The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Romulus]

M

Another Criterion I blind bought during this sale and I'm certainly glad I did.

What an absolutely relevant and timeless film. With the recent tragedy in Aurora, CO this past week the ending of this film had me drawing parallel's to the shooting.

[Show spoiler]When a man commits a crime so horrible and is insane, how responsible is he? What should be his punishment? The quotes from the people at the end of the film who wanted to murder him is very reminiscent of the shouts I've heard from people in Colorado.

The mothers at the end of the film seem to have it straight when it says "nothing will bring back our daughters".

What is an appropriate punishment? Do we as people turn just as heinous as the murderer when we want justice?

I think this would be a great film for a Intro level film class.

Outside of that I felt the film did slightly drag in the middle of it, but the strong ending more than makes up for it. The camera work is also brilliant and one of the best I've seen from an early film. Lighting is on par with some of the best film noir's out there.

Overall I find it to be a technical wonder with a story that's bound to spark interesting discussion when it comes to the moral's surrounding a heinous crime.

4.5/5

[jvince]

Modern Times (1936)
Timeless. Incredible. Masterpiece. The funniest (and best) Chaplin film I've seen. The feeding machine and "nose-powder" scenes are hysterically hilarious. The skating scene is amazing. In fact, this film features a whole bunch of brilliant sequences. Charlie Chaplin is a freakin' genius. Paulette Goddard is super hot in this. One of the finest romantic comedies you'll ever see.

[Foggy]

21 Jump Street

Was led to think it was going to be funnier, but I still got a few good laughs out of it. It moved fast enough, Channing Potato was quite decent in the comedic role and got some great lines and improv in next to Hill. I can't really complain, it aimed to entertain and I was entertained!

7/10

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jvince

The Bourne Legacy (2012)
No more of that f*cking shaky cam sh*t. No Damon either, just numerous name-drops and pictures. Never bought Matt Damon as an action star, but Jeremy Renner proves here that he IS an action star and a legitimate badass, convincingly pulling off Bourne stuff better than the real Bourne. Works better as a stand-alone film. Despite featuring many references to previous plot points, this is Bourne in name only. Story may have turned a bit fantastical, but the film is fun and thrilling enough for such to be overlooked. Fans will likely take issue though. Renner and Weisz have great chemistry, something that was lacking in the first three films. Plus points for making Weisz a strong female character and not a damsel in distress. Norton is wasted here as he is not given enough material, tasked to play what seems to be a cliched, one-dimensional character. The two main action sequences (the house scene and the Manila chase scene) are exhilarating. Ending leaves you wanting more (perhaps a Damon-Renner collab next time around?). The most fun installment in the series.

Sounds like I'll love it. Which is funny, because I've been quite ambivalent towards the Bourne trilogy.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Long list of reviews:

Prometheus:

2.5 stars (out of 4)

[Show spoiler]
I thought the acting from Rapace and Fassbender was great and the effects and production design were top notch. In reading several notable analyses of the film, I find the

[Show spoiler]Space Jesus

one on Indiewire (search "best prometheus analyses so far--it's the one most "acclaimed") to be the most interesting and likely the correct one, due to quotes from Scott and Lindelof. My biggest problem with the film is that as a big Alien and Aliens fan, I thought there were so many great things that could have been done with a prequel, but the decision to broaden the scope almost unimaginably to encompass the creation of man was a poor choice. I likely will not pick up this film on blu.

I'm going to have to read up on that theory. I still don't think it's fair to fault the film for not being a proper "Alien" prequel. Sure, it doesn't go from point A to point B all the way up to the beginning of "Alien," but I like it way better because it doesn't. Besides, I still think there's enough content in "Prometheus" to fill in the blanks.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Pretty Woman:

3 (out of 4)

Entertaining enough, for what it is.

Agreed. One of the very few romcoms I found enjoyable.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

A Streetcar Named Desire:

2.5 (out of 4)

I thought the film was pretty boring and uneventful, with Brando's performance being its only saving grace. How the other two won actresses won Oscars is beyond me.

What?! I thought you liked the classics!

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Beauty and the Beast:

3.5 (out of 4)

One of Disney's very best--still as powerful as I remember it.

__________________________________________________ _____

Beauty and the Beast (Criterion)

2.5 (out of 4)

I thought it was a bit drab, much preferring the Disney version (and the director's Orpheus). I'll have to revisit it, but one of my least favorite Criterions that I own.

