Lord of the Movies: The Return of the Review Thread

[Reply #520 on:]

Well, Steve Carell might be being typecasted.  After all, he's played the wacky anchorman in Anchorman, Bruce Almighty, and The Daily Show.

I pretty much agree with Nix here.  The movie, on the whole, wasn't that great -  Steve Carell parts aside.

"I'm going to punch you right in the ovaries.  Right in the baby-makers!"

and

"There was a fight, and a horsey, and I stabbed a guy!"
"Yeah, Brick stabbed a guy with a trident!"
"Speaking of which...Brick, it would probably be best if you hid low for a while..."

[Reply #521 on:]

Whenever I feel sad, I just think of Brick, sternfaced, holding up a grenade. I laugh whenever I recall that image. Genius.

[Reply #522 on:]

Just watched my fancy, extra frills, Special Edition version of Dune just now. It's been a while since I've seen it, and even longer since I've read the book, so it was worth refreshing my memory.

This film is breathtaking! Dodgy effects aside, the visuals in Dune are stunning! This thing is dripping with epic-ness, even more so than LotR I would say. Of course, it has it's flaws- certain omissions from the book, a crappy ending, and missing quite a bit of character development later on. But with 2 hours of material supposedly cut you'll expect that. I still love it.

It's not for everyone, but the sci-fi geek in me would not feel complete without watching it. A-

Also, it has Toto in it. That automatically makes it great.

[Reply #523 on:]

   

Originally posted by EvilLunch:
Whenever I feel sad, I just think of Brick, sternfaced, holding up a grenade. I laugh whenever I recall that image. Genius.

"Where did you get a gernade Brick?"

Some of my personal favorites are:

"Where did you get that suit... the... tolit store?"


"Are you sure this is a shortcut Brick?"
"That's fantastic!"


"Years later a doctor would tell me I have an IQ of 58, and I'm what some people call mentally retarded!"
*Smile at camera*

"This is pathetic!"
"Your pathetic."

The more I think about it, the more great lines there were.

PS: Hey EvilLunch, why don't you go back to your home on whore island?   

*edit* and just in case anyone takes that seriously, it ws just a line from the movie. No offense intended EL. 

[Reply #524 on:]

Teehee. It's good to see that other people like Anchorman. That movie cracked me up, and it got funnier and funnier the more I thought about it. I need to see it again.

"Bear fight!"

[Reply #525 on:]

The quote that's come up most often in everyday conversation with my friends:

"Ugh. Milk was a bad decision."

Just switch in the topic at hand for "milk" and you're set.

[Reply #526 on:]

Anchorman was good, but not great. Or great, but not..whatever's better than great. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't all that it could be. Brick was awesome, of course. He reminded me of a grown up Ralph Wiggum.
Anyway, "Dodgeball" owns it.

[Reply #527 on:]

Agreed 100%.

[Reply #528 on:]

I've been watching nothing but "Teen Titans" re-runs lately, but I took some time out to watch a "controversial" film...

Dogville
I am very much in love with this movie.  I can't pinpoint exactly why.  I thought I would hate it, but I don't think there was one moment I disliked or didn't find essential to the whole.  I think Lars von Trier deserves a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.  Lovely, painful and an undeniable conversation-starter.  If you're open to long, experimental films, I cannot recommend this highly enough.

[Reply #529 on:]

BumbleBeeTheta: Agreed. In fact that's pretty much a long version of what I wrote earlier.

[Reply #530 on:]

Curse of the Cannibal Confederates: I never thought I'd say this about a Troma film; I hated it. Troma films usually have crappy acting anyway, but this has taken the cake. Seriously, I had to press 'STOP' because I was getting a headache from watching it.

On the upside; The zombies had extraordinary good presence in the film. The opening of the film had some pretty 'scary' zombies arising from some graves.

I cant be bothered with the storyline, its a zombie movie. Few kids get killed by zombies, blood & gore, cheap effects - all whats needed in a zombie film is here, but is implemented very wrong in this case.

Overall; Low, low-budget zombie film from the creators of 'Surf Nazi's Must Die', nice work on the zombies, but that still doesnt make up for the acting. D+

[Reply #531 on:]

Finally got around to seeing This is Spinal Tap. I don't know why I waited this long; I was only hurting myself.

It's easy to see why some people asked Rob Reiner why he didn't film a more notable band; the casting is absolutely inspired. There are few movies where I believe all the entire cast is excellent; "Jaws" is the only other movie I can think of that even compares.

Much funnier than I expected, too -- the songs, especially. The best is "Stonehenge", obviously, but I've developed a soft spot for "Big Bottom" as well (in fact, I'm listening to that track as I write this review). Though the "lost backstage" moment was ruined for me by countless clipshows, the rest of the movie was pure gold.

I also liked how none of the primary band members were portrayed as fools 100% of the time. Derek, Nigel and David all have their moments in the sun, whether serious or comical. The collapse of the band seems very natural and realistic, probably since it's more or less based on the dissolution of the Beatles thanks to the influence of Yoko Ono.

Anyway, A+.

