Movies you've just watched

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

It's been nothing but franchise reboots penned by uberhacks Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ever since.

They broke up now though.

Unrelated, apparently Phantasm V has been filmed in secret somewhere. Heres the trailer. I know there's a few fans of the series on here, I cant believe Reggie and Angus are still going! Its been 16 years since the last one.

[Mischief Maker]

It's odd that you mentioned franchise reboots but not Micheal Bay.

I'm of the minority opinion that the screenwriter is just as, if not more important to the movie's quality than the director. Orci and Kurtzman wrote Transformers, Star Trek 11 & 12, and the Amazing Spiderman movies, among other terrible movies. Their scripts generally are a series of action setpieces with the laziest of plot excuses to connect them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N15J4ibej8

[BIL]

Unrelated, apparently Phantasm V has been filmed in secret somewhere. Heres the trailer. I know there's a few fans of the series on here, I cant believe Reggie and Angus are still going! Its been 16 years since the last one.

Haha, that's great. Last I knew they were saying V'd have to be a graphic novel. I kinda compartmentalise the sequels from the original, but they're still good fun and it'd be nice for Angus to get a proper sendoff.

[Skykid]

Also, have you ever considered that your standards might be abnormally high?

Abnormally, no. I just don't want to be insulted by movies like Godzilla when I'm handing money over to see a film that has a big enough budget to save millions of starving people.

For that cash I would assume the producer/director studio system is at a standard where they'll come up with something that isn't absolute gutter trash in everything except CG competence.

edit: Additionally, I forgot to mention that they ripped off the 2001 stargate music for Godzilla's skydive sequence. I almost threw something at the screen in disgust.

[drauch]

It's been nothing but franchise reboots penned by uberhacks Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ever since.

They broke up now though.

Unrelated, apparently Phantasm V has been filmed in secret somewhere. Heres the trailer. I know there's a few fans of the series on here, I cant believe Reggie and Angus are still going! Its been 16 years since the last one.

Man... kinda wish Coscarelli would just let it drop. I love the first two, but the third film is just abysmal in my eyes.

[Acid King]

Gun Crazy.
Starts off a little too far back in the story, but once it picks up it gets good. Some nice camera shots for 1949, especially during chase scenes when the camera is right in the backseat looking forward so you see just like Lorri and Bob. Or as those annoying kids in the move call him, Uncle Bob. Nice movie with a nice twist a little ways in, and the action is solid. Nightfall is the next movie up to watch. Hopping this will be good Noir stuff.

Good choice. I love this movie and wish they'd release it on blu ray already. A version was released in France along with a huge book detailing the making of the movie, but I'm not ready to fork out $175 for a movie and a book I can't read. Also, the poster for this is choice.

[neorichieb1971]

Some upset movie goers here I see.

Skykid in the middle of it.

Nothing changes.

I watched 300 Rise of an empire and Godzilla recently. 300 i'd give 6/10, Godzilla i'd give a 7/10. Although I have to say I preferred Godzilla at the beginning.. Once Walt from Breaking Bad was out of it I didn't like it as much.

Really looking forward to Rise of the Apes (or whatever its called). Part 1 was my film of 2012.

[Skykid]

Although I have to say I preferred Godzilla at the beginning.. Once Walt from Breaking Bad was out of it I didn't like it as much.

Me either. Shame it was after 20 minutes of a 2.5 hr film.

[Lord Satori]

Even I'm willing to admit that him dying wasn't a good decision. If they had the kid die and him live, the tragedy of it would have made for better character development, and some more interesting scenes later.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

I'm of the minority opinion that the screenwriter is just as, if not more important to the movie's quality than the director. Orci and Kurtzman wrote Transformers, Star Trek 11 & 12, and the Amazing Spiderman movies, among other terrible movies. Their scripts generally are a series of action setpieces with the laziest of plot excuses to connect them.

Which is exactly what they're commissioned to do. They don't get work because of their talent for good stories, but for their ability to provide a studio-pleasing screenplay with the correct tits/explosion ratio in a single draft.

