It was a worthy effort from Disney, but the rushed storyline didn't let me connect with the characters enough. Hopefully Tangled will do better in my book.
What Movie Did You Just Watch? ... And Robin
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SmartAleck25
- Special Edition
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littlefuzzy
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:36 pm
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jpanimation
- Anniversary Edition
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- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:00 am
Gone with the Wind (1939) 8/10 - good movie, still like it. Gorgeous cinematography, sets, costumes, art direction, and a standout score by Max Steiner. Everything feels very epic and expensive lol The acting varies between players. It does a pretty good job of condensing such a large book into just under a 4 hour movie (originally 5 hours but they cut some scenes), although, many events at the end just seem way too cramped. NOTE: The filmmaker's intentionally approached the subject of slavery with great sensitivity as to not offend but the revisionist actions taken to achieve this are actually a little offensive.
Anyways, just bought the 3-disc Blu-Ray set for $12. My thoughts on this set have already been written in the following review (sometimes eerily close to what I would have written), and I especially like how his complaints of what the set lacked were word for word my thoughts, crazy. For those interested, here it is:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40613/go ... -the-wind/
Anyways, just bought the 3-disc Blu-Ray set for $12. My thoughts on this set have already been written in the following review (sometimes eerily close to what I would have written), and I especially like how his complaints of what the set lacked were word for word my thoughts, crazy. For those interested, here it is:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40613/go ... -the-wind/
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PixarFan2006
- Signature Collection
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- Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:44 am
- Location: Michigan
I agree. I thought that the last half of the movie consisted of events that happen one after the other, but I was still fascinated by it all. I mean, I usually can't stand movies that go on after the third hour, but this had me glued all day long. Scarlett O'Hara is a fascinating character, being a victim, an antagonist, a dreamer, idealist and a heroine. Rhett is the perfect jerk: charming and smooth but dastardly in some ways.jpanimation wrote:Gone with the Wind (1939) 8/10 - good movie, still like it. Gorgeous cinematography, sets, costumes, art direction, and a standout score by Max Steiner. Everything feels very epic and expensive lol The acting varies between players. It does a pretty good job of condensing such a large book into just under a 4 hour movie (originally 5 hours but they cut some scenes), although, many events at the end just seem way too cramped. NOTE: The filmmaker's intentionally approached the subject of slavery with great sensitivity as to not offend but the revisionist actions taken to achieve this are actually a little offensive.
Anyways, just bought the 3-disc Blu-Ray set for $12. My thoughts on this set have already been written in the following review (sometimes eerily close to what I would have written), and I especially like how his complaints of what the set lacked were word for word my thoughts, crazy. For those interested, here it is:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40613/go ... -the-wind/
It is a great story.
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dvdjunkie
- Signature Collection
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- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:05 am
- Location: Wichita, Kansas
Easy A (blu-ray) - 3.5/5. Here is a good example of what a movie can do to make you laugh and cry at the same time. The subject matter is handled very tastefully and the acting and story are very true to life.
Machete (blu-ray) 4/5 - One of the better action films to come out in quite a while. Very violent and very cheesy at the same time. Steven Seagal gives the worst performance with the worst mexican accent I have ever heard, and Danny Trejo carries the movie just like I thought he would. If you remember the faux trailer on "Grindhouse", Robert Rodriguez has done a masterful job in keeping with the cheesiness while not letting the actual story get in the way. Someone else who reviewed this film said it gets a little "preachy" at the end, I didn't see that at all, but then I don't agree with most other people's reviews of movies that I like.
