What Movie Did You Just Watch? - Shh! It's Starting!

[UmbrellaFish]

With the play less than two weeks away, I'm listening to my "Disney Guide Vocals Presents Beauty and the Beast" CD, specifically "Gaston" (which is about to end, so then it's "Gaston Reprise")... It's not very good, thank goodness I bought the movie and B'way soundtracks.

[slave2moonlight]

Last night, watched the bigscreen Bewitched and Disney's Legend of Lobo.

Lobo was great if you like the old Rex Allen narrated Disney animal tales.

I know Bewitched was widely panned, but I really liked it, even though it could have been tweaked a bit and funnier in parts. And I can't remember when Kidman looked so beautiful. And I usually don't say that since I prefer short girls, ha.

I also saw Kickass on Sunday, which I enjoyed a lot. I can't say I loved EVERYTHING about it, but what I loved about it I loved enough to say I loved the movie, ha.

And I just went through the whole Nightmare on Elm Street boxed set. I found all the films entertaining, though some are definitely not so good and others WAY better. Naturally, 1 and 3 are the best, though I also liked 4 reasonably well (and Alice is quite a hottie). I have to admit that I'm one of those folks who didn't really like "New Nightmare". It's a decent movie and creative, but I just didn't find it to be much fun. Though I liked the babysitter. Honestly though, I've never been a huge Freddy fan. I like/respect him as an iconic horror creation, and he IS entertaining, but something about the whole concept keeps me from being a big fan. Maybe because I remember seeing the not as good sequels the most when growing up, and so not finding Freddy all that scary. Overall though, I honestly think I like Freddy vs. Jason the best. Probably mainly just because I find crossovers so interesting. I also really like Monica Keena, though she looked kinda fake by then and I prefer her more natural "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" look.

[Lazario]

And I just went through the whole Nightmare on Elm Street boxed set. I found all the films entertaining, though some are definitely not so good and others WAY better. Naturally, 1 and 3 are the best, though I also liked 4 reasonably well (and Alice is quite a hottie). I have to admit that I'm one of those folks who didn't really like "New Nightmare".

Same here. It's a superior sequel where story, character, and acting are concerned. Which the series needed a boost of all after Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare. But Wes Craven is a guy where when he changes one thing for the better, you lose something essential. And for me, it's the dream atmosphere. The movie feels too realistic. And dramatic. It lacks real play and creepiness and tries to be more psychological. And damn, I thought Freddy's Dead had fixed that one element that was lacking in most of The Dream Child. Which also tried to be too real and dramatic. Apart from the remarkably bad one-liners and inconsistent nightmare scenes / death scenes.

It's a decent movie and creative, but I just didn't find it to be much fun. Though I liked the babysitter.

So did I. I even thought her punch clearly bested Neve Campbell in Scream. Which got way more attention than I thought it would. On the commentary, Kevin Williamson said his agent told him the studio went nuts over the punch in the script. But Craven's and Tracy Mittendorf (spelling?) were great. I do feel she was underused though. They could have made her so creepy or whathaveyou. She already gets so close to Heather in the shots she's in in the kitchen and in the hospital hallway. But then... Craven already has a thing for The Omen and last thing we need is a blonde, teenaged Mrs. Baylock. Especially when William Friedkin might have already done that in The Guardian. I missed it when it was on YouTube so I can't say for sure (and the DVD is hopelessly out of print, last I heard). Either way, she was a mood lightener.

Honestly though, I've never been a huge Freddy fan.

Me either. Like Pinhead, I think he's good for the pantheon because he just has so much personality. But keeping him alive for the sequels meant really messing around with, constantly. From make-up to backstory, and back again, until they broke the 4th wall and had "Robert Englund as himself." I find most horror icons are fun for merchandising and sequels can kill them. If we pay too much attention to them. Wes Craven had a set of rules for the character and all the sequels broke them. Of course, this is all coming from a Jason-guy. But Freddy still has a very cool, innovative, detailed and thoughtful look to him that at the very least makes the silly sequels fun when they're not really cooking. Unless we're talking Freddy's Revenge and like the first movie- it's still too damn dark to see what the heck's happening.

I like/respect him as an iconic horror creation, and he IS entertaining, but something about the whole concept keeps me from being a big fan. Maybe because I remember seeing the not as good sequels the most when growing up, and so not finding Freddy all that scary. Overall though, I honestly think I like Freddy vs. Jason the best. Probably mainly just because I find crossovers so interesting. I also really like Monica Keena, though she looked kinda fake by then and I prefer her more natural "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" look.