I met her on Monday
'Twas my lucky Bun-day
If ya know what I mean 

[Reply #532 on:]

Catwoman

The movie was really good and it has full of action but it wasn't all that great. I rather like Batman, Batman returns, and Batman Forever better though.

[Reply #533 on:]

 

Originally posted by Juliet:
Catwoman

The movie was really good and it has full of action but it wasn't all that great.

:brain explodes:

[Reply #534 on:]

Right now Roger Ebert is rolling in his grave.

 

Originally posted by LAN.gnome:
Finally got around to seeing This is Spinal Tap. I don't know why I waited this long; I was only hurting myself.

You said it, dude.  This is one of the only movies where you cannot quote just bits of the movie as stand-out, because it's all pure gold.

I once did a karaoke thing at a work social, got up on stage, and shouted "Hello Cleveland!"

Sailed over their heads.

I think I have the most fondness for Derek Smalls, the "luke-warm water" between the Fire and Ice of David and Nigel.  Such a fantastic character, we'd all like to be like him, like a preserved moose.

[Reply #535 on:]

They're showing This Is Spinal Tap in couple of hours here. I plan to watch it.

Some movies I've watched recently:

The Green Mile: Too long and boring in some parts, but overall it is very good. A-

About Schmidt: What was this movie about again? Nicholson was excellent here and the script was smart and all, but some of the situations were pointless and uninteresting. B+

Taxi Driver: Masterpiece! A+

As Good As It Gets: A fine movie with fine characters and some good performances, specially  Kinnear. A-

[Reply #536 on:]

Ebert's ALIVE Mellllll

[Reply #537 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
Ebert's ALIVE Mellllll

I knew that.  It was a critique, m'dear. 

[Reply #538 on:]

Ebert would be rolling in his grave if he had one, that is to say.

[Reply #539 on:]

I see a lot of good movies now a day, but a couple that I've seen lately have been better than normal.

Here are some of the movies I have recently seen:

Donnie Darko - A++!
Without a Paddle - B+
Garden State - A-

[Reply #540 on:]

 

Originally posted by Melllvar:
I think I have the most fondness for Derek Smalls, the "luke-warm water" between the Fire and Ice of David and Nigel.  Such a fantastic character, we'd all like to be like him, like a preserved moose.

I'm more of a Nigel man, since he's really the only one who has enough sense to bail before he goes down with the ship. Plus, I empathize with his hatred of Jeanine the band-destroying uber-bitch.

And besides, "Lick My Love Pump" is really good. Simple lines, intertwining... D minor really is the saddest of all keys. 

[Reply #541 on:]

You know what gets the biggest laugh with musicians?  Nigel tuning the violin during his solo.  That is utterly classsic!

We really need a Spinal Tap/Mighty Wind/Best In Show thread, I could go on all-day with this...

[Reply #542 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
  :brain explodes:

"The movie was ok" -  is that better?

[Reply #543 on:]

Saw Open Water. Was rooting for the sharks. B-

[Reply #544 on:]

That's quite a review, Venus. I'm seeing it tomorrow. I'm rooting for Jeff, who said he'd pay for me.

Melllll... but the other guy's dead, Gene Siskel.

[Reply #545 on:]

I finally saw This is Spinal Tap last night. It's indeed very funny and I just love the way those guys improvise a lot (all?) of the lines: one of them says something hilarious and the others just nod in agreement and then say something even more hilarious. The music was also very good. Hilarious movie.

[Reply #546 on:]

Dodgeball

I got back from the cinema with my mum 20 minutes ago and Dodgeball was really hilarious. Ben Stiller really steals the show as the sleaze ball, good for nothing and totally vain White GoodMan. Ben is so funny. I did not know that Christine Taylor married him.

I couldn’t stop laughing at the scene where they have spanners thrown at them. I almost choked on my popcorn. Rip Torn was also funny in that movie. I advise you guys to go and see it.

[Reply #547 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
Melllll... but the other guy's dead, Gene Siskel.

Quick, name a British movie reviewer!!
Exactly!
Melll gets an A for effort. 

[Reply #548 on:]

PFFT. British stuff can't compare to the mighty globalization of the US empire! Everyone put on your GAP clothes and enjoy a Big Mac!

What does England have? Hugh Grant? Pfft!

[Reply #549 on:]

Just recently saw South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut and loved it. For some reason, all of the swearing and crudeness didn't really bother me at all, even though it usually does in the series, which is way cleaner, and I liked the actual plot more than what is regularly in the series too. All of the songs kicks ass, it's funny as hell, and has it has a really good message.

A+

(Edited because of a mistake with bold text)

[Reply #550 on:]

Sweet Jesus fuck. I saw Garden State. And what is it? Only the best fucking film I've seen this year.

I am incredibly jealous. Not only did Zack Braff write, direct, and act amazingly well in his first-ever film, but he got to make out with Natalie Portman. On numerous occasions. Bloody wanker. 

