|
|
Post by Pulpmariachi on Oct 12, 2007 20:01:35 GMT -5
Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau) -- I finished this and though about how disappointing the ending was . . . then realized it was absolutley genius, like the rest of the film. The whole movie is gorgeous from the sets to the costumes to the cinematography and those images linger with you for quite some time afterwards. Now I want to go watch the Disney version, which is good too, though approached in an entirely different way.
|
|
|
|
Post by frankenjohn on Oct 12, 2007 22:44:00 GMT -5
I found the movie to be quite hilarious towards the end when he starts beating the crap out of every woman he can find... and then wears a bear suit. And for those of you not keeping track, it's supposed to be a serious thriller. Oh, seeing Nic Cage run around in a the bear suit and lay the smack down on Leelee Sobieski was hilarious! "Step away from the bike." "HOW'D IT GET BURNED!!!  " "NOT THE BEES! AHHHHH! MY EYES!!!!!!" Not to mention the bear costume? Absolute riot. |
|
|
|
Post by Termination on Oct 13, 2007 21:42:59 GMT -5
Deliverance (1972) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 7/10
|
|
|
|
Post by Phoenix on Oct 13, 2007 22:19:40 GMT -5
I went to the movies for the first time in weeks! I've been swamped.
I saw Elizabeth: The Golden Age (I really liked the first movie by the same director, several years ago). It was a great period piece like the first, but something was lacking for me. It felt rushed several places, and very slowly paced at other times. 6/10 for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 14, 2007 0:57:02 GMT -5
Beauty and the Beast (Jean Cocteau) -- I finished this and though about how disappointing the ending was . . . then realized it was absolutley genius, like the rest of the film. The whole movie is gorgeous from the sets to the costumes to the cinematography and those images linger with you for quite some time afterwards. Now I want to go watch the Disney version, which is good too, though approached in an entirely different way. I like it too. Coppola was heavily influenced by its look for his take on DRACULA. Watched two completely different movies: BORAT (2006) Don't know if it'll stand the test of time and become an all time classic, but for my first viewing I found it pretty frickin' funny. I uttered, "That's just wrong..." a lot, but I laughed even more. I've gotta give Sacha Baron Cohen props though for commitment to his character and his comedy craft. The naked wrestling scene in the hotel room? Now THAT'S commitment!  8.5/10 SUNRISE (1927) Silent classic about a married farmer who is tempted by a seductress from the city. You know the story, some shlub meets a bad girl hottie who tries to get him to do something immoral, usually murder, so they can "be together". I found it just okay. Way too many scenes that are drawn out and just plain dull. However, for its time, this contained some really good cinematography, and lots of camera tricks, specifically when it came to superimposing images. I'm guessing you didn't see a lot of this stuff back then. The story was also probably considered pretty risque in its day. I'm going to guess that those things are why it's considered a classic. 5.5/10 |
|
|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Oct 14, 2007 1:47:45 GMT -5
Don't Look Now (1973, Nicolas Roeg)
Didn't know whether or not I'd enjoy it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland are excellent, the two old ladies (whose names escape me at the moment) also did a fine job. There's some great cinematography along the canals of Vienna, the tension builds with incredible subtlety, and the ending is just disturbing. Excellent picture. 9/10
Breathless (1960, Jean-Luc Godard)
I actually enjoyed this one more than the 400 Blows. I enjoyed the comedic spice the gave to incredibly serious events. And there are a few things that "influenced" Quentin Tarantino, as well (specifically the long conversation that does not advance the plot but rather allows you to get to know the character). Not once did I feel the movie was dragging, though. From start to finish, I was hooked. Gotta love the French New Wave. 10/10
|
|
|
|
Post by LivingDeadGirl on Oct 14, 2007 10:27:41 GMT -5
