The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Thanks Al. Sounds good.

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

This is great news as i also blind bought this one. I've got some ahead of the list but i cant wait to view this. Thanks and good review bud!

No problem, I hope y'all like it! I think it's a keeper.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I'm in.

same, same, same. i'm in

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

This was your first review in this thread 10 months ago. I see how the evolution works now. You increase by one paragraph every month.

every month i add a paragraph, and every month i drop the score of Iron Man

Originally Posted by killowertz

Yes, I live for cool points. I hope that post earned me a +10 cool points bonus. That would just totally make my day.

+10 cool point bonus awarded

[Batman1980]

Tremors 4/5
PQ 3/5
AQ 3.5/5
Not the best transfer but really a small budget creature feature, will watch it again soon. Odd that I've seen it so many times and I notice new things every time I see it.

[Marcus Wright]

Seven Samurai

Status - Processing
Estimated Review date - Dec 7-25

Comments - N/A
Rating - N/A

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

This was your first review in this thread 10 months ago. I see how the evolution works now. You increase by one paragraph every month.

looking through the first few pages, there were no long reviews. everyone kept it like, to 2 paragraphs max. i wonder when it started to change into the longer, more fleshed out reviews we have now? i like it better this way. i don't like short

"watched __________, and it was good. looks awesome" reviews.

but that shouldn't come as any surprise

btw: working on my Pi review right now and watching the film again.
that film certainly left me all sorts of

[rkolinski]

Night of the Hunter BD

This film is based on the murderer Harry F. Powers, the West Virginia Bluebeard. He was accused of murdering five persons, two women and three children. On March 18, 1932, "his life was snapped away in the state penitentiary by a thick bull rope and a five-foot drop before a crowd of nearly 40 persons who pressed forward, tense and nervous, as the trap was sprung. The modern Bluebeard showed no emotion as he went to his death. A twitching of the lips, a simple twist of his head, a quietly pronounced 'no' answering the question weather (sic) he desired to say anything before he passed into eternity--these were the only incidents as he stood high up on the platform of the gallows, waiting the drop." [According to the Camden Courier-Post-March 19, 1932]

One of my favorite films and IMHO one of the best releases of the year, I'm so glad to see that this this gem is finally released on BD. The PQ is amazing with much fine detail, film grain and a really good mono soundtrack. I hadn't noticed the special effects flaws in this film before but they are clearly very visible now (for example: at 00:16:37 there is a clearly matted still of a shack on the river with footage of a paddlewheel steamboat moving past in the background). Robert Mitchum is one of my favorite actors and I think this is one of his greatest films. Sadly, "The Night of the Hunter" was not a success with either audiences or critics at its initial release in 1955, and Laughton never directed another film. However, Criterion has given us ample supplementary material so that we can appreciate this film, which in 1992, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected the film for preservation in its National Film Registry.

I've always thought this film was more frightening than was Psycho. Again, my opinion.

Movie: 5/5 PQ: 4.5/5 AQ: 4.5/5 Supplements: 5/5

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

looking through the first few pages, there were no long reviews. everyone kept it like, to 2 paragraphs max. i wonder when it started to change into the longer, more fleshed out reviews we have now? i like it better this way. i don't like short

"watched __________, and it was good. looks awesome" reviews.

but that shouldn't come as any surprise

btw: working on my Pi review right now and watching the film again.
that film certainly left me all sorts of

I noticed that too. Odd. There was a "trend" or "style" that most everyone followed.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I noticed that too. Odd. There was a "trend" or "style" that most everyone followed.

i don't know when i started up the longer reviews, but i'm kind of surprised i did, because well, you know, it's the internet and i figured "no one is gonna read all this" and that's maybe what everyone else thought to?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i don't know when i started up the longer reviews, but i'm kind of surprised i did, because well, you know, it's the internet and i figured "no one is gonna read all this" and that's maybe what everyone else thought to?

I've been going through some of the old ones and there are some funny ones.

Everybody was doing the shorties... check it out...

