Movies you've just watched

[Aguraki]

owning mahowny:true story of a degen gambler in early 80's who stole to feed his addiction. great movie

shattered glass:true story of journalist from new rep paper that falsified articles. okay

skyline:lolwtf uglymovie.suck can't believe there is gonna be part 2.

district 9:bad.

black swan:greaaaaaaaaaaat! well didn't like the ending very much buts great atmosphear.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I saw Battle LA while I was here in the states. Good action. Awful dialogue. Extremely predictable. Worth seeing once? Only if you don't want to think. Too bad nobody will throw a curve ball at the Alien genre like District 9.

Am looking forward to the proper sequel to this District 9 flick. How will it be resolved with the main character returning back to his original human form? Of course, the technology to re-convert back to human form is accessable, it's just another three more "human" years to gain access to it & make the return trip back to Earth. Perhaps "faster-than-light" travel to make it in record time to the aliens' home planet? Or attempting a "space fold manuver" oughta do the trick.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daigohji]

Skyline: I've seen some bad movies, but it's been a long time since I've seen one so inept. The writers simply have no idea about what constitutes a plot. "People sit around moaning in some guy's penthouse while the world goes to hell" is not a plot. There are loads of different ways you can approach an alien invasion or monster story, but the characters have to do something. Naturally the initial shock and awe factor will have the characters reacting in the first act. Independence Day, Cloverfield, Battle: LA, etc; it's the same in all of them. The difference is that in those films, once the dust settles at the end of the first act, the cast go from reacting to acting. In Skyline, this never happens. It's a film made with a total lack of confidence. You can practically see the nervous gears going around in the heads of the writer and director.

"Hmm, what should the characters do? Try to escape? Hm, try that for a bit. No, give up. No, shout about it. No, give up again. No, hmm."

"Should the main character develop superpowers? Hmm, maybe. Is that too cheesy? No, let's do that. Oh hell, that is pretty cheesy. Let's play it up for a while then forget about it...maybe no one will notice."

"Bugger, I've killed most of the cast before the start of the third act. Shall I do a grim ending here? Hmm, yes. Oh wait, no, let's continue on for a bit. Hmm, I don't know how to wrap this up. I know, let's just stop the film in the middle of the third act, slap a couple of comic strip style stills over the end credits to infer the rest of the scene, and call it a day. Hmm, yeah, job done."

Despite all this, it's entirely possible to do a disaster movie style alien invasion where the cast do nothing but react. The problem is, if you're going to do that, you need a really compelling and likeable cast of characters. Skyline has a bunch of obnoxious idiots who are impossible to relate to.

Frankly, I came to the movie expecting nothing but eye candy, but it also fails in that. The effects are technically proficient, but most of the sequences are just...there. The character literally sit and watch some of these sequences on TV. It's ridiculous. This movie has no redeeming features. Even its relentless atmosphere of despair comes across as a desperate, ill conceived attempt to distinuish itself, though without any concept of how to effectively implement it into the story. Avoid.

[neorichieb1971]

There were aspects of Skyline I preferred over Battle LA.

I just watched The Warriors Way round my friends house. Some sort of swordsman from Asia fighting cowboys in America. Was pretty good. I believe the main character was Korean but not sure.

[xris]

I watched A Dirty Shame last night. A John Waters film I was unaware of! It was okay, Tracy Ullman was fantastic in it, but why the hell was Johnny Knoxville in it? It's about a town in Delaware (I think) where there is an all out morality war between sex addicts and prudes. It was funny, but also kinda dumb.
I also watched The Name of the Rose today, such a fantastic movie. I've watched this a bunch of times. Even as a teenager this has been one of my favorite movies, I have no clue why though, it's pretty freakin' grimy.

[neorichieb1971]

Sucker Punch -

A WTF is happening type of movie where nothing makes sense but its a fun and action after 20 minutes in.

[EinhanderZwei]

Sucker Punch -

A WTF is happening type of movie where nothing makes sense but its a fun and action after 20 minutes in.

That's why I won't watch it. Over-unclear story, the fact that the movie title has 'Sucker' in title and the main character's name (BabyDoll, WTF) make me feel disrespected... some things should have limits

[Siren2011]

"I'm Still Here" with Joaquin Phoenix. I can't tell if this is one big publicity stunt/end career crisis, or if he really is this crazy. Either way, the movie is a stinker. I would want to go out with a bang if I was in the movie biz. Joaquin does the exact opposite. I lost a lot of respect for the guy after seeing the first half.

