The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Hep]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

The Lives of Others (blu)


Film: 4 stars (out of 4)


I've reviewed this film at least twice before, so I won't again. As many of you know, it's my second favorite film behind The Fountain. It is, quite simply, the best film of the 2000s.

That is another great film, and certainly one that would make my all time favourite list...if I were into making lists.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by killowertz

I didn't want to see this either when it came out in the theater, but all of the praise from Blu-ray reviews and people here (like Foggy) were enough for me to take a big gamble and blind buy it. I am really glad I did because I loved it. It's pretty much like nothing I've ever seen before.

Got Em!!

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i didn't enjoy the movie as much as you, but i agree on a few parts you mentioned:

- Chris Evans and Brandon Routh: they were the best characters in the movie. i loved how dry and sarcastic Routh's delivery of lines was
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead is attractive, but not a whole lot in Scott Pilgrim. i think it's just the hair style, but they really didn't do her any favors here lol

Haha yea Routh was a fool. This movie definitely has good replay value just for the cameos alone. Got Em!!

[CZAR]

Inception - I dont know where to start? I am very sad right now!!! I didnt care much for this film. I still cant believe it either. If there was a film I was for sure to like I thought it wouldve been this one. I have no complaints as the cast, acting, and overall look of the film was very good but the story never took me in and I was never wow'd like I expected to be. I am not sure what it is but after the movie was over that was it. It didnt leave a lasting impression and I didnt care to watch it again.

I am stuck as I bought the fye limited edition stell of this film and I dont know if I should watch it again or just sell it as I may be able to get a good dollar for it? I really dont have much to say about the film except that it wasnt bad or good, but I am just greatly disappointed that I didnt care for it. Got Em!!

Film Rating - 2 1/2 stars (out of 5)

PQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

AQ - 5 stars (out of 5)

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Inception - I dont know where to start? I am very sad right now!!! I didnt care much for this film. I still cant believe it either. If there was a film I was for sure to like I thought it wouldve been this one. I have no complaints as the cast, acting, and overall look of the film was very good but the story never took me in and I was never wow'd like I expected to be. I am not sure what it is but after the movie was over that was it. It didnt leave a lasting impression and I didnt care to watch it again.

I am stuck as I bought the fye limited edition stell of this film and I dont know if I should watch it again or just sell it as I may be able to get a good dollar for it? I really dont have much to say about the film except that it wasnt bad or good, but I am just greatly disappointed that I didnt care for it. Got Em!!

Film Rating - 2 1/2 stars (out of 5)

PQ - 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

AQ - 5 stars (out of 5)

You are not alone bro. I think I gave it 3/5. It just didnt grab me.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

To me the story was hard to follow at times and was unevenly paced. The princess was nothing great at all, in my eyes, not to mention a mediocre actor. The action was the "been there, seen that" type, and the choreography was a joke to me. Jake Gyllenhaal did not fit this role, nor did Sir Ben Kingsley as

[Show spoiler]the bad guy.

And beyond that, there were so many typical Hollywood blockbuster action movie cliches in Prince of Persia, I lost count. Unfortunately, there has never been a good video game based movie, in my opinion. I would put the Resident Evil franchise slightly above Prince of Persia.

I'm with Gandalf on this one. I loved Prince of Persia and would give it a 4.5/5 as well. I liked both Jake and Gemma in their roles. Alfred Molina as Sheik Amar was pretty funny as well. I liked the story and didn't have trouble following it. The movie wasn't a masterpiece, but I was highly entertained during both times I have watched this movie.

We obviously disagree on the movie, which is fine. I wouldn't let this movie anywhere near Resident Evil (I thought that movie was horrible on nearly all levels), but I think that's about all we agree on.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

You are not alone bro. I think I gave it 3/5. It just didnt grab me.

Yea man thats to bad but hey I guess u felt the same. Oh well. Got Em!!

[BladeRunner2007]

Black Swan 5/5

Death Race 2000 3.5/5

I Am Legend 3.5/5

National Lampoon's Vacation 4/5

[kpkelley]

The Fighter

I found this to be a very good, dramatic boxing film. The acting throughout is stellar. Christian Bale is terrific as Micky Ward's troubled older brother/trainer, while Melissa Leo disappears into the role of his mother/manager. Walhberg is good here, but there isn't a lot for him to chew on and Amy Adams is strong as Ward's girlfriend, but overshadowed by the more domineering performances of Bale and Leo. This could have perhaps been a Best Picture favorite, but IMO the direction from David O. Russell leaves a lot to be desired.

