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Post by Pulpmariachi on Apr 29, 2007 8:16:01 GMT -5
I finally watched THE GODFATHER. How'd you like it, Q? |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Apr 29, 2007 15:06:08 GMT -5
POLICE ACADEMY (1984) This movie really wanted to be the next STRIPES, which was released three years earlier. Um, no. Steve Guttenberg is no Bill Murray and this is no STRIPES. Time has not been kind to this one. 3/10 CAR WASH (1976) Kind of the urban version of AMERICAN GRAFFITI ('73). GRAFFITI takes place over the course of one night, CW over the course of one work day. Music and a dj's voice(s) are heard throughout the course of both films and help to move the story forward. And finally, cars are heavily featured in both. The big difference is in the cast. Where AG featured mostly a lily-white cast of young actors, CW stars mostly black actors, with a hispanic and American Indian thrown into the mix. Wasn't exactly my thing, but it was okay. Would've prefered a little more story mixed in with the highjinx, but whatever. Features 70's stand-up icons George Carlin & Richard Pryor in a small role and a cameo, respectively. The one credit that really knocked me out though was: Written by Joel Schumacher. Yup! THAT Joel Schumaker. Turns out he also wrote the screenplay to THE WIZ. I had no idea that Joel "Batnipples" Schumacher was so in touch with the black youth of America.  5/10 THE HILLS HAVE EYES (2006) I looked for an official review to add my comments, but didn't find one. I'm a bit surprised. The original is considered a pretty essential part of 70's exploitation/horror grindhouse cinema and was pretty disturbing in it's day. I didn't see it till much, much later on vhs, at which by that point, I'd already seen HALLOWEEN, NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST., THE EXORCIST, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and many, many others, and HILLS no longer seemed that shocking to me. Anyway, this remake was probably about as good as the original version I guess. Better acting, bigger budget and perhaps gorier and more violent. But it's not really all that scary though, which should have been the thing they were most going for. That's the problem with a lot of these modern horror films. They have the violence and gore and visually don't leave much to the imagination, but where are the actual scares? Watching one of these mutants eat a dog or a human's intestines is gross, but it's not really scary. At least not to me. I have a question, where'd the mutants get all those mannequins that populate their entire town? Did I miss something that explained it? There were freakin' mannequins everywhere! On a side note, Kathleen Quinlan plays the mom/wife in this version. She also played Kurt Russell's wife in BREAKDOWN. Do you think she's afraid to take roadtrips in real life now? Just wondering. 6/10
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Apr 30, 2007 15:46:35 GMT -5
I have a question, where'd the mutants get all those mannequins that populate their entire town? Did I miss something that explained it? There were freakin' mannequins everywhere!
I don't think it ever explained the mannequins, not that I heard anyway. The trailer for Hills 2 looks VERY strange, by the way... |
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Apr 30, 2007 19:44:44 GMT -5
Casino Royale 2/4- I'm not much into Bond movies, only watched a couple w/ Connery and parts of Die Another Day b/c Madsen was in it, but this one was pretty good. And Daniel Craig is HOT! ;D
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Post by Termination on Apr 30, 2007 23:10:36 GMT -5
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003) (Blu-Ray) HD Video - 9/10 HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10 HD Audio LPCM - 9/10 Incubus: Alive at Red Rocks (2004) (Blu-Ray) HD Video - 8/10 HD Audio Dolby Digital - 9/10 HD Audio LPCM - 10/10 Dr. No (1962) (DVD) Film - 8/10 SD Video - 9/10 SD Audio dts - 8/10 Just started to watch 'em Bond flicks. The Ultimate Collection Volumes are nice, but the 20 films are scattered throughout the 4 volume sets making it near impossible to buy just 1 volume. Dr. No, the first Bond flick is included in volume four. Huh??!! Anyway, I played this on the HD-XA2 HD DVD player & the upconversion + the excellent job of this film remastered is the closest looking HD image I have seen from a DVD so far. Think Indiana Jones or Star Wars quality transfer.  The dts audio isn't bad neither. I bought these on DVD cause I can't even estimate how much these would go for on BD when they are eventually released.. Well ok, ballpark.. I bet $549.99 US No thanks.
