The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Steve46

Here's a There Will Be Blood game for Bearcat

I love this one and this one.

[Lepidopterous]

Just watched Alien today and must say this is one of the biggest DVD to blu upgrades in quality I have seen. I might be a bit biased because I'm so familiar with the DVD, but it was literally like experiencing it for the first time. Definitely one of my favorite blu-rays.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Just watched Alien today and must say this is one of the biggest DVD to blu upgrades in quality I have seen. I might be a bit biased because I'm so familiar with the DVD, but it was literally like experiencing it for the first time. Definitely one of my favorite blu-rays.

Good to hear, can't wait to get the set!

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

The main reason I gave this film a 5/5 is that I absolutely dont know of anyone who doesnt adore it.
I think its worth some extra credits for that.

Haha did you read that part that I bolded in your review? That's what I was talking about

i Robot is a lot of fun and I enjoy it for what it is.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

my apologies for crushing your neanderthal, elf love affair there Diesel

[Show spoiler]

Where's my bow and arrow....

i agree fully about the scariness of the film. it was more of an action adventure with infected people just skipping through fields in the background. as a horror movie, it failed completely. as an action adventure, it was decent, but like you said, aside from Olyphant, i didn't care about the characters. i gave it a 3/5

and to your last paragraph: that friend needs to see more movies if he thinks the always awesome Olyphant is a poor man's anyone. Duhamel has nothing on Olyphant... except probably a hotter wife (Duhamel has Fergie, and Olyphant has some person who doesn't even have a wikipedia page (what a ))

That's why I don't look at it as a horror movie since if you look at it like that, its an utter failure. It didn't have the right....what's your favorite word...atmosphere

But outside of that genre, the movie really worked for me



______



The Blind Side

Decided to watch my new copy of this instead of How to Train Your Dragon.

I've reviewed the movie before when I first saw it, but this time I enjoyed it more for whatever reason and have decided to up my score a little.

Rating - 4.75/5

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

HAHAHAH oh no. The story fool! haha

They are some pretty epic adventures.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

Jet Li's Fearless

[Show spoiler]
Opening Statement: The Director's Cut/Blu Ray is light years beyond the theatrical/dvd release. I had just recently watched the unrated cut on standard not long ago and the Blu Ray/directors cut looked and played out so differently, it was like watching a different movie altogether.

Synopsis: It's a shame that 'Fearless' was so overlooked in the theaters and was most likely chalked up to being "another kung fu movie". Nothing could be further from the truth. There's a real story here about a real martial arts champion who learns about the downfalls of arrogance, pride and revenge. But he must lose it all in order to understand what's truly important in life, to his father and his country. It's a long, hard road indeed. While it's mostly story, and a good one at that, the fight scenes are excellent as well. They lean towards the fantasy style of kung fu on wires but it's all acceptable if you'll give a little leeway. But it doesn't go nearly as far as others have with flying around and walking on water and such. Otherwise, this is an fine film that'll hold your attention, even the moreso now with the extra 35 min. on the directors cut which fleshes out the story so much more. It allows for more growth of character and context to some scenes that previously had little impact in the other versions. It reminds me of 'Kingdom of Heaven'. I didn't like it very much in it's theatrical cut, but the directors cut made so much more sense of the characters and scenes, that it made it an entirely different movie. I had the same experience here with 'Fearless' and the DC version. It turns a pretty good movie into a very good movie.

PQ: The Blu Ray is also the only way to see it, and I mean "see" it. The standard dvd was servicable at best but compared to the Blu Ray, it's pretty bad. There are so many wonderful sets, costumes and scenery to see here that I feel like I'm also looking at a different movie. The detail is excellent and the print is spotlessly clean. The bold colors pop and everything is clearly defined. The difference is night and day. This is the only way to watch this movie.

AQ: The Blu Ray also offers DTS-HD soundtracks that are also way better than the DD 5.1 tracks on the standard disc. Theres alot more bass from the action and percussion. The quiet scenes are loaded with discrete ambient noise and there's never a problem discerning the voices over the sounds and music. One thing of note though, only a Mandarin DTS-HD track can be found on the Directors Cut. Whereas the other cuts offer a Mandarin DTS-HD track as well as English and French dubbed DTS 5.1. I would've liked the DC to include an english track as well but I had no problem reading the subtitles and the english dubs aren't usually very good anyway,so no harm done.