4/5

[Steve46]

Spirited Away

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Starring the voices of Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, David Ogden Stiers
125 minutes

Winner of the Oscar for best animated film in 2002, Spirited Away is one of Miyazaki's best films. I watched it today in celebration of his 70th birthday.

The DVD is introduced by Pixar's John Lasseter who worships Miyazaki and uses him for inspiration when he runs out of ideas.

The main character is Chihiro, a whiny girl aged around 10. She's moving to a new home, but her father gets lost on the drive there and they end up in a derelict amusement park. He smells food cooking and tracks down the source. There's nobody around so the parents dig in to the free food and

[Show spoiler]turn into pigs.

Chihiro meets a boy who warns her to leave before dark or she'll be trapped there, but she can't because

[Show spoiler]she doesn't want to leave her parents behind.

The world is inhabited by spirits. To stay, she has to eat their food and get a job. That's how she meets Kamaji (Ogden Stiers) who has eight limbs and works a forge. He's helped by soot sprites similar to those introduced in My Neighbor Totoro.

Chihiro talks to Yubaba, a witch who runs the place, and gets a job helping out at the bath house. She helps bathe spirits who need cleansing.

I won't give away any more of the story. At over two hours, it's a sprawling tale filled with adventure and populated by creatures from Miyazaki's fertile imagination.

Many of the scenes are works of art.

The music by Joe Hisaishi fits the moods perfectly and is magical.

The scenes are allowed time to develop as with other Miyazakki films. When Chihiro encounters a new situation, we slowly explore it through her eyes. If she's worried about using a rickety flight of stairs, we get to clearly see her reticence.

Chihiro's character undergoes huge changes throughout the story. She changes from a bratty child to a girl who is willing to face up to her responsibilities. She learns trust, friendship, loyalty, love, honor and to appreciate people for who and what they are.

There are a minimum of five Miyazaki films which earn a perfect score from me and this is one of them. I love this world. The little details such as how the mouse gets to move around are enchanting.

So will you like this? I'm really not sure. I know that films such as Ponyo are perceived as too childish by some. They certainly have children as the main characters. I think they have a lot to offer for adults too. Miyazaki captures a child's behavior perfectly. I see a lot of beauty in the images, the actions of his characters, and what everything represents.

Overall score 5/5

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Inception - I am stuck as I bought the fye limited edition stell of this film and I dont know if I should watch it again or just sell it as I may be able to get a good dollar for it? I really dont have much to say about the film except that it wasnt bad or good, but I am just greatly disappointed that I didnt care for it. Got Em!!

Maybe you should sit on it for a bit, might had had something to do with the hype. Leave it a few weeks, try it again. Still not worth it sell it on

Oh and all you guy should go see 127 Hours, very tense film!

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Maybe you should sit on it for a bit, might had had something to do with the hype. Leave it a few weeks, try it again. Still not worth it sell it on

Oh and all you guy should go see 127 Hours, very tense film!

Yea that is most likely what I will do but still undecided. Got Em!!

[menaceuk]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Yea that is most likely what I will do but still undecided. Got Em!!

Second viewing is where this film got my approval , first viewing left me disappointed

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by menaceuk

Second viewing is where this film got my approval , first viewing left me disappointed

Thats what I keep hearing. Got Em!!

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Thats what I keep hearing. Got Em!!

Add me to the list of people that were rather "meh" on the first viewing. Now i love it. I think it's all about expectations. I expected something more mysterious, but instead you get 30 minutes of expository dialogue which leaves nothing to the imagination. Or does it?

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

Add me to the list of people that were rather "meh" on the first viewing. Now i love it. I think it's all about expectations. I expected something more mysterious, but instead you get 30 minutes of expository dialogue which leaves nothing to the imagination. Or does it?

Yea I may give it another go this weekend possibly. Got Em!!

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Yea I may give it another go this weekend possibly. Got Em!!

Wait longer than that. I waited three months.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

Wait longer than that. I waited three months.

Haha damn. Man I need to decide if I like this dang film or not asap lol. I may have a hot limited steel for sale soon hahah. Got Em!!

[Batman1980]

Foggy is not the best person to ask about Inception since he thinks it's better than sex.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Foggy is not the best person to ask about Inception since he thinks it's better than sex.

He caught me out

[Batman1980]

Saw both Amityvilles today, think the second one is better since it has Melissa George, is shorter and IMO has better scares. Never did like Margot Kidder that much.