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Post by tenebrae99 on Jan 10, 2010 20:57:41 GMT -5
Avatar (IMAX 3D version)
Take 1 cup of Dances with Wolves, 1 cup of Aliens, and a heaping tablespoon of Ferngully. In the hands of a lesser chef, you've got the makings of quite the stinky shit souffle.
Thank God James Cameron came back to the kitchen, eh?
No, there's really nothing new storywise here: guy poses as alien to initially infiltrate and spy on them but soon realizes theirs is a great, unique culture that should be defended. What makes Avatar's story work is how it's told. Cameron wisely avoids lengthy monologues on how we humans destroy environments and how fantastic other cultures are -- no "Colors of the Wind" here, folks -- and just shows us. Nor does the alien world get portrayed as a perfect paradise. For all the beauty and splendor, there's plenty of danger and violence. (Trust me, it's no accident whatsoever the planet is called Pandora.)
I'll admit I'm no staunch environmentalist by any stretch, and Avatar hasn't changed my mind. But the fact that Cameron trusts the visuals to win you over to his side is something much more welcome than a ton of soapboxing.
And those visuals? BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL! It's plenty alien and exotic, but it's also grounded in just enough reality to make it a believeable world. You also have some great creatures, the amazing vehicles (including those battlesuits seen in the commercials), and especially our stars, the Na'avi. These ten-foot-high blue aliens make the motion capture for Gollum look like an Etch-a-Sketch drawing.
Now, lest you think it's all pretty scenery and messages, Avatar has plenty of terrific action sequences, the best being the film's final act. The final showdown between the Na'avi and the greedy humans is pretty much the new standard, and it even includes sly references to two earlier Cameron movies (think missles and alien versus human in machine).
Finally, the 3D effects are impressive not so much for what they do as for what they don't do. It's not just about poking something at the screen (you do get a few shots like that, though). Instead, it's about putting you into this world, and it succeeds. Sometimes, you have to train your eyes to not fight the camera. Focus on, say, something in the background and you might get a little disoriented. Just follow along where the camera goes and be amazed.
So, Avatar may not be the most groundbreaking story ever. But as far as storytelling goes, it's definitely up there. A lot of movies claim to be needed to be seen on the big screen, but this is one of the few that lives up to that claim. It's big-budget spectacle in the best sense.
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Post by Fromage on Jan 11, 2010 11:23:05 GMT -5
Avatar (IMAX 3D version) Take 1 cup of Dances with Wolves, 1 cup of Aliens, and a heaping tablespoon of Ferngully. In the hands of a lesser chef, you've got the makings of quite the stinky shit souffle. Thank God James Cameron came back to the kitchen, eh? No, there's really nothing new storywise here: guy poses as alien to initially infiltrate and spy on them but soon realizes theirs is a great, unique culture that should be defended. What makes Avatar's story work is how it's told. Cameron wisely avoids lengthy monologues on how we humans destroy environments and how fantastic other cultures are -- no "Colors of the Wind" here, folks -- and just shows us. Nor does the alien world get portrayed as a perfect paradise. For all the beauty and splendor, there's plenty of danger and violence. (Trust me, it's no accident whatsoever the planet is called Pandora.) I'll admit I'm no staunch environmentalist by any stretch, and Avatar hasn't changed my mind. But the fact that Cameron trusts the visuals to win you over to his side is something much more welcome than a ton of soapboxing. And those visuals? BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL! It's plenty alien and exotic, but it's also grounded in just enough reality to make it a believeable world. You also have some great creatures, the amazing vehicles (including those battlesuits seen in the commercials), and especially our stars, the Na'avi. These ten-foot-high blue aliens make the motion capture for Gollum look like an Etch-a-Sketch drawing. Now, lest you think it's all pretty scenery and messages, Avatar has plenty of terrific action sequences, the best being the film's final act. The final showdown between the Na'avi and the greedy humans is pretty much the new standard, and it even includes sly references to two earlier Cameron movies (think missles and alien versus human in machine). Finally, the 3D effects are impressive not so much for what they do as for what they don't do. It's not just about poking something at the screen (you do get a few shots like that, though). Instead, it's about putting you into this world, and it succeeds. Sometimes, you have to train your eyes to not fight the camera. Focus on, say, something in the background and you might get a little disoriented. Just follow along where the camera goes and be amazed. So, Avatar may not be the most groundbreaking story ever. But as far as storytelling goes, it's definitely up there. A lot of movies claim to be needed to be seen on the big screen, but this is one of the few that lives up to that claim. It's big-budget spectacle in the best sense. Je n'ai pas aime ce film.
