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Movies You've Seen Recently III: The Third Chapter

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Man does Hugo get worse on repeat viewings or what.

Unfortunately. It's a technical marvel but Butterfield just isn't an endearing enough screen presence. All the stuff about Melies remains dynamite though, and Kingsley is very good (considering I'm not his biggest fan).
 
Also Pineapple Express, 40 Year Old Virgin, Step Brothers and Superbad are all brilliant, but my favourite American comedy since the one-two punch of Dodgeball/Anchorman in 2004 is 21 Jump Street. Was far better than it had any right to be.
 
Haven't been impressed by anything since I watched the Hobbit (don't understand the hate going towards it; loved the IMAX 3D at 48fps)

Cloud atlas came pretty close though!

Not sure what was the hype of Zero Dark Thrity was about...watched it. not impressed.\

Oh and Die Hard 5. Would have been a great movie if they didn't name it die hard.
 
Both should stick to comedies.

Was Howl also bad? Haven't seen it.

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I realized that I either haven't actually seen any animated Disney classics other than Snow White, or I saw them when I was so little that I have no memories of them anymore. So I watched The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Lady and the Tramp.

Holy shit man, that pre-CG animation. I figured it was gonna look pretty good, but maaaan. The release year of these movies seems like a lie to me. They came from the future.

Next up: Dumbo, Pinocchio and Cinderella.
 
The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame were made on computers, tho.

I figured CG wasn't the best word to describe the kind of movie I mean. My next instinct would be to say 3d, but that means another thing these days.

Solike...polygonal? Let's go with that. Watched Disney stuff, that pre-polygons animation?
 
I guess I mustn't rewatch Hugo.

Also, I don't understand how many people love Anchorman. Can't stand it. Ferrel might be worse than Sandler.

That's going too far. Will Ferrell actually has some good movies. I like Anchorman, and really like Talladega Nights and The Other Guys. Most of his other comedies are worth a watch too.

Can't say I like a single Adam Sandler movie, except Punch-Drunk Love.
 
That's going too far. Will Ferrell actually has some good movies. I like Anchorman, and really like Talladega Nights and The Other Guys. Most of his other comedies are worth a watch too.

Can't say I like a single Adam Sandler movie, except Punch-Drunk Love.

Maybe not in all movies, but in that one he's almost on the same level. That intro is barely torelable. The supporting characters don't help either.
 
He can't be. He's fantastic at playing it straight (which is why him in Stranger Than Fiction works), and any interview with him is great. All the Funny or Die stuff.

In terms of movies, love him in Zoolander, Stranger Than Fiction, and Anchorman.

You mean you didn't get violently ill while watching Anchorman? :P

I actually don't mind him in Stranger that fiction. I know that was quite a hyperbole, but my hate for that movie only grows over time. The first time I tried watching it I had to stop it. Then I tried giving it a chance because I noticed how much many people like it, but argh.
 

And just like that child can destroy a mans life. Really depressing film and acted very well. Mads Mikkelsen truly gave a harrowing performance as a man wrongly accused by an imaginative child and how a little white lie blew up into something that I found quite hard to watch at times. I was crying at the Church scene, really powerful stuff.
 
You mean you didn't get violently ill while watching Anchorman? :P

I actually don't mind him in Stranger that fiction. I know that was quite a hyperbole, but my hate for that movie only grows over time. The first time I tried watching I had to stop it. Then I tried giving it a chance because I noticed how much many people like it, but argh.

Have you seen any of his other comedies? What did you think?
 
To celebrate Akira Kurosawa's birthday on Saturday, Hulu has made 24 of his films, including Seven Samurai, High And Low, Rashomon, Ikiru and more, available to stream for free all weekend: http://www.hulu.com/browse/picks/happy-birthday-akira-kurosawa

Should I use this opportunity to watch one of the two remaining films from him I have not seen: the 1944 propaganda masterpiece The Most Beautiful, the story of several young women who work in a 'precision optical instruments' factory during the second World War, who despite illness, injury, and tremendous personal hardship, persevere in their tasks, devoted to their work and their country's cause.

The answer: fuck no.
 
From what I've read about the actual story. (haven't seen the film). It's definitely something that's worth thinking about. I think people have no idea how easy it is to fall in the trap of self-deception. And that story is a really good example imo.

Agreed. I highly recommend watching the movie when you get a chance.

I love stoner movies, even though I've never smoked anything.

One of my favorites:
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Made me a fan of Anna Faris. Too bad she takes on so many generic movies.

I've heard of that one, but thought it looked kind of generic. Will give it a look now.
 
Where would you recommend starting with Kurosawa?

You're likely to get people posting 20 to 25 of his movies that would be acceptable, but I'm thinking you just want to be told what to do. Just watch Seven Samurai.
 
Should I use this opportunity to watch one of the two remaining films from him I have not seen: the 1944 propaganda masterpiece The Most Beautiful, the story of several young women who work in a 'precision optical instruments' factory during the second World War, who despite illness, injury, and tremendous personal hardship, persevere in their tasks, devoted to their work and their country's cause.

The answer: fuck yes.

fixed
 
Should I use this opportunity to watch one of the two remaining films from him I have not seen: the 1944 propaganda masterpiece The Most Beautiful, the story of several young women who work in a 'precision optical instruments' factory during the second World War, who despite illness, injury, and tremendous personal hardship, persevere in their tasks, devoted to their work and their country's cause.

The answer: fuck no.

I haven't seen The Most Beautiful myself, but I know it was one Kurosawa's few films about women, like the many films of Mizoguchi or Naruse, but unlike either them in one respect: in his earlier works like this and No Regrets For Our Youth he tried to establish women as individuals who were able to actively improve their lives and assert themselves, even if it was through service to the war effort, instead of people unable to transcend their pain and subjugation by any means short of death. Then he became more cynical and after Rashomon, a woman was never really given a prominent and expanded role in any of his films.

