Movies you've just watched

[Skykid]

Troll Hunter.

Fucking weird.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Just got back from watching the epic action genre flick by the name of "Savages" that was directed by Oliver Stone. It clocks in at a whopping 2 hours & 11 minutes. Sure got my $7.50's worth not knowing exactly how it was going to turn out/end. Expect some twists & spins to keep you guessing how everything's gonna go down. Not one but two endings to whet your appetite for more (when you think that the first ending is really the "one"). The audience is thrown for a loop indeed. Honestly, I would've never seen that con trick coming anyways. Plus two big gun battles/firefights worth watching again. Is based on the novel that was published back in 2010.

Mrs. Salma Hayek is sure quite an eyeful with her ample hourglass figure...still looking quite a stunner at age 45 nowdays. You might recall her as the busty vampy gal in the original "Dusk Til Dawn" campy vampire horror flick with Quentin Tarantino & co.

Most folks would cooperate with the Mexican Cartel but not this small group of guys in this flick. You'd think that the Mexican cartels would have such experienced para-military soldiers in their ranks able "to get the job done right the first time" but it really takes a backseat (just an obvious little 411 about that insider fact). Of course, the element of surprise on an enemy will gain the upper hand in the end.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

The Eiger Sanction

half idle "who thought this was a good idea" thoughts rolling through my mind, half "holy shit awesome climbing"

In terms of climbing, Eastwood obviously betters Stallone's effort, but there was some abominable stuff in here. Not exactly painful to watch but definitely a missed opportunity. How often do you get Clint Eastwood climbing up a fucking giant rock pillar? I mean, actually climbing, no trick spliced shots or screen composition. Unfortunately, everybody thought that was faked, and the other half of the movie wasn't really good.

Also, I know you all wanted to watch this:

Clint Eastwood meets Mr. Ed

[Mischief Maker]

Troll Hunter.

Fucking weird.

I think you mean, "the ultimate parody of the 'found footage' genre." Gotta love the dry humor of the glowering government spook stomping around in bear boots. And man, cameras that <I>break</I> when you drop them?

[Ed Oscuro]

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.

YES.

It doesn't end on a totally bizarre, out of character line either. In fact, after they got done with the rather fake-looking flames and wavy cloth of the intro, it picked right up and didn't look back. Pretty classy all about. Actually, one step back: This movie has one of the few animated corporate logos I actually like, an elegant but complicated thing that has the logo of "H.Brothers" appearing out of clouds and looking very much like the text for that animated Salamander OVA. (The other animated corporate logo I like is probably the classic silver United Artists logo.) Back to the film: Classic Chinese haberdashery, not totally ridiculous hats worn by goofballs trying to look through George Kennedy's telescope. It doesn't even make any racist stereotypes about the Umayyad ambassador, either (surprisingly, a guy dressed like a Roman is speaking Spanish in China, but apparently this has at least a tenuous association with reality). Plenty of interesting spins on typical cliches, and when the plot twists start building, you get the full realization that not only did they foreshadow it appropriately, but it only builds to the central message (yes, there is one!) of the movie. There is even a nice scene where the Detective makes a short speech against torture. It doesn't quite rival Patrick Stewart's "four lights" speech against torture but it was a nice touch.

Certainly enough of a breath of fresh air that I can now move on to Hard Boiled! No regrets over the amusingly dated Atlas International and Golden Princess Film Production Limited logos, either.

Update: I'm not worried for my typing yet, but after seeing the intro sequence, I had to find some tequilla. Done. Drunk straight.

Then I decided to "eat" something, so here's a little can of tomato sauce. Dumped into a glass, it was flat, so I added a bunch of Lee & Perrin's Worchestshire sauce, and Kikkoman's soy sauce. Then a fair helping of Seagram's Vodka. I'm gonna go crosseyed, but man it's awesome, and it makes staying focused feel even more awesome. Anyway, I probably won't be in shape to describe the movie, so I'll let this guy describe what I hope to watch soon. All of it.

But let me try for the first three minutes and fifty seconds of the movie: Clarinet. City lights poetry. The seamy side. Birds are awesome (and hopefully they don't explode into flames in their cages). Playboy, it makes you go blind (possibly aided by masturbation). Chow Yun Fat is holding that birdcage like a waiter holding a covered dinner, but I suspect we're not about to find out they're roadies with Ozzy Osbourne, although I wouldn't shed a tear if they shot the sonofabitch. Yep, coming up: Less alcohol, more movie. I hope; I think the sauce ought to float above the tomato sauce.

Update #2: 4:38, I'm imagining the bird with its beak open saying those lines ("I don't want to live anywhere else.") FRESH sponge cake!

Update #3: 11:08, man, you were looking promising to be a staple for the film, as was Tequilla's blue-shirted partner. Well, I guess I know where half the guns for The Opera come from now.

[Skykid]

Troll Hunter.

Fucking weird.

I think you mean, "the ultimate parody of the 'found footage' genre." Gotta love the dry humor of the glowering government spook stomping around in bear boots. And man, cameras that <I>break</I> when you drop them?

