The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

This movie gets neither the recognition nor recommendations it deserves.

So, I'll add this...

This film is an EMOTIONAL EPIC that will smack you like a ton of bricks.

SEE IT!!!

I'm still piecing myself back together.

Lynch talked about Mel Brooks funding it in the extras. Seeing Eraserhead was the deciding factor

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by Steve46

David Lynch has been written off by many people as too weird. I can understand that argument, but The Elephant Man doesn't fall into that category. Another accessible Lynch film with a lot of heart and a straightforward narrative is The Straight Story (no pun intended). It was Richard Farnsworth's last role and is a deeply moving human interest story based on the true tale of a man who rode a tractor across the Midwest to see his dying brother. His encounters along the way are memorable. He impacts everyone he meets and it's great to see that total strangers are still capable of acts of random kindness. Farnsworth was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal. The story might sound boring, but I assure you it isn't. If you like The Elephant Man, you'll almost certainly appreciate Lynch's work in The Straight Story.

Remember seeing the Straight story when it came out in the cinemas,and the whole crowd watching it erupted in laughter when on screen it said 'Disney pictures presents a David Lynch movie'Who would have thought that they would corroberate after Wild at heart

And agree that both Elephant man-which looks fantastic on BD IMO-and the Straight story are great movies.My favourite of those two are the Straight story,but thats down to personal taste.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

Remember seeing the Straight story when it came out in the cinemas,and the whole crowd watching it erupted in laughter when on screen it said 'Disney pictures presents a David Lynch movie'Who would have thought that they would corroberate after Wild at heart

And agree that both Elephant man-which looks fantastic on BD IMO-and the Straight story are great movies.My favourite of those two are the Straight story,but thats down to personal taste.

Yep, I laughed when I saw it was Disney

[SquidPuppet]

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

My best theater going experience since 2000.

It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

The story is terrific. The storytelling is even better. Acting is perfect. Casting was perfect, and important for this film. Lighting and shadows are amazing. Camera work is so artistic and beautiful, with tons of homages to previous talents. Music is fantastic. The use of silence and sounds is powerful and masterfully executed. The sets, costumes, hair and makeup, architecture and cars were fantastic. The picture "quality", including excessive softness, wobble, flecks and scratches, grain, and pulsing, was mood inducing to say the least.

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off. It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer. Another thing he did that was absolute genius IMO was how he trasitioned the acting styles from the beginning of the movie (very 1920s, overacting, mugging) to the end of the movie (contemporary body language and facial expression). The transition was so subtle and perfectly paced that I really only became aware of it afterwards while in discussion about the movie.

Some may say that the filmmakers used tricks to manipulate the audience. FINE. Because of where they were trying to take me, I found myself wanting to be manipulated. Take me, I'm yours.

I laughed, I cried, I cared.

Bonus: Uggie is in nearly every scene. X 10

The Artist has landed in the top ten movies that I have experienced in my whole life.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

My best theater going experience since 2000.

It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

The story is terrific. The storytelling is even better. Acting is perfect. Casting was perfect, and important for this film. Lighting and shadows are amazing. Camera work is so artistic and beautiful, with tons of homages to previous talents. Music is fantastic. The use of silence and sounds is powerful and masterfully executed. The sets, costumes, hair and makeup, architecture and cars were fantastic. The picture "quality", including excessive softness, wobble, flecks and scratches, grain, and pulsing, was mood inducing to say the least.

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off. It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer. Another thing he did that was absolute genius IMO was how he trasitioned the acting styles from the beginning of the movie (very 1920s, overacting, mugging) to the end of the movie (contemporary body language and facial expression). The transition was so subtle and perfectly paced that I really only became aware of it afterwards while in discussion about the movie.

Some may say that the filmmakers used tricks to manipulate the audience. FINE. Because of where they were trying to take me, I found myself wanting to be manipulated. Take me, I'm yours.

I laughed, I cried, I cared.

Bonus: Uggie is in nearly every scene. X 10

The Artist has landed in the top ten movies that I have experienced in my whole life.

I guess I'll watch it this weekend then. It will have to be incredible for me to rank it higher than The Descendants and Midnight in Paris.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I'm still piecing myself back together.

Lynch talked about Mel Brooks funding it in the extras. Seeing Eraserhead was the deciding factor

That is SO odd. I believe it, but what the heck did Mel see that would convice him Lynch was the right man for such a different project? Wild stuff.

