The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Walts Ghost]

Just watched The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Very interesting movie. I really enjoyed it, more because of the performances than anything else. This is notably Heath Ledger's final film, not The Dark Knight as so many people believe. He once again shines, playing a man named Tony who by accident ends up with Doctor Parnassus' caravan. While watching this I couldn't help feel a little sad because it just made me remember what a great actor we lost . Christopher Plummer is quite good as Doctor Parnassus, but I kept seeing him as Michael Gambon's Dumbledore....Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell are all quite good in this as well.

[Show spoiler]They play the Imagination versions of Tony when he goes into the Imaginarium. Each doesn't have a terribly long role, but each gets their own time to shine, and brings a little of their personal charisma to the character, making it that much more fantastic.

This is the first time in a while I've really liked one of Colin Farrell's performances, and the first time he's seemed to be enjoying himself in a while. Definitely a step in the right direction. Lily Cole, who plays Valentina, is quite good as well. Shes also incredibly beautiful and I would definitely like to see her in more movies.

The movie is strange and whimsical. Seeing as its a Terry Gilliam film that shouldn't be terribly surprising. Without giving much away, its a classic Deal with the Devil story, but with an interesting twist. Gilliam is a very creative and imaginative director, and I really liked the style he brought to this movie. The opening scene in particular is very strange but cool.

This movie was just a very strange, sort of surreal movie that was quite a bit of fun and was even better by the performances given by each of the actors. Heath shines here in his final role, and one I wish wasn't so overlooked. It came out against Avatar, so that says a lot about why it's overlooked...Overall, I really enjoyed it.

8/10

[Al_The_Strange]

Latest rental: “Out of the Past”

Okay, regarding most film-noir movies, I’ve found that I the first viewing never fully grabs me for whatever reason. I tried to keep myself with it for this movie, but after a full day’s work I regret to say that I grew bored and sleepy.

But I managed to pry my eyeballs open and watch it from beginning to end; this movie was recommended highly by a couple of professors when I was in college.

Despite the slow pacing, I’ll admit that the film is good. The photography is wonderful, the lighting is moody and interesting, and the overall style is definitely pure film noir. The story’s pretty interesting, and the characters are cool. I liked Robert Mitchum; Kirk Douglas was brilliant; Jane Greer was hot and interesting. Naturally, all the elements were there; there were detectives, guys in suits and trenchcoats, mystery and intrigue, scandalous romance, and ultimately

[Show spoiler]the dame (or femme fatale) seducing the main character and screwing everything up

.

I might consider buying it and rewatching it; I’ll probably grow to like it as much as other favorite film noir movies (“The Maltese Falcon,” “The Third Man,” etc).

4/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 4/5, film: 5/5)

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by pj_campbell

Completely agree. I always watch them back to back as one film. They fit together perfectly, and I think it makes Quantum a much stronger film that way. Although I personally enjoyed it anyway, but it works better as a double feature

I am glad you agree with me, and I think a lot of other people do too.

[toneloctr]

King Kong (1933 Original)

First time I watched it on DVD, have old VHS copy that I used to watch for years. The movie is easily my favorite of all time. I would give a 10/10 or A+.

[iam1bearcat]

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

when you really think about it, the first three Terminator moves essentially have the same plot: Skynet sends a Terminator (different model every time of course) back in time to kill a certain person or persons. along with the 'assassin' there is also someone sent back to help the people being tracked down to survive because they are necessary in the future. but somehow, some way, even with this same story line (essentially, but not exactly of course) the films are engaging, full of high energy, massive explosions, and great endings.

