The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Foggy]

How can you not like Magic Dance?!?!?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

That's a great pic, it was the one that stood out the most.

As for his

[Show spoiler]cross dressing

, it just felt a bit of an after thought, maybe just to push the runtime further, with not much done with it. I liked how it was revealed later in the film why he was beaten up, but when they'd set it up as a random act from the offset and the reason hidden so blatantly for so long, it just felt like wasted potential to look at another layer of the guy before the incident.

I dont know for sure, of course, but I suspect they delayed it intentionally for strategic reasons. If they had introduced Mark that way in the begining, I bet it would have turned a lot of people off. The way they did it, you first come to know the guy and see that he is a really nice and talented dude, then they reveal that. I also liked how when he went to NYC, he discovered that he wasnt alone, and that people will accept him for who he is. That was a big part of his healing process.

He has a website, http://www.marwencol.com, that shows tons of his photos. It's pretty cool.

He will be having an art show starting December 1st at One Mile Gallery in Kingston, NY. It's his first exhibit since 2010. I wish I could go.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: Horrible Bosses

I'm sure we can all relate to the film's title, if nothing else. The film is worthwhile seeing for the portrayal of the various bosses, each of which present a deplorable nightmare scenario (and one of which is rather shocking, but such shock value will likely lose its potency on repeat viewings imo). Then the characters go about trying to kill them: comedy ensues.

The plot works, but I felt its resolution was a little too neat for its own good.

The film looks good and slick, and has fine and dandy acting/writing.

Like most other comedies today, it's rather vulgar, but still pretty funny. I think this is one of the better modern comedies.

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

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

This Blu-Ray looks and sounds decent.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 4.5/5

Colin Farrel's character was pretty funny, in an over the top scary way.

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Colin Farrel's character was pretty funny, in an over the top scary way.

They are all over exaggerations of the common work place. Jennifer Anistons is more of a twist as that would generally be a male me thinks.

[SquidPuppet]

Prometheus

I feel an overwhelming sense of being underwhelmed.

I saw a ton of awesome images connected to each other. Other than that, it just failed to grab me. I really felt disconnected from the whole experience.

I wont write about acting, editing, VFX, etc. etc. because I really just felt like a spectator of something I had very little interest in.



3/5 Because, while I did not dislike it, I did not enjoy it either.

Pretty useless review, eh? I know, I know.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Prometheus

I feel an overwhelming sense of being underwhelmed.

I saw a ton of awesome images connected to each other. Other than that, it just failed to grab me. I really felt disconnected from the whole experience.

I wont write about acting, editing, VFX, etc. etc. because I really just felt like a spectator of something I had very little interest in.



3/5 Because, while I did not dislike it, I did not enjoy it either.

Pretty useless review, eh? I know, I know.

I was expecting a lengthy diagnostic on the reasoning behind petting alien penis snakes, but nevermind

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Prometheus

I feel an overwhelming sense of being underwhelmed.

I saw a ton of awesome images connected to each other. Other than that, it just failed to grab me. I really felt disconnected from the whole experience.

I wont write about acting, editing, VFX, etc. etc. because I really just felt like a spectator of something I had very little interest in.



3/5 Because, while I did not dislike it, I did not enjoy it either.

Pretty useless review, eh? I know, I know.

Originally Posted by Foggy

I was expecting a lengthy diagnostic on the reasoning behind petting alien penis snakes, but nevermind

I was expecting a thought-provoking exploration of the film's connection to the Prometheus myth and its connections to the Alien mythos and an intense study of humanity's existence in the cosmos and the implications of creationism...but nevermind.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I was expecting a lengthy diagnostic on the reasoning behind petting alien penis snakes, but nevermind

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I was expecting a thought-provoking exploration of the film's connection to the Prometheus myth and its connections to the Alien mythos and an intense study of humanity's existence in the cosmos and the implications of creationism...but nevermind.

I was expecting the film to make me care about such things.

Its effort to be "Deep" didnt come off as heavy as I believe they intended it to. Too mild mannered? Hard to put my finger on what failed.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: The 39 Steps

[Show spoiler]Another fine and dandy Hitchcock thriller; one of his first big ones actually. It's about as entertaining as The Lady Vanishes was; it has a fine mix of entertaining interactions, thrills and action, and maybe a smidgeon of comedy.

In this case, the story is mildly intruiging. I can't say that it really hooked me on this first viewing, but it does have its share of interesting twists and turns.

The film looks good and classy, with fine photography and editing, decent acting and writing, and some cool-looking locales.

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

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

This Criterion Collection Blu-Ray looks...well, hazy, soft, and grainy. The good news is that it is still sharp and detailed at times, and has good contrast levels, but this looks like one of the weaker BDs in the company's catalogue (on the same lines as Island of Lost Souls). Sound quality is not too bad.

PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 4/5

I blind bought this during the Barnes and Noble sale before the latest one, but haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I look forward to it though obviously. I'm just still really backed up on movies.

As far as the PQ, I'm pretty sure it's about the best they had to work with unless they did a really expensive restoration.

