Movies you've just watched

[Acid King]

The original was directed by Abel Ferrara. Dude's a Grindhouse and Indie king for movie buffs. Besides, it's got nicolas coppola in it, so it's gotta be s***

He had some hilarious things to say about the Bad Lieutenant remake. I liked King of New York, Driller Killer, and the aforementioned Bad Lieutenant, haven't seen much else of his.

[Hagane]

REC 3. The intro with the wedding was a bit overlong, but the rest of the movie was great. I like the take on "zombies" it has, and the mix of silly humor, terror and B-movie winks is pretty tight.

It's also pretty cool that they move away from the hand camera formula. Shows that they can do a good movie without that gimmick. I've seen fans of the first two series rant about how it doesn't feel like a REC movie, but personally I think the changes were for the better, and the horror is still there regardless of the bizarre humor.

[xbl0x180]

The original was directed by Abel Ferrara. Dude's a Grindhouse and Indie king for movie buffs. Besides, it's got nicolas coppola in it, so it's gotta be s***

He had some hilarious things to say about the Bad Lieutenant remake. I liked King of New York, Driller Killer, and the aforementioned Bad Lieutenant, haven't seen much else of his.

You need to see Ms. 45 and his 90s remake of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (with Meg Tilly).



Guess who went on to become inspired by Zoe's look from 1979?

[xbl0x180]

I liked it. Best soundtrack in a movie in... a fucking very long time.

The chemistry between the Ryan [Gosling] and what's-her-butt was perfect. <sigh>

That was the main problem where the movie derailed from totally awersome to cliche. In this respect, Walter Hill's inferior-looking (and sounding) The Driver is miles ahead of Drive. There's just tighter writing, scene editing, and better acting in the former. Ryan O'Neal's character remains the silent-type on the level of a Melville Gangster to the very end - he has no friends, no love interests, has his own code of honour/ethics/work. Ryan Gosling's character begins the same as the real cool, silent-type... and then becomes some kind of Asperger Syndrome/"Donnie Darko" guy; by the time he shows how tough he is (like at the diner scene where he tells the guy to get lost or at the motel scene), I don't buy it anymore: he is way too stilted and weak. The love interest is what brought the character down to cliche level, as if the writer was channeling Michael Mann or somethin'

[Skykid]

I liked it. Best soundtrack in a movie in... a fucking very long time.

The chemistry between the Ryan [Gosling] and what's-her-butt was perfect. <sigh>

That was the main problem where the movie derailed from totally awersome to cliche. In this respect, Walter Hill's inferior-looking (and sounding) The Driver is miles ahead of Drive. There's just tighter writing, scene editing, and better acting in the former. Ryan O'Neal's character remains the silent-type on the level of a Melville Gangster to the very end - he has no friends, no love interests, has his own code of honour/ethics/work. Ryan Gosling's character begins the same as the real cool, silent-type... and then becomes some kind of Asperger Syndrome/"Donnie Darko" guy; by the time he shows how tough he is (like at the diner scene where he tells the guy to get lost or at the motel scene), I don't buy it anymore: he is way too stilted and weak. The love interest is what brought the character down to cliche level, as if the writer was channeling Michael Mann or somethin'

The entire mafioso plot brought the movie down to cliche level, and then proceeded to tick off a checklist of mafioso cliches. It was disappointing that they had the right look, character and vibe, but no original material with which to create a decent script. It just lacked imagination, which wasn't what I expected from the opening 15 mins.

[jonny5]

The original was directed by Abel Ferrara. Dude's a Grindhouse and Indie king for movie buffs. Besides, it's got nicolas coppola in it, so it's gotta be s***

He had some hilarious things to say about the Bad Lieutenant remake. I liked King of New York, Driller Killer, and the aforementioned Bad Lieutenant, haven't seen much else of his.

Check out Fear City. And I watched that Bad Lieutenant 'sequel'; not bad, although I find it hard to watch newer movies with Nicolas Cage. Not sure why, I like his old stuff, but almost all his new stuff makes me cringe.

Definitely preferred the Ferrara original.

