Movies you've just watched

[Skykid]

RE: Jaws

I don't think it's in the top 10 american films, but definitely the top 50.

I think you're probably right if you categorise the top 10 'American' films, but what if you categorise the top 10 Hollywood films (as in, films in the same commercial vein.) Then it would be in the top 10 right?

It's really hard to say. Look, there's no question in my mind that Jaws is a 10/10 film, but when you start saying best 10 American films, or best 10 Hollywood films, it does become very subjective. I mean, every film on that list (and a much longer one) are going to be 10/10 films, so from there it is your call. Certainly if the AFI said Jaws was top 10, I couldn't really argue with them.

Who cares what the AFI says?

It's what you think that counts. Film Institutes and judging bodies don't know jack shit about jack shit. Look at the Oscars, it's a joke.

[Siren2011]

Look at the Oscars, it's a joke.

The Grammys are even worse. They're catastrophes falsely glorified as respectable honor designations. All of that I just said would undoubtedly offend and/or go over the heads of 95% of Americans. I feel sorry for the poor saps who follow these award shows like "the academy" has divine say in what is good and bad. I see it all the time: men of vulgar taste picking up copies of Avatar or Slumdog Millionaire --both painfully boring films to sit through-- just because their "reliable sources" hail them as masterpieces. I mean, shit, you KNOW the academy has grown senile whenever they award best picture to a film just because it has flashy special effects. Truth be told, the blue creatures look terrible and I wasn't wooed to much by the CG overall. It's so sad, but hey, that's the way things are. We can't change all of those people, just ourselves.

[Skykid]

Slumdog Millionaire --both painfully boring films to sit through

I liked Slumdog.

But yes, people who need to be influenced into believing something is good by 'official' sources rather than being comfortable enough to trust their own judgement is a pretty sad thing.

[CMoon]

I like the first half of Slumdog.

Well, I don't know what my top 10 American movies would be, but it would probably included Night of the Hunter and Big Lebowski.

[EinhanderZwei]

I like the first half of Slumdog.

Well, I don't know what my top 10 American movies would be, but it would probably included Night of the Hunter and Big Lebowski.

I know mine:
1. Blade Runner
2. Blade Runner
3. Blade Runner
4. Blade Runner
5. Blade Runner
6. Blade Runner
7. Blade Runner
8. Blade Runner
9. Blade Runner
10. Blade Runner

[Sui]

Sorry man, I *got drunk* and watched They Live again. I was laughing my ass off when I made that avatar.

It's so long since I saw that film. The fight scene with the sunglasses is awesome. Two bloody minded idiots fighting for no real reason other than stubbornness.

Must get a hold of the DVD. It must be about 10 pence by now.

[Daigohji]

Sucker Punch. There's a huge disconnect between what this film was trying to be and what it is. Snyder obviously wanted the viewer to care about these characters. The problem is that the weak acting and constant stylisation create a double-glazed barrier between the viewer and the characters that no emotional connection can penetrate. Consequently, the plot of the escape attempt only serves the function of a framing device for the action sequences. The result is that Sucker Punch becomes an anthology of disconnected action setpieces, and may be the most purely distilled piece of action pornography ever committed to film. These sequences look and sound great, though the deadpan way the characters move through them and the tenuous attempt at context for them both conspire to rob them of tension. This is a film that manages to be less than the sum of its parts. However, its a credit to Snyder that the action remains entertaining despite the detrimental factors pulling against it. I'm tempted to buy the blu-ray solely on the strength of the four action vignettes.

Sucker Punch is the only film I can think of that I would advocate having been divided between two directors. With Snyder directing the action and someone character focused like Darren Aronofsky directing the rest, we could have had a masterpiece. Instead we have an entertaining but ultimately frustrating testimony to the fact that Snyder's undoubtable talents lie within a very narrow focus.

[chempop]

Sucker Punch - awesome, loved it! I don't need Aronoksky level acting in action movies.

Source Code - Pretty good, fun figuring out what the he'll is going on with the main character. Supporting roles could have used a bit more character development though. Some charming stuff here, I liked the chick.

Unknown - Hmmm, similar kinda "WTF is going on", but ending felt rushed and sloppily put together. Still enjoyed it though.

[rapoon]

Moon - Really picks up after the crash. Enjoyed it.

