What was the last movie you've seen?

[Luke]

Well, I am a Film Studies major...

Apple was right, this may be interesting.

Film study majors are probably the worst at judging movies as they're told how to watch a film as their grade depends on it. I've been through my own "film study" period; it sucked.

But every opinion means as much as the next. Like what you like.

I'll call 'em as I see 'em, and there is nothing brilliant or even smart about SM3. Parker nor Raimi break the 4th wall, and the emo stuff is terribly done and not meant as a nod to the audience. It's just dumb.

[Retrodude]

I took Film Studies because I would like very much to be a screenwriter (if I can find someone to collaborate with, that is. I always get stuck halfway when I try to write stuff on my own) and I thought that might help. I personally focus on looking at comic book/superhero films because that's what I'd like to do. I've got loads of ideas for original characters, but if I had my choice of comics to adapt, I've always thought KISS: Psycho Circus would make an interesting film.

Film study majors are probably the worst at judging movies as they're told how to watch a film as their grade depends on it.

If it helps, my professors always encouraged original thought and never took points off because my interpretation differed from theirs. In fact, they'd do the exact opposite, as long I supported my argument intelligently.

[Ack]

I took Film Studies because I would like very much to be a screenwriter (if I can find someone to collaborate with, that is. I always get stuck halfway when I try to write stuff on my own) and I thought that might help. I personally focus on looking at comic book/superhero films because that's what I'd like to do. I've got loads of ideas for original characters, but if I had my choice of comics to adapt, I've always thought KISS: Psycho Circus would make an interesting film.

Might I suggest starting smaller then? One of the assignments I did when I was in college involved writing commercials for any product of my choosing, so I could get used to creating brief but full story arcs to fill a 30-second slot. I ended up using Steven Seagal's energy drink as my product of choice and had a lot of fun, but it was very gratifying being able to finally finish something like that. Give it a shot. Just write a handful of commercials, then stretch further into shorts and television episodes, then expand from there.

[Luke]

product placement for instance...

WAYNE'S WORLD used to be my favorite movie for product placement until I watched the US release of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I know the McD's obsession is documented in the novel, but Dear God.

[Ack]

product placement for instance...

WAYNE'S WORLD used to be my favorite movie for product placement until I watched the US release of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. I know the McD's obsession is documented in the novel, but Dear God.

My favorite is probably the Reebok sticker on the bottom of the Bobomb's foot in the Mario Bros. movie.

That said, sometimes the product placement is wrong, which annoys me to no end, like in Ghost of Girlfriends Past, where you can see a Vault soda can on a hot dog cart despite the scene supposedly taking place in the early 1990s.

[Luke]

If it helps, my professors always encouraged original thought and never took points off because my interpretation differed from theirs. In fact, they'd do the exact opposite, as long I supported my argument intelligently.

That's awesome (no snark at all).

If you read my short reviews of movies you'll notice I nit-pick only when necessary and acknowledge that my main gripes are with plot holes and characters who don't act like someone with a brain.

[Retrodude]

Might I suggest starting smaller then? One of the assignments I did when I was in college involved writing commercials for any product of my choosing, so I could get used to creating brief but full story arcs to fill a 30-second slot. I ended up using Steven Seagal's energy drink as my product of choice and had a lot of fun, but it was very gratifying being able to finally finish something like that. Give it a shot. Just write a handful of commercials, then stretch further into shorts and television episodes, then expand from there.

Actually, I just recently came up with an idea for a series of short cartoons (5-6 minutes apiece) along with a feature-length installment of same. I figured I'd use those to build my skills and hopefully find someplace to pitch it to when I've got a few good shorts written. My personal standards for what I'm willing to show people are much higher than my standards for what movies I generally enjoy, and the few times I have shown my writing to others, everyone tells me I'm good (although I'm never sure of that myself), so who knows?

[AppleQueso]

Where's Dish at?

He's taught film criticism courses and whatnot iirc.

Lots of insanely knowledgeable film buffs here.

[prfsnl_gmr]

I am a film buff...which is why I simply avoided Spiderman 3, X-men 3, The Amazing Spiderman, all of the Transformers movies, Battleship, G.I. Joe, and every other movie based on either a toy or a comic book since 2008. Moreover - reading this thread - I don't feel like I have missed out on anything (except The Avengers, which will apparently change my life.)

[Hobie-wan]

I never read any of the comics, so I can't compare the two, but I did enjoy the film because I thought Stallone was a good choice for that type of character and did a fine job. As for the writing, I thought it was suitably comic-bookish and that's really what I look for in these movies, something that has the feel of the comics, regardless of how well or how poorly the actual adaptation is done.

I haven't seen the newer one, but one big issue with the older one was that he spent half the movie without his helmet on. At least in the older Judge Dredd stuff I've read, you never see his face. Ever. He is rarely without his helmet even. I think I might have a panel somewhere that you see a shadowed profile at most after some furious battle. It is one of his iconic things, being behind the mask, as I understand it.

It sounds minor, but it would be like Superman not having a spit curl or Thor suddenly having a round spiky mace instead of a hammer or something.