The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[iam1bearcat]

Big Trouble in Little China

96 minutes

Year: 1986
Director: John Carpenter
Writers: Gary Goldman and David Z. Weinstein
Starring: Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, and James Hong

“Old Jack always says, what the hell…”

Here ya go Foggy!

I actually ended up watching this back to back tonight.

First time was with some friends, who absolutely hated it. Didn’t get the humor, didn’t get the whole idea behind it being cheesy and goofy on purpose and didn’t laugh once at anything Kurt Russell said, which I would find impossible to believe had I not been in the room with them. I mean, the guy is pure gold!

So, after they left (after sucking all the fun out of the room with them ) I watched it again because while I loved it the first time, I knew them being all sorts of idiotic and “what the hell?” was bringing down my enjoyment.

Glad I watched it again. What a blast this movie is!

I could probably put this on repeat for days on end and not get sick of it. It’s just so much fun. Filled with classic dialogue, an awesome main character (Jack), goofy characters, quirky fight sequences, a great 80’s feel, monsters! and an assortment of other great goodies.

Certainly like nothing I’ve ever seen before!

Brimming with self awareness, tongue in cheek mocking of cheesy films that didn’t try to be cheesy and campy goodness for the whole family, Big Trouble in Little China is Carpenter showing off his true genius. To think he would also make Halloween and The Thing is baffling because of how funny and outrageous Big Trouble is.

A lot of it feels like a live action Saturday morning cartoon adventure.

“Super” American Jack Burton. Monsters. Chinatown. Lightning bolts. More monsters. Great, classic “this is definitely from the 80’s” visuals, sound effects and music. Chinese street fights. Chinese Black Magic. Kurt Russell’s haircut. All of it = awesomeness x 1000

Like a weird mix of Mortal Kombat and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a bunch of other stuff i can't think of right now

Pretty much speechless.
Still not sure if this is an actual movie I just watched or if I’m just super over tired and dreamed all of this because I don’t know how Carpenter got the studio to okay all of this wackiness. Damn, the 80’s were a good time for films!

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 3/5

The Film: 4.5/5

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Wanted

102 minutes

PQ: 4.5/5
AQ: 5/5

The Film: 4.75/5

It always feels like a less serious version of The Matrix to me.

Lots of fun.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Steve46

It always feels like a less serious version of The Matrix to me.

Lots of fun.

good point. i can see that
i'm glad i picked this up. very glad. i'm not a huge action fan, so i usually don't look for those to be purchases, but open to giving any genre a chance, and very glad i took the risk on this for $8. turned out to very much be worth it.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

good point. i can see that
i'm glad i picked this up. very glad. i'm not a huge action fan, so i usually don't look for those to be purchases, but open to giving any genre a chance, and very glad i took the risk on this for $8. turned out to very much be worth it.

It was a pleasant surprise for me too.

I'm a sucker for films where people undergo training.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Steve46

It was a pleasant surprise for me too.

I'm a sucker for films where people undergo training.

i didn't even really know that was happening lol. all i knew going in was that there was an assassin or something and that the guy was gonna be an assassin or something. a very, very "blind" buy.

as for films where people undergo training... god, what did i just watch? it felt like there was an hour and a half of training.... oh! The Guardian! freaking 90 minutes of that film is training. which i find very interesting since it's based on real training (so i assume) so it didn't drag or anything.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i didn't even really know that was happening lol. all i knew going in was that there was an assassin or something and that the guy was gonna be an assassin or something. a very, very "blind" buy.

as for films where people undergo training... god, what did i just watch? it felt like there was an hour and a half of training.... oh! The Guardian! freaking 90 minutes of that film is training. which i find very interesting since it's based on real training (so i assume) so it didn't drag or anything.

I love the training scenes in Avatar too, from the 25-minute point for the next hour. Then Hollywood style battles take over.

Ender's Game would be awesome if they ever make the movie.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Ender's Game would be awesome if they ever make the movie.

oh man, that would be terrific! if done right of course

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Froggy everyone isn't tuned to films as you are, don't worry i get the same feeling everyday when i see movies.( i have to ask my self im i that smart or are my friends that STUPID?????)

This movie was clearly about PERFECTION, it showed the pros and cons of being over dedicated. 5/5

Yeah, this is just one of those wierd films though that I just don't get some of the hate for, of course, the people who said it was just plain stupid aren't the ones of my friends who are atuned to films, but they were talking about how unintentionally funny it is (which last time I checked, most the humour they were talking about was pretty intentional)

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Big Trouble in Little China

[Show spoiler]96 minutes

Year: 1986
Director: John Carpenter
Writers: Gary Goldman and David Z. Weinstein
Starring: Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, and James Hong

“Old Jack always says, what the hell…”

Here ya go Foggy!

