Movies you've just watched

[Skykid]

Saw the 2nd reboot of Star Trek: Into Darkness, that sexy Brit actress by the name of Alice Eve...she's got the goods with that skin tight uniform on. It's been said on the first day on set of filming ST:ID, Alice tripped and fell on her ass which actor Zachary Quinto laughed out loud when he saw this. She said she was embarrassed and wouldn't forgive Quinto for that little stint/accident.

Is that her name? She was god-awful, a total embarrassment to watch. Must have friends in high places to make it into the movies, because she can't act and she's not even very attractive.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yeah, that's her name alrighty. So what other films has she appeared in besides the Star Trek: Into Darkness flick?

There's a Tribble cameo appearance for the old-school Trekkers as well in this 2nd rebooted outing.

Makes me wonder how this new-fangled upcoming Star Wars Episode 7 will turn out in two years time for 2015 with J.J. Abrams at the helm directing it. I've got a feeling that Disney will want to meet the May 2015 debut deadline (as all the other past SW films have made their debuts during that month). Of course, in the Hollywood film industry, the month of May is the official start of the big-budgeted summer blockbuster film season -- it's a given.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Skykid]

Makes me wonder how this new-fangled upcoming Star Wars Episode 7 will turn out in two years time for 2015 with J.J. Abrams at the helm directing it.

It'll be consistent. Abrams is more imaginative and more competent than many of his peers in the field of popcorn entertainment. He's certainly doing more than Spielberg is managing these days. After Indy4 the man's power has seriously diminished.

I haven't followed (or seen) any of the expected hubub on the internet regarding these ST reboots - I'm sure forums are aflame with angry mobs - but Star Trek fans have far less to complain about than Star Wars fans did with Lucas' shitty prequels. At least ST reboots follow the original themes and attempt to do justice to the material. Of all the awful franchise regurgitations (Transformers et al) the ST movies and the recent Dredd seem to be turning a corner.

[lilmanjs]

Martial Arts of Shaolin.
This is it seems part of a series of movies, but I've not seen the others. This is only my second Shaw Brothers movie I've ever seen and is quite a lot different than the one I've seen. I expected this to be mostly sets and action, but there was a good storyline, comedy that wasn't lost on the viewer(which goes to show Jet Li can be a damn good comedy actor) and what was most important was the fight scenes. They were done very well and you can tell there was a shift to what martial arts movies started to become in the late 80s and early 90s. They seemed to either wait forever and a day to film this movie, or got really lucky on finding all the sunny parts of China to film this movie in. The only gripe is how the final fight scene ends, as its just all of a sudden done. Worth a watch.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

One of my favorite kung-fu films watching back in the early '80s was none other than "Master of the Flying Guillotine" circa 1976. Such crazy hapless victims' heads come right off in a flash if they're within range of it's formidable and dangerous handler. The Sacramento, CA based Channel 31 TV station used to show such '70s kung-fu films every Saturday afternoon during the American ninja flick surge that was the rage/popular at the time. I got a kick out of watching some of those films where our heroes end up bleeding alot with fake blood everywhere and still beat the shit out of their small fry enemies/number 2 henchman/final boss. Those were the days.

So on any given Saturday afternoon, you really didn't know what slick '70s kung-fu film was going to be shown next. These were the days before the FCC started cracking down on what the local TV stations could show and not show in terms of graphic violence, nudity and whatnot on the public TV airwaves in the mid '80s (certainly before the days of "wardrobe malfunctions" & all). It was a cool mixed "grab bag" selection indeed. And those crazy dubbed English voiceovers, priceless.

It's been said that actor Michael Winslow did many voice-overs & added sound effects for those 70s kung-fu films back in the day.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[GaijinPunch]

Worthy of a post I think...

Japan has long since been laughed at (mainly by it's local foreign population) at some of the dip shit names it comes up with for western films. Olympus Has Fallen is making the rounds now, billed as End of White House. Poetry.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Why go with the name change of End of White House when the original title of Olympus Has Fallen stands on it's own? Plently of deaths, destruction and chaos ensues in this flick indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BIL]

Saw New Star Trek. Even as a non-fan (thought I have thoroughly enjoyed the odd episodes of TOS and TNG), I found the fanservice nauseating at points. My condolences Trekkies. Bendydick Cucumberpatch is thoroughly excellent, and makes Pine's Kirk look like a total whiny pussy ("YOU ARE A CRIMMINAL" :[ <- LMAO!), but why oh why did this have to be Popular Old Trek Movie II: Hyper Fighting?! But as a big mock-dangerous space adventure it works well enough.

