Movies you've just watched

[drauch]

Not sure if you're into mult-region home media, but there's a Region A Warner Bluray out. I'm sure importing it wouldn't be much at all.

[Xyga]

Well thanks to your advice I actually found a dirt-cheap B-print. ^^
Actually listed in what's called the 'Warner blu-line collection' here.

[Domino]

KindGrind always gets props by talking about Brazil. Now that film is most important than today about the regular office worker environment.

3:10 To Yuma (original 1957)

I'm going to be honest, I was disappointed on the ending. I thought it was too short for its own good. In the meanwhile the discussions between the main two characters is what made the film special at least for me.

[rapoon]

if.... - saw this as a kid and loved it. picked up the criterion dvd yesterday (along w/ two-lane blacktop). lindsay andersons best film and an incredible performance by malcom mcdowell.

lebanon - war film set during the lebanese civil war, told entirely from the perspective of israeli troops inside a tank (think "das boot").

concerning incendies, villeneuve adapted the source brilliantly. is the play better? certainly could be but the production never made it out of canada. it's silly to compare the two.

[Skykid]

Surprised people find some of Wong Kar-Wai's later work difficult to connect with, although I'm yet to see his latest. I'm a fan of nearly everything I've seen him do - I can't think of one of his movies I genuinely disliked. I felt 2046 had lesser areas in its make up, but on the whole was quite wonderful and enchanting. His early stuff has a rougher quality, edgier and slower, and Fallen Angels is stylish as they get, but I generally consider him to still be Hong Kong's best director.

I hear Kim Ki-Duk mentioned. Anyone seen Samaria?

[KindGrind]

concerning incendies, villeneuve adapted the source brilliantly. is the play better? certainly could be but the production never made it out of canada. it's silly to compare the two.

I understand that. I'd never bash a movie because the book was better, for example, and often the adaptation surpasses the original. Was just commenting that I wasn't floored by the film because I'd had prior exposure to it. Different state of minds, or even watching a movie with different people can impact your viewing greatly. Doesn't make the piece a lesser one.

Just watched Heartbreaker (L'arnacoeur), French movie from 2010. A friend recommended it to my g/f, so we watched it together. It kept me awake because I'd had a coffee before. Cliché, nonsensical and predictable from the first second. Reminded me of another French movie I've watched a while back, Priceless (2006) with Audrey Tautou. At least in that one, Tautou was absolutely breathtaking. Truly gorgeous. If you have a thing for her, it's a good watch. Not for the story, but for her in the dresses. If I recall, my s.o. admitted it was a turn on even for her...

[system11]

Interstellar at the cinema last night.

Long film is long. Not what I expected, went a bit 2001 near the end - overall pretty good but the dramatic orchestra piece was overused. Cool robots, they seemed comical and ungainly at first.

[Ed Oscuro]

Why the hell is Night of the Comet called a "horror comedy" flick? It has some nice light-hearted sequences, sure, but things start to get really dark after "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" sequence. I'm pretty grateful that they did go with a lighter ending, and it did some stuff I didn't expect, but the last underground sequences weren't especially inspiring or memorable (or whatever it is they were looking for). They get pretty close to the edge, but they don't go there - that's my main impression of this flick. Some nifty sequences though.

Edit: Alright, there's a couple other things I should mention here.

- It's not a great mystery of the universe, but the "DMK" initials from Tempest are obviously tied to the initials on the vanity plate. Think: What's the chance you'd think to swap your old Datsun's vanity plate onto a nice new BMW (or whatever that was...could it have been the prominent car at the intersection?) in these circumstances? I guess that does fit in with the "back to normal, sort of" ending sequence. Like I said - they tried to let off all the steam at once in the ending.

- "Voyeurism" is the theme driving a lot of the sequences here. Some are effective, some not so much. (Notice I'm not saying "fun")

- I immediately realized this starred a 15-years-younger-than-Chakotay Robert Beltran as soon as he started talking, but I didn't realize until later that the only thing he has approaching an action sequence is the zombie kid, or maybe setting up the bomb. He does throw a good pass (though so does the boy survivor).

- The most interesting part of the film was the way it handled Angela's character (the researcher who is coming down with comet dust). The movie does a great job masking her motives without making them unrealistic, and a nice lead in to the "real horror" of the film (as disappointing as that was). Her actress, Mary Woronov, is a really interesting person - she was becoming a fan of punk rock at this time, and had previously been a Warhol superstar.

[Necronopticous]

Question: What's the last movie that "left you reeling" because of how absolutely outstanding it was?

