The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

You guys took forever. Im done with Amadeus and i wasnt really impressed, i mean the music was AMAZING but the story i could care less really. The movie wasnt bad, it was just missing somethin...... Ill still give it 3.5/5 for its presentation. It had very powerful moments directly related to the music. It was music to my ears and nothing more. Immortal Beloved is way better than this film. I know thats a personal preference but i think i get attached to movies that are personal. They need to make a real movie about Mozart and why his music is so moving and what drives him. Not 3hrs of a guys that hates his brains and does everything to stop him from succeeding. Thats just my take.

Music A++++
Movie C+

That's what I liked about it. At least you liked the music.

[Al_The_Strange]

So Monday, my last greatest rental was "Blue Velvet."

It is indeed "normal" to an extent. I found it actually surprising that there were actual characters on screen doing normal character stuff and there was an actual semblance of a plot.

Still wasn't much of a plot imo, especially for something that looks like a film noir mystery. The mystery lasts for maybe the first twenty minutes, then the rest is just watching everybody put up with this ultraviolent jerkwad of a dude. Lots of yelling, screaming, and weird sex ensues. Upon reading the offical site review here, I can see the interesting theme of surface-level-vs-ugliness-beneath-the-surface.

To be fair, it is a good film. It is well-filmed and has decent acting. Nothing wrong with the production value or the music. Really, I can't fault it for anything. It's just not something that'll stick with me. For a change, I might have actually preferred it more if it was weirder.

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

Recommendation: It's worth a look.

[Al_The_Strange]

Last night, I finally got around to another blind-buy: "King of New York."

Why did I get this? Becuase it came in a really nice Steelbook!

The movie itself is a pretty slick gangsta flick. Certainly plenty violent with lots of shootouts and car chases and stuff. It's gotten somewhat cheesy and outdated by today's standards, and despite the film's style it's not quite as distinctive as established classics in the genre. Still, it's not bad, and fans of this genre would probably dig it pretty well.

The story seems pretty light and straightforward: guy gets out of jail, runs the streets, fighting and lots of nightclubbing ensues.

The film has some really cool-looking shots, but most of it is pretty dark, kinda plain, with lots of really ghetto settings. Acting is great: Christopher Walken actually acts here , and makes for a truly menacing gangster. The rest of the cast is impressive: Laurence Fishbourne, Steve Buscemi, and Wesley Snipes all appear with decent performances. Writing is alright. This production looks alright. Music is really hip.

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

Recommendation: For fans of gangster films.

As I understand it, the US Blu-Ray doesn't fare that well. This UK edition looks good; close to perfect at times. There may be some grain and noise, and colors tend to be really washed out with bright whites and blues, but I suspect that's a source limitation. Sharpness, details, and clarity is quite pleasing. Can't say the same for sound quality though; it seems very airy and noisy to me, with dialogue that's somewhat hard to hear.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 2.5/5

This import is region-locked.

[jvince]

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
dir. Billy Wilder

The Good: The cinematography by John F. Seitz (Double Indemnity) is absolutely in-f*cking-credible. The atmosphere, the lighting, the framing, the angles, the camera movements... they're all perfect. Masterful direction by Billy Wilder. Unforgettable performances by Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich von Stroheim. Flawless screenplay. Voice-over heavy, but it works. And the final act... it just doesn't get any better than that.

The Bad: Lags just a teeny bit in the middle.

The Bottom Line: It has been 62 years since its release, yet Sunset Boulevard still remains very relevant and resonant to this day. A true cinematic classic. Highly recommended not only for film noir buffs but for lovers of film in general.

[Foggy]

Dog Day Afternoon

One hell of an intense film carried over 2 hours long by an awesome performance from Pacino.

The thing that makes the film work so well is it's consistent nudging and winking, everything seems to go too well, you as the viewer knows it, the film definitely knows it, and, to a certain degree, the characters themselves know it. As a bank heist film, you know the huge bomb is going to drop and things begin to snow ball and escalate, but you never know when.

The film would begin to get tedious if it continued along with this constantly, so it makes sure it knows to reveal stuff about it's characters as they happen. The screenplay allows a drip feed of information about the main characters motive/s and reveal more about his life. Along with that, we get the aspect that the film directly tricks you into believing one thing is going to happen and then taking a direct U-turn.

Any problems I have with the film are just nit picks and can easily be overlooked. It's a great film!

10/10

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Dog Day Afternoon

One hell of an intense film carried over 2 hours long by an awesome performance from Pacino.

