Rate the last movie you watched. - Page 66

Belmit · 26-02-2009, 00:49

1408

As a Stephen King adaptation I was worried that this would stink, as they don't often translate well to screen. Thankfully they did a really good job on it.

It really is a hark back to early horror/thriller, with an awesome dynamic in the few scenes where John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson get to throw dialogue back and forth. This film could have been made fifty years ago (minus the special effects) and would stand up today, although no doubt Hollywood would have remade it already. /cynic

Although I wish the ending could have been better portrayed, there were a couple of neat turns along the way and some genuinely unsettling moments. There were still a couple of make-you-jump moments but they weren't cheap, and they used them in the right ways unlike many modern horrors that use them as a safety net.

Cusack is perfect for the main role, and I can't imagine any modern actors in his place as the perpetual sceptic; it's the kind of role that Jimmy Stewart would have excelled at.

A good gauge of whether I like certain films is if I'd watch them again just to see other people's reactions. This is one of those.

9/10

Belmit · 26-02-2009, 12:44

The Pursuit of Happyness

Two hours of sheer frustration as down-on-his-luck Will Smith and his kid go further down on their luck at every turn. It reminded me of shows like 'Stressed Eric' and 'The Worst Day of My Life', which were meant to be comedies but I just couldn't watch them. There's just no caché for me in 'entertainment' that relies solely on the continuous misfortunes of the characters. I lost emotional interest in the film after about the third time the main character misplaced another portable bone density scanner and had to find another way to pay a surprise bill. It felt very much like Will Smith just wanted to show himself as a good father and devised the plot himself as a showcase.*

The film just never really takes off; it's just a constant uphill slog against a series of bad luck and the character's tenacity in the face of it.

The kid plays his part awesomely though. At times I forgot he's just a child acting because he was so natural. But then his actual father is Will Smith.

Nicely made film with some good touches, but half the time it feels like watching an exercise in futility.

4/10

*I should add that the film is based on a true story, but my comment still stands.

luke · 26-02-2009, 19:31

harsh times

7/10

pretty good, christian bale was great again i thought the ending was gonna be predictable but it had a half decent twist, if a little far fetched

NokkonWud · 26-02-2009, 20:43

Sex Drive.

Actually very funny with a great cast including the legend that is James Marsden.

Quote:

Eighteen-year-old Ian Lafferty sets out on a cross country drive with his best friends Lance and Felicia in order to lose his virginity to a red-hot babe he met on the Internet. But the journey, filled with hilarious misadventures and raunchy escapades, teaches all three more than they expected about life and love. Randy, raucous and unexpectedly romantic, Sex Drive follows three friends on the road trip of a lifetime!

Ian Lafferty (Josh Zuckerman) can't seem to catch a break. He's taunted by his cocksure older brother Rex (James Marsden), shown up in the romance department by his 14-year-old younger brother and humiliated by his job at a mall donut shop. But Ian's biggest problem is that he's about to start college as a virgin!

Getting nowhere with the girl of his dreams and longtime best friend Felicia (Amanda Crew), Ian resorts to the Internet for dates. He soon hooks up with Ms. Tasty, a flaming hot blonde who can't wait to get busy. The only catch: Ian has to drive 500 miles from Chicago to Knoxville to consummate the deal.

Egged on by his devil-may-care pal Lance (Clark Duke), Ian risks life and limb by appropriating The Judge, Rex's prized vintage Pontiac GTO. With Lance and Felicia in tow, he hits the road for a one-time rendezvous that will rock his world!

For me definitely a surprise comedy a la Eurotrip (but not as good), I really enjoyed many of the main and supporting characters and found myself guffawing aloud in the early hours many a time.

8/10

Fayshun · 04-03-2009, 21:26

Cloverfield, nothing special. 6/10

Iron Man, awesome - 8.5/10

This post has been brought to you by Short Reviews Inc.

