The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[surfdude12]

Anna Karenina

Film: 4.5/5
-very good direction/cinematography: very effective blend of theatrical and movie settings, where it shows a "story within a story" (often, you'll see the film characters in a theater watching a theatrical scene that is part of the film). Much of the film seems to be emphasizing the theatrical era of the story (19th century) while also showing the modern/timeless themes (film portion) about the human condition

-themes themes themes!!!!! basically: the human condition and the inner struggle between passion and prudence. Tolstoy's commentary on the human condition seems to be that, in spite of ample evidence that our prudence should prevail (for us and everyone around us), we humans seem rather f&cking stubborn by still choosing passion...to our KNOWING continued detriment. Can anyone say still relevant in 2013???

[surfdude12]

Limitless

Film: 3/5

-great potential: about a writer who finds a drug that makes him a literal Albert Einstein.
-what went wrong? "Inception syndrome" = too much audience handholding with an overactive narrator who holds your hand more than your mommie did when walking to the bus stop on the first day of school, ensuring that your cerebral cortex is as engaged as the writer was before he needed the drug

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Limitless

Film: 3/5

-great potential: about a writer who finds a drug that makes him a literal Albert Einstein.
-what went wrong? "Inception syndrome" = too much audience handholding with an overactive narrator who holds your hand more than your mommie did when walking to the bus stop on the first day of school, ensuring that your cerebral cortex is as engaged as the writer was before he needed the drug

You're probably right, but I just love the style of the film, it's so suitably all over the place.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Limitless

Film: 3/5

-great potential: about a writer who finds a drug that makes him a literal Albert Einstein.
-what went wrong? "Inception syndrome" = too much audience handholding with an overactive narrator who holds your hand more than your mommie did when walking to the bus stop on the first day of school, ensuring that your cerebral cortex is as engaged as the writer was before he needed the drug

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

Roman Holiday (1953)
dir. William Wyler

[Show spoiler]

The Good: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck both exude charm and delightful on-screen chemistry. Eddie Albert is also a riot as perhaps the sub-genre's first comic relief best friend/sidekick. Deceptively witty writing. So many great, memorable scenes. The hairstyles. Rome. What a perfect ending. "Hit him again, Smitty!"

The Bad: Plot isn't that creative or original. Lots of jarring jump cuts (I know, nitpicking...)

The Bottom Line: A wonderful mix of rom-com elements both old and new, Roman Holiday is an absolute, must-see classic, especially for fans of the sub-genre.

Release this on Blu-ray for crying out loud. The run of Audrey Hepburn movies on Blu-ray ended pretty quickly, which is a shame. So many others that could be released, and this is one that should be a no-brainer.

Waiting for this one isn't helped by the fact that I haven't seen it.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Best romance movie ever!

Totally agree, can Audrey Hepburn do no wrong?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Limitless

Film: 3/5

-great potential: about a writer who finds a drug that makes him a literal Albert Einstein.
-what went wrong? "Inception syndrome" = too much audience handholding with an overactive narrator who holds your hand more than your mommie did when walking to the bus stop on the first day of school, ensuring that your cerebral cortex is as engaged as the writer was before he needed the drug

Uugh, disliked that one.

[jvince]

ParaNorman (2012)
dir. Sam Fell, Chris Butler

The Good: Very impressive stop-motion animation. Great voice acting. Pretty cool, little post-credits segment.

The Bad: The plot. Unsubtle, constantly hitting the viewer over the head with its life lessons. Stereotypical characters. The final act. Utterly bland.

The Bottom Line: Obviously, a lot of effort and creativity was put into the movie's animation. It's just a shame that the story is a dull, soulless mess.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

I think I'm the only one in my house that wants to watch this. I just recently finished the first season of Homeland, and this reminds me of that to an extent, so I wouldn't mind taking another trip into something like that while waiting for the second season to be released on Blu-ray.

I've been hearing comparisons to Homeland, but I haven't seen the show.

Zero Dark Thirty is definitely overrated though. It's not something I'd feel the need to watch again, but if I ever do, I'd probably give it a lower rating.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Best romance movie ever!

One of the best romance movies ever (well, for me). +1 anyway.

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Release this on Blu-ray for crying out loud. The run of Audrey Hepburn movies on Blu-ray ended pretty quickly, which is a shame. So many others that could be released, and this is one that should be a no-brainer.

Waiting for this one isn't helped by the fact that I haven't seen it.

It should be coming soon. AMC just aired it in HD. It looked pretty great.

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm in this auditorium by myself...this Life of Pi better be damn good!

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm sat in this auditorium all by myself...this Life of Pi better be damn good!

