The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I can't think straight because I just watched Inception for the first time.

Maybe the director just wanted to choose a trait that both shared which was highly unusual. The fact that you have never met anyone that does that is probably why he chose it?

There's a scene in Moon which reminds me somewhat of the whole idea too.

Imo, two reasons why shes does it. The first is exactly what you said--Kieslowski wanted to choose some things that show the connection and would stand out---such as the ring, the singing, the string, the heart defect, etc.

The second reason is because of what a ring symbolizes. The reason a ring was chosen to represent marriage is because of its shape--the circle. This conveys eternity, since there is no beginning and no end. Circles and life are inextricably linked with one another in regards to symbols, and the film is very much about life and death. Maybe the ring and the eye together are meant to convey her seeing what life is---there is no beginning and no end.

[Show spoiler]Remember after Weronika dies, you see the crowd from her spirit's perspective and then you see dirt thrown on her coffin from her perspective. This could symbolize the eternity of life, which the ring did also.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

If I had to, and I am glad that I dont feel that I must, one theory I had is that

[Show spoiler]they were twin sisters separated at birth, perhaps adopted by two different families. The film never goes into the origins of the families deeply enough to dispell that.

Or, its just some cool, mystical connection between two people.

Either way you slice it, its a cool film. Ponder, ponder, ponder.

Your theory is no better or worse than any other put out there--Kieslowski himself said it's meant to be interpreted differently by each person. While I don't subscribe to your theory, it absolutely has merit to it and is interesting to think about.

My theory is the one I most commonly read in regards to this film:

[Show spoiler]the film is meant to show the difference between someone living in Poland and someone living in France at this time. They're the same in every way but one dies and one lives. One has the opportunity to live and survive (in France) and the other doesn't have that same opportunity (because she's in Poland). It helps to know Kieslowski's background and how he grew up on both sides of the fence, seeing how things were possible in one place but not the other. This theory is also supported by the Lenin statue being taken away at the very beginning of the film.

[iKarma]

Frozen- VERY GOOD! Love the characters, solid ending... 5/5

Is it based on a true story?

[two40]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Yojimbo.

[Show spoiler]A very very good movie about Samurais.
I can see storng correlation with what Kurosawa did and many modern movies. (especially westerns).
Seing how good this movie was, I can only guess how good Seven Samurai will be.

The only con was that it was a little cheese and unnatural feling at times, but than again it might be the point of the movie or even it might reflect reality better at that old times.

Will add to my blu collection once the price is right.

4.75/5

Glad you liked it. I watched this for the first time just over a month ago. I was very impressed.

[volcomsocal]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

OH. Why didnt you just say so then?

Yeah, if he's a loser then she has no reason to be attracted to him.

Wait, maybe there are chicks that dig losers.

Well, he's not exactly a loser... he's a school teacher, but blahhh.

[Al_The_Strange]

Next greatest blind-buy: “Modern Times.”

The little tramp’s story in this film might as well be the story of the world from the 20s to the 30s, because it starts off in a sleek industrialized setting full of glimmering technological promise, before slumping into the Great Depression era. From then on, the character goes from one zany situation into another, always getting into trouble, often times out of somebody else’s fault. Overall, the film is a pretty random series of short episodes, but I think it’s a solid representation of the times in which this film was made (of course, something like “The Grapes of Wrath” probably highlights the plight of the Great Depression way better; the message in “Modern Times” is still a very lighthearted one, as the tramp and the girl persevere through their unity despite the bleak threat of poverty. Leave it to Chaplin to always find the brightness and comedy in any bad situation).

Even though the plot’s pretty loose, each segment does present a plethora of comedic genius. The slapstick antics are very well-choreographed (especially the roller-skating scene; how did he do that?!), and many scenes show a clever sense of irony. And all the while, each scene serves to provide some form of social commentary. I found myself laughing plenty of times.

The film is quite well-made with solid photography and a solid production value (might look a little cheap, but I think it’s all very fitting for this kind of comedy). Acting is superb. The film also makes clever use of sound effects and music; only a few parts use vocal dialogue, but for the most part it is still a silent film.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4.5/5, intellectual impact: 2.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep!

