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Post by thug on Dec 18, 2005 18:44:32 GMT
King Kong (2005/Jackson) On one hand, this has an unbelievably terrible screenplay, making it seem that at times the only dialogue is stupid one-liners. About 2/3s of the screenplay could've been cut and the story could've still been told (the two-hour original film seems too long itself). Over half of the movie is filled with action scenes, but none of them are thrilling at all because Jackson's direction deprives them of suspense. The script may have been able to work with a more convincable lead, but Jack Black, like Elijah Wood in Jackson's "Lord of the Rings," is one of the worst casting decisions possible. A lot of the CGI looks fake, especially during any movement or interaction with real people or locations. It really is distracting and takes one out of the movie. Finally, the editing at times is laughable. During the scene where it was revealed they were going to Skull Island, the editing was so amateurish that the theater found it comedic (S! K! U! L! L!). But somehow it almost works. As a mystery science theater type film--basically, a guilty pleasure with bad lines, bad acting, and bad special effects--the movie is watchable, if forgettable. Namoi Watts delivers a good performance. The CGI for Kong is amazing, but once again, once he moves or interacts with any real people or locations, it becomes obviously fake. The real problem with King Kong is, to put it bluntly, that it's basically Peter Jackson masturbating for three hours; its deeply personal, but it is nothing anybody else wants to watch.
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Post by Vercetti on Dec 18, 2005 19:14:07 GMT
I suspected a lot of the things you said Thug, though I have a feeling it might be good, considering a lot more people than I figured are finding something good in it aside the action. I heard it adds believable drama to the story.
I'm surprised though, some people are finding Jack Black to be one of the bad things in the film.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 19, 2005 17:59:03 GMT
It's a Wonderful Life(1946/Frank Capra) [Second Viewing] A man is stopped from suicide by his guardian angel, who shows him what life would be like if he'd never been born.Sad and depressing, but ultimately a hopeful and joyous experience, showcasing a certain Americana that is the epitome of Capra's career. James Stewart gives his best performance as George Bailey, a man of regret but who is never selfish. Stewart's first film after returning home from Word War II, and it shows. He posses this look of frailty and insecurity that truly makes George one of the best characters of classic American cinema.
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Post by Vercetti on Dec 20, 2005 3:10:59 GMT
Wedding Crashers - (David Dobkin;2005;USA) One of two wedding crashers falls in love with a woman at the latest wedding he crashes, only to find she's got a boyfriend.Unlike The 40 Year Old Virgin, this falls into cliche much more. It begins very funny but soon falls into 100% pure cliche plot. I knew what would happen, the role of the bad boyfriend, and everything before it happened. Hell, I even knew who "Chazz" would be, though that cameo was enjoyable. This film proves to be a good, funny comedy, although it doesn't achieve anything better. Vaughn and Wilson make their otherwise average characters very likable.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 20, 2005 3:19:11 GMT
The Big Lebowski(1998/Joel Coen) [Second Viewing] A slacker of sorts gets confused with a wealthy tycoon, and is brought into the stranger side of the L.A. crime world.Considered by some to be a tribute to the work of Raymond Chandler, but it's too obscure to be considered anything other than a Coen brother's fantasy. Oh, but a wonderful world they give us, with a fine cast and great soundtrack, it is probably their most entertaining work to date, very worthy of it's huge cult following.
