The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Tony208]

^
Don't know if listed but the worst part has to be where

[Show spoiler] the alien acts like he has morals and doesn't take out a kid at the ball game but proceeds to level a highway, probably killing some kids and families there.

And an alien ship they never met before and they know where to aim their sniper rifles?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Tony208

^
Don't know if listed but the worst part has to be where

[Show spoiler] the alien acts like he has morals and doesn't take out a kid at the ball game but proceeds to level a highway, probably killing some kids and families there.

And an alien ship they never met before and they know where to aim their sniper rifles?

I allllmmmooossst mentioned the random targeting issue (although I did mention the kid standing there in front of the alien ball thing ).

At first, I thought the targeting system was too random. I got that it only targeted threats, highlighting guns and mechanical stuff in red, while leaving defenseless humans alone. I didn't get why they targeted the highways during that one scene, so I thought it was just random. It didn't occur to me until later that they took out the highways so they could isolate the mountain while they took over the satellite array...so that's somewhat smart. Still, it did occur to me that any other alien invasion movie ("ID4," "WotW," and even "Skyline") has the aliens just killing everybody without discrimination, and it's probably more realistic that way.

The sniper thing didn't bother me that much, I just didn't know what they were up to until they did it.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Number 27 on Al's list - Rihanna's dad isn't Liam Neeson you fool

Plus no gay joke of the navy exercise being called Rim Pack, shame on you

Dang, I totally got the female leads mixed up!

I'm not getting the gay joke, especially since RIMPAC seems to be an actual exercise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIMPAC

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Al im in the Navy, imma have fun with this one

Sweet! Good or bad, I hope you enjoy it!

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by Tony208

^
Don't know if listed but the worst part has to be where

[Show spoiler] the alien acts like he has morals and doesn't take out a kid at the ball game but proceeds to level a highway, probably killing some kids and families there.

And an alien ship they never met before and they know where to aim their sniper rifles?

[Show spoiler] They don't attack non-hostile targets. That was shown pretty much from the outset.

The destroying the overpass or what ever was to stop any sort of ground counter attack. makes sense.

Yeah cause it was so hard to figure out where to shoot

Sorry guys but come on. Yes the movie was pure cheese and kind of lame but your picking holes in things which were fine.


The biggest and I mean the absolute biggest problem with this movie is that these so called intelligent life forms didn't bring air power with them.......How freaking stupid is that

[jvince]

Alien (1979)
The sets, the designs (H. R. Giger! ), the special effects, the cinematography, the mood... they're all so... perfect. So many scary looking vaginas and penises. So many glaringly obvious gaffes as well. Overall, the film's still an amazing feat, no matter how many times I've seen it.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Was going to watch Moonrise Kingdom today, but the screening was for Seniors only

Aww... Wtf.

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Another film I have yet to see. Don't worry about giving away the ending though. It actually makes me feel better about watching it because I always prefer the happy ending.

I take it the Blu-ray release is still that cut, correct?

[Show spoiler]Clarence (Slater) gets shot and dies. Alabama (Arquette) drives away with the money. But what I didn't like was the reveal that Alabama never loved Clarence

. It ruined the whole film for me. I'm glad Tarantino didn't get his way. If he made this film himself, it would be one of his worst, imo; not as bad as Death Proof, but it'd be down there.

Originally Posted by Foggy

Bronson

[Show spoiler]Not sure how well you guys know the film, since it's a strange one everyone refers to but has never actually seen But it's the one from that guy with the strange name who directed Drive, with scary as hell Tom Hardy playing th UK's most violent prisoner. That's all you really need to know.

The film has a style so sharp and precise it feels like it's assaulting you. Colours are violently vibrant, cinematography is very distancing but stunning, and a lot of moments are played out in a similar way as a Kubrick or Lynch film. It such a superbly well crafted and directed film, yet it still gets over shadowed by it's lead performance.

