The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

It just didnt click for me at all. I didnt have the problem that a lot of people did, understanding the accents was easy enough. It was too "odd" for me. I was kinda hoping for the "Shaun of the Dead" humor. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood. Quite possible.

Fair enough, I was actual expecting Shaun of the Dead 2 when I was just about to go in to it, but I just so happened to bump into a friend who had just seen it and she hated it and pleaded me to go watch something else, I ended up ignoring her, but I lowered my expectations accordingly and winded up enjoying the film. Although it isn't the next greatest thing like a few places are bigging it up to be, I keep meaning to re-visit the film, but I never have the time Anyway, considered your bail out allowed

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Fair enough, I was actual expecting Shaun of the Dead 2 when I was just about to go in to it, but I just so happened to bump into a friend who had just seen it and she hated it and pleaded me to go watch something else, I ended up ignoring her, but I lowered my expectations accordingly and winded up enjoying the film. Although it isn't the next greatest thing like a few places are bigging it up to be, I keep meaning to re-visit the film, but I never have the time Anyway, considered your bail out allowed

Its funny too, it was very well received by critics. 90% at RT.

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Its funny too, it was very well received by critics. 90% at RT.

You were expecting something it wasn't. Generally you always lose in that situation.

I actually enjoyed it for what it was and was a sleeper hit for me.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Steve46

40. Freedom Writers (2007)

[Show spoiler]Drama, Biography, Crime, 123 minutes
Directed by Richard LaGravenese
Starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Stanton and April L. Hernandez



I would imagine that Freedom Writers will be considered an unusual choice for a list of movies that you must see. The title makes the movie sound boring. How can you make the act of writing something worth filming? Don't worry, you won't have to watch two hours of people writing. This story is based on Erin Gruwell, who helped establish a new way of teaching.

If you somehow trust my opinion enough to give this movie a try, there's still a chance that you won't make it past 30 minutes. The movie seems extremely predictable and covers well-trodden ground in that time, but it blossoms into something worth your time if you stick with it. Like Lord of the Rings, it's not what they achieve, but the journey itself that is interesting and important.

The movie starts with a rookie teacher, Erin Gruwell (Swank), arriving at a "problem school" in Long Beach, CA. She's wide-eyed with optimism and thinks that she can change the world, despite what her seasoned colleagues tell her. The harsh reality soon sets in, but Gruwell is tougher than she looks. You can see where this is going, can't you? Gruwell somehow persuades the students to use their ability and everything works out well for everybody.

It doesn't matter that you know she will succeed.

Gruwell tries all kinds of ways to capture the attention of the students. Will they respond to rap music? What about books that detail the story of someone in a gang? Her first problem is to break down the boundaries in her own classroom. Students divide into four ethnic groups and hate each other. They think that Gruwell, who is white, doesn't automatically deserve their respect just because she's a teacher. They are right. If you have been continually disappointed by people in your life, will you assume that the next person will be any different? It takes time for trust to develop.

I love watching Gruwell break down their resistance so that they can start to live up to their potential. She takes the students on a couple of trips which provide some of the most emotional scenes in the movie. The price of these successes come at a high personal cost as the relationships outside her job are threatened by her drive to succeed.

The actors playing the students were largely unknown at the time, but many turn in convincing performances. Some of the revelations are shocking, some sad, and others heartwarming. What Gruwell eventually achieved puts most people to shame.

Seriously, trust me on this one. Ignore the title and don't judge the movie based on the first 30 minutes. This is an important story which deserves to be heard. It should be shown in schools.

If you like Freedom Writers:

Hilary Swank turns in a wonderful performance in Freedom Writers. You can also see her at her best in Clint Eastwood's brutally honest Million Dollar Baby. If you enjoy seeing movies about teaching methods, take a look at Dead Poets Society.

You accidentally skipped over The Fountain.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

You accidentally skipped over The Fountain.

Hehe, sorry

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Its funny too, it was very well received by critics. 90% at RT.

It clicked with enough of critics to get that rating.

I enjoyed it like a couple of others who have posted. I'm now currently waiting for a price drop so I can buy it, which will likely be a while since it has yet to even inch towards a good price yet.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by menaceuk

You were expecting something it wasn't. Generally you always lose in that situation.

True, but everything I read described it as "fun".

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

True, but everything I read described it as "fun".

I thought it was Fun. In fact I think it was one of the better comedy movies of last year. I thought it was better than movies like Paul, Hang over 2. In fact I am finding it hard to think of any comedy that was more fun last year

Different horses and all that though

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by menaceuk

I thought it was Fun. In fact I think it was one of the better comedy movies of last year. I thought it was better than movies like Paul, Hang over 2. In fact I am finding it hard to think of any comedy that was more fun last year

Different horses and all that though

The funny sounds that zippered garments make inside my dryer are funnier than that dooky.