Closing Statement: 'Fearless' is a great film and is Jet Li's finest performance by far. The story allows Li to show that he's capable of so much more than just punching and kicking. I can't remember seeing him in anything that was nearly as dramatic and polished as this. The Blu Ray makes what was a good movie before, so much better by offering all 3 cuts in beautiful 1080p with an excellent DTS-HD audio track to accompany each. If you have the previous version, don't hesitate for a second on the upgrade if you can and for the curious, give it a try. It's a very well done film with wonderfully choreographed action scenes by the best in the business, Yuen Wo Ping (Drunken Master, Twin Warriors, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Iron Monkey, Matrix, Kill Bill, etc.) Just don't write it off as kung fu with a story, it's a story with kung fu. Enjoy.

Movie: 4.5/5
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 5/5

Wow, such a nice orderly essay.

Good review though. I really liked the movie on the second viewing (well, the first viewing was truncated way too much, so I'm not even sure if that counts ). This will be one of those movies where, if I don't get a copy for Christmas, I'll buy one myself.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Glad u liked it. It is a top 5-10 film for me period. I thought Will shouldve won best actor. Finally someone doesnt trash Jaden just to trash him because he is Will's son. I also thought he did a good job as a kid of a homeless father. How can u trash a lil kid and say he cant act playin that kind of roll at such a young age. Thanks for being honest man. U seen Seven Pounds yet? Got Em!!

Yeah I've always been a fan of Will, but his manner of speaking in this film bugged me. And at times he was excellent, but other times he was just normal, good actor Will. I thought Thandie Newton gave an overall better performance than he did. I've only seen one of the other films that received Best Actor nominations that year, Blood Diamond, and I thought DiCaprio gave a better performance than Will did in Pursuit. I have Seven Pounds and I actually think his performance was better in that, though it's been a while since I've seen it.

And yeah Jaden was cute in this one and I thought he did a very good job. I think people hate on him because of his character in The Day the Earth Stood Still. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I don't think it was necessarily his acting that bugged people, but the annoying character he played. I'm looking forward to seeing The Karate Kid.

[two40]

The Apartment (1960)

I have an idea. Write a really clever and snappy script. Find an actor with impeccable comedic timing that has an every-man appeal about him. Pair him up with a cute-as-a-button leading lady with excellent acting range. Finally, let a master paint the tale he helped pen and enjoy the inevitable result.

Fran tells us that “some people take, some people get took,” and let me tell you that we’ve been took by Billy Wilder and there’s nothing we can do about it. What starts off as an innocent romcom builds to a memorable tale of two people that get took as a rule but in the end find the stregth to take some back.

Billy Wilder has given us timeless classics such as Some Like it Hot, Sunset Boulevard, Ace in the Hole, Stalag 17 etcetera, and The Apartment easily burrows itself amongst the cream of his filmography. In a career studded with exceptional work, it stands tall as one of his most memorable. He is credited as producer, director, and part writer. At the Oscars in 1961, the film took out 5 awards for director, editing, screenplay, art direction and of course, best picture.

The story is a pretty simple one as far as they go. A company man, C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), lends his apartment to executives who use it for their extra marital affairs. Baxter is often left out in the cold and most nights stays back at work to kill the time and keep warm. He may appear overly ambition but in reality he is just being took by those that take.

His neighbours believe him to be a man about the town – bringing girls back to his apartment each night, and sometimes twice a night. In actual fact, Baxter sees very little action other than cleaning up empty alcohol bottles and stocking up with cheese crackers to keep the executives happy. He is interested in an elevator assistant, Fran Kubelick (Shirley Maclaine), that works in his busy building but the word around the office is she avoids all advances.

Things start to look up for Baxter when he gets a promotion and a date with Fran Kubelick. But, as the formula demands, Baxter and Fran must first overcome obstacles before a happy resolutions is reached.

