The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

The whole movie wasn't needed. I get what they were going for but it was completely disjointed, the "looks into his past" felt sloppy and didn't really seem to add anything to the movie. Not to mention he won a game show, does it really matter why? One of the most over-rated movies I've ever seen, so glad I trusted my instincts and rented for once instead of blind buying in that case.

I thought the nonlinear storytelling was executed flawlessly, as the present and past each advanced simultaneously. It was very coherent. I dont always enjoy the simplicity of starting at "Point A" and then progressing to "Point B" followed by "Point C". Becomes a bit stale for me.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

You know what...these arguments (can't get into the love story, can't relate to the character, long runtime), I think that's how I felt about "Into the Wild!"

I feel that way about both Into the Wild and Slumdog Millionaire, will admit at least Into the Wild had a strong performance from Emile Hirsch and possibly the best cinematography I've ever seen.

[Al_The_Strange]

It’s been too long since I saw a good comedy…

Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.”

Sometimes there’s nothing funnier than making fun of history, culture, and heck religion too- (*suddenly struck by lighting* ).

Ow. As I was saying, much like Mel Brook’s “History of the World,” this film is quite the effective historical slapstick comedy. Only “Life of Brian” focuses a lot more on religious fanaticism as well, reflecting and lampooning some of the classic biblical epics of the 50s and 60s. The jokes, the situations, the dialogue, the characters, and the comic timing are all still quite hilarious.

It’s a pretty basic story with minimal character development, but it moves pretty quickly and flows really well. The story serves as a solid platform to poke fun at ancient Roman and Judaic culture. And despite all the religious jokes and all the controversy that followed this film’s release, I never once got the impression that this film is in any way blasphemous (a little critical perhaps, but I think the themes of the movie (that is, the value of independent thought) are true and thought-worthy). All together, it’s all very funny, witty, and original.

The film is pretty well-shot with a solid production value. Sets are pretty big in scope, especially for a comedy. Acting and writing are pretty well. Music is lovely.

4.5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5, intellectual impact: 2/5)

Recommendation: Yep!

This Blu-Ray is not a bad deal. The image quality is largely clean, quite sharp and detailed, and has excellent color and contrast. It definitely outshines the older DVD versions I’ve seen, which have all been noisy and murky as heck. The only problem I see is that all the grain is a static field, but as fine and miniscule as the grain is I don’t think it’s a huge deal. Some scenes showed some slight flickering (as if a subdued scratch or something from the film negative itself), and one or two bits of specks, but otherwise it’s very clean and slick-looking. Sound quality seemed clearer than I remember, but is still slightly unbalanced and dated.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 3.5/5

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

You know what...these arguments (can't get into the love story, can't relate to the character, long runtime), I think that's how I felt about "Into the Wild!"

the following is why i love this thread:

me: Slumdog Millionaire 3/5 - didn't like or feel anything about the love story (love Into the Wild 5/5)
Al the Strange: Into the Wild 3/5 - didn't like or feel much about the love story (enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire)





always something that two people probably should both like, but don't lol
and the best part? we don't fight over it like children

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Sure Mr. I hate the movie too. I dunno, I guess the idea that a kid who lived a horrible life and then through that horrible life won a game show and became obscenely rich is just too far fetched to me. I didn't like the characters, the writing, the plot, etc. As Diesel would say, it's one and done for me, don't think I've met another person who actually liked it.

i obviously wasn't a big fan of the film, but the flashbacks were extremely necessary. i think everyone sees that (or should) no matter their feelings on the film itself.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Sure Mr. I hate the movie too. I dunno, I guess the idea that a kid who lived a horrible life and then through that horrible life won a game show and became obscenely rich is just too far fetched to me. I didn't like the characters, the writing, the plot, etc. As Diesel would say, it's one and done for me, don't think I've met another person who actually liked it.

But Forrest Gumps life was realistic? LMAO!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

the following is why i love this thread:

me: Slumdog Millionaire 3/5 - didn't like or feel anything about the love story (love Into the Wild 5/5)
Al the Strange: Into the Wild 3/5 - didn't like or feel much about the love story (enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire)





always something that two people probably should both like, but don't lol
and the best part? we don't fight over it like children

Right on! That is a funny situation.

