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GI Joe
It's like someone watched Team America and thought it would make a really good action film that should be taken seriously. Lots of action and explosions don't make up for piss poor acting and a non existent story line (even by action film standards).
4/10
My thoughts exactly. Nice visuals but Marlon Wayans ruined it for me as I can't stand him.
Flibster
20-10-2009, 19:47
Up Pompeii
Oooooh no missus. Don't laugh. It's cruel to mock.
90 minutes of perfect film fodder for Frankie Howard. Yes it's cheesey and more than a little camp, but it's fantastic.
9/10
Greenlizard0
20-10-2009, 23:03
Lol I loved Up Pompeii when I saw it as a teen. Thought I'd hit the mother****ing jackpot that night.
Flibster
20-10-2009, 23:08
Spank bank material? ;) :D
A Place of Light
20-10-2009, 23:56
Lol I loved Up Pompeii when I saw it as a teen. Thought I'd hit the mother****ing jackpot that night.
Madeline Smith.
Hubba Hubba.
Greenlizard0
21-10-2009, 07:27
:D
White Noise
Only one of two films I've seen in the last decade with Michael Keaton in. The other was Herbie: Fully Loaded. Shame, as he's really very good.
Unsettling horror in which the spirits of the dead can be heard trying to pass us messages through the static in radio and television. Quite cleverly done with some more than unnerving ghosty bits. I especially liked the scenes where they re-create white noise using completely different situations - a fountain, running water in an old warehouse, a broken electricity pylon... all designed to keep that theme of static running all the time.
A really solid horror with very few 'cheat' scares that modern horror tries to use these days. Mostly it's the corrupted sounds and images that provide the proper chills.
Shame the ending is piss-poor.
7/10 with a 4/10 ending.
Species III : This unecessary third installment of the Species series chooses to awkwardly regurgitate the same storyline of the previous with no added innovation stired into the recipie; unfortunately, even the finest haute cuisine brought back up in this fashion will not be acceptable to look at, let alone be consumed.
It doesn't suprise me that this was being shown at 1am, mid-week on an obscure freeview channel as anybody unfortunate enough to have forked out for Species 2 will have made it their life conquest to ensure any further efforts go straight to DVD :p
It is difficult to understand how they have gone so far astray with these sequels considering the acclaim and casting of the original- the first effort's compelling narrative, complete with breasts and gratuitous violence, reversed the architypal role of the cute blonde teenager and transformed her from the slasher flick victim on the end of a machete to the predatory nymphomaniac hunter, plowing her way through a torrent of men who are both conquests and (then shortly after) victims.
Species III is often tedious and incredibly dull - no small feat given the amount of nudity and violence in the flick; I feel the screenwriter must have had such revelation and so employs the desperate tactics of NNMN (Norks, norks and more norks) to hold viewers until the last (and frankly 3/4 hour too late) minute.
The cast, although not poor, are forgettable and a long way from the original quality boasting Natasha Henstridge, Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen and Forest Whitaker.
The all important ending is as much of a suprise as one comes to expect after 2 hours of 'woman bonks man, man gets killed, woman evades capture', and finishes with two aliens walking off into the distance to live a quiet life in the country...
'Aliens' in rubber suits ripping people apart is no where near as scary as the thought that this un-conclusive ending leaves the series open to yet another sequel!....:eek:
FOR THE LOVE OF FILM!! PLEASE!!! NO!!!!
2/10.
Flibster
22-10-2009, 00:05
Memento
I'm sure I've seen this many years ago - but I couldn't remember a damn thing about it.
Who keeps giving Guy Pearce roles? In this he's doing his best Hugh Jackman impression...
Yup, thats about as good as it gets.
Got bored, wanted to play SW:KOTOR2 instead.
3/10
Flibster
22-10-2009, 23:09
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
Not seen this in a few years - just not as funny now :( I remember watching it at the cinema and being pretty disappointed until they go to watch the Terrence and Philip movie and then just being surprised by it.
It's still funny, just not as funny.
When Canada is dead and gone, there'll be no more Celion Dion :D
6.5/10
The Green Mile
Read the books when they were released many years ago.
Made a great film, even though it has Tom Hanks in it.
Tom can ruin almost any film experience for me with his dimwit expression...
However, Michael Clarke Duncan is perfect. There is no other word for it. He is absolutely right for the role.
Still - fantastically done.
9/10
Greenlizard0
23-10-2009, 03:35
The Taking of Pelham 123
This flim's got a good cast, Denzel Washington and John Travolta star at opposite ends. Travolta hijacks a train and Denzel is the train operator person.
The film holds its suspense well but to be honest the script didn't offer any surprises. There weren't any really good twists and the ending was beige and predictable.
4/10
The Green Mile
Read the books when they were released many years ago.
Made a great film, even though it has Tom Hanks in it.
Tom can ruin almost any film experience for me with his dimwit expression...
However, Michael Clarke Duncan is perfect. There is no other word for it. He is absolutely right for the role.
Still - fantastically done.
9/10
Let's not forget the absolutely magical film score throughout this film; many book-to-screen efforts lack the essence of imagination from the original pages, and yet with the Green Mile, all that is lost from the transfer is more than made up for with some truly beautiful composing from Thomas Newman.
Greenlizard0
23-10-2009, 12:59
Let's not forget the absolutely magical film score throughout this film; many book-to-screen efforts lack the essence of imagination from the original pages, and yet with the Green Mile, all that is lost from the transfer is more than made up for with some truly beautiful composing from Thomas Newman.
Completely agree, very moving score and fairly rare that it matched the script perfectly.
"Heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak..."
Film still makes me cry in the last 30 minutes.
A Place of Light
24-10-2009, 11:59
^^^
I still haven't seen the green mile.
Flibster
24-10-2009, 13:02
^^^
I still haven't seen the green mile.
It's great - it'd be even getter if Tom Hanks wasn't in it.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Awesome.
9.5/10
Treefrog
24-10-2009, 18:19
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Awesome.
9.5/10
Indeed, always good for a bit of audience partici .....
.. pation! ;)
Seen the follow up, "Shock Treatment" yet?
Set about 10 years after RHPS, Brad and Janet are now married and living in Denton. There's sooooo many props from, and references to, RHPS in the film that it's fun trying to spot them all.
Flibster
24-10-2009, 18:28
Seen the follow up, "Shock Treatment" yet?
Set about 10 years after RHPS, Brad and Janet are now married and living in Denton. There's sooooo many props from, and references to, RHPS in the film that it's fun trying to spot them all.
The film is utter trash though. :D
Heathers
Really good black comedy, some great lines "I love my dead gay son", "Well, **** me gently with a chainsaw"
Christian Slater looks cool and Winona Ryder either hides her huge ladybumps really well, or they'd just not grown by then!
I find it quite difficult to put an actual rating on films, so I'll just say that it's GOOD and leave it at that.
Flibster
24-10-2009, 19:11
Planet of the Apes
The original version, not the diseased rectum of a remake.
It's not as good as I remember, but it's certainly not dreadful.
It is comical in places though - I think it's mainly Heston's performance and his later alliance with the NRA that make me laugh most. :D
Got to say, that some of the early shots through the desert are absolutely stunning
7.5/10
Beansprout
24-10-2009, 21:12
The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus
As far as I can make out it's about a few travelling folk one of whom keeps making deals with the devil about various things, and his caravan has a magic mirror thing where you walk into his imagination.
Utterly bizarre, good for the first half, then it just doesn't go anywhere. Lily Cole however is Hot As so that makes up for it a little :)
It's also of course Heath Ledger's last film and the way they managed the transition for the shooting done after his tragic death was excellent.
7/10
Flibster
24-10-2009, 22:11
American History X
Another one of those apparently really important films that seems to have passed me by.
Ed Norton is fantastic in the film, but it's not the sort of role I expect to see him in. He should stick to stuff that allows him to act rather than cack like Incredible Hulk...
John Conner is surprisingly good too, didn't feel the urge to hit him with a cricket bat once.
Oh.. and Ethan 'Poopie trim' Suplee overplays the role to perfection. Such a shame he didn't get to sneak that phrase in anywhere. ;)
9/10
Del Lardo
24-10-2009, 22:30
UP
Beautifully animated with a fantastic plot that will appeal to anyone. For a Pixar film it addresses some adult themes including death but it does so in such a sensitive way that children will be fine leaving the adults in the room blubbing, never before have I felt such emotional attachment to a character who wasn't real (i.e. played by an actor).
For me this film is Toy Story good and that's the biggest accolade I can give to an animated film.
9/10
Flibster
25-10-2009, 00:22
Into the Wild
Ooh. Hard film for me this one. Essentially a true story about a young chap, fresh out of Collage who leaves the world behind - gives all his savings away, burns all of his ID and becomes Alexander Supertramp and intends to survive in Alaska off the land.
Emile Hirsch plays the lead role and although I have no idea who he is - this film shows he can act, and act well. Although it's based on a real person he's incredibly believable.
Everyone in the film is great. I can't think of a single performance that I thought was lacking. Even Vince Vaughn has a small role and for once I actually liked him in a film.
Not the happiest of films, but is a really nice watch.
9/10
Treefrog
26-10-2009, 21:06
The film is utter trash though. :D
Pftt!! I enjoyed it and still watch it for the enjoyment and the songs :p
Just watched "Dr Jekyll and Ms Hyde" on BBC iPlayer, available till 31/10.
Spoof of the well-known horror classic, in which Dr Jekyll's great-grandson discovers how to transform himself into a stunning woman after stumbling upon the journals documenting his ancestor's experiments.
Enjoyable. The comedy scenes are typically predictable but still very funny. And it has the double bonus of the gorgeous Lysette Anthony and the almost as attractive Sean Young.
Traitor
9/10
Don Cheadle
Guy Pearce et al.
Not really what I was expecting, but damn it's a good film.
Part action, part political intrigue / thriller.
It's really hard to describe without ruining the plot. Stealing from the Inaccurate Movie DataBase:
A firm believer in the Holy Quran, Samir Horn, American citizen and former soldier, lives a middle-classed lifestyle along with his girlfriend, Chandra Dawkin. He is actively involved in selling explosives to Jihadis. While in a Yemeni prison, Samir is attacked, and another inmate, Omar, comes to his aid. Both men become close friends, subsequently escape from prison, re-locate to France and elude authorities for some time. Both men re-enter the U.S., meet with Fareed Mansour and Nathir, and together they plan to place bombs in 50 Greyhound buses (one for each State). Using modern sophisticated methods - the foursome recruit 50 volunteers to carry out this gruesome task, quite confident that they will not be stopped in time by the U.S. authorities
It's really not as cut and dried as all that though. I'd say this is absolutely worth a watch. Don Cheadle is excellent as a tortured and peaceful man caught in a situation he'd doesn't want to be in, trying to do what he perceives as the right and holy thing.
UP
Beautifully animated with a fantastic plot that will appeal to anyone. For a Pixar film it addresses some adult themes including death but it does so in such a sensitive way that children will be fine leaving the adults in the room blubbing, never before have I felt such emotional attachment to a character who wasn't real (i.e. played by an actor).
For me this film is Toy Story good and that's the biggest accolade I can give to an animated film.
9/10
I can't wait to see this, taking the kids soon :)
Greenlizard0
28-10-2009, 16:37
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
I heard about the cast of this film and that it was an almost child like fantasy. Then I saw the preview and was really geared up.
I just really didn't think it was that good. It's a very watered down film I felt, and it just fails to take off. I've just now read that Heath Ledger died halfway through it. Perhaps this may have led to difficulties and maybe it does explain some of the disjointedness throughout. How they attempted to fix this was pretty admirable and it works out very well though. But in the end the script wasn't all that and as such it's just not a film I can recommend. Which I'm very annoyed at if I'm honest.
5.5/10
Matblack
28-10-2009, 17:01
SAW VI
What can I say, this is a cinematic gem! Beautifully filmed and scripted it is almost poetic in its portrayal of real life characters and situations. The shear originality of the concept is a breath of fresh air and it it feels like this is a film the writer 'had to make' rather than hollywood comercialism. I was enthralled as the narative rolled out ahead of me like a green field full of wild flowers, the character acting is worthy of the highest acclaim and I believe that we have found some true stars here.
A must see
10/10
MB
Shaolin Soccer
6.5/10
With a sense of humour very similar to "Kung Fu Hustle" and similar levels of CGI usage for pranks, it's a reasonably amusing ride. However it badly lacks the cohesion that Kung Fu Hustle possessed and left me thinking "huh?" occasionally.
Bunch of Shaolin monks decide to form a soccer team to gain fame and riches after failing to make a start on life outside of the monastery. All that stands between them and $1m is Team Evil.
If you enjoyed Kung Fu Hustle you'll probably enjoy this film. It wasn't a waste of time, had numerous laugh out loud moments... I just can't quite see myself rushing to watch this again at all (unlike KFH)
SAW VI
What can I say, this is a cinematic gem! Beautifully filmed and scripted it is almost poetic in its portrayal of real life characters and situations. The shear originality of the concept is a breath of fresh air and it it feels like this is a film the writer 'had to make' rather than hollywood comercialism. I was enthralled as the narative rolled out ahead of me like a green field full of wild flowers, the character acting is worthy of the highest acclaim and I believe that we have found some true stars here.
