What films are you watching?

[Johnny Shearer]

I Am Legend

 

Those fools, those nerdy boffins playing god, creating unnatural things in labs which they naively think will make life better. It spreads like a virus and by the time people notice that something is very wrong, its way too late, its everywhere, no one is untouched by the horror they call....CGI!!!!:smt103

 

For all the good things in I Am Legend, are there are a few, the cgi drags everything down with it. A cgi car speeds through cgi streets hitting rubbish cgi monsters, cgi explosions send cgi flames across a cgi sky, is anything real? is will smith real? Give me the extra's in unconvincing masks any day or lizards dressed up to look like dinosaurs, but please just quite it with this sh1t cgi.

 

Yes, the story goes off the rails in the second half of the film, but end of the world films usually do. Yes it force feeds you Christianity in the same way prison guards used to force feed hunger strikers (ie with a big stick) but least we forget, those puritans were originally british so we should share some of the blame. And yes, its basically a mega-budget 28 Days Later with Will Smith playing the saviour of all mankind, but for all its early promise, the last half hour is so sugar coated, the film should come with some kind of health warning :vom: And its vision of a new Eden at the end of the film made me want to gauge my eyes out and replace them with burning coals.

 

4/10

 

The film is a complete departure from the book with the same name and which its 'very slightly' based on.

 

If the film was adapted from the book it would have been much darker and lead actor's descent into madness and being alone would have been much better plus the ending there gives closure rather than the rubbish which was served up in this film.

 

Even The Omega Man also based on the book is miles better than this.

[Johnny Shearer]

The Descent: Part 2

 

The first was full of tension and thrills as a bunch of lovely ladies explored some caves.

 

The second is ok but follows the same track as the first but this time round you know what to expect.

 

However my main gripe is the ending - the first film left it open ended which I was fine with. However this film's ending, which I won't give it away in case someone decides to watch it. Is complete rubbish, makes no sense and just put in there as an after thought for the film needing a final twist.

[St Landrew]

Papillon:

 

Good prison film, Hoffman and McQueen are excellent.

 

7/10

 

Super film. Watched it this evening, on the BBC iPlayer, for thr first time in years. It hasn't lost its impact.

[SuperMikey]

Observe and Report

 

This is the Seth Rogen equivalent of Jim Carrey's 'The Cable Guy'. It's had very mixed reviews, but I really liked it. Although it has it's moments, it's not an out and out comedy, more of a drama with a comedy edge. I think people didn't like it when it came out in the cinema because they thought "Oh, it's a Seth Rogen film. It's obviously going to contain lots of smoking weed and knob jokes", and were surprised when the film actually tried to deal with topics above your average frat-boy movie.

 

Seth plays Ronnie Barnhardt, a small-town security guard at the local Mall. My take on Seth's character is that he personifies the American nation. He's obsessed with guns and is slightly retarded. He's not got any solid backing in life except for his alcoholic mother and his motley crew of security guards, and seems completely driven by being the hero and saving the day. He longs to be with the bicycle-like Brandy, a slaggy girl who works at the make-up counter in the Mall, but she doesn't know who he is, not for want of trying.

 

I think the film has been wrongly marketed, ala Funny People, and as such people don't appreciate it for what it is. I have to say though, i'm not sure i'd like the film as much if Seth wasn't in it. The dialogue is amusing, but it's the characters that bring it to life. While Rogen is rather like the proverbial Marmite, I am yet to see a film that I don't like him in, or didn't enjoy. As well as being a very funny person and good comedic actor, he is also capable of writing hilarious yet also intelligent screenplays, having a big part in writing blockbuster Superbad a few years ago and also having penned the film adaptation of the Green Hornet, which he's also starring in. Long live the king!

 

7/10

[Deppo]

I watched Once Were Warriors again last night. My, that's a harsh film. A kind of New Zealand Nil By Mouth precursor. Good film, though. Powerful.

[chrisobee]

Super film. Watched it this evening, on the BBC iPlayer, for thr first time in years. It hasn't lost its impact.

 

Indeed, the film was almost as good as the book which I read a few years before the film was released. One of my favourite films with 2 of my favourite actors in lead roles.

[Dog]

I went to the pictures to se Nana McPhee, small c big p, fell asleep after 5 minutes and woke up when everyone was leaving.

Don't know how to rate this film but the popcorn was a ripp off.

[jeff leopard]

Damned United

Great acting, very nicely shot and even the football games are recreated quite well, but (cue wholly predictable comment) its not a patch on the book. if they had done it as the very dark fairy tale (as in Peace's novel) it would have needed a Lynch, Scorsese or Von Trier to do it justice. The best sports film imo is still This Sporting Life with Richard Harris (and i really hate rugby).

 

The Incredible Shrinking Man

Classic 50s sci-fi which now has some social attitudes and special effects which will raise a titter or two. It's still very impressive though, and the ending is an absolute knock-out; tragic, terrifying and uplifting all at once.

[manji]

The Descent: Part 2

 

The first was full of tension and thrills as a bunch of lovely ladies explored some caves.

 

The second is ok but follows the same track as the first but this time round you know what to expect.

 

However my main gripe is the ending - the first film left it open ended which I was fine with. However this film's ending, which I won't give it away in case someone decides to watch it. Is complete rubbish, makes no sense and just put in there as an after thought for the film needing a final twist.

The Descent=****e film. Stick a group of female extras from The Bill in a cave and let them scream at each other. Thankfully most of them die ,presumably from extreme over-acting.

[miserableoldgit]

The Descent=****e film. Stick a group of female extras from The Bill in a cave and let them scream at each other. Thankfully most of them die ,presumably from extreme over-acting.

Yeah, but was it any good??

[manji]

Yeah, but was it any good??

Fill in the missing letters...clue it doesn't spell grate and not enough letters for sublime.

[Johnny Shearer]

Fill in the missing letters...clue it doesn't spell grate and not enough letters for sublime.

 

Wouldnt say its cack - seen much worse with bigger stars and massive budgets.

 

I liked it but wont watch it again as I know whats happened.

[equalizer]

Shutter Island

 

Not bad, a bit long and gets predictable at the end. 8/10

[Dog]

Anyone remember the 1980's film Suburbia?

[Deppo]

Nah.

[dubai_phil]

Saw Clash of the Titans while back. Not as bad as I thought it would be, not as good as it could have been. No idea why they bothered with the 3D re-fit, it didn't add anything to the movie. Also the whole Mount Olympus stuff was just way too 70's/cheesy/staid and having Perseus with an Antipodean accent. Still it was a decent way of spending a wet afternoon and a fair 6/10 for the quality of the story which held the movie together.

 

Watched the Hurt Locker on DVD when got back.

That is easy to review. Wow, glad I saw it at home and not on a massive screen, would have been way to heavy.

Those poor sods sent up to Iraq, no wonder the lead character seems nuts. 9.95/10

[Dog]

Watched 'No Country For Old Men' last night again, brilliant film, and a great baddie.

[St Landrew]

Hellboy

 

Umpteenth time I've watched it. Such a fun film, made just right, with vivid characterisation which lifts almost directly off the comic book page. I love the corny jokey asides too. Abe-Sapien is about to dive into the depths of an underground reservoir where monsters lurk...

Abe-Sapien: Remind me why I do this..?

Hellboy: Rotten eggs and the safety of mankind..!

Abe-Sapien: [shrugs] Ah!

[saint_stevo]

Triangle- Makes you want to self harm 4/10

 

The Box- Pants 5/10

 

Cabin Fever 2 Shockingly bad 3/10

[Block 5]

Watched 'No Country For Old Men' last night again, brilliant film, and a great baddie.

 

Love this film.

I want my own nail gun.

[equalizer]

Maximum Overdrive. A 1980's B-movie taken from a Stephen King short story(he also directed it) about mechanical objects coming to life and going on a murderous rampage after the Earth is shrouded in the tail of a comet. Stars a young Emilio Estevez, and Yeardly Smith who does the voice of Bart in the Simpsons.

