IT STINKS!!! ...or not.

[Reply #400 on:]

Run Lola Run
Was a pretty good movie...  I'm glad we watched it in German class   

killbill looks pretty good...

Edit: Wow 3rd TOTPD in like 2 days. w00t I'm on a roll!   

[Reply #401 on:]

Lost in Translation
I know everyone else knows this is already a critic's darling, but...simply put, this is the best film I've seen this year.  I didn't see Sofia Coppola's first film, but her work here indicates she's a brilliant artist to watch.  The script she penned is as witty as it is poignant, and the direction is breathtaking.  To quote an Entertainment Weekly reviewer, the cinematography serves as "a photographic love letter to Tokyo."  Filmed entirely on location, this film surrounds the viewer until they feel they really are in Japan, and made me really eager for my trip there next summer.  Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are a pair of incredible actors, and their work here is just amazing.  I don't think this is just a stuffy film about rich people, and certainly doesn't glamourize the lifestyle.  If anything, it makes me think of how unpleasant things would be.  However, that's not the point of the movie.  I'm not going to spoil anything, but it really tugged at my heartstrings, though the ending is very fitting.  That said, I recommend this film to anyone looking for a slick, literate dramedy. 

[Reply #402 on:]

Kill Bill

           

'nuff said. Go see it!

[Reply #403 on:]

 

Originally posted by Jeremy:
Kill Bill

              

'nuff said. Go see it!

I concur. It's a great movie, almost as good as Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.

[Reply #404 on:]

Grumble, grumble, stupid English rating system. I can smoke and have sex (yeah, sure), but I can't see Kill Bill.

[Reply #405 on:]

Kill Bill: Vol. 1
An Open Letter to Miramax Films:
For some reason, you have decided to take Quentin Tarantino's 4th film, Kill Bill, and release it in two parts.  Though I know a lot of people are complining about this decision, it may have been a good choice.  After seeing Vol. 1, I can see how 3 hours of that may be overkill and numb the auidence.  That is not my complaint.
My compliant is that after releasing Part 1 October 2003, you have elected to wait until Febuary 2004 to release Volume 2.  It is here I must take exception.  First, it makes a laughing stock of the films excellent trailer, which contains the slogan "In 2003 Uma Thurman will Kill Bill."  Unfortunatly, Bill is left standing at the end of Volume 1.  I can see the trailers now... "OK, we were wrong, but trust us, in 2004, Uma Thurman really will Kill Bill.  Honestly, no fooling."  Second, Kill Bill is not The Lord of the Rings.  You will find no hardcore KB fans who will admire the segmented structure as staying true to the source.  So my request to you is this.  I understand Volume 2 is still undergoing final editing.  Rush that job as much as possilbe and bump Kill Bill: Vol. 2 up to maximum a late-December release.  Please.

Our Feature Presentation:
Barring any unforseen developments (please Miramax?), I think I've found my favourite film of the year.  The film plays homage to exploitation/kung-fu/revenge movies, while simultainiously trancending all those genres (OK, I'll try to cut down on the $5 words from now on) to become something more (and something more kick-ass).  Uma Thurman hits all the right notes as The Bride, a... but you probably know the story by now.  (If not, you've probably given up on this long-winded review long ago anyway.)  Uma kicks ass, in the same way Bruce Lee kicks ass, in the same way Sonny Chiba (who appears in the film) kicks ass, in the same way Jackie Chan or Charlie Chaplin or Gene Kelly or ANY physical performer kicks ass when they're at their best and know it.  QT's music gives the film just the right edge (movies'll have to work hard from now on to show me something better then samurai fights set to spagetti western music).  The camerawork is amazing (love the sequence in the bar while Uma walks to the restroom and the camera uses that as an excuse to fly all over the place), but there is one moment showing a bullet come out of a gun in extreme detail that seems like it would be more at home in a Robert Rodriguez movie (QT calls RR "my brother" in the special thanks during the film's end credits).The whole thing left me breathless and pleading that Miramax will listen to me (not bloody likely) about Volume 2.

5 stars of 5

[Reply #406 on:]

When's it out in UK/Ireland?

[Reply #407 on:]

October 17th nationwide. But if you're in London go to the UCI Empire and see it now, like I did last night! What a film! I wrote a short review in the Kill Bill thread.

[Reply #408 on:]

Finding Nemo:
Good job Pixar, some of the opening water sequences were amazingly colourful and epilepsy inducing.
The characters were all spot on and although I was in a cinema with 100 people who haven't yet mastered the art of bladder control and I was on the very left seat in the front row beside the door, I enjoyed it a lot.
Plenty of laughs like the karate crab, fish killing Psycho-girl and the annoying seagulls! 
I may have to buy it on DVD which I hope has that great early-Pixar Snowman short film at the start.

[Reply #409 on:]

Whoa.

