Just Watched: Movies

[ZapRowsdower]

Poetic is often confused with pretentious. I consider it the former.

[frankenjohn]

Pretentious is defined as making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction aka overrated. And I'd be happy to explain why I found Stranger than Fiction overrated too (MAY BE SPOILERS):

So it starts off telling me about Harold Crick in a fancy way by showing numbers and trying to make it look creative. Clever? Yes. Do I like it? No. Then when Harold starts hearing the voice, is it funny? No. And la-dee-da, we see Harold bothered by the voice, go through his boring day, and it bores me. The "little did he know this would cause his iminent death" part caused me a chuckle. Then we see Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah and by this point I really am starting not to care about what's going on. And the script tries to be clever. "Oh, let's show the audience how much soap is in the bathroom." Do I really care how much soap their is in the bathroom? No. And then once again, more failed humor. "Are you the king of the trolls under your floorboard? Are you a gollum? It's not fun to be a gollum." And now my attention level is at 0%. My hopes for this film: crashed.

Zap, Pulp, I do know you liked this film quite a bit but I guess this just wasn't my cup of tea. Everyone has different tastes. For me, this is my least favorite film of the year. But that's just my opinion. I just though it was pointless. In fact, maybe my post should've said "Overrated and pointless." because saying "Overrated and pretentious." is just being redundant.

[frankenjohn]

The Queen- The cinematography, editing, and acting in this film are superb. Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen both deserve Oscar nods. Some powerful scenes in this film too. ***.

[Termination]

The Village (2004)

Still my fav M. Night film thou I have not seen Lady in the Water yet. I did not know that this was Bryce Dallas Howard's first semi-lead role in a picture. It sure doesn't show, she is brilliant.

[Heineken Skywalker]

frankenjohn said:

The Princess Bride- It was a nice movie but I don't see why so many people consider it one of the best movies ever made. ***.

I wouldn't go so far as saying it's, "one of the best movies ever made", but I do think it scores big points for being funny, well written, directed and acted and being very original.

THE ICE HARVEST (2005)

Black comedy noir thriller about a couple of guys, John Cusack & Billy Bob Thornton, who steal $2 Million from a mob boss (Randy Quaid). Almost nobody does "deadpan" better than these two actors and they're pretty damn good here, a movie I didn't know anything about and frankly, didn't even remember playing in theaters. Not the best, but pretty entertaining. Oliver Platt is a scene stealer as Cusack's drunken buddy.

7/10

SEA OF LOVE (1989)

Decent crime thriller about a detective (Al Pacino) on the case of a serial killer who is seemingly targeting victims through the "lonely hearts" classifieds. The detective makes things more complicated by falling for the main suspect (Ellen Barkin). Watch for a funny cameo early in the film by Samuel L. Jackson as "Black Guy". Seriously, that's how he's credited. That probably wouldn't fly in 2006, but it made me laugh.

7/10

[frankenjohn]

Children of Men- Wow. I cannot believe I didn't want to see this one. This film is so bleak yet has so much hope. It is amazingly powerful and my favorite film of the year. ****.

[Pulpmariachi]

Ugh. How did you get to see that? Lucky bastard.

[frankenjohn]

Crank- This movie is friggin hysterical and cool. It's definately the best action film of the year, and it's definately in the top five of the decade. ***.

[Pulpmariachi]

This is Spinal Tap -- we're Spinal Tap from the UK! You must be the USA! A-.

[knightofcydonia]

Into the Blue - I'm hardly going to be the first to complain about Jessica Alba's ass shot after shot, but this film was pointless. Poor directing and a script that went nowhere

[Termination]

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 7/10

[Heineken Skywalker]

SHORT CUTS (1993)

Robert Altman film about the lives of various LA residents and how they intercut with each other. Very good and it stars almost everybody. (Andie MacDowell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Penn, Robert Downey Jr., Bruce Davison, Anne Archer, Jack Lemmon, Lily Tomlin, Fred Ward and on and on...).

8/10

[Phoenix]

Eight Below - Disney dog movie set in Antarctica starring eight Huskies and Paul Walker. A lot better than that premise sounds. If you love dogs, I highly suggest the film.

8/10

[slayrrr666]

My traditional Birthday viewing for the past 3 years-

The complete disc of Zombie 2, complete with the film, followed by the Ian McCullough commentary, as well as the behind-the-scenes making-of, interviews and trailer reel on the disc. Best 5 hours of my life every year!! ;D

As well as the following from the weekend not approved until yesterday:

Red Water-Halfway decent killer shark film with some nice, original ideas and tons of cliches.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0365677/usercomments-51

Ripper 2: Letter from Within-Below decent slasher that severely wastes all the good opportunities from it's half-assed plot.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0350061/usercomments-5

Earth vs. the Spider (01)-Far too slow to be of much trouble, but man is that conclusion great.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0282178/usercomments-47

Pervert!-Russ Meyer for the 21st Century. Oh, and it's about a killer disconected cock.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0460898/usercomments-5

[frankenjohn]

Quiz Show- Redford has a great vision and here has great actors which make you care about the characters and the moral of the story is good too. ***.