We LoveFilm discussion
General Discussion about Films
>
What have you seen lately?
message 101:
by
Samantha
(new)
Feb 17, 2011 12:15PM
LMAO!!! Well said :)
reply
|
flag
I know I've been quiet (not watching any movies lately) but I have to agree with you ladies about Kiera. She doesn't impress me at all.
Mod
Movies are the main purpose of the group, but other topics are certainly welcome. I wish I had more time and energy to be a proper mod, but its tough when you work 14 hr days for most of the week. Arghhh...
I went to the movie theatre yesterday and saw "True Grit (2011)". It was really great. I have to say, it started slow (and almost had me worried that it was going to stay that way), and didn't have quite the amount of "action" as the trailers and previews put on. But overall, it was really, really good. The end was so heart-touching, not what I expected. The movie had lots of funny parts, but also stayed very true to what it was really like back then. The acting was really good, not one bad actor. :)
I agree Brenda. True Grit was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up speed.
Samantha wrote: "I agree Brenda. True Grit was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up speed."Didn't they make it seem so much more action-packed in the previews? With the terrific actors they had, it could have had a lot more to it... not that I didn't like it, because I really did. I really wish they would have given us a chance to see "Rooster Cogburn" again in the end. It was almost disappointing. :-(
It did seem more adventurous in the previews.
I think they always pick the best parts for the trailers. Then you wonder what happened to the rest of the movie. ;o)
Mod
Some of the more frequent tactics: saying a movie is based on true events when it isn't (for example with horror films), claiming that the budget used to make a certain film was far below that which was actually used, saying a big name producer was involved in making a film when they haven't (they actually pay guys like James Cameron or Martin Scorcese to use their names in a movie) and many others I can't recall right now.
The whole movie business is one big fat lie, from start to finish, and yet its amazing how it shapes so many (ordinary) people's lives.
Mod
Monsters - this is one of the movies where it is claimed only $15 000 was used to produce the film. While you can see that the film is relatively low budget, its hard to believe it cost only $15 000 even though film maker, Gareth Edwards, was writer, director and DoP all in one. That said, the film's only accolade is indeed the fact that its production value was relatively high when considering it was mainly put together in Edward's bedroom after principal photography wrapped. Storywise, I couldn't really figure out its point. For a movie claiming to be about monsters I saw relatively few monsters and the anticipation build-up did not result in a satisfying resolution for the audience in my opinion. Anyway, I do think this film is noteworthy for the fact that it shows that if you have a dream and are passionate enough about it, making a fairly good movie (technically speaking) is possible enough within a very cutthroat industry.
The Young Victoria - This movie played like well-written historical romance novel although I do agree certain parts before Victoria & Albert got together were fairly boring. Overall, I really enjoyed it though, and there was some really good chemistry between Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend. I like Emily Blunt as an actress, but at first I was a bit sceptical to see this. I'm glad I did. I thought the casting, acting and costumes were great. It's sad Victoria lost Albert so early even though they had over 20 years together before his death. Theirs was a truly great love story, something I feel wasn't very popular in the 19th century considering how rife arranged marriages and how early people got married were.
Triangle - starring Melissa George from The Amityville Horror. I have no clue what to make of this movie. I don't know if its because I watched it while I was tired and in bed, but this film did not make a lick of sense. It's about a group of holidaymakers on a yacht. The boat capsizes after a massive storm, leaving its crew stranded at sea. Then came a mysterious ship out of nowhere and rescues the survivors but there seems to be absolutely no one on board. This is a good set-up for a horror/mystery/thriller, but then there's this bizarre twist with George's character that left me more confused than intrigued. Not good. I'll give this movie another chance and watch it again, but I think there's a deficiency in the script (and the acting too for that matter).
Iron Man 2 - I'm really starting to like Robert Downey Jr. He has a way of being funny without actually trying to be funny, and I enjoyed his chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow. I think I preferred Terrence Howard, instead of Don Cheadle, as Rhodey though he's apparently a bit of a diva. Also wasn't feeling Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, but generally I'm happy to see that superhero movies are starting to be more diverse (in terms of having more female heroines and people of colour). Hopefully this is a trend that will continue.
Due Date - I had doubts about seeing this because I wasn't sure about Robert or Zack Galfindoris (or whatever his name is), but it surprised me. It was quite fun. Pretty much the same concept as The Hangover, but there were a few good laughs.
Davina, I enjoyed Young Victoria as well.
