The AUS/KIWI Seen at the movies thread

[Blueherring]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Has anyone else here seen Quartet?

I went to see it partly because there are so many in the cast whose work I really enjoy, but also out of curiosity because it's Dustin Hoffman's first film as a director.

I enjoyed it to a fair degree — in its film form it's basically an entertaining but somewhat slight British sitcom — but I was deeply puzzled, because it's staggeringly different from the original stageplay, which is a tight fourhander, funny but also deeply emotional and with many layers of meaning which were completely jettisoned for the film. I understand the (over)quoted saying that film and stage are two different environments, and that stage plays inevitably must change in their adaptation to film; but in this case the film was such a diminishment of the original, and frankly pretty unmemorable in its own right, that I don't understand why Hoffman wanted to make it, if he truly felt such changes were necessary or that was the best he could come up with.

It's also a pity that Maggie Smith, doubtless the film's major drawcard for matinee audiences, is clearly miscast in her role. The other three principals — Tom Courteny, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins — do quite well, but only Billy Connolly really scores in being memorable.

So: a strange little beast. If you've never seen the original play, the film is entertaining enough, but if you have, the film's a complete oddity.

This was another movie i wanted to watch but thinking about waiting for Blu, I loved Best Exotic and they have been advertising it off the back of that, but I am thinking it will be quite different and not sure if worth seeing at the cinemas over at home.

[drouyn]

Originally Posted by Blueherring

I think im gonna skip les mis at the cinemas, but was considering Life of Pi, wasnt sure whether it would be worth seeing or not?

Want to see Hitchcock though.

Agree about Life of Pi, definitely one to see on the big screen. A pretty good adaptation of the book, although there were a couple of changes that were unnecessary. I don't mind when a source material gets changed during adaptation, but these changes were just pointless.

Saw a preview of Hitchcock, great performances but a very strange tone. The whole thing plays like a comedy, but with dramatic performances. Doesn't quite work.

[L-Rouge]

Jack Reacher, very good although not genre bursting, 4/5 nice final set piece,

[Show spoiler]had a similar supsense to "sniper" for obvious reasons, who will get whom?.

[Rusty1989]

Saw Life of Pi this arvo. Incredible CGI and a great movie to boot!

[PsyTrix]

The Hobbit - long, tedious and boring. Felt more of Peter Jacksons ego in this film then a storyline. Hope the sequels are better.

[LordCrumb]

Originally Posted by PsyTrix

The Hobbit - long, tedious and boring. Felt more of Peter Jacksons ego in this film then a storyline. Hope the sequels are better.

No offence, but what the heck would you know about Jacksons ego?

[Rusty1989]

I watched The Hobbit today. First thing's first... I watched it in IMAX. I've never been to the IMAX before so I can't compare experiences but I found some scenes dizzying at times with blurring of the picture happening often especially during fast moving shots and action sequences. It was quite distracting. I'm not sure if it's the frame rate issue they talked about or the combination of IMAX and 3D. Regardless, I didn't enjoy that. And the screen's just too big, I know it's supposed to be but damn I couldn't believe it lol. Probably my first and last time.

Aside from that, I thought it was a pretty good adaptation with some pacing issues. Some parts felt overly long and dragged out. I only just recently read the book so I think I'm more critical than I would've been especially when it comes to them adding storylines but I guess it was to be expected if they want to stretch it out to 3 films.

The action was awesome, the 3D looked fine and I have to say I think Martin Freeman is brilliant as Bilbo.

[TheDevilsGuard]

Originally Posted by Blueherring

Saw Skyfall last night, I think I would have to say my new favourite of the Bond films, was highly enjoyable the movie felt really long but a good long and could have gone longer as i was so enthralled.
Enjoyed the more story focus and less of the cheesy old bond, it was a refreshing change and look forward to watching it again on Blu

oh and ps. it is the first film i have added to the theatrical tab in this forum thanks to Insomniac for the heads up on this

Really? Thought this was by far the weakest of the Daniel Craig bond movies. The subway scene is a perfect example of having to suspend disbelief way too far. I found it enjoyable enough, entertainment wise, but it does insult the intelligence far more than it should. Does not even come close to Casino Royale. They had rebooted the bond franchise well, adding realism and ditching gadgets etc, but it seems they are going backwards with this latest instalment

[StrayButler91]

Took mum & dad to go see Hitchcock on the weekend.