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Post by Miss Dee on Jan 16, 2010 23:16:25 GMT -5
Karla (2006)
Laura Prepon (Donna from That 70's Show) as an accomplice to a serial rapist and murderer! A slightly disturbing film. I watched it on Lifetime so it was edited for content, most likely more disturbing uncut.
Interesting presentation of a true story. Prepon was fairly emotionless throughout but that played into the characterization of Karla as remorseless. The guy who was her husband was a convincing slimy jagoff.
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asshat
Slasher
Erin Go Bragh, y'all.
Posts: 1,388
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Post by asshat on Jan 20, 2010 22:22:43 GMT -5
The Soloist
7/10 - Foxx and Downey were top-flight, the story is poignant, but there was something about the editing that rubbed me the wrong way. Foxx pulled off one of the most fully-realized, unexaggerated, and above all believable portrayals of dissociative personality disorder or schizophrenia I've ever seen. Downey did what Downey does, but with a bit more seriousness this time through. His characters are always him to some degree, and this was no different. Elements of his performance are quite affecting, but every once in a while I saw a little Weird Science peek out...
Overall, worth seeing.
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Joe
Victim
I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on the drum all day.
Posts: 540
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Post by Joe on Jan 21, 2010 19:15:06 GMT -5
I liked The Soloist, too. That & The Blind Side were the last 2 movies I saw in theatres. Both very good.
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Post by babushka on Jan 23, 2010 8:31:36 GMT -5
We rented "The Invention of Lying" yesterday. It had some funniness, but the premise of not being able to lie was applied inconsistently to the dialogue. It wasn't so much not lying- as just blurting out rude things- which is sometimes funny. I didn't know much about it, and didn't know it was going to get all metaphysical, yet somehow it turned out to be a rather prosaic romantic comedy on top of all of that.
I thought it could have used more Louis CK.
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Post by bradster on Jan 23, 2010 12:14:51 GMT -5
Avatar (IMAX 3D version) Take 1 cup of Dances with Wolves, 1 cup of Aliens, and a heaping tablespoon of Ferngully. In the hands of a lesser chef, you've got the makings of quite the stinky shit souffle. yeah, that's pretty much what my dad said after he saw it, though not in so many words...haha. i thought it was good but not excellent. the effects and 3D are superb. i don't know if it was the theater or the movie but the 3D is the best i've seen thus far. as far as the story goes though, typical and average. very predictable but i'm not holding that against it because movies like this don't exactly try to be twisty which i feel is a good thing. worth seeing in a theater but not so much as a rental.
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Post by bradster on Jan 23, 2010 12:17:36 GMT -5
The Soloist 7/10 - Foxx and Downey were top-flight, the story is poignant, but there was something about the editing that rubbed me the wrong way. Foxx pulled off one of the most fully-realized, unexaggerated, and above all believable portrayals of dissociative personality disorder or schizophrenia I've ever seen. Downey did what Downey does, but with a bit more seriousness this time through. His characters are always him to some degree, and this was no different. Elements of his performance are quite affecting, but every once in a while I saw a little Weird Science peek out... Overall, worth seeing. i agree. definitely worth a gander but not as inspirational as i expected it to be. i came away feeling it was a little flat. no pun intented.
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Post by Almeda J. Becker on Jan 29, 2010 15:10:58 GMT -5
Watched a movie call Viva the other night. An homage to/parody of 70s sexploitation flicks about an abandoned housewife pursuing her inner sex goddess. Kind of like John Waters meets Russ Meyers without the shock value and the 300 pound tranny. Entertaining as hell! Produced, written, directed by and starring Anna Biller, who also designed the sets, costumes and props, did the animations, and wrote some of the songs! Whew! Rachel would dig this one, I think. I give 4 out of 5.
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SJ782
Victim
Suffering from Cranial Rectosis
Posts: 963
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Post by SJ782 on Feb 26, 2010 23:45:05 GMT -5
Toxic Avenger. This will always be a classic. I found it on HULU a little bit ago. Hadn't seen it in way over 20 years.