Source Code - Entertaining. Doubt I'd watch again unless w/ a friend

Down By Law - Awesome: story, acting, cinematography.
Some of the best character development I've seen. One of the few
movies I own I'm never bored with.

[nash87]

i initially wanted to see cowboys and aliens because i expected it to be hilariously bad...turned out to be one of the best movies i've seen in theaters so far this year. great shit

[emphatic]

i initially wanted to see cowboys and aliens because i expected it to be hilariously bad...turned out to be one of the best movies i've seen in theaters so far this year. great shit

Of course with such a talented director.

[BIL]

The Exorcist III. Decent horror/serial killer movie, for the most part. Counter-productive exposition and gaudy effects as it reaches resolution dent it a bit. In its better moments there's a real sense of invisible malice and dreadful inevitability.

As a Silent Hill fan, I got a kick out of seeing where SH3's oblique reference to this movie ("WHAT A WONDERFULL WORLD") originated from.

[emphatic]

The Exorcist III. Decent horror/serial killer movie, for the most part. Counter-productive exposition and gaudy effects as it reaches resolution dent it a bit. In its better moments there's a real sense of invisible malice and dreadful inevitability.

As a Silent Hill fan, I got a kick out of seeing where SH3's oblique reference to this movie ("WHAT A WONDERFULL WORLD") originated from.

The book ( "Legion" ) is very good as well. Too bad the studio forced the director/author to include an exorcist scene.

[BIL]

True - even with my not having read the novel, that scene felt really tacked-on.

[Siren2011]

It Seems Like Old Times with Chevy Chase, Charles Grodin, and Goldie Hawn. It's a classic.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Sucker Punch. There's a huge disconnect between what this film was trying to be and what it is. Snyder obviously wanted the viewer to care about these characters. The problem is that the weak acting and constant stylisation create a double-glazed barrier between the viewer and the characters that no emotional connection can penetrate. Consequently, the plot of the escape attempt only serves the function of a framing device for the action sequences. The result is that Sucker Punch becomes an anthology of disconnected action setpieces, and may be the most purely distilled piece of action pornography ever committed to film. These sequences look and sound great, though the deadpan way the characters move through them and the tenuous attempt at context for them both conspire to rob them of tension. This is a film that manages to be less than the sum of its parts. However, its a credit to Snyder that the action remains entertaining despite the detrimental factors pulling against it. I'm tempted to buy the blu-ray solely on the strength of the four action vignettes.

Sucker Punch is the only film I can think of that I would advocate having been divided between two directors. With Snyder directing the action and someone character focused like Darren Aronofsky directing the rest, we could have had a masterpiece. Instead we have an entertaining but ultimately frustrating testimony to the fact that Snyder's undoubtable talents lie within a very narrow focus.

The Blu-Ray version of Sucker Punch is gorgeous just for the action scenes alone...quite breathtaking indeed. Director Synder sure knows how to create such stunning action scenes. Tis a shame I didn't get to see it properly on the silver screen as it was meant/intended to be viewed (due to my local movie theater only having a limited two week run with it and after that, it was gone -- it must not have done well at the local box office if it had such a very short theatrical run).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[CMoon]

Watching Ken Burns' National Parks documentary (jesus, only 4.5 hours in...)

Not a movie obviously, but pretty awesome--in a lot of ways more about a philosophical argument over the soul of American than about the parks themselves.

[SpooN]

I recently saw Wristcutters. Turned out to be completely different from the description on the DVD (man, the guys who write this stuff are worse than the rainbow press), I didn't expect it to be quite as good.
It is kind of an absurd road movie with a slightly romantic touch and an awesome soundtrack.

[Mortificator]

The Burrowers. It was only average, but I really like the idea of period horror.

[CMoon]

Finally watched Assault of Precinct 13. It's pretty awesome seeing Carpenter rocking this hard pre-Escape from New York. Definitely have to go back and watch Halloween.

[drauch]

Just now!? Such an awesome movie!

[NTSC-J]

Having a horror movie marathon watching a bunch of junk I either never heard of or never got around to in the hopes that I find a gem.

Xtro

Perhaps most famous for the scene where a woman gives birth to a full-grown man, this movie is all over the place. Some ok effects and acting, but evil midgets and toy soldiers are lamer than lame. Have the aliens kill people instead. Disappointing, but not terrible either. Some very decent nudity.
5/10

Who Can Kill a Child?

