The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[J.Cornelius]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I do agree though that the topic is very interesting and it just goes to show that there are so many stories that haven't been told yet. I don't agree on the lead actor though. I thought he was good but not great in his role.

Perhaps because it is so fresh in my mind but I think his performance was top notch because of the demands put on the role, without much dialogue, he was able to convey the emotions of the character perfectly.

The lives of others is a great movie, in my Netflix Que for a repeat viewing it has been awhile.

[J.Cornelius]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Diesel, you should check out Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale is 12-13 years old. Spielberg directed it. Its a really strong movie...

A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II........

Great movie hope it makes to Blu-Ray one of these days. John Malkovich is great in his role as well.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Diesel, you should check out Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale is 12-13 years old. Spielberg directed it. Its a really strong movie...

A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II........

That's one of the ones I haven't seen.

I've been wanting to see that actually based on recommendations but haven't yet.

I need to see if my friend has it so I can borrow it

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by J.Cornelius

Counterfeiters

Let me start off by saying that I found this movie fascinating. The superb acting by Mr. Karl Markovics as Salomon Sorowitsch in the lead role blew me away. That is acting at is finest, very subtle body language, simple gestures, I was just enthralled by his acting ability. The juxtaposition the “counterfeiters” find themselves in is at the heart of the story, produce perfect replications of the Pound and the Dollar and enhance the war machine which is killing off your fellow man, woman and children or die. The themes of survival presented are thought provoking and can be easily debated from both sides. I felt the ending of the film was brilliant.

One note would be the picture quality, the movie is definitely on the softer side with some daylight scenes to have an inconsistent amount of grain. That being said this did not bother me in the slightest if one had to guess more than likely exemplifies what the movie looked like in theaters.



Movie 5/5

PQ 3.5/5

AQ 4.5/5

I really enjoyed this film and agree about the performances. And the bolded part was really strong stuff in the film. The choices, the guilt, the stalling.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Diesel, you should check out Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale is 12-13 years old. Spielberg directed it. Its a really strong movie...

A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II........

A very good movie, no doubt, but not to the level of greatness as some of his other films (Spielberg). I think I gave it 3 1/2 (out of 4). I love the scene with the two pilots in front of the plane and the firery (squid!) background.

[rkolinski]

A River Runs Through It

I've always loved this movie and the lyrical and poetic style in which it was narrated and filmed. This is the first time I watched this on blu-ray and the PQ, AQ and Supplements are really awesome. While watching this yesterday, I tried to think of some reasons why I love this film so much and a surprising thought popped into my head - the narration and the style of filming reminded me of one of my favorite poets and singers of the 1970's, Rod McKuen. I doubt there are many young people who are aware of this individual but Robert Redford's narrative style reminds me very much of this individual. The Supplements are interesting; I didn't know that this film was shot on a different river than the one in the original story, because that river was too polluted, but also found it interesting that the original river has been cleaned up primarily because of this film. This BD is Highly Recommended.

MOVIE: 5/5 PQ: 4.5/5 AQ: 4/5 SUPPLEMENTS: 4/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

A River Runs Through It

I've always loved this movie and the lyrical and poetic style in which it was narrated and filmed. This is the first time I watched this on blu-ray and the PQ, AQ and Supplements are really awesome. While watching this yesterday, I tried to think of some reasons why I love this film so much and a surprising thought popped into my head - the narration and the style of filming reminded me of one of my favorite poets and singers of the 1970's, Rod McKuen. I doubt there are many young people who are aware of this individual but Robert Redford's narrative style reminds me very much of this individual. The Supplements are interesting; I didn't know that this film was shot on a different river than the one in the original story, because that river was too polluted, but also found it interesting that the original river has been cleaned up primarily because of this film. This BD is Highly Recommended.

MOVIE: 5/5 PQ: 4.5/5 AQ: 4/5 SUPPLEMENTS: 4/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5

One of Pitts standout performances IMO.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Magnolia


5/5

great review! PTA is my favorite active director. I think the

[Show spoiler]frog raining was a tribute to the biblical plague of frogs (Ex 7:25), which forced Pharoh to turn over prisoners he had. I guess God used the frog plague to show Pharoh he's not God and thus not in control over everything, so shouldn't presume to make concrete plans (like keeping people prisoner) and think he has complete control over his plan. Same with Magnolia: the characters' had specific plans in mind for their lives and had clung to those plans so hard that the frog raining was a symbolic reminder that they're not in control over everything in their life (i.e., "shi@ happens"). This is the point of the film: it starts with the intro documentary-like sequence, arguing the "everything happens for a reason" / "everything is predictable", etc, but then it deliberately takes a 180 and all gets turned on its head (as in life) to the truth of we're not in control, we have no idea what will happen to us, and to try and control our lives will only lead to misery. This is meant to mirror our life cycle: we're all told early on that "you can be anything you want to be", etc and are led to believe that we are in complete control, yet in the end, we learn we're not. A masterpiece film that evolves as life does.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

A River Runs Through It

I've always loved this movie and the lyrical and poetic style in which it was narrated and filmed. This is the first time I watched this on blu-ray and the PQ, AQ and Supplements are really awesome. While watching this yesterday, I tried to think of some reasons why I love this film so much and a surprising thought popped into my head - the narration and the style of filming reminded me of one of my favorite poets and singers of the 1970's, Rod McKuen. I doubt there are many young people who are aware of this individual but Robert Redford's narrative style reminds me very much of this individual. The Supplements are interesting; I didn't know that this film was shot on a different river than the one in the original story, because that river was too polluted, but also found it interesting that the original river has been cleaned up primarily because of this film. This BD is Highly Recommended.

