The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jhiggy23]

Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring


Film: 3.5 stars (out of 4)


This is a fantastic film (although it's two separate films, I consider it one film overall). The first half is better than the first, in that I think Auteil's acting in the second half is a little hokey at times. I love the story, love the scenery, and just think it's a very interesting and entertaining film. It's make a great Criterion release.


__________________________________________________ ___________

Ikiru:

Film: 3.5 (out of 4)

It's easy to see why some critics consider this, and not Rashomon or Seven Samurai, to be Kurosawa's finest film. It has great meaning to it and the central performance is powerful. This needs to be a priority for Criterion to upgrade.

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Band of Outsiders:

Film: 2.5 (out of 4)

Probably my least favorite Godard film, but still entertaining enough. The dance scene brings a smile to my face.

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Headhunters:

Film: 3 (out of 4)

Got to see this in the arthouse theater right next to my courthouse. The only way to describe this film is crazy, with odes to Tarantino and the Coens. The fact that I liked it despite not liking either Tarantino or the Coens says something. Very entertaining.

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Carlos:

Film: 3.5 (out of 4)

I've had this Criterion for about almost a year but I finally got to watch it. Yes, I watched all 5 1/2 hours of it! It's an absolutely awesome film. The last third is the weakest and is slow, but it's essential in that it wraps things up. The OPEC scenes are the best. Highly recommended.

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L'Avventura:

Film: 3.5 (out of 4)

I love Red Desert and I've wanted to see this film for a long time, since it's widely considered one of the greatest films of all-time. The cinematography in the first half of the movie is among the best I've seen. The acting is excellent. Most importantly, the themes of the movie are awesome. For those that think the central plot is not resolved--it is. One just has to look at it thematically, instead of plot-wise. Loved it.


__________________________________________________ ______

Hunger:

Film: 2 1/2 (out of 4)

Not a huge fan of this film. I thought McQueen's Shame was somewhat similar, in that neither film is one I'd ever want to see again. Both are also similar in that the director has a good visual style, but oftentimes I think he's too concerned with the visuals and doesn't apply purpose to them. Fassbender was good but certainly not award worthy, although it was scary to see him so gaunt.

[jvince]

Run Lola Run (1998)
This movie is so f*cking brilliant. Franka Potente has just 20 minutes to find 100,000 marks to save her boyfriend's life. Lots of running (and glass-shattering shrieking and other various stuff) ensue (yeah, this movie's kinda weird). Seems deceptively simple at first, until the shocking and clever twist about 30 minutes into the film that changes everything. A perfect balance of style and substance. Surprisingly philosophical too. I love the red bedroom scenes. Overflowing with frenetic energy; there are so many things going on at such a breakneck pace that it merits repeat viewings. A new favorite.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

did you like the original? I'm curious if the remake maintained the

[Show spoiler] "is it all real or all imagined"

atmosphere. that is key for me.

I haven't seen the original, but there is some ambiguity in the first half of the remake. In the second half though, they make it definite and that's when it becomes just another generic action flick with lots of CGI and explosions.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Watched this last night on DVD based on you enthusiastic review.

I disagree with everything you wrote.

I wont go into all the ridiclous flaws surrounding the crime itself, but there were planty. I strongly disliked the writing and pacing. I found the score to be not in harmony with what was on screen and quite distracting. Kim Stanleys performance struck me as over the top melodramatic. The final seance scene was cringeworthy. For a Crime film, I found the ending to be a deflated anticlimax.

2/5

Aww... I thought the writing and pacing were pretty good. One can argue about plot holes, but then again, what film doesn't have one?

I thought the score fit well with the film; it added a gloominess to it. I guess you're talking about the music during the train scene? That type was pretty common back then.

And Stanley was brilliant and so was the ending. When she asked her husband if she did it right, that was just perfect and it wrapped the whole story up nicely, imo.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by jvince

I haven't seen the original, but there is some ambiguity in the first half of the remake. In the second half though, they make it definite and that's when it becomes just another generic action flick with lots of CGI and explosions.

Dude, you need to get on that one!

