Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[Smooth Groove]

Saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The mystery was somewhat pedestrian, but the camera work and acting were ace. I am intrigued enough to see the sequel, which apparently comes out this weekend.

I thought the mystery was great until it started unraveling in the last quarter of the film.  There was a foreboding sense of some great evil at work but the truth turned out to be quite mundane.  I guess you could say that the revelation was pedestrian. 

Both sequels don't come anywhere close to being as good as the first, unfortunately.  They both have more action though if that's what you're looking for. 

[The Fake Shemp]

I thought it was predictable from about the half way point. I even turned at Erica P and offhandedly made a glib comment that came to fruition. The characters were far more interesting than the story itself. Unless they've fucked that up with the sequels, I can't see how they might be awful.

More action would be pleasant. It's not like this film was really lightin' it up in the drama department.

[Cheebs]

Saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The mystery was somewhat pedestrian, but the camera work and acting were ace. I am intrigued enough to see the sequel, which apparently comes out this weekend.

Think David Fincher's version which he is in pre-production on right now with Daniel Craig will be any better?

[The Fake Shemp]

As pedestrian as Blade Runner, or moreso?

It was typical, cable television-level mystery, from development to execution. I found the world and the characters far more interesting. Also, apparently everyone in Sweden owns Apple products. Are PCs banned?

Think David Fincher's version which he is in pre-production on right now with Daniel Craig will be any better?

... Actually, if there's anyone I would trust to spice it up a little bit, it would be David Fincher. I have less hesitation about this property being Americanized than I do over Let the Right One In, which I always felt would be a shitty American film. This is a foreign film aching to be an American film; maybe Fincher can do it justice.

[Smooth Groove]

Well, those characters don't develop much in the sequels and there is even less intrigue. They do however introduce a new badass villain who is almost superhuman and beats the crap out of everything in his path.  

[CajoleJuice]

I'm just glad they took out all of Blomkvist's sex that was the novel. He bangs every hole in it.

I am also looking forward to what Fincher can do with it, Willco.

[The Fake Shemp]

I thought it was pretty clear that Blomkvist was tearin' shit up, but you only get to see him bang one person in the film. I should warn everyone that I have not read the novels and I pretty much have no intention to until I've seen the films.

They do however introduce a new badass villain who is almost superhuman and beats the crap out of everything in his path.

Sold!

[Smooth Groove]

As pedestrian as Blade Runner, or moreso?

It was typical, cable television-level mystery, from development to execution. I found the world and the characters far more interesting. Also, apparently everyone in Sweden owns Apple products. Are PCs banned?

I liked it in the beginning because it wasn't obvious whether the old guy was being taunted by the killer or not.  Also, there were some hints of the occult being involved, which sadly were nothing more than red herrings.  

[The Fake Shemp]

Eh, I thought it was pretty clear that the the killings were always religiously motivated, not occult shenanigans. Considering how the film beats you over the head with the fact that members of the Vagner family were Nazis, I saw that a mile away.

Awkward date moment:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

When Lisbeth goes to ask her guardian for money, and she is brutally beaten and sodomized in return, I turned to Erica P and asked, "Was that worth it to buy an iPhone 4?"

[close]

[Smooth Groove]

Yeah, Nazis are played out.  Story should have taken it in another direction. 

Also, that scene was quite uncomfortable even by today's grisly standards for stuff like that.  I'd probably rather not watch something like that with someone I just recently dated. 

[Diunx]

I just saw that movie, I agree with Willco the whole mystery including the twits were a little predictable but the characters where great and the movie was pretty entertaining those 2 hours and 20 minutes went by really quick, is the sequel out on the usual places?

[The Fake Shemp]

Or you could go see it in theaters!

[Diunx]

That movie will never come out in theaters over here, shit the remake will probably take like 6 months to get here.

[The Fake Shemp]

It's out in Europe and the States. If you live elsewhere, don't pirate - just move to fucking civilization. If your country can't afford nice things, you don't deserve good art!

