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

[Quintus 6,499]

Damn, my first choice was Mel Gibson.

[Wojo 2,458]

Excellent choice.

If you want to bury a franchise.

[A24 5,156]

Mel Gibson is ready to picked up from the gutter by Tarantino.

[Quintus 6,499]

It's unfair how they gave him such a bad time lately. I mean, he's only a bit racist and misogynistic, give the guy a break.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Remember how people said when Braveheart was released it wasn't very convincing, him playing a Scotsman?

Look at him now, an alcoholic racist.....

[A24 5,156]

Is that a confession, Quint?

[Quintus 6,499]

Remember how people said when Braveheart was released it wasn't very convincing, him playing a Scotsman?

Look at him now, an alcoholic racist.....

He's just another disillusioned score fan.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Leave me alone, i haven't drank since Januari 1!

[publicist 4,650]

And are worse to wear...

[Uni 307]

Finally watched The Hunger Games last night.

And what a disappointment. The book turned out to be a very good thriller for a young-adult novel—and eminently filmable, or so I thought when I was reading it. Actually, I still believe it is; it just requires a director who knows how to elicit good performances and who can create a setting and atmosphere. The handheld approach and herky-jerky editing style worked for a couple of scenes . . . but having to put up with it for the entire movie made it look like director Gary Ross was trying too hard (and he was). It detracted from the natural dramatic elements of the story, which didn't need glossing up. The characters were assembly-line stock. Woody Harrelson—who's always been a hit-and-miss prospect anyway—was horribly miscast in the role of one of the book's most interesting personalities. By halfway through the film I was startled to realize how little I cared for characters I had already come to care for in the pages of the book.

What this project needed was just a little puff of Spielberg magic . . . or, at the very least, some small measure of competent pacing and ambience. I can't imagine those who didn't read the book were very satisfied with the ending of the movie, either. If you know what's going on in her mind, you have some clue as to how things are setting up for the next story. If you don't—and in this version, you didn't—then the story just sorta stops where it stops.

Not a good effort from someone who's done some fine work in the past.

** out of ****

- Uni

[Quintus 6,499]

Apart from some serious pacing issues and raised eyebrows in regards to logic, I ended up rather enjoying it by the time the credits rolled.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Logic...logic...logic...

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, lee. Not it's destination.

[Quintus 6,499]

Are you following me?

I'm usually the last person to complain about such trivialities as logic in movies, so what does that tell you about The Hunger Games? But even with some head scratching character decisions and interactions it was still relatively minor in the scheme of things.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Obviously you are not a Trekkie....

[Xander Harris 9,676]

Django. Hilarious, very entertaining. All the performances were pretty good. That Christoph Waltz guy can seemingly do no wrong when paired with Tarantino (haven't seen him in anything else yet). I have to say Leo was slightly disappointing. I had high hopes for him playing a villainous asshole, but he played more like a kind of douchey southern frat boy or something and he just didn't deliver like the rest of the main cast. I do like the guy as an actor, but I don't know. Tarantino sure must dig him because he got a lot of screentime. Yet, when Waltz, Don Johnson, Sam Jackson and many of the minor supporting actors are onscreen, it's like pure gold. When we got to his scenes at his mansion, they were generally the weakest until, well, you know.

[crocodile 9,724]

Beasts of the Southern Wild

I really enjoyed this warm, imaginative film.

Karol

[Quintus 6,499]

Okay what is it? I am immediately intrigued.

[crocodile 9,724]

I don't know if it would be to your liking, Quint, but it serves as a nice antidote for Hollywood. I need it every now and then. Here's the trailer:

Karol

[KK 3,313]

Django. Hilarious, very entertaining. All the performances were pretty good. That Christoph Waltz guy can seemingly do no wrong when paired with Tarantino (haven't seen him in anything else yet). I have to say Leo was slightly disappointing. I had high hopes for him playing a villainous asshole, but he played more like a kind of douchey southern frat boy or something and he just didn't deliver like the rest of the main cast. I do like the guy as an actor, but I don't know. Tarantino sure must dig him because he got a lot of screentime. Yet, when Waltz, Don Johnson, Sam Jackson and many of the minor supporting actors are onscreen, it's like pure gold. When we got to his scenes at his mansion, they were generally the weakest until, well, you know.

I disagree. thought DiCaprio was one of the best parts of the film. Watching him in the dinner scene was just so much fun.

[A24 5,156]

Finally watched The Hunger Games last night.

