Last Movie You Watched
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Once Upon a Time in America - It's good but not as good as I've heard people claim. The camera work is fantastic (pretty much what you'd expect from a Leone film) and the score is also brilliant (again, pretty much what you'd expect from Ennio Morricone) with lots of good acting and there are definitely scenes that stand out as being transcendentally excellent; but it is overlong while at the same time feeling sort of incomplete in the sense that a lot of things are never really expanded upon or illuminated. The plot could have been elaborated upon more instead of several scenes that are just sort of there without contributing to anything. I give it 4/5
To Have and Have Not - Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall together for the first time adapted from a story by Ernest Hemingway with a script co-written by William Faulkner and directed by Howard Hawks. With all that, it should be an all-time classic....but, eh, it falls a little short of the label in my opinion. It's another example of a movie with great individual scenes that are greater than the sum of its parts. The plot is basically Casablanca in the Caribbean, and that movie is definitely superior to this one and all in all it sort of feels like a dress rehearsal for The Big Sleep, one of my favorite movies of all time that followed two years later and has much of the same cast.
To Have and Have Not - Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall together for the first time adapted from a story by Ernest Hemingway with a script co-written by William Faulkner and directed by Howard Hawks. With all that, it should be an all-time classic....but, eh, it falls a little short of the label in my opinion. It's another example of a movie with great individual scenes that are greater than the sum of its parts. The plot is basically Casablanca in the Caribbean, and that movie is definitely superior to this one and all in all it sort of feels like a dress rehearsal for The Big Sleep, one of my favorite movies of all time that followed two years later and has much of the same cast.
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"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius
"All styles are good except the tiresome kind." - Voltaire
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What We Do In The Shadows - 8.5/10
This was quite a fun little movie. Mockumentary about 4 vampires living together in a flat in modern day New Zealand, dealing with the various issues that arise from this. Bloody dishes no-one wants to wash, to having persuade the bouncers at clubs to invite them inside, its full of a lot of laughs, a couple thrills and lots and lots of arterial spray. I highly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAZEWtyhpes
This was quite a fun little movie. Mockumentary about 4 vampires living together in a flat in modern day New Zealand, dealing with the various issues that arise from this. Bloody dishes no-one wants to wash, to having persuade the bouncers at clubs to invite them inside, its full of a lot of laughs, a couple thrills and lots and lots of arterial spray. I highly recommend it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAZEWtyhpes
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Hitler AND eating babies in a Shinji thread? Business as usual- TMBounty_Hunter
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Does Love Live get a lot of shit or something?- caragnafog dog
A ViewTo A Kill - I enjoyed this Bond film, especially young Christopher Walken, he's a great Bond villain, the scenes in the mine where he revels in being evil is just classic Walken, he's certainly what makes the film. It does slow in some areas, but I wasn't bored, especially with all the campy as fuck scenes, it's not really a good Bond film I guess, especially with Moore's age at the time, but I've always found it hard to be offended by old James Bond films, the only ones I've never really took a fancy to were the post GoldenEye Brosnan films.
Tankred wrote:A ViewTo A Kill - I enjoyed this Bond film, especially young Christopher Walken, he's a great Bond villain, the scenes in the mine where he revels in being evil is just classic Walken, he's certainly what makes the film. It does slow in some areas, but I wasn't bored, especially with all the campy as fuck scenes, it's not really a good Bond film I guess, especially with Moore's age at the time, but I've always found it hard to be offended by old James Bond films, the only ones I've never really took a fancy to were the post GoldenEye Brosnan films.
You neglected to mention that AVTAK has arguably the worst Bond Girl of the series. Mary Goodnight is a klutz, but cute nonetheless; Tiffany Case was a bumbling fool; but Stacy Sutton is just plain annoying as fuck. You could play a drinking game with how many times she shrieks "JAMES!!!" throughout and be fucking wasted by the end of the film. She is such useless dead weight in that movie, it's unbelievable.