At times a charming comedy, at others a heartbreaking tragedy, it walks a fine line between the two and I wouldn’t put it past Wilder to end it either way. I would have been satisfied with a happy ending as much as with a sad one since the film doesn’t hinge on the final act and is memorable throughout.

It’s full of witty dialogue and memorable quotes but none of it feels forced or unnatural. The dialogue reads contrived but it plays beautifully – a testimant to the quality of the acting by Lemmon and Maclaine.

With no overbearing sountrack or showy camerawork, all your concentration is on the characters and the story Wilder is telling. And “that’s the way it crumbles… cookie-wise.”

4/5

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

The Secret in Their Eyes

Director: Juan José Campanella
Writers: Eduardo Sacheri and Juan José Campanella
Mains: Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil and Pablo Rago

"Its something in the eyes"

Plot (IMDb): A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later.

My Take: This was a well done, well crafter, and well acted film. It host allot of deep themes that really connect. I found myself not even breathing with some of the scenes. The movie is more about love than anything else and its a gem for sure. The entire film was an emotional cliff hanger. One story a man is trying to catch a killer, another he is in-love with his boss but cant put the pieces together, another trying to help his friends alcohol. Its not really an "onion" movie but you just see all that is involved with this one characters life. You also take a ride with his emotional feelings in relation with those around him. I will never forget the ending, i think anyone who loves like the way Morales loved would definitely do the same. The ending itself was a true shocker and unforgettable.

Conclusion: This movie is a gem but i cant see myself watching it again soon. Granted it well done and perfectly performed its just the replay value isnt that high. I'll never forget the movie that for certain, especially the end. Very very gritty. This is a good movie to view and is worth the viewing for sure. A gem and the director and cast should be proud of the oscar winner.

Highly Recommended

4.5/5

I thought it was arguably the worst best foreign film winner of the past decade. Good yes, but too all over the place thematically.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Solaris is an intellectually challenging film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. In the film, a psychologist travels to a space station to investigate mysterious reports and occurrences in a seemingly unproductive mission to research Solaris, an oceanic planet.

The film is shot at an extremely slow pace with ridiiiiculously long takes coupled with incredibly slow movements of the actors (they move like turtles at times). However, this is the director’s technique at achieving an isolated atmosphere and demonstrating a real-time experience for the viewer. The score was great and fitting. I only wish there was more of it. Too many great scenes had no music. Tarkovsky incorporates a vast amount of philosophy throughout the film. It is incredibly thought provoking and left wide open to interpretation. He deals with various themes that merit a good deal of discussion.

Knowledge vs. Belief: The most widely accepted rationality can be subjected to falsehood.

[Show spoiler]Burton was doubted and deemed hallucinatory, but the claim was never proved nor disproved.

Science is the pursuit of truth, but how can objective knowledge be attained without faith in metaphysical logic? Does knowledge exist beyond our realm of logic? Maybe. Is it possible? Absolutely. Why? It cannot be disproven.

[Show spoiler]As Kris arrived at the Solaris space station (in pursuit of knowledge), there was a crucifix-shaped glimmer, possibly symbolizing the power of belief or the unanticipated mental struggle he will have to face in what is real. Similarly, the long tunnel sequence could symbolize man’s tunnel vision and refusal to expand his perspective.

Dream vs. Reality: What makes something real? If we think it, is it real? How about if we see it, touch it, love it. The film is certainly inspired by classic philosophers, with recurring sculptures of who I’m assuming is Aristotle.

Desire of man and self-reflection: The mission was to investigate cosmic phenomena.

[Show spoiler]The discovery was beyond scientific explanation. Solaris serves man’s desire by manifesting his deepest and strongest emotions. Earth does not hold that opportunity for man. Why would Kris ever want to return to Earth? Kris prefers to think that Solaris is an extension of Earth and the metaphysical existence of his wife is simply an extension of reality.

What man has journeyed to discover should not be held as a separate alien entity but as an integral part of existence.

[Show spoiler]Thus, every thought that is materialized in Solaris is just as real as people that have lived on Earth. Mirrors were used and mentioned a few times throughout the film, possibly to symbolize Kris’s self-reflection and his inability to escape himself. Every time he thinks his wife has left him, she regenerates. Perhaps Solaris is the unrelenting existence of truth…the persistence of the conscience to physically manifest itself and torment the soul of man.

