The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Hey, that's like me

LOL!!! I just think it's one of those movies that doesn't require an understanding to love and everyone seems to get stuck on figuring it all out. Who cares?!! Look at that photography!! Listen to that music!!! It's the goosebump inducing movie of a lifetime.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

LOL!!! I just think it's one of those movies that doesn't require an understanding to love and everyone seems to get stuck on figuring it all out. Who cares?!! Look at that photography!! Listen to that music!!! It's the goosebump inducing movie of a lifetime.

I agree, it's one of the creepest films ever made, all that's ever annoyed me from it is that the ships always look to small to be real

[Monkey_Boy]

Good to know I wasn't the only one!

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

One I've avoided for a long time. Seeing men in women's make-up and clothing disgusts me. I don't even find it funny in sketch comedies. Finally decided to watch it 'cuz... well, why not? I do enjoy the work of Tim Curry, and I also enjoy my fare share of cult movies. So, I figured I'd sit this one out and see what it did for me. I mean, I do own the 3D poster for it (thanks again, sandman6662!), might as well, right? Off tops, after the extreme, awful close up of somebody's lips singing the theme song, I'm treated to the worst acting I've seen so far in my life. Then a boom mic drops into frame at nearly the 7 minute mark and I'm beginning to see what kinda movie this is... BUT then the Mayor of 'Spin City' breaks into song! Oh. My. Gawd. Now I KNOW what kinda movie this is! A FLIPPIN' MUSICAL! Oh, good gravy, I really had no idea. Why didn't anyone tell me?! However, I tend to like musicals; "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Wizard of Oz" spring to mind. To my amazement, a smile involuntarily went across my face when Tim Curry appeared. He may look like the ugliest woman to walk the planet at this point in the story, but damn if he isn't enjoyable to watch as he sings his tail off! Then he let his cape drop behind him. OHMYGAWD! Not even bleach could clean my eyes after that! I now know how Wolfcastle felt when the acid ate through his goggles and he hollared, "MY EYES! THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!" I can truly feel his pain. Also the hunchback is a Stranger in "Dark City"! (Can't remember his name. It started with Mr., but that's all I recall.) And was that Cyndi Lauper?! (Probably not, but she coulda been her sister!)

Then the movie goes on to make absolutely no sense! I mean, Dr. Furter does some kinda experiment with a mummy that turns out to be a (nearly) naked guy. They sing a coupla songs and they're off to, I'm guessing, make whoopie? Later the doc apparently has relations with the couple looking for help after getting a flat. Individually, of course, but also with the exact same act and lines. Got weird when Furter jumped in bed with "The Mayor". Really weird. Several times I burst into laughter from the extreme absurdity of it all. Especially when Furter just went into "Happy Birthday" after slicing the crap outta... whatever that was. Ham? Eddie? Not real sure. Oh, and later, that was THE cheesiest laser effect I've ever seen! Also, the ending came so far outta left field that all I could do was laugh!

It was horrible, but strangely enough, not as completely unenjoyable as I had expected it to be. In fact, popped it in after "2001", so my sister could check out this craziness, and ended up laughing even harder! So, I guess it does its job rather well.

4/5 (Just because they took a chance on something completely insane and somehow pulled it off!)

[iam1bearcat]

Arlington Road 113 minutes

film #17

year: 1999
director: mark pellington
starring: jeff bridges and tim robbins

what made me want to see this? loved it when i was younger, and all i could remember was the "whoa..." ending

for $7.50 ($15 total, bundled with Donnie Brasco) this was well worth finally picking up

Jeff Bridges gives a excellent performance, as does Tim Robbins. and Joan Cusack has never been creepier.

a very real story that definitely still applies to our world in 2011. hell, it might even apply more NOW than it did in 1999 when it came out. which is frightening and disheartening since the story is based around terrorism and a potential terrorist threat from an unsuspecting source. unless the person who believes it (Michael Faraday played by Jeff Bridges) is just losing his marbles...?

the ending is definitely a "whoa!" moment and i didn't see the ending coming at all my first time through many years ago. replay value may not be very high for the initial shocks that are sprinkled throughout the film, but it's a definite addition to my collection that i'll enjoy from time to time and cannot wait to watch with friends who have never seen it before to see their reactions.

great performances, a very dark and real story that was probably ahead of it's time, a sometimes cheesy very 1999 score () is really the only complaint i have. not the best film, and it is curiously structured, but well worth seeing at least once. definitely doesn't get the recognition it should.

really like it

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

Valkyrie

• 2008 | PG-13 | 115 Minutes
  
  
• Director: Brian Singer
  
  
• Starring: Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy
  
  
• Drama | History | Thriller

I honestly can't think of a good intro to this one, so this will have to suffice

The story of the movie is about the final (known) assassination attempt on Hitler by the Germans in the 1940s. Unless you've lived under a rock or not ever taken 5th grade history...you know it didn't succeed, but that doesn't matter because it's about the set up, the implementation of the plan and then briefly the aftermath. But that sentence sounds like the plot is a lot more than it really is; what we have is not enough to support a two hour run time and keep it interesting. I found myself bored often. I'd be much more intrigued by reading about the ACTUAL history than by watching this movie because I enjoy reading up on history.


No one's performance is above solid and no one is below meh. Everything falls in that small range.

I was disappointed, expected that Tom Cruise playing Tom Cruise With Eye Patch would be better
When he did the

[Show spoiler]salute with his not-hand

was pretty though

It was a shame how little we got of Branagh and Stamp.


Also, a lot of the cast didn't even bother with German accents. That doesn't really bother me that much, but I would have preferred if they had done so...unless they would have sucked, then I prefer they stick with their regular voices.


