I've said this before, but it needs repeating - I love this thread.
Thanks for the heartfelt reviews. Even where I disagree, sometimes vehemently, or simply privately smile and nod in agreement (Enter the Void was a virtuoso cinematic achievement but also an abomination [ok, a bit strong - I wasn't offended in any way, but thought it was the very definition of pretentious]]; Crystal Skull was an appalling embarrassment
[Show spoiler][Indiana Jones getting the shakes from being wired up to the skull is painful just to watch!]
; on the other hand, young Luke watching the twin suns set over the deserts of Tattoine is truly an iconic moment in film), I really appreciate the time and effort spent composing them. And Diesel, your unique flair for smilies is unparalleled!
I've said this before, but it needs repeating - I love this thread.
Thanks for the heartfelt reviews. Even where I disagree, sometimes vehemently, or simply privately smile and nod in agreement (Enter the Void was a virtuoso cinematic achievement but also an abomination [ok, a bit strong - I wasn't offended in any way, but thought it was the very definition of pretentious]]; Crystal Skull was an appalling embarrassment
[Show spoiler][Indiana Jones getting the shakes from being wired up to the skull is painful just to watch!]
; on the other hand, young Luke watching the twin suns set over the deserts of Tattoine is truly an iconic moment in film), I really appreciate the time and effort spent composing them. And Diesel, your unique flair for smilies is unparalleled!
I do my best
This is my 2nd favorite thread on the site
______
This weekend I'll be watching either (or possibly both) Of Mice and Men (seen it) or A River Runs Through It (haven't).
Someone recently told me how A River Runs Through It ends though
[Show spoiler]In the fashion of the old-fashioned serials, where a daring hero gallivants from one pitfall to another before closing with a thrilling cliffhanger, Indiana Jones makes his debut exploring an ancient South American temple. After the iconic hand-off scene, the place explodes around him, he hops through all the booby traps to escape, before being chased by natives! And that’s only a prelude; the adventure that follows pits him against all kinds of enemies, and they fight, chase each other, and raid more tombs before reaching a chilling climax. The action is frequent, and must take up nearly half of the film or more, and everything in between is tightly-paced, suspenseful, memorable, funny, dramatic…there is never a dull moment!
The story is great too. Maybe nothing deep or artistic, but the characters are pretty strong and we grow to love them the more we follow them in the movie. The McGuffin-driven quest they go on moves fast and logically, providing a solid platform to showcase the epic action scenes, in addition to the occasional bit of humor, romance, characterization, one or two historical/cultural lessons, and an underlying theme concerning the morality of treasure hunting.
Cinematically, it looks brilliant too. Photography is very strong all the way through, with plenty of interesting angles, steady composition, and interesting lighting effects. The combination of filming, sound design, and authentic locations give the film a natural rough n’ gritty appeal that I don’t think has been effectively reproduced anywhere else (except the next two sequels). Acting is great; Harrison Ford is perfect as Indy, Karen Allen is perfect as Marion, Paul Freeman makes a good villain (and a good foil for Indy’s character), and John Rhys-Davies is lovable. Writing is spot-on. Production value shows a few weaknesses (fake-looking sets, old-fashioned special effects), but otherwise has some really strong sets, props, and costumes, and the filmmakers show immaculate attention to detail. Music is classic!
5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 5/5)
Recommendation: YES!!!!!
I remember seeing this film in the Tivoli theatre in Hamilton. A man sitting behind me laughed the entire way through the film. Raiders of the Lost Ark truly is one of the greatest adventure films of all time.
Spielberg's camera framing was simply fantastic. Recall the scene in the Nepal bar, when the Nazi orders that Indy and the girl be shot:
[Show spoiler]1. Indy is being strangled and you see shadows on the wall behind him moving toward him.
