The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Freekman

Finally got to watch the part of Up that I missed (apparently the most important part, lol). As much as I figured out what I had missed when I watched it a couple days ago, it really added to the emotion seeing those first 10-15 minutes.

[jhiggy23]

The Bicycle Thief (netflix instant)


One of the greatest films of all-time. Easily top 15-20. Enough said.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

however, based on first impressions of Dark City (theatrical cut), i'm giving it a 3/5.

I think this may explain the problem. The theatrical cut is known to be vastly inferior to the DC. Why? I've heard that it includes a narration at the beginning with an entire plot spoiler!!. For this film, that just makes me nauseous. It may also explain your "this is overkill" reaction in the first 15 min (with your experiencing all the scenery, dialogue and plot spoilers. The DC is far superior, IMO, as it doesn't have that narrating spoilers at the beginning. Again, I'm just going on what I've read on blogs and Proyas' commentary, but believe this to be correct.

some scenes he falls weak in, and while we as the audience are supposed to connect with him, i never really felt like i did. mainly because

[Show spoiler]he has powers. he's not like a normal person, which is fine, we can still connect with some characters who have powers (Luke Skywalker or Spider-Man anyone?), but i never felt like i was Murdoch and i was learning with him as the movie progressed - until the way end.

Yeah I understand your point here. I guess I look at Murdoch as

[Show spoiler] not "having" power, but rather being capable of tapping an inner power every human already has (their soul). In other words, he doesn't "have" a super-human power, but is merely able to overcome an obstacle (mind) to access an inner-human power (soul). Everyone else who is being "tuned" are merely unable to tap this inner resource, are slaves to their mind, and hence are easily tweaked by the aliens. Proyas discusses this at the end of the commentary on the blu-ray, by discussing his belief in the soul of man, beyond the mind. From that standpoint, I can relate to Murdoch, as what he has is attainable, if man just seeks it hard enough.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

The Bicycle Thief (netflix instant)


One of the greatest films of all-time. Easily top 15-20. Enough said.

that scene at the end

[Show spoiler] with the boy watching his dad is one of the most emotional i've ever seen!

. agree, one of the greatest.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

that scene at the end

[Show spoiler] with the boy watching his dad is one of the most emotional i've ever seen!

. agree, one of the greatest.

What makes it even better is that the father is not a professional actor. When he puts his head in his hands as the cyclists go by is a timeless scene of intense emotional impact.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Where did you import from? Region free? PQ and AQ?

It's the UK Digibook version, the PQ was pretty good and the AQ was fine. There's a known pitch problem with the 5.1, so I just watched the 2.0 and it sounded fine. It's region A and B locked

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You are a theme seeker, which is very cool. I found the themes to be clear, and powerful.

[Show spoiler]Is cloning OK? There not real people because they are made in a test-tube. As long as we feed them and treat them well, then its OK right?

Or is it?

What are the consequences? To the makers, none really. But are there consequences to the clone and others? Who cares, hes just a clone, and NOT REAL.

But are they not real. To the clone, he feels real. Especially when he is implanted with memories of a family and a home to return to. Those memories create powerful emotions and a yearning to go home (that will never be realized)

There was a REAL Sam. He was the first. He was a real human who signed up for the job. The Company began cloning him befor his tour of duty (3years) was up. He died on the moon (the movie doesnt explain how) and the Company proceeded with the clones.

Consequences to clones? The pain of never going home is REAL to the clone. He suffers. Then he is killed when he begins to wear out, or begins to question things (which seems to be a 3 year cycle). Who gives a crap, right? He is not a real human. He thinks he is. He FEELS real. How much pain does he experience when he realizes that everything he knows is a lie? How much pain does he experience when he finds out he is not REAl and was manufactured?

Consequences to others. When Sam calls home he disrupts the lives of his family (who has tried to move on since the were notified of his death), but Sam sounds real and knows things. Would this cause confusion? Would this cause grief for the family? Did the family know and give permission for the Company to colne Sam? I think not. The company employees that went to the moon were clearly cleaning up and hiding the whole thing.

So, is cloning OK or sinister. I thought the movie did a great job of showing us through Sams eyes that his life felt real. He believed he was real. His suffering was something far beyond what we can ever experience because we are real. His entire life, all 30+ years was stolen from him, right before his eyes, without the courtesy of death.

But he was not real....so who cares....right?

Great thoughts, thanks Squid!

[Show spoiler]
real = uterian-grown baby?

very Dark-City'ish. Murdoch and the others had the same "depression" upon learning that their memories were fake, as Sam's clones did. Seems like "Dark 2001"

I definitely will need to watch this again, its definitely in the "I need repeated viewings to be appreciated" club, like some girls I know

[Diesel]

Watched Aladdin last night.


Probably my second favorite traditionally animated movie behind only Lion King.

Jafar is either my #1 or #2 Disney villain (the other being Scar ).

Robin Williams as the Genie is simply hilarious

And I like the music in the film



And I've decided to take a page out of Squid's playbook with my rating.

Rating - 4.75/5

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

The Deer Hunter is one of the all-time best films. Where exactly I'd rate it, idk. Top 50 for sure. Probably around 30. That being said, I think it's DeNiro's best performance and the first roulette scene, as I've stated many times, I think is the best acting scene of all-time (followed by the cab scene in On The Waterfront).