I do agree that Disney's "B&tB" is better, I thought the old French film was quite charming in its own little way. Surprised you didn't like it as much.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

The Artist:

3 (out of 4)

A good film, even if it's a bit tiresome and relies too much on its gimmick. Dujardin deserved to win best actor over the others that were nominated. I loved the dance scene too.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Tony208

Demolition Man



80's and 90's action movies, meet your pacifist future. With a great script and good performances by Snipes and Stallone, this flick stands out among the countless and brainless action films of its era. The jokes are plenty and it as much a comedy as it is an action film. The satire is strong in this one.

"We're police officers! We're not trained to handle this kind of violence!"

9.5/10

This movie is brilliant!

[Al_The_Strange]

I haven't really had time to watch films on holiday, but I managed to see most of the following:

"The Great Ghost Rescue," a blind-buy from my parents.

It's a kid's movie. I think we were all attracted to its premise of these funny ghost characters roaming around, trying to find a new home, with a cool (albiet horridly undercharacterized) flaming skull flying around. The comedy has its moments, and the special effects aren't too unbearable. But...it's a kid's movie! A little too light and fluffy, with a plot that's predictable, formulaic, and all-around sugar-coated.

3/5 (Entertainment: Average | Story: Marginal | Film: Average)

Recommendation: Maybe for kids and families and stuff.




"Over the Hedge"

Hmm, I thought I reviewed this before, but I guess not. That means I gotta go all-out with it.

Around 2007, Dreamworks was still caught up in producing CGI animated features aimed more as kids and less toward adults; the "Madagascar" and "Shrek" serieses were still quite dominant. As such, they took the "Over the Hedge" comic strip and applied the same candy-coated kiddie-goodness to it, and came out with this movie.

There are times when "Over the Hedge" comes off as pandering toward a younger, less mature audience. However, it still rises above and beyond most other features, thanks to its frequently hilarious comedy and dialogue, its lovable cast of characters and their relationships, and an underlying theme that lambasts consumerist and suburbian culture. In short, it's great comedy with a bit of a message to it; it entertains and makes you laugh at stuff that you just know is all too true.

The story for this is quite clever in the way it pits nature against artificial human civilization, thus throwing the different characters through all kinds of different peril and crazy antics. It gets very wild and cartoony, but works to accentuate the comedy and keep the pacing really high. Overall, the story is pretty simple and easy, and is populated with quality characters. It doesn't necessarily jive with the comic strip, but on its own merits, it works in its own little universe.

The animation quality is strong. It's not quite as gorgeous or awe-inspiring as many other animated films that have come since (or before), but it looks smooth, colorful, has decent enough textures, and it achieves the desired effect overall. Voice-acting is great, and I have no complaints about the writing. Production designs for the characters, settings, props, etc are solid. Music is alright (includes a number of rock songs by Ben Folds, but none of them really appealed to me).

4.5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: As a rental.

This would be one of the last remaining DVDs I own that I'm just dying to replace with a Blu-Ray...

It used to be ranked as my top favorite Dreamworks Animation movie, but I think the "Kung Fu Panda" films are close contenders for that.




"The Burbs" (my folks must have been wanting a suburbian comedy marathon or something )

This 1989 comedy depicts a group of neighbors who grow suspicious of these creepy foreigners who move into the suburb; lots of hilarity ensues when the paranoia causes these guys to spy, break and enter, and ultimately confront their new neighbors. The movie has its share of great dialogue and funny situations, and overall it doesn't dissapoint.

The story is brilliant, as it underscores the irrational fear and paranoia in a fashion that mirrors the Cold War era, when all of America feared its Russian neighbors. Within the microcosm of the American suburb, the film plays on themes of normalcy and conformity to help fuel the paranoia, and perhaps assert that there may not be such a thing as "normal." Even if you don't care to think about stuff like that, the film still has a fine story and a fine cast of characters.

The film is well-shot and edited, and has solid acting. Tom Hanks is the man. Writing is not bad. This production has good sets, props, and costumes; the dream scene might be a little cheap, but everything else looks solid. Music is alright.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Yep.




Next greatest rental: "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Looked good, stylish, and suspenseful at first. As the film went on, it failed to keep my attention.

3/5 (Entertainment: Very Poor | Story: Good | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: If you have an interest in this type of movie and are willing to devote you entire attention to it, then yes. Action junkies will be dissapointed.




Also caught a snippet of "Pocahontas" on TV. I probably saw it as a kid when it first came out, but forgot about most of it. It is a snazzy-looking animation with a solid story worth telling. Offhand, I'd give it a 4/5, and I will add the Blu-Ray to my wishlist. I do prefer the 2009 remake though...you know, the one where all the Indians are blue and they ride around on awesome-looking dragons and stuff.

