What's spinning in your DVD PLAYER? eh? eh? General Movie Discussion

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by rmacomic

In that case why didn't Star War win best Everything.

Maybe there needs to be a new category, Best unoriginal thing with neato special effects. That's too wordy.... How about Best Event Movie?

So should remakes and stories based heavily on books also not be eligible? They are also not original.

[rmacomic]

Originally Posted by jthig32

So should remakes and stories based heavily on books also not be eligible? They are also not original.

Still upset about the Avatar thing? Ok, let's say it doesn't matter if a movie is original, lets say it doesn't matter how bad the acting is, or how corny the dialog. Lets just go with your qualifier of Entertaining. After an hour and a half I was looking for the exit, (in 3-D no less). I wasn't entertained. I didn't like the special effects and, as that is all that matters in this case, the movie failed for me. I thought the special effects weren't cool or worth the 15 bucks. I thought they were gaaaaaayyyy. I didn't like Avatar. And I don't get why Avatar fanboys, (not saying you are one) get so damn defensive about their movie. If I don't like a movie, I don't like it. If I don't like it because I'm not getting the story I will let someone try to talk me into a different opinion, or at least watching it again. I got the story in Avatar, I didn't like the story and the special effects didn't make up for it.

I don't want to have to just look at the special effects and ignore everything else to enjoy a movie. Thats like saying, don't read this book just look at the pretty illustrations.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux

As much as one would think, no. That was "I am Sam".


I do agree with Thig about Avatar. Whether the plot was original is actually neither here nor there. It is a movie EVENT.

I Am Sam was highly overrated.

[Big Boy Laroux]

ha ha! 92dad knows us too well! His endorsement is the kiss of death!

[jthig32]

I'm not upset about it, I just hear your original statement about it a lot and it doesn't make much sense to me.

I have no issue with you not liking it, and am perfectly happy to accept someone's subjective view on a movie (except Shawshank...you don't like Shawshank, we fight to the death). Just wanted to pick your brain on your concept of originality.

[Thespiralgoeson]

I liked Avatar. That's my contribution for the night.

[LonghornDub]

I didn't like Avatar but I don't care if movies are "original" or not. I just thought it was cheesy as hell. If it doesn't win just about every technical award, though, it'd be a real surprise.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

My problem with Avatar is that it thinks it's deeper than it really is. If it was some mindless 300 mil dollar action flick like Transformers, then I might not care as much. But a sickeningly low concept pro environment movie featuring ugly nosed blue aliens doesn't really interest me. If you make a box of crap look great in 3D, then I could care less because it is still a box of crap.

[92bDad]

Okay, so here's some movies in my DVD player...so far I've watched two of them.

*Public Enemies - cool movie...really enjoyed this one.
*District 9 - at first I didn't care for it...skipped through some of it, but watched the last 40 minutes and actually wound up enjoying it.

Still to see:

*The Code (Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas)
*Hannibal Rising - looks interesting...might watch it later today
*The Stone Merchant (Harvey Keitel
*Kill Shot (Diane Lane & Mickey Rourke)

And I've got a copy of Animal House sitting by the DVD player...thinking about re-watching that for the who knows how many times...something about having the Wife and both sons in college that brings out the best of Animal House!!!

[GermanDunk]

*Hannibal Rising - looks interesting...might watch it later today

This is the worst movie i have ever watched at the theater.

[92bDad]

So I just watched "Hanibal Rising"

Pretty cool movie...was worth watching.

I enjoyed the building of the character...the indepth background.

I found this very entertaining. But then again, I enjoy the "Why" behind characters...

In this case Hanibal is not just a monster, but something happened to make him what he is.

I'll have to watch it again to see where it ranks...but first impression was very positive.

[ShaggyDirk]

I think it would be more advantageous to utilize the tag feature on specific posts...my first tag would be "I wanna wretch"

[CadBane]

Avatar is a horribly mediocre movie. It's an absolute SHAM that it has gotten so many awards and nominations. Absolutely laughable. IMO, the Oscar nods for "Best Film" should have been, in no order:

Hurt Locker
Up
Up in the Air
Moon (I know it came out early, but a travesty, absolute travesty is has not gotten any noms).
Basterds
A Simple Man
Crazy Heart
Precious
An Education
Fantastic Mr. Fox

[92bDad]

Originally Posted by CadBane

Avatar is a horribly mediocre movie. It's an absolute SHAM that it has gotten so many awards and nominations. Absolutely laughable. IMO, the Oscar nods for "Best Film" should have been, in no order:

Hurt Locker
Up
Up in the Air
Moon (I know it came out early, but a travesty, absolute travesty is has not gotten any noms).
Basterds
A Simple Man
Crazy Heart
Precious
An Education
Fantastic Mr. Fox

Holy cow, I haven't seen a single one of these. The only one that I've actually heard of without doing a search to be reminded is "Up in the Air"

Usually, they have movies I've heard of...maybe it's too much time on D-M boards...I've lost touch with movies or something.

