Movies you've just watched

[dan76]

Harmy's Despecialized Star Wars V2.5

I am only old enough to remember seeing the original trilogy in 1997 at the movies. A nice treat to see the original movie in the way it is supposed to be. Dvd5 was the version I viewed it in and enjoyed it. Some of the wonky cgi is gone again and that made me quite happy. Now I just need the other 2 movies.

How is the quality? I always wondered how they got rid of the CGI and kept it at 1080p.

I posted this in that thread that got locked - you definitely want to get them. They're mostly taken from the Blurays, colour graded and audio mixed. Any slight difference in picture quality won't take you out of the films anywhere near as much as seeing Hayden Christensen at the end of Jedi. He's kept the resolution high by sticking to the Bluray as much as possible and matting out individual elements. For instance, in Star Wars outside the cantina there is a cgi dewback that's been cut out and replaced by the original prop using the laserdisc. It's pretty seemless even though there's a massive resolution difference.

If you like the original films they're the only way to watch them. Also, my copy is 1920p if that means anything.

[xxx1993]

I liked Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

[GaijinPunch]

If you like the original films they're the only way to watch them. Also, my copy is 1920p if that means anything.

Wow! I suppose my TV would take a shit on that resolution... not even sure it would take a file 20gb in size like they are. Will grab though. Thanks for the heads up!

[dan76]

I converted the large uncompressed MKV files to 1080 mp4's using handbreak. They ended up being 3 gigs and I can't tell the difference in my tv. If you hunt around I'm sure there are smaller versions available.

[lilmanjs]

I assume the mkvs are so huge because of all the audio options you get with the despecialized versions. Every dub imaginable, plus commentary tracks from various official releases, and other original language audio options besides the original 5.1 surround sound track. I've watched them through a blu-ray player and had no issues with them, so I would think anything that can play files through the tv, should work.

[GaijinPunch]

I converted the large uncompressed MKV files to 1080 mp4's using handbreak. They ended up being 3 gigs and I can't tell the difference in my tv. If you hunt around I'm sure there are smaller versions available.

I need to learn how to crush some of that shit down. Honestly I've not tried yet but likely will. Riding the SW mania for a bit. Good to be a fan again.

[GaijinPunch]

So, this weeks films (and by week, I mean Saturday and Sunday)

Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
The Force Awakens
Die Hard

You all know how good these are. Probably squeeze one more in... not sure what just yet.

[Xyga]

bruce willis as a jedi ? may the force be with you yippee kai yay

[lilmanjs]

Highlander
Found Highlander Blu-ray for $5 and figured I couldn't pass it up. I enjoyed what I remember of the tv series and the first movie, but this was better than I remember. Nice fights, and the sudden jumps through time are well done. Sean Connery wasn't in the movie long enough though, but everything felt well. The baddie was actually somebody you hated and wished to see dead.

[null1024]

Saw The Force Awakens.
Really, I liked it. Maybe played it too safe for the most part, and feels like a denser Episode 4 as a whole, but it's an actually solid film. Characters are likable, the whole thing felt properly "Star Wars," I've only a handful of complaints.

Spoiler

Finn with the lightsaber was pretty damn cool [really, Finn is pretty damn cool in general], but he was awfully decent with it for some random stormtrooper that defects. Kind of seemed like they just wanted more lightsaber action in the movie, because it was pretty light on it.
Kind of am on the fence about Kylo Ren's character. Was pretty interesting to see him throw fucking temper tantrums, but his whole everything felt a bit slapdash.
Han's death felt obligatory rather than like something tragic, it really wasn't presented well.

After years of bullshit, we get a decent, enjoyable movie. Had this big stupid grin on my face when I realized that yes, it's actually good, finally.

[soprano1]

Rambo First Blood

Haven't seen this one start from beginning, so this seemed a good time. I really like Rambo's monologue when he breaks down following the "Nothing is over!" line.
Were Vietnam veterans really treated like this after returning home?

[Xyga]

The Martian.

Well it was okay, but I have the same problem with it I have with all recent 'space exploration' movies, like Interstellar and Gravity or lesser titles such as Europa Report etc.

First it's trying to be a sci-fi/hard science mashup, with attempts at actual realism and at the same time completely far-fetched sci-fi stunts, which is always a bad combination IMHO, or to work it has to be done in a very clever, careful manner, which none of these movies achieved.
Also the closed-off world elite mentality is often near-cringeworthy.

The best thing in the subgenre I've watched in years, and by far, is still Makoto Yukimura's PLANETES (ΠΛΑΝΗΤΕΣ), quite decently executed in anime form.
It's more believeable hard science while stepping into sci-fi with things that could actually come to happen in the not-too-distant future, and brilliantly not skipping on raising the fundamental questions about the reasons for space exploration and what it means for real humans, individuals who take part in it and society down there on Earth's soil.