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And so we arrive at demagogy. - Hideaki Anno, 1996
And so we arrive at demagogy. - Hideaki Anno, 1996
The entire climax to A View to a Kill is the greatest thing I've ever seen. Everything in it from Roger Moore stopping an entire blimp by resorting to Bugs Bunny logic to a pair incoherently blithering senile nonagenarians fumbling with a stick of dynamite is fucking poetry and it savages Seven Samurai's butthole forever.
You know she was probably the most forgettable part of the film, I found the screaming irritating though for sure. I think May Day did a better job even though she spends most of the film trying to kill Bond, somehow she fits better.
A View To A Kill's ending is a blast, Chee, that's for sure, I guess the reason they had so much dynamite in their blimp was probably for Zorin's ultimate goal of blast fishing.
A target of unfair criticism based on similarities ultimately derived from a property predating both?
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The law doesn't protect people. People protect the law. -- Akane Tsunemori, Psycho-Pass
People's deaths are to be mourned. The ability to save people should be celebrated. Life itself should be exalted. -- Volken Macmani, Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra
I hate myself. But maybe I can learn to love myself. Maybe it's okay for me to be here! That's right! I'm me, nothing more, nothing less! I'm me. I want to be me! I want to be here! And it's okay for me to be here! -- Shinji Ikari, Neon Genesis Evangelion
Yes, I know. You thought it would be something about Asuka. You're such idiots.
The law doesn't protect people. People protect the law. -- Akane Tsunemori, Psycho-Pass
People's deaths are to be mourned. The ability to save people should be celebrated. Life itself should be exalted. -- Volken Macmani, Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra
I hate myself. But maybe I can learn to love myself. Maybe it's okay for me to be here! That's right! I'm me, nothing more, nothing less! I'm me. I want to be me! I want to be here! And it's okay for me to be here! -- Shinji Ikari, Neon Genesis Evangelion
Yes, I know. You thought it would be something about Asuka. You're such idiots.
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Heh, also that.
What I meant, was the fact that Rahxephon feels like a stream-lined version of NGE, that irons out some "flaws" but loses some of the high points in the process. It's more accessible, but in turn not as rich, thematically. I like Rahxephon a lot, though.
You can replace Rahxephon and NGE with Interstellar and 2001, respectively.
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RahXephon has plenty of substance in it that's not derived from NGE, though. People throw similar accusations at Eureka 7 all of the time. While NGE was incredibly influential, and a lot of later anime took elements from it, I don't think it's fair to say that RahXephon is simply a dumbed down version of it.
I watched Rosewater recently. I always hate watching torture scenes, especially ones that are carried out against people who haven't committed a crime. The torturer's fixation on sex was bizarre. I wonder if Jason Jones ever felt guilty about the interview, even though it was obvious the government of Iran knew he wasn't really a spy.
I watched Rosewater recently. I always hate watching torture scenes, especially ones that are carried out against people who haven't committed a crime. The torturer's fixation on sex was bizarre. I wonder if Jason Jones ever felt guilty about the interview, even though it was obvious the government of Iran knew he wasn't really a spy.
I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was all over... - Spike Spiegel
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I just saw the Toei Space Pirate Captain Harlock movie -- unusually for a late nighter, in dub rather than sub. I know nothing about the story of the original, so don't know whether the rather wibbleicious storyline was original -- but having seen the OZMA anime, it wasn't that far away.
Still, the 3D CGI wasn't bad, though as it's 20 years since Toy Story we can do without the "let us show you our special renders" bits where the technique is shoved in our faces. And speaking of shoving things in our faces, it's 60 years since the original 3D wave, and throwing stuff out of the screen got old then.
Those bits aside, the space opera was done competently, and can we have some more only without all the above issues.
Still, the 3D CGI wasn't bad, though as it's 20 years since Toy Story we can do without the "let us show you our special renders" bits where the technique is shoved in our faces. And speaking of shoving things in our faces, it's 60 years since the original 3D wave, and throwing stuff out of the screen got old then.
Those bits aside, the space opera was done competently, and can we have some more only without all the above issues.
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Robersora makes some good points, but i'm honestly quite surprised to see that comparisons to Interstellar and 2001 are made in the first place. I would never even dream of such a thing, they're in entirely different ballparks.
