Movies you've just watched

[Skykid]

There's really nothing wrong with Bryce Dallas Howard, not sure what the beef is there...

"The beef there" is that she's freaking unbelievably bad at acting. Granted, I haven't seen every movie she's been in (thank heaven), but let's see now...I've now watched her darn near ruin five different movies, and she drags each one of them down because of her very-not-able-to-emote-or-convincingly-pull-off-a-role-ness. I mean, holy crap:

1. "The Village" As if M. Night Shymalan doesn't screw things up well enough on his own.
2. "Spider-Man 3" The movie is very awful to begin with, yes. She brings it down even further.
3. "Terminator Salvation" See #2's description.
4. "50/50" She/her character is SO FREAKING UNBELIEVABLE in this movie. Completely makes no sense whatsoever. Ridicu-stinking-lous.
5. "Jurassic World" Gave her yet another shot. Sorry. Can't buy into her. The movie still succeeds, but in spite of her, not because of her.

She's not good-looking enough to make up for it, either. In fact, she's not good-looking at all. I don't know why Hollywood won't stand up to her father, who makes some seriously kick-tail movies, and just tell him she's not good enough. Maybe they're scared to do so. Who knows? BDH should take a page out of the Jennifer Aniston playbook and TAKE CLASSES TO LEARN HOW TO ACT. She should take Liv Tyler with her and they could do it together. Perhaps they'd offer a Discount For Lost Causes or something.

I don't think a five movie snapshot is too small to make the call on.

You don't know anything about acting, you're just an observer of faces and scripted characters. Give it up. Bryce is no, I don't know, Sally Field, but she's certainly not useless.

She's not good-looking enough to make up for it, either.

Different strokes, but shit, I'd do her.

Also there's nothing actually wrong with The Village. It was marketed as a horror movie because the studio didn't want Shyamalan typecast in the thriller genre, so everyone went expecting a horror movie and it's not that at all. It's a mystery movie with an omnipresent sense of threat and a striking twist. It's a rather decent movie and very well directed, well above standard Hollywood fare. Shyamalan wears his influences on his sleeve, but I've no idea why he gets such a bad rap.

[boagman]

Also there's nothing actually wrong with The Village. It was marketed as a horror movie because the studio didn't want Shyamalan typecast in the thriller genre, so everyone went expecting a horror movie and it's not that at all. It's a mystery movie with an omnipresent sense of threat and a striking twist. It's a rather decent movie and very well directed, well above standard Hollywood fare. Shyamalan wears his influences on his sleeve, but I've no idea why he gets such a bad rap.

Suffice it to say that we will never, *ever* agree on just about any supposition you've made in the above paragraph aside from, say, the marketing statement.

If you can't understand why that movie gets such a bad rap after having actually watched it and listened to it, I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done, as axiomatically, we're just not going to be able to come to terms. Striking twist my eye.

I might not know anything about acting (not true, but I'm not the World Book Encyclopedia on the subject), but your statement shows that you not only know nothing about movies, but that you have offensively bad taste when it comes to the subject. "The Village" is a cinematic atrocity, and was criticized correctly at the time, and subsequent to that time, for being so. There hasn't been much of a market for M. Night Shymalan movies since, but even before the splatter that was that movie, his name was being well-tarnished. "Signs" wasn't a good movie, either, and his lame attempts to try to catch the same fire that came with "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" have failed. Miserably. Horrifically. Dismally.

Enjoy all the "Lady in the Water" you can handle, Skykid. Heck, you can have *my* ticket for it. It's got BDH again, too!

On second thought, you're right: she's completely talented, and is the best actress since Meryl Streep. No, I take that back: Meryl Streep isn't fit to lick BDH's shoes...that's how great an actress BDH is. Can't wait for her to team up with Liv Tyler and Katie Holmes for the Best Actress-filled movie *ever*. Maybe they'll invite Jennifer Tilly along?

[Skykid]

You know Meryl Streep is a horrible over actor and one of the most overrated of all time right?

If you were accurate about everything your sarcasm would be way less embarrassing. As it stands you're being sarcastic in the defence of a completely broken opinion. That's bad.