This Blu-Ray looks smashing. It has a very good-looking picture with excellent sharpness and detail. Film grain is pretty heavy, but hardly problematic. Didn’t notice a whole lot of dirt or print damage, and flickering is not a huge problem; the image looks very slick and clean overall. Contrast levels are great. Sound quality is extremely clean and sounds wonderful.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Yojimbo.

A very very good movie about Samurais.
I can see storng correlation with what Kurosawa did and many modern movies. (especially westerns).
Seing how good this movie was, I can only guess how good Seven Samurai will be.

The only con was that it was a little cheese and unnatural feling at times, but than again it might be the point of the movie or even it might reflect reality better at that old times.

Will add to my blu collection once the price is right.

4.75/5

Samurai is already plural, Marcus.
Karate Kid(1984) 5/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5
Excellent movie with horrible acting, Elisabeth Shue is 100% hot in it too, especially at the Halloween party with the see through shirt.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: “Modern Times.”

The little tramp’s story in this film might as well be the story of the world from the 20s to the 30s, because it starts off in a sleek industrialized setting full of glimmering technological promise, before slumping into the Great Depression era. From then on, the character goes from one zany situation into another, always getting into trouble, often times out of somebody else’s fault. Overall, the film is a pretty random series of short episodes, but I think it’s a solid representation of the times in which this film was made (of course, something like “The Grapes of Wrath” probably highlights the plight of the Great Depression way better; the message in “Modern Times” is still a very lighthearted one, as the tramp and the girl persevere through their unity despite the bleak threat of poverty. Leave it to Chaplin to always find the brightness and comedy in any bad situation).

Even though the plot’s pretty loose, each segment does present a plethora of comedic genius. The slapstick antics are very well-choreographed (especially the roller-skating scene; how did he do that?!), and many scenes show a clever sense of irony. And all the while, each scene serves to provide some form of social commentary. I found myself laughing plenty of times.

The film is quite well-made with solid photography and a solid production value (might look a little cheap, but I think it’s all very fitting for this kind of comedy). Acting is superb. The film also makes clever use of sound effects and music; only a few parts use vocal dialogue, but for the most part it is still a silent film.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4.5/5, intellectual impact: 2.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep!

This Blu-Ray looks smashing. It has a very good-looking picture with excellent sharpness and detail. Film grain is pretty heavy, but hardly problematic. Didn’t notice a whole lot of dirt or print damage, and flickering is not a huge problem; the image looks very slick and clean overall. Contrast levels are great. Sound quality is extremely clean and sounds wonderful.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5

Thanks Al.

Another title that Netflix doesnt have on Blu.

[Batman1980]

Karate Kid II 5/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5
Just ever so slightly better than the original. Better villains, better hottie for Daniel and better climactic battle as well. Probably one of my top 30 movies of all-time.

[Steve46]

Once
Directed by John Carney (musician, not the ex-Saints kicker)
Starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
85 minutes
Region free UK import

I checked out Once because I was placing a UK order, it was cheap, and Pro-B was plugging it.

Money well spent.

Here's how you'll know if you'll like it:

Do you like music? No, let me rephrase that. Does music possess you, move you, excite you and make you feel like nothing else? Andy Dufresne in Shawshank understood. If the answer is yes, you will get this film.

If you like your music packaged and your performers manufactured and given an image to make their product sell, this might not be for you.

Once is about a guy (we never learn his name) who busks on the streets of Dublin when he's not helping his dad repair vacuum cleaners. By day, he plays familiar songs. People give him money because they recognize the songs. By night, he plays his own material. It possesses him. He lives and breathes it. He's a conduit for this powerful expression of emotion.

He's not an actor, he's a musician (The Frames) and had a role in The Commitments.

While playing one of the songs at night, a girl (we never learn her name either) sees him performing and gives him 10c. She asks if he'll repair her vacuum cleaner.

She's not an actress either. She's a musician from the Czech Republic. The two have a real-life relationship.

A friendship is formed. She can play classical piano. They play a song together. Will their relationship become a romantic one, or is music and friendship the only thing they will share?

She helps him. He helps her. Stuff happens. Wonderful stuff.

