The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jvince]

Chronos (1985)
dir. Ron Fricke

The Good: Epic, epic musical score by Michael Stearns. Only a god could create such otherworldly music and elicit goosebump-inducing eargasms. Stearns' haunting score coupled with Ron Fricke's ever-amazing photography equals mind blown.

The Bad: If this film has a fault, it's that it's only 42 minutes long. I could watch this forever in a loop.

The Bottom Line: Watching Chronos, I felt my eyes, ears, and soul simultaneously cum. Many, many times. It felt incredible. What a breathtaking experience. Chronos is definitely up there with Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi (and don't ask me which one I love the most). Fricke and Stearns are f*cking masters at what they do. I would kill for a Criterion Blu-ray of this. Essential viewing.

[KilloWertz]

Somehow I don't think I'll ever see that quote from your Bottom Line on the front or back of a Blu-ray case.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Somehow I don't think I'll ever see that quote from your Bottom Line on the front or back of a Blu-ray case.

It should be though.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jvince

Chronos (1985)
dir. Ron Fricke

The Good: Epic, epic musical score by Michael Stearns. Only a god could create such otherworldly music and elicit goosebump-inducing eargasms. Stearns' haunting score coupled with Ron Fricke's ever-amazing photography equals mind blown.

The Bad: If this film has a fault, it's that it's only 42 minutes long. I could watch this forever in a loop.

The Bottom Line: Watching Chronos, I felt my eyes, ears, and soul simultaneously cum. Many, many times. It felt incredible. What a breathtaking experience. Chronos is definitely up there with Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi (and don't ask me which one I love the most). Fricke and Stearns and f*cking masters at what they do. I would kill for a Criterion Blu-ray of this. Essential viewing.

It's good. I do prefer Koyaanisqatsi, Samsara, and Baraka better though.

[Steve46]

Promised Land (2012)
Drama, 106 minutes
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, Hal Holbrook, Rosemarie DeWitt and John Krasinski

There are a number of actors that I trust to give a good performance in almost any movie, and Matt Damon belongs on that list. He's probably best known for playing Jason Bourne, and some of my friends are disappointed that he didn't want to play similar roles for the rest of his life. I thought he was great as Bourne, but my favorite performances came in The Departed, Good Will Hunting, and Rounders. He elevated flawed movies like The Adjustment Bureau, Hereafter, and We Bought a Zoo, and gave excellent performances in several titles that I haven't mentioned.

Why do I like Damon?

I like that he's versatile, but most of all, I admire his understated acting style. He doesn't try to take over a movie, and that makes his performances all the more realistic. If Damon hadn't been cast in Promised Land, I doubt that I would have ever seen it. It's good to see him team up again with Gus Van Sant, who directed him in Good Will Hunting.

Promised Land is about the way in which a natural gas company, Global, attempts to convince a small farming community to sell land and allow it to be exploited for its natural resources. The people are poor and seem like easy targets. Steve Butler (Damon) and Sue Thomason (McDormand) are employed by Global to deliver their sales pitch. Butler grew up in a similar community and carries a lot of credibility as he visits the local farmers. He truly believes that it is in the best interests of the locals to accept Global's offer.

Butler encounters local opposition in the form of Frank Yates, who is played convincingly by Hal Holbrook. Yates is a science teacher and he's been making use of Google to uncover the truth about natural gas. Apparently, there are plenty of risks involved, and not all towns prosper in the way that Butler has implied. Additional problems arise for Butler when environmentalist Dustin Noble (Krasinski) shows up with a tale of how natural gas exploitation ruined his community.

There are a couple of unpredictable twists later in the story, but it would be wrong of me to reveal them here.

It's rare to see a drama of this nature in modern cinema. There are no explosions or action sequences, and although there is a small romantic element, it's not the driving force in the story. So who is this movie for? Well, it would certainly hold your interest if you were a struggling farmer with the option of selling your land. However, I don't fall into that category, and I was engrossed by the story throughout.

The movie tackles real issues and raises questions about who is good and who is evil. It provides moral dilemmas for its characters, and we see how they choose to resolve them. Ultimately, it explores deeper themes about our function in life, and whether we are successes, failures, or creatures capable of questioning our established roles. It also looks at how the decisions of big companies can impact the lives of other people.

I wouldn't say that Promised Land is essential viewing, but it will work for fans of Matt Damon, and perhaps for those who like to see stories that don't follow the usual Hollywood pattern. I'm glad that it's in my collection.