Interesting? Man, that's the last word I'd use to describe Freddy vs. Jason. And I don't think you brought this up so maybe I did - there isn't a single sequel to Nightmare on Elm Street more disrespectful of Freddy the character, his backstory, and Wes Craven's original vision for the film than Freddy vs. Jason. An awful new-millennium skinfest meets pukefest... Which I say just because every scene personally offended me SO much... From the misuse and underuse of goddess Katharine Isabelle (Robert Englund apparently is the only one who knew she was in Ginger Snaps, the last great masterpiece produced by the horror genre), to the pandering drug content, to the homophobic slur, the wannabe martial arts / WWE/WWF/WCW b.s. ... Well, I'd have to re-watch it to present a full list of all that was offensive about it, but God did that movie suck!

Just my opinion, of course (and again for the record: Squirm was great! ). I've never liked bad novelties in my horror. And if I was going to give a reprieve for 1 great obnoxious, stupidly-silly novelty-laden horror movie, it's going to be Peter Jackson's Dead Alive.

[Goliath]

Videocracy (2009)

Chilling and frightening exposé of Italy's media apparatus after 12 years of reign by Silvio Berlusconi. If you thought (commercial) tv in your country and it ownership by a handful of bog conglomerates was bad and couldn't possibly get worse: watch this documentary. But prepare yourself to be shocked.

Prime-minister Berlusconi is not only the head of Italy's government, he also owns three big, national commercial tv stations and can influence the only public channel as well. He also owns the country's biggest publishing house and a soccer team. In any other country, such a blatant conflict of interest would have meant he would have to give up either his media businesses or his political office. But not in Italy. Berlusconi can access any of his tv stations at any time to appear on screen, and he has the power to make other stations to break off their most popular programmes sooner than planned if he's about to appear on one of the other channels at a given time.

Then you should see what is actually on tv. Like the old Romans had the circusses where they went to watch the gladiator fights, and the people in power could trust the people not to rise up against their corruption as long as the people had "bread and circusses"... the modern-day Italians have their commercial tv. It's packed with horribly sexist and mysoginist, exploitative shows, where the only role of the woman is to shut up and look pretty. Dressed in bikini's or even topless, they are there to dance and parade around the male presenters. Being on tv has become a goal in itself for these women, and there are hundreds of thousands of them. They are actually encouraged to sell themselves out by their mothers and fathers. And what does Berlusconi do? He hauls these girls into politics, and even named one of these dancing girls his Minister of Emancipation.

None of this was really news to me, as I follow politics really close. But still I was overwhelmed by this bombardment of emptiness, shallow images and mindless people who are famous for being famous. Italy, the movie says, ranks 77th in the world when it comes to freedom of the press. That's for a European, developed country: place 77. I'm still outraged that this country is still in the European Union. It deserves to get kicked out. The prime-minister owns 90% of the television outlets. This is not a democracy. Indeed, it's a videocracy.

It also made me aware of how literal Berlusconi's opponents are when they say he and his political comrades are "facists". This is not just a word, an exaggeration. The film shows allies of Berlusconi who are openly admiring of facist dictator Benito Mussolini. Proudly, they show mobile phones with facist songs as ringtones and swastika's (the nazi symbol) as wallpapers. Berlusconi's party forms a coalition in government with a party that openly calls itself 'facist'.

Last year, Berlusconi got attacked by a man who threw a miniature statue of a cathedral at him. Unlike the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush, this man hit his target. Berlusconi had his lips cut, two teeth broken and his nose broken. His face was covered in blood and he had to be taken to the hospital. I admit that I clapped and cheered. This was a violent attack at a Western head of state... and I cheered. And I make no apologies for that. Just like I wish that Iraqi journalist would have aimed just a little better...

[ajmrowland]

The Lovely Bones-a film that stands out, especially in director, Peter Jackson's resume.

Susie Salmon(Soiarse Ronan) is a normal 14 yr old girl. She has her crush, her friends (among whom is AJ Michalka ), and a loving family-with Mark Whalberg as Dad and Racheal Weisz as Mom and Susan Sarandon as Grandma, among siblings.

Well, until she's murdered. Susie crosses over into the "in-between", a strange world between heaven and earth, and watches for 3 years as her killer(Stanly Tucci) tries to cover it up and as her loved ones struggle with grief, revenge, and attempts to track down the murderer.

