Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
In many ways better than the first (stronger ending, villain, set pieces, action), yet somewhat lacking in the charm and originality present in the previous installment.
"Kubrick's Odyssey: Secrets Hidden in the films of Stanley Kubrick"
Part One: Kubrick and Apollo
Very fascinating conspirity theory documentary. Very insightful on the technical aspect of the front screen effects used to make "2001...". Also has a very entertaining look at some supposed Moon landing hoax clues that the director placed in his film "The Shining".
I give it 2001 stars!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3er7IZLRek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9V6STk5CUo
This provocative and insightful film is the first in a series of documentaries that will reveal the secret knowledge embedded in the work of the greatest filmmaker of all time: Stanley Kubrick. This famed movie director who made films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut, placed symbols and hidden anecdotes into his films that tell a far different story than the films appeared to be saying. In Kubrick's Odyssey, Part I, Kubrick and Apollo, author and filmmaker, Jay Weidner presents compelling evidence of how Stanley Kubrick directed the Apollo moon landings. He reveals that the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey was not only a retelling of Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick's novel, but also a research and development project that assisted Kubrick in the creation of the Apollo moon footage. In light of this revelation, Weidner also explores Kubrick's film, The Shining and shows that this film is, in actuality, the story of Kubrick's personal travails as he secretly worked on the Apollo footage for NASA.
“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison
The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Oh man what a fantastic film! I became a fan of Tintin when I was younger from watching the Nelvana animated series. So I was really looking forward to this film. Though at the same time I was a little cautious because it's mocap. My fears were unfounded, this film is simply spectacular. I've heard multiple people say it's a "good Indiana Jones film" and I'd agree with that sentiment. Though I'm a little wary of saying it myself as Tintin has been around so much longer than Indy has. =P
Couldn't agree more about Tintin. Really a fun film all around.
I have to say I was a little disappointed. Top notch production all the way around, vintage Spielberg for sure. My disappointment is how the story itself is handled. It didn't leave any time for, nor seem to present a need for, the audience to become emotionally involved with any of the characters. Not even Joey (the horse).
To me, all the scenes with Joey were the best parts of the movie. The people all seemed one-dimensional. The story spans four years, but it feels like it could have been six months. At times, some very important parts of the story were glossed over in a matter of a minute or so.
I wanted more time with some of the people and with Joey, but it jumped through the years and the different people in Joey's life very quickly. I felt zero connection to any character other than Joey. I don't really know how to explain it, but I felt like the story was poorly presented. I expected much more.
However; With the the horse's part of the story and the cinematography both being handled so expertly - I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
This was the second movie I went to see this past weekend. I suppose it was about what I expected. Which is to say, a gritty (at times unnecessarily so) mystery. Daniel Craig makes the film, for me. The girl is fine enough as a character and I suppose brilliantly played by Rooney Mara.
Problem one for me is that a girl like that would be a huge drag to be around. I don't dig that sort of coarse, angry, filthy female, so I felt no emotional connection to her. Like many of the people around her in the story, I found her off-putting to say the least.
That said; Her past is such that that's about all that could become of someone that emotionally and physically abused. In that regard, they presented the character perfectly.
Daniel Craig was fantastic at playing someone completely different from Bond and I never once thought of Bond. Dude is versatile.
It's long (2hrs, 40 mins) and at times it felt like it. Not so much that I was looking at my watch, but there were some passages that seemed to take a little too long.
Problem two for me;
Spoiler - or warning;
I'm not terribly impressed with the trend lately to show scenes that are intensely graphic and disturbing, solely for the purpose of being able to say the film is extremely realistic.
There is a rape scene that, to me, seemed unnecessarily realistic and long. I don't need to see three minutes of a graphic depiction of rape to understand how horrible and emotionally disturbing a crime that is. Nor do I particularly want to sit in a theater and be presented with scenes that I want to look away from (and I did for a bit).
