The Movie Review and Discussion Thread - Page 1583 - Blu-ray Forum

Al_The_Strange · 03-13-2013, 08:46 AM

Next greatest blind-buy: John Carter of Mars...according to the front cover. The movie itself has the title card of Princess of Mars.

This is not to be confused with Andrew Stanton's 2012 film John Carter; this is basically a cheap knockoff from Asylum, but it does predate the Disney film by a few years.

That still doesn't count for much; the film is about as cheap and stupid as they come. Bad dialogue, stupid writing, silly acting, cheap production values, and gaudy SFX permeate the film and bring a promising story down to a cheap SyFy movie level.

To be fair, the movie is not without its charm. This version of the story does cover some of the same ground as the '12 film, so some of the more amusing moments do worm their way into it. Action is pretty silly and cheap, the romance is strangely awkward, but the film does the best it can to paint an otherworldly adventure on film with the cheap tools its given. It is moderately entertaining in the end.

The story for this sucker takes a ton of liberties. I still haven't read the original novel, so I don't know how it compares, but they turned Carter into a modern-day soldier in the Middle East, who somehow gets magically warped to "Mars" (not our Mars, a different Mars

). I didn't exactly catch how JC got to this alternate Mars, but they made it look like the military has intergalactic transporter technology and they just arbitrarily transported JC there.

When he gets there, you know the story; JC hangs with the Tharks, rescues princess, fights bad guys, blah blah blah. One other chief difference here is that, while the '12 film focused on a superweapon and an evil conquerer, this version focuses on some industrial building producing the planet's air.

As mentioned above, the film is one cheapoid piece of junk. It has okay photography and editing (I did like the opening mountain shots). Acting is terrible; the guy playing JC is about as generic of an action star as they come, and Traci Lords looks mad all the time (she doesn't even look all that hot

). The actual Tharks look like an abomninable cross-bread between the Gammoreans from Star Wars and the alien from Enemy Mine. This production makes use of some really cheap sets, props, and costumes; they look the part well enough, but never transcend their low-budget appearances. Special effects are similarly ugly. Music is servicable, but still rather generic.

The 2012 John Carter may have been a box office bomb that many audiences found dull, but comparatively, this 2009 low-budget affair makes it look like The Godfather. It's not without its own charm, but the whole time, I was reminded as to how much better everything was in Andrew Stanton's film; if anything, my love for it has been reinforced. As for this thing...

3/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Marginal | Film: Poor)

Recommendation: No. Watch the 2012 film instead.

This movie comes in a three-pack called the Legendary Heroes pack (a Best Buy exclusive, I believe; the other two films are...ugh...The 7 Adventures of Sinbad and Almighty Thor). With three movies jammed onto one disc, I really didn't expect much; JCoM seems to have a fine layer of crappy digital noise, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was compressed to heck or something. However, the film does look really sharp and clean, and colors/contrast are not bad. Sound quality is servicable.

PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 3/5

jvince · 03-13-2013, 12:22 PM

Everything Will Be OK (2006)
dir. Don Hertzfeldt

The Good: Unique style of animation. So f*cking surreal. Absolutely mesmerizing. Top-notch editing and sound effects. Inventive. Artistic. Insightful. Profound.

The Bad: None.

The Bottom Line: A (very) strange yet (very) compelling film. You just have to see this masterpiece for yourself.

jvince · 03-13-2013, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I wonder how did they do the stop motion in the first scenes? To make the sand man scooting around, they would need to employ "time lapse" techniques. Yet the waves in the background move unaffected, in "real time".

Quote:

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

I also wondered about this. I assume it must have been an incredibly pain-staking task of moving the sandman and shooting each time the waves came in. Or, they superimposed the sea in the background over their time-lapsed sandman, although it looks too good for that.

Hmm...

I found the making-of on Vimeo, but she didn't include how she did that. I think she may have superimposed it like Matt said.

What's even more amazing though, is finding out through the video above that she did all of that on her own!

Mad props.

SquidPuppet · 03-13-2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvince

I found the making-of on Vimeo, but she didn't include how she did that. I think she may have superimposed it like Matt said.

What's even more amazing though, is finding out through the video above that she did all of that on her own!

Mad props.

Thats awesome. She made a film about herself, making a film by herself, by herself.