Terminator 3, while far from perfect, is a solid outing in the franchise and doesn't fall off as much as i had heard. i was glad to see Arnold back as the Terminator, and you can really tell he loves the role (since it's been 19 years since the original from T3 - and 10 years from T2) not many actors would come back or want anything to do with the franchise after so much time, so it was nice to see him here in a major role.

the acting is all very solid, although Claire Daines as Kate Brewster kind of annoyed me with how obnoxious she is, but nothing that ruined the film.

the directing was also superb. the car chase sequence (with the tow truck) alone has a lot of great angles and shot on it, and i love how these films lack dialogue during fight / chase sequences. it's refreshing for some reason...

overall, so far T3 has been the "weakest" of the Terminator films, which i expected as i heard so many negative things from people (this was a blind buy for me, but don't know why it's so frowned upon), but i still thoroughly enjoyed it.

and the T-X! what a bad ass villain! and i thought the T-1000 was a monster! i'm really excited to see what Terminator Salvation has for Terminators

if this was an action movie by a different name, chances are i would give it a 3, but because this is the Terminator brand (which is becoming one of my favorite franchises by the way ) it gets bumped up to 3.5/5. not as many classic moments as the first two films, and while disappointing, it is still a worthy addition (to me, anyways) to the Terminator franchise.

3.5/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

and the T-X! what a bad ass villain! and i thought the T-1000 was a monster! i'm really excited to see what Terminator Salvation has for Terminators

I agree. It's like they took the best aspects of the original terminator and the T-1000 to create TX. It's exactly how SkyNet should operate; keep making better and better versions until they complete the mission.

But if you haven't seen "Terminator: Salvation" yet, don't get your hopes up too high. I consider it to be the worst of the franchise (though it's still pretty good for a Terminator fan).

I gave T3 a 4/5 and TS 3.5/5. Would still love to see more sequels.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Very good post. This is an example where my word choice let me down and did not convey my point effectively or accurately. What I meant to say is that I was confused that Christopher Plummer did not get attention to the effect that he was at least in contention for the Oscar, not necessarily that he deserved to win. I really didn't hear his name brought up at all, nor did I hear much about the other nominees in regards to having a chance to win. Everyone I know that's seen Basterds, whether they liked the film or not, said Waltz put forth a virtuoso performance and was incredible. I have no reason to doubt it at all, even though I don't plan on seeing the film (due to Tarantino and its re-writing of history).

So, while Waltz was considered by practically everyone to be the most deserving of the award, I simply was surprised by the lack of talk regarding Plummer's presumably much more nuanced performance. I just think he delivers his lines really really well in the film, with the woods scene standing out. I should have chosen my words more carefully instead of making it seem like I was diminishing Waltz's performance, which I have no right to do without having seen it.

Like you, I'm a sucker for a great performance. Strong performances can lift a movie beyond mediocrity. A performance such as Waltz's seems like it is almost required viewing for any lover of great acting. Admittedly, I need to be more fair and even mature when it comes to seeing films by directors I greatly dislike, like Tarantino. So, with time I'm sure I'll give in and see it.

I didnt read your post as demeaning toward Waltz at all. You were simply shocked that Plummer didnt get noticed. Your post was crystal clear to me. Did my post come across as if I didnt understand you? LOL. We are confusing each other.

Think of IB as a fantasy. Sergio Leone meets The Marx Brothers meets Oliver Stone meets The assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Tension, dialogue, tension, Dialogue, tension, dialogue.

A crazy, koo-koo potpourri that works.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Me and Squid discussed the film. I hated it. That one performance was great, but (you know me!) the film unfortunately followed the same flawed Tarantino formula: isolated, fragmented scenes that don't form any overall message/theme/plot, but are merely injected with gore violence and crude humor testosterone hormones, to induce an "oooo...aaaahhh" from the audience. The same old tired formula just gets old to me. Squid did a great job to try and resolve some of my inconsistencies with the plot, but too late to stop the bleeding from the Tarantino wounds. I was beyond transfusion level

Woah! Slow down there Sparky!

Be fair, there isnt that much gore in this flick.

And just to confuse Jhiggy more, I think the story and plot move forward in a very coherent and defined way. In fact, it's moving in a clear direction as it builds to its claimax.

Does it look, smell, taste, sound and feel like a QT film? Yes. Many directors with signature styles have made both good and bad films. I think QT got this one right. I totally understand why you hate it though, and your reasons make sense to me.

[Show spoiler]I was beyond transfusion level

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

I gave Avatar 3/5 stars, but probably should have given it 2/5 stars. I honestly just felt the film was in a state of limbo from about 0:45-2:20 or so. I also felt it put effects ahead of plot/theme, which is the reverse of what I find important, so that is more of my personal taste than the film. Anyway, that's pretty much my thoughts on it.