Tom Hardy plays the role of Charles Bronson with an elegant balance of enigmatic and completely manic, completely unpredictable in every frame of the film, he's unpleasant, but somehow never unlikable. A lot more could be used to describe how many layers of performance the guy is under and why it's so great, but simply put best, he's just scary as s**t in the film.

And like all great character studies in films, you never really get what's going on inside that characters head, you're just presented with a character who could be anything, is he purely insane, which would be the easiest thing to go with. Is he a product of the working class system within Britian at the time, with a lack of opportunity, was prison his only means of escape? It always leaves the opinion up to you, which could frustrate a few once you reach the end, as it never really tells you anything at the end, other than the events, but personally, it didn't bother me that much.

Put best, I feel Bronson is a film that doesn't walk the line between self-confidents and self-indulgence, it's a film that dances on it.

10/10

I must admit, for a good while, I assumed this movie was about the Death Wish actor.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by jvince

Aww... Wtf.

I must admit, for a good while, I assumed this movie was about the Death Wish actor.

I know Apparently the other cinema that's close to me is getting it soon, I'm not sure for how long though, or if I'm going to still be in Blackpool when it arrives

And also, they do make reference to Death Wish in the film, it's pretty funny

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I know Apparently the other cinema that's close to me is getting it soon, I'm not sure for how long though, or if I'm going to still be in Blackpool when it arrives

Hope you finally get to see it soon.

Originally Posted by Foggy

And also, they do make reference to Death Wish in the film, it's pretty funny

I'll have to see Death Wish first then. I like Drive and Hardy, so I'm putting this on my watchlist.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

[Show spoiler]Clarence (Slater) gets shot and dies. Alabama (Arquette) drives away with the money. But what I didn't like was the reveal that Alabama never loved Clarence

. It ruined the whole film for me. I'm glad Tarantino didn't get his way. If he made this film himself, it would be one of his worst, imo; not as bad as Death Proof, but it'd be down there.

Wow, that spoiler really sucks. I don't get some directors fascination with having to have

[Show spoiler]depressing endings for some films only for the sake of not having a happy ending.

I would have been pissed.

I think you missed this question, but I take it the better cut is the one that is on the Blu-ray release, correct?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I'm not getting the gay joke,
:

[P@t_Mtl]

Zookeeper (2011)

I know, I know, everyone dislike this movie but what can I say, I like it. I really don't dislike Kevin James that much. I am not sure why but I usually enjoy his movies as silly as they are. Of course the weirdest part of this movies are not the CGI talking animals but more that a woman like Rosario Dawson would fall for a guy like Kevin James . In any case I don't make excuses, I like this movie, find it funny and I enjoyed seeing it

[Foggy]

Headhunters

First of, I can tell that some people would really like the film, the storyline is great, it has a perfect build up of dramatic escalation, a decent double bluff twist and very competently made with some decent acting, grisly details and some rather strange dark humour.

But the main character is a complete slimy weasel, he starts of the film by stealing pieces of art to spend on his wife, cheating on her, and complaining about how tall he is. Sure his character development is fine, but he's not a partially engrossing or charismatic character for the audience to root for, considering all the nasty stuff he gets into. Maybe the point is that we're supposed to dislike him and for him to learn his lesson, but at the end he

[Show spoiler]gets away with quite literal murder amongst many other things

.

The film is completely morally backwards, along with its grim sense of humour, it's quite an uncomfortable watch in some areas. The film seems to relish in it's punishment of it's main character, yet at the end he gets away plain and clear although doing even worse stuff than he did at the start, for the only reason that the other guy was badder than him. If the film doesn't care for it's main character enough, then why didn't they try to make him more likable, give him a motive, not just some dozy git trying to make a quick buck.

[Show spoiler]And no, I don't quite believe that he planned out the entire film like the film tries to make you believe at the end

.

Some people will be able to look past all this and some won't. To those who can, you'll probably really love the film, it's genuinely tense film with some great twists and turns. I guess the only genuine fault is that you can tell it's a script that directly lifts pages into the film, a guy who complains about his height in the first few minutes of the film in his voice over is such a novel feeling thing to have in a film.

