The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I need to see this again. When I went to go see it in theaters the audio cut out at 2 pivotal scenes so missed a ton of info.

Not cool.

[iam1bearcat]

Closely Watched Trains

recommended to me by DJMethod, at least for cinematography. and he is 100% correct

a 1966 Czechoslovak film about a young man who works at a train station during World War II. now, the film itself isn't really focused on the World War II aspect of the story, but it does come into play. the main focus of the story is our main character, Milos, who begins working there, and the girl he falls in love with. well, maybe not "love" but a girl he wants to be with.

the first 40 or so minutes, for as good as the film is, i was kind of thinking, "this is a movie about a bunch of horny old guys and now a horny kid who all hit on women from passing trains" (sorry DJ to make a great film sound smutty ) but the film is never cheap, gross or perverted. it just suddenly was made clear that in the wrong hands, the film would be nothing but obsessed with sex. which Closely Watched Trains isn't.

needless to say, the story of a young man in a coming-of-age story about "becoming a man" plays out twofold. the other story being the war background story for most of the film, that comes in to play majorly in the last 15 or so minutes.

i used to have a hard time understanding how a black and white film could have great cinematography (maybe that sounds stupid to you), because i always thought it was the colors that really made the impact, but Closely Watched Trains does have great cinematography. that's the reason i wanted to see the film, and it turned out to be what really sucked me in to film. not to say the story or acting was bad - they weren't. but right off the bat i was amazed by the beautiful cinematography.

i was surprised i liked Closely Watched Trains as much as i did. usually "older" films don't go over so well with me, but i had no complaints here and it was very interesting and riveting the entire time. for a 93 minute film, there's a lot packed into here subtly.

if the story interests you or you're a big fan of cinematography, definitely check out Closely Watched Trains

5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Squid, does that even mean anything anymore?

I dont follow.

Unless perhaps, you are referring to

[Show spoiler]Diesels and Surfs delaying of TROY.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I dont follow.

Unless perhaps, you are referring to

[Show spoiler]Diesels and Surfs delaying of TROY.

Just saying I noticed that when you say that it seems you never get to them or follow up on it like you have an endless queue or something

lol to the Troy comment

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Closely Watched Trains

I had to deduct a full point for the

[Show spoiler]rabbit murder

though.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I had to deduct a full point for the

[Show spoiler]rabbit murder

though.

true. i actually completely forgot that (somehow) until you mentioned it now
i'm kind of pissed. it seems like i've been watching a lot of movies lately that have

[Show spoiler]an animal death in them: Closely Watched Trains, Apocalypse Now... eh, there was another one too i just watched

and it bugs me. i don't like seeing those things. and in Trains i don't even think it really served a purpose

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Cannot wait for Black Swan.

+1 counting down the days until December 3rd

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

true. i actually completely forgot that (somehow) until you mentioned it now
i'm kind of pissed. it seems like i've been watching a lot of movies lately that have

[Show spoiler]an animal death in them: Closely Watched Trains, Apocalypse Now... eh, there was another one too i just watched

and it bugs me. i don't like seeing those things. and in Trains i don't even think it really served a purpose

Yep, it bugs me too.

Anxiously awaiting your thoughts on any Miyazaki or Amelie, or Shawshank/Green Mile

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Closely Watched Trains

[Show spoiler]recommended to me by DJMethod, at least for cinematography. and he is 100% correct

a 1966 Czechoslovak film about a young man who works at a train station during World War II. now, the film itself isn't really focused on the World War II aspect of the story, but it does come into play. the main focus of the story is our main character, Milos, who begins working there, and the girl he falls in love with. well, maybe not "love" but a girl he wants to be with.

the first 40 or so minutes, for as good as the film is, i was kind of thinking, "this is a movie about a bunch of horny old guys and now a horny kid who all hit on women from passing trains" (sorry DJ to make a great film sound smutty ) but the film is never cheap, gross or perverted. it just suddenly was made clear that in the wrong hands, the film would be nothing but obsessed with sex. which Closely Watched Trains isn't.

needless to say, the story of a young man in a coming-of-age story about "becoming a man" plays out twofold. the other story being the war background story for most of the film, that comes in to play majorly in the last 15 or so minutes.

i used to have a hard time understanding how a black and white film could have great cinematography (maybe that sounds stupid to you), because i always thought it was the colors that really made the impact, but Closely Watched Trains does have great cinematography. that's the reason i wanted to see the film, and it turned out to be what really sucked me in to film. not to say the story or acting was bad - they weren't. but right off the bat i was amazed by the beautiful cinematography.