MOVIE: 5/5 PQ: 4.5/5 AQ: 4/5 SUPPLEMENTS: 4/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5

This is an incredible film, although it seems that not too many on this site have seen it (I remember getting verbally abused for saying it was my top want out of the digibooks a few months back!!!) I agree with squid about Pitt's performance. Big fan of the film and still waiting for a price drop.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Do I have to keep pleading my case about how good this film is??? Every single person on this website that's seen it so far, and almost every single critic, has given it a rave review--there's a reason for that! I'm not pleased that my pre-order is delayed

To think that as good as the film is, the book is still that much better and the second book is that much better than the first. Mind boggling.

There's gotta be plans for a sequel right?

I thought about the movie all day today at work. I have two teeny, tiny, itty, bitty complaints though:

[Show spoiler]
1) Did we ever find out for sure who was shooting in the woods?
2) There was so much exposition in the last thirty minutes that i was sure they'd leave the Harriet mystery and the whole "libel suit" thing until the next movie. It's weird. I was glad they wrapped it up nice and neat, but it's possible it all happened too fast.

Keep in mind i thought all day about flaws and this pitiful little list is all i could come up with. I still give it 4 stars.
Foreign movies kick so much butt. 2.5 hour movie and i didn't recognize a single actor.

P.S. Why DO people pre-order? I kid, i kid.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

great review! PTA is my favorite active director. I think the

[Show spoiler]frog raining was a tribute to the biblical plague of frogs (Ex 7:25), which forced Pharoh to turn over prisoners he had. I guess God used the frog plague to show Pharoh he's not God and thus not in control over everything, so shouldn't presume to make concrete plans (like keeping people prisoner) and think he has complete control over his plan. Same with Magnolia: the characters' had specific plans in mind for their lives and had clung to those plans so hard that the frog raining was a symbolic reminder that they're not in control over everything in their life (i.e., "shi@ happens"). This is the point of the film: it starts with the intro documentary-like sequence, arguing the "everything happens for a reason" / "everything is predictable", etc, but then it deliberately takes a 180 and all gets turned on its head (as in life) to the truth of we're not in control, we have no idea what will happen to us, and to try and control our lives will only lead to misery. This is meant to mirror our life cycle: we're all told early on that "you can be anything you want to be", etc and are led to believe that we are in complete control, yet in the end, we learn we're not. A masterpiece film that evolves as life does.

wow. thanks surfdude!
i imagined it had some sort of meaning or logic behind it, but even when i googled

[Show spoiler]"magnolia frog scene"

all i got was "yeah, that sh!t was weird" and stuff like that so what you wrote definitely helps that scene make more sense and not just some random "whoa, wtf?" moment. can't wait to watch it again knowing this info now.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

wow. thanks surfdude!
i imagined it had some sort of meaning or logic behind it, but even when i googled

[Show spoiler]"magnolia frog scene"

all i got was "yeah, that sh!t was weird" and stuff like that so what you wrote definitely helps that scene make more sense and not just some random "whoa, wtf?" moment. can't wait to watch it again knowing this info now.

"This is something that happens."

I totally agree with Surdude's explanation as well. It's also a nice way to end the movie because you get to show all the characters reaction to these events. To me it would've been an impossible movie to wrap up quickly because of all the characters. It was almost a montage ending without actually being one, if that makes any sense?
Hell, it might be BETTER than There Will Be Blood. At least P.T.A. thinks so.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

"This is something that happens."

I totally agree with Surdude's explanation as well. It's also a nice way to end the movie because you get to show all the characters reaction to these events. To me it would've been an impossible movie to wrap up quickly because of all the characters. It was almost a montage ending without actually being one, if that makes any sense?
Hell, it might be BETTER than There Will Be Blood. At least P.T.A. thinks so.

he said this? wild. usually director's don't pick a favorite and go the "picking favorite child" route when asked for favorite film of theirs.

i think my order would be:

There Will Be Blood
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
Boogie Nights

i know TWBB is #1 for me, for sure. and all might be 5/5 but i'll have to revisit the films soon.
and i have not yet seen Hard Eight (his first film). if it's actually a "film" and not just a short, cheaply made movie, i'll add it to his list of films made, but i haven't seen it or heard if it was an actual release or a personal first project that got him on the map.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

he said this? wild. usually director's don't pick a favorite and go the "picking favorite child" route when asked for favorite film of theirs.

i think my order would be:

There Will Be Blood
Magnolia
Punch Drunk Love
Boogie Nights

i know TWBB is #1 for me, for sure. and all might be 5/5 but i'll have to revisit the films soon.
and i have not yet seen Hard Eight (his first film). if it's actually a "film" and not just a short, cheaply made movie, i'll add it to his list of films made, but i haven't seen it or heard if it was an actual release or a personal first project that got him on the map.