[Foggy]

I probably won't get around to seeing The Artist in theatres due to the amount of people getting refunds over here

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

That is SO odd. I believe it, but what the heck did Mel see that would convice him Lynch was the right man for such a different project? Wild stuff.

The quote was something like:

"You're a madman, I love it, you're in"

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I guess I'll watch it this weekend then. It will have to be incredible for me to rank it higher than The Descendants and Midnight in Paris.

Its more than incredible. It's rare and special. It's why we watch movies.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Its more than incredible. It's rare and special. It's why we watch movies.

I'll let you know once I see it.

[surfdude12]

Marwencol

Film: 4.5/5
-thanks to Squid for the recommendation
-incredible documentary that grew on me after I finished watching it
-about a guy who makes WWII dolls and photos them in a miniature town
-there is a MUCH deeper story involving WHY he made the doll town, and an incredible twist in the story. I'll do what Squid did and not say anything else. Just watch it blind like I did.
-awesome themes, my favorite being courage/fear.

[Show spoiler]We all have that voice in our head that says "don't do it - its too dangerous - you'll be laughed at - you'll fail - etc etc" but then there is that other voice that says "dude, eff it. you only live once". The film gives the perfect definition of courage: not the absence of fear, but persistence in spite of fear. Tipping your hat to fear and saying "I'm going to keep going anyway"

. I haven't seen a documentary like this which so accurately put those themes into simple words.
-the art is AMAZING. the photos of the dolls/town are jaw-dropping. the guy is a true artist. well worth a viewing.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

Finally! no more whining out of you!

My best theater going experience since 2000.

oh. ok. best "theater going" experience since 2000. I got worried there for a sec.

It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

I'm hard pressed to find anything wrong with it too!

The story is terrific. The storytelling is even better. Acting is perfect. Casting was perfect, and important for this film. Lighting and shadows are amazing. Camera work is so artistic and beautiful, with tons of homages to previous talents. Music is fantastic. The use of silence and sounds is powerful and masterfully executed. The sets, costumes, hair and makeup, architecture and cars were fantastic. The picture "quality", including excessive softness, wobble, flecks and scratches, grain, and pulsing, was mood inducing to say the least.

COuldn't agree more. You're very right that casting was key. I can't picture any other two playing these roles. Their facial expressions were perfect. The repeated take scene The first meeting scene. Her dancing step. Everything

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off.

Are you referring to the general decision to have a silent film? I read about the Vertigo allegations re: the score. That's the only pity. I guess the director/writers looked at it more as a hat-tip to Hitchcock?

It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer. Another thing he did that was absolute genius IMO was how he trasitioned the acting styles from the beginning of the movie (very 1920s, overacting, mugging) to the end of the movie (contemporary body language and facial expression). The transition was so subtle and perfectly paced that I really only became aware of it afterwards while in discussion about the movie.

Wow, didn't even notice that in two viewings. Dang it squid, thanks for making me look dumb. But I think you're right. There was a transition, to show that

[Show spoiler]transition from silent to voice films

.

Some may say that the filmmakers used tricks to manipulate the audience. FINE. Because of where they were trying to take me, I found myself wanting to be manipulated. Take me, I'm yours.

Haha, I don't mean they did it with malice or deceptive intent. I just mean that they were practical in the sense that they're making a film in 2011 that is generally not of a genre viewed by 2011 movie viewers. To write the script so that

[Show spoiler]the film viewers would sympathize with the silent film industry would necessarily make it impossible for them to not enjoy the silent film, as this would mean that they didn't sympathesize with the industry. But the film was made so well that even if it wasn't about sympasizing with the silent film industry, I still think it would have gripped most 2011 viewers who are NSE and addicted to Michael Bay explosions

The Artist has landed in the top ten movies that I have experienced in my whole life.

still waiting on that list

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Finally! no more whining out of you!

Are you referring to the general decision to have a silent film? I read about the Vertigo allegations re: the score. That's the only pity. I guess the director/writers looked at it more as a hat-tip to Hitchcock?

No. I am referring to the

[Show spoiler]use of actual sounds IN a silent picture. The dressing room/dream scene. Risky, but it worked for me.

Haha, I don't mean they did it with malice or deceptive intent. I just mean that they were practical in the sense that they're making a film in 2011 that is generally not of a genre viewed by 2011 movie viewers. To write the script so that

[Show spoiler]the film viewers would sympathize with the silent film industry would necessarily make it impossible for them to not enjoy the silent film, as this would mean that they didn't sympathesize with the industry. But the film was made so well that even if it wasn't about sympasizing with the silent film industry, I still think it would have gripped most 2011 viewers who are NSE and addicted to Michael Bay explosions

My comment was NOT directed at you. I agree with your point.