[Ed Oscuro]

Martial Arts of Shaolin.
This is it seems part of a series of movies, but I've not seen the others. This is only my second Shaw Brothers movie I've ever seen and is quite a lot different than the one I've seen. I expected this to be mostly sets and action, but there was a good storyline, comedy that wasn't lost on the viewer(which goes to show Jet Li can be a damn good comedy actor) and what was most important was the fight scenes. They were done very well and you can tell there was a shift to what martial arts movies started to become in the late 80s and early 90s. They seemed to either wait forever and a day to film this movie, or got really lucky on finding all the sunny parts of China to film this movie in. The only gripe is how the final fight scene ends, as its just all of a sudden done. Worth a watch.

I'm pullin' for ya man. Was the first movie 36 Chambers of Shaolin? I've been meaning to see a bunch of Shaw Brothers stuff for a while now and probably want to put that one off as it's reportedly their best.

Also, this is why I ain't got time for Star Trek.

[lilmanjs]

Martial Arts of Shaolin.
This is it seems part of a series of movies, but I've not seen the others. This is only my second Shaw Brothers movie I've ever seen and is quite a lot different than the one I've seen. I expected this to be mostly sets and action, but there was a good storyline, comedy that wasn't lost on the viewer(which goes to show Jet Li can be a damn good comedy actor) and what was most important was the fight scenes. They were done very well and you can tell there was a shift to what martial arts movies started to become in the late 80s and early 90s. They seemed to either wait forever and a day to film this movie, or got really lucky on finding all the sunny parts of China to film this movie in. The only gripe is how the final fight scene ends, as its just all of a sudden done. Worth a watch.

I'm pullin' for ya man. Was the first movie 36 Chambers of Shaolin? I've been meaning to see a bunch of Shaw Brothers stuff for a while now and probably want to put that one off as it's reportedly their best.

Also, this is why I ain't got time for Star Trek.

The first Shaw Brothers movie I saw was The One-Armed Swordsman. Crazy movie that is. Martial Arts of Shaolin is strangely a series that isn't a shaw brothers series save for this movie. The first 2 are mainland china crews, but I've not seen those either. just going off info I've found. Has Jet Li actually tried more than just this movie to do comedy bits?

[null1024]

Fast & Furious 6.

I can't say that it was good [plot wise], but it was a fun watch. Shut your brain off at the door, and watch the action. Decent quips between the characters too.
I definitely enjoyed Fast 5 more [probably because the premise was just more enjoyable], but hey.

I was a little disappointed -- I heard the movie was something to the effect of "Cars and Explosions: The Movie", and there were a lot of cars, not very much going boom. Everything was over-the-top though.

The only thing that really bothered me was that mid-air catch near the end when the tank flips, that had no right or reason to happen, and broke my suspension of disbelief [seriously, the actual fuck? They could have done a bunch of other things that didn't seem so out of place there...].
And damn, that is one long-ass runway.

Not mad I saw it, dunno if I'd watch again. Where's that star rating thing from a few pages back that uses that as criteria?

[system11]

The Last Stand - ***

Arnie is back in a ridiculous pantomime action film, which honestly is just what I wanted. Storyboarding is a little disjointed in places, but it ticks all the right boxes. I even liked seeing Johnny Knoxville in it. It is what it is, and I'm glad it exists because I've missed the big guy. The only starkly uneven part is quite why everything has to end up going down in a little town in the middle of nowhere at the end, when the criminals in question pulled off one of the cleverest leader rescues I can remember seeing near the beginning of the film.

[Vexorg]

Fast and Furious 6: ***

As null1024 said, this is definitely a "check your brain at the door" movie, with just enough plot to stitch together a bunch of gratuitous action scenes into something vaguely coherent. The end result is mostly good for an evening of mindless entertainment, but expect to have your suspension of disbelief stretched to its limits on a regular basis. Even by Hollywood Summer Blockbuster standards, I counted at least three serious WTF moments in this one (a couple of which were called out above.) Oh, and the trailer is loaded with spoilers too.

