The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Batman1980]

Not sure if Shrek 4 was good or not but it certainly was different from the other 3, still can't believe that franchise is over, spin-off or not.
Shrek 1 5/5
Shrek 2 5/5
Shrek 3 4.5/5
Shrek 4 N/A

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Finals are over with and I can finally participate in this thread again.

Okay, so where do I even begin? I feel like I've learned a ton of invaluable information when it comes to film this semester. I won't go off on a huge tangent, so I'll start with this for my first (of many) reviews to come.

Die Hard (1988)

[Show spoiler]

The flat out best description of a high concept film. No, high concept is not a term applied to films such as Apocalypse Now or 2001: A Space Odyssey. High Concept is a term used to described films that offer a "unique" idea that can be conveyed briefly. In other words, it's mainstream films.

With that in mind, Die Hard fires on all cylinders. The only film from the Die Hard series that I've seen is Live Free or Die Hard, which I did not care for in any sense. With that in mind I went into the film with very low expectations. To my surprise though, Die Hard delivered on many levels. The plot was very good for an action film without letting completely absurd concepts overrun the film that you find in most modern action films today. All the characters are great, as one dimensional and flat as they are. I definitely felt the strongest emotional connection with Sgt. Alan Powell and his dilemma of never firing a gun. The dilemma is simple, but it was extremely well executed and placed. Alan Rickman steals the show overall playing the stoic and sophisticated Hans Gruber. I wouldn't necessarily say that there were any throw away characters. Every character served a purpose in the cause and effect chain that dominates high concept films.

I feel what Die Hard does the best is how simple everything is portrayed. The plot is simple, the characters are simple, the action isn't overblown (no pun intended), and the story isn't filled asinine plot points. In my opinion, this is how an action film should be done.

4/5

...More to come.


Oh and another note, I doubt I'll have absurdly long reviews for most of my films unless it's absolutely warranted. Example, Die Hard is a simple and straightforward film so it doesn't require a large wall of text. I feel that would be completely contradictory for what the film does: portray everything simply. On the other hand if a film contains numerous themes and has a lot to offer, such as American Beauty, then I'll type a little longer reviews. Just don't expect a huge bible when it comes to my reviews.

I like all the Die Hard movies, but there's no doubt that the first was the most plausible story. It's well-made and the acting is decent. For some reason, I like the second one more than the others. It's the setting more than anything. I know I'm in the minority there.

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Not sure if Shrek 4 was good or not but it certainly was different from the other 3, still can't believe that franchise is over, spin-off or not.
Shrek 1 5/5
Shrek 2 5/5
Shrek 3 4.5/5
Shrek 4 N/A

I am starting my Shrek Marathon tomorow.
Blind-bought the complete story and guess what, i will be seeing all of them for the first time ever.

I already know that The Donkey will be my favorite character.
Eddy Murphy as a Donkey = hilarious.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

You giving me the high hat!! That scene with Buscemi talking a mile minute is great.

Any time Polito was on screen I was loving it.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest rental: “Miller’s Crossing.”

[Show spoiler]Offhand, I can’t say I really connected with the story/characters that well. Maybe because film-noir-style movies have that effect on me initially. Maybe because gangster/crime movies have that effect on me too. Or maybe because it’s so dialogue-intensive.

The film is a little slow-going. But, when the action hits, it is pretty darn violent and badass. Some parts are pretty darn invoking. As a comedy, there are plenty of amusing scenes, but I rarely laughed out loud. It’s an effective balance between comedy and drama, and a balance between trying to invoke laughter and tears. Altogether, there are a good amount of distinctive stand-out scenes; repeat viewings might connect with me better.

The film is a good-looking one; photography is very solid, and the film is very stylish. The production value features a decent period reproduction with lots of great-looking settings, props, costumes, cars, weapons, and the like. Acting is superb all around; they definitely recreated the accents and slang of the era really well, see? I usually don’t care much for Gabriel Byrne, but he was great in this role. Marcia Gay Harden is great (and surprisingly lovely). There’s also a little cameo from a guy who’s kinda funny-looking.

Based on the film’s visuals, style, content, and production value, I think it would go good with “Harlem Nights.” And possibly “Road to Perdition” or “The Untouchables.” As a dark comedy, it does remind me a bit of “Fargo.”