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I haven't really had time to watch films on holiday, but I managed to see most of the following:



"The Burbs" (my folks must have been wanting a suburbian comedy marathon or something )

This 1989 comedy depicts a group of neighbors who grow suspicious of these creepy foreigners who move into the suburb; lots of hilarity ensues when the paranoia causes these guys to spy, break and enter, and ultimately confront their new neighbors. The movie has its share of great dialogue and funny situations, and overall it doesn't dissapoint.

The story is brilliant, as it underscores the irrational fear and paranoia in a fashion that mirrors the Cold War era, when all of America feared its Russian neighbors. Within the microcosm of the American suburb, the film plays on themes of normalcy and conformity to help fuel the paranoia, and perhaps assert that there may not be such a thing as "normal." Even if you don't care to think about stuff like that, the film still has a fine story and a fine cast of characters.

The film is well-shot and edited, and has solid acting. Tom Hanks is the man. Writing is not bad. This production has good sets, props, and costumes; the dream scene might be a little cheap, but everything else looks solid. Music is alright.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Yep.

Awesome movie. One of my Favourite comedies

[jvince]

Young Frankenstein (1974)
Slapstick spoof featuring one zany cast of characters: Gene Wilder as Dr. "Fronkensteen," Teri Garr as the lovely assistant Inga, Peter Boyle as the monster, Cloris Leachman as Blucher [horses whinny], Kenneth Mars as the inspector with a defective prosthetic arm, and last but certainly not the least, standouts Marty Feldman as Igor, Madeline Kahn as Frankenstein's fiancée, and Gene Hackman as a lonely blind man. Jokes are hit-or-miss, but the cast is likable enough, making the film enjoyable to some degree. "Oh, sweet mystery of life, at last, I've found you! At last, I know the secret of it all!"

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I"Over the Hedge"

4.5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good)

Recommendation: As a rental.

This would be one of the last remaining DVDs I own that I'm just dying to replace with a Blu-Ray...

Yep!

next greatest rental: "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Looked good, stylish, and suspenseful at first. As the film went on, it failed to keep my attention.

3/5 (Entertainment: Very Poor | Story: Good | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: If you have an interest in this type of movie and are willing to devote you entire attention to it, then yes. Action junkies will be dissapointed.

Yep.

[SquidPuppet]

Kes

1969 / PG-13 / 114 minutes / DVD

Netflix synopsis: Billy Casper (David Bradley) is a puny kid from the poor end of Barnsley. He's struggling in school, bullied by his older brother and basically dismissed by everyone else. But when he finds an injured fledgling kestrel, he begins to train the bird. In the process, he learns a lot about himself.

Criterion did not provide subtitles on the DVD. The accents were so heavy, I missed at least half of the dialogue. I could still follow the story though, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

The ending was a bit of a surprise though. Rugged.

Film 4/5
PQ N/A
AQ N/A

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Kes

1969 / PG-13 / 114 minutes / DVD

Netflix synopsis: Billy Casper (David Bradley) is a puny kid from the poor end of Barnsley. He's struggling in school, bullied by his older brother and basically dismissed by everyone else. But when he finds an injured fledgling kestrel, he begins to train the bird. In the process, he learns a lot about himself.

Criterion did not provide subtitles on the DVD. The accents were so heavy, I missed at least half of the dialogue. I could still follow the story though, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

The ending was a bit of a surprise though. Rugged.

Film 4/5
PQ N/A
AQ N/A

My grandfather grew up in Barnsley, so I was used to the accent. It's one of the toughest to understand if it's not something you are familiar with. I'm glad you still enjoyed it.

The Criterion Blu-ray has subtitles, but they are not listed in the menu. You have to hit the display button and toggle the subtitles to 'on'. The DVD doesn't have that option by any chance?

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Kes

1969 / PG-13 / 114 minutes / DVD

Netflix synopsis: Billy Casper (David Bradley) is a puny kid from the poor end of Barnsley. He's struggling in school, bullied by his older brother and basically dismissed by everyone else. But when he finds an injured fledgling kestrel, he begins to train the bird. In the process, he learns a lot about himself.

Criterion did not provide subtitles on the DVD. The accents were so heavy, I missed at least half of the dialogue. I could still follow the story though, and enjoyed it quite a bit.

The ending was a bit of a surprise though. Rugged.

