guthmund

I finally saw Troy.

This movie sucked. The battle scenes were terrific and very well done, but the great big lulls in between where all the "acting" was supposed to go came up waaaaay short.

The writing was terrible, the acting was terrible (other than Peter O'Toole and Brian Cox) and for some reason everyone was sporting a horrible British inflected accent.

They took a wonderful story with all the makings of a great movie and made this garbage out of it. Not to mention the obvious bastardizing of the story to suit the purposes of the dumbed down audience. (Troy didn't fall in a few days, Agemmemnon (I just know I spelled that wrong) didn't die in Troy at the hands of some made up love interest of Achilles) It was littered with talk of Gods, but no Gods to be seen, which I feel might have made the movie a bit more interesting.

Not to mention the music. Oh my god, the music. It's either balls to the wall fanfare; trumpets blaring to evoke the majesty of the city. Or some Middle Eastern/Celtic (an odd combination to be sure) woman wailing.

But the fight scenes were terrific, but you definately have to suspend logic. I mean, the entire army stops fighting to watch two men go at it and when one falls, they part ways because "that's enough for today?" They watch Achilles kill Hector, but no one fires an arrow or charges out to slay Achilles. Instead they let him drag their hero off? Are you kidding?

2/10. Never watch this movie. Unless you're a Brad Pitt fan as he shows quite a bit of skin. No, I take that back. Never watch this movie. Ever.

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Daoust

I just saw Gothika. I know it's been out for a while, but it was my wife's pick. And let me tell you, it was awful. The director, whoever he was, was a Tim Burton wannabe, with all the dark immagery. The script was ridiculous and far too fairytale-ish to be believable.

I give it a 2/10

Now, let's talk about Halle Berry. We all know she is a babe. Gorgeous features etc. But she picks some attrocious films...two examples being this one and Catwoman. You could even include Swordfish and James Bond.
I liked her in Monster's Ball, or at least I think I did. I liked seeing her naked from about 30 different angles. I forget how she acted.

So what do you think? Is she a good actor? Is she just a pretty face?

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LoganSnake

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of The Sith - 7.5/10
Moscow on The Hudson - 7/10

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Telluride

The last movie I watched was Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. I've seen it many times before (I own it on DVD), but a few days ago I just felt like watching it.

The story-line is interesting (the crew of the Bebop try to hunt down a wanted terrorist who is trying to destroy all life on Mars, and as a result has a huge bounty on his head); there are two of the better fight scenes (Spike vs Electra, Spike vs Vincent) that I've seen in movies, animated or otherwise; and the characters are just so damned cool. If you like the series, you would like the movie because it's basically like watching a movie-length episode of the show.

The only thing I didn't like was that the usual freestyle jazz intro music - a song called "Tank" - was replaced by some other song. The new song wasn't bad. It just wasn't "Tank".

I give it 5/5.

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grendel

there's a whole thread on how folks felt about the movie, and i chimed in there a few times, so i'll just give a rating here.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - 7.5/10

Daoust

Closer - Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, Julia Roberts.

Not a bad picture. I liked hearing Julia Roberts talk about getting fucked and swallowing cum. I liked seeing Natalie Portman in almost nothing. I think I liked Clive Owen's acting, but I'm not sure yet.
I am convinced that Jude Law is gaining more and more disrespect as an actor in my eyes. As I was watching Law in the silly crying scene in the doctors office, I couldn't help but be reminded of Joseph Fiennes, an actor that I loathe, because he is so very obviously bad as an actor, and he cries in almost every movie. Law played the pussy, and I couldn't feel sorry for him. I didn't. Some will argue that we weren't supposed to feel sorry for him, but I disagree. I believe it was the writers and the directors intent that we feel bad for Law's character, but I find it nearly impossible, most probably because of Jude Law.
I liked parts of this movie, but not the whole thing. As such I give it a 6/10

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Meditrina

I saw "Urban Legend" last night. I thought this was a very scary movie. There were plenty of times when I jumped off the couch, even my husband jumped a few times. I thought it odd that Robert Englund (the actor who plays Freddy Kruger) was in it, and I don't recall seeing his name in the beginning of the film. By the end of the movie, my husband had guessed who the killer was, but he always does.