i was surprised i liked Closely Watched Trains as much as i did. usually "older" films don't go over so well with me, but i had no complaints here and it was very interesting and riveting the entire time. for a 93 minute film, there's a lot packed into here subtly.

if the story interests you or you're a big fan of cinematography, definitely check out Closely Watched Trains

5/5

That's awesome that you learned a new appreciation for B&W movies. From the beginning, we are told to anticipate a lazy approach like the rest of his family line. What we see is him struggling to think with the right head! And it is a serious reflection nonetheless. But the interspersed comedy (

[Show spoiler]ripped couch, "assessing" the degree of stamping

) and sexual metaphors (

[Show spoiler]"stroking" the goose neck, "eruption" of the train at the "climax" of the film, etc

) enhance the film as well. I think your wording of "subtly packed" describes the movie perfectly.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

true. i actually completely forgot that (somehow) until you mentioned it now
i'm kind of pissed. it seems like i've been watching a lot of movies lately that have

[Show spoiler]an animal death in them: Closely Watched Trains, Apocalypse Now... eh, there was another one too i just watched

and it bugs me. i don't like seeing those things. and in Trains i don't even think it really served a purpose

I think the

[Show spoiler]killing of the rabbit symbolized the shaming of sex, or just sexual frustration in general.

[SquidPuppet]

The Limits of Control (2008) DVD

Directed by Jim Jarmusch

I wont be writing a lot, as I feel I have given the film enough of my time.

I picked up on a lot of things and themes that I believe Jarmusch was tring to accomplish. Still, it fell flat for me, even though there was a "climax".

I like slow movies and this one was very slow (in a good way). Long uncut meditative shots that allow you to ponder what you are watching, and what may come next. I was fascinated and curious to see how it would play out. But, after repeating the same scene/scenario/dialog over and over, the novelty wore off. Yes the story advanced, but with little to no tension or suspense. It just "moved along".

There were bunch of little uneeded subplots that add nothing and are never explained. They didnt help, or really hurt the film.

We follow one man on a business trip (?). Seemingly advanced by special agents offering clues every couple days. After 2 hours and a long journey, our main protagonist arrives at his destination and concludes his business. We see his "act" but never know his motivation. That, coupled with the fact that there is zero character development, left the whole affair falling pretty flat for me.

Not much in the way of score or nifty camera work...so it gets...

2/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Just saying I noticed that when you say that it seems you never get to them or follow up on it like you have an endless queue or something

I'd like some examples there Skippy. I take the recommendations here pretty darn seriously.

[Deadset]

Well, after the price drop I picked up a copy of Dragon Hunters from amazon. For those that have seen it, do you think it compares to other Dreamworks / Pixar movies? Personally, while I enjoyed it, it did fall a bit short of my lofty expectations.

Dragon Hunters starts with 2 guys who are dragon hunters / con-men who stumble upon an epic mission unbeknownst to them. The 2 buddies say they are knights when they meet the niece of the King who is looking for brave recruits for an all important mission. Their quest leads them to the edge of the world...their friendship and skill will be key in completing the quest.

This movie was a gorgeous / fun ride. The voice overs are done fairly well, but the main reason this movie had me glued to the screen were the environments. I'm not sure if I want to give anything away here...but lets just say the unique and mystical land our characters live in is pretty cool.

That said, I think they could have expanded the universe a bit with other characters and interactions.

4/5 - An eyepoping adventure, worthy of your time...but don't expect pixar quality.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I'd like some examples there Skippy. I take the recommendations here pretty darn seriously.

I know you do, don't take it personally. You always respond to my reviews which I appreciate (but do not expect). And you followed up on Broken Embraces (which I let you down on). I've mostly noticed on my other reviews though. Adam and Hiroshima come to mind.

It's not exactly often but here are some posts that popped up when I searched "added to queue".

[Show spoiler]

And no this is not an attack... I only did it because you requested

https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3473108
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3554373 - I've been wanting to see this!
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3423092
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3410517

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

[Show spoiler]Was he actually going to rape her, or did she kill an innocent man?

Dang good one. I dont know bro it looked like

[Show spoiler]he was trying to say that he wasnt gonna before she offed him.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Ummmmmm, I personally wouldnt consider that a Western, at all. Plus the acting SUCKED and there were many glaring continuity errors the size of Alaska.

Yeah i said that cause it looks like its in that era but thanks for the heads up on the acting.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I know you do, don't take it personally. You always respond to my reviews which I appreciate (but do not expect). And you followed up on Broken Embraces (which I let you down on). I've mostly noticed on my other reviews though. Adam and Hiroshima come to mind.

It's not exactly often but here are some posts that popped up when I searched "added to queue".

[Show spoiler]

And no this is not an attack... I only did it because you requested

https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3473108
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3554373 - I've been wanting to see this!
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3423092
https://forum.blu-ray.com/movies/127...ml#post3410517

I guess my queue is just too deep. 262 films.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I guess my queue is just too deep. 262 films.

[Show spoiler] Impressive.

[iam1bearcat]

Persona

year: 1966
director: Ingmar Bergman

cast: Elisabet Vogler (Liv Ullman)
Alma (Bibi Andersson)

well. i think it's safe to say one face sums up Persona pretty well:

the film isn't hard to follow. there are a two specific scenes where suddenly it feels like some shots come way out of left field. but aside from that the film is going along, i'm invested and then there's a huge game changer that made me go: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaait a minute! WTF? so suffice it to say, DJ and / or others who have seen Persona will have to help me out with what exactly it all means.

the story itself focuses on two very different women. Vogler is a famous actress who seems to have suffered a break down. Alma is the nurse assigned to her, but is hesitant to take over for her. once Vogler's doctors decide that she doesn't necessarily have a mental disorder, she advises Vogler and Alma to live at her beach house for a few weeks, months. the two bond, even though Vogler stays quiet and Alma does all the talking as she opens up. needless to say, about half way in, the tone of the film changes as these two women who were bonding, are now not so fond of each other.

there are some great, tense, "hmmm" scenes. and facial expressions by Ullman do a great job showing us what she's thinking / feeling (most of the time). and for a performance to have barely anything of a speaking role, that's damn impressive.

at first i thought, once the credits rolled, that

[Show spoiler]Alma was Vogler.

but the more i thought about it, i realized i was overthinking this thought (i think) and that

[Show spoiler]they essentially are the same, but not the same person. from Alma's story earlier about how she had an abortion, that's the same thing Vogler went through. correct? so they are "the same" but Alma refuses to acknowledge this. and Vogler does acknowledge this...? right?

but then there is

[Show spoiler]the last shot of the film, with the stage and the director swooping down with the camera. what does that mean? i looked up what "persona" means and it's a character played by an actor. so... was the whole movie, a movie? ah, that makes no sense. but was what was happening, not actually happening because it was simply that, a movie? that doesn't really make much sense or have a lasting impact so i feel i'm wrong with that thought.

Persona is a fast 83 minutes, and a very simple set design, and only 2 main characters make this a film very "basic" but yet very impressive. i enjoyed the hell out of it. and maybe with more time thinking about it and maybe with a repeat viewing in a few weeks i will appreciate and understand it more. it certainly has some deep themes and raises questions about a variety of topics, but i don't think you need to find them to enjoy the film.

i really enjoyed it, the girlfriend hated it go figure

does it make my Top 50 Favorite Films List?: no. but there's a high chance it would make my Top 100. definitely not a film that you can just pick up and watch. definitely have to be in the mood for it, and ready for puzzling little gem.

and eerily enough, Persona has a quick scene of what i hate most:

[Show spoiler]an animal death. i don't get it? i thought it didn't really serve a purpose in Closely Watched Trains, but what the hell was with it here?! ugh. i keep finding movies that have just a snippet of a scene like this. very puzzling.

oh, and to DJ and others who have seen the film:

[Show spoiler]what was up with the opening credits sequence visuals and then at the midway point where the screen "burned" and then we had more odd images? i'm guessing the boy at the start is Vogler's... or Alma's? but the rest of the images threw me for a loop.

4.5/5

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Yep, it bugs me too.

Anxiously awaiting your thoughts on any Miyazaki or Amelie, or Shawshank/Green Mile

i'm actually hoping to watch Ponyo and Shawshank tonight if time allows.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

That's awesome that you learned a new appreciation for B&W movies. From the beginning, we are told to anticipate a lazy approach like the rest of his family line. What we see is him struggling to think with the right head! And it is a serious reflection nonetheless. But the interspersed comedy (

[Show spoiler]ripped couch, "assessing" the degree of stamping

) and sexual metaphors (

[Show spoiler]"stroking" the goose neck, "eruption" of the train at the "climax" of the film, etc

) enhance the film as well. I think your wording of "subtly packed" describes the movie perfectly.

yep, great points. i forgot to add that the film does have a good amount of comedy in it, along with some very serious moments. the filmed worked extremely well going back and forth with the two.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I think the

[Show spoiler]killing of the rabbit symbolized the shaming of sex, or just sexual frustration in general.

that does make sense. i remember after i saw it i was waiting for a follow up about it, but forgot about it as the movie continued. but was still unhappy with the scene, simply because of what it is