The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Foggy]

Inception

My review blog

I just got served some Clotted Cream Mind Fudging!

It is no lie, Inception does to the mind what a 36 hour rave and several shots of tequila do to, well, the mind. The only thing with this is that the after effects are good.

Inception is probably the most well presented well made movies 2010 is going to offer us (PROBABLY). It's smartly written and paced, and the direction is catered with such care and passion for film-making that you feel Christopher Nolan used every ace he had with this film like it will be his last.

Now I'm that one guy who thinks The Dark Knight is SLIGHTLY over-rated, I love The Dark Knight as much as the next person, but I really think the first 30 mins of The Dark Knight are really counter productive and is just a sort of stepping stone to set the story into motion. It's like this with Inception, except from here it's a good thing. You are introduced into a new world, a new set of rules, that need to be set down in stone to really conceive the following 2 hours, while introducing us to the characters. And that's the thing I love about Inception, it sets down all these rules and physics, then instead of using the rules to shape the story, the story shapes around the rules. What I'm saying is that the story doesn't use the rules to say "we can't do this". The story uses the rules to add a sense of danger, so you believe in the rules, therefore believing the world it is set in.

And also the rules are used for such awesome action scenes, the car chase is pretty cool, and the assault on the hospital is fairly cool as well. But the action scene that steals the show is the physics defining hallway fight, you seen it in the trailers, but once you watch it in the movie, you are going to be blown away. It's like the watching the Lobby scene from The Matrix for the first time, you never seen anything like it.

Speaking of The Matrix, this film does borrow heavily from other great movies, but it adds it own spin on things, makes them work within it's own world, that you really don't think of the movie it's riffing on. Plus it adds a lot of reply value to films so you can go off and watch them to see if you can catch all the references.

The acting in this is superb as well, there is not a dull or dud performance in this, Tom Hardy is good as the light (but not overly light) relief, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is really fantastic in his role using every moment of screen time his given, and Marion Cotillard is really creepy and scary as the Wife with a history to Leonardo DiCaprio, he as you expect was pretty good too.

As for the ending, I'm half and half, I'll try not to go too deep into it, but lets say, I like the ambiguity of it, but I don't like how it's not really full explained, like I've got a feeling that the ending could be a major cop-out if it works out how it could. I'll won't say anymore, ask me in the comment section where I'll delve deeper into the situation. But I still really love the movie, and I feel the ending doesn't ruin it for me yet, as it is well presented, and as I said I like the ambiguity of it.

Also, just a side note. There is quite a bit of bloody injury that I'm surprised made it into a PG-13/12A movie, they usually really frown upon movies showing bullet wound blood.

After the movie ended we were throwing the idea of a sequel around, in one case, I would like to see this world revisited again, see what they could do if we saw further into what you can do within a dream, on the other hand, I wouldn't want to ruin this fantastic experience of watching them do all this in the first place, you could develop this idea really far, but do I really need to see this idea further explored.

With all this in mind, I really do think Christopher Nolan has made his masterpiece, a complex movie that also has a ton of shit blowing up, it delivers on everything, yet is more than you could ever want. I'm really interested in how this does at the box office, I've got a feeling (or a fools hope) that this will take of like Avatar, it'll take in a small amount like 70 million (not a huge intake for a 200 million movie not including advertising) but will repeat business for a long time. Yet again, this doesn't have the game changing power like Avatar did, well at least not visually, but definitely in narrative, it has changed the way stories can be told. So for that, I must give it...

10/10

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Yeah, I was amazed how long it took me to get it.

A lot of Blu new releases are like that--though the past month or so it's gotten better.

I think I get throttled sometimes for being too slow since I get busy and sometimes won't get around to watching a disc for a couple weeks.

No. They throttle people that watch a lot. They do it to reduce postage costs.

They LOVE customers that leave the DVD on the coffee table for a couple weeks.

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

No. They throttle people that watch a lot. They do it to reduce postage costs.

They LOVE customers that leave the DVD on the coffee table for a couple weeks.

That's what I've heard. But it does seem like I get long wait ons new releases on blu (but not DVD) in my queue when I'm keeping them a couple weeks vs. watching in a few days.

Could just be coincidence (and probably is), but I thought maybe they don't like sending new released on blu to slower watchers since it increases wait times. I don't get any throttling in the terms of taking more than the 3 business day turn around--I get everything in 3 business days. Just a lot of new releases on blu on long waits pretty often.

In any case, they just need to get in gear and order more copies of titles on blu--especially since we pay an extra fee for blu ray access!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

No, you am are not the only one.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Well, thats a blend, so I guess they just arent your cup of tea. I tend prefer their dark stuff like Blood Simple and Millers crossing over their silly films. Now if Netflix would EVER send A Serious Man, I could see how wrong Gremal was.

So, you never saw it?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

So, you never saw it?

Still waiting for Netflix.

If you go back and look at the discusions we had with Maltz, I was always questioning him about his views, and I never even once offered an opinion on the movie. Did you ever notice that he never asked us what we thought? He only spent time explaining to us why we were wrong and why the movie was EVIL.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

No. They throttle people that watch a lot. They do it to reduce postage costs.

They LOVE customers that leave the DVD on the coffee table for a couple weeks.

They hate me then. I watched 4 movies last week and i have the one at a time plan. I'll put that sucker back in the mailbox even if it's 3am. I'm thinking about getting netflix for my brother. I bought him and my parents a bluray player for Christmas, but all the local video stores suck so it never seems like they get to watch anything. Just wondering what the turn around is like for folks who live in the sticks. First person i thought of was you.

[recS-12]

Just watched "Observe and Report" last night and was disappointed. 5/10

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Still waiting for Netflix.

If you go back and look at the discusions we had with Maltz, I was always questioning him about his views, and I never even once offered an opinion on the movie. Did you ever notice that he never asked us what we thought? He only spent time explaining to us why we were wrong and why the movie was EVIL.

That's funny. So, it's entirely possible that Gremal and I are the only ones in that thread that even saw the movie? That would be funny, but entirely possible given how "determined" he was to prove, whatever he was trying to prove.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

They hate me then. I watched 4 movies last week and i have the one at a time plan. I'll put that sucker back in the mailbox even if it's 3am. I'm thinking about getting netflix for my brother. I bought him and my parents a bluray player for Christmas, but all the local video stores suck so it never seems like they get to watch anything. Just wondering what the turn around is like for folks who live in the sticks. First person i thought of was you.

I live 35 minutes from a hub in Spokane so turnaround is same day. I mail one out on monday, they receive it and mail a new one on Tuesday. I receive it on Wednesday. They only start messing with me when I go over 20 per month... Thats when they are in the red.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I live 35 minutes from a hub in Spokane so turnaround is same day. I mail one out on monday, they receive it and mail a new one on Tuesday. I receive it on Wednesday. They only start messing with me when I go over 20 per month... Thats when they are in the red.

I also live right by a hub, so I always get mine 2 days after I mail it. I generally get about 12-15 movies a month with my 2 disc plan

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

THanks, I also loved the soundtrack, especially the modified lyrics on the Cranberries song.

I read that this film has some Godard style to it, which tells me I should revisit his films. Pierrot Le Fou didn't connect with me. Perhaps I'll check out the Vivre sa Vie next.

Vivre Sa Vie is very philosophical and like Chungking Express, perfectly indicative of its era. You should definitely check it out

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

holy cow!!! you and Jhiggy have blown the roof off on this film for me. Another viewing is needed NOW

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

haha yeah I need to see it again too---one viewing is hardly enough!

Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts!

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I am watching it tonight, and dont worry. All movies that come with a rec are worth a try. If they suck, se la vie.

Movies that resolve nothing, like Marienbad are fine because the entire film is abstract and open to interpretation. The White ribbon though, is told in a traditional way, with real characters that have been clearly defined, in real time, in a standard reality, chronologically advancing through a series of logical events towads a climax. Ending it without a climax, or even a conclusion for the many interconnected stories felt like a letdown.

I'll post my thoughts tomorrow and we can have a go at it.

Spoilers please!

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I haven't heard of anyone who actually liked this yet, but it was a best pic nom over some very deserving titles (Messenger, Last Station, Stoning of Soraya M., etc.). Maybe Gremal was right

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Are am I the only one baffled about how long of a wait there's been for A Serious Man and the fact that Paranormal Activity, last time I checked, STILL has a very long wait?

It's for this very reason that this movie is not getting the recognition it deserves. Not sure why all the predetermined hate, but A Serious Man is one of, if not the best, movie of 2009.

The Coen's have mixed in the dark humor once again, much to some people's discontent, but this is unlike any of the other films. It is complex, metaphorical, and will not leave your head for weeks... that is, if people even bother to get the message and think about it (which for some reason, some aren't even giving the movie a chance ).

[Al_The_Strange]

Popped in "Clash of the Titans" 1981.

This is probably the first time I've seen it from beginning to end, fully soaking in the full story and figuring out what the spiel is between the characters and the Gods and monsters and everything. Not that I really missed anything; the story is alright, and quite classy, but it's mostly a good excuse to show off the cool mythology and monsters and in their full claymation glory.

The SFX are a bit dated, but still halfway decent, especially considering the film's age and its scope. I wouldn't say that the acting (much less the characters) is great, but it is pretty well-filmed, it has a decent production value, and it is overall quite epic. I think the beginning half drags a bit, but the last half is pretty darn awesome.

3.5/5 (entertainment: 3.5/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 3.5/5)

The Blu-Ray is pretty decently sharp, with plenty of details. But, it is very grainy, almost gaudy in some scenes. Many shots appear overly dark, drab, or hazed-out. It's not perfect, but for a film this old without proper restoration, it looks good most of the time. Sound quality seemed good.

PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 4/5

Not many extras; a quick making-of interview and a bunch of mythological mumbo jumbo.

Extras: 1.5/5

Will probably rent the remake pretty soon...

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

It's for this very reason that this movie is not getting the recognition it deserves. Not sure why all the predetermined hate, but A Serious Man is one of, if not the best, movie of 2009.

The Coen's have mixed in the dark humor once again, much to some people's discontent, but this is unlike any of the other films. It is complex, metaphorical, and will not leave your head for weeks... that is, if people even bother to get the message and think about it (which for some reason, some aren't even giving the movie a chance ).

I have a WITNESS!!!!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Spoilers please!

Sorry.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I live 35 minutes from a hub in Spokane so turnaround is same day. I mail one out on monday, they receive it and mail a new one on Tuesday. I receive it on Wednesday. They only start messing with me when I go over 20 per month... Thats when they are in the red.

Didn't realize you were so close to Spokane. Do you have the one at a time plan? I see the closest to my parents house is Springfield, IL or St. Louis, MO. Both are probably a little over an hour away. Maybe i should get them the 2 at a time plan, that way they can share with my brother and also watch one while the other is being sent back? Dunno.....

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

Didn't realize you were so close to Spokane. Do you have the one at a time plan? I see the closest to my parents house is Springfield, IL or St. Louis, MO. Both are probably a little over an hour away. Maybe i should get them the 2 at a time plan, that way they can share with my brother and also watch one while the other is being sent back? Dunno.....

He said that he sometime gets about 20+ a month, so I'm guessin that he's got a 3 disc plan, but possibly a 2.

I have the 2 disc and it's great. I used to have the 3 plan before they jacked their prices up