But I'm serious too.

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by squidpuppet

the funny sounds that zippered garments make inside my dryer are funnier than that dooky.



but i'm serious too.

[surfdude12]

Royal Tennenbaums

Film: 2.5/5
-my third Wes Anderson film. I gave Bottle Rocket 3.5/5 and Darjeeling Limited 2/5
-obviously I'm just not into Anderson's style. I see how it can appeal to some, but it just doesn't grab me. In his films he seems to attempt to execute some kind of overambitious comedy that thinks it is more important than it should be (at least to me ). The direction/cinematography in particular makes me think "this film is no joke - this is A+ cinematography/direction - prepare yourself for some A+ script material", but the script never delivers (to me) since it always comes off as a pretentious comedy where I usually dont care that much about the characters, plain and simple. I don't know how else to say it. Its a pattern I see in all his films and can't seem to shake.
-in this film, it was somewhat entertaining to see the characters be so BRUTALLY HONEST to each other! loved that! but beyond that? didn't get much from it. I couldn't care that much for the characters, since many of them were (due to the overambitious script) painted as so emotionally complex by the script and thus inaccessible and thus unrelatable.
-having said all that, I can see how some people can dig his films. They have strong characters with strong dialogue that is hilarious at times and great cinematography/direction. I just wish the scripts would resonate with me

[Steve46]

I took the citizenship oath this morning, so this is my first review as a Canadian:

42. Gran Torino (2008)
Drama, 116 minutes
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang and Ahney Her



Gran Torino was a total surprise to me when I first viewed it. I had no idea what it might be about and the cover suggested it would be an action movie. With Clint Eastwood being almost 80 years of age at the time, I couldn't see how it would work.

It turns out that it isn't an action movie at all. The main themes include age, the loss of a loved one, racism, friendship, family, religion, and personal growth.

Walt Kowalsky is a Korean war veteran and one of the last white people in a neighborhood mostly populated by Hmong residents. The film opens with his wife's funeral. He's suddenly friendless and alone, but for the unwanted attention of his two sons and their families, who see him as a burden and wonder what he'll leave them when he dies.

The local priest (Carley) promised Walt's wife that he would keep an eye on Walt and try to get him to go to confession. His immediate neighbors annoy him; especially when their boy, Thao (Vang), tries to steal his beloved '72 Gran Torino. To complete Walt's misery, he's coughing up blood and may not have long to live.

That all sounds pretty miserable, doesn't it? Despite the grim situation, Gran Torino has a great deal of (intelligent) humor. Walt doesn't pull his punches: he refers to Asians as Gooks and Blacks as Spooks. He tells the persistent priest that he's an "over-educated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of old ladies who are superstitious and promise them eternity." He speaks in grunts and snarls and seems to hate every person he deals with.

Walt is a complex character. His neighbors convince him to accept Thao's apology for trying to steal his car by offering the boy's labor for a week. Thao works hard and earns Walt's respect. The two actually develop a friendship of sorts and Walt also likes Thao's sister, Sue (Her). As unlikely as it may seem, from Walt's perspective, he finds that his neighbors are decent people and takes an interest in their lives. He finds that he has more in common with them than his own family.

I won't give away any more details, but the story shows how people still have the capacity for change, despite advanced age and a lifetime of behaving in a certain way. The humor is frequent, with Eastwood timing his lines perfectly. At the risk of sounding dramatic, this might just be Eastwood's best acting performance. It's certainly my favorite performance from those that I have seen.

If you like Gran Torino:

You can probably tell that I abhor racism if you look at some of the movies in this 100 movies list. For that reason, I can recommend El Norte and Freedom Writers.

Fans of Clint Eastwood will almost certainly like the five Dirty Harry movies. The first two in the franchise are the strongest.

Eastwood may be remembered more for his work as a director when he eventually retires and he's given us a number of thought-provoking films. He picked up Best Director Oscars for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby and both are worth your time. Of his more recent efforts, I appreciated the much-maligned Hereafter.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Royal Tennenbaums

Film: 2.5/5
-my third Wes Anderson film. I gave Bottle Rocket 3.5/5 and Darjeeling Limited 2/5
-obviously I'm just not into Anderson's style. I see how it can appeal to some, but it just doesn't grab me. In his films he seems to attempt to execute some kind of overambitious comedy that thinks it is more important than it should be (at least to me ). The direction/cinematography in particular makes me think "this film is no joke - this is A+ cinematography/direction - prepare yourself for some A+ script material", but the script never delivers (to me) since it always comes off as a pretentious comedy where I usually dont care that much about the characters, plain and simple. I don't know how else to say it. Its a pattern I see in all his films and can't seem to shake.
-in this film, it was somewhat entertaining to see the characters be so BRUTALLY HONEST to each other! loved that! but beyond that? didn't get much from it. I couldn't care that much for the characters, since many of them were (due to the overambitious script) painted as so emotionally complex by the script and thus inaccessible and thus unrelatable.
-having said all that, I can see how some people can dig his films. They have strong characters with strong dialogue that is hilarious at times and great cinematography/direction. I just wish the scripts would resonate with me

