What Non-Disney Movie Did You Just Watch? Vol. 2

[AwallaceUNC]

I saw Yankee Doodle Dandy for the first time yesterday. Amazing! I love the charm of older classics like these to begin with, and this one was really top-notch. Were you to write a plot summary, the story probably wouldn't sound overly interesting, but its execution kept me totally engrossed from beginning to end. It was funny too, and I loved the music, although I wouldn't exactly classify this as a typical musical. It also marks the first time that I've seen a Cagney movie (shameful, I know, and I'll be the first to admit it). I understand that this is an atypical role for him, but he delivered beautifully. I need to get the DVD (any owners of it here care to share a review)?

-Aaron

[Just Myself]

Saw Transporter 2: It was clumsy, loud, and the plot was almost impossible to follow. I loved every minute of it.

Transporter 2 - 8/10

[Isidour]

Freddy Vs Jason

But this time with the Audio commentary

[JiminyCrick91]

Wedding Crashers Good but not as good as the 40 year old vergin.

[Zoltack]

Wedding Crashers Good but not as good as the 40 year old vergin.

O'man I haven't seen 40 Year Old Vergin yet, and I want to. Is it really good?

[AwallaceUNC]

Just watched Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) for the first time. Good movie- funny and entertaining for the most part. Definitely not worthy of being the 99th greatest film of all time, though. The script was weak and overdramatic at parts, especially in terms of character progression... they'd go from calm to irate for little or no reason. I also thought it was a bit two-dimensional in that the only problem with the marriage that anyone paid much attention to was the racial one- not the fact that they'd only known each other for 10 days (which would certainly be a legitimate reason for objection). I can understand that they wanted to demonstrate the lack of rationality... but it doesn't make sense to portray the parents as such wonderful and intelligent people, but at the same time so flippent and irrational.

That said, I did enjoy it. Katherine Hepburn's acting in particular was a treat (the other acting was fine but could have been better with better direction). I can definitely see why it's famous, as it carried an important message, especially for its time. I don't think it holds up as well today, which is why I'm now anxious to see the remake.

-Aaron

[Disney-Fan]

Harry Potter and the Philosipher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Both movies are good, but they could've been done much better. I'm really happy they're taking a more serious approach in the new movies.

[2099net]

Definitely not worthy of being the 99th greatest film of all time, though. The script was weak and overdramatic at parts, especially in terms of character progression... they'd go from calm to irate for little or no reason. I also thought it was a bit two-dimensional in that the only problem with the marriage that anyone paid much attention to was the racial one... [snipped]

I think sometimes Movies are awarded critical acclaim because of how they literally changed the artform at the time, rather than how they stand-up today.

Birth of a Nation has very little appeal today (I would hope, considering some of its content) but it is undoubtably a landmark film in the history of the cinimatic art form. It's position in film histroy cannot be denied.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner is one of those rare films that challenged the status quo, and arguabley helped sway certain minds. Any film that can create or push social change is really something special. Other, perhaps better written and acted films have tried, but very few manage it.

Film as an artform isn't just about what's on the screen. Its about what was on the screen before (is the film an innovation), what was going on in the world at the time (is the film making a statement) and sometimes even what was going on behind the scenes (did the filmmaker have to fight to get his version of the film out). All three reasons are as important to recognising the art, than the actual performances and script.

Of course, the ideal perfect film should have all three, plus flawless script and performances. So far only one film has managed this to date: The Brady Bunch Movie*

* Only joking.

[JiminyCrick91]

Wedding Crashers Good but not as good as the 40 year old virgin.

O'man I haven't seen 40 Year Old Virgin yet, and I want to. Is it really good?

Well this is a film that is LOVE IT or HATE IT so I don’t know but I LOVED IT.

Batman: the movie Good to see the old Adam West stuff again but this film is too long for what it is. What it is is Campy, Lame, FUNNY and LOVEABLE but it most likely worked better in shorter things (but aging I have not seen the show in years) as this would have been a 5 show ark and that can ware out MANY things.