In short, a delightful movie. It's a wonderful tribute to the great filmmaker that doesn't shy away from darker aspects of Hitch's personality or the challenges of making movies.

It's very colourful too, and plenty of humour. Perfectly bookended by Hitch breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience, much like Alfred Hitchcock presents. I had a great time with it. Parents liked it, too.

[insomniac]

Went to see 'Hitchcock', as it was $10 movie of the week.

I thought it was mediocre at best. Helen Mirren was great, but Hopkins just felt like he was putting on an act throughout.

The whole jealousy thing towards the middle was also rather boring, and I would've preferred to see more time dedicated to how 'Psycho' came to be.

Someone elsewhere mentioned about how they could've included Saul Bass, and his involvement with the title and credit design, something I would've loved to see.

[MacEachaidh]

Thanks for the comments on Hitchcock, straybutler and insomniac. Interesting to hear different takes on the same flick.

I was hoping to catch it maybe next Monday or Tuesday (I tend to avoid going to the flicks on a weekend), but I've just noticed it's not running at all anymore at my local cinema. And The Hobbit, which I've been holding off on until the numbers die down, is also in only limited sessions, so I guess I need to get off my bum on that one, or I'll miss that too.

[L-Rouge]

Life of Pi 3d

Film moves at a considered pace, the only time I became impatient was

[Show spoiler]Pi's false recital of events at the end, thats when I went 'o.k moving along', I understand it's context very much but that dragged somewhat.

Lovely movie, gorgeous visuals and animation with a dose of realism thrown in despite dream like imagery.

convincing acting.

4/5

[L-Rouge]

Every Summer our region hosts outdoor movies presenting old classics, Movies start at around 9pm when it is dark enough to see the screen, just got back from Seeing Elvis Presley's "Jail House Rock", and it was a good fun night under the moonlit stars and 200+ people in the audience. never seen it before but I rate it fondly, my experience was a 4/5, Man I swear that seems to be the only figure I have given out this past 12 months, I seem to be enjoying myself.

This time last year it was "National Velvet" staring Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney and Angela Landsbury..that was a fantastic experience as well.

Movies of this age seem to have a charm and calmness about them (less hyper editing and camera work) and good dialogue ;-)

The Screen was 5 minutes walk from my home.

[Hucksta G]

Saw Silver Linings Playbook (8/10) and Lincoln (6/10), last night.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by StrayButler91

Took mum & dad to go see Hitchcock on the weekend.

In short, a delightful movie. It's a wonderful tribute to the great filmmaker that doesn't shy away from darker aspects of Hitch's personality or the challenges of making movies.

It's very colourful too, and plenty of humour. Perfectly bookended by Hitch breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience, much like Alfred Hitchcock presents. I had a great time with it. Parents liked it, too.

Saw Hitchcock yesterday. Straybutler's comments pretty much sum up my thoughts about the film. I thought it was great.

[atomic10]

Django Unchained, worth seeing just for QT's Aussie accent and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was great seeing that on the big screen again.

[insomniac]

Saw 'Life of Pi' 3D. Beautiful film, but felt the 3D was barely noticeable despite the positive reviews.

[Supernaut]

Just saw Django Unchained. Couple of thoughts:

Cons:

• How does a slave from the plantation even know how to spell? The 'D' is silent.
• Rap/hip-hop has no place in a cowboy movie, no place, no how.
• Yeah I get it, it was in the slave-trading days, but just how many times can you shoehorn the 'N' word into a movie.
• Quentin Tarantino was woeful, just stick to directing eh? And that aussie acccent...

Pros:

• I thought Franco Nero was great in a small cameo.
• The blood splatters and loudness of the gunshots were just off the hook.
• Was this supposed to be a comedy, coz a lot of it was just laugh out loud funny as buggery.
• Oh and I thought the three leads (Fox, Waltz & Di Caprio) were pretty darn incredible too.

[Hucksta G]

Watched: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (6/10)
Zero Dark Thirty (10/10)

[Blueherring]

Watched: Original Alien movie at the cinemas on Wednesday, was great to see it on the big screen
Would love to now see Aliens also.
Saw Alien Resurrection at the cinemas when it originally came out and saw Prometheus last year.
So i just need to tick off Aliens and alien3.