The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I hated the Bourne movies. I recorded and rented all three of them and watched over two days. I believe I gave the first two a 2.5/5 and the third a 2/5.

Just wasn't for me





I gave Zombieland a 4.25/5, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I mean it was an

[Show spoiler]epic tale of a man and his search for the world's last twinkie

I put it as my 11th movie of last year.

How on Earth is this possible? I just cant understand this. Spies, guns, action, car chases, a hot chick, ass whoopin, more ass whoopin, globe trotting espionage and a good story to boot.

as hell.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I like the three Bourne films because I think the story is interesting and they're entertaining, but I can't stand the editing and directing. Handheld camera work and quick cuts detract greatly from action scenes and are unnecessary (when very shaky) for non-action scenes, for the most part, imo.

I agree when its done poorly.

The Bourne Identity, as we know kinda started the whole hanheld/shakey thing. It caught on with a few directors and has been overused and abused. Combine that technique with the frenetic editing and the result is a incomprehensible scene. Boooo! (Quantum of Solace) I have grown sick of its abuse as a lazy way to "enhance" an action film.

That said, I found this to be quite a refreshing discovery a few weeks ago. I watched all three Bournes, and while shakey-cam was involved, its nowhere near the silliness we see today. I'll go so far as to say that it was excellent and ADDED to the intensity because it was done right. It added to the intimacy and claustrophobia of certain scenes as well. I was really surprised at how subtle it was compared to the new super-over-the-top spaso-shakey being employed in more recent movies.

My memory was way off on the Bourne films. They got it right, and the copycats overindulged in a good thing.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

How on Earth is this possible? I just cant understand this. Spies, guns, action, car chases, a hot chick, ass whoopin, more ass whoopin, globe trotting espionage and a good story to boot.

as hell.

Yea I know, and I usually like all of that stuff

....just didn't in these movies

[Foggy]

I watched Two Movies

First off...Mirrors

I had to go out during a short period in the middle of the movie, but I got the general gist of the movie, and for a modern day horror remake, it was ok. It wasn't totally godawful, it was just very by the numbers. There were numerous pointless jump scares, but the acting was pretty alright and the story was fairly intriguing and there are some cool gimmicks with mirrors (though the characters where quite dumb). This is all ok...right up till the last 5-10 mins, where a

[Show spoiler]demon-nun

starts eff-ing S*** up and

[Show spoiler]Kieth Sutherland ends up inside a mirror world

. First off,

[Show spoiler]Demon Nuns

are stupid, plain and simple, and I don't mind the way it's handled the whole

[Show spoiler]"he's stuck in a mirror"

thing, it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth, having a fairly

[Show spoiler]unhappy

ending.

4/10

Shutter Island

Awesome, awesome movie, I raved about it before, it's brilliant, a very tense and well presented thriller. This is the 2nd time I watched it, so this time I relaxed more and got into the film, instead of guessing what was going to happen. And yes, I caught the

[Show spoiler]glass trick

.

9.5/10

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I watched Two Movies

Shutter Island

Awesome, awesome movie, I raved about it before, it's brilliant, a very tense and well presented thriller. This is the 2nd time I watched it, so this time I relaxed more and got into the film, instead of guessing what was going to happen. And yes, I caught the

[Show spoiler]glass trick

.

9.5/10

I cant wait to watch this. It in my collection just waiting to be played. Maybe tomorrow!

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

I cant wait to watch this. It in my collection just waiting to be played. Maybe tomorrow!

Definitely!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I agree when its done poorly.

The Bourne Identity, as we know kinda started the whole hanheld/shakey thing. It caught on with a few directors and has been overused and abused. Combine that technique with the frenetic editing and the result is a incomprehensible scene. Boooo! (Quantum of Solace) I have grown sick of its abuse as a lazy way to "enhance" an action film.

That said, I found this to be quite a refreshing discovery a few weeks ago. I watched all three Bournes, and while shakey-cam was involved, its nowhere near the silliness we see today. I'll go so far as to say that it was excellent and ADDED to the intensity because it was done right. It added to the intimacy and claustrophobia of certain scenes as well. I was really surprised at how subtle it was compared to the new super-over-the-top spaso-shakey being employed in more recent movies.

My memory was way off on the Bourne films. They got it right, and the copycats overindulged in a good thing.

I think you make good points. I like the Bourne films, so it didn't ruin them for me, although I think they'd be better without it. An example of where it completely ruins a film (although it wasn't good to begin with) is Chronicles of Riddick (sorry Diesel!)

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I think you make good points. I like the Bourne films, so it didn't ruin them for me, although I think they'd be better without it. An example of where it completely ruins a film (although it wasn't good to begin with) is Chronicles of Riddick (sorry Diesel!)

I dont remember any there. I believe you of couse, but nothing rings a bell. What scenes have it? I have the BD and will check it out.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I think you make good points. I like the Bourne films, so it didn't ruin them for me, although I think they'd be better without it. An example of where it completely ruins a film (although it wasn't good to begin with) is Chronicles of Riddick (sorry Diesel!)

It's go time now!

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I dont remember any there. I believe you of couse, but nothing rings a bell. What scenes have it? I have the BD and will check it out.

I don't recall any either in Chronicles.

Pitch Black did though.

Maybe that's the one he meant.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

It's go time now!





I don't recall any either in Chronicles.

