New
Mar 9, 2015 8:56 AM
#151
Finally saw 12 Angry Men. Blew me away. I actually shed a tear during Lee J. Cobb's final piece. That was such a powerful movie. |
Mar 10, 2015 2:27 AM
#152
Haven't been in this thread for a while strangely enough, but I shall attempt another update on what I've seen since last time in a post akin to that one as well. The Imitation Game - A rather clumsy biopic with very scattered emotional peaks, bouncing from cheap melodrama to some milder and nuanced yet inundated interplay at the tip of a hat; the ending was also quite awkward and strained. 6/10 The Assassination of Jesse James: This was a tough one - a grand story with some fascinating ideas on heroism, media scandals, infamy, etc that gets kind of crushed over its glacial pacing, big run time and some excess subplots. Needs a rewatch to really get invested in the themes at its core I imagine, but my first viewing had me bored and exhausted most of the time. 7/10 The Double Life of Veronique: This is still a totally different beast from Kieslowski's Three Colors, and unfortunately I got into another misguided existential viewing lens for this film and missed most of the ideas it was actually playing with, so I definitely need to rewatch it. Forgetting Sarah Marshall: A severely unfunny romcom with some of the most inept directorial timing I've seen in a comedy in quite a while and the romance dynamics are quite contrived, how people liked it so much is beyond me. 2/10 Ted: I must concede that I like the odd season of Family Guy here and there and this had some pretty nice one-liners all around but the direction could've been a bit smoother. 7/10 Vivre sa vie: My first exposure to Godard and it certainly wasn't something I was used to, but I think I enjoyed the loose episodic structure of the story and its plays with feminism and morality and such. 7/10 for now. The Sting: Well produced caper with incredible acting, sharp direction and a fairly keen script. 8/10 8 and 1/2 and Amarcord: These 2 were my first Fellini films and I haven't rated them yet and am uncertain where I stand because--at the risk of sounding like an arrogant imbecile--my gut said these films were full of crap. Both of them just seemed incredibly self-gratifying and esoteric like Fellini just made the movies for himself; the main character of 8 and 1/2 has all these directorial burdens and stresses (or so they wish to tell us) but it's mostly white male's guilt of the most irksome degree, and the element of playing around with dreams and reality with the more "surreal" musical numbers just seemed shallow, and reading people's reviews talk about all of that just makes it sound more and more like faux-intellectual drivel. Amarcord follows a really obnoxious lead who is mostly just a selfish coward trying to indulge in his fantasies and such, and the direction makes it feel as though we are actually supposed to care about anything he and his family does, but it just all feels pretty inane. The satirical imagery is again, also rather smug, muddy and has a very acute set of ideas and means of communicating them; then there's stuff like when the MC gets the chance to have sex with the busty cigar shop owner but is "consumed by the very thing he desires - her massive breasts." The scenario is pretty ridiculous and the commentary even moreso, it just had me groaning. Maybe I'll give Fellini another chance later, but so far his style just seems pompous and trivial to me at the moment. Pain and Gain: Oddly enough, a surprisingly sharp satire of the American Dream by Michael Bay of all people, the different character arcs and decay, ideas of ambition and the ladder of capitalism and such were quite interesting and some of the cinematography and set pieces are marvelous. It's just a bit too long I guess is the main thing. 8/10 The Counselor: This is an odd beast, it's basically brilliant and a big misfire at the same time, and I really like it to a degree, but I don't know how I would quantify it and if its ideas are ultimately of any worth or not, but it was a very pretty film with a complex script but very atypical direction. Inside Llewyn Davis: Honestly, I'm not too sure how to describe my feelings towards it, but I didn't totally love it I guess. I wasn't big on the completely dreary tone, Llewyn's character and kind of dearth of development and the ending. I respect it to a degree, but it wasn't really my cup of tea. 7/10 Marie Antoinette: I knew going in that it was mostly a stagnant little character study of the titular historic figure, but it was pretty dull for the most part and so far I have yet to see Sofia Coppola give something a good ending, but I still need to see Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation. 6/10 Whiplash: Another movie I respect but don't like too much (even though the score is fairly high); the narrative was really conventional and hit all the familiar beats pretty steadfastly, and I wasn't huge on the ending myself. I understand why they took that route but it felt vaguely smug in my book. J.K. Simmons, the music and the cinematography made the movie worthwhile for me though. 8/10 American Sniper: A really lifeless and 2-dimensional (anti-)war (?) film that is flat and uninteresting in almost every respect. It's not as offensive as some have made it out to be although it is still fairly black and white and jaded. 3/10 The Master: Yet another 'respect>like-film'; the production values and acting are really good for this one, but I wasn't entirely sure what to make of the story and ideas - it seemed a bit too erratic and far removed to bring things home, but I feel there's an unorthodox yet strong film buried in there. 8/10 Boyhood: Not AS amazing as I was expecting, but the naturalism in the script and direction is quite consistent and impressive for this 3 hour movie, as it seemed about 80-85% of it really nailed the accuracy and minutia of emotions and dialogue in real life; it stumbled when it reached more dramatic and tense territory like the divorces and such, but a majority of it feels incredibly genuine. Essential viewing. 8/10 City of God: Dazzling cinematography, a layered and sprawling story, rich performances, great characters (loved the main villain even as he first showed up on screen as a little boy) and rich content. Not pitch-perfect, but an exceptional watch. 9/10 Rintaro's Metropolis: Hit or miss in nearly every department save for the environments and animation which are astounding. 7/10 Toward Terra 1980: pretty forgettable adaptation with largely uneven pacing that skimps around in details in various places, not much to say on it. 6/10 The Interview: Also very hit or miss, some of the set pieces and cinematography was good, and Franco's chemistry with Randall Park is charming, but that's about it. 5/10 Birdman: This was a tough nut to crack, it seemed like largely a well-directed movie but was too constrained by its setting and gimmicks to drive its themes homes like Ducat said I believe. It could've been a lot more introspective and confrontational but throughout most of the run the characters were just held down by the plot's urgency and the timeline for everything. I also find the ending is unnecessarily confounding really, it tries to pull a Fight Club but again, it's a bit too distant and ideologically scattered that it tries to be ambiguous simply to compensate for a lack of clarity on how to tie everything up properly. Regardless the characters, the premise, the production value and such still make it an interesting watch. 