If you enjoyed it, why "one and done"? By the way, love the catchphrase. I have some films like that. District 9 comes to mind. THe only reason I'll pop it in is if a guest wants to watch it.



Glad to see that you're able to sit through it and not get bored. Back when I used to watch action movies all the time, my brain was addicted (not in a good way, more like in the way smokers are addicted to cigs) to explosions and action so I wouldn't have been able to sit through this. Its nice to be able to now.



Great take on Plainview! Bravo! Like you, I rooted/loved him too, but not because of the performance (although it was out of this world), but because I could relate to him, on a much smaller scale Not as an oilman, but just as someone whose priorities in life were

[Show spoiler]skewed way off, money before anyone or anything, leading to unhappiness. I look at Plainview and think "this is where I was headed." One of the reasons I have such a connection with this film, beyond the acting, writing, cinematography and score.

Great point about the acting! It was criticized as "outmatched" by Day-Lewis, but I didn't think it was an issue. First off, how could it not be outmatched. I thought it was fine, like you.



You're not alone in this dept: many people hated the score, and I mean big time movie reviewers. Its a very polarizing score. I personally loved it. It was 110% accurate in terms of conveying the emotion of the scene we are watching. Example: opening sequence after

[Show spoiler]Day-Lewis breaks his leg. The camera pans up to show how far Day-Lewis will have to crawl through the desert, at the exact same time as the score takes an eerie twist, that perfectly resonated with my "oh shi$, sucks for him" thought.

I felt this was how the score was throughout the film: always hitting me with the emotion my mind was already brewing up anyway, so it was a match made in heaven, and the score was welcome and invited back But I understand why you hated it, its very polarizing.


Why did the actor irritate you beyond the character he played?? Aren't you confusing the two. It seems hard or even impossible to give each one a separate "hate" rating But yes, that is the point I think

[Show spoiler]: to show a self-righteous greedy oilman and a self-righteous greedy clergyman, who are a-holes and bullys in their respective disciplines. Many people will hate the latter more than the former, as he has violated a greater level of trust by making people think they are receiving divine help when they're getting swindled, while the oil man is still a swindler but at least he's not so low as to exploit one's religious fear

Great review overall Diesel! Glad you liked it!

I think the best part of this movie was the opening scene. It perfectly introduces you to Plainview and sets the tone for why he becomes what he becomes. It was magical to me. I dont rate the rest of the film as highly as you do, but I'll surely give it another watch someday.

[Show spoiler]MilKSHAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Latest rental: “Out of the Past”

Okay, regarding most film-noir movies, I’ve found that I the first viewing never fully grabs me for whatever reason. I tried to keep myself with it for this movie, but after a full day’s work I regret to say that I grew bored and sleepy.

But I managed to pry my eyeballs open and watch it from beginning to end; this movie was recommended highly by a couple of professors when I was in college.

Despite the slow pacing, I’ll admit that the film is good. The photography is wonderful, the lighting is moody and interesting, and the overall style is definitely pure film noir. The story’s pretty interesting, and the characters are cool. I liked Robert Mitchum; Kirk Douglas was brilliant; Jane Greer was hot and interesting. Naturally, all the elements were there; there were detectives, guys in suits and trenchcoats, mystery and intrigue, scandalous romance, and ultimately

[Show spoiler]the dame (or femme fatale) seducing the main character and screwing everything up

.

I might consider buying it and rewatching it; I’ll probably grow to like it as much as other favorite film noir movies (“The Maltese Falcon,” “The Third Man,” etc).

4/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 4/5, film: 5/5)

I gave it a 4/5 as well. I recommend it. It just drips noir.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by toneloctr

King Kong (1933 Original)

First time I watched it on DVD, have old VHS copy that I used to watch for years. The movie is easily my favorite of all time. I would give a 10/10 or A+.

not my favorite of all time but I agree 100% with your rating!