[xbl0x180]

The chemistry between the Ryan [Gosling] and what's-her-butt was perfect. <sigh>

That was the main problem where the movie derailed from totally awersome to cliche. In this respect, Walter Hill's inferior-looking (and sounding) The Driver is miles ahead of Drive. There's just tighter writing, scene editing, and better acting in the former. Ryan O'Neal's character remains the silent-type on the level of a Melville Gangster to the very end - he has no friends, no love interests, has his own code of honour/ethics/work. Ryan Gosling's character begins the same as the real cool, silent-type... and then becomes some kind of Asperger Syndrome/"Donnie Darko" guy; by the time he shows how tough he is (like at the diner scene where he tells the guy to get lost or at the motel scene), I don't buy it anymore: he is way too stilted and weak. The love interest is what brought the character down to cliche level, as if the writer was channeling Michael Mann or somethin'

The entire mafioso plot brought the movie down to cliche level, and then proceeded to tick off a checklist of mafioso cliches. It was disappointing that they had the right look, character and vibe, but no original material with which to create a decent script. It just lacked imagination, which wasn't what I expected from the opening 15 mins.

I think I can deal with mafiosi cliches better than Drama/Romance cliches. If the Romantic interest sequences had been cut out in the editing room, the movie would suddenly look really good

[1up]

I watched Iron Sky this weekend. Space Nazi from the dark side of the moon. Space Zeppelins. UFOs, future tech weaponry, crazy Strikers1945 machinery....

Movie had so much potential but didn't deliver ANYTHING. What a letdown.

[Skykid]

I think I can deal with mafiosi cliches better than Drama/Romance cliches. If the Romantic interest sequences had been cut out in the editing room, the movie would suddenly look really good

I was just disappointed it turned out to be mafioso themed at all. I thought the premise of him being his own boss, a driver for hire who will do anything for a price, is a perfect premise as it is - it didn't need all the rest of it. The romance was overbearing and took up too much screen time, and the dialogue and acting was clunky (Ron Perlman and the other chap particularly.) It had style but no grace, I really expected a lot more to be done with the concept of the main character.

[xbl0x180]

Oh, I know what you're saying. Hell, there was perfectly awersome material they coulda worked with on the stuntman angle, on the stock car racer angle (they never fired up that baby!), on the getaway driver angle, but they went with the most trite and contrived story devices with the weird romance interest and botched heist set-up, which was even weirder and more improbable: Jewish, Italian, and Armenian gansters mixed-up with a lowly latino street hood named "Standard"? What...?! Any one of those three woulda shot this dude and cut their losses.

And I think you're referring to Albert Brooks as "the other chap" (the office guy with Cybill Shepherd from Taxi Driver... HA!)

[Skykid]

Shame.

Interesting subject. Not a bad film, but comes across as a bit of a surface scratcher. And depressing.

[emphatic]

The Avengers (3D) - 4/5

A lot of awesome stuff going on in this flick, The Hulk especially really shines.

[Moniker]

Are we still talking about Drive? It's the best movie ever (in 2011). Nothing more to say.

Anyway, recently I saw The Hunger Games, and read the books. A solid "meh" all around. A poor man's Ender's Game with some Twilight-stylie relationships.
The Long Goodbye (Robert Altman edition) - decent noir. Watched it in several sittings, so it probably would've been better otherwise. Worth watching.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - I actually liked it better than the Swedish version. I may be gay for Daniel Craig. TBH, though, they were pretty similar. I hated the Swedish "Girl who Played with Fire," so hopefully the Hollywood version does it better.
The Last Temptation of Christ - Liked it a whole lot more than I expected. As a lapsed/renounced Catholic, I'm doomed to be intrigued by faith for the rest of my life. This was one of the best and most honest examinations of the most central mystery of faith I've seen. Super-highly recommended.

[BIL]

The Virgin Spring (1960). Kind of story that can really stick in your mind, with its ambiguous look at the line between justice and revenge. Apparently Bergman later disliked the conclusion for supposedly advocating the existence of God, but I don't feel it does any more than affirming the pagan beliefs also referenced. I thought the ending emphasised the void between faith and brutal reality, if anything.

[trap15]

Nazis at the Center of the Earth.

Yes it's exactly as bad as it sounds. Do not recommend.

[Raytrace]

Nazis at the Center of the Earth.

Yes it's exactly as bad as it sounds. Do not recommend.

what is it about - all that Shambala/Nicholas Roerich type stuff?

I just watched Hot Rod - it was ok but not as full on belly laugh lulz as I like my comedies...

[trap15]

Nazis at the Center of the Earth.

