The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[SquidPuppet]

True Grit

It was just OK.

Technically everything was great. The acting was solid, the dialogue was cool, (very Coenesque) the cinematography was beautiful, the score was fitting, sets and costumes were awesome, the guns were big and loud.

But it just didnt WOW me. Maybe because I already knew the story and outcome. I cant fault anything, it just didnt rock me.

3.5/5 (liked it)

Question for those who have seen it.

[Show spoiler]Why does Rooster shoot Blackie after the long ride? Blackie was exhausted, but not lame. I assume that after a rest, she would have been OK. Seemed senseless.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I didnt score it as low as you did, but yes, something was missing. It looked and felt real, but it didnt come across as hopeless as they intended. Sorta.

U know what Squid I think u just hit it on the nose. I never did get that feeling that it was do or die or that the situation was that extreme especially with the help of her uncle. Also I think I was waiting for sumthin disasterous to happen and it never did.

[Show spoiler]The part where she got beat up and tied up

I thought that was where the film was goin for a turn and where things were gonna get intense and we were gonna get that "moment" we were looking for but it never happened. Got Em!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

oohhhhhh, okay, i get it. thanks i kind of originally thought that but

[Show spoiler]other times when she was being "made" she was naked, so i thought it didn't serve a purpose and was naked for the sake of being naked

Thats from my memory anyway. I saw it long ago. I need to see it again for the review club. I remember liking how dark it was.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Thats from my memory anyway. I saw it long ago. I need to see it again for the review club. I remember liking how dark it was.

it is dark(er) and the overall story is in a lot of ways creepy and makes you think. should lead to good discussions in the review club thread, if we get enough of us to see it

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CZAR

U know what Squid I think u just hit it on the nose. I never did get that feeling that it was do or die or that the situation was that extreme especially with the help of her uncle. Also I think I was waiting for sumthin disasterous to happen and it never did.

[Show spoiler]The part where she got beat up and tied up

I thought that was where the film was goin for a turn and where things were gonna get intense and we were gonna get that "moment" we were looking for but it never happened. Got Em!!

Exactly.

[Show spoiler]When they nabbed her for poking around more, I figured "OK, this is where the shit is going to hit the fan". But she got rescued in a No Frills way. They just let her go. Seemed anticlimactic.I was thinking it would be the beginning of the big hillbilly war. Then later, the baddies just decide to help her for no reason other than to be nice.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Exactly.

[Show spoiler]When they nabbed her for poking around more, I figured "OK, this is where the shit is going to hit the fan". But she got rescued in a No Frills way. They just let her go. Seemed anticlimactic.I was thinking it would be the beginning of the big hillbilly war. Then later, the baddies just decide to help her for no reason other than to be nice.

Couldnt have said it better myself. For such a film about real life issues and the genuine feeling of the film, they played it safe. I think that was the biggest downfall. Got Em!!

[lDlisturb3d]

In a few i will own all of Darren Aronosfky film's. I was really blow away by The Wrestler this dude is a good director. I gotta see PI and Black Swan. He's bring allot of credit to Hollywood. Lets see if he can be like Nolan and make a comic feel real.......

[lDlisturb3d]

Hey Bearcat. It seems Fincher is about to be replaced with Darren

[SquidPuppet]

The Killing Room

2008 R 93 minutes

Hoping to make some quick cash, four ordinary citizens volunteer for a run-of-the-mill paid research study only to discover that it's actually a nightmarish government experiment that threatens their sanity -- and their lives. As the subjects try to obtain the correct answers for a series of devious tests, they are forced to make unthinkable choices with terrible consequences. Jonathan Liebesman directs this dark psychological thriller.


First off, its helpful to know a little about MK ULTRA. Its not a spoiler, I'm just saving space...

[Show spoiler]Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human research program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects.

The published evidence indicates that Project MKULTRA involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs and other chemicals, sensory deprivation, isolation, and verbal and sexual abuse.

Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.[5]

In 1977, a FOIA request uncovered a cache of 20,000 documents[6] relating to project MKULTRA, which led to the Senate Hearings of 1977.[2] In recent times most information regarding MKULTRA has been officially declassified.

Although the CIA insists that MKULTRA-type experiments have been abandoned, 14-year CIA veteran Victor Marchetti has stated in various interviews that the CIA routinely conducts disinformation campaigns and that CIA mind control research continued. In a 1977 interview, Marchetti specifically called the CIA claim that MKULTRA was abandoned a "cover story."[

This film takes place in present day and suggests that MK ULTRA experiments are still being conducted under a far removed "Non" branch of the US government. Operating in a similar fashion to how Extrordinary Renditions are justified, conducted and covered up.

Its GNARLY! I cant say much without spoiling the premise, but it went in the opposite direction of what my mind expected. I assumed that they were conducting experiments looking for "A", and all the while they were actually looking for "B". And "B" is a shocking and alarming revelation. If any of this film is true, its horrifying.

