Rate The Last Movie You Saw.

[Jean]

(they are totally crazy about Sandra Bullock)

Never in a million years would I have guessed that.

Yeah, I was a little surprised by that. Not much - I'm still surprised that bears actually enjoys both my favourite films and one of my favourite TV series ever almost as much as I do - but still, a little surprising. Maybe it's more the films that Bullock's been in rather than her that make it a surprising choice, although Gravity may change that.

I loved her in Speed, adored in The Net, and went totally apeshit over her (not the movies) in While You Were Sleeping and Miss Congeniality.

Ricky: why??? She is... oh, she is...!!! (faints)

DD: since you obviously mean W&I, Quadrophenia, and LoM, what's surprising about it??? they are fucking masterpieces

[DoctorDodge]

Only surprising in that I'm aware of how hard bears can be to please at times, and the reasons the films originally appealed to me, such as Withnail & I being the ultimate British student film, or Life on Mars's mix of time travel and old-school cop show. Not that it isn't so much more than that, just that that was the main draw for me the first 10 or 20 times I watched it, particularly with my parents. You're quite right though, they are fucking masterpieces.

[Bev Vincent]

Gravity: A solid A. It's an experience. See it on the biggest screen you can find!

[fernandito]

outstanding reviews, both

would bears enjoy Filth? (they normally love what DD loves)

would bears enjoy Gravity? (they are totally crazy about Sandra Bullock)

Thanks, Jean. I do believe you would enjoy Gravity. I'd be interested on your thoughts. If you're a fan of Bullock's, then you should certainly see it. She does some top notch work here.

Plus it's directed by dat Alfonso Cuaron. Cuaron couldn't make a bad film if he tried.

[Heather19]

All this praise for Gravity is making me want to see it. For anyone here that knows me and has seen it, do you think I would enjoy it?

I think I might be out of the loop though as I hadn't even heard of it prior to everyone here talking about it. Also, I haven't even seen the trailer or commercials for it.

[Jean]

everything Heather said

[fernandito]

All this praise for Gravity is making me want to see it. For anyone here that knows me and has seen it, do you think I would enjoy it?

iono, do you like good films?

[Jean]

but you said Inception would be good

on the other hand, you said El secreto de sus ojos would be good, and it was

[fernandito]

They were both good doe.

[Still Servant]

All this praise for Gravity is making me want to see it. For anyone here that knows me and has seen it, do you think I would enjoy it?

I think I might be out of the loop though as I hadn't even heard of it prior to everyone here talking about it. Also, I haven't even seen the trailer or commercials for it.

I think you would like it, but I don't know if you will love it. It's pretty light on plot, but the visuals are fantastic and it has a lot of strong themes. It's also really intense. Probably the most intense 1:30 minute movie I've ever seen. Take a look at the trailer or teaser and see what you think.

[fearless-freak]

Black Magic M-66

one of the first adaptions of Masamune Shirow's works even though it differs greatly from the original Black Magic Manga and is overshadowed by Ghost In The Shell, Appleseed and Dominion Tank Police and is often considered to be an obscure OVA

[Heather19]

All this praise for Gravity is making me want to see it. For anyone here that knows me and has seen it, do you think I would enjoy it?

I think I might be out of the loop though as I hadn't even heard of it prior to everyone here talking about it. Also, I haven't even seen the trailer or commercials for it.

I think you would like it, but I don't know if you will love it. It's pretty light on plot, but the visuals are fantastic and it has a lot of strong themes. It's also really intense. Probably the most intense 1:30 minute movie I've ever seen. Take a look at the trailer or teaser and see what you think.

Thanks Mike, I'm curious to check it out but I doubt I'll make it to see it before it leaves the theater but we'll see. Is it one of those that will lose a lot when you watch it at home?

All this praise for Gravity is making me want to see it. For anyone here that knows me and has seen it, do you think I would enjoy it?

iono, do you like good films?

Sometimes, and sometimes I like bad films

[Mattrick]

I'd like to see Gravity in theatres...but since I never get to see good horrors in theatres and I have high hopes for Carrie I hope I can get to see both.