The ending

[Show spoiler]isn't conventional.

This film captures what it's like to be a musician. If you meet the first description I mentioned above, you could easily love this film. There are so many memorable scenes. I have been thinking about it for a week now.

It won an Oscar for best song, but don't think of it as a musical. It's not Hollywood. It's not Music & Lyrics. This is real.

It's shot on a digital camera so don't expect amazing PQ. It's decent enough though. Maybe 4/5. It doesn't matter. You won't care.

Overall 5/5 (a near-perfect story)

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Samurai is already plural, Marcus.
Karate Kid(1984) 5/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5
Horrible movie with horrible acting, Elisabeth Shue is 100% hot in it too, especially at the Halloween party with the see through shirt.

Corrected for you.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Yojimbo.

[Show spoiler]A very very good movie about Samurais.
I can see storng correlation with what Kurosawa did and many modern movies. (especially westerns).
Seing how good this movie was, I can only guess how good Seven Samurai will be.

The only con was that it was a little cheese and unnatural feling at times, but than again it might be the point of the movie or even it might reflect reality better at that old times.

Will add to my blu collection once the price is right.

4.75/5

Glad you liked it!

Originally Posted by Steve46

Once

[Show spoiler]Directed by John Carney (musician, not the ex-Saints kicker)
Starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
85 minutes
Region free UK import

I checked out Once because I was placing a UK order, it was cheap, and Pro-B was plugging it.

Money well spent.

Here's how you'll know if you'll like it:

Do you like music? No, let me rephrase that. Does music possess you, move you, excite you and make you feel like nothing else? Andy Dufresne in Shawshank understood. If the answer is yes, you will get this film.

If you like your music packaged and your performers manufactured and given an image to make their product sell, this might not be for you.

Once is about a guy (we never learn his name) who busks on the streets of Dublin when he's not helping his dad repair vacuum cleaners. By day, he plays familiar songs. People give him money because they recognize the songs. By night, he plays his own material. It possesses him. He lives and breathes it. He's a conduit for this powerful expression of emotion.

He's not an actor, he's a musician (The Frames) and had a role in The Commitments.

While playing one of the songs at night, a girl (we never learn her name either) sees him performing and gives him 10c. She asks if he'll repair her vacuum cleaner.

She's not an actress either. She's a musician from the Czech Republic. The two have a real-life relationship.

A friendship is formed. She can play classical piano. They play a song together. Will their relationship become a romantic one, or is music and friendship the only thing they will share?

She helps him. He helps her. Stuff happens. Wonderful stuff.

The ending

[Show spoiler]isn't conventional.

This film captures what it's like to be a musician. If you meet the first description I mentioned above, you could easily love this film. There are so many memorable scenes. I have been thinking about it for a week now.

It won an Oscar for best song, but don't think of it as a musical. It's not Hollywood. It's not Music & Lyrics. This is real.

It's shot on a digital camera so don't expect amazing PQ. It's decent enough though. Maybe 4/5. It doesn't matter. You won't care.

Overall 5/5 (a near-perfect story)

This was a great movie. It was a beautiful thing but very different.

[Show spoiler]For once, the love they shared wasn't for one another, but for music.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: “Modern Times.”

[Show spoiler]The little tramp’s story in this film might as well be the story of the world from the 20s to the 30s, because it starts off in a sleek industrialized setting full of glimmering technological promise, before slumping into the Great Depression era. From then on, the character goes from one zany situation into another, always getting into trouble, often times out of somebody else’s fault. Overall, the film is a pretty random series of short episodes, but I think it’s a solid representation of the times in which this film was made (of course, something like “The Grapes of Wrath” probably highlights the plight of the Great Depression way better; the message in “Modern Times” is still a very lighthearted one, as the tramp and the girl persevere through their unity despite the bleak threat of poverty. Leave it to Chaplin to always find the brightness and comedy in any bad situation).

Even though the plot’s pretty loose, each segment does present a plethora of comedic genius. The slapstick antics are very well-choreographed (especially the roller-skating scene; how did he do that?!), and many scenes show a clever sense of irony. And all the while, each scene serves to provide some form of social commentary. I found myself laughing plenty of times.

