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

[Xander Harris 9,675]

Temple of Doom is one of the best-looking movies ever. They couldn't make a movie that looked like that nowadays. What a masterpiece.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I've said many times, and been argued against, but TOD sits at the top or near the top of the most perfectly shot/photographed SS films. It's unmatched by anything Janus Kaminski has shot IMHO(and I do appreciate SL, and WH greatly). Slocumbe gave Steven cinematography of the highest quality.

[A24 5,156]

Pictures of TOD don't look good. It's not sharp (very poor depth of field).

Schindler's List is certainly one of Spielberg's best looking movies.

Alex

[Quintus 6,496]

They're just screencaps from TheRaider.net, taken from the dvd. They show the colour palette well enough, which was the intention.

[Datameister 2,586]

Meh, I'm still not that impressed by the look of TOD. I find the cinematography to be a lot more interesting in Raiders. The look of the film is less exaggerated and theatrical, but I enjoy it more.

Batman Begins in its entirety, didn't remember the joker ending.

I appreciate this film much more. I still prefer the Dark Knight. I think it's more straight forward story telling.

I can't fathom why...Batman Begins has an elegant, well-constructed plot, but TDK still confuses me to this day. There are parts where the editing is such a mess that I can't make heads or tales of it, especially with the writing being as muddled as it is at times. TDK gets points for having an incredible (if underutilized) villain, but in terms of actual storytelling, BB will always win for me. (The only weird part is that I can never remember BB half as well as TDK...)

[Quintus 6,496]

I find Raiders of the Lost Ark to be far and and away the best shot of the lot. There's no contest. But that's not to say Temple of Doom is uninteresting in comparison.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

X-Men: First Class

This film suffers from the same problem that prequel films have had since 1999. Everything is pre-ordained. We know what is going to happen, what we are seeing are just the details.

The opening is a repeat from the first X-Men, and we see some of Magneto's origins. His thirst for vengeance for the man who shot his mother. Fassbender is good in his calculated, understated rage, but I rather miss the theatricality of McKellen, who has a gleem in his eye playing Magneto.

James McAvoy is decent as Professor X, but again, he's no Patrick Stewart. Actually with a full head of hair and walking, is he even professor X?

Jennifer Lawrence plays Mystique. I'm sure she's a better actress then Rebecca Romein, but not in this role.

January Jones looks good in her skimpy white lingerie, but her face is empty. Can she actually act?

Kevin Bacon is good as this films villain though. speaking both English and German.

The problem with the film is that everything is a bit ...blah. Also everything feels rushed. The actors feel like they are talking really fast, scenes are very short, like they are rushing to get to the next scene. The film never seems like it's living in the moment.

It's certainly a better, more even film then the third X-Men, better plot, less frantic, less stupid. The 60's time period makes for a nice chance and it has a SR71 blackbird, one of the most beautiful planes ever designed. There's a sexy but tasteful scene in a Vegas whorehouse which gives Rose Byrne a great reason to walk around in her undies.

The direction is decent but strangely average. Isn't Vaughn supposed to be some kind of sensation? There isn't much that stands out in terms of styling, performances or visually. It all feels very average and safe. Maybe that's what Marvel wanted.

The music by Henry Jackman is awful. Simple, intrusive guitar chords permeate this film. An X-Men theme does emerge, but it feels like he stitched the theme from the first and third film together. The film plays in the 60's and the director seems to go for a Bond feel, but the music never reflects that.

An OK film, but forgettable. Also entirely redundant.

The main attraction seems to be the origins of Xavier and Magneto, and how their friendship turned sour. The first X-Men film has a brief scene between Stewart and McKellen introducing their characters that was filled with regret and loss. It told me more about the history of these two characters that X-Men First Class does in it's 2+ hours runtime.

** out of ****

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Meh, I'm still not that impressed by the look of TOD. I find the cinematography to be a lot more interesting in Raiders. The look of the film is less exaggerated and theatrical, but I enjoy it more.

Batman Begins in its entirety, didn't remember the joker ending.

I appreciate this film much more. I still prefer the Dark Knight. I think it's more straight forward story telling.