To those who believe they'll be like me and will struggle to get invested because of the characters, well you already know to avoid.

5/10

Tomorrow's film should be Dame Jason Von Statham film

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Dang, I totally got the female leads mixed up!

I'm not getting the gay joke, especially since RIMPAC seems to be an actual exercise:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIMPAC



Sweet! Good or bad, I hope you enjoy it!

no matter how pathetic it is im probably gonna like it simply because its a navy movie. I've already heard my co workers talk about how in accurate it is but i wanna see it myself lol.

[P@t_Mtl]

The Rise Of Catherine The Great (1934)

The movie itself if of course set in his time, do not expect a modern historical drama. It's a child of the 30's for all it's qualities and what not. While not as interesting as The Private Life Of Henry The VII, the story is still interesting. The acting is where I had more problem with this one. Douglas Fairbanks Jr is very good in the role of Grand Dule Peter. Where I had a problem (which does not help since it's the main character of the story) was with Elisabeth Bergner as Catherine. For me she was not very convincing and she seem for most of the movie as badly cast, she just does not fit as Catherine The Great. It reminded me of when they cast Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, seem like a good idea on the moment only to find out after, maybe not. The DVD while not perfect is quite adaquate and Criterion did a good job on the transfert. Overall I enjoyed it if not as much as I would hope for. Recommended only for those curious in the work of Korda or for these types of old historical drama

[jvince]

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
The weakest entry in what is a very mediocre cash cow; it's completely mind-boggling how the series has grossed over half a billion dollars to date. Abby (the dog) is cool. Ali (the daughter) is hot. Everything else -- just a whole bunch of meh. Even worse, they ripped off the ending of the vastly superior found footage horror film, [REC].

[jvince]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Wow, that spoiler really sucks. I don't get some directors fascination with having to have

[Show spoiler]depressing endings for some films only for the sake of not having a happy ending.

I would have been pissed.

I think you missed this question, but I take it the better cut is the one that is on the Blu-ray release, correct?

The blu-ray should be Tony Scott's version. The Tarantino Cut I watched is a fan edit based on the original screenplay.

They're having a screening of this later here in LA, with Tarantino and Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko) as special guests! I wanted some tickets but I was too late.

Originally Posted by Foggy

Headhunters

[Show spoiler]First of, I can tell that some people would really like the film, the storyline is great, it has a perfect build up of dramatic escalation, a decent double bluff twist and very competently made with some decent acting, grisly details and some rather strange dark humour.

But the main character is a complete slimy weasel, he starts of the film by stealing pieces of art to spend on his wife, cheating on her, and complaining about how tall he is. Sure his character development is fine, but he's not a partially engrossing or charismatic character for the audience to root for, considering all the nasty stuff he gets into. Maybe the point is that we're supposed to dislike him and for him to learn his lesson, but at the end he

[Show spoiler]gets away with quite literal murder amongst many other things

.

The film is completely morally backwards, along with its grim sense of humour, it's quite an uncomfortable watch in some areas. The film seems to relish in it's punishment of it's main character, yet at the end he gets away plain and clear although doing even worse stuff than he did at the start, for the only reason that the other guy was badder than him. If the film doesn't care for it's main character enough, then why didn't they try to make him more likable, give him a motive, not just some dozy git trying to make a quick buck.

[Show spoiler]And no, I don't quite believe that he planned out the entire film like the film tries to make you believe at the end

.

Some people will be able to look past all this and some won't. To those who can, you'll probably really love the film, it's genuinely tense film with some great twists and turns. I guess the only genuine fault is that you can tell it's a script that directly lifts pages into the film, a guy who complains about his height in the first few minutes of the film in his voice over is such a novel feeling thing to have in a film.

To those who believe they'll be like me and will struggle to get invested because of the characters, well you already know to avoid.

5/10

I hated this movie. One of the worst this year for me (along with Underworld and God Bless America). I don't know what critics see in this. Unlikable protagonist + basic Hollywood cat-and-mouse formula + some sick shit to stand out = this garbage. way down.

