Movies you have seen recently

[Kelverin]

Citizen Kane is, for me, unwatchable

The film itself is worth a view, but what Wells invented is just genius. The technical achievements in that film set the standard and are still relevant today, and to deny such is to not understand the history of film making.

[Aristes]

I watched 28 Days Later today. It wasn't bad, but I thought it would be better based on what I'd heard. I enjoyed it, but it was a pretty standard zombie film. Legend is much better.

 

Lawrence of Arabia is an excellent film. It is a classic and, since I care more about entertainment than the history of filmmaking when I choose a film, I'll have to agree with Monte.

 

The wife and I also watched the John Adams miniseries. I thought it was well done without a lot of license on the part of the writer, director, or producer, even down to the decaying teeth. I've always been a big fan of Adams and I think the movement in later years to show him in his proper place as vital to our revolution is excellent.

[Musopticon?]

Legend is much better.

Elaborate, please. Was it better because the zombies were "nonstandard" or because it was, in your view, just better written? In my opinion Legend fell flat after Smith found the other survivors. Decent premise, but the execution left me wanting more, especially since I love the original book by Matheson.

 

 

Funny anecdote though, before I read the last page of this thread, I had just picked 5 alltime favourite movies of mine in a Facebook app. Funnily enough; Lawrence of Arabia and 28 Days were both there.

[Monte Carlo]

^ I agree about Legend, I had high hopes too then it just fizzled out. I like Will Smith, he was doing a good job then the zombies appeared... fzzzt. Up to that point though, abandoned NYC was beautfiully realised.

 

I can't help but think the movie was dumbed-down - the albino Medieval-cultist type victims in The Omega Man were much better.

 

For me, 28 Days is better, although I'm biased because it's a British movie. The cast are solid, the zombies original and Chris Ecclestone's fascist army officer a bit of a left-wing cliche but works in the context of the plot. There's just more going on in 28 Days that ain't happenening in legend.

[Hurlshort]

I'd probably put Will Smith above any of the acting in 28 Days, but other than that I'd say both are excellent movies. I enjoyed the ending of 28 Days much better than Legend, but then again, I think the ending of 28 Days was particularly inspired.

[Kelverin]

The Bucket List (2007) - Decent if a little cheesy film about 2 men dying,

worth it to see Nicholson and Freeman working together. Some decent laughs.

 

 

 

No Country for Old Men (2007) - Still love this flick, although at the end it

fails.

 

 

 

 

"Lawrence of Arabia is an excellent film. It is a classic and,

since I care more about entertainment than the history of filmmaking

when I choose a film, I'll have to agree with Monte."

 

What is this an either or? Choose or DIE! It's possible to like and be entertained by both films

no? Citizen Kane is an excellent film if you don't think so good on you. Many people find Laserblast (1978)

to be a great movie, who am I to say it aint.

[Slowtrain]

Laserblast is a great movie.

[Kristen Wong]

-Australia

 

-Slumdog Millionaire

[Kelverin]

Laserblast is a great movie.

So you are one of the 108 that gave it a 10. I remember seeing this flick at the theater and paying money to see it

[Monte Carlo]

It's not as awesome as Hawk the Slayer.

[Kelverin]

Jack Palance FTW

[Monte Carlo]

All I can say is that the 'silly string' spell effect used by the sorcerer was a special movie history moment.

 

And the 'giant' was only about 5'9" tall.

 

Cheers

MC

[Shryke]

underworld 3

 

pretty cheesy

[Gorgon]

Yeah, I think they seriously overrated the back story's use for a whole movie. The others are pretty good.

Edited March 25, 2009 by Gorgon

[Calax]

underworld 3

 

pretty cheesy

yeah, I kinda expected that :D

[Shryke]

still, Bill Nighy is pretty badass for an old dude

[taks]

watched the end of saw IV last night. meh. each one seems to lose something from its predecessor. after the horrible scene with the chick in the pit full of syringes (i am afeared of needles), they simply can't do anything i find even remotely frightening. the required amount of suspension of disbelief has gotten to the point it just isn't worth watching them anymore.

 

taks

[Kor Qel Droma]

I just watched Misery with my girlfriend. I still cringe at the hobbling scene. And christ, what a psycho bitch!

[Musopticon?]

Watchmen.

 

 

 

Dude, dude.

 

I'll need like a week to get my thoughts right over this, but when all is said and done, I hope mr Moore gets to see it. Some tribute.

[Calax]

Watchmen.

 

 

 

Dude, dude.

 

I'll need like a week to get my thoughts right over this, but when all is said and done, I hope mr Moore gets to see it. Some tribute.

Moore won't ever watch anything based on his work. He's said several times in various interviews that he'll NEVER EVER watch a movie based upon his works

[Musopticon?]

I know.

 

But "times they are a-chaaanngggiiing!"

 

Anyhow.

[Aristes]

I thought that 28 Days later was a bit campy. My favorite part of the film, and the best acting, was the Major. I actually sympathized with the bastard, even in his attempt to let his "lads" rape the two women. He saw his enclave as the last bastion of humanity and he was determined to save it. He wasn't egotistical or determined to promote himself. He was preoccupied with keeping his unit safe and ensuring the survival of his species.

 

However, in terms of the acting, Smith did a most excellent job. The part after he meets with the other two survivors fell short of the beginning, but I buy into the very ending where the female survivor talks about Will Smith's character as the beginning of a legend.

 

The overall production value and the effects in 28 Days was inferior to Legend. The idea that the glowing red eyed zombies in 28 Days is better than the pasty white skinhead version in Legend is laughable. As a premise, the two were more closely related, but the presentation and the hastened urgency of establishing the premise in 28 Days reminds me more of a DM trying to get his players into the action quicker than a director taking the time to develop a story. I have no concern of nationality when I see a movie. I do think, however, that some of the scenes in 28 Days smacked of low budget, and that is offputting to me.

 

As far as Lawrence v. Citizen. I'm not suggesting that Lawrence is better and therefore Citizen is bad. I merely suggest that touting the innovation of the technical work sounds a bit hollow when discussing the entertainment value. I don't, however, discard the technical achievements. Those are important and it's only right to acknowledge them.

 

Finally, as someone who read the Watchmen graphic novel some 20 years ago, I can only say that I was pleased with the film. It is excellent in the same sort of disturbing and unsettling way as the novel, which I'm now inspired to purchase and re-read.

[Gorgon]

Howl no ugoku shiro, Howl's Moving Castle. Classical Japanese animation, not anime.

 

Very charming. I can recommend.

[Gorth]

-Australia

I still havent made my mind up whether I like that one or not...

 

Having recently seen Dark City, I think I might eventually get around to watch Sin City. I've had the DVD lying around gathering dust for a long time. Just to stick with that "Noir" feeling.

[Kelverin]

As far as Lawrence v. Citizen. I'm not suggesting that Lawrence is better and therefore Citizen is bad. I merely suggest that touting the innovation of the technical work sounds a bit hollow when discussing the entertainment value. I don't, however, discard the technical achievements. Those are important and it's only right to acknowledge them.

If someone would be interested in learning the history of Citizen Kane, studying up on William Randolph Hearst which the film is loosely(?) based would be a good start also there's a good HBO movie RKO 281 (1999) that charts the struggles Wells had to go through to get the film made. The movie involves 2 of the most important people of it's time period, thus it loses something with today's audience that are not familiar with the back history. It's fascinating to me at least.