I actually ended up watching this back to back tonight.

First time was with some friends, who absolutely hated it. Didn’t get the humor, didn’t get the whole idea behind it being cheesy and goofy on purpose and didn’t laugh once at anything Kurt Russell said, which I would find impossible to believe had I not been in the room with them. I mean, the guy is pure gold!

So, after they left (after sucking all the fun out of the room with them ) I watched it again because while I loved it the first time, I knew them being all sorts of idiotic and “what the hell?” was bringing down my enjoyment.

Glad I watched it again. What a blast this movie is!

I could probably put this on repeat for days on end and not get sick of it. It’s just so much fun. Filled with classic dialogue, an awesome main character (Jack), goofy characters, quirky fight sequences, a great 80’s feel, monsters! and an assortment of other great goodies.

Certainly like nothing I’ve ever seen before!

Brimming with self awareness, tongue in cheek mocking of cheesy films that didn’t try to be cheesy and campy goodness for the whole family, Big Trouble in Little China is Carpenter showing off his true genius. To think he would also make Halloween and The Thing is baffling because of how funny and outrageous Big Trouble is.

A lot of it feels like a live action Saturday morning cartoon adventure.

“Super” American Jack Burton. Monsters. Chinatown. Lightning bolts. More monsters. Great, classic “this is definitely from the 80’s” visuals, sound effects and music. Chinese street fights. Chinese Black Magic. Kurt Russell’s haircut. All of it = awesomeness x 1000

Like a weird mix of Mortal Kombat and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a bunch of other stuff i can't think of right now

Pretty much speechless.
Still not sure if this is an actual movie I just watched or if I’m just super over tired and dreamed all of this because I don’t know how Carpenter got the studio to okay all of this wackiness. Damn, the 80’s were a good time for films!

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 3/5

The Film: 4.5/5

Damn Right!

I'm gonna tell you about an accident, and I don't wanna hear act of God!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Big Trouble in Little China

[Show spoiler]
96 minutes

Year: 1986
Director: John Carpenter
Writers: Gary Goldman and David Z. Weinstein
Starring: Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, and James Hong

“Old Jack always says, what the hell…”

Here ya go Foggy!

I actually ended up watching this back to back tonight.

First time was with some friends, who absolutely hated it. Didn’t get the humor, didn’t get the whole idea behind it being cheesy and goofy on purpose and didn’t laugh once at anything Kurt Russell said, which I would find impossible to believe had I not been in the room with them. I mean, the guy is pure gold!

So, after they left (after sucking all the fun out of the room with them ) I watched it again because while I loved it the first time, I knew them being all sorts of idiotic and “what the hell?” was bringing down my enjoyment.

Glad I watched it again. What a blast this movie is!

I could probably put this on repeat for days on end and not get sick of it. It’s just so much fun. Filled with classic dialogue, an awesome main character (Jack), goofy characters, quirky fight sequences, a great 80’s feel, monsters! and an assortment of other great goodies.

Certainly like nothing I’ve ever seen before!

Brimming with self awareness, tongue in cheek mocking of cheesy films that didn’t try to be cheesy and campy goodness for the whole family, Big Trouble in Little China is Carpenter showing off his true genius. To think he would also make Halloween and The Thing is baffling because of how funny and outrageous Big Trouble is.

A lot of it feels like a live action Saturday morning cartoon adventure.

“Super” American Jack Burton. Monsters. Chinatown. Lightning bolts. More monsters. Great, classic “this is definitely from the 80’s” visuals, sound effects and music. Chinese street fights. Chinese Black Magic. Kurt Russell’s haircut. All of it = awesomeness x 1000

Like a weird mix of Mortal Kombat and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a bunch of other stuff i can't think of right now

Pretty much speechless.
Still not sure if this is an actual movie I just watched or if I’m just super over tired and dreamed all of this because I don’t know how Carpenter got the studio to okay all of this wackiness. Damn, the 80’s were a good time for films!

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 3/5

The Film: 4.5/5

I know Foggy won't be pleased to read this, but I have never seen Big Trouble in Little China either. Your review has definitely peaked my interest though as I do like action movies that are over the top, goofy, and such on purpose. I'll have to add it to my list of "movies to blind buy someday".

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I know Foggy won't be pleased to read this, but I have never seen Big Trouble in Little China either. Your review has definitely peaked my interest though as I do like action movies that are over the top, goofy, and such on purpose. I'll have to add it to my list of "movies to blind buy someday".

I'm not pleased...not at all

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm not pleased...not at all

I called it. I'll be sure to at least post my opinion of the movie when I finally do get around to blind buying it though. I'd be very surprised if I don't end up loving it like Bearcat did.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I know Foggy won't be pleased to read this, but I have never seen Big Trouble in Little China either. Your review has definitely peaked my interest though as I do like action movies that are over the top, goofy, and such on purpose. I'll have to add it to my list of "movies to blind buy someday".

