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

[Wojo 2,453]

Why do you take zombies so seriously? Has a zombie killed someone you know or taken away a beloved pet far too soon?

[The Psycho Pianist 216]

Battleship - a surprisingly captivating action thriller, strangely based on the game. Unfortunately you can't take the alien characters seriously and they are portrayed in an extremely cliched manner reminiscent of War of the Worlds. There are some great visual effects though, and who could miss a Neeson film? Soundtrack was quite standard from Jablonsky, nothing special that couldn't have been done by any other contemporary composer (Tyler especially). 6/10

I really want to enjoy that movie on cheesy ID4/Transformers 1 terms. Are you saying it instead takes itself quite seriously? Because that's a bloody stupid shame if it does.

Yes, to me that was what made it seem a little weird. The whole thing is meant to be a full on action thriller with emotional undertones - there was no element of "we've based this entire film on a GAME and so perhaps we should introduce a little campness."

[A24 4,338]

Why do you take zombies so seriously?

Because for me the humor only works in a dramatic context ...like in Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead. I get bored very easily when it's a 100% spoofed like in Shaun Of The Dead, you know, when you are supposed to laugh with zombies.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

Were zombies ever serious?

[Quintus 5,399]

Zombieland is better than Shaun of the Dead IMO. And Romero's Dawn of the Dead was always as funny as it was scary. It's terribly dated nowadays of course, but it remains about as classic as satire gets.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Shaun Of The Dead is one of the best British comedies of the last 20 years.

[The Psycho Pianist 216]

Shaun Of The Dead is one of the best British comedies of the last 20 years.

All of the Pegg/Frost films are hilarious, granted it was the quality of writing from Edgar J Wright that made Hot Fuzz and SoTD so much funnier but they are just naturally comedic actors that have great chemistry and can portray almost any character.

[Koray Savas 2,251]

I too enjoyed Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Quintus 5,399]

Shaun Of The Dead is one of the best British comedies of the last 20 years.

Yeah, but I could do without the reminders of how crap our comedy movies have been since A Fish Called Wanda, which even then was only partly British.

Monty Python left a massive gaping hole where great British comedy film used to be I'm afraid.

[Brónach 1,302]

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

Perhaps, but it's bazs finest

Which doesn't necessarily mean all that much. I disliked Romeo+Juliet when I saw it (though I've been meaning to give it another chance). Strictly Ballroom was nice. Australia was excessively cheesy though ambitious, but completely seemed to lose focus and purpose somewhere around the middle point.

But Moulin Rouge is indeed fantastic.

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

Romeo and Juliet is for the kids.

Australia almost watchable, nothing great.

Mouling Rouge is one of those rare films I have to stop watching. Incredible bad.

[Quintus 5,399]

That happened to me with Mamma Mia. First time I've been physically unable to watch a movie.

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

Happened also with Mamma Mia.

Bad thing is my wife loves it.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I started watching Heavenly Creatures. Finishing tonight, but isn't this clearly Peter Jackson's best film?

[KK 3,307]

It was considered his best film before LotR

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

I sleep through LOTR. Heavenly Creatures wins.

[Incanus 5,715]

The Witches of Eastwick: A bizarrely entertaining but rather fluffy film. Jack Nicholson is a the main asset of the film, the outrageous role of Daryl Van Horner just made for him. The tone of the film is a bit uneven as the slowly unravelling tale of three women's close brush with the devil is so nice and innocent for most of the running time but suddenly changes directions and quickly bursts into the effects filled explosive finale. Instead of making something a bit darker and perhaps pondering the nature of evil a bit more, the film gives in to the comedy and quirkiness without much consequence but on the other hand the script was aiming for exactly that. Williams' score is still among his comedic best, the music playing a large part in the narrative, the composer mixing synthesizers subtly to the wickedly pointed orchestral concoction with devilishly catchy main theme.

The Departed: Another Nicholson vehicle to be sure and thoroughly entertaining one.

[Quintus 5,399]

The Departed is indeed a good, solidly made film. But it's also unfathomably dull, for some strange reason. It feels unnatural.

