Oh it's cheap? I might buy it. Need to watch.
I do miss this thread being a community OT honestly. I understand the change I guess. Anyway, should be seeing Inherent Vice next week and another film. Hopefully Whiplash or Babadook.
Movies You've Seen Recently |OT| Dec 2014
- Thread starter TheKaeptain
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I do miss this thread being a community OT honestly. I understand the change I guess. Anyway, should be seeing Inherent Vice next week and another film. Hopefully Whiplash or Babadook.
element
Member
Gone Girl - Holy shit. Talk about psycho.
Trading Places - Classic.
Nightcrawler - Avg. Really was expecting something else.
Predestination - Tried way too hard and lost it. Plot twist made me boo at the TV.
Into the Storm - Totally stupid.
The Black Hole - First time watching it in 25 years. Seriously dark for a Disney movie.
The Babadook - Very well done thriller with a dash of horror.
Love Actually - Jamie and Aurélia storyline kills me everytime.
Trading Places - Classic.
Nightcrawler - Avg. Really was expecting something else.
Predestination - Tried way too hard and lost it. Plot twist made me boo at the TV.
Into the Storm - Totally stupid.
The Black Hole - First time watching it in 25 years. Seriously dark for a Disney movie.
The Babadook - Very well done thriller with a dash of horror.
Love Actually - Jamie and Aurélia storyline kills me everytime.
Yeah, I should rewatch that film some time. I remember enjoying it, but that's all. It's been some years since I've seen it.
Saw the third Hobbit film the other day. Was alright I guess. Fighting, killing and stuff happened on the screen. Not a patch on the LoTR trilogy though.
Frankenstrat
Member
Just saw Boyz n the Hood. That movie hit hard. Seriously great drama that really made me feel for the characters.
While some are sure to be enjoying Exodus: Gods and Kings this weekend, in spite of its questionable taste in its ethnic diversity, I decided to dive a bit back into Ridley Scott's back catalog with Black Rain, which certainly can't be accused of not having a lot of Japanese actors in prominent roles (though, since this is an 80s action thriller, it obviously needed to have Al Leong show up for at least 5 seconds). It did leave me with an odd sour feeling about it, though, since it's not particularly hard to read it as a film where American values solve the problems of a foreign country; in this case, the brash Nick Conklin (Michael Douglas, doing his best with some thin material masquerading as a conflicted character) is the guy that's going to bring a nasty Yakuza mid-boss to justice, and maybe inspire a Japanese person or two to follow his example in future events where those guys step out of line. Sure, it puts a lot of innocent people in danger and might get some of them killed, but it eventually gets the results! It gets so thick on Nick's ends justifying the needs that you're half expecting the inevitable final fight to play out to some rad guitar solo to illustrate just how awesome Nick is, which makes it all the more surprising that it does actually happen.
But ignoring the highly questionable aspects of how one-sided this culture clash is, Black Rain has a big issue in that it takes itself way too damn seriously for a film that so often beggars belief with how the story transpires. It becomes a running joke with how it treats the deaths of various characters by being rather over-the-top with how they die. It's not enough that a Japanese broker dies early on in a restaurant: he has to bleed all over his mafia contacts at a restaurant in spectacularly lurid fashion, as if they didn't have enough red sauce on their pasta already. Scott occasionally has an issue where his visual acumen overrides plausibility, leading to bouts of unintentional lunacy. A guy bleeding all over a busy restaurant is a nice visual idea, but when it's paired to a gritty crime thriller, it can't help but look out of place. Michael Mann levels of consistency, this is not.
Major quibbles aside, Black Rain is a fairly entertaining film, and at the very least, Scott's visuals are certainly a strong point (especially with Jan De Bont on photography). Hans Zimmer's score feels like a good match for the visuals, too, kickin' rad guitar solo aside. The actors on the whole do well in their parts, with only Kate Capshaw being the only sour note among them (not much anyone can do there, I'm afraid). Far from a truly remarkable film on its own merits, Black Rain is a decent watch, but I'd advise not thinking about it too hard. It definitely leads to the wrong kind of lasting impression, one that recent controversies in Scott's output are sure to exacerbate.
I also watched Cyborg a little earlier in the month, and that's some genuine bottom-tier Van Damme if I've ever seen it.
But ignoring the highly questionable aspects of how one-sided this culture clash is, Black Rain has a big issue in that it takes itself way too damn seriously for a film that so often beggars belief with how the story transpires. It becomes a running joke with how it treats the deaths of various characters by being rather over-the-top with how they die. It's not enough that a Japanese broker dies early on in a restaurant: he has to bleed all over his mafia contacts at a restaurant in spectacularly lurid fashion, as if they didn't have enough red sauce on their pasta already. Scott occasionally has an issue where his visual acumen overrides plausibility, leading to bouts of unintentional lunacy. A guy bleeding all over a busy restaurant is a nice visual idea, but when it's paired to a gritty crime thriller, it can't help but look out of place. Michael Mann levels of consistency, this is not.
Major quibbles aside, Black Rain is a fairly entertaining film, and at the very least, Scott's visuals are certainly a strong point (especially with Jan De Bont on photography). Hans Zimmer's score feels like a good match for the visuals, too, kickin' rad guitar solo aside. The actors on the whole do well in their parts, with only Kate Capshaw being the only sour note among them (not much anyone can do there, I'm afraid). Far from a truly remarkable film on its own merits, Black Rain is a decent watch, but I'd advise not thinking about it too hard. It definitely leads to the wrong kind of lasting impression, one that recent controversies in Scott's output are sure to exacerbate.
I also watched Cyborg a little earlier in the month, and that's some genuine bottom-tier Van Damme if I've ever seen it.
Count Dookkake
Member
INHERENT VICE: Huh, Belladonna can act.
KINGSMAN: I lol'd. Dat church scene.
KINGSMAN: I lol'd. Dat church scene.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
wait so is Belladonna actually in Inherent Vice
that was the most interesting tangent in the trailer thread
that was the most interesting tangent in the trailer thread
The Count isn't even the first person I've seen that's been impressed by Belladonna's performance.
...in this film.
Yeah. Wut.
Anyone else here who couldn't help but roll their eyes at that Theory of Everything trailer? Looked so damn corny.
Count Dookkake
Member
I loved Gone Girl. I'm sure everyone covered the plot and general themes, but what I thought was really special is just how many layers to people putting on an act for others there are in the movie. People are rightly praising the casting and it's so great that the talk behind it reinforces the ideas in the film - like us being surprised by Tyler Perry because the popular perception is that he's a bad actor and director or Emily Ratajkowski playing the girl who's putting on an act for the man to cheat with while at the same time she's putting on the same act in real life.
I'm not surprised, considering that This is the End has a shot-for-shot remake of the rape scene from Rosemary's Baby, but with someone who isn't Mia Farrow and a hell of a lot more penis.
Just watched Snowpiercer. Opinions seem pretty divided, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It felt like a sci-fi short story as far as its structure goes, which I liked. I knew it was going to be a nonsensical plot so I tried not to think about it too much and the hook was interesting enough. For me at least, I love stories that take place solely on trains.
As far as the ending goes:
As far as the ending goes:
I have no idea if they were trying to be optimistic or what. Bittersweet I can handle, but killing everyone on board seemed far too cynical for me. Found out it was 1980's French sci-fi comic, which explains the cynicism. 
My sister liked it enough to make me get her the French collection of the three volumes. So if anything, it got her interested in reading more comics, so I'll count that as a win.