$7.99 at Target

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm not pleased...not at all

Originally Posted by killowertz

I called it. I'll be sure to at least post my opinion of the movie when I finally do get around to blind buying it though. I'd be very surprised if I don't end up loving it like Bearcat did.

i would be surprised as well. if you like action and over the top goofiness, then Big Trouble is right up your alley it makes it all the more better that the awesome Kurt Russell is in it!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

$7.99 at Target

i would be surprised as well. if you like action and over the top goofiness, then Big Trouble is right up your alley it makes it all the more better that the awesome Kurt Russell is in it!

I must resist going to Target and buying another movie...

Nope, I hate movies like that even though I own The A-Team, Drive Angry, Kick-Ass, The Losers, Rush Hour, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Shoot 'Em Up, and Zombieland, but I hate movies that have action and that are over the top and silly on purpose.

[iam1bearcat]

Top 10 Favorite Horror Films!

***as of June 19, 2011***

[10]

[Show spoiler]

Psycho

I’ve only seen it once, but it makes the list at 10 for it’s incredible atmosphere and shocking twists and turns, especially for its time. It doesn’t start off as a horror, but quickly dives into that territory.

[9]

[Show spoiler]

The Hill Have Eyes (2006)

True story: this film almost made me stop watching films all together. I had already seen it numerous times and loved it, but one night late one summer I was watching it and during one of the more haunting, disgusting, physically and emotionally draining scenes my eyes teared up and I turned it off. I almost cried because of how draining and sick the film was. Not in a visual sense, but you definitely know what’s happening. It was a horror overload. Never happened before or since. A very weird, surreal moment. And one of the best remakes ever.

[8]

[Show spoiler]

Halloween II (2009)

Here we go…
This will likely piss people off, but I don’t mind. I somehow, someway, love Rob Zombie’s Halloween II. It has a plethora of mistakes and useless scenes and moments and an all too over the top “dream” state for Michael that could’ve been handled much better, but my god the film just smothers you in atmosphere and brutal deaths. I was let down by Zombie’s remake of the first one because it never felt like his film, like he was afraid. Halloween II isn’t at all. This is Zombie’s film through and through, for better and worse. and one of the most memorable, haunting endings ever.

* note, when I first saw this film I gave it a 2/5, but it grows on me every single time I watch it. Somehow. Score is now a 4/5.

[7]

[Show spoiler]

Cabin Fever

The best film Eli Roth has ever made. Funny, gross, kind of a throw back to films from the 70’s, has Shawn from Boy Meets World and a kid that yells “pancakes!” and does kung fu! What more could you ask for

[6]

[Show spoiler]

The Descent

Incredibly smart, incredibly real, incredibly frightening. One of the few horror films that literally made me jump at many moments. I love that the film starts off with very real fears (small spaces, claustrophobic) and then drops you into a shocking, very scary horror scenario. Love it. And big props to the all female cast that are nopt your typical female horror cliché.

[5]

[Show spoiler]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

The best horror remake to date. I love the original, but I absolutely adore the remake. Before all remakes felt too “shiny”, slick and plastic-like, there was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Yes, it doesn’t contain the same atmosphere and craziness that made the original so startling, but I’ve always liked this one more for the cast and setting. One scene in particular with Jessica Biel’s character always makes me sniffle a bit in sadness.

[4]

[Show spoiler]

Alien

Recently reviewed so I’ll keep this short.
Love the film. One of the best of the horror genre AND the sci-fi genre. One of the best villains of all time and some very classic, “jump out of your seat” worthy scenes.

[3]

[Show spoiler]

Scream

An absolute classic. Memorable opening scene. Great concept and execution by Craven and Williamson and great characters. Still feels original to this day, and still has moments that freak me out. Few films can be funny and scary, Scream is one of the very few.

[2]

[Show spoiler]

28 Days Later

They may not be “zombies” but they’re still scary as $h*t! I was on the edge of my seat for the entire film the first time I watched this. I was shocked by how great it was and made me a big fan of Danny Boyle. Awesome score, feels very real, and is relentless.

