Movie review thread...
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[quote name='Razbra' timestamp='1340869477' post='295151']<br />
Brits know its about well acted characters. Yanks think its about putting as many big names together as possible and hoping star power will ultimately make up for having no plot, enjoyable characters or point.<br />
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Yep agree 100%, no ego's to get in the way of great performances -
[quote name='dK' timestamp='1340866598' post='295146']<br />
Here is a question. Why do the British do such great ensemble movies and Holywood can't?<br />
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You mean, like Woody Allen and Robert Altman? American auteurs exist, they're out there (and fair enough, Altman is dead, but his imitators are out there). I get what you mean, but I don't completely buy it. There are loads of great independent American movies that cast well, and many bad ones that cast poorly, for any number of reasons, and big Hollywood studio movies are the same. They are in the business of making money, and if they can create a little art (and a lot of employment outsourced to NZ) in the process, all the better. Off the top of my head, the three biggest grossers of the past few years would be the Nolan Batman series, Avatar and Avengers, produced as massive blockbusters, their ensembles are not small, and I don't think those movies were poorly cast, in fact I think they were mostly inspired choices. OTOH there are plenty of occasions where you can see the transparency of movies constructed by agents and producers at a lunch table, like Coppola's Dracula, to take another example from memory, where a fairly good movie is ruined by the casting of a truly awful Keanu Reeves, without whom that movie probably never gets financed and made in the first place. -
[quote name='red terror' timestamp='1340903619' post='295169']<br />
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You mean, like Woody Allen and Robert Altman? American auteurs exist, they're out there (and fair enough, Altman is dead, but his imitators are out there). I get what you mean, but I don't completely buy it. There are loads of great independent American movies that cast well, and many bad ones that cast poorly, for any number of reasons, and big Hollywood studio movies are the same. They are in the business of making money, and if they can create a little art (and a lot of employment outsourced to NZ) in the process, all the better. Off the top of my head, the three biggest grossers of the past few years would be the Nolan Batman series, Avatar and Avengers, produced as massive blockbusters, their ensembles are not small, and I don't think those movies were poorly cast, in fact I think they were mostly inspired choices. OTOH there are plenty of occasions where you can see the transparency of movies constructed by agents and producers at a lunch table, like Coppola's Dracula, to take another example from memory, where a fairly good movie is ruined by the casting of a truly awful Keanu Reeves, without whom that movie probably never gets financed and made in the first place.<br />
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That is a bloody good call RT. I found myself nodding the whole way through that post. It's easy to remember monstrosities like NewYearsEve and forget about The Life Aquatic or Good Night and Good Luck. -
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looks cool -
I have watched 3 of the shittest movies of recent times recently. 2 "blockbusters" in Transformers-Dark of the Moon, and X-Men First Class, and the "remake" of Conan the Barbarian.<br />
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Transformers was utter gash. Michael Bay masturbating into a computer and spitting out a 2 hour special effects promo is just utter rubbish. And yet the least believable thing in the whole movie is that an utter weeny douche like Shia Lebouf can get a [i]second[/i] hot girlfriend (that Huntington-Whitely bird his fucking hot too).<br />
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X-Men First Class was a complete non event of a movie with an absence of plot, tension, or likeable characters. And i think i hate James McEvoy, the man is devoid of talent, or charisma, and his movies suck.<br />
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Conan the Barbarian was as expected, a big fat disappointment. I wish they would leave classic movies alone. This was a parody, and on a par with that terrible Kull the Conquerer movie that Kevin Sorbo did (despite obviously trying to be "darker"). It was a cartoon, with tits. Utter utter gash with no redeeming features (not even flashes of titty could save it).<br />
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I also watched "The Vow" with the wife. I am a simple man, and this movie was obviously not made with me in mind. The wife however, got everything she wanted out of it, a cry, a happy ending, and to perv on Channing Tatum.<br />
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Finally caught that Timberlake movie "In Time". The director and writer hates capitalism, and wealth inequality. A lot. It was interesting enough, but really all a bit pointless. -
I just watched Boogie Nights for the first time in several years. I've probably seen it 5 or 6 times now, and it gets better with repeat viewings. It's a sad, cautionary tale, of course. It's also a terrific comedy.<br />
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[quote name='mariner4life' timestamp='1341800254' post='296812']<br />
I have watched 3 of the shittest movies of recent times recently. 2 "blockbusters" in Transformers-Dark of the Moon, and X-Men First Class, and the "remake" of Conan the Barbarian.<br />
<br />
Transformers was utter gash. Michael Bay masturbating into a computer and spitting out a 2 hour special effects promo is just utter rubbish. And yet the least believable thing in the whole movie is that an utter weeny douche like Shia Lebouf can get a [i]second[/i] hot girlfriend (that Huntington-Whitely bird his fucking hot too).<br />
<br />
