The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by CZAR

See u are missing sumthin major......................................we all have our own taste. Ebert said The Lovely Bones was a bad film and he is about the only one that thinks so. Also it depends on what kind of films u like and what u are into. I am a big fan of dance films as it is my background also. The dance scenes and choreography deserve 4 stars on its own. U cant deny the awesomeness of those routines dog. Im sure there are some films u like that I would rate 2 stars. Just how it is. Most likely Ticks will fall into that category hahahhaah. Got Em!!

haha you loved Frozen, and Ticks is better then that... Stomp the Yard was better then all 3 step up movies..we all have our guilty pleasure.. mine being most of JCVD movies.. hes my inspiration when im throwing them weights around in the gym...I love meat head movies.. you like dancing movies.. we should combine them.. JCVD does have some serious moves, he does a nasty split... but I usually dislike movies that "everybody" loves.. i.e. The Hangover, Social Network, Scott Pilgrim..

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I never watched the sequel. Like I do with most series, if the sequels don't include any of the stars from the original, I don't even bother.

I had forgotten that this was a Paramount movie. I already said that this had little chance of ever coming out on Blu-ray, but knowing that fact now I can comfortably say that I would literally fall out of my chair if it ever got announced. I may just have to break my streak eventually of not buying a single movie on DVD since I started buying Blu-rays since for some reason I never bought this movie.

Oh is Paramount stingy with their films or should I say cheap? Got Em!!

Originally Posted by nolfoc

haha you loved Frozen, and Ticks is better then that... Stomp the Yard was better then all 3 step up movies..we all have our guilty pleasure.. mine being most of JCVD movies.. hes my inspiration when im throwing them weights around in the gym...I love meat head movies.. you like dancing movies.. we should combine them.. JCVD does have some serious moves, he does a nasty split... but I usually dislike movies that "everybody" loves.. i.e. The Hangover, Social Network, Scott Pilgrim..

Im sure Ticks wont be better than Frozen. Im also sure its not a good comparison as Im sure they are nuthin alike. See I cant stand those wack Van Damme films with the exception of Time Cop. But I wont bag on u for it atleast not to your face hahahahah. The Hangover is one of the most overrated films of last year and period. Not funny at all. Stomp is a great dance movie all the way around. Definitely the king of these new generation dance films. Got Em!!

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Oh is Paramount stingy with their films or should I say cheap? Got Em!!



Im sure Ticks wont be better than Frozen. Im also sure its not a good comparison as Im sure they are nuthin alike. See I cant stand those wack Van Damme films with the exception of Time Cop. But I wont bag on u for it atleast not to your face hahahahah. The Hangover is one of the most overrated films of last year and period. Not funny at all. Stomp is a great dance movie all the way around. Definitely the king of these new generation dance films. Got Em!!

Time Cop is one of the JCVD movies i hate... My Favorites are in order are Sudden Death, Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Death Warrant, Street Fighter, Lionheart.. the rest are okay.. Bloodsport im not a huge fan of.. i know i know, ha yeah you cant compare Ticks to Frozen, but i know you love Frozen.. Ill tell you this much though, after you see Ticks you better bring back the Czar horror discussion thread and let the world know the goodness of it..

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

Time Cop is one of the JCVD movies i hate... My Favorites are in order are Sudden Death, Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Death Warrant, Street Fighter, Lionheart.. the rest are okay.. Bloodsport im not a huge fan of.. i know i know, ha yeah you cant compare Ticks to Frozen, but i know you love Frozen.. Ill tell you this much though, after you see Ticks you better bring back the Czar horror discussion thread and let the world know the goodness of it..

Dude no u did not just fill up my computer moniter with these turd Van Damme tittles hahahahaha. Time Cop is the only decent film of his period. I guess if u are into the fighting then Blood Sport & Kick Boxer is ok but other than that kill the convo and the cat u rode in on! Man I usually knock ticks off my dog so well see. Got Em!!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Diesel

First Blood

[Show spoiler]
Color me disappointed.

I was expecting a hell of an action movie and that's not what I got

Rambo the character was very cool;

[Show spoiler]dropping those deputies like flies, but letting them live because he felt like it.

