Author Topic: Movies you've seen lately (Read 946,030 times)

4wd · « **Reply #325 on:** July 07, 2014, 07:14 PM »

Repo Men always kind of reminded me of the earlier Race Against Time with Eric Roberts.

The switch being that when you don't pay your medical bills, they come after you for your organs.

Quote

When a man faces surmounting bills for his dying son's hospital stay, he enters into an agreement to sell his body for organ transplants to pay the bills. However, when he is advised that the doctors want to claim his organs immediately, he goes on the run.

Renegade · « **Reply #326 on:** July 18, 2014, 04:48 PM »

Saw #1 & #2, and now #3 is near ready!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59U5DQNL9-s

I'm really looking forward to this!

nosh · « **Reply #327 on:** July 26, 2014, 09:36 PM »

Phenomena - an 80s giallo starring a very young Jennifer Connelly. I found the origin of the word quite interesting, btw. -->

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[wikipedia] :
Giallo (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒallo], plural gialli) is an Italian 20th-century genre of literature and film, which in Italian indicates crime fiction and mystery. In English, it refers to a genre similar to the French fantastique genre and includes elements of horror fiction and eroticism. The word "giallo" is Italian for "yellow" and comes from a series of cheap paperback mystery novels with trademark yellow covers.

I loved the locale, a boarding school near a small Swiss town. A high level of suspension of disbelief is required, if you like to nitpick about loose plot threads this isn't the movie for you. But it's exactly this kind of movie that creates an awesome atmosphere that's hard to find in regular, grounded to reality fare. Recommended for pure trashy fun, and a great atmosphere. I saw it off Youtube.

The girl in the opening scene is Argento's daughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3SVCoEDwH8

Deozaan · « **Reply #328 on:** July 26, 2014, 10:21 PM »

I recently saw Frozen (2013) against my better judgement. I have no idea why it's such a hit. The lyrics were not very clever or catchy. Very little of the humor was actually humorous. They tried too hard to make Olaf the snowman this movie's comedic relief a la Ice Age's Sid the Sloth or Shrek's Donkey, but I personally didn't find much of anything he did or said to be funny. And while the woman who does the voice of the ice queen is a talented singer, I didn't feel that it fit her character or the movie very well. I really don't understand why "Let It Go" is such a popular song. It's not a classic, fun song that should be enjoyable to kids and adults alike.

Though there were 2-3 parts of the movie I found genuinely funny, most of the time I was just scratching my head wondering why people seem to like this movie so much, with its lame humor, lame lyrics, lame dialog, and generally lame plot all around.

I find myself more in agreement with these (paraphrased) words of a friend-of-a-friend's 4-year old son: "That movie would have been pretty good if she had died at the end. And if there was no singing."

I would not recommend the movie.

I also recently saw Despicable Me 2 (2013). From the previews I had seen last year, I wasn't too excited about the movie. It looked like it was just an excuse to have random "funny" minion moments. The actual film lived up to my expectations. I think they tried too hard to do more minion funniness, but it all just seemed too random; it was just for the sake of showing the minions doing hilarious things and had nothing to do with the plot. The plot itself was pretty weak. The whole movie seemed like just one big excuse to show off more minions and a couple of cute Agnes moments.

It's not as good as the first Despicable Me. But it was a decent waste of time.

wraith808 · « **Reply #329 on:** July 26, 2014, 10:48 PM »

Quote from: Deozaan on July 26, 2014, 10:21 PM

I recently saw Frozen (2013) against my better judgement. I have no idea why it's such a hit. The lyrics were not very clever or catchy. Very little of the humor was actually humorous. They tried too hard to make Olaf the snowman this movie's comedic relief a la Ice Age's Sid the Sloth or Shrek's Donkey, but I personally didn't find much of anything he did or said to be funny. And while the woman who does the voice of the ice queen is a talented singer, I didn't feel that it fit her character or the movie very well. I really don't understand why "Let It Go" is such a popular song. It's not a classic, fun song that should be enjoyable to kids and adults alike.

Though there were 2-3 parts of the movie I found genuinely funny, most of the time I was just scratching my head wondering why people seem to like this movie so much, with its lame humor, lame lyrics, lame dialog, and generally lame plot all around.

