What Movie Did You Just Watch? ...Rises

[TheSequelOfDisney]

^ Wow, Skyler! That sounds like an amazing experience; I love American Beauty and it would've been awesome to see that (I'm a fan of Reitman, too).

For my film class this week, I watched Tampopo (a 1985 Japanese "ramen Western" film). It was certainly interesting. The food/sex scenes were creepy, and at times gross, but all of the stuff with Tampopo, Goro, Gun, the Master, and others was pretty good. It was a comedy, which was a nice change from previously seeing Apocalypse Now and Silence of the Lambs. I probably won't ever see this again, but it was cool to see a different side of cinema.

Next week is Psycho! I saw it for the first time this summer and absolutely loved it, so I'm excited to watch it again

[JiminyCrick91]

^ Wow, Skyler! That sounds like an amazing experience; I love American Beauty and it would've been awesome to see that (I'm a fan of Reitman, too).

It really was. I think some people may have taped clips of it so to get a feel for the evening you may want to try YouTube or something.

As for today I saw Argo! This is a wonderful picture and sure to be Ben Affleck's next Oscar nom. Although based on a true story that sounds so crazy it sounds fake and one that could be the basis of a gritty, grim drama or a hijinks filled comedy, Argo keeps you enthralled 'till the last credit. It's filled with unsettling action and edge of your seat suspense as well as heaping helpings of raw emotion and a nice sprinkle of appropriate comedic relief. I won't spoil anything about the film proper since it opens next month but I will say I appreciated Ben's choice to open the film with the 70's-80's Black and White W on Red version of the Warner logo.

I got up at 5:45 or so to see the movie. I got in the rush tickets line at 7:15 AM in the pouring rain and was the first one there for the 11 AM show. After about a half hour people came, most of which were for the 2:30 premiere of Much Ado About Nothing which would be busier as it was a premiere (Argo's premiere was the night before). After hours of waiting and because I was first I was just GIVEN a comp ticket by the TIFF lady who was watching to make sure the rush line was going smoothly. I didn't ask why they would just give me one as I was too excited when I got inside Ben Affleck unexpectedly appeared and made a lovely little speech (something I would so not expect to happen for the second of the three screenings in the two weeks). The speech was about TIFF, the films and Canada and how the film itself he feels is right for the festival which he said feels like a 'hometown screening' as it shows the bond between the US and our people as well as gives us nice nod of thanks and vice versa. GO SEE THIS PICTURE.

-Skyler

[PeterPanfan]

I saw Lawless tonight and was solidly entertained. I went in not really knowing any specifics of the plot, but found myself mostly impressed by the performances and the soundtrack. Shia Lebeouf was actually great, as was Tom Hardy. I wish the script had Maggie do more, as I loovee Jessica Chastain. I understand the point of the story, but there was something lacking... I just can't place my finger on what.

[JiminyCrick91]

Today's Tiff Tally was Much Ado About Nothing with Cast and Joss Whedon Q&A, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, and the world premiere Gala event for Dustin Hoffman's directing debut Quartet (with Tom Courtenay, Pauline Collins, Billy Connolly, Maggie Smith and Dustin Hoffman Q&A).

I loved Much Ado and Quartet was quite cute, light little picture, but I was shocked by Wallflower. I had never read the book so I did not know that there were going to be A LOT of sharp very depressing, uncomfortable turns in this picture. I liked all of the comedy stuff but some of the drama made me feel a bit uneasy. Perhaps I'd like it more now that I'd know what to expect but it sure was not what I expected it to be from the marketing. I normally like Dramadies.

-Skyler

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Psycho - I mean, really, what can be said? It's Hitchcock. It's practically perfect. Everything is marvelous. I really really really need to add this to my collection.

Next week I'll be watching Chinatown (which I also watched for my Film Noir class nearly a year and a half ago). I was kind of lukewarm to it last time, so I'm hoping I'll like it more this go-around.

Moulin Rouge! - I always get a kick out of this. It's certainly not the best musical film ever made, but it's always entertaining and fun (which is odd to say since a major character dies in the end).

[2099net]

I've just watched A Monster in Paris - a blu-ray I picked up from my local supermarket for a fiver. I think its fair to say I wasn't expecting much, but I was blown away by the film.

It's totally bonkers. For all of the praise of Pixar and their "risk taking" there is no way on Earth that a major studio would greenlight this movie: I don't think anyone could describe this movie in a simple paragraph. It heavily inspired by Phantom of the Opera, perhaps a little of Murders in the Rue Morgue, with maybe a little Jules Verne, and is extensively about a giant musical flea(!) but you couldn't really call the film a musical. However it does have a few musical numbers, including one stand out tune (below):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yJBrJX6dUx4" frameborder="0"></iframe>

It's unmistakably French, there's a heavy European design to the characters and locations. The English dubbing is superb, I'd swear the English was the original language so good is the script and voice work, and the story features a strong female role, without feeling the need to emphasise or state that she is strong (I still feel Disney has problems with their portrayal of females in their animated movies - it's almost as if they try too hard).

Sure, the animation may not be the best - the film was obviously made on a budget, but the artists make up for some of the failings with style.

I really enjoyed it, and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone here.