[/venting]
Based on the muted grey cinematography, Daniel Craig's fantastic performance, and a good dose of wealthy family with a dark past mystery, I give it 3 out of 5 framed flowers.
The Terror (1963)
The story doesn't quite make sense in many places, Jack Nicholson's acting is inconsistent, and the image quality of my copy isn't that great. Despite all that it has beautiful cinematography, haunting atmosphere, and is directed by Roger Corman, my favourite director. I give it 6/10.
The Beaver
I don't know exactly how to rate this film. I will say that Mel Gibson is an absolutely amazing actor to be able to pull off that role. There are moments where I could've cried and moments where I laughed hysterically.
Jodie Foster is definitely a great director as well as a great actress.
"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas
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Caught a nasty cold and have been at home all day; between long naps I've managed to knock out three films.
Rec.
I've heard a lot of really good things about this film, so perhaps I was expecting too much. Just another gimmicky shaky cam flick, completely lacking in story and substance and trying to depend entirely on style... and unfortunately it is a style that was never all that stylish to begin with. Won't say I didn't enjoy it at all, but definitely not earning a place on my favorite zombie films list.
1 out of 4 topless anorexic zombie girls
Moon
Loved it! The storyline was somewhat predictable, but the ride through it all was fun. There really wasn't anything about this movie I didn't like.
4 out of 4 balls
Trainspotting
This movie has always reminded me of A Clockwork Orange in a very good way. Probably because of the narration. Unlike A Clockwork Orange, it takes you through a lot, but never really takes you anywhere. Which I suppose is part of the point. The whole thing had a lot more impact on me during the first viewing, second viewing isn't quite the same.
2 out of 4 balls (first time I saw it I am sure I would have rated it 3 or 4 out of 4)
The Artist (2011)
Saw this Monday. What a wonderful film! Definitely one of my favorites of the year. As well as having the best trailer of the year.
Treated by my sister-in-law and her hubby, I went to see the new Mission: Impossible movie. I'd seen M:I and M:I2, but I never saw the third and had little desire to see this one. Hearing it was directed by Brad Bird of Pixar fame gave me higher hopes, but still I had concerns. You see, I am a big fan of the original Mission:Impossible series from the 60s, and seeing the first two movies handle it the way they did was just not what I wanted: instead of a clever team that was always one step ahead of the bad guys, it was a clever, ever arrogant Tom Cruise performing super human feats with a tiny bit of help from his "team." Oh, and there was one mask "surprise" after another after another.
Ghost Protocol really did it for me. It showed real teamwork, it was frightening. It had surprisingly good humor and even seemed to poke fun at the overused mask plot device: the good guys never use any. The opening even was a modern take on how the original series used to open. The whole movie was a far more true to the source material, while still being modern and showing an extremely athletic (but not overly unrealistic) Tom Cruise. My only gripe was the slower final act, which would have a hard time following what preceded it. It was a surprisingly good and exciting movie, and pleased the true M:I fan inside me.
You might like 3. It was a lot more down to earth than 2, but I haven't seen 4 yet. Anything with more Simon Pegg (who was featured in 3) is great in my book.
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You know, when 3 came out, I enjoyed the previews and considered it, but never got around to it. But the fourth movie in a series is almost never much good, so I definitely had lost interest in the M:I movies, especially after 2 (allow me to give some credit to 1, which is a decent action flick, but not a very good Mission:Impossible flick, if you catch my pickiness here). After seeing 4, my wife and I were talking after seeing 2 and 3 (saw 1 recently, and want to watch 2 just so we don't leave it out). Thanks for the recommendation.
3 is pretty dark, from what I remember. I saw it because it was JJ Abrams first real movie and I wanted to get a sense of what Star Trek 09 might be like.
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Abrams is a good director. Dark is good thing too.
darth_ender said:
Abrams is a good director.
When did that happen?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams#FilmographyCP3S said:
When did that happen?
darth_ender said:
Abrams is a good director.
