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Movies You've Seen Recently III: The Third Chapter

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I'm honestly at the point where I might have to ask people about what they found so enthralling about Live Free or Die Hard to talk about it in ways that doesn't implicate it as being an effective tool of torture.
 
So, I decided to do the Die Hard marathon at my local AMC theater, and I have to start by applauding just how terrific the management was for the event. They had caught a faulty projector on the screen they were planning to show them originally, so it was delayed an hour, so they went ahead and gave everyone in attendance coupons for free refreshments, all of the goodies from the event that we wanted (I wound up with 4 or 5 posters, which were reproductions of one of the original Die Hard posters, making me extremely happy), and to top it all off, everyone in attendance got a free IMAX upgrade for the new film. Absolutely superb customer service all around.

So, the original order of the rankings of the films (which would always be Die Hard>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Die Hard: With a Vengeance>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Die Hard 2>(there aren't enough goddamn greater-than signs in the universe to accurately explain the gulf here)Live Free or Die Hard still stands, but having seen A Good Day to Die Hard, I feel comfortable in saying that it's just under With a Vengeance, and it's certainly a much better film that I was expecting. It's a no-bullshit shoot-em-up with some great stunts (the highway sequence was fucking awesome because it stuck to real vehicles for all the carnage), a fun story, and Bruce and Jai Courtney played off each other quite well. This series was doomed by a first entry that is so deservedly deified, but that doesn't mean you can't do a fine film regardless.
this is the first remotely favorable review of Good Day that I've read yet. The event sounded awesome though.
 
I'm honestly at the point where I might have to ask people about what they found so enthralling about Live Free or Die Hard to talk about it in ways that doesn't implicate it as being an effective tool of torture.

Yeah I honestly couldn't answer that at the moment. It's been years since I've seen it, the closest thing to a defense I can gather for it is that I recall thinking it stood as a solid action movie, if you didn't adhere to the, "it's not Die Hard" philosophy.
 
Contact - I thought this was going to be 'all theory' and therefore the 2,5hr runtime had me worried it would turn into a snoozefest. So I was pleasantly surprised by how the events unfolded and ended up loving the movie, despite the flaws. 7.5/10
The Last Boy Scout - 6/10
Lady Snowblood - 7/10

Room 237 - Hearing people talk about minor details, pulling them out of proportion and seeking meaning behind them that spiral into themes ranging from the holocaust to Greek Mythology made me realize this documentary is as much about the movie The Shining and its hidden meanings, as it is about the obsession of over-analyzing. That doesn't mean there aren't any truths to it or that there aren't any interesting points made, because there are and they are fascinating.

On a sidenote: The production values on this documentary are downright terrible; the soundmixing is awful, the speakers themselves are amateuristic and it sounds like they did their bits via Skype (at one point a kid is literally whining in the background) which really takes away from the overall experience.

After that I watched The Shining to see if I could get anything new out of it (I didn't really, but I still love it) and The Making Of (in which Vivian Kubrick roams the sets, giving the viewer a taste of the atmosphere) to complete the evening.
 
Is there anyway to communicate with other users in Letterboxd other than commenting on their reviews or hiting up their twitter/facebook?

It's a nice site with a cleaner look of other movie log sites I've used I just am not sure what all I will do with it other than check off films I have seen.
 
My dad loves that movie, because it re-enforced all his over-protective habits about us. He gets nervous when he just go out of town to say, Beaumont to Houston. So we got this girl who just...IMMEDIATELY gets kidnapped once he relents to all the bitching and guilt tripping, I mean right off the damn plane! <om is distraught, that'll teach you to not listen to dad! Father just kicks everybody's ass unrelentingly.

So basically, Taken is father porn?
 
The Tree of Life - The Lacrimosa sequence might be the most beautiful sequence in film history, but I really don't know how I feel about it as a whole. Malick movies confuse me because they are works of art visually and sonically, but there is nothing else there for me to latch onto. All of his amazing sequences with perfectly timed music and imagery don't feel earned. The Thin Red Line is tolerable because there is at least some characterization going on, but I find the rest of his work lacks anything that I can emotionally invest in. All of his movies feel like they have the potential to be the greatest movies ever made, but I always feel empty after I watch them. Like, they could be so much more than just great cinematography and music. The sense of wasted potential is kind of depressing. I'm probably in the minority here, but whatever.
 
The Tree of Life - The Lacrimosa sequence might be the most beautiful sequence in film history, but I really don't know how I feel about it as a whole. Malick movies confuse me because they are works of art visually and sonically, but there is nothing else there for me to latch onto. All of his amazing sequences with perfectly timed music and imagery don't feel earned. The Thin Red Line is tolerable because there is at least some characterization going on, but I find the rest of his work lacks anything that I can emotionally invest in. All of his movies feel like they have the potential to be the greatest movies ever made, but I always feel empty after I watch them. Like, they could be so much more than just great cinematography and music. The sense of wasted potential is kind of depressing. I'm probably in the minority here, but whatever.

not even the middle section that takes place in the '50s?
 
Michael Haneke &#8207;@Michael_Haneke
plz RT if u hav also blakd out wiyl watchn a terruns malick film. ppl need 2 speek up and stop suffring in silense lol #teamhaneke
 
saw Casino Royale last night after loving Skyfall. is QoS worth watching? where should i go next for my Bond film fix?
 
Room 237 - Hearing people talk about minor details, pulling them out of proportion and seeking meaning behind them that spiral into themes ranging from the holocaust to Greek Mythology made me realize this documentary is as much about the movie The Shining and its hidden meanings, as it is about the obsession of over-analyzing. That doesn't mean there aren't any truths to it or that there aren't any interesting points made, because there are and they are fascinating.