[Still Servant]

Heather, I do believe Gravity will lose something if not seen on a big screen. Seeing it in 3D is best, but at the very least, seeing it in 2D on the big screen is ideal.

Even if you have a huge TV with surround sound, it still won't do the film justice. That being said, if you're not completely into the idea of seeing the film, I can see why it would be hard to fork over the higher price tag for a movie ticket especially 3D.

[Heather19]

Heather, I do believe Gravity will lose something if not seen on a big screen. Seeing it in 3D is best, but at the very least, seeing it in 2D on the big screen is ideal.

Even if you have a huge TV with surround sound, it still won't do the film justice. That being said, if you're not completely into the idea of seeing the film, I can see why it would be hard to fork over the higher price tag for a movie ticket especially 3D.

Well, it's more that there's other films being released now that I really want to see. I'm gonna go see Machete Kills tomorrow, then Carrie comes out the following week, and then the weekend after I'm hoping to catch The Shining in the theater. Too many movies and not enough time.

[Jean]

Heather, I do believe Gravity will lose something if not seen on a big screen. Seeing it in 3D is best, but at the very least, seeing it in 2D on the big screen is ideal.

I have a hunch that it's not a film for bears

[fernandito]

Mike - I'm watching Gravity tonight. Can't freakin' wait man. I'll post my review this weekend.

[Still Servant]

Too many movies and not enough time.

Story of my life...

Jean, I know what you are probably thinking, but I hate 3D movies too. In fact, I despise them. Except for the ones that use them properly and in a compelling way that helps aid the story. That's what Cuaron does here.

Feev, I'm dying to know your thoughts. Hope you liked it.

[DoctorZaius]

Just got back from seeing Gravity. Amazing film. Visually stunning. The film has as many poignant moments as it does jarring action sequences. The film is so intense. It's rare that I see something that is not derivative of some other films. This is truly unique. They really had a clever advertising campaign as well - I was surprised at how little I actually knew about what was going to happen. The reviews are accurate on this one. Go see it in the movies - IMAX if you can.

[Heather19]

Went to see Machete Kills last night. I loved the first one so I guess it was inevitable that I would be a bit disappointed by it. It had some good crazy funny moments, but it was lacking something that the first one had.

[Still Servant]

Went to see Machete Kills last night. I loved the first one so I guess it was inevitable that I would be a bit disappointed by it. It had some good crazy funny moments, but it was lacking something that the first one had.

That's what I'm worried about too. I'm still going to try to see it though. The first one really is fun.

[Merlin1958]

Went to see Machete Kills last night. I loved the first one so I guess it was inevitable that I would be a bit disappointed by it. It had some good crazy funny moments, but it was lacking something that the first one had.

That's what I'm worried about too. I'm still going to try to see it though. The first one really is fun.

I liked the first one a little as well, but I think Rodriguez is better with Tarantino's input for this genre. JMHO

[Ricky]

The Lords of Salem

I had been looking forward to Rob Zombie’s fifth feature film since I heard that it was going to be coming out a couple of years ago. This is my third Zombie film that I've seen now, so I'm more aware of and in-tune with his filmmaking style since I first saw House of 1,000 Corpses (which I still hate, sorry Heather. ).

The premise of Lords is that Heidi, a radio DJ for a Salem-based rock station, receives a record oddly left for her specifically. The only identifier is that it’s from “The Lords”, which the DJs refer to as the titular “Lords of Salem”. As they play the music, though, it has an odd effect on some listeners. What’s the mystery behind the music, and why is it so unsettling? Who sent it? Is it a harmless record as it seems, or something with a more supernatural link?

That’s the central mystery behind the film. And it’s a good one. The beginning third of the movie had a really great buildup and overall felt a lot more focused than I've noticed Zombie to be in the past (for the record, The Devil’s Rejects is my favorite). However, the clever plot build-up and sprinkling of unsettling, genuine horror throughout disappears soon after. What follows plays like a series of good ideas thrown together onto the screen with only the barest of commonalities linking them together. The end result is, unfortunately, a fairly disjointed film.