Von Smallhausen · 04-03-2009, 21:28

Gran Torino. 10/10.

Clint Eastwood's finest work yet.

NokkonWud · 05-03-2009, 00:47

A bold statement given Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby and True Crime all kicked ass.

A Place of Light · 05-03-2009, 01:39

TAKEN 7.5/10

Enjoyable but not a film I'd go out of my way to watch again.
Plenty of great one liners and action scenes though, but it loses out to Bourne on very aspect IMHO.

NokkonWud · 05-03-2009, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

but it loses out to Bourne on very aspect IMHO.

99% of movies do

.

A Place of Light · 05-03-2009, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Smallhausen

Gran Torino. 10/10.

Clint Eastwood's finest work yet.

It'll have to be good to be better than Josey Wales IMHO.

26-02-2009, 00:49	#651
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	1408 As a Stephen King adaptation I was worried that this would stink, as they don't often translate well to screen. Thankfully they did a really good job on it. It really is a hark back to early horror/thriller, with an awesome dynamic in the few scenes where John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson get to throw dialogue back and forth. This film could have been made fifty years ago (minus the special effects) and would stand up today, although no doubt Hollywood would have remade it already. /cynic Although I wish the ending could have been better portrayed, there were a couple of neat turns along the way and some genuinely unsettling moments. There were still a couple of make-you-jump moments but they weren't cheap, and they used them in the right ways unlike many modern horrors that use them as a safety net. Cusack is perfect for the main role, and I can't imagine any modern actors in his place as the perpetual sceptic; it's the kind of role that Jimmy Stewart would have excelled at. A good gauge of whether I like certain films is if I'd watch them again just to see other people's reactions. This is one of those. 9/10 __________________

26-02-2009, 12:44	#652
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	The Pursuit of Happyness Two hours of sheer frustration as down-on-his-luck Will Smith and his kid go further down on their luck at every turn. It reminded me of shows like 'Stressed Eric' and 'The Worst Day of My Life', which were meant to be comedies but I just couldn't watch them. There's just no caché for me in 'entertainment' that relies solely on the continuous misfortunes of the characters. I lost emotional interest in the film after about the third time the main character misplaced another portable bone density scanner and had to find another way to pay a surprise bill. It felt very much like Will Smith just wanted to show himself as a good father and devised the plot himself as a showcase.* The film just never really takes off; it's just a constant uphill slog against a series of bad luck and the character's tenacity in the face of it. The kid plays his part awesomely though. At times I forgot he's just a child acting because he was so natural. But then his actual father is Will Smith. Nicely made film with some good touches, but half the time it feels like watching an exercise in futility. 4/10 I should add that the film is based on a true story, but my comment still stands. __________________ Last edited by Belmit; 26-02-2009 at 12:48.*

04-03-2009, 21:26	#655
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	Cloverfield, nothing special. 6/10 Iron Man, awesome - 8.5/10 This post has been brought to you by Short Reviews Inc. __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling...

04-03-2009, 21:28	#656
Von Smallhausen I'm Free Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tyneside Posts: 3,061	Gran Torino. 10/10. Clint Eastwood's finest work yet. __________________ " Well, old bean, life is really so bloody awful that I feel it’s my absolute duty to be chirpy and try and make everybody else happy too." David Niven, 1910-1983.

05-03-2009, 00:47	#657
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	A bold statement given Bridges of Madison County, Million Dollar Baby and True Crime all kicked ass. __________________

26-02-2009, 19:31	#653
luke Abandoned Ship Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 282	harsh times 7/10 pretty good, christian bale was great again i thought the ending was gonna be predictable but it had a half decent twist, if a little far fetched

05-03-2009, 01:39	#658
A Place of Light Absinthe Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,247	TAKEN 7.5/10 Enjoyable but not a film I'd go out of my way to watch again. Plenty of great one liners and action scenes though, but it loses out to Bourne on very aspect IMHO.