What was the last movie you've seen?

[dsheinem]

Started my "watch all the Best Picture Nominees" tradition off with finally seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel. What a delightful, exquisitely shot film. It was almost like Wes Anderson X Coen Brothers, which is a great direction for his work.

[Ack]

Started my "watch all the Best Picture Nominees" tradition off with finally seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel. What a delightful, exquisitely shot film. It was almost like Wes Anderson X Coen Brothers, which is a great direction for his work.

I found it to be surprisingly violent for a Wes Anderson movie. What was your takeaway compared to his other films?

[dsheinem]

Started my "watch all the Best Picture Nominees" tradition off with finally seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel. What a delightful, exquisitely shot film. It was almost like Wes Anderson X Coen Brothers, which is a great direction for his work.

I found it to be surprisingly violent for a Wes Anderson movie. What was your takeaway compared to his other films?

Oh yeah - agreed. But, like in many Coen crime capers, the violence is itself a bit comical. In truth I think I like Anderson's last two films better than any of his previous work with the possible exception of The Life Aquatic. I feel like he's in his stride.

[Ack]

I couldn't say, as I haven't seen any of his work since The Life Aquatic. I'll have to go back and watch Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeeling Unlimited, and Fantastic Mr. Fox some time.

[fastbilly1]

Started my "watch all the Best Picture Nominees" tradition off with finally seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel. What a delightful, exquisitely shot film. It was almost like Wes Anderson X Coen Brothers, which is a great direction for his work.

I found it to be surprisingly violent for a Wes Anderson movie. What was your takeaway compared to his other films?

Oh yeah - agreed. But, like in many Coen crime capers, the violence is itself a bit comical. In truth I think I like Anderson's last two films better than any of his previous work with the possible exception of The Life Aquatic. I feel like he's in his stride.

I will say Grand Budapest made me a follower of his work. Before that I was uninterested - even Life Aquatica. But Grand Budapest was just so engaging and oddly interesting.

[Stark]

I will say Grand Budapest made me a follower of his work. Before that I was uninterested - even Life Aquatica. But Grand Budapest was just so engaging and oddly interesting.

I love how quirky all the characters are. I've been a fan since Bottle Rocket (insert hipster reference here) I love movies that set up great characters and a situation and then let the characters just find their way through it.

[fastbilly1]

I will say Grand Budapest made me a follower of his work. Before that I was uninterested - even Life Aquatica. But Grand Budapest was just so engaging and oddly interesting.

I love how quirky all the characters are. I've been a fan since Bottle Rocket (insert hipster reference here) I love movies that set up great characters and a situation and then let the characters just find their way through it.

A good buddy of mine years ago was a huge Bottle Rocket fan. I watched it because he and I were so alike, but just couldnt get into it. I liked the setup, liked the characters, liked the actors, just didnt all click for whatever reason. I might have to go back and watch it again now.

[Luke]

Started my "watch all the Best Picture Nominees" tradition off with finally seeing The Grand Budapest Hotel. What a delightful, exquisitely shot film. It was almost like Wes Anderson X Coen Brothers, which is a great direction for his work.

Such an exquisite film.

[Hobie-wan]

The Fountain

*stuff*

I've only watched it once so far and I did pick up some things, but I was mostly lost in the visual imagery the first go. I'm hoping an eventual second watch will click more, but admittedly yeah, it didn't quite have the immediate punch of Pi and Requiem.

[Ack]

Endgame

It is the future. Commie-Nazis run the city of New York and have plans to launch atomic bombs at things just because they can. Psychic mutants roam the sewers, while hideous humanoid beasts move across the wastelands. And every night people tune in to watch the big game, Endgame, in which hunters pursue a human prey while wearing face paint stolen from The Apple. And all is sponsored by an evil mega corporation which manufactures Protein Water! Dun dun DUN!

So yeah...a lot of The Running Man, a little Soylent Green, with a bit of Mad Max thrown in along with a psychic child a la Carrie, and with a sort of pseudo-parable about saving people from guys in Nazi uniforms and moving them to a new paradise where they can build their futuristic society...oh my God, this movie is about the end of World War II and the creation of Israel. With heavy inspiration from Stephen King.

This movie was actually quite entertaining. It's hokey, and the fight choreography could have used a bit more work in my opinion, but it offers some entertaining and interesting action sequences, solid stunt work, and a likable anti-hero with a friendly rival that is handled well. And it stars Laura Gemser of Black Emanuelle fame too. And Al Cliver, star of Zombi 2 and The Beyond. AND GEORGE EASTMAN! This is much better fare than the likes of 2020 Texas Gladiators or even The New Barbarians. The plot centers on a man named Ron Shannon, seven time winner of Endgame, who has been asked by a group of mutants to transport them out of New York and across the wastes so they can create a Utopian society in peace. He builds a team of murderers, heavies, and cutthroats, and together they contend with roving mutants, blind monks armed with an imprisoned psychic, the Commie-Nazis, and his old rival, Karnack. It actually fits in quite well with a lot of the other ridiculous 1980s scifi action flicks of its time. I genuinely enjoyed it.