Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[OptimoPeach]

I watched Terminator: Salvation the other day. I guess it was marginally better than the third. Would have been so much cooler if they had come up with a less boring story than How Batman and That Generic White Guy From Avatar Saved Kyle Reese, especially one that did a better job of fleshing out the world. I think it might have even been better if they just played the DUN DUN DUN DA DUN song throughout the entirety of the film.

[Raban]

I watched Terminator: Salvation the other day. I guess it was marginally better than the third. Would have been so much cooler if they had come up with a less boring story than How Batman and That Generic White Guy From Avatar Saved Kyle Reese, especially one that did a better job of fleshing out the world. I think it might have even been better if they just played the DUN DUN DUN DA DUN song throughout the entirety of the film.

I really liked Terminator Salvation. I don't understand the hatred. Did people going in expecting Terminator 2? It's a fun action romp and it was loads better than Transformers 2: Shit Harder, and as it relied less on horrible CG, I place it above GI Joe as well.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Arnie cameo made me

[close]

[BobFromPikeCreek]

A Serious Man was sooooo goooooood

Didn't click with me for some reason, but I'm going to watch it again.

[Mr. Gundam]

Gonna watch Crazy Heart this afternoon.

[Mr. Gundam]

tonight I'm probably going to the IFC Center to catch Hausu

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

I want this shirt!!

[CajoleJuice]

(500) Days of Summer

Pretty great. The nonlinear structure works very well, as it helps keep you interested in what is otherwise a fairly basic failed relationship. As other people have said, the expectations vs. reality scene summed it all up.

Amelie

Just an adorable movie. Audrey Tautou is cute, but there's almost a sort of creepiness there (I thought) which was perfect.

[Fresh Prince]

Just watched Minorty Report again. Is it just me or do all films based on a PKD book have a really similar feel? All of them focus around displaying some kind of technology, and mix in this really twisted and almost stupid sense of humor (Tom Cruise chasing eyeballs, all of A Scanner Darkly, Arnold suffocating, Deckard's interview voice).

Well PKD's central themes are similar- altered fractured reality, exaggerated villains etc

[The Fake Shemp]

(500) Days of Summer

Pretty great. The nonlinear structure works very well, as it helps keep you interested in what is otherwise a fairly basic failed relationship. As other people have said, the expectations vs. reality scene summed it all up.

Amelie

Just an adorable movie. Audrey Tautou is cute, but there's almost a sort of creepiness there (I thought) which was perfect.

You are a girl

[CajoleJuice]

It's Netflix's fault for not sending me Inglorious Basterds! 

[Phoenix Dark]

(500) Days of Summer

Pretty great. The nonlinear structure works very well, as it helps keep you interested in what is otherwise a fairly basic failed relationship. As other people have said, the expectations vs. reality scene summed it all up.

Amelie

Just an adorable movie. Audrey Tautou is cute, but there's almost a sort of creepiness there (I thought) which was perfect.

Cheebs?

[Mr. Gundam]

Amelie is a great movie. Fuck off, haters.

[CajoleJuice]

(500) Days of Summer

Pretty great. The nonlinear structure works very well, as it helps keep you interested in what is otherwise a fairly basic failed relationship. As other people have said, the expectations vs. reality scene summed it all up.

Amelie

Just an adorable movie. Audrey Tautou is cute, but there's almost a sort of creepiness there (I thought) which was perfect.

Cheebs?

Ouch. That hurts more than Willco's post.

And DM

[Cindi Mayweather]

Whoever hates on Amelie can fuck off.

[Cindi Mayweather]

I watched Terminator: Salvation the other day. I guess it was marginally better than the third. Would have been so much cooler if they had come up with a less boring story than How Batman and That Generic White Guy From Avatar Saved Kyle Reese, especially one that did a better job of fleshing out the world. I think it might have even been better if they just played the DUN DUN DUN DA DUN song throughout the entirety of the film.

No way is Salvation better than the T3. T3 has amazing action. What does T4 have?

[fistfulofmetal]

Sherlock Holmes

decent. nothing special. RDJ and Law have no chemistry together. Blackstone wasn't really that great of an enemy. 6/10

[Great Rumbler]

Despite saying I'd wait for the DVD, I went to see Book of Eli tonight since my brother wanted to go. It was...watchable. The best thing about it was Denzel Washington, who lent the whole affair some credibility, Gary Oldman mostly chewed on the scenery [not that there's anything wrong with that]. The post-apocalyptic world was superbly realized and looked fantastic, although a lot of it was a bit too "I've seen this before" like the cannibal family and the bandit trap.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

One scene in particular was almost a carbon copy of the scene from Road Warrior where the two people get caught by the Humongous's gang and killed, the one where Mel Gibson watches from the top of the hill. The three action scenes were pretty cool but lasted about ten seconds as Denzel quickly dispatched of 4-5 bandits and then 8-10 bar patrons. The shootout near the end was pretty good, but is mainly just a frenetic shot from halfway between the two parties as they shot at each other with hundreds of bullets. Somehow Denzel and the woman don't get hit despite a ton of bullets going all the way through the house and they're just standing up against the wall beside a window.