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring


Film: 3.5 stars (out of 4)


This is a fantastic film (although it's two separate films, I consider it one film overall). The first half is better than the first, in that I think Auteil's acting in the second half is a little hokey at times. I love the story, love the scenery, and just think it's a very interesting and entertaining film. It's make a great Criterion release.

now that's impressive! i bet you're more careful with your precious "important" writings for work than you are for this internet forum!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

now that's impressive! i bet you're more careful with your precious "important" writings for work than you are for this internet forum!

haha I'm a dummy.




Letter Never Sent (Criterion)


Film: 3.5 (out of 4)


An excellent film with astonishing visuals--some of the best I've seen in black and white. Highly recommended.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

And Stanley was brilliant and so was the ending. When she asked her husband if she did it right, that was just perfect and it wrapped the whole story up nicely, imo.

I didnt like how

[Show spoiler]clear, calm, concentrated and focused she was for the entire crime, then simply to turn into a slobbering conffessional for no reason.

[Al_The_Strange]

“Total Recall” 1990

Following “RoboCop,” Paul Verhoeven continued his onslaught of incredibly pulpy, action-packed science fiction. “Total Recall” offers loads of great bloody fights, shootouts, chases, and wild plot twists. It’s got Mars, mutants, alien ruins, and more! It’s even got a woman with three breasts! It’s a gritty fantasy that takes the audience on a wild thrill ride, and it is one heck of a ride.

The story is brilliant in a lot of ways. On the surface, it’s a film loaded with plot twists that take the story to wild new directions. It may take some effort to suspend disbelief, given the number of twists that pop up, and the fact that the film incorporates such much into it. Given the fantastic nature of the film, however, it is pretty easy to just sit back and enjoy the ride. There is a little hint at the end of the movie that could beg the audience to interpret the film in a totally different context; it’s not necessary for the film’s enjoyment (nor is it even intended by the director), but it is very intriguing to think about. The film’s characters aren’t terribly huge standouts, but they fulfill their roles adequately.

The film has some pretty wild photography, but it is mostly-solid, with quality editing. Acting is pretty over-the-top, but all around enjoyable; Arnold Schwarzenegger is fun to watch, while Sharon Stone, Rachel Ticotin, Ronny Cox, and Michael Ironside all put on an admirable performance. Writing is pretty simple with the dialogue, but the story is well-penned. This production has sets, props, and costumes that look somewhat fake and outdated, but still stylish and distinctive. The film’s model-work and make-up effects are exceptional. Jerry Goldsmith’s music score is not bad.

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

Recommendation: Yep.

I got the UK Blu-Ray, which looks and sounds really good. The picture looks quite grainy at times, but details are good, and the color/contrast are quite slick.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 4/5

I do have the "Mind-Bending" edition on order. I'm curious to see if it improves on the quality in any way. Moreover, I wanted more extras.

Given the bad reviews, I don't think I'll see the 2012 remake in the theaters. I'll wait for home video.

[Al_The_Strange]

Okay, after reading surfdude's "Total Recall" review, I have to admit that I've never actually interpreted the film as just

[Show spoiler]being in the main character's head

. On the last viewing though, I couldn't help but to think about the whole movie with this new context, and I realized that it fits. Heck, it might even fit better than just accepting it on its own terms.

I plan on posting my complete analysis on my blog. Feel free to check it out and critique. This is a rough draft, so it may not be grammatically correct yet...
--------------------
If by some odd chance you've never seen this film, be warned that this post will be loaded with spoilers. I recommend seeing the film once through first before reading on.

[Show spoiler]The original "Total Recall" has been a prerennial sci-fi favorite of mine ever since high school, if not earlier. It is a rip-roaring pulp adventure, loaded with bloody action, imaginative special effects, and funny satire. Only recently have I started seeing and hearing about alternate interpretations about the story. With the movie's final scenes, some people have attributed the film as being more than just a straightforward action flick. Watching it now, I can indeed see where such an interpretation could fit the facts. Then again, it could just as easily be taken at face value, as I've done for years. So, which way should the film be watched?

