The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Originally Posted by Foggy

A glowing recommendation from you = hyped as hell Friday can't come soon enough!!!!

Don't wanna overhype it. It was lots of fun though.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by jvince

Don't wanna overhype it. It was lots of fun though.

That's all I need.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

That's all I need.

Cool. Hope you enjoy it.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by jvince

Pacific Rim (2013)
dir. Guillermo del Toro

[Show spoiler]

The Good: Ridiculously awesome action sequences. All the battle scenes with Gipsy Danger are just jaw-dropping, "wow-holy-crap-what-is-this-epic-wizardry-I'm-witnessing" type of shit. Plus, all are well-lit and shot without the shakycam. (Wait, so it's actually possible to shoot action scenes without going full Parkinson's? You don't say...) Assured direction by Guillermo del Toro. Refreshingly vibrant and colorful cinematography by Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth). Spot-on ensemble cast, with standouts being Charlie Day (as the neurotic mad scientist, Newt), Rinko Kikuchi (as the cute but tough co-pilot, Mako), and Ron Perlman (as the shady Kaiju dealer, Hannibal). Even the little girl who plays young Mako is pretty good. Those who are saying the acting sucks either haven't watched any mecha anime or are just plain nuts. The performances work, period. Impressive mix of realistic practical effects and top-notch CGI. Excellent sound effects. Rocking soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones). Outstanding 3D post-conversion. New and fascinating sci-fi terminologies such as 'drifting,' 'neural handshake,' and 'chasing the rabbit.' I like how the robots, called Jaegers, are these flawed, lumbering pieces of metal with limited range of motion. It makes them feel truly massive and believable. The explanation of the origin of the Kaijus is also a nice little Miyazaki-esque twist. "Let's check for a pulse." "The kaiju wants the little dude!" "Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!"

The Bad: A few nitpicks. Story is by-the-numbers. Characters are basic (but the writers make up for that with the great relationship-building between its protagonists). (I also noticed the dialogue is a little hard to hear at times, but that could be either the theater's fault -- which I highly doubt -- or I'm just going deaf, which I hope is not the case.)

The Bottom Line: Finally, this summer's first, legitimately fun blockbuster. Better late than never. Pacific Rim is an audiovisual assault on the senses. Flies will breed in your mouth and collective orgasms shall be had (unless you're one of those snobby, cynical a*sholes that hate well-executed movie magic). Mr. del Toro, you can take all my money. Make as many sequels as you want. This is the robot movie you've all been dreaming of. Michael Bay, take note. Recommended.

Wait... What? You actually liked something!?

Really looking forward to seeing this soon.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

Pacific Rim (2013)

[Show spoiler]dir. Guillermo del Toro

[Show spoiler]

The Good: Ridiculously awesome action sequences. All the battle scenes with Gipsy Danger are just jaw-dropping, "wow-holy-crap-what-is-this-epic-wizardry-I'm-witnessing" type of shit. Plus, all are well-lit and shot without the shakycam. (Wait, so it's actually possible to shoot action scenes without going full Parkinson's? You don't say...) Assured direction by Guillermo del Toro. Refreshingly vibrant and colorful cinematography by Guillermo Navarro (Pan's Labyrinth). Spot-on ensemble cast, with standouts being Charlie Day (as the neurotic mad scientist, Newt), Rinko Kikuchi (as the cute but tough co-pilot, Mako), and Ron Perlman (as the shady Kaiju dealer, Hannibal). Even the little girl who plays young Mako is pretty good. Those who are saying the acting sucks either haven't watched any mecha anime or are just plain nuts. The performances work, period. Impressive mix of realistic practical effects and top-notch CGI. Excellent sound effects. Rocking soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones). Outstanding 3D post-conversion. New and fascinating sci-fi terminologies such as 'drifting,' 'neural handshake,' and 'chasing the rabbit.' I like how the robots, called Jaegers, are these flawed, lumbering pieces of metal with limited range of motion. It makes them feel truly massive and believable. The explanation of the origin of the Kaijus is also a nice little Miyazaki-esque twist. "Let's check for a pulse." "The kaiju wants the little dude!" "Today, we are canceling the apocalypse!"

The Bad: A few nitpicks. Story is by-the-numbers. Characters are basic (but the writers make up for that with the great relationship-building between its protagonists). (I also noticed the dialogue is a little hard to hear at times, but that could be either the theater's fault -- which I highly doubt -- or I'm just going deaf, which I hope is not the case.)

