The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest movie borrowed from the library: "Rope."

The movie starts with a murder. Yep, it doesn't get more wicked and straightforward than that. It then becomes something of a morbid comedy as the characters praise their own handiwork, before hiding the body and centering a dinner party around the hiding spot. It can be suspenseful as the characters come close to discovering the body, but for the most part, I felt it was less about the suspense and more about the comedy of the situation. Overall, the film is like watching a play, and has a style and production value no different than a play (I wonder if it's based on one).

As such, the story is quite interesting, and it is populated with a bunch of colorful characters. The story never actually leaves the single apartment, but the film does manage to maintain interest and keep things rolling.

What's even more incredible is that the film appears to be 90% shot all in one take (key word is "appears," since there are obvious moments when the camera zooms or moves into a person's coat and then moves away, covering up the seams of the film so that it appears as continuous). However many cuts the film uses, each shot is incredibly long, well-choreographed, and intricately set up. Props go to the actors for being able to put on their performances flawlessly during these long shots (and Jimmy Stewart is the man). Writing is decent. The production features very simple sets (including one fake-looking city skyline in the background), and okay-looking props and costumes. Music is alright.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep.

Might get this one too.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I've been on a Hitchcock kick lately. I watched Spellbound, Notorious, The Lady Vanishes and Rebecca, all on Blu-ray. He hasn't let me down yet.

Haven't seen any of those. But so far, of the ones I've seen, he hasn't let me down yet either.

Do you recommend any of those as blind-buys?

I think my Hitchcock rankings currently look like...

North By Northwest 5/5
Psycho 4.5/5
Vertigo 4.5/5
The Birds 4/5
Shadow of a Doubt 4/5
The Man Who Knew Too Much 4/5
Rope 4/5
Strangers on a Train 4/5
To Catch a Thief 4/5
Rear Window 4/5
Lifeboat 3.5/5 (I think)
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog 3.5/5 (I think)

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Haven't seen any of those. But so far, of the ones I've seen, he hasn't let me down yet either.

Do you recommend any of those as blind-buys?

I think my Hitchcock rankings currently look like...

North By Northwest 5/5
Psycho 4.5/5
Vertigo 4.5/5
The Birds 4/5
Shadow of a Doubt 4/5
The Man Who Knew Too Much 4/5
Rope 4/5
Strangers on a Train 4/5
To Catch a Thief 4/5
Rear Window 4/5
Lifeboat 3.5/5 (I think)
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog 3.5/5 (I think)

I think all four are worth owning. The Lady Vanishes has the movie Crook's Tour among the special features, starring two characters from The Lady Vanishes. The other three are all restored well and under $20 each. If you can handle movies made in the 30s and 40s (like Shadow of a Doubt), I think you'll like all four. Great to see Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck and Joan Fontaine in their youth.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest movie borrowed from the library: "Rope."

The movie starts with a murder. Yep, it doesn't get more wicked and straightforward than that. It then becomes something of a morbid comedy as the characters praise their own handiwork, before hiding the body and centering a dinner party around the hiding spot. It can be suspenseful as the characters come close to discovering the body, but for the most part, I felt it was less about the suspense and more about the comedy of the situation. Overall, the film is like watching a play, and has a style and production value no different than a play (I wonder if it's based on one).

As such, the story is quite interesting, and it is populated with a bunch of colorful characters. The story never actually leaves the single apartment, but the film does manage to maintain interest and keep things rolling.

What's even more incredible is that the film appears to be 90% shot all in one take (key word is "appears," since there are obvious moments when the camera zooms or moves into a person's coat and then moves away, covering up the seams of the film so that it appears as continuous). However many cuts the film uses, each shot is incredibly long, well-choreographed, and intricately set up. Props go to the actors for being able to put on their performances flawlessly during these long shots (and Jimmy Stewart is the man). Writing is decent. The production features very simple sets (including one fake-looking city skyline in the background), and okay-looking props and costumes. Music is alright.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep.

Might get this one too.

It had 10 cuts in the entire film

[Al_The_Strange]

"AI: Artificial Intelligence"

This is a strange invention of a film. It was originally going to be (perhaps the final film) of Stanley Kubrick, but in his untimely passing, the film was completed by Stan's buddy Steven Spielberg. As such, you can see elements of both directors in "AI;" you get the cold, realistic, mesmerizing, erotic, and intellectual viewpoints of Kubrick, combined with the warm, emotional, fantasy-like eye of Spielberg. At times, the two sides seem to contrast too much for the film's own good, polarizing not only itself, but the audience. And yet, with each viewing, I find these kinds of flaws forgivable. On this viewing, I actually feel that the combination of the two is fitting, as it could correlate with the contrast between humans and machines.

