Movies you've just watched

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Also: which part of Russell Crowe's contract stipulated he wasn't required to do any acting? Let's face it, he was atrocious.

That must've been some contract:

"No, I'm not dying in the first scene, I'll be in the whole movie. I'll come back as a ghost or something. No, I shouldn't have to act".

There was probably something in there about green bagels too.

[Skykid]

"All my scenes are to be shot in one day. I will read the script once and repeat once, and only once. If the camera is not rolling, there will not be another chance. I am not required to put any effort into saying my lines, since you haven't put any effort into writing them. Also fuck you all, I'm Australian and may be either drunk or hungover on the day. This in no way will affect my paycheck. Also, I am allowed to physically assault extras if I feel the urge."

[emphatic]

Thanks for lowering my expectations so much that I'll probably enjoy watching Man Of Steel tonight.

[trap15]

Saw A Force Of One the other night. Probably give it a 3/5. The ending was goddamn amazing though, and I think I'd rewatch it just for that.

Last night I watched Walking Tall: Part II. Probably should have seen part 1 first, but it was good. Solid 4/5. Definitely recommend watching.

Guess I'm on a bit of a 70s streak recently.

[emphatic]

Man Of Steel (3D) - 3/5. Will watch again for the magnificent action scenes.

[drauch]

Damn, Skykid. You actually like Watchmen? Or any Zack Snider film in general? I can't imagine how awful Man of Steel must be, then. Watchmen is easily one of my worst theatrical experiences, just trailing behind Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, that I've ever had--and hope to ever had. Poor adaptations aside, Snider is such a garbage director. Shoot a bunch of shit, gloss it up with CGI and airbrush, and press the slow-motion button. Presto! 45 minutes of poorly directed material is now a two hour theatrical film. Instant blockbuster success and IMDB ratings through the roof.

[Skykid]

Man Of Steel (3D) - 3/5. Will watch again for the magnificent action scenes.

Despair.

Damn, Skykid. You actually like Watchmen? Or any Zack Snider film in general? I can't imagine how awful Man of Steel must be, then. Watchmen is easily one of my worst theatrical experiences, just trailing behind Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, that I've ever had--and hope to ever had. Poor adaptations aside, Snider is such a garbage director. Shoot a bunch of shit, gloss it up with CGI and airbrush, and press the slow-motion button. Presto! 45 minutes of poorly directed material is now a two hour theatrical film. Instant blockbuster success and IMDB ratings through the roof.

Hmm. Can't disagree with your general appraisal based on recent work (and 300), but as I said, Watchmen surprised me. It was a far more faithful adaptation than I was expecting anyone to pull off. I actually thought it was unfilmable in the general 2 hour format and should be serialised, so my expectations were low. But honestly, he stuck to the script. Most of the dialogue was already written (and used, sensibly), it was violent as necessary (rated 18 in the UK) and captured the characters well. I have no real issue with that movie (apart from the bad guy, who was really poorly cast.)

Dawn of the Dead made me laugh. :shrugs:

But everything else, sure, I'm with you. Man of Steel is probably the worst thing he's done though, so if you don't like any of his other drivel, steer well clear.

[GaijinPunch]

A Good Day to Die Hard

iTunes rental for the plane. Had REALLY low expectations. Not a golden turd, but not really good either. The action scenes were actually pretty awesome, I have to admit. The story was kinda bland though, and while one of the villains kind of stood out, I think Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons have ruined this series, as they will likely not hire anyone to top them. I think I enjoyed it better than the 2nd one though -- the biggest let down in the series.

[Skykid]

I think I enjoyed it better than the 2nd one though -- the biggest let down in the series.

Assuming you aren't classing Live Free or Die Hard as part of the series? I'd take DH2 over that any day.

As for AGDTDH, completely agree with your opinion.

[boagman]

However, The Blue Umbrella was absolutely fantastic in 3D, much like Wreck It Ralph's Paper Man. Those two animated shorts hit me in the feels and gave me chills. Maybe they should have played The Blue Umbrella last instead of opening with it

Interesting. TBU didn't really do anything for me at all, and I'm not sure that 3D would have helped it at all. Perhaps I'm not giving it enough credit, but I thought it was pretty low on the Pixar short barometer.