And what a disappointment. The book turned out to be a very good thriller for a young-adult novel—and eminently filmable, or so I thought when I was reading it. Actually, I still believe it is; it just requires a director who knows how to elicit good performances and who can create a setting and atmosphere. The handheld approach and herky-jerky editing style worked for a couple of scenes . . . but having to put up with it for the entire movie made it look like director Gary Ross was trying too hard (and he was). It detracted from the natural dramatic elements of the story, which didn't need glossing up. The characters were assembly-line stock. Woody Harrelson—who's always been a hit-and-miss prospect anyway—was horribly miscast in the role of one of the book's most interesting personalities. By halfway through the film I was startled to realize how little I cared for characters I had already come to care for in the pages of the book.

What this project needed was just a little puff of Spielberg magic . . . or, at the very least, some small measure of competent pacing and ambience. I can't imagine those who didn't read the book were very satisfied with the ending of the movie, either. If you know what's going on in her mind, you have some clue as to how things are setting up for the next story. If you don't—and in this version, you didn't—then the story just sorta stops where it stops.

Not a good effort from someone who's done some fine work in the past.

** out of ****

- Uni

I think it's a very good effort considering I expected another Twilight or Potter farce. Yes, the characters ... this and that ... but I wasn't looking for that. At least I cared for the heroine. The film has an almost early '70s pace and look to it which for a teenager movie is almost miraculous in this day and age. Ross had my attention. 7/10

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

I might give it a try. Seems like it might be a decent rental.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Django. Hilarious, very entertaining. All the performances were pretty good. That Christoph Waltz guy can seemingly do no wrong when paired with Tarantino (haven't seen him in anything else yet). I have to say Leo was slightly disappointing. I had high hopes for him playing a villainous asshole, but he played more like a kind of douchey southern frat boy or something and he just didn't deliver like the rest of the main cast. I do like the guy as an actor, but I don't know. Tarantino sure must dig him because he got a lot of screentime. Yet, when Waltz, Don Johnson, Sam Jackson and many of the minor supporting actors are onscreen, it's like pure gold. When we got to his scenes at his mansion, they were generally the weakest until, well, you know.

I disagree. thought DiCaprio was one of the best parts of the film. Watching him in the dinner scene was just so much fun.

Agreed. I thought he owned the role very well. Ever since Scorsese chose him for Gangs Of New York, he's been pretty consistently great. A shame he hasn't been recognized for it by the Academy.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

I just dont see it!

I mean he certainly tries but....

[A24 5,156]

He tries too hard. He gives every character the same traits too.

Immortals: Not exactly a good film in terms of direction (acting specifically) and dialogue. The photography is also way too dark with almost no contrast, as if it has been underexposed with a dark brown filter, but still, thanks to the otherworldly design (fans of Tarsem know what I'm referring to), I had no problems watching it, especially the scenes where the gods intervene.

5/10

Alex

[indy4 160]

Leonard Dicaprio is almost always in great films (at least recently), and he is a good actor, but honestly I think he's slightly overrated as an actor. When I see him in a trailer I know the movie will probably be good, but not because of his acting skills. More his selection skills.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

He tries too hard. He gives every character the same traits too.

Like Ed Norton?

[KK 3,313]

Well maybe its just me then (and Koray I guess). But as Koray said, ever since Gangs of New York, DiCaprio has been a consistently great actor. What I especially liked about Django is that you could tell DiCaprio was having fun with it. Or at the very least, it seemed like he was owning that role.

I do hope he gets some Academy recognition soon.

[A24 5,156]

He tries too hard. He gives every character the same traits too.

Like Ed Norton?

Yes, his color palette is limited. He always paints with 'dead serious'.

[Cantus Venti 13]

This is kind of a new experience for me... I never watch movies or TV, which is ironic since I'm such a JW fan. I tend to just listen to the music and end up loving it, similarly to how I got hooked on a lot of video game music without playing the actual games.

Well I've been thinking I should start watching a lot more movies now, especially those with scores that fit so well with the scenes and moods of the movie. But it occurred to me that there's a difference between a score fitting the movie like a glove and delivering all the right emotions, and the music of a score just being very spectacular on its own. What if I realize JW isn't as great of a film scorer as he is a composer? because I wouldn't really know: I seem to just love his music more than other film composers, but music in the actual film itself? That's probably a much bigger ballgame. So it's time to find some movies where the score really delivers the movie, and I found a list of best scores. So far from the list I've watched Once Upon a Time in the West and the score dramatically enhancing the movie instead of standing alone was incredible. The woman's theme parts were epic and well-executed throughout, the experience was very inspirational in the movie and wasn't when I just heard the music, yet it is the music that made it so. This science something I really have to explore now. So next I'm going to watch The Empire Strikes Back and compare these two scores affectively, but so far it's still been pretty lyrical and not 'action' music nor music that necessarily 'atmospheric.' I'd really like to get in to watching/hearing some classic atmospheric movie scores, because I have seen various movies like E.T. I experienced Bait for E.T. as it played in the forest scene and it was one of the most brilliantly atmospheric experiences I've had. Someone compared this style of scoring to Herrmann, which is on the list next. So, any thoughts on the subject of film composers or recommendations?