I was mad at Ryan Church and John Eaves for their shitty Star Trek work, until I realised that they were just following the design brief that they were given - and perfectly too. Even most directors just have to make do with whatever shit talent they can get. We need to get mad at studios and producers. (but not Jeffrey Katzenburg, I could never be mad at him.)

edit: Additionally, I forgot to mention that they ripped off the 2001 stargate music for Godzilla's skydive sequence. I almost threw something at the screen in disgust.

You know where this music is from right? :/

Man... kinda wish Coscarelli would just let it drop. I love the first two, but the third film is just abysmal in my eyes.

My only experience with the series was buying a marked down boxed set and watching them all in one go. It did feel like one long unfinished story to me. I cant see why III is significantly worse than the rest, did you see IV? The production quality really plummets after the second one but I think the story is still interesting. Oh well, V will be the last one.

[GaijinPunch]

but I'm not ready to fork out $175 for a movie and a book I can't read.

Ironically I think like 25% of the people here have hundreds invested in books they can't read.

[GaijinPunch]

Also: Use the spoiler tags, dip shits.

[EmperorIng]

Also: Use the spoiler tags, dip shits.

Spoiler

It was his sled.

[Lord Satori]

Also: Use the spoiler tags, dip shits.

If you're talking the post about him dying, I wouldn't call it a spoiler since it happens within the first 30 minutes.

Spoiler

It was his sled.

I haven't seen that movie (and thus this post will probably sound very stupid to those who have) and don't really want to after I found that out from another show. It sounds like an awful plot twist. Why anyone would cry out the name of an inanimate object on their deathbed instead of a loved one is beyond me.

[Mischief Maker]

haven't seen that movie (and thus this post will probably sound very stupid to those who have) and don't really want to after I found that out from another show. It sounds like an awful plot twist. Why anyone would cry out the name of an inanimate object on their deathbed instead of a loved one is beyond me.

He isn't. It's not really the super spoiler you'd think it is. One thing to keep in mind about Citizen Kane is that it's a thinly veiled biography of then-still-living William Randolph Hearst, the Rupert Murdoch of his day.

Spoiler

Especially the part about trying to turn a mildly talented mistress into a virtuoso diva through money and influence alone, and failing.

Hearst responded to the film by using his considerable media clout to crush Orson Welles, and so that's how Welles changed from the handsome intelligent wunderkind of cinema into a fat miserable planet-eating transformer.

Spoiler

He's not crying out over the inanimate object. He's crying out over the childhood that was taken away from him, symbolized by Rosebud. In fact, the only scene of his childhood under the tutelage of Walter Parks Thatcher is him receiving a much better sled for Christmas and his dissatisfaction with the gift.

http://youtu.be/jx8rtBv_uMc

[EmperorIng]

Spoiler

He says Rosebud because on his deathbed he recalls that his childhood (epitomized by Rosebud) was the last time he was truly "happy," before he had been completely corrupted by his own ambition, ego, and selfishness.

Speaking of Fat Orson, Touch of Evil (the 'uncut' version) is a marvelous film. Excellent film-noir.

[drauch]

Man... kinda wish Coscarelli would just let it drop. I love the first two, but the third film is just abysmal in my eyes.

My only experience with the series was buying a marked down boxed set and watching them all in one go. It did feel like one long unfinished story to me. I cant see why III is significantly worse than the rest, did you see IV? The production quality really plummets after the second one but I think the story is still interesting. Oh well, V will be the last one.

I've only seen part of IV despite owning it, and I wasn't really impressed, because as you say, the production quality is akin to a TV movie at that point. I hate III for the very reason that it's way too goddamn silly. I hate the shitty little kid sidekick and his Home Alone antics, the thief girl with the nunchucks and Reggie's super lame hitting on her ("How about some white chocolate?"), and just the overall low production and fairly bland adventure. I love the dark ending to it, but otherwise I basically hold my guns to the first two.