Machete (blu-ray) 4/5 - One of the better action films to come out in quite a while. Very violent and very cheesy at the same time. Steven Seagal gives the worst performance with the worst mexican accent I have ever heard, and Danny Trejo carries the movie just like I thought he would. If you remember the faux trailer on "Grindhouse", Robert Rodriguez has done a masterful job in keeping with the cheesiness while not letting the actual story get in the way. Someone else who reviewed this film said it gets a little "preachy" at the end, I didn't see that at all, but then I don't agree with most other people's reviews of movies that I like.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
Los Abrazos Rotos (2009)
Another film by Pedro Almodóvar and starring Penélope Cruz. I've seen her in many films, but never before did she look as gorgeous as she does here. This film, in which she plays an actress, takes full advantage of her stunning beauty. She gets into a relationship with a powerful, elder businessman who becomes obsessed with her and soon can't live without her --and seeing Cruz in all her glory, I certainly understand him. She falls in love with the director of her film, however, and the movie (as told by the now blind director) is about the horrible consequences --hence the English title 'Broken Embraces'. I enjoyed it very much; I thought all performances were really strong, not just Cruz', but also Lluís Homar and Blanca Portillo. Unlike in Volver and other films, Almodóvar did not go over the top this time and really restrained himself, which makes for a better movie.
Up (2009)
Can you believe I had never seen this one before? I thought it was a really good, funny and at times emotional movie, but it didn't live up to all the hype. Yes, it was very good in its depiction of Carl and Ellie's relationship (and very daring in treating it in such a mature way --something Disney would never try) and in Carl's change of heart when it comes to Russell, but overall, the story seemed to be too meager and too much 'all over the place' to be called 'Pixar's best' --as I have read so often. It has too many silly ideas (like the dogs flying the airplanes) and, unlike other Pixar movies, it doesn't succeed to pass them off as 'natural' --like Ratatouille did,. for example. But again, this can only be considered a weaker effort in comparison with other Pixar films, and Pixar's weak ones are even 10 times better than the average film.
Another film by Pedro Almodóvar and starring Penélope Cruz. I've seen her in many films, but never before did she look as gorgeous as she does here. This film, in which she plays an actress, takes full advantage of her stunning beauty. She gets into a relationship with a powerful, elder businessman who becomes obsessed with her and soon can't live without her --and seeing Cruz in all her glory, I certainly understand him. She falls in love with the director of her film, however, and the movie (as told by the now blind director) is about the horrible consequences --hence the English title 'Broken Embraces'. I enjoyed it very much; I thought all performances were really strong, not just Cruz', but also Lluís Homar and Blanca Portillo. Unlike in Volver and other films, Almodóvar did not go over the top this time and really restrained himself, which makes for a better movie.
Up (2009)
Can you believe I had never seen this one before? I thought it was a really good, funny and at times emotional movie, but it didn't live up to all the hype. Yes, it was very good in its depiction of Carl and Ellie's relationship (and very daring in treating it in such a mature way --something Disney would never try) and in Carl's change of heart when it comes to Russell, but overall, the story seemed to be too meager and too much 'all over the place' to be called 'Pixar's best' --as I have read so often. It has too many silly ideas (like the dogs flying the airplanes) and, unlike other Pixar movies, it doesn't succeed to pass them off as 'natural' --like Ratatouille did,. for example. But again, this can only be considered a weaker effort in comparison with other Pixar films, and Pixar's weak ones are even 10 times better than the average film.
Wow, I actually watched a ton of stuff with my nephew last night:
Open Season 3: I am surprised the series made it to the third sequel, but here we are. I thought it was OK, mostly harmless, though the rescue plot has been done before in the other movies, and better I might add.
Toy Story 3: My nephew had not seen the movie yet, so we decided to watch it. Surprisingly, I liked the movie more a second time. I really appreciated the effort that went into the action sequences, and those scenes are pulled off nicely. The emotional aspect still hit very well, and I think its an excellent conclusion to the series.
Horton Hears a Who: Another movie my nephew had not seen before. I think this movie may be one of the more underrated movies among Blue Sky's canon. Sure it still has some annoying tendencies like pop culture references, obnoxious jokes and such, but the story has heart, and the ending scene is one of the most exciting scenes I had seen in a movie before. Compared to "Cat in the Hat" this movie blows it out of the water.