And the ending was just...out of nowhere. Suddenly there's this secret base at Alcatraz where the sum total of human culture and art and history is being stored. Also, Eli's blind and his bible was in grail. Just way too many things that were never mentioned anywhere else in the movie and just served to tie up all the loose ends left from the rest of the movie.

[close]

Watchable, but it's not great and it doesn't really tread any new ground.

[Raban]

A Serious Man was sooooo goooooood

Didn't click with me for some reason, but I'm going to watch it again.

I'm extremely biased towards the Coen Brothers, and the setting/dialog/jewing it up in Serious Man totally hit a soft spot.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Just watched Fish Story finally!



Japanese movie set in 1975, 1982, 2009 and 2012 (with some brief stops in other dates).

In 1975, a Japanese punk band records a single album - then disbands, unknown and unheard. Yet in 2012 ... their song Fish Story is going to save the fucking world!! From a giant fucking comet that hits in 5 hours, holy shit!

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

This movie was pretty great, it's basically Nana x Ouendan, a story about Believing in the Power of Music and Hey Everybody Let's Form a Band, mixed with quirky character piece (good quirky, not stupid Japanese quirky) and world-ending apocalypses. In the end, will seigi no mikata find a way to save the day? Of course they will, they are seigi no mikata, motherfuckers! It's a really charming movie with a slamming soundtrack and totally worth a watch if it sounds like it might be your thing.

[Mandark]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

[Raban]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

Says you!

[brawndolicious]

did you go for 3D?  I hated the effect personally.

[Green Shinobi]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

Why would it be trolling me? I'm not the only person to like that movie, even on this forum. Post away if you're so inclined. Not everyone has the same opinion. On this very forum, you'll find people who hated There Will Be Blood, a film which many others thought should have won Best Picture in its year. If we can't get a universal consensus on something like that, I sure as hell wouldn't expect a universal consensus on James Cameron's fucking Avatar. The most important thing to distinguish is whether you have an honest and intelligent opinion on the matter, or whether you're a trolling idiot like Federman.

[ch1nchilla]

Just watched Fish Story finally!

(Image removed from quote.)

Japanese movie set in 1975, 1982, 2009 and 2012 (with some brief stops in other dates).

In 1975, a Japanese punk band records a single album - then disbands, unknown and unheard. Yet in 2012 ... their song Fish Story is going to save the fucking world!! From a giant fucking comet that hits in 5 hours, holy shit!

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

This movie was pretty great, it's basically Nana x Ouendan, a story about Believing in the Power of Music and Hey Everybody Let's Form a Band, mixed with quirky character piece (good quirky, not stupid Japanese quirky) and world-ending apocalypses. In the end, will seigi no mikata find a way to save the day? Of course they will, they are seigi no mikata, motherfuckers! It's a really charming movie with a slamming soundtrack and totally worth a watch if it sounds like it might be your thing.

Is that the dude from the Densha Otoko drama? Anyway, downloading it now... Also getting Tokyo Sonata.

Recently saw Where The Wild Things Are, which was absolutely worth the hype, maybe my favorite film of 2009. Bought Up on blu-ray (hadn't seen it before but wanted a Pixar movie for my new TV), and it looks jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I know it's an HD cliche or whatever, but the colors really did look like they were popping off the screen. Great movie.

[The Fake Shemp]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

The best part is that Mandark seems to have the same problems with the film that I have already discussed, but somehow I'm the troll to Glen Shinobi. I think at this point, people that like Avatar are the ones actually trolling.

[Mr. Gundam]

I saw Crazy Heart last night, it was a damn good film. Has a lot of the same themes as The Wrestler, but it's not even close to being as brutal or soul-destroying.

[Boogie]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

Why would it be trolling me? I'm not the only person to like that movie, even on this forum. Post away if you're so inclined. Not everyone has the same opinion. On this very forum, you'll find people who hated There Will Be Blood, a film which many others thought should have won Best Picture in its year. If we can't get a universal consensus on something like that, I sure as hell wouldn't expect a universal consensus on James Cameron's fucking Avatar. The most important thing to distinguish is whether you have an honest and intelligent opinion on the matter, or whether you're a trolling idiot like Federman.