Film 4/5
PQ N/A
AQ N/A

Pfft, Silly American

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

My grandfather grew up in Barnsley, so I was used to the accent. It's one of the toughest to understand if it's not something you are familiar with. I'm glad you still enjoyed it.

The Criterion Blu-ray has subtitles, but they are not listed in the menu. You have to hit the display button and toggle the subtitles to 'on'. The DVD doesn't have that option by any chance?

Couldnt find them anywhere.

[jvince]

The Gold Rush (1925)
Not quite as funny (nor as great) as Modern Times, City Lights, or The Kid. Probably Chaplin's saddest work. Love the final 15 minutes of the film -- the teetering cabin scene and the boat scene are absolutely wonderful.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

21 Jump Street

Was led to think it was going to be funnier, but I still got a few good laughs out of it. It moved fast enough, Channing Potato was quite decent in the comedic role and got some great lines and improv in next to Hill. I can't really complain, it aimed to entertain and I was entertained!

7/10

I gave it the same score too. Comedy has been kinda weak lately. 21 Jump Street had its moments, but I prefer The Other Guys a little more. They're quite similar, but I never get tired of watching the latter on TV for some reason. Imo, the best pure comedy released this year is definitely Klown. It's so wrong, it's hilarious.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Sounds like I'll love it. Which is funny, because I've been quite ambivalent towards the Bourne trilogy.

Yeah, I'm no fan of the Damon movies either, which is probably why I liked Legacy. But I could definitely see fans of the previous films being disappointed. Gilroy threw the realism (along with the shaky cam) out the door. Imo, they should've just made it a completely unrelated movie instead of trying to tie it to Bourne.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

Yeah, I'm no fan of the Damon movies either, which is probably why I liked Legacy. But I could definitely see fans of the previous films being disappointed. Gilroy threw the realism (along with the shaky cam) out the door. Imo, they should've just made it a completely unrelated movie instead of trying to tie it to Bourne.

But that would mean not being able to make money off of the name alone.

Still, even if I've always been against them using the Bourne name for a non-Bourne movie, I do think this looks really good.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

But that would mean not being able to make money off of the name alone.

Still, even if I've always been against them using the Bourne name for a non-Bourne movie, I do think this looks really good.

i am the same. i cringed at the idea of another Bourne movie, but it makes a lot of since it the structure of the films (

[Show spoiler]i.e. Jason -Matt Damon- Bourne wasn't the only agent, so there must be other stories to tell right?

) still not sold on the character in Legacy being the "best" agent, but that may be nitpicking, as it still looks really good.

just hope this doesn't turn into an American Pie / National Lampoon type franchise where studios just keep pumping out Bourne film / stories

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i am the same. i cringed at the idea of another Bourne movie, but it makes a lot of since it the structure of the films (

[Show spoiler]i.e. Jason -Matt Damon- Bourne wasn't the only agent, so there must be other stories to tell right?

) still not sold on the character in Legacy being the "best" agent, but that may be nitpicking, as it still looks really good.

just hope this doesn't turn into an American Pie / National Lampoon type franchise where studios just keep pumping out Bourne film / stories

I think Universal came up with excellent trailers and commercials for it, even if they are run way too often. Universal did about as good on a job as they could in making the title work with those trailers and commercials. I still will never be ok with the title since it's a name of one of the books and Jason Bourne is the main character of all of the books, but oh well.

It's very likely they are setting up for a 5th movie in hopes of Matt Damon giving in and doing another movie with Jeremy Renner, which is smart, but still risky. There is really no way to continue to have Bourne in the title without Jason Bourne. This movie already stretched that to the limit. I have a feeling this will be it if Matt Damon doesn't come back.

[jvince]

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Special effects are quite impressive especially for a film made in the 50s. The sets are gorgeous and grand. I like how the sound effects also serve as the film's score. Anne Francis is so damn fine. Where can I get my very own Robby the Robot?

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

Forbidden Planet (1956)
Special effects are quite impressive especially for a film made in the 50s. The sets are gorgeous and grand. I like how the sound effects also serve as the film's score. Anne Francis is so damn fine. Where can I get my very own Robby the Robot?

One I have on my list to blind buy at some point down the road. Times are a little crazy right now with releases and sales, but maybe by the time things calm down, Amazon will drop it to a more reasonable price again.

Since I never saw any movies with Leslie Nielsen in them until Airplane, he looks so young from the screenshots.

[Al_The_Strange]

“Batman Begins”

[Show spoiler]
Following the works of Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan presents a new and improved Batman movie more heavily grounded in reality (or about as real as a comic-book hero film can be), and with a strong emphasis on in-depth storytelling and style.