If you can't understand why that movie gets such a bad rap after having actually watched it and listened to it

Er, ok. Well I have watched it and listened to it, and it's got a well written script, an interesting plot, it's well paced, it's absorbing, well cast, and full of good performances.

Why don't we flip this around and you can tell me what's wrong with it, how about that?

you not only know nothing about movies... "The Village" is a cinematic atrocity

Speaks for itself really. Not much point in having this conversation with you. You're one of "them" - those that think they know, but in fact know nothing at all. Been playing stupid games with your type for far too long.

Still, I'd be really interested in hearing your detailed criticism, because I doubt it will stand up in court.

[charlie chong]

Speaks for itself really. Not much point in having this conversation with you. You're one of "them" - those that think they know, but in fact know nothing at all. Been playing stupid games with your type for far too long.

Still, I'd be really interested in hearing your detailed criticism, because I doubt it will stand up in court.

ahaha what a pompous prick you are skykid..mr arbiter of taste
you remind me of such grate posterz as icy calm and japjac
I probably do not like hardly any of the movies skykid and boagman enjoy. but i'm not going to pretend to be some (amateur) "writer" and chastize people for their taste in movies.
you need to get a life skykid.you surround the forum with your nastiness and have made many cool posters not like this place anymore so yeah fuuc yooooo

[BIL]

My cute little cousin strongarmed me into chaperoning her and her friends to Minions. I think they liked it? I wasn't really paying attention, so I've outsourced my review. Please enjoy it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-VlM5UWbfQ

[Mischief Maker]

You know Meryl Streep is a horrible over actor and one of the most overrated of all time right?

At this point someone asks Skykid who the greatest actress of all time is and he calmly responds, "Andie Macdowell."

[Skykid]

ahaha what a pompous prick you are skykid..mr arbiter of taste

An arbiter of my own taste.

you remind me of such grate posterz as icy calm and japjac

Thanks. You remind me of someone who's four years old and can't spell.

but i'm not going to pretend to be some (amateur) "writer"

I'm a real amateur writer, actually.

and chastize people for their taste in movies.

It's alright Charlie, it's okay if you don't understand. Comedown kicked in?

you need to get a life skykid.you surround the forum with your nastiness and have made many cool posters not like this place anymore so yeah fuuc yooooo

How eloquent.

What a load of predictably aimed vitriolic waffle over a disagreement about a movie. Thanks for your input, I can always count on you to come out of your stupor for five minutes eh?

You know Meryl Streep is a horrible over actor and one of the most overrated of all time right?

At this point someone asks Skykid who the greatest actress of all time is and he calmly responds, "Andie Macdowell."

Why would I say her?

Streep is overrated. She's hammy, overacts like crazy, always incredibly camera conscious. Not bad, but flawed for sure. Her British equivalent would probably be Helen Mirren, and she's far better.

[system11]

How about certain people chill out. It's possible to disagree without stating that someone knows nothing on a subject.

[lilmanjs]

Going through the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy in hal9000 style atm. Just one more movie to watch. Is there a better fanedit of the first movie?

Star Wars: Episode I - Cloak Of Deception
My first viewing of any Star Wars fanedit. Took out a lot of stuff that just made the movie drag along and more clunky than it should have been. I enjoyed the addition of music to the pod racing sequence. Not that without music it was boring, but shows music would have worked just as well. Gone are some needless things like the underwater excursion and some minor sound effect removals. Streamlined and made quite watchable.

Star Wars: Episode II - The Approaching Storm
This is by far the worst Star Wars movie that has been released to date. Thankfully this edit makes it into a movie that would have not sucked if this had been the official release version. Gone is most of the awkward romance moments and dialog that goes with it. You could tell it wasn't bad acting, but rather trying to do the best with the bad lines that were written. Yoda's fight is nearly taken completely out. Removal of the lightsaber duel works nicely. Again streamlined version of the movie that cuts out the needless stuff. I've heard this is the best fanedit of the movie, but who knows. I will probably grab the Q2 fanedits after this and compare them.

[boagman]

Streamlined and made quite watchable.

So they...they edited out Jar Jar and Anakin entirely?

[Obiwanshinobi]

(Those loadings on Dreamcast like to take their sweet time.)

