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Movies You've Seen Recently III: The Third Chapter

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Mansome

I was looking for a light-hearted documentary to watch with my girlfriend and after perusing netflix for a bit, we stumbled onto this. The trailer seemed funny-ish, so we gave it a go. We may have chuckled a few times at the interactions of Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, but we were mostly annoyed with how much complaining went on in this film.

The theme is centered on men's focus on manliness and physical beauty. Something that sounded interesting in today's modern setting where men take more care of themselves and pursue typically female beauty trends. What ends up happening is that they interview a bunch of personalities who complain about the new age man and the death of the manly man.

It's somewhat interesting, but really does not serve any purpose besides showing off some incredible/ridiculous beards and mustaches.
 
Just watched Battles Without Honor and Humanity and quite liked it. The documentary quality to it was a nice change of pace from other organized crime films, although some of the editing used to achieve the documentary feel were a bit grating at times (The slideshow editing used alongside narration specifically). I enjoyed the kinetic/chaotic quality of the camera work and editing, which went a long way towards making the bouts of violence that much more brutal.

I do think the narrative could have moved a bit slower than it did, and maybe focus on a handful of characters instead of jumping from character to character at a moments notice. I often found myself saying "who the fuck is this guy?!" which could have definitely been rectified by not having so many damn characters.

The film was a bit more violent than I was expecting, but then again, this was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and released a year after Lone Wolf & Cub, so I suppose I shouldn't have been.

I've seen people compare the series to The Godfather, and I definitely think having such a comparison in mind when heading into this series will effect your enjoyment. Outside of the fact that it deals with organized crime, there's little in common between this film and The Godfather, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It accomplishes what it sets out to do, and it does it well.

I'm about to head into the second film. Excited for Sonny Chiba!
 
Anna Karenina (2012)

Decent film considering I never read the book or seen any other film versions.

Just one more 2012 movie left for me to see: ZDT
 
Just watched Mission Impossible:Ghost Protocol. What an awesome movie. The best one in the series in my opinion. Can't believe it took me this long to finally watch it lol. Had great action sequences, locations and cast.
 
Midnight in Paris

I liked this a lot; something about seeing the likes of zelda, f scott fitzgerald, hemingway, gertrude stein salvador dalí etc bought to life was just so much fun, I couldn't stop smiling whenever they appeared on the screen. The fiancee was kind of a awful character tho, and some of it's elements definitely felt like a re-trend of earlier woody allen films but not as well-executed.

Thought the ending was pretty well-done and had a nice message to it, overall - it's definitely doesn't compare to the best of woody allen, but it's no doubt one of the better films he's made recently.:)
 
Harold & Kumar 3D X-Mess

I've seen the first two movies and thought they were really funny, but this one was a mess, it felt like all the time and budget went out to make some 3D effects/3D jokes and they forgot to put some fun into it. The actors felt really uninspired and bored, even NPH wasn't able to make me laugh.
 
I liked the first Harold and Kumar, thats a really good movie. Second one is not a good movie at all, but still kinda funny in parts. And yer 3d was kinda shit save for Tom Lennon, whos a funny guy. They needed to get back Danny Leiner. (Dude wheres my car is also great)
 
Just saw Apocalypto and love it. Maybe it's because I think the Mayans are so interesting, but this movie was great. Great directing, pacing and visuals. Didn't really expect it to be this good.
 
Dries said:
Just saw Apocalypto and love it. Maybe it's because I think the Mayans are so interesting, but this movie was great. Great directing, pacing and visuals. Didn't really expect it to be this good.
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From a visual and audio standpoint, it was an impressive film. Maybe it was growing up in Mexico, but I found the portrayal of the Mayans to be pretty terrible. Even if the movie wasn't aiming for historical accuracy, it is a poor depiction of the Mayans as ruthless mass executioners who lived in the jungle, instead of an agricultural society that preformed ritual sacrifices.
 
Dragoon En Regalia said:
It's more about the lips. She's kind of like a more pristine Faye Dunaway, I think. Whatever.

I'm making my way through The Story of Film: An Odyssey, which has been an excellent primer on more obscure movies so far. I just wish the narrator didn't plug his personal opinions into the whole thing—he probably doesn't like James Cameron, which could make things awkward later on. He's very enthusiastic about Ozu!
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I thought she was very good in the movie. She's got a good face for this type of movie. I did not know she was 17 in this.