If you enjoy a good "The government is evil and has dark secrets" movie, this one is for you.

What sacrifices are acceptable for the "Greater Good"?

What price is worth our safety? Our own safety?

The film begins with a young female profiler who was an NSA superstar, accepting a new position in a new program. When she comes to understand the true nature of her new assignment, is it too late to decline the job?

Lots of HEAVY, twisty, think-about-how-gnarly-this-crap-is moments throughout the entire runtime, including the very cold and alarming final seconds.

Acting, directing, dialog, camera work are all fine.

Its not the greatest film in the world, but the subject matter is 100%

Film 4/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Hey Bearcat. It seems Fincher is about to be replaced with Darren

for who? you? good. he's a hell of a lot better than Fincher imo. Aronofsky is #2 on my list behind Paul Thomas Anderson.
no idea who #3 or so on would be lol.

have you seen The Fountain? Requiem for a Dream? some great Aronofsky films.

my order, so far, of his work would be:

The Wrestler (5/5)
Requiem for a Dream (5/5) - his magnum opus
The Fountain (4.5/5 - gave it 5/5 on first viewing, but i don't know if it'll stay there, gotta revisit sometime this week)
Pi (4/5)

of course, anxious to see Black Swan. but waiting for the BD since i hate the theater.
very worried about The Wolverine. super hero films are not something i enjoy very much. and Aronofsky is just directing, not writing, so if the screenplay sucks, then i'm gonna be pissed. will still see it of course, and i have all the faith in the world Aronofsky will do a great job, but overall i don't know how it's gonna be...

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

In a few i will own all of Darren Aronosfky film's. I was really blow away by The Wrestler this dude is a good director. I gotta see PI and Black Swan. He's bring allot of credit to Hollywood. Lets see if he can be like Nolan and make a comic feel real.......

i wouldn't say that's a requirement for success.
not all superhero's / comic books are meant to be super real or super serious. Batman (comic wise) almost always has been, i don't know if Wolverine is the same way. much like how Iron Man isn't a film that feels real, if that's not what Wolverine is supposed to feel like, Aronofksy isn't gonna force it.

much like how Iron Man shouldn't try to be dark and moody, because it doesn't fit the character / story.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The Killing Room

2008 R 93 minutes

[Show spoiler]Hoping to make some quick cash, four ordinary citizens volunteer for a run-of-the-mill paid research study only to discover that it's actually a nightmarish government experiment that threatens their sanity -- and their lives. As the subjects try to obtain the correct answers for a series of devious tests, they are forced to make unthinkable choices with terrible consequences. Jonathan Liebesman directs this dark psychological thriller.


First off, its helpful to know a little about MK ULTRA. Its not a spoiler, I'm just saving space...

[Show spoiler]Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human research program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects.

The published evidence indicates that Project MKULTRA involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs and other chemicals, sensory deprivation, isolation, and verbal and sexual abuse.

Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.[5]

In 1977, a FOIA request uncovered a cache of 20,000 documents[6] relating to project MKULTRA, which led to the Senate Hearings of 1977.[2] In recent times most information regarding MKULTRA has been officially declassified.

Although the CIA insists that MKULTRA-type experiments have been abandoned, 14-year CIA veteran Victor Marchetti has stated in various interviews that the CIA routinely conducts disinformation campaigns and that CIA mind control research continued. In a 1977 interview, Marchetti specifically called the CIA claim that MKULTRA was abandoned a "cover story."[

This film takes place in present day and suggests that MK ULTRA experiments are still being conducted under a far removed "Non" branch of the US government. Operating in a similar fashion to how Extrordinary Renditions are justified, conducted and covered up.

Its GNARLY! I cant say much without spoiling the premise, but it went in the opposite direction of what my mind expected. I assumed that they were conducting experiments looking for "A", and all the while they were actually looking for "B". And "B" is a shocking and alarming revelation. If any of this film is true, its horrifying.

If you enjoy a good "The government is evil and has dark secrets" movie, this one is for you.

[Show spoiler]What sacrifices are acceptable for the "Greater Good"?

What price is worth our safety? Our own safety?

The film begins with a young female profiler who was an NSA superstar, accepting a new position in a new program. When she comes to understand the true nature of her new assignment, is it too late to decline the job?

Lots of HEAVY, twisty, think-about-how-gnarly-this-crap-is moments throughout the entire runtime, including the very cold and alarming final seconds.

Acting, directing, dialog, camera work are all fine.

Its not the greatest film in the world, but the subject matter is 100%

Film 4/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5

that sentence alone will make me rent this. love those types of films / stories

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

The Killing Room

2008 R 93 minutes

[Show spoiler]Hoping to make some quick cash, four ordinary citizens volunteer for a run-of-the-mill paid research study only to discover that it's actually a nightmarish government experiment that threatens their sanity -- and their lives. As the subjects try to obtain the correct answers for a series of devious tests, they are forced to make unthinkable choices with terrible consequences. Jonathan Liebesman directs this dark psychological thriller.


