Nicole Kidman was extremely hot in Eyes Wide Shut.
Saw Shop Girl last night. Someone told me it was really good, so I was a little disappointed with it. Jason Schwartzman was pretty funny in all his scenes though.
I went to Journey to the Center of the Earth last night, amazingly it wasn’t too bad, not a must see, but it’s a good drive-in or rental flick.
Has anyone seen Star Wars Clone Wars the animated version? I am still on the fence about this one, so if anyone has any opinions please spill it.
[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Has anyone seen Star Wars Clone Wars the animated version? I am still on the fence about this one, so if anyone has any opinions please spill it. [/quote]
The critics are torching it. I’ve yet to see it but I have an open mind.
This is what I said about Clone Wars a few pages back:
[i]"Star Wars: The Clone Wars - I thought this was okay. It’s a simple story, but there are some decent action sequences. It’s definitely PG, but not necessarily childish (no more than than say the Ewoks or Jar Jar was).
If you’re a die hard Star Wars fan, then I think you’ll like it enough. If you’re a kid, then you’ll LOVE it. If you’re not a huge SW fan, then this won’t do anything for you."[/i]
I saw it with two other friends. One of them liked it a lot and the other friend, like me, just thought it was okay.
I didn’t mind the animation style though. My friend hated it, so to each their own.
Watched Barry Lyndon last night. I liked it immensly, and I usually hate that period costume British crap. It’s about a young Irish Gentleman who tries to work his way up into nobility by fighting, gambling, and seducing women.
The Irish scenery was gorgeous, the lesser characters were intriguing and the duels were cool and different.
Lesser characters: most directors use the extras and lesser speaking parts as filler. If they’re not directly important to the story then they might as well be a piece of furniture.
In Kubrick’s movies, everybody, even if they don’t say a word, has a back story, a personality, something interesting in their eyes. They have their own story going on, like real people, it’s just not the story we’re watching right now, so we have to leave them there.
Duels: most movies try to make a duel a big deal dramatically, and while there was tension in Barry Lyndon, I got the feeling that I was watching two animals fight and die over a mate or a bit of territory.
Duels seemed incredibly normal, they made sense. I couldn’t help but think that our ancestors fighting and killing each other over bullshit was normal, and our emphasis on peace and non-violence is very abnormal.
Kubrick: is a very de-humanizing director. All of his movies had drama, but he had a genius for making the viewer observe from a detached, god-like position. When Pyle goes nuts and kills himself in Full Metal Jacket, you can’t help but think that that’s the way it should be. Pyle was weak, and had to be culled from the herd.
I didn’t love Barry Lyndon, it was kind of missing something, maybe a solid direction. It was a character driven narrative, and characters tend to wander. Also, the main character Redmond Barry was played by Ryan O’Neal who sucks as an actor, and a character driven narrative needs a strong charismatic actor.
One more thing I liked about the story, there wasn’t anything good or redemptive in it. People fight and fuck and die, and after they’re dead it no longer matters.
Edit: Dude, stop fucking with my paragraphs.
Thank you Vader, I think I will just wait for it to come out on video. Blu Ray could look nice.
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Watched Barry Lyndon last night. I liked it immensly, and I usually hate that period costume British crap. It’s about a young Irish Gentleman who tries to work his way up into nobility by fighting, gambling, and seducing women.
The Irish scenery was gorgeous, the lesser characters were intriguing and the duels were cool and different.
Lesser characters: most directors use the extras and lesser speaking parts as filler. If they’re not directly important to the story then they might as well be a piece of furniture.
In Kubrick’s movies, everybody, even if they don’t say a word, has a back story, a personality, something interesting in their eyes. They have their own story going on, like real people, it’s just not the story we’re watching right now, so we have to leave them there.
Duels: most movies try to make a duel a big deal dramatically, and while there was tension in Barry Lyndon, I got the feeling that I was watching two animals fight and die over a mate or a bit of territory.