[GermanDunk]

Today is the world premiere of the renovated version of Fritz Lang´s famous science ficition movie METROPOLIS ( 1927 ).
2008 an original but partly damaged copy of the film was located at the Museo del Cine in Argentina, so the guys could restore the original version of 147 minutes length.

It will be rolling today at the 60th Berlinale and simultanously at the Alte Oper Frankfurt.
So, you might think this GD´s post is not that exciting for citizens of the United States ? Not at all. The film will also be shown on broadcaster "arte" and users of

http://www.onlinetvrecorder.com

can record it ( arte - Start is 2040 ).

I´m using this service since a few years and it works very well. It´s free and easy to handle, so you can give it a shot.
The main US stations are available, too.
I will record it and it will stay in my box for about two weeks. So, if you are a science fiction fan, not able to register in time or something else and if you don´t want to miss it, you can pm me and request the download.

[Big Boy Laroux]

I agree. I was being sarcastic. That movie exists just so people can fawn over Penn for obvious Oscar pandering.

[Five-ofan]

percy jackson and the olympians the lightning thief. Really enjoyable movie. If you watch the kid books movies(Chronicles of narnia, harry potter, His dark materials and so forth) this is a very good movie. Honestly if you take out the fantastic score from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Id take this over Hp and the SS.(I love greek mythology though)

[nikeball]

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

percy jackson and the olympians the lightning thief. Really enjoyable movie. If you watch the kid books movies(Chronicles of narnia, harry potter, His dark materials and so forth) this is a very good movie. Honestly if you take out the fantastic score from Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Id take this over Hp and the SS.(I love greek mythology though)

Some parts of the movie were ridiculous... like finding a pearl at the casino roulette table. I like those other movies you mentioned but... c'mon.


Percy - 2 out of 5 stars.
Wolfman - 2 out of 5 stars.

Up in the Air - I mean this movie was ok, but did not live up to the hype. 3 out of 5.

Moon - 4 out of 5. This movie was freaky in some points but the plot was pretty easy to figure out ...

[bernardos70]

Law Abiding Citizen was quite entertaining.

[Murphy3]

If you have read the first Percy Jackson book, then you would probably think the movie was absolutely terrible.

[GermanDunk]

Can anyone confirm that Paranormal activity is available with an alternative ending ?

[Windmill360]

It is and it's better than the original ending IMO.

[GermanDunk]

OK, depends on which ending was shown in the US - i go with the creepier one.

[bernardos70]

That's a great movie BTW.

[GermanDunk]

I watched Nord ( North? ) recently. It´s a fun movie about a divorced man who wants to visit his son in the very northern part of Norway.
Accidently he lights the valley-station of the ski piste where he works. With no money and truckloads of problems he starts travelling through the picturesque landscape of Norway on his snowmobil. The main problem is that he has only got one can of schnaps ( 0:55 original trailer ) available...

[ShaggyDirk]

Shutter Island this weekend at some point.

[CadBane]

Shutter Island was great.

[Just211]

Law abiding citizen is good...

And if you like some crude humor, and just plain some funny guy sh!t, watch 'I hope they serve beer in hell' good stuff

[MavsX]

Originally Posted by Just211

Law abiding citizen is good...

And if you like some crude humor, and just plain some funny guy sh!t, watch 'I hope they serve beer in hell' good stuff

i read that book a few years ago. awesome books. i never laughed so much during that week when i read it.

[bernardos70]

Shutter Island was a bore until 3/4 of the way til the end. But the end (almost) redeemed the movie.

I started but haven't finished watching (due to time constraints) The Invention of Lying, and so far, it is very good.

[sike]

kiss, kiss, bang, bang. VERY funny. Especially if you like Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer...

very dark, very R rated, very confusing. But pretty good.

[ShaggyDirk]

I have contemplated starting a thread for this but like The Wire, you appreciate it in the confines of your home and let the chips fall where they may...Anyway, "here... we... go"

March 15

The Pacific

First Reveiw

Bottom Line: As sensitive and realistic a portrait of American combat in the Pacific as you ever will see.
Having created "Band of Brothers," the masterful 2001 miniseries that followed Easy Company from its training in Georgia through the D-Day invasion and until the end of the war, exec producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg decided to balance the equation with a mini set in the Pacific theater.

The result is "The Pacific," also 10 parts but in some ways as different in its approach to the material as the jungle warfare of the Pacific was from the more conventional fighting in Europe. Both miniseries are infused with raw, powerful stories of personal triumph and adversity, but "Pacific" feels more random and more contained. Each episode is so completely built on discreet incidents that a strong case can be made for calling this a limited series.

But call it what you will, it is a gem of a production and would be a highlight of any TV season. "Pacific," in its totality, conveys a sense of the combat experience that is as complete and realistic as any work of film could be. From the harrowing nighttime battles with a deadly but invisible enemy to the sheer misery of the punishing jungle climate to the macho posturing of the young American fighters, "Pacific" omits nothing.