[Skykid]

@boagman

Let's keep this civilised then. You don't say I don't know anything about movies, I won't say you don't know anything about acting (and we'll just bottle it all up inside).

But I'm genuinely interested to hear your critical breakdown of The Village, and where you feel it's a failure in its components.

You kind of brushed off the comment regarding the incorrect marketing of the movie, but that actually has a huge effect. If you thought you were getting a rom com and ended up with super car racing your expectation would be incorrect and the experience disappointing no matter what.

That's exactly what happened with The Village. It wasn't at all the horror movie people were expecting. It was slow burning, purposely ambiguous about era and location, and had a mysterious unseen threat. But performances from John Hurt, Joaqin Phoenix and the supporting cast were strong, there was nothing wrong with the scripting, and it was well paced - as long as you weren't expecting a horror movie! In which case it would have been a total train wreck!

Now I'm not saying it's anything more than a successful thriller. We're not talking about premium filmmaking here. But at what it did it was fine, held a good level of suspense, and had a twist that was basically impossible to predict, which works in its favour. Unlike the 6th Sense, which I guessed before it came.

I think Shyamalan's best is probably Unbreakable for what it's worth, and his most feeble and forced is definitely Lady in the Water, which he made in an attempt to appease audience expectations after the critics scolded him; a nigh on fatal directorial mistake. If you mean business, you should only make what you want to watch. Sadly Hollywood disagrees.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your analysis in more detail.

[boagman]

@boagman

Let's keep this civilised then. You don't say I don't know anything about movies, I won't say you don't know anything about acting (and we'll just bottle it all up inside).

But I'm genuinely interested to hear your critical breakdown of The Village, and where you feel it's a failure in its components.

You kind of brushed off the comment regarding the incorrect marketing of the movie, but that actually has a huge effect. If you thought you were getting a rom com and ended up with super car racing your expectation would be incorrect and the experience disappointing no matter what.

That's exactly what happened with The Village. It wasn't at all the horror movie people were expecting. It was slow burning, purposely ambiguous about era and location, and had a mysterious unseen threat. But performances from John Hurt, Joaqin Phoenix and the supporting cast were strong, there was nothing wrong with the scripting, and it was well paced - as long as you weren't expecting a horror movie! In which case it would have been a total train wreck!

Now I'm not saying it's anything more than a successful thriller. We're not talking about premium filmmaking here. But at what it did it was fine, held a good level of suspense, and had a twist that was basically impossible to predict, which works in its favour. Unlike the 6th Sense, which I guessed before it came.

I think Shyamalan's best is probably Unbreakable for what it's worth, and his most feeble and forced is definitely Lady in the Water, which he made in an attempt to appease audience expectations after the critics scolded him; a nigh on fatal directorial mistake. If you mean business, you should only make what you want to watch. Sadly Hollywood disagrees.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your analysis in more detail.

I was being civilized. Quite. You seem to have quite the knack for going nuclear with those who don't agree with your assessments. We disagree? According to you, I know nothing. So, let's just not have this conversation, shall we? It seems inane.

That being said, I'll say this: I believe that M. Night Shymalan practically *defines* "flash in the pan." It's one thing to be able to come off the line as the fastest and best, but it's quite another to be able to keep up with the pack, much less even come close to finishing the marathon. That's M. Night Shymalan in a nutshell for you, at least from my perspective.

Let's just agree to disagree without being disagreeable. How's that?

[Skykid]

I'm agreeing to disagree, I just want to hear what you think the movie's failures are.

The amount. of times someone has actually outlined the basis for negative criticism on something where I've felt the opposite is basically non-existent here, whereas I always go to lengths to be exact about what I consider shortcomings or bonuses. I'd like you to break that trend if you wouldn't mind.

[boagman]

...whereas I always go to lengths to be exact about what I consider shortcomings...

"You know nothing about acting." (perhaps I'm paraphrasing you there; if so, the meaning of your statement is still clear) comes to mind as a knee-jerk reaction.

I understand that you're trying to reign it in, Skykid, and I commend you for it, but the discussion at this point is over, because, *axiomatically*, we don't see eye-to-eye on the givens. We'll never agree on the conclusions because we already don't agree on the givens.