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Forrest Gump (blu)

Film: 10/10

PQ: 5/5 (incredible detail, I noticed stuff I've never seen before)

AQ: 4/5 (very little surround and rear speaker activity. However, dialogue was very crisp)

Originally Posted by DjMethod

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

A very strange film but it pulled together wonderfully. It was dark but funny at the same time. I really loved the imaginarium sequences. Although the CGI was admittedly simplistic, it was fitting for the fantasy realm. Great performances, especially by Heath Ledger and Colin Farrell. I don't think this movie is for everyone since it's received mixed reactions. But for me, it was certainly a real treat and very enjoyable throughout.

4/5

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Harry Potter - Half Blood Prince

Film: 3.5/5 (parts 1 and 2 are still my favorite. i havent read the books but know that they get longer as the films go on, so it would seem to be harder to cram each book into a 2.5 hour film. overall, i could just tell there was gaps in the plot we werent getting here, and then my sister (who has read the book) informed me that the book is over 700 pages, compared to 300 pages for parts 1-2. perhaps they could have made the film longer? or do parts 1-2? just seems weird when the film for the 300 page book is same length as the 700 page book?)

Video: 4.5/5

Audio: 4/5 (1.5 mpbs most of the time. dialogue could have been clearer)

Originally Posted by CZAR

The Count of Monte Cristo - Masterpiece! Excellent Film! 5/5 Nothing else needs to be said! Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Watched:
"The Fountain," second time I've seen it, first time on Blu-Ray. It didn't make much sense to me when I first saw it a while back, but after thinking about it and reading other people's thoughts, I really enjoyed it this time around. I found it very sublime, thought-provoking, and emotional. Some of the imagery and performances are downright powerful. 4.5/5

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Loved it all. I had no idea that there was such

[Show spoiler]a BIG twist. I thought it was about a guy who is losing his marbles.

Score was great. Pacing was perfect for me. Casting Kevin Spacey as Gerty was smart, and he did a wonderfull job. Quiet and haunting. Thought provoking too.

Movie 4.5/5
Audio 4.5/5
PQ I dont know, I was to entranced by the story and acting.

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Gone With The Wind

Film: 10/10

PQ: 10/10 (as good as it can look IMO)

AQ: 9/10 (had to crank the audio to hear dialogue)

[Lepidopterous]

At B&N and just purchased The Fountain and Babel soundtracks with the $5 off coupon (thanks surf) and Everlasting Moments and Thin Red Line (also with the $5 coupon. Sorry Al, passed on Charade . Modern Times is waiting for me at a different location, even though the guy at checkout was the same one who let me pre-order Black Orpheus and Breathless last sale (and is very nice about reusing the coupons). He said he's pretty much been getting calls nonstop since my TTRL arrived because it's the only copy they have and the only reason it says "in stock" online (he said I should fear for my life from Criterion-hungry shoppers when I get to the parking lot ). This is almost the end of my Criterion adventures, with the conclusion being the essential purchase of Modern Times, and the grand finale of course, coming home to my home theater and watching the glorious Seven Samurai.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I've been going through some of the old ones and there are some funny ones.

Everybody was doing the shorties... check it out...

holy fudge! jhiggy and surf were once using the 10-point rating scale?!



i was too for awhile. but the 5-point scale is so much better

Originally Posted by DjMethod

At B&N and just purchased The Fountain and Babel soundtracks with the $5 off coupon

super jealous.

i keep forgetting to buy these.

i'll have to remember when i get itunes cards for christmas to use them on soundtracks and not just let the money add up and then buy some random ass albums that i won't even listen to lol which always seems to be what happens

[two40]

So which one of you is going to start the club thread? Let's get this thing started.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by two40

So which one of you is going to start the club thread? Let's get this thing started.

Yea man!!!!! I vote we all watch The Gods Must Be Crazy!!!!!!!! Got Em!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by two40

So which one of you is going to start the club thread? Let's get this thing started.

You are.