2. The camera shows a sub-machine gun being loaded.
3. Indy strains but moves his arm around and shoots his pistol at the Nazi henchman.
4. You see the gunman's shadow on the wall behind Indy, reacting to being shot.
5. The dead gunman collapses in front of the camera.
Brilliantly done.
The sheer romantic nature of the adventure - this lost period of time, which maybe never really existed - really hits home, and the score of course memorably contributes to the film's success. Great, great film.
That's not a thread, it's a discussion group. Grown Ups 3/5
Funny and just good enough that I will get the combo pack soon since it's so cheap, DVRing Runaways next.
I reviewed these some time ago, but not in detail. This works out great, since this franchise was originally penned as a figurative son of James Bond…
“Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
[Show spoiler]
In the fashion of the old-fashioned serials, where a daring hero gallivants from one pitfall to another before closing with a thrilling cliffhanger, Indiana Jones makes his debut exploring an ancient South American temple. After the iconic hand-off scene, the place explodes around him, he hops through all the booby traps to escape, before being chased by natives! And that’s only a prelude; the adventure that follows pits him against all kinds of enemies, and they fight, chase each other, and raid more tombs before reaching a chilling climax. The action is frequent, and must take up nearly half of the film or more, and everything in between is tightly-paced, suspenseful, memorable, funny, dramatic…there is never a dull moment!
The story is great too. Maybe nothing deep or artistic, but the characters are pretty strong and we grow to love them the more we follow them in the movie. The McGuffin-driven quest they go on moves fast and logically, providing a solid platform to showcase the epic action scenes, in addition to the occasional bit of humor, romance, characterization, one or two historical/cultural lessons, and an underlying theme concerning the morality of treasure hunting.
Cinematically, it looks brilliant too. Photography is very strong all the way through, with plenty of interesting angles, steady composition, and interesting lighting effects. The combination of filming, sound design, and authentic locations give the film a natural rough n’ gritty appeal that I don’t think has been effectively reproduced anywhere else (except the next two sequels). Acting is great; Harrison Ford is perfect as Indy, Karen Allen is perfect as Marion, Paul Freeman makes a good villain (and a good foil for Indy’s character), and John Rhys-Davies is lovable. Writing is spot-on. Production value shows a few weaknesses (fake-looking sets, old-fashioned special effects), but otherwise has some really strong sets, props, and costumes, and the filmmakers show immaculate attention to detail. Music is classic!
5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 5/5)
Recommendation: YES!!!!!
“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
[Show spoiler]
After “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Spielberg, Lucas, and the gang had a hard act to follow. They generally delivered with this prequel, taking Indy through a thrilling roller-coaster ride (or a mine-card ride as the case may be) of an adventure. There are still lots of great fights, great chases, and even more memorable setpieces and sequences, and even more comedy. Yep, this film is still a blast!
The story never really felt that strong to me, especially when compared to its predecessor and successor. It does have merits though; this is a figurative journey to Hell, and it gets pretty darn dark and wicked at times. The whole heart-ripping scene is what gave birth to the PG-13 rating in the first place. My only complaint about all this is that it contrasts way too much with the silly comedy scattered throughout, breaking up any sense of foreboding.
Otherwise, the story is serviceable, at the least. It has tight pacing and a consistent flow (even if the transition from the opening scenes to the main story is a little screwy). Some of the action scenes get pretty absurd and unrealistic, but I find most of these faults forgivable. In the end, it’s still a fun story that’s well-told and with a group of likable characters.
The film has fine photography, with plenty of good camera angles and quality lighting. Acting is great; Harrison Ford is still the man, Kate Capshaw (aside from being a bit annoying) plays her part perfectly, Jonathan Ke Quan is lovable as Short Round, Amrish Puri is perfect as the villain (probably the best villain in the series), and it’s interesting to see Dan Aykroyd and Phillip Stone in the mix (you know, the dude who played Grady in “The Shining.” Seems like I’m seeing him in a lot of films these days… ). Writing is great, production value is great, and the music is great.