Abdrewes · 03-13-2013, 07:57 PM

After the worldwide success of his Swedish adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Niels Arden Oplev makes his English language debut with Dead Man Down. It shares commonality with his previous film in that both are stories more or less centered around the vengeful thoughts of the character played by Noomi Rapace as a cold, indifferent world refuses to share her pain.

After being hit by a drunk driver, Beatrice (Rapace) is left disfigured, quits her beautician job and lives with her mother played by the great actress Isabelle Huppert (whom is totally wasted in the role). She passes her days in lonely contemplation until an opportunity for revenge presents itself.

Victor is a newly inducted (9 months) leads a life of crime and it is apparent that he has a damaged past as well. Collin Farrell brings some of the quiet pathos we saw in In Bruges without any of the comic wit, which is not anything Oplev was going for.

One of the many faults with the film is that it has little interest in detailing much about the mob. They pretty much spend their time calmy looking for the identity of an unknown assailant that has killed several of their men and has been sending the mob boss threatening letters. In fact their collective representation is that of ignorance stupidity as they must be some of the most clueless gangsters in recent memory.

Beatrice gets Victor to agree to off the man who disfigured her in a generic, sure, but thrilling way that I won't reveal. The problem is, Beatrice is still a beautiful woman, so it's hard to believe the level at which she is distraught. Furthermore there are a group of kids that pester her, sometimes in a violent manner, and call her a monster. It's far fetched and strains credibility as the plot grinds its gears aswell.

That said, there is still palpable romantic tension between Victor and Beatrice. They are two people damaged by careless violence. The emotional isolation they convey is convincing and in the frequent stretches of slowly revealed plot details, their inner turmoil is felt.

3.5/5

legendarymatt92 · 03-14-2013, 01:24 AM

Opening to much critical dismissal, it's easy to assume that Chernobyl Diaries is a Paranormal Activity rip-off that has no real purpose other than exploiting the current trend of the found-footage genre (it's even produced and co-written by Oren Peli, and marketed heavily as such).

Despite this, I decided it was at least a watch; I'm extremely interested in the Chernobyl incident and its aftermath, and it made sense to purchase a film that almost exclusively takes place there.

And, I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. No, it wasn't a masterpiece or anything that's destined to become a classic, but it was an above average thriller that thankfully wasn't actually done through found-footage.

The story concerns three friends who embark on a world tour and end up in Kiev, visiting one of the people's brother. Whilst there, the brother decides that they should take an "extreme tour" into Pripyat and explore the city that was abandoned over night. However, things take an unexpected turn for the worst and the friends face a battle for survival against an unknown enemy.

The highlights, for me, were completely unexpected: the acting is actually really good, and the cinematography is beautiful -- fluid, handheld camera movements take in the whole dreary and ominous landscape, follow the characters up close and provide an amazing sense of claustrophobia and loneliness. Although not actually filmed on location in Pripyat, you'd swear it was; I actually had to check on the Internet mid-way through the film because I was convinced they had shot there. The premise is interesting and the setting does wonders for what is, at heart, quite a weak and contrived story - it allows for a greater exploration of something that hasn't really been seen in mainstream film, and allows the film-makers more freedom...

...that they didn't actually seem to use. An interesting premise can only get you half-way to an interesting product, and the film lets itself down with its clichéd script and frequent use of jump-scares. The "creatures" in the heart of the town are dealt with well for most of the film (kept in the shadows, fleeting glimpses now and then) but it does start to become slightly ridiculous when they're included further and seen more often (in fact, their make-up isn't even that well done, and this becomes more apparent the more screen-time they have, unfortunately). Also, there are some minor plot and character inconsistencies that, thankfully, only become really obvious once you finish the film and really think about it.

Overall, then, it's a decent little chiller for those nights when you want some creepy jump scares without the need to think too much. It doesn't have too much influence from Peli or Paranormal Activity but it's interesting premise and setting, and amazing cinematography, is overshadowed somewhat by its inherent, generic flaws and it's unwillingness to deviate from what is expected from the genre.

6.5/10

Al_The_Strange · 03-14-2013, 09:16 AM

Next greatest blind-buy: Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

Truth is, I've never been one to care for circuses or clowns or any of that carnival stuff. Even in understanding that the Cirque du Soleil would be more of a show of skill and culture, I think the only enticing thing about this film was its presentation, its trailer, and maybe to a tiny sliver of a degree, seeing James Cameron's name plastered all over it as a producer.