The Bottom Line: Finally, this summer's first, legitimately fun blockbuster. Better late than never. Pacific Rim is an audiovisual assault on the senses. Flies will breed in your mouth and collective orgasms shall be had (unless you're one of those snobby, cynical a*sholes that hate well-executed movie magic). Mr. del Toro, you can take all my money. Make as many sequels as you want. This is the robot movie you've all been dreaming of. Michael Bay, take note. Recommended.

Do they explain why the robots require two men working in tandem to operate them?

[jvince]

Red (2010)
dir. Robert Schwentke

The Good: A nice, fun mix of action and comedy topped with an extra heaping of badassery. Delightful ensemble cast -- you got Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Cox, Richard Dreyfuss, and the late, great Ernest Borgnine all in one movie -- that's like a f*cking dream cast come to reality right there. Parker and Malkovich steal the show as the comic reliefs. Fittingly playful score by Christopher Beck that's reminiscent of David Holmes' work in the Ocean's trilogy. Decent replay value.

The Bad: The movie drags at certain points. Karl Urban feels kind of miscast here.

The Bottom Line: There's still some untapped potential in this franchise. They already got a brilliant premise and a pitch-perfect core of actors. Now, all they need to do is improve on this film's faults, and here's hoping the upcoming sequel does just that. Worth a watch.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Wait... What? You actually liked something!?

Really looking forward to seeing this soon.

Lol... It's been a while since I saw a really good film at the theaters.

Hope you enjoy it.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[/SPOILER]

Do they explain why the robots require two men working in tandem to operate them?

That's actually one of the things I loved about the film.

It's not really a spoiler because it's explained in the opening minutes, but I spoiler tagged it anyway in case the others don't wanna know:

[Show spoiler]You need two people to pilot one Jaeger because it is too much for a single brain to control. So, one pilot acts as the left hemisphere and the other acts as the right hemisphere. The two pilots must also be compatible with one another because in order for the Jaeger to work properly, they must first do this process called a "drift" which syncs the two together and makes them one. It is dangerous to focus on a traumatic memory while drifting because this causes the pilot to "chase the rabbit" and get stuck in that memory, kinda like in Inception.

[Abdrewes]

Illumination Entertainment, a subsidiary of Universal Studios, returns with their fourth production, a sequel to the half a billion dollar hit in Despicable Me. With more antics, more minions, and a faster pace, Despicable Me 2 should prove to be a hit among younger audiences.

Picking up where the first film left off, Felonious Gru (Steve Carell again channeling the vocal inflections of Bela Lugosi) is now managing a household with three bug-eyed girls—Margo, Edith and Agnes. Having foregone a life of crime, specifically moon theft, he is a fully committed and affectionate adoptive father. Proof of his rehabilitation lies in the scenes of corralling the wants of a blossoming teenager, organizing a princess-themed birthday party for his youngest girl (despite a minion magic show gone awry with the inclusion of chainsaws), and maintaining an upstanding position in suburbia. Parenting is a challenge, but one with its own set of rewards for the more jovial Gru.

However, his metamorphosis also happens to come with a few professional set backs. His long time gadget man, the Michael Berryman (of The Hills Have Eyes fame) dead ringer in Dr. Nefario, is given the "21 Fart Gun salute" after accepting a lucrative criminal position else where. Further, after the abduction of an Arctic laboratory by a turbine-powered red magnet, Gru is recruited by Silas Ramsbottom, head of the Anti-Villain League, to help dismantle the world domination plot. The PX-41 mutant chemical compound, now in the hands of a depraved malefactor, poses great threat to the compositional stability of mankind (and minion-kind).

That the investigation leads them to a regional mall, one christened 'Paradise' no less, is not surprising. Anyone whom has frequented social media sites, sat through television commercials, or arrived on time at the cinema—I cannot even place a number on how many times I have seen the minions attempt to screw in a lightbulb in the 'Stars are Brighter' Cinemark 3D advertisement—knows Despicable Me 2 is coming. Hearing throngs of children emulating minion babble ("bee-do-bee-do," "bomelo?") on the way to their, I realized that the marketing campaign had not only done its trick, but has established a viable business model for the infant studio. With a December 2014 release date for a spinoff/prequel entitled Minions, we will be seeing more of those goggle and jean overall wearing yellow monsters for the foreseeable future.

As crassly commercial as that may sound, it actually comes as a sigh of relief. Hearing the minions yam harmoniously and watching them levy madcap mayhem has always been the chief source of delight in the series. Thus, I am thankful Illumination is in tune with this as their team of talented animators seem to have taken great pleasure dallying with their defining traits of a host of minion variants.