[CMoon]

Sort of doing an extended Boorman weekend with Zardoz and Excalibur. Regardless of what you fuckers say, both are great films, though there are certainly some tough scenes in the former. Excalibur is apparently being remade with Boorman on board, though ironically I think Zardoz actually needs a remake while Excalibur doesn't. Why? Regardless of people's perception of the film, Zardoz is a pretty decent sci fi flick about the idea of not just eternal life but the implication of creating little utopian islands in the midst of post apocalyptic wastelands. Truth be told, class struggle itself grows close to this reality, while a real economic collapse may bring something far closer to Zardoz's vision than any nuclear holocaust. I think most people don't get the plot through the psychedelic haze and Connery's chest hair, but there's some goddamn relevancy that no one is tapping into. In a world of impotent and unwanted remakes, Zardoz through a modernized filter may in fact have some genuine validity, but what the fuck do I know? The only thing that makes money any more is Toy Story 12, so screw it.

[drauch]

GUNS GOOD; PENIS BAD.

[chempop]

Since a Redbox rental just appeared 5min stroll from my place I've been watching a lot lately.

Shutter Island - really enjoyed it, despite usually not going for anything too disturbing.
Babies - rather entertaining, quite a juxtapose seeing kids from such different countries take their first breath up till their first steps. I'm moved by this kinda shit.
Toy Story 3 - much better than I expected. Maybe as good as UP and Wall-E even.
Last Airbender - Horrible, written and acted for kids, in the worst way possible.
Ironman 1&2 - decent for superhero movies.
Predators - I enjoy anything with Predators.
The Fighter - god damn... Incredible. I don't think there is another movie that was made this way, with such help from the actual people it was about... One of the characters wasn't even an actor, it was the real guy!
Inside Job - one of the most depressing things I've ever watched.

Tomorrow TRON is out!!!

[borislaw]

"I'm Still Here" with Joaquin Phoenix. I can't tell if this is one big publicity stunt/end career crisis, or if he really is this crazy. Either way, the movie is a stinker. I would want to go out with a bang if I was in the movie biz. Joaquin does the exact opposite. I lost a lot of respect for the guy after seeing the first half.

I'm with you for this one. My assumption has always been that the actual story-line put forward here is a complete hoax. Quitting acting to become a rapper is just too looney. But my guess would be that there are also some threads of what is true to life and related in some way to the main
"plot" and documented on camera. These are probably the best parts. They feel real--like the cruel, selfish dynamic between two friends, one who is rich and famous the other who is not; and we watch this friendship devolve into the colder relationship of employer employee. Sure, there are moments when this movie evokes a certain refined idea or emotion, but as a whole, it just doesn't emerge as something that needed to be a movie.

[CMoon]

GUNS GOOD; PENIS BAD.

See, that's all anyone remembers from the film, and they miss the sci fi plot. *sighs*

[drauch]

GUNS GOOD; PENIS BAD.

See, that's all anyone remembers from the film, and they miss the sci fi plot. *sighs*

Oh, I remember more, that's just the best part

[Siren2011]

They feel real--like the cruel, selfish dynamic between two friends, one who is rich and famous the other who is not; and we watch this friendship devolve into the colder relationship of employer employee. Sure, there are moments when this movie evokes a certain refined idea or emotion, but as a whole, it just doesn't emerge as something that needed to be a movie.

I too noticed that dynamic between them. His assistant must secretly hate working with him. I also noticed how many of his "friends" feed him bullshit like "that was a great song, dude!", when in reality, they're just saying that because he provides their salary. Of COURSE they're going to fill his head with ego-boosting crap. The only person who was blatantly honest with him about his crap music was his publicist. Anyway, he's a washed up twat, yes, but he used to be a great actor.

[CMoon]

Finished watching Excalibur. The idea that hollywood is planning a remake is just plain bollocks. Really? Watch this movie again and ask yourself what any current director could contribute to this film.

[1up]

Toy Story 3 - much better than I expected. Maybe as good as UP and Wall-E even.