It's a great movie; I have never personally identified with the characters in any movie the way I did with Braff and Portman.  Maybe I'm not doped-out on antidepressants, but I'm as emotionally repressed as they come. Braff is great, Ian Holm is great, the supporting cast is great, and Natalie Portman is simply outstanding (which proves to me once and for all that George Lucas is the only thing holding the Star wars prequels back).

I've known so many Sam-like people (male and female) in my life that parts of the film seemed eerily similar to my own experiences (Portman's "do something completely original" freakout especially). The scene in the bar where Sam explains the story behind the helmet she wears is one of the most touching things I've ever seen.

I cannot reccommend this film to you enough. The perfect balance of humor, drama, and romance all draped in the silent introspection of a man purposely avoiding the emotional highs and lows of life. A+.

 

Originally posted by BumbleBeeTheta:
Garden State
The only thing that bothered me was the ending.  The last few scenes didn't seem to fit very well with the rest of the film, and Ian Holm had this look about him that screamed, "Okay, I'm reading this idiot's lines.  Can I have my money now?"  I highly recommend it, but just know that the ending is inconsistent with the bulk of the film.

For the sake of those who haven't seen the film:

Show spoiler

I can see how you'd judge Holm's performance that way, but I see his wooden-ness as an integral part of his character. Since he's apparently laid all the blame for his family falling apart ultimately on himself, it's no wonder that he's so numb. He couldn't return his family to the bliss they never had, and it permanently twisted him emotionally. Plus, the whole father-son relationship is additionally twisted thanks to Largeman's emotional past and his role as both father, psychologist and psychiatrist.

On your second point: I thought the sudden upbeat turn of the last act was a great way to show the world as Largeman experiences it out of the influence of medication. The emotional pendulum swings to far greater extremes (all the happiness, all the tears) since he allowed himself to feel again. And since the film has an obvious message, it only makes sense that when Largeman confronts his pent-up emotions head on the result is a happy ending.

The soundtrack also kicked major ass. 

[Reply #551 on:]

Natalie Portman blew(although not as much as she did in Star Wars). She should be punched in the vagina.

[Reply #552 on:]

So, as far as I can tell, people though that Natalie Portman a) rocked, or b) sucked.  There doesn't seem to be any middle ground.

She sucked, by the way.

[Reply #553 on:]

If by "sucked" you mean "rocked my fucking socks off", then I agree. Though I'd be kind of curious how you came to be wearing "fucking socks" in the first place.

2...

[Reply #554 on:]

I don't understand why everyone violently loved Garden State so much. I really wanted to see it. I usually love movies like that. I'd give it a B- at best though...

It wasn't that great! Natalie Portman (Sam) made my skin crawl in the scenes at her house. Later on she got more bareable, but she was almost a completely different character. How the hell old was Sam supposed to be? The only clues were the fact that she had a job (so at least 16) and that she was drinking beer in a bar (so at least 21, although you could have fooled me). If they said she was in high school I would have bought it. She's epileptic, but that factors into the movie for about, oh, one second and then she becomes a thin boring normal girl. The only thing I did like about her was the fact that she wasn't a loser like all of Large's other friends. If that's a movie for my generation then I feel bad for my peers.

After the scene at Sam's house the movie got better for me, but the ending made me want to stab myself. They try to be all realistic and indie and then pull some crap with

Show spoiler

Large getting off the plane at the last second, finding Sam in the airport and telling her he wants to be with her right now. Not to mention the heartfelt scene earlier on the steps where he proclaims his deep feeling for the girl he has only known for FOUR days. Oh we're so in love for real! Give me a break. That's the most Hollywood BS ending I've ever seen.

[Reply #555 on:]

*high fives Nix*

I should clarify that I thought the movie was decent to good, overall. But the Natalie character sucked, and even though her acting wasn't really Star Wars-level bad, I don't see why people are suddenly considering her a good actress again. She's no Keira Knightly, that's for damn sure.

[Reply #556 on:]

 

Originally posted by FishyJoe:
She's no Keira Knightly, that's for damn sure.

What I saw in "Pirates of the Caribbean" didn't really impress me that much. Is "King Arthur" the movie she really shines in? 

[Reply #557 on:]

 

Originally posted by LAN.gnome:
  Is "King Arthur" the movie she really shines in?   

I dont think ANYONE shined in that shitty King Arthur movie.

[Reply #558 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nasty Pasty:
 I dont think ANYONE shined in that shitty King Arthur movie.

Note the smiley face. Note its tongue sticking out. Note my history of sarcasm.

[Reply #559 on:]

Hero

Not a bad film, but a little disappointing.  I was expecting a straight-out, wall-to-wall action film that would knock my socks off, and got a really good action film with dramatic tendancies.  Not that I mind dramatic tendancies or anything, but I wish I had known it was coming.  Took me a while to shift my expectations from a kick-ass martial arts film to a thoughful, literate movie with kick-ass sequences.  Really great cinematogrphy, though.  If you have the chance to see it on the big screen, do yourself a favour and see it.  The film's not what I was hoping for, but it's better then most of the action films I saw this summer.

Rating: B+

EDIT: Becuase, as David A pointed out, it's not really a samurai film.