Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[Howard Alan Treesong]

yeah casting Boyega is deffo the coup of the day (well, that and secret Sydow)

too bad they're all in a Star Wars movie :~(

[chronovore]

why is someone black in that picture

Moreover, why is Billy-Dee Williams /not/ in that picture?

[Himu]

The visual style is still aping off Kurosawa, whose battles are known for their precise, methodogical strikes. It is something Hollywood was obsessed with recreating in the 70s, including in films like The Warriors (Furies baseball bat fight). I wasn't talking about the overall fighting technique as much as I was talking about visual style and tone.

[Himu]

Speaking of which, I hope in the next trilogy they go back to their roots and follow Kurosawa sword fight influence in the light saber duels. The original trilogy is fantastic at displaying emotion in each strike. Go back to that instead the ninja fuckfest that was the prequel trilogy.

[Himu]

Honestly? I don't know if i agree with that either. In Kurosawa movies the duel scenes are really brief. Usually they end with a single sword draw from the sheath and someone explodes in a flurry of gore.  Star Wars has long, epic battles often moving to multiple different locations inside a single fight.

Those are duels. I'm talking about regular fights.

http://m.

You can imagine Luke swinging his ligbtsaber here, final duel aside.

You're right tho. Kurosawa duels are brief. Unlike SW duels.

[cool breeze]

Lightsabers were likened to heavy European swords in the originals by Lucas.  The prequels dropped that and made them weightless or very very light.

[Himu]

So that's what it was? Either way, I don't care. None of that ninja shit PLEASE.

[Raban]

as far as I'm concerned, the less time lightsabers are on the screen in this movie, the better. let's hope they keep them shits in their pants.

[Himu]

The sword fights in the prequels were and they had a complete overuse of light sabers. Luke had to use blasters and ships and stuff despite being a Jedi.

But you just know they'll whore out the light sabers.

[Rahxephon91]

Nah the ninja shit is cool. There was nothing wrong with the sword fights in any of the prequels either. They were fine.

I don't know about that.

[Himu]

'overuse of lightsabers' fuck out of here

And as far as that GIF? If we took apart any of your favorite action movies you'd see the same shit. Blue screens, wires, blah blah blah.

No, the prequels embody everything wrong with modern star wars including the overuse of Jedi in any star wars story or media.

[Rahxephon91]

[Himu]

Yoda went from Jedi master to naruto character.

[Mandark]

You could make Ep1 a decent action movie by keeping the lightsabre stuff and replacing EVERYTHING ELSE.  You wouldn't really improve it by keeping the rest of the movie and having slower, less flamboyant duels.

[Tasty]

Yoda/Dooku was meh but I thought Anakin/Kenobi in ep3 was pretty rad. Certainly better than the snorefest fight at the end of Empire.

Yeah yeah whatever, self- , don't care.

[Phoenix Dark]

The lightsaber duels in the first films are well done, especially in the last two films. There's an elegance and semblance of choreography behind them, compared to the flailing nonsense of the prequels. I'd be fine with fast fights if they looked good, but they just didn't in the prequels.

Everything is green screen and CGI in the prequels, and it really fostered a level of laziness that permeates through nearly everything except the soundtrack. That gif highlights just how casual nearly everything looks in the films.

The new SW will probably be bad, let's be real. However I find it very hard to believe that it could possibly be worse than Phantom Menace.

[Himu]

No, the prequels embody everything wrong with modern star wars including the overuse of Jedi in any star wars story or media.

I can't believe I'm defending the prequels but this is distinguished mentally-challenged.

The whole point of the prequels was to illustrate how the healthy intergalactic Jedi Order as a form of policing would fall apart; ergo it has a lot of Jedi shit in it.

They sure as fuck could have had some variety tho.

[headwalk]

'overuse of lightsabers' fuck out of here

And as far as that GIF? If we took apart any of your favorite action movies you'd see the same shit. Blue screens, wires, blah blah blah.

yeah. they went from being centrepieces of the original's most powerful scenes to just being glowy twizzlesticks there to draw your attention from the 8 million other CGI distractions sharing the frame.

i don't like this cast purely because i was pretty happily resigned to having precisely zero investment in the new films. it'd be like if a new f-zero game was announced for the wii u.

[Tasty]

Duel of the Fates helps a lot but it's still a pretty cool setpiece.

[Raban]

Yoda/Dooku was meh but I thought Anakin/Kenobi in ep3 was pretty rad. Certainly better than the snorefest fight at the end of Empire.

[Rahxephon91]

WTF am I reading in this thread?

Saying the fight in SITH that goes on FOR EVER AND EVER ANE EVER AND EVER AND EVER is good and that the fight from Empire which completely shows how stupid and unready Luke is, is somehow bad? A fight that actually has tension and something shocking for a first time viewer and is not the yawn enducing "is is over" wankery that the Sith fight is.  A fight that isn't this overblown and ridiculous endeavor that seems to lose all point the more it goes on. A fight that dosen't look like sterile shit compared to the one that does even though it's on a planet that should be grimy and dirty as fuck.

What?

I don't even dislike the prequels. I have good memories of Episode 1. I remember liking 2 even though that seems to be the worse according to everyone.

But I legitimately hate three. I hated three before all the Plinket stuff. I saw it on my birthday and it was supposed to be a grand day, but no that movie took a deep shit on it. I mean i watched it with such confusion as to how everything was happening. I mean the opening with the really dumb humor. How Anakin was such an idiot. I mean really this was possibly the first time I realized Star Wars was dead to me. I never even bought the movie on dvd and have maybe seen it once since release. I really dislike Sith and I don't think I've been into Star Wars since then.

[Tasty]

WTF am I reading in this thread?

Saying the fight in SITH that goes on FOR EVER AND EVER ANE EVER AND EVER AND EVER is good and that the fight from Empire which completely shows how stupid and unready Luke is, is somehow bad? A fight that actually has tension and something shocking for a first time viewer and is not the yawn enducing "is is over" wankery that the Sith fight is.

What?

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

I thought it was a bright spot in the prequels (which I otherwise abhor.).

In Empire Vader can barely move, he's like fucking Clooney suited up in Batman & Robin.



Talk about a fight that goes on forever. They're like two chickens pecking at each other throughout the entire thing. Star Trek: The Motion Picture was more thrilling.

[cool breeze]

The later two prequels overdue the Lightsabers.  In phantom menace there's a bit where Obi and Liam run from some droids lest they get wrecked by lasers.  I liked that it was a flawed weapon, and when Han calls Obi out on being an old man for using a sword, you got the sense that it's an honor or lifestyle thing and not "this is the best weapon ever."

Or like how in empire strikes back, vadar blocks Hans shots with his hands like a badass.  If it were the prequels he would've deflected them with a Lightsaber, because.

[Positive Touch]

i saw all three prequels in theaters and the lightsaber battles were the only time the audience actually spoke up and got into the movie. i'd say more swordfights plz, but we already know this movie is gonna be 95% action anyway so it looks like im all set

[Phoenix Dark]

Duel of the Fates helps a lot but it's still a pretty cool setpiece.

This shit is straight up stupid, sorry. Looks horrible especially when compared to better melee weapon choreography. Even the shortest LOTR fights look better than that.

[Mandark]

Light sabre fights were more rare in the OT (which makes sense continuity-wise), but the prequels had at least a couple duels with some stuff at stake.  Liam Neeson getting killed/avenged, and the Anakin/Obi-Wan thing.

Now I didn't feel any emotional tug when I saw those for the first time, and I almost definitely did when I saw the iconic scenes in the original trilogy but, you know, I was eight.


I'm with Esch.  Decent action beats (lightsabrzzzz!) > bad action beats (pod racing) > awful character beats (EVERYTHING).

[Rahxephon91]

Talk about a fight that goes on forever. They're like two chickens pecking at each other throughout the entire thing. Star Trek: The Motion Picture was more thrilling.

Except the fight dosen't feel like it goes on forever at all, because it's cut between other scenes. Thats not the case for Sith at all.

And of course the action isn't stylish or choreographed as it would be now. We're dealing with an 80s American Action movie.

[Himu]

Please put the people who want more saberzzz on the other end of the room

[Tasty]

Talk about a fight that goes on forever. They're like two chickens pecking at each other throughout the entire thing. Star Trek: The Motion Picture was more thrilling.

Except the fight dosen't feel like it goes on forever at all, because it's cut between other scenes.

Same with the Anakin/Obi Wan fight.