I find myself more in agreement with these (paraphrased) words of a friend-of-a-friend's 4-year old son: "That movie would have been pretty good if she had died at the end. And if there was no singing."

I would not recommend the movie.

I also recently saw Despicable Me 2 (2013). From the previews I had seen last year, I wasn't too excited about the movie. It looked like it was just an excuse to have random "funny" minion moments. The actual film lived up to my expectations. I think they tried too hard to do more minion funniness, but it all just seemed too random; it was just for the sake of showing the minions doing hilarious things and had nothing to do with the plot. The plot itself was pretty weak. The whole movie seemed like just one big excuse to show off more minions and a couple of cute Agnes moments.

It's not as good as the first Despicable Me. But it was a decent waste of time.

I think both are a matter of taste. I liked DM and still liked DM2. Especially the storyline with the other agent. My daughter LOVES Frozen. It's her favorite Disney movie of all time. I think that it really is a girls movie.

Deozaan · « **Reply #330 on:** July 27, 2014, 12:31 AM »

Quote from: wraith808 on July 26, 2014, 10:48 PM

I think both are a matter of taste. I liked DM and still liked DM2. Especially the storyline with the other agent. My daughter LOVES Frozen. It's her favorite Disney movie of all time. I think that it really is a girls movie.

Maybe I'm just becoming an old curmudgeon and I need to have a few children of my own to sway my opinion. But it's been a while since I really enjoyed a kids/family animated feature. Like... The Emperor's New Groove, or Shrek 1 & 2.

Renegade · « **Reply #331 on:** July 27, 2014, 04:00 PM »

^ I find Disney movies are almost as good as fart jokes. The older ones are better. New ones? Fart jokes are still better. I like fart jokes, but I don't take them seriously.

40hz · « **Reply #332 on:** July 27, 2014, 04:50 PM »

Salamander - a Belgian 12 episode TV series.

[attachthumb=#]

A Belgian Federal Police inspector investigates the heavy-handed cover-up of the unreported theft of the personal contents found in 66 safe deposit boxes at a private bank in Brussels.

[attach]

lindberg · « **Reply #333 on:** July 30, 2014, 04:07 PM »

As I'm new here at Donation Coder, I'd like to present myself

by showing you what movies I recently have seen and really enjoyed too...

"The Pusher Trilogy". i.e. Pusher, Pusher II and Pusher III. Three stories about three different characters in the Copenhagen drug dealer/criminal world.

Here's a short resume (wikipedia)

40hz · « **Reply #334 on:** July 30, 2014, 05:54 PM »

[attach]

Renegade · « **Reply #335 on:** July 31, 2014, 01:22 AM »

Quote from: 40hz on July 30, 2014, 05:54 PM

The Conspiracy

Clever little faux(???) documentary that transitions rather nicely from the usual "found footage" to a pretty decent thriller. I found it really entertaining throughout - and even thought-provoking at times - despite how little is "new" in this picture.

...

Good flick! Recommended.

+1

I just saw this the other day. I get a lot of recommendations from here, but came across this one through Mark Dice.

40hz · « **Reply #336 on:** July 31, 2014, 11:41 AM »

@Ren:

[attach]

MilesAhead · « **Reply #337 on:** July 31, 2014, 02:52 PM »

^^ Hmm, perhaps Tiny Tim isn't dead? Just got a fantastic nose job and face lift?

Renegade · « **Reply #338 on:** July 31, 2014, 03:09 PM »

Quote from: 40hz on July 31, 2014, 11:41 AM

@Ren:
(see attachment in previous post)

XKCD is a lot of fun!

There are a lot of conspiracy facts out there, and conspiracy history, and conspiracy theories. The facts and history are often denied by people who simply refuse to accept reality. Which isn't very interesting - they're just foolish. (e.g. Gulf of Tonkin, The USS Maine, etc.)

But the theories are a lot of fun! There are some very good theories with mountains of evidence, but no smoking gun. Those are the most interesting, e.g. JFK.

Then there are theories with a bit of evidence, and a lot of speculation. These are even more fun!

In "The Conspiracy", they quickly mention a bunch of facts, history, and theories across the spectrum,

Mild "meta" spoiler - no details

then proceed to make up their own entirely new fictional "conspiracy theory". It was quite well done and very entertaining. They did a great job of it, and kept it up right until the ending credits rolled.