Three out of five for MU? I think that's pretty harsh, but if I'd paid the extra 3D surcharge, I might be more inclined to agree with your point, too. The whole 3D being an extra few bucks thing is really getting old, especially since most all of it *sucks badly*.

[boagman]

Also: which part of Russell Crowe's contract stipulated he wasn't required to do any acting? Let's face it, he was atrocious.

Expound, please: are you saying that Crowe was atrocious *here*, or that he's always atrocious? Having not seen MoS, I can't hope to call what you're saying into question, but if you're insinuating that the man hasn't acted well in the past, I'm going to disagree with you just about as hard as I can. He may (or may not...again: I haven't seen this movie) be lousy in MoS, but he's been absolutely exceptional in at least a few movies, and he's carried his own weight in far more than just those few.

Everyone's allowed a miss now and then (and you're *absolutely* allowed to call him on it if he did...), but for crying out loud, if you're saying the man can't act, I have serious concerns about how you judge acting ability.

[boagman]

"All my scenes are to be shot in one day. I will read the script once and repeat once, and only once. If the camera is not rolling, there will not be another chance. I am not required to put any effort into saying my lines, since you haven't put any effort into writing them. Also fuck you all, I'm Australian and may be either drunk or hungover on the day. This in no way will affect my paycheck. Also, I am allowed to physically assault extras if I feel the urge."

Christian Bale?

[boagman]

Watchmen is easily one of my worst theatrical experiences, just trailing behind Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, that I've ever had--and hope to ever had.

I want to be your friend.

[boagman]

A Good Day to Die Hard I think I enjoyed it better than the 2nd one though -- the biggest let down in the series.

Those must be some *seriously* good drugs if you think that the fourth movie ("Live Free or Die Hard") wasn't the worst one in the series...by a longshot. I'm not defending DH2 as being a graceful swan or anything, but LFODH was just *so* stinking awful, that I'm thinking you must have simply forgotten about it.

I will save you from having to watch it: it's really, really, really, really, *really* lousy. And it has Justin Long in it.

You're welcome.

[Skykid]

Also: which part of Russell Crowe's contract stipulated he wasn't required to do any acting? Let's face it, he was atrocious.

Expound, please: are you saying that Crowe was atrocious *here*, or that he's always atrocious?

I'm baffled as to why you felt compelled to even ask the question? The statement was obviously based on his performance in MoS.

He's certainly been overrated before, but he's certainly got ability. In MoS he's absolutely useless though - but again, these things come down to the director a lot of the time.

[GaijinPunch]

I think I enjoyed it better than the 2nd one though -- the biggest let down in the series.

Assuming you aren't classing Live Free or Die Hard as part of the series? I'd take DH2 over that any day.

As for AGDTDH, completely agree with your opinion.

Going in to 2, I expected them to delivery around the same caliber as one did. As such, a huge let down. Even now... watched it recently in the collection, and just didn't feel it, as I never did anyway. For the 4th installment, I went in with moderate to very low expectations (the PG-13 really made this one DOA for me) and it delivered about where I thought it would. So, while I think the 2nd is better than the 4th, the let-down factor is still there.

Those must be some *seriously* good drugs if you think that the fourth movie ("Live Free or Die Hard") wasn't the worst one in the series...by a longshot.

Just to clarify further, I'm only talking about the expectation versus delivery. The 4th is definitely the worst in the series. McLane w/ no F-Bombs? That's like pussy w/ hair on it. However, I kind of expected it.

[boagman]

Those must be some *seriously* good drugs if you think that the fourth movie ("Live Free or Die Hard") wasn't the worst one in the series...by a longshot.

Just to clarify further, I'm only talking about the expectation versus delivery. The 4th is definitely the worst in the series. McLane w/ no F-Bombs? That's like pussy w/ hair on it. However, I kind of expected it.

Gotcha. That's crystal clear, and I can agree with what you're saying.

[boagman]

Also: which part of Russell Crowe's contract stipulated he wasn't required to do any acting? Let's face it, he was atrocious.