The film is split up into three distinct acts (or more depending on how you perceive the middle bits), and each act is quite different from one another. The first act focuses simply on a family drama (and is perhaps the purest Spielbergian element here). It's full of amusing moments, some dramatic moments, and it certainly sheds some interesting insight on the issues around robotic technology. The second act has some of the more exciting scenes, as the characters embark on a perilous journey through the darkest corners of human society (this is probably where Kubrick contributed the most). It seems that the final act tends to be the most off-putting to audiences, as the story takes a huge left turn and delivers a happy (and perhaps sappy) ending. Say what you will about the ending, at the very least, I thought it was a brilliant piece of far-out sci-fi that's rarely seen in films, and it tied the story up really well. Altogether, the story shows a lot of tremendous strengths as it mirrors the story of "Pinocchio," and explores the issues surrounding robotics, human society, and the nature of love. The only problem is, as scattered as the story is, it is unevenly paced.

The film exhibits some very strong visual flair, not only with the slick special effects, but also with its solid camera work and editing. The film is loaded with fantastic imagery and visuals; it's especially trippy seeing the constant reflections and in-your-face lighting to underscore the story and ideas. All of the actors in the film are great, especially Haley Joel Osment. Writing is good, although more exposition wouldn't have hurt. This production spares little expense on the sets, props, costumes, and special effects. It's especially cool to see how the film creates a futuristic look and feel with modern-looking furnishings and props. John Williams' score is quite mellow, and quite excellent (one of my favorite soundtracks from him).

4/5 (entertainment: 3.5/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4.5/5) Increased from 3.5/5

Recommendation: It's worth seeing at least once. I consider it a piece of essential sci-fi viewing, but I don't think I'd ever list it as a general favorite.

This movie has superb picture quality. The image can look really hazy or dull at times, thanks to the lighting effects and color scheme; I'd chalk that up to the director's intention. It is otherwise way sharper and cleaner than I've seen it before. There is a fine layer of grain. Sound quality is good.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 4.5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I think all four are worth owning. The Lady Vanishes has the movie Crook's Tour among the special features, starring two characters from The Lady Vanishes. The other three are all restored well and under $20 each. If you can handle movies made in the 30s and 40s (like Shadow of a Doubt), I think you'll like all four. Great to see Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck and Joan Fontaine in their youth.

Sweet, I'll certainly keep an eye on them to see if any deals come up.

Originally Posted by Foggy

It had 10 cuts in the entire film

Impressive.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest movie borrowed from the library: "Rope."

The movie starts with a murder. Yep, it doesn't get more wicked and straightforward than that. It then becomes something of a morbid comedy as the characters praise their own handiwork, before hiding the body and centering a dinner party around the hiding spot. It can be suspenseful as the characters come close to discovering the body, but for the most part, I felt it was less about the suspense and more about the comedy of the situation. Overall, the film is like watching a play, and has a style and production value no different than a play (I wonder if it's based on one).

As such, the story is quite interesting, and it is populated with a bunch of colorful characters. The story never actually leaves the single apartment, but the film does manage to maintain interest and keep things rolling.

What's even more incredible is that the film appears to be 90% shot all in one take (key word is "appears," since there are obvious moments when the camera zooms or moves into a person's coat and then moves away, covering up the seams of the film so that it appears as continuous). However many cuts the film uses, each shot is incredibly long, well-choreographed, and intricately set up. Props go to the actors for being able to put on their performances flawlessly during these long shots (and Jimmy Stewart is the man). Writing is decent. The production features very simple sets (including one fake-looking city skyline in the background), and okay-looking props and costumes. Music is alright.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep.

Might get this one too.

This is the movie that I was beating up Jhiggy and Surfdude to watch....TWO years ago.

Yes Al, taken from a play. And its intended to appear as if there is zero editng.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You notice how he has time to REWATCH movies, yet Dial M and Rope are withering on the vine?

This guy needs a swift kick in the behind.

Rope is a 1948 American thriller film based on the play Rope (1929) by Patrick Hamilton and adapted by Hume Cronyn (treatment)[2] and Arthur Laurents, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Sidney Bernstein and Hitchcock as the first of their Transatlantic Pictures productions. Starring James Stewart, John Dall and Farley Granger, it is the first of Hitchcock's Technicolor films, and is notable for taking place in real time and being edited so as to appear as a single continuous shot through the use of long takes.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

This is the movie that I was beating up Jhiggy and Surfdude to watch....TWO years ago.