Never have I gone into a theater with so many expectations, only to have the movie neatly sidestep all of them and still deliver a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying experience. As many reviewers have said, this movie plays with your expectations of what rules a movie follows (chronology, consistent style, soundtrack, etc.).

I was impresssed by this movie. It makes me want to see the rest of Tarantino's flicks that much more! This will probably be one of only two movie soundtracks I plan on actually purchasing (the other would be Return of the King. I will buy that sight unseen -- or should I say, "sound unheard." ). Coming from a pirate like me, spending money on music is a huge compliment to a movie's soundtrack.

Rating: As many objects out of however many objects an item can possibly score on your favorite scale (stars, thumbs up, Jesus heads, etc.). Plus one more, for awesomeness.

My name is Buck, and I'm here to fuck.

[Reply #410 on:]

Requiem for a dream

Brutally powerful film which isn't afraid to tell the disturbing truth.

It hard to enjoy a film which tells the truth about drugs in a brutal way. This film would get just about everyone off drugs if they aren't stoned while watching it.
Making this film compulsory for all students at school over the age of 16 could work to lower the amount of teen deaths caused by overdoses of drugs. It opened up my eyes when i was 14. Not enough is taught at school about the consequences of drugs and the inability to think properly under the influence. So making this film compulsory will have an affect even on the most stubborn students.
The four main actors each deserved an academy awards for their powerfully convincing performances as drug addicts. Particularly the two main women Jennifer Connelly and Ellen Burstyn. The style of film making presented in this film is utterly engrossing, the music is hauntingly unnerving and the message gives great meaning to today's out of control society.

A+

[Reply #411 on:]

Kill Bill

The only way I could really describe this is "live-action anime."

I'll abstain from rating until I can see the two parts as a cohesive whole.

[Reply #412 on:]

I finally saw Kill Bill today (thanks a lot, VF.) And, to sum my feelings up in three words, I'd have to say "good, but disappointing." From all the buzz I heard about it, I thought the movie was going to be "FANTASTIC!", or at least on par with Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction. Instead, it was a solidly enjoyable, fun movie that had some holes and some bizarre bits.

To me, the whole movie was centered around the huge fight in the Japanese bar. That was obviously the centerpiece of the film. (Sadly, I think "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a much better way of destroying a restaurant...) The fight scenes did seem a little to "stunty," and the amount of gore was humorous at times, but I guess that's part of the genre.

For some reason, I think "Kill Bill" would have made an excellent 26 episode anime series. Maybe that's just because of the chapter breakdown.

I really wish that they'd shown both halves. That would help me put my thoughts together better.

Overall, a B.

Oh, and Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu equal hotness. 

Bender: "We weren't counting on them being as deadly as they are sexy."
Lucy Liu: "A dangerous mistake."

[Reply #413 on:]

Finding Nemo

I liked this film. But I didn't find it very funny, and I'm not sure why. The animation was awesome, it was so well designed, and it was really colourful as well. Bruce the shark rocked. As did Crush the turtle. I was the only one in the cinema to laugh at The Shining ("Here's Brucie!" ) and Monty Python ("Swim away! Swim away!) references though  I give it an A 

[Reply #414 on:]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

<sigh>

There have been many remakes of films done over the years, horror movies among them.  Some of them have been pretty good, David Cronenberg's version of 'The Fly', John Carpenter's remake of 'The Thing', while most of them have fallen into the category of pretty bad to god-awful, which for me would be the re-make of Psycho, for example.  TTCM falls into the latter category, actually near the bottom.  While the first film was an exercise in  fear, the new one simply tries to out-gore it.  Yes, there is a fair amount of gore and violence in it, not as much as say, Dead Alive, but still some, and I enjoy R. Lee Ermey's character of the sheriff, but, there's gotta be more to a horror movie than that, and this was sorely lacking.  I didn't empathize with the characters caught up in the awfulness, (though Jennifer Beal is still nice looking) and just felt sort of, meh.  If the remake of Dawn of the Dead is this bad, then I may just start to fill my dvd collection with more stuff from overseas, because, aside from Cabin Fever, there haven't been any large release studo films this year that gave me a decent fright.  Don't waste money on this at the theater (I didn't, I saw it for free, it's good top have a buddy who's a theater manager, and let's you see all of the horror movies that come in when they do the preview for the workers  ).  Instead, go and rent the original version by Tobe Hooper, watch and listen, and just get carried away for a few hours, in a place down in Texas, down the road from a slaughter house, and listen for the saw.  I've always found that what's scarier, is what you can imagine than what you have to see on screen, and that's what the 2003 version of Chainsaw is lacking, for me anyway.

(Now, to rest for a while, and then put in 'The Fog' for a good ghost story)

[Reply #415 on:]

Kill Billy:
Hmmm, a great movie for sure.
I didn't expect the Anime bit and I thought it was certainly a bit more serious at times than QT's last films but hey, it is his first unrealistic type movie (i.e. like live action anime).
Sure is plenty of suspense and it has a great cliffhanger and the fights are spot on!!

10 tentacles up!!

[Reply #416 on:]

i know people are pissed off that it was realeased in two far apart parts, but here is why i think they would do it

1. it is much to long to release as one movie, nobody would sit in the theater for about the 4 hours long i think it will be together

2. if they release both parts together, people will think that mirimax is just trying to get more money by making you see two movies and they would be angry

they probably did a focus group to see how close together they could put it without people thinking that mirimax were milking them for cash

[Reply #417 on:]

Just got back from seeing Kill Bill.

Like other people I was decidedly underwhelmed. It was pretty funny in places but this was mostly due to the slapstick nature of the violence. This film is clearly Tarantino's wet dream, and all credit to him for succeeding enough as a film maker to be let loose on something like this. But next time he should move more in the direction of Jackie Brown went, as I think that is his best film.

[Reply #418 on:]

Rented two movies last night...

28 Days Later
It's a zombie film, and as such must inevitabley be compared to Romero's definitive zombie trilogy, especialy as this film helps itself to aspects from all three of those films (most prominantly, Day of the Dead).  Still, it's not bad.  I don't necessicarily need to see it again any time soon, but I don't regret having watched it.  And I like the radical alternate ending on the DVD (despite it's fatal flaw) more then the actual ending.  (instead od ripping off Day of the Dead, it heads more in the direction of Near Dark, a vampire movie from the mid to late 80s.)
Grade: B-

The Italian Job
I think I like this more then the original, for the simple fact that it actually ends, rather then just stops.  Mark Whalberg is as bland and lifeless as always, but the filmmakers realize this and surround him with interesting people.  And I love Minis!  I wanted one before I ever saw this movie, but now I really want one.
Grade: B

[Reply #419 on:]

I spent my Halloween watching "Identity." Nice atmosphere, nice performances, good idea. And it was a decent little thriller, until...

Show spoiler

It turned into "The 3" from "Adaptation". I've never been more pissed off at a movie's ending. Does every thriller/horror movie have to have a "shocking twist" ending now?

Final Grade: C.

[Reply #420 on:]

Daredevil

What if you took Batman, crossed it with Spider-Man, filled the lead role with an actor who makes Keanu look active, and spent so much time making every shot look cool that you didn't have any left to, say, write a script that was the least bit original or coherent? You'd get something like this movie. The only thinks worth watching in this movie are Collin Farrel's Bullseye and Jennifer Garner's chest. And they even took THAT away. D+.

[Reply #421 on:]

Matrix Revolutions

good movie, very good last battle and

Show spoiler

a bad end (that what i think) but i give it

5/5

[Reply #422 on:]

 

The Italian Job
I think I like this more then the original, for the simple fact that it actually ends, rather then just stops.

Sacrilege! *beats Boingo with a trout* 

I haven't seen the new version of the Italian Job but since I love the old one, I might as well save everyone the spewing of bile.

[Reply #423 on:]

*posts to see Lurrr's review*

[Reply #424 on:]

The Matrix: Revolutions
Well, the final chapter of that film that blew me away in '99 is loose and ready for viewing.
I wasn't dissapointed, I loved it.
There were some things I expected, some things I didn't.
I'm glad you get to see more of some stuff that was in the two previous films.

The big war was so awesome I didn't know what I was looking at sometimes, stunning visuals.
Soundtrack was cool as usual and the ending didn't suck too much ass.

A, baby!

[Reply #425 on:]

Forgive me... this is just to see if this will unbreak this page, so I can read all the posts. If it works, I'll edit it later and add a review of The Matrix: Revolutions.

[Reply #426 on:]

Well I went to see Matrix Revolution and I thought it was really good. But it wasn’t as good as the first two. It has some unexpected and surprising scenes. Shame that they only have two scenes of Agent Smith

[Reply #427 on:]

 

Originally posted by boingo2000:
The Italian Job
I think I like this more then the original, for the simple fact that it actually ends, rather then just stops.  Mark Whalberg is as bland and lifeless as always, but the filmmakers realize this and surround him with interesting people.

There's no part of that I disagree with.

Another thing the second Italian Job did better was character development.  Seriously, how many minor characters can you name for the original.  ::Realizes most Brits probably have them memorized::

[Reply #428 on:]

The Matrix Revolutions

...was a terrible movie. I'd love to bitch more about it, but I just don't have my heart in it, with this thread. Oh how I wish someone would bump up the old Matrix thread, so we could all properly discuss the film.