I went into this expecting some manner of impressive spectacle and visual flair. It started off a bit dry, but once the characters sunk into the magical world of Cirque du Soleil, it became a fairly impressive show. There are plenty of athletic displays and unusual setpieces on display. The film overall feels lightweight, magical, and fantastic. It's pretty much what I expected.

I also didn't expect much of a story; sure enough, this film puts the narrative second to the actual showmanship. There is a faint storyline involved, but there's no real dialogue, and no conflict or drama on display. The best that can be said is that it's a story built on discovery and exploration, but even then, it's mostly just like watching a show on a stage, or going to an actual circus. That's not necessarily a bad thing; if you love the circus or theatrical shows, then this film will satsify. Casual audiences might be put off by this presenation though.

The show is captured on film in a rather plain, no-nonsense fashion. Photography is still and solid, which is perfect for capturing the performances, but it feels so static and pedestrian that it never enhances the show. I would have personally appreciated some stronger movements, more slow-motion, more angles, and above all, more close-ups (most shots are pretty distant). As it is, it feels like watching a play shot on film*. Acting in terms of the "story" is adequate enough, but the acrobatic performances and displays are well-done and skillful. There's nothing that really blew my socks off, but thanks to the lavish costumes, sets, and props, the whole thing carries an appropriate level of fantasy and whimsey. Music is a weird animal; I wasn't too fond of the frequent use of the Beatles, and certain other songs, but a lot of it is pretty nice.

As expected, this film has a marvelous and fantastic performance, but doesn't really tell a story per se. It probably could have been better in a number of ways, but for a look at a pure circus performance, the film fulfills its part with style and flair. Chances are good that I'll keep this film as one of those I can pop in while I work on other stuff and chill to.

3.5/5 (Experience: Pretty Good | Content: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good)

Recommendation: A rental for anybody who wants to see the performances. Not recommended if you're expecting an actual fantasy story or film-like spectacle.

This Blu-Ray looks and sounds perfect!

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 5/5

*EDIT: After reading up some more on this film, I realize it actually was filmed at live shows in Las Vegas, so that's why it looks and feels the way it does. In spite of that, it's probably not fair for me to nitpick about the cinematography.

jvince · 03-14-2013, 12:25 PM

Rejected (2000)
dir. Don Hertzfeldt

The Good: WTF was that??? Ending is so amazing.

The Bad: ???...!#@#$&...

The Bottom Line: If dark, absurdist humor is your thing, you'll enjoy the shit out of this.

legendarymatt92 · 03-14-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvince

Rejected - Don Hertzfeldt - YouTube

Rejected (2000)
dir. Don Hertzfeldt

The Good: WTF was that??? Ending is so amazing.

The Bad: ???...!#@#$&...

The Bottom Line: If dark, absurdist humor is your thing, you'll enjoy the shit out of this.

That

Was

AMAZING!

legendarymatt92 · 03-14-2013, 01:10 PM

For anyone interested in censorship, the MPAA or just what a director's view is when making and releasing a film, The Hollywood Reporter have a fabulous, hour-long video on it:

It features Tom Hooper, Derek Cianfrance, David O. Russell, Darren Aronofsky, Peter Weir and Lisa Cholodenko.

They have a whole series, featuring directors, actors, actresses and writers.

Abdrewes · 03-14-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legendarymatt92

For anyone interested in censorship, the MPAA or just what a director's view is when making and releasing a film, The Hollywood Reporter have a fabulous, hour-long video on it:

THR Directors Roundtable (Full Hour) - YouTube

It features Tom Hooper, Derek Cianfrance, David O. Russell, Darren Aronofsky, Peter Weir and Lisa Cholodenko.

They have a whole series, featuring directors, actors, actresses and writers.

I've heard this discussion, it is worth a listen.

SquidPuppet · 03-14-2013, 06:19 PM

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

It looks and sounds fantastic. The story is simple, cute and well told. The acrobats are terrific as always. The sets and costumes are breathtaking. The choreography of the acts is typical Cirque du Soleil, perfection.

Here is the problem though....

I own Cirque du Soleil: Alegria on DVD. It is done the same way. Its a multi-camera capture of a live show. It is awesome. Even though I am watching this on a screen at home, I get swallowed up with the audience and feel like I am there. It really feels like the performers are performing for the audience....and me.