The horses have all run free, I'm afraid. I can't see any point in closing the barn doors now.

[Skykid]

Sorry man, if you're not willing to even have an attempt at it that's highly dissapointing because I assumed based on your "You clearly know nothing about movies" and similar quips that you were going to do a good job schooling me on this particular disagreement.

If you can't do that I'm not. going to be able to give credit to your argument, cos I ain't heard it.

If you want me to expand on on BDH: She's neither good nor bad, innofensive and middle of the road, doesn't stand out as special, but neither as atrocious, is more competent at a basic level than many in the business, and less qualified than plenty of others.

Basically, she's nothing to write home nor freak out about, so I'm not sure why you did.

[Some-Mist]

scott pilgrim vs the world
michael cera plays the same character as he does in most of his roles. it was nice seeing kieran culkin again - last thing I saw him in was igby goes down but he's supposedly in the next season of fargo. then of course some surprise cameos. I enjoyed it but I probably wouldn't watch it again. really makes me want to buy the beat 'em up though.

trainwreck
girlfriend wanted to see this and I laughed a handful of times throughout the movie - I also rolled my eyes a bunch. I really dislike amy schumer but I love bill hader. probably one of the weaker apatow films

Spoiler

she's sleeping with a buncha dudes, but then she finds one she likes... but she continues to sleep with dudes while seeing him. then the guy finds out she's sleeping around and they break up. she's ready to start sleeping with more dudes before she finds a doctor that she likes. he realizes she's too sloppy for him and they break up... then she nearly sleeps with a 16 year old, and she realizes she wants to be with the doctor again. basically a rom com about a dirty girl settling down

hopefully seeing queen of earth on friday at music box theater and 7 chinese brothers next week at the facets cinematheque. more excited for 7 chinese brothers since I've heard it's one of schwartzman's strongest roles... and it has alex karpovsky... and it's by bob byington. I really like that I have an opportunity to see a new alex ross perry and byington film in the same month. they're both supposed to play minor characters in 7 chinese brothers too.

"Signs" wasn't a good movie, either, and his lame attempts to try to catch the same fire that came with "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable" have failed. Miserably. Horrifically. Dismally.

but jeff loved signs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaGY0DAnKok

[boagman]

but jeff loved signs

Heh. Yes. Yes, he did.

[BIL]

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) Fun, weird anthology sequel; gave it a watch after the RLM guys' shoutout on their Halloween commentary track. Boil away the finer metaphorical and illusory aspects of Phantasm leaving only the outlandishly ghoulish base, and that's roughly this movie. A Scooby Doo caper for adults. Porno Mustache Man does pretty well in the lead role but Dan O'Herlihy is the real star, in a great prototype of his later Robocop highlight.

Spoiler

John Carpenter only produced and scored, but it totally feels like an enjoyable minor work of his ala Prince of Darkness, down to his usual dark trajectory (and POD-esque Porno Mustache Man lead!). A few memorably nasty practical effects, too. Infamously the series' first and last standalone story - a shame, as for all its goofiness the potential for a more interesting folkloric direction is obvious, no moreso than in O'Herlihy's menacingly broguey snarlings of Samhain.

[Mischief Maker]

Going through the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy in hal9000 style atm. Just one more movie to watch. Is there a better fanedit of the first movie?

There's a better fan edit of the entire trilogy:

https://youtu.be/WSCm8yAxBr8?list=PLINl ... Jjxe4N3pZo

[Ixmucane2]

Sinister 2

It makes the first Sinister look good, using the same supernatural threat as a background element for a family drama (a mother, her two sons, the evil abusive husband and a much better man). Abundant Super8 screenings of group murders, ghosts and other things of that sort are simply the sort of bad thing that happens to normal people in certain country places. I don't want to spoil the ending because it manages to insult the intelligence of the viewer from multiple angles, both when it seems good and when it seems bad.

The worst violation of horror conventions is making the supernatural threat almost omnipotent for the sake of cheap thrills (ooh! The radio turns on by itself! The computer pretends to turn off, then displays something horrible!), without making the "rules" clear; there is no sense of serious discovery and confrontation.