Agreed, a fantastic film. Walken's hospital scene was amazing, although short. Since I'm young, I've been catching up on a lot of the classics since I've had Netflix, haven't seen On the Waterfront though. I'll have to get that one soon

I'm gonna watch Dr. Strangelove tonight, I'll post back

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Agreed, a fantastic film. Walken's hospital scene was amazing, although short. Since I'm young, I've been catching up on a lot of the classics since I've had Netflix, haven't seen On the Waterfront though. I'll have to get that one soon

I'm gonna watch Dr. Strangelove tonight, I'll post back

[iam1bearcat]

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break

when taking the film as a comedy: 5/5
when taking the film as anything else: 0/5

how some people get jobs as writers in "hollywood", i will never, ever understand. the same goes for actors and actresses. if you ever have a friend, or know someone who goes, "why do straight to dvd releases get crapped on so much?" this is one of the MANY films to show them. absolutely horrid in every sense of the word.

- idiotic / moronic intro? check.
- opening and closing credits done in cartoon work that resembles early 90's Nickelodeon shows? check.
- horrible Jonah Hill wannabe? check.
- atrocious script / acting / directing / story telling? check.
- a story that would make far more sense if made by a 6th grader? check.
and a million other things concerning this trainwreck.

usually i can find one or two redeeming things about a film. not this one.
the story? there is none. if you saw the original Cabin Fever then you know the story and that a flesh eating virus is being spread around. if you've seen Cabin Fever, you will hate this. if you haven't seen Cabin Fever, you will hate this. if you like film at all in any sense of the word, you will hate this. if you enjoy anything that makes you feel good or is a positive way to spend time, you will hate this. the only way you will enjoy this movie is if you enjoy stepping on rusty nails for a living while eating mayonaisse.

nothing makes sense. nothing goes together. no one does anything that seems realistic in any sense of the word, and nothing is explained or covered in the slightest. just writing this review and remembering just how much of a putrid "film" this is makes me want to vomit in my mouth. and that would be better than this film.

0/5

The Descent: Part 2

when compared to Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break, this film is great. but you could compare pubic lice to Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break and that would also be great, so that's not saying much for this film.

I've heard that the studio almost put The Descent: Part 2 in theaters. and with that, it looks better than most direct-to-dvd releases. sure, characters are completely moronic, the script ruins some major moments from the original and the ending erases all of Sarah's redemption with one quick work of a shovel.

the story itself - that Sarah must go back to find her friends with the local prick (i mean "sheriff") and a group of cave dwellers and that she doesn't remember at all what happened is about as idiotic a plot as one could think of. well... other than whoever wrote Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break, that is.

the worst part? (besides the atrocious ending) the creatures seem weaker than they did previously! in the original they were intimidating, tough, relentless and brutal. here, they're still brutal, but they seem much less intimidating and less hostile than last time around. are they tired? are they weakened mentally because they too just watched cabin Fever 2: Spring Break? i have no idea, but there wasn't as many "holy ****! that's nasty!" moments as there was before. usually a sequel tries to up the ante, here, they do not.

and of course, a big complaint and thumbs down to the characters. the original flourished with smart, original and tough female heroines. here? of course, the prick "know it all" MALE cop and a group of random tag alongs. going from a great cast in the original to mundane horror schlop in the sequel is disgusting. makes me appreciate the original that much more.

1/5

[,deeii]

Sherlock Holmes.

Enjoyed this one, pretty good movie.

7,5/10

[tbizzle]

Dr. Strangelove - 4.5/5

I liked this movie a lot, it was pretty funny. Everyone was excellent, and I didn't even realize that Peter Sellers played 3 characters til I read a few reviews after. I'm having fun discovering some of these older actors, I just put Patton, Lolita, The Pink Panther and a few others in my Netflix queue

[Al_The_Strange]

Rented "Following." It has an interesting premise with a decent style (reminds me a bit of a European film). But it really seemed to drag and I couldn't follow it for long. Nothing in the story or characters really grabbed me; I found it rather dull. I'm sure it's stong thematically, but I can't exert any thought processes towards it at this juncture.

Sorry Christopher Nolan, but I like your later work better.

2/5 (entertainment: 1/5, story: 2/5, film: 3.5/5)

[monikaluchi]

Sherk Forever After . I rated the movie 8/10.

[Monolithium]

A Perfect Getaway
3/5

As idiotic as it is fun.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

The Descent: Part 2

when compared to Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break, this film is great. but you could compare pubic lice to Cabin Fever 2: Spring Break and that would also be great, so that's not saying much for this film.

I've heard that the studio almost put The Descent: Part 2 in theaters. and with that, it looks better than most direct-to-dvd releases. sure, characters are completely moronic, the script ruins some major moments from the original and the ending erases all of Sarah's redemption with one quick work of a shovel.

1/5

It did come out in theaters in the UK

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Freekman

Finally got to watch the part of Up that I missed (apparently the most important part, lol). As much as I figured out what I had missed when I watched it a couple days ago, it really added to the emotion seeing those first 10-15 minutes.

Told you so

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

It's the UK Digibook version, the PQ was pretty good and the AQ was fine. There's a known pitch problem with the 5.1, so I just watched the 2.0 and it sounded fine. It's region A and B locked

Thank you.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Great thoughts, thanks Squid!

[Show spoiler]
real = uterian-grown baby?

very Dark-City'ish. Murdoch and the others had the same "depression" upon learning that their memories were fake, as Sam's clones did. Seems like "Dark 2001"

I definitely will need to watch this again, its definitely in the "I need repeated viewings to be appreciated" club, like some girls I know