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is also wonderfully captured using multiple cameras, on the real sets, with the real music. But, and this is the BIG problem, there is no audience. It's a "live" show, but its really just a flawless dress rehersal. Without the "Oooohs" and Aaahhhs" and Gasps and applause it feels empty. The heart and soul of a live performance is missing. It was like watching a Blu-ray of my favorite band in concert, with a beatiful stage, great lighting, killer sound mix, and 6,000 empty seats.

It's all subliminal, but I really felt detatched from the performers.

Too bad. Still worth looking at though.

Film 3/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4.5/5

SquidPuppet · 03-14-2013, 07:11 PM

Skyfall

2012 / PG-13 / 143 minutes

Bond is back! And done right. Again.

Weeeeeeee....

Great opening credits. Cool action. Sexy gals. BAD guys that are actually bad, and have depth. Guns and a few gadgets. Bond theme music jammin. Motorcycle and car chases. Lotsa stuff blows up. Martinis.

And no shakey cam.

Film 4.5/5
PQ 4.5/5
AQ 5/5

Abdrewes · 03-14-2013, 07:21 PM

21 & Over (2013)

Since I only made it about half way through the film, I'll only post the notes I jotted down during the film.

Opens with two butt naked freshman on campus w/ socks over junk.

Campus montage then title card I day earlier graces screen

Set to a lame jazzy sitcom score, to infuse energy. Lame pop culture references (I love Justin Gordon Levitt in 500 days, Cameron Diaz, I loved her in shrek)

The two guys pick up Asian kid who has med scool exam in the morning.

"In this country your best friends **** you with alcohol, I'm gonna **** you with alcohol.".."okay one beer"cut to debauchery at the bar.

Meet up with cute female prospect and talk about masturbation

Justin Chang throws dart through someone's cheek Stranger rants: "If I ever see you tampons again I will rip your face off like a spider monkey"

Goes to next bar Justin Chang says: I'm 21 black jack mother ducker"

Dance/drink montage
Takes a shot from an obese mans breasts.

Next bar.
Justin Chang stands on bar and pisses on people

Next bar
Jeff Chang bull rides and throws up on crowd in slow mo.

After noticing hes wasted: "Jeff Chang is a grown man and can make his own choices."

(Friends find gun in his pocket, hmm where is this gonna go?)

"Speaking of tits how is your sister"

More hijinks at a sorority dorm. Now the girls are after them....
(I Walk out)

1/5

Edit: Oops I forgot to edit the language in my notes, sorry.

Diesel · 03-14-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Skyfall

2012 / PG-13 / 143 minutes

Bond is back! And done right. Again.

Weeeeeeee....

Great opening credits. Cool action. Sexy gals. BAD guys that are actually bad, and have depth. Guns and a few gadgets. Bond theme music jammin. Motorcycle and car chases. Lotsa stuff blows up. Martinis.

And no shakey cam.

Film 4.5/5
PQ 4.5/5
AQ 5/5

Al_The_Strange · 03-14-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

It looks and sounds fantastic. The story is simple, cute and well told. The acrobats are terrific as always. The sets and costumes are breathtaking. The choreography of the acts is typical Cirque du Soleil, perfection.

Here is the problem though....

I own Cirque du Soleil: Alegria on DVD. It is done the same way. Its a multi-camera capture of a live show. It is awesome. Even though I am watching this on a screen at home, I get swallowed up with the audience and feel like I am there. It really feels like the performers are performing for the audience....and me.

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is also wonderfully captured using multiple cameras, on the real sets, with the real music. But, and this is the BIG problem, there is no audience. It's a "live" show, but its really just a flawless dress rehersal. Without the "Oooohs" and Aaahhhs" and Gasps and applause it feels empty. The heart and soul of a live performance is missing. It was like watching a Blu-ray of my favorite band in concert, with a beatiful stage, great lighting, killer sound mix, and 6,000 empty seats.

It's all subliminal, but I really felt detatched from the performers.

Too bad. Still worth looking at though.

Film 3/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4.5/5

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Skyfall

2012 / PG-13 / 143 minutes

Bond is back! And done right. Again.

Weeeeeeee....

Great opening credits. Cool action. Sexy gals. BAD guys that are actually bad, and have depth. Guns and a few gadgets. Bond theme music jammin. Motorcycle and car chases. Lotsa stuff blows up. Martinis.

