Movies you've just watched

[MovingTarget]

It got pretty awful reviews lol.

Watched Old Boy Last night for the third or fourth time. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364569/

[JBC]

Well, if I listened to reviews I would have never watched anything good. Water for Elephants got good reviews but I bet if I watched it I'd be bored to tears. I bet if I paid $10 to see it in theaters I'd be bored to tears and have buyer's remorse. Some critic out there thought Reese Witherspoon was a good actress and that's why we all have to deal with her now. Hugh Grant movies get good reviews.

If there were people that reviewed food, and there are, and we listened to them we'd end up never tasting things we liked and eating alot of slop we don't.

So given that, whether the movie is bad or not the trailer makes it look awesome and I'll have to check it out.

[blackoak]

Picnic at Hanging Rock
Kwaidan
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Altered States

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a masterpiece--definitely Weir's best work. One of the few films that understands and represents the source book well enough to make it superfluous.

Kwaidan is excellent, though I haven't seen it recently. I really liked Valerie and her Week of Wonders too, though I saw it a few years back and can't remember specifics. It had a unique visual presentation though.

I like Altered States, but its based on a talky script/book by Paddy Chayefsky (Network) and the director just races through his trademark monologues. The book is better in this case... all the ideas have time to luxuriate and develop. I've still been meaning to try out the local sensory deprivation chambers here in the bay area...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Altered States is quite a trippy flick, especially towards the conclusion. The AS theaterical trailer is interesting.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[DEL]

Lighter than Ran and Altered States, but quite Awesome A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.
A return to form

[GaijinPunch]

Whew... someone made a time machine with this straight-to-video T & A monster flick.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

What's your take/opinion on that suggested "T&A with a monster" of the week flick, GP?

You might recall that Hostel III was another straight to video release, bypassing the Hollywood big screen distribution system entirely. The first two Hostel flicks were shown on the big screen, indeed, for the horror/gore genre fans.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[NTSC-J]

Basket Case, IMO.

[Raytrace]

Altered States is quite a trippy flick, especially towards the conclusion. The AS theaterical trailer is interesting.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

that film freaked the living shit out of me when I was young, also to this day - I don't give a shit how many times people tell me 'it's so relaxing' - there aint NO WAY I'm ever getting in any from of isolation tank/room/bath anything. Full stop. :p

[GaijinPunch]

What's your take/opinion on that suggested "T&A with a monster" of the week flick, GP?

Probably shows a lot of tits, which I have no problem with.

[Moniker]

Been watching the X-Files on netflix. Caught an episode here and there when I was growing up, but never really got into it. I'm surprised at how consistently good the writing is, and how they rarely pull punches when it comes to tragic events. Although the "mythos" episodes with the immense gov't conspiracy that never goes anywhere are a tad annoying (how many times do you have to directly witness alien life before you're satisfied you got "the truth"?), but the regular episodes are tops. And of course the greatest mystery of all:

Is Scully hot? I think I'll never know for sure.

[GaijinPunch]

Skully definitely goes up a grade or two every season and her hotness culminates somewhere around season 5 or maybe 6. She starts off decidedly pretty unhot though.

The mythos episodes were great until about Season 6 where we should have started getting answers, and they just started more plots. It's a shame Chris Carter didn't have a finite view of the story... I think if it ended around Season 8 (w/ some answers) it would go down in history as one of the best.

You are right though: the writing is really good. Do you watch Fringe? A little out there, but I find it to be quite entertaining. The episode a couple of weeks ago with the Asian accountant from The Dark Knight I found to be one of the best stand alone TV episodes I've seen in a while.

[Skykid]

Been watching the X-Files on netflix. Caught an episode here and there when I was growing up, but never really got into it. I'm surprised at how consistently good the writing is, and how they rarely pull punches when it comes to tragic events. Although the "mythos" episodes with the immense gov't conspiracy that never goes anywhere are a tad annoying (how many times do you have to directly witness alien life before you're satisfied you got "the truth"?), but the regular episodes are tops. And of course the greatest mystery of all:

Is Scully hot? I think I'll never know for sure.

She was for me when I was an adolescent teen.

Nice to see people rediscovering the X-Files, some of the best TV ever imo. I don't know how far you're in, but there are some truly brilliant episodes in there. I went back and watched a few recently, including Home and Drive, and early stuff like Darkness Falls. I think Tempus Fugit is still one of the most impressive things ever.

The finale of Season 7 is the end of the X-Files. Season's 8 and 9 are 95% horseshit and should be summarily ignored. If you watch the 2 part finale of Season 9, you'll ruin the entire thing, so don't bother.

[iconoclast]

Didn't know this thread was for TV series as well. I spent the last couple weeks watching Six Feet Under, and it is now one of my favorite television shows of all time. It did take a few episodes to really click with me, but I'm glad I stuck with it because it has such an excellent cast of characters, great acting, great writing, and quite possibly the best series finale ever.

Now I'm about to start watching Dexter so I can get more of Michael C. Hall.

[GaijinPunch]

I watched Six Feet Under this past summer -- great show. Crazy dark, but really good. How far are you in? It gets pretty relentless about half way through. It can be quite depressing... it's definitely not something I'm going to rewatch any time soon, if ever.

Dexter is good as well, although a lot of people rip on the latter seasons. Personally I think each one (save one season which I won't name) has a compelling story and is really well written. It's no technical cinematic feat, but it is very entertaining.

[Raytrace]

I watched Six Feet Under this past summer -- great show. Crazy dark, but really good. How far are you in? It gets pretty relentless about half way through. It can be quite depressing... it's definitely not something I'm going to rewatch any time soon, if ever.

Dexter is good as well, although a lot of people rip on the latter seasons. Personally I think each one (save one season which I won't name) has a compelling story and is really well written. It's no technical cinematic feat, but it is very entertaining.

they're both good series - I think Nip/Tuck is similar in feel and darkness - the 'Carver' storylines were fvkin horrible creepy

[iconoclast]

I watched Six Feet Under this past summer -- great show. Crazy dark, but really good. How far are you in? It gets pretty relentless about half way through. It can be quite depressing... it's definitely not something I'm going to rewatch any time soon, if ever.

Dexter is good as well, although a lot of people rip on the latter seasons. Personally I think each one (save one season which I won't name) has a compelling story and is really well written. It's no technical cinematic feat, but it is very entertaining.

I finished Six Feet Under. I agree that it can get really depressing - the last few episodes in particular were hard to watch. The series finale was so well executed though, I don't think it could have been any more perfect. But yeah, even though I loved the series, I don't think I'll be rewatching it any time soon either.

I also watched a few episodes of Dexter last night, and I'm enjoying it so far. Although I was expecting him to be more of a vigilante type character, rather than a sociopath. Not that I'm complaining.

[Mortificator]

The finale of Season 7 is the end of the X-Files. Season's 8 and 9 are 95% horseshit and should be summarily ignored.

I'd go a step further and end it after season 5 and the movie, provided I could sprinkle a few of the greats from the remainder of the series earlier in the show's run.

Is Scully hot?

Some people think so.

Anyway, I just saw Contact for the first time. I'd been under the impression the movie was about contacting alien life, but it turned out to be more about reconciling faith and science. The surprise was not entirely pleasant.

It was also weird seeing Bill Clinton edited into the story. I think that kind of trick, outside of a period piece, gives a film some extra impact on release at the expense of diminished impact when the reference is no longer timely.

[mesh control]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?



This movie has frightened me since I was little.

[JBC]

I saw Contact in theaters back when, Mortificator. I remember at the time it did a lot to inspire my sense of wonderment but definitely let me down towards the end. I've seen it a couple times since and in retrospect I'd say it's a good movie as long as you're not looking for aliens. Damn shame about that ending.

Watching Altered States right now at forum suggestion. It's pretty enthralling so far and up next I've got Stalker.

[ArmoredCore]

Just saw Chronicles, not my type of movies but i enjoyed it quite a bit, fast paced, the effects and physics of the telekenesis power or whatever its called was really well done i thought.

[xbl0x180]

I've perused through the entirety of Three Frames and found images from these movies to be visually interesting.

Logan's Run
Repulsion
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Kwaidan
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Eyes of Laura Mars
Cherry 2000
Gwendoline
Altered States

Opinions on any of those? Hoping that by asking I'll save myself the time of wading through the junk and get to the good stuff.

I own videos of these because I really liked watching them upon first view.

- Logan's Run, ironically won a SFX prize in spite of "Box" Interesting dystopian premise and includes a cameo of a young Farrah Fawcet as the plastic surgeon's assistant; Jenny Agutter (a.k.a., teh hotness) was reeeeeeal easy on the eyes back then, as well

- Repulsion got a Criterion Collection release, so, of course, I had to buy it. I've had a videocassette dupe of this for well over a decade and watch it every once in a while. I can watch Catherine Deneuve (a.k.a., teh hotness) slowly lose her mind any day

- Picnic At Hanging Rock was interesting (and a Criterion Collection video to boot). I remember I watched it on a marathon of other mystery movies - Insomnia (the original), Spoorloos ("The Vanishing"), and I also saw it along with Walkabout because of the outdoors setting. Excellent movie. Didn't Peter Weir direct The Last Wave? It has David Gulpilil (sp?), who starred in Walkabout.