[Skykid]

Fast and Furious 6: ***

As null1024 said, this is definitely a "check your brain at the door" movie, with just enough plot to stitch together a bunch of gratuitous action scenes into something vaguely coherent. The end result is mostly good for an evening of mindless entertainment, but expect to have your suspension of disbelief stretched to its limits on a regular basis. Even by Hollywood Summer Blockbuster standards, I counted at least three serious WTF moments in this one (a couple of which were called out above.) Oh, and the trailer is loaded with spoilers too.

Against all odds, I get a pleasant no-brainer fix from the F&F films, although I utterly hate the second one with every bone in my body, it's just dreadful.

There's no way I'd ever expect them to be in any way realistic (Paul Walker intelligent enough to be a double agent, lawl) and the last one was ludicrous (dat train robbery )

There's normally enough hot chicks n' fast cars to compensate for the lack of... well, everything else. I'll go and see 6 just for the hell of it when it eventually gets released here.

[WKL]

The Big Boss, Fist Of Fury, Way Of The Dragon and Enter The Dragon.

Initially considered just watching Enter The Dragon. Decided to watch The Big Boss since I hadn't watched it in years.

Ended up watching all of the above in sequential order perhaps prompted by the copious amount of cans of liquid refreshment which were purchased earlier and occupying way too much space in the lower half of the fridge.

Fist Of Fury has always narrowly been my favourite; closely followed by Enter the Dragon.

No shift in my opinion after tonight's session although the margin between the two could best be described as negligible at times.

Certainly not insinuating The Big Boss and Way Of The Dragon are significantly inferior films. They are both worthy of considerable merit in my book without question.

[Ed Oscuro]

Pulp Fiction.

Went from "goddamnit I'm not watching a film about these scumbags" to "damnit, it's over."

[Skykid]

Pulp Fiction.

Went from "goddamnit I'm not watching a film about these scumbags" to "damnit, it's over."

A modern contemporary American masterwork, Jules. Izzat seriously the first time you've seen it?

[EmperorIng]

Chicagoans know that out in Rosemont there is a mammoth flea market held every Sunday, so I went over there with my pops and spent two hours scouring the DVDs they had.

My pick-ups were some sci-fi stuff: Animatrix, Johnny Mnemonic, Lawnmower Man, Dark City, Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis - followed by Van Damme's Universal Soldier and the cop flick Tango and Cash.
Aside from Animatrix, I have seen none of these movies.
Two particular gems were:

Black Cobra, an Italian crime flick with Fred Williamson
You know it's good when the DVD itself states that it is a "rip-off of George P. Cosmatos's Cobra." I actually really love Fred "the Hammer" Williamson movies. Mean Johnny Barrows might hold the distinction as the worst movie I've ever watched in my life, and I've seen it two and a half times, Christ (the last two were tricking friends into suffering through it, so it's sort of better because I got to feed off their misery).

ROBO VAMPIRE BY GODFREY HO I MEAN "JOE LIVINGSTONE"
I've actually watched this shitty movie twice before (because I am a masochist), but as this two-minute clip demonstrates, it tells the heart-gripping tale of a man brought back to life as a robot, or just a guy with a bunch of pie tins taped to his body, fighting against an evil drug lord who has employed a Taoist priest with the power to summon an unholy vampire wearing a gorilla mask who can shoot fire-works out of his/its hands in a mad-cap bid to take over Thailand.
The DVD cover was worth the two dollars though.

[Ed Oscuro]

Pulp Fiction.

Went from "goddamnit I'm not watching a film about these scumbags" to "damnit, it's over."

A modern contemporary American masterwork, Jules. Izzat seriously the first time you've seen it?

It's amazing how much this film's dialogue permeates our world.

Just a week ago I was watching Spoony's compilation of the most unusual Christopher Walken clips. I didn't want to spoil everything, but I thought "what's that business with the Gold Watch?"

Having watched the film, you can type "getting medieval" into Google and you still can't escape Pulp Fiction influence. One of the top results is some boring gay studies book:

Carolyn Dinshaw, a Chaucer scholar and cofounding editor of GLQ: A Journal of Gay and Lesbian Studies, reveals exceptional erudition and playful good sense in her study of the contradictory medieval discourse on same-sex relations, with special attention to the 14th-century Lollard reform movement in England. At the crossroads between medieval studies and cultural studies, she both honors and argues with the groundbreaking historical projects of Michel Foucault, John Boswell, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, and Homi K. Bhabha. In addition to looking into Chaucer's The Cook's Tale, the Lollards' Twelve Conclusions, and other conventional fare, she flexes her poststructural muscles in weird but lively excursions into Robert Gluck's 1994 novel Margery Kempe and Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction.