[BelleGirl]

Thanks for showing this video from the movie, 2099net! It's a real swinger!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Chinatown - I definitely think I liked it better this time around; I certainly noticed much more in terms of themes and motifs. Nicholson was great, as always, as was Faye Dunaway (gotta love the "My sister, my daughter" scene). The screenplay's top notch, and Polanski did a great job as the director. Time helped me appreciate it a little bit more.

Next week's film was supposed to be Breathless, but my professor said he changed his mind, so I have no idea what I'll be watching now.

Rebecca - This is only the second Hitchcock film I've seen, and it was pretty good (though I like Psycho better). The story didn't really kick in for me until about halfway through, but that hardly means that it's a bad film. I was definitely getting lesbian vibes, though, from Mrs. Danvers. It did seem a little bit lackluster, though, especially since it came on the heels of Gone with the Wind (a Selznick production and the next Best Picture winner). Nevertheless, it's pretty good, and it was nice to see another Hitchcock film. I'm hoping to see Vertigo soon (if I can find it online somewhere).

[PixarFan2006]

The Avengers (2012) I watched the Blu-Ray last night and it's still an enjoyable movie. There are some things that do not make sense (like how was Tony able to get his suit on before he hit the ground near his tower?, but it's an action film so you do not need to put logic into it.

I still have not watched the features (as I never do with the Blu-Rays I buy).

[dvdjunkie]

PixarFan2006:

Don't want to know the reasons why you don't watch the extras on your Blu-ray discs, but the extras on "The Avengers" are well worth a watch, especially the "One Shot - 47" and a first-time Gag Reel. Will watch the rest of the extras when I watch the movie again with the rest of the family.

[Jules]

Perhaps he's busy. I like to watch extras too, but I've watched very little in my DVD-viewing life. I have all these Atlantis and Brother Bear collector's editions and the ultimate Matrix collection with God knows how many hours of supplemental material, and I've yet to watch them. And these DVDs have been sitting on my shelf for about 6 years.

Let's not even get into the 90 or so Blu-ray discs that I own that I haven't even watched.

[ajmrowland]

Titanic(1997)-well, the ending's a little corny and the music overendulges in the love theme, but the emotion is raw, the nonfiction parts are very accurate, even if the splitting of the ship seems a tad excessive(but after watching footage of 9/11, even that can seem hollywood) and jim cameron clearly has passion for the subject matter. overall, A-

And the extras only confirm my views.

[TheValentineBros]

Hotel Transylvania.

[KACENAID]

Hotel Transylvania.

Ditto. I wasn't crazy about it, though my nephew and his friend enjoyed it.

[Kraken Guard]

Sweet mistress of all that is evil, peeps complain about Battlefield Earth? Call me weird, but I found Battlefield Earth to be quite enjoyable. Home Alone 4, on the other hand...

... "A disgrace to the forces of evil!"

Now, Home Alone 4? I have heard that people don't care too much about the 3rd one, but that -- At least -- Was funny. Home Alone 4 wasn't even funny. It just... Sucked.

[TheValentineBros]

Hotel Transylvania.

Ditto. I wasn't crazy about it, though my nephew and his friend enjoyed it.

Well, it was a pretty good movie, better than expected, until the ending, with Dracula rapping with a dance sequence that is more of a ripoff to an ending from Shrek.

[PixarFan2006]

PixarFan2006:

Don't want to know the reasons why you don't watch the extras on your Blu-ray discs, but the extras on "The Avengers" are well worth a watch, especially the "One Shot - 47" and a first-time Gag Reel. Will watch the rest of the extras when I watch the movie again with the rest of the family.

I saw the deleted scenes which explained some things for some of the scenes. The gag reel was mildly amusing, but the short was just meh. Maybe I will watch it again sometime.

I watched Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) for my first Halloween movie month watch. It was just so-so. The monsters were more enjoyable than the lead characters (I have honestly never seen much of their comedy).

[KACENAID]

Ditto. I wasn't crazy about it, though my nephew and his friend enjoyed it.

Well, it was a pretty good movie, better than expected, until the ending, with Dracula rapping with a dance sequence that is more of a ripoff to an ending from Shrek.

I think I had a few main issues with the movie. First, I thought the storyline was too thin and didn't have enough substance to it. I thought that the aspects of it where they tried to make it seem like it had a heart didn't work and didn't fit the movie for me either. I also think that the overprotective parent aspect has been done in way too many other movies, and much better too. The humor missed almost every time for me. The only 2 jokes I kinda liked were the bingo card getting eaten after bingo was called and the Twilight joke (but that's mostly because I don't like Twilight) I also wasn't fond of all the bathroom related humor, a movie (for the most part) is in trouble when it has to resort to that. That's all I'll write for now.

[ajmrowland]

Ditto. I wasn't crazy about it, though my nephew and his friend enjoyed it.

Well, it was a pretty good movie, better than expected, until the ending, with Dracula rapping with a dance sequence that is more of a ripoff to an ending from Shrek.

Ditto. Havent seen the movie, but such endings stopped working after Shrek 2. Robots, Horton, and Despicable Me all suffered from that.

[TheValentineBros]

Well, it was a pretty good movie, better than expected, until the ending, with Dracula rapping with a dance sequence that is more of a ripoff to an ending from Shrek.

Ditto. Havent seen the movie, but such endings stopped working after Shrek 2. Robots, Horton, and Despicable Me all suffered from that.

Yeah, it's some trend that should've ended with the first two films in the Shrek franchise.