[Show spoiler]
In his third film, Indiana Jones continues to hunt down artifacts and fight bad guys. This flick easily has as much action as the last outings, with plenty of fights and chases to entertain. The setpieces are quite ambitious as Indy outruns villains on a moving train, infiltrates a castle, and takes on a tank on horseback, among other brilliant sequences. And the comedy is probably the best in this film; the dialogue and interplay between characters are often quite witty.
The story for this is strong and ambitious as Indy goes out to find the holiest artifact of them all: the Holy Grail. The story is tightly-paced and well planned-out as mysteries unravel and turncoats are revealed as the adventure presses on. But what really propels this story to greatness are the characters; they receive their strongest treatment here as Indy struggles to reconcile things with his dad (not to mention, the opening flashback reveals a lot about their characters).
The film is still competently made, with quality photography. Acting is great; Harrison Ford is still the man, Sean Connery is perfectly cast as Indy’s father (I told you James Bond was Indy’s father! ), Alison Doody is hot, John Rhys-Davies is still the man, Julian Glover is decent as the villain, and River Phoenix was perfect in his role. Writing is good, production value is high, and the music is awesome.
5/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 5/5, film: 5/5)
Recommendation: Yes!
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
[Show spoiler]
Nearly twenty years after the last adventure, a sixty-year-old Indiana Jones comes back for one more round (and perhaps more if they really are making more sequels to this). At the very least, he still knows how to kick butt! The film is surprisingly loaded with lengthy and awesome action sequences; the whole middle of the movie is a brilliant sequence as Indy and the gang chase, fight, and explores the jungles of the Amazon all at once! And with a plethora of quality special effects, the film is a sight to behold. Some of the action is quite absurd and unrealistic; it doesn't bother me that much, but it might make some viewers go .
But how does the story hold up? Pretty iffy. It does have many merits; seeing Indy in the 50s offers a lot of interesting insight as he struggles with cultural and political changes (as well as his old age and mortality). The film explores UFO-lore, the paranormal, and ancient history in a fairly solid fashion; I just feel that its delivery falls a little flat. I blame the writing for the most part; the first three films were brilliantly written with the right amount of exposition to explore the historical and cultural backgrounds of a given artifact. In this case the exposition is scattered, and provides very loose connections that don’t feel all that cohesive. Not to mention that the writing doesn’t really help the characters; they have their moments, but there’s nothing terribly insightful.
As a film, it’s got plenty of nice photography. Acting is solid; Harrison Ford is still the man after all these years, Karen Allen still plays her role very well, I like Cate Blanchett as the villain (although I do think her voice and accent are a little forced), Shia LaBeouf is…himself… Writing sucks. Production value is high, and there are way more overloaded special effects than I anticipated. I know there are a lot of issues that other viewers may nitpick about, but none of them really bothered me much. Music is not bad.
4/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 3/5, film: 4/5)
Recommendation: As a rental.
Al, I've been loving your reviews lately. It's pretty spot on for how I feel about the series as well. It's my second favorite movie series, and I think all the films are solid fun. When are we going to get the original three on blu though....Hurry up Paramount! I want more Indy on blu!
Al, I've been loving your reviews lately. It's pretty spot on for how I feel about the series as well. It's my second favorite movie series, and I think all the films are solid fun. When are we going to get the original three on blu though....Hurry up Paramount! I want more Indy on blu!
I don't love them as much as I used to but I'd be in for the Indy set for about $45-. Imagine they're coming out next year since George and Stephen haven't said anything about them yet.
Genre: Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller Synopsis: Pediatrician Alexandre Beck still grieves for his beloved wife Margot Beck, who was murdered eight years earlier. When two bodies are found near the scene of the original crime, the police reopen the case, and Alex becomes a suspect again. Running Time: 131 minutes
Director: Guillaume Canet (Little White Lies) Writers: Guillaume Canet, Philippe Lefebvre, Harlan Coben Stars: François Cluzet (Story of Women), Marie-Josée Croze (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), André Dussollier (A Very Long Engagement), Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), François Berléand (The Chorus), Nathalie Baye (Catch Me If You Can), Jean Rochefort (Man on the Train), Marina Hands (Lady Chatterley)
Tell everyone: "Tell No One" is a superb thriller.