Next greatest blind-buy: The Guard

[Show spoiler]It's one of those movies that's very serious, straight-faced, deadpan, but still throws a lot of dry wit and humor at you. Watching this is a bit like a Coen Bros film; not really laugh-out-loud funny, but most of the dialogue and interactions are amusing.

The story for this is fine and dandy. It kinda covers the same ground that many other buddy-cop movies cover, but the characters, settings, and events make it stand out better.

The film looks good, with fine photography/editing, acting/writing, and production values.

It's a good film...I just don't see myself revisiting it that often.

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

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

This Blu-Ray looks and sounds great.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 5/5

Rented this a while back and enjoyed it. I don't know if I'd watch it that often either, but it's still another fine movie made overseas that not a lot of people would probably know about.

Next greatest blind-buy: Horrible Bosses

[Show spoiler]I'm sure we can all relate to the film's title, if nothing else. The film is worthwhile seeing for the portrayal of the various bosses, each of which present a deplorable nightmare scenario (and one of which is rather shocking, but such shock value will likely lose its potency on repeat viewings imo). Then the characters go about trying to kill them: comedy ensues.

The plot works, but I felt its resolution was a little too neat for its own good.

The film looks good and slick, and has fine and dandy acting/writing.

Like most other comedies today, it's rather vulgar, but still pretty funny. I think this is one of the better modern comedies.

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

Recommendation: Sure, why not?

This Blu-Ray looks and sounds decent.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 4.5/5

Blind bought this during last Black Friday and enjoyed it. I've watched it twice and liked it about equal both times. Definitely some solid replay value.

I thought how the ending at the very end of the movie was actually pretty funny and clever. I'm sure you're not talking about that specifically with the resolution though.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Rented this a while back and enjoyed it. I don't know if I'd watch it that often either, but it's still another fine movie made overseas that not a lot of people would probably know about.

Have you watched Submarine?

[dag]

On the whole, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is a very good film. To be honest, it is very much a civics lesson. And in fact, I thought that politics is a major theme throughout. I think the movie deserves credit for not being pedantic or overbearing (well, there are a few moments), but rather, pretty subtle. The script does an excellent job of showing that these men were very aware of the momentous historical importance of their time - the colossal war, their respective presidential, legislative, and military decisions, the extent to which race needed to be addressed.

Daniel Day-Lewis will easily secure an Oscar nomination. He truly is Lincoln on screen; it's a remarkable portrayal.

The movie is lengthy, and I don't agree with all of Spielberg's decisions. But overall, I found Lincoln to be an absorbing and stirring drama.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Have you watched Submarine?

Not yet. I will at some point. I haven't really been able to rent much lately.

[jvince]

Breathless (1960)
dir. Jean-Luc Godard

The Good: Jean Seberg. Some profound lines and ruminations. The revolutionary camera work; some nicely captured scenes.

The Bad: Shallow, unlikable protagonists. The lip rub. The ending. Pretentious (Yes, I said the word).

The Bottom Line: Breathless ultimately feels like a one-and-a-half-hour advertisement for some clothing company. Still, it's worth checking out even if you're not into Godard and French New Wave.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

How can you not like Magic Dance?!?!?

I was almost every time he started singing. I was like WTF was Bowie thinking. This could've been the greatest movie ever (well, for me ) if he sang his classic compositions. His songs in that film were childish, uber-cheesy, and embarrassing, imo.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by jvince

I was almost every time he started singing. I was like WTF was Bowie thinking. This could've been the greatest movie ever (well, for me ) if he sang his classic compositions. His songs in that film were childish, uber-cheesy, and embarrassing, imo.

It's almost as if it was a children's film!

I think The Man Who Fell To Earth will be more your style

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Prometheus

I feel an overwhelming sense of being underwhelmed.

I saw a ton of awesome images connected to each other. Other than that, it just failed to grab me. I really felt disconnected from the whole experience.

I wont write about acting, editing, VFX, etc. etc. because I really just felt like a spectator of something I had very little interest in.



3/5 Because, while I did not dislike it, I did not enjoy it either.

Pretty useless review, eh? I know, I know.

That's a shame because it hit me the opposite way--quite immersive. But I did see it in IMAX 3D.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

That's a shame because it hit me the opposite way--quite immersive. But I did see it in IMAX 3D.

Actually I was frequently thinking about your words while I was watching it.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Comments above. My main issue with Prometheus is it was too ambitious for what it delivered. It tried to be way too deep with that

[Show spoiler]origin of life

premise that it came off as entirely unnecessary. I'm trying to enjoy a sci-fi horror, but now I have to believe

[Show spoiler]these are our creators too?

That "trying to be smart" aspect just didn't work for me.

[Show spoiler]Explain the origin of the Alien sure, but not of humanity's existence.

I really liked the film though. That

[Show spoiler]delivery

scene was unreal!

The bolded portion and your spoilers are the parts that actually made me lose interest. If it werent a sci-fi/fantasy/horror film, I would LOVE that subject. The blend just didnt work for me.