A must see
10/10
MB
Bwahahahahaha! :D
SAW VI
What can I say, this is a cinematic gem! Beautifully filmed and scripted it is almost poetic in its portrayal of real life characters and situations. The shear originality of the concept is a breath of fresh air and it it feels like this is a film the writer 'had to make' rather than hollywood comercialism. I was enthralled as the narative rolled out ahead of me like a green field full of wild flowers, the character acting is worthy of the highest acclaim and I believe that we have found some true stars here.
A must see
10/10
MB
Bwahahahahaha! :D
I'm sensing something here....
Princess Griff
29-10-2009, 11:55
Me n Jingo Beee went to see Up in 3D
IT WAS AWESOME. Plus we stole the 3D glasses cuz they were sooo cool!
Both of our eyes weed a bit during the film, but it is so so good!
Def worth a watch! Best Disney film to come out for ages!
Matblack
29-10-2009, 12:14
I get the impression that some people don't think my SAW VI review is sincere :(
MB
Flibster
29-10-2009, 12:31
The French Connection
Yet another classic that I'd never seen.
Gene Hackman with hair! Who would'a thunked it!
Great chase scene though - Villain in train above the road, hero in car chasing on the road.
Great film
8/10
I get the impression that some people don't think my SAW VI review is sincere :(
MB
No no, not at all! I just found your writing style amusing in the very best way :D
The French Connection
Yet another classic that I'd never seen.
Gene Hackman with hair! Who would'a thunked it!
Great chase scene though - Villain in train above the road, hero in car chasing on the road.
Great film
8/10
Best chase scene evar!!!!
Matblack
29-10-2009, 23:34
Moon
This is quite a special little film which breaks a lot of new ground in sci fi, don't expect a sci-fi blockbuster but expect to be charmed and confused.
8/10
MB
Flibster
30-10-2009, 00:41
Magnolia
3 hours! Thats how much of my life I'm not getting back!
I can't even say that it was pretentious w@nk... It was just dull. I found myself wanting to skip entire chapters just to get it over with.
Performance wise, Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman rocked it for me - such a shame about the rest of the film.
Oh and a rain of frogs? Really? Run out of ideas and just decide to open the bible at a random page?
1.5/10
Do you post as MagnoliaFan on MoviePoopShoot.com? :D
A Place of Light
30-10-2009, 20:28
Best chase scene evar!!!!
Blues brothers beats every other movie hands down on that score :D
Flibster
30-10-2009, 20:31
Do you post as MagnoliaFan on MoviePoopShoot.com? :D
Damn... My super secret identity has been detected....
Blues brothers beats every other movie hands down on that score :D
For a comedic chase, yes. For pure chase, FC wins.
Up 3D.
Cried most of the way through it, including the little cloud animation that preceded it.
I must see this Up... it sounds awesome :)
We went a bit movie rent mad! Have rented: Knowing, Xmen Origins - Wolverine, Valkyrie, Quantum of Solace and Fast and Furious.
Last night watched:
Knowing
I was well excited about this film. Been wanting to see it for AGES. Tis all about a list of random numbers scripted by an insane child 50 yonks ago, which happens to fall into the hands of Mister Nicholas Cage. Being some dudey lecturer of 1337 skills, he manages to work out by sheer coincidence and alcoholism that they're actually dates of major disasters and the number of people who died in them. And after deciphering a load of them... there's a few left with dates in the foochure (Duhn DUHN DEER)
Exciting isn't it?! :D Thing is... it all goes a bit weird. Strange men who look like they're from Amsterdam appear and well things just happen very fast and I think some silly decisions are made.
Ending is bizarre too. I like it... and think it would be great as a book (is there a book? Maybe there is)... but all a bit fast and too much unexplained and weird decisions etc... even for me.
Brilliant effects though! I actually had to replay a disaster scene I thought it was so awesome!
Hmmm... what to give it though... Picky says 6/10... I say 5.5/10
A Place of Light
01-11-2009, 01:53
For a comedic chase, yes. For pure chase, FC wins.
I'd say that IMHO the freeway scene from Matrix Revolutions is the best car chase scene, even though it's not a chase scene in the traditional sense.
Del Lardo
01-11-2009, 15:47
Heat
Shamelessly stolen from IMDB.....
Neil McCauley is a thief... an expert thief... one of the best. His philosophy in life - become attached to nothing in life that you can't walk away from in 30 seconds if you spot the "Heat" around the corner. His crew of criminals is a high-tech outfit pulling off professional jobs that impress even the likes of Detective Vincent Hanna. But Hanna, a man driven through life only by his work, becomes obsessed, at the expense of his private life, with bringing McCauley down. As McCauley's crew prepare for the score of a lifetime, and Hanna's team tries to bring him in, the two find that they are challenged by the greatest minds on the opposite side of the law that either one has ever encountered.
Heat is the first time that Al Pacino and Robert De Nero appear on screen together and the on screen chemistry of the two main characters is fantastic. Throw in Val Kilmer and Jon Voight and you have some fine actors working together to build a very tense thriller with some fantastically violent action scenes.
9/10
Quarantine.
All been done before. Main female lead annoying as hell.
Prom Night.
Disco Ninja! Can't go wrong!
The Mist
My god this one depressed me!
The Mist
My god this one depressed me!
Superb ending! One minute before the end I was like 'Wouldn't it be horrible if...', and then it happened!
Sunshine
Crew of seven head out to the Sun to deploy a payload and restart the dying star.
Despite the unlikely mission premise the first hour is actually really good. Mistakes are made when they discover the original ship that was sent on the same mission but never completed its mission or returned.
Unfortunately it goes a little bit too Event Horizon and becomes a horror movie, not a space disaster movie. At one point I thought I'd figured out what the twist was going to be, but it turned out to be something else that was gash. I should have written the end of this movie.
First half: 8/10
Second half: 5/10
Valkyrie
True story about an operation devised by a German Officer (Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg) and a secret committee made up of various politicians/Officers to assassinate Hitler.
Really enjoyed this. Read up about it after and it would seem that the plot and depiction of characters are all pretty much spot on (there's a few veeery minor details that aren't apparently accurate but have little or no affect on the whole show). I have to admit, I was disappointed at the lackage of German accents which kind of sucked. Other than that, it was a good pace with decent acting and enjoyable filming. Nothing spectacular or revolutionary but I liked it.
If you like stuff on the history of the war and can get over the American accents, it's an interesting watch.
7/10
I'd say that IMHO the freeway scene from Matrix Revolutions is the best car chase scene, even though it's not a chase scene in the traditional sense.
I'm not too sure, I've always been more of a fan of the scenes in Ronin.
Matblack
02-11-2009, 10:51
The English Patient
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116209/
I'd been putting off watching this, Aitch had recorded it on V+ which isn't attached to the projector so it ment watching it on the 32" telly and having been spolit I like using the projector even for films that aren't SFX laden I find it makes things more emersive. However after being tired after the stag night I went on on Saturday she finally ground me down on Sunday night and I agreed to watch it.
I had another reason for not wanting to watch it, contrary to popular opinion I am a bloke and soppy love stories aren't my favorite genre to watch despite that fact that I quite happily get into them once I start. They also have a tendency to make me wimper like a whipped puppy :o
Right anyway The English Patient
No one could accuse this of a slow start as a bi-plane goes crashing into the desert carrying a beautiful woman and a handsome pilot who minutes later we see in the aftermath of the cash with a face like an uncooked steak.
My immediate assumption is that I know how this film is going to play out, I know there's something about a nurse and a patient so the nurse is going to fall in love with the patient and I have 2.5 hours of pain ahead of me.
How wrong I was.
This is a complex and amazingly well written epic jumping from point to point in the history of a character but never feeling forced.
Set against the backdrop of the second world war but never straying into war movie territorry it is a film about relationships, betrayal, love and death the main character being on his death bed at the start of the film with the narative played out in flashbacks.
Its going to be hard to summerise the plot without spoiling the way it plays out, the story is truely an epic and could almost be a mini series but doesn't feel overlong, I didn't look at my watch once and thats a good sign.
Just when you think its given all its got to give we get another love story in the plot and Jurgen Prochnow turns up as a German soldier :D
Sometimes Heather persuades me to watch a film that I would never have watched without pressure and hardly ever am I disapointed; Manon de Source, Jean de Florette, Atonement, Bad Education, All About my Mother are some of my favorite movies and none of them a ones I would have picked. The English Patient slots firmly into this catagory and I am so pleased I took the time to see it :)
9/10
MB
I really like The English Patient - the whole concept of being the only person in the world who can save someone's life and then suffering a misfortune that means you can't is just heartbreaking.
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 11:18
can get over the American accents
errr they are supposed to speak like that :/
errr they are supposed to speak like that :/
Errr... they were playing German Officers! I would have liked to have seen them do the acting in German accents to make it a bit more authentic.
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 11:23
Errr... they were playing German Officers! I would have liked to have seen them do the acting in German accents to make it a bit more authentic.
but didn't you hear the bit at the beginning of the film where Tom is talking in German and then it fades into English? As though the viewer understand German?
It's exactly like they did in Enemy at the Gates with the Russian :)
Matblack
02-11-2009, 11:24
but didn't you hear the bit at the beginning of the film where Tom is talking in German and then it fades into English? As though the viewer understand German?
It's exactly like they did in Enemy at the Gates with the Russian :)
I prefer it, most actors seem to lapse in to the Nazi Dalek school of german voice acting and where you need to give emotion to a role I think sounding like Heir Flick detracts a bit :D
MB
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 11:27
I'm with you MB I much prefer a normal accent to an attempted one which sounds bad. Ray Winstone anyone? :p
Yes I did and although I thought that was a good fade in I still was disappointed no attempt was made to speak in a German accent!!
I also was disappointed with Enemy at the Gates too (accent wise - great film!) :)
I prefer it when they do accents, I think it's lazy of actors not to do them. Personal opinion but that's how I operate. Oh and yes, they have to be good accents! Not like Daniel Craigs attempts in Defiance! Although the other dudey... Liev Schrieber... he was legendary!
Apologies if I seemed dumb and didn't get what they did in the first place. Unfortunately, although I'm blonde, I'm not that stupid :p
I think if Leo DiCap can pull of a South African Accent for Blood Diamond, then the other actors can do the same!
Maybe they tried German accents, but they were so Nazi Dalek (hahaha cheers for that MB! ;D) that the director had to make some big decisions :D
Yes I did and although I thought that was a good fade in I still was disappointed no attempt was made to speak in a German accent!!
I also was disappointed with Enemy at the Gates too (accent wise - great film!) :)
I prefer it when they do accents, I think it's lazy of actors not to do them. Personal opinion but that's how I operate. Oh and yes, they have to be good accents! Not like Daniel Craigs attempts in Defiance! Although the other dudey... Liev Schrieber... he was legendary!
;D Poor Daniel Craig, he really can't do accents.
I found the accents a bit irritating in Valkyrie although then again I didn't really like the film. Tom Cruise was badly cast and way too American for such a role imo. That and of course he really can't act didn't help the case and is probably why he didn't try to do an accent :p
It did encourage me to track down Downfall though which was far superior :D
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 11:42
I thought the cast was very good :confused: Eddie was great ;D
I thought the cast was very good :confused:
Well that's ok then :p The wonders of personal opinion ;) :D
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 11:44
;D don't you know by now that everyone has to agree :p
Matblack
02-11-2009, 12:13
I thought the cast was very good :confused: Eddie was great ;D
I think the testment to Eddie's acting was that I didn't realise who it was until the end, maybe if he had worn a dress I'd have twigged earlier.
MB
Yeh yeh! Picky said "Isn't that Eddie Izzard?!" and I was like "Nooo... no it's not!"
Couldn't believe it when we read it was! Wicked stuff!
leowyatt
02-11-2009, 12:21
He was talking about the film on Saturday night
Accents, Sean Connery, Hunt for Red October. Nuff said.
Vaguely tickling my brain from when Valkyrie was released here, Tom Cruise in an interview was saying something like they'd started to try and do the film with German accents, but gave up fairly quickly realising all that was happening was they were butchering them and sounding absolutely awful, and that if they were going to be able to have any respect for the movie they needed to do it straight.
Of course they could have hired a bunch of German actors to do it and have it more authentic. But I guess that's just like how they could have hired a bunch of midgets to play hobbits in the LoTR trilogy but instead went to all the hassle of hiring normal sized people and having to do camera tricks and sfx to make them seem small.
Greenlizard0
02-11-2009, 16:16
I always prefer it when they try, and succeed. But if they can't then recast the role. It's like accepting second best which is a strange way of doing things when a lot of movie budgets run into the tens of millions. Though I do agree, I'd rather see a good anything accent than a really bad foreign sounding one.
I think if Leo DiCap can pull of a South African Accent for Blood Diamond, then the other actors can do the same!
He did a really good job in that film. Proved to me that he's actually quite talented.
Accents, Sean Connery, Hunt for Red October. Nuff said.
Hahahaha! I was waiting for someone to say that! *cringe*! :D
Garp - would like to see that interview! IMO they should have practised harder or got someone who could do the accent without sounding moronic!
To me... something like that is like... Hmmm... trying to think of a comparison.
*brain in gear*....
