@ pap64: Completely agree with you on Pleasantville.
My summer of love (2004)
Small film about two girls from very different social classes (played by Natalie Press and the gorgeous Emily Blunt) who befriend each other during a long summer in the English countryside. Over time, the friendship turns into love, and they end up having sex... a lot. So you all understand that, from that point on, I couldn't give it a bad review anymore, regardless of what happened in the 60 minutes after.
The film has some surprising twists here and there, and it turns out that none of the characters are what they looked like. Shocking ending, though not as shocking as I had hoped. (Some films lend themselves for unhappy endings.)
PeterPanfan wrote:Does The Hunger not get a lot of love?
Well, a lot of fans like it but critics have always hated it. They still do. Roger Ebert practically went into laughing fits during his extraordinarily negative review of it. Probably because it wasn't gritty enough.
PeterPanfan wrote:If you've seen it, how is Fright Night Part II? It's not on Netflix, so I don't see myself watching it this Halloween season, but the first was decent enough for me to want to see a sequel.
And I'll definitely see Near Dark and Innocent Blood, too! (And The Lost Boys, which I still have not seen).
Great! You're bound to fall in love with one of them.
No, I haven't seen Fright Night II yet. But if any of the original cast are in it, I will if it's ever released again.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on Blu-ray. Probably the best of the series, as I thought "Home Alone 3" and "Home Alone 4", neither of which had Macaulay Culkin in them, were just plain awful.
This time the McAllister's are on their way to Florida for the holidays and things go well until they arrive at their rain-soaked destination and realize they left Kevin at the Airport in Chicago, not knowing that Kevin followed a man who looked just like dad onto the plane destined for New York City.
Tim Curry and Rob Schneider are excellent in their supporting roles and the "wet" bandits Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci end up on the receiving end of Kevin's trying to avoid them from hurting him.
Just a little bit of nonsense for the Holiday season and it was very good to see it in Blu-ray Hi-Definition.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
The Addams Family (1991) - I don't think I've ever watched the tv series or read the comics, but this movie was pretty amusing (though I think I prefer the sequel a little more). I liked Christopher Lloyd as Fester.
PixarFan2006 wrote:The Addams Family (1991) - I don't think I've ever watched the tv series or read the comics, but this movie was pretty amusing (though I think I prefer the sequel a little more). I liked Christopher Lloyd as Fester.
I love the sequel. Especially Debbie, and Gary and Becky.
I have seen the original show, it's really old-fashioned. But still great stuff for being unconventional- not like Leave it to Beaver, that's for sure.
I saw an advanced screening of Megamind in 3D yesterday morning, and I have to say I was impressed. After hearing about the project I became interested, but each successive trailer knocked my interest down a peg each time. By the time I was at the screening yesterday morning, before the movie even started I thought to myself, "Why did I come to this screening? It doesn't look that good." But I was wrong, and without spoiling the movie or going into detail, I think you'll be surprised too when you watch it. 8/10
Later that evening, I went to see Clint Eastwood's Hereafter. The film is about three different people in different parts of the world who have had connections with death in one way or another. The film seems very bleak in the first two thirds, with each character either coping with the loss of a loved one or having a near-death experience themselves. The opening scene depicts a massive tsunami that is both fascinating and terrifying as you watch the destructive power. Thankfully, by the time it's all over, you're left uplifted and given a reason to hope after all that dread. Despite its sad tone, this is one of Eastwood's finest films in years. Bring a box of tissues. 9/10
Wonderful animated movie by Tim Burton. I thought the animation was really imaginiative, the story was very original, it had fresh and surprising characters, but the songs were a bit weak. I liked Victor and Lord Barkis' design the best. The other human characters were funny, but maybe a bit too over-the-top sometimes. Overall, one of the best animated films of the last decade, if you ask me. I don't know if it's really suited for kids (it was aired on tv this afternoon as part of childrens' programming). Adults can surely appreciate it better. In the same year Corpse Bride, a daring and adult animated film was released, Disney came with.... Chicken Little. Hence why Disney has lost its position of no.1 in animation.
Brothers (2004)
Or Brødre, in its original Danish. The story of a young father who gets send to the war in Afghanistan and gets his helicopter shot down by the Taliban. His family is shocked when they find out the news, especially his two young girls. His wife somehow doesn't "feel" he's dead. Is he or isn't he and what does that do to the family; that's what the film is about. This film was a very intense and thrilling experience for me, causing me to let out a big sigh when it was over. Definitly to be recommended!