[xxx1993]

Saw the original Point Break. Pretty fun.

[DEL]

Everest - Pretty much a simple true story told simply. They went kinda low budget on the actors and it showed in the base camp, especially the girl in the tent. All hell was breaking loose in the death zone and she consistently failed to..........act.
Otherwise, not a bad film for a one-time and only-time viewing.

Going back to The Martian. I finally saw the film after reading the book.
They cut it all out! In the book he's having a very very hard time, and the trials and tribulations are explained in good detail. Yet in the film, he's basically having a stroll in the park . Cut down to popcorn nonsense. Many sections of the book just weren't there.

[Mischief Maker]

Visiting the folks for the holidays and me and my pop watched our perennial favorite For a few dollars more. Fuck "It's a Wonderful Life!"

Sergio Leone's best western, in my opinion. More confidently made than a Fist Full of Dollars, not yet spilling over into the preachiness of The Good the Bad and the Ugly and Once upon a time in the West.

Unfortunately the regular DVD has terrible sound, and the soundtrack is one of the major draws of this film. I bought the remastered collector's edition DVD and we enjoyed much better sound, but unfortunately while the treble and mid-range sound was all crystal clear, there was absolutely no bass.

[neorichieb1971]

Inside out.

The sadness character is so annoying I wanted to jump into the TV and beat the shit out of her.

[Vexorg]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: ***1/2

Another film that I liked when I first saw it, but haven't seen it in years. It actually seems to hold up quite well for its age (then again, I'm something of a fan of the explosives-and-falling-anvils school of cartoons), but it's not exactly a kids film. Its unfortunate that Roger Rabbit has fallen into obscurity these days (about all that's left of Roger Rabbit is the ride at Disneyland) but it sounds like there has been off-and-on talk of possibly reviving the character in some form. I can't imagine what a pain it would be to do the licensing for a proper sequel though...

[S_Fang]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: ***1/2

Another film that I liked when I first saw it, but haven't seen it in years. It actually seems to hold up quite well for its age (then again, I'm something of a fan of the explosives-and-falling-anvils school of cartoons), but it's not exactly a kids film. Its unfortunate that Roger Rabbit has fallen into obscurity these days (about all that's left of Roger Rabbit is the ride at Disneyland) but it sounds like there has been off-and-on talk of possibly reviving the character in some form. I can't imagine what a pain it would be to do the licensing for a proper sequel though...

If LEGO managed to make a movie and a game with characters from lots of licensed series, I don't think a new Roger Rabbit movie would be that hard.

Anyway, few weeks ago I watched AVGN: The Movie: is avarage at best and I'm writing this as a fan of the nerd since 2009.

[Skykid]

But like all the unnecessary sequels and remakes and reboots of 80s IP's Roger Rabbit doesn't need a revisit. I wouldn't object to a few more Maroon Cartoon shorts though, they're incredible.

What the industry needs is to grow a new fucking imagination - it's been completely brain dead for about two decades.

[copy-paster]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: ***1/2

I saw the trailer day ago and it looked great! Should be my watchlist.

AVGN: The Movie: is avarage at best and I'm writing this as a fan of the nerd since 2009.

I hope the movie won't disappoint me, since I'm a fan of his works and it's over 2 hours long.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Checked out Eli Roth's new suspense/thriller flick by the name of "Knock Knock". It's quite good with Keanu Reeves getting top billing in it as well. If you watch the deleted scenes and the alternate ending, they're just extra frosting/icing on the cake if you will. The alternate ending has that slick "John Wick" type of vibe/feel/nod to it.

Damn, still no 70mm print version of Quentin Tarantino's latest flick "The H8ful Eight" with that old-school classic "2:78 to 1" glorious wide screen aspect ratio format back on the silver screen in fine form that you just don't see anymore these days (with an all-star cast including Kurt Russel & Samuel L. Jackson) in my my local neighborhood which clocks in at a whopping 3 hours and 7 minutes long (including a generous & ample 12 minute intermission session thrown in as well to relieve 'em full bladders if it needed be). Oh well, the 35mm print version & digital versions of The H8ful Eight will be distributed in greater numbers on the silver screen December 31st 2015/January 1st 2016 stateside. I thought that the upcoming proper sequel of "Kill Bill Vol. 3" (with the further continuing adventures of Beatrice and Co.) was still in the works -- it still hasn't graced the silver screen as of yet. WTF!?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[MintyTheCat]

I just bought a load of films mostly horror, thriller and action.