Watching the film is the equivalent of watching a master artist paint his magnum opus. Every stroke is done so delicately, every color is chosen carefully, and every detail is given an equal amount of attention. The plot is unquestionably one of the best noirs in recent years, the characters are colored diversely and perfectly, and the cinematography is utterly majestic; one of the best-looking thrillers ever.
The music as a whole is a bit unbalanced. The English-language pop songs may seem a tad out-of-place for some, but the original score by Mathieu Chedid (aka M) is pitch-perfect, melding seamlessly with the beautifully-shot sequences. One will surely be scratching his/her head wondering why they didn't just let Chedid do the entire score.
The movie geek in me would quickly give this a perfect score, but from a critic's standpoint, it certainly has its flaws. The long exposition at the end could have been shortened, the choice of pop songs is polarizing ("With or Without You," really?), and the story relies too much on coincidences. I could overlook the many coincidences in the plot (noirs rely on the element of fate after all), but when things happen conveniently for the sake of symbolism, it isn't easy to turn a blind eye on.
I could speak in superlatives all day long about this movie. It's seriously a must-see for everyone, whether you're a fan of the genre or not. It has enough distinctive flavor in it to be distinguished as a French film, but in it's heart, it's a Hollywood man-on-the-run thriller; the kind that Hollywood has sadly forgotten to make. Only an Anton Ego-hearted bastard wouldn't enjoy this exceptional film.
So once again, I'm telling you, to tell yourself and everyone else, "Tell No One" is one hell of a ride more people should be lining up for.
[Show spoiler][Indiana Jones getting the shakes from being wired up to the skull is painful just to watch!]
That scene is a little uncharacteristic, I'll admit.
One thing I did love about it was Spelko's speech during the whole thing, threatening the US with psychic warfare. It's the perfect allegory to the Cold War communist threat.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dag
I remember seeing this film in the Tivoli theatre in Hamilton. A man sitting behind me laughed the entire way through the film. Raiders of the Lost Ark truly is one of the greatest adventure films of all time.
Spielberg's camera framing was simply fantastic. Recall the scene in the Nepal bar, when the Nazi orders that Indy and the girl be shot:
[Show spoiler]1. Indy is being strangled and you see shadows on the wall behind him moving toward him.
2. The camera shows a sub-machine gun being loaded.
3. Indy strains but moves his arm around and shoots his pistol at the Nazi henchman.
4. You see the gunman's shadow on the wall behind Indy, reacting to being shot.
5. The dead gunman collapses in front of the camera.
Brilliantly done.
The sheer romantic nature of the adventure - this lost period of time, which maybe never really existed - really hits home, and the score of course memorably contributes to the film's success. Great, great film.
I agree totally! The barfight is brilliantly shot, and I do love how they shot all the shadows on the wall to supplement the action. And with the era it's set in, the film has a very classy vibe to it at times (I think because of Spielberg's own fascination with the era and classic films).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walts Ghost
Al, I've been loving your reviews lately. It's pretty spot on for how I feel about the series as well. It's my second favorite movie series, and I think all the films are solid fun. When are we going to get the original three on blu though....Hurry up Paramount! I want more Indy on blu!
Thank you. It's my fourth favorite franchise (behind "LOTR," "Star Wars," and "The Matrix," which together constitute my own holy trinity of films ). That makes "Raiders"...my fourth favorite movie.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth Anakin
I don't love them as much as I used to but I'd be in for the Indy set for about $45-. Imagine they're coming out next year since George and Stephen haven't said anything about them yet.
Yep, I thought general rumors place the release date within this year or next year...