Yes Al, taken from a play. And its intended to appear as if there is zero editng.

It definitely succeeded with the editing.

Everybody else needs to get on it and watch this film!

And watch "Shadow of a Doubt" while you're at it too!

And "AI."

Heck, watch 'em all.

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest blind-buy: "Y Tu Mamá También."

Why? Because it's an Alfonso Cuaron film.

Right from the start, this film has a lot of sex in it. It's actually one of the main themes of the story, inherent to the themes of maturity and living life. Unfortunately, as the film meandered on, I found its charm fading from me. Especially since, for a film that everybody else seems to describe as hilarious, it didn't make me laugh one bit.

The story is pretty much just about a couple of dudes going on a road trip with some chick. The characters are the main focus, as they are quite well-developed and succeed at underscoring the themes briefly described above. However, this is one of those films that doesn't have a very solid conflict in place, or a structure. There is a nice narration running through the film, but I felt it strayed off-topic too many times.

As a film, it does look nice, with its solid photography and editing. I have no complaints about the acting or writing. The production has nice (and often times grungy-looking) locales, plus some decent-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is alright.

I'd rank this on the same level as "The Motorcycle Diaries" or "Lost in Translation," and chances are that if you liked either one of those, you might like this one too. It's another one of those artsy high-brow life-story movies, which seem to appeal to folks with far higher standards than mine.

3/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 2/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: As a rental.

If this movie was a song, it'd be

[Show spoiler]some kind of latino music.

Mexican Music - crank 2 soundtrack - YouTube

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: "Y Tu Mamá También."

[Show spoiler]Why? Because it's an Alfonso Cuaron film.

Right from the start, this film has a lot of sex in it

[Show spoiler]. It's actually one of the main themes of the story, inherent to the themes of maturity and living life. Unfortunately, as the film meandered on, I found its charm fading from me. Especially since, for a film that everybody else seems to describe as hilarious, it didn't make me laugh one bit.

The story is pretty much just about a couple of dudes going on a road trip with some chick. The characters are the main focus, as they are quite well-developed and succeed at underscoring the themes briefly described above. However, this is one of those films that doesn't have a very solid conflict in place, or a structure. There is a nice narration running through the film, but I felt it strayed off-topic too many times.

As a film, it does look nice, with its solid photography and editing. I have no complaints about the acting or writing. The production has nice (and often times grungy-looking) locales, plus some decent-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is alright.

I'd rank this on the same level as "The Motorcycle Diaries" or "Lost in Translation," and chances are that if you liked either one of those, you might like this one too. It's another one of those artsy high-brow life-story movies, which seem to appeal to folks with far higher standards than mine.

3/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 2/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: As a rental.

If this movie was a song, it'd be

[Show spoiler]some kind of latino music.

Mexican Music - crank 2 soundtrack - YouTube

Pffft, SOLD!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

It definitely succeeded with the editing.

Everybody else needs to get on it and watch this film!

And watch "Shadow of a Doubt" while you're at it too!

And "AI."

Heck, watch 'em all.

No

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

No

[Show spoiler]...meh, your loss.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

[Show spoiler]...meh, your loss.

I'll get over it. I have a reputation for liking crap anyways, so why ruin it?

[Show spoiler]Damn, the last movie I bought and now watched was a really good movie. I blew it...

[Show spoiler]

[iam1bearcat]

Toy Story 3 - 5/5

got the urge to watch this last night. no idea why, but of course, we all know it's great
incredible heart, depth, hilariousness and dozens of references to the first two films. when i first heard they were making a third film some 10 years or so after the last one i was incredibly worried the wonderful awe of the first two films would be lost, but Pixar made an epic closing to the story and characters. a terrific, heart warming and ending. perfect.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Toy Story 3 - 5/5

got the urge to watch this last night. no idea why, but of course, we all know it's great
incredible heart, depth, hilariousness and dozens of references to the first two films. when i first heard they were making a third film some 10 years or so after the last one i was incredibly worried the wonderful awe of the first two films would be lost, but Pixar made an epic closing to the story and characters. a terrific, heart warming and ending. perfect.

Totoro

I like the ending. Very emotional.

[Steve46]

No. 31 in my alphabetical list of 100 movies to see before you die.

My favorite foreign language film:

31. The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
Drama, Fantasy, Music, 98 minutes, French and Polish Language
Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski
Starring Irene Jacob and Philippe Volter



I didn't say much about this film when I talked about my Top 20 Dramas, and I'm reluctant to do so now in case I ruin the experience for anyone considering watching it for the first time. It's hard because it sparks all kinds of thoughts, makes me cry, and leaves me feeling like I entered another world.

