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What Is The Last Film You Watched? (Older Films)


Mr. Breathmask

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Meh. I think people are overthinking it. The Martian is fine for what it is, a light-hearted survivor/rescue flick that's handsomely produced. But exceptional, or even significant? Nah. And that isn't a fault either. Not every movie has to live up to the 2001 standard of science-fiction!

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18 minutes ago, KK. said:

Meh. I think people are overthinking it. The Martian is fine for what it is, a light-hearted survivor/rescue flick that's handsomely produced. But exceptional, or even significant? Nah. And that isn't a fault either. Not every movie has to live up to the 2001 standard of science-fiction!

 

Pretty much. The Martian is not a great or special movie by any means. 

 

The aloof idiots who fancy themselves as discerning demanders of greatness don't seem to realise that they're pouring their scorn and disapproval into the wrong movies. Going into a rather silly blockbuster flick like The Martian and expecting a sci-fi collaboration between PTA and Kubrick and then complaining afterwards it surprisingly wasn't anything like that... heh heh. These people seem to specialise in trying to see the wrong movies, it's almost a hobby for them. I don't really know why they do that, but that's the way it'll always be. It's like complaining that summer blockbuster Tom Hanks vehicle Castaway didn't end with audience favourite Hanks starving to death alone on some grim beach in the Pacific. Completely redundant disdain. 

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Safe Haven

 

Have you ever watched a movie just because it was shot in your home area or favorite vacation spot? Aside from pointing out the various places in the location the movie takes place in (Southport, NC), the movie is basic Nicholas Sparks 101. Sensitive guy meets with a beautiful woman with a dark past who comes back to haunt her. Julianne Hough looks great and dances well, but she's not a good actress. Josh Duhamel is wooden, while David Lyons chews the scenery as Hough's estranged husband. Cobie Smulders is basically wasted as a plot device, although she is actually pretty decent here. Terry Stacey's lensing enhances the beauty of the picturesque cottages and Deborah Lurie's score complements the visuals.

 

Otherwise, forget it. 

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21 minutes ago, KK. said:

The Martian is fine for what it is, a light-hearted survivor/rescue flick.

 

I wonder what entertained you so much about the NASA coming to the rescue part. And no, I didn't expect a 2001: ASO at all.

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And to think I don't even reckon The Martian is particularly special in any way shape or form. Isn't it a current luvvie at the awards ceremonies as well? Oscar nominated? Bullshit. Then again the Americans also nominated the hell out of Apollo 13 didn't they. 

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The amount of critical attention (being labeled as a "critics' darling"...bah!) its been getting is ridiculous. But as with most of the award shows that have happened, its not going to win anything. It just got nominated so the Academy can give a nod to successful mainstream blockbusters.

 

13 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

 

I wonder what entertained you so much about the NASA coming to the rescue part. And no, I didn't expect a 2001: ASO at all.

That's probably the least interesting part of the movie. You have the most fun with it in its first half, and then it kind of loses its steam.

 

In the end, I just think it isn't that hard to go into this movie with a few friends and not hate it. 

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I found Jurassic World to be boring. The Martian appealed more to my tastes simply by virtue of being a stranded in the wilderness movie, which I'm always a bit of a sucker for. Hell in the Pacific FTW! 

 

What agenda would you have liked, pub? And why? 

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No, i meant big anti-blockbuster agenda or misguided ideas about its aspirations. I would like to read the book to see what people found so great about it. For lost-in-the-wilderness movies i can only recommend 'The Revenant' - it's dunderheaded but a marvel to watch.

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I saw a Liam Neeson movie called 'Non-Stop' last week. I was entertained even though it's hardly a great movie. And i guess if i should name the reason it would be that it isn't prententious about its modest goals. Movies like 'Martian' always exude this 2-hour plus stench of self-importance - and it all seems very calculated, even the seemingly innocous ideas like the pop music (or rather, its selection). Which makes the little entertainment it offers, mostly in the first 45 minutes, almost obsolete.

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I found it annoying that i could guess the next Abba tune in advance. But what does it matter, in the end you enjoyed it and why not. But 2015 had some very good movies for me, so i will not complain too much.

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I can't say that I really want to see The Martian very much.  It looks like I fucking love science: the movie.  A movie tailor-made for the snarky and ironic Reddit crowd.   

Then again, I haven't seen it myself.  

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2 hours ago, publicist said:

But 2015 had some very good movies for me, so i will not complain too much.

 

Indeed. The last few months of 2015 was pretty satisfying for me after a year of largely "meh" cinema.

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Tends to work out that way, although I actually loved a fair bit of what I saw in the first half of last year. Mad Max and Phoenix would be in my top 5 for sure, maybe Love & Mercy too, out of around 30 overall. Still have a few more that I'd like to catch up on too.

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A little 1940's Disney marathon today:

 

Bambi

A masterpiece of animation, Bambi tells a simple but effective story with gorgeous visuals. The animation is fantastic. Bambi is a work of art.

 

Saludos Amigos

Saludos Amigos however, is the first of Disney's "package films". Running only 42 minutes, Saludos Amigos uses the framing device of a bunch of animators going on a trip to South America for inspiration to tell four short stories. Their fun little films, but high cinema it ain't.

 

Victory Through Air Power

Halfway through the war, Disney releases this film, which is basically a plight to focus on air power in the coming conflict with Germany and Japan. It's a fascinating film from a historic standpoint. The History of Aviation segment that opens the film is actually quite good entertaining. The rest is a pamphlet film that gets tiring after a while. Still, a fascinating document from a time when the outcome of the ongoing war was still unknown.

