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[SuperInuit]

Just watched The Tale of Primcess Kaguya. Really slow but beautiful, and I was welling up at the end. My wife compared it to A River Runs Through It, which I haven't seen, but basically an atmosphere piece until right at the end where they punch you in the feels.

I seriously, seriously adore this film. Full blown crying at the end, haven't been hit that hard by a film since I first watched Magnolia after my Mum got diagnosed with cancer herself. I thought the pacing was really perfect too... I know you said it was slow, but I dunno, just felt right to me.

Sorry to piggyback on your post to sort of add more detail to my own thoughts!

 

[User 479360]

The Rookie - I'd never seen it before, but I like sports movies. It's pretty good, too, albeit somewhat plodding. It almost feels like two movies in one.

 

[SuperInuit]

Is anyone else really struggling to get into a film? I just tried to watch I Wish (totally boring) and Killing Them Softly (guess I'm not in the mood), and before finally settling on kaguya yesterday I literally went through 5 different dvds trying to watch something. I think I need a break or something.

 

[Divius]

Yeah it happens. Maybe try watching a tv show, shorter runtime and takes less effort to get in to (usually).

 

[SuperInuit]

Could try that, shame the one I was most interested in this year turned out to be so awful. I actually don't watch TV much because of the time investment they seem to need, like a couple of hours versus 8+ for one story.

 

[KAKYBAC]

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014) - Not as bad as critics and fans make out. Full of verve and confidence, never dull if only a little disjointed. A minor, switch-off-brain and enjoy surprise.

Blue Ruin (2014) - Nice sense of realism to the violence but I was left a little cold. Not enough context or zeitgeist was portrayed, no real sense of travel or fear with the "enemy" portrayed as mindless hicks. Disappointed after some minor hype.

The Interview (2014) - Usually a quiet fan of Seth Rogan but this was plainly unfunny. A case of the concept sounding better on paper or with a joint.

Terminator: Genisys (2015) - really enjoyed the throwback to 1984, everything else felt like made-for-TV action. Schwarzenegger was very good. Jai Courtney was close to appalling.

Next up: Bullhead (2011)

 

[Ridley327]

Somewhere in the world, Jai Courtney stumbled onto GAF, browsed this thread, and shed a tear for getting his first good review, courtesy of KAKYBAC.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

Good review?

 

[Serpentine]

Good review?

relatively, "almost terrible" is 10/10 praise for that guy

 

[ViewtifulJC]

"appalling" is one letter away from "appealing", friends. Jai will take it when he can get it.

 

[big ander]

I firmly and honestly believe Jai Courtney was good in Jack Reacher. And if he stayed in the arena of secondary roles in pulpy action movies he'd be appreciated.

Instead he starred in the sickeningly awful affront to humanity that is A Good Day To Die Hard, and for that he should never be forgiven.

 

[User 479360]

Is anyone else really struggling to get into a film? I just tried to watch I Wish (totally boring) and Killing Them Softly (guess I'm not in the mood), and before finally settling on kaguya yesterday I literally went through 5 different dvds trying to watch something. I think I need a break or something.

I find that my attention span has lessened, or just isn't there as much these days when it comes to film. I pause them several times and check my email or GAF.

That said, if the movie is great, I don't really do that a lot. I'll maybe pause it to get popcorn and a drink or check my email once or twice. But I never used to do that.

 

[Fancy Clown]

Amy: Damn what a talent. Well done doc and super depressing of course. Such a shame she died so young.

The Mist: That ending does not fuck around. Really enjoyed this despite a lot of characters being painted too broadly and a bit of melodrama. Also lol Darabont put like half this movie's cast in The Walking Dead.

I'm Not There: A little too cute (we get it, the director has seen 8 1/2), and since I don't know too much of Bob Dylan outside of some of his songs I didn't get much out of it, but it was really well shot and has some great performances.

In the Mouth of Madness: Taken me way too long to get around to this. Great movie, about on par with Prince of Darkness, maybe a little better. Perfect mixture of camp and terror, although I wish it had The Thing's budget as this one especially seems hampered by its lack of resources. Carpenter once again shows he's the fucking best at endings.

