What is the Last Film You Watched? - Part II

[robthehand 3]

I saw Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon in 3D at an IMAX cinema. It was visually stunning, but was somehow lacking in depth. Perhaps I've been spoiled by (IMO) better films of its kind. Still very enjoyable though. I'd give it: ****/**** for the visuals; **/**** for the "story" and structure, so I guess that's ***/**** overall.

[Hitch 57]

Saw the following movies over the last few days:

FIREWALL - Good to see Harrison Ford on the big screen but do we really need to see another kidnapping movie? Verdict: CRAP

HOSTEL - Disturbing, graphic, bloody, pornographic, sick, twisted...so enough about the Care Bears The Movie. Verdict: While it didn't move me the same way as the SCARY MOVIE trilogy did, this is a movie I would heartily recommend bringing your boyfriend/girlfriend/or indeed ur horrible mother-in-law to.

FINDING NEVERLAND - Actually watching this on my DVD-ROM as I type this. Pleasantly surprising...so far. Good to see that Johnny Depp is actually a millimetre taller than Dustin Hoffman.

Hitch

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

V for Vendetta.

It's difficult for me to comment on this film since this board doesn't allow discussions of politics, but this is a very political film that reflects oppressive governments in the past and present. As much as George Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World, this film is an artistic warning that the path humanity is on will just repeat itself over and over. There were some political and religious elements in the film I found annoying and somewhat unintentionally funny, but the film was so engaging, I'm willing to let those slip by.

I had never before taken notice at how good Hugo Weaving's voice is, it went with the V mask perfectly. Natalie Portman... whoa, after a horribly long streak of bad movies, I forgot she could act. However, I was about to declare this her career performance, but she disappointingly disappears throughout a good portion of the film, which was a dead-shame because Evey was an interesting and sympathetic character who wasn't really given the right amount of attention. John Hurt embodied a Hitler parody rather nicely, but also hilariously pathetic at the end. Stephen Rea is probably the most underrated actor in the film as the police chief inspector, who uncovers the mystery behind the character of V.

These characters also deserved a good musical theme of their own, but Dario Marianelli delivered the typical standard rhythmic rah-rah you hear over and over in films these days. This is annoying me a lot now, they may as well just temp-track every film these days because I'm not hearing much creativity coming out of the new wave of composers.

7.5/10.

[Romão 2,274]

I agree about Weaving's voice. It trully made the character. As for Portman, she was great in here, but she was also fantastic in Closer.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

I'll also add that the Holocaust imagery in the film, implying that this sort of thing could happen again, was pretty strong for me because I recently saw the 1955 documentary Night and Fog, which featured the most horrific shots of human terror that make anything you've probably seen on the History Channel or Schindler's List look like Disney land by comparison.

I recommend Night and Fog only if you have a strong stomach and have an interest in history, otherwise, avoid at all costs.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

She's the Man - I too went into this movie with bottom-of-the-barrel expectations since this isn't really the genre I'd rush out and see (my friends decided the movie to watch), but I did manage to get a few laughs from it, especially from the antics of David Cross and a few of Amanda Bynes' one-liners; I didn't even know who she was before I walked into the cinema!

The Pink Panther - ugh, Steve Martin is funny, but this movie is a complete turd. I didn't laugh once.

[SturgisPodmore 0]

Failure to Launch

My parents wanted to see it, so I went, and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. B

~Sturgis, who's going to watch The Godfather with his dad tonight for the first time

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

~Sturgis, who's going to watch The Godfather with his dad tonight for the first time

Good for you. ^_^

[JoeinAR 1,949]

I'll also add that the Holocaust imagery in the film, implying that this sort of thing could happen again, was pretty strong for me because I recently saw the 1955 documentary Night and Fog, which featured the most horrific shots of human terror that make anything you've probably seen on the History Channel or Schindler's List look like Disney land by comparison.

I recommend Night and Fog only if you have a strong stomach and have an interest in history, otherwise, avoid at all costs.

Night and Fog is a brilliant film, but you overstate its grotesqness.

I've seen worse.

[SturgisPodmore 0]

The Godfather

Wow. It's a truly brilliant film. It just had that feeling, everything was perfect, every moment was exactly how it was planned out, nothing felt like it was left out or like it shouldn't have been in the film. Every minute is simply classic.