The film will tug you in a variety of directions. Scenes involving Sarandon's drunken-smoking grandma are quite funny, other moments are saddening, and others quite suspensful. The movie feels like a dream, in the fact that instead of reveling in the scares or the drama, it never really tries to make you feel any emotion in particular.

For me, as a non-reader of the book, I dont really know what to make of the film. It was a bit underwhelming considering what I'd heard. performances are all good, but Tucci and Ronan and Sarandon particularly stand out. by nature, the ending is unconventional, but suitable. The visual effects scenes, while very nice, seemed slightly overdone. They are unusually few(for a PJ film, that is), but the film does seem to enjoy its own visuals and it shows. That said, it's a pretty good, if underwhelming, film that deserves at least one view to see what you make of it.

[UmbrellaFish]

I rented and watched The Princess and the Frog yesterday.

I still think the score is the weakest point of the movie, but I think, for the most part, the script is strong enough.

[Lazario]

The Lovely Bones-a film that stands out, especially in director, Peter Jackson's resume.

The man directs every one of his movies with the intention to make it stand out. He's a very important figure in filmmaking to watch for.

[PixarFan2006]

I caught some of 2001: A Space Odyssey on TCM last night. I thought it started out a little slowly and had a few boring spots here and there but what I saw was interesting.

[Goliath]

Capitães de abril (2000)

Interesting film about the 1974 revolution in Portugal against the facist regime of Antonio Salazar. The film follows different protoganists, but focuses mostly on the captains that carried out the peaceful coup. Strange enough, between the drama and suspense, there is also room left for a lot of humor. Case in point: a whole battalion of tanks rolling through the streets of Lisbon, when suddenly the first one halts, causing the rest to halt as well. One of the captains angrily goes to ask why they're stopping. The driver of the first tank responds: "well, the traffic lights are red".

What was missing was a better picture of how the regime of Salazar functioned and why it was so terrible for ordinary people to live under it. Maybe more about the atrocities the Portuguese army committed in their African colonies (Angola, Mozambique, Guinee) would also have been insightful, as that is what triggered the coup initially. But all in all it was a decent film.

[slave2moonlight]

My Best Friend is a Vampire

Ha, enjoyable. Sometimes fun, somtimes way too stupid, very dated. Amusing flashback to the '80's, for the most part. The cast actually has a few impressive names. I tend to like anything with David Warner. Well, almost anything. I mean, he's in almost EVERYTHING, so... But, yeah, I can't call it a GREAT film, but it has some very clever moments (despite some cringe worthy ones) and is just generally fun. It IS very frustrating for me in films when the lead character has odd taste in women though, ha. In this film, the school hottie actually has a big crush on the guy, and he can't stop thinking about this girl who looks like Ed Begley, Jr. Oh, well. Always thought of this as the vampire lover's response to Teen Wolf, though I naturally always prefered Teen Wolf, which is just a better movie anyway. But, yeah, I was obsessed with Teen Wolf back in the day.

[slave2moonlight]

Interesting? Man, that's the last word I'd use to describe Freddy vs. Jason. And I don't think you brought this up so maybe I did - there isn't a single sequel to Nightmare on Elm Street more disrespectful of Freddy the character, his backstory, and Wes Craven's original vision for the film than Freddy vs. Jason. An awful new-millennium skinfest meets pukefest... Which I say just because every scene personally offended me SO much... From the misuse and underuse of goddess Katharine Isabelle (Robert Englund apparently is the only one who knew she was in Ginger Snaps, the last great masterpiece produced by the horror genre), to the pandering drug content, to the homophobic slur, the wannabe martial arts / WWE/WWF/WCW b.s. ... Well, I'd have to re-watch it to present a full list of all that was offensive about it, but God did that movie suck!

Just my opinion, of course (and again for the record: Squirm was great! ). I've never liked bad novelties in my horror. And if I was going to give a reprieve for 1 great obnoxious, stupidly-silly novelty-laden horror movie, it's going to be Peter Jackson's Dead Alive.

As for Freddy vs. Jason, when I said I liked it the best because I find crossovers so interesting, by interesting I meant I always like to see how they get characters from two different subjects together, how they interact with each other, etc. I see what you're saying about all the obnoxious teens and their portrayals, sort of (I don't think it is good to be so frequently/easily offended by films though, and here I think it was done to reflect horror stereotypes), but I actually felt this one was a better Freddy sequel than much of the originals in being true to the characters and their original stories. There were even a lot of throw backs. In general though, I think I can agree with you, Laz, on the other films at least, and the character of Freddy himself, Freddy vs. Jason aside.

