Author Topic: Movies you've seen lately (Read 591351 times)

Deozaan · « **Reply #25 on:** May 08, 2013, 02:14 AM »

I recently watched the entire Twilight series for the first time (I had previously seen the first movie, but none of the others).

None of them were that great, but Breaking Dawn Part 1 was possibly one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I thought Part 2 was fairly decent, but maybe that's because I had just seen Part 1 and almost anything would seem amazing compared to that. . .

mahesh2k · « **Reply #26 on:** May 28, 2013, 05:18 AM »

Seen these movies :

1. SInister (2012)
2. Batman Dark Knight Returns 2 (2012 animation)
3. Insidious (2011)
4. Mama (2013)
5. Dark Skies (2013)
6. Dredd 2012
7. Lost Highway (1997)

zridling · « **Reply #27 on:** May 28, 2013, 06:16 AM »

Cloud Atlas (2012)
The message is great, but the method is not, bouncing back and forth among six stories. Most of the movie the cast is in horrible rubber masks and heavy makeup to make them look old or weird and that alone is distracting for three hours. But sometimes they will stick with a story line for only a few seconds before bouncing to the next one taking place 150 years earlier. More aggravating than entertaining.

Jack Reacher (2012)
Tom Cruise plays yet another unbelievable super man/hero where he beats up five guys with his pinkie and spits bullets. It was okay because I like Cruise, but man, the dude is getting long in the tooth to play these roles. This is the only movie Cruise has ever played where he didn't have an extended running scene!

Out of the Past (1947)
Very fine film that the 1984 Against All Odds was a remake, but not entirely true to the original. Had several of the same cast members between both, though. Kirk Douglas in his second film and he was good. Mitchum smoked a lot and got his deaf and dumb employee to kill the bad guys. Mitchum got the girl in the end, but the wrong one! Jane Greer never looked better here.

Macao (1952)
Robert Mitchum at his best, lighting a cigarette every 16 seconds. And then there's Jane Russell in that white dress. Your jaw will hit the floor when you see it. The movie ended quickly, but Jane Russell was too hot even for Hollywood. Even her fellow actors couldn't help but turn their heads and go, "OH. MY. GAWD!"

mouser · « **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2013, 08:08 AM »

I nominate Zaine to be the official full-time DonationCoder.com movie reviewer.

barney · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2013, 12:06 PM »

I nominate Zaine to be the official full-time DonationCoder.com movie reviewer.
-mouser (May 28, 2013, 08:08 AM)

Seconded!

40hz · « **Reply #30 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:14 PM »

I nominate Zaine to be the official full-time DonationCoder.com movie reviewer.
-mouser (May 28, 2013, 08:08 AM)
Seconded!
-barney (May 28, 2013, 12:06 PM)

Agree! I say: Do it.

40hz · « **Reply #31 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:20 AM »

Just finished watching a small budget quasi-horror flick called YellowBrickRoad.

Movies you've seen lately

It had an intriguing premise:

One Morning in New England, 1940, the entire population of Friar New Hampshire - 572 people - walked together up a winding mountain trail and into the wilderness. They left behind their clothes, their money, all of their essentials. Even their dogs were abandoned, tied to posts and left to starve. No One knows why. A search party dispatched by the U.S. Army eventually discovered the remains of nearly 300 of Friar's evacuees. Many had frozen to death. Others were cruelly and mysteriously slaughtered. The bodies of the remaining citizens are still unaccounted for. Over the years, a quiet cover-up operation managed to weave the story of Friar into the stuff of legends and backwoods fairy tales. The town has slowly repopulated, but the vast wilderness is mostly untracked, with the northern-most stretches off limits to local hunters and loggers. In 2008, the coordinates for the "YELLOWBRICKROAD" trail head were declassified. The first official expedition into a dark and twisted wilderness will attempt to solve the mystery of the lost citizens of Friar...and reach the end of the trail. Written by Andy Mitton and Jesse Holland

Unfortunately, it didn't live up to its potential. For openers, unless I had read the above synopsis, I wouldn't have been aware of half the details in it because the film glossed over most of them. Especially the military cover-up part which is almost completely absent except for an extremely brief allusion or two in the first 15 minutes of the film.

Some people have read some of H.P. Lovecraft's elements into the movie. Which was what got me interested initially. But as a Lovecraft fan, I can't really find many HPL influences in it other than the film's employment of a New England setting where weird and unexplainable things had occurred. Those who have compared it to some of Lovecraft's stories like The Dunwich Horror or The Colour Out of Space either never actually read them - or have a far better ability to see thematic influences (that aren't there) than I do.

A very so-so movie. Not really that bad - as long as you don't expect too much - and have an hour and forty-something minutes to kill like I did.

I'd give it a 4 on a scale of 10.

Next up will be The Corridor. Maybe tomorrow night.

4wd · « **Reply #32 on:** May 30, 2013, 01:22 AM »

I'd give it a 4 on a scale of 10.
-40hz (May 30, 2013, 12:20 AM)

A bit too generous, I'd go for 3.

Next up will be The Corridor.