The film is probably the most beautiful I have ever seen. The color palette is rich and places an emphasis on reds, greens and yellows. There are many instances of images viewed through things which distort reality: a clear plastic ball, mirrors, windows, reflections in glass and also a magnifying glass.

Music is a huge part of the experience, whether it's happening in the story or part of the soundtrack.

The first 30 minutes of the story concerns Weronika. She is Polish and a gifted singer. Weronika is so in tune with life that it's painful. When she sings, there is pure joy visible on her face. She ignores outside distractions such as pouring rain because she's so caught up in the moment. She makes love the same way.

It might be best to stop reading and see the film if you don't know what happens next.

[Show spoiler]Unfortunately, Weronika has a heart problem and drops dead while performing at a recital.

The film switches locations and we find ourselves in France with Veronique. She appears identical to Weronika and both women are played by Irene Jacob. Veronique seems to sense Weronika's death, although she can't pinpoint why she is feeling a sense of loss.

This is a film about connections and feelings. Are we alone in the world or are there people somewhere just like us? Do we share any kind of connection? Is any of this controlled by some higher power, or are events simply random? The "coincidences" in this film are too frequent for everything to be random, aren't they? Room 287, a plastic ball, a ring, a shoestring, loving fathers and absent mothers, and probably a few things that I completely missed.

Kieslowski doesn't tell us what any of this means. We don't know whether the two women are related or twins separated at birth. It doesn't really matter why any of this happens. The film is intended to make us think and feel, and it succeeds very well.

I often wonder whether Jean-Pierre Jeunet was thinking of Veronique when he created Amelie. Although one is completely serious and one is a comedy, both contain elaborate scenes in which one character encourages another to seek them out. France features in both films and the color palette's are similar.

I can't make a sweeping recommendation. This is the kind of film for people who like to contemplate the meaning of life and their own existence. The narrative meanders along and there are no clear answers or startling resolutions to the story. It just is.

If you like The Double Life of Veronique:

One of the first things I did after seeing the film was seek out other works by Kieslowski. Criterion recently released the Three Colors Trilogy on Blu-ray and fans of Veronique will almost certainly enjoy the trilogy. It's best to see them in sequence: Blue stars Juliette Binoche, White stars Zbigniew Zamachowski and Red stars Irene Jacob. Red in particular will appeal to fans of Veronique because it touches on similar themes and Jacob gives another captivating performance. The three films are loosely tied together in a scene at the end of Red, so that's why I suggest seeing them in order.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: "Y Tu Mamá También."

[Show spoiler]Why? Because it's an Alfonso Cuaron film.

Right from the start, this film has a lot of sex in it. It's actually one of the main themes of the story, inherent to the themes of maturity and living life. Unfortunately, as the film meandered on, I found its charm fading from me. Especially since, for a film that everybody else seems to describe as hilarious, it didn't make me laugh one bit.

The story is pretty much just about a couple of dudes going on a road trip with some chick. The characters are the main focus, as they are quite well-developed and succeed at underscoring the themes briefly described above. However, this is one of those films that doesn't have a very solid conflict in place, or a structure. There is a nice narration running through the film, but I felt it strayed off-topic too many times.

As a film, it does look nice, with its solid photography and editing. I have no complaints about the acting or writing. The production has nice (and often times grungy-looking) locales, plus some decent-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is alright.

I'd rank this on the same level as "The Motorcycle Diaries" or "Lost in Translation," and chances are that if you liked either one of those, you might like this one too. It's another one of those artsy high-brow life-story movies, which seem to appeal to folks with far higher standards than mine.

3/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 2/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: As a rental.

If this movie was a song, it'd be

[Show spoiler]some kind of latino music.

Mexican Music - crank 2 soundtrack - YouTube

I really like this film, for its honesty and great chemistry between characters.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Toy Story 3 - 5/5

[Show spoiler]got the urge to watch this last night. no idea why, but of course, we all know it's great
incredible heart, depth, hilariousness and dozens of references to the first two films. when i first heard they were making a third film some 10 years or so after the last one i was incredibly worried the wonderful awe of the first two films would be lost, but Pixar made an epic closing to the story and characters. a terrific, heart warming and ending. perfect.

Pizza Planet Truck Cameos - YouTube

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Pizza Planet Truck Cameos - YouTube

Hehe, a modern day Hitchcock.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Pizza Planet Truck Cameos - YouTube

wow! even ten years later and in another country, Pizza Planet is still succeeding, even in this terrible economy! can't say i ever expected to see a Pizza Planet in France, but hey, pizza is pizza! (reference to the truck being in Ratatouille)