Dude, Hard Eight or Sydney is a real deal movie. Very solid debut. John C. Reily, Gwenyth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Baker Hall, and a cameo by Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

I think P.T.A. basically said that he'll never be able to top Magnolia in his mind, even if he makes a movie down the road that wins more awards or makes more money. Glad he hasn't stopped trying.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

There's gotta be plans for a sequel right?

I thought about the movie all day today at work. I have two teeny, tiny, itty, bitty complaints though:

[Show spoiler]
1) Did we ever find out for sure who was shooting in the woods?
2) There was so much exposition in the last thirty minutes that i was sure they'd leave the Harriet mystery and the whole "libel suit" thing until the next movie. It's weird. I was glad they wrapped it up nice and neat, but it's possible it all happened too fast.

Keep in mind i thought all day about flaws and this pitiful little list is all i could come up with. I still give it 4 stars.
Foreign movies kick so much butt. 2.5 hour movie and i didn't recognize a single actor.

P.S. Why DO people pre-order? I kid, i kid.

[Show spoiler]Vanger (the killer) was who was shooting in the woods. As for the second point, usually I hate when things are wrapped up quickly but here it worked. The Harriet mystery and libel suit are wrapped up that quick in the book, so there's no deviation. The ending, however is pretty different. By that, I mean the last scene of the book is incredibly important for the next two books but isn't shown in the movie. If you want me to tell you what it is, I'll do so. It may seem ho hum, but I can assure you it isn't.

Actually, the sequel comes out in theaters tomorrow. I'm going to see it at 7:30 in Fort Lauderdale. The reviews have been good but not as good as the first one so far, although Ebert gave it 3 1/2. The problem is that the director was changed and that the two sequels (the other one will be released this fall domestically) were shot like tv movies, so they look and feel like a tv movie and have a lesser budget. The second book, as general opinion goes, is the best book of the series. I completely agree--it's all about Lisbeth's backstory and it's absolutely fascinating. The first book is by far the easiest to make into a movie though, because it has the "murder mystery" plot to go on.

In Ebert's review, he confirmed (or maybe just speculated based on the rumors) that Daniel Craig and Carey Mulligan (Oscar nom for An Education) will be the two leads in Fincher's upcoming remake. I'm indifferent about these two selections. Craig seems to look the part and he can def pass for a journalist, but imo he has little range as an actor and has no sense of humor or charisma. The thing about Blomkvist is that he's full of charisma in the books. Granted, you don't see much of this in the first movie, which isn't a major complaint.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, can do a better job at pulling off Lisbeth than Rapace. Mulligan has the talent and has the body type and stature, but there's a fatal flaw with her--she has TOO much charisma (if you've seen An Education, you'd know). Lisbeth should have been an unknown bc even after three books, she's still practically unknown to the reader. Plus, she has zero charisma. She's a misanthrope (that's for you squid) and a hermit. I'm sure they'll have it so Mulligan tones down her natural charisma, but idk. Not to mention Mulligan doesn't come off nearly as rough enough. But, did anyone think Ledger could pull off a role like the Joker, even with his talent? Not really, because he'd always played the pretty boy. So I have confidence, but let's be serious--it's not going to be anywhere near as good as the Swedish version.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

She's a misanthrope (that's for you squid) .

At you even spelled it correctly.

[Diesel]

I watched Avatar today....but I'm scared to mention any more than that because the thread will get derailed for two pages

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I watched Avatar today....but I'm scared to mention any more than that because the thread will get derailed for two pages

Another 3 hours of your life down the toilet.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I watched Avatar today....but I'm scared to mention any more than that because the thread will get derailed for two pages

Come on man, tell me, i wont argue i promise!

Originally Posted by ajvdbg

Shutter Island 5/5 - I just watched this first time as well, and I have to agree with most of your review. It does cause you to scratch your head but you must be patient: the eloquence with which the truth is gradually revealed is so incredibly crafted and timed, it really is amazing direction and acting. Be sure you watch the extra feature on how the actors had to

[Show spoiler]show that they were "acting" within the script such that when you watch it again you can see how they were reacting to Leo's insanity...very cool!!

Originally Posted by pj_campbell

Yes! Great movie
Glad to see you loved it

Originally Posted by Foggy

Told you so

This movie has made it to my top 10 for sure.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

This movie has made it to my top 10 for sure.

Awesome Glad to see some people still discovering it and loving it as much as I do. Scorsese and DiCaprio are a great combination, and I will never doubt them. They have made four great movies together so far, and I hope we get more to come