On a sidenote: The production values on this documentary are downright terrible; the soundmixing is awful, the speakers themselves are amateuristic and it sounds like they did their bits via Skype (at one point a kid is literally whining in the background) which really takes away from the overall experience.

After that I watched The Shining to see if I could get anything new out of it (I didn't really, but I still love it) and The Making Of (in which Vivian Kubrick roams the sets, giving the viewer a taste of the atmosphere) to complete the evening.

This is out?
 
I'm not sure he does. I believe in the full interview you hear what Haneke says being translated for the rest of the group.

Oh well.


Anyways guys,

How boss is this picture of Ozu?

NenS6qe.jpg
 
Just "don't go see this shit movie" bad. I'm probably the biggest Die Hard buff in this thread, so I felt I had to see it.

Don't be me. Don't be stupid.

:(
 
The Deer Hunter - long overdue on this one, been on my list for ages. Great film, Christopher Walkens performance was amazing, as was De Niros (usually is though!)

Next up is Schindlers List! Been going through a lot of older films I need to watch recently, saw Taxi Driver a few weeks ago and loved it. Once List is out of the way I just got App now and raging bull before I can start tackling some of 2012 big films!
 
Saw Beasts of the Southern Wild. This year's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, only this time many people bought it. Maybe the excessive unnecessary shaky cam convinced some it was artsy. No emotional connection whatsoever. 4/10
 
The Deer Hunter - long overdue on this one, been on my list for ages. Great film, Christopher Walkens performance was amazing, as was De Niros (usually is though!)

Next up is Schindlers List! Been going through a lot of older films I need to watch recently, saw Taxi Driver a few weeks ago and loved it. Once List is out of the way I just got App now and raging bull before I can start tackling some of 2012 big films!

Cool to see a first reaction to Schindler's List.

I've been saving Apocalypse Now for some reason.
 
Cool to see a first reaction to Schindler's List.

I've been saving Apocalypse Now for some reason.
1. I've seen the first reaction to Schindler's List three times when holding a screening for different friends.

2. I await your AN impressions. Get the Blu and for the love of all that is holy DO NOT watch the Redux version. Theatrical version is perfection.
 
1. I've seen the first reaction to Schindler's List three times when holding a screening for different friends.

Like looking at them during an important moment to see if it resonated. :P

2. I await your AN impressions. Get the Blu and for the love of all that is holy DO NOT watch the Redux version. Theatrical version is perfection.

Yeah I've heard many times theatrical is the way to go with AN.
 
I thought Oliveira's Eccentricities of a Blonde-haired Girl and The Strange Case of Angelica were both quite excellent, and I find it amazing that anyone could still be directing at 100+ years old, much less putting out two great films in the same year. Rock on.
 
Celeste and Jesse Forever: Fantastic chemistry between Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg. The movie as a whole isn't perfect, but every scene between Celeste and Jesse worked for me.

[don't read if you haven't seen it]
It was hard seeing them not end up together, but beautiful at the same time because their love for each other was as strong as ever.
 
Troll Hunter.

Damn, this could have been a great movie. And for the first 40 or so (and last 10) min it is. Interesting premise with a lot of mystery about it, but some of the encounters are silly and the CG/character designs aren't really frightening till the last one. I would have been fine with that if the ending didn't take itself so seriously.

Ah well, I certainly didn't waste my time with it, but it could have been so much better 3/5
 
Troll Hunter.

Damn, this could have been a great movie. And for the first 40 or so (and last 10) min it is. Interesting premise with a lot of mystery about it, but some of the encounters are silly and the CG/character designs aren't really frightening till the last one. I would have been fine with that if the ending didn't take itself so seriously.

Ah well, I certainly didn't waste my time with it, but it could have been so much better 3/5

The cave scene was pretty awesome, though. The bit with the muslim made me laugh out loud, there's some good comedy in there. Agree that the ending was meh and contrived, bit too cliche for a found footage movie.
 
Being John Malkovich

- A very creative and unique comedy, never really seen one like it.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

- Visually it's a treat, very nice cinematography.
The story is a powerful journey, one of the best of 2012.

Holy Motors

- A very strange film, it's engaging because you never know what will happen next.
It's best to keep an open mind and sit back and enjoy the ride.


I give all three films a 4/5
 
I don't have a review for it yet, but I just finished Burst City (Sogo Ishii). I certainly hope the rest of his films fare better. This one started great, but it gradually fell into redundancy and most of the final moments in the movie are rather unspectacular. Shaky cam up the wazoo!

My reasoning for this movie's shortcomings is that the production itself took forever to set up; so much of it feels like a vivid documentary of something that actually happened that, honestly, it might as well have been an overly-long music video for The Stalin. This is the director who did Angel Dust and Crazy Thunder Road, so I might have just encountered his famous stinker that feels poorly paced.
 
Watched Extract again, Mike Judge is really good at capturing those realistic aspects of people, and emphasizing them in his characters.

Such as, in this movie:

The annoying neighborhood who won't listen to a goddamn word you say, even when you spell it out completely.

Still haven't seen Phantoms, but Affleck is indeed the bomb as Dean.
 
Deer Hunter is weird. Everyone is great in it, is has amazing scenes, but I fucking hated it. I can't explain it.




Hall Pass: This is awful. Owen Wilson in particular was embarrassingly bad. Not that he's ever great, but he is usually at least a little funny. Most of the dialog is PAINFUL. What a terrible movie. Even Jason Sudeikis was unfunny and I usually enjoy him in anything.
 
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