Duels seemed incredibly normal, they made sense. I couldn’t help but think that our ancestors fighting and killing each other over bullshit was normal, and our emphasis on peace and non-violence is very abnormal.
Kubrick: is a very de-humanizing director. All of his movies had drama, but he had a genius for making the viewer observe from a detached, god-like position. When Pyle goes nuts and kills himself in Full Metal Jacket, you can’t help but think that that’s the way it should be. Pyle was weak, and had to be culled from the herd.
I didn’t love Barry Lyndon, it was kind of missing something, maybe a solid direction. It was a character driven narrative, and characters tend to wander. Also, the main character Redmond Barry was played by Ryan O’Neal who sucks as an actor, and a character driven narrative needs a strong charismatic actor.
One more thing I liked about the story, there wasn’t anything good or redemptive in it. People fight and fuck and die, and after they’re dead it no longer matters.
Edit: Dude, stop fucking with my paragraphs.[/quote]
I actually watched Barry Lyndon a few months ago, and agree with you mostly on your points. Ryan O’Neal is very wooden…and there isn’t much redemption. It was an interesting movie though, by the end (and it was long!) I was just left with a feeling of ‘well okay then…bunch of foppish scoundrels’.
Annapolis - This movie wanted me to believe that James Franco was somehow a ‘heavyweight’ boxer. I know they were using the 185 lb. and over qualification for heavyweight, but still. Anyway, I didn’t like this. It felt like somebody that watched the OC too much made this movie. I guess it was made with the support of both the Navy and the Department of Defense, so that should tell you something.
The Baxter - Someone recommended this to me and I have to say I was disappointed. I liked the cast a lot and had the guys from Stella in it (it was written and directed by Michael Showalter). I just didn’t feel like this was funny enough. When it starts off, you think it’s a going to be a satire of romantic comedies, but by the end, it turns out to just be another lame romantic comedy.
Then She Found Me - Helen Hunt’s directorial debut. I hope she does better in the future. I really didn’t like this. I felt it was all over the place. Was it supposed to be a romantic comedy? A serious drama? It just didn’t work for me.
Serum - This was your typical, terrible straight-to-DVD horror flick. You know it’s going to be pretty bad when it was made less then 2 years ago, but was somehow in both letterboxed AND 4:3 format. Did they use old equipment donated to them to make this? It did at least contain some nudity and girls with big breasteses, but the gore was pretty lame. Pretty lame overall.
I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer - Yes, they actually made a third one, but it doesn’t star Jennifer Love Hugetits. This is a shame because I would have had an easier time watching this if she has been in it. This was terrible. It contains none of the elements I consider necessary for a good slasher flick (gore, nudity or chick with big breasteses). The fisherman killer is now some kind of supernatural zombie that can appear and disappear at will, which makes me wonder why it bothered with doors or sneaking up on anyone.
The Quick and The Dead - I rented this based on NateOrade’s recommendation and I agree with him. It’s a little silly, but I found it awesome. Great cast, too. Everyone is in this movie! I really enjoyed it.
The Godfather and The Godfather Part II - I’ve never actually watched either of these movies all the way through. I’ve only seen bits and pieces over the years, so I finally decided to sit down and watch them. I can’t really say anything about these movies that’s already been said. I loved them! Both are great movies! It is kind of funny to watch these them now though, as I’m used to the way guys like Pacino and Duvall look in current movies, and not how they looked (and sounded) 30+ years ago.
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of Slasher Films - Excellent documentary on slasher films! If you are even kind of a fan you should really check this out. Because of this movie, I now hate Siskel and Ebert. Well, more than I did before seeing this movie anyway.
The Omega Man - Not to shabby. Charleton Heston is a zombie killing badass. The “zombies” are quite different than they were in I am Legend, not just from a visual stand point either. The ending is far more satisfying as well.
[quote]analog_kid wrote:
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of Slasher Films - Excellent documentary on slasher films! If you are even kind of a fan you should really check this out. Because of this movie, I now hate Siskel and Ebert. Well, more than I did before seeing this movie anyway.