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 1, 2007 12:58:27 GMT -5
The Good Shepherd - Underrated flick. Beautifully shot, great acting all around, and you can tell Robert De Niro learned from the master (Martin Scorsese). Perhaps an editor should have been in order to reduce its running time, but it's still a fine film that I'm glad I finally got to see. 8/10
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 2, 2007 2:56:58 GMT -5
Dreamgirls - I loved this movie. The best musical film since Chicago. Jennifer Hudson deserved her Oscar, and I can't understand why Eddie Murphy didn't win one. Still gives me goosebumps listening to Jennifer Hudson do "I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", or Beyonce with "Listen". 10/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 2, 2007 8:30:29 GMT -5
DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
Hadn't watched this one in a long time and it was even better this time.
Still one of Spike Lee's best films. Funny and light-hearted most of the time, but turns seriously dark on a dime. Shows how anger and violence are usually just brewing beneath the surface and life can suddenly go wrong. Powerful.
8/10
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Post by Phoenix on May 2, 2007 11:21:53 GMT -5
Charlotte's Web (2006)
The problem I have with watching is that I tear up the minute anyone even mentions "Charlotte's Web." The book and cartoon had such a big impact on me as a kid, it's kind of hard to watch it in another form. But that's just because I am a sap. This is a pretty good version of the novel, Julia Roberts voicing Charlotte was the perfect choice.
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Post by Quorthon on May 3, 2007 9:20:49 GMT -5
I finally watched THE GODFATHER. How'd you like it, Q? Oh man, it sucked. What a waste. I mean... it was good and I liked it. Looking forward to seeing the second. |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on May 3, 2007 16:41:32 GMT -5
Oh man, it sucked. What a waste. I mean... it was good and I liked it. Looking forward to seeing the second. Haha. Honestly, I don't like the first much at all. The 2nd's better in my opinion. |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 3, 2007 19:06:36 GMT -5
Haha. Honestly, I don't like the first much at all. The 2nd's better in my opinion.  |
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Post by Termination on May 4, 2007 3:24:56 GMT -5
John Legend: Live at the House of Blues (2005) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 7/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 9/10
HD Audio LPCM - 10/10
The audio tracks are very near identical once you match the audible output on your receiver. The Dolby & LPCM tracks are both good. I found dialog & key notes a tad more distinct, clearer, with the LPCM track. Listening to the two tracks was tough to find a discernable difference because the audible output is -8db lower with Dolby. At 6.9mbps, I thought I'd immediately spot the difference. Anyway, which ever sound option you choose, your good to go. The Video has a lot of grain during shots of the crowd but not so bad on the band thankfully. Lots of detail overall. I never felt like I was watching a SD transfer.. color is ok, but I spotted a few rare moments of Macro & bleeding during bright shots of blue & especially red. Defintely not a title to show off the best of HD video, but if your fan, the audio will certainly please.
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 4, 2007 4:49:07 GMT -5
Spider-Man 3
Fantastic. Possibly Tobey's best Spidey performance, mingled with great visuals, a darker storyline, a surprising amount of care going into all the characters the writers decided to weave into the story, complete with all the charm that made the first two movies so good. I was wrong to doubt Mr. Sam Raimi. And Heineken was right, there was no plothole. Or at least not that one. 9/10
Full review coming soon.
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Post by Phoenix on May 4, 2007 12:57:38 GMT -5
Spider-Man 3Fantastic. Possibly Tobey's best Spidey performance, mingled with great visuals, a darker storyline, a surprising amount of care going into all the characters the writers decided to weave into the story, complete with all the charm that made the first two movies so good. I was wrong to doubt Mr. Sam Raimi. And Heineken was right, there was no plothole. Or at least not that one. 9/10 Full review coming soon. Looking forward to your review! I saw it this morning. Loved it. A great addition to the franchise. Sam Raimi's direction is so cool and his shots so unique - it's really amazing. I'll comment more after Zap's review. 8/10 for me. |
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The dts audio isn't bad neither. I bought these on DVD cause I can't even estimate how much these would go for on BD when they are eventually released.. Well ok, ballpark.. I bet $549.99 US No thanks. 