It was quite a jarring change Michael underwent over the course of the film. The baptism scene was incredible, and I really loved the end of the movie. Even though I had to watch it on VHS in full-screen, I loved it, but no matter what I thought of the film, there's no way I could give it anything other than an A+

~Sturgis

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Night and Fog is a brilliant film, but you overstate its grotesqness.

Holocaust images as graphic as Night and Fog can't be overstated.

I've seen worse.

Such as?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Remember before working in Barnes & Noble, Joe was an Obergruppenführer in the SS.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Such as?

other documentaries that make Night and Fog seem tame.

have you seen the film (actual footage) of the Nazi's locking up Jews, English, Canadian, and American Soldiers in a barn, torching it, and as the prisoners start to break throught he burning walls, the Nazi soldiers outside start shooting them, or the horror photos from the Japanese atrocities, none as artisitically presented as in Night and Fog, just presented in unflinching reality.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Don't forget the photographs of the Abu-Grahib atrocities.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Such as?

other documentaries that make Night and Fog seem tame.

have you seen the film (actual footage) of the Nazi's locking up Jews, English, Canadian, and American Soldiers in a barn, torching it, and as the prisoners start to break throught he burning walls, the Nazi soldiers outside start shooting them, or the horror photos from the Japanese atrocities, none as artisitically presented as in Night and Fog, just presented in unflinching reality.

I wouldn't say Night and Fog wasn't unflinching reality (the apparent artistic presentation went completely over my head), its point was to show not just nazi cruelty (some people unfortunately simplify the holocaust as being caused merely by a political ideology), but the results of the levels humanity can stoop to, and has many times since. However, the most frightening part of the film for me was that this mass genocide was an intellectually informed one, where people were murdered with new and "efficient" techniques treating them as if they were less than cattle, and that those responsible weren't all psychopaths, but just normal people who did horrific things because of some humans' hard-wired sadomasochism. Night and Fog doesn't tell us that we have to be nice to Jews from now on, it doesn't tell us that it'll never happen again if we don't build giant ovens to incinerate people with; that's all just window dressing, the film reminds us of the ever-lasting cries of humanity.

I haven't seen the footage you speak of, which may be just as painful to watch, but baskets full of heads, piles and piles of corpses, a person with their eye ripped out and other scenes of humiliation are as stomach-churningly realistic as they come.

[Ollie 1,059]

If you ever find yourself in Washington DC I urge you to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. I also found out there's one in Houston.

It's a very somber experience. My sister left in tears and it was hard to keep a dry eye.

Now back to movies.

[gkgyver 1,645]

The Godfather really is outstanding. It also creates the passing of time totally convincingly.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Watching Knight Rider 2000

For some reason KITT is a f*cking 1950's Chevy!

[Mr. Breathmask 555]

Now why would you want to do that to yourself, Steef?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Hasselhof's raped my childhood memories.

[EDIT] Oh God KITT is a bright red girly Pontiac now!

[Justin 2]

Some quick thoughts on the latests film I've seen.

Memoirs of a Geisha. The first have is enchanting I kept thinking to myself "Wow this film is great" the second half drags on but overall not a bad film by any stretch. Williams score fantastic in the film. 'Becoming a Geisha' is simple perfection in the film.

Damien: Omen II. This film was so awful that I turned it off before finishing it. I usually take a bad film to it's conclusion but this turd just sucks. A total waste of time. Even Jerry's score makes it sound over the top. (On album the score is sweetness.)

Full Metal Jacket. This film was a lot better than I remember. Specifically the underated second half which is just as classic as it's preceeding 45 minutes. One of the best war films ever made, undoubtedly.

Million Dollar Baby. Surprisingly good. I wish I had more time to talk about it. However, I found just about all of it to be above average. The only things that I thought were a bit lacking were Eastwood's performance which was a tad flat and Eastwood's music which was incredibly dull and simplistic. Of the nominations I could easily agree with this getting Best Picture at the oscars.

Mirrormask. An enchanting visual adventure which is only hurt slightly by it's abstractness. The performances are good with two surprise voice overs by Steven Fry and Robert Llewelyn. Probably the most visually unique film I've ever seen. Which makes up for it's strange lack of story or narrative.

The Simpsons - Complete Seventh Season. Just classic Simpsons some really great episodes in here. I found the 22 stories on Simpsons characters to be quite ingenius but as they themselves admit, not nearly long enough.