And no shakey cam.

Film 4.5/5
PQ 4.5/5
AQ 5/5

Agreed on both.

I think you've also articulated that certain something I knew was off about CdS Worlds Away really well; it didn't know if it wanted to be an actual film, or a live show.

Al_The_Strange · 03-14-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvince

Rejected - Don Hertzfeldt - YouTube

Rejected (2000)
dir. Don Hertzfeldt

The Good: WTF was that??? Ending is so amazing.

The Bad: ???...!#@#$&...

The Bottom Line: If dark, absurdist humor is your thing, you'll enjoy the shit out of this.

Hahaha, awesome stuff!

I actually have seen some of this guy's stuff on those Animation Show DVDs. This was one of them:

Foggy · 03-14-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Skyfall

2012 / PG-13 / 143 minutes

Bond is back! And done right. Again.

Weeeeeeee....

Great opening credits. Cool action. Sexy gals. BAD guys that are actually bad, and have depth. Guns and a few gadgets. Bond theme music jammin. Motorcycle and car chases. Lotsa stuff blows up. Martinis.

And no shakey cam.

Film 4.5/5
PQ 4.5/5
AQ 5/5

Hep · 03-15-2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

It looks and sounds fantastic. The story is simple, cute and well told. The acrobats are terrific as always. The sets and costumes are breathtaking. The choreography of the acts is typical Cirque du Soleil, perfection.

Here is the problem though....

I own Cirque du Soleil: Alegria on DVD. It is done the same way. Its a multi-camera capture of a live show. It is awesome. Even though I am watching this on a screen at home, I get swallowed up with the audience and feel like I am there. It really feels like the performers are performing for the audience....and me.

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is also wonderfully captured using multiple cameras, on the real sets, with the real music. But, and this is the BIG problem, there is no audience. It's a "live" show, but its really just a flawless dress rehersal. Without the "Oooohs" and Aaahhhs" and Gasps and applause it feels empty. The heart and soul of a live performance is missing. It was like watching a Blu-ray of my favorite band in concert, with a beatiful stage, great lighting, killer sound mix, and 6,000 empty seats.

It's all subliminal, but I really felt detatched from the performers.

Too bad. Still worth looking at though.

Film 3/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4.5/5

I was thinking about this one. Thanks for the insight. I can imagine exactly the hollow feel that you've described, but without any prior Soleil viewing experiences I might have to give it a shot regardless.

dag · 03-15-2013, 04:33 AM

I just finished watching the extended cut of Terrence Malick's The New World. What a deeply moving work of art! This film actually has a linear plot, but once again, Malick is not really interested in something so simple. Rather, he attempts to capture emotion: people reach out to tree trunks when walking through a forest, or touch the tall grass when walking through a field. The sun is frequently low, and shining. Trees reach up to the sky. While there is some dialogue, the focus is on various characters' internal monologues.

I have to tell you all, I was deeply, deeply moved. The New World is an achingly beautiful, profound, and meditative paean to love, Nature, and the journey we all must take.

03-13-2013, 07:57 PM	#31645
Abdrewes Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Texas 4K collection:767 Blu-ray collection:9831 DVD collection:523 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:362	[B]Dead Man Down (2013)[/B] After the worldwide success of his Swedish adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Niels Arden Oplev makes his English language debut with Dead Man Down. It shares commonality with his previous film in that both are stories more or less centered around the vengeful thoughts of the character played by Noomi Rapace as a cold, indifferent world refuses to share her pain. After being hit by a drunk driver, Beatrice (Rapace) is left disfigured, quits her beautician job and lives with her mother played by the great actress Isabelle Huppert (whom is totally wasted in the role). She passes her days in lonely contemplation until an opportunity for revenge presents itself. Victor is a newly inducted (9 months) leads a life of crime and it is apparent that he has a damaged past as well. Collin Farrell brings some of the quiet pathos we saw in In Bruges without any of the comic wit, which is not anything Oplev was going for. One of the many faults with the film is that it has little interest in detailing much about the mob. They pretty much spend their time calmy looking for the identity of an unknown assailant that has killed several of their men and has been sending the mob boss threatening letters. In fact their collective representation is that of ignorance stupidity as they must be some of the most clueless gangsters in recent memory. Beatrice gets Victor to agree to off the man who disfigured her in a generic, sure, but thrilling way that I won't reveal. The problem is, Beatrice is still a beautiful woman, so it's hard to believe the level at which she is distraught. Furthermore there are a group of kids that pester her, sometimes in a violent manner, and call her a monster. It's far fetched and strains credibility as the plot grinds its gears aswell. That said, there is still palpable romantic tension between Victor and Beatrice. They are two people damaged by careless violence. The emotional isolation they convey is convincing and in the frequent stretches of slowly revealed plot details, their inner turmoil is felt. 3.5/5