Overall score 3.75/5

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Foggy

As for the sequel book, I haven't read it yet, mainly because of the upcoming film, but the stuff I've heard is rather off putting,

[Show spoiler]the comic is supposed to feature rape and mass child murder

which is a bit . I think it was said straight off the bat they're not even considering including that stuff in the sequel.

Yup, there's none of that in the film.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

No Carrey mention?

[Show spoiler]

Carrey was alright.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Breaking Bad (Season 1-3): Did it live up to the "best TV series ever" hype? Not quite, but the show's quality stays remarkably consistent, and that alone thoroughly impressed me.

Not quite?

Originally Posted by DjMethod

No Spirited Away/Princess Mononoke/Grave of the Fireflies?? All three in my top 5 favorite animated. That's the magic of Studio Ghibli I suppose. My weakest are another's strongest, vice versa.

Tbh, I find those overrated, especially Fireflies. I guess I like Ghibli's more intimate stories.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Best Hall H moment: When the entire X-Men and X-Men: First Class cast walked on stage. Yes, even Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. And Peter Dinklage! They are still in the process of shooting but still showed us a few minutes of some epic footage. Wolverine seems to be at the center of the plot (haven't read the comic).

That must've been really awesome. I wish I was there. Really looking forward to Days of Future Past.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Marvel: Thor/Cap footage was good stuff, particularly Thor, which also had the best introduction ever - Loki literally walks onstage and recruits the crowd to join his legion. I have a feeling it'll top the first. Avengers announcement was expected but not the title. Overall, Marvel was pretty much by the book. Not many surprises... but the Guardians of the Galaxy footage made the wait well worth it.

I saw a video of the Loki intro. That was pretty cool. I also have a feeling Thor 2 will top the original. I think Guardians will be good too. Can't wait to see the trailer.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Also I made Emilia Clarke laugh.

You met Emilia Clarke?



Me jelly...

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Blu-ray Exclusives: I picked up Planet of the Apes, Silence of the Lambs, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Donnie Darko. I also got Fight Club for my brother since they said they were almost out of that one.

The Donnie Darko one is pretty tempting, but then I'd have three different blu-rays of that film.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I just noticed that it stinks to not have an art-house theater nearby. Unless I want to drive seventy minutes away, I'll have to wait to see that Only God Forgives movie.

I'm curious to read what you guys think about Only God Forgives.

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

Somehow I don't think I'll ever see that quote from your Bottom Line on the front or back of a Blu-ray case.

Yeah, you definitely won't.

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

It should be though.

Yes, it should.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

It's good. I do prefer Koyaanisqatsi, Samsara, and Baraka better though.

Chronos > Samsara

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Promised Land (2012)
Drama, 106 minutes
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, Hal Holbrook, Rosemarie DeWitt and John Krasinski

[Show spoiler]There are a number of actors that I trust to give a good performance in almost any movie, and Matt Damon belongs on that list. He's probably best known for playing Jason Bourne, and some of my friends are disappointed that he didn't want to play similar roles for the rest of his life. I thought he was great as Bourne, but my favorite performances came in The Departed, Good Will Hunting, and Rounders. He elevated flawed movies like The Adjustment Bureau, Hereafter, and We Bought a Zoo, and gave excellent performances in several titles that I haven't mentioned.

Why do I like Damon?

I like that he's versatile, but most of all, I admire his understated acting style. He doesn't try to take over a movie, and that makes his performances all the more realistic. If Damon hadn't been cast in Promised Land, I doubt that I would have ever seen it. It's good to see him team up again with Gus Van Sant, who directed him in Good Will Hunting.

Promised Land is about the way in which a natural gas company, Global, attempts to convince a small farming community to sell land and allow it to be exploited for its natural resources. The people are poor and seem like easy targets. Steve Butler (Damon) and Sue Thomason (McDormand) are employed by Global to deliver their sales pitch. Butler grew up in a similar community and carries a lot of credibility as he visits the local farmers. He truly believes that it is in the best interests of the locals to accept Global's offer.

Butler encounters local opposition in the form of Frank Yates, who is played convincingly by Hal Holbrook. Yates is a science teacher and he's been making use of Google to uncover the truth about natural gas. Apparently, there are plenty of risks involved, and not all towns prosper in the way that Butler has implied. Additional problems arise for Butler when environmentalist Dustin Noble (Krasinski) shows up with a tale of how natural gas exploitation ruined his community.