 

[SuperInuit]

Looks like The Brood is being released by Criterion in october, along with Mulholland Drive, My Own Private Idaho and others.

edit:

I find that my attention span has lessened, or just isn't there as much these days when it comes to film. I pause them several times and check my email or GAF.

That said, if the movie is great, I don't really do that a lot. I'll maybe pause it to get popcorn and a drink or check my email once or twice. But I never used to do that.

I don't really tend to pause it, but if I'm not enjoying a film but can't be bothered to stop it, I am usually on the internet at the same time.

 

[swoon]

if you can't stay off your phone for a couple of hours, maybe start unpacking that idea

 

[SpaceHorror]

It Follows - 4/5 - It is more creepy and unsettling than balls to the wall scary, but sometimes that can be just as effective as relentless horror, and that's certainly the case here. I can't stop thinking about how well David Robert Mitchell builds up tension and usually pays it off with some pretty chilling stuff, never falling back on jump scares. It's one of the most beautifully shot films I've seen in a while. The cinematography creates a wonderful and realistic sense of place for the horror to invade, making it to hit close to home. There is a sense of hopelessness that permeates throughout the film, made stronger by the relationships that develop as the main character tries to rid herself of the thing stalking her. The climax falls a bit flat, but I like the ending quite a bit.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

It Follows has my favorite poster taglines of the year so far, perfect for a horror movie

 

[SpaceHorror]

It Follows has my favorite poster taglines of the year so far, perfect for a horror movie

Yeah, love the tagline.

Also, I forgot the mention the soundtrack is fantastic. Reminds me of the Manhunter score, hell lots of 80's horror scores, in the best possible way.

 

[TheKaeptain]

if you can't stay off your phone for a couple of hours, maybe start unpacking that idea

With me I have just been with my son for the last few weeks. When I am not with him I am reading.

Although I am thinking about watching something Lynchian, weird, or macabre tonight. Not sure what I want to watch though.

Any suggestions?

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

It Follows has my favorite poster taglines of the year so far, perfect for a horror movie

Hmm, maybe I should watch it. If only to at least watch something. My movie watching has been dry.

However, I don't know why, but I tend to suck with horror movies if I get into them. I'm a coward.

Edit: I'll be watching it.

 

[UrbanRats]

Slow West: Light and beautiful little western.
Nice fur coat.

Kingsmen: "This ain't that kind of movie, bruv!" - but it completely was.
Some good action i guess, but didn't enjoy it.

No tears for the dead: All the good scenes were in the trailer, it has an incredibly anti-climactic final showdown, and some painfully trite and predictable melodrama to go with it, but it did have a bunch of decent set pieces here and there.
Not sure if it's worth it though, again, just watch the trailer and you're fine.

Evil Dead 2 & Evil Dead army of darkness: Just watched these 2 because of the TV show coming up, which looks nice.
As usual, i enjoyed both greatly, but Army of Darkness was definitely the funniest of the two, by a long shot.
The laughing deer always gets me though.

 

[DrSlek]

I got around to watching The Godfather Part 2 and Godzilla 2014

it took a while for me to warm up to The Godfather Part 2. Perhaps it had been hyped up too much in my mind....y'know...being declared one of the greatest movies of all time. About an hour in I began enjoying it.

For Godzilla, I think it was good but I had 2 major problems with it. The protagonist should have been Bryan Cranston, and everything was far too dark when the MUTOs and Godzilla were fighting.

 

[swoon]

With me I have just been with my son for the last few weeks. When I am not with him I am reading.

Although I am thinking about watching something Lynchian, weird, or macabre tonight. Not sure what I want to watch though.

Any suggestions?

well that's different then watching a movie and then not being able to control yourself from email, right?

lynch isn't my thing, but I think bergman's through a glass darkly is a good proto-lynch film. there's an ok list on icm as well.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Have you tried getting rid of your son, DY_Nasty style?