Judging by the beginning of the film, The Lords of Salem had potential to be one of Zombie’s best. Although his restraint is sporadic at best, it’s noticeable that he’s really learned to reign in the “crazy” of his films, so to speak, and produce compelling horror with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Though, that’s not to say that The Lords of Salem doesn’t have its share of weird. Because believe me, it does. I don’t mind crudeness in films, especially horror (it’s almost to be expected nowadays), and have seen my fair share of weirdness in films; but, at times, in true Rob Zombie fashion, the weirdness comes at such times and places where it just seems like the weirdness is injected solely for the sake of being weird. “Hey! This looks a little too normal,” you can almost hear Zombie saying in the director’s chair. “Let’s weird it up!”

In the end, while I appreciated the focused beginning of the film, not even the intriguing plot, enticing mystery, or cameos from horror icons such as Dee Wallace and Patricia Quinn can save it from being a bit of a mess. Rather, the film’s strange imagery and plot points seem to be masking the lack of cohesiveness of the film’s plot.

While I probably won’t be giving this a second watch any time soon, I can say that I will be back for the next Rob Zombie film, whenever that may be. If there’s one thing you can say about Zombie as a director, though, it’s this: his movies are (unapologetically) weird, the imagery surreal, and the semblances of plot, creative. Regardless of whatever the pros and cons of this film and his films in general may be, there’s just enough intrigue to draw me back to the next one.

5.5/10

[Still Servant]

Captain Phillips - 8.5/10

The streak of seeing good films at the theater continues. I really enjoyed Captain Phillips. I'm hoping to write a longer review, just have to find the time.

[Still Servant]

Captain Phillips - 8.5/10

Captain Phillips is the latest nail-biter of a film by director Paul Greengrass, who continues his frenetic style of filmmaking that he showed off in the final two Bourne films and United 93. Like United 93, Greengrass is putting us on board with another real life hostage situation. This time, we are crewmates on a freight ship that’s being attacked by Somali pirates.

Tom Hanks, everybody’s favorite everyman, is our captain for this voyage and; as usual, he’s on top of his game. I’d say this is one of Hanks’ finest performances in years, possibly ever. Gasp! It’s so true though. Hanks does a great job of portraying a person that has the responsibility of dozens of lives on his hands.

He stands up to the pirates with a mixture of fear and courage, savvy and naïveté. Hanks perfectly balances these aspects of Phillips, exhibiting the strength to stand up to the pirates and the ability to gain their trust.

The film does a great job of not portraying the Somali pirates as blood thirsty savages hungry for murder. Instead, they’re just plain thirsty for water and hungry for food and nourishment. Their faces are gaunt and skeletal. Their clothes hang loose from their bony bodies. They resemble the ghosts of a once healthy person or grown up versions of the children we’ve all seen in the “starving kid” commercials. By humanizing the Somali pirates, we’re able to sympathize with their plight and understand why people might be forced to do such a thing.

The pirates are played by first time actors and real Somali people who actually fled from Somalia trying to avoid the very hardships that are portrayed in the film. Casting the Somali actors added another layer of realism. The captain of the Somali pirates is played by Barkhad Abdi, who plays Muse. Abdi holds his own as he goes toe-to-toe with one of the most legendary actors on the planet. Muse seems dangerous, but you can’t help but feel bad for him. You can see the desperation and fear in his eyes, but there is also a childlike innocence.

One of the major themes of Captain Phillips is the clash of culture between the Somali pirates and the Americans. There’s no better example of the haves and the have nots than seeing the Somali pirates approaching the massive ship in a tiny wooden boat. When they finally break into the bridge and confront Captain Phillips and his crew, they might as well be from another planet.

Paul Greengrass has a very distinct style that might not be for everybody. His use of shaky-cam, which has often been imitated and overused in the industry, works very well in Captain Phillips. It gives the film a more natural feel and works perfectly with the natural ebb and flow of the ocean.

Muse and the other Somali pirates are clearly the villains of the film, but the true villain is circumstance. The cruel reality that people have to do such things not because they are evil people, but because there is truly no other way.