[iam1bearcat]

Pi (dvd)

year: 1998
director: darren aronofsky
starring: sean gullette

what a creepy, weird little film!

shot in black and white and made with a budget hovering around $60,000 Darren Aronofsky's debut is a wild, reckless, at times frightening work of part genius and part chaotic future ambition. it's amazing to know he went from this to Requiem for a Dream in about 3 years time

it's not the best film ever of course, and yet, even though i HATE math (second most hated subject behind science in school ) i still enjoyed the film tremendously.

the film, as if the title doesn't give it away, involves math. but not in a very "logical" sense. and by that i mean, it's not boring. the film centers around a man named Max, who is a mathematician, but soon starts obsessing over the number in the Pi equation, believing they hold the key to the stock market and possible the entire universe. sound crazy? it should, and it is

for those who have seen David Lynch's Eraserhead, i find Pi to feel a lot like Eraserhead. of course they are NOTHING alike, but the black and white visuals, wild story, at times intensely creepy score () and Aronofsky's off the wall directing and "close up" feel reminded me a lot of Eraserhead. and like Eraserhead, Pi is a film i very much enjoyed, but not one i would watch very often. but one that the score would go up with over time with more viewings and as the film sinks in more.

i watched it twice today alone, and that'll be enough for awhile lol.

at times the acting felt a little forced. not necessarily cheesy, but some lines of dialogue were a tad "loud" and seemed unorthodox, but for a budget of $60,000 i didn't expect Oscar worthy performances.

i was also surprised by the addition of some religious themes

[Show spoiler]the numbers are codes for words, and the code that Max is aware of is the unspoken name of God

but the film doesn't really center around that for very long.

all in all, definitely check it out if you're a fan of Aronofsky, eerie independent films, and a film that is bold, daring, original, exciting and certainly not mainstream at all.

will it ever hit blu-ray? probably not but if it does, i'll definitely pick it up

4/5

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I've been going through some of the old ones and there are some funny ones.

Everybody was doing the shorties... check it out...

Back then, I was worried that reviews might be too long, and I might come off as a pretentious snob.

But heck, my current random babbling seems funner.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Pi (dvd)

[Show spoiler]
year: 1998
director: darren aronofsky
starring: sean gullette

what a creepy, weird little film!

shot in black and white and made with a budget hovering around $60,000 Darren Aronofsky's debut is a wild, reckless, at times frightening work of part genius and part chaotic future ambition. it's amazing to know he went from this to Requiem for a Dream in about 3 years time

it's not the best film ever of course, and yet, even though i HATE math (second most hated subject behind science in school ) i still enjoyed the film tremendously.

the film, as if the title doesn't give it away, involves math. but not in a very "logical" sense. and by that i mean, it's not boring. the film centers around a man named Max, who is a mathematician, but soon starts obsessing over the number in the Pi equation, believing they hold the key to the stock market and possible the entire universe. sound crazy? it should, and it is

for those who have seen David Lynch's Eraserhead, i find Pi to feel a lot like Eraserhead. of course they are NOTHING alike, but the black and white visuals, wild story, at times intensely creepy score () and Aronofsky's off the wall directing and "close up" feel reminded me a lot of Eraserhead. and like Eraserhead, Pi is a film i very much enjoyed, but not one i would watch very often. but one that the score would go up with over time with more viewings and as the film sinks in more.

i watched it twice today alone, and that'll be enough for awhile lol.

at times the acting felt a little forced. not necessarily cheesy, but some lines of dialogue were a tad "loud" and seemed unorthodox, but for a budget of $60,000 i didn't expect Oscar worthy performances.

i was also surprised by the addition of some religious themes

[Show spoiler]the numbers are codes for words, and the code that Max is aware of is the unspoken name of God

but the film doesn't really center around that for very long.

all in all, definitely check it out if you're a fan of Aronofsky, eerie independent films, and a film that is bold, daring, original, exciting and certainly not mainstream at all.

will it ever hit blu-ray? probably not but if it does, i'll definitely pick it up

4/5

That is one fascinating movie. I think it was one of those things that "clicked" long after I watched it and it was like .

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Yea man!!!!! I vote we all watch The Gods Must Be Crazy!!!!!!!! Got Em!!

I vote that you must be crazy!

Got him!!!

[Show spoiler]
Seriously though, I remember that movie being quite amusing.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by two40

So which one of you is going to start the club thread? Let's get this thing started.

I could take care of it. I'll just have to get the list together of participating members and randomly generate the order. Last call...

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I vote that you must be crazy!

Got him!!!

[Show spoiler]
Seriously though, I remember that movie being quite amusing.

Awe man that is my flick. It needs the blu treatment asap! Got Em!!