Novecento (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1976):
Well, the film is so big, i don't really know how to comment on it.
It may not be perfect, but it's a masterpiece with no doubt, even though i don't fully understand the choice of having foreigner actors (as good as they are) which creates strange lip synch problems, even though they're all great (Donald Sutherland is the devil itself, here).
It's a gigantic movie on a still touchy subject, but it's beautiful and awe inspiring. Morricone's score is also the perfect fit, for the style the movie go for.
I have to chime in with all the people loving it. It's probably one of my favorite movies.
Watched Zombieland and Note by Note: The Making Of Steinway L1037 yesterday. Two very different movies (the second one is a documentary, so this is sort of a given, but even so). Liked both of them. Zombieland was pretty cool, entertaining. Quite successful at what it's trying to achieve (a funny zombie movie with an awesome cameo).
The Steinway documentary was quite interesting for me as a Classical music and piano geek. But also without that, I think it's a good documentary. The people who work there seem very proud of their work, which is nice to see and the interviews with pianists were interesting as well. It's also great advertising for Steinway.
I thought the story was more interesting than Taken, I didn't really expect a whole lot of action from the previews I saw so my expectations were tempered, looked like more of a mystery/thriller than action movie. I didn't think it was advertised as an action movie, but low and behold Liam Neeson is brandishing a gun on some of the posters for the movie so I can see where some people were misled.
Lost in Translation is one of those movies where when people tell me they thought it was garbage I know not to trust their opinion concerning films anymore.
I can understand not personally enjoying it, sure. But saying it has no redeeming artistic value at all is simply wrong.
This is how I was with the girl that told me it sucked. I was like, "If you don't personally like it, that's fine, but don't tell me it sucked." She continued saying it was worthless and depressing.
The Crimson Kimono (1959)
This late noir has some fantastic cinematography. Lots of beautiful and stylish shots. The acting is pretty solid aswell. Unfortunately the script is rather bad. The film turns from suspensive cop thriller to romantic melodrama in the middle and from there it all goes downhill.
This is how I was with the girl that told me it sucked. I was like, "If you don't personally like it, that's fine, but don't tell me it sucked." She continued saying it was worthless and depressing.
Why can't she tell you it straight out sucked? Does she always have to add an "in my opinion" disclaimer? If she thought something was good, she can't just say it was amazing or does she have to say "I personally liked it"? I guess maybe it's because LiT is just objectively good.
Why can't she tell you it straight out sucked? Does she always have to add an "in my opinion" disclaimer? If she thought something was good, she can't just say it was amazing or does she have to say "I personally liked it"? I guess maybe it's because LiT is just objectively good.
She didn't have any reason that it sucked other than it didn't end like a typical romantic comedy which in her opinion, made it depressing. That's what bothered me.
Every day, the world over, large amounts of high-level radioactive waste cre- ated by nuclear power plants is placed in interim storage, which is vulnerable to natural disasters, man-made disasters, and to societal changes. In Finland the worlds first permanent repository is being hewn out of solid rock a huge system of underground tunnels - that must last 100,000 years as this is how long the waste remains hazardous
I decided finally watch it since it was on tv and timing was pretty good with all the troubles in Japan currently. Rather good documentary, I really liked how it was shot and the whole concept of Onkalo is pretty rad.
On down side it did try to push too hard on the idea that Onkalo will be some kind of pandora's box for the future generations and I really doubt it.
I hate the delay between the tank firing and the shell exploding (as Theo is preparing to enter the building). It should explode almost immediately but there's this strange delay.
Your Highness: Man oh man i really enjoyed this movie. I thought the action scenes were shot pretty badly though too much quick cuts and shakey camera work, but man the cast was pretty good. I really liked how James Franco's character was always playing it straight compared to Danny Mcbride's character doing and saying funny stupid things lol. Also the main villain had some really funny scenes, but he was pretty underutilized. This movie had a tons and tons of funny parts and moments although it kind of dragged toward the middle to the end before it picked up steam again with more hit after hit of funny parts. My favorite parts are of course the gorgeous Zooey Deschanel and Natalie Portman who were both great although i thought Zooey's character was also underused a bit, but she had her moments in the film which were kind of subtle but i won't spoil them for y'all. Also this movie is pretty bloody and Mcbride's sidekick in the movie was surprisingly hilarious.