Dude.

[Mr. Gundam]

Also getting Tokyo Sonata.

You watch it yet? I have the UK (region free) Blu-ray, thought it was really good and a great change of pace for Kurosawa.

[Purple Filth]

I saw Avatar but if I posted my thoughts that would basically be trolling Green Shinobi and he's suffering enough at this point.

The best part is that Mandark seems to have the same problems with the film that I have already discussed, but somehow I'm the troll to Glen Shinobi. I think at this point, people that like Avatar are the ones actually trolling.

This isn't going to end it seems...

[Eric P]

watching Paul Naschy chew scenery in Night of the Werewolf

it's "great" in that 70s spanish horror movie way

not as good as stuff like Tomb of the Blind Dead

[The Fake Shemp]

I'll toss that in my queue. Thanks for NOTHING, Eric.

[Eric P]

i think you'll actually find stuff to like in it

[Eric P]

oh man this is so entertaining

[Kestastrophe]

I watched the Room finally. I started watching it with my wife last night and she couldn't even finish it  . To be fair, the first half had all of the sex scenes, which she called "the creepiest sex scene I've ever seen". Too bad though, because the second half was pure gold. I especially loved Lisa and Mark running into the room after Johnny shoots himself in the head, "Is he dead?!?!?" when there is a hole in his head. And Mark even checks his pulse 

I don't know alot about the movie, but what the fuck was wrong with the audio? Was most of the dialogue dubbed? The worst was the sex scenes where the oohs and aahs were dubbed in, lol

[Diunx]

Watched The Road a couple of hours ago, pretty fucking boring.

[fistfulofmetal]

Anyone else see The Lovely Bones?

I felt that 2/3rds of it were pretty fantastic. The beginning act and the last act. The middle section of the film suffers from Markie Mark's weird acting that seems to be ripped right from The Happening. I don't know what's the deal with this dude. He's done a pretty good a job in other movies but his acting here is just so overdone. Every line seems to be a few notches above what it should. Scenes that are meant to be sad are a little silly because Markie is wide-eye'd and confused. The reason this hurts the middle section is because it's almost entirely about him. The film shifts it's focus from Susie Salmon to her father, to finally her sister. Markie's section is mostly about him trying to do his own detective work and it becomes a very cliche "parent trying to prove everyone wrong" story. I didn't think it worked.

The first act of the movie was my favorite. It's incredibly tense because you know what going to happen to this girl and all of this cheeriness is for naught. When the moment finally came, my heart was pounding and when the moment passed I felt a pit in my stomach. In fact when I think back over the entire movie I still feel that pit in my stomach because when taken on it's own without context, all the stunning imagery and what not is truly beautiful. But when you put it all in context, it's so tragically sad. There' a scene near end in particular:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Susie meets with a group of girls as they guide her to the other side. It's such a pretty scene until you really understand. Everyone in this scene was brutally raped and murdered.

[close]

Most of what brings this movie up is Susie's story, obviously. A lot of the side stuff could have been dropped or condensed to make room for more of her journey through the afterlife and I would have been much happier. In a sense I would have preferred something more like What Dreams May Come in terms of afterlife/real world ratio.

In the end Saoirse Ronan

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

I watched the Room finally. I started watching it with my wife last night and she couldn't even finish it  . To be fair, the first half had all of the sex scenes, which she called "the creepiest sex scene I've ever seen". Too bad though, because the second half was pure gold. I especially loved Lisa and Mark running into the room after Johnny shoots himself in the head, "Is he dead?!?!?" when there is a hole in his head. And Mark even checks his pulse 

I don't know alot about the movie, but what the fuck was wrong with the audio? Was most of the dialogue dubbed? The worst was the sex scenes where the oohs and aahs were dubbed in, lol

I just saw it the other night too, it was showing in Minneapolis with a particularily rowdy crowd.  The movie made my brain feel fuzzy.

[The Fake Shemp]

Watched Daybreakers. Awesome concept, flimsy execution, editing was a mess and it honestly felt like they reshot half of it. Acting was solid, though - a pleasant surprise for this type of fare.

[cool breeze]

Sherlock Holmes

Surprisingly not 2 Wild Wild 2 West. Also not very good.  Some scenes were pretty cool but it was mostly dumb.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The explanations given for the villain's methods were ridiculous; it's like the villain was trying to convince the audience that he had powers rather than anyone in the movie.

