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Post by slayrrr666 on May 15, 2008 10:08:11 GMT -5
Live Free or Die Hard-2007
The action film has made a real renaissance lately, and the trend continues in one of the greatest entries in one of the greatest series known to mankind. I cannot say enough good things about this one. McClane is his old self here, the self-deprecating wit coming to play in some hilarious moments, the larger-than-life action scenes in here are just glorious and breath-taking, and, most importantly for an action film, stays interesting all the way through with either some action scene or plot vehicle made to keep it going. A real treat all-around.
I wish I could rank this series, it's just impossible as each one is just that good from the others.
10/10
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 15, 2008 13:41:26 GMT -5
Damn finals... can hardly get one of these movies in...
Once Upon a Time in China (1991, Hark Tsui)
Kind of antagonizes 19th Century Americans a little bit, but it's naive to think we were never an oppressive bunch. Besides, the focus of this film is Jet Li's amazing kung fu. He's at the top of his form in this film. That climactic battle towards the end with the ladders was brilliant. Quite possibly the most brilliant display of martial arts ever caught on film... or at least one of. 8/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 16, 2008 9:03:42 GMT -5
Ironic, huh slayrrr?
My very first Netflix rental is:
LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (2007) (Unrated Version)
While I'm not quite as enthusiastic as slayrrr about this one, I did think it was a pretty solid all-out action film, especially for the fourth film in a series. And I thought it was better than the third film in the series, WITH A VENGEANCE, so that's a plus. McClane here is more of a superhero than he was in the original as he keeps surviving over impossible odds, and the fighter jet versus the truck sequence was way over the top, but overall, the movie is pretty much non-stop action and you barely have a chance to think about the improbability of most of it. This movie is more of a comic book than IRON MAN, but Bruce Willis' performance tends to keep things grounded. Nice to see the John McClane character back on screens, as the original DIE HARD is easily one of the best action films of the eighties and definitely a classic of the genre.
Yippy-kay-ay-motherfucker!
8/10
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 16, 2008 9:17:29 GMT -5
An update. The scores for this month so far.
May: FRANCHISES
Slayrrr666 = 9
Heineken Skywalker = 4
ZapRowsdower = 2
Pulpmariachi = 1
Bartwald = 1
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Post by slayrrr666 on May 16, 2008 10:07:12 GMT -5
Both you guys saw excellent films. Once Upon a Time in China is one of my favorite Chinese Jet Li films, right up with The Legend, Fist of Fury and The Defender, while I was completely overwhelmed by Live Free or Die Hard. Tons of stuff blowing up or get shot to pieces, a couple of great one-liners from McClane and a great sense of fun, a quality night in at the movies.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 17, 2008 9:39:26 GMT -5
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984)
No, it's not quite as good as RAIDERS, which means it's only "great", as opposed to "excellent". Great villain in Mola Ram and some fantastic action set pieces, like the fight and escape from Club Obi Wan (Ha!) at the beginning to the rollercoaster mine cart chase.
And the dinner scene of "exotic" foods is still very funny. I've yet to find "chilled monkey brains" at my local Applebees though.
Still not sure why this one is actually a prequel to RAIDERS (It takes place a year before the events in RAIDERS.) As far as I can tell nothing that happens here leads up to RAIDERS, and this could easily be a sequel, but whatever.
A solid sequel to a perfect movie.
8.5/10
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 17, 2008 14:35:16 GMT -5
Spielberg liked that one least, except for the fact that he "got the girl". It's my least favorite as well, but it's still great.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964, Sergio Leone)
A Western remake of Kurosawa's Yojimbo became the first of a new trilogy. I gotta say, next to Yojimbo, this is the best version of Yojimbo there is. It's fun watching it, because it's almost a scene-for-scene remake. But it's definitely worth watching because it was the introduction to the Man with No Name. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was way better, but this one's definitely a good start. 9/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on May 18, 2008 10:32:51 GMT -5
Raiders of the Lost Ark-1981
I'm gonna contend that Greatest Movie Ever tag (there's no boobs or zombies, so it can't on sheer principle) but with action like what this one provides, I'll make an exception and throw it into my top 10. Never seen any of these before, and while I knew there would be some nice action in here, I didn't expect as good or as plentiful as this one provides. Practically no stopping at all, from the fight in the bar to the Egyptian Marketplace to the battles with the Nazi's that are so fantastic they're beyond describing. It's, like I said, not one of the best films ever but damn if it isn't close.
10/10
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-1984
Not one of my favorites, but still comes up with some fantastic pieces to make it enjoyable nonetheless. Any time down in the mines is fun, from the brawling with the crew to the mine cart chase that is one of the best chases ever. The bridge sequence is fantastic, and the trap inside the walls of the temple is pretty creepy and tense. A little bit of humor thrown in as well, with the dinner plates and the encounters with the wildlife while the two play a poker game are laugh-out-loud funny. The sequel/prequel notion stands, but compared to the briliantness it's sandwiched between, a little lower on the totem pole isn't a bad thing.