The thing that makes the film work so well is it's consistent nudging and winking, everything seems to go too well, you as the viewer knows it, the film definitely knows it, and, to a certain degree, the characters themselves know it. As a bank heist film, you know the huge bomb is going to drop and things begin to snow ball and escalate, but you never know when.

The film would begin to get tedious if it continued along with this constantly, so it makes sure it knows to reveal stuff about it's characters as they happen. The screenplay allows a drip feed of information about the main characters motive/s and reveal more about his life. Along with that, we get the aspect that the film directly tricks you into believing one thing is going to happen and then taking a direct U-turn.

Any problems I have with the film are just nit picks and can easily be overlooked. It's a great film!

10/10

Yep, it's part of my 100 movies series. One of the best heist films I have seen.

[P@t_Mtl]

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

A first time viewing for me. As I mention yesterday I wasn't that much of a fan of the first movie after seeing it in 1985 so I never bothered seeing the two sequels back then. While the first movie was alright this second movie is just a mess I find. Sure it's a movie but I hate how they so alter the character of people base on one single event. Marty is a total jack @ss in the future because of one single event and this is repeated over and over for each character in the story. Sure certain events are important in our lives but they don't change completetly who we are to the point we are not even the same person anymore. I think the story just went too far with and it did not work for me.

Will finish part three tomorrow.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

That's what I liked about it. At least you liked the music.

Yeah i listen to that Soundtrack 3 times already. Mozart was nice.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Some good news, my rental service just send me The Artist, been dying to see this one for a while now. Should be here in the next few days.

Did you see it in the theater, or will this be your first time?

I bet $1,437,298.00 that you will LOVE it.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by al_the_strange

so monday, my last greatest rental was "blue velvet."

[Show spoiler]it is indeed "normal" to an extent. I found it actually surprising that there were actual characters on screen doing normal character stuff and there was an actual semblance of a plot.

Still wasn't much of a plot imo, especially for something that looks like a film noir mystery. The mystery lasts for maybe the first twenty minutes, then the rest is just watching everybody put up with this ultraviolent jerkwad of a dude. Lots of yelling, screaming, and weird sex ensues. Upon reading the offical site review here, i can see the interesting theme of surface-level-vs-ugliness-beneath-the-surface.

To be fair, it is a good film. It is well-filmed and has decent acting. Nothing wrong with the production value or the music. Really, i can't fault it for anything. It's just not something that'll stick with me.

for a change, i might have actually preferred it more if it was weirder.

Ha ha ha.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
dir. Billy Wilder

[Show spoiler]

The Good: The cinematography by John F. Seitz (Double Indemnity) is absolutely in-f*cking-credible. The atmosphere, the lighting, the framing, the angles, the camera movements... they're all perfect. Masterful direction by Billy Wilder. Unforgettable performances by Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich von Stroheim. Flawless screenplay. Voice-over heavy, but it works. And the final act... it just doesn't get any better than that.

The Bad: Lags just a teeny bit in the middle.

The Bottom Line: It has been 62 years since its release, yet Sunset Boulevard still remains very relevant and resonant to this day. A true cinematic classic. Highly recommended not only for film noir buffs but for lovers of film in general.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Did you see it in the theater, or will this be your first time?

I bet $1,437,298.00 that you will LOVE it.

First time seeing it! I am sure will enjoy it as well, been a fan of Jean Dujardin for years

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest rental: "My Neighbor Totoro"

It's so freaking cute!

In fact...it's almost too cute, with the happy sappy music, the little kids screaming all the time, and the whole family drama thing. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was watching a little kid's movie. Eventually, the usual Miyazaki charm sunk in, but I do wish there were more scenes with the cute fuzzy forest spirit things. They were kinda weird though; they look so happy and benevolent, but their wide toothy grins and their vicious roars contrast a lot with their behavior and appearance. Totoro is kinda scary.

The story felt pretty unsubstantial to me. Conflict is practically nonexistent, so the plot structure is weak. It does a fine job with the characters, but I feel that most other Miyazaki/Ghibli films have similar characteristics with better stories. The best that can be said...is that it's really freaking cute!

Animation is swell, voice acting is silly, I hated the music, but the art design looks great. You know the drill.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
dir. Billy Wilder

[Show spoiler]

The Good: The cinematography by John F. Seitz (Double Indemnity) is absolutely in-f*cking-credible. The atmosphere, the lighting, the framing, the angles, the camera movements... they're all perfect. Masterful direction by Billy Wilder. Unforgettable performances by Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich von Stroheim. Flawless screenplay. Voice-over heavy, but it works. And the final act... it just doesn't get any better than that.