03-14-2013, 01:24 AM	#31646
legendarymatt92 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012 Location:United Kingdom Blu-ray collection:424 DVD collection:13 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:1	Chernobyl Diaries (dir. Brad Parker, 2012) Opening to much critical dismissal, it's easy to assume that Chernobyl Diaries is a Paranormal Activity rip-off that has no real purpose other than exploiting the current trend of the found-footage genre (it's even produced and co-written by Oren Peli, and marketed heavily as such). Despite this, I decided it was at least a watch; I'm extremely interested in the Chernobyl incident and its aftermath, and it made sense to purchase a film that almost exclusively takes place there. And, I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. No, it wasn't a masterpiece or anything that's destined to become a classic, but it was an above average thriller that thankfully wasn't actually done through found-footage. The story concerns three friends who embark on a world tour and end up in Kiev, visiting one of the people's brother. Whilst there, the brother decides that they should take an "extreme tour" into Pripyat and explore the city that was abandoned over night. However, things take an unexpected turn for the worst and the friends face a battle for survival against an unknown enemy. The highlights, for me, were completely unexpected: the acting is actually really good, and the cinematography is beautiful -- fluid, handheld camera movements take in the whole dreary and ominous landscape, follow the characters up close and provide an amazing sense of claustrophobia and loneliness. Although not actually filmed on location in Pripyat, you'd swear it was; I actually had to check on the Internet mid-way through the film because I was convinced they had shot there. The premise is interesting and the setting does wonders for what is, at heart, quite a weak and contrived story - it allows for a greater exploration of something that hasn't really been seen in mainstream film, and allows the film-makers more freedom... ...that they didn't actually seem to use. An interesting premise can only get you half-way to an interesting product, and the film lets itself down with its clichéd script and frequent use of jump-scares. The "creatures" in the heart of the town are dealt with well for most of the film (kept in the shadows, fleeting glimpses now and then) but it does start to become slightly ridiculous when they're included further and seen more often (in fact, their make-up isn't even that well done, and this becomes more apparent the more screen-time they have, unfortunately). Also, there are some minor plot and character inconsistencies that, thankfully, only become really obvious once you finish the film and really think about it. Overall, then, it's a decent little chiller for those nights when you want some creepy jump scares without the need to think too much. It doesn't have too much influence from Peli or Paranormal Activity but it's interesting premise and setting, and amazing cinematography, is overshadowed somewhat by its inherent, generic flaws and it's unwillingness to deviate from what is expected from the genre. 6.5/10