[miserableoldgit]

Maximum Overdrive. A 1980's B-movie taken from a Stephen King short story(he also directed it) about mechanical objects coming to life and going on a murderous rampage after the Earth is shrouded in the tail of a comet. Stars a young Emilio Estevez, and Yeardly Smith who does the voice of Bart in the Simpsons.

I think I saw this when it was originally released. From what I can remember the film consisted mainly of a load of trucks going round in circles like indians attacking a wagon train!

[Dog]

I watched Once Were Warriors again last night. My, that's a harsh film. A kind of New Zealand Nil By Mouth precursor. Good film, though. Powerful.

 

Repulsive film, typical kiwi bullsh:t. And that Jake is a big pussy.

[Block 5]

I think I saw this when it was originally released. From what I can remember the film consisted mainly of a load of trucks going round in circles like indians attacking a wagon train!

 

Indeed. Wasn't this King's directorial debut?

I think he made a cameo appearance as a man killed by a can of coke that was fired at him by a naughty, sentient drinks vending machine.

Utter drivel.

[St Landrew]

Repulsive film, typical kiwi bullsh:t. And that Jake is a big pussy.

 

Please explain what that is, Dog..?

[miserableoldgit]

Indeed. Wasn't this King's directorial debut?

I think he made a cameo appearance as a man killed by a can of coke that was fired at him by a naughty, sentient drinks vending machine.

Utter drivel.

Yes I believe it was. I couldn`t believe how bad it was. It wasn`t even B-Movie or "Straight to Video" standard. It`s strange how many of his works have transferred so badly to the screen, both cinema and TV.

[Block 5]

Yes I believe it was. I couldn`t believe how bad it was. It wasn`t even B-Movie or "Straight to Video" standard. It`s strange how many of his works have transferred so badly to the screen, both cinema and TV.

 

And yet his early novels were so good.

I guess the Shining is probably the best adaptaion for the screen.

[View From The Top]

I watched The Men Who Stare At Goats last night and I really enjoyed it with some genuine LOL moments.

[TheCholulaKid]

District 9 - thoroughly enjoyable and ever-so-slightly meaty. Some good guns and not what I expected at all.

 

Paranormal Activity - builds the tension quite well and then ruins it with some nonsense. Overall not particularly good - the alternate ending is exceedingly gash.

 

Double Indemnity - with a screenplay by Raymond Chandler it could hardly be bad. And it isn't. Pure class. Perfect in fact.

 

Got both parts of Mesrine lined up for tonight.

[LVSaint]

 

Got both parts of Mesrine lined up for tonight.

 

Brought back my copy from Blighty, I'll wait to see the double bill this Friday!

 

Saw a couple of good films on the plane on Sunday.

 

Up in the Air - 8/10

Nowhere Boy - 7/10

[Redbul]

Watched Paranormal Activity last night. Our teenage girls said it was the most frightening film they'd ever seen and advised me and the spouse to watch it with the lights on and always stay together and not get up for a slash and leave the other on their own....

 

Well, armed with this information we settled down to watch. And then an hour and twenty minutes or so later it finished and we were still waiting to be scared s***less. Basically the film suffers from its own over hyping (and our girls attempts at bigging it up). The style has been done before with Blair Witch and The Haunting (the Robert Wise (1963) version, not the crap remake).

 

So, it passed the time.... 5/10

[Frank's cousin]

Recent viewings...

 

No Country for old Men - yup its superb

 

In Bruge - watched this a few time now and I think give it afew more years and it will be a cult classic... some great one liners

 

A Serious Man - not sure what to make of it really - typical old school Coen Brothers, interesting and some good moments, well acted and interesting, but somethjing missing?

[Mmm Donuts]

Just bought and watched 2 films for my ipod when on hols. Shifty and Harry Brown, both worth a watch. Harry Brown not as good as Gran Torino IMHO.

[Sheaf Saint]

Watched The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus last night...

 

Superbly surreal is probably the best way to sum it up. Very, very strange film but done ever so well by Terry Gilliam considering he had to replace the leading man part way through filming. Original and thought-provoking, and beautiful on the eye.

 

My brother came in to it half way through and did not have the slightest clue what was going on. TBH I struggled even though I watched it from the beginning.

 

Recommended though - 7/10.

[dubai_phil]

Satellite TV showed Escape to Witch Moutain tonight

 

It was complete rubbish and yet we really enjoyed it, a daft and cracking Yarn

[jeff leopard]

Inglorious Basterds

I was put off watching this by some scathing reviews but eventually curiosity got the better of me, and I’m glad it did. The first two thirds of the film is brilliant, from the wonderful Spaghetti Western opening in the dairy, to the mind-blowingly great scene in the cellar. ‘Wow, this is amazing, I thought’, but the film had peaked, and *spoiler* most of the likeable characters had been killed, and suddenly I found myself really annoyed by Brad Pitt’s character, and obsessed by Eli Roth’s appalling acting. By the end I wasn’t even sure if it hung together as a film, to me it felt like a compilation which has some great tracks on, but only a die-hard fan would listen to it all in one go. Still, it was much better than Death Proof or Kill Bill 2.

7/10

 

Wicker Man

In a moment of weakness I bought the remake for a couple of squids as someone had assured me that –

It was hilariously terrible

Nic Cage runs around punching women

Whilst dressed as a bear

In reality it wasn’t that terrible, just incredibly average. Nic Cage does dress up like a bear and punch women, but by that point I’d past caring. Plus, there's no nudey dancing at all, which is a big mistake.

4/10

 

Wicker Man

So I watched the original and was blown away but how gloriously odd and disturbing it still is, how much great music is in it, and how nice nudey dancing is.

10/10

[Redbul]

Wicker Man

So I watched the original and was blown away but how gloriously odd and disturbing it still is, how much great music is in it, and how nice nudey dancing is.

10/10

 

Word....

[Suhari]

Watched 'Kick Ass' a few days ago, here in sunny Thailand. Luckily in English, unlike whne I watched Harry Potter out here...!

 

Good film. Funny, and a little bit clever. My only issue is trying to understand how it was meant to be received: some LOL moments, some lighthearted stuff, some comic-book capers. Nicholas Cage does a fantastic ****-take accent. But some overly strong violence too.....who wants to see a grown man smash an 11 yr old girl in the face; repeatedly? Yes, he's a bad guy, but come on......

 

Funny, silly, enjoyable nonsense, with the odd uncomfortable moment. 8/10.

[St Landrew]

Ill Met By Moonlight

 

What..? You say..? Watched this film late last night. It features Dirk Bogarde and Marius Goring as the main stars. It's an acquired taste, but one I believe is worthy of cultivating. It's about the capture and kidnapping of a German command officer [Goring] on the Island of Crete, during WWII, who is shipped away to Cairo, as a strategic, propaganda and morale exercise, thought up, and executed by the intelligence leader [bogarde] and Cretan Island resistance. A British film, and played very low key and quietly, with a little twinkle in the eye, so to speak. There are no intended funny's, but you can't help but smile occasionally. The acting is a little uneven, IMO, but generally the actors just play people, if you get my meaning. There are no overplayed heroes or villains, just a re-enactment of a true event. Modern Hollywood, of the Tarantino, Scorcese brigade, wouldn't have a clue what to do with it. Where are the endless f**ks, the gunfights, the romances, the bad people who end up dead..? Well, there are a few dead people, but this is wartime, after all. It is all quietly done without fuss, and as usual with a British film, all the better for it. All in glorious black & white, I might add. Acquire the taste.

[St Landrew]

The Life & Times of David Gayle

 

Finished a little while ago on ITV3. I only watched it because of the recently discovered Kevin Spacey fan club that exists on this forum. I'd never seen it before, and was really glad I stayed awake. It genuinely pulls at the emotions and contains no cheap tearjerking moments. This is because, not only for the story, but the quality of the acting and direction. Smirking Saint was right, it was a good 'un.

The Quick & the Dead

 

Unlike this one. Saw it the other day, and found it utterly preposterous, yet completely watchable. The scenario is way more incredible than the film above, with gunfighters being matched to each other's skills in a contest, which serves several purposes, but mainly to eliminate the enemies and rivals to the Chief Fast-Draw and Mayor of the the town of Redemption. It's hard to imagine that Gene Hackman used to play goodies, he has played so many baddies in his latter years. Here he is, in typical form up against all manner of star players from Lance Henriksen [Aliens films], Keith David [The Thing], Leonardo Di Caprio, Russell Crowe and Sharon Stone. What with focus pulls and zooms from director Sam Raimi, that are reminiscent of a 1970's Stephen Spielberg, and a waifer thin story, it is the intensity of the manically over-blown acting that carries the film to its climax. Add in a couple of Sam Peckinpah peeps through the bullet holes with the camera for shock value, and explosions of huge magnitude, and that's it. Watch it once in astonishment, and if you ever bother to go back again it can only be to look at Sharon Stone looking gorgeous in her cowboy gear.

Edited 25 April, 2010 by St Landrew

[bpsaint]

AVATAR

 

Watched this on bluray last night having previously seen it at the cinema in 3D and all I can say is wow. Quite possibly the finest i've seen a movie look in this format and honestly preferred it to how it was shown at cinemas. Im still yet to be completely won over by 3D films as I find the screen just becomes a bit of a blur after a while.

 

As for the film itself its certainly worth a watch,even though it is a very cliched story. Think one reviewers opinion that it was 'Dance with Wolves or Pocahontos' with aliens pretty much sums it up. As CGI films go though it is groundbreaking,and Pandora does look very real at times.

[Redbul]

Rec....

 

Watched this the other night. Okay, a bit late in the day 'cos it's been out for about 3 years I think and already has a Hollywood remake.

But what a top film for the hand held camera, realtime horror flick genre!!!! There were very genuine edge of the seat moments and the the last scene [whilst arguably predictable] was very claustrophobic and nailbiting!!! The whole film steadily increases in pace right up until the end. Low budget film making at its very best.

 

8.5/10

 

Oh, and the lead role is played by the very lovely Manuela Velasco....

[Castro 1]

I watched Avatar last night and whilst I throughly enjoyed it and thought all the CGI was fantastic, as bpsaint says the story is not good, reminded me a lot of Star Wars, The Return of the Jedi with a lot of Blue Jar Jar Binks thrown in!! Still I would give it 9/10

[St Landrew]

Quigley Down Under

 

Bet you've never heard of this film, or you've just seen the title in the 'Q' part of a film index. I've watched it probably 3 or 4 times since it came out in 1990. Last time was a few years back, so I thought I'd give it another go. There are some films which I can play back in my head, they are so familiar. This isn't one of them, but it's getting there. There are so many things about it I like. I like the fact that it features the undervalued Tom Selleck, playing a really good role as a, long range, sharpshooting, cowboy in Australia. It also features the rather gorgeous, and oft overlooked, Laura San Giacomo. Oh, and Alan Rickman gets in there, as an Outback rancher, with some sharp wit too. Yeah, it's a Western, and hence just about made its $20M budget back, plus a few cents. So, everyone was paid, and a few people were entertained, and a little filmic secret was born. It's flawed, it's corny in places, but it's a little cracker.

[Dog]

JAWS

 

Not a bad film if you haven't seen it. Great special events, and when the shark comes out of the water I actually pooped a little.

Overall 7.4/10

[LVSaint]

JAWS

 

Not a bad film if you haven't seen it. Great special events, and when the shark comes out of the water I actually pooped a little.

Overall 7.4/10

 

Always watch a bit (usually end up finishing it) when channel hopping. The sequels were cack though. 2 was ok.

[St Landrew]

The Dresser

 

Based on the theatrical life of the remowned stage actor Sir Donald Wolfit, and his relationship with, his then dresser turned writer, Ronald Harwood. Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay play the lead roles, ably backed up by an excellent cast, including Edward Fox, with everyone appearing to act their stagey heads off - except they're doing it onscreen. There's hardly a dull moment, IMO, although the brilliance is all between Finney and Courtenay, as the former shifts into a madness of exhaustion, through work and a sense of duty to his beloved Bard, while WWII bombs are being dropped all around. Finney gets some fabulous one-liners, and both stars get a few great monlogues. Even a couple of the stage folk tales are explored, as Finney, in his pre-play ramblings begins to quote from a series of wrong plays, that he is not perfoming on stage that night, and ends with naming the main character from The Scottish Play. This entails him being packed off outside, rotating 3 times, knocking the door, and having to swear out loud, after being let in. It's great ham acting and totally absorbing stuff, IMO.

 

Oh, if you didn't already know, it's famous for the STOP THAT TRAIN moment in York Station, boomed out by Finney. The train obediently screeches to a halt.

[Sheaf Saint]

Little Miss Sunshine

 

Seen it a few times but I was in a foul mood and needed cheering up, and this film never fails in that department. If you haven't seen it, it is the story of the world's most dysfunctional family travelling across the US to take their 7-year-old daughter to a beauty pageant in California.

 

Some great performances all round, but it's the overall dynamic between the main characters that really makes it what it is. Lots of genuine LOL moments, but it's the finale at the talent competition that has me LMAOing every time. It's quite tragic in many ways, but it's also one of the most feelgood films I have ever seen.

 

9/10

[Hamilton Saint]

Ill Met By Moonlight

 

What..? You say..? Watched this film late last night. It features Dirk Bogarde and Marius Goring as the main stars. It's an acquired taste, but one I believe is worthy of cultivating. It's about the capture and kidnapping of a German command officer [Goring] on the Island of Crete, during WWII, who is shipped away to Cairo, as a strategic, propaganda and morale exercise, thought up, and executed by the intelligence leader [bogarde] and Cretan Island resistance. A British film, and played very low key and quietly, with a little twinkle in the eye, so to speak. There are no intended funny's, but you can't help but smile occasionally. The acting is a little uneven, IMO, but generally the actors just play people, if you get my meaning. There are no overplayed heroes or villains, just a re-enactment of a true event. Modern Hollywood, of the Tarantino, Scorcese brigade, wouldn't have a clue what to do with it. Where are the endless f**ks, the gunfights, the romances, the bad people who end up dead..? Well, there are a few dead people, but this is wartime, after all. It is all quietly done without fuss, and as usual with a British film, all the better for it. All in glorious black & white, I might add. Acquire the taste.

 

I would really like to see this film - it was made by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Not available over here, unfortunately.

 

[Hamilton Saint]

The Dresser

 

Based on the theatrical life of the remowned stage actor Sir Donald Wolfit, and his relationship with, his then dresser turned writer, Ronald Harwood. Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay play the lead roles, ably backed up by an excellent cast, including Edward Fox, with everyone appearing to act their stagey heads off - except they're doing it onscreen. There's hardly a dull moment, IMO, although the brilliance is all between Finney and Courtenay, as the former shifts into a madness of exhaustion, through work and a sense of duty to his beloved Bard, while WWII bombs are being dropped all around. Finney gets some fabulous one-liners, and both stars get a few great monlogues. Even a couple of the stage folk tales are explored, as Finney, in his pre-play ramblings begins to quote from a series of wrong plays, that he is not perfoming on stage that night, and ends with naming the main character from The Scottish Play. This entails him being packed off outside, rotating 3 times, knocking the door, and having to swear out loud, after being let in. It's great ham acting and totally absorbing stuff, IMO.

 

Oh, if you didn't already know, it's famous for the STOP THAT TRAIN moment in York Station, boomed out by Finney. The train obediently screeches to a halt.

 

Good film - I've seen it a few times. Great work from Finney and Courtenay.