2 Days in NY. Pretty good movie. It's funny but the ending kind of sucked. Again, the jokes are really good.
 
Ultraviolet: A sci-fi flick heavily inspired by comic books - or so it says - starring Milla Jovovich as the semi-titular character Violet - she's never called Ultraviolet in the film at least.

The movie is all over the place and I had no clue what the fuck was going on. Apparently some sickness turns people into vampires (or "hemophages" as the film calls em) and there's this medical corporation who tries to wipe them out... I think? There also was some kid that had something in his cells that could kill the vampires (or was it the humans? Fuck if I knew).
And none of the questions that arise during the film are answered. I was watching it with my sister and she was just as confused as I was.

Furthermore, it's way over the top in how strong Violet is - she's supposed to be sick and dying (in the first few scenes of the movies that weakness is shown after she kills 10 or so guards), yet she easily handles billions of guards all alone and doesn't even get a single scratch. The only time she is hurt during battles is when she cuts herself with her own sword (I'm not even kidding). I haven't seen a comic super hero movie where this happens ever. >_>

Also, the CG is awful, and that movie was done in 2006, not 1986. >.<
 
Lincoln - Pretty good. Worth seeing for the cast alone.

Bourne Legacy - I didn't enjoy this all that much. I love the Matt Damon Bourne films but this didn't do much for me. I'd really be interested in seeing both Renner and Damon in a film together though.

Premium Rush - This movie wasn't what I was expecting and I was hesitant to watch it. It came off as cartoony and silly and Michael Shannon's character is cringeworthy. Would not recommend to anyone.

Holy Motors - One of the best films I've seen all year. Find myself thinking about it quite a bit.

Killing Them Softly - Completely forgettable and a chore to watch. Lengthy dialogue scenes that you just want to end.
 
EmmanuelMunoz said:
From a visual and audio standpoint, it was an impressive film. Maybe it was growing up in Mexico, but I found the portrayal of the Mayans to be pretty terrible. Even if the movie wasn't aiming for historical accuracy, it is a poor depiction of the Mayans as ruthless mass executioners who lived in the jungle, instead of an agricultural society that preformed ritual sacrifices.
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regardless of historical accuracy, the sacrifice scene was just about the only good part of the movie (and it really looked great). Everything that comes afterwards, the escape, the stupidly hilarious chase through the jungle, the resolution, is a total mess.
 
Hasardeur said:
regardless of historical accuracy, the sacrifice scene was just about the only good part of the movie (and it really looked great). Everything that comes afterwards, the escape, the stupidly hilarious chase through the jungle, the resolution, is a total mess.
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There wasn't really a resolution, if my memory serves me right. Just an abrupt ending.
 
The scene in Zodiac where the couple get stabbed while sitting by the edge of the lake is one of the most disturbing scenes I can recall watching in a film. I don't know what it is about it - probably the contrast with the idyllic location - but it got me good.

Might watch it again this weekend, I've only watched it the once.
 
Borgnine said:
Let's not taint Miyazaki by calling his films anime.
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"Japanese animation", then.

Charles Foster Kane said:
Anime movie recommendations?

I've seen Akira, Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke.
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Gauche the Cellist
Night on the Galactic Railroad
Run Melos
Little Norse Prince
Jin-Roh
Chie the Brat
Angel's Egg
The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon
Millennium Actress
Perfect Blue
Mind Game
REDLINE
Tokyo Godfathers
Puss in Boots

Four classics of the context right there, and a bunch of others.
 
The Oshii-directed films are the most widely-lauded parts of the franchise, so I'm guessing they are.

I recommend you track down Run Melos as fervently as possible. It's only available through an uncommon VHS print these days, and it barely had a theatrical release. But I really like the movie because of how easily it stands out from its contemporaries. Masaaki Osumi's one of the best anime directors no one talks about (though I try to all the time).
 
Is movie pass worth the monthly fee? I live in Orlando and quite a lot of theaters support it, incouding the Enzian theater which plays a lot of cult and indie films. $35.00 a month seems steep but I do get the urge to go to the movies a lot, including when my girlfriend and I go walking around downtown Disney at night.
 