I swear to god, you can try to hide from this film, but one day you'll be eating some rice, and it'll be waiting there for you at the bottom of the bowl.

[Moniker]

I actually read a chapter from that book (or else an essay that was reworked into the book) in grad school (Eng Lit). Pulp Fiction featured prominently. At the end of the discussion, the prof asked if anyone wanted to do a Marcellus Wallace impression.. but I had already learned from Mr. T's guest appearances on my school radio show that cross-racial impressions tend to be frowned upon.

[Skykid]

"Amma call a coupla haard, pipe-hittin' niggaz who'll go to work on the homes here wid a pair a' pliers and a blowtorch... you hear me hillbilly boy!? Amma get medieval on yo ass."

[drauch]

Oh, quoting Charley Varrick, I see.

[Ed Oscuro]

With a pair of pliers and a blowtorch?

But I think the gentleman doesn't understand the intended meaning of "pipe-hittin'" here.

[GaijinPunch]

Pulp Fiction.

Went from "goddamnit I'm not watching a film about these scumbags" to "damnit, it's over."

A modern contemporary American masterwork, Jules. Izzat seriously the first time you've seen it?

Who got best actor over Jackson that year? Shit's rigged. He was fucking awesome.
In fact, I just got the BR for $5 last trip to teh America. I think I'm going to watch it tonight.

Travolta should be blowing Tarrantino once a year for giving him his career back. (I'm sure he's tried!)

but I had already learned from Mr. T's guest appearances on my school radio show that cross-racial impressions tend to be frowned upon.

Pussy.

[Ed Oscuro]

"I don't know if that Blu-Ray's worth five dollars but it is pretty damn good."

Who got best actor over Jackson that year? Shit's rigged. He was fucking awesome.

possibly for all the street talk, who knows:

In a way Hollywood did bash Q. Pulp Fiction IMO was clearly the best movie of, was it 1994? & no Oscar ,or none that mattered. Same for Goodfellas in 1990-which had a few Jewish slurs as well.

From this enlightening Straight Dope forums thread.

[system11]

Star Trek: Into Darkness - **

I would give this 3*. I saw it tonight in the cinema, I enjoyed it - but the sound is horrendous. The voices were all at a good listenable volume, but the rest of the soundtrack is amped up so high it was actually painful to sit in the theatre. If they'd turned it down, the voices would have been too quiet. Stupid. Other than that I enjoyed most of the fan service. Final scene felt forced with the extra chase.

[Moniker]

but I had already learned from Mr. T's guest appearances on my school radio show that cross-racial impressions tend to be frowned upon.

Pussy.

Hey, you try telling a troupe of five black girls with asses the size of Buicks that they're being hypersensitive. I also couldn't think of a Wallace quote that didn't feature the word "nigga."

Although, if I could do it all over, I'd calmly inform them that niggaz ain't shit but a bunch of dicks. Prrrrraaaapppa Prrraaaang.

[Skykid]

Although, if I could do it all over, I'd calmly inform them that niggaz ain't shit but a bunch of dicks. Prrrrraaaapppa Prrraaaang.

Lol, almost forgot about that one. Weird some of the forum's best memes are race related/blackman.txt.

[BIL]

Kill List (2011) Decently potent self-destruction trip by way of outlandish crime/horror movie. Moonlighting hitman with a mortgage and a short fuse goes for one last job and starts enjoying his task a bit too much to notice the rabbit hole he's heading down. Blurs pitch-black horror with domestic mundanity, the result is pretty nightmarish. Awesome bloodcurdling soundtrack. A particularly brutal execution scene is pure animalistic catharsis, and the conclusion of Mr. Protagonist's rampage is satisfyingly absolute. Liked this, the production feels a bit made for TV but it's got atmosphere and packs a nasty punch.

REC 3 Genesis (edit: 2012) Not funny or smart enough to be horror-comedy, not intense enough to evoke real terror like the original. Does absolutely nothing interesting with its brand of zombie, and cuts itself off at the knees by explaining too much. Its obvious inspiration Demons (1985) is way fresher. It actually does have a fairly compelling videogamey premise, which made it more involving than it might've been. Decent ending. Still, not really worth it unless you're a curious fan of the earlier films.

[system11]

Bullet To The Head - ***

Stallonewatch 06/2013 - yup, still got it