Movies The Movie Thread! - Continuation

[Dive]

It might be late but I thought Avatar was one big mash-up of Princess Mononoke and Vision of Escaflowne, with FF10 environment.

Or Pocahontas.

 

[baboysai]

yes, exactly.

BTW, i also came to watch Alice in wonderland, and I was deeply, deeply, disappointed. Where was all the darkness that the trailer projected? All the Tim Burton hoo-ha?

 

[goldb]

Oh really? is it that bad?

 

[baboysai]

It's not bad if you weren't expecting anything, I guess.

It wasn't even visually stunning. That could have been a redeeming factor but it wasn't.

I dunno, my sister liked it because she didn't like the cartoon, the cartoon being too creepy (according to her). So it all depends on taste, I guess. I thought it was too goody-goody. meh.

 

[Organizized]

Before movie: "Omfg, Tim Burton directing Alice in Wonderland, one of the most trippy stories EVARRR, starring Johnny Depp! Engage mindfuck! "

During movie:
"Wow, the visuals are really nice.."
(5 seconds pass)
*something stupid happens, facepalm*
(5 seconds pass)
"Wow, the visuals are really nice.."
etc.

After movie: Alice in... Narnia? Perhaps I was expecting a bit too much, but I sure as hell was not expecting a bad try at an "epic fantasy" movie full of clichés and one Disney-fied moment after another. Facepalmed my way through most of the movie, switched to double facepalm the last 15 minutes (the ending was just.. painful).

TL;DR - Cool looking but cliché movie with poor script and one hell of a way to ruin a perfectly nice tale. Nice visuals and occasional awesomeness from the actors (esp. Depp) are the only things that save one of Burton's worst movies from being a complete failure.

 

[Drmke]

Yeah I didn't care for Alice either. I payed more attention to my 3D glasses than the movie after awhile. Its very rare I prefer a 50s Disney cartoon over anything from today...

 

[baboysai]

how's this for a movie huh?

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3231da28bb/weird-the-al-yankovic-story?rel=player

 

[Arch!]

Has anyone else seen Black Dynamite? I finally Netflix'ed it this weekend, and was very entertained. For a parody of blaxploitation fimls, it was hilarious and comprehensive. Plus, Tommy Davidson is in it, and Tommy Davidson rules.

 

[Hermie]

Hermie attended a film festival! Here's a short round-up:

En helt Vanlig Dag På Jobben [An Average Day's Work] (Norway, 2010) - This is a movie about a journalist that begins in a renowned Norwegian gossip magazine, and gets pressured into using their unethical practices, like paying celebrities for getting to print rumors about them. He's not very successful, until he becomes friends with the father of the Norwegian Prince's new girlfriend. While the old man thinks of it as a true friendship, the journalist has to keep exploiting him. It's based on a true story, this journalist wrote the book with the same name, in which he layed out all the shady methods the magazine was using, cause quite a stir. The movie appears softened at first, to adapt it more into the "naive journalist gets thrown into the big bad world" trope, but the writer makes a couple of clever twists to elevate it above that.
The movie is good, but very Norwegian, I doubt anyone outside of the country will appreciate it much, since it has plenty of in-jokes. So this recommendation is for Norwegians only, I guess.

Sergio (USA, 2009) - This is a documentary about Sergio, one of the most successful diplomats in UNs history. It details his work in Africa, Cambodia and East-Timor, while parallel telling the story about how he reluctantly had to go to Iraq, only to have the UN base attacked, and detailing the mission to rescue him from under the rubble.
Even though this was made as a pretty standard talking heads-documentary, it became powerful simply from the testimonies from the people around him, and how much they have been affected by Sergio. Well worth a watch.

Kanikosen (Japan, 2009) - Kanikosen is based on a proletarian novel from the 1920s, detailing workers on a crab fishing ship who have to toil away under almost slavish conditions. That's basically all I have to say to let you know if you're interested in this movie or not. The movie, and I assume the original book as well, takes a very pro-labor standpoint, and it's not shy about it. So if you're not frightened by this, I say you should watch it if you have the chance. The crew is very likable, and in addition to succeeding dramatically, it surprises you with the trademark Japanese goofiness from time to time.

Dang, this is getting long. Guess I'll break it off here and write up more later. ^^

 

[Imperium]

Just came back from watching Kickass its funny, amazing and a definite must watch. Without giving anything away, its about a boy without superpowers who wants to become a superhero. A rating i would give is 9/10.

Oh and if you do watch it be prepared to fall in love with a 12yr old girl.

 

[predsfan]

Oh and if you do watch it be prepared to fall in love with a 12yr old girl.

Resisting urge to make a Japan joke right now .

Anyways saw How to Train Your Dragon today. It was an alright movie had it's funny moments, decent action, fun for the whole family vibe, but really what I wanted to say is, aside from the headache I had afterwards, I don't think there is any cooler way to watch a movie than in Imax 3D (it's my first time seeing one). Well worth the 5-10 extra dollars you'd spend. Still a little pissed off they didn't have Hubble 3D, but when there's only one of those theaters within 500 miles of you, you take what you can get .