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Post by Driver on Dec 20, 2005 15:45:27 GMT
Rear Window (1954/Alfred Hitchcock) A man stuck in his apartment with a broken leg thinks he sees a neighbour murder his wife.This is amazing. First time I watched it I was too immature to appreciate it, but now I watched it again it is actually a brilliant and amazingly made film, the tension like no other film I've seen, and possibly Hitch's best. James Stewart is amazing as always.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 21, 2005 3:47:48 GMT
The Birds(1963/Alfred Hitchcock) [Nth Viewing] A wealthy young woman seeks the affection of a lawyer living in a small town.Hithcock's most thought provoking film next to "Vertigo", is really a film about acceptance and female jealousy than it is a horror film. Hitchcock tells the story at a leisurely pace, with no score and limited dialogue setting a truly unnerving atmosphere. Plus, the camera captures the beautiful images of the Northern California coast. An excellent, and very misunderstood film. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe(2005/Andrew Adamson) [First Viewing] Four children staying in the British countryside during World War II discover a magical world through a wardrobe.Well adapted and highly enjoyable film version, with great special effects that are always believable. At times it loses it's way and feels like a rehash of all the recent films with similar themes. Otherwise, it's great entertainment.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 21, 2005 13:41:08 GMT
Last night I finished watching, for the second time, season five of The Sopranos. One of the best seasons, behind only season three, I'd say.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Dec 21, 2005 22:41:21 GMT
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950) First Viewing Directed by: Otto Preminger Rating: [/i] Following the offerings that Fox gives us under their "Fox Film Noir" set, I was able to capture a film that has been somewhat forgoten by time serving as just another Andrews-Tierney-Preminger collaboration that was inferior to their landmark, "Laura" in 1944. Indeed, the reputation that "Where the Sidewalk Ends" has gained over the years is not fair. It is perhaps a truer film, gritty and well-crafted with a no-nonsese look at a police detective (Dana Andrews) and his atempts to conceal an acidental murder while he is on the beat. Really, if this is one of the greatest noirs up there with "Nightmare Alley", "Laura" and "The Maltese Falcon". A MUST-SEE and cheep at only $9.99, US.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 23, 2005 0:57:50 GMT
Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman(2003/Takeshi Kitano) [First Viewing] A blind masseur enters a small village where two rival gangs are at war.An interesting film that features a unique blend of comedy, violence, and subtle observation. Being anti-climatic is it's only fault, with a final ten minutes that are not really necessary, but otherwise, it's very good. Kitano not only is a master behind the camera, but also in front in the lead role, possessing a quiet but commanding presence.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 23, 2005 4:54:13 GMT
Blackboard Jungle(1955/Richard Brooks) [First Viewing] A teacher gets a job at a dangerous urban High School.As a once controversial and much talked about film, it now feels extremely dated. However, Glenn Ford and Sidney Poitier turn in great performances, and the climax is well done. Plus, it still remains famous (and rightfully so) for introducing Rock 'n Roll into American cinema and culture.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 23, 2005 16:15:10 GMT
Glad you enjoyed Zatoichi, Omar. Is it your first taste of Kitano? I've seen five of his films, each one a very recommended gem. Zatoichi is possibly my favourite, but I've had the pleasure of viewing it more than once (first being on the big screen), and the others only once. I can'ty wait to see Hana-bi, Kikujiro, Dolls and many others. Not to mention his upcoming film, Takeshis'.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 23, 2005 22:36:26 GMT
Yes Mick, it was my first Kitano, and for some stupid reason, I didn't realize that was him in the lead role until after the film. He is very talented and I look forward to viewing his other work. Blade Runner(1982/Ridley Scott) [First Viewing] In 2019 L.A., a detective must track down and kill four human "replicants".Moody and extremely provocative combination of Sci-Fi and film-noir. Scott establishes the look and feel perfectly, painting a dark and dreary future world. The story is paced perfectly so it's just as entertaining as it is deep. Syriana(2005/Stephen Gaghan) [Second Viewing] When two oil companies merge, it sets off a chain reaction that has an effect on many people all over the globe.Told like a documentary mixed with elements of a Shakespearian tragedy and parallels between fathers and sons and old ways and new, etc. There's no denying that it's a complicated film, but upon a second viewing, I'm still convinced this is the best of 2005. Always fascinating, and every actor turns in their best performance.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 24, 2005 23:51:34 GMT
Blood Simple.(1984/Joel Coen) [First Viewing] A bar owner hires a private investigator to murder his cheating wife and her lover.One of the best neo-noirs ever made, this is the Coen brothers at their best. Darker than the usual Coen film, it also contains their trademarks of random and brutal violence mixed with dark humor. The plot can be confusing but reminds me of an idea I had for a film a long time ago. The limited dialogue adds an eerie feel as well. Great film.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 25, 2005 3:20:57 GMT
A Christmas Story(1983/Bob Clark) [Nth Viewing] A child living in the Midwest of the 1940s hopes to receive a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.A wonderful film told perfectly through the eyes of a child, which supply some of the films funniest moments. Director Clark does an excellent job at establishing time and place, making everything look very authentic and real. All the child actors are great, and Darren McGavin is very memorable as 'the old man'. A classic in every sense of the word.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 26, 2005 2:20:54 GMT
Dai-bosatsu toge Sword of Doom(1966/Kihachi Okamoto) [First Viewing] A sociopath wonders the land to achieve status as a master swordsman.Beautiful images mixed with clever editing and well shot fight sequences can not compensate for the heavy-handed story. It just might be the most beautiful film Japanese film I've seen, but sadly, the dullness of the story brings down the film. Though Tatsuya Nakadai is excellent in the lead role.