Solaris is definitely not for the common viewer. It’s a thinking film and requires effort for its reward, however abstract they may be. I know that I certainly haven’t appreciated this film entirely yet. I think it’s nearly impossible to do so with one viewing. I’m sure I will like it more and more with each viewing, but all of these questions inspire me to think, not revisit all 166 minutes of Solaris again.

4/5

Your last statement is right on. I also believe that this version of Solaris, as well as the book, are better suited to thinking about than revisiting. I'm not sure you'll learn more about it with more viewings, but you will the more you think about it.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I thought it was arguably the worst best foreign film winner of the past decade. Good yes, but too all over the place thematically.

You might be right. Well i can definitely see where you're coming from. Though the movie was good i cant see myself watching it again. As you mentioned the story was everywhere. The ending was crippling though. I'll never forget that ever!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

You might be right. Well i can definitely see where you're coming from. Though the movie was good i cant see myself watching it again. As you mentioned the story was everywhere. The ending was crippling though. I'll never forget that ever!

Oh yeah definitely! If you look at my review, my issue was mainly that there were too many themes that weren't developed (i.e. the politics angle, the love story angle).

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i love a good atmosphere, really pulls a film together imo.

see, i kind of liked how simple and 'compact' Tattoo was. Fire was almost too large and hard to grasp. it felt like a Bourne movie (size wise with many characters and underlying stories and connections) but i wasn't expecting that and it seemed out of place for me. maybe future viewings will let me appreciate and enjoy it more and find this new aspect okay

and not to say i wanted Fire to be a repeat of Tattoo, that would be foolish.
but it was almost too expansive for me to find believable for some reason

Thats what I loved...all the conspiracy connections.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Q!

Dudes, Mad Men are getting hella cheap soon! I've never seen any one of them and I wondered wether I should blindbuy them? Sorry if this is too off-topic.

$30.00 for THREE seasons of one of the best shows ever. No brainer. You could sell them for a handsome profit in a month if you dont like em.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Just watched Alien today and must say this is one of the biggest DVD to blu upgrades in quality I have seen. I might be a bit biased because I'm so familiar with the DVD, but it was literally like experiencing it for the first time. Definitely one of my favorite blu-rays.

:envy: They need to sell these individually dang it.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

The Blind Side

Decided to watch my new copy of this instead of How to Train Your Dragon.

I've reviewed the movie before when I first saw it, but this time I enjoyed it more for whatever reason and have decided to up my score a little.

Rating - 4.75/5

Since I don't believe in .25 increments, I gave this one a 5/5 after I watched it (and still did after my second viewing).

Hmm, will your score for How to Train Your Dragon go up too?

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Your last statement is right on. I also believe that this version of Solaris, as well as the book, are better suited to thinking about than revisiting. I'm not sure you'll learn more about it with more viewings, but you will the more you think about it.

This is one of the most interesting premises to a book or film I have ever come across and believe it was an excellent choice by bearcat for pick of the week. I really want to see the remake now, especially with it's shorter running time and the credit you give to it (otherwise I typically don't like remakes). Does it

[Show spoiler]focus more on the romance aspect than philosophy? I would love to see that expanded on.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Good to hear, can't wait to get the set!

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

:envy: They need to sell these individually dang it.

The first was one of my most anticipated unreleased blu-rays, so that coupled with the fact that I have never seen 3 and 4 (or don't remember them) justifies my $81 purchase. I don't even feel that bad that it could have been had for $65 last week with a free copy of Last of the Mohicans. Just needed to get my hands on it on day 1 (even if I didn't have time to watch it ). Fantastic packaging too. Exactly like the Rome packaging (except no ribbon bookmark ).

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Since I don't believe in .25 increments, I gave this one a 5/5 after I watched it (and still did after my second viewing).

Hmm, will your score for How to Train Your Dragon go up too?

Would it still be a 5/5 if you used .25?


Tune in another time to find out on Diesel Reviews Stuff