- Kwaidan is excellent Horror fare (also put out by Criterion Collection ). My favourite and what I consider the most memorable was the story of monk pictured on the cover. I remember thinking it was a bit long, but it could be viewed in smaller bite-sized pieces. It's definitely a must-see for any Horror afficionado

- Valerie A Týden Divů was strange, bizarre... and memorable. I watched it along with other Czech New Wave films that Facets distributes here in North America (I never did get "Daisies"). The story is about crazy, little girls doing crazy, cute things. I picked to buy this video over the other Czech stuff because it made the most sense in terms of story and it looked to have better production values, better actors, and better music Don't overlook "Daisies," though. They're teh hotness

- Eyes Of Laura Mars has an interesting premise and posters/video covers, but it's probably the weakest movie from what I have in your list. I'd rather watch Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now, which also exploits the idea of clairvoyance. You should still give this one a spin just to be sure Nicolas Roeg did a better job.

- Cherry 2000 was totally awersome. I don't like Melanie Griffith, but everything in this Sci-Fi Post Apocalyptic movie worked to its benefit. Most of the actors and actresses are unknowns - I can't even remember who directed it - but Cherry 2000 herself was the same girl from Thrashin' (Pamela Gidley, a.k.a., teh hotness)

- The Perils Of Gwendoline In The Land Of Yik Yak was directed by one of my favourites: Just Jaeckin. He's the guy who did Emmanuelle and L'Histoire D'O, so I knew I had to have it. The movie should be B-grade softcore junk, but they actually put in a lot of thought into its costume and set designs, as well as the music... and the two main girls were teh hotness (one of them was none other than "Tawny Kitaen") <3

- I mainly watched Altered States for the SFX. I think that goon/wuss, William Hurt, is in this, so I really shouldn't be watching it. However, the SFX used for one of the last sequences was the same kind used for A-Ha's video "Take On Me" on the hallway at the end. You need to see the movie just for this



Addendum: I watched Kurosawa Akira's Kumonosu-jo/Spider Web Castle ("Throne Of Blood") with my little brother last night. At school, they were reading William Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Macbeth, so we watched Roman Polanski's version, Macbeth, a Playboy Production starring John Finch (great actor) last week. This week, I opted to watch Kurosawa's take on the classic tragic play.

The movie hit the right notes from the play and had a distinct look and sound to it. For one, it looked to have higher production values than Polanski's version: a bigger castle/set, more elaborate armour/costumes, better props for the woods approaching the castle, and way more extras to coordinate/choreograph in battle sequences. The interesting thing is that in a few parts of the movie, the music sounded like it came from a Noh play and the actors would go into pantomime acting, with little being said; very interesting.

This isn't to say Polanski's version is the lesser of the two, seeing as to how Polanski's is the direct play and obviously retains the language. The music warn't bad either, just a little more subdued compared to the loud, syncopated stylings of the Japanese version. John Finch and Mifune Toshiro were both excellent in their Macbeth roles. The final battle sequences are good in their own right, although I'd say if you're more action-oriented, then the swordplay at the end of Polanski's version looked better than Kurosawa's quick descent into chaos (one shot from this part was really awersome, though, and we had to rewind to see it again)

[CMoon]

Saw Ghibli's 'new' film (came out two years ago in Japan), Secret World of Arrietty. I don't think Ghibli has another adult film in them (unless Miyazaki completely retires or loosens the reins), but I enjoy children's films, and this was a very pleasant, gentle affair. For those who don't know, this is an adaptation of 'The Borrowers' (I've never read 'em), and so the film spends its first half creating our world writ large. There is great care taken here and I think Hiromasa Yonebayashi (the director) is very effective in making us re-imagine the world from the perspective of three inches tall. Part of this is accomplished through the manipulation of sound effects (slowing down + reverb), and actually manages to make a house feel a bit like a labyrinth; but this is only a passing theme and the film quickly moves into its second act.

Arrietty works a bit like Totoro in its structure. After the world and premise has been established, a crisis emerges. Nothing so alarming as Mononoke or Nausicaa, but a crisis nonetheless, and where Totoro required the help of Totoro itself, Arrietty requires the help of a human being, who in some ways may be the veiled main character.