Like like like... auditioning and hiring an actor for a broadway musical who, although can act, can't sing so getting them to mime! Or even just talk the lyrics! It might be better than getting them to sing buuut it's not right - they should get someone who can do the full job properly!! :) But this is coming from a person who used to do media and theatre studies so I kind of have a bit of a passion for things to be just right... irritates me when people are given parts in films/plays just because of their famousness as opposed to the talent out there.
Buuut then... who's going to get more wonga in... a more famous name in a film or an unknown.
*sigh*
Stoopid society!
Wow! Rantage! lol! /rant
;D
Matblack
02-11-2009, 16:42
The funding for Valkerie would have had a stipulation that Cruise played the lead, if he hadn't and you had a whole load of German unknowns you'd have been watching it on HBO
MB
Like like like... auditioning and hiring an actor for a broadway musical who, although can act, can't sing so getting them to mime! Or even just talk the lyrics! It might be better than getting them to sing buuut it's not right - they should get someone who can do the full job properly!! :) But this is coming from a person who used to do media and theatre studies so I kind of have a bit of a passion for things to be just right... irritates me when people are given parts in films/plays just because of their famousness as opposed to the talent out there.
Buuut then... who's going to get more wonga in... a more famous name in a film or an unknown.
*sigh*
Stoopid society!
Wow! Rantage! lol! /rant
;D
Fully agree with you there, sadly the people that finance the films want the big names. They want to know their money is safe, not in the hands of an unknown :( Talent means jack diddly squat compared to having the big draw. The whole movie industry is so screwed up it's almost unbelievable. That we get a few gems out of it is more fluke than the result of a system that encourages and nurtures excellence.
Yeh Garp :( Boo!
The funding for Valkerie would have had a stipulation that Cruise played the lead, if he hadn't and you had a whole load of German unknowns you'd have been watching it on HBO
MB
Indeedy :( Boo hiss!
I loved Valkyrie, thought it was brill.
Briggykins
02-11-2009, 19:50
How To Lose Friends and Alienate People
Apparently it's a Brit-flick, but you wouldn't know it. Journalist Simon Pegg, who likes to snipe at celebrity, gets offered a job with a celeb-fawning magazine in New York. Wanting to carry on his celeb-baiting antics, he's soon assimilated into their way of doing things as well as trying to gain the affections of actress Sophie Maes (Megan Fox) and sort-of-simultaneously, his co-worker Alison (Kirsten Dunst).
It's acceptable fodder - it's not satirical enough to be called satire but you can't really call it a rom-com as that stuff is more a side-plot, at least at the beginning. There are enough chuckles, mostly courtesy of Simon Pegg's delivery, and it passes an hour and a half pleasantly enough. We chose it as a compromise between myself and Mrs Briggykins, and it worked perfectly as that. It did, however, teach me is that Megan Fox actually is very attractive, but I'd still prefer Kirsten Dunst.
6/10
Thinking on.... to make it authentic, surely the cast of Valkyrie should have been speaking in German...rather than in English with a German accent? :p
semi-pro waster
02-11-2009, 20:36
Accents, Sean Connery, Hunt for Red October. Nuff said.
Oi, I'll have you know that Shirr Sean does the accent of Sean Connery perfectly. I'll admit it doesn't convince as anything other than the unique accent of Sean Connery but that's almost beside the point.
Incidentally I'd raise you him playing an Irish cop in The Untouchables and and Egyptian nobleman in Highlander for examples of worse - although to be fair I'm not even sure that he bothered to pretend in either of them.
Thinking on.... to make it authentic, surely the cast of Valkyrie should have been speaking in German...rather than in English with a German accent? :p
Yep but a significant number of people refuse to watch films with subtitles - heathens I call 'em. :p Speaking of which you've reminded me of one of the films I've watched recently.
Taxi 3
Starring Sami Naceri Frederic Diefenthal Bernard Farci Bing Lai
Car based comedy
6/10 I think I'm on record as being a fan of the Taxi series (don't even mention the American remake, I'm pretending that doesn't exist) and this is more of the same, the storyline is more outlandish than before and it isn't as taut as the others, particularly the first, but it's still just plain fun. It's also got the rather delectable Marion Cotilliard in it, never a bad thing as far as I'm concerned.
Briggy - wanted to watch that filum for a long time but heard good and bad reports! Sounds like a nice watch when I'm in a non-thinking chilled out mood :D
Thinking on.... to make it authentic, surely the cast of Valkyrie should have been speaking in German...rather than in English with a German accent? :p
All for it - I wouldn't complain :)
It doesn't really matter though does it?! I liked the film, I gave it a high score, but for me it would have been better if they hadn't of lazed out and kept their American accents! Personal rate-age! As said in my post, if you can cope with the American accents, I think it's a good film!
Blimey gov! I feel like my opinions get wee'd on at times on BD! :p
*edit* It does matter actually!! I think the effort to make Valkyrie (despite being a good film) was poor! How dare they not invent a Delorean and go back in time to film the actual happenings as a documentary and use the real life people instead!! I can't believe they just decided to act it all out with American actors!! The fools! Poor effort! I'm remarking it to a 1/10 for lackage of commitment and dedication to show the true happenings as accurately as possible ;D
Hahahaha! ;D
Erm....and I think people overreact to mine quite a lot too! Just pointing out that having german accents wouldn't be any more 'authentic' it's either German or English, surely? To have them speaking in german accents would just insult our intelligence, no? Anyway I didn't realise that having an opinion meant that I was 'weeing all over' yours, but now I do, I'll try not to have anymore. So sorry. :p <obligatory smiley>
Watched Quantum of Solace last night! Bond suitage, lots of fight scenes (awesome ones too! Brilliant choreography!), wicked car chases, fab boat-age action, sexy ladies and a great plot! What more could you ask for from a Bond!
I thoroughly enjoyed it! I know some people didn't like the fact that Bond had a revenge plot on his hands but I think it was played out superbly!
I will deffo be using the chat up line at some point: "I can't seem to find the stationary, would you come in the bedroom and help me find it" ;D
Genius!
8/10... possibly 8.5! I think it could be one of my favourite Bond filums now :D
I loved QOS. Think Daniel Craig was an excellent choice for Bond, though I think I liked Casino Royale more. Only watched QOS once though, so may have to watch both again to compare properly ;)
I loved QOS. Think Daniel Craig was an excellent choice for Bond,
^this.
Although rope makes me wince now....
Briggykins
03-11-2009, 15:05
I thought QOS was excellent, don't understand why it didn't seem to be well-received at the time. Thoroughly enjoyed it, even tho the plot wasn't the easiest to understand.
Picky said the same about the plot - said he found it hard to follow. Normally it's me that's a bit like that but maybe I was so in tune with Daniel Craig I managed to see it straight...
;) ;D
I bet you were trying to majick yourself into some rope for days afterwards! :p ;D
Planet Terror.
****ing loved it.
Greenlizard0
04-11-2009, 01:12
Planet Terror.
****ing loved it.
Grindhouse? Got to say I give movies like that no time at all, but both were pretty good! Death Proof's even better.
I was also starting to think I wouldn't really like a Tarantino movie again. Not a fan of the Kill Bills, nor Inglorious Barsterds.
Grindhouse? Got to say I give movies like that no time at all, but both were pretty good! Death Proof's even better.
I was also starting to think I wouldn't really like a Tarantino movie again. Not a fan of the Kill Bills, nor Inglorious Barsterds.
I love dreadful B movies anyway so this obviously appealed to me!
Stan_Lite
04-11-2009, 14:15
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
I heard about the cast of this film and that it was an almost child like fantasy. Then I saw the preview and was really geared up.
I just really didn't think it was that good. It's a very watered down film I felt, and it just fails to take off. I've just now read that Heath Ledger died halfway through it. Perhaps this may have led to difficulties and maybe it does explain some of the disjointedness throughout. How they attempted to fix this was pretty admirable and it works out very well though. But in the end the script wasn't all that and as such it's just not a film I can recommend. Which I'm very annoyed at if I'm honest.
5.5/10
Watched this on the plane on the way out here and, if I was being generous, I would agree with Greenlizard. If I was being honest, I would say the film was a huge disappointment and not worth the effort. I thought the entire thing was weak throughout and a huge disappointment. One would expect better from Terry Gilliam :(
3/10 (It only gets that because of Lily Cole ;)).
Flibster
04-11-2009, 16:19
Shaun of the Dead
One of the best Zombie movies ever made.
Absolutely love it.
9/10
A Place of Light
05-11-2009, 12:57
I'm not too sure, I've always been more of a fan of the scenes in Ronin.
Good choice, and an excellent movie.
I've always felt that the chase itself played second fiddle to the way they shot that one though.
I saw Up in 3D last week.
First thing, the glasses gave me a bit of a headache, not pleasant. 3D was used well though, just nicely complemented the film, it wasn't just indulging in 3D cliches by making stuff shoot out of the screen every five seconds.
Secondly the film, whilst good dragged for me a bit. It was very very predictable, in a way I don't feel many of Pixar's other films are. I felt a lot of the time I was sat there thinking 'come on get this bit over with' because it was obvious where it was going and what was about to happen. With say, Wall-E, whilst it could be predictable I never once found myself sat thinking similar things, I was enjoying the film too much.
I'd give it a solid 7/10 as it was a good film but I don't think it measures up against some of Pixars previous work.
Up in 3D made my eyes wee! :'(
Twas another strong moment for Mr Jingo :p
Good choice, and an excellent movie.
I've always felt that the chase itself played second fiddle to the way they shot that one though.
Aye, iirc they set up cameras all along the chase scene so they didn't have to keep starting and stopping the cars to make sure the chase flowed. Loved that scene. In fact love the film.
Princess Griff
06-11-2009, 12:48
Me n Jingotron watched Wall-ee for the first time the other
WAS BRILLIANT!!!! Such a great concept, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Def recommend!
9/10
A Place of Light
08-11-2009, 16:04
Aye, iirc they set up cameras all along the chase scene so they didn't have to keep starting and stopping the cars to make sure the chase flowed. Loved that scene. In fact love the film.
Never knowing what the package is/was is a definite Keyser Soze moment, and a nice touch IMHO.
Men who stare at goats
Not quite as funny as the trailer led me to believe, though it has its moments. Often quite a weird film and my facial expression was largely changing between a slightly confused frown and a mild smirk.
Definitely worth a watch, 7/10
Star Trek 11.
Sat and watched it with Georgie after I got in from work yesterday morning. I'd heard about the re-boot of the ST universe and wasn't sure, again with the time travel! But after it finished, I'd changed my mind.
Karl Urban really looked the part as a young Bones and damn isn't Spock looking old?
Georgie then spent the next half an hour trying to do the Vulcan salute!
7.5/10
*awaits ST12*
Treefrog
09-11-2009, 18:14
On the Town
1949, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Ann Miller
I've been looking for this for my mother's cousin for ages and had to watch to make sure it's an acceptable copy.
I really enjoyed it! In the style of the times with lots of singing and tap-dancing, definitely a pleasant way to spend 90 or so minutes.
Dymetrie
09-11-2009, 19:28
The Mist
My god this one depressed me!
Me and Mrs Dym watched this at the weekend, started off a bit slow, then got pretty funky (SPIDERS!!!) and we got incredibly depressed at the end as well. So we watched some Never Mind the Buzzcocks to temper our mood...
Superb ending! One minute before the end I was like 'Wouldn't it be horrible if...', and then it happened!
I might have uttered the words "I bet he feels a bit stupid now" :p
Greenlizard0
11-11-2009, 19:10
Edison / Edison Force
This movie has a great cast with Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Justin Timberlake is in it too. When I found that out I got the impression that it would be crap. Like the studios just palmed him off with a story left on the floor, but hey he's owed a few favours so in came two much more well known names.
That's as much as I can say about it really. Apparently it had no USA cinema release because it was slated during the Toronto Film Festival. Quite rightly too. The theme is based around corrupt cops and this has been done to death already. The films that dealt with it did a much better job.
I expected Timberlake to be a terrible actor, but in fact he's not. Which is quite surprising because as an artist I've hated him before.
2/10
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
I'm not a Potter fan and haven't read the books. But I have seen most of the films (I missed one of the middle ones out, can't remember if it was 3 or 4) and got the impression from those that have been subjected to both, the films do a good job.
Have to say that I enjoyed this. Good film, the special effects were pretty snazzy and with a good score the atmosphere was held really well. Like his other films, Michael Gambon's a pleasure to watch and Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith and Helena Bonham Carter did their parts well. I think the person who plays Harry Potter is going to be as typecasted as the Friends cast or Frodo, but I suppose he does look the part.
Oh, and I really, REALLY wouldn't mind Evanna Lynch *honk* :D *
*(She's 18, just in case anybody was a bit..).
7/10
Up in 3D made my eyes wee! :'(
Twas another strong moment for Mr Jingo :p
I watched it in 2D. (Crappy 2 screen cinema in Banbury...)
Awesome, who would've thought a CG old man made me well up a bit.
9/10
Kids loved it too.
Greenlizard0
13-11-2009, 17:33
Up
Aw, wasn't this nice.