Yes it's exactly as bad as it sounds. Do not recommend.

what is it about - all that Shambala/Nicholas Roerich type stuff?

There are nazi zombies that kidnapped a couple researchers from Antarctica and started using their organs to replace their own and to resurrect Hitler as a giant robot with lasers and a machine gun. Also they built a giant UFO.

[Skykid]

Are we still talking about Drive? It's the best movie ever (in 2011). Nothing more to say.

2011 was so shit for movies it's unreal, so Drive is definitely a contender for the top spot. It's pipped by The Artist however - although not by a great deal - but pipped nonetheless.

Source Code and The Help were ok too.

[Raytrace]

Nazis at the Center of the Earth.

Yes it's exactly as bad as it sounds. Do not recommend.

what is it about - all that Shambala/Nicholas Roerich type stuff?

There are nazi zombies that kidnapped a couple researchers from Antarctica and started using their organs to replace their own and to resurrect Hitler as a giant robot with lasers and a machine gun. Also they built a giant UFO.

oh ok I thought it was making a reference to the Tibetan stuff etc. - does sound like a shit film tbh - was the UFO bell shaped?

[trap15]

oh ok I thought it was making a reference to the Tibetan stuff etc. - does sound like a shit film tbh - was the UFO bell shaped?

Kinda sorta. Trailer is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwQk7Sn_cwk. Again, I highly don't recommend it >_>

[Raytrace]

oh ok that does look proper shit hahah

[chempop]

Sarah's Key - It's about the Jews being deported from France during WW2. Overlapping is a (modern) story about a reporter who is trying to locate a possible survivor. I was rather emotional through this, the acting of the lead child was amazing.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - About a boy who loses his father in 911 attack. Most of the film is about the kid romping around the city looking for the lock that matches a mysterious key he finds among his Dad's stuff. Despite the subject matter, it was quite a humorous adventure.

[CMoon]

Watched Kobayashi's Samurai Rebellion. To the best of my knowledge, this director didn't make that many films, but what he did make was outstanding. At times, his work feels like Samurai flicks made by Kubrick. Unfortunately he's overshadowed by Kurosawa, which is a pity, because both directors feel very different, Kobayashi coming off as much more modern. I've got the Human Condition trilogy in my cue, but I'm suspicious this will be something very different than Qwaidan/Harakiri/Samurai Rebellion.

Anyway, I don't see that many films that I can be really positive about. Samurai Rebellion is precisely the kind of film which makes me resentful of everything else.

[xbl0x180]

A lot of those Japanese classics I get confused, but I just know that some of the best directors are Teshigahara, Kurosawa, Ozu, Mizoguchi, and... Kobayashi! Where did I get his name?! From Hara Kiri!

[DEL]

Just seen The Hunger Games in the cinema. Shaky Cam alert! The first 15mins are 1 second cuts, shaky cam, out of focus & back in. I had to look away from the screen .
My hope was that this crap would end and the film would settle down to something watchable.
Luckily it did. Overall not bad.
I've seen the girl in Winter's Bone, which is actually more grim than the setting of The Hunger Games and is set in the present day .

[jonny5]

Finally got around to watching Drive. While I really liked the soundtrack, I was quite let down by this film. I'm not sure if it was because of all the hype and I expected more, but this was OK, not amazing as I keep hearing.

The whole 'slow motion long stares' thing, especially in the first 30 mins or so almost made me turn it off!

Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable, but not as good as everybody seems to be making it out to be. Very odd role for Ryan Gosling; this was a Jason Statham (or similar) role if I ever saw one!

[xbl0x180]

I don't mind the extended static shots in Drive. They're not overly long or try anyone's patience unless you prefer quick cuts and edits

[jonny5]

Honestly, I think if they had cast somebody else in Gosling's role, I would have enjoyed it more. Guess I found it hard to buy him as a bad ass stomping on peoples faces and shit.

[Raytrace]

Honestly, I think if they had cast somebody else in Gosling's role, I would have enjoyed it more. Guess I found it hard to buy him as a bad ass stomping on peoples faces and shit.

I would kinda agree with that, I thought he was ok in it though overall

[xbl0x180]

Honestly, I think if they had cast somebody else in Gosling's role, I would have enjoyed it more. Guess I found it hard to buy him as a bad ass stomping on peoples faces and shit.

I think he was an apt choice, esp. considering fashion and style played a big role in the look of "the driver," as well as his line of work as a stunt driver