My sister liked it enough to make me get her the French collection of the three volumes. So if anything, it got her interested in reading more comics, so I'll count that as a win.Manakamana was nice, real real nice. For anyone who doesn't know, it's a doc from harvard's Sensory Ethnography Lab (Leviathan, Sweetgrass) composed of 11 stationary shots inside a cable car to and from the titular temple in Nepala trip that's roughly the length of a reel of 16mm film, which in a couple shots runs out before the car finishes its trip. the most purely soothing film of 2014, it gives you complete freedom to just be still and thoughtless. examining it through lenses of modernity and everyday performance seems like it'd be rewarding but I had a wonderful time simply quieting myself and relaxing.
That`s a good description indeed. I really liked it, and Fassbender is amazing as usual.
ViewtifulJC
Banned
^I'm always interested in how many times Hughes can vilify yuppies, despite clearly being very intoxicated with the lushness of well-off white people in north Chicago.
User 479360
Banned
Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian - Ehhhhhhh...
I liked the original and still enjoy watching it from time to time if it's on TV. However, this one showed a notable drop in quality. It was too silly at times, most of the jokes fell flat and, worst of all, it had Ben Stiller slapping monkeys. How is that funny or even allowed in a family movie?
It was mildly entertaining and Amy Adams looked great, especially with the shorter Amelia Earhart hair, but it's pretty forgettable.
I liked the original and still enjoy watching it from time to time if it's on TV. However, this one showed a notable drop in quality. It was too silly at times, most of the jokes fell flat and, worst of all, it had Ben Stiller slapping monkeys. How is that funny or even allowed in a family movie?
It was mildly entertaining and Amy Adams looked great, especially with the shorter Amelia Earhart hair, but it's pretty forgettable.
Jables Swan
Member
I finally caught Boyhood. Absolutely loved it. I didn't think it could really be as great as everyone has said it was, but it was. This movie was so perfect to me.
Such an extraordinary concept to film over 12 years with the same cast. What a gamble and it really pays off. As a boy that has become a man and a man that has become a father, this movie really touched me. Wow.
Such an extraordinary concept to film over 12 years with the same cast. What a gamble and it really pays off. As a boy that has become a man and a man that has become a father, this movie really touched me. Wow.
BrettHeazy
Member
I watched Kevin Smith's 'Tusk' last night.
Weird drama horror, can't tell if I thought the ending was rubbish or hilarious purely because the ending was thought of on smogcast.
However I did enjoy the weirdness in the middle.
Weird drama horror, can't tell if I thought the ending was rubbish or hilarious purely because the ending was thought of on smogcast.
However I did enjoy the weirdness in the middle.
The Descendants
Saw it again the other day, first time since I saw it at the cinema almost three years ago. Enjoyed it every bit as much as I did back then. Payne is a master in bringing drama and humour together. Well in this case I guess the credits should go to Faxon and Rash mostly for writing the script. Payne's eye for beautiful shots is well worth a mention though. He really makes use of Hawaii with his wide nature shots whenever the characters are travelling the island(s). And the Hawaiian soundtrack works really well to set the theme. Lastly a big compliment to the cast. Especially Woodley was really good. And I loved Nick Krause in his role of Sid, delivering some funny lines.
8/10
Saw it again the other day, first time since I saw it at the cinema almost three years ago. Enjoyed it every bit as much as I did back then. Payne is a master in bringing drama and humour together. Well in this case I guess the credits should go to Faxon and Rash mostly for writing the script. Payne's eye for beautiful shots is well worth a mention though. He really makes use of Hawaii with his wide nature shots whenever the characters are travelling the island(s). And the Hawaiian soundtrack works really well to set the theme. Lastly a big compliment to the cast. Especially Woodley was really good. And I loved Nick Krause in his role of Sid, delivering some funny lines.
8/10
I watched Kevin Smith's 'Tusk' last night.
Weird drama horror, can't tell if I thought the ending was rubbish or hilarious purely because the ending was thought of on smogcast.
However I did enjoy the weirdness in the middle.
How does it compare to Human Centipede?
BrettHeazy
Member
Human Centipede takes a more serious approach in comparison.
