BurgaFlippinMan

Sure there is. The problem with the shot isn't that it's computer generated. It's that whoever was working on it, or the directors, threw the camera in a place where it physically couldn't be in the real world. So it's a question of, do we use our amazing new medium to render things realistically or use it to be artistic. Unfortunately it's the latter. That almost reads like you think being artistic is bad

In my book. Memento - good Insomnia - okay (it was a long time ago) Batman Begins - good The Prestige - awful The Dark Knight - good Inception - okay I'm still waiting for a 'great' film from him.

Its not the years, its the mileage

Well if you are smart about it you can still go in with managed expectations. Inception was everything I expected it to be based on WHICH friends of mine were raving about it and which were more reserved in their recommendations. That way, I wasn't disappointed by expecting too much and was entertained for most part while it lasted. However, despite all that its still hard to not be ultimately let down by how such a compellingly original concept was mishandled.

10 years younger than he currently is or 10 years younger than when he was when the LOTR films were shot?

RIP Barry

I wasn't offended, I actually did enjoy Inception while it lasted. However, its just not the film its been made out to be by some quarters and I do not have any desire to see it again.

Except, it pales in comparison to every other fight in the series. And, when watching Star Wars for the first time (or in non-geek mode), its always going to be that fight scene where an old man takes on a guy in a stiff suit and they both spout stuff and history no one really understands while take geriatric swipes at each other. Its a scene thats just there. Not showstoppingly bad but also not amazing, not delicious. It's an amazing scene. The history stuff is easy to understand, we were already told it by Obi-Wan to Luke so there's no room for not understanding unless you have ADD. The history and former master dynamic underscores the scene brilliantly, and it is kind of pathetic, but in a good, emotional way: Vader is a man in a clumsy suit, Ben is an old man who is ready for what awaits him. This is why we get said when Ben goes, we understand Luke's anger and sadness, and we cheer when he returns at Yavin. What makes it "seem" to pale in comparison is the ridiculous and empty over-choreography of the prequel fights, entertaining enough when self-contained but completely OTT and lacking in the energy and drama of the OT fights. When Count Dooku is older than Ben yet somersaults around like a gymnast, you know something is wrong. A classic image of where Lucas completely forgot where the original movies came from. 'understand' is probably the wrong word, but i personally feel that without the sequels/prequels/expanded universe and the large fanbase following, the Star Wars duel doesn't have quite as much emotional resonance intrinsically speaking. Yes there were some little mentions here and there about Kenobi's history with Vader and all but its all not exactly at the forefront. If anything, its retconned emotional resonance.

Except, it pales in comparison to every other fight in the series. And, when watching Star Wars for the first time (or in non-geek mode), its always going to be that fight scene where an old man takes on a guy in a stiff suit and they both spout stuff and history no one really understands while take geriatric swipes at each other. Its a scene thats just there. Not showstoppingly bad but also not amazing, not delicious.

I see . . . so that makes me a dumb person wanting to feel smart. Whereas that would make you a smart person trying to make me feel dumb. Well, I'll have to see if I can live with that one. . . . I too enjoyed the visuals as they were presented. I don't need to choke on CGI overkill every time I'm in the theater. - Uni I wasn't calling you one of them (dumb people). But the fact of the matter is, there are a number of films (many of them fine films on their own merit) which are championed as deep, thought provoking, complex, life changing by fair weather intellectuals usually of college age and who otherwise show no inclination whatsoever towards films other than mindless action blockbusters. Most, if not all of Nolan's films fall into this category, so do films such as Fight Club and The Usual Suspects.