His

[Show spoiler]breakdown at the end

was good, but he's just not enough to make up for the rest of the movie.

Let's see, what else was very good besides that...oh, right, nothing.

His adversaries were lame, boring and annoying. There's not a single noteworthy character here besides Rambo.


I didn't really care for the story, which isn't much of one to begin with really.

He

[Show spoiler]gets arrested because the Sheriff doesn't like "drifters"?

Seriously?

I just thought the entire plot of the film was pretty
I didn't enjoy it.

They had two or three flashes of him remembering his time in 'Nam, I think that would have been a much more interesting way to go with the story, having those flashes continue on in the film instead of just Super Guy vs Small Town Cops.


Like I said, Stallone's character was the only thing that was good in this movie as far as I'm concerned.


Rating - 1.5/5

I was probably dissapointed the same way, but last time I saw it I liked it a lot.

The impression I got concerning the sheriff was that

[Show spoiler]he was getting sick and tired of all the Vietnam war vets running around as drifters causing trouble. Like it was an extention of a nation-wide "problem." But all in all, yeah it's pretty unreasonable treatment.

I read the book ("First Blood" by David Morell) and thought it was badass. A lot of it is the same as the movie, but way more graphic and with a different ending. I liked it a lot. Might have helped me appreciate the movie too.

I've always liked "First Blood Part II" better anyway. Plenty of coolness there.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I was probably dissapointed the same way, but last time I saw it I liked it a lot.

The impression I got concerning the sheriff was that

[Show spoiler]he was getting sick and tired of all the Vietnam war vets running around as drifters causing trouble. Like it was an extention of a nation-wide "problem." But all in all, yeah it's pretty unreasonable treatment.

I read the book ("First Blood" by David Morell) and thought it was badass. A lot of it is the same as the movie, but way more graphic and with a different ending. I liked it a lot. Might have helped me appreciate the movie too.

I've always liked "First Blood Part II" better anyway. Plenty of coolness there.

I guess that makes sense...but like you say, its still pretty

That's possible, since you had some form of previous investment in the story.

I'm going to try and get to Part II tomorrow if I have time. Sunday at the latest.

Part III didn't get played, which is strange.

I've already seen Rambo and liked it, but only saw it one time; I'm going to reevaluate and see if I still do. But its because they played the first two in OAR but not the new one. USA did the same for Indiana Jones when they played, the first three in OAR and 4 in 16:9

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I guess that makes sense...but like you say, its still pretty

That's possible, since you had some form of previous investment in the story.

I'm going to try and get to Part II tomorrow if I have time. Sunday at the latest.

Part III didn't get played, which is strange.

I've already seen Rambo and liked it, but only saw it one time; I'm going to reevaluate and see if I still do. But its because they played the first two in OAR but not the new one. USA did the same for Indiana Jones when they played, the first three in OAR and 4 in 16:9

Stupid TV, changing the OARs and everything. Probably cut the blood and guts out of the movies too!

"Rambo III" is probably the least-popular of the series, so I'm not surprised they're not showing it. I thought it was fairly entertaining, but plays out like an average action flick.

Rating the Rambo films would look something like this:

"First Blood:" 3.5/5 (maybe 4/5 for me)
"First Blood Part II" 4/5
"Rambo III" 3/5
"Rambo" 4/5 (I think)

I guess I like 'em.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Stupid TV, changing the OARs and everything. Probably cut the blood and guts out of the movies too!

"Rambo III" is probably the least-popular of the series, so I'm not surprised they're not showing it. I thought it was fairly entertaining, but plays out like an average action flick.

Rating the Rambo films would look something like this:

"First Blood:" 3.5/5 (maybe 4/5 for me)
"First Blood Part II" 4/5
"Rambo III" 3/5
"Rambo" 4/5 (I think)

I guess I like 'em.

I figure that's probably why they skipped airing it.