3.5/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 3/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: Rent it, see what you think.

You are a tough cookie.

"look into your heaaaaaart, look into your heaaaaart"

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I decided playing my PS3 for a couple hours was more important than watching Avatar .

Logical

Originally Posted by Diesel

I'll get to it eventually.

Illogical

[assydingo]

The first time I watched Inception I'd say it was an 8.5. The main issue was that only Cobb felt fully developed and I didn't connect emotionally with him as much as I felt I should have. Also Ariadne felt too much like a plot device.

I don't know what exactly but something clicked re-watching it that didn't the first time. The story might be a masterpiece. What's important (to me at least) isn't whether or not Cobb is dreaming but that he's just confident enough to think he's awake to sacrifice not being with the woman he loves despite saying they'd grow old together. Also that in his own way he did get to grow old with her and it will have to do.

Ariadne still seems like a plot device but that alone isn't a big deal and Ellen is so cute that it's easy to forgive. Now I'm thinking it's a 10.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by killowertz

Squid, where does Tangled rank for you in terms of animated films for this year? I already know How to Train Your Dragon and Toy Story 3 were your #1 and #2 for the year.

Man, that is really tough. Hmmmmmm...

OK, I'll call Toy Story 3 and Tangled a tie for 2nd, and here is why.

TS3 wins for emotion and story. Tangled wins for outright ROMP and nonstop fun and adventure.

They are all solid fives stars from me. None of them are just barely making the 5 grade, all three do everything right for me.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I've always had mixed feelings about this one. In the end, I gave it the same rating, and got the BD as a permanent part of my collection.

I agree, the London scenes are wicked!

28 Days is a cool film but the BD transfer is among the worse. However 28 Weeks is much better and has an excellent transfer! Got Em!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Finals are over with and I can finally participate in this thread again.

Okay, so where do I even begin? I feel like I've learned a ton of invaluable information when it comes to film this semester. I won't go off on a huge tangent, so I'll start with this for my first (of many) reviews to come.

Die Hard (1988)

[Show spoiler]The flat out best description of a high concept film. No, high concept is not a term applied to films such as Apocalypse Now or 2001: A Space Odyssey. High Concept is a term used to described films that offer a "unique" idea that can be conveyed briefly. In other words, it's mainstream films.

With that in mind, Die Hard fires on all cylinders. The only film from the Die Hard series that I've seen is Live Free or Die Hard, which I did not care for in any sense. With that in mind I went into the film with very low expectations. To my surprise though, Die Hard delivered on many levels. The plot was very good for an action film without letting completely absurd concepts overrun the film that you find in most modern action films today. All the characters are great, as one dimensional and flat as they are. I definitely felt the strongest emotional connection with Sgt. Alan Powell and his dilemma of never firing a gun. The dilemma is simple, but it was extremely well executed and placed. Alan Rickman steals the show overall playing the stoic and sophisticated Hans Gruber. I wouldn't necessarily say that there were any throw away characters. Every character served a purpose in the cause and effect chain that dominates high concept films.

I feel what Die Hard does the best is how simple everything is portrayed. The plot is simple, the characters are simple, the action isn't overblown (no pun intended), and the story isn't filled asinine plot points. In my opinion, this is how an action film should be done.

4/5

.

Gruber is a favorite villain of mine because he is so caaaaaaaaaalm. Bad dude.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

Once

I loved this movie.

[Show spoiler]This is movie making in its purest form. It was done on the cheap and relied on the only elements that really matter: the story, the directing, the acting, the score.

The story is a simple tale of love after the pause button is hit; kindred spirits unable to jump the tracks; soul mates denied. The director made this movie feel much less like a movie and much more like a fly-on-the-wall home video. It epitomizes the cliché “acting so good it doesn’t seem like acting”. Both Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard’s backstories seem to mirror the characters, so I wonder how much acting is actually taking place. The score of this movie is its heart. This is a true musical in the sense that the story is largely told through the songs; but the integration of them into the setting is so natural and smart that it seems plausible. The best part is that (much of) the singing is recorded live, and that lends itself to the genuine vibe of the film. Not only is it live, but it is incredibly strong and poignant.