Not to say that Tusk is silly, but it has it's comedic value if you know what the premise for the film is, and are a fan of Smodcast.
No, but there have been some screenings.
I just saw it myself yesterday; it was solid but standard biopic-y stuff. Eddie Remayne gives a great physical performance though. Would've liked to see more of an emphasis on the science. And for as much as the movie is about Hawking's relationship with Jane, I don't think it was really set up all that believably.
Count Dookkake
Member
Not out yet. Saw it at Butt-Numb-a-thon.
I was entertained. Sam Jackson is hilarious.
See anything else worth mentioning there?
MidnightCowboy
Member
2nd viewing of Inherent Vice elevated it to my 2nd favorite of the year, bumping Grand Budapest down. Boyhood is still the top dog though.
Ah okay, I might check it out with redbox or something.
Who's doing the movie of the year thread anyway?
Left Behind - 4/10 terrible a real cage stinker, why does he makes some good films then go and make some awful ones?
Lucy - 6.5/10 Not bad, the story kept me intrigued and the effects and concept was kinda of cool, but some of the story elements seems dumb to me and Scarlet's acting was pretty odd, she kinda of acted like a female version of data from star trek TNG in S1+2., No actually she acted like the boy who impersonated data in one episode, lol.
Predestination - 7/10
An original film, really different and interesting, I predicted what was going to happen about 1/3 of the way in, but the ending completely lost me, maybe if I watch again I could understand it better but I'am not compelled to. Despite being a bit to complicated for me it still has a good story that is well acted and well shot, give it a whirl if your in the mood for a movie that will make you think but still keep you very awake.
It looks like a mixture of limitless and shame, with dashes of inception and vanilla sky thrown in.
I dont know if that is a good thing
Lucy - 6.5/10 Not bad, the story kept me intrigued and the effects and concept was kinda of cool, but some of the story elements seems dumb to me and Scarlet's acting was pretty odd, she kinda of acted like a female version of data from star trek TNG in S1+2., No actually she acted like the boy who impersonated data in one episode, lol.
Predestination - 7/10
An original film, really different and interesting, I predicted what was going to happen about 1/3 of the way in, but the ending completely lost me, maybe if I watch again I could understand it better but I'am not compelled to. Despite being a bit to complicated for me it still has a good story that is well acted and well shot, give it a whirl if your in the mood for a movie that will make you think but still keep you very awake.
It looks like a mixture of limitless and shame, with dashes of inception and vanilla sky thrown in.
I dont know if that is a good thing
I doubt it'll have the sci fi of those, and visually it looks wildly different already really. I think it might fit alongside fame movies, or music movies, but it being Malick I have trouble comparing it to anyone but him. He's too distinctive
Maybe Noe, while Noe owes much to Malick this does look to adopt Noe's debauchery. Or maybe Terry had just watched spring breakers
Visually it looks quite similar I think to parts of limitless and shame, ''anything is possible'' , ''no one cares about reality no more'' it looks like one of Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) NZT adventures. and the shower and sexy scenes reminded me of shame a bit.
Yeah that malick guy is pretty distinctive, the film will be unique but I think there will be some similarities to the films I mentioned.
User 479360
Banned
I went a bit crazy at the library, and grabbed some DVDs of films I've missed and wanted to see.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Inside Llewyn Davis
A Good Day to Die Hard
Star Trek: Into Darkness
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Inside Llewyn Davis
A Good Day to Die Hard
Star Trek: Into Darkness
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
MidnightCowboy
Member
Best ending. Best pacing. 80 minutes of perfection. The length makes it infinitely rewatchable. If it's unclear, I love this movie.
I just watched Interstellar and I got drunk afterwards, so I'm drunk now, but I feel compelled to offer some very quick and loose impressions while everything is still fresh.