Expound, please: are you saying that Crowe was atrocious *here*, or that he's always atrocious?

I'm baffled as to why you felt compelled to even ask the question? The statement was obviously based on his performance in MoS.

He's certainly been overrated before, but he's certainly got ability. In MoS he's absolutely useless though - but again, these things come down to the director a lot of the time.

I just wanted to be sure that you weren't throwing the baby out with the bath water. That's all.

[rapoon]

Man of Steel - religious overtones and poor acting. decent fight scenes.

World War Z - Good

Stoker - Chan-Wook Park's newest film (western). A bit anticlimactic but still very good.

Looking forward to: Only God Forgives, Salinger, Rush, Ain't Them Bodies Saints

[lilmanjs]

Heroes Shed No Tears
This is a movie that John Woo wasn't entirely happy with due to too much studio interference with the movie. I could tell with some parts dragging on too long like the gambling scene in the random remote village. The action isn't as fierce as in his later movies, but when there's action you can tell he knew even back in 1986 what he was doing. Even though this came out after A Better Tomorrow, it actually was shot first, so you can tell some of the stuff isn't as polished as his later stuff. Still the story wasn't half bad, and the action was pretty decent. So for a movie that supposedly started off the Heroic Bloodshed genre of movies, this is quite nice. a solid ***.

[drauch]

I completely agree. Never knew the backstory regarding the studio interference, so that sort of makes me feel a little better about some of the awkward comedy and overdrawn scenes in the middle of the film. Definitely a precursor to the stuff to come in the near future, as it's full of intense action, friendship, and melodramatic tragedy.

[Skykid]

For anyone interested, redlettermedia.com have done Man of Steel.

Http://redlettermedia.com/half-in-the-bag-man-of-steel/

Love these guys, so accurate as ever. Don't worry about spoilers, by the end you'll be convinced not to watch it anyway (which is a good thing.)

[GaijinPunch]

I watched it last night. I went in hoping for a good popcorn flick and that's what I've got. No heresy for me as I'v never been a huge Superman fan. Action itself was worth the price of admission.

[Skykid]

I have no idea what the fuck is wrong with you people. In the kindest possible sense of course.

[GaijinPunch]

Gaybe

Maybe it's b/c I'm in San Francisco during Pride weekend, or maybe the whole DOMA shenanigans, but I thought this was awesome. It has the whole "New Yorkers hate walking 3 blocks" humor found in Sex and the City, but the pretentiousness is wrapped up in the gay humor and pretty funny. LOL'ed a lot. Even some subtle humor thrown in, and tons of awkwardness. 5.8 rating on IMDB? I'm going to lump this one with The Weatherman as a movie that America just doesn't get. The story is indeed just a vehicle for some NY style humor, but it delivers, which is what a comedy is supposed to do.

[GaijinPunch]

I have no idea what the fuck is wrong with you people. In the kindest possible sense of course.

I hold films to different standards based on what I think should be delivered. Super hero movies across the board need to entertain me for 2 hours (or closer to three for Nolan's DK series) and that's about it. If it does that, I'm satisfied.

[Skykid]

Standards for me are pretty black and white.

"That was a decent popcorn flick."

"That movie was a total piece of shit."

Not much else to it really.

In-depth discussion is pointless anyway, since I can just refer to the redletter guys, who basically nailed it when they said, "I would recommend this movie to... nobody. "

It is a really awful film, full stop. I was battling the urge to leave/sleep.

[GaijinPunch]

I guess I was mesmerized by the pecs.

[emphatic]

I hold films to different standards based on what I think should be delivered.

^^THIS. I just don't get people who can't change their mindset to what's being offered.

[neorichieb1971]

Just watched some of the redletter gang reviewing superman.

They bring up some interesting points. There is a lot that requires more explanation than what was given. My personal favourite is the bit where the prisoners got locked up for 20 minutes and escaped krypton, whilst everyone on the planet died.

And GP, the action was too much. I swear I felt pummelled for 35 minutes to 45 minutes of the movie. The only thing they left out was the bit where the Earth exploded.