Minion androgyny, which was only a superficial detail in the first film, is now emphasized by a radical margin. Dressing them up in chambermaid outfits, frilly dresses, coconut bras and grass skirts is played for decent comic effect. Just as apparent are the brief anthropomorphic flashes that not only include the minions repeating English words, but a "Ten" style montage where Dave, the lead two eyed minion, fantasizes about spending intimate Summer hours with agent Lucy.

Sure, Despicable Me 2 is not trying to reinvent the animated wheel nor does it capitalize on the Jacques Tati inspired lunacy, it should suffice as bright, undemanding fun for your young ones. Even without the cross-generational appeal of the better Pixar films, it whirs by lightly enough to pass the time for even the most stern patrons. So don't be surprised if you find yourself singing the lyrics to Pharrell Williams "Fun, Fun, Fun" afterwards.

½

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

Lol... It's been a while since I saw a really good film at the theaters.

Hope you enjoy it.



That's actually one of the things I loved about the film.

It's not really a spoiler because it's explained in the opening minutes, but I spoiler tagged it anyway in case the others don't wanna know:

[Show spoiler]You need two people to pilot one Jaeger because it is too much for a single brain to control. So, one pilot acts as the left hemisphere and the other acts as the right hemisphere. The two pilots must also be compatible with one another because in order for the Jaeger to work properly, they must first do this process called a "drift" which syncs the two together and makes them one. It is dangerous to focus on a traumatic memory while drifting because this causes the pilot to "chase the rabbit" and get stuck in that memory, kinda like in Inception.

Ok then, it is complete, utter, 100% illogical and irrational bullshit then. Just as I suspected.

[RachellovesLOTR]

Overall:
Bullock and Mccarthy's performances were either hit or miss for me. Mainly, they were a miss. At 19 years old (where most people of this age enjoy R movies) you think I would have enjoyed this film but I didn't. Have movie writers really run out of ideas? The Heat is one of those movies where the trailer makes it look good, but I was left disappointed in the theater. The jokes are stale, and the bloody knife scene in the restaurant was unesecceary. I don't want to sound judgmental to others if you like it, that's fine. The Heat just lacks the heart that some of my favorite movies (like LOTR) have.

Bottom line: No, I do not recommend this movie

[dag]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Drug War (2013)

8.5/10

I'll be seeing this Sunday night! Looking forward to it.

[jvince]

RED 2 (2013)
dir. Dean Parisot

The Good: Solid ensemble cast. Standouts are John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins, and Lee Byung-hun. All of the fight scenes with Lee Byung-hun. (Yes, I love Lee Byung-hun.) Badass Helen Mirren never fails to amuse.

The Bad: Tone is not quite as playful as the first movie. This time around, the musical score sounds generic and the cinematography is nothing special. Movie is slow to start. Story's often dull and clichéd. Humor is hit-and-miss. Uninspired conclusion. Needs more Brian Cox.

The Bottom Line: Disappointingly a step down from the original that gets by through the sheer charisma of its all-star cast.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Ok then, it is complete, utter, 100% illogical and irrational bullshit then. Just as I suspected.

Nonsense, all that stuff made perfect sense.

These are complete illogical BS:



NSE...

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Nonsense, all that stuff made perfect sense.

These are complete illogical BS:



NSE...

If a rat can do it solo..........

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

If a rat can do it solo..........

We could make things really complicated and have the rats control the human pilots who control the mechas.

[RachellovesLOTR]

I just finished watching The Secret of Moonacre on Netflix. I enjoyed it. Interesting plot and good cast. I give it five stars.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

We could make things really complicated and have the rats control the human pilots who control the mechas.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by RachellovesLOTR

I just finished watching The Secret of Moonacre on Netflix. I enjoyed it. Interesting plot and good cast. I give it five stars.

I love Tim Curry and Natascha McElhone, but I dont do unicorn movies.

[Al_The_Strange]

Now it's time for:


Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Movie!










...no wait, it's...


Pacific Rim

"It's 2,500 pounds of awesome!" - Charlie Day

Pacific Rim is a sweet blend of several superb ingredients: the ambition and mass-destruction of kaiju films (such as Godzilla or Gamera), the premise and high-tech concepts of mecha anime (most notably, Neon Genesis Evangelion), and the familiar style and imagination of Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy Iand II, Pan's Labyrinth, and more). It's especially noteworthy since there has never really been any major blockbuster films that portray giant robots and giant monsters on screen together; we've always had one or the other, but it's pretty common fare for mecha anime. A film like this seems long overdue.

