What was the last movie you've seen?

[Luke]

This might be blasphemous to hardcore fans, but I actually thought the movie improved the ending somewhat.

I agree. But changing nearly the entire third act makes it not the best "Adaptation". Negates it actually.

[Jrecee]

Man Of Steel is doing not so hot in the rottentomatoes world, which has historically been a pretty good guage for the quality of superhero movies.

No it hasn't. I don't know if you've noticed, but most comic book films get poor reviews and nothing aggravates me more than someone who, rather than discuss the merits of a film (or lack thereof) simply quotes a review percentage as if it means something. It doesn't, and quoting it in lieu of actual discussion implies that you're afraid to be caught liking something the critics don't. Take Watchmen for example: 64% on RT, but I would argue that it's one of the finest comic book adaptations of all time. Critics don't know everything, they just think they do (no offense, Luke).

I should have said it has been a pretty good guage of whether I will like it or not. And has nothing to do with me being afraid to like things critics dont. Iron Man 3 is my favorite marvel film to date and i have no idea what the RT score is.

[BurningDoom]

Iron Man 3 is my favorite marvel film to date and i have no idea what the RT score is.

Better than the first Iron Man?

[Luke]

Iron Man 3 is my favorite marvel film to date and i have no idea what the RT score is.

Better than the first Iron Man?

Totally different films. The Shane Black elements are very in your face in IM3 as are the Favreau elements in IRON MAN. Both are pretty great, but they portray the same character in a different light.

I'm a sucker for Shane Black's sigs (down to "snow"), so I prefer IM3.

[dsheinem]

I am only missing:

The Hudsucker Proxy;
The Ladykillers;
Burn After Reading; and
A Serious Man.

I will get around to each of them eventually. (Except, maybe, The Ladykillers...I have read that it is an awful remake, and I honestly did not enjoy the Alec Guinness original all that much.) I think that I now have the essentials covered, however.

All of those are worth seeing. A Serious Man and Hudsucker Proxy in particular are excellent, the other two are both a hoot and a half.

I'm curious: what did you think of The Man Who Wasn't There? I ask since you often mention being a noir fan...

[dsheinem]

Man Of Steel is doing not so hot in the rottentomatoes world, which has historically been a pretty good guage for the quality of superhero movies.

No it hasn't. I don't know if you've noticed, but most comic book films get poor reviews and nothing aggravates me more than someone who, rather than discuss the merits of a film (or lack thereof) simply quotes a review percentage as if it means something. It doesn't, and quoting it in lieu of actual discussion implies that you're afraid to be caught liking something the critics don't. Take Watchmen for example: 64% on RT, but I would argue that it's one of the finest comic book adaptations of all time. Critics don't know everything, they just think they do (no offense, Luke).

Comic book films get scored well by critics when they are good comic book films. The truth is, the VAST majority of comic book films, especially in the past 6-7 years or so, have been terrible. It isn't just "critics not appreciating the genre" it is that filmmakers have started to rely on "tried and true" writing and directing conventions to fill seats and drive profits. I wish they'd go away for a long time like they did once before, and come back only when they can be done in a way that forces them to take risks and challenge audiences.

Watchmen is largely seen by both comic book readers/comic book film fans and by critics to be pretty much the definition of "mediocre" and that 64% speaks more to review inflation than it does to critics being too hard on it. I gave it 2.5 stars out of 5, for example, and think I was probably being generous.

[Retrodude]

Watchmen is largely seen by both comic book readers/comic book film fans and by critics to be pretty much the definition of "mediocre" and that 64% speaks more to review inflation than it does to critics being too hard on it. I gave it 2.5 stars out of 5, for example, and think I was probably being generous.

I'd have to watch it again as I haven't seen it in awhile, but if I were to sit down and write a serious review, I could make a legitimate argument that Watchmen is better than the critics thought it was. If you recall, Citizen Kane was panned on release too. It wasn't recognized as a great film until years later (although I wouldn't call it the greatest movie ever. On that, my vote would be for Double Indemnity).

[dsheinem]

Watchmen is largely seen by both comic book readers/comic book film fans and by critics to be pretty much the definition of "mediocre" and that 64% speaks more to review inflation than it does to critics being too hard on it. I gave it 2.5 stars out of 5, for example, and think I was probably being generous.

I'd have to watch it again as I haven't seen it in awhile, but if I were to sit down and write a serious review, I could make a legitimate argument that Watchmen is better than the critics thought it was. If you recall, Citizen Kane was panned on release too. It wasn't recognized as a great film until years later (although I wouldn't call it the greatest movie ever. On that, my vote would be for Double Indemnity).

And what would make your lone review of the film more valuable than those of the many critics who review films professionally?

[Luke]

WATCHMEN is mediocre, but if Retrodude loves it he's going to love it. Fine by me.

Doesn't even come close to THE DARK KNIGHT or BATMAN (1989) in my eyes, but I'm a know it all

[ZenErik]

Last movie I watched was The Garden of Words. It's only 45 min, and it is beautiful. Whether you are into anime or not I think it is worth a shot for its beauty alone.

I've been a fan of Makoto Shinkai's works for a long time, but the animation in this one is a clear step up from anything he has done before. And I would say it is a cut above any other 2D animation ever done. At least up until this year.