Up's the story of a grumpy old fart who we learn went through life with one dream. To visit Paradise Falls in South America. In fact it was both his and his wife's dream, however as they constantly save up for over the years other things come along and prevent these plans actually taking off (sorry). As story runs we learn that his missus sadly passes away, and forced through amusing circumstances to leave his home, he fills a load of balloons to his house and floats away with the ambition of fulfilling that wish. Coming along with him for this adventure is a Oriental (I think?) kid and they both head southwards...
I managed to see this in Blu-Ray and it looked and sounded fantastic. The story's good and heart warming which means I can really recommend this. The score's pretty good and mushy (typical for a Disney film I suppose) and the voice actors do well.
7/10
Terminator Salvation.
Watched this while partially drunk and it was alright. Was nice to see the future, but it could have been a better film.
6/10
District 9.
After faffing around with subtitles so I could understand the aliens, I liked it. Really felt sorry for the aliens by the end of the film :(
8/10
District 9.
After faffing around with subtitles so I could understand the aliens, I liked it. Really felt sorry for the aliens by the end of the film :(
8/10
I'm fluent in Prawn.
Poor old Wikus.
Also 8/10.
Greenlizard0
19-11-2009, 01:16
District 9
No need to review it really, but good film. Really enjoyable and the aliens' movements were pretty good. This one had a small but enjoyable score too.
Just seen that the subtitles would have helped with the alien language, damn, I hadn't turned them back on thinking they wouldn't have helped.
7/10
Yeah, without the subtitles you miss quite a bit out.
semi-pro waster
21-11-2009, 12:11
Fatal Contact
Starring Jacky Wu Roland Cheng Miki Yeung Theresa Fu
Martial arts film
5/10 This film's a bit odd, I'm not sure if it is just down to the editing or something else but I found there were a few sections where I was left thinking "wait, when did she move from being a circus performer to a prostitute" and consequently the time line was a bit awry, some of the characters are poorly acted and it looks a bit cheap. However provided you can accept that it's got a weird sort of gawky charm, it'll help if you like martial arts films and know that for many story is not a strong point, there are certainly worse ways to spend a couple of hours and the ending was pleasingly non-happy.
Save The Last Dance 2
Oh dear..
I added this to our netflix queue as a surprise for Lana as she really enjoys dance based films like Step Up. I must admit I really enjoy the dance sequences in those sorts of films too, even if I think the story is utterly rubbish. Let's be honest though who ever really watches these films for their story?
Like so many of its genre's films before it Save The Last Dance 2 is a coming of age film set in a performing arts school.
Unlike other films in the genre it's missing something rather key. Dance sequences. Okay that's a lie, there are dance sequences but they're just not that impressive. Early on in the film the lead character goes to a hip hop club and ends up in a dance off with another girl. She gets her arse right royally handed to her on a plate as far as Lana and I were concerned, though not particularly impressively, and yet somehow she's won and the entire crowd is cheering her. It was just awful. The ballet might be good I've no real concept of ballet to compare her performance to, but even there it seemed to me as a layman that it was little more than "all right". Certain steps and movements struck me as a little too graceless for ballet.
Tack on a weak and predictable plot with confusing gaps Why is it such a big problem that Miles is Monique's son? As soon as it's revealed it's turned into this big disaster for absolutely no reason we could figure out at all. and at the end of it we just thought "Meh".
0/10 - 1 point for the actors turning up and going through the motions, -1 point for poor choreography.
August Rush
A young orphan boy hears music in everything and decides to set off to find his parents. What follows is the usual Hollywood fair of a boy who turns out to be a musical genius trying to find his parents in New York. It's a very good film though even if I did play (and win) guess the plotlines.
8/10
I was starting to watch that last night and had to stop cos the phone rang!
Ended up watching RoadHouse instead. First time I've seen it. Kindest thing I can say is that it probably aged badly!
Saw V
I can't believe there's already a 6th out. I spent the first half-hour not realising there were two FBI agents because the people that play them look so similar. Weakest plot twist ever as well.
Can't even be arsed scoring it. At least the gruesome bits were done well.
Saw V
I can't believe there's already a 6th out. I spent the first half-hour not realising there were two FBI agents because the people that play them look so similar. Weakest plot twist ever as well.
Can't even be arsed scoring it. At least the gruesome bits were done well.
There's talk of doing a 7th now, in 3D :huh:
Flibster
22-11-2009, 03:10
The House Bunny
Can't even bare to think about this... Was told it was a great date movie... Wrong!
It's a piece of poo....
1.5/10 as it has quite a lot of legs and cleavage showing...
There's talk of doing a 7th now, in 3D :huh:
3D production starts in January, with an 8th already starting pre-production ready for 2011.
semi-pro waster
22-11-2009, 08:35
Ended up watching RoadHouse instead. First time I've seen it. Kindest thing I can say is that it probably aged badly!
Are you talking about the Patrick Swayze film of the same name? I can't imagine there being another but equally I can't reconcile your statement there with the awesomeness that is Roadhouse - he rips a mans throat out with his bare hands. His bare hands I tell you. :p
Resident Evil: Extinction. Enjpyed it, although I have no idea why they felt the need to cgi Milla Jovovich's face every close up.
semi-pro waster
22-11-2009, 20:54
yup that's the one!
I can't understand, it's almost everything that was awesome about the 80s in one film. Maybe it's because I'm a wannabe wrestler that the mullets, tight jeans and cheesy lines appeal. ;)
The Longest Yard
Starring Burt Reynolds Eddie Albert Ed Lauter Michael Conrad
The original jail sports film
8/10 It features the legendary moustache of Mr Reynolds for too short a period of time so I'm almost tempted to dock a point for that but really it's simply a great film. It's very much of its period with some sexism and racism in place but look past that and you've got an engaging storyline, entertaining characters, humour and action. Well worth the time taken to search it out, Mean Machine (the British remake with football instead of American football) is decent enough, I've only seen parts of the 2005 remake of the original starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock but I wouldn't bother based on what I've seen as it is not worthy of having the same name.
Ghost Town
Ricky Gervais plays Ricky Gervais in a story about a dentist who dies for a few minutes on an operating table and can from then on see the ghosts of others who have died.
Mostly predictable, not overly funny on the whole, but somehow endearing and naturalistic. There were a few parts that felt ad-libbed and they do more justice to the film than anything else in terms of doing something original. You won't be blown away, you may not even laugh out loud, but you may enjoy what I consider to be a decent idea carried out with heart and good humour.
6/10
Son of Rambow
Different from anything else I've ever seen. Completely British, completely heartwarming and superbly original. How the child actors were able to give so much character to the roles I'll never know. Set at the time First Blood came out it has very much an 80s theme to it, but somehow has an otherworldly feel as well. Mainly because the main family are Plymouth Brethren (something I'm familiar with as there are a lot in Alton where I grew up), and they live somewhat of an Amish lifestyle, shunning a lot of modern technology and living like it's the early 20th century.
Considering it's just two kids that are the main characters, it's a stirling and captivating piece.
8/10
^^ Superb piece of British Cinematography.
Films like Son of Rambow, This.Is.England, Billy Elliot et al show that Britain's actors, musicians and film makers are still thriving and can work together to create some highly entertaining and truly unique cinema :)
Princess Griff
22-11-2009, 23:20
New Moon: The Twilight Saga
If you have not read Twilight - don't bother watching it
If however you are a Twilight fan....
Oh...
My...
God...
Amazing.
Will say no more until the people who are going to see it have seen it...but me n Jingo thoroughly enjoyed it. SUCH an improvement on the first film! Esp as book two was a weaker book than the first! I wanna go and see it again!!!
Arrrgh! I'm SO jealous!!
Belmit .. Son of rambow I posted about I think earlier on. Made me cry like a baby, brilliant, brilliant film. Think it was a 10/10 for me (must check! :p). Loved it.
Ghost town, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Probably a 7 or so.
Watched Sum of all fears today - 7.5.
Moon
Absolutely-smegging-fantastic!
This is proper science fiction, really really good.
10/10
Based entirely on word of mouth and a brief glimpse at the trailer I ordered Moon on DVD. Arrived today but want to wait for my housemates to watch it with me too as I think it will be excellent, as you say.
Princess Griff
23-11-2009, 23:49
Moon
Absolutely-smegging-fantastic!
This is proper science fiction, really really good.
10/10
You have a delightful way with words Feek! This made me giggle!! ;D
Creature
24-11-2009, 01:08
The Breakfast Club
You (should) have all seen it, I need say no more. It's a great film, end of.
9/10
Moon
Absolutely-smegging-fantastic!
This is proper science fiction, really really good.
10/10
I thought it was OK. Interesting concept, well acted with very nice cinematography - more like a 7/8 ish for me, Leo says 8 :)
The Punisher 2 - so bad its funny, and i am not sure they intended it to be funny, it just is.
Terminator salvation - Not bad, saw the twist a mile off but it was enjoyable through out, there's a set piece in every scene pretty much.
New Moon
Really good :) really enjoyed it. Never read the books so...
Both of us were waiting for a mega fight scene between Edward and Jacob or one with the both of them defending Bella from Victoria, but that never happened... well not yet anyway, they will probably become allies in the next one right? ;) lol (don't tell me though! :p)
9/10
BB x
Moon
Brilliant film. Sinister concept, superb acting (by the only actual real life character we see!) and amazingly filmed. If I talk about it I'll spoil it, so just watch it!
9/10
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.
Utterly brilliant. Is definitely 0ne of my fav films after just one watch.
Twilight.
Was talking to the ratties at the same time but I've already seen it and read the books to death.
It pales in comparison to the book and the story seems a lot sillier when you see it on screen. Still I will be watching all the others!
Outlander
EjpuDHCNDrs
During the reign of the Vikings, Kainan (Caviezel), a man from a far-off world, crash lands on Earth, bringing with him an alien predator known as the Moorwen. Though both man and monster are seeking revenge for violence committed against them, Kainan leads the alliance to kill the Moorwen by fusing his advanced technology with the Viking's Iron Age weaponry.
6/10 very much an alien vs predator film set in the iron age. For a mindless turn your brain off film it pulled it of well.
Monsters Vs. Aliens
7SfqWGmRffM
"Monsters vs. Aliens" has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® technology for a truly immersive 3D experience. When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled as a "monster" named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound. The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. Their confinement time is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger (on a desperate order from the President), the motley crew of monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction.
9/10 What can I say this is bloody fantastic
Got dead snow to watch either tonight or tomorrow :D. but subtitles :(
Sunshine
Crew of seven head out to the Sun to deploy a payload and restart the dying star.
Despite the unlikely mission premise the first hour is actually really good. Mistakes are made when they discover the original ship that was sent on the same mission but never completed its mission or returned.
Unfortunately it goes a little bit too Event Horizon and becomes a horror movie, not a space disaster movie. At one point I thought I'd figured out what the twist was going to be, but it turned out to be something else that was gash. I should have written the end of this movie.
First half: 8/10
Second half: 5/10
Sounds good, will have to watch it tonight. I love disaster movies and I love event horizon. On c4 at 10pm
Knipples
29-11-2009, 19:26
My sisters keeper
Im still crying. Very weepy, hard hitting story based on a novel by Jodi Picoult about a family coping with the daughters leukemia, and how the sibling created to try and help save her makes a difficult decision. :(
8 out of 10 (only marking it down because it was so damn depressing - but it had to be)
Sunshine
YZ2-xR54UDU
7/10 I really enjoyed it But:
But how the hell did he survive and get back on bored. If it wasn't for this it would get a lot higher score. Fine I can understand people want to sabotage it, but don't just suddenly turn it into a horror, at least explain how he survived and got on bored. Or did I miss something
I really enjoyed it But:
But how the hell did he survive and get back on bored. If it wasn't for this it would get a lot higher score. Fine I can understand people want to sabotage it, but don't just suddenly turn it into a horror, at least explain how he survived and got on bored. Or did I miss something
Exactly! I thought the twist was going to be...
When it mentioned there was an extra crew member on board, that it would turn out that the computer was actually a person plugged into the system that they didn't know about (like a sort of symbiotic android/human kind of thing) and somehow was corrupting the mission. But no, it was some loony who'd been hanging out in space for years and somehow crept aboard. Lame.
Princess Griff
30-11-2009, 17:04
I love the Green Mile......but cant watch it on my own!!
Started watching it last night, watched it all the way up to the Mr Jingles part...then remembered what came next....and thought to myself...No Emma, you do not have the mental strength to watch that right now!
So went to bed!!!
I have never cried so much in my life watching this film, well maybe equalled with reading the book...
The Butterfly Effect
I think I reviewed this before when I saw it for the first time. I gave it 10/10. Having just watched it for the second time a few years on, I was absolutely spot on. Like my housemate said; "I've no idea how long I've been watching this. Could have been three hours for all I know." Just a transfixing movie - Ashton Kutcher is superb and so are the kids playing the characters at various ages. And I ****ing hate Ashton Kutcher.
One of my top ten films of all time.
Flibster
02-12-2009, 01:20
Monsters Vs Aliens
Weak story, animation at Incredibles level, some really obvious and poor jokes.
But, I still enjoyed it. Not up to Shrek levels and nowhere close to any of Pixars latest, but it amused for 90 minutes.
7/10
It would have helped if the film wasn't designed around 3d and as such had things pointing towards the screen with fairly alarming regularity. 3d effects work best when they are subtle...