Where "Band of Brothers" adapted Stephen Ambrose's saga of a single unit, "Pacific" melds the memories of three authors: Robert Leckie, Eugene B. Sledge and Chuck Tatum. Leckie and Sledge become two of the three principal characters; the third is John Basilone. During the course of the war, the paths of these three Marines cross, but each has his own circle of friends and unique set of circumstances.

Leckie (James Badge Dale), an aspiring journalist, is the most introspective of the bunch. Sledge (Joe Mazzello), initially kept out of the Marines by a heart murmur, enlists later and soon is plunged into combat unlike anything he could have imagined. Basilone's instant act of bravery gets him recast as public hero and a spokesman for the sale of war bonds.

His collision with celebrity and glamour gives some relief from the constant hell of fighting and preparing for battle. However, it also stands out as perhaps the only contrived element in a work of otherwise unflinching honesty.

In an opening scene, a Marine officer lectures his new enlistees: "Whenever this war is over, when we have swept upon the main islands of Japan and destroyed every scrap of that empire, the strategy will have been that of others, but the victory will have been won by you." That speech, and the occasional use of maps to toggle between acts, is as close as "Pacific" gets to a comprehensive overview of the fighting. This is intentional. The idea is to present the war from the vantage point of the Marines who deployed where they were told, rested when they could and then fought somewhere else.

In that confined space, writer Bruce C. McKenna finds a world of drama, including the Marines' anxiety about the unknown, their tugs of instant passion, their acceptance of barbaric warfare and, above all else, their painful and unexpected confrontations with their own mortality.

Praiseworthy performances are so abundant that it might be unfair to single out any one actor. That said, it would be hard not to take special note of Dale's work as Leckie, perhaps the most pivotal role because of the insight the character brings to so many situations. Not once does Dale falter.

Special effects are outstanding and convincing. Watch for "Pacific" to dominate every Emmy category for which it is eligible. Better still, just watch it.

Airdate: 9-10 p.m. Sundays, March 14-May 16 (HBO)
Production: A Playtone and DreamWorks Production in association with HBO Miniseries
Cast: James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello, Jon Seda, Jon Bernthal, Joshua Bitton, Tom Budge, Linda Cropper, Caroline Dhavernas, Josh Helman, Ashton Holmes, Toby Leonard Moore, Keith Nobbs, Jacob Pitts
Executive producers: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Gary Goetzman
Co-executive producers: Tony To, Graham Yost, Eugene Kelly, Bruce C. McKenna
Producers: Cherylanne Martin, Todd London, Steven Shareshian
Supervising producer/director: Tim Van Patten
Co-producers: Robert Schenkkan, George Pelecanos, Miura Kite, Kirk Saduski
Writer: Bruce C. McKenna
Director of photography: Remi Adefarasin
Production designer: Anthony Pratt
Editor: Edward A. Warschilka
Music: Hans Zimmer, Blake Neely, Geoff Zanelli
Costumes: Penny Rose
Casting: Meg Liberman, Cami Patton, Christine King

[MavsX]

hurt locker was pretty good...

[Five-ofan]

Ive been watching jericho season 1 on dvd. had never seen it before but picked it up because it was $4 at blockbuster(5 for 20 deal). Very enjoyable series so far, im through 16 episodes.

[Flacolaco]

I'd like to speak for people with extreme right (or left) eye dominance all over when I say: Thank god a movie released in 3D didn't win best picture.

I've never really heard of the movie that did win, but I'm just glad on principal that the movie I can't go see because the 3D doesn't work for my messed up eyes didn't win. The 3D phenomenon is off putting.

[jthig32]

Avatar was completely enjoyable in non-3D.

However, The Hurt Locker was VERY deserving. Extremely good movie.

[Flacolaco]

See....I've had people tell me not even bother seeing it in 2D.

Bleah. I feel like I have a disability now that mainstream movies (not just "kid" movies) are being presented in 3d. It just doesn't work for me.

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

See....I've had people tell me not even bother seeing it in 2D.

Bleah. I feel like I have a disability now that mainstream movies (not just "kid" movies) are being presented in 3d. It just doesn't work for me.

I was astonished the 3D effects are working for me as a guy seeing nearly nothing on one side. But this is useless, because Avatar itself is pretty boring actually due to its poor plot. Just nicely animated pictures and decent effects kept me from leaving the theater.
On the other hand i was very sorry that i had to leave Final Destination Pt. 34.
The story is absolute crap, but the 3D effects are amazing.

[jthig32]

I'd love to hear those people's reasoning. People do realize that all the technologies the movie pioneered are not limited to 3D technology, right? I actually thought the 3D took away a bit from the amazing motion capture, and from the overall color of the movie.

[Big Boy Laroux]

i was wondering what was up with this moment:

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/m...udence_burkett