[close]

[Great Rumbler]

I was actually going to watch Book of Eli, but no one bothered to spoiler tag anything while discussing it, so now there's no point.

Like Joe said, if you were going to watch Book of Eli for the plot then Gary Whitta already ruined it for you.

[Cormacaroni]

Despite saying I'd wait for the DVD, I went to see Book of Eli tonight since my brother wanted to go. It was...watchable. The best thing about it was Denzel Washington, who lent the whole affair some credibility, Gary Oldman mostly chewed on the scenery [not that there's anything wrong with that]. The post-apocalyptic world was superbly realized and looked fantastic, although a lot of it was a bit too "I've seen this before" like the cannibal family and the bandit trap.

*spoilers cut*

Watchable, but it's not great and it doesn't really tread any new ground.

I'm not much of a spoiler nazi but come on. The movie just opened and supposedly has a twist ending!

You presumably mean 'braille' btw.

[Joe Molotov]

I know what I'm going to be watching tonight...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

It that's funny that of the 20 people posted after you did, not one of them bothered to mention the image you posted has a hotlinking error. So nobody knows what movie you're going to watch. And by extension nobody cares, because they didn't bother to ask.

[Fresh Prince]

Still, I don't like going into movies knowing exactly what's going to happen unless I'm watching Avatar.

It's not the destination, it's the journey.

I saw Machine Girl- Taratino wishes he could make a film of this calibre. Over the top violence, with a message that sometimes revenge ain't really worth it. I want to see Gore Police and Robo Geisha next.

[Phoenix Dark]

Moon

Saw it last night. It was good, but rather overrated. The trailer essentially gives the plot away; I've yet to show the trailer to someone who hasn't immediately guessed the "twist." For a second the film became quite tense and suspenseful but as things dragged on, the situation created became less spectacular, and kinda lost momentum as each revelation became more predictable.

It also looks very reminiscent to 2001, but manages to separate itself in part due to

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the AI robot wanting to help the protagonist

[close]

Still good though. The art design is great and shows once again that it can trump a big budget. Definitely looks better than Avatar

[The Fake Shemp]

wtf are you talking about

[Great Rumbler]

Saw it last night. It was good, but rather overrated. The trailer essentially gives the plot away; I've yet to show the trailer to someone who hasn't immediately guessed the "twist." For a second the film became quite tense and suspenseful but as things dragged on, the situation created became less spectacular, and kinda lost momentum as each revelation became more predictable.

It also looks very reminiscent to 2001, but manages to separate itself in part due to

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the AI robot wanting to help the protagonist

[close]

Still good though. The art design is great and shows once again that it can trump a big budget. Definitely looks better than Avatar

I had to read your post all the way through twice to figure out that you were talking about Moon.

[The Fake Shemp]

Oh, I'm glad I didn't click the spoiler then, because I still have the Blu-ray sitting next to me.

[Phoenix Dark]

The movie is predictable as hell, and I was always assuming some big revelation was going to throw a PKD-ish curve ball and shake things up.

[The Fake Shemp]

Damn, you spoiled the movie for Cohen. No wonder your parents hate you.

[Phoenix Dark]

Oh whoops, I was copy/pasting from the gaf thread.

[The Fake Shemp]

Too late. As legal council for Glen Shinobi, I am going to recommend that we file charges for Third-Degree Douchebaggery.

[Phoenix Dark]

Sorry. It's not a big spoiler in the context of the film though.

[The Fake Shemp]

Jesus, Glen is a musician/writer/martial artist/athlete? He's like the Ryan Seacrest of Korea.

[CajoleJuice]

Glad I saw Moon in theaters!

[Ichirou]

Not all movies have to be about twists, PD.  Moon does a great job at evoking a certain mood and has great atmosphere.

[CajoleJuice]

MOON IS FUCKING GOOD

[The Fake Shemp]

HOW GOOD IS IT JUICE?!

[Phoenix Dark]

Yea true. I just figured there had to be something beyond that, plot wise, and instead it just set a pretty predictable path and stuck to it.

It's definitely a good movie, I just found it disappointing because it could have been great

[cool breeze]

Moon was pretty awesome.  Unless I'm forgetting one, it's the best sci-fi movie of the year.  By that I mean it's better than District 9 and Avatar. 

I think I just realized I liked Avatar more than District 9.  I was not a fan of District 9.

[The Fake Shemp]

Science-fiction films released in 2009 better than Avatar: Knowing, Push, Gamer, Surrogates, 2012, etc.

[Ichirou]

District 9 was pretty stupid. The lead character acted like a distinguished mentally-challenged cartoon.