X-Men First Class was a complete non event of a movie with an absence of plot, tension, or likeable characters. And i think i hate James McEvoy, the man is devoid of talent, or charisma, and his movies suck.<br />
<br />
Conan the Barbarian was as expected, a big fat disappointment. I wish they would leave classic movies alone. This was a parody, and on a par with that terrible Kull the Conquerer movie that Kevin Sorbo did (despite obviously trying to be "darker"). It was a cartoon, with tits. Utter utter gash with no redeeming features (not even flashes of titty could save it).<br />
<br />
I also watched "The Vow" with the wife. I am a simple man, and this movie was obviously not made with me in mind. The wife however, got everything she wanted out of it, a cry, a happy ending, and to perv on Channing Tatum.<br />
<br />
Finally caught that Timberlake movie "In Time". The director and writer hates capitalism, and wealth inequality. A lot. It was interesting enough, but really all a bit pointless.<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Yes I recently viewed those 3 movies and must largely concur. I expected Transformers to be shit but Conan was farking terrible. That Jason Taumarangegteegegfe (or whatever his name is) was shït beyond belief. Didnt mind X-Men, but yes I have no idea how McEvoy is getting these roles. Must be the same people that cast Nick Stahl in Terminater 3. -
[quote name='red terror' timestamp='1341817087' post='296868']<br />
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I just watched Boogie Nights for the first time in several years. I've probably seen it 5 or 6 times now, and it gets better with repeat viewings. It's a sad, cautionary tale, of course. It's also a terrific comedy.<br />
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[media]
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The first half is hilarious, the second has its moments as well, but it gets pretty sad through the 3rd act. John C Reilly's character is fucking awesome, but there are a heap of good characters really. I hated it the first time i saw it, but it has grown on me. -
[quote name='Rancid Schnitzel' timestamp='1341838649' post='296936']<br />
Yes I recently viewed those 3 movies and must largely concur. I expected Transformers to be shit but Conan was farking terrible. That Jason Taumarangegteegegfe (or whatever his name is) was shït beyond belief. Didnt mind X-Men, but yes I have no idea how McEvoy is getting these roles. Must be the same people that cast Nick Stahl in Terminater 3.<br />
[/quote]<br />
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I thought it was simply because they were trying to do the casting of Xavier with a similar but younger 'serious' actor in the same way as Ewen MacGregor was cast as Obi Wan -
James McEvoy is a serious actor? Have you seen "Wanted"? (if you haven't, don't)
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[quote name='mariner4life' timestamp='1341878769' post='297014']James McEvoy is a serious actor? Have you seen "Wanted"? (if you haven't, don't)[/quote]<br />
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Sadly, I have. He made his name in some serious roles though didn't he? I seem to remember early talk of him being the next big thing. -
Well, he was Mr Tumnus in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" does that count? It's cause he is English, innit? But i guess with roles like "Atonement" and "The Last King of Scotland" he did establish himself as a dramatic actor first.
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[quote name='Crucial' timestamp='1341881379' post='297019']<br />
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Sadly, I have. He made his name in some serious roles though didn't he? I seem to remember early talk of him being the next big thing.<br />
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He got his break in the Brit comedy series shameless I thought? Thought he was good in the Last King of Scotland. -
[quote name='Crucial' timestamp='1341878174' post='297008']<br />
I thought it was simply because they were trying to do the casting of Xavier with a similar but younger 'serious' actor in the same way as Ewen MacGregor was cast as Obi Wan<br />
[/quote]<br />
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The difference of course is that MacGregor is a fine actor and at least believable as an action star. McEvoy was good in King of Scotland and would probably be right at home in period dramas and as a drug addict but he is not and will never be an action star. -
watched a bunch of movies on the plane...so were through slightly sleep deprived and alcohol hazed eyes....<br />
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friends with kids - a few giggles (cos they are true) but predictable and average<br />
Hunger Games - teenage Version of Running Man...was ok, only cos I think the storyline is decent enough<br />
The Best exotic Marigold HOtel - seemed pretty decent film, some decent laughs, I will need to watch again as my kids annoyed the hell out of me while trying to watch this one so it took me 3.5 hours to watch the 2 hour film! But looked good in what I saw...<br />
Salmon Fishing in Yemen - thought this was very good! Some good laughs although the predictable ending let it down a bit<br />
Rampart - pretty decent action flick with Woody Harrelson as a hard arse dirty cop<br />
This means war - predictable rom-com with Reese Witherspoon<br />
Started watching Wraith of the Titans, didnt really grab me, but I think even if it is an average film, it needs to be watched on a slightly bigger screen...<br />
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I did watch others, but none worth mentioing...ended up watching alot of Big Bang and Billy T re-runs to fill in time given I slept for 1 hour in 2 26 hour travel periods... -
Iron Sky - At the end of the War, some Nazi's landed on the moon, where they have lived without detection on the 'Dark side of the Moon'. Now, they want to take over the world. Was ok (5.9/10) short enough not to be a problem, could probably have been better.<br />
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American Pie, The Reunion - Typical American Pie humour, if you like it, you'll enjoy some laughs, if not, don't bother.