8/10 Princess Kaguya: I definitely think I need a rewatch for this, but my first viewing had me feeling like the themes weren't greatly communicated, and the pacing was uneven in places but generally rather sloggish, so ultimately the whole thing kind of just washed over me at first, but it was serene, enchanting and pretty, and I didn't notice any glaring flaws. 7/10 Kingsman: This movie was amazing, lots of subversive and tongue-in-cheek stuff in there with the spy drama and such, and it's basically people outswagging each other for 2 hours and it's beautiful. The set pieces and humour are just fantastic. 8/10 Winter Light: Another rather barebones Bergman tale on questioning faith and faith-based morals against certain circumstances, it's a little more tactful and less clunky and didactic than Virgin Spring, but it was still rather unengaging I find. I hope there aren't too many more of Bergman's films like this; Autumn Sonata was well balanced and tense, Seventh Seal had some stuff going on and Through a Glass Darkly looks like it has some life to it from the bits I've seen, but this and Virgin Spring are like these bloated anti-religion anecdotes that are a bore to watch. 6/10 Die Hard: Admittedly I was kind of tense in certain spots plus it gets to the story pretty quickly and McClane as an everyman with bad timing is amusing, but it lacks a real kick for me to make it some keystone action (or Christmas if you wish) film compared to something like The Raid: Redemption. 7/10 |
AngelsArcanumMar 10, 2015 11:01 AM
Mar 11, 2015 3:24 PM
#153
There are themes that exist in Kaguya that aren't communicated as well as they could be, but those weren't the themes it was actually trying to communicate so much as details that fit into a fairy tale format, and the actual key, central themes are communicated with a lot of conviction, creativity, and energy.'' I also thought Birdman did a decent job of articulating its themes, it's just that they were wrong. That didn't stop me from liking the movie, I just thought it was wrong about the difference between superhero movies and "art" (which was arguably all in Riggan'd mind), but more so about the idea that you can't make "art" if you also want to be relevant. That was the big thing for me since I think it was pretty unequivocal about that and it just seems silly and unfounded in my mind. |
Mar 11, 2015 4:49 PM
#154
Angels, how long has it been since we've debated? Because man, I really disagree with what you said about 8 1/2. The story was so simple when I watched it. Director suffers a creative block mainly due to his inability to confront his issues. Instead of acknowledging what a lousy guy he is, he keeps on trying to either find an escape, shift the blame, or glorify himself. All of which falls apart when his ex-wife really smacks his ego to him. That's was basically it. What made it work for me was how reflexive it was. There was inner confrontation in the film and the film never made the director out to be right. If anything it made him look like a child. |
Ducat_RevelMar 16, 2015 2:25 PM
Mar 16, 2015 12:37 PM
#155
I went and saw Kingsman: The Secret Service. The trailers for that movie were terrible, but the movie itself was awesome. It was also way better than Kick-Ass, the previous movie by the same people, because it had a much better handle on its characters, violence, and the action was just better shot and choreographed in general. |
Mar 16, 2015 10:32 PM
#156
Ducat_Revel said: Angels, how long has it been since we've debated? Because man, I really disagree with what you said about 8 1/2. The story was so simple when I watched it. Director suffers a creative block mainly due to his inability to confront his issues. Instead of acknowledging what a lousy guy he is, he keeps on trying to either find an escape, shift the blame, or glorify himself. All of which falls apart when his ex-wife really smacks his ego to him. That's was basically it. What made it work for me was how reflexive it was. There was inner confrontation in the film and the film never made the director out to be right. If anything it made him look like a child. Sorry for the delay, keep getting preoccupied with stuff and I'm having difficulty articulating how to explain what threw me off about the film (doesn't help it's fading from memory after a few months) but I think it is the kind of roundabout execution that deprives it of its potency. With some of the explanations on Amarcord again, Fellini intended to have the characters be kind of deplorable by showing their absence of morals and susceptibility to sexual desire which is supposedly Fellini's way of "mocking" those sorts of mentalities, but I think along the way it gets too lost in trying to exemplify all these terrible facets of these individuals and playing around with surrealism too nonchalantly that it just starts to have fun with its amorality and irreverence. With 8 and 1/2, Guido's fantasies just got so bloated and elaborate that its self-deprecating intent just kind of faded out of the picture it seemed. My attention was just constantly waning because it seemed rather unfocused in highlighting the negative effects and decay on Guido's responsibilities and maturity. It's like the last (or one of the last) musical numbers in Singin' in the Rain, but instead of being so long that you forget the story point preceding it (it was all Gene's character trying to enact the dance in his head before he would bring it to the film) it loses its ideas in what it all means to Guido's self-reflection after several pretenses of psychological introspection and how much anxiety and stress piles on as a director and a socialite. Then instead of being a single big sequence that dilutes things, it's several throughout its runtime. As aforementioned, I caught glimpses of what the movie was trying to do with its unique structure and critique, but it felt like Fellini couldn't wind down and give the foreboding or subtly melancholic punch the scenes needed to drive things home and had too much fun with the spectacle of it all. When I saw your score for the film I knew you'd want to bring up a defence for it Ducat, I could see it was a well produced film and the ideas would work for some people, but I think it's just too long and not succinct enough. Again, that might just be me not liking Fellini's directorial style, but his orchestration is almost befuddling and weird to me. It's really hard for me to accurately capture my indifference to the films, especially since it seems to follow a method of counter-conventional or "working-in-negatives" narrative as I like to call it (along the lines of post-modernism I suppose, but I'm not big on its principles as a whole) I enjoy in some stories here and there (Only God Forgives, To the Wonder, bits of Samurai Champloo) but I guess there's some nuances that lean me one way or the other, and Fellini's stuff just didn't work for me (for now at least). |