[BladeRunner2007]

The Evil Dead 5/5

Simply one of the best horror films of all time. Timeless classic!

Resident Evil: Apocalypse 4/5

The best RE film imo. Love it.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

Resident Evil: Apocalypse 4/5

The best RE film imo. Love it.

Same here.

[Al_The_Strange]

“Kick-Ass”

“Come on, be honest with yourself. At some point in our lives we all wanna be a superhero.” – Aaron Johnson

For the past hundred years, superhero lore has emerged as a type of modern day mythology, depicting these fantastic tales of romanticized vigilantism where all the heroes have some kind of incredible power and they use it for the greater good. But let’s be serious: there is no such thing as a real superhero. In this day and age, however, some people have been inspired by the comics and films and have taken to the streets, dressed in costumes, to fight crime and help the communities.

In light of this, “Kick-Ass” is a story that eschews the fantasy and candidly faces the facts. This is not a world where people like Batman, Superman, the X-Men, or whoever can save the day and get the girl completely unscathed. Nor is it a world where everything is a concrete black-and-white good-vs-evil affair. Crimes happen and people often just look on without bothering to intervene. Real heroes get the snot beaten out of them, and can even die; there is no invincibility, only vulnerabilities. The film shows all of this straight-up, approaching the subject of masked vigilantism in a light that’s far more realistic than most other superhero films to date (a few other good contenders being “Super” and “Watchmen”).

However, this film is not all about the realism. In fact, realism in superhero lore is just something the film harps on sarcastically. The film has its share of crazy action, extreme violence, and includes some scenes that are just too crazy to happen in real life. The film is also quite the comedy, loaded up with funny lines and situations that are so sad that they’re funny (or just plain funny). It pulls a lot of punches, delivering a shock and awe style of entertainment that will likely offend the most sensitive and conservative of viewers (this film will likely be forever notorious for showcasing an eleven-year-old girl cutting people up and cursing like an adult: you have been warned!). At the same time, the film is colorful and upbeat, contrasting heavily with the messed-up violence and situations; the poignant combination of light and dark is part of what makes the film so funny, so provocative, and so thrilling.

No matter how offensive or unbelievable things get, the story still matters, and it is quite strong. With the premise mentioned above, it does invoke some thought concerning masked vigilantism. It also ties in with the character and helps weave a tale of the characters’ origins. The film follows the comic pretty closely, with only a few liberties taken (including an alternate take on the love interest, which I find better in the film than in the comic).

The film is certainly stylish, with quality photography and unique editing effects. There is one scene I find quite erratic with its use of strobe lighting, but it is mercifully short. Acting is good: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Nicholas Cage, and Mark Strong all fulfill their respective roles really well. Exceptional praise goes to Chloe Moretz, whose performance for Hit Girl shows remarkable physical aptitude and skillful nuance (in addition to putting up with the vulgar script). Writing is not bad, cursing and all. This is one of those movies that looks more expensive than it is; all of the sets, props, and costumes look snazzy, with just a few weak spots. There is a plethora of interesting musical choices in this film, and they all help in the experience.

While I find that the vast majority of superhero films entertain one way or another, “Kick-Ass” is a one-of-a-kind feature that entertains by shattering the standard conventions and smacking the viewers upside the head. Chances are that some of you viewers will find this distasteful; if you are easily offended, then you should probably avoid this film like the plague. For most everybody else, it comes recommended!

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

Recommendation: Watch it mother-f*$%^er!!!

This Blu-Ray’s quality totally kicks ass!

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 5/5

[Foggy]

Consider me pleased

Reminds me of the good old days, when I made my friend completely sick and tired of hearing me talk about how excited, and when it came out, I managed to get about 15 - 20 people to go, and they all loved it completely. They never argued with my judgement again (up until Scott Pilgrim, it was mixed, many loved it, others who I no longer talk to didn't).

It was just such a pump of energy. Maybe because I was finally seeing the film for real, maybe because that final half hour is such kick. Man I wish I was that excited for the sequel