The first one is a horror masterpiece and easily the best, but I also adore the second one for the 80s horror/adventure vibe. I feel like III could have been much like the second if only they would have omitted the ridiculous characters. Oh well, at least I have Bubba Ho-tep

[Skykid]

edit: Additionally, I forgot to mention that they ripped off the 2001 stargate music for Godzilla's skydive sequence. I almost threw something at the screen in disgust.

You know where this music is from right? :/

Of course, but 2001 has had ownership over the piece since its use in 69. Similarly to the Danube, it's iconic and synonymous in cinematic terms with Kubrick's work.

Edwards knew what he was doing and who he was tipping his hat to, but had no right to do it in such a spectacular display of digital excretion.

Honestly, even if the movie was excellent, I would still hesitate as director to use anything referencing Kubrick. Some legacies you just don't associate with for the fact you'll be the plainly inferior party.

[drauch]

But yeah, totally fine for Tarantino to rip off everything under the sun.

[Kaiser]

I think James Rolfe's opnion on Godzilla (you may recall him as AVGN) sums it up the best, the movie that clearly should have happened 16 years ago because there was nothing about that could'nt be done back in 1998, alright versus the 1998 movie, average/bad versus the better Godzilla movies.

I think that's an opinion everyone can agree with.

[Skykid]

But yeah, totally fine for Tarantino to rip off everything under the sun.

Everything Tarantino does is entirely his own, and that includes what he chooses specifcally to borrow or tribute. I'm amazed you're so passionate about film but can't see the woods or the trees on what an outstanding filmmaker that man is. Have you seen Django Unchained?

[GaijinPunch]

but had no right to do it in such a spectacular display of digital excretion.

On the contrary, I'm sure he paid for it's use, which gave him all the right int he world.

[Skykid]

but had no right to do it in such a spectacular display of digital excretion.

On the contrary, I'm sure he paid for it's use, which gave him all the right int he world.

That's not quite what I meant.

[GaijinPunch]

I wouldn't call it a spoiler since it happens within the first 30 minutes.

You sound like those sexually confused guys in the military that say they're not gay b/c they only fuck guys in the ass.

[Mischief Maker]

but had no right to do it in such a spectacular display of digital excretion.

On the contrary, I'm sure he paid for it's use, which gave him all the right int he world.

Are you guys talking about The Blue Danube Waltz? Because I'm pretty sure that's public domain by now.

[Skykid]

but had no right to do it in such a spectacular display of digital excretion.

On the contrary, I'm sure he paid for it's use, which gave him all the right int he world.

Are you guys talking about The Blue Danube Waltz? Because I'm pretty sure that's public domain by now.

No.

[Mischief Maker]

Are you guys talking about The Blue Danube Waltz? Because I'm pretty sure that's public domain by now.

No.

Oh, you mean the boogeyman chorus.

[BIL]

I've only seen part of IV despite owning it, and I wasn't really impressed, because as you say, the production quality is akin to a TV movie at that point. I hate III for the very reason that it's way too goddamn silly.

III's easily my least favourite of the sequels as well, for the same reasons. Just too goofy. IV pleasantly surprised me though - it dialled the silliness way back, had a nice downbeat air, and gave some interesting background on ol' Jebediah while leaving The Tall Man himself an enigma. Not classic and certainly not in the original's league but it didn't waste my MFN' time either!

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

^ IV has the 'spheres for titties' gag though. I like them all.

[EmperorIng]

Have you seen Django Unchained?

Great movie; my only wish is that it was a half-hour shorter.

Funnily enough, I think I say the same thing about every single Tarantino movie I watch.

Speaking of Samuel L. Jackson.

Saw Die Hard With a Vengeance for the first time. Simply excellent. Random slavic blonde femme fatale was a bit meh with how much "buildup" she had in the movie (hot though I guess), but man was it a fun ride. Sam Jackson is the man, and Jeremy Irons faking a Texas accent, while not as hilarious or as memorable as Alan Rickman AW GAHD PLEES DON SHOOT, was really funny.

A local theater is having Godzillafest 2014 in a few weeks. Among other things, it will be showing Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla vs. King Ghidora. Is it time to book my tickets?