Apr 14, 2015 10:12 AM
#157
Just saw "New Tale of Zatoichi" the third of like 20 full length movies about the blind samurai Zatoichi.I like the pace of this one and the way it tells the story of Zatoichi. I recommend this to all the fans of the older historical Japanese movies. |
May 4, 2015 6:46 PM
#158
I just got destroyed by All About Lily Chou-Chou last night. |
May 6, 2015 9:01 PM
#159
I'll go through the notable ones I've seen recently. Ugetsu - Excellent art design and performances. There wasn't much more characterization than what was needed for the characters to serve the theme, but it worked because the point was that the characters were choosing to submit to something greater than themselves. Brick - Really weird. It would be a parody of film noir, but its tone is deliberately dark and somber. Instead of being a parody or an homage, it actually is a film noir. It comes across as if a bunch of kids made their own film and tried to imitate the noir aesthetic. It was pretty good; parts of it dragged, but overall I enjoyed it both for the noir thing and because it was just generally well put-together. Pain and Gain - I can see why this is one of Michael Bay's best-reviewed films. The message comes across clearly and parts of the movie are funny. Unfortunately I didn't like it very much because I couldn't become invested in parts of it; the tone was incomprehensible at times because Bay uses the same shot for everything. Moonrise Kingdom - Probably my favorite Wes Anderson movie I've seen. A case where his heavily artificial style actually makes the movie less distancing because the characters have all submitted themselves to hard structure in an attempt to compensate for their own failings. The landscapes looked great, and a couple of scenes near the end really worked for me. Late Spring - As good as Tokyo Story, which is one of my favorite films. It's an excellent, minimalistic take on anxiety in post-war Japan, maybe one of the best movies I've seen. 25th Hour - Has some very visceral parts, has some parts that drag. At its best it lays the drama on top of brilliantly composed shots. |
May 8, 2015 6:29 AM
#160
2001: A Space Odyssey - Just yesterday I finished my second re-watch of this film in my journey of Kubrick films, and I'm still not too sure what to think about it. It's very ambiguous, so much so I have little idea as to the point of what's happening in specific scenes that I can only sit back in awe of the epic soundtrack and decent special effects - although there are some parts where it does look pretty stupid, as you would expect from a 60s film. I've actually yet to read theories about the film because of this quote: "You're free to speculate as you wish about the philosophical and allegorical meaning of the film—and such speculation is one indication that it has succeeded in gripping the audience at a deep level—but I don't want to spell out a verbal road map for 2001 that every viewer will feel obligated to pursue or else fear he's missed the point." I feel it's entertainment in itself to try and come up with theories but I will keep them to myself in fear of embarrassing myself until the day I can be bothered to read the novel. Anyway, I will probably try A Clockwork Orange next as the parts I've seen of it look very... interesting to say the least. |
CraftyMay 8, 2015 6:32 AM
May 9, 2015 7:12 AM
#161
I don't think the book is much help in understanding the movie. There are a number of differences between them, and the movie isn't an adaptation since they were released concurrently. It's also one of the more cinematic movies, in the sense that it's meant to be informed by the images chosen and how they were shot. At least, I would say not to worry about "embarrassing" yourself because you haven't read the novel, since there's no need for them to mean the same thing. Also the ending is different in the book, and while it's not necessarily a worse ending than in the film (I don't like it as much), it certainly implies a different meaning. |
May 27, 2015 9:26 AM
#162
Zergneedsfood said: I just got destroyed by All About Lily Chou-Chou last night. Aww man, still itching to see that one badly, I should get around to it soon. |
May 27, 2015 3:41 PM
#163
AngelsArcanum said: Join me in the ether~Aww man, still itching to see that one badly, I should get around to it soon. |
Jun 27, 2015 6:44 AM
#164
Not a member of this club but whatever. Inside Out This movie was really great, surprisingly creative from what I though would be a family movie with mostly one-dimensional characters. Great artwork and scenery, the writers really did their research for this one, comedy and jokes were amazing, and one of the last scenes made me tear up. This is tied with Toy Story as my favorite Pixar film. |
Jul 20, 2015 4:05 PM
#165
The last movie I saw was Ted 2. What I thought it would turn bad, after the god awful A Million Ways to Die in the West, Seth MacFarlane proved me KINDA wrong. Even though I believe Ted was a better movie, Ted 2 still had some good laughs and some unexpected moments. |
Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness. Thy actions cause men pain and suffering. Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins. How would you like to see what death is like? -Enma Ai |
Jul 21, 2015 6:55 PM
#166
I just saw The Purge: Anarchy with some friends and oh my god what of waste of time. I though "Finally, they are showing the stuff we really wanna see in a world where crime is legal for a day", and I was thinking about the streets. Unlike the first Purge movie, where it took place in a house. A freaking house. But still Anarchy didn't offer the variety I would want. I mean literaly the most disturbing thing was a guy burned alive, which looked shitty as hell. Although there were times were it tried to be disturbing images, like a girled pretty much bathed in blood and a guy who tried to have sex with a mother and daughter, and what happend to their father which I am not going to spoil. But still where are the guys eho want to torture? Give me some psychos. |
Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness. Thy actions cause men pain and suffering. Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins. How would you like to see what death is like? -Enma Ai |
Jul 27, 2015 12:14 AM
#167