The point is, if you view it as a pro-woman film rather than merely propaganda maybe it would be more interesting. Not that I'm jumping to see it either, though.
 
I'm going to watch some Kurosawa stuff tomorrow—maybe Sanshiro Sugata, Ikiru, and Madadayo to get that feeling of moving through definite periods of his career. My first films from him were Drunken Angel followed by Yojimbo. What a guy.
 
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
One would think a story about seven obtuse gay ginger country boys singing, dancing and kidnapping barely nubile airheads while chopping wood and being effortlessly sexist would make a good film. 1,5/5
 
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My impressions from the OT:

Just came back.

Expected a fever dream. Got a fever dream. Loved it!

James Franco gives a revelatory experience, just completely transformed. The girls also are surprisingly good for newcomers to such a type of movie.

Exuded that coolness like Drive, with the mostly midnight neo-noir feel. Korine's naturalistic eye of taking you to another world far from normality (Gummo) worked wonders here. The sunny and dreamy landscape of Florida is right up in your face. Ride that hedonistic neon nightmare or get the fuck off.

Sex and violence go hand in hand as they do here, exemplified by the blowjob scene. The movie's half-cocked for a while much like Drive. It carries that tension for a long time until violence occurs. Brilliant pacing and a great exercise in juxtaposition thanks to the fantastic editing.

Loved how it had two main protagonists with Selena Gomez and James Franco, how their characters had fairly similar philosophies of wanting to live in the moment forever
and also slightly premature departures
.

Delicious cinematography, had one memorable long tracking shot of a robbery all from the outside looking in from the getaway car. The Malick comparisons are apt with the spoken word-like narration, flashforwards and flashbacks, philosophising, and ethereal camera. Some of the ethereal electronic score reminded me of Solaris, and lo and behold it was the same composer (Cliff Martinez, who also did Drive).
 
I tapped out about 40 minutes in to Your Highness. I didn't even get to Natalie Portman. For those of you that have seen the movie, 40 minutes is shortly after Franco and McBride jerk off a stoned Henson Muppet and get SWERVED by Arnim Zola, who had no genitalia of any kind. Awful. Absolutely awful.


Also watched 2001 again since it is currently on Cinemax VOD. Still awesome. I don't get why people are so confused about the ending, though. Even my first watch it seemed pretty obvious that Dave was evolving like the monkeys at the beginning.
 
Saw In Bruges. Loved the hell out of it; it kept me engaged the whole way through. Film has awesome characters (Colin in particular), humor (some really awesome lines), and I loved how dark it gets at times. Best film I've seen all month (so far). 8/10

Also Saw Anchorman. Decided to see it because I had only seen about 75% of it and I thought I'd finish it. I still don't like it or Ferrell, but I giggled a couple of times. 4/10
 
Saw In Bruges. Loved the hell out of it; it kept me engaged the whole way through. Film has awesome characters (Colin in particular), humor (some really awesome lines), and I loved how dark it gets at times. Best film I've seen all month (so far). 8/10

Love, love In Bruges. It's gotten better each time I've watched it. Have you seen Seven Psychopaths yet?

I watched my first movie by Wong Kar-Wai tonight, In the Mood for Love. Enjoyed the hell out of it. The music was fantastic, the acting, especially the leads, was great, and I am now officially a fan of this guys directing style.
 
Watched Office Space.

Pretty funny, I hope working in an office isn't really as bad as that.

Reminded me of Fight Club a lot.
 
Not yet. Definitely will check it out though.

Love In Bruges.

Thought Seven Psychopaths was dire. Just Rockwell gassing charmlessly all the way through it. Even for a character designed to be grating, it was fucking awful. Farrell was better but poor. Baffled puppy interspersed with whining.

Harrelson was slightly amusing but the rest of the film just gave me no reason to give a shit.
 
Watched Seven Psychopaths.

Knew from the start it wasn't a traditional comedy. Had a sort of "Death to Smoochy" vibe to it.

Christopher Walken was brilliant in this as always. Loved the imagined shootouts!

Harrelson was slightly amusing but the rest of the film just gave me no reason to give a shit.

Best part was seeing the framed picture of Woody with the dog! LOL.
 
Taken was completely fine for what it is. Someone needs to explain this to me though. When the bad guys first show up in the apartment, why would Liam Neeson immediately accept the fact that his daughter is going to be taken? He's just like "Now they'll take you. Yell everything you see at me." and that's it. Wouldn't you at least try an escape first?

Holy shit is Sucker Punch awful. Goddamn it. Movie is irritating.

I feel like the only person in the universe who didn't hate that movie.
 
Just finished watching High And Low on Hulu. First Kurosawa film, and I really enjoyed it. The first half, set exclusively in the house, builds up tension really well and it was fun to see everything unfold in the second half. Will definitely try to watch more before the weekend is out.
 
Taken was completely fine for what it is. Someone needs to explain this to me though. When the bad guys first show up in the apartment, why would Liam Neeson immediately accept the fact that his daughter is going to be taken? He's just like "Now they'll take you. Yell everything you see at me." and that's it. Wouldn't you at least try an escape first?

He read the script or got an epiphany. :P
 
Finally watched The Game today as it was the only Fincher film I hadn't seen. I was really feeling it until the ending which just stretched that suspension of disbelief a little too far, even in the context of the movie. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn were excellent though and I don't have too many complaints other than that ending but man, I really didn't like that.

Oh, and the little dinky piano music was kind of grating too towards the end.

FINAL FINCHER RANKING

Se7en > Zodiac > Fight Club > The Social Network > The Game > TGWTDT > Panic Room > Curious Case of Benjamin Button > Alien 3
 
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