There are a couple of unpredictable twists later in the story, but it would be wrong of me to reveal them here.

It's rare to see a drama of this nature in modern cinema. There are no explosions or action sequences, and although there is a small romantic element, it's not the driving force in the story. So who is this movie for? Well, it would certainly hold your interest if you were a struggling farmer with the option of selling your land. However, I don't fall into that category, and I was engrossed by the story throughout.

The movie tackles real issues and raises questions about who is good and who is evil. It provides moral dilemmas for its characters, and we see how they choose to resolve them. Ultimately, it explores deeper themes about our function in life, and whether we are successes, failures, or creatures capable of questioning our established roles. It also looks at how the decisions of big companies can impact the lives of other people.

I wouldn't say that Promised Land is essential viewing, but it will work for fans of Matt Damon, and perhaps for those who like to see stories that don't follow the usual Hollywood pattern. I'm glad that it's in my collection.

Overall score 3.75/5

A new Steve review?!

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by jvince

A new Steve review?!

Yep, I don't have much free time these days

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Yep, I don't have much free time these days

Well, make some. Blu-ray is more important than real life.

On a more serious note, I watched my first Chaplin/full length silent film today... Modern Times. Looks like I'm not done with my Barnes and Noble Criterion haul after all. A 5/5 experience will do that...

[jvince]

The Vanishing (1988)
dir. George Sluizer

The Good: Foreboding. Disturbing. Haunting. Adept direction and writing by George Sluizer, adapted from Tim Krabbé's novella, The Golden Egg. Great character work. Nicely balances its focus on both our bereaved protagonist (played by Gene Bervoets) and the psychopathic killer (wonderfully portrayed by Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu). And that ending... Such finality.

The Bad: Nothing major.

The Bottom Line: When I first watched this a few years ago, I felt the conclusion was too abrupt and underwhelming. But even though I didn't think much of the film, for some reason, it stayed with me and I've been itching to revisit it ever since. Now, having seen it for the second time, the ending clicked and I appreciated the film a lot more. The Vanishing is a superb psychological thriller about man's deepest curiosities and darkest desires. One that, much like its calculating killer, methodically takes its time. One whose brilliance isn't immediately apparent after a single viewing. One chilling tale you'll surely never forget. Recommended.

[Abdrewes]

Nothing in the bad category yet it only gets 3 stars

[jvince]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nothing in the bad category yet it only gets 3 stars

Thanks for pointing that out.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jvince

Thanks for pointing that out.

I was about to say that you, Vince, are hard to please

[Fortion]

wolverine 3d 9/10

quite good movie i think you all should see it

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Breaking Bad (Season 1-3): Did it live up to the "best TV series ever" hype? Not quite, but the show's quality stays remarkably consistent, and that alone thoroughly impressed me. :

What show(s) have impressed you more?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jvince

Tbh, I find those overrated, especially Fireflies.

WTF???????????? Grave of the Fireflies overrated??????

[SquidPuppet]

North Face



Based on a true story, this is a damn good mountain climbing drama. It had an oddly (in a GOOD way) old fashioned feeling to it, which was cool since it takes place in 1936.

Straightforward story told in straightforward style. A two man German team and a two man Austrian team are each attempting to be the first to reach the summit of Eiger in the Swiss Alps, via the North Face. It's a huge matter of national pride for each team and the world watches as if it is the most important sporting event of the year.

Elevation is over 13,000 feet. Almost 1 mile of that is pure vertical rock wall. Remember, 1936 = Hemp rope, burlap gear sacks, cotton, wool and leather clothing, heavy tools and climbing gear, glass goggles, etc.

Final hour had me stressed to the MAX.

Some crazy good camera work. They shot the majority on location and actually climbed and hauled all the gear up this little hill.

4.5/5

[Abdrewes]

Added North Face to my Wishlist.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Added North Face to my Wishlist.

Try not to read anything about it beforehand. It is straightforward, but NOT predictable.

I had a little window in between my TV shows, but now it's back to episode marathoning.





Hell on Wheels 07/16/13
Orphan Black 07/16/13
Banshee 07/30/13
The Borgias 08/06/13
Enlightened 08/13/13
Boardwalk Empire 08/20/13
Revenge 08/20/13
The Walking Dead 08/27/13
Homeland 09/10/13
Big Bang Theory 09/10/13
Bates Motel 09/17/13
American Horror Story 09/24/13
Hannibal 09/24/13

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I just put New World on my rent list (will have to wait a while). I did blind-buy Upstream Color a while ago though. Now that movie was a real trip. I loved it.