It's the story about a man, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who keeps having dreams about Mars and a strange woman (much to the chagrin of his wife, played by Sharon Stone). He goes to the Recall company to receive an vacation implanted in his memory: a vacation on Mars, with the same woman he dreams about, and with him becoming a secret agent. While in the chair, he freaks out, and the doctors reveal that they haven't even given him the implant yet. As it turns out, Quaid had already been a secret agent in the past, but had his memories erased, and his life as a married construction worker was really a lie. From then on, Quaid battles an army of thugs and follows clues that lead him to Mars. There, the plot continues to twist and turn, as Quaid sides with terrorists who plan on overthrowing the oppressive corporate overseers, before activating an ancient alien reactor that releases oxygen into the atmosphere and transforms the planet completely. As advertised by the Recall salesman: Quaid fights the bad guys, saves the world, and gets the girl.

In the film's last minutes, Quaid overlooks the Martian landscape with a new blue sky, and suddenly realizes that none of it could be real. It could all just be in his mind, implanted by Recall. Could it be that, from the moment he sat in the chair, everything in the film was just in his head? A lot of viewers seem to think so.

If there's any reason to discout this theory, it's simply that the director never intended for audiences to interpret the story this way. In the film's making-of documentary, Paul Verhoeven explains that this ending was tacked on as a "curley-cue" of an ending. It's a bit like the spinning top at the end of "Inception;" in both films, the impression is there that it could all be a dream, but the directors never intended for audiences to get hung up on the idea.

So, assuming that the film is not all just in the main character's head, then you'd have to watch the film though all its plot twists and assume that everything is as it seems. Yes, Douglas Quaid is really Douglas Hauser who once served as Cohaggen's protigee, but he defected and sided with the terrorists, so he started leaving clues and messages for himself, before getting his memory wiped clean, and made to live as a construction worker with a wife and absolutely no worries. In the end, however, it's revealed that all of this was really a ruse so that Hauser could infiltrate the terrorist cell on Mars.

There is plenty in the script that permits this straightforwd interpretation. After all, everybody Quaid runs across in the film's opening act tries to disuade him from going to Recall, much less even thinking about Mars. That's because they're all working for Cohaggen, all working in a plot to keep Quaid from discovering the truth about himself. But Quaid still has a lingering memory of his past life; it filters through in his dreams, where he sees Mars and sees Melina. It drives him to visit Recall, to pick his dream vacation as a secret agent on Mars. He even asks for the Recall scientists to replicate Melina in his simulation.

So if you can accept the film as it is, with all its plot complexities, why even consider that it's all just in Quaid's head? It is pretty darn compelling, and perhaps way more believable, to think of the film this way, and not just because Hauser muses about it at the film's end.

In this interpretation, only the first few scenes can be considered "real." Quaid would simply be a married construction worker, and nothing more. He has his dreams about Mars and Melina, either out of the blue, or out of some construct of his inner consciousness. In these opening scenes, Quaid would receive all the information he would need to build his fantasy (the news footage pretty much lays out all the conflict between Cohaggen and Kuato). With both his dream and this news footage fresh in Quaid's mind, and with the options provided by the Recall personnel, he has all he needs to create everything that happens in the film. The scene in which Quaid freaks out in the Recall chair would be the very start of the imagined vacation, and it runs all the way to the end of the film.

Quaid's fantasy is only broken up once, by a visit from a stranger named Dr. Edgemar. He shows up out of the blue and explains to Quaid that everything he experienced is indeed a fantasy, and if he's not careful, he could regress so deep into the fantasy that he can't recover from it. Given this information, you could conclude that by the film's end, Quaid has crossed the point of no return. God knows what's happening to his body back at Recall (Edgemar warns that Quaid would be "labotamized").

Only one thing causes Quaid (and thus, the audience) to disregard Dr. Edgemar's words: a single bead of sweat. It tips off Quaid that this is not just some virtually-injected program, but is just another one of Cohaggen's goons. And you could certanly interpret the film this way; who's to say that Coghaggen didn't find out about Quaid's Recall visit, then hired somebody to pose as Edgemar so that he could coerce Quaid into swallowing a red pill that could have incapacitated him (which now makes me wonder if this was another influence on "The Matrix").

