The old movie thread: ratings and discussion' or some shiz

that star trek movie is pretty slick. the plot starts to unravel a little around the half-way mark, but the general set-up was impressive. abrams did what he set out to do - appease the fanboys and the n00bs at the same time, "reinventing the franchise" and all that.

and eric bana was gripping.

"this is captain christopher pike of the starship enterprise."
"hi christopher, i'm nero."

z

 

This is by far the most entertaining movie of the summer. A fun, fun, fun rollercoaster ride and the best STAR TREK movie ever!

 

haven't seen the early films in a while, so can't remember how good khan is. but this latest one is certainly better than all the Next Generation movies.

 

Finally saw District 9. I really liked this apartheid-inspired piece of science fiction. Maybe it's been over-hyped by some critics as far as it's place in the genre, and it does sorta go from documentary/mockumentary to drama to action movie, but I think it works (though I can see how it might not for other viewers). I think the "look" of the film and the acting, lead by Sharlto Copley, are good.

Not sure the ending will be completely satisfying to everybody...it's definitely a movie that begs for a sequel.

 

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN/Låt Den Rätte Komma In

SCORE - 9/10

GENRE - DRAMA

PREMISE - A 12 year old lonely boy named Oskar is bullied at school. One day a strange new girl named Eli moves in his apartment complex and they slowly become friends. This is no ordinary girl though, as it turns out she is a vampire. She teaches Oskar to stand up for himself and it turns out the two begin to fall in love with each other. Once Oskar learns her secret though, will he still love her?

CRITIQUE - I loved this movie. It's the type that has you feeling all emotional afterwards and it stays in your mind for days after. You empathize with the young boy in both his dealings with the bullies and his feelings towards Eli. Both characters capture the movies moments perfectly and have great chemistry. I don't feel this movie was a horror because although it had violence, murders, and killings it just wasn't done in a scary way. Also the movie stayed true to the myths of vampires and had a great ending. Just keep in mind it's a drama so the pace won't be very fast for those who are impatient.

TO BE REMADE - This movie is a Swedish film and therefore has subtitles. Hollywood is said to be working on a remake, but there is no way they won't botch it up and make a less than stellar version than this. As it was the special effects were already top notch and the only negative was it wasn't in English. I plan to see the Hollywood version, but I highly suggest you see this one.

 

I'm afraid that the Hollywood version might end up as uninspiring as the remakes of THE VANISHING and LA FEMME NIKITA (POINT OF NO RETURN).

 

I'd be willing to sig beat on it and put money on it.

 

THE END OF AMERICA

SCORE: 7.5/10

GENRE: DOCUMENTARY

PREMISE - Naomi Wolf's documentary based on her book. Basically it's a breakdown of how America's free system of democracy is slowly being turned into a dictatorship right under our own noses with a ten step plan that has been utilized by past dictatorial countries.

CRITIQUE - A really enjoyable yet scary documentary. I liked how she tied in each step with things from the news and or papers, but it was all fact based stuff. This documentary is must see stuff and shows how much our rights truly are gone. They also interview people who's lives have been affected by this stuff, such as guys who've been held without just cause for no reason whatsoever. It gets really scary when they show what's in store with the future steps.

 

Inglorious bastards - I loved it, it doesnt amount to much, but as cinema it kicks ass, shows that Tarantino is the equivalent of a boxer with such raw talent that you can excuse him anything for the occasional genius he produces..genius that is apart fom Brad pitt who is mostly an irritant, rotten actor. Masterpiece imo.

 

I loved this movie. It will probably be remade in a gay/teen movie way which sucks.

 

DISTRICT 9

SCORE: 7/10

GENRE: SCI-FI

PREMISE - A mother ship breaks down over Africa and it's inhabitants are found stranded and malnourished. Given no other choice the government moves the Alien insect like creatures into a secured slum with very small shacks for homes. Amid constant complaints from the human population as well as many attacks and robberies by the aliens against the human population a plan is put into effect to move the aliens to a new safer location. Long story short the man put in charge of the move gets sprayed with an alien liquid and begins to slowly change into one of them. He was no fan of the creatures but after now being hunted by his own company he must now live amongst the aliens until he can find a way to cure himself and get back to his family.

CRITIQUE - Sitting in the theater both me and my date found ourselves not really excited for this movie at all. However once it got going we both found it thouroughly enjoyable. Only bad thing I can say about the film overall is I don't think I'd want to sit through it again. It was cool watching the guy go through his problems and changes but I don't think it has much rewatchability. The alien technology and weaponry was very cool. I do recommend it.

 

oops

 

"i did not have pornographic relations with a fookin' creature!" ::

district 9 had a great backdrop - science fiction as social commentary on racism, the western presence in iraq and afghanistan, human and animal rights. the plotting was certainly off and the last third was just a computer game, but hopefully the ambitious premise can inspire better movies: dystopic science fiction has a power to reach people better than historical or documentary pieces.

 

and there was just something gripping about the mockumentary footage showing us the alien ghetto. there's no better conceit for reflection on humanity than the conceptualisation of some new alien race.

 

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS Ok, I really wasn't interested in watching this movie, but my children forced me to take them to the theater. I didn't wanted to watch the more expensive 3D version, but again I didn't had a say on it!:bangh: My gut feeling was correct: the movie is so-so predictable, but my children did enjoyed it. as for the 3D version...DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU! This is the flatest so-called 3D movie ever. Nothing, absolutely nothing pop out of the screen. Heck, even those 40 year old gaf View Master reels had more awesome 3D images than this turkey. The only redeeming thing I found in the film was the message it send to the little ones and parents alike: is okay to be smart and intelligent no matter if your peers call you nerd; what matters is to be true to yourself and not pretend to be someone you are not. And for the parents: DO express your love to your children. Those two messages alone made me change the score of this film from a mediocre 5 to a glowing 7. 7/10

 

Just watched this an thought it was great. A solid 8 out of 10 for mine. I preferred The Dark Knight but that was based purely on Ledger's performance.

Watchmen is not superhero film. It's a film about human nature, the dark places it makes you go and ultimately, what sacrifices have to be made for real change. Very well filmed and scripted. I've heard this film called disappointing. If you went in expecting Spiderman, then I'm sure it was.

I'll be buying this one for sure.

 

CROSSING OVER

SCORE - 7/10

GENRE: DRAMA

PREMISE: Similar in style to Crash and Babel this movie switches from story to story and personality to personality. It centers around immigration in the US. Some stories are about people trying to get legal immigration and how far they'll go to do it while others center around some who may take it for granted. At the center is Harrison Ford who works as an immigration officer with his partner Chris Curtis.

CRITIQUE - I enjoyed this movie. I thought it wasn't quite as good as Crash but was better than Babel which isn't saying much since I'm not a big fan of that movie at all. Still though, this had some pretty big name characters with Ford & Curtis at the helm along with Ray Liotta and an old looking Ashley Judd rounding out the star power here. The seperate stories were all fairly strong and interesting. If you like a good drama and enjoy the Babel & Crash switch story style I recommend you check it out.

 

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell 7/10




This is a water down version of Hang Over but surprisingly it's not as bad as its title sounds. The movie started out slow but it had a decent final 20 minutes, a definite choice for DVD rental.

 

I only saw The Wrestler yesterday and it was a disappointment to me. Rourke was every bit as good as he has been praised but otherwise the plot was too simple and the points of the movie have been heard too often

 

Forrest WHitaker has been in at least half a dozen of these multiple storyline movies.

 

I agree. I think the movie got extremely overrated based on its underatedness. It's not even worth sitting through twice IMO. On the other hand, sometimes you can't really tell if that's true unless you watch it a couple more times.

Yeah, but he wasn't in this one so why'd you even bring him up?

 

I have watched so many damn films lately that I can't keep track of all the titles. So here is 'quickie rating' for a few of them:

GOMORRA - 8/10 Shocking and fascinating look at the italian underworld.

SIN NOMBRE - 8/10 Shocking and fascinating look at the Mara gang in Mexico and the perils of the ilegal honduran immigrants trying to cross the border toward USA. Recommended.

THE BIG LEBOWSKY - 4/10 Boring ass overrated piece of shit. I tried to watch it twice and both times was bored to death and put me twice asleep. At least is good for insomnia. If I hear again any of you suckers praising this movie again, I'll post 10 piles of shit next to your post!

FRAZETTA: PAINTING WITH FIRE Interesting documentary about the most influential and celebrated fantasy artist of the last century: Frank frazetta. The man and his art is examined by close friends, relatives, coleagues and through interviews with the master himself. Frazetta is an extraordinary man, even if he wasn't a famous painter, illustrator, athlete and tough guy. Hollywood should make a movie about the life of this guy. 7/10

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE Hohum melodrama about grief of spouse death and poster film about addiction rehabilitation. Halle Berry does an uninspiring job here, while Benicio Del Toro was great as usual. 6/10

BATTLE OF THE WARRIORS I love chinese period war films and this one was very good. Not a single superfeat nor 'hanging wires' battles here. Very satisfying genre film. Andy Lau was good here as the lone warrior on a mission to save a small chinese kingdom from an inevitable invasion. Very good film. 8/10

ROBOT CHICKEN: STAR WARS EPISODE II The first one was very funny. This one is even funnier. Watch the 'what happened at the Bespin Dinner with Vader' sequence. Makes laugh all the time. Too bad is so short. 8/10

CRANK 2: HIGH VOLTAGE I can't remember much from the first CRANK except the incredible ending. This film starts with that same scene and keeps the same incredibly absurd tone making it into an enjoyable farce. Very worthy of its full R rated rating. I enjoyed it even though it is not for everybody's taste. 7/10

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE Ok it wasn't as bad as many stated it was even though is no better than X-MEN THE LAST STAND. But then I liked that one too. Not a single memorable sequence though, but a good chapter to the saga. 7/10

I'LL CONTINUE LATER. tHERE ARE MORE!

 

Gomorrah was a good movie, I saw that just recently.

 

I hated the Big Lebowski. I've no idea why that has such a cult following.

 

I guess I was thinking of another movie. Don't worry about it.

 

I don't get it either. For the most part I usually like the Cohen Brothers films, but this one is a real stinker.

 

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

SCORE: 6/10

GENRE: ACTION/DRAMA

PREMISE - John Travolta and his posse take over a subway train and hold its passengers hostage for money. Denzel, who is the dispatcher over the trains is forced to be deal with the situation and have a dialogue with Travolta. They have a lot of dialogue, a few people get shot, yadaa yadaa yadaa you can probably predict the ending here.

CRITIQUE - Not a bad movie, but at the same time nothing special. It really offers not one new thing to the hostage taking movie genre. Denzel & Travolta have a dialogue but that isn't really anything special either. One plus was Travolta's over the top character was unintentionally funny but otherwise this was a pretty humdrum story that was probably beneath both actors.

Recommendation - If you're at the video store, I'd say get something better and wait for it to come on HBO or maybe even just rent the original which is supposed to be better and I don't doubt it. If someone brings it by your place, why not.

 

yeah. like the original. :bears:

 

I agree on Lebowski - bag of shiite.