My wife & I recently had the pleasure of catching Isao Takahata's Kaguyahime film in a theatre on a very limited US run (especially so since it was not a dub). Fucking incredible. There isn't a single negative thing I can say about this movie. It completely possessed me. I think it is Takahata's masterpiece. Please set aside some time to watch it, regardless of your stance on animated film (it completely transcends the medium in my opinion).

[GaijinPunch]

I need to get the BluRayz. I missed it in Japan. Too much shit too do in too little time. I heard it was good, but also bombed at the box office (which probably means it was good).

[CMoon]

Question: What's the last movie that "left you reeling" because of how absolutely outstanding it was?

My wife & I recently had the pleasure of catching Isao Takahata's Kaguyahime film in a theatre on a very limited US run (especially so since it was not a dub). Fucking incredible. There isn't a single negative thing I can say about this movie. It completely possessed me. I think it is Takahata's masterpiece. Please set aside some time to watch it, regardless of your stance on animated film (it completely transcends the medium in my opinion).

Thanks for the feedback. I'd been wanting to see this film.

[Ixmucane2]

Clown

A particularly brilliant horror story, always finding the right tone and the right details; the premise (a clown costume that doesn't come off) evolves, scene by scene, from a strange (and fairly novel) supernatural element to serious tragedy, and adopting the viewpoint of the "monster" for a large part of the film helps looking beyond the surface of the slasher plot.
Many common stereotypes are put to surprisingly good use: for example, the child with no sense of self preservation not only dies soon and messily, but his death advances the plot in a couple of ways; the traditional scrapbook of horrifying antique illustrations and distressed handwriting also contains a meaningful photograph of decisive importance; the utterly ineffective police just fades into the background, leaving action to the important characters. The plot and dialogue is generally tight enough to be a continuous pleasure, with a few moments of generic fighting and several good but obvious visual and narrative solutions as the lowest points.

I want a high(er) budget remake by Christopher Nolan or Sofia Coppola.

[CMoon]

At first I couldn't really decide if I liked Wages or Sorcerer better, and at a point, sort of just considered them equal. While they're based on the same story, there's still some differences in character and locale that makes each unique, but after some serious debate and sitting on it for awhile, I think I much prefer Sorcerer. Friedkin not only ups the suspense a bit, but you get a better view of the squalid lifestyle of this remote jungle town and the political unrest going on. Each shot is dripped in sweat and agony and frustration, each resident brimming with desperation to get out of this sticky, jungle hell. I felt like I was getting malaria from it! I can confidently say it's one of the best films I've ever seen. I don't really like speaking so grandiosely and putting a prize on "the best," but it does everything right for me to adore it and sing its praise.

So I watched Sorcerer last night and can see how it is gonna take multiple viewings for a more educated opinion about the two. My first impression though is that each film has its own strengths, while Sorcerer had a few moments where I felt the movie was forced. The shooting and replacement of the original driver doesn't make sense to me the way it does in Wages of Fear. On the other hand, the ending of Sorcerer makes far more sense than Wages. The scene at the end driving through the landscape is really effective, but missing is the dialogue the two men have on the truck at the end. The two scenes serve the same purpose, but I'm stuck having to choose between the two of them when I want both.

That's how Sorcerer played out for me...I'm not sure I think it is as solid through and through as Wages of Fear, but it is a damn good movie and a number of the scenes are more evocative/effective.

[drauch]

Understood on all points. One thing I really love more in Wages is the tree/rock stuck in the road. That scene had me on the edge of my seat, anxious as hell! Love the tree in Sorcerer, but the rock had me sweating a bit more.

Another thing I really love about in Sorcerer is the use of "sweating dynamite," and how accurate and dangerous that shit really is. I wasn't aware of the degradation and danger of old dynamite until I watched Sorcerer.

[Domino]

Heaven's Gate

I'm glad I didn't have an opinion on this film before I watched it. Enough to ruin Michael Cimino's career. Similar style to The Deer Hunter but I like all the attention to detail on the action parts. The movie is long but it didn't seem dragging at all. Story is quite good and I love the props (inducing making a mini-city). With the Criterion Collection release and getting it recut I feel it is a winner.

[KindGrind]

Guardians of the Galaxy

I thought it was fun, but I'm not sure this one will go down in history. I grinned a few times; the script was quite good. CGI was impressive. A good movie for anyone wanting to switch off and just have a nice ride. Again, for lack of a better, more profound word, a pleasant watch.