I can say that I am glad I didn't pay to rent it or go to the theater to see it because I would have felt like I didn't get my money's worth.


Rating - 3/5

Speaking with German accents would be illogical. They should either speak in German, or in English (since its an American film) with no accents. The German military didnt speak in English with accents, they spoke in their native tongue.

If you take the time to think about it, English with accents would actually make the film LESS realistic.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

I

On your suggestions, haven't seen 'em... yet. Been lookin' for "Mulholland Drive", haven't found it for rent anywhere and can't stream it through Netflix. (Believe it or not, it was one of the first movies I looked up when I joined 'em.) Probably just gonna blind buy it. It's worked out so far with "Fargo", "Blood Simple", "District 9", "Drag Me to Hell" and "Kick-Ass" (to name a few). Just heard about "Triangle" (I believe it was from a poster in this very forum) and was plannin' on pickin' it up the next time I was rentin' sumpthin'.

That will be an experience opposite to 2001.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Speaking in with German accents would be illogical. They should either speak in German, or in English (since its an American film) with no accents. The German military didnt speak in English with accents, they spoke in their native tongue.

If you take the time to think about it, English with accents would actually make the film LESS realistic.

German accents would have made it as close to authentic as we would get because its a mainstream American movie, and most people wouldn't want to read the whole time so there was no chance of it being in German. German accents with English dialog would have made it a little better for me (though it wasn't really much of an issue for me, like I said), no matter if it is just as unrealistic as them all speaking English and having different accents.

It's set in Germany, I want German accents no matter what language they are speaking

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

German accents would have made it as close to authentic as we would get because its a mainstream American movie, and most people wouldn't want to read the whole time so there was no chance of it being in German. German accents with English dialog would have made it a little better for me (though it wasn't really much of an issue for me, like I said), no matter if it is just as unrealistic as them all speaking English and having different accents.

It's set in Germany, I want German accents no matter what language they are speaking

Spend more time thinking about it.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Spend more time thinking about it.

I'll wake the hamster up and tell him to start running

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I'll wake the hamster up and tell him to start running

Spark up that saw dust.

I felt the same as you when the movie was being promoted before its opening. After some discussion, listening to others opinions and reasons, I came to realize that accents would actually be "silly".

Dissect it with logic only.

It serves no purpose other than to make us Americans "feel" like its more authentic, all the while being utterly unrealistic.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Spark up that saw dust.

I felt the same as you when the movie was being promoted before its opening. After some discussion, listening to others opinions and reasons, I came to realize that accents would actually be "silly".

Dissect it with logic only.

It serves no purpose other than to make us Americans "feel" like its more authentic, all the while being utterly unrealistic.

That's what I wanted

Speaking without my personal "wants" for the film, yes I completely understand that it would be unnecessary. They even start off with German and then segue into English as if to say, "They ARE speaking German"
That's a good way to handle it...but illogical or not, I would have liked some German sounding accents.

I didn't take off any points in my score for this, nor would I have added any if they had met my ridiculous desire

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

That's what I wanted

Speaking without my personal "wants" for the film, yes I completely understand that it would be unnecessary. They even start off with German and then segue into English as if to say, "They ARE speaking German"

See, thats a classy technique.

I didn't take off any points in my score for this, nor would I have added any if they had met my ridiculous desire

Its very healthy that you can acknowledge your flaws.

Its in my Netflix queue somewhere around 900 billion. I have way too many movies in there.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

See, thats a classy technique.



Its very healthy that you can acknowledge your flaws.

Its in my Netflix queue somewhere around 900 billion. I have way too many movies in there.

I wouldn't rush it to anywhere near the top. Spend your time more valuably reading about the actual incident and then watching the Mythbusters episode where they tested the explosion

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Diesel

That's what I wanted

Speaking without my personal "wants" for the film, yes I completely understand that it would be unnecessary. They even start off with German and then segue into English as if to say, "They ARE speaking German"

that's what LOST did with Sayid's flashbacks a terrific, sneaky tool

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I wouldn't rush it to anywhere near the top. Spend your time more valuably reading about the actual incident and then watching the Mythbusters episode where they tested the explosion

Hmmm. Gotta check that out.

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

that's what LOST did with Sayid's flashbacks a terrific, sneaky tool

Didnt they do that in Richards origin episode too? Spanish?

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Didnt they do that in Richards origin episode too? Spanish?

yep yep.
i remember reading that Cuse and Lindelof wanted to do the entire episode (and all of Sayid's flashbacks) in the native language with subtitles, but ABC executives really pushed for the "start as this, then quick draw out to English being spoken" way of things because they felt people wouldn't like that.



it's JUST subtitles! not freaking hieroglyphics!
i mean, if you can watch LOST and have some understanding of THAT show, then reading subtitles while watching should be no issue whatsoever.

[Lepidopterous]

Watched Father of the Bride I and II on TV last night.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Watched Father of the Bride I and II on TV last night.

Those are cute enough.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

It's not overhyped???? Are you serious? Opinion of the film aside, Black Swan has gotten a TREMENDOUS amount of press coverage, via tv spots, posters, and most of all, magazine covers. That film has been EVERYWHERE, proclaiming how incredible it is and how incredible Portman is. I haven't come across more than two ppl who won't see it because it's about ballet. Practically every single person I talk to on a consistent basis, be it younger cousins or grandparents, have seen the film.

I still do not personally know a single person that has seen the film besides the two I took to see it. It's overhyped in a sense but not due to mass popularity. Besides, why does it bother you so much? I still think The Dark Knight is one of the best films of 2008... and that was overhyped.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Those are cute enough.

I forgot about Steve Martin. I need to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles again. Classic.