I can't fathom why...Batman Begins has an elegant, well-constructed plot, but TDK still confuses me to this day. There are parts where the editing is such a mess that I can't make heads or tales of it, especially with the writing being as muddled as it is at times. TDK gets points for having an incredible (if underutilized) villain, but in terms of actual storytelling, BB will always win for me. (The only weird part is that I can never remember BB half as well as TDK...)

there is nothing elegant about Batman Begins plot, it's convoluted at times. You destroy your own thesis statement with your last comment.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Joe is right. The plot gets a bit convoluted. The beginning is good though. Bruce Wayne going to the East, training in the arts of the Ninja. They really went back to the essence of what Batman has always been about.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

No Stefan, they didn't go back to what Batman was always about. It went back to what this Batman is about. He's story always evolves through the decades.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

I just hope that in The Dark Knight Rises the Joseph Gordon-Levitt character will turn out to be Robin.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

We watched the Dark Knight last night. I still think it'sbetter than Batman Begins. I have heard that some think Ledger's performance is overrated. I do not. I don't even think it's over the top. I think the Joker as a character is over the top but he(the Joker) is clearly in total control. Even in defeat he is in control.

I love how Ledgers and Nickleson's Jokers are so different and yet so much the same. They each have totally different arcs and yet both performances are brilliant from different directions.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

It's a brilliant performance.

[Ren 77]

We watched the Dark Knight last night. I still think it'sbetter than Batman Begins. I have heard that some think Ledger's performance is overrated. I do not. I don't even think it's over the top. I think the Joker as a character is over the top but he(the Joker) is clearly in total control. Even in defeat he is in control.

I love how Ledgers and Nickleson's Jokers are so different and yet so much the same. They each have totally different arcs and yet both performances are brilliant from different directions.

I absolutely LOVED Ledger's performance as the joker. It was incredible to watch - you really don't get true psychotic from many actors. THAT was effing amazing.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I don't think he was psychotic at all. His joker may have given the illusion but he was completely sane.

[Quintus 6,496]

It's a good performance but it irritated me how everyone felt obliged to fall over themselves to say how great and one for the ages it was because he died. What would have seen him earn plaudits alive saw him put on a pedestal alongside Oliver, Guinness and Gielgud in death, for five minutes. Personally, it's not wild-eyed scary-psychotic enough for me. There's no wit there, Ledger's Joker is just a sicko nut job. He's not my idea of what the character is.

[Ren 77]

I don't think he was psychotic at all. His joker may have given the illusion but he was completely sane.

I understand your take on it. None the less, it was a performance that was felt deep in the audience.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I don't think he was psychotic at all. His joker may have given the illusion but he was completely sane.

I understand your take on it. None the less, it was a performance that was felt deep in the audience.

agreed.

I love how the one and only time he really almost loses it is when the black crime lord calls him crazy.

[KK 3,313]

I don't think he was psychotic at all. His joker may have given the illusion but he was completely sane.

This is how I saw it too. I always love how the Joker is in control. Ledger's performance was fantastic.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I agree that he was pretty much always in control, but there are moments where his wild side emerges. One I think is when he sticks his head out of the police car window, where he shows his true dog-like nature. Another is when the people of Gotham don't blow themselves up and he gets frustrated.

[A24 5,156]

This is how I saw it too. I always love how the Joker is in control. Ledger's performance was fantastic.

He didn't win a place in my heart.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Quintus 6,496]

Definitely.

[crocodile 9,724]

Kick-Ass

Yawn.

Karol

[Brónach 1,330]

The ending part of the book is better.

[Ren 77]

Bahahaha

[Xander Harris 9,675]

You can really see the similarity in the hair and makeup.

Anyway, I thought the new Joker was fun. At least it wasn't an abomination, you know? It seems like everything they reinvent, reboot or rewhatever these days ends up, frankly, raped. At the end of the day, I prefer Jack Nicholson dancing on the ledge laughing at the gargoyle.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

I agree that he was pretty much always in control, but there are moments where his wild side emerges. One I think is when he sticks his head out of the police car window, where he shows his true dog-like nature. Another is when the people of Gotham don't blow themselves up and he gets frustrated.

However he prepared for that possibility. That is the mad genius of the Joker.

[A24 5,156]

Kick-Ass

Yawn.