The PQ is nothing to boast about, but considering the budget and intended look of the film, it is very strong. I’m not confident enough in my knowledge of the limitations of the HDV camera used, so I can’t tell how close this is to perfection, so my assessment is based more on how it looks to me (4/5). The AQ on this disc is perfect however. Let me put some conditions on that claim. It is lossless, but only DTS-HDMA 2.0. I don’t know what sound mix was used in the theatre, but if it was stereo, I suspect the movie’s budget dictated that decision. In any case, the movie lives and dies on the music, and many music lovers prefer stereo. Personally, I have no issues with surround music and I would have liked to hear more atmospheric surrounds used (street noise or party sounds). Although I don’t think the movie is seriously harmed by this omission, it is an area for improvement. In any case, assuming stereo is the director’s intent, due to budget or otherwise, this soundtrack is fantastic (5/5).

Bravo to this film for creating such a true and gritty window into a fantastic pairing; neither of whom are overly notable individually, but greatly exceed the sum of their parts when together. Very highly recommended

.

5/5

Squid: so this is yet another musical that you like? I think you’re holding out on us with your “I don’t like musicals” ruse .

Hep, you nailed it with your "fly on the wall" description. It was almost, in an oddly good way, a documentary. Sorta kinda. So real.

Something else that really touched me because it felt so real was

[Show spoiler]the Guys inability to talk about his previous relationship by "speaking" with words. Whatever his pain was, it was so great that he protected himself by only using song and music to dabble at the fringe of the subject. He would never go head on and actually use "words" to "talk" about it. Always evasive. Very sad and beautiful.

About the "musical" thing, , I dont consider Once a musical because they dont sing the dialogue. The songs arent the script, if that makes sense. To me its just a movie that depicts musicians doing their thing.

I'll confess to ALL musicals that I am aware of that I like...

1. Wizard of Oz
2. Rocky Horror Picture Show
3. 99% of Disneys feature length animation films

Thats all I know of, I think.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Okay, so where do I even begin? I feel like I've learned a ton of invaluable information when it comes to film this semester. I won't go off on a huge tangent, so I'll start with this for my first (of many) reviews to come.

Die Hard (1988)

[Show spoiler]The flat out best description of a high concept film. No, high concept is not a term applied to films such as Apocalypse Now or 2001: A Space Odyssey. High Concept is a term used to described films that offer a "unique" idea that can be conveyed briefly. In other words, it's mainstream films.

With that in mind, Die Hard fires on all cylinders. The only film from the Die Hard series that I've seen is Live Free or Die Hard, which I did not care for in any sense. With that in mind I went into the film with very low expectations. To my surprise though, Die Hard delivered on many levels. The plot was very good for an action film without letting completely absurd concepts overrun the film that you find in most modern action films today. All the characters are great, as one dimensional and flat as they are. I definitely felt the strongest emotional connection with Sgt. Alan Powell and his dilemma of never firing a gun. The dilemma is simple, but it was extremely well executed and placed. Alan Rickman steals the show overall playing the stoic and sophisticated Hans Gruber. I wouldn't necessarily say that there were any throw away characters. Every character served a purpose in the cause and effect chain that dominates high concept films.

I feel what Die Hard does the best is how simple everything is portrayed. The plot is simple, the characters are simple, the action isn't overblown (no pun intended), and the story isn't filled asinine plot points. In my opinion, this is how an action film should be done.

4/5

great review

however, in your first paragraph it sounds like you're poking fun at my reviews

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Logical



Illogical

Does it help that I did in fact get to 3:10 to Yuma last night?


I already reviewed this one before.

Originally Posted by Diesel

3:10 to Yuma

I first saw this movie in either late 2008 or early 2009.

A friend of mine is a huge Christian Bale fan and up until about September or so of 2008 I hadn't seen him in anything besides Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (which I really liked him in both). So when she found that out she started letting me borrow a bunch of his movies and 3:10 to Yuma was one of them.

From the first time I saw it I thought it was a great movie.