Some of the english dub felt awkward here to me, especially when the human, 'Sean', brings up casually that he is suffering from a medical condition that he believes is fatal. In other places, Arrietty feels too talky--another, though unintentional reference to Totoro.

At its best, 'Secret World' lives up to its title, exploring some of the thoughts and emotions of the secret worlds that children create through naive curiosity and sensitivity. On its own, this is a small masterpiece (beyond the dub), in the world of Ghibli however I think it will be thought of as less imaginative than Spirited Away and less memorable than Totoro. Hopefully it is respected enough (and it should be) to put Hiromasa Yonebayashi at the helm of additional films.

[Raytrace]

watching Ran - amaze so far

[Moniker]

Saw Woman in Black. Harry Potter was better than expected, but then not a whole lot was asked of him. A lot of walking down dark hallways with a candle, reach a room, candle goes out, scary shit happens, turn around and go down another long hallway, &c.

[Skykid]

Saw Woman in Black. Harry Potter was better than expected, but then not a whole lot was asked of him. A lot of walking down dark hallways with a candle, reach a room, candle goes out, scary shit happens, turn around and go down another long hallway, &c.

He's a really nice kid, and I think a lot more of Daniel Radcliffe since seeing him in interviews. But the guy is a hopeless actor with a capital H.

Tonight I watched...

Thankskilling.

And I'll soon be killing James and Theo for giving it to me.

(Not really, it gave me some chuckles. "Gobble gobble motherfucker!")

[CMoon]

*sighs* Apparently the voice over at the end of Secret World of Arrietty is not in the original Japanese...meaning the ending has a forced resolution. I hate saying this because I know there are people who refuse to see these films in the theatre because of the dub; on the other hand, I hate the idea of Ghibli films being altered.

[xbl0x180]

*sighs* Apparently the voice over at the end of Secret World of Arrietty is not in the original Japanese...meaning the ending has a forced resolution. I hate saying this because I know there are people who refuse to see these films in the theatre because of the dub; on the other hand, I hate the idea of Ghibli films being altered.

That resolves the matter: I will not be bothering to see the movie

[Estebang]

Yeah, I was already gonna wait for the US DVD/Bluray of Arrietty to see it in Japanese.

John Lasseter's fanboyism was the reason Disney got involved with Ghibli in the first place; you'd think he would have stopped them from adding unnecessary voiceovers like it's the theatrical cut of Blade Runner. I don't know if he's actually still involved with their Ghibli releases, though.

[Necronopticous]

Oh, lord. I saw the trailer for the English dub of Arrietty a few days ago and cringed throughout. It looked absolutely atrocious. I saw the original a while back and loved it to death. I seriously have so much to say about this movie I will not even get started because I will sit here typing all night. Amazing film.

- Kwaidan is excellent Horror fare (also put out by Criterion Collection ). My favourite and what I consider the most memorable was the story of monk pictured on the cover. I remember thinking it was a bit long, but it could be viewed in smaller bite-sized pieces. It's definitely a must-see for any Horror afficionado

I am a fan of Masaki Kobayashi so I was super stoked for Kwaidan but I couldn't get into it. It reminded me a lot of when I tried to watch Akira Kurosawa's "Dreams." There is something about these artsy films composed entirely of short films that just totally turns me off and I spend the entirety of the few segments I am able to get through bored and uninterested. It's a shame because I think Kobayashi is an absolutely incredible and underrated filmmaker who was decades ahead of his time in that time period ('60s). Two of my all-time favorite Japanese period dramas were directed by him around the same time as Kwaidan: "Harakiri" in '62 and "Samurai Rebellion" in '67. I highly, highly recommend these two films, but I just couldn't find any enjoyment in Kwaidan unfortunately.

A few days ago I watched "Guilty of Romance"--the final film in Sion Sono's 'Hate' trilogy. After Love Exposure and Cold Fish it was a pretty big let-down, even if it has a few good sequences. It really is not even in the same class as these two previous films. I was partially reminded of "Strange Circus," although there was almost nothing redeeming about that piece of shit. I still regard this guy as one of the most important guys making movies right now, and I am anxious to see what he will go on to do. I truly believe that his lesser films are not at all representative of what he is truly capable of, and are more a result of his notoriously hurried nature, and I still firmly believe that Love Exposure is the greatest film ever made.

Also, I finally talked my girlfriend into watching Casablanca with me on my new HTPC. This was my first time seeing the HD remaster (I heard that they painstakingly did it frame by frame). It looked absolutely incredible in 1080p and my girlfriend really loved it. My dog fell asleep. He thinks old movies are a bore.