Dang. Didn't notice the club was still active, but perhaps that's my oversight for not scrolling too far down the MAL clubs I joined and not being as frequent a visitor to ones that aren't the Ubers lol. Anyways, I have seen A LOT since last time, I'll try my best to make my thoughts short this time (honest...maybe). Total Recall: fun satire, the Schwarz, 8/10 Badlands: solid T-Mally film, feels more like a NORMAL film compared to the rest, story was a bit weird, kind of like a dark comedy, but from that viewpoint, T-Mally has a REALLY ice cold sense of humour lol, 8/10; in the lower half of his films for me, but could use a rewatch Ringing Bell: simple moral decay fable, but one with good emotional heft and cool designs, 7/10 Life Aquatic and Royal Tenenbaums: more solid Wes Anderson, probably need rewatches to fully appreciate, 8/10 Jin-Roh: did a MAL review on it, didn't like it, felt like a crappy Patlabor 2 wannabe, 6/10 12 Angry Men: effectively dramatic bottle film that had a rather unique concept for its time, but still feels a little safe as the dynamics offer some inherent depth but could be more daring, 8/10 Late Spring: first Ozu film I really like, liked the more focused, tender dynamic between the father and daughter, and it felt less heavy handed than Tokyo Story, a simple, but devastatingly emotional ending, 9/10 An Autumn Afternoon: solid Ozu color film, seemed a bit aimless at first though, 8/10 Ernest and Celestine: I remember it being rather forced and the main dynamic didn't work that great plus the story parallels for plot and humor were kind of lame, 6/10 Rashomon: solid Kurosawa directorial work, but very simple in this day and age, still an 8/10 Upstream Color: a more science-oriented Malick-esque film, like To the Wonder as a thought-provoking sci-fi tale, although its imagery kind of reinforces central ideas rather than presents a lot of minutia and complex individual scenes like TTW, so I think it's solid but a bit too cold and needs more immediate substance, 8/10 Mad Max Fury Road: Honestly, my least favorite Mad Max film actually, script was weird, plot was predictable, felt a bit manipulatively misandrist in making Max a selfish goon for a brief period and such and it just didn't feel like anything special tbh, 6/10 Inglorious Basterds: thought it was actually a war film, but it's more about language and communication and has some interesting tidbits and story twists on it, a lot of fun, one of Tarentino's best, 9/10 Old Boy (original obv): gut-wrenching, sharply written, expertly acted, near perfect revenge story with great twists and refreshing plot elements, 9-10/10 Alien: pretty looking atmospheric horror film I guess, don't see much more to it, 7/10 John Wick: now THIS is a cool action flick, some of the cinematography and lighting looked a bit hazy to me (others disagree it seems, but something seemed off) but just a lot of fun and so much style, 8/10 Sword of the Stranger: pretty bloated, Champloo and Trust and Betrayal did what it did and more but better really, 7/10 Windaria: a thorough, emotional, well produced and uncompromising moral decay tale with some confident world-building too, an overlooked gem, 9/10 The Door Into Summer (OVA): angst, rationality, cougar (slang) nips, sex with a pubescent teen, kinky but slight, 6/10 They Were 11: has some heart, a nice soundtrack, a few nice scenes and a cool setting, but pretty simple survival tale with kind of lame twists, wish it were more of a horror story, 7/10 Ponyo: not bad actually, better than Howl's at least, some nice characters, lovely color palette and animation, ending and conflict was kind of lame, but w/e, it was charming, 7/10 When Marnie Was There: a big mess in my book, overexplained the obvious in some places while murky in other places, 6/10 Django Unchained: really cool vengeance tale, great performances, some sweet set pieces and production values, fun storytelling with sharp writing, 9/10 Arietty: thankfully I really liked this over Marnie, nice characters, explores the simple charms of the world and how we take them for granted, etc, has some minor missteps, but a great Ghibli film, 9/10 Perfect Blue: f***ing sweet, first 20ish minutes were strangely edited, but this was very thought provoking and creepy, had my friends and I discussing and pondering on it for a while, awesome stuff, 9/10 Brazil: slapstick humor managed to temper the quirky, rather on the nose and self-aware script into a fun satire, ending was a bit strange, but it might improve on rewatch, 8/10 Jurassic World: pretty bad story with a lot of annoying characters (not all though) and a weak attempt at satire, plus it wasn't scary at all (I frighten easy really), 3/10 Enter the Void: has some depth but gets overly long, nauseating and a bit slight after a while, interesting experience to say the least, 7/10 Farewell to Language: 2nd Godard film, pretty much an anti-film to criticize crappy films, I enjoyed it actually, though many would understandably hate it, 9/10 Harakiri: plays out as kind of a puzzle film at first, altering your perspectives of the characters as it goes along, and there's some cool ideas and uncompromising portrait of bigoted ideals here, although the ending is a bit bitter, worth the praise, 9/10 The Insider: nice looking corporate thriller but rather long and forgets to close the other key character of the main duo's story really, so it feels a bit lost, 8/10 Collateral: interesting ideas on capitalism, fate and circumstance and such, cool storytelling, Tom Cruise is a charismatic slimeball and Jamie Fox is a nuanced do-gooder, 9/10 Heat: tense look at the symbiotic nature of good and evil and the way the wheels spin through cause and effect for each, although it too is a bit long, ending is rather abrupt and there are a few hiccups, 9/10 Nightcrawler: it's like if Yoshikage Kira was a news photographer in a world where everyone else is more evil than him, Gyllenhaal is astounding, cool social commentary, but weird ending, 8-9/10 Paprika: kind of sloppy with its storytelling and can't seem to find the right tone or get any down time, weird way to link some of the characters to the story, 6/10 Ex Machina: not sure why this had such a high RT score, can't get behind the characters, their interactions are almost all faux pas, ideas are rudimentary, ending is poor, etc. looks kinda pretty though, 5/10 Synecdoche New York: WTF, exhausting, thought it was alright, kind of self-gratifying and weird though, probably needs a revisit later, 7/10 After Life: I was told this was one of, if not the best Hirokazu Koreeda film to date, but it has pretty lazy world-building, not too much emotional heft, big plot points or large insights, but it was still kind of good, more towards the latter half, 'Still Walking' is way better, 7/10 White Meadows: incredible allegorical Iranian film criticizing political, gender-based and religious bigotry and such, powerful gem with a troubled production, highly overlooked (hard to get a hold of) but amazing, 9-10/10 L'avventura: like a prototype of 'To the Wonder', breathtaking scenery, powerful take on ennui and romantic longing, just astounding, 10/10 La Notte: didn't quite know what to think of it after L'avventura's soul searching, as this is almost entirely taking place at a bourgeoisie party and focuses more on wealth in its forms more than love, needs a rewatch, 8/10 L'eclise: kind of in between the latter two in many ways, has some love yearning and the sadness of being unrequited and such, but kind of meanders with the stuff on the stock markets, still really great, needs a rewatch too, 9/10 Naruto The Last: F*** Naruto, but hey, it wasn't as bad as the manga's depths, 3/10 Castle of Cagliostro: fun, but slight, the last 10 minutes were kind of lame, but still a nice watch, was