[Phoenix Dark]

The lightsabers weren't overused, they just weren't good; there's a difference.

[benjipwns]

Peak of the series, sorry. Even with the silly jumping.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Maul using debris to open the door. 

The whole part with the energy door whatevers. 

[close]

[Mupepe]

Yoda fight in ep 2 is the only thing that was watchable in that pos

[Mandark]

Please put the people who want more saberzzz on the other end of the room

To make room for more Galactic Senate scenes?  Sheeeeeeeeeeeeyit.

[Phoenix Dark]

That Darth Maul fight was good IMO, it wasn't just random saber waving at mach 5 speeds.

[Rahxephon91]

I remember why I have Andrex on ignore.

Either way, I don't remember Sith well because I've only seen it maybe two times. I just remember being bored and wishing the fight would end. It didn't look cool and just seemed to be overdone. Something I wouldn't say about Empire at all. You say Vader moves like an idiot, I say that gives him an actual presence.

I'm just going to go back to no caring about Star Wars past the originals.

[cool breeze]

yeah the maul fight is great.  Best part is Obi hopping and getting amped to wreck maul.  And he fails, cause anger leads to something something.

[benjipwns]

Yoda fight in ep 2 is the only thing that was watchable in that pos

Obi-Wan's little detective adventure to the rainy clone planet was pretty good. 

[Raban]

Guys remember, Andrex thinks Tron Legacy is Sci Fi classic.

And those battles in the prequels were stupid. Instead of a sword duel it looked like a fucking dance. Shit's like Step Up in space.

Oh yeah I forgot about his massive thread about this. My eyes rolled out of my head.

[Tasty]

I remember why I have Andrex on ignore.

Guys remember, Andrex thinks Tron Legacy is Sci Fi classic.

Love Tron Legacy.

None of the criticisms have ever made sense to me.

[Tasty]

Yoda fight in ep 2 is the only thing that was watchable in that pos

Obi-Wan's little detective adventure to the rainy clone planet was pretty good. 

I always hated that part. So boring.

The Jango Fett space fight was cool though.

[Mandark]

As far as becoming a Naruto character; he always was. Sort of cute and stupid but secretly wise, lots of goofy little catchphrases that come very close to some 'heart of the cards' 'believe it' shit

Yoda was never a Naruto character in the original movies.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

He was a muppet.

[close]

And man Obi-Wan, Private Eye was laaaaame.

[benjipwns]

Maybe it's just because it's better than the shit with Anakin.

I did like the thread though of how they were basically uncovering all the tiny little pieces of Palpatines plot accidentally but nobody ever really puts it together until he kills Samuel L. Jackson.

[Tasty]

Maybe it's just because it's better than the shit with Anakin.

I did like the thread though of how they were basically uncovering all the tiny little pieces of Palpatines plot accidentally but nobody ever really puts it together until he kills Samuel L. Jackson.

Haha, yeah. There was no tension whatsoever since you know they're never gonna figure it out before Palpatine 66's their asses.

[chronovore]

Yoda fight in ep 2 is the only thing that was watchable in that pos

Obi-Wan's little detective adventure to the rainy clone planet was pretty good. 

Yeah, it was pretty cool while it was happening, and it was an interesting mystery -- except that SUDDENLY IT BECAME NOT-A-MYSTERY. The whole bit where the Jedi Archives LOST A FUCKING PLANET and then it turns out a forgotten or expelled or excommunicated Jedi ordered a WHOLE ARMY OF CLONES THERE is just overlooked by the Jedi Council and everyone under the sun because, hey, let's just have Yoda roll in with them clones as da' cavalry, and no-one is going to ask WHY?

It was a neat little throwback to film noir detective stuff, but if that's the model, it's like having Sam Spade investigate and figure out the shadowy kingpin in the background who'd had the young starlet killed, then being saved by the kingpin, then everyone forgets the dead starlet, and why they were ever looking for the kingpin to begin with.

Lucas apparently gives zero fucks.

[benjipwns]

It's a galaxy far far away...full of morons.

[Raban]

that's how Spaceballs 2 should start

[Mandark]

chronovore, iirc that's sort of The Big Sleep.

But yeah.  I'm willing to buy into just about any wacky premise as long as events carry the appropriate weight and there's at least some semblance of internal logic.  The prequel trilogies made it very, very easy to not give a shit about ostensibly major plot developments.