I watched this yesterday, and found it quote entertaining but not as good as wall-e or UP. It had the same vibe as shrek the third or whatever it was called. Not great but entertaining. A "lets see what is happening in the lives of the toys" kinda thing.

best moment in the movie for me is when they mess with buzz. couldn't stop laughing

[CMoon]

Watched Two-Lane Black Top (1971). Didn't really connect with it but felt I should have. Two completely under-played car geeks travel across america looking for races to make some money. That said, we almost never see them race, and they virtually never speak, so what the hell is this film about? Is it about America itself? Is it about Warren Oates's character who ultimately seems to be running away from something (but we never find out what). Is it about the girl that moves in and out of their lives with no given reason for entry or exit?

I've seen other road films and was ready to be bored, but that wasn't what I got out of Two-land black top. While probably not trying to be experimental or weird, by having no sense of narrative direction, it has an inherent strangeness to it that I might compare to Slackers (though the films are in no other way similar).

Obviously if you enjoy the late 60's/early 70's thing, this may be a waiting classic for you. Honestly, it makes films like Easy Rider feel Hollywood.

[KindGrind]

Hadn't watched a movie in a while, but rented Black Swan tonight. I was already half-sold, being fan of Aronofsky earlier works.

While I still prefer his other movies (except the Wrestler), I enjoyed it. Great camera work, editing and acting from the leads. Some bits reminded me of Lynch's Inland Empire, mostly because of the facial close-ups and the type of cameras Libatique/Aronofsky decided to use for the movie. Not the kind of movie I'd watch over and over again though. I feel it could have been more layered... Well, I expected it to be.

[charlie chong]

damn i watched a lot of shit since the last time
53.charles manson superstar.only doc i've seen with in depth manson interviews.crazy dog
54.secrets of the occult.on some wizard shit
55.scanners.never seen this one before and it didn't dissapoint !(should i bother with the sequels?)
56.samurai cop.awesome caca
57.mcvicar. good uk prison film you slaaaagg.daltrey is surprisingly good at acting
58.manson. awesome doc from the time.loads of ranch footage
59.inside the manson gang.made from leftover footage from the above and just as good!
60.aleister crowley the real loch ness monster.
61.aleister crowley wickedest man in the world.funny how the most powerful wizard became an opium sot
62.cathy's curse.very demented low budget canadian damien rip off.made me laugh a lot at some of the nonsensical plot and strange characters. awesome to me but probbly not for others.
63.symptoms. moody lesbian psycho business.nicely shot and atmospheric for those who like em slow.
64.megaforce .total trash. a few scenes made me laugh a lot.
65.ironheart.starring bolo from blood sport as the baddie.the weedy looking hero kicks all sorts of arse and made me laugh a lot.
66.night flowers.pretty slow and bleak post vietnam mental issue business.above average but no great
67.the american astronaut.this was a good exercise in low budget filmmaking.a sci fi musical no less.the main baddie was a very interesting character.
68.firepower (pm) the bit where the ultimate warrior lopped off the long haired dudes head with a samurai sword induced a lolacaust
69.god told me to.awesome larry cohen film about random killings that the perpetrators claim is the will of god.so good.how this is not more well known i do not know?
70.kamillions. great , weird,funny film about a scientist who opens a portal to a parallel universe in his basement..boasts a great baddy