Karol

Really? I thinks it has more character and personality than most Marvel movies. The only problem I have is that it enjoys violence too much.

Alex

[Brónach 1,330]

Kick-Ass

Yawn.

Karol

Really? I thinks it has more character and personality than most Marvel movies. The only problem I have is that it enjoys violence too much.

Yes and the point doesn't come across that well because of that.

I wish it had a direction a bit more like the book. In the book, if I remember correctly...

... Big Daddy being a cop turns out to be a false story. He defines himself as a fanboy just like Dave and reveals he made the money for buying all the weapons by selling his collection of rare/old comic books. Then they simply shoot him in the head, his brains all over the floor. Hit-Girl comes and rescues Dave, while they are in an elevator she starts doing cocaine and says it's a sort of super-formula that her dad gave to her, then kills all the goons and the main bad guy. Afterwards she turns to Dave and asks if he can hug her because her dad just died.

Also, Dave doesn't kill anyone, they electrocute his balls in the torture, and the girl he's after simply asks her ex-boyfriend to go beat him up when she discovers that he's not gay and he's Kick-Ass.

Shorter, stronger and to the point. The cliches injected into the film to soften it made me roll my eyes.

[A24 5,156]

Crocs constantly yawning and you rolling your eyes all the time. What a team you two would make!

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Just got back from The Amazing Spider-Man. Spoilers below:

Back when Raimi's films were coming out, I enjoyed them when I saw them in the theater. Then the third was coming out, and I decided to rewatch the first two before seeing it. My lord it was an awful two days seeing all those films so close to each other. For me, at least from what I remember, the problem lied in the scripts. They were poorly written and poorly acted. I can just imagine Willem Dafoe hamming it up as the Green Goblin, and it makes me cringe.

Here we've got some great talent. Garfield completely annihilates Maguire here. He brings charisma and a mischievous personality to the character, see the basketball scene and the car thief scene. Not to mention he can pass as a 17 year-old. Stone works as Gwen Stacey much better than Kirsten Dunst ever did as Mary Jane. It again has do with the writing, I think. Webb's film feels much more realistically grounded emotionally, rather than the more comical and cliche storytelling of Raimi's universe (mainly the whole girl next door thing). Yet that comic book style is never really abandoned. There is some fantastic cinematography and direction here, that evoke that comic book/noir-ish storytelling. The shot that immediately comes to mind is the one they used for the poster, with him sliding down the corner of a starkly lit alleyway while a mugger causes trouble below. I know there are a handful more too, particularly a lot of stuff in the sewers. Dennis Leary is great with everything he brings to the table, but his obsessive pursuit of Spider-Man is really downplayed. It seemed odd to me that he had all the cops chasing him instead of The Lizard in the climax, because that obsessiveness was never shown earlier. Actually I think the wide scope of Spider-Man himself is ridiculously downplayed, which for me is actually a good thing. I think the name "Spider-Man" is only used 3 or 4 times, and for the first time right after he saves the boy from the bridge attack, roughly halfway through the film. The story is much more character-driven and personal to Peter Parker's journey. Everything on Parker's side of the story I thought was handled really well, and better than what Raimi did. However, moving over to Dr. Conners journey, things get a bit underdeveloped and choppy. I really didn't understand the thing going on with Norman Osborn and the secret he kept from Parker about his parents. I was also waiting for them to conclude his character and all we got was the mid-credit scene that really didn't say anything more. I thought he was a decent enough villain though.

Horner's score is pretty damn good. It had enough of Elfman's sound that works for the character, but he takes it to a much higher level. The theme is good, and I really love his use of instrumentation throughout, but wish he went a bit further with it. For example, I really love the finger-snaps in "Becoming Spider-Man" and thought they were a great way of evoking that sly, mischievous side to Peter. I also really liked the crashing piano keys when The Lizard is in Oscorp looking for the Ganali device; wish he utilized these more than twice each. Overall though a great action score that really enhances the picture.

All in all it's not a perfect film, but one I greatly enjoyed. If it was stripped down, and the good parts were given more development with some of the bloated parts cut out for a smoother running time, it'd be better off. I look forward to see what the sequel holds, and if Webb and cast will all return.