[Incanus 5,715]

Perhaps because it is such a well trodden territory for Scorcese? It is indeed full of these things seen in countless other movies and the feel is as you say a bit unnatural at times but on the whole it is as I said, entertaining. The novelty here is the idea from Infernal Affairs, that the bad guy is inside the good guy organization and vice versa.

[A24 4,338]

Perhaps because it is such a well trodden territory for Scorcese?

Not really, The Departed is a departure from the traditional Scorsese gangster movie. It's very story driven while films as Goodfellas and Casino are character studies.

[Incanus 5,715]

Actually that is very true. The Departed characters are certainly more lightly drawn than those of Goodfellas or Casino, the story and action indeed taking precedence. The air is still equally macabre at times as in other Scorcese mob films. The certain comedic overreaction and macho police men posturing adds an odd layer of comedy to the Departed.

[Quintus 5,399]

The Scorcese trademarks are largely absent, too. Unlike Goodfellas there are no memorable set pieces or few instances of directorial show boating. The sound design is totally forgettable as well. It's still a good film, just remarkably detached, if you get me.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

A couple of films recently:

Apollo 18. Ok, it appeared on Sky and I decided to watch in the background just to see if it were a case where the critics could go f*k themselves.. It's made perfectly competently; just doesn't have any real surprises or anything truly shocking. Even the "things" really weren't that scary. In a strange reversal, it was a case of a good execution of a not particularly riveting or disturbing idea.

And on a better note: The Great Escape. My only criticism of this would be its length, mostly after the escape itself. The bulk didn't really seem to relate to character building - just watching a few guys running away from the police for 10 minutes at a time. I thought this could be cut down to 100 mins or so, and you wouldn't lose anything important.

[Brónach 1,302]

I think the part after the escape is very interesting!

[Wojo 2,453]

And on a better note: The Great Escape. My only criticism of this would be its length, mostly after the escape itself. The bulk didn't really seem to relate to character building - just watching a few guys running away from the police for 10 minutes at a time. I thought this could be cut down to 100 mins or so, and you wouldn't lose anything important.

What Chaac said.

The key difference in this case is that when civilians like us escape from police custody in peacetime, the police don't shoot to kill (for the most part, unless you're armed or a real danger to society or they're prejudiced or just having a bad day).

The post-escape plot in The Great Escape does seem to drag a bit but it is absolutely essential to the story since, with this being a mostly true story based on real people, the audience has to see what happens to each character they've grown to respect and root for over the previous five hours of the movie. If the movie ended when they emerged from the hole, 20 feet from the trees, or moved their fates to the end credits, it would cheapen the climax of the film

I was totally shocked when some escapees were shot after being told to "stretch their legs." I was saddened when the plane crashed and the one guy died right there. And I cheered when McQueen jumped the fence (yes, a Hollywood embellishment meant to make us cheer). So it was totally surprising that only three escapees made it to freedom, and the rest were either recaptured or murdered -- I'm not sure how much character building you need in a prison escape movie if your character arc ends when you die. This brings closure to the film. Old-school epics were not meant to be over quickly.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Overrated film. Steve McQeen pretty much ruined it for me.

[Brónach 1,302]

Excellent post, Wojo.

If the film ended with some guys getting out of the tunnel I would boo incansably at the film. Getting out of the prison was only part of the complifcations of the story, and in fact quite a bit of the escape preparations before the escape relate to what they'll have to go through later.

And everytime I see McQueen on the motorcycle I think "come on! you can do it!" despite knowing what happens.

[Quintus 5,399]

The break for Switzerland and elsewhere scenes are great actually, especially with all the gorgeous vistas on show. And everyone remembers the terrible moment when whatsisface and Attenborough slip up at the train station. Damn...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

McQueens character and storyline seem to belong in a different sort of film then the rest.

[Quintus 5,399]

You just get deeply offended on behalf of the British for having their movie invaded by a swaggering American superstar. But it's fine, really.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

And no Michael Caine, no Albert en Finney or Robert Shaw!