Despite the emphasis on character development and drama, the film is entertaining. It might even be more entertaining than all the other films before it. Action is frequent and impressive. Some of the fights might be hard to see with the shaky cameramanship and fast editing, but the car chase, the stuntwork, the (few) special effects, and the finale are all very noteworthy. In between the major action scenes, the story moves with a fast and tight pacing. There’s hardly a dull moment.

At its core though, this telling of “Batman” presents a very strong story, filled with deep characters, strong themes, and detailed nuances. The story itself is pretty solid, for as the mystery unravels it proves to be cleverly sublime and tight. What is most important is the character development though; Bruce Wayne’s origins are explored in depth and with solid reasoning behind his ascension into a masked vigilante. Going hand-in-hand with this portrayal are strong themes about fear, morality, and ultimately the value of decisive action. And as the Batman character comes into a fully-realized being, a lot of interesting concepts are poured into it like hot iron filling an ingot; using fear as a weapon, the principles of ninjutsu, the power of symbols, to name a few. And on top of all that, the physical genesis of the character is explored more thoroughly than ever before; we finally see where he gets all his cool gadgets from, where his costume came from, how he gained the trust of key law enforcement officers, among other things. All of these concepts work together to make the story more believable, whereas in previous movies nothing was defined and everything about the character simply existed without any basis. The movie gets high marks as it is for utilizing previously unused opportunities. I’d give it even higher marks for its strong themes.

As a film, it is interesting. Photography is superb throughout, with plenty of unique imagery and camera angles. Editing is very rough, with some choppy action scenes, but most of the time it works to create a unique and frenetic style. Acting is excellent all around; Christian Bale shows both aggression and subtlety in his dual-natured role, Michael Caine makes for a wise and witty butler, Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson are cool as the villains, and Gary Oldman is perfect as Jim Gordon. It’s also pretty cool seeing Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Rutger Hauer, and Ken Watanabe in the mix. Production value is very high, with loads of excellent sets, props, costumes, weapons, cars, gear, and everything else. The music score is epic!

5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: Yes!

There are times where the Blu-Ray looks darn close to perfect, but there are also scenes that show some softness and maybe some slight EE. I recall reading that this transfer could use an encode with a larger bitrate. Sound quality is good, but could be bolder and better overall.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 4/5

“The Dark Knight”

[Show spoiler]
Having established Batman as a butt-kicking ninja-trained hero in “Batman Begins,” “TDK” takes the characters and story into the next level; one that is deeper, darker, more convoluted, and ultimately more intense. I think that while the previous film still bears the semblance of an average superhero film, this sequel strikes me more as a crime drama; there are no megalomaniac plots or outlandish supervillians, the focus is more on the ramifications of Batman’s actions (socially and personally) and the ongoing conflict between order and chaos within Gotham City.

The story has its share of action (the police escort scene has got to be one of my favorite car chase scenes of all time) but none of it is as frivolous as it would be in any other action movie. All of the action and violence occurs through the tragic consequences of the story, which takes on many drastic twists and turns (sometimes straining to suspend some disbelief). At its core, the story focuses really well on the themes of social and personal corruption, terrorism (strong parallels to modern issues, and the film even includes a little blip about privacy invasion), and morality. In fact, morality is the prevailing element, for Batman’s moral code is tested and pushed to its limit; much of the story’s conflicts revolve around him trying to maintain it in himself and others.

Going hand-in-hand with the story is a strong group of characters. Bruce Wayne probably doesn’t get as much development as he had in “Batman Begins,” but the Joker and Harvey Dent definitely take precedence and are portrayed perfectly.

The biggest thing that catches my attention in this film (and in all things in general) is duality. The Joker is presented as the perfect foil to Batman; both characters are equal and opposite, and exert an equal and opposite force onto Gotham City. The Joker’s lines say it the best: “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.”

As such, the writing is really impressive, as is the film’s direction. Much of the photography is great, and the editing style is very interesting. Acting is impressive; Heath Ledger performed perfectly as the Joker, and Aaron Eckhart is effective as Harvey Dent. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman all return with pleasing results. Maggie Gyllenhaal stands in for Katie Holmes’ character, offering the only weak performance of the lot. The production value is high; the film has some impressive set pieces, locations, costumes, and a slick style overall. And the music score is awesome as well.

For a while, I called this my top favorite superhero/comic-book themed film, and it took its place as my fourth favorite of all time. Highly recommended!

5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect)

This Blu-Ray looks close to perfect, but is slightly marred by some DNR and EE. Sound quality is great though.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5