[A24 5,156]

Is the film that overly serious?!

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I suppose; like I said there is some sly humor, none of the J. Jameson stuff from Raimi's films.

[A24 5,156]

I refer to the tone and style of the storytelling, not just the jokes. Raimi deliberately gives it that cheesy element (like Dafoe's amusingly over-the-top performance) which you apparently call "poor". With Raimi it's rarely very serious. I've heard early Spider-Man comics were campy, corny and tongue-in-cheek.

[publicist 4,650]

I must confess i never saw Raimis films, but i was surprised at the amount of bad press Webb's version got in fan circles (i. e. here). It is certainly not god's gift to mankind, just one of those summer escapist movies, as such i found it rather entertaining, a few quibbles aside. I never would watch something like this twice, as it is so damn slight, but it wasn't nearly as hollow as something like THE AVENGERS.

AND...while Horner's score is workmanlike, nothing i heard of Elfman's efforts even approaches Horner's emotional pull (shopworn as it may be).

SAW: THE COURT JESTER (1955)...Danny Kaye and the whole cast has lots of fun, as did i. They surely don't make 'em like this anymore.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I refer to the tone and style of the storytelling, not just the jokes. Raimi deliberately gives it that cheesy element (like Dafoe's amusingly over-the-top performance) which you apparently call "poor". With Raimi it's rarely very serious.

Then why does Peter cry his eyes out like 6 times in each movie?

As I said, Webb's film is more realistically grounded emotionally. It's a dark film, shot mostly at night. I think only the school scenes are during the day, but then again it's going for that prowler/grimy alleyway feel, I think.

There's no "ooohhh"ing and "aaaaahhh"ing as he swings through a brightly colored New York. The public is nearly absent this time around.

[A24 5,156]

As I said, Webb's film is more realistically grounded emotionally. It's a dark film, shot mostly at night. I think only the school scenes are during the day, but then again it's going for that prowler/grimy alleyway feel, I think.

I call it the Koray factor.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Call what?

[A24 5,156]

I've also spotted it in the Man Of Steel trailer ... A tendency to be overly grave and too dramatic*, but I could be wrong.

* see also Babel, 21 Grams, The House Of Sand And Fog, Crash, The Sweet Hereafter,, ...

Peter crying is Raimi's Spider-Man is utterly cheesy, not grave or really dramatic.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I never called it grave or dramatic, but I feel like it's trying to be. The Spider-Man trilogy is relentlessly cheesy, but I don't think that was Raimi's full intention.

Innaritu is a very heavy director, one of my favorites but not for that reason. I saw The House Of Sand And Fog once a long time ago, don't remember much. I think we discussed Crash briefly. It's not a subtle film nor a great one, but I think it's good. Then again I haven't seen it in awhile.

If you're saying that I have a tendency towards more serious and dramatic films, you're absolutely right. I was never a huge fan of Spielberg's adventures in the blockbuster. That's why stuff like Empire Of The Sun, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, and Schindler's List top my list of my favorite films of his.

I go to Rodriguez, Tarantino, and some other select films like The Fifth Element and Goldeneye for my fun.

[johncena 0]

Hey Guys,

I am John Cena, Last time i watch Ghost Rider movie with my classmates. I mostly like Action movies. Ghost Rider movie is a Action Movie. All characters are nice in this movie. It was interesting movie.

[Quintus 6,496]

Fantastic review.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,387]

Play nice Lee.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Canadians speak English, Steef. Sentence structure is eerily similar to that Barry White guy.

[shanerobbed 0]

I like all type movies like Horror, Action,comedy, Lovestory But mostly i like action movie and Last film i watched was The Amazing Spider-Man.It's really superb Action movie according to me.The actor Andrew Garfield looking awesome in this movie....

[Wojo 2,458]

[KK 3,313]

Canadians speak English, Steef. Sentence structure is eerily similar to that Barry White guy.

Who told you that? We speak Inuit

[Wojo 2,458]

Um, does your uncle have any plans on Friday night?

[johnsmith 0]

Hello Guys.............The Amazing Spider-man Was the last movie i watched. This movie was great. In this movie a lot of action and i like action movies. I watched this movie three times in cinema. I really enjoy this movie.......