[Smooth Groove]

I don't even know why this film needs to be remade.  It's fine in its current shape for American audiences.  In fact, most of its charm is due to the European atmosphere and sensibilities. 

[Phoenix Dark]

The Wolfman (unrated version)

so guys...I thought it was alright. Nothing amazing and quite predictable but I thought it was damn entertaining. Maybe I just like classic monster flicks. Coppola's Dracula is flawed but I really liked it; speaking of which, just like Dracula, Wolfman features a horrible performance by a lead actor. And (haters gonna hate)...I liked the De Niro Frankenstein.. 

I'm easily pleased. Just give me a movie with dudes hunting a monster+some scene where a grizzled man tells a foreboding story about facing said monster back in the day=I'm happy

[CajoleJuice]

I should warn everyone that I have not read the novels and I pretty much have no intention to until I've seen the films.

Probably should bother at all, then. You hate books anyway, remember?

[Cheebs]

The Wolfman (unrated version)

so guys...I thought it was alright. Nothing amazing and quite predictable but I thought it was damn entertaining. Maybe I just like classic monster flicks. Coppola's Dracula is flawed but I really liked it; speaking of which, just like Dracula, Wolfman features a horrible performance by a lead actor. And (haters gonna hate)...I liked the De Niro Frankenstein.. 

I'm easily pleased. Just give me a movie with dudes hunting a monster+some scene where a grizzled man tells a foreboding story about facing said monster back in the day=I'm happy

You have failed to watch dozens and dozens of amazing amazing movies from this past year and last self-admittedly. Yet you watched this?  :'(

[Phoenix Dark]

My mom rented it and was like "this is the best movie I've seen in ages." She has horrible taste so I expected the worst. But I wound up liking it

I'd rather watch monster movies than whatever hipster trash you want me to see 

[Smooth Groove]

What disappointed me most about Wolfman was that they didn't even showcase Emily Blunt's two most wonderful talents. 

[Ichirou]

Benicio del Toro

[Cheebs]

My mom rented it and was like "this is the best movie I've seen in ages." She has horrible taste so I expected the worst. But I wound up liking it

I'd rather watch monster movies than whatever hipster trash you want me to see 

I am guessing that even you would prefer to watch Scorsese's latest over that.  Like have you had a chance to see
Scorsese's Shutter Island or Polanski's Ghost Writer yet? If not, get on it! Not sure if Ghost Writer is on dvd yet though.

A Serious Man

Well that was depressing.

Such a fantastic movie. One of my favorites from last year.

It's actually pretty fucking good and I liked it a lot, and that neighbor lady he fantasize's over is whoa momma nomnomnomnom. But the movie was pretty fucking depressing.

Yes omg what a milf. It might help that she is the only character in that movie that isn't ugly. I love that other than the brother who has pus in his neck I didn't recognize a single actor. It made the whole kind of weird somewhat creepy atmosphere to that whole town all the more strange. The last scene was just plain crazy how it just ended like that. Way better than their last movie Burn After Reading I thought. And maybe their best comedy since Big Lebowski (not much of a fan of O Brother Where Art Thou).

[Phoenix Dark]

dammit, my mom rented Shutter Island awhile ago but I never borrowed it from her. 

[Mupepe]

dammit, my mom rented Shutter Island awhile ago but I never borrowed it from her. 

dude

pd

baby boo

it's amazing

[Cheebs]

dammit, my mom rented Shutter Island awhile ago but I never borrowed it from her. 

Whhyy? It's Scorsese man.

[Phoenix Dark]

I was thinking about buying a pirated version (lol) from a friend to help him out, but that fell through. Then I forgot my mom had rented it smh

[ManaByte]

Why are they making a new Wall Street btw?  The old one isn't that old and it's still fucking good. It's not like it was made in the 50's and is archaic to a young crowd.

The original is more than 20 years old.

[Cheebs]

Why are they making a new Wall Street btw?  The old one isn't that old and it's still fucking good. It's not like it was made in the 50's and is archaic to a young crowd.

They aren't making it because the first is too old for "young people" like a remake or something.  The Wall Street movies really aren't movies aimed at teen boys in the first place.

Oliver Stone is making it because he felt the massive finaicial crash and insanity that happened on Wall Street was something that should be shown to the public to show them how outrageous it was and how fucked up and selfish Wall Street was at that time. The movie takes places in 2008 during the financial crash. And by all indication of the reviews I saw from cannes is the movie pretty solid. It's about what lead to the crash of Wall Street and the economy back in 2008. He was pissed off about what Wall Street was doing in 2008 and didn't like the bail-outs so he is making a movie about it.

[Ichirou]

The script was floating around for a while before the financial crash reached its lowest point, though.  They would've gotten someone else to direct if Oliver Stone had passed.

I've read a plot synopsis of the film and the financial crash stuff is strictly in the background, unfortunately.  The main plot is stupid Shia Labeouf drama shit.

[Cheebs]

The script was floating around for a while before the financial crash reached its lowest point, though.  They would've gotten someone else to direct if Oliver Stone had passed.

I've read a plot synopsis of the film and the financial crash stuff is strictly in the background, unfortunately.  The main plot is stupid Shia Labeouf drama shit.

Oliver Stone said he wasn't interested in directing the script till the financial crash and once that happened they did a re-write to make that the back drop which is why Stone wanted to do it though. So it is the backdrop of the final film. And according to Stone is the reason he agreed to do the movie.

But yes the foreground story is going to be family drama stuff, but it was the same way with the original.

[Ichirou]

In the original the family drama stuff was intricately tied to the stock market, seems it's a bit more peripheral here, at least from what I've read.

I doubt it'll be any good...when was the last time Oliver Stone made a legitimately good movie?

[Great Rumbler]

I doubt it'll be any good...when was the last time Oliver Stone made a legitimately good movie?

W. was pretty good.

[Cheebs]

In the original the family drama stuff was intricately tied to the stock market, seems it's a bit more peripheral here, at least from what I've read.

I doubt it'll be any good...when was the last time Oliver Stone made a legitimately good movie?

W. was enjoyable and word from Cannes is Wall Street 2 is Stones best in a long time from what I read.

[Ichirou]

W. was...decent.  I thought it could have been a much stronger film but Stone seemed to purposefully dial back a lot of the factual insanity regarding Dubya that was out there.

I wouldn't call it a good movie.  World Trade Center wasn't good either.

[Cheebs]

W. was...decent.  I thought it could have been a much stronger film but Stone seemed to purposefully dial back a lot of the factual insanity regarding Dubya that was out there.

I wouldn't call it a good movie.  World Trade Center wasn't good either.

Yeah he said he wanted a legitimate biopic not an an agenda film.

[Ichirou]

He coulda done both.  Stone is weak these days.  He has lost his fire.

[Cheebs]

He coulda done both.  Stone is weak these days.  He has lost his fire.

You can say that about 90% of directors once they hit their 60's and start going on like 15-20+ movies.

[Ichirou]

You are absolutely right.  Fuck.

[Barry Egan]

Conversations With Other Women -  Two people who have nothing to say talk for two hours anyway.  Self-indulgent man baby dialogue.  Gimmicky camera tricks.  Helena Bonham Carter and the young actress from brick are hawt.  But still, negative ten stars. 

[Phoenix Dark]

W was alright, I saw it at the theater. It was tamer than advertised

sure made Laura look like a saint. I like her 

[Cheebs]

W was alright, I saw it at the theater. It was tamer than advertised

sure made Laura look like a saint. I like her 

She was on Larry King a few months ago and said she was pro-choice and for gay marriage.

[Ichirou]

W was alright, I saw it at the theater. It was tamer than advertised

sure made Laura look like a saint. I like her 

Except for the whole running over her ex-boyfriend thing, I like her too.

[Beezy]

Finally watched Ong Bak 2. There's like 15-20 mins of story and the rest is just sick fighting scenes. Netflix needs more martial arts movies.

[Mupepe]

capitalism: a love story holy God Michael Moore. Unbearable.
Paranormal entity steals anything that was exciting about paranormal activity and kills the tension and timing. So bad except for demon rape.
jaws 2 lol
Predators pretty damn entertaining. Ludicrous story of course and not as bad ass as it could have been but pretty entertaining. Not a classic but worth watching for sure
despicable me good entertaining stuff. I was honestly surprised. And some of the cutest characters ever.

[Barry Egan]

okay is the guy behind despicable me the same guy who does the raving rabbids games?  Those little yellow things are like the exact same concept as those rabbits.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

The Host may very well be the most overrated movie of all time. How it sits at 92% on RT and made a buttload of top 10 lists is baffling to me. It's two hours of pointless melodrama and being beat over the fucking head with "HUMANS ARE THE REAL MONSTER!" Fuck. Korean cinema sucks.

[Mr. Gundam]

I thought The Host was great. To each their own.

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, I think Bob saw an entirely different movie. The film is so over-the-top that you can't hold anything against it; it's like Little Miss Sunshine meets Cloverfield.

[Mr. Gundam]

Korean cinema is pretty odd, I can understand why someone might not have liked it.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Didn't click with me I guess. Just not a Korean cinema guy. I feel like Korean cinema has real problems with pacing and subtlety.

[Bebpo]

Weird.  I clicked on this thread since I finally got back to watching movies after a month straight of xenoblade marathoning and the first thing I watched was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and lo and behold only 1 page back the movie is being discussed

I liked it.  It was a good murder mystery thriller.  But I don't see any reason why Hollywood is jumping up in excitement to remake it.  Unlike "Let the Right One In" which actually felt unique, this is just your typical murder mystery.  Been done a hundred times before.  Still a good movie and I guess Hollywood is all out of originality so they'll remake any foreign film that's at least "good".  Would like to hear opinions on if the following two movies are worth watching when released w/English subs.  Sorta interested, but only if they're good stories.

Also saw Predators.  Holy crap that was a boring movie.  Nothing was really terrible about it.  It was standard B-movie monster film, but the action was probably the worst I've seen in years.  Every scene was completely unengaging and I sort of fell asleep during the WORST SAMURAI ACTION SCENE ever filmed.  If this exact same script was filmed by Robert Rodriguez it would have rocked.  Because he makes exciting visceral action and that is all these movie needed to be entertaining.  Instead Nimrod makes a boring movie that puts you to sleep!

[Eric P]

I feel like Korean cinema has real problems with pacing and subtlety.

most of the time yes

and the for some reason a lot of the ends of their films will just veer into WILD MELODRAMA LAND out of nowhere.  cases in point, the detestable My Sassy Girl followed by Please Teach Me English.

yesterday I watched A Single Man and it was pretty much amazing on every level

[Ichirou]

You're wrong.

[Cheebs]

Thank God I am not the only one who has these problems with Korean movies.

[chronovore]

Reading this page is fun. Everyone's referencing stuff without quotes, and it looks like Oliver Stone is remaking films in Korea.

[Great Rumbler]

I think the problem is that asians seem to lack a sense of irony and kitsch. So for them them the wild melodrama is actually emotional and real.

Anybody living there correct me if I'm wrong.

The Quiet Family says you're wrong.

[CajoleJuice]

But I don't see any reason why Hollywood is jumping up in excitement to remake it.

Because the books are selling like hotcakes. $$$

[Cheebs]

But I don't see any reason why Hollywood is jumping up in excitement to remake it.

Because the books are selling like hotcakes. $$$

Yep. It's basically the new Da Vinci Code.

[Mupepe]

cube good lord this was bad. Half of it was cliche horror movie characters bickering, and the other half felt like they took an angsty political essay from a random highschool student and turned it into dialogue. It was so awkward because it was so obvious. you knew the characters were supposed to be referring to their situation but the actual dialogue was barely applicable. Terrible fucking movie. And terrible ending too.

[Bildi]

I think I might remove Cube from my Amazon wish list.