The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I'm excited too but I'd never take into account how ppl rated it there. Ppl did the same for Kick Ass and TDK--doesn't mean they're great films, it just means that ppl really liked them.

I just meant that almost everyone who's seen it pretty much loved it, so I'm excited because I'm sure I'll like it a lot as well. I don't really value the praise of the masses, but it allows me to make a decision on whether or not I'm going to see it. I heard a lot of great praise about Predators, but I didn't listen to any of it because there aren't a lot of people out there that are as big a Predator fan as I am. After I saw it, I picked that b!tch apart. I guess you could say I ripped it's spinal column out

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I don't disagree on the first point--but that's where subjective and objective comes into play. If you watch a film numerous times and still love it, then you think it's great--subjective. If a film is considered by virtually every critic to be one of the all-time greats, i.e. 8 1/2, Godfather, etc, then that's objective. Godfather, 8 1/2, 2001==objective all-time greats. TDK, Inception, Avatar==subjective all-time greats.

Well said. I loved Transformers after I saw it, but I knew exactly what kind of film it was..... unlike some of my friends that I was with. I had to give them the Ebert quote

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I don't disagree on the first point--but that's where subjective and objective comes into play. If you watch a film numerous times and still love it, then you think it's great--subjective. If a film is considered by virtually every critic to be one of the all-time greats, i.e. 8 1/2, Godfather, etc, then that's objective. Godfather, 8 1/2, 2001==objective all-time greats. TDK, Inception, Avatar==subjective all-time greats.

Dude i dont care 2 sh*ts about critics, i never ever ever ever listen to them when it comes to movies. No critic has a good rep either. Godfather is the greatest of all times because i viewed it and it got MY VOTE. Im the one paying for the movie, and if majority for regular viewers say its awesome then i know without a doubt i will like it, it might not be my favorite but i'll enjoy it for sure!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Yup this is a point P@t_Mtl has made many times and lately I've been making it as well. Movie fans in general need to learn to be more objective and wait a bit before they throw up the best movie of all-time talk. It gets to be like the little boy who cried wolf, eventually people stop believing it and eventually become annoyed and resentful.

Like jhiggy said, good point. This is why I refrain from even placing a movie in my personal all-time favorite movies list after my initial viewing because I want to see a movie multiple times before I declare it better than something I've seen before it more than once. As much as I enjoyed Avatar, I never once called it my favorite movie of all time because I had only seen it once. My favorite film of all time is Underworld, and I've seen that more times than Avatar. There was no way I was going to put Avatar above Underworld just after my initial 3D viewing in the theaters. I realize you were talking about best and not favorite, but I still think it applies. I also realize some are going to say "what? Underworld?", but oh well.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Well said. I loved Transformers after I saw it, but I knew exactly what kind of film it was..... unlike some of my friends that I was with. I had to give them the Ebert quote

Transformers is one of my favorites just because it raw action and a real test to your HT equipment, Extremely entertaining and i can watch it numerous times but i doesnt have the umph to make it my favorite. I movie has to entertain the h3ll out of me and keep me thinking about this film after i've viewed it. Inception truly did that.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

If you can watch a film numerous times and still get the same great effect then its GREAT IMO. Movies are meant to entertain.

I'm finding that many movies that I give my highest rating to (5 stars) are movies that I needed to see more than once to truly love. It's rare for me to give a top rating to a film the first time I see it--

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Vivre Sa Vie (blu) (Criterion)

PQ: 4.5 (out of 5)

AQ: 4.0 (out of 5)

Film: 3 1/2 stars (out of 4)

great review. your endorsement may be enough for a blind buy. i hate netflix-instant

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

The Lives of Others


5/5

Great review bearcat! Glad you loved it!

And yes, i totally agree with your thoughts. I've never posted this, but I didn't finish this film on my first viewing. LIke you, at about the 20 minute mark (somewhere around

[Show spoiler]the point of Grubitz/Wiesler talking to Hempf at the theater

), I honestly got impatient and shut it off Yes, my #2 favorite film wasn't finished on a first viewing...so you are 110% correct...it is one of the most "momentum" films ever, in the sense that it builds and builds, so requires initial patience that will be paid back 100-fold.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

I just meant that almost everyone who's seen it pretty much loved it, so I'm excited because I'm sure I'll like it a lot as well. I don't really value the praise of the masses, but it allows me to make a decision on whether or not I'm going to see it. I heard a lot of great praise about Predators, but I didn't listen to any of it because there aren't a lot of people out there that are as big a Predator fan as I am. After I saw it, I picked that b!tch apart. I guess you could say I ripped it's spinal column out

haha!

[surfdude12]

Groundhog Day

Film: 5/5
-obviously, the genius theme here is

[Show spoiler]that self-absorption and self-centeredness will only lead to a repetitive, dull, life where every day feels to be the same. only when one ceases a life of constantly thinking about themself and thinking that they're better than anyone else, and instead draws their attention to others and engaging in action to help others, without any expectation of reward, will the person's life become happy and non-repetitive where every day is a new day with new rewards

. truly a genius script.

PQ: 4.5/5

AQ: 3.5/5

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Dude i dont care 2 sh*ts about critics, i never ever ever ever listen to them when it comes to movies. No critic has a good rep either. Godfather is the greatest of all times because i viewed it and it got MY VOTE. Im the one paying for the movie, and if majority for regular viewers say its awesome then i know without a doubt i will like it, it might not be my favorite but i'll enjoy it for sure!

No critic has a good rep? I assume you mean for yourself, in which case I have no argument--some ppl simply don't like critics and there's nothing wrong with that. If your comment doesn't pertain to only yourself then you're wrong, whether you want to admit it or not. Ebert's resume speaks for itself, and he's just one critic.

I don't disagree with the rest of your post.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Like jhiggy said, good point. This is why I refrain from even placing a movie in my personal all-time favorite movies list after my initial viewing because I want to see a movie multiple times before I declare it better than something I've seen before it more than once. As much as I enjoyed Avatar, I never once called it my favorite movie of all time because I had only seen it once. My favorite film of all time is Underworld, and I've seen that more times than Avatar. There was no way I was going to put Avatar above Underworld just after my initial 3D viewing in the theaters. I realize you were talking about best and not favorite, but I still think it applies. I also realize some are going to say "what? Underworld?", but oh well.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing the three Underworld films and I have been for some time.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Groundhog Day

Film: 5/5
-obviously, the genius theme here is

[Show spoiler]that self-absorption and self-centeredness will only lead to a repetitive, dull, life where every day feels to be the same. only when one ceases a life of constantly thinking about themself and thinking that they're better than anyone else, and instead draws their attention to others and engaging in action to help others, without any expectation of reward, will the person's life become happy and non-repetitive where every day is a new day with new rewards

. truly a genius script.

PQ: 4.5/5

AQ: 3.5/5

I've always enjoyed this film but haven't seen it recently. I've never delved into the themes at all, since I watched it mainly when I was younger. Def needs to be seen again.

[surfdude12]

The 400 Blows

Film: 5/5
-love this film more and more, the more I watch it
-its impossible to conclude that

[Show spoiler]a delinquent kid is simply a "brat" who deserves whatever happens to him, after watching this film. the film shows, frame by frame, that juvenile delinquency is not black and white, and may be set in motion months or even years before the child consciously chooses the acts which eventually lead to his arrest/expulsion/suspension, and that it is set in motion by people other than the child, who perform acts completely outside of his control.

PQ and AQ are terrific for this old of a transfer. 4.5/5

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

great review. your endorsement may be enough for a blind buy. i hate netflix-instant

I bought Revanche yesterday btw. I went back today to exchange Che because the one I got was damaged (ripped plastic). Yesterday they had two copies of Vivre Sa Vie. Today they were both gone. I ordered it and will be picking it up in a few days. I haven't seen Pierrot so I have no basis of comparison. I know that film is renowned for its difficulty. Vivre, however, isn't "outside the box." It tells a simple but effective story. What makes it different is its beautiful filming, the use of its music, its 12 chapters, and some of the camera angles. As well as I know your taste and as often as we talk, I'm still not great at predicting whether you'll like a film. That being said, I can't see you not liking this film. I'm not sure you'll love it like me, but I think it will at least get a 3 star (out of 4) rating from you, which translates to maybe a 4 on your scale.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

The 400 Blows

Film: 5/5
-love this film more and more, the more I watch it
-its impossible to conclude that

[Show spoiler]a delinquent kid is simply a "brat" who deserves whatever happens to him, after watching this film. the film shows, frame by frame, that juvenile delinquency is not black and white, and may be set in motion months or even years before the child consciously chooses the acts which eventually lead to his arrest/expulsion/suspension, and that it is set in motion by people other than the child, who perform acts completely outside of his control.

PQ and AQ are terrific for this old of a transfer. 4.5/5

Maybe my favorite Criterion on blu. Absolutely love the film but have only seen it once! I'm considering stopping my netflix for a month so I can watch the films I own again.

[surfdude12]

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (DVD)

Film: 4/5
-great film. my first time seeing it
-Liz Taylor and Paul Newman were terrific. This is my second Taylor film that I can recall. Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? was the first...highly recommended if you haven't seen it!!
-great dialogue with Newman and the guy playing his dad about

[Show spoiler] alcoholism, and what is the true cause of Newman's drinking = lies/deceit. the drinking is just a way to hide the lies/deceit. also, great dialogue about the often-neglected theme of materialism and how parents frequently merely want their kids to "have" materials, but often forget to teach them to "have" love first, and everything else second

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

The 400 Blows

Film: 5/5
-love this film more and more, the more I watch it
-its impossible to conclude that

[Show spoiler]a delinquent kid is simply a "brat" who deserves whatever happens to him, after watching this film. the film shows, frame by frame, that juvenile delinquency is not black and white, and may be set in motion months or even years before the child consciously chooses the acts which eventually lead to his arrest/expulsion/suspension, and that it is set in motion by people other than the child, who perform acts completely outside of his control.

PQ and AQ are terrific for this old of a transfer. 4.5/5

I watched this a long time ago and while it was good, it didn't really interest me. I bought it when it went on sale for $12.99 a while ago, and it's sitting on my shelf (still sealed). I need to rent this again and see if I like it better the second time

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Maybe my favorite Criterion on blu. Absolutely love the film but have only seen it once! I'm considering stopping my netflix for a month so I can watch the films I own again.

probably 2nd-3rd favorite (competing with Wings, Howards, Playtime). But its 1st-2nd in "most affected me" department, along with El Norte. In the same way El Norte affected my view on the immigration issue, this did on the child delinquent issue.

watched it with my Dad (grew up in 50's Europe). He loved it and would chime in frequently to explain what each little detail was (e.g., the school desks = how they worked; the fire stove; etc). great viewing.

[steve_99101]

Cop Out 2/5