As expected, the action in Pacific Rim is very big and incredible. There are three major battles that pit towering machines against rampaging sea monsters from another world. Entire cities crumble within the film's prologue; in the fights that ensue, buildings get crushed, cars and trucks are thrown all over the place, and it truly seems like the world could get trampled at any moment. In between the battles, the film breathes pretty evenly, with the same playful energy that made the Hellboy movies so fun. Humor doesn't really play into it that much, but with the acting and colorful production design, this film is never all that serious or brooding; it's rather cheesy, lighthearted, over-the-top, and cartoonish. And it's fun that way.

It's not all about the big fights and silliness though; the film has a solid focus on storytelling. It does take some effort though. The film introduces a plethora of clever concepts behind the premise of giant robots and monsters: terms like "drifting" and "neural handshake" become integral to the plot, and if you're not digging the concept, you might get lost (having already been familiar with even deeper concepts in the Evangelion saga, I couldn't help but to draw comparisons; in spite of that, I found Pacific Rim easy to follow). Aside from that, the plot is well-structured, and it's especially refreshing to see that every battle presents new problems and situations that make things unpredictable and more intense. Characters are given diligent attention; they are colorful, but they also show some decent depth and emotion.

This film utilizes decent photography and editing. Acting has been criticized for being really silly, but it matches up really well with the film's overall tone and style; it even goes so far as to reinforcing the film as a live-action anime. This production uses some very big-scale and highly imaginative sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is really cool too.

Pacific Rim, finally, an epic movie that shows giant machines and giant beasts brawling and wreaking havoc. It's got the elements of classic kaiju monster films, robot anime, and maybe even a little hint of HP Lovecraft in the mix. It is exceptional for its worldbuilding, and I found it very immersive and impressive. However, if you're not captivated by this world, then you might just shrug it off as something silly. If you're taken by this film's concepts, then it comes heartily recommended.

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



That's right, everybody predicted correctly that I'd like it.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Now it's time for:


Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Movie!










...no wait, it's...


Pacific Rim

[Show spoiler]"It's 2,500 pounds of awesome!" - Charlie Day

Pacific Rim is a sweet blend of several superb ingredients: the ambition and mass-destruction of kaiju films (such as Godzilla or Gamera), the premise and high-tech concepts of mecha anime (most notably, Neon Genesis Evangelion), and the familiar style and imagination of Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy Iand II, Pan's Labyrinth, and more). It's especially noteworthy since there has never really been any major blockbuster films that portray giant robots and giant monsters on screen together; we've always had one or the other, but it's pretty common fare for mecha anime. A film like this seems long overdue.

As expected, the action in Pacific Rim is very big and incredible. There are three major battles that pit towering machines against rampaging sea monsters from another world. Entire cities crumble within the film's prologue; in the fights that ensue, buildings get crushed, cars and trucks are thrown all over the place, and it truly seems like the world could get trampled at any moment. In between the battles, the film breathes pretty evenly, with the same playful energy that made the Hellboy movies so fun. Humor doesn't really play into it that much, but with the acting and colorful production design, this film is never all that serious or brooding; it's rather cheesy, lighthearted, over-the-top, and cartoonish. And it's fun that way.

It's not all about the big fights and silliness though; the film has a solid focus on storytelling. It does take some effort though. The film introduces a plethora of clever concepts behind the premise of giant robots and monsters: terms like "drifting" and "neural handshake" become integral to the plot, and if you're not digging the concept, you might get lost (having already been familiar with even deeper concepts in the Evangelion saga, I couldn't help but to draw comparisons; in spite of that, I found Pacific Rim easy to follow). Aside from that, the plot is well-structured, and it's especially refreshing to see that every battle presents new problems and situations that make things unpredictable and more intense. Characters are given diligent attention; they are colorful, but they also show some decent depth and emotion.

This film utilizes decent photography and editing. Acting has been criticized for being really silly, but it matches up really well with the film's overall tone and style; it even goes so far as to reinforcing the film as a live-action anime. This production uses some very big-scale and highly imaginative sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is really cool too.

Pacific Rim, finally, an epic movie that shows giant machines and giant beasts brawling and wreaking havoc. It's got the elements of classic kaiju monster films, robot anime, and maybe even a little hint of HP Lovecraft in the mix. It is exceptional for its worldbuilding, and I found it very immersive and impressive. However, if you're not captivated by this world, then you might just shrug it off as something silly. If you're taken by this film's concepts, then it comes heartily recommended.

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



That's right, everybody predicted correctly that I'd like it.

...But can you predict what I gave it without cheating?