I at first was actually going to give First Blood a 3.5/5 during the film. But after it, the more I thought about it, the less I liked it. When I hit 1.5/5 I stopped thinking about it

[Steve46]

First Blood 4/5
Rambo II 3.5/5
Rambo III 3/5
Rambo 4/5

[Marcus Wright]

First Blood - 4/5
Rambo 2 - 3.5/5
Rambo 3 - 4.5/5 Wow, just wow for action
Rambo 4 - 4/5

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Honestly never understood why Twilight is so hated, I get that they're not the best movies but wow. Also, just for girls? Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Kristen Stewart, Christian Serratos, Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Reeser, etc. It may just be that I'm too far into vampire mythology to let stuff like glittering skin scare me off. Best vampire movie ever would be Bram Stoker's though.

Damn right, Let The Right One In and Interview with a Vampire are up there too.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Oh is Paramount stingy with their films or should I say cheap? Got Em!!

They have a ton of films in their back catalog and release hardly any from it. I love what they do with their blockbuster catalog titles and new releases, but it's a shame we don't get more of their back catalog.

[iam1bearcat]

BROTHERS (100 minutes)

Film #9

Year: 2009
Director: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Sam Shepard
Genre: Drama

What Made Me Want to See This? Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal

An absolutely outstanding, riveting, emotional disturbing drama that tosses in doses of war, but mainly centers around a change in the family.

When Sam (Maguire), a Marine, is announced dead while serving in Afghanistan, his convict, recently from release prison brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) steps up to become the “family man” for Sam’s wife (Portman) and his two young girls. But when Sam is found alive and returns home, Sam isn’t the man he used to be.

I have to say, I thought all three main performances were phenomenal. I felt Gyllenhaal carried the first half the movie, and Maguire carried the second half. Portman was great from start to finish, easily. Hell, even the oldest kid (played by Bailee Madison) was absolutely amazing. If she doesn’t become a mega-superstar when she’s older I will be shocked because she owns her lines and expressions like well rounded actress would and she has some serious skill. All around for the performances.

The film isn’t fun to watch, nor is it easy to watch. There are more intense and creepy scenes here than in 90% of all horror movies combined. Maguire plays the role flawlessly of a man who goes from being the perfect father, husband and son to being detached, cold and separated from his family leaving them worried about his well being. Honestly, I never felt comfortable with him in any scene because he always had a presence about him that made it seem like he could snap at any given moment. Truly fantastic performance that is as much haunting as it is amazing. I was at first a bit worried that Maguire couldn’t pull off a role that would place him as a quiet, strong, confident family man (not because he played Spider-Man but because he just has a boyish look that never leaves him) but he handles the role incredibly well. And when he’s on “edge” he nails this perfectly with his piercing eyes and empty expressions.

I had no issues at all with the film as I “enjoyed” every sorrowful moment the film contained. Another film that must be added to my collection. May not be watched often, but the simple fact it contains two of my favorite actors (Portman and Gyllenhaal) was reason enough if I even remotely enjoyed the film. But Brothers is incredibly on every level and everyone should at least invest a rental for it.

Recommendation: High

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4/5

Technical Score: 4/5
Enjoyment Level Score: 4.5/5 “loved it”

Final Verdict: 4.5/5

[volcomsocal]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

BROTHERS (100 minutes)

Film #9

Year: 2009
Director: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Sam Shepard
Genre: Drama

What Made Me Want to See This? Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal

An absolutely outstanding, riveting, emotional disturbing drama that tosses in doses of war, but mainly centers around a change in the family.

When Sam (Maguire), a Marine, is announced dead while serving in Afghanistan, his convict, recently from release prison brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) steps up to become the “family man” for Sam’s wife (Portman) and his two young girls. But when Sam is found alive and returns home, Sam isn’t the man he used to be.

I have to say, I thought all three main performances were phenomenal. I felt Gyllenhaal carried the first half the movie, and Maguire carried the second half. Portman was great from start to finish, easily. Hell, even the oldest kid (played by Bailee Madison) was absolutely amazing. If she doesn’t become a mega-superstar when she’s older I will be shocked because she owns her lines and expressions like well rounded actress would and she has some serious skill. All around for the performances.

The film isn’t fun to watch, nor is it easy to watch. There are more intense and creepy scenes here than in 90% of all horror movies combined. Maguire plays the role flawlessly of a man who goes from being the perfect father, husband and son to being detached, cold and separated from his family leaving them worried about his well being. Honestly, I never felt comfortable with him in any scene because he always had a presence about him that made it seem like he could snap at any given moment. Truly fantastic performance that is as much haunting as it is amazing. I was at first a bit worried that Maguire couldn’t pull off a role that would place him as a quiet, strong, confident family man (not because he played Spider-Man but because he just has a boyish look that never leaves him) but he handles the role incredibly well. And when he’s on “edge” he nails this perfectly with his piercing eyes and empty expressions.

I had no issues at all with the film as I “enjoyed” every sorrowful moment the film contained. Another film that must be added to my collection. May not be watched often, but the simple fact it contains two of my favorite actors (Portman and Gyllenhaal) was reason enough if I even remotely enjoyed the film. But Brothers is incredibly on every level and everyone should at least invest a rental for it.

Recommendation: High

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4/5

Technical Score: 4/5
Enjoyment Level Score: 4.5/5 “loved it”

Final Verdict: 4.5/5

Well written. I loved the movie too.

[Diesel]

Bad Boys II

I watched the first film for the first time a few months ago. I scored it a 3.5/5 if I remember correctly; it was fun but I didn't really like it all that much. I have no idea what the general feelings are about these movies, whether one is better or two is better, but I thought that Bad Boys II was definitely the better of the two films.

I liked the story of this one more than the first. The movie moved along nicer than the first and was more interesting to me.


The humor in this one was so much better than the first one, I was dying laughing several times.

Smith and Lawrence worked great together in this one (they were good in the first together but better this time), Smith was particularly on his game. "I think I done just got mad!"


The action scenes were great. Ridiculous and over the top; exactly what I expect from Michael Bay


I read that the combination of violence and language in the non-cable version is borderline NC-17
The original wasn't nearly that far to the end of the spectrum, but when I first looked into watching the movies I was really surprised they were as hard of an R as they are. Bad Boys isn't the kind of movies I would think of if I thought Hard R. Seems really just for the hell of it rather than the story calling for intense violence and language (like say Saving Private Ryan and other war movies of the sort). I've made it no secret that I detest gore/sex/profanity just for the sake of gore/sex/profanity, and that's exactly what this movie has; if this wouldn't have been on cable, I wouldn't have watched it.


Anyway, the version I watched, I really enjoyed.

Rating - 4/5

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

BROTHERS (100 minutes)

[Show spoiler]Film #9

Year: 2009
Director: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Sam Shepard
Genre: Drama

What Made Me Want to See This? Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal

An absolutely outstanding, riveting, emotional disturbing drama that tosses in doses of war, but mainly centers around a change in the family.

When Sam (Maguire), a Marine, is announced dead while serving in Afghanistan, his convict, recently from release prison brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) steps up to become the “family man” for Sam’s wife (Portman) and his two young girls. But when Sam is found alive and returns home, Sam isn’t the man he used to be.

I have to say, I thought all three main performances were phenomenal. I felt Gyllenhaal carried the first half the movie, and Maguire carried the second half. Portman was great from start to finish, easily. Hell, even the oldest kid (played by Bailee Madison) was absolutely amazing. If she doesn’t become a mega-superstar when she’s older I will be shocked because she owns her lines and expressions like well rounded actress would and she has some serious skill. All around for the performances.

The film isn’t fun to watch, nor is it easy to watch. There are more intense and creepy scenes here than in 90% of all horror movies combined. Maguire plays the role flawlessly of a man who goes from being the perfect father, husband and son to being detached, cold and separated from his family leaving them worried about his well being. Honestly, I never felt comfortable with him in any scene because he always had a presence about him that made it seem like he could snap at any given moment. Truly fantastic performance that is as much haunting as it is amazing. I was at first a bit worried that Maguire couldn’t pull off a role that would place him as a quiet, strong, confident family man (not because he played Spider-Man but because he just has a boyish look that never leaves him) but he handles the role incredibly well. And when he’s on “edge” he nails this perfectly with his piercing eyes and empty expressions.