my last Miyazaki film, rather good, 8/10 Char's Counterattack: loosely explained story, Char's pathetic regression, dumb ending, a lot of crappy new characters, etc, 3/10 Kill Bill 1 & 2: 1 was a blast but simple, 2 had some hints of depth but a slightly wonkier script, I think 2's ambitions slightly beat out 1, but they are quite close in quality, both great 8/10s Airplane!: lots of laughs, tackles tons of brands of humor, and well, so much fun, 8/10 The Great Gatsby: first 45 minutes were very Baz Luhrmann and very messy, thankfully it straightened out for the rest, parsed a few small elements from the book to my liking kind of (not huge on the book though), but it needed more heart, felt too distant, 5/10 Inside Out: Pixar's best for me so far, so intelligent, subtle and loaded start to finish with maybe a few minor problems, but still pretty much perf, 10/10 Moneyball: good true story rise to fame tale, but the climax was pretty lame, and it seemed to glorify Pitt's character when Hill's was the one with the ideas really, 7/10 Cosmopolis: first exposure to Cronenberg, bizarre but interesting philosophical tale on capitalism and such, and was pretty good at making a vulnerability arc for Pattinson's character a la Under the Skin really, 7/10 A Clockwork Orange: McDowell's performance is quite incredible, and the early content with the gang crimes and such were cool, the aftermath of the main character's return to society in the individual scenes were effective at eking some empathy out of him and such and showing his attempts at redemption and all that, but some of the ideas on free will aren't as emphasized as they could've been and the film just doesn't feel as lofty as it could be, plus the world-building seemed rather indifferent, 7/10 Man of Steel: very long, has some script foibles and a bit misshapen with some plot points and the pacing, but I think it's actually a diamond in the rough for a tale of superhero burdens and such, 7/10 Foxcatcher: maybe I'm missing something with some of the (slightly) higher scores this film is getting, but I just saw an awkward piece of crap here, close to American Sniper for worst of 2014 for me really, 3/10 Killing them Softly: kind of boring, aimless and heavy-handed, but I've heard arguments that its heavy-handed tone is supposed to kind of counter-balance the embellishing and shifty wordplay of politics and the economy that is pervading society, so I think there is a bit of merit to be unearthed, 5/10 Amores perros: gritty moral tale on responsibility, power and the value of life and such, uses dogs as an interesting motif, despite the kind of shoddy first act, the themes are honed in well and it's one of Inarritu's better films, 7-8/10 Babel and 21 Grams: These two on the other hand...are pretty weak; the former is very overt with its irksome contrivances in character tempers (and subsequently plot advancement) and story links that doesn't really provide satisfying conclusions to its stories and gets lost in unnecessary complications while the latter is a needlessly jumbled slog that tries to make a case about redemption and living a decent life, but keeps the characters too conveniently close in some areas while obscuring details from one another to actually get the message across effectively, pretty weak, 4/10 |
AngelsArcanumJul 27, 2015 12:20 AM
Aug 7, 2015 9:35 PM
#168
Well, I'm pretty much posting this everywhere. Before Midnight: The third stallment in a series of unbelievable filmmaking. The first movie started in 1995, featuring a young man and a woman who spend the day (and night) in the beautiful city of Vienna. 9 years after (literally, in our time), a second film featured what happened to them in 2004, and now, we see again, 9 years later, what happened to them in 2013. To save the story short... If the purpose of fictional works is to share ideas, to explore possibilities, and to experience something new or powerful, well, this is it. The movies are simple. There are no special effects, no carefully designed clothes, no intricate plot or mysterious subtle messages. But at the same time, it is a timeless experience that is both magical and realistic. I was interested, I was curious, I can not stop but wonder what may happen again after 9 years. This... was a unique experience. Thank you. |
Aug 19, 2015 2:31 PM
#169
Aug 31, 2015 2:29 PM
#170
Die Hard. Nice and enjoyable commercial movie. It really had a huge influence on 90s action movies imo. |
Sep 8, 2015 8:42 AM
#171
I saw Horrible Bosses 2 yesterday. Talking about uneccesery sequels what was that all about? There were no Bosses, so there goes your title. The plot was average at best and the jokes were unseen. I think I might have cracked a little smile somewhere but that was it. also Foxx, Aniston and Waltz were wasted big time in this movie. They didn't give them something good to work on. Although I think Pine was pretty decent. |
Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness. Thy actions cause men pain and suffering. Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins. How would you like to see what death is like? -Enma Ai |
Sep 10, 2015 4:35 AM
#172
Steven15ify said: I saw Horrible Bosses 2 yesterday. Talking about uneccesery sequels what was that all about? There were no Bosses, so there goes your title. The plot was average at best and the jokes were unseen. I think I might have cracked a little smile somewhere but that was it. also Foxx, Aniston and Waltz were wasted big time in this movie. They didn't give them something good to work on. Although I think Pine was pretty decent. I couldn't stand to watch the first movie how did you find the courage to watch the sequel? :P Anyway, I watched the live action film of Attack on Titan today and I still don't know if I liked it or not. First of all, the acting was so bad that even a Japanese drama seems better than that. Secondly, the CGI was horrible. Shinji, you're the director, DO your job properly and if you don't know how ask the Americans. They do understand the concept of CGI quite well. Shingeki no Kyojin's battles are very difficult to create in a live action movie but the things I saw in that movie seemed like if I worked on After Effect for a couple of days I could produce the same quality of scenes. Not to mention that the final battle felt like I was watching Power Rangers all over again! Last but not least, they competely messed up the background stories of the characters and especially Levi. Instead of that badass character they switched his name to a dude named Shikishima that doesn't even exist in neither the anime nor the manga. Okay, you will probably tell me that I give to much attention to details. It's just a name after all. No, think it over guys. Why "erase" such an important person without a reason? Does Levi sounds too girly for them? Anyway, the movie was so and so but I would still recommend it to the fans of the AoT. Oh, and one last thing. The scene where the Colossal Titan makes his appearance is totally awesome!!! XD |
Sep 13, 2015 11:19 AM
#173