03-14-2013, 09:16 AM	#31647
Al_The_Strange Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Out there...past them trees... Home Theater Gallery:126 4K collection:1140 Blu-ray collection:4958 DVD collection:530 Digital collection:1013 Blu-ray reviews: 132 Trading Score:32	Next greatest blind-buy: Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away Truth is, I've never been one to care for circuses or clowns or any of that carnival stuff. Even in understanding that the Cirque du Soleil would be more of a show of skill and culture, I think the only enticing thing about this film was its presentation, its trailer, and maybe to a tiny sliver of a degree, seeing James Cameron's name plastered all over it as a producer. I went into this expecting some manner of impressive spectacle and visual flair. It started off a bit dry, but once the characters sunk into the magical world of Cirque du Soleil, it became a fairly impressive show. There are plenty of athletic displays and unusual setpieces on display. The film overall feels lightweight, magical, and fantastic. It's pretty much what I expected. I also didn't expect much of a story; sure enough, this film puts the narrative second to the actual showmanship. There is a faint storyline involved, but there's no real dialogue, and no conflict or drama on display. The best that can be said is that it's a story built on discovery and exploration, but even then, it's mostly just like watching a show on a stage, or going to an actual circus. That's not necessarily a bad thing; if you love the circus or theatrical shows, then this film will satsify. Casual audiences might be put off by this presenation though. The show is captured on film in a rather plain, no-nonsense fashion. Photography is still and solid, which is perfect for capturing the performances, but it feels so static and pedestrian that it never enhances the show. I would have personally appreciated some stronger movements, more slow-motion, more angles, and above all, more close-ups (most shots are pretty distant). As it is, it feels like watching a play shot on film. Acting in terms of the "story" is adequate enough, but the acrobatic performances and displays are well-done and skillful. There's nothing that really blew my socks off, but thanks to the lavish costumes, sets, and props, the whole thing carries an appropriate level of fantasy and whimsey. Music is a weird animal; I wasn't too fond of the frequent use of the Beatles, and certain other songs, but a lot of it is pretty nice. As expected, this film has a marvelous and fantastic performance, but doesn't really tell a story per se. It probably could have been better in a number of ways, but for a look at a pure circus performance, the film fulfills its part with style and flair. Chances are good that I'll keep this film as one of those I can pop in while I work on other stuff and chill to. 3.5/5* (Experience: Pretty Good \| Content: Pretty Good \| Film: Pretty Good) Recommendation: A rental for anybody who wants to see the performances. Not recommended if you're expecting an actual fantasy story or film-like spectacle. This Blu-Ray looks and sounds perfect! PQ: 5/5, AQ: 5/5 EDIT: After reading up some more on this film, I realize it actually was filmed at live shows in Las Vegas, so that's why it looks and feels the way it does. In spite of that, it's probably not fair for me to nitpick about the cinematography. Last edited by Al_The_Strange; 03-14-2013 at 09:26 AM.*

03-14-2013, 06:19 PM	#31652
SquidPuppet Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:277 Blu-ray reviews:27	Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away It looks and sounds fantastic. The story is simple, cute and well told. The acrobats are terrific as always. The sets and costumes are breathtaking. The choreography of the acts is typical Cirque du Soleil, perfection. Here is the problem though.... I own Cirque du Soleil: Alegria on DVD. It is done the same way. Its a multi-camera capture of a live show. It is awesome. Even though I am watching this on a screen at home, I get swallowed up with the audience and feel like I am there. It really feels like the performers are performing for the audience....and me. Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is also wonderfully captured using multiple cameras, on the real sets, with the real music. But, and this is the BIG problem, there is no audience. It's a "live" show, but its really just a flawless dress rehersal. Without the "Oooohs" and Aaahhhs" and Gasps and applause it feels empty. The heart and soul of a live performance is missing. It was like watching a Blu-ray of my favorite band in concert, with a beatiful stage, great lighting, killer sound mix, and 6,000 empty seats. It's all subliminal, but I really felt detatched from the performers. Too bad. Still worth looking at though. Film 3/5 PQ 4/5 AQ 4.5/5 Last edited by SquidPuppet; 03-14-2013 at 06:22 PM.

