What Movie Did You Just Watch?: The Just-Us League (Vol. 11)

[JohnnyWeir]

Donnie Darko. <3
Nuff said.

[pinkrenata]

The Phantom of the Opera 2004

Umm, okay. There are so many things wrong with this movie, and yet, I cannot bring myself to hate it. Emmy Rossum's singing is sub-par (her high notes in the title song are extremely weak), as is Patrick Wilson's. However, Minnie Driver is excellent, and who can hate the opening scene? Excellent visuals. Gerard Butler, though many don't like him, works for me. His voice, while not perfect, works. It works well. He does a great job of conveying emotions through his singing, All I Ask of You Reprise, Final Lair, and the ending of Point of No Return have the power to bring me to tears. Overall, this is not the best version of Phantom, but that doesn't make me love it any less.

*Shudder* There are so many things wrong with the movie, just like you said. I was thankful to watch the recent concert production on Netflix so that I could remind myself that it actually is a good musical. I still can't decide if Les Miserables was good movie for realz, or if I liked it because it was so much better than Phantom.

[Scarred4life]

The Phantom of the Opera 2004

Umm, okay. There are so many things wrong with this movie, and yet, I cannot bring myself to hate it. Emmy Rossum's singing is sub-par (her high notes in the title song are extremely weak), as is Patrick Wilson's. However, Minnie Driver is excellent, and who can hate the opening scene? Excellent visuals. Gerard Butler, though many don't like him, works for me. His voice, while not perfect, works. It works well. He does a great job of conveying emotions through his singing, All I Ask of You Reprise, Final Lair, and the ending of Point of No Return have the power to bring me to tears. Overall, this is not the best version of Phantom, but that doesn't make me love it any less.

*Shudder* There are so many things wrong with the movie, just like you said. I was thankful to watch the recent concert production on Netflix so that I could remind myself that it actually is a good musical. I still can't decide if Les Miserables was good movie for realz, or if I liked it because it was so much better than Phantom.

Oh, I think Les Mis was good for realz. Anne Hathaway was literally perfect, Hugh Jackman did a pretty good job, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Daniel Huttlestone, Samantha Barks, Isabelle Allen, etc, were all amazing as well. My only complaints are Russell Crowe's singing voice, Hugh Jackman's Bring Him Home (umm, falsetto was invented for a reason), and the directors fascination with extreme closeups.

[Scarred4life]

Chicago 2002

This movies greatest strength is the cast. Catherine Zeta Jones was pure perfection. Her look, her voice, her acting, she had everything a Velma needs. Rene Zellweger was amazing as well, however, I did have a bit of a problem with her singing at some points. And Richard Gere. Oh, Richard Gere. To think that Hugh Jackman almost took the role and I might have been deprived of Richard Gere. His Billy Flynn was spectacular. Believable, but likeable. Professional, with a touch of sleaze and corruption. I thought that the transitions into the musical acts were well done, they were very smooth.

[ajmrowland]

Yesterday, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was on HBO.

Nuff said.

[TheValentineBros]

Iron Man 3.

God...DAMN was that movie great!

[Scarred4life]

Fight Club

Interesting watch. I had a friend who had been bugging me to watch this for ages, and I finally caved. Not sure how it compares to the book, but I thought the film was excellent. Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter were both fantastic, as was Brad Pitt. I feel like they did a good job of getting (what I assume is) the message of the book across, it was as clear as it could be without beating us over the head with it. Definitely putting the book on my to-read list.

[JohnnyWeir]

Iron Man 3.

God...DAMN was that movie great!

I need to see this ASAP!!!

[dvdjunkie]

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines 1965 - DVD

Here is a movie that everyone who wants to laugh and cheer and just have a great time watching a movie should watch or add to their collection.

1965's "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" tells the story of the historic 1910 air race from London, England to Paris, France, a trip that today takes about 7 minutes, and back then it took just over 25 hours.

Directed by Ken Annakin, this film features a who's who of actors including Stuart Whitman, James Fox, Sarah Miles, Terry-Thomas, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Irina Demick, Robert Morley, Gert Frobe, Benny Hill and Alberto Sordi along with a hysterical cameo appearance by Red Skelton.

The London Daily Post hosts a race across the English Channel with a $10,000 first prize. Flyers from around the world are invited and then the fun starts. The French trying to make fools of the Germans, who in turn are trying to make fools of the Italians, and so on down the line. When the actual flying sequences start, it is amazing to see how many of these vintage aircraft actually flew. If you watch closely you can tell which ones were real and which ones were 'tacked' in by the special effects people.

This collector's edition DVD has a great 'making-of' featurette and full-length commentary from Director Ken Annakin, along with several other goodies including a Still Photo gallery. This is the road show version complete with Overtur, Intermission, and Exit music. Just a whole lot of fun for the whole family.

[DC Fan]

Cars 2; for a second time.