Pitch Black did though.

Maybe that's the one he meant.

Well then!!!!

If he doesnt know the difference, he isnt entitled to an opinion.



Hurry up # 3.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Well then!!!!

If he doesnt know the difference, he isnt entitled to an opinion.

Indeed he doesn't!

Hurry up # 3.

_____



I watched Fast & Furious today, as I said a few posts back I give the movie a 4.5/5.

It is a pretty different tone than the first film with the original cast, that is why I had such a hard time choosing between the two as my favorite.

The first movie was never actually about the cars and the races, it was about Toretto and the people around him (at least to me it was, I'm sure a lot of people look at it as about the cars and races).

This new one was even more removed from being about cars and racing, as this time it was all about Toretto and O'Connor's characters. Toretto wanting

[Show spoiler] to protect the woman he loved even if it meant leaving her, revenge for her death later, and finally doing the right thing near the end of the film in the church and going to court after

and O'Connor struggling with who he really is: the good guy pretending the bad guy or the bad guy pretending to be the good guy. I didn't think it got enough credit for that as most people who do watch these movies watch them for the racing and miss the real movie (at least for the 1st and 4th) imo.

The reason why I had my name here changed from Blu-man88 (only had that for like 3 months) to Diesel comes from this movie actually. During the part where

[Show spoiler]they are escaping from the trap set by the baddies after they deliver the shipments through the tunnels, one of the bad guys shoots Diesel's character. And his response is to just turn around and beat the guy who did it; later calmly stating "I don't like being shot..."

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Indeed he doesn't!








_____



I watched Fast & Furious today, as I said a few posts back I give the movie a 4.5/5.

The reason why I had my name here changed from Blu-man88 (only had that for like 3 months) to Diesel comes from this movie actually. During the part where

[Show spoiler]they are escaping from the trap set by the baddies after they deliver the shipments through the tunnels, one of the bad guys shoots Diesel's character. And his response is to just turn around and beat the guy who did it; later calmly stating "I don't like being shot..."

Yes....I remember that story.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I dont remember any there. I believe you of couse, but nothing rings a bell. What scenes have it? I have the BD and will check it out.

All the fight scenes are horribly done, especially the ones on the way to the caves.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Diesel

It's go time now!





I don't recall any either in Chronicles.

Pitch Black did though.

Maybe that's the one he meant.

Nope, def didn't mean Pitch Black.

[Diesel]

They have quick editing for sure, but they weren't shaky cam. If you eye can keep up with the quick cuts, the images were quite clear as to exactly what was going on on screen and not jumping all around like a monkey was filming the scenes like some movies look.



The fight against the necromongers on the way to the ship was one of my favorite parts of the film, I thought the fight scenes overall were all done quite well actually and liked the way they were edited

Difference of preference on that part though I suppose.

[CZAR]

Dead Calm - This was my first viewing of this film. I thought it was very good. I have always liked Billy Zane and he and Nicole Kidman played well off each other. Loved the atmosphere of the film and loved the pacing as well. I just may have to add this film to the collection very soon.

Film Rating - 4 stars (out of 5)

Got Em!!

[Foggy]

Platoon

First time watch and I feel as if I will have to watch it again because I feel as if I'm missing something.

I was struggling to connect with this movie, I couldn't get into it until a good way though it, it just goes straight in without anything and then jumps straight out after it finishes. I just can't really explain what I thought off it, I thought it was good, but there was nothing there to make me see it's praise. The acting was good but nothing special. It's story isn't really the main focus, but then the film just feels like it's roaming free, and your just watching odd events tied loosely together. The war scenes where not very affective as they don't immerse you in to the fights, you don't really care for most the characters.

I will say though, that the final message in the film is powerful, showing that wars biggest weapon is ourselves, once war gets around you and affects you, it'll turn you into a manic monster, or break the foundations of the emotional structure of a person into rubble. It's a powerful message that is well presented in the actions of the movie, but the movie never captivated me enough for it to become a lasting impression.

Like I said, I may need repeat viewing to warm to this one...

8/10

I was going to watch Apocalypse Now, but it's too late now, so I'll save that one for another day!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Platoon

First time watch and I feel as if I will have to watch it again because I feel as if I'm missing something.
I was struggling to connect with this movie, I couldn't get into it until a good way though it, it just goes straight in without anything and then jumps straight out after it finishes. I just can't really explain what I thought off it, I thought it was good, but there was nothing there to make me see it's praise. The acting was good but nothing special. It's story isn't really the main focus, but then the film just feels like it's roaming free, and your just watching odd events tied loosely together. The war scenes where not very affective as they don't immerse you in to the fights, you don't really care for most the characters.

I will say though, that the final message in the film is powerful, showing that wars biggest weapon is ourselves, once war gets around you and affects you, it'll turn you into a manic monster, or break the foundations of the emotional structure of a person into rubble. It's a powerful message that is well presented in the actions of the movie, but the movie never captivated me enough for it to become a lasting impression.

Like I said, I may need repeat viewing to warm to this one...

8/10

I was going to watch Apocalypse Now, but it's too late now, so I'll save that one for another day!

This is what things felt like to our soldiers too. Chaos reigned.

Great movie.

[hardcorefrokid]

Black Dynamite: 4.5/5
Zombieland: 4/5
Thirst: 5/5

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Diesel

It's go time now!