Inception 10/10
Eclipse (my wife made me) 7/10 (that's the wife's) Mine -10/10
I loathe the story.. lol
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Inception 10/10
Eclipse (my wife made me) 7/10 (that's the wife's) Mine -10/10
I loathe the story.. lol
I LOVED the Prestige. I thought it was inventive and creative but like Candy I've watched a couple of times and yes the first time through, because of the way the story is presented, you're left with your jaw on the floor and excited. The second time through you're looking for the other little things and it doesn't hold up just as well.
The Illusionist, on the other hand, that's a fantastic movie that's overlooked alot and actually held it's original score of 9/10 for me.
Yeah! Another Prestige fan! :clap: Have you read the novel? I'd highly recommend it.
The Illusionist was pretty good too. 2006 was definitely a year for magician films. :lol:
I can't say that I've read it but now I may have to make a trip to find the book..
You'll love it, I guarantee it. Totally different from the movie, but just as amazing.
When i watched the ending the first time and all the pieces tied together i was just blown away and loved it. The second time, although i still really enjoyed it, i wasn't as blown away with it
:wtf: i really want to read the book after what you mentioned in the book club, so regardless of its ranking on the votes i can see my reading it anyway:huglove:
:wtf:
I think that's often the 'problem' with movies that conclude with and/or place heavy emphasis on a narrative twist ... the film is not as compelling the next time because the element of mystery isn't there anymore. The Prestige, The Sixth Sense, and The Usual Suspects come to mind.
The Sixth Sense remains good, to bears' mind - I personally love watching it again, already knowing the point. I think A Pure Formality - it's an Italian movie I don't know if anyone saw, with a similar twist in the end - would actually look better the second time, after you know the point.
Ils (Them) - 8/10
When I'm recommended a movie, I'm usually unsure about how I'll like it. Though, when someone on the site recommends on to me, I know it must be good. This is one had me hooked from the start, and I don't think I've ever been more terrified by an opening scene before (though I won't ruin it here).
Them does what most recent horror movies have mostly forgotten about: building suspense. There's no gore, no masked slasher, and no cheap thrills, all of it combining to make for a very intriguing and tension-built film. Not to mention the realism of it all. The events in the story could very well happen and are portrayed well enough that the viewer is left thought-provoked.
Lighting, directing, and sound editing were also critical components of the film and it really depends on these factors for its success. Very few movies that I've seen can induce fear in the viewer by merely an illuminated window, or a shakey door knob, but Them sure does.
The only negative that I had about it is that I would've liked a little more dialogue and more characterization, though I realize that both were minimized to build tension and suspense, as well.
In the end though, Them remains a testament to the fact that good suspense films can still be made without relying on blood and guts. The tension and builds and builds throughout the film, and only after the credits roll will you realize that you were holding your breath.
If we're talking about one and the same movie, I still try not to think about this one... it impressed me more than I would be willing to admit. It's one of those that somehow leave no hope.
I just added that film to my queue based on your excellent review, Ricky.
Ricky :wub: I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It's one of the few films to really terrify me!
Feev, let me know the second you watch it! :)
I think you'll really enjoy it, feev.
I really enjoyed it. I was hoping that it wouldn't end, and in the same minute, I was hoping that it would end because I knew it was going to get more terrifying.
I'd love to talk about it further, but won't do so here to avoid spoilers. Maybe a discussion thread? Until feev sees it, I think it'll just be us though. :lol:
there's also bears... nobody ever pays any attention to bears...
The Book Of Eli 10/10
I thought it was just plain awesome. :)
Sherlock Holmes (2009) - 6/10
Finally saw this film yesterday, and maybe I'm judging it a bit too harshly because I've seen better adaptations, including the Jeremy Brett series and the recent modern day mini-series Sherlock, but it didn't really impress me that much. I don't know why, it seemed keen to really give it a real Victorian feel (although in some cases, I can't help but feel they over did it, with all the strong cockney accents, old filthy beggars and seemingly random mini carnivals in the middle of town, it just came across as false to me), it also had Holmes use his deductive methods to solve problems, and the explanations for what the hell happened the whole time at the end was done well enough. Still, there were a few things I really didn't like.