[Reply #429 on:]

I actually want to see Matrix Revolutions again, just so I can work on my list of all the movies it ripped off.
(spoiler free vagueness
Smith/Neo flying around reminded me of the power puff girls...
and the other thingy reminded me of the Wizard of Oz
And I love trinity and the turnstyles. She's so outrageous!

But I am not a fan of Zion, or anything or anyone in Zion. I wish they had more stuff in the Matrix, or at least on the ship(s) because Zion is boring and seems like every other action sci/fi movie ever made. I think that in terms of making sense, this movie is better than the 2nd one, but the 2nd one was better in that it wasn't as boring and they had semi interesting characters and situations (even if it was pointless... [ie: ghost twins, sex cake, everything and everyone else in the entire 2nd movie]).
The original Matrix was good, and the next 2 movies just serve to make me appreciate the original more. The 3rd one lacks the philosophy of the 1st and the creative pointlessness of the 2nd. It's like they all just got tired and burned out and decided to write the movie as a giant fight scene with fire and explosions. And

Show spoiler

why the fuck would they take neo out of the movie for so long? the entire Zion fight made me check my watch about 3 times and then the smith fight seemed tacked on at the end...

Ps- My favorite part of the whole movie was Smith and the cookies. tee hee.

[Reply #430 on:]

I have to disagree

Revolutions, was as good as the first one, and kicked the crap out of reloaded. The story was well written and I liked how each section of the story was dealt with at once rather than cutting away all the time (can anyone say 2 towers?).

The ending was good, and so leaves it open if they wanna do anymore stories in the matrix universe.

Very good indeed 5/5

[Reply #431 on:]

 

Originally posted by Grim:
Revolutions, was as good as the first one, and kicked the crap out of reloaded. The story was well written and I liked how each section of the story was dealt with at once rather than cutting away all the time (can anyone say 2 towers?).

Yeah, I sure love those interminable, pointless, full-of-visual-effects fights where your ass goes numb and your head starts spinning around and you begin to ask yourself if this was even worth your time.

[Reply #432 on:]

I don't understand a world where being money grubbing whores and leaving the ending open for a sequel is a GOOD thing

it's not like sequels are God's gift to the movie going public

[Reply #433 on:]

Watch out for spoilers, kids.

Show spoiler

Forgive me, but with Neo's death merely reaffirming the status quo for those still in the Matrix, what was the point of the entire Matrix trilogy? Sure, the Architect may be letting folks out now, but seriously, do you think there'll be any takers? I can see Morpheus now:

"The Matrix has you! Your life is a lie! Abandon the facade and come live in this fiery shithole of a planet! Also there are robots!"

[Reply #434 on:]

What I meant was that I thought the ending was good AND and left it open.

It is inevitable that they will do more with the franchise

Show spoiler

I dont think he was dead, the last shot showed up through his eyes, he just like every one else who was "smith copied" went back to normal

[Reply #435 on:]

in a movie when Neo can reach inside trinity and remove a bullet, thus bringing her back to life...

Show spoiler

I wouldn't doubt that they could find a way of having a sequel

but the fact is that if the rules get made as they go along, it's not compelling for me to watch

[Reply #436 on:]

Matrix: Lord of the Dragonballs

Ok the title is not my orginal idea but after seeing the movie I think it pretty much sums it up.

Now I am not the biggest Matrix (I have alot of problems with it thinking it is more clever than it is). That said I did not hate this movie (Certainly not as much as I hated reloaded). I was particully happy that they had cut out most of the psudo theological/Philogical crap that plauged the first two films in favour of more action.
I was happy to see Hugo Weaving hamming it up in this film big style

Show spoiler

I was slightly perturbed that the Twins did not return since they were the best part of Reloaded.
I also could not stop myself from laughing at the final fight (alot of people stared at me but couldn't help it) since it seemed to me like a blaitent Dragonball Z homage(or rip off depnends how you see the Wachoski's work). I mean come on the genral dynamic of the fighting, the water explosions and the dialouge that verged on "Well my power level is like a billion"

As for the ending. I was thought it was quite good. I know alot of people like to have some kind of finality but personally I like this way of ending a movie.
There was some cheese in this movie but it was not as bad as reloaded.
Granted it was better than the last film it still had alot of problems with it. As such I give it a
c

[Reply #437 on:]

The Matrix Revolutions

It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, but it wasn't too good either. I kinda understood the plot at first, but got very confused at the end. I didn't like the ending very much though. Fight scene between Neo and Smith was quite good, but the flying thing started to annoy me. I'll give it a C+/B- 

[Reply #438 on:]

The Matrix Reloaded

A pretty good movie, marred by a stupid ending.  Better than Reloaded, but not as good as the original.  I'd put more, but I promised myself I'd write this without using spoilers.

Final Grade: B ( but on a good day you might be able to get me to upgrade that to B+)

[Reply #439 on:]

Matrix Revolutions

It was bad, but it was good.