 

[Kusachu]

Saw Hot Tub Time machine. I liked it a lot, and laughed heartily throughout. I wish I had one.

 

[CTG05]

Just came back from watching Kickass its funny, amazing and a definite must watch. Without giving anything away, its about a boy without superpowers who wants to become a superhero. A rating i would give is 9/10.

AAh! I am dying to see this movie!! Is it every bit as brutal as the comic? If they skimp on the gore than I'm gonna go on my own rampage before the credits roll.

 

[Bugzee]

The two most recent movies I watched were; She's Out of My League & The Proposal. Both are comedy/romantic flicks. Story-wise, I preferred The Proposal. SOML was a bit meh. The film had a few amusing scenes but I personally thought the story plot was weak and the acting was off imo (the supposedly "hot chick" who's "a hard 10" was actually.. ). xD

I would give boths films 5/10. If your after a few laughs and "aaaw's" than check em out.

 

[Kravmaga]

I saw "how to train your dragon" and started stalking the artists from dreamworks. Don't be put off by the cheesy title, the movie's good!
It's not saturated with half-assed jokes like a lot of cgi movies are lately, but when the humor hits, it flies out of the stadium and smashes through a windshield! The dialogue is fresh, the pace is the straight opposite of boring: brisk and fast-pace during the action, but poignant during the calm scenes. Also, the character designs are oozing of so much charm I've had an urge to buy all related merchandises ever since I watched the film. But perhaps the big surprise in there was the incredibly contemporary, well-integrated and carefully delivered moral message that's so relevant today more than ever; something Iron Giant-ish that I definitively didn't expect from the same studio that did monsters vs aliens and the shrek sequals...

Overall, my opinion is that this film is outstanding, easily the best non-japanese animated feature I can remember.
I'd give it three thumbs up if I could dig up my mummified prop hand in the basement... Go see it!

 

[Riku]

I just saw Kick-Ass, and it indeed was an awesome film. As I read from somewhere online before seeing it; It's like a bastard from Kill Bill's and Spidermans one-night-stand.

Extremly brutal and sick, lot of blood, mentally ill old man going on a revenge frenzy, a brainwashed little girl slaughtering myriad of mafia guys, naive nerd wearing a scubasuit beaten to the pulp. And I laughed my ass off. Made me feel dirty a bit, but it just was so damn hilarious. Though it was cool and very visual, there was depth to it too and wasn't as superficial as I thought it would be.

As a sidenote, I think I have quite good idea now what mean with 'serious humor' in Bakuman. If I'm not totally disguided.

I could also give thought on the Oscars, since I were busy when those were current. Avatar got the Oscars it deserved, it was indeed visually phenomenal and technically great, but otherwise damn lame. Can't belieave Cameron really spent those years working on such a rip-off story. Haven't seen Hurt Locker yet, though I just bought it. But based on what I've heard, it's a fine film, but not that good. I'll post my own opinion after I watch it. 2009 wasn't particulary interesting film year in my opinion. Actually the only was I thought off as really great were Basterds (Kinda reminded Kick-Ass to certain extent) and Up. Waltz really deserved his Oscar. Up was fun and I just love the set-up, cranky old geezer flying of with his house, which is lifted with balloons.

 

[goldb]

I just saw Kick-Ass, and it indeed was an awesome film. As I read from somewhere online before seeing it; It's like a bastard from Kill Bill's and Spidermans one-night-stand.

Extremly brutal and sick, lot of blood, mentally ill old man going on a revenge frenzy, a brainwashed little girl slaughtering myriad of mafia guys, naive nerd wearing a scubasuit beaten to the pulp. And I laughed my ass off. Made me feel dirty a bit, but it just was so damn hilarious. Though it was cool and very visual, there was depth to it too and wasn't as superficial as I thought it would be....

Just got back from seeing Kick-Ass too and I have to agree with your views. Hit Girl is my idol; she's amazingly cool. Katie is hooooot OMFG!!!!

 

[Paper]

Agreed, Kick-Ass was definitely kick-ass; though I did see Shutter Island the day after, and it sort of paled in comparison, then again you really can't compare the two now can you?

Just saw The Losers today, and The Losers is definitely a winner!

 

[goldb]

Agreed, Kick-Ass was definitely kick-ass; though I did see Shutter Island the day after, and it sort of paled in comparison, then again you really can't compare the two now can you?

Just saw The Losers today, and The Losers is definitely a winner!

Damn it, I knew there was a movie I was forgetting. You say it's a winner, but rate it out of 10. And after a long wait, Iron Man 2 is out next week.

 

[Paper]

About 8 imo. It's a fun movie, even if it gets cheesy at times, all great action movies need the cheese to be truly awesome!

I'm already prepping myself for Iron Man 2. Gonna wait in line the day it gets released!