Overall funniest movie I've seen this year and if you enjoy comedies like this, then this is a no brainer go see it when it releases asap as i will also see this again when it releases which is really rare for me to do personally. 8.5/10
I hate the delay between the tank firing and the shell exploding (as Theo is preparing to enter the building). It should explode almost immediately but there's this strange delay.
Hilarious how that film didn't get a single nomination that year, but Little Miss Sunshine won best original screenplay and was nominated for best picture.
She didn't have any reason that it sucked other than it didn't end like a typical romantic comedy which in her opinion, made it depressing. That's what bothered me.
There have been a couple posts in this last page like this... if somebody didn't like the movie that is in fact THEIR opinion, what's the problem with that? Look Lost In Translation is a great movie, but plenty of people disliked it, that doesn't mean I'm going to entirely "disregard" their taste in movies.
There have been a couple posts in this last page like this... if somebody didn't like the movie that is in fact THEIR opinion, what's the problem with that? Look Lost In Translation is a great movie, but plenty of people disliked it, that doesn't mean I'm going to entirely "disregard" their taste in movies.
Why are we even having this argument? I am going to entirely disregard her taste in movies, just as I disregard her taste in books because she loves Twilight. That doesn't mean I think she's a second class citizen. It's my opinion that anyone that doesn't see some merit in Lost in Translation probably doesn't have much taste in common with me when it comes to movies, therefore I will mostly disregard their opinions on the subject.
I jokingly called her a bitch in my first post regarding this, I'm sorry, it was a joke, and I didn't know the "it's not objective" police would jump all over it. Can we end this now?
Why are we even having this argument? I am going to entirely disregard her taste in movies, just as I disregard her taste in books because she loves Twilight. That doesn't mean I think she's a second class citizen. It's my opinion that anyone that doesn't see some merit in Lost in Translation probably doesn't have much taste in common with me when it comes to movies, therefore I will mostly disregard their opinions on the subject.
I jokingly called her a bitch in my first post regarding this, I'm sorry, it was a joke, and I didn't know the "it's not objective" police would jump all over it. Can we end this now?
Not necassarily you, and ok that's different if you said someone who likes twighlight, hates LiT, etc., had conflicting opinions that's fine. It's just the whole tone of the posts prior to yours which it seemed you were agreeing with, "oh if you don't like this movie than I immediately discredit you". Again I love LiT, but if I didn't, that doesn't mean I have bad taste, or anyone else.
Long time Beat Takeshi fan and loved every bit of this. I think to fully enjoy this movie, you need to be familiar with Kitano's way of making movies, otherwise this could turn out to be a "ok" movie to many people. As for me, I think it's one of the best yakuza themed movies Kitano ever made.
Not necassarily you, and ok that's different if you said someone who likes twighlight, hates LiT, etc., had conflicting opinions that's fine. It's just the whole tone of the posts prior to yours which it seemed you were agreeing with, "oh if you don't like this movie than I immediately discredit you". Again I love LiT, but if I didn't, that doesn't mean I have bad taste, or anyone else.
I liked the discussions on the illusion of freewill and how the major world catastrophes that almost brought us to extinction was due to us being left to our own devices and having true freewill. Would have liked it to go into a much deeper discussion and dissection of the whole thing, but it was a movie meant to make money so it couldn't go into those deep things.
Love Matt Damon, John Slattery, and Terrence Stamp. Emily Blunt was gorgeous as usual and the accent just takes it to a whole nother level for me too, very smang-able
Phillip K Dick adaptations can be very hit or miss. This was a hit, but not at the level Minority Report was.