It was definitely the ultimate parody of the Bare Widtch/Paradormal Fractivity genre - although that doesn't necessarily qualify it as a great film. I did find it amusing though: nutty idea played out with broad strokes. Makes you wonder if there are dodgy CG trolls living in them thar hills.

[emphatic]

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.

YES.

^^This.

But let me try for the first three minutes and fifty seconds of the movie: Clarinet. City lights poetry. The seamy side. Birds are awesome (and hopefully they don't explode into flames in their cages). Playboy, it makes you go blind (possibly aided by masturbation). Chow Yun Fat is holding that birdcage like a waiter holding a covered dinner, but I suspect we're not about to find out they're roadies with Ozzy Osbourne, although I wouldn't shed a tear if they shot the sonofabitch. Yep, coming up: Less alcohol, more movie. I hope; I think the sauce ought to float above the tomato sauce.

Update #2: 4:38, I'm imagining the bird with its beak open saying those lines ("I don't want to live anywhere else.") FRESH sponge cake!

Update #3: 11:08, man, you were looking promising to be a staple for the film, as was Tequilla's blue-shirted partner. Well, I guess I know where half the guns for The Opera come from now.

John Woo shot the first scene before he had the rest of the story for the film laid out. At the time, triad members had shot and killed several police officers and John Woo was furious with the criminals in the area and wrote and shot the scene just to vent.

[CMoon]

Holy shit! Just watched The Thin Blue Line (1988 documentary about a man wrongly convicted of murder.) Seriously hard hitting shit with great production. I feel sort of stupid for not seeing this before. If you haven't seen it yet, you should make up for your deficiency like I did.

[Skykid]

WALL STREET

For a film chock full of shit actors it was mildly entertaining. Not sure who by, or why it's hailed as anything except fairly run-of-the-mill Hollywood gumf, but I got into its 80's slink and ran with it.

Never particularly thrilling, full of missed opportunities, and its pearls of wisdom were brief and not particularly luminous - certainly not enough to paint a picture about capitalism or corporate America, but I did like the irony of it all in light of the country's current financial decline owing to the era of Reagan's false economy in which the film exists.

As for actors, gee whiz, what a shit pot. Let's rank by value:

Martin Sheen: Gold Standard
Hal Holbrook: Oil Standard
Michael Douglas: Offshore Rig
Daryl Hannah: Ladyboy
Terence Stamp: Pawnbroker
Charlie Sheen: Skid Row

The main problem of the film is young C.Sheen, without a shadow of a doubt. Terence Stamp is his usual 'utterly useless English actor in a supporting role', but Sheen is just plainly unconvincing every step of the way. A non-existent performance that does nothing but take the wind out of an otherwise entertaining watch. If there's any saving grace, he's still slightly better than Robert Pattinson. I don't know what was funnier, the sex scene he has with Daryl Hannah, the fact Daryl Hannah appeared like some kind of transvestite parody, or the gulf of difference when he was performing opposite his dad.

Anyway, does money never sleep? Double bill time. I'm going to see if Shia LeBeef has the answer.

[Mischief Maker]

Holy shit! Just watched The Thin Blue Line (1988 documentary about a man wrongly convicted of murder.) Seriously hard hitting shit with great production. I feel sort of stupid for not seeing this before. If you haven't seen it yet, you should make up for your deficiency like I did.

Sadly, it wasn't the legal system that got this man released eventually, it was the documentary. Specifically all the witnesses confessing to perjury in the documentary.

[Skykid]

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS

A complete nothing of a movie. Aimless, unfocussed, cluttered and without any particular point. It started off well - better in some ways than the original, in that I thought there was going to be a broader look at the economy rather than a closet look at corrupt trading, but what topical issues and relevant plot threads it sniffed at quickly fizzled out under a fuzz full of love and weak moral dilemma. Gecko was back, but ultimately as flat as everything else, with no real purpose and a poor last minute attempt at redemption that didn't convince in the slightest.

By having your old cast to reprise roles, the opportunity should at least be taken to come up with a script with some clout, not hit everyone with 2 hours of loose financial jargon coated in a soap opera veneer.

The original lacked oomph, this lacked oomph and direction. Why do they even make these movies?

[Ed Oscuro]

John Woo shot the first scene before he had the rest of the story for the film laid out. At the time, triad members had shot and killed several police officers and John Woo was furious with the criminals in the area and wrote and shot the scene just to vent.

The IMFDB (Internet Film Gun DB) states that there was meant to be a six minute continuous take, instead of the 2:42 continuous take. Those funny lumps in Tony Leung's (Alan's) face were apparently from a prop misfire! As it was, the continuous take is still pretty long, and feels longer. Plenty of continuity errors but little to make the film unenjoyable.

I feel like I ought to be more annoyed with how the slowdown effect works, but it just feels like it fits the era, and so the right thing to do. I definitely preferred the general athletic nature of the film, though. Jumping over stuff and dodges are the better half of the "John Woo" trademark. Also, I thought I spotted doves in possibly two places (one was probably just the name "Dave" in the ledger of the morgue).

