I Don't Read the Reviews, The Reviews Read Me!

[Reply #240 on:]

The Searchers
I preferred Back to the Future Part III, but a nice try nonetheless!

B+

Fried Green Tomatoes
I still don't know what to think. I'd describe it as Forrest Gump meets Quantum Leap. And I don't know why.

C

Che (Parts 1 & 2)
*insert expected Communist idol diatribe here*

I saw both of Steven Soderbergh's films (the Argentine and the Guerrilla) when they premiered at the sold-out Ziegfeld Theater in NYC for a limited run on the 12th of December. All of the 1000+ in attendance received a limited edition program book which included behind-the-scenes info and the film credits which were not added to the film. The two films were shown back-to-back with a 20 minute intermission, which landed the entire showing at around 5 hours.

In terms of the films, they were a mixed bag. Guevara is portrayed brilliantly by Benicio del Toro who deserves all the praise in the world for objectively playing such a controversial figure with such passion and realism. The first film, The Argentine is based off interviews that Guevara gave in 1963, and tells the story of the Cuban Revolution interspersed with black and white scenes of Guevara's address to the UN in 1964 (which include a hilarious encounter between Che and US Senator Joe McCarthy). The second film (based off Che's Bolivian Diary), The Guerrilla chronicles the depressing account from of Che's failed Bolivian campaign in 1966-1967, which ultimately leads to his capture and execution at the hands of CIA agents. While not as good or riveting as the first film, Guerrilla does provide interesting contrast between the two campaigns.

The second film concluded with a huge standing ovation, which must have lasted well over 5 minutes. Expecting my the night to be over, I, and most of the audience started moving towards the doors, before a representative from IFC, the company who sponsored the limited engagement came in front of the screen and introduced a surprise guest, the director, Steven Soderbergh who thanked us all for attending and proceeded to answer questions from the audience about the film, the subject, and the making of it. As expected, the audience was polarized between those who loved the film's portrayal of Che and at the same time, people who constantly shouted out insults and were generally very contentious. Soderbergh was both very modest and defensive about the subject, saying that he chose to portray Che as the warrior in the campaigns because he felt the most intrigued by those periods in his life; and that he does agree that Che was brutal and vicious, responding to criticism that the film glorifies him as a martyr and not as a dictator who presided over political executions and as some say, terrorism.

Following the Q&A, he said that he'll happily sign any autographs or answer any more questions, to which I had him sign my program and take a picture. Of course, the guy who took the picture snapped it too early and he happens to be looking away, but it's still pretty cool regardless:



So all in all:

Part 1:   9/10
Part 2:   7/10
The total experience:   11/10

That was one of the worst film/Q&A session reviews I've ever read. And I'm counting my own.

[Reply #241 on:]

Was Fried Green Tomatos the one where they ate all the black people? Or the black people ate the white people, I can't remember. Anyway, there was cannibalism, but at least they had a sense of humour about it. 

[Reply #242 on:]

Perhaps Amy needs to listen to the Fountains directors commentary to get it.
It used to be up on Aronofsky's site but not anymore (it's still available via other mediums if anyone's interested I can PM them).

Edit: wow lots of posts while I was typing that.

[Reply #243 on:]

Aww books, why don't you go cry over Titanic some more.  If you do it loud enough, maybe someday a girl will care about you.

[Reply #244 on:]

Such a lovely person.

[Reply #245 on:]

DVD players and PRJOECTOR LAMP BROKEN

[Reply #246 on:]

Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling

Might be the worst movie I've ever seen.

Yep, it is.

[Reply #247 on:]

Can't be worse than the original?

[Reply #248 on:]

Without a Paddle is a good movie, it's not the best or anything but I enjoy watching it. However, it seems like its gonna pull an American Pie Presents stunt and lay out a whole batch of shitty almost-pornos.

[Reply #249 on:]

Bianca I think you should listen to this Twilight review.

[Reply #250 on:]

I don't like people that review movies, they are evil.

[Reply #251 on:]

Roger Ebert has terrible taste in movies and I never agree with him 

[Reply #252 on:]

Most of the movies I like, critics hate, is it me or them?

No, it's definetely them.

[Reply #253 on:]

The only movie I have to judge your taste on is Twilight, so... 
Maybe list 2-4 movies that you really love.

[Reply #254 on:]

Good thinking, Books.  If we knew that, we could really crush her spirit.

[Reply #255 on:]

watched Donnie Darko again last night

such a brilliant movie and so many details you spot with every time you watch it again

like the mother is using flight 2806, gate 42 and leaving at 12 am - 28:06:42:12 is the time left for donnie as given by frank
and the number 8 is in it a lot

Code: [Select]

year- 1988
the number adds up to 88
the "not until 8th grade" remark by donnie
his dog died when donnie was 8
the fire was extinguished sometime after 8
donnie mentioned the DeLorean... it had to reach 88mph to travel through timedonnie is shown to be good at shooting a gun (important for the climaxing scene)


definitly 10/10

[Reply #256 on:]

Never Back Down

If you think Top Gun needed two more hours of beach volleyball and none of that boring airplane stuff, this is your film.

God, my partner has terrible taste in movies.  At least she enjoyed Primeval enough to let us watch the whole series last weekend.