AADMC said: Steven15ify said: I saw Horrible Bosses 2 yesterday. Talking about uneccesery sequels what was that all about? There were no Bosses, so there goes your title. The plot was average at best and the jokes were unseen. I think I might have cracked a little smile somewhere but that was it. also Foxx, Aniston and Waltz were wasted big time in this movie. They didn't give them something good to work on. Although I think Pine was pretty decent. I couldn't stand to watch the first movie how did you find the courage to watch the sequel? :P Anyway, I watched the live action film of Attack on Titan today and I still don't know if I liked it or not. First of all, the acting was so bad that even a Japanese drama seems better than that. Secondly, the CGI was horrible. Shinji, you're the director, DO your job properly and if you don't know how ask the Americans. They do understand the concept of CGI quite well. Shingeki no Kyojin's battles are very difficult to create in a live action movie but the things I saw in that movie seemed like if I worked on After Effect for a couple of days I could produce the same quality of scenes. Not to mention that the final battle felt like I was watching Power Rangers all over again! Last but not least, they competely messed up the background stories of the characters and especially Levi. Instead of that badass character they switched his name to a dude named Shikishima that doesn't even exist in neither the anime nor the manga. Okay, you will probably tell me that I give to much attention to details. It's just a name after all. No, think it over guys. Why "erase" such an important person without a reason? Does Levi sounds too girly for them? Anyway, the movie was so and so but I would still recommend it to the fans of the AoT. Oh, and one last thing. The scene where the Colossal Titan makes his appearance is totally awesome!!! XD Uhmmm, Kevin Spacey as an asshole boss, Colin Farrell as a bold junkie weardo and Jennifer Aniston as a sex addicted doctor? How did you NOT enjoy it? And again talking about uneseccesery sequels I just saw Anchorman 2. Oh boy. I saw the first one when I was a kid and found it really funny and entertaining. This one had two or three funny moments and that's that. I believe if it was one hour shorter it would be better, but after the ice skating everything went downhill. S good movie to spend your time but nothing more. |
Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness. Thy actions cause men pain and suffering. Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins. How would you like to see what death is like? -Enma Ai |
Oct 2, 2015 7:55 AM
#174
Finished Chinatown. That ending is gonna stay with me for awhile. |
Nov 1, 2015 1:28 AM
#175
My Sassy Girl (2001) - One of the better romantic comedy movies I've seen in a while. At first I didn't like how the girl was behaving, but then again, thanks to her behavior you'd certainly bound to have an interesting or perhaps more precisely spontaneous day. Other than that, I enjoyed how they handled the relationship and how someone should let go, when it comes to break ups. Certainly an interesting watch. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004) - One of the better war movies I've seen. It is somewhat realistic, but it did certainly portray the horrors of war and how it affects people, especially the soldiers and how they change during a war. This one was portrayed through the eyes of two unfortunate brothers and how everyone around them is affected, friends, family and the brothers themself. |
Nov 3, 2015 10:26 PM
#176
Someone, please explain to me why Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing is so critically acclaimed. Easily the most uncomfortable movie I've ever had to sit through. What could've been a sympathetic portrait of racism and its evils ended up as a senseless film full of fury. Fury at all directions. Hatred at everyone. And the persecution at the ending. Dear fuck this movie is vindictive and almost strikes me as evil as the monsters it tries to illustrate. Talk about excessive with emotions. I honestly have no clue what Spike is trying to say but for sure it isn't anything I can sit through. It's hatred that breeds hatred. Makes everyone in this movie look awful. The only people who weren't messed up were Da Mayor, Mother Sister, and Mookie's sister. Everyone else is out of their mind crazy. Wow. The movie's anger is so unfocused nothing about it can be read as righteous. If it's a painting as to how everyone hates each other then fine it works on that level. But its "righteousness" is lost on me. |
Nov 4, 2015 2:22 AM
#177
Ducat_Revel said: Someone, please explain to me why Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing is so critically acclaimed. Easily the most uncomfortable movie I've ever had to sit through. What could've been a sympathetic portrait of racism and its evils ended up as a senseless film full of fury. Fury at all directions. Hatred at everyone. And the persecution at the ending. Dear fuck this movie is vindictive and almost strikes me as evil as the monsters it tries to illustrate. Talk about excessive with emotions. I honestly have no clue what Spike is trying to say but for sure it isn't anything I can sit through. It's hatred that breeds hatred. Makes everyone in this movie look awful. The only people who weren't messed up were Da Mayor, Mother Sister, and Mookie's sister. Everyone else is out of their mind crazy. Wow. The movie's anger is so unfocused nothing about it can be read as righteous. If it's a painting as to how everyone hates each other then fine it works on that level. But its "righteousness" is lost on me. You must literally be the first person who disliked that film. :P I actually haven't watched it yet, but after your passionate review I'll make sure to watch it myself and see if you were right. Though it seems kinda odd for someone like Spike Lee (who directed quite nicely the "25th Hour") to present us such an awful movie such as "Do the Right Thing." :S |
Nov 4, 2015 4:30 AM
#178
I've seen the 25th Hour and like it well enough. I found the anger in it to be self-reflective and meaningful especially when Norton's character turns around and say that he himself was always the one at fault. I see a lot of good reviews for Do the Right Thing and wanted to like it even tho I heard Spike's movies tend to be polarizing. But the movie is just so... fueled with anger. And not in a meaningful way that tries to say that the anger and acts of violence against each other is wrong. Instead, it likes to paints everyone as hateful and yet still wants to champion someone, even if everyone in the film is awful. I'm just saying there's no moral compass or anchor to this film to really say who's right. The closest ones are Da Mayor and Mother Sister but they're nonentities to the mayhem. Doesn't help that Spike Lee himself is the main character and takes part in the racism that goes around. People like to throw around the "it's morally challenging" excuse to justify the actions that take place in the movie. But from where I stand, as a spectator of a race that isn't portrayed in the movie, a complete neutral, I just can't help but feel the movie has an agenda to justify the hostility of one race against all others. In the end, nearly all the characters in the film were horrible and yet it still has the gall to try to say one is more right. People will disagree with me but I feel Da Mayor needed a larger role in the movie to portray how meaningless the violence is, if that's really what the movie wanted to be. I could get into specifics but there are just so many. The worst part tho is that I now have to associate a Public Enemy song that I like to a movie I hate. :( |
