What was the last movie you've seen?

[Pulsar_t]

L'illusionniste looks absolutely stunning. Still forthcoming December 2010.

[Riqz85]

[weasels]

HAHAHA. here's a crazy one for you guys: just recently watched two movies. Rocky Horror Picture Show and religiousless. very surprisingly i enjoyed rocky horror despite the strange premise and well all i can say is what happens in rocky stays in rocky. Religiousless was briliant and really opened my eye's more than before. i recommend it only too people who are atheist/agnostic or have an open mind to things. if you are hard core religious and can't tolerate others ideals and view points, then don't watch it.

[Gamerforlife]

L'illusionniste looks absolutely stunning. Still forthcoming December 2010.

Interesting, looks nice

[I Feel Asleep!!]

L'illusionniste looks absolutely stunning. Still forthcoming December 2010.

Hmmm I hadn't even heard of that movie before...Looks great! I love that kind of animation...*looks into it some more* Definitely looks a lot like Les Triplettes de Belleville...

[vash23n]

Ghost In The Shell 2.0 (a remastered version of the original movie) and Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence. The original Ghost In The Shell is obviously one of the great anime films. The remastered version adds some new scenes and dialogue, but it has been so long since I have seen the original that I couldn't really tell. Innocence was pretty good as well. It barely features the usual lead (the Major), but focuses on Batou and Togusa instead. The story really gave an idea of how Batou and Togusa became so close. Even though the anime series is supposed to be an alternate universe, this relationship definitely carries over. The one issue that really bothered me is the constant quoting of literature. I like how they throw a quote here and there from the Bible into the first film and the first season of the anime series relies heavily on Catcher in the Rye. Innocence gets absurd, though, and for a while it seems like every other line is a quote from some book. It is not like it gets confusing, it makes sense, it is just annoying. Maybe this is the way the Manga is, not sure. Anyhoo, I highly recommend the first film for anyone who hasn't seen it and the 2nd film for those who are fans.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Ghost In The Shell 2.0 (a remastered version of the original movie) and Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence. The original Ghost In The Shell is obviously one of the great anime films. The remastered version adds some new scenes and dialogue, but it has been so long since I have seen the original that I couldn't really tell. Innocence was pretty good as well. It barely features the usual lead (the Major), but focuses on Batou and Togusa instead. The story really gave an idea of how Batou and Togusa became so close. Even though the anime series is supposed to be an alternate universe, this relationship definitely carries over. The one issue that really bothered me is the constant quoting of literature. I like how they throw a quote here and there from the Bible into the first film and the first season of the anime series relies heavily on Catcher in the Rye. Innocence gets absurd, though, and for a while it seems like every other line is a quote from some book. It is not like it gets confusing, it makes sense, it is just annoying. Maybe this is the way the Manga is, not sure. Anyhoo, I highly recommend the first film for anyone who hasn't seen it and the 2nd film for those who are fans.

My sentiments exactly with the exception of one thing, Ghost in the Shell 2.0 FUCKING SUCKED they took the cool green CGI and ultra techno futurist look of the original and covered it in bland brown "Modern" CGI, edited out scenes, changed dialogue, completely reanimated and inserted new scenes that had no relation to the plot, and generally wrecked one of my all time favorite movies.

All of this along with the fact that because of 2.0's release and Manga's loss of the license to the original version Warner Home Video refused to release the original unedited version in true HD. The copy of the original included on the disc is simply the DVD version up-converted to 1080p and slapped on the disc as if it were a meaningless bonus and that frankly pissed me off.

That movie is one of my all time favorites and a nerd-milestone for me when I first saw it so I got pretty pissed at how it was handled as if it were second rate.

*rant-end

[dsheinem]

No Country For Old Men (2007) – Over the weekend I got into a discussion about Westerns with my visiting father in law and convinced him to watch a few of my favorite recent films with some western elements (even if they aren’t really traditional films for the genre). So, we watched No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood, and planned to watch the Assassination of Jesse James some time in the future. The praise for this film is well deserved – beautiful cinematography, a gripping narrative with a memorable finish, expertly acted roles, pitch perfect atmospheric music, carefully staged lighting, authentic sets, etc. – it’s all here in spades and stands as perhaps the best and most mature film from my favorite directors. It holds up well to repeat viewings and could arguably be the best film of the past decade . That said, I know some people hated it (usually because of the abrupt end), but I don’t understand how any cinemaphile could find much, if any, fault with this masterpiece. For the record, my father in law enjoyed the ride, but didn’t like the fact that there was no clear “winner” at the end.
Grade: 5/5