Not all theaters are compatible, and I don't know if it's just chains/multiplexes that can afford the service. I know I wouldn't use Movie Pass for a regular cinema like AMC or Cinemark, but I'd love to use it at smaller theaters that screen the stuff I'd like to see. There's also the issue of fall movie scheduling, which means I'd be wasting a Movie Pass for the full year they want you to use it.
 
I like moviepass but mostly because here in LA it's usable at the arthouse theater chain. Also a couple of revival houses.
 
EmmanuelMunoz said:
There wasn't really a resolution, if my memory serves me right. Just an abrupt ending.
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well, the villain gets killed and he rescues his family which pretty much closes the plot. Of course, then there's the scene where the Spanish ship arrives

Dries said:
Why so?
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it's been a while since I've seen the movie but I thought the third act was garbage. The whole chase was just ridicules in my opionion and there's no way they could have ever tracked him through the jungle. Personally, I was hoping for the useless child and women to drown but of course he got there last minute to save them. Just for how many miles was he sprinting non-stop anyway? And how long was his family trapped in the hole? I thought it was kind of odd how the Maya city was apparently located rather close to the village.
 
You're welcome. It's got wonderful staff behind it (early Satoshi Kon on storyboards; Okiura as AD and character designer; several great KAs of the time, including a section done by Iso Mitsuo; the talented Masaaki Osumi directing).
 
Dragoon En Regalia said:
Not all theaters are compatible, and I don't know if it's just chains/multiplexes that can afford the service. I know I wouldn't use Movie Pass for a regular cinema like AMC or Cinemark, but I'd love to use it at smaller theaters that screen the stuff I'd like to see. There's also the issue of fall movie scheduling, which means I'd be wasting a Movie Pass for the full year they want you to use it.
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Why not use it at regular cinemas? It works at any theater that supports Discover cards. The idea of bypassing the $15.00 price tag at night showings is tempting. Mostly all theaters here seems to be compatible. I guess I just need to weigh the pros and cons.
 
I've weighed advantages and disadvantages in regards to my local theaters, but I just don't see the cost advantage involved in Movie Pass for my local area. On average, the 12-month subscription would cost more than all of my individual ticket prices combined (assuming I see most of my preferred movies in the fall season). There's not much else to see at the local Cinemark&#8212;maybe a circuit print of a classic film every now and then, but how often does a great like 2001 come through our area? Not that often.
 
Hasardeur said:
well, the villain gets killed and he rescues his family which pretty much closes the plot. Of course, then there's the scene where the Spanish ship arrives



it's been a while since I've seen the movie but I thought the third act was garbage. The whole chase was just ridicules in my opionion and there's no way they could have ever tracked him through the jungle. Personally, I was hoping for the useless child and women to drown but of course he got there last minute to save them. Just for how many miles was he sprinting non-stop anyway? And how long was his family trapped in the hole? I thought it was kind of odd how the Maya city was apparently located rather close to the village.
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Ghehe.... Yeah, all those points are valid though. Also, throughout the whole film they barely eat, but maybe the Mayan physique is different or something. And about the geographical distances.. I just guess that all places were indeed far apart, but Mel just editted it in a way that made everything seem nearer than it is.
 
Dragoon En Regalia said:
I've weighed advantages and disadvantages in regards to my local theaters, but I just don't see the cost advantage involved in Movie Pass for my local area. On average, the 12-month subscription would cost more than all of my individual ticket prices combined (assuming I see most of my preferred movies in the fall season). There's not much else to see at the local Cinemark—maybe a circuit print of a classic film every now and then, but how often does a great like 2001 come through our area? Not that often.
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True. My local indie theater, the Enzian (http://enzian.org), supports it but I doubt I go to theaters enough to justify the monthly price. It might kill my enjoyment by forcing me to go all the time to get my money worth.
 
Yeah, I don't want to feel I'm having to make room in my schedule to justify my subscription. I'd like to use Movie Pass in a meaningful way if at all possible, but that's not going to happen where I live for a long time. If the Drafthouse in Richardson supports it, I'll consider&#8212;I might get a job there, though.

Shit: we three just posted at the same time, I never expected to get sandwiched. GitS is quite good.
 
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