[Quintus 6,499]

Leonard Dicaprio is almost always in great films (at least recently), and he is a good actor, but honestly I think he's slightly overrated as an actor. When I see him in a trailer I know the movie will probably be good, but not because of his acting skills. More his selection skills.

I agree. I guess what he sometimes lacks in believability he makes up for with raw star quality.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Star power? Really?

Clooney has star power, Pitt has it. But Leo?

Alien vs. Predator.

It's Prometheus again. (the first half hour of both films are utterly identical)

But this is a B movie and happy to remain one.

It also has a clear reason for existing. Showing Aliens and Predators go mano a mano.

Technically well made, decently directed by Paul W.S Anderson. (though the terror of Event Horizon is completely missing)

Cast is bog standard, and most die anyway. But Saana Lathan is rather good as this films Ripley. (though too endearing and cuddly to be a artic expert)

The end of the film shows a black women being given a spear.... Hmmmm....

Complete fluff, but kinda entertaining. And didn't pass itself of as profound sci-fi.

And unlike Prometheus, this won't piss me off for two days.

I'll probably have forgotten about it by then.

[Quintus 6,499]

I said star quality, not power. They mean different things to me.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

I never understood were Leo got his star power? Was it Titanic? was it the fact that Marty seems to like him?

Yes, his color palette is limited. He always paints with 'dead serious'.

But Norton has all his lines re-written for him for every film he does. To better suit his essence. I don't think Leo does that.

[A24 5,156]

I prefer Robert Redford.

[Quintus 6,499]

Redford was much more convincing, even when he was young. Possibly because he had character in his features as well as being handsome. Leo is far too much of a pretty boy even now, in his mid thirties.

[A24 5,156]

Redford was always balancing between different character traits. It was never clear as water with him. You never knew what went on in Redford's mind and that made him more elusive and therefore, in my opinion, more interesting than Leo.

Alex

[Quintus 6,499]

Apparently Leo is playing against type in his latest, so perhaps the benefit of doubt is applicable this time. I'd love him to REALLY impress me, because I do like him.

[Ren 77]

Leo is one of the best actors in my opinion.

[A24 5,156]

Alien vs. Predator.

Complete fluff, but kinda entertaining.

Very entertaining, actually, and I was surprised with how the film managed to look so good. I expected another AvP 2 (I saw that one first) but compared to the sequel, the original is a class act.

[Quintus 6,499]

It's a guilty pleasure, nothing more. The entertainment factor decreases significantly once you've seen it a couple of times (usually on late night tv). Nowhere near as horrible as the critics made it out to be, mind. All in all, undeserving of debate; it's no great divider or anything like that.

[A24 5,156]

I thought you almost never watched a movie more than once?

I'm pretty sure AvP is not a movie that can be watched over and over again but who is claiming that?

Nobody is comparing it to Alien.

Alex

[Quintus 6,499]

Late night B-movies have a tendency to force themselves on me, I do confess. AvP was harmless fun in that regard, but I turn over if I stumble on it now.

Lee - who is a specialist at watching the second half of movies.

[Ren 77]

I watch the first half of movies

[Quintus 6,499]

Handy to know - now I can just ask you what I've missed.

[Ren 77]

Yes, come on over and I'll fill you in

[Brónach 1,330]

I don't know if it would be to your liking, Quint, but it serves as a nice antidote for Hollywood. I need it every now and then. Here's the trailer:

Karol

I saw this a while ago. It connected with me on several levels and it's my favourite film of the year 2012 so far. I've seen it described as a "live action Ghibli film". I recommend it, although not everyone will be interested in it.

Fun score too.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,388]

Yes, come on over and I'll fill you in

Would Lee not be the one doing the filling?

[Sandor 918]

Saw Looper yesterday.

Good film. It made me think of The Terminator a lot, which I think is a much better film though.

[Marian Schedenig 11,695]

I never understood were Leo got his star power? Was it Titanic? was it the fact that Marty seems to like him?

It was my impression that he was already something of a star before he did Titanic.

[Jay 46,244]

I've seen it described as a "live action Ghibli film".

Oh really? Now you have my attention!