The Bad: Lags just a teeny bit in the middle.

The Bottom Line: It has been 62 years since its release, yet Sunset Boulevard still remains very relevant and resonant to this day. A true cinematic classic. Highly recommended not only for film noir buffs but for lovers of film in general.

Really looking forward to the Blu-ray release so I can watch this for the first time.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

A first time viewing for me. As I mention yesterday I wasn't that much of a fan of the first movie after seeing it in 1985 so I never bothered seeing the two sequels back then. While the first movie was alright this second movie is just a mess I find. Sure it's a movie but I hate how they so alter the character of people base on one single event. Marty is a total jack @ss in the future because of one single event and this is repeated over and over for each character in the story. Sure certain events are important in our lives but they don't change completetly who we are to the point we are not even the same person anymore. I think the story just went too far with and it did not work for me.

Will finish part three tomorrow.

I'm technically not agreeing with you since I love the whole trilogy, but unlike popular opinion, Part II is actually my least favorite of the three. It's possible that part of that was due to the fact that I watched it so close to the first one when I watched my copy of the Blu-ray trilogy

[Show spoiler]since it repeats some of the first movie

, but I'd have to guess it's always been like that since this wasn't the first time I had seen them.

I hope you enjoy the third one. It's a decent amount of people's least favorite, but I think the western aspect of it was pretty entertaining. Silly, sure, but entertaining.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

I'm technically not agreeing with you since I love the whole trilogy, but unlike popular opinion, Part II is actually my least favorite of the three. It's possible that part of that was due to the fact that I watched it so close to the first one when I watched my copy of the Blu-ray trilogy

[Show spoiler]since it repeats some of the first movie

, but I'd have to guess it's always been like that since this wasn't the first time I had seen them.

I hope you enjoy the third one. It's a decent amount of people's least favorite, but I think the western aspect of it was pretty entertaining. Silly, sure, but entertaining.

I just feel like they went to far with the alteration of each personality based on one single event. It really does not work like that, each character is completetly different person after each "event changer". It just did not work for me, felt it was just silly.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest rental: "My Neighbor Totoro"

It's so freaking cute!

In fact...it's almost too cute, with the happy sappy music, the little kids screaming all the time, and the whole family drama thing. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was watching a little kid's movie. Eventually, the usual Miyazaki charm sunk in, but I do wish there were more scenes with the cute fuzzy forest spirit things. They were kinda weird though; they look so happy and benevolent, but their wide toothy grins and their vicious roars contrast a lot with their behavior and appearance. Totoro is kinda scary.

The story felt pretty unsubstantial to me. Conflict is practically nonexistent, so the plot structure is weak. It does a fine job with the characters, but I feel that most other Miyazaki/Ghibli films have similar characteristics with better stories. The best that can be said...is that it's really freaking cute!

Animation is swell, voice acting is silly, I hated the music, but the art design looks great. You know the drill.

3.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I just feel like they went to far with the alteration of each personality based on one single event. It really does not work like that, each character is completetly different person after each "event changer". It just did not work for me, felt it was just silly.

I think it's been about a year since I watched the trilogy, so could you refresh my memory as to what the event was that you have such a problem with? Was it Marty

[Show spoiler]crashing his car?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

I think it's been about a year since I watched the trilogy, so could you refresh my memory as to what the event was that you have such a problem with? Was it Marty

[Show spoiler]crashing his car?

Some of the stuff that don't work for me for which I think they just go too far that it become silly

- Biff get's one punch in the mouth and when we see him 25 years later he is now a exact copy of George Mcfly at 17? Wow that one single events turn's him into a nerd. I can see why things would change from that moment but to the point of becoming a different person, really?

- Marty as a accident because he hate's being called a chicken. So he become's a weak simple minded fool ready to follow anyone, as no more backbone and is so different from who he really is he's like a different person.

I get that we change over time as experiences and life goes on. However in these movies, the characters do not change, they become extremely different characters due to each event. Life does not work like this. Like I said I know it's just three movies and I get why they did that, for dramatic effects, it just does not work for me. I find it silly.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

[lDlisturb3d]

Im a idiot. I guess it didnt sink the first time. But Amadeus is an AMAZING movie. No wonder i wanted to watch it again so bad. I said the music was powerful but the movie is the music. Its ok, im still learning. Off to work but im going to watch it again this week. 3X in one week is rough for a 3 hour movie.