The Mist I seldom watch horror movies, but this was one. In soundbites: A thick mist. Poeple gathered in a supermarket. Gigantic insects. A religious maniac grabs her chance to get people to believe her message of doom. A hero and his pals try to make a way out. Lots of screaming and blood and bodies.
The story ends bitterly for the hero.
Toy Story 3 Fresh on dvd! No 3D this time, but the movie has lost nothing of it's charm and wit. I like the bonus feature about the voice cast too.
Mulan This time with audio commentary. But I soon get annoyed hearing the audio commentary and not the soundtrack of the actual movie, so halfway I put the audio back to normal and have the commentary displayed in Dutch subtitles.
Wonderful animated movie by Tim Burton. I thought the animation was really imaginiative, the story was very original, it had fresh and surprising characters, but the songs were a bit weak. I liked Victor and Lord Barkis' design the best. The other human characters were funny, but maybe a bit too over-the-top sometimes. Overall, one of the best animated films of the last decade, if you ask me. I don't know if it's really suited for kids (it was aired on tv this afternoon as part of childrens' programming). Adults can surely appreciate it better. In the same year Corpse Bride, a daring and adult animated film was released, Disney came with.... Chicken Little. Hence why Disney has lost its position of no.1 in animation.
WE AGREE AGAIN!!!
Seriously, I love Corpse Bride. It might be one of my favorite Tim Burton films of all time, alongside Ed Wood, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice and Edwards Scissorhands. I agree that the story is very original, and I thought the ending was quite beautiful and satisfying in that bittersweet nature that Burton knows how to do. The visuals are stunning to say the least, nearly rivaling the best CG efforts. The music is quite tame, I agree on that as well.
What bothers me is how some people are quick to call this "THE WORST MOVIE EVAR!!!!". I can definitely see how this might be a "love/hate" film since it is a Gothic romance that deals with death, and Victor can get pretty annoying at times. But "the worst"? As much as I respect how people view films, there's a BIG difference between a really bad movie and a movie you didn't like...
Movies like "The Room" and "Manos" ARE the worst ever made, and even those can be argued that they can be enjoyable despite the mediocrity of the final product. Corpse Bride may not be a film of everyone's liking but it's far from the worse ever made.
Wonderful animated movie by Tim Burton. I thought the animation was really imaginiative, the story was very original, it had fresh and surprising characters, but the songs were a bit weak. I liked Victor and Lord Barkis' design the best. The other human characters were funny, but maybe a bit too over-the-top sometimes. Overall, one of the best animated films of the last decade, if you ask me. I don't know if it's really suited for kids (it was aired on tv this afternoon as part of childrens' programming). Adults can surely appreciate it better. In the same year Corpse Bride, a daring and adult animated film was released, Disney came with.... Chicken Little. Hence why Disney has lost its position of no.1 in animation.
WE AGREE AGAIN!!!
I disagree with both of you. I thought it was underwhelming- at best.
Then again, I can't think of any claymatian movies I actually like anymore. I've soured on them all.
Das Boot (1981) 6.5/10 - it has some nice moments of character development but it just felt like a whole lot of nothing. I was actually bored with this as much as Peterson’s other 80’s hit, The NeverEnding Story . Can’t say I’m a fan of his. I also found the synthesizer soundtrack distracting and just a weird choice for a period piece (although, I enjoy the piece on it’s own). As of right now, this definitely ranks up there as one of the most overrated movies I’ve ever seen.
Note: After some research, I’ve discovered that what I watched on Sony Movie Channel HD was the original theatrical cut (the 149 min cut that one all the Oscar’s). I’ve discovered that that was actually made from a 6-part German TV mini-series that clocks in around 5 hours (with the 209 min Director's Cut being the most available version of this movie). Some people say it fucks up the pacing, making it all just drag (which it already did for me), while other people say the hours of added character development helps you get invested in these characters more and the time flies by faster. I’m going to watch the original TV mini-series and see how it all goes as I’m just not content with calling this overrated and moving on (I have to be missing something).
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009) 7/10 - I enjoyed this one in a different way then the first, although they are both equally captivating. It was great to have the story focus more around Lisbeth, who IMO, is the most interesting part of these movies. Granted, everything you liked about the first is back, there is still a mystery to be solved but I think this did for the overarching story and characters what The Godfather Part II did for it’s (i.e. further developing and expanding upon). I’m now invested in these characters and excited to see the conclusion to this trilogy when in comes out in the states.