Justin

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Damien: Omen II. This film was so awful that I turned it off before finishing it. I usually take a bad film to it's conclusion but this turd just sucks. A total waste of time. Even Jerry's score makes it sound over the top. (On album the score is sweetness.)

They totally forgot why the first film was so damn effective.

The Omen worked because you really, genuinly cared about the films main characters.

In the sequel they are just crossing off victims every 5 minutes.

[Hitch 57]

But isn't that the whole point of horror movies? To kill people off??? Case in point: NIXON The rot should have been terminated within the first 5 minutes of the movie. Leatherface would have had a field day in the Oval Office. Now we know what happened to those missing 18 mins of tape....damn chainsaw.

[Justin 2]

Nixon is long and boring.

Justin

[QMM 4]

Mirrormask. An enchanting visual adventure which is only hurt slightly by it's abstractness. The performances are good with two surprise voice overs by Steven Fry and Robert Llewelyn. Probably the most visually unique film I've ever seen. Which makes up for it's strange lack of story or narrative.

If you liked Gaiman's stuff you should read his comics, (Sandman, 1602) he's absolutely brilliant

[JoeinAR 1,949]

King Kong.

could have used an editor.

[Morlock 11]

King Kong.

could have used an editor.

Among other things/

Saw Domino. Not boring, but pointless. The film's style gives you a headache. Knightely was very good in it, though, as were some of the supporting actors.

Also saw The Squid and the Whale. Different than what I expected, a very good movie, even if it is painful at times. Jeff Bridges is brilliant here, as are the two kids. Linny was good, as was Billy Baldwin (WTF?). Powerful finale.

[QMM 4]

 Also saw The Squid and the Whale. Different than what I expected, a very good movie, even if it is painful at times. Jeff Bridges is brilliant here,

Daniels?

[Morlock 11]

Yes, Daniels, of course.

[robthehand 3]

I saw Speed last night - good action-thriller - (mostly) good cast, thorougly enjoyable. ***/****

[Romão 2,274]

King Kong.

could have used an editor.

And a screenplay. And an anti-slow motion camera.

[Justin 2]

Mirrormask. An enchanting visual adventure which is only hurt slightly by it's abstractness. The performances are good with two surprise voice overs by Steven Fry and Robert Llewelyn. Probably the most visually unique film I've ever seen. Which makes up for it's strange lack of story or narrative.

If you liked Gaiman's stuff you should read his comics, (Sandman, 1602) he's absolutely brilliant

So I've heard. My brother has been bugging me to read it for months.

Justin - who doesn't like the idea of reading comics....

[Romão 2,274]

Gaiman's work shouldn't even be labeled as comics. Really brilliant stuff. Moore and Miller (beyond Sin City), also write top notch material.

[nightscape94 965]

Mirrormask. An enchanting visual adventure which is only hurt slightly by it's abstractness. The performances are good with two surprise voice overs by Steven Fry and Robert Llewelyn. Probably the most visually unique film I've ever seen. Which makes up for it's strange lack of story or narrative.

If you liked Gaiman's stuff you should read his comics, (Sandman, 1602) he's absolutely brilliant

He also wrote the English translation of Princess Mononoke, which is an utterly fantastic film.

Check out his new novel "Anansi Boys". It's hilarious and terrific!

Tim

[futuremartymcfly 0]

saw two and a half films yesterday. The first, Phatom of the Opera I could only make through the first half, which included fast forwarding a good majority of the Singing, which was way too constant for me. I mean there were singing about a Note! then we changed it to Twins which very good and very funny. Then later in the day i watched Jaws: The Revenge, which was actually more enjoyable then Phantom of the Opera, lol.

[nightscape94 965]

Gerard Butler who plays the Phantom, bless his heart, tries his best, but he basically sinks that film. The timbre of his voice is completely wrong for the role, and not only that, but he can't even carry a tune very well. Every time he sings, I cringe.

Other then him, the movie was okay, and I don't even like musicals.

Tim

[futuremartymcfly 0]

it might have just been that I was in the mood for what a movie titled Phantom of the Opera sounds like it would be, lol, instead of a movie were every line is sung. And I was also watching it with my brother and father, which only added to the unintentional comedy, though.

[Morlock 11]

Gaiman's work shouldn't even be labeled as comics. Really brilliant stuff.