Mod
Finally saw Slumdog Millionaire after resisting forever. Loved it. In the beginning I was not able to get into it but soon I understood the structure (which was quite well done actually) and was riveted. Loved the nod to Bollywood conventions at the end credits. It made we want to re-watch City of God, which I did. A brilliant, brilliant movie! There is a character in this movie named Little Ze who is the perfect sociopath from the age of 5. My husband kept calling Selim from Slumdog Little Ze redux. But he had nothing on Little Ze. Incredible movie.
Also saw The Town -- Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. It was really good up until the end. Then it devolved in action movie cliche. I found some scenes a bit too much to swallow. But it was a fun flick.
Re: Halle. I have to agree that Monster's Ball wasn't her best work but it is just the sort of thing that Oscar voters sop up with a biscuit. I honestly don't think it was a token win because, like Natalie Portman us doing this Oscar season, Halle really cleaned up in all the pre-oscar critics awards, she won the SAG and a couple of International "Oscar" awards.
I actually liked her in (don't hate me) in Swordfish. Pretty bad movie all around, but her character was sassy and fun and sexy and larcenous. For all that she is very pretty she doesn't do sexy fun movies ever. She gravitates to dark, depressing characters. Her scenes with Hugh Jackman were so full of sexy chemistry that those two need a romance movie stat.
I also enjoyed her in Bulworth and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. I think she lets loose a little when she isn't in those dark dramas and I think that is her strength. I think she works best when she is allowed to show some anger rather than pathos. Her best moments in the X-Men franchise was when she was giving Wolverine crap and speaking out against mutant registration.
I actually like Halle and am glad to see she has some lighter toned projects coming up.
Mod
I totally agree with your thoughts about Iron Man 2 - all of them. :o) That's exactly what I would write. We liked both the Iron Man movies enough to buy them - but then I do live in a house full of men & boys...Would you believe that over the last week or so I watched The Godfather and The Exorcist for the very first time? I don't know why I never watched them - but insomnia and the special promo running for the Oscar winning films gave me a chance and I went ahead and watched them. I figured I should just because they're iconic.
Mod
The Exorcist is one my favourite horror films of all time and this is mainly because it was actually able to scare me sh_tless the first time I saw it. The closest any other horror film has come to topping The Exorcist is The Omen. It's funny, huh, how scary little children can be! lol
I thought they both were good. You're right about Godfather. It is a superb study of... human beings and relationships. Brando was amazing. He created an iconic character that will be remembered forever. I wonder if he resented that at all. A lot of actors don't like being identified with just one role. Exorcist was scary. I think it is scarier for me because I believe in heaven and hell - demons & angels. So, although I believe the odds are worse than getting struck by lightning, it is possible that a person could be possessed. So that terrifies me. That movie was like evil... Not like I did a bad thing - but evil... and a little girl in a happy family... It just made you feel like your normal world could go wrong in nothing flat.
Mod
Mod
The Godfather is one of my absolute favorite movies ever. That first wedding scene, The horse's head scenes, Sonny kicking his bro-in-law's butt with a trash can lid, Michael's taking out the heads of the five families intercut with that bapstimal scene (chilling and brilliant!) -- all of it wonderful. But the best part of the movie is simply watching Michael go from the clean-cut kid who knows what his family does for business and planning to have no part in it to the cold-eyed, ruthless Godfather in the end is almost poetic in it's execution. And what is more, the film is a faithful adaptation of the book with the book filling in some exposition holes the film can only allude to. I also rec reading the book as well. Just as wonderful as the film.
Mod
This film made Al Pacino for me. Even to this day, although he's a old and shriveled(sp?) now ... I can't forget him because of this movie.
That's funny, Davina because for me, Godfather II with Robert DeNiro is about the same way. GFII is just as great as GF, but I can seriously just mute the sound and watch the male beauty that is a young DeNiro move across the screen. The man was frickin' gorgeous in that movie. My mind can't compute the older, Meet The Fockers 4 guy with that young Italian God in GFII. LOL.
Mod
Anyway, I recently saw The Clinic starring Andy "Spartacus" Whitfield and I was immensely disappointed. Not only was the film one of the most boring, slow paced "horror" I've ever seen, but Andy is featured in it for exactly 32mins if you add all his scenes together. The movie is about 1:29 mins long. His character was underdeveloped and seemed to have been added to the script more as a prop rather than for any real purpose. I seriously couldn't see what was the point of having him in the movie in the first place if his character was to be eliminated so anti-climatically.