After shooting Edgemar, a whole squad of goons comes out to shoot up the place and beat the snot out of Quaid, and Lori turns on Quaid yet again (and shortly thereafter, Quaid shoots Lori; if Quaid was ever dissatisfied with his wife, he certainly lived out his fantasy of offing her and running off with his literal dream girl). This could all fit in with the idea that the film is "real" and Edgemar was another thugs under Cohaggen's payroll. But, if Edgemar was true in his words and Quaid was still living through his implanted memory, then you could argue that the rest of the film simply plays out the fantasy just as Edgemar said it would. So really, Edgemar's appearance supports both interpretations.

Another encounter that occurs is Quaid's meeting with the mutant terrorist leader, Kuato. Quaid explains that he's trying to figure out who he is. Really, this whole film has been about Quaid trying to figure himself out. Given the two interpretations offered here, you could either presume that he is struggling to uncover his long-lost secret identity as Doug Hauser, or that he is soul-searching on a more psychological level. After all, Quaid started off as just a construction worker, wanting to go to Mars and experience an adventure. In other words, he was a man in a dead-end job, wondering if there could be more to his life and to himself. As Kuato psychically delves into Quaid's mind, he conjures up the image of the alien reactor; it could either be seen as more of Hauser's lost memories, or as just another plot point in the simulated fantasy.

Did Quaid live the whole movie as a fantasy, or was he really a super-duper secret agent with erased memories? I always believed the latter, but now I can't help but to think about the former and how well it seems to fit. If anything, it's far easier to accept the movie as a total fantasy, given all the plot twists, and given how fantasic everything is. Seriously, this is a movie that ties in implanted memories, planet Mars, mutants, ancient alien civilizations, and a complex corporate plot into one package. You could either think of it as one heck of a complicated action fantasy, or a mind-bending sci-fi film about a man living through a simulated complex action fantasy. Even though the director discounted the "it was all just a dream" interpretation, the fact that you could interpret it so concisely reinforces "Total Recall" as a unique form of cinematic art. It is a film that entertains both the senses and the mind.

Or, as Quaid himelf said, "Best mind-f**k yet."

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Ninja Empire

[Show spoiler]
So some of you might remember the classy Ninja Terminator film I watched a few months back. Well turns out there are a ton of Ninja films similar to it. So here's Ninja Empire...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSHSu-GLcE0

"But wait, is it worth watching?" I hear Al ask.

[Show spoiler]
Well here's the highlights of the film...

• Lame imploding ninjas
• A general with extreme mood swings
• Chinese Three Stooges fighting off an drunk wife beater
• Ninja Roley poly down a hill
• The Godfather breaking down and throwing tea into his own face
• Slapsticky music for one of the main characters dying

And some examples of the dialogue...

• "How's the komodo plan going?" "Perfectly fine" "No it isn't you liar" "Then why did you ask?"
• "Don't feel bad, everyone makes mistakes and it's important to learn from them, and you saved my life" "If it wasn't for you I would be up for the firing squad, so thank you" "DON'T TALK CRAP, YOU DON'T OWE ME NOTHING"
• "Can you give me your johnson?"
• "Now that we've exposed ourselves, we must be extra careful"
• "What's the matter, my dear little wong?"

And yes, some one does say something "Please go on without me, save yourself". And yes, the awful dubbing makes it far more hilarious.

The climactic battle, however doesn't disappoint (and by that I mean it disappoints in every conceivable way possible), seriously, speed up to the final 2 minutes and prepare to have your mind blown.

There is no plot in anyway possible...

I've painted this up to be one of the most stunningly bad films I've ever seen. But to be honest, before you decide to give it a watch, this film is pretty boring for the most part. Unlike Ninja Terminator, which had triple the amount of ninja battle, and crazier Bruce Lee rip-off side film along with robots, nasty looking softcore porn sex scenes and Garfield. This is just dull with the occasional splash of horrendous.

Watch Ninja Terminator if you want a bad ninja film, and don't worry, I've got a few more lousy Ninja films to get through before I go to university to clue you guys in on.

4/10

Sounds like a winner! I'll check it out later.

[jvince]

Close-Up (1990)
A real life event wherein a man impersonates renowned director Mohsen Makhmalbaf (A Moment of Innocence) and convinces a family to star in his film. Huge props to director Abbas Kiarostami for pulling off something totally unique -- all the actual people involved play themselves and reenact what happened. An interesting examination of identity and reality. I wonder how awkward shooting this film was for everybody. I really wanted to like this, but the story left me somewhat cold. Will need to reevaluate someday.

[jhiggy23]

Summertime (Criterion)


Film: 3 stars (out of 4)



Saw this today at a film festival at the movie theater next to my courthouse, which plays only classic, indie, and foreign films. Nice to see a 1955 David Lean film on the big screen! I found the film very enjoyable, with great scenery and an entertaining story. Recommended.

[Diesel]

I watched Return of the King tonight...always a special night when watching your favorite movie


I've been thinking about revisiting my "Top [X] Movies" list for a little while now...might have to invest some time into that tomorrow

[Al_The_Strange]

More weekend viewing:

"Kill Bill Volume 1"

Quentin Tarantino channels the manic, ultraviolent, hyperactively-stylized energy of cheesy kung-fu cinema, Japanese anime, and a slight twist of American westerns, and he uses it like a thread to weave one of the greatest revenge stories ever made. Both "KB" movies collectively form a coherent, cohesive, sublime storytelling package; ideally, they should be watched back-to-back to understand every nuance of the story and the characters, since there is so much depth to them.

Even if you decide to watch it separately, Volume 1 doesn't dissapoint on its own merits. In fact, this is the most entertaining of the two films; it starts off fast and hard and hardly lets up! It focuses a lot less on words and storybuilding, drip-feeding the audience just enough to understand what's going on, before diving headlong into a gory rampage (Volume 2 is the opposite, so if it is dialogue and storytelling you're after, you might want to follow up on the sequel). There are a number of good fight scenes throughout the first hour, but the film's last act is a host for one of the longest and finest fight scenes ever filmed. It starts off with a number of one-on-one engagements, before busting all out with a massive one-vs-fifty brawl. The katana-wielding Bride proves herself to be an invincible heroine, as she hacks and slices her way through an army of enemies, gradually honing in on her ultimate target (who is, of course, a dude named Bill).

If you're wondering what on Earth could warrant such bloodshed, rest assured that the story for "KB" is sound. This first film does a marvelous job of using strong visual imagery, flashbacks, and narrative to establish the groundwork for this revenge plot. You can really get to feel for the character, given all the torment she suffers under the hands of Bill and his assasins; it makes it easy, and dare I say enjoyable, to watch her rise from adversity and get some payback. At its core, the film brings to life some brilliant characters with a solid amount of depth (especially after watching the sequel, which answers a lot of unanswered questions) and lots of personality.

Even by Tarantino standards, "KB" stands as one of the most stylish films made. It features excellent photography, some very unique editing, and plenty of strange artistic effects that help accentuate the film's given style. You can expect plenty of title cards and subtitles flashing across the screen, along with some occasional asides and digressions. One of the most notable stylistic choices will be the anime segment, brought to life by Production IG with a style that's sketchy, but visually impressive and highly detailed. The film overall carries the same tone and style as a 1970s Japanese gangster movie (think "The Executioner"), and it's cool. Acting is impeccible; Uma Thurman puts on her best performance of her career, for she brings the Bride to life in a way that nobody else can (and she endures a lot of heavy physical work in doing so). Lucy Lui plays it cool as the villain, O-Ren Ishii. Cameos by David Carradine and Sonny Chiba don't hurt either. Every other actor fulfills their parts well, no matter how minor. This production as good-looking sets, props, and costumes. The film uses a varied mix of music, including a rockin' live performance by the Japanese band the 5, 6, 7, 8s; it's all pretty darn cool.

Out of the two "KB" films, Volume 1 is my favorite. It represents the ultimate in the type of violent cinema I enjoy: the kind that's so stylish and over-the-top that it's easy to dismiss the morality and brutality of it and just let the film take you on a rip-roaring thrill ride. If you can stomach this, then it comes highly recommended.

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

Recommendation: Yes!

The Blu-Ray suffers some grain and noise, but is still incredibly sharp, detailed, and has impressive color/contrast. Sound quality is wicked!

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5




Note: I thought about watching "KBv2" as well, but decided not to. I just wanted to see the Bride cut some people up again. It goes to show that, even on its own, "KBv1" is still awesome.

[Al_The_Strange]

"Demolition Man"

This film starts off looking like pretty standard 1990s action fare; you can expect to see lots of cheesy shootings, stuntwork, relentless explosions, etc. The twist is, as the main character is condemned as a criminal, he becomes cryogentically frozen, and is busted out in the future to combat his old enemy again. What comes next is not only more action, but a surprising amount of hilarious comedy.

Most of the film takes place in a utopia that's so ridiculous and absurd, one can't help but to laugh. It's a future where Taco Bell takes over and the one and only restaurant in the US. The radio plays nothing but old commercial jingles from products long past. Sex is nothing more than a virtual-reality video game. Cursing is forbidden, and an alarm goes off every time a character swears. They don't even have toilet paper in the future! (three seashells, wtf?! )

The key element, however, is that all things unpleseant have become forbidden, including violence. So nautrally, when the ludicrously violent criminal Simon Phoenix starts rampaging across this utopia and upsetting the balance, the police decide to restore the balance by unleashing another 20th century brute: the Demolition Man. What ensues in between the funny encounters of the 21st century is a thrill ride filled with explosive, over-the-top action. With its fine mix of satirical comedy and thrilling action, the film appeals to all sci-fi and action movie fans.

Most of the story has been described above, and it has its share of brilliance. The satire is frequently dispensed and often funny; regardless of how ridiculous these things are, the film plays it straight enough that it's easy to suspend disbelief. The film goes into some level of plotting and counter-plotting, but it's never complex. It's a light story that's easy to digest, and filled with likable characters.

The film is captured with adequate, but never great, photography and editing. Acting is great from all the parties involved. Wesley Snipes plays the villain so hilariously well that he ought to be comparable to the various incarnations of the Joker from the Batman films; he is that entertaining. Sylvester Stallone plays his usual action-hero schtick. Sandra Bullock is perfectly perk and peppy in her role. Everybody else is decent. Writing is not too shabby. This production has sets, props, costumes, and special effects that appear appropriately futuristic, but are not aging well. Music is alright.

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

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

This Blu-Ray is a bit mixed. A lot of the opening scenes looked pretty soft, but scenes throughout the middle and ending look great at times, showing good detal and sharpness. It's never 100% awe-inspiring though. Colors and contrast are not bad. Sound quality is most impressive.

PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

"Cutthroat Island"

In its day, "Cutthroat Island" was the most entertaining pirate adventure that I was ever aware of. Coming from the director of "Cliffhanger," you just know that this film is going to have enough explosions to make Michael Bay jealous. Sure enough, the film is loaded with explosive action and hard-hitting sword fights. A lot of the action dominates the film's final act, which is pretty much an all-out extravagenza of wild swashbucking, booming muskets, and earshattering cannon fire. The rest of the film is fairly light and adventurous; maybe not perfectly-paced, but not too boring either. The only thing that really keeps me from calling this the best pirate movie I've seen is the presence of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, which totally subplants this film in all areas.

The story for "CI" is pretty straightforward, and dare I say standard fare. Pirates get a hold of a map, find some treasure, then duke it out. That's pretty much it. The film tries its best to make the plot roll up and down in a standard thrill-ride formula, stretching the thin story out to fill the runtime. Even though it entertains, it's not terribly deep or anything. The best that can be said is that the characters are likable (including the villain).

The film looks nice, with some decent and stylish photography and editing. Acting is not too bad; I enjoyed Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Frank Langella in their roles. Writing is not terribly sophisticated, but it gets the job done. This production has sets, props, and costumes that look the part and fit in with the film's settings. Music is appropriately adventurous.

Maybe not the best film in this genre, but it certainly entertains.

4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Average | Film: Pretty Good)

Recommendation: As a rental, if at all interested.

This Blu-Ray looks sooooo clean! Too clean, in fact; I suspect some DNR was applied, given the softness of certain details. Sharpness is still good, but I feel it could be better. Colors and contrast are okay, but never vibrant. Sound quality is good.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I watched Return of the King tonight...always a special night when watching your favorite movie

Always a special night where LOTR and/or Peter Jackson is concerned.