I just watched Russian Roulette from 1975 it has the same guy who plays the nut job from Headless Eyes and the cop from The Exterminator (recommended for the humour but part 2 is even funnier):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073646/

I like 70s' Films for their gritty look and often better stories.

[MintyTheCat]

What the industry needs is to grow a new fucking imagination - it's been completely brain dead for about two decades.

Yes, no one takes any risks in the mainstream film and this is why all these licenses from the 70s and 80s were taken as things that made money. Of course they took risks back then as they nearly always had small budgets and did not set out to simply make money.

I cannot rely on the mainstream for decent films but there are many good films in the indie scene but you have to keep your ears and eyes open and the moment any of them make any money then Hollywood comes along to make its own version - e.g. REC, The Ring.

[Vexorg]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: ***1/2

I saw the trailer day ago and it looked great! Should be my watchlist.

It's on Netflix, should be fairly easy to find.

[EllertMichael]

Damn, still no 70mm print version of Quentin Tarantino's latest flick "The H8ful Eight" with that old-school classic "2:78 to 1" glorious wide screen aspect ratio format back on the silver screen in fine form that you just don't see anymore these days (with an all-star cast including Kurt Russel & Samuel L. Jackson) in my my local neighborhood which clocks in at a whopping 3 hours and 7 minutes long (including a generous & ample 12 minute intermission session thrown in as well to relieve 'em full bladders if it needed be). Oh well, the 35mm print version & digital versions of The H8ful Eight will be distributed in greater numbers on the silver screen December 31st 2015/January 1st 2016 stateside. I thought that the upcoming proper sequel of "Kill Bill Vol. 3" (with the further continuing adventures of Beatrice and Co.) was still in the works -- it still hasn't graced the silver screen as of yet. WTF!?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Went to the Boston 70mm Roadshow engagement last night, complete with overture, intermission and souvenir program. It was a fantastic event. There's nothing quite like seeing a Tarantino film for the first time, my head was swimming afterwards. His films tend to be immediately iconic, "instant classics" if you will. There is certainly plenty of "fan service" (Kill Bill-esce title cards, "red apple" tobacco, etc) that makes his 8th film slot in nicely with the rest of his filmography. Although, besides the "beginning at the end" device, the film felt uncharacteristically linear, perhaps due in part to the death of longtime editor Sally Menke.

[Hagane]

Super 8 - 5/10

Overlong, full of dumb stuff (like the protagonist's father managing to escape a military base by shooting a gas tank), silly dialogue and typical silly Hollywood moralistic subtext. The ending is awful, with a terribly obvious allegory that seems written by a teenager.

Felt like an unholy cross of E.T. with Cloverfield, particularly considering the people involved.

It Follows - 8/10

Interesting horror movie about a sexually transmitted curse. You get laid with the cursed person, and you become the target for something that will follow you till it kills you. You can also transmit it to someone else, but if that person is killed you will be followed again. The "follower" is genuinely creepy, the movie is well told with no filler, character relationships are well done, and the way the protagonist and her friends try to deal with that thing is interesting. The ending is perhaps a bit formulaic, particularly when the rest of the movie is rather fresh, but it's not bad either.

A solid horror movie, something that's not very frequent nowadays.

The Babadook - 8/10

The characters and acting here are extremely well done, they make 90% of the movie's worth. Loved how the plot starts to veer away from where it seems to go at first. The ending could have been a bit better, but it's still a very good movie, and another breath of fresh air for the genre.

[Skykid]

Well guys, you just made my Christmas.

I had no idea while living out here that another Tarantino movie existed or was even in the works! One of the last great directors on earth with another movie, another western, shot in 70mm, with an intermission, Kurt Russell, 3 hours of goodness and a fucking amazing poster!



If I said I was way more hyped for this than Star Wars FA, it would be an understatement no matter what. And I have absolutely no idea when I'll get the chance to see it, but god damn I can't wait for the opportunity.

Merry Christmas!

[xxx1993]

Saw Point Break. The remake... Doesn't live up to the original in my eyes for once. There isn't a final fight between Utah and Bodhi, unlike the original.

[boagman]

Saw Point Break. The remake... Doesn't live up to the original in my eyes for once. There isn't a final fight between Utah and Bodhi, unlike the original.

Odd that you should say that. Originally, there wasn't supposed to be a final battle between them in the original film, but when Cameron wound it up in the desert leaving room for a sequel to settle scores, test audiences objected to the lack of a denouement. So they wrote the Australian ending/battle, and resolved that differently. I think it worked...there needed to be *something* there.

[GaijinPunch]

The remake... Doesn't live up to the original in my eyes for once. .

What remake ever does... unless many, many decades have gone by?