Nov 5, 2015 9:24 AM
#179
AADMC said: Ducat_Revel said: Someone, please explain to me why Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing is so critically acclaimed. Easily the most uncomfortable movie I've ever had to sit through. What could've been a sympathetic portrait of racism and its evils ended up as a senseless film full of fury. Fury at all directions. Hatred at everyone. And the persecution at the ending. Dear fuck this movie is vindictive and almost strikes me as evil as the monsters it tries to illustrate. Talk about excessive with emotions. I honestly have no clue what Spike is trying to say but for sure it isn't anything I can sit through. It's hatred that breeds hatred. Makes everyone in this movie look awful. The only people who weren't messed up were Da Mayor, Mother Sister, and Mookie's sister. Everyone else is out of their mind crazy. Wow. The movie's anger is so unfocused nothing about it can be read as righteous. If it's a painting as to how everyone hates each other then fine it works on that level. But its "righteousness" is lost on me. You must literally be the first person who disliked that film. :P I actually haven't watched it yet, but after your passionate review I'll make sure to watch it myself and see if you were right. Though it seems kinda odd for someone like Spike Lee (who directed quite nicely the "25th Hour") to present us such an awful movie such as "Do the Right Thing." :S Nope, I'm pretty vocal about my disliking of it as well. His opinion is spot on to why I hate it too. |
Nov 7, 2015 12:17 AM
#180
Last movie I watched was Lock, Stock and two Smoking barrels. Been trying to expand my cinematic borders recently. |
Nov 7, 2015 2:25 AM
#181
Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford, what a good movie.. Daisuke777 said: Last movie I watched was Lock, Stock and two Smoking barrels. Been trying to expand my cinematic borders recently. There is another movie similar what what you have watched there, its called SNATCH. It has dark and crime comedy too plus its directed by the same director.. |
Nov 9, 2015 1:25 AM
#182
Last movie I watched on theaters was Attack on Titan and I really regret I watched it on the big screen. I hate it when books get adapted into movies with many modifications. And this one, is just as disappointing. No, very disappointing. Sorry, I can't help but compare it to the manga/ anime. If there's one thing I have to praise, probably some of the effects. The fan service, adding/removing of casts, alteration of the story. :( That "thing" with Mikasa and Shikishima that wasn't supposed to exist really annoys me. -_- It's a lot more gross than the anime. And tbh, though the titans were supposed to look like that, instead of scary, I find them funny. I liked it when Eren transformed into a titan though. |
Nov 9, 2015 1:52 AM
#183
cherushi-chan said: Last movie I watched on theaters was Attack on Titan and I really regret I watched it on the big screen. I hate it when books get adapted into movies with many modifications. And this one, is just as disappointing. No, very disappointing. Sorry, I can't help but compare it to the manga/ anime. If there's one thing I have to praise, probably some of the effects. The fan service, adding/removing of casts, alteration of the story. :( That "thing" with Mikasa and Shikishima that wasn't supposed to exist really annoys me. -_- It's a lot more gross than the anime. And tbh, though the titans were supposed to look like that, instead of scary, I find them funny. I liked it when Eren transformed into a titan though. My thoughts exactly! As if they couldn't stick to the manga plot. Oh my God... I nearly started shouting at the TV when I saw that Levi was nowhere to be found and instead of him they created that Shikishima dude. Hell no! |
Nov 9, 2015 4:06 AM
#184
My last movie was Leviathan. AADMC said: cherushi-chan said: Last movie I watched on theaters was Attack on Titan and I really regret I watched it on the big screen. I hate it when books get adapted into movies with many modifications. And this one, is just as disappointing. No, very disappointing. Sorry, I can't help but compare it to the manga/ anime. If there's one thing I have to praise, probably some of the effects. The fan service, adding/removing of casts, alteration of the story. :( That "thing" with Mikasa and Shikishima that wasn't supposed to exist really annoys me. -_- It's a lot more gross than the anime. And tbh, though the titans were supposed to look like that, instead of scary, I find them funny. I liked it when Eren transformed into a titan though. My thoughts exactly! As if they couldn't stick to the manga plot. Oh my God... I nearly started shouting at the TV when I saw that Levi was nowhere to be found and instead of him they created that Shikishima dude. Hell no! Honestly i found all Japanese live action movies which i have ever watched before that adapted from any other media such as manga, game or anime never as good as its expected to be IMO. I don't know how could this happen but perhaps the matter here is budget or -- i don't know, I'm not really sure why. I can name some, Rurouni Kenshin, Kiseijuu, Solanin (well okay, Solanin is not really that bad) and the last although i haven't watched it yet but i had a feeling that AoT movie wouldn't be a good adaptation when the first time i saw the trailer ( i dont want to be a smartass or what here). And your statements there just strengthen my assumption. Of course i still want to see that movie and see how it goes if i have a chance. |
Nov 9, 2015 9:01 AM
#185
Today I watched: Sex Tape Not the best movie I've seen. Don't like the humor in this movie~ Nya. I hope the next movie with Diaz will be better. Childs Play 3 re-watched~ Again~ I'm in love. :P |
Nov 9, 2015 9:32 AM
#186
-Saichi- said: Childs Play 3 re-watched~ Again~ I'm in love. :P OMG! 0_O You're a hero! Childs Play was like the scariest thing I've watched as a kid. |
Nov 9, 2015 9:34 AM
#187
Last film I watched was Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans which was ok I guess. UpperCats said: My last movie was Leviathan. You should check out Vozvrashcheniye if you liked Leviathan. |
Nov 9, 2015 10:36 AM
#188
AADMC said: -Saichi- said: Childs Play 3 re-watched~ Again~ I'm in love. :P OMG! 0_O You're a hero! Childs Play was like the scariest thing I've watched as a kid. Really? I'm so in love with that doll~ I love all movies. *_* |
Nov 9, 2015 7:49 PM
#189