Who thought this was a good movie? is more like it. Came recommended, but I was again let down. It's Euro Children of the Corn and better than that movie (which sucks, btw), but it's nothing special. Decent acting with bad effects. Not enough violence, really. Plus the opening montage with stock footage of war atrocities against kids set an odd tone. Some titties.
5.5/10

The Tenant

Now we're getting warmer. Directed and starring respected pedophile Roman Polanski, this movie is just well-made. I like horror movies that are a slow burn and sort of ease you in before getting nutty. The only thing I didn't like was the weird cross-dressing towards the end, but very good all around. Don't remember any boobs.
7/10

The Incubus

Boy did filmmakers feel threatened by women in the 70s (this was made in '81, but close enough). Every movie has rape and in this case it's the star. It's dark and hard to watch at times with good writing and acting. Ample titties.
6/10

[Daigohji]

Yeah, Xtro is a weird one. Quite eerie in places, but the film never really comes together. Xtro 2 may be the most blatant rip off of Aliens ever commited to film, right down to stomach-busting alien parasites and marines toting a poor man's version of the M56 smart gun. Both films manage to be more disturbing than their quality warrants, though that's based on memories of watching them in my early teens.

[drauch]

Xtro! I absolutely love the cover of that movie. And yeah, that thing standing by the road is kinda creepy. (full man-birth is hot)

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

I miss that time when I wasn't completely de-sensitiezed to horror movies...

[CMoon]

Added Kontroll to my cue.

Goddamn, finally saw this. Not fully actualized, but still really damn good. Tons of influence from Blade Runner/Terminator in all the right ways without actually being science fiction.

This is all atmosphere, texture, style. The plot is just barely there--I still don't know if I'm right about the 'pusher' or not, but I'm not even sure if it matters at the end.

*spoilers spoilers spoilers*



One way to read the ending is as a fight club rip-off, but I'm happy that the film not only lends itself to more than one interpretation, but more importantly, lends itself to being allegorical rather than clever.

[rapoon]

Saw "In The Loop" a few nights back. Fuck, I haven't enjoyed a dark comedy that much in ages.

Have been watching "Ironclad" off and on the last two nights. I'm ~1 hour in. Lot of gruesome hack n' slash scenes. Suppose I'm watching it out of sheer boredom...

Not a movie but, I've also been watching "The IT Crowd." Heard about it through a co-worker. Didn't particularly like the first season but season 2 & 3 are much better.
Starting the 4th soon.

[Skykid]

Added Kontroll to my cue.

Goddamn, finally saw this. Not fully actualized, but still really damn good. Tons of influence from Blade Runner/Terminator in all the right ways without actually being science fiction.

This is all atmosphere, texture, style. The plot is just barely there--I still don't know if I'm right about the 'pusher' or not, but I'm not even sure if it matters at the end.

*spoilers spoilers spoilers*



One way to read the ending is as a fight club rip-off, but I'm happy that the film not only lends itself to more than one interpretation, but more importantly, lends itself to being allegorical rather than clever.

Yeah, I loved this one actually (for all the things it did well.)

Don't bother with Predators though, it's 90% suck.

[NTSC-J]

The Gate

Admittedly a very average movie, but I love the effects. Stop-motion and animatronics over CG any day of the week. It almost always looks better. Boggles the mind how movie creators still have not realized this. Otherwise, this movie is pretty goofy. And no boobs...
6/10

The Burning

Tom Savini does his best but this movie is still pretty poor. His effects were fine, but aside from the awesome raft slaughter scene, I found myself more interested in staring at Jason Alexander's hairline. Some boobs.
5/10

The Boneyard

Holy Christ. I was impressed by their casting of a schlubby, unattractive obese woman as the lead character, since every horror movie in the past two decades makes sure everyone is beautiful, be they a scientist or archeologist. But...this woman is also a terrible actress. I guess Kathy Bates passed when she heard about the giant zombie poodle. The only good thing is the zombie kids look great. No nudity, unless you count the saggy tits on the deformed 8-foot-tall zombie Phyllis Diller.
2/10

[drauch]

I fucking love The Gate. Those tiny demons are so goddamn creepy.