I enjoyed it. Definitely found it to be one of the more intelligently put together Stathom action movies, although for whatever reason it felt pretty short. I also feel like
the final confrontation with Stathom's character's boss
was pretty anti-climactic. There wasn't a ton of tension or build-up to it. Overall, decent rental.
I like action, aliens, etc and thought this looked good. It was so mediocre. From the cheesy themes to the nonsensical plot to the pacing, I hated it all. It was one long battle scene with odd intermissions. The lifeforms themselves looked horrible.
There have been a couple posts in this last page like this... if somebody didn't like the movie that is in fact THEIR opinion, what's the problem with that? Look Lost In Translation is a great movie, but plenty of people disliked it, that doesn't mean I'm going to entirely "disregard" their taste in movies.
What I'm saying is that I can completely understand someone not enjoying a movie. Maybe they aren't into ambiguous endings, maybe they prefer closure.
But if someone watches a movie like Lost in Translation and says that it was a BAD MOVIE, as in poorly made, does not contain any redeeming qualities, etc. then to me they are unable to critically analyze film and I don't find their opinion to have weight as a result.
Let me give you an example - I didn't like Taxi Driver. Watched it twice. Didn't enjoy it that much. However, do I think it's a miraculously amazing movie and revolutionary in many aspects? Absolutely. You would have to be crazy to debate the quality of that film. But personally, it's not the type of film I watch when I want to be entertained.
Finally watched A Clockwork Orange. For some reason I hadn't seen it. It was the only Kubrick film that I hadn't watched.
Kubrick is just a god with the camera. Such a stunning looking film. like all his other films.
Directing which was, as usual, godlike. But I think this was Kubrick' weakest in terms of writing, it wasn't bad by any means, just not as engaging as his other works, but the incredible acting and dialogue made up for it.
Malcolm MacDowell was sensational as Alex DeLarge. Now I understand why Heath Ledger watched this performance for his inspiration of portraying The Joker. The perfect character for that.
The music was incredible, got the soundtrack right after watching the film.
Kubrick at his best again. As usual.
Now that I have seen all of Kubrick' films, this is probably how my tiering would go:
God Tier:
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Shining
Dr. Strangelove
A Clockwork Orange
Great Tier (God Tier for everyone else):
Barry Lyndon
Eyes Wide Shut
The Killing
Paths of Glory
It's right up there, right up there with the best live-action movies. We go deeper into the origin of Batman, how he became to be and how he was "this" close to throw away his persona and his goal for one person but ultimately it was this very person who pushed the last nail.
Fun fact: The "Latin" lyrics in the movie's main theme (Here) are actually the name of the producers and music artist backwards.
Cedar Rapids (2011)
I had heard excellent things about this one. I don't think it quite lived up to my expectations, but it's still a very great flick. The characterization is very well done, especially with Tim. This is basically the role Ed Helms is meant to be. His acting and the script combine so wonderfully to make his character obviously naive, but not to a ridiculous degree. He's not trying out physical comedy with an airplane belt or gaping at the marble floors of a hotel. He plays it cool and just messes up the littlest things. It's great. The same praise can be given for pretty much every other character (the only one who I thought didn't get quite enough development was Ron, but that's okay). With such strong characters, the narrative is fantastic overall and I really loved how everything turned out. I think what made me not as impressed when leaving was the number of laughs. It's sure as hell a funny movie, and you're amused pretty much the whole time. But I can't remember more than one moment that had me really laughing. But the more subdued and constant chuckles are more than enough.
Limitless (2011)
This film is a very nice surprise. The trailers intrigued me, but the reviews weren't all too warm. And then it opened with an in media res, and I was already a little disinterested. Then the credits kicked in. I'd love to know what exactly was done, but it seems like a huge sequence of telescoping shots stitched together and it's awesome. From there on, I just sort of let go. Cooper actually does a great job and his character is pretty cool (can't believe Shia LeBeouf was 1st for this role, no way). The pacing is breakneck. I thought parts would drag, but it's fluid and damn fun. It's very styled up with fish-eye views or drastic lighting changes, but it doesn't draw you out so much as make you feel more amped. There are certainly parts that are almost too crazy (
I thought his girlfriend slashing the guy WITH A KID WEARING ICE SKATES was awesome and hilarious, but many others just found it hilarious and ridiculous
) and some stuff is way too obvious (
Hey audience, remember how we had a 90 second scene about him storing all his pills inside all of his jackets? The lawyer just said nice jacket after holding onto it for a while! Wonder what could have happened! Nudge nudge! Hey, hey audience get it? He took the pills! Get it? See?
). But that's easily ignored when the rest of the film is so versatile and exhilarating. I'd definitely recommend seeing this.
The Vicious Kind (2009)
Watched this out of my love for JK Simmons and Adam Scott and off of a recommendation from someone. It was fine. Scott and Simmons were the bright spots. Their characters are built up very well throughout the first two thirds of the film. Brittany Snow is hot throughout. I could relate to what Scott's character was saying almost all the time. But after what seems to be an awesome conclusion in the last act, everything just sort of fizzles, and as it ends you realize not all that much has happened. Plenty of the drama amounts to nothing. It's still a good movie, but the first half will have you expecting it to be spectacular.
CF_Fighter said:
Adjustment Bureau
Saw it this past week. Was pretty good,
I liked the discussions on the illusion of freewill and how the major world catastrophes that almost brought us to extinction was due to us being left to our own devices and having true freewill. Would have liked it to go into a much deeper discussion and dissection of the whole thing, but it was a movie meant to make money so it couldn't go into those deep things.
Love Matt Damon, John Slattery, and Terrence Stamp. Emily Blunt was gorgeous as usual and the accent just takes it to a whole nother level for me too, very smang-able
Phillip K Dick adaptations can be very hit or miss. This was a hit, but not at the level Minority Report was.
Heh, funny. My least favorite part of the movie was that
it so directly addressed free will. I didn't mind it being brought up, of course, but the intensive discussions that were had shouldn't have been there. Too wordy. Almost all of it could be inferred anyway. It was just slightly heavy-handed. Could have been a lot worse. I definitely wouldn't ask for more direct discussion within the film.
The acting by both leads was very good (Ryan Gosling did not get enough credit this year for that performance). The dialogue in particular gave it a mumblecore feel to it that brought it together. I had heard people say not to watch it with your gf/wife but I did and we both enjoyed it.
The Man From Nowhere
Following up My Bittersweet Life, I decided to check out another Korean action movie. The movie was pretty good, I would only put it slightly bellow My Bittersweet Life due too some not so great dialogue. The story seemed like it had been done but it was well made.
Finally got to watching Videodrome (1983). I really enjoyed it, I thought the message behind it is even more relevant today with the age of digital media. Upset to find that there is a remake in the works though. While I think it's a great idea to get people thinking about again, I don't think they will be able to capture the grim, dirty way it was shot. Plus, I adore the physicality of the effects in this. One of my favorite parts of watching older films.
Definitely recommended, I think I might watch eXistenZ next for more Cronenberg. That or The Fly.
It's right up there, right up there with the best live-action movies. We go deeper into the origin of Batman, how he became to be and how he was "this" close to throw away his persona and his goal for one person but ultimately it was this very person who pushed the last nail.
Fun fact: The "Latin" lyrics in the movie's main theme (Here) are actually the name of the producers and music artist backwards.
If you like this one, definitely check out Batman: Under the Red Hood. I was blown away by it. Really explores the dynamics of Batman's moral code well.
If you like this one, definitely check out Batman: Under the Red Hood. I was blown away by it. Really explores the dynamics of Batman's moral code well.
I'm actually in the minority that prefers this to the original. The performances were all fantastic but I think what sets this apart for me is the score. Absolutely great.
I'm actually in the minority that prefers this to the original. The performances were all fantastic but I think what sets this apart for me is the score. Absolutely great.