Personally I gave "Slumdog Millionare" a 4/5, but haven't bothered to rewatch it yet.

Our discussions are always fun.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

But Forrest Gumps life was realistic? LMAO!

I never said Forrest Gump's life was realistic but at least that movie was very well acted, well-written, well-directed and is always fun to watch, no matter how many times you see it.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I never said Forrest Gump's life was realistic but at least that movie was very well acted, well-written, well-directed and is always fun to watch, no matter how many times you see it.

But you listed a reason for your dislike of Slumdog as it was far fetched. So which is it, far fetched is OK, or not?

Its OK that you were confused by the writing and direction. If you watch it a few more times you will eventually understand it.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

But you listed a reason for your dislike of Slumdog as it was far fetched. So which is it, far fetched is OK, or not?

Its OK that you were confused by the writing and direction. If you watch it a few more times you will eventually understand it.

I wasn't confused by Slumdog Millionaire, I simply didn't like it. I doubt I ever will though and as far as I can tell, it's a very polarizing movie. Starting How to Train Your Dragon.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I wasn't confused by Slumdog Millionaire, I simply didn't like it. I doubt I ever will though and as far as I can tell, it's a very polarizing movie. Starting How to Train Your Dragon.

Polarizing? 94% at Rotton Tomatoes seems rather uniform to me. 8 Oscars and 100 other awards.

Yep. Audiences and critics alike were torn.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

Slumdog Millionaire

[Show spoiler]year: 2009
director: danny boyle
starring: dev patel (jamal), freida pinto (latika), madhur mittal (salim)

so this is the film that won "Best Picture" at the 81st Academy Awards, huh?
well, maybe it deserved it, maybe it doesn't. i haven't seen all the selections, but from what i've seen (this and Boring Buttons) then yes, this deserved to win.

however, Slumdog Millionaire is easily an addition to my "once is more than enough" collection

some parts were easily 5/5 material, but then other parts were also 2/5 material and a large portion was very "bleh" and for the love of all that is holy, could this film be any longer? i could have sworn i read it was 120 minutes. that cannot possibly be true, this felt freaking longer than that eight-decade Seven Samurai film!

the story follows jamal, an 18 year old boy from the slums who goes on the Indian version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and wins. but how?
he's uneducated, he's from a crappy upbringing that taught him nothing of this useful knowledge, yet he gets everything right

for the first 27456 hours of the film, the film is split up into three stories: past, present and game show segments. however, i got sick of his life story pretty damn quickly. how much freaking characterization can one character have in a film?!

there was so much i didn't care about - like the main character himself in most scenes, and what he encountered in life i felt nothing for him. and there was no big twists or turns here. a few tense scenes yes, but all of it was very generic and super obvious.

oh look, 3 small children are treated nicely by a stranger who takes them to his house where they think they are safe and there's 770 other children. this can't possibly go wrong can it?

ugh. and the love story i didn't care or feel anything for it at all. it was in a sense, foolish and something i would never do. and maybe i'm a bit of a pessimist and "i hate love story type when it isn't needed in a story but added for sentimental values" but this relationship didn't move me at all.

i also wasn't a big fan of how jamal

[Show spoiler]literally knows all the answers from his past (most of them come in an obvious fashion to him when he thinks of his life)

, it seemed to cheesy and 'cute' imo.

meanwhile the directing and score were pretty great. i noticed a few scenes that were very reminiscent of 28 Days Later, Sunshine and The Beach in camerawork and feel. and the score, aside from the terribly overused 'Millionaire' music was also a great addition to some of the scenes.

i'm a big fan of atmosphere in film, but Slumdog didn't have it. probably because having scenes in a game show setting ruin that feel and pacing, but aside from that there was atmosphere, but just not a whole lot of it.

the

[Show spoiler]closing montage

when

[Show spoiler]jamal sees latika is touching, but as soon as they speak the scene is ruined

and turns into a generic, uninspired mess imo.

then of course, there is how jamal knows the answers... call me a crabby not-yet-old, old man but i wasn't a fan of how it turned out. and of course,

[Show spoiler]leads in to the love story (gag)

.

i wasn't really hooked into the film, but if i was, i was looking for

[Show spoiler]some type of wild cover-up, set up, sneaky tactics, and you don't get that at all. which was extremely lackluster.

it was worth the rental, but i have zero ambition to ever watch this again.