 

[TheXbox]

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Hey, this movie gets really weird at the end. Not sure I dig the extraterrestrial synth duo and everything that follows, but the rest of it I liked. Richard Dreyfuss plays a convincing UFO nut (the dinner scene where he breaks down is fucking fantastic), and of course Williams' score is terrific. So good, in fact, it became a plot device. I'm not sure how I went this long without seeing the whole film, but now that I have it's easy to see what an influence it had on Hollywood science fiction thereafter, especially with "first contact" stories like Independence Day, Contact, and of course ET.

For Godzilla, I think it was good but I had 2 major problems with it. The protagonist should have been Bryan Cranston, and everything was far too dark when the MUTOs and Godzilla were fighting.

I had the same problem with Pacific Rim. Every fight scene was obscured in darkness and rainfall. Maybe it's a trick to hide the CG imperfections with the monsters? idk. It's annoying.

 

[Currygan]

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Hey, this movie gets really weird at the end. Not sure I dig the extraterrestrial synth duo and everything that follows, but the rest of it I liked. Richard Dreyfuss plays a convincing UFO nut (the dinner scene where he breaks down is fucking fantastic), and of course Williams' score is terrific. So good, in fact, it became a plot device. I'm not sure how I went this long without seeing the whole film, but now that I have it's easy to see what an influence it had on Hollywood science fiction thereafter, especially with "first contact" stories like Independence Day, Contact, and of course ET. I had the same problem with Pacific Rim. Every fight scene was obscured in darkness and rainfall. Maybe it's a trick to hide the CG imperfections with the monsters? idk. It's annoying.

atmosphere. Like, titanic monsters destroying everything would have looked a bit less intense on a shiny day and shit, I think


for some reason i found myself watching 35 minutes of Bangkok Dangerous. I think one of the directors is called Hydrogen or something. Nick Cage's face was so smooth he could probably suck a Screwdriver through his ears. After these masterful 35 minutes I had this reaction

 

[Net_Wrecker]

The Black Stallion (1979) (Carroll Ballard) aka where Fumito Ueda jacked his whole style from. (Not really, but kinda really) First act is magical. Super light on dialogue, just ~30 minutes of a boy, a wild horse, and a beautiful location filmed like a beautiful location should be filmed. After that I think it loses a bit of steam right up until the final 5 minutes where it finds that magic again if only for a moment. Still though, damn fine movie.

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) (Jaromil Jires) aka Erotic Coming of Age Alice In Wonderland. Czech surrealist fantasy-horror take on a girl becoming a woman. And when I say girl, I mean 13 years old. This is trippy and uncomfortable with lots of dream logic storytelling, tangents, and symbolism that plays by its own rules because it was 1970. Don't even know where to begin with this movie, just check it out.

Summer with Monika (1953) (Ingmar Bergman) aka Ingmar Bergman being great. What can I say, It's Bergman doing young love....you know where this is going. And that's fine because Harriet Andersson owns the screen every time she's on camera with a character and performance that feels ahead of its time. Great cinematography.

 

[Currygan]

these new Zavvi exclusive James Bond steelbooks....nnnggghhh

 

[Fancy Clown]

It Follows has my favorite poster taglines of the year so far, perfect for a horror movie

Hell yeah. Feels classic 80's and Carpenter-esque, just like the movie.

 

[Lightning Count]

Misery (1990) Blu Ray - Still holds up very well, the picture quality is excellent for the transfer, this is honestly one of my favourite Stephen King adaptations, they really respected the source material and that comes through.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

It Follows. It got kind of silly toward the end, and some of the panning shots were a bit annoying

Spoiler

(as well as the don't have sex, kids, message)

, but most of it was good (specially mood). 6/10.

beginning>>>>>end

 

[SpaceHorror]

Rewatched a couple of my favorites last night:

Aguirre, Wrath of God - 5/5 - One of my very favorite films. Klaus Kinski's performance is one only a mad man could give. The story of what Werner Herzog went through to get this film made, including his legendary battles with Kinski, is just as fascinating as the film itself.

Hot Fuzz - 3.5/5 - Rewatching Hot Fuzz is like visiting an old friend. Still funny as hell.

 

[maxcriden]

big eyes (crossposting from the big eyes thread):

Uhmm...hmm. Did anyone end up seeing this? I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it. Felt like Burton's most original film in ages. Very compellingly told story with some expert acting from Adams and Waltz. Just a really good flick all around and kept us glued to the screen throughout.

 

[Secret Fawful]

We Are Still Here - Ted Geoghegan - 2015

I didn't find any of the actors particularly convincing, except for two of the female leads, sadly. However, the movie is well-shot, and it has one of the most unique and fun ideas for a ghost family I've ever seen. Definitely slow at first, but slow burns are good, and when the movie hits it hits hard. The final thirty minutes definitely go off the rails in a fun way. The

Spoiler

kill in the car didn't make any sense. The movie won me over by having the entire town be in on the horror, which is a trope I always enjoy.

The Trouble With Harry - Alfred Hitchcock - 1955

I often have trouble focusing on movies, and end up watching them in chunks. From the shot of a little Jerry Mathers looking over a dead body, toy space gun in hand, I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen. Hitch was so clever to do that just to mess with the wholesome Leave It To Beaver image. There are numerous amazing things about this movie. For one, it's incredibly simple, which is always good conceptually. Second, it's a romantic comedy that just happens to revolve around a corpse. In lesser hands, or any other hands really, this movie would have easily fallen apart. It is so easy to screw up a romantic comedy, much less one that revolves around suspense. I'm not going to say this is the most amazing movie ever, but the fact that it works is a bit of a miracle. Bernard Hermann's score, which is normally full of dread and suspense, is weirdly perfect at establishing the ridiculous tone that this movie slyly engages in. There's also a surprising amount of cleverness and dialogue revolving around sex. I guess only Hitch could get away with having his leading man tell a young Shirley MacLaine "I'd love to paint you nude" while tugging on the bottom of her dress. While it's clever, it's also simply shot, and makes me realize I will pretty much love anything Hitchcock puts out.

 

[Akahige]

Buffalo Soldiers (2001) - Very absurd and sometimes darkly humorous military satire, pretty low key movie with not much happening and most of the supporting cast didn't do much but idle about like Ed Harris, I guess he took on the role to play a against type but it was a waste of a good actor. Joaquin Phoenix plays the likeable shithead well enough, didn't really buy the romance between him and Anna Paquin, her character like most in the movie were underutilized.

 

[User 479360]

The only nice-looking steelbook in that trio is the Casino Royale one...

I watched part of The Fugitive last night, which was my first time seeing it. So far, it's been pretty good. However, I fell asleep due to a lack of sleep.

 

[maxcriden]

The only nice-looking steelbook in that trio is the Casino Royale one...

I watched part of The Fugitive last night, which was my first time seeing it. So far, it's been pretty good. However, I fell asleep due to a lack of sleep.

Just rewatched it recently. Super compelling. Kept us on the edge of our seats. Great direction and stellar performances from Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

 

[Currygan]

The only nice-looking steelbook in that trio is the Casino Royale one...

I watched part of The Fugitive last night, which was my first time seeing it. So far, it's been pretty good. However, I fell asleep due to a lack of sleep.

I'm a sucker for steelbooks though, seriously thinking about selling my brs and rebuy those. Agreed they could have been better

 

[zoukka]

Possession (1981) Directors Cut



This is the best movie you never saw. Impeccable cinematography, acting that will leave you shivering (Adjani won best actor at cannes) and a chilling score to go with everything. Some will say it's a horror film because it has horrifying stuff in it but to me it feels more like a story about letting your loved ones go. It tackles the subject without mercy and the relationship of the main characters is portraited in a way that is believable and touching but also very scary and unnerving.

If you thought that The Excorcist has good special effects or scary imaginery, well all I can say that Possession takes things far beyond anything I've seen in a movie about religious supernatural horror.

There is a crap version of the movie with 40 minutes missing and the dialogue is completely butchered so avoid that with all costs.

 

[SuperInuit]

Possession is utterly brilliant, need to get my hands on a DVD so I can permanently have it in my collection.

Really fancy watching Inland Empire again tonight.

 

[Fancy Clown]

The Birds
A surprisingly dull movie punctuated by moments of extreme silliness. The ending is the only thing that really feels like a Hitchcock movie (well that and the extreme exposition littered throughout :lol).

I haven't seen it in forever, but that scene of Tippi on the bench while the crows gather on the playground intercut with the children's choir is fucking classic Hitchcock.

Possession (1981) Directors Cut

Watched this for the first time a few months ago. It was absolutely crazy and awesome. Adjani going nuts in the subway was amazing. And people say Eva Green is the best at being possessed...

 

[Secret Fawful]

I haven't seen it in forever, but that scene of Tippi on the bench while the crows gather on the playground intercut with the children's choir is fucking classic Hitchcock.

The phone booth scene is great too, but I could see why someone would say "Why would she go in there!?".

 

[Currygan]

The phone booth scene is great too, but I could see why someone would say "Why would she go in there!?".

eh, I think this kind of logic can be applied aplenty in the majority of Hitchcock's movies. Characters act according to the law of suspense. Take Rear Window for example, villain is a bucket of illogical behaviour, all done to preserve the mise en scene and spectacle. I don't think Hitchcock gave much of a shit about lack of objective common sense

 

[Fancy Clown]

eh, I think this kind of logic can be applied aplenty in the majority of Hitchcock's movies. Characters act according to the law of suspense. Take Rear Window for example, villain is a bucket of illogical behaviour, all done to preserve the mise en scene and spectacle. I don't think Hitchcock gave much of a shit about lack of objective common sense

Definitely. Strangers on a Train is full of this in the climax.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

From what I've seen, the original The Fugitive TV show is quite a bit better than the Harrison Ford movie and is actually quite underrated as a TV show, period.

 

[hal9001]

Ant-Man
Very mixed bag. Simultaneously contains some of the best and worst of Marvel films traits/scenes. The opening act takes a while to get started and felt very boring. However as soon as he gets the suit things start going at a better pace. The humour is there but some jokes do fall flat. It tends to get overly cliche at times but there are moments of sheer brilliance like the "I heard that..." flashbacks, suitcase disintegration battle, train set piece and the trippy

Spoiler

subatomic world

scene that make it worthwhile. I hate to bring up the whole Edgar Wright issue but you can certainly feel his influence throughout. I just wish we had got to see his entire vision as it would have been something special.

 

[User 479360]

I'm a sucker for steelbooks though, seriously thinking about selling my brs and rebuy those. Agreed they could have been better

Steelbooks look nice, but I don't like using them because their hubs are usually awfully difficult to use. I feel as if I'm going to break each disc I pull out, especially the first time.

That's one reason I avoid special editions like the plague these days (in gaming. I don't buy movies anymore.) They're a huge downgrade in protection/safety from regular cases.

 

[Currygan]

heck yeah, agree completely, they're a pain in the ass to pull out, although I've had similar experiences with amaray

 

[Fbh]

All 3 live action Rurouni Kenshin movies.

Most japanese live action adaptations tend to be beyond terrible. But these were actually pretty good. They aren't without issues though, it feels like the go from best to worst and the last 2 movies have pacing issues (should have made a 3 hours movie instead of 2 2 hours movies).
And some characters, like Sanosuke, just don't translate all that well to live action. It's not like he hasn't any good scenes but more often than not his character is way too silly to be taken seriously (even for a live action anime adaptation) and not really funny enough to be seen as a comic relief.

The highlight is definitely the action scenes. They are well shot and really well choreographed, striking a great balance between looking realistic enough to be credible but with enough over the top moves to stay true to the source material. I actually liked most of the fights more than in the anime which is a massive accomplishment for a live action adaptation

 

[Nuke Soda]

Just saw My Neighbor Totoro for the first time, it was fantastic.