Interstellar started kind of slow, but now that I look back the pacing was actually pretty much immaculate in the beginning. The backstory and context for the main plot are set in stone meticulously However, I must say that the manner in which everything is almost perfectly paralleled and contextualized might have hurt the film in the end. Anyway, after the slow start I'm pretty much instantly enthralled from the very first moment the cast hits space. The movie is tense and the imagery is so breathtaking that everything becomes a bit surreal and it forces the viewer to dream and then attempts to realize these dreams. Now voicing my issues is going to hard without spoiling anything so this is going to sound really vague. But the second adversity the crew faces on the second voyage is the beginning of what I believe is most artificial and forced feeling part of the movie. Nolan forces these parallels in such a heavy and terse manner between events on earth and what's going on in space and it lacks fluidity. Then at the denouement there's this event, which some people might find magical, but I find utterly ridiculous that takes place. It forces the plot into this overly sentimental, romantic, and sappy turn that really does a great injustice the rest of the film. It feels like retconns itself. If the movie had found a way to end 45 minutes earlier it'd have much better and more satisfying in my humble opinion.
Interstellar started kind of slow, but now that I look back the pacing was actually pretty much immaculate in the beginning. The backstory and context for the main plot are set in stone meticulously However, I must say that the manner in which everything is almost perfectly paralleled and contextualized might have hurt the film in the end. Anyway, after the slow start I'm pretty much instantly enthralled from the very first moment the cast hits space. The movie is tense and the imagery is so breathtaking that everything becomes a bit surreal and it forces the viewer to dream and then attempts to realize these dreams. Now voicing my issues is going to hard without spoiling anything so this is going to sound really vague. But the second adversity the crew faces on the second voyage is the beginning of what I believe is most artificial and forced feeling part of the movie. Nolan forces these parallels in such a heavy and terse manner between events on earth and what's going on in space and it lacks fluidity. Then at the denouement there's this event, which some people might find magical, but I find utterly ridiculous that takes place. It forces the plot into this overly sentimental, romantic, and sappy turn that really does a great injustice the rest of the film. It feels like retconns itself. If the movie had found a way to end 45 minutes earlier it'd have much better and more satisfying in my humble opinion.
I just saw The Mission (1999), Directed by Johnnie To.
Man, this action film was a ride. It had stylish and suspenseful gunfights on par with stuff like Hard Boiled. Yet almost completely opposites in direction.
Mid-Movie spoilers obviously,
This scene was absolutely insane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnqIC3IU3j8&html5=1
I never heard of Johnnie To till recently, few months back I was really interesting in seeing Drug War which I didn't know happened to be the same director. Probably gonna get on that soon.
Man, this action film was a ride. It had stylish and suspenseful gunfights on par with stuff like Hard Boiled. Yet almost completely opposites in direction.
Mid-Movie spoilers obviously,
This scene was absolutely insane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnqIC3IU3j8&html5=1
I never heard of Johnnie To till recently, few months back I was really interesting in seeing Drug War which I didn't know happened to be the same director. Probably gonna get on that soon.
User 479360
Banned
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - It wasn't as good, or as interesting as the first. The world surrounding the Games isn't too interesting, but the Games themselves are. This one was a bit dull in comparison, unfortunately. Too much uninteresting dialogue, combat that isn't as good and less quality overall. I didn't care nearly as much.
A Good Day to Die Hard - This is the only Die Hard movie I hadn't seen, and I'd wanted to catch up. I went in expecting garbage, but admittedly enjoyed it with my lowered expectations as I fought off insomnia at 4am. It's far from great, but not too bad.
A Good Day to Die Hard - This is the only Die Hard movie I hadn't seen, and I'd wanted to catch up. I went in expecting garbage, but admittedly enjoyed it with my lowered expectations as I fought off insomnia at 4am. It's far from great, but not too bad.
plasmawave
Banned
Just watched The Tusk.
Pretty sure I've been trolled.
Pretty sure I've been trolled.
OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather
Member
One of the greatest endings ever.
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