There are good scenes, and an unusually good way to attach a sequel to a film where most main characters die, but it is not even involuntarily fun.

[lilmanjs]

Going through the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy in hal9000 style atm. Just one more movie to watch. Is there a better fanedit of the first movie?

There's a better fan edit of the entire trilogy:

https://youtu.be/WSCm8yAxBr8?list=PLINl ... Jjxe4N3pZo

That was a good watch. Episode III of the hal9000 edits actually made the transformation to the dark side and Darth Vader work. Took out all the crap that made Skywalker look like a pissed off teenager. Well not all of it, but not being made a master had to stay in, and it worked nicely.

[EmperorIng]

I watched Taxi Driver last night with the ol' man, for the first time (both of us I think).

Phew; has Scorsese ever made a better movie? This was pretty close to 10/10 in my book. So slimy, hopeless, and depressing; I loved every moment of it.

The main character, Travis Bickle, probably ranks up there as one of the most socially-awkward, painfully pathetic protagonists I have ever seen on film. It was both pitiable and funny (was I not supposed to laugh at all of his completely inept attempts at social interaction, e.g. taking his date to a hardcore Swedish porno flick?). Cinematography was slick and the colors captured a great noir atmosphere; inky blacks predominate. I loved the fact that despite feeling a little sympathetic towards his plight, I left the movie feeling that Travis was about as far away from a good person or "hero" as they come and was completely delusional.

It's funny that so many people have always quoted "You talkin' to me?" from the movie. People associate it with a tough-guy-attitude quote, but in the film itself when De Niro says it, it amplifies how lonely and pathetic he is. No, no one is talking to him, ever. He's only talking to himself.

Thank you El Rey network. Digital Cable by and large is a waste of money but I can at least flip this on (and National Geographic) and get some decent entertainment for an hour or so.

[kaicooper]

recently watched:

3 Crime Korean movies:

Chaster 2008: True Events..great movie ..acting is top..ending is 8.8/10
I SAW THE DEVIL 2010: this movie is hilarious..the bad guy is pure Devil..awesome Thrill ride 8.5/10
Memories of a Murder 2003: best Korean movie ever after Oldboy,its true story..never seen like this before 9.5/10

and 1 Hollywood movie:

ChinaTown 1974: one of the best color Noir film..JN acting is super and the movie is perfect..
some fighting hand/hand acting were funny and could be better and but its fine..9/10

[EmperorIng]

Chinatown is fabulous; extremely classy stuff. I had to pause at Faye Dunaway's reveal to properly take in the emotional bombshell (wasn't expecting it!); I am sure if I had been a 1970s theater-goer I would have freaked.

[system11]

Monsters

Sci-fi where alien organisms have taken root on earth after a NASA probe breaks up over mexico. Love, suspense, reflection, action, ALIEN SEX VOYEURISM.

It's actually really good. I found I needed to watch it after noticing a sequel on the local shop shelves, which I haven't seen yet and which is almost certainly dumbed down into an action movie. I hold it in the same regard as 'The Dead' which is an example of how to do a character focused within within an otherwise overdone genre.

[boagman]

...it is not even involuntarily fun.

I have no idea if this is correct or not, but I have to tell you: I *love* that description, and I know *exactly* what you mean when you say it. Great use of words.

[lilmanjs]

El ray network reminds me how bad some shaw brothers dubs can be. Ended up watching heroes from the east and quite enjoyed it. Fights are all because of a cultural misunderstanding, and they show off how different Japanese fighting styles are from chinese.

[Skykid]

Monsters

Sci-fi where alien organisms have taken root on earth after a NASA probe breaks up over mexico. Love, suspense, reflection, action, ALIEN SEX VOYEURISM.

It's actually really good. I found I needed to watch it after noticing a sequel on the local shop shelves, which I haven't seen yet and which is almost certainly dumbed down into an action movie. I hold it in the same regard as 'The Dead' which is an example of how to do a character focused within within an otherwise overdone genre.

Now go to Wikipedia and see how and how much it was made for, and let me know when your jaw comes back up off the floor.

[xxx1993]

I saw The Transporter Refueled. I think Ed Skrein is just as good as Jason Statham.