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SJ782
Victim
Suffering from Cranial Rectosis
Posts: 963
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Post by SJ782 on Apr 10, 2010 10:01:57 GMT -5
Interview with the Assassin. This is about a guy who claimed to be the second assassin of JFK. In his eyes, he was the main shooter and Oswald was just a flunky. The movie seems to be just a fantasy. He was also a Marine sniper. The scary part of this, for me, was that he reminded me of a roommate I used to have. ( One of the people from my past that I make a point of avoiding.) Same kind of paranoia, same kind of ginchiness, same attitude, only Ray ( roommate ) was an Outlaw. I saw it on HULU on the Horror and Suspense channel.
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Post by terry on Apr 27, 2010 1:26:24 GMT -5
HANCOCK-2008
I'm not sure why I didn't see this sooner. Maybe the idea of Will Smith as a super-hero didn't make much of an impression, but this was an entertaining film. For those of you who are curious, Smith plays the character Hancock- a super-powered being, who has no idea who he is or where he came from. All he know is that he woke up in a hospital, 80 years ago, and that he's indestructable....he's also very alone, in the world. Hancock completely lacks any social grace, but will save the day if needed. He saves a guy from getting run over from a train, who befriends him and gradually changes his outlook on things. Decent amount of action, very funny in parts, and a plot twist I absolutely loved.
Rating scale 4/5
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Post by terry on Apr 30, 2010 5:42:30 GMT -5
ROYAL WARRIORS-1986
Here's one the better Hong Kong action films, from the 80's. Lovely Michelle Yeoh plays a HK police inspector, who becomes the target, of a group of bad guys. At various points, the film shows some flashbacks of a quartet of soldiers, who make a pact, to always stick together. Michelle kills one of them-(and rightfully so)- which causes the others to come after her. Nice mix of gunplay and martial arts. The action scenes are at times, quite spectacular. Actor's doing there own stunts in real-time, nicely edited, without over-using slow motion shots.
A great movie, for Michelle Yeoh fans. I can't say that I've ever seen a better female martial artist-(but a few just as good.) Too bad Michelle didn't get her break in American films, until she was in her 40's-(Tomorror Never Dies, Mummy 3, Babylon AD,ect..)
My rating 4/5 just for the action.
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Post by terry on Apr 30, 2010 6:18:48 GMT -5
SYNGENOR-1990
This is what you call a "sort-of-a-sequel" to the film SCARED TO DEATH-1981. The Syngenor monster from Scared To Dearth is back, but there is no reference to the previous film. An evil coporation, headed by David Gale-(remember him in RE-ANIMATOR?) is developing a new type of soldier, that can withstand almost anything. The SYNGENOR is the soldier of the future, and it's locked up in the company basement...but not for long. A couple of greedy corporate types, decide they want to see thier monster in action, and lure the company PR director-(and two drunk bimbos)- to the basement. The Syngenor does not fail to impress, and goes the extra mile, by escaping the building, so it can find and kill it's creator. The daughter of the scientist, who was killed, teams up with a reporter, to uncover the corporation's secret.
Hmmm...I've sat through better "guy-in-monster-suit" films, but this one is watchable. David Gale deilvers a crazed, over the top performance. Nice little role for Melanie Shatner-(Capt. Kirk's daughter) as young receptionist. I owned the VHS of this, before buying the Synapse disc. Recommened if you're already into this sort of schlock.
My rating 2/5
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Post by Almeda J. Becker on Apr 30, 2010 11:00:10 GMT -5
ROYAL WARRIORS-1986 Here's one the better Hong Kong action films, from the 80's. Lovely Michelle Yeoh plays a HK police inspector, who becomes the target, of a group of bad guys. At various points, the film shows some flashbacks of a quartet of soldiers, who make a pact, to always stick together. Michelle kills one of them-(and rightfully so)- which causes the others to come after her. Nice mix of gunplay and martial arts. The action scenes are at times, quite spectacular. Actor's doing there own stunts in real-time, nicely edited, without over-using slow motion shots. A great movie, for Michelle Yeoh fans. I can't say that I've ever seen a better female martial artist-(but a few just as good.) Too bad Michelle didn't get her break in American films, until she was in her 40's-(Tomorror Never Dies, Mummy 3, Babylon AD,ect..) My rating 4/5 just for the action. Thanks for the tip. I could spend 90 minutes watching Michelle Yeoh do anything...read a book, eat a sandwich, laundry....whatever.
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