"Every line is a joy" -Kaworu Nagisa.
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In honesty, I haven't actually seen Interstellar yet. The obnoxious Nolan fanbase just turned me off seeing it completely especially with the asinine comparisons to 2001. I like Nolan just fine as a filmmaker, but comparing him to Kubrick at this point is just sort of overeager.
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"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius
"All styles are good except the tiresome kind." - Voltaire
"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius
"All styles are good except the tiresome kind." - Voltaire
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People compare Nolan to directors such as Kubrick largely because of the success of The Dark Knight. While I like the film, I can't help but find it to be one of the most overrated movies of the twenty-first century. While it had some decent insights into how people act and Ledger was great, a lot of the movie ended up being generic over-the-top edginess-especially with Two Face.
I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was all over... - Spike Spiegel
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Shoujo Kakumei Asuka wrote:RahXephon has plenty of substance in it that's not derived from NGE, though. People throw similar accusations at Eureka 7 all of the time. While NGE was incredibly influential, and a lot of later anime took elements from it, I don't think it's fair to say that RahXephon is simply a dumbed down version of it.
If I made that impression with my post, I just want to clarify, that I find Rahxephon not at all to be a dumbed down version of Evangelion. They share similarities in setting, story structure and characters but while Evangelion went full out exploring themes and complexity of its cast, Rahxephon was content with telling a gripping story. I like both of them, but in the end Evangelion has more to say, while Rahxephon is "just" a good ride. And I feel 2001 and Interstellar relate to each other in a similar way.
Ah, don't let other people's thoughts spoil you a possibly dandy movie experience.
Comparing two films about space exploration that happen to be from those creators doesn't seem that far of a stretch to me. Even if one of them is in a different league.
Shoujo Kakumei Asuka wrote:People compare Nolan to directors such as Kubrick largely because of the success of The Dark Knight. While I like the film, I can't help but find it to be one of the most overrated movies of the twenty-first century. While it had some decent insights into how people act and Ledger was great, a lot of the movie ended up being generic over-the-top edginess-especially with Two Face.
I think it just shows, that people are so happy to see a big movie that's not completely vapid, that they immediately feel the need to praise it. Just because standards are low, doesn't mean that everything above that standard is a revelation, or a masterpiece.
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robersora wrote:If I made that impression with my post, I just want to clarify, that I find Rahxephon not at all to be a dumbed down version of Evangelion. They share similarities in setting, story structure and characters but while Evangelion went full out exploring themes and complexity of its cast, Rahxephon was content with telling a gripping story. I like both of them, but in the end Evangelion has more to say, while Rahxephon is "just" a good ride. And I feel 2001 and Interstellar relate to each other in a similar way.
Ah yeah, seen that way the comparison does quite make sense. Good points.
I don't know if it's so much people being happy to see something meaningful (though that's part of it, too) as it is that in their world or compared to what they usually see, such a film really is a masterpiece. Also, even though Nolan might not want to think so, a lot of his films are hollywood blockbusters at heart and he's really good at that "format".
"Every line is a joy" -Kaworu Nagisa.
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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^
Nobody can tell me that dreams and interstellar travel aren't awesome enough hooks to let the audience flood in.
Part of Nolan's magic comes from the fact, that he chooses to tackle potentially cinematic ideas (woah, dreams or the universe might look awesome!) while having access to sufficient financial means and people with enough artistic prowess to make it work. The Nolan machine are experts in breaking down relatively complex settings, making them understandable and moulding it into a thrilling ride. But of course, he tricks people to make them feel smart, just because they watched a movie with complex concepts, while in reality, the brilliance derives from the fact, that the movies manage to be clever and entertaining despite the lofty concepts.
Nobody can tell me that dreams and interstellar travel aren't awesome enough hooks to let the audience flood in.
Part of Nolan's magic comes from the fact, that he chooses to tackle potentially cinematic ideas (woah, dreams or the universe might look awesome!) while having access to sufficient financial means and people with enough artistic prowess to make it work. The Nolan machine are experts in breaking down relatively complex settings, making them understandable and moulding it into a thrilling ride. But of course, he tricks people to make them feel smart, just because they watched a movie with complex concepts, while in reality, the brilliance derives from the fact, that the movies manage to be clever and entertaining despite the lofty concepts.