The two leads, for one. Neither Robert Downey Jr nor Jude Law convinced me as Holmes or Watson, really. I'm not sure why. Both are great actors, but with RDJ I just felt that his Holmes, as clever and smart as he was, didn't quite seem the anti-social eccentric genius as he appeared in the novels. However, considering how good an actor Downey Jr is and how his English accent was 100% perfect, I'd say this was less of a failing on the actor's part on and more on the script's, really.
However, the same cannot be said for Jude Law as Watson. I genuinely do feel he was completely miscast for this part. I'm not asking for a bumbling old assistant, not in the slightest, but I do think there should've been an actor with a greater level of maturity cast in the role.
There's a few other things, too. The over-the-top fights, the rather general faithfulness-in-name-only of the mythology (it's been established that Irene Adler has outsmarted Holmes before, but instead of an honourable, good hearted woman who's also extremely clever, here she's reduced to a simple conwoman), and that the whole thing is just so bland. I admit, I'm aware that a few action scenes and a few chases here and there were required to make it a good blockbuster, but to me, it seemed like it was trying to be Sherlock Holmes meets Indiana Jones, and it just didn't work for me.
I admit, whilst I'm a fan of the character, I'm not the biggest Holmes fan in the world: I've only read a few of the early stories and I've watched a few Holmes adaptations but it's not exhaustive (I haven't even watched any of the Basil Rathbone films), so perhaps there's something I'm missing, but it just didn't seem to work for me as a Sherlock Holmes story, so I'm sticking my initial 6/10.
For those of you who want to watch a really great, 10/10 adaptation of the famous detective, I highly recommend checking out BBC mini-series Sherlock. It's modern day, so in theory it should've sucked, most classic characters moved to modern day usually do, but trust me, it's one of the best and most original Holmes adaptations I've watched, and more importantly, it's faithful in everything that it needs to be. It shows us that the original Holmes stories weren't about Victorian England or gaslight lamps. They were about the characters, and the fact that Holmes is one of the most enigmatic, complex and brilliant characters in fiction. That's what makes us fans of the character. In my opinion, the modern day version gets everything right that Guy Ritchie's Victorian story got wrong. If you get the chance to, watch it! Whether you're a newcomer to Holmes or a total fan, you won't regret it.
The Other Guys 8.5/10
I really enjoyed The Other Guys. I know a lot of people can't stand Will Ferrell, but I've always enjoyed his films (most of them anyway.)
Mark Wahlberg also does a nice job in his first real comedic role. Unless you count Date Night. I'm not going to do a ful review, but if you like the people in the film, I say give it a shot. It's better than most of the comedies that Hollywood has been putting out.
Fantastic Planet - 9/10
This is an obscure french animated film from 1973. Can't recall the writer's name but he also wrote Vertigo. A very intesting film that deals with the insectization of mankind and has much religous symbology. There are so many layers to the movie it's just incredible.
Synecdoche, New York 9/10
I enjoyed it a lot but it was very dense. I will have to watch it again to further understand how Kaufman chose to present the material. Hoffman was incredible but when isn't he?
Up In The Air 9/10
A simply wonderful movie. I loved the directing and the soundtrack and how it pulled the movie into a nice little package. All the cast was great. I knew I was going to love it.