Originally Posted by Diesel

I've been thinking about revisiting my "Top [X] Movies" list for a little while now...might have to invest some time into that tomorrow

Awesome. Looking forward to it, boss.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

More weekend viewing:

"Kill Bill Volume 1"

[Show spoiler]Quentin Tarantino channels the manic, ultraviolent, hyperactively-stylized energy of cheesy kung-fu cinema, Japanese anime, and a slight twist of American westerns, and he uses it like a thread to weave one of the greatest revenge stories ever made. Both "KB" movies collectively form a coherent, cohesive, sublime storytelling package; ideally, they should be watched back-to-back to understand every nuance of the story and the characters, since there is so much depth to them.

Even if you decide to watch it separately, Volume 1 doesn't dissapoint on its own merits. In fact, this is the most entertaining of the two films; it starts off fast and hard and hardly lets up! It focuses a lot less on words and storybuilding, drip-feeding the audience just enough to understand what's going on, before diving headlong into a gory rampage (Volume 2 is the opposite, so if it is dialogue and storytelling you're after, you might want to follow up on the sequel). There are a number of good fight scenes throughout the first hour, but the film's last act is a host for one of the longest and finest fight scenes ever filmed. It starts off with a number of one-on-one engagements, before busting all out with a massive one-vs-fifty brawl. The katana-wielding Bride proves herself to be an invincible heroine, as she hacks and slices her way through an army of enemies, gradually honing in on her ultimate target (who is, of course, a dude named Bill).

If you're wondering what on Earth could warrant such bloodshed, rest assured that the story for "KB" is sound. This first film does a marvelous job of using strong visual imagery, flashbacks, and narrative to establish the groundwork for this revenge plot. You can really get to feel for the character, given all the torment she suffers under the hands of Bill and his assasins; it makes it easy, and dare I say enjoyable, to watch her rise from adversity and get some payback. At its core, the film brings to life some brilliant characters with a solid amount of depth (especially after watching the sequel, which answers a lot of unanswered questions) and lots of personality.

Even by Tarantino standards, "KB" stands as one of the most stylish films made. It features excellent photography, some very unique editing, and plenty of strange artistic effects that help accentuate the film's given style. You can expect plenty of title cards and subtitles flashing across the screen, along with some occasional asides and digressions. One of the most notable stylistic choices will be the anime segment, brought to life by Production IG with a style that's sketchy, but visually impressive and highly detailed. The film overall carries the same tone and style as a 1970s Japanese gangster movie (think "The Executioner"), and it's cool. Acting is impeccible; Uma Thurman puts on her best performance of her career, for she brings the Bride to life in a way that nobody else can (and she endures a lot of heavy physical work in doing so). Lucy Lui plays it cool as the villain, O-Ren Ishii. Cameos by David Carradine and Sonny Chiba don't hurt either. Every other actor fulfills their parts well, no matter how minor. This production as good-looking sets, props, and costumes. The film uses a varied mix of music, including a rockin' live performance by the Japanese band the 5, 6, 7, 8s; it's all pretty darn cool.

Out of the two "KB" films, Volume 1 is my favorite. It represents the ultimate in the type of violent cinema I enjoy: the kind that's so stylish and over-the-top that it's easy to dismiss the morality and brutality of it and just let the film take you on a rip-roaring thrill ride. If you can stomach this, then it comes highly recommended.

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

Recommendation: Yes!

The Blu-Ray suffers some grain and noise, but is still incredibly sharp, detailed, and has impressive color/contrast. Sound quality is wicked!

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5




Note: I thought about watching "KBv2" as well, but decided not to. I just wanted to see the Bride cut some people up again. It goes to show that, even on its own, "KBv1" is still awesome.

You nailed it. I don't think Kill Bill 1 is the best film ever made, but it might be the one I enjoy watching the most. From the opening theme, I just start smiling.

[jvince]

The Bourne Identity (2002)
Slightly better than I remember. Still think they could have found a more convincing Bourne than Matt Damon. I like how the car crashes seem like something that could actually happen in real life.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by jvince

The Bourne Identity (2002)
Slightly better than I remember. Still think they could have found a more convincing Bourne than Matt Damon. I like how the car crashes seem like something that could actually happen in real life.

At least Bourne is in that one

Amazon has the trilogy for $27.99 this week.