I watched one feature and one short. The feature was Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas, the second worst movie I've ever seen. I don't know what's going on in Kirk Cameron's mind but it's surely horrifying. The short was Oskar Fischinger's An Optical Poem. If you know how it was made, it's pretty amazing. And just for the record I'll say I agree with the majority opinion that Sunrise is one of the best movies ever made. |
Nov 9, 2015 8:40 PM
#190
Popka said: The feature was Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas, the second worst movie I've ever seen. I don't know what's going on in Kirk Cameron's mind but it's surely horrifying. This movie made my week. What an experience. Kirk Cameron really is one of those people who shouldn't be allowed to speak. |
Nov 9, 2015 8:55 PM
#191
I've never heard anything more ridiculous than him saying that presents under a Christmas tree are the outline of the skyline of the "New Jerusalem." |
Nov 9, 2015 9:36 PM
#192
Ducat_Revel said: Popka said: The feature was Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas, the second worst movie I've ever seen. I don't know what's going on in Kirk Cameron's mind but it's surely horrifying. This movie made my week. What an experience. Kirk Cameron really is one of those people who shouldn't be allowed to speak. I remember after seeing you guys' Letterboxd entries, I checked out the trailer and that alone sucked the life out of me and for the rest of the day made me forget what good films look like lol. |
Nov 10, 2015 2:17 AM
#193
Popka said: I've never heard anything more ridiculous than him saying that presents under a Christmas tree are the outline of the skyline of the "New Jerusalem." Personally, I loved it when he said that the Christmas Tree is a representation of Christ nailed on the cross. It takes true insanity to come up with something that silly. |
Nov 10, 2015 3:09 AM
#194
EminemVEVO said: Last film I watched was Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans which was ok I guess. UpperCats said: My last movie was Leviathan. You should check out Vozvrashcheniye if you liked Leviathan. i will go check it if i have a time ^^ |
Nov 11, 2015 1:00 AM
#195
This time...last movie I watched at home is Interstellar (Probably, don't really remember cause that was 3 weeks ago. I've been only watching anime recently.) I found the first half slow-paced (my friend gave up watching it because of that) but I'm glad I continued cause I really liked the plot twist near the end. Well, that's probably because it coincides with some of the things that interests me. Good thing I watched a video clip with Stephen Hawking talking about time travelling XD @ADDMC I knew I'm not the only one! *high five* I couldn't recover from the shock even though it's been 2 months already lol I didn't watch the 2nd part (which surprisingly followed the first movie shortly --how can that be? :P) @UpperCats In my perspective, most of them are very short and couldn't contain all the important scenes (not to mention they add unnecessary fan service which doesn't actually add to the story). I only watch for enjoyment but even I have realized that not everything that looks good in anime would also be as awesome when done in live action. Sad but true -_- Okay... see the movie and feel the same agony we felt haha Good luck ;) Sorry if I talk a lot :X |
Nov 11, 2015 4:10 AM
#196
Yesterday I watched The Kid (1921) I just felt like watching something old. I am kinda suprised that I got emotional at a scene and got some laughs at others. So many years since it was made and it still entertains people. Charlie Chaplin is trully a genius. Dumb and Dumber To (2014) I don't know why. I might hate myself. Sooooo unfunny. History of the World: Part I (1981) Again comedy gold. Well, at most parts at least. Now I have to see every movie by Mel Brooks. The ABCs of Death 2 (2014) I was always interested in sick gory movies, so I could just see what sick stuff people were capable of thinking. This one had some good shorts and some not so good. Also the lack of english subtitles didn't help much. But I am definetly watching the first one. I heard it's better. Antman (2015) It was good, but let's face it, all the movie gots for itself is the humour. Suprised it didnt bomb at the boxoffice. Still a very enjoyable movie with some very funny moments and good perfomances. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) Where was this little gem hiding? It's so damn entertaining. Action, comedy, just great. I am definetly rewatching this. Damn is it great |
Oh, pitiful shadow cloaked in darkness. Thy actions cause men pain and suffering. Thy hollow soul drowns in thy sins. How would you like to see what death is like? -Enma Ai |
Nov 11, 2015 5:13 AM
#197
cherushi-chan said: This time...last movie I watched at home is Interstellar (Probably, don't really remember cause that was 3 weeks ago. I've been only watching anime recently.) I found the first half slow-paced (my friend gave up watching it because of that) but I'm glad I continued cause I really liked the plot twist near the end. Well, that's probably because it coincides with some of the things that interests me. Good thing I watched a video clip with Stephen Hawking talking about time travelling XD Well glad that you didn't drop the movie, Interstellar is my personal favorite and one of best sci-fi movie imo ^^. In my case, just the theme and visual alone could make me not to drop it eventhough it has slow paced at the first half :) Something that interest you? like wormhole, outer space, the possibility of interstellar travel, Einstein's special and general relativity or time travel? yeah those things really interest me as well :D cherushi-chan said: @UpperCats In my perspective, most of them are very short and couldn't contain all the important scenes (not to mention they add unnecessary fan service which doesn't actually add to the story). I only watch for enjoyment but even I have realized that not everything that looks good in anime would also be as awesome when done in live action. Sad but true -_- Okay... see the movie and feel the same agony we felt haha Good luck ;) I don't have good thought to explain what really matters with that but i guess you are right, couldn't agree more. |
Nov 11, 2015 10:59 AM
#198
Spectre Christoph Waltz was amazing ;) It was my first James Bond movie....it was good. |
Nov 11, 2015 9:10 PM
#199
Cobra (1986) Definitely a movie for action junkies. Loved it. |
Nov 11, 2015 11:53 PM
#200
Antman :) Steven15ify said: Antman (2015) It was good, but let's face it, all the movie gots for itself is the humour. Suprised it didnt bomb at the boxoffice. Still a very enjoyable movie with some very funny moments and good perfomances. |
More topics from this board
Sticky: » The Alphabet Movie Game ( 1 2 3 4 )LuckyAlix - Dec 1, 2015 |
193 |
by ttcchen
»»
May 7, 2019 9:53 PM |
|
» Who's the best movie villain ever?LuckyAlix - Dec 1, 2015 |
16 |
by ttcchen
»»
May 7, 2019 9:50 PM |
|
Sticky: » New Members Introduce Yourselves! ( 1 2 )LuckyAlix - Nov 30, 2015 |
50 |
by ttcchen
»»
May 7, 2019 9:38 PM |
|
» Favorite Directors ThreadLayedBack - May 19, 2014 |
26 |
by FlagCrusherTaka
»»
Mar 21, 2019 11:39 AM |
|
» Your least favorite filmbmoore07 - Jan 18, 2016 |
43 |
by Wiziliz
»»
Feb 9, 2018 7:08 AM |