The film is quite well-made with solid photography and a solid production value (might look a little cheap, but I think it’s all very fitting for this kind of comedy). Acting is superb. The film also makes clever use of sound effects and music; only a few parts use vocal dialogue, but for the most part it is still a silent film.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 3.5/5, film: 4.5/5, intellectual impact: 2.5/5)

Recommendation: Yep!

This Blu-Ray looks smashing. It has a very good-looking picture with excellent sharpness and detail. Film grain is pretty heavy, but hardly problematic. Didn’t notice a whole lot of dirt or print damage, and flickering is not a huge problem; the image looks very slick and clean overall. Contrast levels are great. Sound quality is extremely clean and sounds wonderful.

PQ: 4.5/5, AQ: 5/5

I've already viewed this blu 3 times. Its a amazing little movie, and of course funny as h3ll. Im glad you liked it. I love it.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Yojimbo.

A very very good movie about Samurais.
I can see storng correlation with what Kurosawa did and many modern movies. (especially westerns).
Seing how good this movie was, I can only guess how good Seven Samurai will be.

The only con was that it was a little cheese and unnatural feling at times, but than again it might be the point of the movie or even it might reflect reality better at that old times.

Will add to my blu collection once the price is right.

4.75/5

Glad you like it. Ol boy was a G!!

[Marcus Wright]

The Thin Red Line.

I have viewed just one hour and stopped there as I am waiting for my winter break to start so that I can see that movie in complete open and relaxed mind. I want to enjoy it fully as this is once in a lifetime ride, I really mean it.

I am just gonna add one thing that not many people might have noticed. This movie is made for 3D. Even if its upconverted to 3D, I dare saying that it could challenge Avatar for the 3D crown.
As for the PQ, its the best PQ I have ever seen on a live action movie. Its out of this world. Virtually every scene in that movie is breathtaking.


Planet Hulk

Many many people will disagree with me but I dare to say this is the best (although not my favorite which is Suerman/Batman Apocalypse) DC/Marvel movie ever made.
I really mean it. This movie is very bold in its ideas and changes to Hulk character, the animation is top notch and the story really good.

Movie - 5/5
PQ - 4.5/5
AQ - 5/5

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Glad you like it. Ol boy was a G!!

Yojimbo and Sanjuro blu rays are on their way now. I blind bought sanjuro based on how much I liked Yojimbo.

[Diesel]

Prince of Persia

Reviewed before, but worth noting is that I decided to lower my score for this one slightly.

I still enjoy it and am glad I own it, but not quite as much as originally and for some reason, the last two or three times I've seen it, it feels like it is a very long movie, when its actually under 2 hours


New Rating - 4.25/5

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Prince of Persia

Reviewed before, but worth noting is that I decided to lower my score for this one slightly.

I still enjoy it and am glad I own it, but not quite as much as originally and for some reason, the last two or three times I've seen it, it feels like it is a very long movie, when its actually under 2 hours


New Rating - 4.25/5

Maybe it can be considered a fun movie but there was absolutely nothing remarkable about this movie. Very forgettable.
In other words, another medicore summer outing from Hollywood.

My rating.

3.5/5 (above average as it was somewhat fun)

Renting is best bet for anyone.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Maybe it can be considered a fun movie but there was absolutely nothing remarkable about this movie. Very forgettable.
In other words, another medicore summer outing from Hollywood.

My rating.

3.5/5 (above average as it was somewhat fun)

Renting is best bet for anyone.

That's all it was meant to be, so it succeeds.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Prince of Persia

Reviewed before, but worth noting is that I decided to lower my score for this one slightly.

I still enjoy it and am glad I own it, but not quite as much as originally and for some reason, the last two or three times I've seen it, it feels like it is a very long movie, when its actually under 2 hours


New Rating - 4.25/5

Ok, so the sniper might have been a little overkill, but I'm sure you catch my drift.

I also think I came close to breaking your record for most emoticons in a single post.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

The Thin Red Line.

I am just gonna add one thing that not many people might have noticed. This movie is made for 3D. Even if its upconverted to 3D, I dare saying that it could challenge Avatar for the 3D crown.

...what?