Was an interesting idea but, for me anyway, pretty forgettable.

Watched Banlieue 13 the other night starring David Belle, one of the developers of Parkour^w.

MV5BMTA4NTk2OTc0NDBeQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDU0ODgyMzE@._V1_SX214_.jpg

MV5BMTA4NTk2OTc0NDBeQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDU0ODgyMzE@._V1_SX214_.jpg

Last night was Gin gwai 2.

MV5BMTMzODY5MzY1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzc5MTAzMQ@@._V1_SX214_.jpg

40hz · « **Reply #33 on:** May 30, 2013, 09:08 AM »

I'd give it a 4 on a scale of 10.
-40hz (May 30, 2013, 12:20 AM)

A bit too generous, I'd go for 3.

-4wd (May 30, 2013, 01:22 AM)

You're probably right. I was originally going to opt to give it a 3. But I threw in an extra point because the cast made such an extraordinary effort to wring at least some drama out of so little a script. Something the female characters IMO did much better than the guys in this film.

(Oh yeah...and that The Shining/Twin Peaks influenced twist "ending" was totally bogus. $:-\$ )

wraith808 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 30, 2013, 10:09 AM »

Watched Banlieue 13 the other night starring David Belle, one of the developers of Parkour^w.
-4wd (May 30, 2013, 01:22 AM)

Great movie! District B13 for anyone looking for it in the states. D13:U was as usual a cash grab, but even though it suffered in comparison, it's still worth a look aslo.

40hz · « **Reply #35 on:** May 30, 2013, 02:35 PM »

Watched Banlieue 13 the other night starring David Belle, one of the developers of Parkour^w.
-4wd (May 30, 2013, 01:22 AM)

That's a fun movie. Great performances by David Belle, Dany Verissimo-Petit (this waif can out punk Joan Jett!), and especially Dominique Dorol as arch-villian Taha. L

I especially loved the funny scene where Taha asks his henchmen if anybody has any ideas, and when none are forthcoming, begins shooting them one by one until a gang member by the name of K2 desperately comes up with a suggestion.

4wd · « **Reply #36 on:** June 06, 2013, 07:27 AM »

Watched The Millennium Bug a couple of nights ago - fun movie, kind of like a cross between The Evil Dead, The Hills Have Eyes, Wrong Turn, (or any of the prevalent hillbilly films), with a dose of Crawmerax thrown in for good measure.

40hz · « **Reply #37 on:** June 06, 2013, 12:09 PM »

The Raven (2012) directed by James McTeigue of V for Vendetta and The Matrix fame.

Movies you've seen lately

From IMDB:

In the 19th century, a serial killer begins murdering victims using methods from Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Poe himself teams up with a young Baltimore detective to get inside the murder's mind and try and stop more of his fictional works becoming grisly fact. As the hunt intensifies, Poe's own love, Emily Hamilton, becomes a target for the killer.

It opens with the last few minutes of Edgar Allen Poe's life. Alone on a park bench in the early morning we find Poe dying under those actual mysterious circumstances which have puzzled scholars and amateur historic investigators since 1849.

The rest of the film becomes an extended flashback of what lead up to that moment. And all in all, it looks very promising.

Set in foggy mid-1800s Baltimore with a cast that includes John Cusak, Luke Evans, and period piece veteran Kevin McNally, what could possibly go wrong?

The short answer is: Plenty.

Within the first 20 minutes you understand why Ewan McGregor and Jeremy Renner were originally cast as the leads only to drop out before shooting began - and why Joaquin Phoenix and Noomi Rapace turned down offered roles outright.

Seriously...

If you're going to do a period film, there should beat at least some a token nod towards the times by adopting the images, gestures, speech and culture of the era being presented. But in this case, about the only thing that came close was the sets and cinematography - which were gorgeous for the most part.

Where it fell down was in the acting. For some reason, all the characters used their natural voice - which is to say 21st century tone and idiom. Seriously, how much historic tone can you set when the characters toss around such modern terms as 'serial killer' and act and talk like some of today's city cops?

Also, if this is 19th century Baltimore, shouldn't there be at least a few characters with a hint of a Southron's accent? The weird mincing voice Cusak's Poe used is almost painful to hear coming from a guy we all know can act.

If the cast had been unknowns it would be one thing. But this cast has credentials and experience - so there's really no excuse for them destroying the illusion they way they did - script or no script.

Which brings us to the flawed screenplay. Which is a shame because the overall story concept was quite solid even though the writers never quite refined it enough to tie up all the loose plot ends - or fix some glaring holes in the script. Something about this script made it feel like it got rushed into production. It easily could have benefited from a major rewrite. Or two.

Oh well... $:-\$

Give this film a solid 5 for cinematography, costumes, and set design - and a low 2 for just about everything else.

kyrathaba · « **Reply #38 on:** June 10, 2013, 02:23 PM »

My wife and I watched the new comedy "Identity Theft". Quite humorous, and touching at moments. Definitely not for young children, though.

4wd · « **Reply #39 on:** June 10, 2013, 09:28 PM »

It's Roger Corman week for me, last night:

Starring (not) "My Favourite Martian", Joanie, Captain Spalding and Freddie.