[SquidPuppet]

Watership Down shipped to me today.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Watership Down shipped to me today.

Fantastic! I can't wait to hear what you think.

DVD or this?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Fantastic! I can't wait to hear what you think.

DVD or this?

DVD.

But I didnt want to miss it, or wait for who knows how long.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

DVD.

But I didnt want to miss it, or wait for who knows how long.

Yeah, just see if you even like it first.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

My best theater going experience since 2000.

It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

The story is terrific. The storytelling is even better. Acting is perfect. Casting was perfect, and important for this film. Lighting and shadows are amazing. Camera work is so artistic and beautiful, with tons of homages to previous talents. Music is fantastic. The use of silence and sounds is powerful and masterfully executed. The sets, costumes, hair and makeup, architecture and cars were fantastic. The picture "quality", including excessive softness, wobble, flecks and scratches, grain, and pulsing, was mood inducing to say the least.

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off. It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer. Another thing he did that was absolute genius IMO was how he trasitioned the acting styles from the beginning of the movie (very 1920s, overacting, mugging) to the end of the movie (contemporary body language and facial expression). The transition was so subtle and perfectly paced that I really only became aware of it afterwards while in discussion about the movie.

Some may say that the filmmakers used tricks to manipulate the audience. FINE. Because of where they were trying to take me, I found myself wanting to be manipulated. Take me, I'm yours.

I laughed, I cried, I cared.

Bonus: Uggie is in nearly every scene. X 10

The Artist has landed in the top ten movies that I have experienced in my whole life.

no need to talk it up so much Squid.

by the way, now i have to know, what was the movie theater experience from 2000????

[jvince]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

My best theater going experience since 2000.

It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

It is a pretty great film alright, but it wasn't that mind-blowing to me.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off. It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer.

The

[Show spoiler]dream sequence

kinda ruined it a bit for me though. I mean, I get what he was trying to convey, but I felt it would've been more brilliant and impactful if he

[Show spoiler]kept the sound exclusive to the last scene

.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Bonus: Uggie is in nearly every scene. X 10

Uggie is, hands down, the MVP of this film.

Originally Posted by surfdude12

COuldn't agree more. You're very right that casting was key. I can't picture any other two playing these roles. Their facial expressions were perfect. The repeated take scene The first meeting scene. Her dancing step. Everything

I loved that scene. The music, the way it was shot, everything. That was perfection right there.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Watership Down shipped to me today.

Hope you like it.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Much to my surprise, my theater got The Artist and I saw it last night.

My best theater going experience since 2000.

[Show spoiler]
It's PERFECT. From top to bottom, perfect.

The story is terrific. The storytelling is even better. Acting is perfect. Casting was perfect, and important for this film. Lighting and shadows are amazing. Camera work is so artistic and beautiful, with tons of homages to previous talents. Music is fantastic. The use of silence and sounds is powerful and masterfully executed. The sets, costumes, hair and makeup, architecture and cars were fantastic. The picture "quality", including excessive softness, wobble, flecks and scratches, grain, and pulsing, was mood inducing to say the least.

I gotta say the director did some amazing things. He took a couple of big risks with

[Show spoiler]sound

and IMO it paid off. It didnt just work, it was a reward to me as a viewer. Another thing he did that was absolute genius IMO was how he trasitioned the acting styles from the beginning of the movie (very 1920s, overacting, mugging) to the end of the movie (contemporary body language and facial expression). The transition was so subtle and perfectly paced that I really only became aware of it afterwards while in discussion about the movie.

Some may say that the filmmakers used tricks to manipulate the audience. FINE. Because of where they were trying to take me, I found myself wanting to be manipulated. Take me, I'm yours.

I laughed, I cried, I cared.

Bonus: Uggie is in nearly every scene. X 10

I bet you were thinking "I hope this never ends!" Love your enthusiasm. It really was all about the experience as a whole for me too, so I think it's great that it hit your theaters finally.

I didn't notice the transition you mentioned (except

[Show spoiler]the ending)

so I'm looking forward to my second viewing that much more.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The Artist has landed in the top ten movies that I have experienced in my whole life.

It's like a side of you I've never seen! Squid-hype-machine through the roof!