Just Watched Movies: 2007

[ZapRowsdower]

Why Did I Get Married? (2007, Tyler Perry)

Say what you will about Tyler Perry, but he's good at melodrama, and he knows how to entertain an audience - particularly, his target audience. But I found the film to be enjoyable, too. Janet Jackson and Jill Scott were fantastic. Sure, some of the dialogue's a little shaky, and the situations are somewhat soap-opera, but it's really not bad. 7/10

30 Days of Night (2007, David Slade)

It's not bad. I think this is what the Resident Evil movies should have been more like. What bothered me was that, for a movie that's supposed to take place in darkness, it's very well-lit. I can understand the need for visibility in any motion picture, but when you start to forget it's supposed to be dark - even though the movie is called 30 Days of Night - that's when you know it's too bright. Also, if the vampires speak a different language, how do some of the humans know what they're saying? Those, plus a few other plot holes like - why is it safer at the location they're trying to get to? Other than that, the movie's actually pretty enjoyable. 7/10

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007, Andrew Dominik)

Perfect in every respect. Direction, acting, writing, cinematography, art direction, scoring - this film exemplifies perfection in filmmaking. It's also one of the most authentic-looking Westerns I've ever seen. This is one of those must-see movies for the year 2007, so if you can spare 3 hours, go see it as soon as possible. 10/10

The Fireman's Ball (1967, Milos Forman)

Even back in his early days of filmmaking, Milos Forman knew how to satisfy an audience. This film was funny with its quirky, almost Simpson-esque characters. Then the tone switches towards the end, but it's always an entertaining, short and sweet film. 9/10

[Pulpmariachi]

12 Monkeys (Terry Gilliam) -- one of those surprise ending movies that works after dozens of repeated viewings. Visually amazing and probably one of Willis's best performances ever. A.

[Heineken Skywalker]

ZATOICHI AND THE FUGITIVES (1968)

In this entry in the long-running film series, (This is episode number 18!) blind swordmaster Zatoichi gets involved with a gang that's hiding out in a village.
As fun as previous movies, a little more graphic too. There's even a touching scene where Zatoichi describes to a young woman that he lost his eyesight at around the age of eight and even though he tried to remember, eventually he forgot what specific colors looked like. Good stuff.

7.5/10

OPEN WATER (2003)

"Based on a true story" about a scuba diving couple who are stranded in the middle of the ocean when they are accidentally left behind by the boat crew. While waiting to be rescued they have to deal with dehydration, jellyfish and eventually circling sharks.
A little too much domestic squabble considering their circumstances, but ultimately it's pretty good and really suspenseful, especially towards the end.

7/10

[Pulpmariachi]

Barton Fink (The Coens) -- I've never realized how hysterical this movie is. I guess you have to grow into it. A.

[ZapRowsdower]

Lust, Caution (2007, Ang Lee)

Ang lee went all out with the sex scenes, but it's kind of difficult not to do that when sex is actually part of the story. The story takes place in the Japanese occupation of China, where a young girl has to seduce an important Chinese official (who collaborated with the Japanese) to lull him into a false sense of security and allow him to be assassinated. Sex is (quite brilliantly) used as a tool for visual storytelling.

I also can see why Mr. Lee would want to defend this film. The NC-17 rating really hurt Lust, Caution in more ways than just distribution. Now everyone thinks it's a pornography. It's not. There's a very beautiful, well-conceived story here. Tang Wei gave a fantastic first performance in this film - hopefully she's remembered come Oscar season. Thus far, this is the best foreign language film I've seen all year (out of two - the other one being Ladron Que Roba a Ladron). Ang Lee has become quite the artist. 9/10

Barry Lyndon (1975, Stanley Kubrick)

Even though Kubrick was at the helm, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. It had the unfortunate handicap of being a 30-year-old period piece that even textbooks refer to as "slow-moving". But the slow pace actually worked in the film's favor. In a strange way, it helped build tension - especially towards the end. Excellent cinematography, art direction and costumes. And best of all, it's Stanley Kubrick. 8/10

[LivingDeadGirl]

High Tension 3/4- Loved the gore, action and suspense, about the only thing I didn't really like was the twist ending, which didn't make sense if you look at the whole movie. (Discussed at length in Review Hell) But other than that it was pretty darn good!

American Psycho 2/4- Very bizarre, maybe after watching it again I'll give it a higher rating, but the acting was very good.

The Devil's Rejects- Still one of my faves...

The Hamiltons 1/4- Another one of the After Dark Horrorfest from last year. My least favorite of the ones I've watched so far

Unrest 2/4- Probably the one I've enjoyed the most of the Horrorfest flicks.