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Taxi Driver
This review has *SPOILERS*
Don't judge when I say that this was the first time I ever saw this film. Now since I've finally seen it, I wonder what I've been doing with my life this whole time.
I don't really need to go into what it is about, because I'm sure the majority of this crowd here has already watched it.
One thing that I was not expecting was how dated this movie is. And I mean that in the best way possible. In fact, it was probably my favorite aspect of the film. Seeing all these ordinary people who obviously weren't extras walking down the street wearing these old clothes really give the film a really retro feel, and upon the first few minutes of initial viewing, you can tell what decade this was filmed in.
Another big surprise for me is that I always thought Travis was going to end up being a bad guy. While he could still be viewed that way, I see his character as the anti-hero type. Did the pimp being killed prevent other pimps from doing the same thing? No. However he became responsible for one less in the world. He still was mentally unstable, and people would have thought of him a lot differently if he had actually succeeded in shooting Palpatine. (see what I did there?)
This movie is probably in my top 20 now, one of the best films I have ever seen.
10 Jodie Foster's out of 10 dead pimps.
Been at the theaters quite a bit recently. I saw:
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (9/10) which is now my favorite M:I movie by far.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (10/10) which was so incredible it became my favorite movie of the year.
War Horse (10/10) which was even more amazing and became my favorite film of the year until
The Artist (10/10) which is immense fun beyond words and definitely the film to see. There are so many things to say about this film that I don't even know where to begin. Actually, I know exactly what I should say: GO SEE IT NOW.
Despite all that JJ Abrams has accomplished, I primarily think of him as the guy who wrote the screenplay for one of the worst movies ever made by one of the worst directors of all time.
“Grow up. These are my Disney's movies, not yours.”
Did you know that Armageddon got a Criterion release? I have no idea why, personally, I would take every copy and blow it up in space. (see what I did there #2)
Ziggy Stardust said:
Did you know that Armageddon got a Criterion release? I have no idea why, personally, I would take every copy and blow it up in space. (see what I did there #2)
I've still never seen that movie.
Ziggy Stardust said:
Taxi Driver
Don't judge when I say that this was the first time I ever saw this film.
Well you are, like, 5 years old or something. Yo can't have seen every film eva. lol nooob. rofl wtf.
<span style=“font-weight: bold;”>The Most Handsomest Guy on OT.com</span>
CP3S said:
Ziggy Stardust said:
Did you know that Armageddon got a Criterion release? I have no idea why, personally, I would take every copy and blow it up in space. (see what I did there #2)
I've still never seen that movie.
You didn't miss anything. There is absolutely no reason for that movie to get a Criterion release. Lame.
I'm with you, CP3S, I would not say that Abrams is a good director although I really enjoyed Super 8 at the theater with my niece and nephew.
I, like Darth_Ender, decided not to see MI:3 after seeing the second one. I'll definitely give it try,
If you want a Myspleen invite, just PM me and ask.
http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Once-upon-a-time-on-MySpleen/topic/12652/
walkingdork said:
CP3S said:
Ziggy Stardust said:
Did you know that Armageddon got a Criterion release? I have no idea why, personally, I would take every copy and blow it up in space. (see what I did there #2)
I've still never seen that movie.
You didn't miss anything.
I know. I try to avoid anything by Micheal Bay... except for The Island, I kind of liked The Island...
I'm with you, CP3S, I would not say that Abrams is a good director although I really enjoyed Super 8 at the theater with my niece and nephew.
I haven't seen Super 8 so I can't say anything about it (have heard plenty of good things though), but I wasn't a fan of J.J. Trek, and M:I 3 played like a feature length episode of Alias.
I think Abrams is a great idea man, but so far I haven't been overwhelmingly impressed with his directing. I feel like he is destined to fall into the roll of generic blockbuster director. Having at one point been a Lost fan, I was really hoping to see him become more than that.