Definitely some very good writing there.

lindberg · « **Reply #339 on:** July 31, 2014, 04:21 PM »

Prisoners of war (Hatufim).

If you like "Homeland" this is the "original", and much, much better if you ask me. The Israeli low budget TV series "Hatufim" (Kidnapped) is the TV series that later was adapted into "Homeland".

Article in The Guardian

edit: fixed hyperlink mis-copy paste

tomos · « **Reply #340 on:** July 31, 2014, 04:33 PM »

Quote from: lindberg on July 31, 2014, 04:21 PM

If you like "Homeland" this is the "original", and much, much better if you ask me. The Israeli low budget TV series "Hatufim" (Kidnapped) is the TV series that later was adapted into "Homeland".

Article in The Guardian

sounds interesting - I fixed the link here (an extra http at the end of it)

mouser · « **Reply #341 on:** August 05, 2014, 12:41 AM »

Guardians of the Galaxy: One of the best (and funniest) sci fi movie in years. Loved it.

40hz · « **Reply #342 on:** August 12, 2014, 05:47 PM »

You Are Here: A Meta Detective Story

[attach]

Paul Keith · « **Reply #343 on:** August 12, 2014, 06:20 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eWBmVprInQ

A Netflix original documentary, "The Square" is a riveting, deeply human chronicle of the Egyptian protest movement from the 2011 overthrow of military leader Hosni Mubarak through the ousting of Mohammed Morsi in 2013. "The Square" premieres January 17, 2014 in all Netflix territories, and in select cities within the United States.

Spoiler: The film does not end well

40hz · « **Reply #344 on:** August 12, 2014, 07:09 PM »

Quote from: Paul Keith on August 12, 2014, 06:20 PM

Spoiler: The film does not end well

Neither did the real thing.

4wd · « **Reply #345 on:** August 26, 2014, 11:15 AM »

Patrick - A remake of the paranormal thriller of the same name from 1978.

Though it followed the original very well while bringing it up to date, (eg. mobile phones, computers), I still prefer the 1978 version.

40hz · « **Reply #346 on:** August 26, 2014, 04:30 PM »

Sherlock - Season 3

Latest instalment in the BBC re-imagining of Doyle's supersleuth Sherlock Holmes.

The only other Holmes worth watching was the period and (mostly) canon correct Granada production which featured the incomparable Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. If you want a near perfect realization of Doyle's historic Sherlock Holmes, look no further than Brett's performance. Mark it as "done" while you're at it. It doesn't get better than Jeremy Brett.
[attach]

wraith808 · « **Reply #347 on:** August 26, 2014, 05:30 PM »

I watch the US version... Elementary.

I like both, but for different reasons.

I also like RDJ in the role in the movies. But that's, to me, on a whole different level.

40hz · « **Reply #348 on:** August 26, 2014, 06:52 PM »

^+1 on the RDJ movies. They weren't bad at all. First instalment storyline was far better than the second. But I still can't imagine what they were thinking when casting Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler. Seriously?

Elementary doesn't work for me. Tried liking it (oh how I tried!) - but I just couldn't. I really didn't care for the characterization and backstories for the lead roles. And a lot of the storylines seemed more like fanfic "alt" pastiches than anything else. The sort of things Holmes fans write on a bet after one too many drinks. It started out ok. But in typical American TV fashion, it just started getting sillier and more obvious and contrived as time went on. After several "Oh come on!" moments I gave up midway through the finale of the first season. Haven't been back. Tried the first episode of season two and chucked it. YMMV

(Note: Gentle Readers, some fellow Holmes fans I hang with positively LOVE Elementary. So don't put too much weight on my opinion of it. Be sure to check it out for yourselves.)

wraith808 · « **Reply #349 on:** August 26, 2014, 07:28 PM »

One of my favorite things about Elementary are the fact that they were not afraid to take certain parts of the mythology, and completely turn them on their head. And I love the primary actors.

here there be spoilers

and Irene Adler is Moriarty is Natalie Dormer- and the subsequent manipulations from behind bars to save her child- were great IMO. And I love the addiction storylines and Mycroft seeming less aware and intelligent... but being proven to be just as much more intelligent later as he is in the books... although I hated the part with him and Watson. That's the kind of thing you need in a reimagining IMO. You can do it without... but then it's just a remake.