That's one of the ones from the After Dark Horrorfest thing isn't it? I'll have to see if that one's on my Netflix list, based on your good review. Yeah, that's the one. Really look for it, although you might not have as much of a good time with it as you're not as die-hard 80s slasher fan as I am, which is what it's aimed at. You'll like it, but it won't be a 9.5/10 like it was for me. BTW, Sci-Fi Channel is airing 6 of the 8 from the Afterdark Horrorfest (Dark Ride isn't airing anymore and The Abandoned isn't at all) this month to coincide for Halloween. They'll be on the last two weekends before the holiday, I'll give you a heads-up closer to the actual dates (you won't remember them if I give them now) Oh, I like 80's slashers, I guess I just don't make it a point to go looking for them to watch. Yes, definately remind me about the SciFi showings! Thanks! And Dark Ride is on my Netflix list now... 28 Weeks Later 2/4- Pretty good, but not nearly as much so as the first. Lots more blood & gore though which was a good thing. |
|
|
|
Post by slayrrr666 on Oct 14, 2007 11:08:29 GMT -5
Yeah, that's the one. Really look for it, although you might not have as much of a good time with it as you're not as die-hard 80s slasher fan as I am, which is what it's aimed at. You'll like it, but it won't be a 9.5/10 like it was for me. BTW, Sci-Fi Channel is airing 6 of the 8 from the Afterdark Horrorfest (Dark Ride isn't airing anymore and The Abandoned isn't at all) this month to coincide for Halloween. They'll be on the last two weekends before the holiday, I'll give you a heads-up closer to the actual dates (you won't remember them if I give them now) Oh, I like 80's slashers, I guess I just don't make it a point to go looking for them to watch. Yes, definately remind me about the SciFi showings! Thanks! And Dark Ride is on my Netflix list now... Well, that was the point of what I said. You may like it a lot, but because it's aimed at the fans of a genre I thoroughly enjoy, I'll like it a lot more than you would. I'll give you three days warning for the showing times, if that's good enough for you. |
|
|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Oct 14, 2007 18:35:19 GMT -5
The Game Plan (2007, Andy Fickman)
Not quite as bad as you'd expect. As formulaic as the movie is, it manages to be entertaining and heartwarming... well cast, too. Not like there's a scathing need for everyone to see it, but you don't have to avoid it either. 7/10
|
|
|
|
Post by frankenjohn on Oct 14, 2007 20:14:43 GMT -5
We Own the Night- Yeah, we've seen this before, but it's got a lot of style, great acting, some really good action scenes that make up for it. Script was actually well written and James Gray directs well. Awards worthy? Compared to some other films, no. But it was good. B+.
|
|
|
|
Post by Termination on Oct 15, 2007 1:46:05 GMT -5
Notting Hill (1999) (HD DVD)
HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital Plus - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby TrueHD - 9/10
|
|
|
|
Post by Heineken Skywalker on Oct 15, 2007 9:54:08 GMT -5
Been trying to clear up stuff saved on my DVR a bit, so on Sunday I watched:
ZATOICHI 2 aka THE TALE OF ZATOICHI CONTINUES (1962)
Second installment in the series about the blind masseur/master swordsman. Like the original, this movie is highly entertaining and star Shintaro Katsu, is just wonderful. Not only performing blind realistically and impressing with his martial arts/sword skills, but also doing a good job with the comedic aspects of the character.
Lots of fun. Hope to catch part 3 on IFC sometime soon. (There are over 25 films in the series.)
7.5/10
JET LI'S FEARLESS (2006)
The story of martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia (Li), the most famous fighter in China in the early 1900's. After experiencing a personal tragedy he disappeared from the limelight for a few years and started back on the road to redemption, leading to his eventual creation of the Jingwu Sports Federation, which is still in existence today.
Jet Li is probably the best and most charismatic martial arts screen star since 70's icon, Bruce Lee, and this film didn't disappoint me. Epic in scope, with beautiful sets, locations and costumes and the matial arts action is done really well, with, as one would expect, many fights throughout its running time. It only really slows down in the middle when Yuanjia decides to live a quieter lifestyle and becomes a farmer for a while. Also features some nice dramatic moments, especially between Yuanjia and his daughter and also with his childhood friend.
Just great!
9/10
FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956)
Hadn't watched this one since I was a kid, so thought I'd give it another look. One of the first sci-fi movies that, even though it includes some so-so comedy relief and several clunky "soap opera" melodramatic moments, did try to treat it's material in a mostly serious manner.
A crew is sent to a colonized planet to investigate why the've lost contact with the scientists there. They arrive to find one lone scientist, his beautiful daughter and their servant robot as the only colony survivors. There's also a terrible creature that inhabits the planet and makes its presence known from time to time.
Anne Francis is beautiful as innocent Altaira, the lone woman in the cast, and this film did introduce us to Robby the Robot, one of the most iconic robots in film history. Also, it's kind of neat to see Leslie Nielsen, mostly known now for pratfalls and mugging at the camera, in an early serious role, as the ship's commander.
I know it's considered a classic of the genre, but this one just doesn't really do it for me. I found it mostly pretty dull.
5.5/10
THE OSTERMAN WEEKEND (1983)
Sam Peckinpah's final film is sometimes intriguing and exciting and sometimes just jumbled and confusing. Rutger Hauer plays a news show host who is forced to help the CIA, who have convinced him that a group of his friends are involved in an organization that threatens national security. Hauer and John Hurt, who plays his main contact, are both very good and it's fun to see Graig T. Nelson, Chris Sarandon and Dennis Hopper as the buddies under investigation. The movie takes a while to really get going though and honestly, had me confused for a lot of it. It does finally start to make sense, sort of, if you don't mind several leaps of faith in logic. Some tightening up in the story and editing might have helped here.
I don't usually push for remakes, but I could see this one being remade someday as a more action-oriented BOURNE type of film, especially since Robert Ludlum, was the witer of both the Osterman and Bourne novels.
5.5/10
|
|
|
|
Post by slayrrr666 on Oct 15, 2007 10:29:21 GMT -5
Wraiths of Roanoke-A little hokey here and there, but still a rather fun action-packed tale, just the way I like them. imdb.com/title/tt0875696/usercomments-4The Calling-Really doesn't use it's horror elements to full effect, and it's cliches are still way too apparent. imdb.com/title/tt0218067/usercomments-225ive Girls-Rather impressive demonic thriller, even though it does come up short on central themes that should've been exploited. imdb.com/title/tt0494199/usercomments-12Beyond the Door III-A really impressive cheesy Italian action film masquerading as a demonic thriller set onboard a train. imdb.com/title/tt0096920/usercomments-9Alone in the Dark (1982)-Been on my list for ages, and finally got to see a real classic slasher with little to disappoint about it. imdb.com/title/tt0083542/usercomments-58The Dentist-Does what it needs to do, the dental torture, effectively and brilliantly, but hardly cares about anything away. imdb.com/title/tt0116075/usercomments-6413 Ghosts-When it really goes for the creepy ghost images, this one works wonders, but built more for the gimmick than anything. imdb.com/title/tt0053559/usercomments-43The Vampire-Doesn't really feature too many vampire themes or ideas, but decent enough for the drive-in fans of the time. imdb.com/title/tt0051150/usercomments-23The Return of Dracula-Really impressive vampire film that plays out more like traditional films of the past than would be expected. imdb.com/title/tt0052131/usercomments-17Strait-jacket-Takes too long to get to it's good points, but those are great when they finally arrive. imdb.com/title/tt0058620/usercomments-51 |
|
|
|
Post by Termination on Oct 15, 2007 19:30:39 GMT -5
Lethal Weapon (1987) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 7/10
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) (Blu-Ray)
HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10
|
|
|
|
Post by ZapRowsdower on Oct 16, 2007 3:19:42 GMT -5
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007, Shekhar Kapur)
Haven't seen the original, although if it's THAT much better than this one, then my hat's off to it. I rather enjoyed this one. Visually, it's the most beautiful movie of the year. The story has its flaws, particularly the two-dimensionality of the antagonist, but overall, it has a lot going for it. Aside from the gorgeous mise-en-scene, there's Cate Blanchett's performance, as well as Clive Owen and Geoffrey Rush supporting her. It may drag just a bit, but there's much to appreciate here. 8/10
|
|
"