Sasquatch Mountain 1/4- A SciFi original, the only reason I watched it was b/c Lance Henriksen was in it. Blahhhh...and stupid.

[Heineken Skywalker]

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994)

Like the Anne Rice book it's based on, it's a little melodramatic at times, but it's good for having a unique take on vampires: That some, like Louis (Brad Pitt), can be angst-filled and tortured, while others, like Lestat (Tom Cruise), can revel in their vampirism. Great costumes, sets, effects and makeup, and Cruise gives an over the top performance, in a good way, that is one of his most underrated.
Shame they never made a "true" sequel to this movie with the same actors and director, Neil Jordan. I don't count the terrible QUEEN OF THE DAMED.

7.5/10

THE HOWLING (1981)

A TV newswoman (Dee Wallace) is sent to a retreat in the woods for some rest and therapy after an encounter with a serial killer. Turns out the community is actually a colony of werewolves!
An original story highlighted by an awesome cast of genre actors, witty dialogue, tons of great sight gags and in-jokes. For all its humor, the horror aspects of it don't suffer and it offers real chills thanks to some great atmosphere, a terrific and different from the norm werewolf design, and finally the best werewolf transformation ever put on film.
My friends and I first saw this movie when it was new in theaters. We were 15 and it, especially the transformation, scared the hell out of us. We had never seen anything like that. 26 years later, it's still my favorite werewolf movie.

8.5/10

[Termination]

The Getaway (1972) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 7/10

[Termination]

Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 8/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10

[Heineken Skywalker]

CARRIE (1976)

"They're all gonna laugh at you!"
My high school prom wasn't that great, but it never got this bad!

7.5/10

THE THING (1982)

Drenched in atmosphere, a constant feeling of paranoia, horror, humor, archetypical characters, a cool but realistic hero, a strong cast, John Carpenter at his peak, a minimalist eerie score, a tight fast-paced story, and finally groundbreaking special effects.
What's not to like?
Features one of the most original and gruesome aliens to ever appear on screen and more, "What the fuck?" moments than almost any film.
Another film, like "The Howling", that my buddies and I saw in the early eighties that just knocked us out. When one of my friends got a copy on vhs, we watched it over and over again. This, and the original "Terminator" were in constant rotation in the VCR.

9/10

[slayrrr666]

Took time out of Halloween (I'll have that list up in the thread Monday or Tuesday) to watch a classic for the first time:

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes-Not nearly as terrible as I thought (even though it's obviously apples, pears, oranges and other fruits in the final sequence where the children stomp on them) but there's a lot to laugh about. The shot of Alcatraz in the background with "New York" scrawled along the bottom in text and the marathon runner who is able to dodge the smaller tomatoes but walks in front of the biggest one to get killed manage to evoke some great laughs. Scenes with the "Black Hitler" and the Police Chief also get laughs, but what really won me over was the greatest car chase of all time, which is one of the funniest scenes I've ever seen. That there is enough to recommend this one. Totally camp, and one of the films I really enjoy.
8.5/10

[Termination]

The Lake House (2006) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10

[LivingDeadGirl]

1408 2/4- Not the best King adaptation, but John Cusack & Sam Jackson (in his limited role) good as always.

Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon 2/4- Pretty good and pretty funny in places

[Termination]

The Last Samurai (2003) (Blu-Ray)

HD Video - 9/10
HD Audio Dolby Digital - 8/10

[ZapRowsdower]

Ju Dou (1990, Fengliang Yang; Yimou Zhang)

Possibly the best movie I've ever seen Gong Li in. I thought Hero was better, but this wasn't without its moments. 8/10

The Innocents (1961, Jack Clayton)

This was genuinely creepy. There's something about English kids and Haunted Houses... Did think the governess was quite stupid though. 8/10

Rosemary's Baby (1968, Roman Polanski)

One of the most unsettling films I've ever seen. I'm going to have to watch this a few times considering I have to write a paper on it, but this was a very well-made Horror flick. 9/10

Unforgiven (1992, Clint Eastwood)

One of Eastwood's best - as well as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. You can tell Eastwood learned much from the master, Sergio Leone. 10/10

A Clockwork Orange (1971, Stanley Kubrick)

The first time I saw this, I found it overrated. The second time I saw it (following reading the book and simply being in a different mindset), I now see what made the film so great (Kubrick's style, for example) - enough so that I consider it one of my favorites now. 10/10

American Gangster (2007, Ridley Scott)

This is a top contender for the Oscars. Ridley Scott did a fantastic job directing this picture. Denzel and Crowe were great, and at 3 hours (trailers included), it never feels slow. Without a doubt, this was Ridley Scott's best work since Gladiator. 9/10