april
71.the room. i gave in to pressure and watched this crap..it is obviously quite funny how bad it is but.... i have seen many films with just as bad acting and dialogue and they don't even have a foreign lead to blame
72.day of the triffids (6os one) methinks they took some libs with the original story.dissapointing
73.i drink your blood. real good trash as satanists rampage in a quiet rural town.it all gets even more fun when the little kid manages to infect the satanists with rabie's
74.sharkey's machine. burt reynolds as vice cop looking after a prossie.good solid genre fare
75.night of the demon(1957) nice slice of early atmospheric horror.
76.seventeen.time capsue doc on teens in the late 70s(i'm guessing) love shit like this.
77.night of the creeps.80s zombie comedy.just as much fun as return of the living dead.
78.r.o.t.o.r. terrible terminator rip off with a bit of robocop thrown in for good luck.. so bad.the ending was nice and nihilistic tho. actually the talking robot was pretty amusing too throwing in some good b-movie references.at least the makers knew it was shit.
79.the go kids/frog dreaming/The quest. awesome kids movie with the same sort of vibe as explorers/flight of the navigator/goonies et al
80.where the buffalo roam. bill murray as Hunter S. Thompson is very amusing
81.demonwarp .bigfoots,aliens and TITS. i saw this when i was 9 or 10 and actually think a lot more highly of it now..80s high calibre trash
82.rumpelstiltskin.90s trash.the sheer unrelentless way rumpelstiltskin chases the bitch down in this is insane.. also his one liners
83.peanut butter solution.another good kids film about a kid who gets a fright and loses all his hair before a ghost gives him a solution to his dilemma.. fun stuff!
84.freehand for a tough cop.your typical sleazy eurocrime business.great villains and well shot by lenzi
85.sonny boy uncut.david carradine in a dress!! another weird dysfunctional murdering family film that is pretty sick and twisted in the way that i like.amazing cast!
86.basket case. never seen this one before either i enjoyded it muchly.love all the 80s time's square footage and a slightly arty vibe beneath it's b-movie exterior.
87.milano odia/almost human.another good lenzi euro crime effort. i think lenzi and fernando di leo are my favourite directors in this genre.
88.basket case 2.damn some real 80s trash in the worst possible taste.definitely nowhere near as good as the first.
89.the final sanction. tbe best thing about this fillum is robet d'zar's unnatural looking face.(dale used to sport it as his avatar) even by the low standards that a.i.p usually set this is just crap. still a few good laughs at teh dialogue.
90.bloody wednesay.boring descent into madness that bites the shining a lot. the best thing about this film is the main guy talking to his teddy bear.
91.hardware.this was visually awesome. lots of good use of light(or lack thereoff) and colour and a cool dystopian story.i noticed a fair bit of religious imagery is used but would have to watch again to draw more concrete conclusions.
92.equinox. considering it's in the criterion collection i was expecting something more cerebral..this just seenmed like standard b-movie fare. some cool stop motion tho that means fans of that style should definitly check.

[jonny5]

watched 'Hobo with a shotgun' with Rutger Hauer on the weekend.

The title says it all! Awesome film!

[neorichieb1971]

The girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Quite interesting throughout. Multi layered with lots of resolutions at the end.

[SniperElite]

Not a movie, but just watched Spartacus: Blood and Sand series and all I have to say is EPIC! Absolutely awesome in every way! (aside from a little gayness here and there) It's very 300/Gladiator vibe and it is extremely well written! If you have yet to see it ...Check It Out!

[Skykid]

Why the fuck did I just watch Serendipity?

[neorichieb1971]

Appleseed ex machina

Started off in a kind over stylized woo fashion that I don't like that much. I understand with animation you do things you can't in the real live action movies but keep it realistic and simple. Story unfolded quite well I thought. I probably won't ever watch it again though. I'd give it 6.5/10.

[drauch]

Outlaw Josey Wales. Eastwood rules. Movie rules.

[Daigohji]

Recent blu-ray purchases:

Ghostbusters. Looks good for the most part. Ports all the extras from the DVD, including the Harold Ramis audio commentary, which is one of my all time favourite commentary tracks. The blu-ray adds a PiP video commentary, though this mode has an obnoxious wallpaper over the widescreen bars throughout. It also lacks in new insight despite newly recorded interviews with key cast and crew. Generally more intrusive and less interesting than it should have been.

Tron Legacy. Pre-ordered and arrived today, two days before the UK release date. I've commented on this movie entensively in its own thread, so I'll just say that the disc has a middling amount of special features. There's a good number of documentaries, but a noticeable lack of production art, photos or trailers. No commentaries either. There is a nice little docudrama about Flynn's disappearance that features Bruce Boxleitner and the welcome return of Dan Shor, who played RAM in the original movie.

Tron. I'm pleased to report that the original movie looks great on blu-ray. Any remaining visual flaws are all inherant to the extraordinary manner in which the movie was originally pieced together, namely the heavy grain of the scenes inside the Grid. The audio is equally impressive, bringing out nuances I'd never been able to hear on VHS or DVD, and clearing up a few lines of dialogue that had always sounded muffled before. The disc ports the extensive extras from the 20th anniversary DVD including the fascinating 90 minute documentary. There are a couple of new HD featurettes, though these aren't terribly impressive.

[emphatic]

Tangled - 5/5 from me.

[brentsg]

Tangled - 5/5 from me.

Tangled was great. That was the first movie I ever too my kids too and now they have it on Blu-ray too!

[Jockel]

The Shawshank Redemption

Amazing film. I enjoyed it a lot, but still can't agree with its #1 spot on IMDB.