The 3d short had moments of pointyitus, but for the most part was pretty subtle effects. However, the pink and green glasses absolutely killed the colourschemes. The best two tone glasses for 3d that I've found have been the ones used for C4's 3d week - that was remarkably good colour preservation.
Flibster
02-12-2009, 23:18
Star Trek
Mostly rubbish, but with excellent performances from Nimoy, Pegg and Bana. Really could have done with more from Pegg rather than just the half a film he was in.
If it wasn't Trek I don't think it would have been anywhere near as successful. You really should know some of the back story before watching this.
Pet hate though - hand held cameras and short cuts in action scenes to make it look more 'exciting' Stop it! It's a bloody bad habit you've got into. Although looking at that Abrams has directed before - I'm actually surprised that it was as good as it was.
6/10
Zombieland.
Started well, slowed to a bit of a crawl in the middle, and ended on an upslope.
Bill f******* Murray!!
6/10
Terminator Salvation.
Codswallop.
Effects 9/10, Film 4/10
Streeteh
05-12-2009, 10:29
Sunshine Spoilar!
Simples, he survived as the life support systems aboard the ship were still functioning and the gardens were still growing. He harvested food from the gardens while being all twitchy and mental in the ship. He got aboard by crossing the connection between the two ships, as soon as he had done so he then detonated the connection (thus causing the whole 'shoot out of a airlock sequence'), i would also imagine the distraction from part of the ship blowing up drew peoples' attention away from the security cameras, thus allowing him to sneak aboard unnoticed. It had only been few years since the previous mission so it's not infeasible he could have survived just living off of the food grown in the garden. Also, how do you know the rest of the crew weren't alive for a period of time until the Icarus II showed up? For all we know they could have all been pottering about in a fully functioning, but disabled, ship for years and then topped themselves.
NokkonWud
05-12-2009, 12:35
My sisters keeper
Im still crying. Very weepy, hard hitting story based on a novel by Jodi Picoult about a family coping with the daughters leukemia, and how the sibling created to try and help save her makes a difficult decision. :(
8 out of 10 (only marking it down because it was so damn depressing - but it had to be)
Was it based on the book? After reading the book and then watching the movie, you could have fooled me!
Awful film with the actresses not being up to the quality required, a prime example being Cameron Diaz. She's good in romantic comedies, but this is far beyond her rather limited scope as an actress. Abagail Breslin is quite talented, but she just doesn't do it for me either.
Read the book, it's amazing (and different.)
2012 :
condensed review! It's obv. a disaster movie & not just cos John Cusak is in it :p Bit daft and OTT in places, the effects are good (if bloody repetitive!), the story is decent enough (better than Day after tomorrow!) & I'd say if you're going to watch it, big screen is a must or it just won't come across with the same enormity. Very long though, over 2hr30 I think? Smuggle some sweets in! Good mid week fare would be happy enough if I'd pod for both tix instead of 2-1. One of the better disaster movies of recent years, if a little 'kim bauer' in places. Think people expect too much from this kind of thing nowadays, just sit back, suspend belief (that's the point, surely??) and enjoy :)
8/10 for the genre, 6.5 overall.
Paranormal Activity :
Heard lots of bad reviews. Didn't think it was bad at all. Unusual, gripping in places, think it depends a lot on the audience and the people watching it where I was were brill, squealing at the appropriate places and being generally scared & I think big screen is important. Probably rubbish on small. Not terrifying by any meals but clever, all done with suggestion. Probably wouldn't watch it again having seen it, but am not sorry I went!
7/10
Return To Oz
Hmmm.
Dorothy is having difficulty adjusting to the real world in Kansas, and get's sent for Electro-shock therapy...sorry I mean Electric Happiness, possibly one of the most barbaric forms of psychiatry ever invented, for treatment.
She ends up back in Oz which has been worn down by the years with everyone turned to stone, and there she must fight the evil Gnome King (the psychiatrist) and the evil Princess Mombi (the nasty Nurse at the psychiatrists) with the aid of her new friends Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead, and her trusty chicken Billina.
Oh dear. What an utterly bizarre film, but some how failing to posses the charm of films like Labyrinth whilst feeling reminiscent of it in it's visual presentation (or vice versa as Return to Oz came first.) The ending is just a dire piece of Deus Ex Machina, which just about topped it all off for me as one big waste of time.
2/10 reasonable effects, a few good quirky characters.
Del Lardo
06-12-2009, 14:17
Public Enemies
Johnny Depp & Christian Bale star in a depression era film based on the imfamous bank robber John Dillinger. Well shot and acted but the story line was a big let down as it failed to engage me. I also felt the style of the film slightly strange, I didn't know that Michael Mann was the director until the end but when I found out it did kind of make sense as parts of it felt very much like Transformers in 1930s Chicago.
I can't help but feel that another director could have done more with the film though that would have required a rewrite. Not a bad film but certainly not one that lives up to the hype or cast.
5/10
I didn't know that Michael Mann was the director until the end but when I found out it did kind of make sense as parts of it felt very much like Transformers in 1930s Chicago.
That's interesting given it was Michael Bay that did Transformers not Mann ;)
Had a bit of a movie weekend.
The Echelon Conspiracy
A carbon copy of Eagle Eye (or the other way round) where an IT bloke gets sent a phone and keeps receiving texts telling him ways of making him rich, like stock tips or which blackjack table to sit at. Obviously it all goes wrong and he's hunted by the FBI and the NSA. Was alright, nothing special, more of a take your brain out and watch.
6/10
Zack and Miri make a porno.
A Kevin Smith film about a couple of friends who decide to make a porno after getting their electricity and water turned off as they can't afford to pay the bills. A lot better than I thought it would be and genuinely made me laugh, which at 1 in the morning I had to try and stifle. Was weird to see Jason Mewes with short hair and there were a couple of cameos for Smith veterans.
8/10
It's A wonderful Life
A story about 1 man who's life is saved by an Angel when he decides he wants to kill himself. Since I had never seen this film before I figured it was about time really. A really lovely story and even though James Stewart is a bit of an arse throughout you can kind of understand why as all he wanted to do was leave his small town and visit the world, but events transpired to keep him there. I had a tear in my eye by the end of the film and was glad I watched it.
10/10
Bridge To Terabithia
A young lad befriends his new neighbour who has a bright outlook on life and they end up creating a whole new land with their imagination. At first we thought it was just another children's fantasy film on the lines of The Spiderwick Chronicles, but as the movie progressed we turned out to be wrong. At one point my sister turned to me and said "something bad is going to happen" and it did, if you haven't seen it don't click here
when Jess comes back from the museum with his teacher and finds out that Leslie died while trying to cross the creek as the rope snapped
We were both in bits from that point forward. Some great acting by the kids involved and even though we both liked the movie, we decided to not watch it for a long time due to the above.
9/10
Inglourious Basterds
A Tarantino movie about a small group of American Jews who go Nazi hunting in occupied France during world war 2. A very bizzare and graphic film that is mostly in French or German played mainly by French or German actors so at least we don't have to listen to atrocious accents, until Brad Pitt's Italian at least, but I think that was done on purpose.
9/10
Harry Brown
I've always loved Michael Caine so thought to myself, "why not"? I hadn't heard of the movie, and having done a quick iPhone cinema app lookup, it seemed to be potentially a very good if somewhat dark film.
I wasn't disappointed. It starts off with a "bang" so to speak and actually made me feel really rather uncomfortable having experienced a similar incident (though not directly) myself. Really makes your blood run cold. It then goes on to be fairly unassuming for a half hour or more and thought "hmmm so we've got this old man ex war hero... and a friend of his sitting in a pub chatting about the "yoof" of today... ok... so something bad must happen.." Sure enough it did. However, before that, the build up to the story is just about right.
Without spoiling it, you do feel very uncomfortable with some of the "gang" youths, and certainly recognising the place where it was filmed, and the fact that this sort of behaviour and activity and that such people as portrayed in the film exists makes it feel ever more chilling. The police interaction with the OAPs seems cliché but at the same time completely palpable. The film plays to your prejudices and fears, and very extreme almost Daily Mail type of extremism... however in spite of this, it is so very believeable, and really leads to a lot of tense moments to the extent that you hold your breath waiting to see what happens.
The plot is simple so not exactly original (vigilante revenge type of thing). The script is pretty poor, however MC does a brilliant job at keeping you drawn in. The youths, you forget they are actors. You really do. I thought to myself, those little *****, you ****ing scum etc... It really did make you feel vitriolic towards them. Also desperate to believe that such people don't exist - whereas as fictional as this film is, sadly it brings you back to the reality that such lifestyles do exist and that the police sometimes are powerless to do anything about it. I though the police lead (female DI) was a bit weak and poor, but maybe it's a fair representation to the frustrations that victims have to not being dealt with better?
It's a dark, gritty and tense film. Not a fun film, but absolutely brilliant in terms of getting your money's worth of entertainment - however, it's almost too "real" to be totally comfortable with it, and definitely not able to call it enjoyable.
Were it not for the plot and poor script I'd give it 10/10, however in spite of that, the acting was brilliant and it does draw to mind your typical fears of London poor estates and the underworld of city crime and the underworld of gang lifestyles. Frightening. Anyone living in London or big city (Manchester, Liverpool etc...), or near a less salubrious estate (which I have done in the past) will really be able to connect a fear and understanding with this film - albeit as mentioned it is drawn on stereotypes and prejudices, however, there is always a modicum of truth in such things.
9/10
Del Lardo
07-12-2009, 11:39
That's interesting given it was Michael Bay that did Transformers not Mann ;)
They met at the Michael Club and Bay gave Mann some directing lessons :p
:o
Forgot this one.
Bedtime Stories.
Adam Sandler as a maintenance guy at a hotel that his dad used to own, until he got into debt and was bought off him. He is asked to look after his nephew and niece for a few nights and while telling them a story they help along, the next day the parts they say end up coming true. When he finally realises this he tries to get them to say what he wants to happen to himself, which doesn't always go exactly to plan.
Would have been good if not for his annoying voice. So this is another Sandler film that I'm not keen on.
4/10 because of his voice. Would have been a 6 otherwise.
I think my mental age must be going backwards.
Hannah Montana - The Movie - I loved it, 8.5/10. It's sweet, its fun, the cinematography was good, even the script although predictable, is enjoyable. I'd expected it to be a larger and bigger version of the show but it turned out to be a proper movie.
p.s. Taylor Swift is in it !
I love it so much I might get it on Bluray for Xmas
The Truman Show
Everyone has seen this except me, so I've remedied that now.
What a great film, I'm not really a Jim Carrey fan but he's very good in this one. I enjoyed it a lot.
9/10.
What a great film, I'm not really a Jim Carrey fan but he's very good in this one. I enjoyed it a lot.
It's one of the few films I actually like him in. An appropriate level of goofiness for a man that's never experienced the real world. Usually any indication of his involvement in a film is enough to make sure I never watch it so it may well be I'm missing some awesome stuff.. but I really just can't stand his pratting around.
Return To Oz
Always found the Wheelies and Princess Mombi's heads really terrifying :/
It's one of the few films I actually like him in. An appropriate level of goofiness for a man that's never experienced the real world. Usually any indication of his involvement in a film is enough to make sure I never watch it so it may well be I'm missing some awesome stuff.. but I really just can't stand his pratting around.
Have to agree with you. Apart from this and the Riddler, don't like any of his other stupid stuff.
Taken
Good 'easy' (as in simple to follow, not the content) film to watch. Some parts were a bit obvious and 'yeah right er ok...that conveniently happened' but altogether was an enjoyable watch :)
8/10
BB x
Greenlizard0
11-12-2009, 01:49
It's one of the few films I actually like him in. An appropriate level of goofiness for a man that's never experienced the real world. Usually any indication of his involvement in a film is enough to make sure I never watch it so it may well be I'm missing some awesome stuff.. but I really just can't stand his pratting around.
Agreed, once I saw the Mask, I sort of tired halfway through watching Liar Liar and Me, Myself & Irene.
However I do really like Carey, he's one of those versatile actors. He does well in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and A Tale of Unfortunate Events.
Creature
11-12-2009, 02:46
Bridge To TerabithiaCompletely agree. I thought it was an excellent film, but like you, I haven't watched it since.
Last film I watched was Fellowship of the Ring (again).
Simply put, great story, great cast, great effects, favourite ever film trilogy.
10/10
Be quiet Flibster.;)
Quarantine
I'd heard this was good, a remake of the Spanish REC. Caught most of it on Sky. It was tripe.
3/10
Flibster
14-12-2009, 16:14
Completely agree. I thought it was an excellent film, but like you, I haven't watched it since.
Last film I watched was Fellowship of the Ring (again).
Simply put, great story, great cast, great effects, favourite ever film trilogy.
10/10
Be quiet Flibster.;)
You are young.
You'll learn... :D
Jaws
Never seen it before...
Some nice dark comedy. Can't wait for Spielberg to go back and digitally remove all the nasty stuff and replace it with marshmallows and candyfloss, and replace the shark with a really crap CGI version.
8/10
Jaws
Never seen it before...
:jawdrop:
Never seen it? At least you've redeemed yourself now.
*strokes avatar*
I <3 Quint.
never seen it...wondered who that was!
Jaws
Never seen it before...
It's my favourite Spielberg film.
never seen it...wondered who that was!
