The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

"House" wouldn't be a good starting point either; it's pretty darn weird. Come to think of it, lots of Japanese horror movies are weird.

Next best option: "The Host." In fact, I think it has English dubbing on it. Should be good for Czar.

Ive seen the Host and it was ok. I actually watched it with the subs. I dont think I finished the whole thing actually but it was ok. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

I find that incredibly unlikely....

Whether u find it unlikely or not its tru that some people on this site like it better. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by jvince

Hey Czar, I strongly suggest you check these out (when the time comes that you decide to finally watch some foreign films). I'm sure you're bound to like at least one of them.

Have you tried watching foreign movies dubbed?

I have and some of the dubs are bad though. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by jvince

lol at Czar voting for Let Me In when we all know he hasn't even seen the original. That's like saying IE is the best browser because it's the only one you use.

I did that to be funny haha. Got Em!!

[jvince]

Originally Posted by CZAR

I have and some of the dubs are bad though. Got Em!!

Yeah, dubs are horrible. I'm fine with dubbed anime, but when it comes to movies with actual actors, it's just incredibly distracting when everything from the words to the mouthing to the voice doesn't match at all.

Originally Posted by CZAR

I did that to be funny haha. Got Em!!

Sure.....

[Show spoiler]

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Wouldn't it be C'est AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

But with a cool accent.

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Afraid of subtitles...

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Bien sur mon cher ami, bien sur!

A lot of people around here (Louisiana) speak "informal" French that hasn't kept with the "formal" French over the years. When I took French in high school I thought I would have a good head start, but not by much it turned out

Originally Posted by jvince

lol at Czar voting for Let Me In when we all know he hasn't even seen the original. That's like saying IE is the best browser because it's the only one you use.

Let's be realistic here...even if IE is the only browser you've ever used, you STILL couldn't say that

[Realist01]

I don't even have to see the remake to know the original is much more better than the remake. I'm sure the remake is a good remake, nut the original is a MASTERPIECE.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

the only other thing i was thinking was maybe a dialogue driven film without a lot of action. that way Czar can learn to adjust to watching while reading and not miss anything.

i'm sure he would love Rec, but if you're not used to subtitles, it can be bothersome. i know a lot of people who, when first reading subtitles, focus sooooo much on the words they don't pay attention to anything else and then suddenly realize they haven't been watching or listening, just reading. so if he starts with a slower paced, dialogue heavy film with little action or camera movements, maybe that would be better so he could learn to watch while still reading?

If he goes that route, then he might as well go with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Great film, little action, and you really need to pay attention to the dialogue. It's also long enough to allow somebody to get used to it and still have movie left once you're adjusted, but it's not 3 hours long like Seven Samurai. That was actually the first (and only) foreign film I've watched with subtitles. The number will become 3 whenever I get around to actually buying the whole trilogy of those films. It took me a little while to get used to reading and watching the movie at the same time, but I eventually did and was glad I was able to.

[BladeRunner2007]

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3/5

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Realist01

I don't even have to see the remake to know the original is much more better than the remake. I'm sure the remake is a good remake, nut the original is a MASTERPIECE.

Ha! I dont wanna hear nuthin about my vote now! This guy voted and havnt even seen the remake but he wasnt tryin to be funny! Got Em!!

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Ha! I dont wanna hear nuthin about my vote now! This guy voted and havnt even seen the remake but he wasnt tryin to be funny! Got Em!!

Let the Right One In IS one of those movies that was so good I will never see the re-make, I'd probably like it about as much as I like the Karate Kid re-make.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Let's be realistic here...even if IE is the only browser you've ever used, you STILL couldn't say that

lol... IE blows. I've never caught a single malware or virus since switching to Firefox 3 years ago.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Let the Right One In IS one of those movies that was so good I will never see the re-make, I'd probably like it about as much as I like the Karate Kid re-make.

Your loss. Got Em!!

[Q?]

Splice

I don't think I've ever seen a decent movie get totally ruined by the last act, such as this one.

1/10

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Your loss. Got Em!!

The original is winning 70%+ of the vote for a reason.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

The original is winning 70%+ of the vote for a reason.

Just because over 70% of the people here prefer the original doesn't mean that Let Me In isn't a very good film in it's own right.