I had no issues at all with the film as I “enjoyed” every sorrowful moment the film contained. Another film that must be added to my collection. May not be watched often, but the simple fact it contains two of my favorite actors (Portman and Gyllenhaal) was reason enough if I even remotely enjoyed the film. But Brothers is incredibly on every level and everyone should at least invest a rental for it.

Recommendation: High

PQ: 4/5
AQ: 4/5

Technical Score: 4/5
Enjoyment Level Score: 4.5/5 “loved it”

Final Verdict: 4.5/5

Yeah Toby McGuire showed his ass in this movie. Great flick, gritty and intense.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

i always enjoy your generous reviews for awful movies..

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

First Blood

[Show spoiler]Color me disappointed.

I was expecting a hell of an action movie and that's not what I got

Rambo the character was very cool;

[Show spoiler]dropping those deputies like flies, but letting them live because he felt like it.

His

[Show spoiler]breakdown at the end

was good, but he's just not enough to make up for the rest of the movie.

Let's see, what else was very good besides that...oh, right, nothing.

His adversaries were lame, boring and annoying. There's not a single noteworthy character here besides Rambo.


I didn't really care for the story, which isn't much of one to begin with really.

He

[Show spoiler]gets arrested because the Sheriff doesn't like "drifters"?

Seriously?

I just thought the entire plot of the film was pretty
I didn't enjoy it.

They had two or three flashes of him remembering his time in 'Nam, I think that would have been a much more interesting way to go with the story, having those flashes continue on in the film instead of just Super Guy vs Small Town Cops.


Like I said, Stallone's character was the only thing that was good in this movie as far as I'm concerned.

Rating - 1.5/5

Have you seen Rambo (2008)? That one rocks.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CZAR

See u are missing sumthin major......................................we all have our own taste. Ebert said The Lovely Bones was a bad film and he is about the only one that thinks so. Also it depends on what kind of films u like and what u are into. I am a big fan of dance films as it is my background also. The dance scenes and choreography deserve 4 stars on its own. U cant deny the awesomeness of those routines dog. Im sure there are some films u like that I would rate 2 stars. Just how it is. Most likely Ticks will fall into that category hahahhaah. Got Em!!

Prejudger!!!!

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by killowertz

They have a ton of films in their back catalog and release hardly any from it. I love what they do with their blockbuster catalog titles and new releases, but it's a shame we don't get more of their back catalog.

Oh ok I gotcha. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Diesel

Bad Boys II

[Show spoiler]I watched the first film for the first time a few months ago. I scored it a 3.5/5 if I remember correctly; it was fun but I didn't really like it all that much. I have no idea what the general feelings are about these movies, whether one is better or two is better, but I thought that Bad Boys II was definitely the better of the two films.

I liked the story of this one more than the first. The movie moved along nicer than the first and was more interesting to me.


The humor in this one was so much better than the first one, I was dying laughing several times.

Smith and Lawrence worked great together in this one (they were good in the first together but better this time), Smith was particularly on his game. "I think I done just got mad!"


The action scenes were great. Ridiculous and over the top; exactly what I expect from Michael Bay


I read that the combination of violence and language in the non-cable version is borderline NC-17
The original wasn't nearly that far to the end of the spectrum, but when I first looked into watching the movies I was really surprised they were as hard of an R as they are. Bad Boys isn't the kind of movies I would think of if I thought Hard R. Seems really just for the hell of it rather than the story calling for intense violence and language (like say Saving Private Ryan and other war movies of the sort). I've made it no secret that I detest gore/sex/profanity just for the sake of gore/sex/profanity, and that's exactly what this movie has; if this wouldn't have been on cable, I wouldn't have watched it.

Anyway, the version I watched, I really enjoyed.

Rating - 4/5

Glad u liked it. I give the 2nd film an edge over the first film but thought the story in the first film was a lil bit better. Also what channel did u watch this on? It wasnt regular tv with commercials was it? Also dont remember any sex in this film at all. Got Em!!