The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

A Boy and His Dog has to take that award. What a remarkably strange and twisted film.

Eeehhhh. Hmmmmmm. Ummmmm. Nope.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - 3/5

what the f*ck was this?

i had no idea this was going to be so depressing. what a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon

i like how they deliberately made the film look cloudy and sh*t just like from the 90's, nice touch. not that i really wanted to see that again since i hate that "look" but it fit the film very well.

solid acting by the cast, especially the tall stringy dude who's name i cannot recall.

the main character, Charlie did okay. Paul Rudd was underutilized and didn't even come of as Paul Rudd so i wonder why they got such a well known actor for that role.

the story was waaaaaaaay badly paced. serious whiplash from the frantic mood changes. ah, just like teenagers i suppose

but seriously, wtf. a weird, quiet sad kid apparently had bad things happen to him, or someone he know. or both. or something. they don't tell us. and they have no build up to it or conclusion. just felt... weirdly tacked on. did not translate to film well at all imo.

like Method said, maybe i'm just too old to connect to this mopey, "woe is me" high school stuff anymore although KilloWertz enjoyed it and he's old than i am so who knows

some neat scenes and an at times touching ending with the graduation, but in the end this was barely passable and i almost turned it off numerous times. i thought this was going to be quirky, like the title was / is. i wasn't expecting such a bleak, whiny film. i guess i should have expected it since it contains teenagers but oh well

Awesome. This movie is wildly overrated. Do you agree with me that it would have worked better as a TV show/mini series?

[Abdrewes]

Jack The Giant Slayer (2013)
This confirms it, Bryan Singer is a studio hack. While watching it, I suddenly had a new found appreciation for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Part 1 out of 3 out of six out of nine. I kid you not, if the hedgehog scene was in this film, it would far and away be the standout.

So, Jack is this pleasant peasant boy, he pines after the heir to the throne, the fair skinned princess. Ugh, it's so tedious, let me fast forward this...a priest gives him the beans, on a rainy night the bean stalk sprouts (the closest thing to genuine imagination this film has), the princess is way up in the ether, Jack and co. launch an adventure to rescue her, they do, power play: now the Giants (which are windows 95 compared to the Trolls in the Hobbit) are coming to earth to plunder everything...Can they be stopped? Will a crown and guarded beans come in handy? I won't spoil that for you.

Will somebody explain to me why Nicholas Holt gets work? He's a total wet blanket in each of the films he's in. He has no charisma or charm, just a cheap grin he employs way too much. Just like the CGI that undermines the action, there's no tension or reason to care for him.

If anyone is really interested, I suggest renting it. The action is certainly better than that of A Good Day to Die Herd, but the digital washed out look does nothing for the spectacle. I'm sure there are more lavish HBO productions than this one. I'm not dying to see Oz: The Great and the Wonderful, but I'm sure Raimi won't disappoint on this front.

2/4

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

[B]
Will somebody explain to me why Nicholas Holt gets work? He's a total wet blanket in each of the films he's in. He has no charisma or charm, just a cheap grin he employs way too much.

The same phenomenon that has propelled Justin Bieber into the stratosphere.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

That makes me wonder if I should give it a shot.

Do it Squid!!! I loved it

...and yes, I'm back from my desert exile

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The same phenomenon that has propelled Justin Bieber into the stratosphere.

That's a fair comparison at least the Beeb's got pipes though.

Speaking of uninvolving actors: On a scale from sleepy (Rise) to awake (127Hrs), how there is James Franco gonna be in Oz?

[SquidPuppet]

Hope Springs

A very pleasant and satisfying film.

A couple in their 60sish seek "Intense Couples Therapy" in an effort to rejuvinate the spark in their marriage. Many funny, mildly sad, poignant and frustrating moments follow.

Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, AND Steve Carell are all outstanding. The acting from all three is just terrific, but Carell is truly amazing as the marriage counselor/psychiatrist. His demeanor, style, and actions were perfect. Seriously, his performance was one of the best I've seen in many years.

Writing is good and dialogue is realistic. Some of the uncomfortable moments are great too because they are so darn realistic.

Camera work and editing are smooth and natural.

Pacing felt perfect for me.

Some of the songs seemed a bit to punched up and potent for the scenes that they accomanied, and others were spot-on.

You'll see the ending coming from a mile away. It's

[Show spoiler]over the top cheesey happy-sappy Hollywood sweetness.

And I liked it.

I really enjoyed watching these seasoned veterans at their best.

The Blu-ray is excellent.

Film 4.25/5
PQ 5/5
AQ 5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

That's a fair comparison at least the Beeb's got pipes though.

Speaking of uninvolving actors: On a scale from sleepy (Rise) to awake (127Hrs), how there is James Franco gonna be in Oz?

Franco is hit or miss with me, and that movie looks like....um....one I wont be seeing.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Hope Springs

A very pleasant and satisfying film.

A couple in their 60sish seek "Intense Couples Therapy" in an effort to rejuvinate the spark in their marriage. Many funny, mildly sad, poignant and frustrating moments follow.

Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, AND Steve Carell are all outstanding. The acting from all three is just terrific, but Carell is truly amazing as the marriage counselor/psychiatrist. His demeanor, style, and actions were perfect. Seriously, his performance was one of the best I've seen in many years.

Writing is good and dialogue is realistic. Some of the uncomfortable moments are great too because they are so darn realistic.