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Post by Vercetti on Dec 26, 2005 6:03:18 GMT
Proviews from the past few days. Home Alone - (Chris Columbus;1900;USA) A kid left home alone during Christmas must defend his home from burglars.Has the quirky fun of John Hughes, although with the bland direction of Columbus. However it still ends up being a very nice family comedy. One of those films that never gets old. A Christmas Story - (Bob Clark;1983;USA/Canada) In the 1940's, a kid hopes to get a BB Gun for Christmas.This may very well be the greatest Christmas film of all time, and definitely one of the greatest comedies. It sparks the child in all of us, giving it wonderful replay value. Hell, before I had the DVD I would watch it multiple times when it was played for 24 hours straight, and it never got old. The childish quality of the film is one of the highlights, such as the "fudge" scene, fantasies, and the way Ralphie's father swears. Speaking of which, I agree with Omar in how memorable Darren McGavin is in this film. One of the funniest film-fathers. Vanilla Sky - (Cameron Crowe;2001;USA) An imprisoned man tells a psychiatrist how he fell in love and became disfigured in an ex-lover's car crash which led to him committing a horrible crime.Cameron Crowe takes a gritty, emotionally impacting and thought-provoking film and remakes it into a more polished one. It is entertaining with the pop-culture references and such, but it adds nothing. In fact, it actually side-tracks some of the original's messages. This film was thought-provoking when I first saw it, but after seeing the original, I felt like I was not being shown the bigger picture. Good cinematography, excellent music, and good acting but otherwise, what is the point? I still enjoy it a lot and will probably get it soon, but it is ultimately useless cinematically. The Interpreter - (Sydney Pollack;2005;UK/USA/France) A government agent investigates an interpreter who overhears an assassination plot.A decent thriller which could've been good, but it fails by being too predictable. I wasn't shocked at all towards the end. In fact I predicted who would be the main twist. However what makes this a little different from other thrillers is the chemistry between Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman. Their characters go through a believable, caring relationship throughout the film. This quality enriches the film more, and makes it watchable. There are some very good moments of cinematography as well. Four Brothers - (John Singleton;2005;USA) Four brothers decide to avenge the murder of their mother.An Urban western as many said, of sorts. One moment that made me feel this way is towards the end where we see Bobby walk towards the camera in the snow far outside the city, in the way any cowboy would walk down the mirage-filled background of a desert. This is directed pretty well, and has some great looks, but it ultimately falls short in being believable. It has cinematic flows seen in the past in terms of climax and twists. However it turns out to be decent, with great music, good cinematography, good acting, and Singleton's touch of talent on cetain scenes.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Dec 26, 2005 7:01:58 GMT
My reviews won't be too grand... Then agian they never are. Whirlpool (1949) First Viewing Directed by: Otto Preminger Rating: [/i] Another day, another film noir. I'll be frank, I never belived much in the subject matter at hand in this film. The film is about the wife(Gene Tierney, Laura) of a prominant psycoanalyst who is a kleptomaniac. Suffering from the strain of it she stumbles upon help in the form of a hypnotyst who'm she comes to trust, but he comes to use her trust to involved her in a murder plot. Not anything grand, but it gets the job done. The fault I spose is not even in the script, which is writen by the masterful Ben Hect. The fault is in the acting, unpersonal and just not really effective. I still saw it and enjoyed it, mainly for Preminger's technical direction and the moody cinematography which is a high point in the noir genre.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Dec 26, 2005 14:34:50 GMT
I agree with Omar in how memorable Darren McGavin is in this film. One of the funniest film-fathers. "Notafinga!" is one of my favorite lines in all of cinema. The way he delivers it is so hilarious. It gets me every time. Definitely my candidate for funniest film father.
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Post by Vercetti on Dec 26, 2005 17:02:57 GMT
Yeah, and don't forget all those swears.
"Gumper bungle snickle fiffer!"
"You were always jealous..." ;D
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