What was the last movie you've seen?

[Luke]

The Princess Bride (1987) – If I were going to suggest to someone how to make a movie that is as appealing as possible to the widest audience possible, The Princess Bride would be the blueprint I would recommend. Wonderful dialogue, great casting and acting, humor, suspense, action, and Kevin and Columbo to boot. I can’t see this movie with anything other than nostalgia goggles, and for me it is one of the all time greats.
Grade: 5/5

300 (2006) – Some films get better every time you watch them. Others, like 300, get worse. Outside of the still impressive technical wizardry at work on the screen and the always compelling few against many narrative, there are a lot of other parts of this film which are just plain bad. In this case, dialogue which works well in a comic just doesn’t translate to the medium of film. Additionally, the pacing is a little off, the casting is questionable, and the score seems misplaced. Add in a bizarre mix of homophobia and homoeroticism and a dash of xenophobia, and it becomes even harder to watch. Granted, none of these are problems I noticed when I saw it in theaters the day it came out – I was fixated on the action. Now, though, the gore is not enough.
Grade: 3/5

Much like A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE PRINCESS BRIDE seems timeless. Both movies could be released at any point in time and still would be successful and memorable. Maybe not two of the best movies made, but man are they fun. PRINCESS does however set the tone in an incredible fashion that any kid could relate to. And yes, Peter Falk is stellar as always (I've made it a mission to forget about CORKY ROMANO).

I agree that much like SIN CITY, 300 is actually pretty awful. Grandiose only goes so far without the substance to back it up. I'm all for a noire type throw back, but both movies really fall flat. The gratuitous nudity is easy on the eyes, and is consistent with the novels, but it really didn't add to the movies as it did to the graphic novels. I think dsheimen is very polite to rate 300 a 3/5.

Now everyone go watch STANDING OVATION.

[dsheinem]

I agree that much like SIN CITY, 300 is actually pretty awful.

I actually really like Sin City.

[latenitevacancy]

Twelve Monkeys. This movie was awesome. I really liked how they handled time travel. The idea that it effects ones mind the way they portrayed it in this film was awesome, and thats what drew me to watch it. Bruce Willis delivered a really subtle, torn at times performance. Brad Pitt was ridiculous. The scenery was great, very bleak and suiting. I liked that although he didn't write it and it wasn't as fantastical as most Gilliams films tend to be, it was still his film. Really wonderful sci fi.

[dsheinem]

Twelve Monkeys. This movie was awesome. I really liked how they handled time travel. The idea that it effects ones mind the way they portrayed it in this film was awesome, and thats what drew me to watch it. Bruce Willis delivered a really subtle, torn at times performance. Brad Pitt was ridiculous. The scenery was great, very bleak and suiting. I liked that although he didn't write it and it wasn't as fantastical as most Gilliams films tend to be, it was still his film. Really wonderful sci fi.

Glad you liked it, it is my fave Gilliam flick and I made the argument a while back that it could be considered the best sci-fi film of the 1990s...

[latenitevacancy]

Glad you liked it, it is my fave Gilliam flick and I made the argument a while back that it could be considered the best sci-fi film of the 1990s...

Yeah it's between that and Brazil for me. However I haven't seen Fisher King or Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

[dsheinem]

Glad you liked it, it is my fave Gilliam flick and I made the argument a while back that it could be considered the best sci-fi film of the 1990s...

Yeah it's between that and Brazil for me. However I haven't seen Fisher King or Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Fisher King is a close second, Brazil a close third. Parnassus is on my to do list.

[Ack]

Glad you liked it, it is my fave Gilliam flick and I made the argument a while back that it could be considered the best sci-fi film of the 1990s...

Yeah it's between that and Brazil for me. However I haven't seen Fisher King or Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Fisher King is a close second, Brazil a close third. Parnassus is on my to do list.

Unfortunately Parnassus isn't as good as the rest of Gilliam's works, at least in my opinion. But I'm surprised no one has mentioned The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Time Bandits. Both of those were great.

Oh, and I agree with Ds about 300. I enjoyed it the first time I watched it, but I believe that was primarily because of the visual affects and the level of violence that I wasn't expecting (I hadn't read the comic when I first saw the film). But the second time, the violence just couldn't hold my attention. I liken it to watching Crank for the first time, when it's a rush. Later viewings however just don't hold up.

And while there are several scenes in Sin City that I felt are stilted, I primarily blame the comic book for them.

[Luke]

I agree that much like SIN CITY, 300 is actually pretty awful.

I actually really like Sin City.

Have you watched it lately? Not being condescending, just wondering.

It's not completely awful, but to me it's pretty awful. The parts that are bad are really bad, and don't have any "funny bad" redeeming qualities. I prefer the graphic novels over the movie any day. Just my personal choice.

And everyone go see STANDING OVATION (available streaming on Netflix).

[Dakinggamer87]

I recently saw Green Lantern last weekend and X-Men: First Class a few week prior. I enjoyed both films overall but I especially liked the special effects of Green Lantern. It did feel a little rushed but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. X-Men: First Class I enjoyed as much as the last film Wolverine's Origins. I like it much more than the original trilogy except for X2.

[Luke]

I recently saw Green Lantern last weekend and X-Men: First Class a few week prior. I enjoyed both films overall but I especially liked the special effects of Green Lantern. It did feel a little rushed but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. X-Men: First Class I enjoyed as much as the last film Wolverine's Origins. I like it much more than the original trilogy except for X2.

Yikes!

Which part was better in X-Men FC? The part where they talk about their power and name, or the second part where they talk about their power and name, or the third time when they talk about their power and name?

I'm kidding around, but Green Lantern and First Class were both pretty awful. First Class had some awesome creative aspects (they allowed prof and magneto to sound nothing like prof and magneto) but the dialogue was terrible. Green Lantern may be the worst super hero movie ever, and yes worse than THE PHANTOM. I just can't see why anyone would find anything redeemable in that movie. The only people I "know" who like the movie are on this board, and again, I'm not trying to be crass but sometimes people on this board lap up bullshit movies like Christmas leftovers. But I digress. Seeing your favorite superhero on the big screen shouldn't put you to sleep. THE FANTASTIC FOUR was a huge disappointment to me, and although I wanted, really wanted, to like it, it stinks. The movie didn't do horrible at the BO, but the movie itself stunk.

That in mind: Go see STANDING OVATION.