So.... Seen Any Good Movies Lately?

[Achtland]

saw two films yesterday

1.new indiana jones film.
was pish and george lucus needs tips on writing films.
i know it is ment to be fantasy but 'russian occult expert' story line is so stolen from hell boy

2. Iron man
was good
not best comic book film i have seen (that was 'scanner darkly' if you care)
but good SF and soundtrack was brillant

[tattuchu]

Well I watched Half-Blood Prince and liked it quite a lot. The thing is, my excitement for a new Harry Potter film dissipated long ago, since the film's opening had been delayed for so long. I therefore went in the theatre with an attitude of mostly indifference, but guarded optimism that I would enjoy the film nonetheless. And I did. I wasn't blown away, mind you, but I did enjoy it.
One of the criticisms laid against this film was the overuse of the teen romance sub-plot, giving it too great a role in the film. I braced myself accordingly against a potential wave of nausea, yet found my stomach not at all unsettled. There was some of this of course but not an undue amount, I felt. What there was of it, in fact, I found welcome. It made the characters seem more real, and easier to relate to. It humanized them.
One criticism I found myself agreeing with, however, was that too much of the book was discarded. The story as seen in the movie seemed rushed through, and too superficial. Two films based on this volume of the series would have been more appropriate, I think. For instance, at the beginning of the film, Dumbledore notices Harry looking at his blackened hand, and tells him he'll explain it later. But then he never does. So the whole film, Dumbledore goes about with this fucked up hand and we have no idea why. Later on, Prof Snape informs Harry that Big D has gone on holiday and won't be back for some time. But then there's Dumbledore in practically the next scene, as if nothing is amiss. After my initial confusion I worked out that time must have passed, only it hadn't been obvious at all, and never properly explained.
Despite some minor complaints, though, the film was very well done. It was beautifully shot, wonderful to look at, all the actors were in top form and gave great performances, and there were alternately plenty of humorous and poignant moments. I found myself laughing out loud at certain parts, and wiping my eyes at others. So, considering I love a good laugh, and a good cry, I'd say I was satisfied overall with the film and look forward to the next.

[tattuchu]

Saw Inglourious Basterds today. Don't quite know what to make of it. I love historically based fiction, but this one takes great liberties with history. Too great, perhaps. The film was very well done in all respects, very much as you'd expect from Tarantino if you like his stuff. And I do. But it was difficult for me to decide who to root for. The Basterds were bastards. I never got the feeling that they were sufficiently righteous. Sure their objective was laid out clear enough, and understandable as it was presented. The problem is, the Nazis for the most part were portrayed as somewhat sympathetic characters. They were also more three dimensional than the rather cartoonish Basterds. The seemed more real, and since the Basterds weren't particularly fleshed out or their motivations explained, I found myself often admiring the Nazis.
Maybe Tarantino himself had a certain fondness and admiration for the Nazis? In a cinematic way, the Nazis are pretty fucking cool. I do think it's interesting to present characters as not just black and white or good and evil. Perhaps if the Basterds were more fleshed out it would've balanced things off more. It just struck me as odd that the Nazis are supposed to be the bad guys here, and obviously the Basterds good guys. But without any backstory or motivation, I'm not sure why we should necessarily make that determination. Unless it's just a given that Nazis are bad, Allies are good. But if that's the case, then why lavish all the attention on the Nazis and neglect the Yanks? Maybe it was misperception of my part? I am half German after all. And I found myself disliking what Brad Pitt's character did to the antagonist at the end of the film. It was true to form, I suppose, but I found myself in the uncomfortable position of being more sympathetic to the Nazi, in that scene, rather than the protagonist of the film. As for the end in general, again, I'm not sure I felt what I was supposed to feel. Was I supposed to be happy? Instead I felt kinda depressed. I was like, "Well, yes, but that didn't happen at all. It wasn't even close to happening like that. So what's the point?" Instead of making the Jewish viewers empowered from a wonderful revenge fantasy, I wonder if it just made them kinda bummed out because, again, things hadn't gone down like that in real life. I dunno.
Overall, I enjoyed the film. It might sound like I didn't, but these criticisms were just thoughts that came to me afterwards. I certainly enjoyed the film, and I'm glad I saw it. I wonder what the other patrons of the theatre thought of it? No one made a sound during the entire film But I laughed at the funny bits, and gasped at the unexpected parts. Come to think of it, no one made a sound during the Potter film either. Were both so tremendously boring as to elicit no response? Or am I rude for laughing out loud at a funny part

[Bella Fortuna]

I've seen a few good old films lately. Last week I saw two war movies, The Train (John Frankenheimer is one of my favourite directors) and The Hill.

Tonight I'm watching On the Beach.

All highly recommended!

[Bella Fortuna]

I just cried my eyes out at this... the characters are about to commit suicide and kill their infant daughter as radiation sickness descends on the remaining living population.

[Dasein]

I just cried my eyes out at this... the characters are about to commit suicide and kill their infant daughter as radiation sickness descends on the remaining living population.

kind of like when people jumped from the world trade center because their only option was death by fire or death by cement?

[tattuchu]

I saw Where the Wild Things Are yesterday. I thought it was beautifully done, very poignant, surreal, sad, melancholy. I'm glad I wasn't the only one in the theatre crying at the end

[Animavore]

See Antichrist.
Its brill. Its psychological and shocking, dark and deep.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Tonight I'm watching M. Night Shymalan's The Happening. It's pretty meh.

You'll want your two hours back. :deadpan:

[Bella Fortuna]

Tonight I'm watching M. Night Shymalan's The Happening. It's pretty meh.

You'll want your two hours back. :deadpan:

Yeah... a promising idea that went nowhere.

[Animavore]

Tonight I'm watching M. Night Shymalan's The Happening. It's pretty meh.

You'll want your two hours back. :deadpan:

Yeah... a promising idea that went nowhere.

I hate all his films. Even the ones I haven't seen.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Tonight I'm watching M. Night Shymalan's The Happening. It's pretty meh.

You'll want your two hours back. :deadpan:

Yeah... a promising idea that went nowhere.

I hate all his films. Even the ones I haven't seen.

If he hadn't done "Signs" we wouldn't have one of the funniest parodies in movie history, in "Scary Movie 3".

[Deep Sea Isopod]

I watched Wishmaster last week. Now I'm watching Wishmaster2.
Fuggin' brill movies.

[Kristie]

Hubby and I went to see 'The Box' last weekend. I'm not allowed to pick the movies anymore.

[tattuchu]

Hubby and I went to see 'The Box' last weekend. I'm not allowed to pick the movies anymore.

I saw a preview of that when I went to see Where the Wild Things Are, and I thought it looked extraordinarily stupid. Same with the new Christmas Carol film. Surprisingly, Roger Ebert gave both of them positive reviews, so I may check them out after all.
What didn't you like out the film, FIO?

I just got Up on DVD and watched it last night Wow. A beautifully done film. Visually stunning, and a very moving story poetically told. I defy anyone to watch it and not cry