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Just because over 70% of the people here prefer the original doesn't mean that Let Me In isn't a very good film in it's own right.

It's the usual.....brilliant foreign film gets butchered and dumbed down by Hollywood.

Kind of like Michael Bay remaking The Seventh Seal...

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Q?

Splice

I don't think I've ever seen a decent movie get totally ruined by the last act, such as this one.

1/10

Agreed although I wouldnt score it that low. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

The original is winning 70%+ of the vote for a reason.

So just because it is winning by 70% makes it a better film?? Hahahah get out of here with that man. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by killowertz

Just because over 70% of the people here prefer the original doesn't mean that Let Me In isn't a very good film in it's own right.

Its funny how people use arguments like that to show their point haha. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

It's the usual.....brilliant foreign film gets butchered and dumbed down by Hollywood.

Kind of like Michael Bay remaking The Seventh Seal...

Well Let Me In is far from dumbed down so Im not sure what u mean. I havnt seen the original but if u call the remake dumbed down then the original must be a massacre. Got Em!!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Watching Anastasia - to which I will simply give a 5/5 overall score to and say once again I still consider it the best Fox animated film ever.

I totally want to see that one.

Originally Posted by CZAR

Ive seen the Host and it was ok. I actually watched it with the subs. I dont think I finished the whole thing actually but it was ok. Got Em!!

It's good you gave it a shot.

[Al_The_Strange]

“Stripes.”

Most military folks I’ve met seem to be hard-working good-natured people. But they might not be as lovable as Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, and the rest of the gang. As expected, these comedians put on quite a funny show, loading up this film with funny dialogue and situations. It’s also always interesting seeing these guys in action, either in basic training, or taking on Russian troops with a heavily-armored recreational vehicle (probably way cooler than all the James Bond cars put together! ). It’s also fairly edgy with the occasional bit of cursing and sex. Yep, it’s a blast.

The story for “Stripes” is not terribly complex, but is interesting enough. The movie is cut in half (if not three acts, if you count the first ten minutes as its own thing), with the first part devoted to the basic training and the rest the aftermath. It’s a pretty unusual structure, but with a rewarding finale and feel-good epilogue. Characters are solid, even if they are all screwballs. The two main leads take the spotlight and present halfway believable characterizations, while maintaining a proper comedic prowess. Bill Murray probably steals the show most of the time, but who would complain? The rest of the cast is quite funny too, watching Ox swindle the others in poker, Francis dish out death threats to everybody, and seeing the expressions of the more intellectually-challenged recruits. At its core though, all these silly characters help reinforce the central theme of individuality (especially in the face of mediocrity, as the film seems to show within the uniform military system). In a way, the film even goes on to describe the American fighting spirit in these terms.

Cinematically, “Stripes” is on the same level as “Caddyshack,” “Police Academy,” and other older comedies. As such, it has okay photography and editing, but nothing really ground-breaking. Acting is great; Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, John Candy, Conrad Dunn, and John Laroquette are all brilliant. I also never realized that Sean Young played one of the lady MPs. Production value has few weaknesses, but still works for the film. Elmer Bernstein’s score is nice and all, but I think it cuts in too much on certain cadences (and thus the overall mood) in certain scenes.

I’d still rank “Sgt Bilko” as my favorite military comedy, but “Stripes” certainly has its moments. At one point, when the recruits got their heads shaved, I wondered if this was where Kubrick got the idea for the opening of “Full Metal Jacket.”

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

I was watching the Extended Edition, which has some interesting and amusing new scenes. A lot of them help reinforce the story, covering up some plot-holes that I previously ignored. The movie can work on its own without the new scenes, but I rather liked them. The only problem is, the DVD looks kinda bad, and I'm wondering if it's overly-compressed with two versions of the movie and extras all shoved on one disc. If they Blu-Ray it, I will probably upgrade.



“We’re mutants! There’s something wrong with us, something seriously wrong with us! There’s something wrong with us…we’re soldiers!”

[Al_The_Strange]

“Moonraker.”

A small, low-budget, pretentious little kid’s film came out in ’77 and saw a modest amount of success. Ever since, bunches of other franchises jumped on the bandwagon and produced space-aged films…”The Black Hole,” “Battlestar Galactica,” to name a few…

James Bond went down this path too; what could be more epic than sending this superspy into outer space? The film definitely has ambition, sending the hero all over Venice…and some jungle land…before venturing into the final frontier. Along the way, he endures not one, but two boat chase scenes! He confronts Jaws once more, in a nonstop series of thrilling fights (including a cool skydiving scene and a fight on top of a pair of gondolas). And in the end, we are treated to a rather spectacular space battle, with loads of freaking laser beams!

Despite all this action, the movie is still pretty heavily padded, with some drag here and there. But what may really bring it down (or maybe up if you prefer) is the comedy. It’s ridiculous as it is sending 007 to space. The rest of the film does very little to mask the campy nature of the story, and actually loads it up with some of the silliest and most ridiculous gags in the franchise. Bond’s gadgets are dispensed liberally, as he takes on one treacherous feat after another (feats that come one after another with little logic behind them). His Venetian boat even runs on land, causing a splurge of ridiculous reactions (including a blinking pigeon… ). There are shedloads of sci-fi in-jokes scattered throughout; you can expect to hear the “Close Encounters” tune a few times, along with some “2001” references. And after the epic battle on top of the gondolas, Jaws crawls out of the rubble and finds a sweet little lass sanding there, and they both fall in love. Seriously…what the F?!!! If this movie was any sillier, it’d be on the same level as Adam West’s “Batman,” I swear.

The comedy will likely be a hit or a miss with folks; I find it works in general. But one thing is certain: this story is ridiculous, and it hardly matters in the shadow of so much cheese. Bearing practically no semblance to Ian Fleming’s novel, this film pretty much copies the formula of “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Nothing really original, nothing new, just another megalomaniac bad guy wanting to take over the world! As far as characters go, they are as flat and lifeless as can be.

As a film, it’s also pretty average Bond fare. Photography is pretty good, but hardly exceptional. Acting is kinda bad; Roger Moore and Michael Lonsdale are hammy as Hell, and Lois Chiles is passable as a Bond girl. The biggest standout might be…Richard Kiel playing Jaws. Production value spares no expense, featuring loads of exotic locales, high-quality sets, props, costumes, gadgets, vehicles, and space gear. Music sucks.

Yep, Bond doesn’t get much cheesier than this. But at least it’s fun.

3.5/5 (entertainment: 4.5/5, story: 2.5/5, film: 3/5)

Recommendation: As a rental. If you dare.

[P@t_Mtl]

Swing Girls

Japan 2004
Directed by Shinobu Yaguchi
With Juri Ueno, Yūta Hiraoka

If you heard or saw the movie from 2006 Hula Girls, the concept is similar with the exception that while Hula Girls fall into a drama category, Swing Girls is really a comedy in every way.

The story is about a bunch of highschool girls who are not the most beautiful or hard working in school. They are a bunch of outsiders. One day the school brass band get sick while eating contamited lunch while at a baseball game for the school team. In desperation the school asked anyone to join the club in order to continue. The girls wanting to get out of their math summer pick up classes join the band. They have no skills but learn quickly and when the real band returns they are crush. One of the girls decide to continue and buy a used saxophone and before long she and the others form their own brass band. They start doing odd jobs in order to pay for instruments. There is one scene with the girls and store mannequins in a lift that had me going They become good enough and manage to be invited to a local competition where they steal the show.

This movie is cute and funny, doesn't try to be more then what it is. It's 104 minutes long and really there is not one single dull moment. It's a movie that show us that everyone once they found something they love will work hard at it because it's no longer work but a passion.

The Blu-ray is quite, nice images with Japanese language tracks and English subtitles. If you can find it as a rental I recommend to you see it.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

It's the usual.....brilliant foreign film gets butchered and dumbed down by Hollywood.

Kind of like Michael Bay remaking The Seventh Seal...

But it's not the usual. Let Me In is actually a good film.

Originally Posted by CZAR

Its funny how people use arguments like that to show their point haha. Got Em!!

Agreed. I get that a lot of people prefer the original. That's fine. I'm sure it is very good. I've only seen Let Me In too, so I can't say which is better. All I know is Let Me In is pretty good.