[/quote]
That’s good to know. I’ve had that one in my queue forever, but I’ve never bothered bumping it up, despite my love for slasher flicks. I just checked, it’s #48 in my queue. I’ll bump it up a little.
If you haven’t already, check out Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. It’s a mockumentary told from the perspective of the slasher. I was pleasantly surprised by it.
I finally watched Army Of Darkness last night. It was awesomesauce. It’s on demand comcast in the free section, but not for much longer.
“Troy” was on AMC last night, so I watched it up to the part where Hector killed Agamemnon’s brother. That and Pete O’Toole’s drunken stares are my favorite parts. Good lord that movie has aged horribly. I thought it looked like it came out in the mid-90s, but the release date was in 2004! Gladiator has held up MUCH better.
Army of Darkness is a fun ride. Anything starring Bruce Campbell is worth a look if you like goofy, tounge-in-cheek fare.
I just signed up for Netflix and watched Planet Terror (Grindhouse) last weekend. Best. Zombie. Flick. EVER!
Shoot Em Up! was cool too. (Although Bruce Campbell should have been in it.)
Mission Impossible III - I refused to watch this for a long time because Tom Cruise annoys me, but I finally watched it a couple weeks ago. Not a big fan, I thought it was too simple.
Black Christmas - This was on tv and I had nothing to do so I watched it. Yeah, it was pretty bad. I probably would have liked it more if the bad guy didn’t looked retarded. Plus it reminded me too much of the Simpsons halloween episode where they lock Bart in the attic.
Diary of the Dead - I thought this was a decent movie. I didn’t like it as much as the remake of Dawn of the Dead but it was a solid movie.
Hard Candy - Another movie I thought was decent. I got pissed off at the guy a lot because I felt like he was an idiot but it was interesting.
I also watched 27 Dresses, P.S. I Love You and August Rush. I had nothing against any of them. August Rush is probably the only one of those I would have watched if I wasn’t married.
[quote]Kruiser wrote:
Army of Darkness is a fun ride. Anything starring Bruce Campbell is worth a look if you like goofy, tounge-in-cheek fare.[/quote]
Are you including Bubba Ho-Tep?
The Godfather Part III - I didn’t like this as much as the first two parts, but I still thought it was good. I’m glad Sophia Coppola ended up being a good director, because she’s a terrible actress.
Failure to Launch - This was terrible, but it’s not like I was expecting much. McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Ugh.
Baby Mama - I love Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, so I was a little disappointed in this. I did like the movie and there are some funny parts, but it felt like it could have been just a little funnier. I guess my disappointment was from the fact that I know those two are capable of being much funnier.
The Forbidden Kingdom - The story is ridiculous. It stars some kid that looks like Shia LaBeouf’s cousin who gets chased around by guys wearing too much mascara. At times the movie seems like it’s a bad after school special. Other times, it feels like just a goofy martial arts film. The fight scenes are good though, so those parts are entertaining.
Burn After Reading - I loved this! Great cast. It’s weird and funny. Everything you’ve come to expect from a Coen Brothers movie. I won’t say much else about it as it just came out and I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.
Grandma’s Boy and Be Cool
Jackie Brown - Awesome as always.
Ichi the Killer - Finally got around to see this after it being on my list for years. There is just something about Asian films that grab you differently than American and European flicks. They are so much more engrossing for the senses, you want to laugh, cry, and vomit all at the same time. Highly recommended.
Oldboy - Ichi got me in the mood for one of my favorite movies of all time. If you haven’t seen this, stop what you are doing and go buy it right now. Trust me on this one.
Saw Burn After Reading last night. It was really good. Not see it twice in the theater good, but pretty damn good. I laughed my ass off but can’t think of any particularly funny lines or gags. The comedy was all character driven.
Watched GlenGarry Glen Ross this morning. It was ok, based on a play. I’m not a big fan of plays and not a big fan of movies based on plays. There’s a reason why they are seperate mediums. It wasn’t a waste of my time, but if you’re interested, just watch this: