport Store: (for job application) what is your mailing address? where do you live?

Hanks: Gate 67.

Lady: Did you just say gate 67??!?!?! huh huuu huuu (belly laugh)

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

2001: A Space Odyssey - 1968

What the hell did I just watch? Seriously. What was this??

The LOST of all LOST's

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

WTF does it matter?????????

Her outfit struck me as weird too...but then I looked up at her face

"DIane, sorry, listen, could you please step out of my room - I can't stand girls in shirt/tie outfits. Sorry, but you can't stay with me tonight."

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Correct!!!!!

dude I remember you going off on Hurt Locker. It was a rare Squid heated moment. Haha probably because I engaged you in a little tussle. You really really really didn't think those soldiers were realistic, specifically that the bomb disarm dude could have gotten away with the crap he was pulling. See, I didn't even do a search and remember your opinion pretty closely. I remember playing devil's advocate and saying "but what if...." , trying to paint a scenario where the bomb dude's actions were realistic, but you shot down each one. Sometimes I'll do that, when I'm on the fence, just to let someone else make mince meat out of one interpretation, so I can then take the other one

[volcomsocal]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

The LOST of all LOST's

what?

[dag]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

What was the score like in Samsara?

Hmm, I hate to disappoint you, but nothing specific comes to mind. I think the best I can say of Samsara's score is that was redolent of, well, Baraka. I can say that it meshed very well with the beautiful images.

[dag]

I attended the world premiere of The Lady, Luc Besson's biographical film of the Burmese Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi.

[Show spoiler]

As important as this story is, Besson was clearly not up to the task. Admittedly, it's a difficult undertaking to tell a story that has no happy ending, is relentlessly grim, and features a woman under house arrest for fifteen years at the hands of an appalling regime. But Besson made a terribly conventional narrative that spends far too much time highlighting the personal travails Suu Kyi has a beleaguered wife and mother, separated from her two sons and husband, who eventually succumbs to cancer. Towards the end, Michelle Yeoh spends too much time wringing her hands and crying.

I have a great deal of respect for Yeoh. She did the best she could with the script; she looked magnificent in her gown at the screening;she obviously was invested in this project. It's unfortunate that the film fails to appropriately illuminate a profoundly courageous woman who has dedicated years of her life to justice for Burma, for basic human rights and dignity.

I hope to visit Burma myself this fall, and look forward to seeing this country firsthand.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

one of my all-time favorites!!!

Lady in Airport Store: (for job application) what is your mailing address? where do you live?

Hanks: Gate 67.

Lady: Did you just say gate 67??!?!?! huh huuu huuu (belly laugh)

Great movie

I'll probably get around to watching it on Sunday.

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Her outfit struck me as weird too...but then I looked up at her face

"DIane, sorry, listen, could you please step out of my room - I can't stand girls in shirt/tie outfits. Sorry, but you can't stay with me tonight."

I've rethought my position on this subject. I now agree with Bearcat in that she shouldn't be wearing that.

[Show spoiler] I'd ask her to immediately remove it.

____

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Star-.../14903/#Review



4.5s and 5s for PQ/AQ on Star Wars

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]