Good to hear. Breaking Bad has been eating up all of my free time actually, but I am very much looking forward to those.

I was a regular WoW player for a while. Before that though, I played Warcraft II and III quite a bit. So I am naturally interested in this. Glad to see it's just a straightforward humans-vs-orc thing, because I felt the games got quite convoluted with the addition of the undead, elves, demons, and everything else. Sounds to me like this might go back to the roots of the game series, and probably leave things open to a major series of films. I think it could be cool.

So is Duncan Jones directing the WoW movie, or was he just there? That's awesome either way.

Yep, he's directing. Quite a leap if you ask me, but well-deserved.

I've just seen the trailer the one time, but I think it looks great. Maybe not Children of Men great, but if this is some kind of space-survival story, I think it'll be interesting. I will definitely plan on seeing it.

I definitely wouldn't miss this one either. It does have great potential, but I have my doubts.

Originally Posted by Foggy

Well that's because you've not seen Season 4 yet.

Originally Posted by jvince

Not quite?

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

What show(s) have impressed you more?

Guys, guys, it is up there with the very best I've seen. It just isn't a clear winner yet.

That said, when I wrote that I was in the middle of Season 3, and my mind has been blown several times since then (finished the season yesterday). #thatfinale #goodbyeresponsibilities

Squid: Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and BSG have impressed me on a similar level, but not quite as consistently.

[Show spoiler]Is it just me or is Hank the only pure victim in all of this? (Walt's kids don't count)

Originally Posted by Foggy

Of course Duncan Jones being involved really gets me excited.

Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed a pattern with recent blockbusters. Producers making a bit more sincere decisions, as opposed to sticking to an all-out cash-grabbing formula... I mean, a Wolverine film with less explosions and more story? (not to mention using the source material fans have been waiting for). Hiring up-and-coming indie talents for WoW and Godzilla? Don't get me wrong- the "let's make everything a trilogy" fever isn't dying down, but some decisions have been nice to hear.

I agree with you on Gravity, it looks a bit too CG heavy to really feel all that involving, but the scenes they've released online really make it feel like a rollercoster film, very disorientating and nauseating, so that sells me on the film.

Actually, if I recall, the footage shown wasn't supposed to be indicative of the mood of the film. I think it will end up as more of a quiet psychological film.

Excited for Godzilla, did you by any chance take part in the Godzilla like ride thing, where it's a simulated Godzilla attack and at the end you get a good view of Godzilla?

Salt in my wound, Foggy. It was on my agenda all four days, and I just never managed to get to it. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. I didn't get the Adult Swim free massage either. Or the Gravity or Ender's Game experience. But I got a picture on the GoT Throne, a customized GoT T-Shirt (House *LastName*), and won an Adventure Time medallion (second year in a row). I wanted to demo the PS4 and XBox One but too many lines, too little time.

New X-Men should be great, despite me not being the biggest fan of the series, it does feel like they're really pulling out all the stops with this one. Wolverine was good and First Class was great so I like how they have turned around the series without having to hit the restart button.

Agreed. DC and Fox scrambled for an answer to The Avengers, and it's Superman/Batman & Days of Future Past. Bat & Supes duo has so much potential. Their team-up comics offer some brilliant writing, though I have noticed it works better when one is an accessory for the other- which is what it looks like Batman might be for Superman here.

Originally Posted by jvince

Tbh, I find those overrated, especially Fireflies. I guess I like Ghibli's more intimate stories.

That's right, I forgot how you feel about Fireflies. Still though, all three of those movies anchored onto my heart and never let loose.

That must've been really awesome. I wish I was there. Really looking forward to Days of Future Past.

You met Emilia Clarke?



Me jelly...

Sounds like you should attend next year! Don't you live in LA?

And yes, I see her every year but this is the first time we had an exchange. Much more beautiful in person imo.

I saw a video of the Loki intro. That was pretty cool. I also have a feeling Thor 2 will top the original. I think Guardians will be good too. Can't wait to see the trailer.

Awesome! Found it... Watch him crack up

Loki Takes Hall H - SDCC 2013 - Comic Con - YouTube

"The bright year of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for a place in this chamber, in this meager palace of Midgard, in the arena they call... Hall H. You should have let me rule you when you had the chance."