DVDizzy Forum

I'm about to wrap up another Jackie Chan/Sammo Hung film, Wheels on Meals - great fun!

Psycho (1960) 8.5/10 - I hate using the word masterpiece, as I feel it has been thrown around way to much recently, but I feel compelled to use it here when describing this film. This film has not only stood the test of time but also multiple viewings (even after you know the "twists"). At times the dialog and acting can get a little corny but this really is an excellent movie. The way the story unfolds is just masterful and it contains some of the most iconic images in all of cinema.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 7/10 - I watched the Director's Cut and while the pacing is a little better, I'm still not a fan of this movie. The beginning is engaging, fast paced and really builds up excitement (discovering the missing planes and ship, and Dreyfuss having the encounter in his car are just magical experiences) but once Dreyfuss looses his family, I loose interest. The film comes to a screeching halt as I no longer identify with the characters or really care what is happening. The big reveal at the end is also underwhelming. While I agree with Spielberg, that the movie dates him with the immoral actions of Dreyfuss and the naivete of the ending, I really think it's the pacing that kills it for me.

On a side not: If you like this movie, buy the Blu-Ray. It's pretty damn perfect in every regard.

Devil (2010) 6/10 - a fun but just plain bad movie. The concept of trapping strangers in a small area and having them reveal secrets while something bad is going on is not really a new concept. Shyamalan is the writer here, not the director but don't be fooled, there is still a twist ending (which my ass hole brother spoiled for me before I watched it). I'll start by saying Shyamalan still can't write, as the characters are pretty shallow. I really wanted the religious guy to die, as he was annoying and obviously written into the script just to explain what was going on. One thing I predicted at the beginning was someone in the elevator being the person who killed the detective's family in a hit and run. I even predicted that it would be shown in a flashback at the end of the movie as a big reveal (just like Shyamalan's car accident reveals at the end Unbreakable and Signs). An unoriginal but entertaining movie.

Flight of the Navigator (1986) on regular DVD. When I read that they are going to remake this I had to watch the original. Forgot how good this film is, and I wish they would remake "The Black Hole" before they remake this Disney film.

Goliath wrote:Gran Torino (2008)

BEAUTIFUL movie! Excellent, excellent, excellent!

I have to agree

Disney-Fan wrote:Matrix Reloaded - A worthy, if inferior, addition to the franchise. The story is by far weaker, but stronger performances and a spectacle of action scenes - some still more impressive than anything put out today - make up for the movie's weaknesses. 7/10

Matrix Revolutions - If movie #2 was a somewhat worthy addition, this movie, to be blunt, just stinks. From interesting visuals, a compelling story and idea and a great lead cast, we are pushed to the limits of the mundane with this one and the lead cast are nothing more than decoration here. The action is worse than your average sci-fi flicks, the story is nowhere to be found, and really when you bog it down, besides the opening and the Neo-Smith fight, nothing else really added to the conflict and story. If it were any other movie I'd be more forgiving but sheesh! This was meant to wrap up one of the greatest movies of movie history. 4/10

Get out of my head, seriously. I really feel that had the third movie been as good or better then the second one, then people would accept this as a trilogy (instead of disowning both of the sequels). The second one introduces some interesting characters and concepts but the third one ruins it for me.

Easy A (2010) 7/10 - pretty good. I love Emma Stone and it's great to see her land a leading role for once, as she easily carries the movie. The supporting cast is also excellent and very quirky. Unfortunately, they can get a little too out there at times and it makes it hard to relate. Too many of Emma Stone's lines are laced in sarcasm and the whole self-awareness would at times take me out of the story. Still, it was enjoyable and worth checking out.

The King's Speech.

'Twas fascinating. I like that it's a true story and the guy who played the therapist deserves an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, seriously, he's that good.

I decided to start off the new year by watching my first Weng Weng movie: For Your Height Only:
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I also got in another Jackie Chan film, this time it was the great Project A. - Think Jackie Chan meets the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Watched The Patriot with Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson. Forgot how intense the whole movie is from beginning to end. The extended version of the film is just amazing. It runs just under three hours long, and you don't realize that you have been involved that long with a movie. I may have to get the Blu-ray of this, if it is the extended version.

Also watched Davy Crockett & The River Pirates from the WDT collection. Both of these films are just total fun to watch. Jeff York is hilarious as Mike Fink, King of the River, and Fess Parker is just same old 'aw shucks!" Davy Crockett, with Buddy Ebsen along for the ride at Georgie Russell.

dvdjunkie wrote:Watched The Patriot with Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson. Forgot how intense the whole movie is from beginning to end. The extended version of the film is just amazing. It runs just under three hours long, and you don't realize that you have been involved that long with a movie. I may have to get the Blu-ray of this, if it is the extended version.

DVDJunkie: The extended version is available on Blu-ray. I bought a copy on Blu for Christmas and it's pretty amazing. We never bought it on DVD, so up until now we only watched it whenever it was on TV (I know, pretty stupid!), and it was a nice surprise to see the extended version filled with things we'd never seen before. Definitely a wonderful upgrade, if you're considering it.