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

I gave Avatar 3/5 stars, but probably should have given it 2/5 stars. I honestly just felt the film was in a state of limbo from about 0:45-2:20 or so. I also felt it put effects ahead of plot/theme, which is the reverse of what I find important, so that is more of my personal taste than the film. Anyway, that's pretty much my thoughts on it.

Gotcha, so somewhere between mediocre and average?

If you enjoyed it, why "one and done"? By the way, love the catchphrase. I have some films like that. District 9 comes to mind. THe only reason I'll pop it in is if a guest wants to watch it.

That's a patented title of Diesel Industries

Not sure why, but there are just some movies I will really enjoy but not really have any interest in seeing them again or I will feel they have not much/no replay value for me.

Glad to see that you're able to sit through it and not get bored. Back when I used to watch action movies all the time, my brain was addicted (not in a good way, more like in the way smokers are addicted to cigs) to explosions and action so I wouldn't have been able to sit through this. Its nice to be able to now.

Yea, I do love me some explosions ; but they aren't a requirement for me to enjoy a movie. The subject matter and the way the story/characters are delivered, if interesting and done well enough to me, will have me hooked for the rest of a movie.

Great take on Plainview! Bravo! Like you, I rooted/loved him too, but not because of the performance (although it was out of this world), but because I could relate to him, on a much smaller scale Not as an oilman, but just as someone whose priorities in life were

[Show spoiler]skewed way off, money before anyone or anything, leading to unhappiness. I look at Plainview and think "this is where I was headed." One of the reasons I have such a connection with this film, beyond the acting, writing, cinematography and score.

That would explain another reason why you think so highly of this film for sure.

Great point about the acting! It was criticized as "outmatched" by Day-Lewis, but I didn't think it was an issue. First off, how could it not be outmatched. I thought it was fine, like you.

Agreed, it was almost certain that it would be outmatched/overshadowed by was Day-Lewis did because he was simply phenomenal.

You're not alone in this dept: many people hated the score, and I mean big time movie reviewers. Its a very polarizing score. I personally loved it. It was 110% accurate in terms of conveying the emotion of the scene we are watching. Example: opening sequence after

[Show spoiler]Day-Lewis breaks his leg. The camera pans up to show how far Day-Lewis will have to crawl through the desert, at the exact same time as the score takes an eerie twist, that perfectly resonated with my "oh shi$, sucks for him" thought.

I felt this was how the score was throughout the film: always hitting me with the emotion my mind was already brewing up anyway, so it was a match made in heaven, and the score was welcome and invited back But I understand why you hated it, its very polarizing.

Very polarizing indeed!

Why did the actor irritate you beyond the character he played?? Aren't you confusing the two. It seems hard or even impossible to give each one a separate "hate" rating But yes, that is the point I think

[Show spoiler]: to show a self-righteous greedy oilman and a self-righteous greedy clergyman, who are a-holes and bullys in their respective disciplines. Many people will hate the latter more than the former, as he has violated a greater level of trust by making people think they are receiving divine help when they're getting swindled, while the oil man is still a swindler but at least he's not so low as to exploit one's religious fear

The main thing that annoyed me that was the guy and not the character was the way he sounded when he got all worked up and over excited. His voice just made me want to

[Show spoiler]grab a bowling pin and bash his head in

Add that on top of my dislike of the character, and I hated him more than just the character he played

Great review overall Diesel! Glad you liked it!

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[Show spoiler]MilKSHAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God I wasn't drinking something when I clicked that spoiler

[iam1bearcat]

A Clockwork Orange

second time watching A Clockwork Orange in about a month or so.
and i pretty much feel the same way i did then: i don't really like the film.

i'm impressed (as always) with Kubrick's directing, i (for the most part) enjoy the story, but there are too many things that just don't fit well with me. and for the most part, these are personal small quirks about the film. in all honesty, i understand the love for the film, it's just not my cup of tea. not my time period, not my style of a film i guess sums it up.

- i think at 133 minutes the film is WAY too long. the first hour is solid, but the last half just drags for me. hard to sit through with how long some of the scenes are.