 

The Three Caballeros

Tapping from the same vein as Saludos AmigosThe Three Caballeros is a longer look at South America, with more segments. It's also more energetic and loud as hell. There's some really weird sequences in this movie that give parts of Alice in Wonderland a run for their money. What were they thinking?

 

Make Mine Music

A sort of contemporary Fantasia, with ten short segments (nine in the version we watched, because the visuals in the opening number were apparently criticized for being too violent and removed from some later releases) set to modern music. Enjoyable, but nowhere near the marvel of Fantasia.

 

We ended the day with something else:

 

The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter

This could have been decent, but I've always hated the main kid in this movie with a passion. The opening scene immediately generates a strong dislike for both the over-the-top acting and the character with me. The movie takes some parts of the book that were left untouched in the first film and brings them to the screen, but it never reaches the heights it did on paper. A really good adaptation of the second half of the novel remains unmade.

Also, George Miller directed this? Huh.

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2 hours ago, Mr. Breathmask said:

Bambi

A masterpiece of animation, Bambi tells a simple but effective story with gorgeous visuals. The animation is fantastic. Bambi is a work of art.

 

 

Drip drip drop little Apr...

 

...

 

But what is art? 

 

 

 

KORAY! 

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8 hours ago, Stefancos said:

With his FANTASTIC score!

 

His best, in my estimation.

 

5 hours ago, Mr. Big said:

I can't say that I really want to see The Martian very much.  It looks like I fucking love science: the movie.  A movie tailor-made for the snarky and ironic Reddit crowd.   

Then again, I haven't seen it myself.  

 

This was my primary problem with it.  I have no problem with lightheartedness, but this was lighthearted in the wrong way.

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Lost Highway

 

large_lost_highway_lynch_blu-ray_5_zps2t

 

Mystery Man: We've met before, haven't we.

Fred Madison: I don't think so. Where was it you think we met?

Mystery Man: At your house. Don't you remember?

Fred Madison: No. No, I don't. Are you sure?

Mystery Man: Of course. As a matter of fact, I'm there right now.

Fred Madison: What do you mean? You're where right now?

Mystery Man: At your house.

Fred Madison: That's fucking crazy, man.

Mystery Man: Call me. Dial your number. Go ahead.

 

 

 

Still the best scene!

 

 

 

Alex

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I just discovered that Matthew Weiner (The Sopranos, Mad Men)  has made a movie in 2013 and that everyone hated it. OMG, I must watch it!

 

are-you-here-poster_zpsrgrz4ofv.jpg

 

Oh, it's with Owen Wilson, maybe I don't need to see it after all.

 

 

Alex

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The Mist (2007). The whole film made me feel very uncomfortable. The ending was mind-boggling as well. I would recommend it if you haven't seen it yet, though.

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A lot of people have said that the film takes on a creepier tone in B&W. It's also how the director originally wanted to show the film. I must watch it someday!

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3 hours ago, Alexcremers said:

I still didn't watch the B&W version!

 

Me neither.  I only watched it once, in the theater, and keep meaning to watch it again one of these days.  Unless they air the B&W version it's unlikely I'll ever see it because I don't plan on buying the blu-ray.  The novella is great too.

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Django Unchained. Didn't know Tarantino knows how to make an actual movie movie, was hoping for another self-indulgent Inglorious Basterds type of horseshite. And it was actually pretty good, really enjoyed it. It's almost three hours long, but engaging and well told. Good stuff.

 

Karol

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2 hours ago, crocodile said:

Django Unchained. Didn't know Tarantino knows how to make an actual movie movie, was hoping for another self-indulgent Inglorious Basterds type of horseshite. And it was actually pretty good, really enjoyed it. It's almost three hours long, but engaging and well told. Good stuff.

 

Karol

 

It ran too long, but was good fun.

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Django needed a proper editor. Hateful also ran too long, and could use some cutting as well, but I think its a few notches below Django.

 

Neither comes close to Inglorious though.

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4 hours ago, Quintus said:

Why bother watching the black and white version of a movie when it is available in [original] colour anyway? Lol. 

 

"Let's watch Mad Max in B&W, Ooo how arty and refined of me!"

Darabont [originally] wanted it in black and white. It's the only version I've seen and it's great. 

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the_others.jpg

 

The Others

 

First time watching it. Right off the bat, you know this is really a horror film of another age. Modern horror cinema has long lost the restraint and control that is displayed in this picture. While the film is clearly steeped in your classic horror tropes and iconography, it does so with a certain cheekiness and refuses to get in your face with it. But really, most of the film goes by with nothing scary really happening. It's a human story, but one that oozes atmosphere and concludes with one of the best plot twists I've seen in a while. Great stuff.

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16 minutes ago, KK. said:

the_others.jpg

 

The Others

 

First time watching it. Long story short? I loved it. Right off the bat, you know this is really a horror film of another age. Modern horror cinema has long lost the restraint and control that is displayed in this picture. While the film is clearly steeped in your classic horror tropes and iconography, it does so with a certain cheekiness and refuses to get in your face with it. But really, most of the film goes by with nothing scary really happening. It's a human story, but one that oozes atmosphere and concludes with one of the best plot twists I've seen in a while. Great stuff.

 

I wholeheartedly agree, but then again, The Others is Top 50 material for me. A must for fans of mood pieces. 

 

 

11 hours ago, loert423 said:

A lot of people have said that the film takes on a creepier tone in B&W. It's also how the director originally wanted to show the film. I must watch it someday!

 

The thing is, I probably never watch it in B&W, because I like the color version. 

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