Pitch Black: My nephew mainly watched this one, I wasn't too interested. But from what I saw the action was pretty good.
Sweet Home: A Japanese horror movie. I watched this on YouTube because of a review of the NES game based on the movie. It is a very simple horror movie, but man are the death scenes in this movie brutal. I think the amount of story present gives the deaths a far more shocking value than something like the Saw and Final Destination series where they rely on gore and shock scares.
Open Season 3: I am surprised the series made it to the third sequel, but here we are. I thought it was OK, mostly harmless, though the rescue plot has been done before in the other movies, and better I might add.
Toy Story 3: My nephew had not seen the movie yet, so we decided to watch it. Surprisingly, I liked the movie more a second time. I really appreciated the effort that went into the action sequences, and those scenes are pulled off nicely. The emotional aspect still hit very well, and I think its an excellent conclusion to the series.
Horton Hears a Who: Another movie my nephew had not seen before. I think this movie may be one of the more underrated movies among Blue Sky's canon. Sure it still has some annoying tendencies like pop culture references, obnoxious jokes and such, but the story has heart, and the ending scene is one of the most exciting scenes I had seen in a movie before. Compared to "Cat in the Hat" this movie blows it out of the water.
Pitch Black: My nephew mainly watched this one, I wasn't too interested. But from what I saw the action was pretty good.
Sweet Home: A Japanese horror movie. I watched this on YouTube because of a review of the NES game based on the movie. It is a very simple horror movie, but man are the death scenes in this movie brutal. I think the amount of story present gives the deaths a far more shocking value than something like the Saw and Final Destination series where they rely on gore and shock scares.
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littlefuzzy
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:36 pm
3 more Jackie Chan films:
Spiritual Kung Fu and Armour of God* yesterday, and I'm starting Mr. Canton & Lady Rose (aka "Miracles") right now.
*funny story: Armour of God II: Operation Condor was released first in the states, and just called Operation Condor. So when they brought the first Armour of God over, they called it Operation Condor II: Armour of God!
Spiritual Kung Fu and Armour of God* yesterday, and I'm starting Mr. Canton & Lady Rose (aka "Miracles") right now.
*funny story: Armour of God II: Operation Condor was released first in the states, and just called Operation Condor. So when they brought the first Armour of God over, they called it Operation Condor II: Armour of God!
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jpanimation
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1841
- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:00 am
MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992) - a 6-hour 3-part television documentary on the rise and fall of MGM, hosted by Patrick Stewart. I thought it hit all the marks and is a good starting outline for those who know nothing about MGM (outside the fact that the current MGM is a piece of shit). I personally would've loved a 12 hour version of this documentary; covering the many classic films and MGM character/bit players they skipped, the entire animation devision they skipped, delve deeper into L.B Mayer, and more detail on the studio system and why it worked. Still, I was pretty emotional towards the end and I recommend it to anyone interested in classic Hollywood.
Anyways, the next two films were just about the only two in the documentary that I hadn't seen and I've been meaning to for years:
Beau Geste (1939) 7/10 - a Gary Cooper vehicle, this one about four brothers who join the Foreign Legion and have to deal with a cruel commander. It starts off great with a mysterious opening scene that is promptly followed by a terrible sequence with terrible child actors. Everything picks up once they're adults and we're introduced to Gary Cooper and his brothers (Robert Preston and Ray Milland), who all have great chemistry. Unfortunately, by the time we get to the mutiny stuff, I was actually getting a little bored. This seems to be the problem with many Wellman pictures.
Random Harvest (1942) 7/10 - let me start off by saying that I love Ronald Colman and for the most part, Greer Garson. They're some of the greats and they have good chemistry here. With that said, this movie has some serious pacing problems. Colman is an amnesiac vet from WWI, who doesn't remember anything about his past and falls in love with Garson. After living with her for 3 years, he gets hit by a car and his amnesia is reversed (he remembers his past but none of the 3 years spent with Garson). You already know how it's going to end but they milk the ending and it feels about 30 minutes too long. I started to get frustrated with the characters but I'm sure chicks will eat up.
Machete (2010) 6/10 - Rodriguez once again makes his kids movies only this time with adult content. Tries too hard to be Tarantino but lacks the class and sophistication (you won't find a hint of witty dialogue or delivery here). There is a whole lot of wasted talent in this picture, although the Lindsay Lohan nude scenes helped make it bearable.
Anyways, the next two films were just about the only two in the documentary that I hadn't seen and I've been meaning to for years:
Beau Geste (1939) 7/10 - a Gary Cooper vehicle, this one about four brothers who join the Foreign Legion and have to deal with a cruel commander. It starts off great with a mysterious opening scene that is promptly followed by a terrible sequence with terrible child actors. Everything picks up once they're adults and we're introduced to Gary Cooper and his brothers (Robert Preston and Ray Milland), who all have great chemistry. Unfortunately, by the time we get to the mutiny stuff, I was actually getting a little bored. This seems to be the problem with many Wellman pictures.
Random Harvest (1942) 7/10 - let me start off by saying that I love Ronald Colman and for the most part, Greer Garson. They're some of the greats and they have good chemistry here. With that said, this movie has some serious pacing problems. Colman is an amnesiac vet from WWI, who doesn't remember anything about his past and falls in love with Garson. After living with her for 3 years, he gets hit by a car and his amnesia is reversed (he remembers his past but none of the 3 years spent with Garson). You already know how it's going to end but they milk the ending and it feels about 30 minutes too long. I started to get frustrated with the characters but I'm sure chicks will eat up.
Machete (2010) 6/10 - Rodriguez once again makes his kids movies only this time with adult content. Tries too hard to be Tarantino but lacks the class and sophistication (you won't find a hint of witty dialogue or delivery here). There is a whole lot of wasted talent in this picture, although the Lindsay Lohan nude scenes helped make it bearable.
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BelleGirl
- Anniversary Edition
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- Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:36 am
- Location: The Netherlands, The Hague
Penelope Entertaining modern-day fairy tale about a girl born with a pigsnout due to an old family curse. Some one has to live her the way she is to break this curse. Funny and sweet!
Coraline On of the three ex-rental animated movies I bought. Finally I could see it all through again after the video shop cleaned it in a machine.
Movies I saw this Chrismas Holiday:
The Princess and the Frog
Greystoke the legend of Tarzan, lord of the apes
Up in the air
All very enjoyable, but all repeat viewings. I sitll haven't had the opportunity to watch Rapunzel
Coraline On of the three ex-rental animated movies I bought. Finally I could see it all through again after the video shop cleaned it in a machine.
Movies I saw this Chrismas Holiday:
The Princess and the Frog
Greystoke the legend of Tarzan, lord of the apes
Up in the air
All very enjoyable, but all repeat viewings. I sitll haven't had the opportunity to watch Rapunzel
See my growing collection of Disney movie-banners at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78256383@N ... 651337290/
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dvdjunkie
- Signature Collection
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:05 am
- Location: Wichita, Kansas
The Searchers (Blu-ray) - 4.5/5 - Great movie starring John Wayne who plays a racially prejudiced man in search of his friend's daughter who was kidnapped by indians after a horrific raid that killed his friend and wife. Wayne along with a great supporting cast which includes Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood, along with the ever-present Ward Bond bring this piece of history to the screen and it all hits home. One of my favorite Wayne westerns, and am glad that is one of the few they have picked to give the Blu-ray treatment. It looks beautiful.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
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jpanimation
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1841
- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:00 am
I'm 100% certain that his "friend" is his brother and his "friend's daughter" is his niece. Doesn't that make his talk about family and such to Jeffrey Hunter more meaningful and wouldn't it make his persistence to find Natalie Wood more appropriate when you know she is his only remaining blood relative? Anyways, I love the movie and it's nice to see someone else appreciate Ward Bond in it.dvdjunkie wrote:The Searchers (Blu-ray) - 4.5/5 - Great movie starring John Wayne who plays a racially prejudiced man in search of his friend's daughter who was kidnapped by indians after a horrific raid that killed his friend and wife. Wayne along with a great supporting cast which includes Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood, along with the ever-present Ward Bond bring this piece of history to the screen and it all hits home. One of my favorite Wayne westerns, and am glad that is one of the few they have picked to give the Blu-ray treatment. It looks beautiful.
As for the Blu-Ray, I love the clarity afforded by the VistaVision process but am disappointed by the inaccuracy of the colors. Between the pale sky and the yellow skin tones (do they all have failing livers), it just looks way off and unnatural. The whole thing has a yellow tint (what was white paper before is now yellow in this transfer, etc.), Robert Harris even made note of this and I hope it is corrected for the eventual re-release.
Unfortunately, Jessica Alba is covered throughoutGoliath wrote:Wait... wasn't Jessica Alba in this movie? (*goes checking*) Yep. Okay, that's two reasons not to skip it.
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dvdjunkie
- Signature Collection
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:05 am
- Location: Wichita, Kansas
The Longest Yard (1974) - starring Burt Reynolds, Ed Lauter, Eddie Albert, and James Hampton.
This is the original and best of the two movies. Adam Sandler took this movie and screwed it up so badly that it was hardly recognizable. About a football star who goes to prison for grand theft auto and resisting arrest. The sick warden (Albert) has a semi-pro football team and wants to get them in shape for a big game so he hires Paul Crew (Reynolds) to lead the prisoners against the guards in what turns out to be a really good football game.
Fun With Dick and Jane (1976) - starring George Segal, Jane Fonda and Ed McMahon.
Again the original film that Jim Carrey later screwed up. This is much funnier, and has a much better premise for them to go out sticking up X-rated Motels and the Telephone Company. When Dick (Segal) loses his high-paying job as an aerospace executive, he and his wife Jane (Fonda) turn to a loan company for help, and when the loan company gets help up while they are applying for their loan and Jane arrives at home with $2,000, they find that maybe a life of crime wouldn't be so bad. This movie is so funny, and if you have never seen it, and think that the Jim Carrey one is funny, this will change your mind. Definitely this is the better picture.
This is the original and best of the two movies. Adam Sandler took this movie and screwed it up so badly that it was hardly recognizable. About a football star who goes to prison for grand theft auto and resisting arrest. The sick warden (Albert) has a semi-pro football team and wants to get them in shape for a big game so he hires Paul Crew (Reynolds) to lead the prisoners against the guards in what turns out to be a really good football game.
Fun With Dick and Jane (1976) - starring George Segal, Jane Fonda and Ed McMahon.
Again the original film that Jim Carrey later screwed up. This is much funnier, and has a much better premise for them to go out sticking up X-rated Motels and the Telephone Company. When Dick (Segal) loses his high-paying job as an aerospace executive, he and his wife Jane (Fonda) turn to a loan company for help, and when the loan company gets help up while they are applying for their loan and Jane arrives at home with $2,000, they find that maybe a life of crime wouldn't be so bad. This movie is so funny, and if you have never seen it, and think that the Jim Carrey one is funny, this will change your mind. Definitely this is the better picture.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
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JiminyCrick91
- Platinum Edition
- Posts: 3930
- Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 8:39 pm
- Location: ont. canada
- Contact:
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littlefuzzy
- Anniversary Edition
- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:36 pm
Disgrace (2008)
Since this film is based on my all-time favorite novel (okay, after '1984'), I simply *had* to see it! And then I somehow still managed to miss it in theaters. Now, at long last, I've seen it. But I'm still not sure how to rate it. When judged purely as a stand-alone film, it was a good one. Good leading actors, intruïging story, eccentric and interesting characters, beautiful cinematography, suspense... Yet, predictably, I couldn't stop comparing to J.M. Coetzee's wonderful novel. I normally don't have much patience with non-fiction, but this one struck me from the first page on. And the film loses so many of the subtleties, important details, motives, character traits, character motivations etc. That's a real shame. The film could have been GREAT, but now it's 'only' good.
Oh, and the story is about a disgraced white professor and his daughter who live unprotected in the middle of nowhere in post-Apartheid South-Africa and the dangers they face...
Auf der anderen Seite (2007)
Also known as The Edge of Heaven in English. I can't say much about the story without giving away spoiler --although the movie does that itself, because between 'chapters' it announces which character will die, thus severely lessening the impact those events would have had, had I not known beforehand. Believe me, had I not known, I would have been shocked. Nevertheless, this film is very clever in the way it plays with story structure and time. It's not at all like the continuïty 'mess' in, say, Pulp Fiction, but there's a bit of playing with continuïty, but that makes it all the more enjoyable.
In short, the film is about a young Kurdish girl who's active for the PKK and has to flee Turkey and ends up in Germany. She falls in love with a German girl who then gets involved in her political struggle...
Waltz with Bashir (2008)
Animated retelling of the bloody massacre that Lebanese Christian militias caused in the Palestinian refugee camps Sabra and Shatila, condoned by the Israeli military, during the war between Israel and Lebanon in 1982, as told through the memories of very young Israeli soldiers. Although a very interesting and tragic and shocking story, it lost its impact due to the very wooden animation, which puts the viewer at distance from the shown events.
Since this film is based on my all-time favorite novel (okay, after '1984'), I simply *had* to see it! And then I somehow still managed to miss it in theaters. Now, at long last, I've seen it. But I'm still not sure how to rate it. When judged purely as a stand-alone film, it was a good one. Good leading actors, intruïging story, eccentric and interesting characters, beautiful cinematography, suspense... Yet, predictably, I couldn't stop comparing to J.M. Coetzee's wonderful novel. I normally don't have much patience with non-fiction, but this one struck me from the first page on. And the film loses so many of the subtleties, important details, motives, character traits, character motivations etc. That's a real shame. The film could have been GREAT, but now it's 'only' good.
Oh, and the story is about a disgraced white professor and his daughter who live unprotected in the middle of nowhere in post-Apartheid South-Africa and the dangers they face...
Auf der anderen Seite (2007)
Also known as The Edge of Heaven in English. I can't say much about the story without giving away spoiler --although the movie does that itself, because between 'chapters' it announces which character will die, thus severely lessening the impact those events would have had, had I not known beforehand. Believe me, had I not known, I would have been shocked. Nevertheless, this film is very clever in the way it plays with story structure and time. It's not at all like the continuïty 'mess' in, say, Pulp Fiction, but there's a bit of playing with continuïty, but that makes it all the more enjoyable.
In short, the film is about a young Kurdish girl who's active for the PKK and has to flee Turkey and ends up in Germany. She falls in love with a German girl who then gets involved in her political struggle...
Waltz with Bashir (2008)
Animated retelling of the bloody massacre that Lebanese Christian militias caused in the Palestinian refugee camps Sabra and Shatila, condoned by the Israeli military, during the war between Israel and Lebanon in 1982, as told through the memories of very young Israeli soldiers. Although a very interesting and tragic and shocking story, it lost its impact due to the very wooden animation, which puts the viewer at distance from the shown events.
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dvdjunkie
- Signature Collection
- Posts: 5613
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:05 am
- Location: Wichita, Kansas
The Social Network Blu-ray (2010) - One of the very few movies I missed seeing in the theater this year. But one of the better telling of the origins of Facebook. Great music, good story, and very interesting from beginning to end. Brenda Song has a small part in this film and shows she does have talent (something that "Suite Life on Deck" never does). Highly recommended to those who want to know about the birth and life of Facebook.
The only way to watch movies - Original Aspect Ratio!!!!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!
I LOVE my Blu-Ray Disc Player!