Damn is this film really that bad??? I dont know JHiggy u might be losing some points here man haha. Got Em!!
Well, it's a fine film...I just didn't like it.
I predict that you wouldn't like it. It is subtitled, jeez. I'm not sure if the US disc would have English dubbing on it or not. Regardless, it doesn't seem like the type of film you'd usually go for, and you might find it a little boring.
Luke staring at the sunset on Tatooine is reason enough to rate this 5/5. As a kid I found this movie to be the worst and most boring installment. Now I think it is the best. The editing is perfect which causes excellent pacing. And John Williams' score is absolutely brillant. He won the Oscar for best original score rightly.
The Empire Strikes Back 5/5
Definitely darker/more mature than its predecessor. I loved this movie to death as a kid and it was my favorite SW film. Now it's the second best imo. Two scenes still give me goosebumps every single time I watch this movie:
[Show spoiler]1) Vader: "No, I am your father!"
2) Luke: "I'm not afraid."
Yoda: "Ohhh.... you will be, you will be."
The music score might be the best in the trilogy.
Return of the Jedi 5/5
The weakest installment but still a very very good movie imo. I love the whole triangle relationship between Luke, Vader and the Emperor. The finale duel is excellent and
[Show spoiler]Vader's redemption is so powerful. Luke burning his father
makes me cry every single time. I don't hate the ewoks, but I don't love them either. I think they are okay. George could have come up with something better, but everything else involving Luke, Vader and the Emperor is just so dark, that I think it's a good contrast. And once again, a great powerful score by the wonderful John Williams.
Overall my favorite movie trilogy of all time.
The force is strong with this one.
Yep, I agree with your scores; the whole OT is brilliant. ROTJ remains my favorite, mostly for the reasons you've described above regarding the duel between Luke and Vader.
Tell No One (2006) Genre: Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller Synopsis: Pediatrician Alexandre Beck still grieves for his beloved wife Margot Beck, who was murdered eight years earlier. When two bodies are found near the scene of the original crime, the police reopen the case, and Alex becomes a suspect again. Running Time: 131 minutes
Director: Guillaume Canet (Little White Lies) Writers: Guillaume Canet, Philippe Lefebvre, Harlan Coben Stars: François Cluzet (Story of Women), Marie-Josée Croze (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), André Dussollier (A Very Long Engagement), Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), François Berléand (The Chorus), Nathalie Baye (Catch Me If You Can), Jean Rochefort (Man on the Train), Marina Hands (Lady Chatterley)
Tell everyone: "Tell No One" is a superb thriller.
Watching the film is the equivalent of watching a master artist paint his magnum opus. Every stroke is done so delicately, every color is chosen carefully, and every detail is given an equal amount of attention. The plot is unquestionably one of the best noirs in recent years, the characters are colored diversely and perfectly, and the cinematography is utterly majestic; one of the best-looking thrillers ever.
The music as a whole is a bit unbalanced. The English-language pop songs may seem a tad out-of-place for some, but the original score by Mathieu Chedid (aka M) is pitch-perfect, melding seamlessly with the beautifully-shot sequences. One will surely be scratching his/her head wondering why they didn't just let Chedid do the entire score.
The movie geek in me would quickly give this a perfect score, but from a critic's standpoint, it certainly has its flaws. The long exposition at the end could have been shortened, the choice of pop songs is polarizing ("With or Without You," really?), and the story relies too much on coincidences. I could overlook the many coincidences in the plot (noirs rely on the element of fate after all), but when things happen conveniently for the sake of symbolism, it isn't easy to turn a blind eye on.
I could speak in superlatives all day long about this movie. It's seriously a must-see for everyone, whether you're a fan of the genre or not. It has enough distinctive flavor in it to be distinguished as a French film, but in it's heart, it's a Hollywood man-on-the-run thriller; the kind that Hollywood has sadly forgotten to make. Only an Anton Ego-hearted bastard wouldn't enjoy this exceptional film.
So once again, I'm telling you, to tell yourself and everyone else, "Tell No One" is one hell of a ride more people should be lining up for.
Rating: ****1/2 out of 5
I rewatch this one at least every few months. Quality thriller.
Genre: Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller Synopsis: Pediatrician Alexandre Beck still grieves for his beloved wife Margot Beck, who was murdered eight years earlier. When two bodies are found near the scene of the original crime, the police reopen the case, and Alex becomes a suspect again. Running Time: 131 minutes
Director: Guillaume Canet (Little White Lies) Writers: Guillaume Canet, Philippe Lefebvre, Harlan Coben Stars: François Cluzet (Story of Women), Marie-Josée Croze (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), André Dussollier (A Very Long Engagement), Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), François Berléand (The Chorus), Nathalie Baye (Catch Me If You Can), Jean Rochefort (Man on the Train), Marina Hands (Lady Chatterley)
Tell everyone: "Tell No One" is a superb thriller.
Watching the film is the equivalent of watching a master artist paint his magnum opus. Every stroke is done so delicately, every color is chosen carefully, and every detail is given an equal amount of attention. The plot is unquestionably one of the best noirs in recent years, the characters are colored diversely and perfectly, and the cinematography is utterly majestic; one of the best-looking thrillers ever.
The music as a whole is a bit unbalanced. The English-language pop songs may seem a tad out-of-place for some, but the original score by Mathieu Chedid (aka M) is pitch-perfect, melding seamlessly with the beautifully-shot sequences. One will surely be scratching his/her head wondering why they didn't just let Chedid do the entire score.
The movie geek in me would quickly give this a perfect score, but from a critic's standpoint, it certainly has its flaws. The long exposition at the end could have been shortened, the choice of pop songs is polarizing ("With or Without You," really?), and the story relies too much on coincidences. I could overlook the many coincidences in the plot (noirs rely on the element of fate after all), but when things happen conveniently for the sake of symbolism, it isn't easy to turn a blind eye on.
I could speak in superlatives all day long about this movie. It's seriously a must-see for everyone, whether you're a fan of the genre or not. It has enough distinctive flavor in it to be distinguished as a French film, but in it's heart, it's a Hollywood man-on-the-run thriller; the kind that Hollywood has sadly forgotten to make. Only an Anton Ego-hearted bastard wouldn't enjoy this exceptional film.
So once again, I'm telling you, to tell yourself and everyone else, "Tell No One" is one hell of a ride more people should be lining up for.
Rating: ****1/2 out of 5
A fantastic film, undoubtedly one of the best pure thriller films out there. I disagree, however, about the music. I think the combination of score and pop songs works extremely well. Let's hope more Coben films make it to the screen. Tell No One is a very good book, but The Woods and Hold Tight would make excellent films.
I found this to be a very good, affecting film, but it didn't quite blow me away like I expected. The black and white photography is excellent. I love the way Resnais uses a moving camera the overwhelming majority of the time (as he did in Night and Fog and Last Year at Marienbad)--it has a way of drawing you in and creating an almost surreal feel. I found the flashback scenes at the Tea place very affecting and moving. The scene where they leave the Tea place is one of those "movie magic" scenes. The use of music, the way the scene is structured with her in the foreground and he faded a bit behind her is just beautiful--I watched the scene at least three times.
Overall, I enjoyed this film and would surely buy it when it's released on Criterion blu (probably next year). Just like Marienbad, I think it's a film that will reveal more each time it's viewed. I really like Resnais' focus on memory in his first three films, in that he looks at the topic in a very complex way. My rating isn't a 3 1/2 or 4 star review because I think there's too much stray dialogue at time, not going towards the overall themes.
All countries
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). Writing is great, production value is great, and the music is great.
.
It's pretty spot on for how I feel about the series as well. It's my second favorite movie series, and I think all the films are solid fun. 
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