There Will Be Blood (2007) – This is also one I’ve seen several times, and one that holds up well in almost every way. Day-Lewis gives the performance of his career here, and there are few descents into madness more enjoyable to watch then this one. Anderson’s direction calls your attention to both gorgeous scenery and meticulous sets, the commentary on oil and religion are smartly done, the score by Jonny Greenwood sets the tone expertly, and there are several scenes that are an absolute joy to watch (I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!). My father in law didn’t like that the “bad guy” “won” in the end and decided that I have odd taste in recent “western” films.
Grade: 5/5

Avatar (2009) – I finally saw it, and quite enjoyed it. No, it isn’t an amazingly told story or some kind of transcendent film; it wouldn’t be fair to evaluate it as such. What it is, though, is a clinic in how to wed stunning visual effects to well-directed action sequences in science fiction film making. This is especially true for the scenes in the last half hour or so of the film – the battles are truly epic and bumped the grade below by a full half point. So yes, there were problems. I thought the characters were all fairly unsympathetic. Parts of the film drag on (which surprised me, as I have Cameron pegged as an expert in pacing). Yes, parts of it are derivative of other films (Dances With Wolves comes to mind, as does Cameron’s other sci-fi classic Aliens), but the same complaints could be said for most films in this genre. As a genre film though (sci-fi), it hits all the most important notes: it introduces a believable and well-designed world, it includes an intriguing blend of technology, fantasy, and morality, and it features some expertly crafted action.
Grade: 4/5

Code 46 (2003) – This film, by contrast to the one above, is an example of how to take an intriguing blend of technology, fantasy, and morality and do absolutely nothing compelling with it. Code 46 is a bore. It fails as both a romantic film and as a science fiction film, with the leads having absolutely no chemistry and the plot lacking any kind of intrigue or suspense. There are a few interesting ideas, and the use of brown/grey filters help set the tone, but the film just falls short in most ways. The strength is actually the soundtrack/score, with some nice uses of music for both atmosphere and to drive/punctuate the story. In the end, though, the story sucks.
Grade: 2/5

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) – I really wanted to like this movie as the premise and the actors are all outstanding, but the film didn’t deliver where it needed to most: laughs. Aside from a few funny parts (mostly courtesy of Courdry), I just didn’t find myself laughing too often. The humor is mostly obvious and forced, visual and verbal jokes about the 80s grow old quick, and the film’s early potential feels squandered by the end. Chevy Chase’s skills are wasted, too. That said, there were some good moments – the bellhop scenes, the scene at the concert, the ending – these were all good for kicks.
Grade: 2.5/5

[Bootaaay]

Watched a North Korean war film from 1960 entitled On the Railway - it's not an entirely terrible movie by any means, but the overtly patriotic tones of propoganda are unmistakable. The story is centered around a train engineer named Ko In Ho driving his train full of precious military goods back to North Korea, however with the bridge bombed Ko In Ho is stuck and soon finds himself behind the advancing enemy lines. He stashes the goods but is then captured, where upon he is recruited by the US/South Korean forces in need of train engineers. His comrades in the North Korean resistance take him for a traitor and his new alies don't trust him either, so he attempts to contact the resistance and arange for a way to get his goods back to North Korea and stop the US advance.

At one point, when Ko In Ho resolutely decides to return to North Korea despite the US troops in his way, the films breaks into mournful song about "with lovely home in mind, he will fight the agressors!", and again at the end of the film after Ko In Ho's triumph "through a rain of bullets, he fought for the motherland!". Apparantly the character of Ko In Ho is meant to recall Kim Il-Sung; founder of North Korea, a man devoted to the motherland who out-thought his enemies, despite superior numbers. Also, I thought the US soldier was a real nice touch; a malicious, mean and uncaring monster with a gun in his hand, but a snivelling, cowardly wretch with the gun turned on him



Like I said, not entirely terrible, but it's not all that good by todays standards either and was clearly intended as government propoganda (as it's a full decade before NK's first entertainment film, Hung Kil Dong). Still, it's an interesting watch.

[Limewater]

Avatar (2009) –
Grade: 4/5

You were high when you watched it, weren't you?

I usually agree with your respect your opinions on films (sometimes both at the same time, even!), but Avatar was embarrassing. The only good thing it gave to the world is the mild chuckle elicited by describing it as "Avatarded."