Star Trek 6/10
I was expecting more from this movie. I think most of the problems of the movie rest on how Abrams presented the beginning and showed us way to much too early.Spoiler:All in all, there was some good casting choices and some good dialogue exchanges. I hope the next one will be a better movie without being bogged down with the backstory. Also what was with the plotline whereSpoiler:
Savages 8/10
I liked this movie a lot. A really brilliant depiction of life and mortality, change of roles from caretaker to caregiver and the transition from being young to old. Linney and Hoffman were great and the person who played the father was excellent. 08-10-2010 01:20 AMMattrickIllusionist was terrible and predictable which fell in a Romeo and JulietSpoiler:twist which I saw coming a mile away. The only saving grace of the movie was Paul Giamatti, Norton and Biel were incredibly mediocore. 08-10-2010 10:21 AMcandyyou know i saw the trailer for Holmes and really didn't want to watch it based on them, all my friends have raved about it since though and made me kinda doubt myself. having read this review though, it makes me glad i waited and didn't spend £16 going to the pics, i will just wait for it on DVD
i kept missing the Sherlock BBc adaption, i am hoping they will repeat it on BBC3 or watch soon. 08-13-2010 12:06 PMJean 08-13-2010 06:49 PMSamIt only works if the movie takes place during that time period and in that area of the world. Otherwise, it lessens the horror of the actuality. That's just my opinion though. 08-14-2010 04:53 AMBriceI'm A CYBORG, But That's Okay-10 08-14-2010 08:34 AMMelike 08-14-2010 08:41 AMJeanwould you recommend it to a bear? 08-14-2010 10:18 AMMelike 08-14-2010 10:28 AMalindaI hurry quick to see what melike may reccommend. :thumbsup: "Hi ladies" 08-15-2010 08:04 AMHeather19The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 8.5/10
I've never read the book but the movie was fantastic. I'm dying to see the next two. 08-15-2010 02:23 PMIWasSentWestthe crazies- 8/10
i liked it, as far as what it was trying to accomplish. plus i like timothy olyphant
Gabriel - 7.5/10
this movie is an Australian flick about purgatory and heaven and hell's war to govern it ( more or less). it was a little slow, and the special effects were a little dated (reading more on it, this film had a low budget because it was not government funded, which made me like it a little more). but i did like the story, and the ending, though kind of predictable, made me smile a little.
Crazy Heart 9.5/10
loved it. simply loved it. the soundtrack is fantastic, jeff bridges gives a great performance. it made me want to be a washed up outlaw country singer who drinks too much and has sex with maggie gyllenhaal. 08-16-2010 08:12 AMfernandito 08-16-2010 10:36 AMalkantoScott Pilgrim Vs. The World - 8/10
I really enjoyed this! It was a little slow getting started, but I love the genres of comic book and gaming movies...so this was right up my alley.
Also, I was the only girl in the audience of about a half-full theatre...which actually amused me more than they knew :P 08-16-2010 10:39 AMfernanditoI'm hearing/reading really, really good things about SCVTW. I might watch it in theaters sometime this weekend. 08-16-2010 01:25 PMDoctorDodgeI'm just quoting this feev in case you delete it later. :P I'm not surprised that there's a lot of good reviews coming out: Michael Cera being a bad actor or not, it's still directed by Edgar Wright, and everyone knows my opinion on him as a director by now. I still have yet to see it, though. Mainly because the bastards have yet to release it over here!!! :pullhair: If it had been released on the same day in the UK as in the US, I would've seen it at least 3 times by now! 08-16-2010 03:38 PMalkantoActually, I was pleasantly surprised by Cera's performance on this one. I was naturally dubious about him as a quasi-"action star" but he handles it pretty well. He's not nearly so awkward here as he is in other movies, in my opinion. Of course, he can't go too long without the habitual geeky awkwardness, but I've certainly seen him worse.
What time are you getting it, then? Whenever, though, I promise it will be worth the wait :D 08-16-2010 04:17 PMDoctorDodge25th we're getting it in the UK. Rest assured, I will be seeing it on the day of release! Not just as an Edgar Wright fan, of whom I have been a fan of since I watched sitcom Spaced when I was a little boy and quoted lines like, "I know you! You're a massive wanker!", but also I've recently read all 6 volumes of the Scott Pilgrim comic, and it's easily one of the funniest and most enjoyable reads I've had in a long while. It's great to know that it's living up to the hype, then! Have you read the comics, btw alkanto? 08-16-2010 05:06 PMalkantoActually, no. I hadn't heard of it until I saw the trailer a few months back. I do have an interest in them, certainly...I just have to get off my lazy ass and go find them now :P Did you buy them, or view them online? 08-16-2010 05:16 PMDoctorDodgeBought them in a shop. I bought volume 1, just to see what it was like. I bought volumes 2 and 3 a couple of days later. Last week I read volumes 4, 5 and 6 in one night. All awesome. I hadn't heard of them at all until I heard that Edgar Wright was directing an adaptation of them, but that's not surprising: they only just decided to release all 6 volumes in the UK this year, when most of them have been available in America for years! So I'm kinda glad I hadn't heard of them until now: tracking them down might've been a bit difficult! :lol: