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Post by frankenjohn on Sept 22, 2007 21:23:51 GMT -5
Atonement- Had to check this one coming off the Toronto and Venice raves about how many Oscar nominations this film will get. I'm going to say that I see where they're coming from as this film has a helluva shot. The acting here is great from all four "main" characters. Costume design and score are great. But the highlight here is cinematography. Seamus McGarvey did a wonderful job. It does get a bit boring in the middle but it gets interesting again. On par with a film like "The Queen," in my opinion. A-.
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Sept 23, 2007 9:49:12 GMT -5
Have you read the book, frankenjohn? Ian McEwan was accused of plagarism and a buncha authors came to his defense, including Thomas Pynchon. And when the great P. comes out to help you, people, at least those in the literary world, tend to notice.
Sin City (Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez) -- Loud, violent, and bottom line, so freakin' cool that you don't even know how to handle yourself. A-.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 23, 2007 11:36:06 GMT -5
Eastern Promises (2007, David Cronenberg) A good screenplay is what separates this film from A History of Violence. Jeez. Let it go, man.  |
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Sept 23, 2007 12:26:32 GMT -5
Eastern Promises (2007, David Cronenberg) A good screenplay is what separates this film from A History of Violence. Jeez. Let it go, man. Aw, you don't know how much that one let me down.  Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985, Paul Schrader) (Viewing Assignment for Language of Cinema class) A wonderfully original biopic, made so by its unique brand of storytelling blending the life and work of Yukio Mishima beautifully. The sets were constructed with care, as was the cinematography. It's "artsy", but much easier to understand than that Armenian biopic (which still gives me nightmares). 8/10 The Bicycle Thief (1948, Vittorio De Sica) (Viewed in World Cinema class) Another film that exemplifies Italian neorealism... which is thus far my favorite of the historical film styles. I love how much attention is paid to every detail of clothing, make-up and mise-en-scene, so that it looks almost like a documentary. The story structure might take a little getting used to (because unlike classical Hollywood structure, this one is quite nonlinear). But it's obvious why this film is considered a classic, and an inspiration to many great filmmakers of today, like Martin Scorsese. 9/10 |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 23, 2007 14:09:27 GMT -5
Jeez. Let it go, man. Aw, you don't know how much that one let me down. Actually, I think I do, because you mention it every chance you can. Seriously, we get it. |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Sept 23, 2007 17:45:14 GMT -5
Hairspray (Adam Shankman) -- While lacking the creepiness of the original (and the lady who plays Polly's mother can't get the spitting P alliteration thing down), I think we should just look at it on its own right and I gotta say, it's a fun, excellent adaptation without one song I didn't like and so much great choreography that I had a ton of energy leaving the theater. One of the best musicals in a long long time. A-.
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Post by Termination on Sept 23, 2007 20:55:42 GMT -5
Perfect Stranger (2007) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 10/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
HD Audio LPCM - 9/10
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Sept 24, 2007 2:04:55 GMT -5
Aw, you don't know how much that one let me down. Actually, I think I do, because you mention it every chance you can. Seriously, we get it. To be fair, I haven't really mentioned it in quite some time. Just thought I'd illustrate the improvement is all. Across the Universe (2007, Julie Taymor) I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I'm quite the Beatles fan. So when I saw the trailer for this (way back at the beginning of the year), I was excited to say the least. Really found it difficult to wait the 8 months or so to see this film, but finally I saw it. Man, it was cool. For the two hours plus this film lasted, it kept me interested. Maybe it's just my love for the Beatles music, my awe with how well they tied into the story, or even my appreciation on how the songs were arranged, but I fell in love with this film. It's flawed, sure. There's a character thrown in who I felt really should have been cut from the film. At most, she should have been on the deleted scenes portion of the DVD - mainly because she disrupted the flow of the story. As far as musicals go, I preferred Hairspray. This one is not without its charm, and definitely worth seeing for any Beatles fan. Or any film fan for that matter. 8/10 |
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Post by slayrrr666 on Sept 24, 2007 10:02:31 GMT -5
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 24, 2007 23:25:14 GMT -5
Across the Universe (2007, Julie Taymor) I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I'm quite the Beatles fan. You should participate in one of the five or six threads dedicated to The Beatles over in the music section. |
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Post by Pulpmariachi on Sept 24, 2007 23:33:24 GMT -5
Across the Universe (2007, Julie Taymor) I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I'm quite the Beatles fan. You should participate in one of the five or six threads dedicated to The Beatles over in the music section. Exactly, I create a new one, like, every other month. |
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Sept 26, 2007 8:39:56 GMT -5
Auto Focus (2002, Paul Schrader) (Viewing Assignment for Language of Cinema Class)
An interesting (and in a way, depressing - even uncomfortable) biopic of Bob Crane, the guy from Hogan's Heroes and the downfall of his relationships, his career, and his life and general. Very well shot, with great performances by Greg Kinnear, Willem Dafoe and Maria Bello. 8/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 26, 2007 8:52:08 GMT -5
Speaking of The Beatles, their song "When I'm Sixty-Four" is the opening number in the film,
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (1982)
Hadn't watched this one in a long, long time and still not sure how I feel about it.
Robin Williams is very good in his first dramatic role. His character, Garp, is raised an only child by his free spirit single mom in the fifities and sixties, therefore grows up with a slightly different world view. Glenn Close is also great as his mother, but John Lithgow is a scene stealer in a supporting role as Roberta Muldoon, formerly Robert, a transsexual who used to be a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Yeah, you read that right.
The movie is touching, funny, tragic and bittersweet, but left me feeling a bit drained.
Approach with caution...
6.5/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 26, 2007 8:54:56 GMT -5
Auto Focus (2002, Paul Schrader) (Viewing Assignment for Language of Cinema Class) An interesting (and in a way, depressing - even uncomfortable) biopic of Bob Crane Depressing and uncomfortable is right. This movie has a high "ick-factor". I'll never watch HOGAN'S HEROES the same way again. |
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Sept 26, 2007 20:32:12 GMT -5
FLUSHED AWAY (2006)
From Dreamworks (Shrek) and Aardman Studios (Wallace & Grommit) comes this CGI collaboration about a well-to-do mouse who is flushed down the toilet of his Kensington flat and winds up in the sewers of Ratropolis.
Nice animation and character design, and definitely has that Aardman trademark humor, ie: British. The voice work from Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet as the leads is good, but is overshadowed by Ian McKellen and Jean Reno who are fantastic as the villains, The Frog and Le Toad, respectively.
Overall, it's a pretty good film, but not excellent. RATATOUILLE was a better animated film starring rats.
7/10
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