Camera work and editing are smooth and natural.

Pacing felt perfect for me.

Some of the songs seemed a bit to punched up and potent for the scenes that they accomanied, and others were spot-on.

You'll see the ending coming from a mile away. It's

[Show spoiler]over the top cheesey happy-sappy Hollywood sweetness.

And I liked it.

I really enjoyed watching these seasoned veterans at their best.

The Blu-ray is excellent.

Film 4.25/5
PQ 5/
AQ 5/5

Even though I wasn't in the target demo, I didn't regret seeing this in theaters. The music was so horrible that I knocked off 15% from the final score. I wonder if my parents would dig this? I'm just scared that theyll object to the theater scene.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

Do it Squid!!! I loved it

...and yes, I'm back from my desert exile

Its been a year since you have posted in this thread. I really missed you. Glad you are back.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - 3/5

[Show spoiler]what the f*ck was this?

i had no idea this was going to be so depressing. what a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon

i like how they deliberately made the film look cloudy and sh*t just like from the 90's, nice touch. not that i really wanted to see that again since i hate that "look" but it fit the film very well.

solid acting by the cast, especially the tall stringy dude who's name i cannot recall.

the main character, Charlie did okay. Paul Rudd was underutilized and didn't even come of as Paul Rudd so i wonder why they got such a well known actor for that role.

the story was waaaaaaaay badly paced. serious whiplash from the frantic mood changes. ah, just like teenagers i suppose

but seriously, wtf. a weird, quiet sad kid apparently had bad things happen to him, or someone he know. or both. or something. they don't tell us. and they have no build up to it or conclusion. just felt... weirdly tacked on. did not translate to film well at all imo.

like Method said, maybe i'm just too old to connect to this mopey, "woe is me" high school stuff anymore although KilloWertz enjoyed it and he's old than i am so who knows

some neat scenes and an at times touching ending with the graduation, but in the end this was barely passable and i almost turned it off numerous times. i thought this was going to be quirky, like the title was / is. i wasn't expecting such a bleak, whiny film. i guess i should have expected it since it contains teenagers but oh well

I am literally shocked you didn't love it. I thought you would since you seem to enjoy coming of age movies.

I'm not that old. I'm only 31.

It's not that you're too old for it though. Steve and I are older than you and we loved it, and so are some reviewers and critics that praised it. It's not that it's overrated like Abdrewes said. For some odd apparent reason some people don't connect with it, but the amount of people who do far outweigh the people who didn't.

It seems it REALLY connects with the people it does. If I didn't have so many movies, I probably would have watched this at least 3 times already by now. It's my favorite movie of 2012, although I've yet to see Argo or Silver Linings Playbook.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

That makes me wonder if I should give it a shot.

I would say do it. You might be surprised.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Franco is hit or miss with me, and that movie looks like....um....one I wont be seeing.

I think the spectacle alone should be worth a matinee. But I can respect that decision, I mean what's next Citizen Kane II: The Rosebud Chronicles?

I guess you didn't appreciate Franco's big acting in 127 Hours. He really put on his "acting hat" for that one.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Even though I wasn't in the target demo, I didn't regret seeing this in theaters. The music was so horrible that I knocked off 15% from the final score. I wonder if my parents would dig this? I'm just scared that theyll object to the theater scene.

My parents will probably find that scene the funniest. They were pretty "spontaneous" in their younger years.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Its been a year since you have posted in this thread. I really missed you. Glad you are back.

Thanks man . I've poked my head in here from time-to-time over the past year enjoying everyone's reviews, but hope to get back to contributing soon...

[Show spoiler]...and super stoked for Game of Thrones - Season 3

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I think the spectacle alone should be worth a matinee. But I can respect that decision, I mean what's next Citizen Kane II: The Rosebud Chronicles?

It really has nothing to do with it being a remake of a classic. Hell, the "original" is a remake afterall. It is the overly deliberate "Zany and Wild" look that leaves me cold.

I guess you didn't appreciate Franco's big acting in 127 Hours. He really put on his "acting hat" for that one.

Like I said, hit of miss with him. For me anyway. I still have uncomfortable memories of his Oscar night zombie-buzzed-space cadet thingy.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

Thanks man . I've poked my head in here from time-to-time over the past year enjoying everyone's reviews, but hope to get back to contributing soon...

[Show spoiler]...and super stoked for Game of Thrones - Season 3

At your spoiler. Are you watching

[Show spoiler]Breaking Bad as well?

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

At your spoiler. Are you watching

[Show spoiler]Breaking Bad as well?

Oh yes ...not caught up yet because I graciously started over to re-watch with my wife. With much of the past year without my home theatre, I now have so much catch-up to do...

[KilloWertz]

Off to go watch Argo...

[Show spoiler]Not that anyone would care.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

It really has nothing to do with it being a remake of a classic. Hell, the "original" is a remake afterall. It is the overly deliberate "Zany and Wild" look that leaves me cold.



Like I said, hit of miss with him. For me anyway. I still have uncomfortable memories of his Oscar night zombie-buzzed-space cadet thingy.

It does look deliberate and lacking the creativity and visual wit of Raimis prior work.

Oof, I'm still at a loss for words, he was god awful that year. Well at least he's not sexist like Seth McFarlane...

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Off to go watch Argo...

[Show spoiler]Not that anyone would care.

It sounds as if you're really making a trek, you must live in a mansion.