On a side note, I watched this on Blu-Ray (it looked great), as my library is apparently getting foreign films on Blu-Ray now. Yay!
Predators (2010) 7/10 - I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this movie (this comes from someone who disowns Predator 2, AvP 1 & 2, and was expecting to do the same for this). I found it a good sequel/homage that, while not the same caliber as the original, can sit comfortably beside it as a companion piece. It may be a little too familiar (playing up the “The Most Dangerous Game” story line) and relies on stereotypes and tired clichés, but you’d be hard pressed not to see many of these flaws in the original as well (it just doesn’t have that “untouchable” status to me). I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece (although the acting was surprisingly good), but was happy to find this movie gave me that same campy fun feeling I got from the original and that’s all I really wanted (but never expected). It was faithful, with all the positives and negatives that may entail.
One major thing I would change was the end (which was too much a rip-off of the original). I would’ve had Adrien Brody’s character die at the end by the Predator (the sniper chick wouldn’t shoot it in time to save him). Then, as the Predator is in the middle of making his new “trophy” (their arrogance is their only real weakness), the sniper chick would regain enough control to get a couple fatal shots in on the Predator (but not without him reacting in time get one in on her). It would end with them all dyeing but as the sniper chick’s eyes being to shut, she sees new parachutes dropping.
Update:
Das Boot (1981) 7/10 - this was the complete 5-hour TV mini-series cut of the film, or the uncut version, as they label it. I liked it a little more this time around. There was some much needed character development but their was also some gratuitous scenes that didn’t add anything (most likely fluff added to fill the whole television time slot). It still dragged to me but no more then the first viewing (which isn’t bad, since it was 2.5 hours longer). I understand that there is some nice character development, great acting, and it most likely portrays life on a U-Boat more accurately then most movies ever have but the story just isn’t that captivating to me. The lack of a forward moving plot with one that consists of nothing more then waiting may be accurate but not that interesting. I guess I’ve satisfied my curiosity and can now be content with just calling it overrated.
Coming Up: The Pianist (2002), Downfall (2004), and Pan's Labyrinth (2006) [I’ve already seen it but I want to see if it’s as good as I remember].
@ jpanimation: That's funny, you described my feelings exactly when it comes to Part 2 of the Millennium-trilogy. Next saturday, I will watch the second part of the tv-version of Part 3 and give my final judgement.
Tonight, I watched The Isle (2000)
Or Seom in its original Korean. It's the breakthrough movie of Kim Ki-Duk, one of my all-time favorite directors (known for Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and... Spring and 3 Iron). I'll let this IMDb review speak for me:
The Isle is a hard film to evaluate. It pulls the viewer's emotions in every different conceivable direction, from empathy to outright horror and everything in between. After it ended I wasn't sure if I was going to cry or to throw up; I didn't know if I was sad or happy or hopelessly angry. Either way, the film's images will probably haunt me for many years to come.
The film is beautifully photographed, making excellent use of the isolated fishing lake setting. All of the actors are perfect, even in scenes more painfully grotesque than anything I've seen in a film before. I simply cannot imagine the artistic process that went on during production-- how did the filmmakers raise the money to make this film, and how did they direct the actors to create such convincing performances from such outlandish material? And whose idea was it to end it like that?
I loved many things about this film, but I find it hard to recommend because of a few scenes involving really heartless animal cruelty. A fish is mutilated and partially eaten while it's still alive; a dog is yanked around by its collar and slapped; another fish is jolted with electrodes. Of course the humans in the film suffer much worse misfortunes, but the characters mostly deserve what they get, whereas the animals do not. Also, the scenes of human violence are created using makeup effects, but the animals have no such luck-- as far as I can tell, they're really slicing flesh off a live fish and eating it.
All I can really say is, see The Isle and make up your own mind about it. It will cause completely different individual reactions in every single member of the audience, and if you love it, good for you. If you hate it, I think I can understand why.
Since they are talking about a remake of one of my favorites I thought I would watch the original Heavy Metal and had forgotten about how much I really like this flick.
The soundtrack is amazing, and the animation is probably the most unique about this film.
Hope the remake isn't all screwed up. And I hope it can stand up to this original classic.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