3/5

I'm going to look the other way now...

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Wow. Just WOW.

First, go back to bed. Second, get out on the RIGHT side.

Your review reads like an angry, bitter old man.

What do you mean the love story wasnt needed? Thats practically the driving force in his life. Thats why he pushes forward. The movie isnt about the game show, its about his life, his relationship with his brother, and his one true love.

Cranky old bastard.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Polarizing? 94% at Rotton Tomatoes seems rather uniform to me. 8 Oscars and 100 other awards.

Yep. Audiences and critics alike were torn.

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I'm going to look the other way now...

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I wasn't confused by Slumdog Millionaire, I simply didn't like it. I doubt I ever will though and as far as I can tell, it's a very polarizing movie. Starting How to Train Your Dragon.

Enjoy your squid-beating?

[Show spoiler]Don't you reply to this with a HTTYD review or I will Chewbacca your ass again!

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Did you see The Departed?

I haven't; don't even know what it's about actually.

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i bought this on dvd like, 5 years ago and could barely finish it. alba was great (of course ), but of course, i'm not a big superhero fan film as is, so this definitely didn't work for me

Understandable
I'm the opposite and am a big comic book movie film fan.

exactly. it's about his daughter BEING KIDNAPPED. that's the connection. i don't have kids or ever want kids, but if my daughter was kidnapped, fudge, i'd be doing my best Liam Neeson / Taken interpretation possible.

it's not about liking the daughter, it's about cheering on the dad for kicking in some skulls

Bingo

The daughter, in fact, is kind of annoying
....she's not as good as she was in Lost...or as nice to look at


I've actually been meaning to watch this again. Need to do that soon. Maybe tonight as a continuation of my Super Movie Saturday, later this week for sure.

Originally Posted by djmethod

[Show spoiler]don't you reply to this with a httyd review or i will chewbacca your ass again!

[Show spoiler]Attachment 26479

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

______

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Polarizing? 94% at Rotton Tomatoes seems rather uniform to me. 8 Oscars and 100 other awards.

Yep. Audiences and critics alike were torn.

Critics liked it, so? Doesn't mean it was a good movie and I still have yet to meet somebody who liked it. Dunno, a similar movie to Taken was Man on Fire and I like that one a lot more, may even watch it on Monday.

[jhiggy23]

The Town (movie theater)


Film: 4 stars (out of 4)


For someone who used to be mere tabloid fodder and was harshly criticized, Ben Affleck has come a long way. He's proven in the past to be a solid writer (Oscar win) and that continues here. He's also shown in his past two films that he's a fantastic director and is someone to watch in the years to come. I can honestly see potential Oscars for him if he continues on this path, although I'm not sure what kind of directorial range he'll have. The Town also shows that he's a capable actor and this is his best performance.

The Town, quite simply, is the best crime thriller since Heat, which is the best crime thriller ever. The Town is certainly not close to as good as Heat, but it's still an exceptional film. What sets this film apart is its pace and its focus on the characters and the emotions--this is a smartly written film that is most successful in its quiet moments. The acting across the board in this film in fantastic, with everyone (including Blake Lively, shockingly) putting in great performances. Jeremy Renner, for whatever reason, was criticized by some members on this site for getting a best actor Oscar nom for the Hurt Locker. While those criticisms were laughable considering how deserving he was of that nomination, he proves here again that he has the potential to be one of the better actors in the coming years. I think he has an outside shot at a best supporting actor nom.

In the end, this film better be one of the obnoxiously excessive 10 best picture noms, because it's extremely unlikely there will be 10 films better than it this year. I can also see a potential directing and writing nom, but who knows. Highly recommended.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Polarizing? 94% at Rotton Tomatoes seems rather uniform to me. 8 Oscars and 100 other awards.

Yep. Audiences and critics alike were torn.

It's polarizing because it won best picture, just like the Hurt Locker. That alone makes ppl want to hate on them, despite the fact that both are exceptionally well-made films.