The acting is pretty strong all around I thought, but the two leads (Bale, Crowe) are definitely the best in the movie and their scenes together are great to watch. Followed by Ben Foster as Charlie (Marshall: Why didn't you stop them? Charlie: They had guns sir...and they were shooting BULLETS! )

In addition to being well acted the characters are well written and interesting for the most part; I love that the only annoying character

[Show spoiler]got forked to death by Wade

I really liked both of the main characters. Dan trying to do what's right for his family and get money to be able to support them and Wade the feared and legendary wanted man that

[Show spoiler]eventually develops respect for Dan and wants to see him do what he's come so far for...even if that thing is getting him on the train to Yuma prison (which he's escaped from twice already )

The stories of Charlie wanting to

[Show spoiler]save his boss and friend from the good guys and keep him out of jail

and Dan and his son's relationship

[Show spoiler]growing from his son resenting his father in the beginning to finally understanding him and having the respect for him that he should

.

The action sequences are well set up and filmed nicely.

The music used in the movie is great (I believe it got an Oscar nod for this) and the sound of the film is

I really like the look of the film, very nice and fitting of this sort of movie and the wide shots of the landscape are beautiful.

Even if you aren't really a fan of westerns, you should check this movie out. Its a great movie to watch and is very enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

Rating - 5/5

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

great review

however, in your first paragraph it sounds like you're poking fun at my reviews

Hey hey hey, you're not allowed in here for another 3 weeks!!

[Show spoiler]

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Hey hey hey, you're not allowed in here for another 3 weeks!!

[Show spoiler]

that's exactly what killowertz said when i mentioned how i might be "coming back" early.
i was planning on waitin' but when The Town shows up at my doorstep today or tomorrow, it's gonna be hard to wait to watch / write a review for it so that bugger is gonna pull me back in before january

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Does it help that I did in fact get to 3:10 to Yuma last night?

]

Sure. But once you get that blue crap all over your body, its kinda hard to wash off.

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Hep, you nailed it with your "fly on the wall" description. It was almost, in an oddly good way, a documentary. Sorta kinda. So real.

Something else that really touched me because it felt so real was

[Show spoiler]the Guys inability to talk about his previous relationship by "speaking" with words. Whatever his pain was, it was so great that he protected himself by only using song and music to dabble at the fringe of the subject. He would never go head on and actually use "words" to "talk" about it. Always evasive. Very sad and beautiful.

About the "musical" thing, , I dont consider Once a musical because they dont sing the dialogue. The songs arent the script, if that makes sense. To me its just a movie that depicts musicians doing their thing.

I'll confess to ALL musicals that I am aware of that I like...

1. Wizard of Oz
2. Rocky Horror Picture Show
3. 99% of Disneys feature length animation films

Thats all I know of, I think.

I was also touched by

[Show spoiler]his father's reaction to hearing the completed demo.

And before that,

[Show spoiler]the reaction from the studio technician when he realized that this wasn't just another hopeless band with no talent

The vacuum cleaner was an interesting character too

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Steve46

I was also touched by

[Show spoiler]his father's reaction to hearing the completed demo.

And before that,

[Show spoiler]the reaction from the studio technician when he realized that this wasn't just another hopeless band with no talent

The vacuum cleaner was an interesting character too

Both of your spoilers hit me pretty hard too.

[Show spoiler]The mixing engineers disinterest had me worried at first that the gig would go sour, so when he flipped it was indeed a warm moment. I also liked the "listening in the car" trip to the beach. And yes, his dads encouraging words were very touching.

[Batman1980]

Not sure if I'll watch Despicable Me or Big Daddy after I finish Shrek the whole story, whichever one I don't watch I'll watch tonight. Leaning towards Despicable Me.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You are a tough cookie.

"look into your heaaaaaart, look into your heaaaaart"

[Show spoiler]
"What heart?"



BAM!

*walks away*

If they Blu-Ray this one, I'd probably buy it, rewatch it, get more out of it. Some scenes were pretty darn wicked.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by CZAR

28 Days is a cool film but the BD transfer is among the worse. However 28 Weeks is much better and has an excellent transfer! Got Em!!

Apparently, "28 Days Later" is supposed to look bad. Made on some crummy camcorder.

"28 Weeks Later" definitely looks better. I think it's a slightly funner film too.