He definitely has a signature style. His films make me uncomfortable. They feel too deliberately quirky. The only one I could rate higher than "Disliked" was Bottle Rocket. Barely.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I took the citizenship oath this morning, so this is my first review as a Canadian:

[Show spoiler]42. Gran Torino (2008)
Drama, 116 minutes
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang and Ahney Her



Gran Torino was a total surprise to me when I first viewed it. I had no idea what it might be about and the cover suggested it would be an action movie. With Clint Eastwood being almost 80 years of age at the time, I couldn't see how it would work.

It turns out that it isn't an action movie at all. The main themes include age, the loss of a loved one, racism, friendship, family, religion, and personal growth.

Walt Kowalsky is a Korean war veteran and one of the last white people in a neighborhood mostly populated by Hmong residents. The film opens with his wife's funeral. He's suddenly friendless and alone, but for the unwanted attention of his two sons and their families, who see him as a burden and wonder what he'll leave them when he dies.

The local priest (Carley) promised Walt's wife that he would keep an eye on Walt and try to get him to go to confession. His immediate neighbors annoy him; especially when their boy, Thao (Vang), tries to steal his beloved '72 Gran Torino. To complete Walt's misery, he's coughing up blood and may not have long to live.

That all sounds pretty miserable, doesn't it? Despite the grim situation, Gran Torino has a great deal of (intelligent) humor. Walt doesn't pull his punches: he refers to Asians as Gooks and Blacks as Spooks. He tells the persistent priest that he's an "over-educated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of old ladies who are superstitious and promise them eternity." He speaks in grunts and snarls and seems to hate every person he deals with.

Walt is a complex character. His neighbors convince him to accept Thao's apology for trying to steal his car by offering the boy's labor for a week. Thao works hard and earns Walt's respect. The two actually develop a friendship of sorts and Walt also likes Thao's sister, Sue (Her). As unlikely as it may seem, from Walt's perspective, he finds that his neighbors are decent people and takes an interest in their lives. He finds that he has more in common with them than his own family.

I won't give away any more details, but the story shows how people still have the capacity for change, despite advanced age and a lifetime of behaving in a certain way. The humor is frequent, with Eastwood timing his lines perfectly. At the risk of sounding dramatic, this might just be Eastwood's best acting performance. It's certainly my favorite performance from those that I have seen.

If you like Gran Torino:

You can probably tell that I abhor racism if you look at some of the movies in this 100 movies list. For that reason, I can recommend El Norte and Freedom Writers.

Fans of Clint Eastwood will almost certainly like the five Dirty Harry movies. The first two in the franchise are the strongest.

Eastwood may be remembered more for his work as a director when he eventually retires and he's given us a number of thought-provoking films. He picked up Best Director Oscars for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby and both are worth your time. Of his more recent efforts, I appreciated the much-maligned Hereafter.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[/SPOILER]

Thanks - 7 years - college in my 40s - but worth it

[SquidPuppet]

Watership Down

DVD

Thank you to Steve, Pondo, Jvince et al for introducing me to, and recommending this.



Pretty rugged for a kid flick. Its rated PG and I think PG13 might be more appropriate considering the graphic nature of the violence.

So, a bunch of rural bunny rabbits are forced to look for a new home. They have to travel a great distance in order to find a new safe haven. Along the way they face great, and many dangers. Brutal gnarly dangers. They make a flying Russian Pal along the way. They come accross other rabbit communities during their journey and have to deal with some staunch and evil authority figures from those groups.

This was a dark and scary tale. I liked it though.

I really liked the animation and the music. The voice work was great.

One could have a field day analyzing the themes and metaphors in this movie. Wow! Religion, politics, military, sinister corporations, population control, friendship, loyalty, slavery. It packs a wallop.

Big Wig =

4/5

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Watership Down

DVD

Thank you to Steve, Pondo, Jvince et al for introducing me to, and recommending this.



Pretty rugged for a kid flick. Its rated PG and I think PG13 might be more appropriate considering the graphic nature of the violence.

So, a bunch of rural bunny rabbits are forced to look for a new home. They have to travel a great distance in order to find a new safe haven. Along the way they face great, and many dangers. Brutal gnarly dangers. They make a flying Russian Pal along the way. They come accross other rabbit communities during their journey and have to deal with some staunch and evil authority figures from those groups.

This was a dark and scary tale. I liked it though.