He co-wrote Good Omens, surely one of the better books out there.

[nightscape94 965]

I finally got around to seeing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I bought the 2-disc DVD just for the hell of it, as I did not get the chance to see it in the theater (unfortunately, no one I knew wanted to see a "kid's movie" ).

I really thought it was a fantastic film, thankfully, as I could safely say I didn't waste money buying it on a whim. Being a Disney film, I was surprised with some of the violence toward the end, especially the stuff happening to the children (specifically Edmund getting stabbed in the gut during the battle).

I was completely shocked when the film was over, because it moved so quickly. So, all in all, I thought it was great, but there was one little, tiny gripe I had, which was the kid's reactions to Narnia. I didn't think they seemed all that surprised that they were suddenly transported to a magical world. Other then a couple of passing comments, they didn't appear filled with much wonder about what was going on, or where they were. Maybe they edited some of that stuff out to get on more with the story, but I would have liked to have seen them more in awe of their surroundings.

Tim

[Morlock 11]

I thought the first two thirds of the film were fantastic, I was swept away, but it came to an almost grinding halt during the last third.

[Justin 2]

First half was better than the last half but I found none of it to be what I would consider great or even very good.

Justin

[Morlock 11]

Saw a few movies for the second or third time:

Once Upon a Time in Mexico- Should not be viewed more than once. I had a blast the first time, but I am barely entertained throught the first half, and bored to death during the last half hour.

**1/2 out of ****.

Once Upon a Time in The West- Terrific films, one of the greatest westerns ever. I think the relationship between the three gunmen is a bit weird during the first hour or so, but those three guys make for a marvelous trio. I'm not that thrilled with Claudia Cardinalle, but you can't win 'em all. Fonda's villain is one of the greatest villains ever. The dialogue is a bit banal at times, but this is not a film you go for for dialogue, though there are some great lines, like:

Harmonica: The reward for this man is 5000 dollars, is that right?

Cheyenne: Judas was content for 4970 dollars less.

Harmonica: There were no dollars in them days.

Cheyenne: But sons of bitches... yeah.

The score, of course, is one of the greats. I'm not that thrilled with the album, but it is absolutely brilliant in the film, the way he plays around with those themes.

***1/2 out of ****.

The Village- I like the film, but it is vague with it's ideas. Parts of it are too slow, particulaly the forest sequences near the end. Acting's good by all. Some wonderful touching moments in the films, like Noah's death and Mr. Walker's explaining his choice to the elders. Great looking film, as one would expect from the greatest living cinematographer. Beautiful score, though it is a bit dragged down by the blunt, raw monster music (fitting though it is). Out of Shyamalan's films, I rank it below Signs and Unbreakable, but above The Sixth Sense. I don't have a good vibe about Lady in Water, but we'll wait and see.

*** out of ****.

From Hell- So rarley now a days do we get a movie so rich in story telling. Nothing deep, no big revelations, but this is one gripping tale told par exellance. So vibrant, so much color, so much darkness, so much plot, and with a score to match!

Heather Graham sucks here, and Depp is not his usual brilliant self, but the supporting cast, lead by a fantastic Ian Holm makes up for that.

One very solid *** out of ****.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

I'm not that thrilled with Claudia Cardinalle, but you can't win 'em all.

Are you gay, by any chance?

Stefancos- very thrilled.

[Morlock 11]

No, as a matter of fact. I enjoyed watching her with the mute on, but I was not impressed with her acting, or the voice she was given (which I don't think is hers).

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

Heather Graham sucks here, and Depp is not his usual brilliant self, but the supporting cast, lead by a fantastic Ian Holm makes up for that.

When I watched it, he seemed solid for most of the film, which of course in his case means excellent. But then came the finale, and he was absolutely brilliant.

Marian - who might someday pick up the DVD just for that.

[Morlock 11]

The accent was distracting. Whenever it was just him and Graham, I could imagine every Brit watching it throwing pop-corn at the screen.

[Marian Schedenig 8,200]

I was talking about Holm of course.

Marian - who didn't hear any accents, because he only watched the dubbed version.

[Morlock 11]

Oh, Holm was by far the best thing about the film.

[Justin 2]

Jones score is for the most part very dull on album. But it has some wonderful highlights.

Justin

[A24 4,339]

Magnolia. Tom Cruise does a good method acting job. Still not a big fan of the movie though.