Batman Begins in Imax WOW that was amazing. EVERYONE was awesome. Christian Bale was a very good Batman. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were as always.............. WONDERFUL. Gary Oldman played the part of the future Commissioner James Gordon incredibly (in one since you can see his wife feeding what you can assume is Barbara Gordon the future Batgirl (well in the Cartoons I don’t know about the comics but Barbara was not a Gordon in Batman & Robin). And as for Liam Neeson WOW. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who will play the Joker? Will the Joker be insane as in the comics or funny like everything else? Or maybe they will just skip over that and go to some one else. I wonder.........

[orestes.]

Napoleon Dynamite

Well I finally stopped procrastinating and saw it. It sure was a lot better than I thought it would be but I don't see myself buying it. Great characters. They were all pretty memorable but Pedro is my favourite.

[Evil Genie Jafar]

Several:

Asylum of the Damned:

no comments


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:

Liked the atmosphere but the movie was so so.


Jurassic Park:

I used to think Lost World was better, now I see it is not.

[Zoltack]

I watched the Lady Killers Unrated. But I watched the old 60's version. Not as funny as the new one but it was alright. I mean I like the old Bad News Bears.

[Escapay]

Last night, Kram, Kram's friend, and I saw The Brothers Grimm. It was okay, not worth the $9 to see in the theater, but DVD worthy if it gives some good extras.

Tonight the whole family (Jane, Me, Kram, the 'rents) watched In the Bedroom. Everyone found it boring except for me.

Escapay

[DarthPrime]

I watched the Lady Killers Unrated. But I watched the old 60's version. Not as funny as the new one but it was alright. I mean I like the old Bad News Bears.

The old Bad News Bears is a good movie. I haven't seen the remake yet.

Anyway I watched Ray earlier tonight.

[orestes.]

I watched Boogie Nights for the first time in probably five years last night.

[creid]

Film as an artform isn't just about what's on the screen. Its about what was on the screen before (is the film an innovation), what was going on in the world at the time (is the film making a statement) and sometimes even what was going on behind the scenes (did the filmmaker have to fight to get his version of the film out). All three reasons are as important to recognising the art, than the actual performances and script.

Of course, the ideal perfect film should have all three, plus flawless script and performances. So far only one film has managed this to date: The Brady Bunch Movie*

I would say Citizen Kane fits all three reason with a flawless script and performances.

[DEREKG]

WRONG TURN

[AwallaceUNC]

I think sometimes Movies are awarded critical acclaim because of how they literally changed the artform at the time, rather than how they stand-up today...

Agreed- and I don't deny it that. Still, I look at The Color Purple, for instance, which not only challenged conventions of society and film at the time (in some of the same arenas as GWCTD), but excels as a film text at the same time. Also, watching it right after #100 (Yankee Doodle Dandy), it still strikes me as unfair that a movie that I found to be so much stronger ranks one place below it. I realize that we can nit-pick these lists all day long, though... probably not the most constructive use of time, but I'm gonna do it.

And we all know <i>A Very Brady Sequel</i> is the <i>Citizen Kane</i> of our time.*

*Also joking, but I do love <i>A Very Brady Sequel</i>

-Aaron

[AwallaceUNC]

Crash - Very intense, but very good. I just saw it an hour or so ago, so it still hasn't fully sunk it, given its depth. It definitely has the potential to encourage some serious thinking and reflection that people can benefit from. A really great (and surprisingly celebrity-laden) cast, too.

I love that it is active in portraying many racial divides rather than just black & white. I was surprised, though, that it didn't seem to seek to fully wash away some stereotypes. There was one scene that I didn't think was well-developed, but that's pretty much the only complaint that I can muster at this time. Very gripping movie, and very well-thought out... if you think you can withstand the drama and violence, then I really, really suggest watching it. [/jumbled thoughts]

-Aaron

[Disney-Fan]

I saw Gladiator - Extended Edition last night. I really forgot how powerful the movie is. I now see why everyone claims this is still the best of the modern day epics! Every fight has purpose and progresses the story, every character is unique and contributes to the plot. And the ending? WOW. Very touching.... A perfect 10/10 from me!