I really liked the animation and the music. The voice work was great.

One could have a field day analyzing the themes and metaphors in this movie. Wow! Religion, politics, military, sinister corporations, population control, friendship, loyalty, slavery. It packs a wallop.

Big Wig =

4/5

I'm glad you liked it

It's lurking in the lower reaches of my Top 20 animated.

[Foggy]

Oh, forgot to say, I watched...

Night and Fog



8/10

Holocaust season is over!

[Romulus]

I'm still furious as what happened to me a few days ago. I typed out about 5 reviews over films I had seen recently (Gojira, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Artist, Shame, and Drive) and when I was putting the finishing touches on my post our power went out.


All of my reviews gone. I cried a little.

To recap the ratings though:

Gojira - 4/5
Invasion of the Body Snatchers - 2/5
The Artist - 4.5/5
Shame - 3.5/5
Drive - 4/5

I may add some thoughts to these at some point, but I can't get over what happened.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

So now, five blind-buys remain. Three of which are Hitchcock, so I'll give them the benefit of the dobut and save them for later. That just leaves two left in my pile, before I consider my blind-buy clearout complete. Yay!

Then I'll start my clearout of movies in my collection I'm not sure about.

No sooner did I post this than two more blind-buys came in through the mail.

So, next greatest blind-buy is..."Enter the Void."

Even though it came out a year after this one, I tend to compare "EtV" with "Tree of Life." Generically, "EtV" is like the dark side of "ToL." Specifically, it'd consist of the following ingredients:

• The grand and far-reaching portrayal of life and death, and the random narrative, of "Tree of Life."
• The trippy visuals during the last half-hour of "2001: A Space Odyssey."
• The dark urban schema of "Requiem for a Dream."
• The seedy Japanese settings of "Lost in Translation."
• That same nutty camerawork you see in "Nightwatch" and "Daywatch."
• Huge helpings of existentialism, complete with the Buddhist book of life and death, and a dreary nihilistic overtone.

Roll them all up into a doobie, light 'em up, and enjoy 161 minutes of stuff that'll make you go .

"Enter the Void" might just be one of the top trippiest films I've seen. It kicks off with a wild collage of credits that in itself could give you a seizure. Then it follows one of the characters through his eyes (literally, the camera even "blinks" when he does), with a weird drug trip to ensue. Then it follows the back of his head as the film recaps the dude's life. Then it floats over the entire city...and...stuff happens. There really isn't much of a plot to this (and, you know, I usually don't like plotless films), but the entire experience is mesmerizing (so long as the pedestrian camerawork and trance-like SFX don't bother you). There is some graphic sexual content; it didn't really bother me, but it could be seen as gratuitous. Overall though, I found the experience quite fascinating.

As mentioned above, there's not much of a plot here. It's actually a bit disconcerting that it took close to three hours to cover content that could have been boiled down to a mere hour. In fact, I felt that most of the plot could be figured out through context in the first forty minutes. Regardless, the film offers enough to contemplate, regarding life, death, rebirth, and the meaning of such. It portrays characters partaking in shallow, meaningless forms of pleasure to pass their lives over and bring them closer to their demise (sex and drugs mostly; I never found the nightlife appealing, so this dark and seedy portrayal really speaks to me).

With all the stylistic gimmicks listed above, the film is quite an interesting animal. Photography can be a bit irritating, thanks to the continuous use of the hand-held camera and the free-floating "ghost" cam. Editing makes sure that the shots run continuously and smoothly, and half of the time I couldn't really tell that was a CGI effect or an optical effect or what. As such, the special effects are often quite effective. Acting is fine and dandy, and the writing is alright. This production has plenty of seedy-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is fitting.

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

Recommendation: As a rental for those who can handle the wild style and the graphic content.

As it is, I'm looking at it as the anti-thesis to "Tree of Life," and much like that film, I could watch "Enter the Void" without the dialogue for its wild visuals. Since so many of you dudes tend to enjoy films that are trippy, mesmerizing, require interpretation, and have no plots (), I would recommend it to the lot of you. I know a couple of you have already seen/enjoyed it.

This Blu-Ray looks darn near perfect in the first part of the film. From then on, it was done on 16mm, so the image often becomes soft, filled with grain and noise, and can look very gaudy in the darker scenes. Fortunately, it is sharp throughout. This is probably the best it can look, given the source material and artistic intent. Sound quality can be a bit low with the dialogue, but shows some good strength with the music.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 4/5

Extras include some gratuitous deleted scenes, a couple of VFX vignettes that don't really reveal much, a bunch of trailers, and a bunch of posters.

Extras: 2/5

If this movie was a song, it would be

[Show spoiler]this techno song, which always seemed really seedy and creepy to me.

Benny Benassi - Satisfaction - YouTube