A score by the American Elmer Bernstein instead of John Barry, Ron Goodwin or Malcolm Arnold....

[Quintus 5,399]

Yeah, such a rubbish score.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

Excellent post, Wojo.

If the film ended with some guys getting out of the tunnel I would boo incansably at the film. Getting out of the prison was only part of the complifcations of the story, and in fact quite a bit of the escape preparations before the escape relate to what they'll have to go through later.

And everytime I see McQueen on the motorcycle I think "come on! you can do it!" despite knowing what happens.

Oh I'm not arguing at all that it should've ended at the escape.

And I was also very shocked at the 'stretch your legs' bit. But with about 30 mins to go, they had escaped, and it wasn't clear what part of the story was left to tell, so my attention started to wander a little bit. Maybe I'll go back and watch the post-escape scenes and pay proper attention

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

I started watching Heavenly Creatures. Finishing tonight, but isn't this clearly Peter Jackson's best film?

One of his best, for sure. Especially considering it ran in Cannes, right after his early years as a gore horror parody director.

[King Mark 3,631]

Bourne Legacy

The movie itself is meh, but it makes no difference that Matt Damon got replaced by Jeremy Renner. Both actors are interchangeable

[Quintus 5,399]

Nah, I couldn't watch it. Not without Damon.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Gay!

[Brónach 1,302]

Prometheus

I find that this film doesn't make sense at all, and has a totally boring development that just meanders around. A pathetic project that tried to pass as "smart science-fiction". Laughable.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

Yeah! It means that you are at least half the decent member I thought you were!

[Quintus 5,399]

Prometheus

I find that this film doesn't make sense at all, and has a totally boring development that just meanders around. A pathetic project that tried to pass as "smart science-fiction". Laughable.

First time?

[Brónach 1,302]

Yup.

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

After reading all the negativity about it, I was positively surprised when I saw it. Yes, the plot gets rather confused during the last part, but up to that, I liked it a lot - especially the atmosphere and the overall development. Those were worthy of the Alien series in my mind (I know that it's supposed to be kinda standalone, but still), and also clearly replicated Scott's own original without copying it.

In the end, I found it better/much less flawed than The Dark Knight Returns (which I'd seen a week before Prometheus).

Today, I saw Watchmen (director's cut). No idea what to think of it yet.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Today, I saw Watchmen (director's cut). No idea what to think of it yet.

Is that good or bad in your case?

[Brónach 1,302]

After reading all the negativity about it, I was positively surprised when I saw it. Yes, the plot gets rather confused during the last part, but up to that, I liked it a lot - especially the atmosphere and the overall development. Those were worthy of the Alien series in my mind (I know that it's supposed to be kinda standalone, but still), and also clearly replicated Scott's own original without copying it.

In the end, I found it better/much less flawed than The Dark Knight Returns (which I'd seen a week before Prometheus).

I think it's a scam of a film.

Many have probably been fooled by this, that makes no attempt to make any sense, and expects the spectator to do the job of filling in the multiple holes. Hey! It's post-modern! Mystery! Symbolism!

I've read a pair of analysis already on the Internet and it's hysterical and much more entertaining than the film itself.

[KK 3,307]

The film's flaws owes a lot to the bad writing.

[Quintus 5,399]

The script is the worst offender, closely followed by bad editing and confused direction.

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

Today, I saw Watchmen (director's cut). No idea what to think of it yet.

Is that good or bad in your case?

Can be either. There were things I liked, but overall I was mostly confused. It probably didn't help that I was rather tired and knew nothing about the film, so instead of figuring out how to make sense of the plot, I often was battling sleep instead. Reading up on it on IMDb made things a bit clearer.

My guess at this point is that after a second viewing, I'll likely end up classifying it as worth seeing for the good bits and the often inspired (by the graphic novel, I suppose) visual direction. It does seem unbalanced though.

[Quintus 5,399]

WHAAAAT?! Marian those are the worst possible conditions to watch that film under!

Damn, you really spoiled your first viewing for yourself.