If I try harder, I guess found it somewhat formulaic. Some bits reminded me of Firefly and Star Wars, though, which is a good sign. I do like these better, though.

Question: What's the last movie that "left you reeling" because of how absolutely outstanding it was?

My wife & I recently had the pleasure of catching Isao Takahata's Kaguyahime film in a theatre on a very limited US run (especially so since it was not a dub). Fucking incredible. There isn't a single negative thing I can say about this movie. It completely possessed me. I think it is Takahata's masterpiece. Please set aside some time to watch it, regardless of your stance on animated film (it completely transcends the medium in my opinion).

I had also put that on my watch list, but will get to watch it sooner than later. I'm not really into animated features as a whole, to be honest. I have watched most of Miyazaki and other random movies here and there, but I can't say I know much about it all. I'd say 5% of the movies I've watched ever were animated, and that counts everything I've watched with the kids.

[Ixmucane2]

Dracula: the untold story

A good protagonist, handicapped by a coherent but necessarily predictable plot (Dracula needs to survive his days as a feudal lord to become a VIP vampire a few centuries later) that forfeits its only chance for a significant twist and most opportunities to be original outside the central issue of why and how one could want to become a vampire.
Believability is merely strained, without reaching the breaking point too often, but not always for good reasons (e.g. why three days of temporary vampirism, when one week would have allowed more realistic travel times?) and action scenes are strange and strangely lacking coolness and power (e.g. turning into a swarm of bats during a sword fight should be a way to place a blade through the enemy's chest really fast, not a defensive move between unremarkable mundane blows).
There is a remarkably terrible epilogue, set in contemporary London.

[Skykid]

I want a high(er) budget remake by Christopher Nolan

As long as someone else writes the script.

[GaijinPunch]

I'm usually not a huge fan of fan-made trailers (since they often come out before the movies and are ridiculous) but this one for Empire Strikes Back is good.

[Mischief Maker]

I'm usually not a huge fan of fan-made trailers (since they often come out before the movies and are ridiculous) but this one for Empire Strikes Back is good.

I could have done without the generic action movie trailer background music. Is that song bundled with iMovie or something?

[JBC]

DREDD.

Are there other movies or something?

[drauch]

Unfortunately not. Unless you count the wreck that is the Stallone film.

There's high hope of a sequel, but I'm not counting on it because everyone likes garbage.

[Raytrace]

Unfortunately not. Unless you count the wreck that is the Stallone film.

There's high hope of a sequel, but I'm not counting on it because everyone likes garbage.

I have to say I liked the Stallone one a bit. I'm a huge ABC Warriors/Nemesis fan and Hammerstein was in it so
I loved that.

[drauch]

Yeah, I'll give it that. And honestly, I wouldn't even say I hate it, since I love both Judge Dredd and Stallone. But as a true Judge Dredd film, Dredd takes the cake.

I just want a movie with Walter, dammit!

[JBC]

My only real problem with the Stallone film was Sly removing the helmet & not really having Dredd's character down. Otherwise you have a lot of stuff ripped straight from the comics that looks great on screen, especially Hammerstein. We did also get that decent 16bit game out of it, or at least the SNES version was decent. Dark Judges!

I got all the audio dramas recently & have been listening to them while I work. 'I Love Judge Dredd' is hilarious.

[Skykid]

There's high hope of a sequel, but I'm not counting on it because everyone likes garbage.

True say.

[drauch]

I got all the audio dramas recently & have been listening to them while I work. 'I Love Judge Dredd' is hilarious.

Oh man, you've got the right idea! I've been meaning to do that myself and bring them to work with me to help me survive this Megacity I'm in.

[Raytrace]

My only real problem with the Stallone film was Sly removing the helmet & not really having Dredd's character down. Otherwise you have a lot of stuff ripped straight from the comics that looks great on screen, especially Hammerstein. We did also get that decent 16bit game out of it, or at least the SNES version was decent. Dark Judges!

I got all the audio dramas recently & have been listening to them while I work. 'I Love Judge Dredd' is hilarious.

yeah I was impressed by how it had 'the long walk' etc. too.

[DEL]

Predestination - Starring Ethan Hawke.
A seriously messed-up Baphomet androgynous story. Quite sick. Involves a large bombing in New York. That's all I'll say. Don't want to spoil.

[rapoon]

^ saw that last night. predictable but entertaining.

metro manila - directed by sean ellis (cashback). poor farmer & family move to manila in search of work & are forced to take desperate measures to protect themselves and loved ones. excellent.