Mister0079
Member
Trailer looked really good, can't wait for this. JGL & Bruce Willis, hell yes.
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Looper (dir. Rian Johnson; Gordon-Levitt, Willis)
- Thread starter Expendable.
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TheKaeptain
Banned
Yeah...
metsallica
Member
I can't wait to see this but am dreading the discussion where I have to explain to a friend why it's worth seeing. Sigh. I need better friends or to get over my irrational hatred of seeing movies alone.
Also, I haven't seen Rian's other films, only his wonderful work on Breaking Bad. Am I a terrible person?
Also, I haven't seen Rian's other films, only his wonderful work on Breaking Bad. Am I a terrible person?
Fun fact, I, like many other people, did not recognize him. It took me until half way through to film to clock they had just put makeup on him to look like Willis, my friend said the same exact thing.
I still got the impression from the script that a lot of the narrative aspects were added simply because they'd look "cool" on screen; particularly the completely bizarre and IMO unneeded addition of
and the fact that the protagonist is
. I don't think I'll ever get over the first complaint, it's simply too unneeded and genre breaking.
mutated abilities on top of time travel
using a freaking Blunderbuss as a weapon (I get the the fact that it's supposed to keep him within the confines of his job, but it's still stupid)
Got over mine two years ago, have seen over sixty movies in cinemas by myself since then. It's just much easier.
Spoilers are starting to stream in so I'll be absent from this thread until I see the film (hopefully this Saturday).
Do just that, I went in totally blind and it's the first time in a long time I have done, so worth it.
After reading this, something popped into my head:
Do the mob bosses at any point have to kill their older selves as well in order to maintain their kingdom?
ViewtifulJC
Banned
Almost as bad as Solo hype *thinks back to Green Lantern and TDKR*
But I bumped this thread because I read one big glowing review after another, first from Reelviews.net, then from CHUD, and then Some Came Running's David Edelstein
Expendable.
Member
Those are much worse
Great reviews!Something thoroughly more unsettling. I don't quite get how that would work, either (your spoilery part). It's not part of the film though, no.
We'll just have to disagree on the first part, but I imagine some will feel like you. As for the second, they need to keep them on a
tight leash, so its the perfect weapon. I also love how it comes into play in the last act.
Those are much worse
Something thoroughly more unsettling. I don't quite get how that would work, either (your spoilery part). It's not part of the film though, no.
We'll just have to disagree on the first part, but I imagine some will feel like you. As for the second, they need to keep them on atight leash, so its the perfect weapon. I also love how it comes into play in the last act.
Isn't it a self-inflicted choice on his part though? I don't recall any of the other Loopers having blunderbuss'
Poimandres
Member
Did you enjoy it more or less than the typical Nolan film?
Sufficiently mind bending, or just too standard actiony?
I'm trying to keep my expectations in check for my viewing tomorrow.
Well since it doesn't happen in the movie, I thought what was unsettling would be that the mob bosses of the future also had to previously kill their future selves as a rite of passage or something, the unsettling part being that in order to attain wealth and fame they'd have to pull what Jackman did in Prestige and kill themselves. JGL's character would be the only one that refused to do it.
I'm curious what to expect because I watched Johnson's Brick recently and liked it. Nothing crazy plot-wise, but the mood and characters were great. I hope Looper has personality as a film and doesn't rely on the sci-fi mechanics of the plot. Not that it couldn't work that way...
brianjones
Member
this years inception?
I wouldn't be shocked. While I've only seen Brick, I could tell from that movie alone that Johnson has such a capable head on his shoulders, with the sort of sensibilities that a lot of NeoGAF members seem naturally drawn towards.
I shamefully have to admit that I haven't seen The Brother's Bloom though.
I thought it was fairly tame in the action elements, derivative in the sci-fi and hollow in the the emotional connections it tries to make. Which is fine for what it is, as it still does all of those things better than what big studios have been churning out for years. I just hoped for more out of Johnson, especially after Brothers Bloom, which I loved despite some pretty glaring flaws. Still better than any post-Memento Nolan for me, but thats not really saying much either.
Poimandres
Member
I enjoyed Brick as well. Haven't seen Brother Bloom.
The trailers for this looked like pretty standard sci fi action fare... but it's been getting some glowing reviews. Then again things like Source Code were well received, and I thought that was very forgettable. I don't know what to think!
Thanks for your more detailed impressions. Expectations set to "entertained".
Expendable.
Member
I think Looper will hold up much better on second viewings. It has better pacing than Inception.
I was totally with the emotional beat at the end. "I realized how a mother could die for a child, a man could kill for his wife and so I did what had to be done."
Expendable.
Member
Looper is now certified fresh at 93%: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/looper/
Consensus:
We also had a great interview with Rian Johnson if anyone is interested (no spoilers). And I picked 5 films to watch before checking out Looper (tried my best to not spoil).
Consensus:
We also had a great interview with Rian Johnson if anyone is interested (no spoilers). And I picked 5 films to watch before checking out Looper (tried my best to not spoil).