You know, this ain't Twitter...

Originally Posted by Foggy

my post wasn't coming through on my phone, so I presumed it didn't post

Ugh... I hate it when that happens.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

I've been hearing comparisons to Homeland, but I haven't seen the show.

Zero Dark Thirty is definitely overrated though. It's not something I'd feel the need to watch again, but if I ever do, I'd probably give it a lower rating.

I won't be able to tell how accurate the comparisons are until Zero Dark Thirty comes out on Blu-ray, but even I got the impression after watching the show and then the trailer for the movie. Homeland is really good if you don't mind slightly slower paced character driven shows.

I'm not going into the movie expecting it to be the best movie of the year. Until I watched Homeland, I wasn't even that interested because I've never had any interest in any of her films. I basically just want a good thriller, and I'm sure it delivers in that regard. That and another solid performance from Jessica Chastain, I'm sure.

It should be coming soon. AMC just aired it in HD. It looked pretty great.

They better, whether they sold it to Warner or not. Actually, it'd probably come out sooner if Paramount sold it to Warner.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by jvince

ParaNorman (2012)
dir. Sam Fell, Chris Butler

The Good: Very impressive stop-motion animation. Great voice acting. Pretty cool, little post-credits segment.

The Bad: The plot. Unsubtle, constantly hitting the viewer over the head with its life lessons. Stereotypical characters. The final act. Utterly bland.

The Bottom Line: Obviously, a lot of effort and creativity was put into the movie's animation. It's just a shame that the story is a dull, soulless mess.

I felt the same way. Bland and uninteresting.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I felt the same way. Bland and uninteresting.

I'll join this group on Paranorman. Just ok, barely.

[jvince]

Hitchcock (2012)
dir. Sacha Gervasi

The Good: Anthony Hopkins, damn. Outstanding ensemble. Great score by Danny Elfman. Perfect start. Whenever the film shows its playful side, it shines (Too bad those moments are few and far between and nearly nonexistent in the middle portion). The final five minutes. The (almost iconic) sequence where Hopkins moves like a conductor. That last scene.

The Bad: The middle part is weak. It doesn't know exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.

The Bottom Line: When it's funny, it's not only funny, it's brilliant. Hitchcock just doesn't balance comedy and drama quite well enough. Anyway, helmer Sacha Gervasi is one to watch. I'm interested to see what he'll do next.

[Lepidopterous]

Very exciting list of Oscar noms this year.

Emmanuelle Riva was nominated for Best Actress.
Amour was nominated for best foreign film AND best picture.
Beasts of the Southern Wild for Best Picture, Director, AND Best Actress (first time director and 9 year-old actress).

Some unexpected snubs but very exciting year nonetheless.

2013 Oscar Nominees

[Foggy]

Watched Gangster Squad earlier, simply put, it's a pretty pathetic film.

[menaceuk]

The Impossible - 9/10

A masterful movie telling the true story about a family of survivors of the 2004 Tsunami.

The Effects are great and the Perfectly executed.The Tsunami really shows the power and devastation of the natural disaster while looking fantastic.

The Acting is pretty good too. Tom Holland is fantastic as the eldest son struggling with the conflict of Survival and Helping. Naomi watts was also good after a pretty rough start, I thought any way. McGregor also plays his part well too but his suffers because of what has come before and how his journey unfolds.

The Cinematography was fantastic IMO. although there are a few close up shots which I thought could have been less.

Overall it is an Interesting and captivating movie showing the pains and emotion this family endures while also showing the massive devastation and scale of this Natural disaster.

I would recommend. Even if just to watch the Tsunami.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Very exciting list of Oscar noms this year.

Emmanuelle Riva was nominated for Best Actress.

Holy smokes. I had no clue that she was the same woman/young lady from Hiroshima, mon amour. Talk about full circle in terms of themes.

I just looked at her IMDB page and the woman is 85 years old and has never stopped working since 1957. A gazillion films.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Watched Gangster Squad earlier, simply put, it's a pretty pathetic film.

Not every aspect though...

[Show spoiler]

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Not every aspect though...

[Show spoiler]

You've got me there

[jvince]

Lake Mungo (2008)
dir. Joel Anderson

The Good: The atmosphere. Nice photography. The Lake Mungo sequence, it'll f*ck your mind with its brilliance and scare the shit out of you.

The Bad: No replay value; Boring and not scary the second time around. Lots of silly plot twists.

The Bottom Line: It's still a tad better than any of the Paranormal Activity installments, but knowing how it goes pretty much kills the tension, making this just a one-time watch for fans of slow-burn horror.