[Margos]

Metropolis - Wow. I have to say, I watched this on YouTube on a whim after reading the thread about it here on UD, and absolutely loved it. I saw the 2001 (?) reconstruction, with title cards translated into English for both dialogue and descriptions of missing scenes. Only after I saw that did I realize that the near-complete new restoration is also up on YouTube, however, that's all in German, and I would have had no idea what was happening. Maybe I'll watch that sometime when I have time. I think the whole labor v. capital struggle is interesting, and this film manages to be both that and and epic sci-fi from before sci-fi was cool! Some of the most incredible special effects I've ever seen.... No, seriously. How did they do that? It was 1927, for Pete's sake! Okay, miniatures I understand. Maybe even a bit of simple animation (especially on the trasformation of the Machine-Man). But some of that stuff I STILL don't get how they did it. How did they get people in and on the miniatures!? How did they do some of the camera effects!? It boggles the mind! Oh, and the score was amazing, too... I think that was part of what made it exciting! One criticism... How could everyon NOT tell the difference between Maria and the Machine-Man? They made completely different facial expressions ALL the time, and even moved in different ways. Sure, I guess that was really more for the benefit of the audience... But it did make the scene where they burn "Maria" at the stake a lot less intense, since you can tell right away that that is NOT her from the faces she makes. Oh well. Really good film that totally stands the test of time, complete or incomplete.

[Barbossa]

Watched Oceans today. It was a good movie.

[Lazario]

My Best Friend is a Vampire

Ha, enjoyable. Sometimes fun, somtimes way too stupid, very dated. Amusing flashback to the '80's, for the most part. The cast actually has a few impressive names. I tend to like anything with David Warner. Well, almost anything. I mean, he's in almost EVERYTHING, so... But, yeah, I can't call it a GREAT film, but it has some very clever moments (despite some cringe worthy ones) and is just generally fun. It IS very frustrating for me in films when the lead character has odd taste in women though, ha. In this film, the school hottie actually has a big crush on the guy, and he can't stop thinking about this girl who looks like Ed Begley, Jr. Oh, well. Always thought of this as the vampire lover's response to Teen Wolf, though I naturally always prefered Teen Wolf, which is just a better movie anyway. But, yeah, I was obsessed with Teen Wolf back in the day.

I so have to get that DVD. Yes, I'm also aware of this little gem of a bad movie. Haven't seen it in so long that it's due for a DVD upgrade. I believe Lionsgate added it to their new DVD line for "forgotten movies." Along with Repossessed which's been out of print for way too long now...

As for Freddy vs. Jason, when I said I liked it the best because I find crossovers so interesting, by interesting I meant I always like to see how they get characters from two different subjects together, how they interact with each other, etc.

In this case, I think they did it by making Freddy some kind of narrator over every scene. "I'll let Jason" do this (like some kid would say, talk back to the screen) and "he stole" this or that victim... He has to be the voice of both guys because Jason never talks. I'm naturally against most movies that try to anticipate what some little kid in the audience might say and then make the character say it. I mean, I know why the movie did it. Because the horror genre's sense of humor for awhile was too smart-teen and some writers think that doesn't represent the immature-frat guy crowd.

I see what you're saying about all the obnoxious teens and their portrayals, sort of (I don't think it is good to be so frequently/easily offended by films though, and here I think it was done to reflect horror stereotypes)

Good point. Of course, what they were usually doing is trying to parody Friday the 13th. That means chiefly they neglected Nightmare on Elm Street entirely. Not only do they neglect Nightmare, but they technically disrespect Friday as well. So, who's the movie for? Some kids who like WWE. Best guess.

I actually felt this one was a better Freddy sequel than much of the originals in being true to the characters and their original stories. There were even a lot of throw backs. In general though, I think I can agree with you, Laz, on the other films at least, and the character of Freddy himself, Freddy vs. Jason aside.

Are you talking about the teens versus their parents, trying to get them to believe their problems? Feeling like they can't trust the parents? That's really the only thing going on in the first movie that I saw making its' way to Freddy vs. Jason. And maybe the boyfriend in the institution is somehow alike Rod in jail. Just because they recreate a couple scenes - like the "sleepover" scene, doesn't mean they were being true to anything. In fact, they were just New Line-Friday the 13th-ing over things from Nightmare on Elm Street. The characters come over smoking and bringing beer and talking like idiots. That's a stereotype of Friday the 13th.

[PeterPanfan]

The Back-Up Plan - This really sucked. Jennifer Lopez tried to act, but just couldn't pull it off. Alex O'Loughlin seemed bored, and all the other actors tried too hard. Melissa McCarthy essentially played the same character she did on Gilmore Girls, only gay, and Danneel Harris was the only shining factor. Not recommended.

Heathers - Watched it with two friends that had never seen it before. Amazing, as always.

Satan's School for Girls - The 2000 ABC Family movie with Shannen Doherty and Julie Benz. I've never seen the original, so I can't compare, but I enjoyed this one, mainly because of Doherty and Benz. Not exactly scary, but still entertaining.

[Lazario]

The Back-Up Plan - This really sucked. Jennifer Lopez tried to act, but just couldn't pull it off. Alex O'Loughlin seemed bored, and all the other actors tried too hard. Melissa McCarthy essentially played the same character she did on Gilmore Girls, only gay, and Danneel Harris was the only shining factor. Not recommended.

She stole Danielle Harris' name!!

( But in all seriousness, Danielle was famous and had made a name for herself 16 years before Danneel even showed up. That's suspicious to me. Change your name, Danneel!! )

Satan's School for Girls - The 2000 ABC Family movie with Shannen Doherty and Julie Benz. I've never seen the original, so I can't compare, but I enjoyed this one, mainly because of Doherty and Benz. Not exactly scary, but still entertaining.

I've seen the original. It's charming for the 1970's and was a TV-made horror movie but it's very cheap. It will disappoint. It also pulls every punch. There's nothing genuinely scary or disturbing about the movie. It could possibly be seen as creepy. But it's more mysterious than creepy. More for cult horror fans than for the mainstream. Because of Pamela Franklin, who had just previously been in this superior spine-chiller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MDF9vZVd_s

Which I highly recommend anyone check out.

[BelleGirl]

Hachi Movie a bout the loyalty of a dog, based on a true story. When a man (Richard Gere) finds a lost and lonely puppy in the railway station (the puppy was transported all the way from Japan) he decides to take him home and finally adops him. As the dog, who is called Hachi, grows up, he insist on walking with his boss to the railway station each day when he takes his train to work and when his boss returns Hachi is at the railway station again to greet him. Till the day Hachi's boss dies. Hachi keeps going back to the railway station to wait for his boss for the rest of his life.

A real tearjerker this movie! The tears were running down my cheeks.

[Margos]

Okay, so I just saw the 27/10 restoration of Metropolis, since I get the plot, so it didn't really matter that it was in German this time. Yup, the reinstated bits are in piss-poor condition, but they still make sense. They definitely make more sense out of the whole 11811/Slim Man/Josephat subplot. But I noticed something else on the second viewing that bugs me way more than the whole "vast differences between the two Marias" thing. OK, so Rotwang wanted to recreate Hel with the Machine-Man, right? But it seems to me that the only way to put someone's form on the Machine-Man is to put them in that funky capsule-thing. If Hel's been dead for like, 20 years, (and I doubt he would have her corpse around, anyway... right?) then how on earth did he intend to do that? It just doesn't seem like a very well-thought out plan. Ah well, still a phenomenal film.

[slave2moonlight]

Are you talking about the teens versus their parents, trying to get them to believe their problems? Feeling like they can't trust the parents? That's really the only thing going on in the first movie that I saw making its' way to Freddy vs. Jason. And maybe the boyfriend in the institution is somehow alike Rod in jail. Just because they recreate a couple scenes - like the "sleepover" scene, doesn't mean they were being true to anything. In fact, they were just New Line-Friday the 13th-ing over things from Nightmare on Elm Street. The characters come over smoking and bringing beer and talking like idiots. That's a stereotype of Friday the 13th.

Actually, I had in mind more the way the lead female came up with the plan to bring Freddy over into the real world so he would be vulnerable, which is an idea I like better than a lot of the things they did in the sequels to dispatch Freddy. But, yeah, all the things you mentioned too. Really, there isn't a lot you can bring over from Friday the 13th except the stereotypes of dumb, partying victims, so I think it was a pretty fair trade off. I can't say I recall the WWE ties you're making though, but I'm really not familiar with wresting and didn't rewatch Freddy vs. Jason with the others. I plan to, but just haven't had a chance.

[blackcauldron85]

Hachi

I've been meaning to rent this, and I keep on forgetting to! I'm glad you liked it- I think it looks really good!