Goes beyond saying that Cars ranks among the lowest if not THE lowest in Pixar films.

For one thing you have these characters/world you can´t relate to since they´re not alive. And on the other hand you have a very bland and boring story.

Then comes Cars 2 that can´t possibly be worst than the first... and it maybe depending on who you ask.

This is a movie I have a really hard time to define. On one hand you have more characters, get to see more of the world, the movie is darker (I´m amazed of how many deaths they showed) and is filled with action. But then again, you can´t relate to these beings (in fact, you wonder why would there be a vehicles world) and even though you have all those things that go for it I still find it boring.

So, not really sure what to say about it.

[ajmrowland]

Last week was Silver Linings Playbook and Iron Man 3.


Both were very enjoyable.

[Maerj]

Star Trek Into Darkness which was amazing!

[DVDBuff1]

Last night I watched the TV film "Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe". As far as I'm concerned, this film is probably the best prequel I've seen so far (Revenge of the Sith is just "tolerable" in some areas to me, and I'm saving my opinion on The Hobbit films as a whole till 2015 when they're done). I don’t regularly watch Burn Notice, but to quote Bruce Campbell, I found this movie to be "Very Groovy".

[ajmrowland]

Rise of the Guardians

It's definitely an enjoyable film. The Voice cast does good, though Chris Pine is too old to voice a (300yo)teenager. The art direction is gorgeous! Animation never fails to impress. Only real problem is the film tries to be both (what parents consider) a childrens' film and a "dark, edgy" film, which is a contradiction, and the filmmakers might've listened to one too many censor notes. But once again, Bill Joyce's works are brought to the screen in a satisfying way.

Cloud Atlas

I gotta say this film speaks to me in a way I know well: unresolved philosophical questions revolving around what it means to be human. Never read the book, but I am interested in it. A lot of people have claimed that the film is a mess, but that is relative to expectations. Others have simply written it off as a love story with reincarnation, but that could not be further from the truth. Pacing seems an issue in the beginning but it finds its rhythm and the only thing you should really expect of it on a first viewing is to not be served a single cohesive plot. Each story portrayed here is distinctive and even has its own sort of genre associated with it. They are also simple enough that I didn't feel confused as to what was going on in any one given story, outside some small details.


All in all, not the easiest film to understand and digest, but one that is intellectually valuable, and to some, but not me, mind blowing. In the end, you take something different away from it depending on who you are.

[DVDBuff1]

Star Trek: Into Darkness (J.J. Abrams)

It was a FUN movie that got me excited for what was going to happen next in the film, but once it revealed who the villain was, it became predictable for its unoriginality. If you loved J.J. Abram's 1st Star Trek film, go see it, it still has its charm (and lens-flares) of the previous film. If you're too attached to 1 particular Star Trek film from the original series that’s considered the best film of the series, this might annoy you.

[Kraken Guard]

Recently watched this movie on the SyFy channel called The Mist, which was based on a novel by Stephen King.

... WOW. That has got to be one of the most depressing endings I've ever seen!

[dvdjunkie]

Want to really enjoy The Mist, rent or buy the DVD or Blu-ray, because it includes both versions of the movie - one in color, and the other in glorious black and white. The B^W version really makes the whole movie seem like a different film.

While the ending is rather depressing, it is still a very good adaptation of a Stephen King story.

Can't wait for "Under The Dome" on television this summer!!

[DVDBuff1]

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi ( Richard Marquand)

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of my favorite Star Wars film in the Original Trilogy, and I felt like re-watching it again. It's also the one film in the trilogy that personally suffered the most edits when it got the "special edition" treatment.

[Avaitor]

>plans to do something productive
>watches Predator instead

'tis my life.

[dvdjunkie]

Song of the South (1946) Blu-ray (bootleg)

A very good friend of mine who used to be the owner and head moderator of another Disney site, turned me on to this. It was $35, but it was worth every penny. Whomever is doing this Blu-ray edition of one of my most favorite Disney films has wasted no efforts to make this the best looking Blu-ray out of the Disney catalogue.

SOTS looks amazing, the sound is really fantastic with the DTS used perfectly for this fun and family feature film.

Those of you who have never seen this film from beginning to end, need to find a copy and watch it today. I doubt if we will ever get a 'legal' copy from Buena Vista in our lifetime.

Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, James Baskett and Ruth Warrick look great in this film. Even the animated parts featuring Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox are crystal clear and almost jump off the screen at you.

The extras on this two-disc Special Edition include the missing scenes from "Fantasia", "Make Mine Music", "Melody Time", and "Fun and Fancy Free". Also included are the WWII Donald Duck cartoons and the Warner Bros. short "Coal Black & the Sebben Dwaffs". The final extra is really my favorite part as included in the disc is a group of 10 Disney cartoons starring Chip 'n' Dale.

If any of you see an ad for this Blu-ray, don't hesitate to get it to add to your collection. From the cover to what's on the two blu discs it is worth every penny.