- the language. i still have almost no idea what the hell anyone is saying. the accents are hard enough to decipher, but then the "slang terms" make me even more (they should've added a bonus feature or slip sheet that tells you what words means what )

- the atmosphere. first, the atmosphere is TERRIFIC. i just don't like it. and if it's to the point where it bothers me so much that i kind of get annoyed by it, at least i know the film has an atmosphere, since it bugs me so much. it feels real. it feels grimey. it feels like you have no idea what is coming next. and that's true. so while i respect that, it just didn't / doesn't click with me.

- the music. it fits the theme and times of the film. but i'm not a fan of the music, and it drove me up the wall most of the time. a few times it fit really well and i enjoyed it and it added to some scenes. but other times i just rolled my eyes and waited for it to stop.

one thing i forgot to mention in my last review is that i really enjoyed Alex's relationship with his drooges. even though we barely see him with them (i thought the film was just him and his friends terrorizing everyone, so the film was vastly different than i imagined, which was a nice change from what i'd heard / seen in clips), you really get a sense of tension and terror from his "friends". especially when they kind of turn on him / don't inform him of everything. you really get the sense that Alex is a maniac here better than beating on a complete stranger. he spends his life with these people. these people are LIKE HIM, yet, he has a look in his eyes that says he could snap and do exactly to his friends what he's done to others. loved that rift in the relationships.

of course, exceptional job by Malcolm McDowell

but, the few plusses i found in the films didn't outweigh my personal negatives. don't get me wrong: this is not a bad film. it just wasn't my cup of tea, and after two viewings i understand the film better than i did before, but overall i just couldn't find anything to connect to to make it a better experience for me.

i'll keep it in my collection (i blind buy a lot and i never sell any blu once i get it, odd, i know), but it won't be one i watch on a regular basis. so far, my least favorite Kubrick film.

2.5/5

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The main thing that annoyed me that was the guy and not the character was the way he sounded when he got all worked up and over excited. His voice just made me want to

[Show spoiler]grab a bowling pin and bash his head in

dude, you made me laugh out loud, thank god i didn't have a drink in my mouth!!! i know what you mean, although I loved the actor, but can understand why you felt the way you did. like in the church

[Show spoiler], "GET OUT OF HERE DEVIL!!!!!!", Daniel: "that was one god@amn hell of a show"

you're the first person who had that kind of appreciation for the ending!! effin awesome bro!!!

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Woah! Slow down there Sparky!

Be fair, there isnt that much gore in this flick.

And just to confuse Jhiggy more, I think the story and plot move forward in a very coherent and defined way. In fact, it's moving in a clear direction as it builds to its claimax.

Does it look, smell, taste, sound and feel like a QT film? Yes. Many directors with signature styles have made both good and bad films. I think QT got this one right. I totally understand why you hate it though, and your reasons make sense to me.

[Show spoiler]I was beyond transfusion level

yeah, not a lot of gore...but a fair share, and yikes was it icky!!

my take on the plot/scenes may not be shared by Jhiggy, I hope he enjoys it like you did. but you did a good effort on trying to alleviate my issues with the

[Show spoiler] nazi v. ss issue

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The main thing that annoyed me that was the guy and not the character was the way he sounded when he got all worked up and over excited. His voice just made me want to

[Show spoiler]grab a bowling pin and bash his head in

:

It wasnt until I read Surfdudes post farther down the thread, that I "got" your joke in the spoiler.

[Show spoiler]Bowling Pin.

I didnt put 2 and 2 together.

[iam1bearcat]

Terminator Salvation - DIRECTOR'S CUT

sometimes, bigger, louder, faster, sleeker, prettier and shinier doesn't equal a better movie. for the majority of it, the sum of its parts are better than previous films, but as a final, complete product, Terminator Salvation is missing something from the first three (mainly two) Terminator films.

i believe it is missing heart.

i haven't been a long time fans of the franchise, i actually just watched the four films all within the last month or so for the first time in my life, so i have no long withstanding bias about a new film based off previous masterpieces, but the first two films had something special in them. maybe it was Cameron, that old wily coot. who knows. but Salvation is missing it. and in a way, so was Rise of the Machines, but just not as much.

Christian Bale plays John Connor and aside from having a few "Batman voice-esque" moments he was solid. not that he had a whole lot of variety here. he shoots guns, runs, jumps, screams, yells... pretty much like Batman but without a costume and with a gun... and a group of soldiers

this is definitely an all out action movie with huge, wonderful explosions and a decent (but not as good as the previous films) car chase sequence, but again, the sum of it parts doesn't equal a completely winning combination. sure, the film looks and sounds () amazing, and the story is better than i anticipated, but something was just... off. i can't really explain it. i can say "lack of heart" again which is true, but the film is also missing a sense of humor. what Arnold was great at in the previous, no one is here to pick up that necessary ingredient. and the film is bogged down in serious man vs machine machoism for all 109 minutes.

the new "creatures" are nice and all, but at times i was left thinking, "how in the hell are there any humans alive?" after seeing at how fast, difficult to kill and unlimited ammo supplies they came with. but i guess that's the human spirit. and as the movie ends, "a strength of our hearts is what separates man from machines" or something like that...

and the inclusion of Marcus as the first

[Show spoiler]machine with a synthetic skin cover was a nice addition

although it felt a little forced and out of place at times.

enjoyable, but far from perfect and definitely didn't feel like a Terminator film (if that makes sense to ya), but a loud, explosion filled ride that i'm glad i purchased to complete the franchise (so far).

3/5

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

A Clockwork Orange

second time watching A Clockwork Orange in about a month or so.
and i pretty much feel the same way i did then: i don't really like the film.

i'm impressed (as always) with Kubrick's directing, i (for the most part) enjoy the story, but there are too many things that just don't fit well with me. and for the most part, these are personal small quirks about the film. in all honesty, i understand the love for the film, it's just not my cup of tea. not my time period, not my style of a film i guess sums it up.

and with that...you simply fit into group B. that's just how this film is. extremely polarizing. i haven't yet met one person who said "I liked it" or "It was good". It is always either "A masterpiece...one of my favorites ever" or "I hated it...horrid..."....and the funny thing is its about a 50/50 split...hilarious!

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

and with that...you simply fit into group B. that's just how this film is. extremely polarizing. i haven't yet met one person who said "I liked it" or "It was good". It is always either "A masterpiece...one of my favorites ever" or "I hated it...horrid..."....and the funny thing is its about a 50/50 split...hilarious!

yeah, definitely group B. i won't say i hated it, but definitely found little to enjoy about it. wanted to make sure that i got that across in my review that the film itself (the production, directing, MOST acting (that obnoxiously overly loud cop guy i wanted to murder!) and atmosphere) were good, just not my style.

don't want people thinking my review says, "omgz this sucks hard core! so lame! violence is awesome tho!"

i'm guessing you're Group A surfdude?

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

yeah, definitely group B. i won't say i hated it, but definitely found little to enjoy about it. wanted to make sure that i got that across in my review that the film itself (the production, directing, MOST acting (that obnoxiously overly loud cop guy i wanted to murder!) and atmosphere) were good, just not my style.

don't want people thinking my review says, "omgz this sucks hard core! so lame! violence is awesome tho!"

i'm guessing you're Group A surfdude?

yeah my bad, I read your review and you didn't give the "I hated it" impression. You did point out the strengths you liked, so it was a very balanced view.

Yes, group A. In my first viewing, the first half was a little too intense, so I only gave it 4/5 stars. But with more reading about it and watching it more, I came around. But for me, the reason I love it is the theme of

[Show spoiler]internal change being the only means of true change. As the priest said in teh prison library: "goodness comes from within. goodness is chosen. as soon as a man ceases to choose, he ceases to be a man." Alex: "I dont know about all that, all I know is: I want to be good." What i get from that is: I can't just walk into the doc's office and say "make me stop smoking" or get a gym membership and tell the lady at teh desk "make me thin." But our society has fallen into this mindset of "seek your solution out there" rather than the "seek from within" mode of change/living. From the film, we obviously see how it doesn't work and brings about new issues in the interim before it collapses (political exploitiation, vengence, helplessness - can't defend himself, etc).