[Reply #257 on:]

Can't be worse than the original?

Fuck you guy! "I bet you learnt how to play the shit out of that harmonica" is one of the best lines EVAR.

[Reply #258 on:]

I saw Deep Rising yesterday, but I was half-asleep before I even started it so I was half asleep the whole movie, but the monster was cool, and I liked the ending, it reminded me of lost. All parts that I saw made this a deffinite 10/10 movie in category B.

[Reply #259 on:]

my partner

*sparkly gif*

I don't know where you guys get them though.

[Reply #260 on:]

Gay bars, I'd imagine.

[Reply #261 on:]

Never Back Down

If you think Top Gun needed two more hours of beach volleyball and none of that boring airplane stuff, this is your film.

God, my partner has terrible taste in movies.  At least she enjoyed Primeval enough to let us watch the whole series last weekend.

11/10?

[Reply #262 on:]

If you think Top Gun needed two more hours of beach volleyball

Don't make me post that Kate Beaton strip..

Also, from what I hear it sounds like I should maybe see Donnie Darko.

[Reply #263 on:]

No no, see The Fountain.

[Reply #264 on:]

You know what, after reading some of the stuff on here I was curious about that one, actually... What is it about?

No, I don't pay very much attention to movies     : /.

[Reply #265 on:]

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better.

[Reply #266 on:]

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better. I don't know.

Fixed.

[Reply #267 on:]

hehe, True. You shouldn't have any notions of what it is before you watch it.

[Reply #268 on:]

That boy in the Spiderwick Chronicles is really annoying but his sister is cute

[Reply #269 on:]

Are you sure that wasn't Bridge to Terabithia?

[Reply #270 on:]

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better. I don't know.

Fixed.

<3

EDIT: What is it with quoting and it starting the cursor in the middle of the quote...

[Reply #271 on:]

Beethoven's Big Break

Honestly the best Beethoven yet. Even better than Beethoven's 2nd.

Four woofs out of five!

[Reply #272 on:]

It's about some guy who tries to find the tree of life or something and then he gets devoured by it.

[Reply #273 on:]

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better. I don't know.

Fixed.

<3

EDIT: What is it with quoting and it starting the cursor in the middle of the quote...

I don't know but it's annoying.

I read a Benjamin Button review in the paper this morning. It was long and I don't think it was very good as a review, but the reviewer thought the movie was good. He mentioned Forrest Gump, Zodiac and Seven and complemented Pitt's acting. But the review was overly long.

[Reply #274 on:]

Sympathy for Mr Vengeance

I saw Oldboy on television quite a while back and as I enjoyed it I eventually bought the trilogy on DVD. Although it is called a trilogy the films are not connected apart from the common theme of revenge. The story here is more simple as we are shown why the various characters are behaving how they do to each other. This doesn't make this a weaker film though.

Show spoiler

Ryu is a deaf mute who's only wish in life is to help his sister get a kidney transplant, unfortunately there is a long queue for organs and he isn't a match. He decides that the only way he can help her is to acquire a kidney on the black market, this will of course cost him a lot of money... and one of his own kidneys. When he wakes up from the procedure he finds the organ traffickers have gone leaving him alone and naked with no money and one less kidney. With tragic timing he soon learns that a kidney has become available for his sister but now he no longer has the money for the operation. As he has no way of legally raising the money required his girl friend suggests kidnapping a child and holding it for ransom. Initially all goes according to plan the child believes he is just looking after her and he leaves her with his sister while he collects the ransom. Once back things have gone tragically wrong, he finds that his sister has committed suicide. As he has promised that when she died he would bury her where they played as children he drives to a remote river and covers her body with rocks, unfortunately while doing this he doesn't pay attention to the young kidnapped girl and she falls into the river and drowns. This starts the downward spiral of revenge where he goes after the organ traffickers he blames for his sister's death and the girl's doting father comes after him and his girlfriend for what they did.

I think the film lived up to its title as I did feel sympathy for both of the men seeking vengeance even though it was inevitable that they actions would only lead to further tragedy. The leading actors all did a good job, I particularly liked Du-na Bae who played Cha Yeong-mi, Ryu's communist girl friend. While this film isn't excessively violent there were a few scenes which made me squeamish, particularly the scene where one character has his Achilles tendons cut, I won't say which characters were involved in that to avoid spoiling the film.

8/10

[Reply #275 on:]

nice review, tweek

i still need to wath Mr Vengeance... Oldboy and Lady Vengeance both are fantastic

[Reply #276 on:]

If you think Top Gun needed two more hours of beach volleyball

Don't make me post that Kate Beaton strip..

Honestly, that was the first thing I thought of.

[Reply #277 on:]

Are you sure that wasn't Bridge to Terabithia?

She's cute too

[Reply #278 on:]

Honestly, that was the first thing I thought of.

I guessed it

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better.

Not telling, just watch it. The less you know the better. I don't know.

Fixed.

hehe, True. You shouldn't have any notions of what it is before you watch it.

'Kay, I get the picture... kinda sorta... maybe.

I've resisted the urge to just look it up myself then.

[Reply #279 on:]

Coraline

The Good: The 3D and the many Michigan things.

The Bad: Almost naked old cartoon women.

The meh: The movie plot.

I give it a C+