Remedy this, immediately.
It's Quint, the shark hunter, he is the awesome.
Streeteh
15-12-2009, 21:55
Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish. Not like going down the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back your tourists, put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's just too many captains on this island. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.
Briggykins
15-12-2009, 23:22
Just watched The Dark Knight, it having passed me by in the cinema, and it seemed a good place to start the IMDB 250.
I thought it was an excellent movie, one of the best comic adaptions so far. Heath Ledger was superb, as has been said everywhere, and Aaron Eckhart was excellent as well. Didn't think much of Christian Bale, although that could have been just a product of having to look moody and grunt occasionally. Overall it was pacy, dazzling, and extremely exciting. That said, number 9 on the IMDB list? Really? It was good, a rare mix of blockbuster and depth, but it didn't blow me away completely. It seemed unnecessarily long and occasionally self-involved. I can accept a few leaps of faith in plot with a movie like this, but it seemed to want to both be taken seriously and yet contain completely unbelievable scenarios.
Overall, though, I'd give it 8/10 - one of the better movies I've seen recently and very enjoyable, but by no means earth-shattering.
Excluding The Prestige and The Machinist (both absolutely brilliant films) I think Christian Bale's main form of acting involves being moody and grunting :p
Shame as he is amazing in both of the above films, but I think he's got a bit type casted when it comes to doing the moody, grunty thing lately.
Edit: Forgot American Psycho. He does the moody thing but no grunting :D
Flibster
15-12-2009, 23:45
Excluding The Prestige and The Machinist (both absolutely brilliant films) I think Christian Bale's main form of acting involves being moody and grunting :p
Shame as he is amazing in both of the above films, but I think he's got a bit type casted when it comes to doing the moody, grunty thing lately.
Edit: Forgot American Psycho. He does the moody thing but no grunting :D
Mumbles Bale as he's come to be known in the flat. Even did the mumble voice in Terminator Salvation... exactly the same as his Batman voice...
Really don't like him, but the Prestige was a great film.
Princess Griff
16-12-2009, 14:14
Jingo watched Edward Scissorhands for the first time the other day...
FANFREAKINTASTIC film! I was so shocked that he hadnt seen it!!!
Needless to say he loved it!
It was everything I wasn't expecting and I fell in love with it on my first viewing; there's a lot to Mr Burton's films however, and so I intend on watching it again to enjoy his brilliance without focussing entirely upon the narrative :)
A Place of Light
20-12-2009, 13:20
The Final Destination (FD 4).
I enjoyed the first three, as silly as they are, but this felt like it was rushed.
A let down.
:(
Nightmare before Christmas (again)
100/10 ;)
semi-pro waster
20-12-2009, 16:40
The Dark Knight
Starring Christian Bale Heath Ledger Aaron Eckhart Michael Caine
Comic book based film
8/10 Most of you have probably already seen this and as I'm late to the party I'll keep it short, very entertaining for the most part and deserves its place as one of the best films based on a comic book but it is not the greatest film of all time.
12 Angry Men
Starring Martin Balsam John Feidler Lee J. Cobb E.G. Marshall
Suspense film
9/10 This on the other hand is one of the best films of all time, the only thing that prevents me from giving it full marks is natural caution that there may be something even better. Truly a character study par excellence and irrespective of the fact that it barely moves outside one room for the whole running time is utterly enthralling. The fact that it manages it all within 92 minutes is also something for which I love it. If you've never watched it do yourself a favour and watch it now, it only costs a few pounds delivered so there really is no excuse.
It has been pointed out before that I've got a "Casablanca/12 Angry Men ideological supremacist mission" though so perhaps I'm not entirely unbiased about this. ;D
Christian Bale
Edit: Forgot American Psycho. He does the moody thing but no grunting :D
He can be moody and grunt, especially in that film... he is teh sex.
;)
BB x
He can be moody and grunt, especially in that film... he is teh sex.
;)
BB x
Ohh yeah he is :D
The Last Samurai
8.5/10
Tom Cruise (so automatic -0.5 points) stars as Captain Algren, a US Army Captain contracted out to train the Japanese army in the use of rifles and modern military warfare, in the 1870s. After being captured he falls in love with the Samurai culture.
I love this film, unashamedly. Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise unfortunately, and I never quite feel like he's actually the character he's portraying, just feels like any other of the many roles he's played, but even he can't ruin it for me. Ken Watanabe plays Katsumoto the Samurai warrior desperate to see his people keep their hold on their past, and Shichinosuke Nakamura is the little lost boy of an Emperor who is losing his way amidst the glamor of Western Culture, and the greed of his advisor Omura (played by Masato Harada.)
It's an interesting look into a slice of Japanese history and a good look at how much was sacrificed in the name of progress, how much of Japanese culture was being thrown away and forgotten possibly to their detriment.
The other -1 point comes due to the ending.It never sits right with me that Tom Cruise survives. He should have died on that hill side, and maybe have the photographer and writer Simon Graham (Timothy Spall) taking the sword to the emperor at the end. It seems utterly preposterous that every soldier in the Samurai army dies on that field except him.
It's funny I didn't think the Dark Knight was all that... got a bit bored. I'm the only one I know that wasn't particularly interested by it. :o
semi-pro waster
23-12-2009, 11:45
The Last Samurai is a pretty good film, I'd have to agree with your comments there although personally I'd go with 7/10 as is but if Tom Cruise hadn't been in it and the ending had been as you describe it would have been a solid 8/10. Masato Harada plays greedy and morally repugnant so well, I hope he isn't typecast in that role though it's all I've seen him play.
Gran Turino
Superb. The ending was NOT what I was expecting. Had a real indie feeling to it, and had Clint Eastwood not been involved it probably would have been. It's a credit to the man that he took it on.
9/10
Del Lardo
24-12-2009, 01:04
The Last Samurai
100% right about the ending
really spoiled was what until that point a very watchable film
Briggykins
25-12-2009, 00:48
Moon
Erm...didn't like it. I felt a bit like I did when I was watching Donnie Darko - feeling like the film was hinting at something I wasn't quite getting, then getting annoyed with myself for not understanding, then getting annoyed at the film for being obscure. Then it ended.
I was expecting a claustrophobic, suspenseful, thoughtful drama and that's what the first third was. After that it just seemed to get a bit directionless. Despite having read a number of reviews and websites about it since, I'm still not entirely sure what its point was. Disappointed, but I seem to be very much in the minority.
Justsomebloke
25-12-2009, 03:33
District 13.
Just watched this on 444.
Awesome film with Superb fight & free running scenes, truly Superb.
District 13 is ace! Parkour is the coolest sport ever!
Watched District 9. It was really good, more action packed than I thought it would be. It was so sad though! It's totally what would happen if aliens visited and it makes me angry at the human race!
8/10.
District 13 is ace! Parkour is the coolest sport ever!
Watched District 9. It was really good, more action packed than I thought it would be. It was so sad though! It's totally what would happen if aliens visited and it makes me angry at the human race!
8/10.
Moon
Erm...didn't like it. I felt a bit like I did when I was watching Donnie Darko - feeling like the film was hinting at something I wasn't quite getting, then getting annoyed with myself for not understanding, then getting annoyed at the film for being obscure. Then it ended.
I was expecting a claustrophobic, suspenseful, thoughtful drama and that's what the first third was. After that it just seemed to get a bit directionless. Despite having read a number of reviews and websites about it since, I'm still not entirely sure what its point was. Disappointed, but I seem to be very much in the minority.
I was a little confused. I gave it a good score, but mostly for the cinematography and the concept, which I thought was good. Didn't see why so many people thought it was so superb though, but I guess we're all different!
I watched Towering Inferno last night - awesome disaster film, proper Christmas tradition (always used to be on on my birthday!).
Oh and Avatar. I think I'd give it a 7/10 but possibly more when I see it in 3d :)
NokkonWud
25-12-2009, 12:25
12 Angry Men
Starring Martin Balsam John Feidler Lee J. Cobb E.G. Marshall
Suspense film
9/10 This on the other hand is one of the best films of all time, the only thing that prevents me from giving it full marks is natural caution that there may be something even better. Truly a character study par excellence and irrespective of the fact that it barely moves outside one room for the whole running time is utterly enthralling. The fact that it manages it all within 92 minutes is also something for which I love it. If you've never watched it do yourself a favour and watch it now, it only costs a few pounds delivered so there really is no excuse.
It has been pointed out before that I've got a "Casablanca/12 Angry Men ideological supremacist mission" though so perhaps I'm not entirely unbiased about this. ;D
It's one of my 3 favourite movies of all time, it's just an amazing film. Every film for me is rated on its own merits and for its time, so I don't think I could give it a 9 based on something being better, because in its time now (and it's been around a heck of a long, long time) for me it has to be a 10 out of 10. It's genius.
A Place of Light
26-12-2009, 19:41
I love you, man.
Liked it a lot, as it made me laugh at different points from start to finish. Paul Rudd is just a really likeable guy, although he tends to play the same type of character quite often. The character in this movie isn't far removed from "Mike" in "Friends, or the character he played in "Role models".....but if it's a likeable character then that's no bad thing IMHO.
7/10.
semi-pro waster
30-12-2009, 17:36
It's one of my 3 favourite movies of all time, it's just an amazing film. Every film for me is rated on its own merits and for its time, so I don't think I could give it a 9 based on something being better, because in its time now (and it's been around a heck of a long, long time) for me it has to be a 10 out of 10. It's genius.
I'm not quite sure why but I always have a relatavistic scoring system going on, 12 Angry Men tends to be the benchmark though against which all other films are gauged.
The Hurt Locker
Starring Jeremy Renner Anthony Mackie Brian Geraghty Guy Pearce
War film
7/10 It's quite well done and I'm told reminiscent of Jarhead in that there's a lot of the time where it is just the interactions you are seeing rather than the action but it wasn't entirely a satisfying film and maybe that was the whole point of it as a metaphor for war. Also slightly odd in the use of the stars in this film, the most famous people tended to be in it for mere seconds compared to the rest, it's also a bit too long.
A Place of Light
30-12-2009, 23:02
District 9
Everything about it felt cheap.
The acting wasn't upto much.
You can't help but think that it was set in SA for financial reasons.
Script was at least three drafts away from being a finished product.
5/10.
District 9
Everything about it felt cheap.
How so? It had a pretty decent sized budget ($30m). SFX were done by Weta, the guys that did LOTR.
You can't help but think that it was set in SA for financial reasons.
You'd be wrong though. The director is South African, and the original short (Alive in Joburg) that was expanded to be the film was set in Johannesburg.
One of the things that sparked the first short film was the question "Why do aliens always go to the US? Johannesburg is the largest most centralised city on the planet, longitude / latitude wise. It would be more logical for aliens to go there than some random city 3/4 of the way up one of the land masses.
The other main point for it being in South Africa was it was meant to deliberately mirror the actions of the Apartheid regime against the black people, specifically the actions in District 6. You could have set it in another region an still made the point but it would have been no where near as significant.
Script was at least three drafts away from being a finished product.
5/10.
What was it you didn't like about the script?
A Place of Light
31-12-2009, 01:43
How so? It had a pretty decent sized budget ($30m). SFX were done by Weta, the guys that did LOTR.
The tyres on my car come from the same company that makes the tyres for the Bugatti Veyron. That doesn't mean that mine have anything in common with those fitted to the 250mph monster, other than they wear the same brand name on them.
You'd be wrong though. The director is South African, and the original short (Alive in Joburg) that was expanded to be the film was set in Johannesburg.
One of the things that sparked the first short film was the question "Why do aliens always go to the US? Johannesburg is the largest most centralised city on the planet, longitude / latitude wise. It would be more logical for aliens to go there than some random city 3/4 of the way up one of the land masses.
The other main point for it being in South Africa was it was meant to deliberately mirror the actions of the Apartheid regime against the black people, specifically the actions in District 6. You could have set it in another region an still made the point but it would have been no where near as significant.
The apartheid comparisons were an obvious statement, and I completely agree with you that as it's the most well known racist seperatist society in modern times that the story would seem more poignant if set there. But after watching the movie it still seemed to me that location costs played a big part in the choice to film there.
What was it you didn't like about the script?
Thin.
A lead that I didn't want to win, being chased by the bad guy that I didn't dislike enough to want him to lose.
IMHO it was about 15-20 minutes too long.
None of the characters felt as though they were fleshed out enough to reel me in.
It needed a stronger cast to pull this one off.
Dead Snow
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A ski vacation turns horrific for a group of teenagers, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies
7/10 This is actually really good in a comedy how they die way. Even people who thought it was going to be terrible and hate the genre found it watch able. Which is prety good seeing as it is subtitled as well.
Star Trek
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Director J.J. Abrams (Alias) re-teams with his MI: III screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to bring a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time. Featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before, Star Trek depicts Romulan time traveller Nero's bloody quest for revenge against Spock and the Federation.
6/10
I'm not a trekki and can't actually stand the original series or Next generationn. Voager and eneterprise I can watch but wouldn' choose to.
But I actually really enjoyed this good space action.
Sherlock Holmes
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Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
8/10
Don;t think of this as Sherlock Holmes he is an action hero, however saying that if you go in with an open mind it is a very good entertaining film.
Sherlock Holmes : 10/10 (although 1.5 of that is for the scrumptious Mr D Jnr)
Avatar 3D - 9/10. Definitely how this movie was meant to be seen.
Quarantine - Caught it on Sky. Surprised by it. Got a little over complicated towards the end but still definitely worth a watch. Stars Dexter's little sister and no-one else really notable to me (except the guy who ran the law firm in Ally McBeal). Lots of scary moments (and I don't usually jump!) If you enjoyed Blair Witch/Cloverfield hand-held style action, then you'll like this.
Sherlock Holmes : 10/10 (although 1.5 of that is for the scrumptious Mr D Jnr)
I concur entirely with this :D
A Place of Light
31-12-2009, 17:13
I concur entirely with this :D
I really want to see Holmes.
After Ironman, my opinion of RD jr. went up considerably.
I really want to see Holmes.
After Ironman, my opinion of RD jr. went up considerably.
See Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Zodiac, he's brilliant in both :)
A Place of Light
31-12-2009, 17:35
See Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Zodiac, he's brilliant in both :)
He just comes across as a good bloke, so you tend to consider movies he's in that you might not have if the studio had gone with someone different. I think actors fall into two groups, those who totally absorb their role (De Niro being one of the best at this IMHO) and those who are essentially playing themselves. The latter reason is why I enjoyed "I love you, man" so much as although Paul Rudd isn't what I'd call a good actor, he effectively plays himself (or a slight variation of himself) and as he comes across as such a nice guy it adds to the realism of the character he's playing.
Even if you disagree with the above, I doubt that anyone would argue that a night out with Mr. Downey jr. would be anything less than fantastic. ;)
He just comes across as a good bloke, so you tend to consider movies he's in that you might not have if the studio had gone with someone different. I think actors fall into two groups, those who totally absorb their role (De Niro being one of the best at this IMHO) and those who are essentially playing themselves. The latter reason is why I enjoyed "I love you, man" so much as although Paul Rudd isn't what I'd call a good actor, he effectively plays himself (or a slight variation of himself) and as he comes across as such a nice guy it adds to the realism of the character he's playing.
Even if you disagree with the above, I doubt that anyone would argue that a night out with Mr. Downey jr. would be anything less than fantastic. ;)
I know what you mean :) But then again I saw Zodiac not knowing beforehand that he was in it.
There's no denying that Downey Jr's admittedly probably a little too good at playing the crazy/drug addled genius role ;)
A Place of Light
31-12-2009, 18:01
I know what you mean :) But then again I saw Zodiac not knowing beforehand that he was in it.
There's no denying that Downey Jr's admittedly probably a little too good at playing the crazy/drug addled genius role ;)
I'd like a night on the town with RD jr. Charlie Sheen and a get-out-of-jail-free card.....because I'm pretty sure I'd need it :D
I'd like a night on the town with RD jr. Charlie Sheen and a get-out-of-jail-free card.....because I'm pretty sure I'd need it :D
You'd almost certainly need it ;D Be a very memorable night though :D
I know what you mean :) But then again I saw Zodiac not knowing beforehand that he was in it.
There's no denying that Downey Jr's admittedly probably a little too good at playing the crazy/drug addled genius role ;)
You should see him in Less Than Zero if you haven't already. Apparently that was well before his drug issues and he played it like a pro then. I think a big part of Holmes rolling around on the floor being a messy bugger who just switches off comes from somewhere in RDJ's experiences, rather than his imagination.
Even Jude Law is really good in SH, he seems to fit the role perfectly.
Not seen Less Than Zero, have to look out for that :)
Even Jude Law is really good in SH, he seems to fit the role perfectly.
Hehe I'm not a fan of Jude Law either so I was a bit unsure beforehand, although he was quite good in Sleuth. He did a very good job in Sherlock Holmes though.
Less than Zero is really old, 1987 I think! Andrew McCarthy was in it too. Seems weird knowing what we know now about RDJ. Definitely give it a watch if you can get a copy :)
Just IMDBed it and yup :D Had a feeling I recognised the title from somewhere, must have been because it's a Brett Easton Ellis book.
Lovefilm time I think!
War, Inc.
Strange film. Reunites John and Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd from Grosse Pointe Blank, one of my all time favourite films.
Nice, direct take on war being a franchised entity. Marisa Tomei is still stunning in her mid-forties and all the cast take on the subject matter in the manner it was intended.
I never really took much notice of Hilary Duff before this but I now have an unhealthy interest in her! She pretty much steals the show as the oversexed Soviet pop star, even from Ben Kingsley.
Enough to keep me interested but not one I'd rewatch in a hurry. I must say though, Cusack does have some fighting skills - you can't act some of the stuff he does here. He demonstrated some in Grosse Pointe Blank but I always suspected he'd just been taught for the film. This makes me wonder if he actually has some martial arts background.
6/10
SiD the Turtle
01-01-2010, 20:35
Here's the first film I've watched this year as part of the IMDb Top 250.
64: Reservoir Dogs
I had my first viewing of Reservoir Dogs at about the age of 12. It was one of those films - like Pulp Fiction or Terminator 2 - that you were too young to watch but were 'cool' (wow I sound old) if you had seen it. Of course the main reasons for watching these kinds of films at that age were not artistic merit but simply blood and swearing. I haven't properly sat down and watched Reservoir Dogs since having borrowed it on VHS many years ago and I'm pleased to say there's more to it than just those teenage requirements.
It's well shot though different to how traditional films are shot. Scenes between two people that should be close-ups are shot down the corridor for example, yet somehow it works. Unfortunately the sound is all over the place, lots of dialogue can be missed because it's too fast and too quiet and the picture quality varies shot to shot. I think Tarantino learned a lot of lessons on these fronts in time for his later films (as well, no doubt, as receiving a much larger budget).
My main concern is that a lot of the dialogue went over my head (I'm probably too young) and in fifty years time it probably won't make a lot of sense being dipped in pop-culture as it is. It'll probably be on the top 250 in fifty years time too, but one of those films where people will note it as a classic, as a milestone, but not very good up against modern film.
It's a hard one to review. Like Pulp Fiction you can pick out your favourite scenes or quotes which make it memorable to an individual but when you put it all together you've got a film which almost every critic would agree is a classic.
7/10
Sherlock Holmes
Robert Downy Jnr, Jude Law, et. al.
Interesting take on the Holmes character, though decidedly not canon, in this case Holmes is presented as an almost Obsessive Compulsive type of character, barely keeping his world together. It's also good to see Dr Watson doing something more than just bubbling along in Holmes' wake and actually proving to be a character of value himself.
Holmes stops a black magic practitioner from murdering their 6th victim, who is then hanged, but the murders still continue and Holmes & Watson are left desperately trying to get ahead of the game before it reaches it's ultimate conclusion.
I have to say it's possibly one of the strongest Guy Richie films I've seen. You can see how much he continues to grow as a director, and for once he's ditched a large number of his trademark quirks... though he's still kept a bit of his love for slow-motion action bits in.
RDJ and JL had fantastic material to get their teeth into, which they did and managed to combine it all with an easy comradery that suggests many long years of friendship.
I suspect that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would probably be spinning in his grave at this version of Holmes, but I don't care. He's awesome.
8/10 - A thoroughly enjoyable film.
-2: Whilst the plot and story telling was strong, there were a few points where Holmes knew stuff without having had any way of deducing it, that lead me to believe relevant parts were left on the cutting room floor. e.g. how did he know where the sewer entrance was?.
Del Lardo
02-01-2010, 18:43
The Hurt Locker
Starring Jeremy Renner Anthony Mackie Brian Geraghty Guy Pearce
War film
7/10 It's quite well done and I'm told reminiscent of Jarhead in that there's a lot of the time where it is just the interactions you are seeing rather than the action but it wasn't entirely a satisfying film and maybe that was the whole point of it as a metaphor for war. Also slightly odd in the use of the stars in this film, the most famous people tended to be in it for mere seconds compared to the rest, it's also a bit too long.
Agree with the rating, I enjoyed the film but there was something about it that left me rather unsatisfied.
Del Lardo
02-01-2010, 18:51
The Hangover
Think Dude Where's My Car but set in Vegas and funny. The plot is rather basic, Stag Party go to Vegas and shenanigans happen which none of them remember. They then have to retrace their steps (finding out what they did along the way) to recover something important.
Now where DWMC falls down The Hangover excels, the characters are really just caricatures but they work well and you can't help but like them and the shenanigans are extreme but given this is Vegas utterly believable ;D
8/10
Night at the Museum
8/10 very funny and Robin Williams is in it too :D Nice easy film to watch and quite funny too.
Domino
What a load of ****. Filming technique - trying to be cool and failing. Keira Knightley HIGHLY irritating - the only good thing about it is Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken.
3/10
BB x
- the only good thing about it is Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken.
Isn't that 2 things? ;)
Yeah I forgot about Christopher Walken...
Lol
BB x
A Place of Light
03-01-2010, 11:25
Law Abiding Citizen
I can't say I've ever paid Jamie Foxxxxxx much notice before this one, but he's not too bad in it, even if he's clearly reading through a copy of "Acting-the Denzel way". Good movie with a great "bad guy", although it didn't end the way I wanted it to. Reminded me of "Taken" a little, which isn't a bad thing as I enjoyed that quite a bit.
7.5/10
semi-pro waster
03-01-2010, 11:34
Little Miss Sunshine
Starring Abigail Breslin Greg Kinnear Paul Dano Alan Arkin
Comedy film
8/10 I've known this is supposed to be good for quite a while now but never felt inclined to watch it, maybe because it features Steve Carell or maybe just because it didn't sound like a great subject material. It's actually very funny in the tradition of other black comedies (such as Election) but it makes some salient points about youth beauty pagents along the way.
La môme (La Vie en Rose)
I don't know how I missed this completely being an Edith Piaf fan. La môme tells the story of the life of Edith Piaf. Marion Cotillard is amazing as Piaf and I'm not surprised she won the Oscar for her performance. A tragic and beautiful film, definitely one to see if you like biopics.
9/10
Human Traffic.
Having finally gotten round to collecting all my dvd's from my parents I put it on as my sister hadn't seen it before. Set in Cardiff in the mid 90's about a group of friends and 1 night on the town while taking all manner of drugs, also has the best scene where 2 people who don't know each other talk about Star Wars and drugs. Still a great film no matter how many times I watch it, although I did have to keep pausing it to go for a ciggie, there's something about watching a film where people are constantly smoking that make me want one.
8/10
The Boat That Rocked
Set in the 60's during the pirate radio ear about a ship anchored in the North Sea played Rock and Pop 24 hours a day and the government trying to stop them. A lot funnier than I had though it would be and has quite an impressive cast list to boot. What is funny is that my mum used to listen to the actual station when she was younger :D
8/10
SiD the Turtle
04-01-2010, 13:51
Here's the next film I've watched as part of the IMDb Top 250.
227: (500) Days of Summer
500 slots into the romantic genre, of which I'm not the world's greatest fan. Still the Internet has heaped praise on it for being a funny, original take on the story of boy-meets-girl so I gave it a bash.
The story follows 500 days of the life of Tom, a drone at a greeting card company and the events of his relationship with the eponymous Summer, whom he meets at work. The 'twist' is that the film is chopped up in non-chronological order bookended by which of the 500 days in question the scene features, though these are not Tarantino-esque cuts. Because of this very early on we learn that the relationship between Tom and Summer doesn't last and the film flips between their dating and the relationship falling apart and of course the lessons that we the viewers can learn from their time together. For this reason alone I had high hopes for the film as normally you'd walk into a rom-com already knowing the ending.
Unfortunately the film is original isn't the slightest. As soon as the scene was set where we learn that Tom's job is to write cheesy greeting card slogans but yearns to be an architect, it becomes obvious that he'll rage-quit his job at some point with a speech on 'what is love' and pursue his architectural dreams. Summer turns out to be a two-dimensional generic slightly-quirky girl-next-door. Tom's friends include the non-threatening mate with no sex life who gets them together, conflict includes a jock-businessman trying to cut in between Tom and Summer at a bar, and so it goes on.
Now, don't get me wrong. It's an entertaining film with several laugh out loud moments, the acting is above average for this type of film and I'd recommend watching it once, but I don't see why it features in the IMDb Top 250. I could probably come up with another hundred (non-rom-com) films that should feature above it. It's, well, it's average.
5/10
Sniper - 23 Days Of Fear In Washington D.C.
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It's the Autumn of 2002 and the city of Washington is under siege by an unknown gunman. October 2nd sees the start of twenty three days of relentless terror endured by the local inhabitants as random human targets are selected as they go about their daily business. Police Chief Charles Moose (played by Charles S. Dutton) finds his first direct dealing with the case the murder of a local landscaper who was just mowing a lawn.
8/10 this is a very very good movie, it would be great if it wasn't based on real life, knowing that it was adds an extra sense of sadness to it.
The Siege at Ruby Ridge
A mini-series dramatization of the controversial 1992 attack by federal agents on the Idaho home of Randy Weaver, a white seperatist. The ten-day siege, begun over a minor gun charge, resulted in the deaths of Weaver's son, wife and dog, and a U.S. Marshall. The incident caused major public outcry against the FBI and U.S. Marshal
7/10 again a very good real life crime film
Greenlizard0
04-01-2010, 22:37
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
This film stars Flint as a crazy and emotional inventer who throughout his life has always wanted to create something that could change the world. However, even from a young age his concoctions go wrong and each time he becomes slightly more disheartened. He carries with him a permanent pair of shoes as a result of a much earlier and slightly disastrous effort.
He manages one day to invent a food machine, in direct response to the fact that the little island he lives on, only eats sardines. Everybody's thrilled including the mayor who wishes to cash in...
This is a pretty funny film and has it's really schmolzy moments; some animations like Shrek have a happy balance to suit both adults and children alike though this is definately geared towards the latter.
The animation is a bit more basic looking compared to e.g. UP and has more emphasis on wacky and daft physics for this film's universe.
6/10
Staten Island
This film's set in New York and charts the intertwining lives of people from Staten Island, in New York. Included are a septic tank cleaner and his family, a mobster and his crew and a deaf butcher who is forced to perform a few obvious nasties for him.
I won't go into any more details otherwise the plot will be spoiled, but as said this film intertwines those three lives taking roughly a third of the film each. You get to see how each is involved in the others as their stories are told.
I like these types of films, and sometimes they can be done pretty well. However unlike any others it isn't as good and I'm guessing this is why it didn't do that well. The script just wasn't as different, new or radical.
5/10
Flibster
05-01-2010, 01:19
Sherlock Holmes
BLOODY HELL! A great Guy Richie film?!
Downey Jr was magnificent as Holmes - really went with it at times... I did wonder if the bit where he's slightly the worse for wear was based on any of his particular experiences. :D Jude Law put in a great performance as well as Watson - they work really well together on screen.
Effects were great - was fantastic seeing many parts of London that I recognise but as they may have been in the 1880's was very cool. Especially with Tower Bridge being a bit of a focal point.
All in all, great acting, great story, great effects, great fun.
9/10
SiD the Turtle
05-01-2010, 13:42
Next on the IMDB list:
247: Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro)
My Neighbour Totoro is a Japanese children's film from Studio Ghibli, a studio famous for films such as Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away (both of which also feature on the Top 250). It follows the story of two children, Satsuki and Mei, who move with their father to a new home in the countryside to be closer to their mother, who is in hospital with an unnamed condition and meet the friendly spirits of the forest, the Totoro.
The appeal and originality of the movie comes from the fact that this film features no conflict, anger or threat while not going down the sterile, PC, modern children's story route. The bulk of the film simply follows the two girls exploring and playing in their new home and surroundings, which sounds boring but is anything but- the key to this being that the animation work retains the charm and magic of being a kid again. It's hard to put down in words, but I - a grown, cynical Brit - was smiling from cheek to cheek all of the way through.
Special mention has to be given to the animation which is simply beautiful. It's not an orgy of colour or gimicks, but a magical rendition of rural Japanese life. Highlights include Mei stroking Totoro for the first time: although this is a cartoon you do get the sensation of someone actually stroking a bear-sized furry animal (not that I've stroked any bears lately) and the watercolour-eque backgrounds.
A joy to watch, for adults and children alike.
9/10
A film about me cool! :D
BB x
A Place of Light
05-01-2010, 19:23
Pandorum
Too long, with a muddled script. Dennis Quaid is so much better than this, and his role was more of a supporting character than the star.
6.5/10.
semi-pro waster
09-01-2010, 23:46
Wrong Turn
Starring Desmond Harrington Eliza Dushku Emmanuelle Chriqui Jeremy Sisto
Modern horror film
5/10 I've watched it before when it first came out so thought I'd try it again now, it's just about passable for the majority of it, helped somewhat by Eliza Dushku for whom I'm willing to forgive a certain amount. However it's not particulary scary and the "baddies" are pretty hackneyed but worse than that it makes the fatal mistake of not ending when it should, if it ended 5 minutes before it does it would get at least one more mark.
Flibster
10-01-2010, 00:11
The Boat That Rocked
Set in the 60's during the pirate radio ear about a ship anchored in the North Sea played Rock and Pop 24 hours a day and the government trying to stop them. A lot funnier than I had though it would be and has quite an impressive cast list to boot.
8/10
Pretty much sums it up for me as well. Philip Seymour Hoffman is once again, superb.
Taken
Whilst being awesomely kick-ass, I found the whole thing extremely contrived. Liam Neeson's character seems to pretty much know something bad is going to happen, and practically sighs when it finally does. They could have done this far more subtly.
It's no Bourne, but was as close as we'll probably get until another one gets made, if it ever does.
7/10
Hostage
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This well-made thriller harkens back to the gritty crime films of the 1970s. Bruce Willis plays Jeff Talley, a traumatized ex-LAPD hostage negotiator whose new career as small town sheriff doesn't turn out to be as restful as he had hoped; a hostage situation breaks out on 'low crime Tuesday' and he is thrown right back into the business he knows all too well. Some punk kids have shot a cop and are holed up in a local mansion inhabited by crooked accountant Walter Smith (Kevin Pollack), his two kids, and a lot of surveillance cameras. Walter's young son (Jimmy Bennett) escapes his bonds and reports to Talley from the air shafts via his sister's cell phone. The sister--a Goth teen played by Michelle Horn--draws the romantic attention of Mars (Ben Foster), the pot-addled sociopath in the gang, thus adding a unique twist to the damsel-in-distress factor. Meanwhile, amid the buzzing helicopters and mobilizing SWAT teams, another group of bad guys has kidnapped Talley's wife and daughter, in order to force him to retrieve a secret disc in Walter's study. Florent Siri's efficient direction keeps the action flowing in unexpected directions while allowing for plenty of interesting procedural details and sly bits of humour. The score is ominous and the performances are strong, with Foster memorably creepy and Willis excellent as the frightened hero.
8/10
Although I have a massive soft spot for hostage/ban robberies. So probably want to knock a point of. It has a nice refreshing twist of the Negotiators family being kidnapped at the same time. Well thought out and well made imo.
Although Know I need to find some more hostage/bank robbery stuff and I think I've watched most of the good ones.
Flibster
10-01-2010, 17:06
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
It's a Michael Bay film.
4/10
We watched Hostage last night too - seen it before but deffo an 'easy' film to watch.
Premonition tonight... have vague recollections of this one being a bit dodge, but we will see.
BB x
Daybreakers
It was alright. Put a different spin on the Vampire genre. Vampirism is called a disease by humans (and a select few vamps) and they're looking for a cure while being hunted down.
Lots of over the top gore and blood and a few funny lines from William Dafoe made it all bearable.
Also a really cool thing where you can't see his reflection in the mirror but you can see his clothes moving, thought it was a nice touch!
NokkonWud
10-01-2010, 20:20
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
It's a Michael Bay film.
4/10
I hate this, I really do. So what if it's Michael Bay? He isn't a bad director at all. I'm sick of hearing people go, "Ugh, it's Michael Bay, go watch something by Steven Soderburgh instead", it's snobbery of the highest order. It's like someone is saying " I can't like that, that's for the masses, I'll enjoy this little indie movie instead and say it's the best thing ever", it's what we've seen with movies like Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, etc... It totally boils my piss.
Michael Bay has directed some fantastic action movies that really couldn't have been done any better by anyone else. Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon are all brilliant action movies, and the first Transformers was revolutionary in many ways (as well as something I totally enjoy to watch). Sure, Transformers II isn't that great of a movie, mainly because of bad editing decisions, but saying it's a bad movie only because Michael Bay was involved is just plain wrong.
I liked transformers II!
Beebs, premonition is strange but ultimately quite clever & frustrating. Hurt my head a bit tho!
leowyatt
10-01-2010, 20:31
it's snobbery of the highest order
you mean you haven't learnt that about Flibster by now? ;)
Premonition tonight... have vague recollections of this one being a bit dodge, but we will see.
Also watching that tonight. on +1 though. Haven't seen it before. but it sounded interesting.
How come there are loads of films on which aren't repeats at the moment. Slum Dog millionaire is on Wednesday. Never seen it, it's been on my list for a while.
Flibster
10-01-2010, 21:02
I hate this, I really do. So what if it's Michael Bay? He isn't a bad director at all. I'm sick of hearing people go, "Ugh, it's Michael Bay, go watch something by Steven Soderburgh instead", it's snobbery of the highest order. It's like someone is saying " I can't like that, that's for the masses, I'll enjoy this little indie movie instead and say it's the best thing ever", it's what we've seen with movies like Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, etc... It totally boils my piss.
Michael Bay has directed some fantastic action movies that really couldn't have been done any better by anyone else. Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon are all brilliant action movies, and the first Transformers was revolutionary in many ways (as well as something I totally enjoy to watch). Sure, Transformers II isn't that great of a movie, mainly because of bad editing decisions, but saying it's a bad movie only because Michael Bay was involved is just plain wrong.
It wasn't a bad movie because it was a Michael Bay film - I suspect it would have been a bad film no matter who was involved. He just made it so obviously a Michael Bay film that it became laughably predictable. Bad editing decisions? Bad script and a terrible plot predated the bad editing.
As for not being a bad director - Bad Boys was actually pretty enjoyable - His first directing job sounds defiantly like it's just full of eye candy though... ;) he's not a patch on Uwe Boll though. ;D
I enjoy visual spectacles - also a lot of blockbusters. Hell, I reckon if you lot went through my DVD collection you would wonder what the hell was going on... I mean such high class directors as Kevin Smith, Richard Donner... ;)
Juno was pretty interesting, but nothing I'd watching again. Little miss sunshine was a dreary pile. As for Soderburgh I think he's done some absolute cack... Oceans 11 is the highlight for him iirc.
I've been called worse than a snob, but I'll take it as a compliment. *goes back to watching that incredibly famous high class film for cinema snobs - The Goonies*
Anyway - a link for you... Linky (http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=63)
you mean you haven't learnt that about Flibster by now? ;)
Thank you for your support. :p
Also watching that tonight. on +1 though. Haven't seen it before. but it sounded interesting.
How come there are loads of films on which aren't repeats at the moment. Slum Dog millionaire is on Wednesday. Never seen it, it's been on my list for a while.
Think that's cos it was a c4 funded film so they get first dibs!
NokkonWud
10-01-2010, 22:11
Lots
Why give me a link to ignore you? I've never ignored anyone ever, nor am I likely to, especially over something like that, especially as I read and enjoy the vast majority of your posts.
I wasn't aiming a lot of that as you, it was more a thing in general, you see it from these pompous 'critics' and people on forums that do have the attitude that Michael Bay is rubbish when in fact his movie history (as well as the figures returned proving people do like his movies) prove he isn't, he is in fact at the top of his game when it comes to action movies. It was merely the comment "It's a Michael Bay film", and on something that already irks me you can surely see why that would annoy me further?
I know what you mean Nokkon... people trying to be 'cool' really grates my gears too! Grrrr!
Watching premonition now - Julian McMahon is in it hubbabubba! :D ;) lol
BB x
Oh yes bbx, I'm with ya! Can you believe Danniiiiiiii left him?? :o
SiD the Turtle
10-01-2010, 23:00
I wasn't aiming a lot of that as you, it was more a thing in general, you see it from these pompous 'critics' and people on forums that do have the attitude that Michael Bay is rubbish when in fact his movie history (as well as the figures returned proving people do like his movies) prove he isn't, he is in fact at the top of his game when it comes to action movies. It was merely the comment "It's a Michael Bay film", and on something that already irks me you can surely see why that would annoy me further?
Hmm, Bay is definitely the whipping boy of the critic crowd (alliteration unintended) but I'd disagree that he's at the top of his game. His peak was Armageddon, which while not a fantastic film is definitely fun and entertaining. Pearl Harbour I haven't seen so I won't comment on (apart from the abysmal trailers we were bombarded with for several months) but the Transformers movies are dreadful. They're action porn with plot the excuse for explosions leading to massive plot holes and deriverative storytelling.
I may have told this story before, but when I saw Transformers 2 at the cinema I had to use the bathroom as the film is about 40 mins too long. When I came back and asked my other half what I missed, her reply was 'I dunno, robots fighting'.
This kind of unoriginal film making unfortunately does extremely well at the box office, leading to more unoriginal films being produced. I'm no film-art snob (the most uncomfortable party I've been to was one hosted by a bunch of film students where they asked me what my favourite movie was) but I know what (I'd consider) a good action movie to be, and it's not a recent Bay film.
Rant over :D
TL,DR version: Snobbery makes it cool to hate him, but that doesn't mean he isn't completely undeserving of that hate.
I know what you mean Nokkon... people trying to be 'cool' really grates my gears too! Grrrr!
Watching premonition now - Julian McMahon is in it hubbabubba! :D ;) lol
BB x
Saw that the other night. Is sad!
Sad??? I feel like I was robbed of two hours of my life!!!
After ALL of that - no twists he still died!?!?!
Grrrr!
BB x
Transformers is only likely to be going down hill. The first film was written by the two that did the new Star Trek film. By the time the second one came along they introduced Ehren Kruger who is notable for .. well.. umm.. Scream 3 and a rather dodgy werewolf film Kari watched the other week, "Blood and Chocolate".
The third film is all by Kruger.
I'm in the middle of watching The Secret Life of Bees. I've cried 4 times so far. Not least helped by the fact that when she was a bit younger Dakota Fanning is just like PhoebeWeebs (my middle daughter)
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