Thanks for the comment. The holiday spending took its toll on my budget, but "The Patriot" is at the top of my "must have" Blu-ray list. I am really glad to hear that its the extended version that is on Blu. Thanks again.

Easy A- Great comedy! Sort of like an "Enchanted" of teen romcoms. Also loved Lalaine's cameo.

I've really been on a Jackie Chan kick lately (forgive the pun!)

After Project A, I watched the sequel, Project A II - soem Buster Keaton/Marx Bros. inspired moments in this one.

Young Master was next, one of Chan's earlier films, and still very entertaining.

Finally, I saw the first Cannonball Run film, where Jackie played a JAPANESE! race car driver... I've heard that he and his navigator were talking Cantonese during the film, and included such lines (not subtitled) as "Why'd they make us Japanese?" "I don't care, a paycheck's a paycheck."

Watched the original The Italian Job (1969) starring Michael Caine. This is really a hoot!! They use Mini-Cooper's in this one also, only just a little differently, and how they destroy them is really original. Very British, and very good.

It's been over 7 years since I last saw this film. Maybe 9. I absolutely adored it. But now, 8 years out of high school, this movie is not so cutting edge, witty, or amusing anymore. At all, in fact. What it feels like is perhaps the largest, poorest, most aimless collection of cliches and stereotypes I've ever seen. It's cheap, crude, unbelievably obvious, lacks any realism, romance, or drama, and jumps from one emotion to the next - one joke to the next - like it needs a dose of Ritalin that would mellow King Kong! I didn't laugh once. I didn't even crack a smile. I frowned the entire time. I understand the writer-director is a real-life lesbian. That's sad because I didn't care about any of the women in this movie (especially Moriarity- who I usually love). It wants to tap into some John Waters' satire and doesn't come anywhere close.

I watched Cannonball Run II, and the "sequel" Speed Zone today. Next up is more Jackie Chan - Fantasy Mission Force.

Easy A - Rather funny. I watched it via Amazon's Video on Demand with some free money just by tweeting about Amazon (don't know if that option's still available, though).

Blade Runner (1982) 7/10 - not as good as I remember. I watched the new Final Cut and the PQ was beyond amazing. Hell, if you mute the score by Vangelis (not offense, but it dates the film) and just look at the visuals, it could pass as a movie shot yesterday. Well, after all, that is what this movie is known for; it's cinematography, visual effects and futuristic art direction (all of which hold up EXTREMELY well). It's popularity might also have to do with Harrison Ford starring in the lead role and if you were to strip it of all those elements, you'd have a rather unremarkable film noir. I don't know why but I just couldn't get into it this time. I always found the 'tears in the rain' speech extremely moving and the concepts presented intriguing. What does it mean to be human and what or who determines the value of one's life? Really interesting ideas that are excellently summed up at the end of the film. I just wish the rest of the movie was as interesting.

jpanimation wrote:Well, after all, that is what this movie is known for; it's cinematography, visual effects and futuristic art direction (all of which hold up EXTREMELY well).

I haven't seen the film, but I've seen plenty of this art direction, etc. Yeah, I'll say it holds up incredibly well, considering so much of it is straight from.... oh, 1927.

I watched Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist for the second time. Still funny and sweet- it's a really good movie!

I've seen two *very* different movies tonight.

Zack and Miri make a porno (2008)

Okay, this normally isn't my kind of humor, but since there was nothing else on... I thought it was very funny, but not very original or particularly clever. The gags are very obvious and the 'moral' is layed on top it very thickly. But I immediately liked the characters and, like I said, there were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments --although one particular 'shitty' gag went too far. All in all, a satisfying viewing.

Ae fond kiss (2004)

British drama by genre-specialist Ken Loach, about a young Pakistani guy who falls in love with his sister's Irish music teacher --much to the disapproval of his family. I'm always interested in these kinds of 'multicultural dramas' and this one was refreshing in that it *not* deals with a girl who is surpressed by her family, but a young man, which prevents the film from getting too streotypical --although there are enough stereotypes that I've seen from other, similar films. Luckily the main actors do such a good job that they help elevate the film to a higher level.

Heist (2001)

In the genre 'master-thief has to do one last job before he can retire in safety, but something goes terribly wrong...' this is one of the few that doesn't fall prey to clichés and a predictable plot. This film has so many surprise twists it will make your head toll, and when you start guessing what the next twist will be, you're always proven wrong --that's what I like about it. All the characters are backstabbing each other and manipulating one another, so you can never tell who to trust. Great role for Gene Hackman.

Frantic (1988)

One of Polanski's better films, this one reminds me of the best of Hitchcock. Harrison Ford plays an American doctor, who's in Paris for a summit, when his wife suddenly disappears into thin air. (Yes, "the lady vanishes".) What follows is an intruiging 'connect-the-dots' kind of search for his loved one. Didn't lose me for a second.

Volver (2006)

Second viewing. Not as good as I remembered, but easily the best film by Almodóvar. The film's multiple storylines are remeniscent of a soap opera, but Almodóvar's firm direction gives it enough style and substance to never feel forced or too unbelievable. The real credibility and convincing powers come from Penelope Cruz, easily one of the most beautiful actresses out there, who gives a phenomenal performance.