This movie makes good use of its R rating, right? I liked that Brick was really tame language- and sex-wise compared to how it could have been, and the violence was there but mostly involed JGL getting punched in the face. Not that I mind more of these things, but I appreciated the approach in Brick.
Expendable.
Member
It's not terribly gory, but its use of violence and the sound design mixed with Johnson's style makes everything extremely effective. It's also pretty heavy in terms of some plot points, caught me off guard a bit.
If you want to know why the majority of people here love JGL, watch Brick. It was really his star turn for most of my friends and I. We watched that in the theater and suddenly everything with JGL was at least worth checking out.
Expendable.
Member
WHAT? Man, you should watch this movie again. The whole tone of it is very, very, very dark as well. Not to mention a lot of swearing.
Incendiary
Banned
This'll probably be the first movie I go see in theaters this fall. Been looking forward to this for a while, the good reviews make me even more excited. Took all my strength not to highlight the spoiled content in this thread. I'm out until I see it!
Expendable.
Member
Ah, I can see that. Not to mention the obvious stuff, but even
the way Johnson constructs the way someone's fingers get slammed in a floor trap
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I just got back from seeing this. I have been on completely blackout for this film since my editor saw it and advised I do so just over a month ago.
I would also advise you to stop reading right now for the same reason. Go in with no expectations whatsoever. Go. Vanish.
I thought it was fantastic. It was clever, narratively daring and heart-felt. Fuck the high-concept conceit of the film - which was really well explored mind you, the characters themselves were really well thought out. A lot of work has gone into thinking out how these people have been shaped and affected in this world.
Every actor in this film did a great fucking job. Everybody believed in the material.
Overall, it's fighting it out with Moonrise for my MOTY so far. Will have to see it again to see if it stacks up on rewatch.
Recommended!
I would also advise you to stop reading right now for the same reason. Go in with no expectations whatsoever. Go. Vanish.
I thought it was fantastic. It was clever, narratively daring and heart-felt. Fuck the high-concept conceit of the film - which was really well explored mind you, the characters themselves were really well thought out. A lot of work has gone into thinking out how these people have been shaped and affected in this world.
Every actor in this film did a great fucking job. Everybody believed in the material.
That kid now makes me believe that a live-action AKIRA is possible. What a great young actor!
Of course I must mention the obvious logic-flaw that they created in going for the happy ending. Yet I must admit that I'm willing to overlook the breaking of the cycle because I can understand that Johnson felt that these characters deserved a happy ending. The logical rule would have said that Willis shoots the kid and it goes on forever and ever and ever. I don't mind either way I guess.
Of course I must mention the obvious logic-flaw that they created in going for the happy ending. Yet I must admit that I'm willing to overlook the breaking of the cycle because I can understand that Johnson felt that these characters deserved a happy ending. The logical rule would have said that Willis shoots the kid and it goes on forever and ever and ever. I don't mind either way I guess.
Overall, it's fighting it out with Moonrise for my MOTY so far. Will have to see it again to see if it stacks up on rewatch.
Recommended!
Expendable.
Member
Sculli-approved! I think it may be MOTY of the year too. One of the few a flat-out loved with little reservation.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
LOL. I still think you may have hyped people up too much for the film. A lot of my enjoyment came from being on complete blackout regarding the film.
If you give people moty expectations, it might not meet them.
If you give people moty expectations, it might not meet them.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Sculli approved it, huh? This is getting interesting. Now I want to see this quite soon!
Expendable.
Member
I simply stated how I felt leaving the theater, it was completely genuine hype
It still hasn't lost any of its luster a few days later. Actually can't wait to see it again.And regarding the trailers, I watched all of them and still was genuinely surprised. They only cover about the first 20 minutes of the movie, in terms of plot points. Only after the movie can you piece some things together based on the trailer. As soon as we
do the 30 year montage, I knew I was in for surprises the rest of the way, since I had no idea that was coming.
Yep, and the birthday one from this season.
Poimandres
Member
Just got back from this, and I liked it quite a bit.
But... people need to make sure they're not too hyped. I didn't think it was fantastic or particularly amazing. It's solid though, and went in some surprising directions. I was impressed that it actually had a fair amount of emotional resonance, and the characters (well some of them!) had a little more humanity then is usually present in action films.
I'd give it a 3.5/5
But... people need to make sure they're not too hyped. I didn't think it was fantastic or particularly amazing. It's solid though, and went in some surprising directions. I was impressed that it actually had a fair amount of emotional resonance, and the characters (well some of them!) had a little more humanity then is usually present in action films.
I'd give it a 3.5/5
Oh yeah! It was the one with the swimming pool scene right?
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Reading the comments above and.. this movie is more violent than District 9? Wat. No.
Alex Connolly
Member
Is that on the Barlow scale?
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Kyle Reese could take him.
Stallion Free
Cock Encumbered
I'm going to see this Saturday morning I think. I'm trying to keep my expectations low because the last time I let myself get excited for something based on Internet hype I saw The Avengers.
Expendable.
Member
Yeah, could not fathom the hype for The Avengers. Looper has more engaging action, ideas, character and story across the board. It would have easily been the bright spot of the summer if Sony released it then.
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