[legendarymatt92]

After hearing good things from a few friends, I decided that maybe it was time to give The Hole a go - after all, the only thing putting me off was the 12 rating and the promise of "moderate" horror. It seemed, to me, to be a pre-teen chiller for those who couldn't handle sophisticated scares; boy, was I wrong. I've been a long-time fan of director Joe Dante (The 'Burbs being one of the most horrendously under-rated horror comedies ever, Gremlins and The Howling being brilliant) and his name on this made it seem worthwhile. It was.

The first thing you notice when the film ends is just how tightly you were clutching the pillow. It really is that creepy; I'm surprised that it is a 12, and was expecting it to be leaning more towards a 15, like it was awarded in Ireland when it was released. It has sustained threat, but not some childish fear - it actually is crafted as an exceptional thriller, and it chilled me constantly (especially the clown doll sequence, for those of you who have seen it). The plot may be slightly recycled -- there are certainly elements of the aforementioned 'Burbs, as well as hints towards other '80s house horrors -- but Dante plays with it well and, although you know how the narrative will unfold, the way you are so emotionally attached to the characters allows the clichéd ending to become more acceptable.
The camera style, as with most Dante films, is frantic and unconventional, which works well with this type of material; the fast zooms, the use of the Dutch angles and the exaggerated camera movements all become stylistic trademarks of his horror movies, which allows them to flourish in a way that another director's work may not. Despite the serious topic, you understand that Dante understands he's in the business of entertainment, and he makes the experience as fun and rewarding as he possibly can.

The only problem, for me, came in the third act when one character enters a world different to his own, and it becomes too contrived and ludicrous for its own good; the scares become minimal just because of the goofy setting, and, although it doesn't ruin the film tonally, it doesn't make sense narratively. It's a very well shot sequence -- I especially liked the lighting -- but it is too much of a surreal change from the creepy, but realistic, aspect we'd been used to for the whole thing thus far. It reminded me a lot of the problem Insidious had in its third act.

On the whole, it's a brilliant and not at all childish horror movie that subverts most of its cliches by the directorial hand guiding it. It's also a lot of fun and the shocks are well worth at least one watch.

8.5/10

[Abdrewes]

Teen Wolf (1985)

Ostensibly, this a coming of age story. What is actually on screen is incompetent and borderline incoherent. Each individual scene makes sense (and entertains) on it's own, but when edited together it becomes a tonally irreverent, genre-hopping farce that begs you to howl a WTF?! at the screen. Conflicts arise and are either dispelled the second they arrive or forgotten all together. Familiar plots are given root to wring drama but are impossible in which to become absorbed. Instead you are sucked in by the sheer exuberance on display.

This film operates similarly to David Lynch's Lost Highway. You'll be lead down new narrative paths as soon as familiarity settles in. Insanity is its modus operandi. Whereas Lost Highway is tonally very dark (but still exuberant), Teen Wolf is brimming with cheap humor, lame gags, laughable special effects, and stock-80's cheese ala John Hughes. The unthoughtful organization of these qualities renders it much more palatable than it would otherwise be as an intelligible drawn out narrative. Depending on your sensibilities, this incoherence will be the final straw in the last ten minutes as it derails into a cheap, genre movie (of which I wont tell & with little warning).

With no prior knowledge, one would assume this film was given a two week window to be edited together after Back to the Future made Michael J.Fox a star. It is this same rushed quality that gives Teen Wolf it's energy and unintentional comedy (to be fair, the Basketball coach appears to be in on the joke)

Recommended for lovers of unabashed 80's cheese and endearingly incompetent filmmaking.

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest rental: Dark Shadows 2012

I've always heard of the original 1966 TV series Dark Shadows, but I never saw it, so I have no idea how it compares with this film. At the very least, I always thought it was weird that they'd make a movie out of this after more than forty years of the TV show's premier.

On its own merits, the film has its moments. Tim Burton's typical gothic aesthetic is applied pretty generously, so the film does have its fair share of darkly fantastic imagery, wicked monsters, and imaginative special effects. There are also occasional moments of amusing comedy. In fact, it comes pretty close to achieving the same effect as the film adaptations of The Addams Family or The Brady Bunch, since all these films took the characters of the original shows and plopped them into modern times to create some really funny scenes. The Dark Shadows film sets out to do the same, and it is successful at times. The problem is, it's never constant, so the film tends to drag in between the funny scenes and the more eventful scenes.

The story for this is not too bad. I've heard that the film crams in entire seasons of the show into its short runtime; fortunately, the film is never rushed, but it feels as though a number of scenes, subplots, and characters are presented without any direct bearing on the main story. Regardless, the film does a fine job of keeping all the plots and characters straight and presentable for the audience. Characters are pretty interesting all around, even if some of them are one-sided or undercooked. A running theme of family helps tie it all together.

The film looks good and slick, with good photography and editing. Acting is not bad; I enjoyed Johnny Depp's eccentricities, and I loved Eva Green's performance. Writing is alright. A good amount of quality sets, props, costumes, and special effects were dispensed effectively. Music is pretty groovy.

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

Recommendation: As a rental.