And what would be the point of using this kind of imagery in this particular film? Wouldn't that be a bit... cliche? Isn't using things against expectations a sign of creativity? Especially when visual side of Inception is very in tune with its tone, genre and has even an explanation within this particular story where characters are actually TRAINED to maintain the integrity and there is a REASON for them to do that. Karol - who generally finds too flamboyant visuals rather... tacky Yes I know they were supposed to make everything look normal and all that, but having a reason doesn't alleviate the problem that it looks boring, like every other film he has made. And what about the part where they finally go into the subconscious level? If anything, that was a setting screaming for imagination and Nolan completely underdelivers. However, since the heart of the matter I was talking about is really Nolan's ability to tell a story visually (as opposed to reams of dialogue), it can also be noted that not a single film Nolan has made suggests he is an extremely capable image maker. He simply does not possess the same level of command of the film language as say, Leone, Scorsese, Kubrick, Spielberg etc. Nolan's films are mostly films more interested in their own construction than any thing else. They feel like they've been made by an engineer. Woo look ma! Look at my clever math! IMO, Nolan's strength is in constructing an unorthodox narrative (some say all he does is just to overcomplicate things to make his films seem more complex than they really are). I'd be most interested to see a film written and produced by Nolan but directed by someone more competent behind a camera. I was just looking at some earlier posts in this thread (which I avoided for the longest time), I actually almost wholeheartedly agree with Quint's opinion on this movie. Not really an awful film, but incredibly overrated by dumb people wanting to feel smart. Well, on a slightly unrelated note, and as its really late right now I guess I'd just like to mention that if its trailers are anything to go by, personally my dreams are far closer to what you see in Sucker Punch than men in corporate suits. lol

Boring . . . visually? What, then, does it take to engage you, fercryinoutloud? - Uni Nolan's images just don't stimulate me the way many other greater directors works do. His visuals are painfully workmanlike. Yes, he often cooks up a decent yarn, but as far as telling the story with IMAGES he is rather subpar. Lets not even get started on his complete ineptness when it comes to staging a half decent action sequence. For the sake of a contemporary comparision, take Shutter Island, a film with a considerably inferior script and Leo playing a very similar character. See the types of images Scorsese cooked up in a world where reality is broken down versus the feeble attempt Nolan could muster. Inception may have been far more ambitious, but Shutter Island is just such a powerhouse of visual flair with Scorsese obviously having so much fun behind the camera that it is the more enjoyable experience...at least visually. And no, its not that I don't get the cold, mechanical and clinical type of movies Nolan makes, as I do enjoy all the Kubrick films I've seen. But Nolan is not to be even mentioned in the same breath as Stanley imo. Inception, like Memento is a film where the construction of the story is the star. Like Memento, repeat viewings don't improve it. Unlike Memento, I couldn't give two shits about the characters in Inception. lol

in a nutshell, it was a movie with an inventive and intricate concept propping up a story in which there wasn't really much at stake, especially since all the characters were so lifeless. i also find Nolan to be a very boring director visually speaking. just think of what Inception could have been given all the possibilities of its premise and its hard not to find what we got instead to be rather flat, if at least entertaining for one watch.

Exactly. The problem is I didn't care for Cobb, or anyone in the film. Inception is merely decent entertainment, possessing a great conceit but spectacularly (or shall I say unspectacularly) failing at being truly gripping or compelling. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember the top ever wobbling before the last scene so I'm assuming the final world is the real world?

when is the new series starting?

I found him hilarious

I was in college and frankly couldn't see what was so special about "Boondock Saints" -- the first one. I thought the documentary about Troy Duffy's behind-the-scenes struggles was far more entertaining than the film he made. Oh its special alright, just in the other sense of special.

The only thing good to come out of the steaming pile of poo that is FFVIII

that awful movie every guy in high school/college likes. the one with the two irish vigilantes and willem dafoe. i cant rmember what its called right now

I don't think subtlety necessarily equates to tastefulness, and I really do like the one with Anakin the Tantive IV

I dont see why it needs to be

DP: Conrad Hall or John Alton Composer: John Williams (duh) Editor: Thelma Schoonmaker

I don't really care about the 'CGI look' as much. Obvious CGI and obvious model work make no real difference to me. At best I don't care and at worst they take me out of the film. But yes the falling camera is what kills the new shot.

I was. As much as I love the LOTR films, my attention and interest still drops off tremendously post Gondor celebration. The multiple endings still irk me. Maybe its just the execution, it always seemed like 20mins of slo-mo hugging. Maybe a Band of Brothers styled 'what happened to everyone' narration plus the Grey Havens scene would have worked better

I personally feel that most of ROTK book after the destruction of the ring and celebrations at Minas Tirith is just not very cinematic and thus difficult if not impossible to adapt for the screen. When the danger is finally over in a movie, most people's instincts are to want to leave as soon as possible.