DVDizzy Forum

I just finished rewatching The Social Network, as well. I only saw it once in theaters at a pre-screening for UCF students in early September, and while I thought the film was very good, I was skeptical if it was really deserving of all the unanamous praise it received from various critics and film organizations. Watching the film again on Blu-ray, I can say that it is truly an outstanding film, one of Fincher's top tier achievments and deserving of any wins it receives from the awards in the coming weeks. Personally, I'd be happier to see Inception take the prize at the Oscars over Social, but I know that either film is truly deserving of the prize, unlike last year's Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker.

On a seperate note, the Blu-ray for this movie is near perfect in every way. Flawless PQ and AQ, great supplements, snazzy packaging, and an absolute steal for the $16.99 pricetag both Amazon and Best Buy are asking; $12.99 on DVD for all you ardent supporters of the pre-HD format.

Cheers,
JM

Just Myself wrote:[...] but I know that either film is truly deserving of the prize, unlike last year's Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker.

Why is that? Because it wasn't a blockbuster?

No, because it simply was not a great film, thanks to a muddled ending and bad direction. The script was fantastic, yet the very last scene was so tonally wrong, it undid all the goodwill the film had been saving up. The only reason Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director is because it was a mediocre year film-wise, and the Academy thought it would look good to hand the award to its first female victor.

Cheers,
JM

"Number Five is Alive".........who can forget that line from one of the better comedies of the 80's?? Just watched on Blu-ray Short Circuit (1986), directed by John Badham and starring Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy, Austin Pendleton and Fisher Stevens. The story of a Defense Department robot that gets short-circuited in a rain storm and escapes his confines only to be sheltered by a young lady (Sheedy) who tries to teach him a more gentle way of life. This movie is one of the better family films of the eighties and belongs in everyone's collection. The Blu-ray version has a ton of extras and the soundtrack is fantastic. Hope they give "Short Circuit 2" the same great Hi-Def release.

Even more Jackie Chan:

Since the last time I posted, I've watched Armour of God II: Operation Condor, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, My Lucky Stars, and the US version of The Protector.

I also watched Thunderpants and Down Periscope.

I watched Ponyo early this morning. It was okay, but I didn't like it as much as I liked Spirited Away.

Ponyo was definitely a cute movie.

Watched Being There Blu-ray - One of my favorite Peter Sellers films about a character named Chauncy Gardner who has a brilliant, if not chldlike, brain and after a minor accident with Shirley MacLaine's character is brought to a house where he becomes an advisor to the President. One of the better Peter Sellers films, now if they would only put "The Mouse That Roared" on Blu-ray.

Ferris Beuller's Day Off- 9/10
Absolutely hilarious movie well ahead of its time. It's nice to see a young Matthew Broderick, and pretty much all of the movie is start to end entertaining.

Cheshire_Cat wrote:I watched Ponyo early this morning. It was okay, but I didn't like it as much as I liked Spirited Away.

Ponyo was definitely a cute movie.

I personally loved it more than Spirited Away.

I watched Beowulf the other day. It was good. A bit long, but a very decent perspective on the flaws of man.

The King's Speech - A fantastic film about King George VI's rise to the British throne, his struggles as a stutterer and how his friendship with therapist Lionel Logue changed his speech and his life. Full of heart, humor and personal triumph, this is another frontrunner for the Best Picture award at many shows this year. With The Social Network, The King's Speech, The Fighter and Inception all in contention for top prize, 2011 is shaping up to be quite an exciting awards season. Colin Firth definitely deserves recognition for his performance, he's my favorite pick for the Best Actor award at the moment.

Cheers,
JM

Before the playoff's start today I watched:

Office Space Blu-ray - One of the funniest movies I have ever seen in a long time. Long live Swingline!!!!

Just watched some porn if that counts.

Just Myself wrote:The only reason Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director is because it was a mediocre year film-wise, and the Academy thought it would look good to hand the award to its first female victor.

The Academy is a joke and has been since it's creation (hell, it was started by the studios and headed by actors). The awards ceremony is just one big self-congratulatory night for Hollywood. Since you don't have to be a movie scholar or critic to vote, just about anyone in the industry can and will. A lot of the times they will vote for people whom they feel were snubbed in the past, or if they want to show how progressive they are (by voting an actor/actress simply due to their race, gender, etc. or voting for a movie due to it's subject matter/message), or if the movie is just making too big an impact to ignore. I believe it was Lionel Barrymore who stated that he felt he only got the Oscar because they knew he was dying and felt bad for him. I honesty can't image how bad that has to feel to earn a pity Oscar or any other non-deserved one. I honestly trust AFI more then the Academy, and even they don't know what they're doing half the time.

Anyways, I watched quite a mismatch of movies:

Waterloo Bridge (1940) 7/10 - I had seen the original pre-code Mae Clark version from the 30s but never this sanitized/glamorized MGM version from the 40s. The story itself isn't really anything special, star-crossed lovers who meet only to be separated, and they REALLY do everything in their power to avoid the subject of prostitution (even though it is a significant plot point in the story). Still, the whole damn movie is carried on Vivien Leigh's fantastic performance. It's very reserved and moving (not to mention she looks beautiful). It's a shame people generally don't know her outside Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire (coincidentally the roles she won her Oscars for), as she easily could've won one for this.

The Maltese Falcon (1941) 8/10 - just bought this on Blu-Ray as I love it (although they're skimpy on the extras). It's a detective story and one of the first film noir. Bogie is Sam Spade. The whole supporting cast is excellent too. Perfect pacing and intriguing story. Thank you John Huston.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) 7.5/10 - J.J. Hunsecker...Sidney Falco...these names are just so iconic and so are the image of these characters played by Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis respectively. Hell, even the jazzy score by Elmer Bernstein is iconic. Anyways, it's the story of a newspaper columnist who uses a sleazy press agent to break up his younger sister's relationship with a jazz musician. Make no mistake, the main character we follow, Sidney Falco the press agent, is an ass hole. Most of the characters are unlikable but I was captivated all the same. What really stands out to me is the realistic acting and direction found here, both of which feel ahead of their time (I love the use of camera). I watched it again for the first time in years because the new Criterion Blu-Ray is coming out and I couldn't remember if I liked it enough to buy it.

The Social Network (2010) 8/10 - I'm one who hasn't been too impressed with David Fincher and find him almost as overrated as Kubrick. With that said, I found this movie about Facebook very entertaining, even if only about 40% of it is accurate. It was quite exhilarating at times with the quick editing and music (which sounds similar to the Book of Eli score, which I loved). It also had some emotional moments. I felt the ending was a little anti-climactic (I'm sure they felt it was a good bookend but I felt let down). Since I didn't care for Benjamin Button or Zodiac, I was happy to find that this movie captivated me as much as Se7en did the first time I saw it.

The Kids Are All Right (2010) 6.5/10 - a story about a lesbian couple who suddenly have the sperm donor of their kids show up in their lives. The acting throughout is pretty great. I was actually liking this one up to the ending.

Piranha (2010) 4.5/10 - I honestly don't know why I watched this. I only feel bad for those who had to watch that CG penis get devoured by the Piranhas in eye-popping 3D. I also feel bad for Richard Dreyfuss and Christopher Lloyd for appearing in this.

jpanimation wrote: The Academy is a joke and has been since it's creation (hell, it was started by the studios and headed by actors). The awards ceremony is just one big self-congratulatory night for Hollywood. Since you don't have to be a movie scholar or critic to vote, just about anyone in the industry can and will. A lot of the times they will vote for people whom they feel were snubbed in the past, or if they want to show how progressive they are (by voting an actor/actress simply due to their race, gender, etc. or voting for a movie due to it's subject matter/message), or if the movie is just making too big an impact to ignore. I believe it was Lionel Barrymore who stated that he felt he only got the Oscar because they knew he was dying and felt bad for him. I honesty can't image how bad that has to feel to earn a pity Oscar or any other non-deserved one. I honestly trust AFI more then the Academy, and even they don't know what they're doing half the time.

Agree with this as well. This is why I never really cared for the Oscars or who wins it. All it is a gimmick marketing ploy sell certain movies better.

SmartAleck25 wrote:Ferris Beuller's Day Off- 9/10
Absolutely hilarious movie well ahead of its time. It's nice to see a young Matthew Broderick, and pretty much all of the movie is start to end entertaining.

Today's 'teen comedies' could learn something from it.

jpanimation wrote:I believe it was Lionel Barrymore who stated that he felt he only got the Oscar because they knew he was dying and felt bad for him. I honesty can't image how bad that has to feel to earn a pity Oscar or any other non-deserved one.

Like when Martin Scorsese finally won an Oscar for that lame, lifeless, Americanized remake of Infernal Affairs.

Super Aurora wrote:Just watched some porn if that counts.

What did you think of the story? Were the actors believable? How did you like the climax?

Watched the classic western The Cowboys on standard DVD starring John Wayne. Great story about an old drover who takes on a bunch of kids to ride herd on his cattle. Boos to the bad guy Bruce Dern, who is the one who shoots John Wayne and the kids have to tend with him and get the cattle to their destination. Very good movie. Highly recommended.

I'll be happy with the Oscars when an animated feature wins Best Picture.

Goliath wrote:

SmartAleck25 wrote:Ferris Beuller's Day Off- 9/10
Absolutely hilarious movie well ahead of its time. It's nice to see a young Matthew Broderick, and pretty much all of the movie is start to end entertaining.

Today's 'teen comedies' could learn something from it.

Totally agree!

Goliath wrote:

SmartAleck25 wrote:Ferris Beuller's Day Off- 9/10
Absolutely hilarious movie well ahead of its time. It's nice to see a young Matthew Broderick, and pretty much all of the movie is start to end entertaining.

Today's 'teen comedies' could learn something from it.

Yeah that movie was awesome too. Although I dunno if it's the best teen comedy, it's still good. It teach kids how play hooky. Something I did couple times in HS.

Goliath wrote:

Super Aurora wrote:Just watched some porn if that counts.

What did you think of the story? Were the actors believable? How did you like the climax?

Climax is fucking, so of course I'm going to like it. Story? Who watch Porn for that? Actors believable? Well if Fucking hot girls is believable than yea it is.

Even more Jackie in January... I don't know if I'll get through every movie that has Jackie Chan in it this month or not, but I'll try my best! I think I'm up to 27 JC films this month (including 3 at the very end of December.)

The Protector - HK cut (Jackie removed strong language and nudity, edited some scenes for pacing, reshot the fight scenes to be more like typical Hong Kong martial arts fight scenes, and added a whole new subplot.)

Also - Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars and Dragon Fist.

City Hunter is coming up next.