I've watched a few movies since last I posted:
Once Upon a Time in America - Due to its length, I watched this over the course of several days. In truth I'm not entirely sure what I think of this film. I enjoyed the timeline changes, and the plot and acting were quite good, but I'm not sure how I was supposed to take De Niro's character. I was indifferent towards most of his actions, but I find it difficult to enjoy a character who [SPOILER] rapes multiple women. Still, I liked him as an old man, especially considering the choice he makes in the end. It feels as if the long years between his leaving New York and his return have changed him, so I feel his character is somewhat redeemed. But how much, I just don't know [END SPOILER].
Death Machines - So bad it's good US kung fu movie from the 1970s. No, not Death Machine, the 1994 scifi horror flick, Death Machines, as in multiple. This one has an Asian, Caucasian, and African American martial artist hit man hyped up on some weird drug so they can kill for the mob...or something. I don't know. What I do know is that they use a LAW to shoot a guy in the back in the middle of a neighborhood and randomly attack a school full of karate students for no real reason I could come up with. The fight scene against the bikers in the religious restaurant though...that scene takes the cake.
The City of Violence - I've seen this little Korean gem before, and I enjoyed it quite a bit on the second run through. It also had much better fight choreography than Death Machines, which I watched about two hours before. If you enjoy Korean action films, check this one out.
Le Samouraï - I'd been wanting to see this for years, and I'm extremely glad I finally got the chance. While it doesn't top my favorite of Jean-Pierre Melville's films (L'armée des ombres, ironically the next film he directed after this one), I really enjoyed following Jef Costello around. The problem I have discussing it is that I think you all should see it, so I don't want to give anything away, even when warning about spoilers. No, really, go see it, especially if you enjoy films about hitmen.
Oh, and Death Machines has a completely awesome and entirely irrelevant movie poster:
This has absolutely nothing to do with the film.