Andy played the fiance of the lead actress who was as limp and unconvincing as you can get on screen (and to be fair, his acting was a bit off in this one as well, but not as bad as hers). After seeing this movie I'm happy his stint on Spartacus (provided he recovers enough from his illness to work again) will likely open doors to higher quality productions where he can showcase his talent because this movie was just ... bad.
LOL When you find someone you like, you do go hard and find those movies don't you? I never heard of the Clinic. Glad I didn't see it.
Mod
I probably won't watch his entire back list. I normally don't watch the whole back lists of new discoveries, but in Andy's case there's not much to see anyway. Spartacus is the biggest thing he's ever done. He's done two E movies (The Clinic being one of them) and some TV work, that's about it. If I can get my hands on it, I'll probably see Gabriel, his second feature, though I've heard its pretty low-budget. I won't bother to seek out the Australian TV shows he's done.
I look forward to seeing more of him in future, better quality productions. I just hope he gets better soon! Poor thing ...
Awww such a loyal person. I love that!!!What is an E movie? I feel stupid asking that but I honestly don't know.
Mod
It's with parents like these (and yes I know its just a film, but I know lots of people like this) that Amy Chua is somewhat proven to be not so off the mark about Western parenting. For sure no Asian, Caribbean or Middle Eastern parent would do this.
Anyway ...
An E movie is a bad movie. Usually low budget (though this is by no means a prerequisite for it being bad) and where none of the fundamental rules of good film making were followed.
Don't forget no AA woman either! LOL.I like that movie though.
Just saw a movie that slipped by me some how.Anamorph (2007) with willem Dafoe.
Interesting detective/serial killer movie. The anamorphosis angle (no pun intended) was very unique.
Mod
Mod
I just watched Constellation (Lesley Ann Warren, Billy Dee Williams, Gabrielle Union, Zoe Saldana). I was apprehensive at first because I thought it would be an overwrought Tyler Perry-eqsue racial drama. But I could not have been more wrong. It had the look, vibe and feel of a very nicely done indie. I LOVED the soundtrack/score (jazz, opera, classical, latin, native american, gospel...you name it).
Sometimes it seemed like the actors improvised their lines because the dialogue didn't sound written dialogu-ey. Does that make sense? It sounded like things normal people would say. And there were whole scenes where actors we allowed to simply be silent and just let the emotions play across their faces. One thing I notice in big-budget films is that the characters are always talking (when they aren't blowing things up) but in indies they are allowed to just stand there and act a bit. This movie was like that.
Nice little movie.
I haven't heard of this movie, Tina, but thanks for mentioning it. I'm going to look this up. My mom has a whole bunch of Indie movies in her collection (she loves them) and I'm going to see if she has it.
I watched No Country for Old Men earlier today. For some reason this movie never appealed to me but I was rather surprised that I liked it.
Mod
As for No Country, I enjoyed it. Thing I like about the Coen brothers is that they're amazingly visual directors. I love that about their work. Really looking to forward to True Grit!
Mod
LOL Davina! I recommend True Grit. I enjoyed it a lot.Source Code is with Vera Farmiga and Monica Moneghan (sp?). It appears to be a decent flick. I can't wait to see it.
So last night I watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (did I get that title right? LOL) Anyway, the flick with Jim Carrey. It was ok. I'm not a big fan of Jim but I kind of liked that movie. I also watched Chloe with Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson. Let me just say I love Liam Neeson but I didn't really love the film. I enjoyed it well enough but I think my own hang-ups came from Julianne Moore's character. She was a dingbat! LOL! All of the events that occurred in the movie could have been avoided if she was thinking. Also, I don't care for Julianne Moore...maybe its her pale ghostly skin that makes me think she is sick even she is playing a more cheerful role or maybe its just her acting. I don't know.
Today I have Brothers with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey McGuire to watch. I don't really care for them but I'm still interested to watch it.
Oh I tried to watch this indie flick Confessions of a Call Girl. OMG!!! Talk about total failure and horrible flick. It stars Tamala Jones (who I think is normally hilarious), Lynn Whitfield (who I think is normally fabulous) and Clifton Powell. So I expected more but it was just bad acting, plot and the film was so low budget. After 20 minutes into the film (and me laughing hysterically over the whole thing), I gave up.
Mod
Brothers was a really good film, I thought. I'm not a huge fan of any of the leads, but they all put on a good performance and so were able to pull me into the movie.
Mod
Mod
LOL! She did look weird in that movie...maybe it's because she was semi-smiling and crying at the same time. I don't know.
Yesterday I watched...... the villageI really like the ending it's amazing