[benjipwns]

They keep a list of all the planets in a card catalog. To computerize the records is what a Sith would do.

[chronovore]

chronovore, iirc that's sort of The Big Sleep.

But yeah.  I'm willing to buy into just about any wacky premise as long as events carry the appropriate weight and there's at least some semblance of internal logic.  The prequel trilogies made it very, very easy to not give a shit about ostensibly major plot developments.

I'll have to read that to confirm; the wikipedia summary doesn't seem to support that, but I'm inclined to accept your expertise.

to be fair, losing a single planet in a galaxy full of them in a record kept by a society of 'enlightened' dudes that pretty much operate on a spiritual bro code seems plausible

I was OK with them losing the planet; it showed the arrogance and myopia of the Jedi, hinting at the problems facing the Jedi Council. Once the planet was found, and a conveniently usable army made available, I would have liked even a throwaway line describing, "Hey, yeah... this army you found. They sure can fight, but we need to figure out WHY they were made for us."

[Great Rumbler]

This is the only good scene in the PT:



FACT

[Mandark]

The thing in The Big Sleep is that the original murder (the chauffeur I think?) is never explicitly solved.  It's just a gateway into the bigger crime/conspiracy, and at least the version I've heard is that the screenwriter and director didn't know who actually was the murderer.  Don't remember if that also applies to the book.

[Phoenix Dark]

The thing in The Big Sleep is that the original murder (the chauffeur I think?) is never explicitly solved.  It's just a gateway into the bigger crime/conspiracy, and at least the version I've heard is that the screenwriter and director didn't know who actually was the murderer.  Don't remember if that also applies to the book.

Is the film good? I really enjoyed the book.

[Diunx]

Be a Star Wars fanboy brehs.

Metal Gear.

Every Star Wars movie not named The Empire Strikes Back.

still gonna have to toss my hat into the ring that *doesn't* feature vagina bombs and the raping of children

Yeah they just murder them.

[Mandark]

The thing in The Big Sleep is that the original murder (the chauffeur I think?) is never explicitly solved.  It's just a gateway into the bigger crime/conspiracy, and at least the version I've heard is that the screenwriter and director didn't know who actually was the murderer.  Don't remember if that also applies to the book.

Is the film good? I really enjoyed the book.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt, cause I'm a huge Bogart stan, but if you enjoyed the book and have any interest in the genre at all, it's definitely worth checking out.  That and The Maltese Falcon.

[Phoenix Dark]

Yep I've seen The Maltese Falcon, amazing film.

[chronovore]

The thing in The Big Sleep is that the original murder (the chauffeur I think?) is never explicitly solved.  It's just a gateway into the bigger crime/conspiracy, and at least the version I've heard is that the screenwriter and director didn't know who actually was the murderer.  Don't remember if that also applies to the book.

It appears there is an earlier murder than that (Geiger) but, yeah: the chauffeur's murder is not explicitly solved, Chandler was later asked who had killed him by by the screenwriters and directors of the first film adaptation; Chandler didn't know, and didn't appear to care.

[Eric P]

http://www.cityonfire.com/guns-talks-and-a-man-on-high-heels/

Director Jang Jin (Guns & Talks) is back with an action film called Man on High Heels (aka High Heels). Despite its kooky title, Man on High Heels is not a comedy. It’s in fact an violent action-thriller with a gender-bending twist. The film stars Cha Seung-won (Libra Me), Esom (Hindsight) and Oh Jung-Se (The Unjust).

Here’s the plot: Ji-wook is a cold-blooded detective who will stop at nothing to catch criminals. However, despite his masculine appearance, Ji-wook struggles with a secret desire to be a woman. At last, Ji-wook decides to get a sex change. However, a gang Ji-wook brutally arrested by force plots revenge against him.

Man on High Heels will be released domestically in June 2014. For now, here’s a couple of trailers, courtesy of Film Combat Syndicate.


I know you guys haven't seen Guns & Talks, but it's very, very good and this looks pretty bad ass

[Great Rumbler]

I know you guys haven't seen Guns & Talks

I have.

[Momo]

So I finally managed to watch The Physician, this movie met and far exceeded my highest expectations

[Eric P]

I know you guys haven't seen Guns & Talks

I have.

you other guys