Movies You Have Seen Lately

[Baley]

we-are-ending-the-series-so-lets-have-some-DRAMA-moments kind.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They didn't actually show the big squid-guy die, did they?

 

Today,

 

 

 

Siu nin Wong Fei Hung ji Tit Ma Lau (Iron Monkey)

 

Plot Outline: A Hong Kong variation on Robin Hood. The corrupt officials of a Chinese village are continually robbed by a masked bandit know as "Iron Monkey" named after a benevolent deity. When all else fails, the Govenor forces a traveling physician (Donnie Yen) into finding the bandit. The arrival of an evil Shaolin monk, brings the Physician and Iron Monkey together to battle the corrupt government.

 

The leads are fun to watch, Woo-ping Yuen's a bearable director, the story's okay, nothing too fancy, a little social commentary, a little feel-good socialism, a few rants on corruption to spice it all up. Not a bad flick to spend 90 minutes with, especially when the world at large is boiling and you've got yourself a decent air conditioning unit.

 

 

 

Kung Fu Hustle

 

Plot Outline: It is 1940's China, and gangs rule the city. The most notorious of them all is the axe gang, lead by the insane Brother Sum. A slum called Pig Sty Alley is the only area safe from the Axes because the people there are so poor. Soon, wannabe gangster Sing and his pal Bone attempt to extort money out of a barber and fail, drawing the real Axe Gang to Pig Sty. However, it turns out that there are several kung fu masters living in the slum, and soon the two sides are enemies. As the plot thickens, Sing must decide- should he become a mobster, or save the day?

 

Basically what Chow does is play with cliches, he adds, twists and mixes them, still managing to keep the story flowing and the audience entertained. The whole movie is pretty much a collection of cliches, narrative, cinematic, doesn't matter, cliches all. Add a decent sense of humour, some directorial magic and a pretty good set of actors and you get an enjoyable romp that just happens to be bloody awesome.

 

 

 

 

The Business

 

Plot Outline: Frankie, a young lad on the run from the grimy ghetto of South London, plans his escape and the beginnings of a new life in sunny Spain - the Costa Del Sol to be more precise. Armed with nothing but a bundle of cash stashed in his luggage he heads off, yet Frankie has no idea that this sum of money will catapult him into the seductive world of ex-gangster Charlie. Before he knows it Frankie's got more then he bargained for - he's one of Charlie's gang and slap bang in the middle of the heady world of organized crime.

 

Nick Love 2005 is almost as good as Nick Love 2004. Now, I loved The Football Factory, the writing was great, the images were terrific, a barrel of laughs gone hooligan and running for its life while the world went tumbling down and down around it.

 

The writing's a little off, Dyer's monologues are nowhere near as good, but it manages to suck you in, it manages to grab you by the balls and have you staring transfixed at that screen of yours caring for the little men inside the box. Hell, it's a blast, the acting's great, the mood's there, sounds, visuals, all good. Yeah, I like Nick Love. I like hot women, good writing and tough-guy limeys duking it out on the coasts of Spain. Most of all though, I like to laugh, to smile and to feel good about the trash I see. This was a blast.

[alanschu]

Not a movie, but I did just watch the two hour series finale of Everwood.

[x1Predator]

Some friends and I just finished watchin LOTR: The Two Towers.................love the helm's deep battle, never gets old

[chris the jedi killer]

i gonna see the Texas Chainsaw massacare the begging in october.It's set four years before the first. :D

[LadyCrimson]

Not to derail your fine discussion about a lame movie, but I just found out that Mako passed away on Friday.  He was pretty busy for a short little guy.

A face I always recognize but never remember the name. He's been around a long time.

[Kor Qel Droma]

He's also done a slew of video game voice overs as well. Of course it's for games I didn't play, but what can you do?

 

Just finished watching Resevoir Dogs. I hadn't seen that movie in quite some time. It was still very enjoyable. Chris Penn sweating in the office with his on-screen father and Mr.Blonde seemed a little odd...

[Volourn]

ST:TNG - Season 2. Mostly good episodes with some silliness. Whoopi + Borg = Great Stuff!

[Musopticon?]

The Da Vinci Code

 

All in all, it was actually watchable. Sure, the abysmal acting or the lack of any acting whatsoever was a real turnoff for me, but the vat of popcorn and absolutely insane ahistorical conspiracy theories got me. Even though the actors had been hired just to stand there and look preofessional, I had to see how the thing ends, even if I guessed the plot, or who the main players were, from the get-go. Sure, the betrayal took me by surprise by I merely shrugged if off because the focus of the movie was somewhere entirely else than story progression and character chemistry. And the art and sights almost gave the movie one star out of seven.

 

Then again, I haven't read the book and didn't pay anything to see the movie. Did it affect my experience? Beats me.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Musopticon?

[astr0creep]

The Da Vinci Code

 

All in all, it was actually watchable. Sure, the abysmal acting or the lack of any acting whatsoever was a real turnoff for me, but the vat of popcorn and absolutely insane ahistorical conspiracy theories got me. Even though the actors had been hired just to stand there and look preofessional, I had to see how the thing ends, even if I guessed the plot, or who the main players were, from the get-go. Sure, the betrayal took me by surprise by I merely shrugged if off because the focus of the movie was somewhere entirely else than story progression and character chemistry. And the art and sights almost gave the movie one star out of seven.

 

Then again, I haven't read the book and didn't pay anything to see the movie. Did it affect my experience? Beats me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've read the book and I believe that, for the sake of enjoying the film, you're better off not reading the book. Not that the book is better but because they are so frakking similar that it is actually a waste of time to experience both.

[Musopticon?]

I heard that the book was stupid and thought that I might as well just watch the movie adaptation.

[astr0creep]

I heard that the book was stupid and thought that I might as well just watch the movie adaptation.

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They're both so similar that experiencing one is the same as experiencing the other.

I liked the structure of the book. The short chapters(4-5 pages, the longest has 10 pages) allowed fast pacing of a boring story and made for great bathroom reading...

[Ellester]

I laughed my butt off through Clerks II last night.

 

sometimes **** and fart jokes are just funny, lol

[Dark Moth]

That movie looks so stupid. Then again, I thought Harold and Kumar would be the same way, but I actually ended up enjoying that movie.

[Ellester]

That movie looks so stupid.  Then again, I thought Harold and Kumar would be the same way, but I actually ended up enjoying that movie.

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After watching Jay and Silent Bob strikes back thinking it sucked, I wasn't expecting much from Clerks II. But it turned out pretty good. I was surprised.

[Laozi]

Factotum

Plot Outline: This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

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Have you seen Barfly? The movie has a really funny story behind it. Sean Penn wanted to star in the film but wanted Dennis Hopper to direct. They were getting together with Bukowski about the project and he thought Hopper was such a douche he didn't want him to have anything to do with the film, Sean Penn not wanting to be caught in the middle so he drop out and thus the party went to Mickey Rourke.

[Musopticon?]

I also saw Unforgiven but I forgot to mention. What a great movie!

[Kor Qel Droma]

They filmed that in my province. NOt that there was any doubt before, but the locals confirmed that Eastwood is one cool mother ****er.

[Blarghagh]

Fight Club.

 

Again.

 

Doesn't really get any better than Fight Club for me.

[Baley]

Have you seen Barfly? The movie has a really funny story behind it. Sean Penn wanted to star in the film but wanted Dennis Hopper to direct. They were getting together with Bukowski about the project and he thought Hopper was such a douche he didn't want him to have anything to do with the film, Sean Penn not wanting to be caught in the middle so he drop out and thus the party went to Mickey Rourke.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh yeah, I should look for Hollywood one of these days, Barfly was good, the direction felt natural, especially compared to Factotum which stroke me as way too clean, the mood was there and Rourke played it well. Neither Rourke nor Dillon are ugly enough for the part though, but hey, a little make-up here, a little make-up there, some lard, both were okay.

 

 

 

The Hudsucker Proxy

Plot Outline: When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes. They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is whacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries.

 

I watched it at 5 AM, 15 hours since I last woke up, in a comfy bed. The pacing's great, the direction, the score, all very well done. Entertaining, had a smile on my face all the way through, though I rarely laughed. I do wish they'd have done something about that ending. Now, I know one shouldn't expect realism from the Coens, but, well, the way they treated the dope was sickening, I guess after the initial euphoria clears, you're left a little disappointed, or, better yet, I am. At least Jennifer Jason Leigh was incredibly, err, doable, yeah.

 

 

Raising Arizona

 

Plot Outline: Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.

 

I'd like to think the message here is rednecks shouldn't have children, but it ain't and I'm just making stuff up, or interpreting it, whatever. Anyway, again, disappointing, just re-read my other quick review, God, I hope it was all a dream. (at the end there at least)

 

Anyone else think Holly Hunter is notably hot?

 

 

 

Now, I've seen just about all the Coens movies (the only one I'm missing is Intolerable Cruelty) and I'd rate 'em this way:

 

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Miller's Crossing

The Big Lebowski

Barton Fink

The Man Who Wasn't There

Blood Simple

The Ladykillers

The Hudsucker Proxy

Fargo

Raising Arizona

 

 

Man, I sure love them list.

[Gfted1]

Raising Arizona

 

Plot Outline: Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.

 

I'd like to think the message here is rednecks shouldn't have children, but it ain't and I'm just making stuff up, or interpreting it, whatever. Anyway, again, disappointing, just re-read my other quick review, God, I hope it was all a dream. (at the end there at least)

 

Anyone else think Holly Hunter is notably hot?

 

 

Thats one of my all time favorite movies. One of those ones I always laugh at. And yes, Holly Hunter was smoking in that movie. Hmm, wonder what she looks like now.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Gfted1

[Kelverin]

Where Eagles Dare (1968) I thought this was a very boring war movie, with cheesy special effects that lasted at least 30 minutes longer than it should have.

[Jesse Conroy]

All the star wars movies.

[kirottu]

My super ex-girlfriend.

 

Good fun mostly.

[LadyCrimson]

I absolutely loved Fargo; I love W.H. Macy plus I found it hilarious.

 

I didn't 'understand' the humor in Raising Arizona at all, despite having a friend who loved the movie try to explain it to me. It was just a really weird, off the wall movie that kinda bored me...

[astr0creep]

I absolutely loved Fargo; I love W.H. Macy plus I found it hilarious.

 

I didn't 'understand' the humor in Raising Arizona at all, despite having a friend who loved the movie try to explain it to me. It was just a really weird, off the wall movie that kinda bored me...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

All Nicolas Cage movies have let me down. I can't remember one that I liked, although Lord of War was ok but I was expecting better with more political intrigue, similar to the Jack Ryan(Red october) films.

 

Meh.