First off, its helpful to know a little about MK ULTRA. Its not a spoiler, I'm just saving space...

[Show spoiler]Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human research program, run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects.

The published evidence indicates that Project MKULTRA involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs and other chemicals, sensory deprivation, isolation, and verbal and sexual abuse.

Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.[5]

In 1977, a FOIA request uncovered a cache of 20,000 documents[6] relating to project MKULTRA, which led to the Senate Hearings of 1977.[2] In recent times most information regarding MKULTRA has been officially declassified.

Although the CIA insists that MKULTRA-type experiments have been abandoned, 14-year CIA veteran Victor Marchetti has stated in various interviews that the CIA routinely conducts disinformation campaigns and that CIA mind control research continued. In a 1977 interview, Marchetti specifically called the CIA claim that MKULTRA was abandoned a "cover story."[

This film takes place in present day and suggests that MK ULTRA experiments are still being conducted under a far removed "Non" branch of the US government. Operating in a similar fashion to how Extrordinary Renditions are justified, conducted and covered up.

Its GNARLY! I cant say much without spoiling the premise, but it went in the opposite direction of what my mind expected. I assumed that they were conducting experiments looking for "A", and all the while they were actually looking for "B". And "B" is a shocking and alarming revelation. If any of this film is true, its horrifying.

If you enjoy a good "The government is evil and has dark secrets" movie, this one is for you.

What sacrifices are acceptable for the "Greater Good"?

What price is worth our safety? Our own safety?

The film begins with a young female profiler who was an NSA superstar, accepting a new position in a new program. When she comes to understand the true nature of her new assignment, is it too late to decline the job?

Lots of HEAVY, twisty, think-about-how-gnarly-this-crap-is moments throughout the entire runtime, including the very cold and alarming final seconds.

Acting, directing, dialog, camera work are all fine.

Its not the greatest film in the world, but the subject matter is 100%

Film 4/5
PQ 4/5
AQ 4/5

I didnt care for this film at all. I was hopin it was good but I was let down. Here was my review for back when I watched it haha.

Originally Posted by CZAR

The Killing Room - Pretty much a waste of time! A psychological horror film if u will. They put 4 people in a room and basically play games with them to see what they do. I'd give it a 1.5/5 Got Em!!

I was a man of few words back then. I try to give more details these days but I think u get the point lol. Got Em!!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

that sentence alone will make me rent this. love those types of films / stories

If you see it, read up on MK ULTRA first. It'll provide some background and make the film a lot more alarming/disgusting in a good way.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CZAR

I didnt care for this film at all. I was hopin it was good but I was let down. Here was my review for back when I watched it haha.



I was a man of few words back then. I try to give more details these days but I think u get the point lol. Got Em!!

Did you watch it all the way to the end? To see what they were actually looking for, and their reasons for wanting it?

Careful on the spoilers.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by CZAR

I didnt care for this film at all. I was hopin it was good but I was let down. Here was my review for back when I watched it haha.



I was a man of few words back then. I try to give more details these days but I think u get the point lol. Got Em!!

haha your review sounds a lot like the first Saw movie!

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

If you see it, read up on MK ULTRA first. It'll provide some background and make the film a lot more alarming/disgusting in a good way.

will do. actually, doing it right now...

[Hep]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You know, thats pretty interesting. If Night had marketed the movie as such, it should be considered a success. I mean, they nailed it.

No joke; The Happening gave me that vibe from the begining, and going through it from that perspective made it somewhat enjoyable. I mean it won't show up on a top ten list of mine (well, maybe a "Top Ten M. Night Movies" list ), but it certainly turned potential head shakes into smirks and nods.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Hep

No joke; The Happening gave me that vibe from the begining, and going through it from that perspective made it somewhat enjoyable. I mean it won't show up on a top ten list of mine (well, maybe a "Top Ten M. Night Movies" list ), but it certainly turned potential head shakes into smirks and nods.

So, do you think it was intentional? Or was that just a successful strategy you adopted?

Maybe I should watch it again. Heck, I actually bought Indianna Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull just to watch all the mistakes.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Did you watch it all the way to the end? To see what they were actually looking for, and their reasons for wanting it?

Careful on the spoilers.

Funny thing is I dont remember much. I remember

[Show spoiler]someone getting shot and dieing early and then people started flipping out. No one escaped from what I remember.

Again I am drawing some blanks and thats probably because I didnt care for it lol. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

haha your review sounds a lot like the first Saw movie!

Haha I can see that but in that case Saw is a 5 star film! This is far from Saw trust me! Got Em!!