Tonight, it'll be:

wraith808 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 10, 2013, 09:45 PM »

Psht. If I was going to watch a Traci Lords video, it would be Traci I Love You

4wd · « **Reply #41 on:** June 10, 2013, 11:22 PM »

Psht. If I was going to watch a Traci Lords video, it would be Traci I Love You
-wraith808 (June 10, 2013, 09:45 PM)

Yes well, is now a good time to admit that I have almost all, (95%), of her movies, (and TV series appearances), from 1989 onwards to date ?

You could call me a fan

wraith808 · « **Reply #42 on:** June 11, 2013, 07:49 AM »

Well, you shouldn't admit *some* of them. After all, that particular one was her first *legal* one.

40hz · « **Reply #43 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:36 PM »

^I'm somewhat impressed that she managed to make a career transition from real X-rated porn, to mainstream movies, to network TV appearances. In an industry so rife with hypocritical moral contract clauses, I think that's gotta be a first. (Maybe even an only?)

She's not the worst actor in film either. Porn or otherwise.

wraith808 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 11, 2013, 07:10 PM »

I think a lot of it has to do with circumstance. I'm just amazed that she was able to do it without denouncing the industry.

40hz · « **Reply #45 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:15 PM »

I think a lot of it has to do with circumstance. I'm just amazed that she was able to do it without denouncing the industry.
-wraith808 (June 11, 2013, 07:10 PM)

I was also thinking maybe - since she had done an illegal porn flick when she was something like 15 or 16 - that it generated enough sympathy (or maybe just some "Lets not go there...") to encourage the larger entertainment industry to not make an issue of it?

Beating up on her could have easily set off a firestorm in the movie industry if she was seen as being penalized for something that she got caught up in when she was still technically a minor. (I say "technically" because there's something about her expression that makes me think she wasn't ever much of a minor, despite her age, once she left home.)

4wd · « **Reply #46 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:52 PM »

(I say "technically" because there's something about her expression that makes me think she wasn't ever much of a minor, despite her age, once she left home.)
-40hz (June 11, 2013, 08:15 PM)

Of course there's all the conspiracy theories about who/why dobbed her in as being underage.

But after having watched NoTE last night, (even though it is horribly ham acted in places), I have to say she does looking extremely good in a bikini

Managed to squeeze in The Brain Eaters last night also, which The Puppet Masters appears to be a remake of.

superboyac · « **Reply #47 on:** June 11, 2013, 09:51 PM »

Man, Traci Lords really did a number on the men before my generation. Every time I hear one of you guys talk about her, it's like a special thing. I keep trying to relate and can't. I have access to thousands of hot porn chicks at any given moment, none seem special. I'm always blown away by that. I guess the closest I can relate was all the hubbub in junior high about Sharon Stone and Basic Instinct.

4wd · « **Reply #48 on:** June 11, 2013, 11:00 PM »

I have access to thousands of hot porn chicks at any given moment, none seem special.
-superboyac (June 11, 2013, 09:51 PM)

It was back in the days of porn with a plot, (no matter how thinly disguised it was), and of 100% natural instead of 50% silicon....before your time

Getting away from porn for a moment, for those who remember what a Drive-in was and want a trip back down Memory Lane, go grab a large bag of popcorn and check out the series of Shocker Internet Drive-In videos at the Internet Archive or their main website Shocker Internet Drive-In.

Shocker Week 1.jpg

40hz · « **Reply #49 on:** June 12, 2013, 08:42 PM »

Man, Traci Lords really did a number on the men before my generation. Every time I hear one of you guys talk about her, it's like a special thing.
-superboyac (June 11, 2013, 09:51 PM)

I don't think it's so much that. More like she was just easiest to remember. Mainly because of her attitude (on and off he screen) and all the stories making the rounds about her. Don't forget, times were a lot more repressed back then. Despite the 'sexual revolution' things were still pretty much Sunday School for most Americans. They may have thought about getting up to all kinds of shenanigans and escapades. But it seldom went beyond that. It wasn't till the Disco Era that it all broke wide open and almost anything went - as long as the guy was still mostly left in control.

I keep trying to relate and can't. I have access to thousands of hot porn chicks at any given moment, none seem special. I'm always blown away by that. I guess the closest I can relate was all the hubbub in junior high about Sharon Stone and Basic Instinct.

You're not unusual. And Betty Page was better in that domain than anything that ever came before or after IMHO.

In case anybody doesn't know who Betty Page is

What? You thought it was gonna be a "Betty Page" Betty Page picture?
Dream on! Or go Google her...this is a family site!

There is a certain sameness to porn actors and movies. And therein lies one difference between porn and eroticism. Porn is predictable and appeals to the lowest common denominator in the human libido. Which tends to be more a young person's thing since every experience seems brand new - and a healthy 20-something body is such a marvelous vehicle to go exploring with. (*sigh*)

As you get older and more sophisticated (or jaded

) it usually takes a little more to seduce you than just seeing some attractive person taking their clothes off. At least for most of us.