At about the 35 and before the 60 minute marks I had been thinking "this already feels like a complete movie." They could've wrapped it up with some nonsense and it'd still have been satisfying enough. I guess I'll have to go back and watch the earlier Yun-Fat / Woo films (Better Tomorrow series, The Killer, plus many other more obscure titles.

[SuperGrafx]

Armed and dangerous (John Candy)

[Skykid]

Glengarry Glen Ross

Good theatre. Incredible performance from Jack Lemmon and a sparky Mamet script.

[BIL]

A movie I keep on my HDD at all times. Never gets old - every actor's performance is incredibly nuanced and rewarding to observe.

[Skykid]

A movie I keep on my HDD at all times. Never gets old - every actor's performance is incredibly nuanced and rewarding to observe.

Yes, it was very well directed. I wasn't too hot on Pacino's performance because once again, he played himself (Al Pacino) but that's kind of his upper limit so I didn't expect much more.

Jonathan Pryce was good, as ever, in his cameo.

[Mischief Maker]

Glengarry Glen Ross

Good theatre. Incredible performance from Jack Lemmon and a sparky Mamet script.

If you've ever worked a sales job involving cold calls, this movie is like a punch to the gut.

I remember a guy showed me "Boiler Room" as an example of a movie written by someone who "knows" the business. Psh! Ben Affleck is no Alec Baldwin, not even close.

[Skykid]

Glengarry Glen Ross

Good theatre. Incredible performance from Jack Lemmon and a sparky Mamet script.

If you've ever worked a sales job involving cold calls, this movie is like a punch to the gut.

I did 7 years in purgatory. Thankfully I was a closer, so I made management quite quickly.

[njiska]

WALL STREETFor a film chock full of shit actors it was mildly entertaining. Not sure who by, or why it's hailed as anything except fairly run-of-the-mill Hollywood gumf, but I got into its 80's slink and ran with it.

WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS

Both are by Oliver Stone who is easily the biggest hack director I have ever had the misfortune of viewing. Even Michael Bay has more movies I look favourably upon than Mr. Stone.

[SuperGrafx]

Billion Dollar Brain

I'm a fan of Michael Caine's films...this one is a bit strange though. Sort of like a silly 60's era James Bond attempt.

[GaijinPunch]

Glengarry Glen Ross

FUCK YOU THAT'S MY NAME!

Thankfully I was a closer,

Guess you got a lot of coffee then.

[GaijinPunch]

I somehow went and saw The Amazing Spiderman last night. I went in with absolutely the lowest expectations so I had a good time.

[xris]

I saw Spiderman last night, it was cool, better than the previous ones. The transition montage from Peter Parker to Spiderman was awesome! Semi-Spoiler - not really if you're a Spiderman fan - It was cool that Gwen Stacy made it through the movie, and it also had Flash Tompson in it.
Saw Ted, it was ok. Family Guy humor with more pot and fucking swearing. Some jokes where very good though. Would have preferred the sad ending.
I may have posted it already but I LOVED Moonrise Kingdom. Movie of the year so far for me.
I recently rewatched Triangle, kind of a mix of Momento, The Shinning (spelling?), and Jacob's Ladder. But, I have talked to people that hated this movie as well. I think it's a good psycho thriller puzzle movie.
Edit - I don't like Oliver Stone's movies either. His style is all over the place, and stinks of trying too hard. They always lack substance.

[neorichieb1971]

The not so amazing spiderman.

I lol'd at the part where spidey took his woman for a swing. Haven't seen comedy like that since Indiana Jones 4.

[GaijinPunch]

If it was going to get you laid you'd do it too.

[Skykid]

Guess you got a lot of coffee then.

In the UK we get a water machine.

[iconoclast]

I watched all of the movies that Stephen Chow directed over the last few weeks, aside from CJ7 (no interest). I don't have much to say about them, except that they were all good to great. He's definitely one of my favorite actors/directors now.

Shaolin Soccer > Kung Fu Hustle > King of Comedy > Love on Delivery > From Beijing With Love > Forbidden City Cop > God of Cookery

[Skykid]

I watched all of the movies that Stephen Chow directed over the last few weeks, aside from CJ7 (no interest). I don't have much to say about them, except that they were all good to great. He's definitely one of my favorite actors/directors now.

Shaolin Soccer > Kung Fu Hustle > King of Comedy > Love on Delivery > From Beijing With Love > Forbidden City Cop > God of Cookery

Watch CJ7, it's Stephen Chow, have faith!

Also, Fight Back to School is fun too (very early.)

[CMoon]

Documentaries are a safer bet than movies these days. Just watched the PBS epic whaling documentary: "Into the Deep"...tons of stuff on the whaleship Essex and Melville. Awesome!

[Skykid]

Documentaries are a safer bet than movies these days. Just watched the PBS epic whaling documentary: "Into the Deep"...tons of stuff on the whaleship Essex and Melville. Awesome!

Watch that one where those Japanese kill those dolphins.