[1]

[Show spoiler]

The Blair Witch Project

Who didn’t see this coming?
The scariest film I have ever seen. Scares me if I watch it in the middle of the day and keeps me freaked out for a few days afterwards. Everything about it feels and looks real, which is the key for a horror film to succeed. Nothing else like it. A true, absolute, masterpiece. and fyi: THIS is the scariest ending to any film i have ever seen

[iam1bearcat]

National Treasure

Linear PCM 5.1 | AVC

122 minutes

Year: 2004
Director: Jo Turteltaub
Writer: Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, and Jon Voight

it's fun.

that's all i wanna write
neat stuff about history and a hidden treasure and Nicolas Cage and a very attractive Diane Kruger running around historic monuments being chased by the always awesome, but not awesomely named Sean Bean

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4.5/5

The Film: 4/5

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

National Treasure

[Show spoiler]
Linear PCM 5.1 | AVC

122 minutes

Year: 2004
Director: Jo Turteltaub
Writer: Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, and Jon Voight

it's fun.

that's all i wanna write
neat stuff about history and a hidden treasure and Nicolas Cage and a very attractive Diane Kruger running around historic monuments being chased by the always awesome, but not awesomely named Sean Bean

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4.5/5

The Film: 4/5

I really enjoy both of these. I'm not sure if I like this one or the sequel better though.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I really enjoy both of these. I'm not sure if I like this one or the sequel better though.

sequel was a blind buy. may watch that tonight. i'm sure i'll like it (hopefully) just as much as the first.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

sequel was a blind buy. may watch that tonight. i'm sure i'll like it (hopefully) just as much as the first.

It's critically considered a bad movie, but I find it to be pretty much as fun as the first one.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

National Treasure

Linear PCM 5.1 | AVC

122 minutes

Year: 2004
Director: Jo Turteltaub
Writer: Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, and Jon Voight

it's fun.

that's all i wanna write
neat stuff about history and a hidden treasure and Nicolas Cage and a very attractive Diane Kruger running around historic monuments being chased by the always awesome, but not awesomely named Sean Bean

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4.5/5

The Film: 4/5

That review is dead on perfect

Sean Bean =

Originally Posted by killowertz

I really enjoy both of these. I'm not sure if I like this one or the sequel better though.

I prefer the sequel by a small margin. I give it a 4.5 and I believe the first gets a 4.25.

[iam1bearcat]

Casino Royale

140 minutes

Dolby TrueHD 5.1 | AVC

Year: 2006
Director: Martin Campbell
Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen and Judi Dench

I am, in no way shape or form, a James Bond fan. I think I’ve seen one or two of the films in the entire franchise before Casino Royale. I have no feelings on “good” James Bond’s and “bad” James Bond’s and couldn’t tell you the name of more than three of the films.

There are few films I have no urge in ever owning and the 007 franchise is one of those. No idea why, just never interested me, just never grabbed my attention. Which raises the question of course, why the hell did I buy Casino Royale?

Well, I bought it day 1 in 2006 on DVD because of some co-workers talking it up. I heard all the hub-bub about people complaining and worrying about Daniel Craig playing Bond and all this other stuff and wanted to check it out. I didn’t like it. I didn’t hate it, but definitely didn’t like it. A lot of it came off as slow and boring to me.

Fast forward five years and here I am, watching Casino Royale on blu.

And while I again didn’t love it (second only viewing) I definitely enjoyed it a whole hell of a lot more than I did five years ago.

I’m still amazed at how much time is spent on the gambling portion of the film, and for someone like me who knows NOTHING of poker and gambling and cards - at all - when they show the cards I didn’t know what any of it means, so I had to wait for the crowd reaction to tell me who won and lost. Aside from being left in the dark with this massive section of the film, I really don’t have complaints for the film.

The action sequences are terrifically filmed and structured. And hell, each one lasts like 10 minutes! And are very entertaining. No dialogue: just running, gunning, jumping, punching, bullets flying and asses getting kicked. Awesome stuff

I would like someone to tell me what in the hell was behind the building collapsing at the end?? Good lord, were those massive water balloons holding that entire building up or what? It made no sense to me, and made me laugh how the building freaking sunk within minutes and didn’t tip over or break apart, just went straight down like it was a piece of cereal circling the drain

So if someone knows what those giant balloon things were, I would very much like to know

Craig is awesome as Bond. The main reason the older Bond’s don’t interest me is they seem to focused on gadgets and other trinkets. Very… unmanly stuff it always looked like to me. I like that this version of Bond hauls ass with his fists and is relentless. I never got that impression from Brosnan. He seemed to… well groomed to be a hitman. Craig displays charm, charisma and toughness that is well suited for the role. He’s like a younger version of John McClane. And much smarter and in better shape.

I think at 140 minutes Casino Royale will overstay its welcome with some people, while others could watch a 280 minute version and be completely content with it. I think 140 minutes work, but could have been trimmed slightly (especially the poker scenes) but it is what it is.

Glad I own it and I look forward to picking up Quantum of Solace some day, even though I hear bad things about it. But time will tell

PQ: 4.5/5
AQ: N/A - had a headache, so watched with the volume low

The Film: 4.5/5