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David Fincher's The Game
I've been a fan of Fincher for years. Now I can scratch another film of his off of my 'to watch list'. I must say, I was quite suprised by this. Despite often being decried as far too cold and clinical in his filmmaking technique Fincher really knows how to make a film that really puts the audience through the ringer and have them be all the better for it at the end.
The main character is a coldhearted financier (played by Michael Douglas) who is thrown into a slow spiraling descent into a personal hell, after he signs up with a mysterious and elusive organization at the suggestion of his brother (played by a fresh faced Sean penn) whom gives him a recommendation as a very special birthday present. An experience called 'The Game' tailor made for him to overcome. He is slowly stripped of everything he thought was important to him, his influence, his property, his career, and through his tribulations is forced to reevalute his life and what's important to him. He sheds his doughy white bread American executive shell and forges himself anew as a film noir anti hero out to get back at those who wronged him. Basically, the guy goes from being Ebeneezer Scrooge to Dirty Harry over the course of confronting the various obstacles he faces.
I won't dare give away the final twist. You either love it or hate it.
There is also some really good performances, and not just from Douglas and Penn. Though she doesn't get much screentime, Deborah Kara Unger makes every second count. It's a shame she really hasn't been in many major films after this I think she's a decent actress.
Equal parts grim morality tale, film noir, paranoia thriller and black schadenfreude comedy. The Game really showcases Fincher's skill as a director with an axe to grind, finally freed from Studio Expections.
I've been a fan of Fincher for years. Now I can scratch another film of his off of my 'to watch list'. I must say, I was quite suprised by this. Despite often being decried as far too cold and clinical in his filmmaking technique Fincher really knows how to make a film that really puts the audience through the ringer and have them be all the better for it at the end.
The main character is a coldhearted financier (played by Michael Douglas) who is thrown into a slow spiraling descent into a personal hell, after he signs up with a mysterious and elusive organization at the suggestion of his brother (played by a fresh faced Sean penn) whom gives him a recommendation as a very special birthday present. An experience called 'The Game' tailor made for him to overcome. He is slowly stripped of everything he thought was important to him, his influence, his property, his career, and through his tribulations is forced to reevalute his life and what's important to him. He sheds his doughy white bread American executive shell and forges himself anew as a film noir anti hero out to get back at those who wronged him. Basically, the guy goes from being Ebeneezer Scrooge to Dirty Harry over the course of confronting the various obstacles he faces.
I won't dare give away the final twist. You either love it or hate it.
There is also some really good performances, and not just from Douglas and Penn. Though she doesn't get much screentime, Deborah Kara Unger makes every second count. It's a shame she really hasn't been in many major films after this I think she's a decent actress.
Equal parts grim morality tale, film noir, paranoia thriller and black schadenfreude comedy. The Game really showcases Fincher's skill as a director with an axe to grind, finally freed from Studio Expections.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
It's a very enjoyable film with some of George Clooney's best work and the soundtrack is awesome. I like a lot of the parallels with the Odyssey (although some were a little too forced) and references to various events in Depression-era Mississippi, but some characters like the Sheriff pursuing the escaped convicts felt a little underwritten and so much time goes inbetween his appearances that at times you forget he's even in the movie. Overall, a very good movie, but like a lot of the Coens work, it falls a little short of being great.
It's a very enjoyable film with some of George Clooney's best work and the soundtrack is awesome. I like a lot of the parallels with the Odyssey (although some were a little too forced) and references to various events in Depression-era Mississippi, but some characters like the Sheriff pursuing the escaped convicts felt a little underwritten and so much time goes inbetween his appearances that at times you forget he's even in the movie. Overall, a very good movie, but like a lot of the Coens work, it falls a little short of being great.
Movin' Right Along
"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius
"All styles are good except the tiresome kind." - Voltaire
"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it." - Confucius
"All styles are good except the tiresome kind." - Voltaire
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