9/10
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Post by Pulpmariachi on May 18, 2008 12:08:04 GMT -5
(there's no boobs or zombies, so it can't on sheer principle) That's a silly way to determine the quality of a movie. |
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 18, 2008 13:13:46 GMT -5
Yeah, especially since there are a large number of films with both boobs AND zombies that aren't very good at all.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on May 19, 2008 9:04:43 GMT -5
First, let me just say that I'm completely shocked that you had never seen any of the Indiana Jones movies before now. Not just because they're huge movies that everyone is aware of, but simply because of your well known love of action movies. What put you off for so long? Was it the 1930's setting?
Second, while I'm glad to hear that you really liked them, just think how much better they would've been if you had watched them on dvd with remastered picture and sound instead of on the Sci-Fi Channel, like you mentioned in the AFI thread. That constant breaking for commercials totally kills the momentum that the movies provide in their uncut form.
And just think of all the boobs and zombies you would've seen if you'd watched the trilogy unedited.
Remember the zombies chasing the naked girl through the temple, Zap and Pulp?
Well, the Movie Police can be called off once again from visiting Slayrrr. ;D
OCEAN'S THIRTEEN (2007)
While it's not quite as fun and fresh as the original, this entry in the series is far better than the second movie, OCEAN'S TWELVE, which just sucked. No amount of zombies and boobs would've saved that one.
Nice conclusion to the trilogy.
7/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on May 19, 2008 10:06:39 GMT -5
First, let me just say that I'm completely shocked that you had never seen any of the Indiana Jones movies before now. Not just because they're huge movies that everyone is aware of, but simply because of your well known love of action movies. What put you off for so long? Was it the 1930's setting? Second, while I'm glad to hear that you really liked them, just think how much better they would've been if you had watched them on dvd with remastered picture and sound instead of on the Sci-Fi Channel, like you mentioned in the AFI thread. That constant breaking for commercials totally kills the momentum that the movies provide in their uncut form. And just think of all the boobs and zombies you would've seen if you'd watched the trilogy unedited. Remember the zombies chasing the naked girl through the temple, Zap and Pulp? Well, the Movie Police can be called off once again from visiting Slayrrr. ;D It wasn't because of the setting, I just never thought of them as action movies. Back then, they seemed like they were adventure films, not straight up action movies, which is what I wanted to watch. I didn't even know of the time setting, I had no knowledge of them other than Harrison Ford was playing an archeologist named Indiana Jones in the series and that Sean Connery was his father in the third (at the time I said last) one. That was my extent of knowledge about the series during my youth, and aside from seeing a couple clips here and there during shows or commercials or whatnot, that was it. I'm definitely getting the series now, as they look and sound great from all the advertisements seen on the show. And, that qup about the boobs and zombies was missing the  smile, I hit it but then it just didn't get through somehow. Don't know how it happened, but it was a joke. Nothing else. |
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 20, 2008 2:30:02 GMT -5
I'm beginning to see a pattern here...
What the Hell. We're all excited about Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in here, aren't we? Just thought I'd catch up with the original trilogy before checking it out this Thursday (or possibly wednesday).
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, Steven Spielberg)
Definitely one of my Top 25 favorite movies of all time, and one of the many reasons Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest film directors of all time (definitely the greatest one alive). 10/10
Once Upon a Time in China II (1992, Hark Tsui)
In my opinion, stronger than the first. Stronger story, and more elaborate kung-fu. These films, to me, show Jet Li at the top of his form. American cinema can't seem to recapture that. I did like how this one didn't antagonize the West nearly as much as the last one did... not that it really bothered me, but that's one way to really divide your audience. 9/10
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Post by slayrrr666 on May 20, 2008 10:10:47 GMT -5
Once Upon a Time in China II (1992, Hark Tsui) In my opinion, stronger than the first. Stronger story, and more elaborate kung-fu. These films, to me, show Jet Li at the top of his form. American cinema can't seem to recapture that. I did like how this one didn't antagonize the West nearly as much as the last one did... not that it really bothered me, but that's one way to really divide your audience. 9/10 Wow, you preferred Part 2? I thought it was a little weaker than Part 1. This was just a little too slow for me, while Part 1 was just balls-to-the-wall action. It gets a little better once they get to the embassy, and while the fight with the White Lotus was spectacular, I thought it couldn't touch his battle with Master Han in part 1. That fight amongst the ladders was jaw-dropping, and while this one had a touch of that flair, I thought it didn't come close to topping it. |
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Post by ZapRowsdower on May 20, 2008 12:51:54 GMT -5
It's a close call for me, really... but I thought the story was much more interesting in the second film, and I always emphasize story over anything else.
And while the ladder fight WAS spectacular, I really thought the final battle with the leader of the White Lotus, on the "altar" was even better.
I also thought of this as a touch more lighthearted than the first.
My only complaint is that I wish Netflix gave us the original Chinese soundtrack with English subtitles, as opposed to this dubbing... I HATE dubbing.
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smile, I hit it but then it just didn't get through somehow. Don't know how it happened, but it was a joke. Nothing else.