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03-13-2013, 08:46 AM	#31641
Al_The_Strange Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Out there...past them trees... Home Theater Gallery:126 4K collection:1140 Blu-ray collection:4958 DVD collection:530 Digital collection:1013 Blu-ray reviews: 132 Trading Score:32	Next greatest blind-buy: John Carter of Mars...according to the front cover. The movie itself has the title card of Princess of Mars. This is not to be confused with Andrew Stanton's 2012 film John Carter; this is basically a cheap knockoff from Asylum, but it does predate the Disney film by a few years. That still doesn't count for much; the film is about as cheap and stupid as they come. Bad dialogue, stupid writing, silly acting, cheap production values, and gaudy SFX permeate the film and bring a promising story down to a cheap SyFy movie level. To be fair, the movie is not without its charm. This version of the story does cover some of the same ground as the '12 film, so some of the more amusing moments do worm their way into it. Action is pretty silly and cheap, the romance is strangely awkward, but the film does the best it can to paint an otherworldly adventure on film with the cheap tools its given. It is moderately entertaining in the end. The story for this sucker takes a ton of liberties. I still haven't read the original novel, so I don't know how it compares, but they turned Carter into a modern-day soldier in the Middle East, who somehow gets magically warped to "Mars" (not our Mars, a different Mars ). I didn't exactly catch how JC got to this alternate Mars, but they made it look like the military has intergalactic transporter technology and they just arbitrarily transported JC there. When he gets there, you know the story; JC hangs with the Tharks, rescues princess, fights bad guys, blah blah blah. One other chief difference here is that, while the '12 film focused on a superweapon and an evil conquerer, this version focuses on some industrial building producing the planet's air. As mentioned above, the film is one cheapoid piece of junk. It has okay photography and editing (I did like the opening mountain shots). Acting is terrible; the guy playing JC is about as generic of an action star as they come, and Traci Lords looks mad all the time (she doesn't even look all that hot ). The actual Tharks look like an abomninable cross-bread between the Gammoreans from Star Wars and the alien from Enemy Mine. This production makes use of some really cheap sets, props, and costumes; they look the part well enough, but never transcend their low-budget appearances. Special effects are similarly ugly. Music is servicable, but still rather generic. The 2012 John Carter may have been a box office bomb that many audiences found dull, but comparatively, this 2009 low-budget affair makes it look like The Godfather. It's not without its own charm, but the whole time, I was reminded as to how much better everything was in Andrew Stanton's film; if anything, my love for it has been reinforced. As for this thing... 3/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good \| Story: Marginal \| Film: Poor) Recommendation: No. Watch the 2012 film instead. This movie comes in a three-pack called the Legendary Heroes pack (a Best Buy exclusive, I believe; the other two films are...ugh...The 7 Adventures of Sinbad and Almighty Thor). With three movies jammed onto one disc, I really didn't expect much; JCoM seems to have a fine layer of crappy digital noise, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was compressed to heck or something. However, the film does look really sharp and clean, and colors/contrast are not bad. Sound quality is servicable. PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 3/5

03-14-2013, 07:11 PM	#31653
SquidPuppet Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:277 Blu-ray reviews:27	Skyfall 2012 / PG-13 / 143 minutes Bond is back! And done right. Again. Weeeeeeee.... Great opening credits. Cool action. Sexy gals. BAD guys that are actually bad, and have depth. Guns and a few gadgets. Bond theme music jammin. Motorcycle and car chases. Lotsa stuff blows up. Martinis. And no shakey cam. Film 4.5/5 PQ 4.5/5 AQ 5/5

03-14-2013, 07:21 PM	#31654
Abdrewes Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Texas 4K collection:767 Blu-ray collection:9831 DVD collection:523 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:362	21 & Over (2013) Since I only made it about half way through the film, I'll only post the notes I jotted down during the film. Opens with two butt naked freshman on campus w/ socks over junk. Campus montage then title card I day earlier graces screen Set to a lame jazzy sitcom score, to infuse energy. Lame pop culture references (I love Justin Gordon Levitt in 500 days, Cameron Diaz, I loved her in shrek) The two guys pick up Asian kid who has med scool exam in the morning. "In this country your best friends ** you with alcohol, I'm gonna you with alcohol.".."okay one beer"cut to debauchery at the bar. Meet up with cute female prospect and talk about masturbation Justin Chang throws dart through someone's cheek Stranger rants: "If I ever see you tampons again I will rip your face off like a spider monkey" Goes to next bar Justin Chang says: I'm 21 black jack mother ducker" Dance/drink montage Takes a shot from an obese mans breasts. Next bar. Justin Chang stands on bar and pisses on people Next bar Jeff Chang bull rides and throws up on crowd in slow mo. After noticing hes wasted: "Jeff Chang is a grown man and can make his own choices." (Friends find gun in his pocket, hmm where is this gonna go?) "Speaking of tits how is your sister" More hijinks at a sorority dorm. Now the girls are after them.... (I Walk out) 1/5** Edit: Oops I forgot to edit the language in my notes, sorry.

03-15-2013, 04:33 AM	#31660
dag Expert Member Member since:Jul 2010 Location:Toronto	I just finished watching the extended cut of Terrence Malick's The New World. What a deeply moving work of art! This film actually has a linear plot, but once again, Malick is not really interested in something so simple. Rather, he attempts to capture emotion: people reach out to tree trunks when walking through a forest, or touch the tall grass when walking through a field. The sun is frequently low, and shining. Trees reach up to the sky. While there is some dialogue, the focus is on various characters' internal monologues. I have to tell you all, I was deeply, deeply moved. The New World is an achingly beautiful, profound, and meditative paean to love, Nature, and the journey we all must take.

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