I'd give it a 7/10.

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guthmund

I just finished watching Ray with Jaime Foxx.

Absolutely fantastic movie. I knew a bit about Ray Charles before, so, I wasn't surprised at the story, but the acting was damn good. Foxx did a fantastic job. I swear some scenes I could close my eyes and hear Ray. I just wish they had did a bit more on his later life as well.

Fantastic movie 9/10.

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former newt

house of wax: 3/10 (elisha cuthbert earned the movie those 3 points)

Grasshopper Green

Saw Crash yesterday. I posted in the Crash thread...but for anyone who missed that...go see this film. It is awesome: great acting, great story, very intense. 5/5

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Aladdin Sane

Crash is a great movie. It will make you think. Those are two things I rarely say about a film.
It is about America. It is about the human condition.
It's a movie about race relations. America needs this movie.

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Derwood

Kingdom of Heaven - 7.5/10

Orlando Bloom plays Ballion (sp?), a French blacksmith whose world is turned upside down. He ends up in Jerusalem, leading the Christian army in a defense of the city against the Muslims, who are bent on regaining the Holy Land that was stolen from them.

I liked Bloom a lot in this movie. His steady demeanor and understated acting were perfect for the role. Jeremy Irons was great in his supporting role as Tiberius, and Eva Green did well as the Queen of Jerusalem.

Ridley Scott delivers a film that is visually very similar to "Gladiator," which I also enjoyed. The stakes are certainly higher in this film, with the tension between Muslims and Christians just as high 1000 years ago as it is now.

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Loup

Madagascar

Good movie, but not a Shrek. The kids will love it no doubt, and the older crowd as well.
I'm not a Chris Rock fan, but he fit well with the role of the animated zebra.
My beef ... not enough of the penguins.

7.8 / 10

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Grasshopper Green

I thought it could have used more of the monkeys, too. It was a fairly decent kid's flick, but probably not one that I would buy for my son.

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greeneyes

Finding Neverland

Great film, Johnny Depp is superb as usual.

9.5/10

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RickB

This past weekend, I saw 3 movies, 2 for the first time and 1 that I hadn't seen in awhile.

Saturday night I watched "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?". It still amazes me that this film was ever made, what with the cartoon characters from Disney and Warner Bros being in the same film. I'm not sure a movie of this type could be made today. It's a great film and I really like Los Angeles of the 1940's. 10/10.

Sunday afternoon was "Madagascar". Very enjoyable film, lots of lines for the adults as well as silly visuals for the kids. Not as good as some other animated offerings but very solid. Could have used more monkeys and penguins. 7.5-8/10.

Sunday evening was "National Treasure". Good Disney story with a nice blending of real history with movie storyline. This being a Disney film at least partially aimed at the younger audience, the bad guys never hit anybody when they shoot at the good guys. The movie has a nice pace with the good guys and bad guys getting what they deserve. 8/10.

radioguy

life aquatic with steve zissou -- crappy, i didn't like all the underwater images that really looked fake, even if that's what they wanted. i won't watch it again.

keyshawn

Saw it for the first time this morning..[borrowed it from library]

Wow. I was thoroughly impressed with it. The plotline was smooth and never veered off track much, and the beginning drew me and wanted me to watch the rest. Sean Penn's performance was a plus.

9/10

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ColonelSpecial

I went and saw "Mindhunters" in the cheap theater. It is about FBI profilers on an island as their last assignment before gradutation. They keep dying, one by one. I would give it a 2.5/5 stars. Good enough to watch but not good enough to watch again or to buy.

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highthief

Cinderella Man - the real life story of depression-era heavyweight champ Jim Braddock. He was Rocky before Rocky, y'know? Russell Crowe, Rene Zellwegger, Ron Howard directs.

8/10.

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Leo

i am sam - Sean Penn & Michelle Pfeiffer: 9/10 - a must see.

It doesn't get much better than this IMO. If you want to see a movie about what's important in life, don't miss 'i am sam'. Touching, funny, brilliant, maddening, sad, rapturous. Sean Penn is brilliant as Sam Dawson, an adult father with the mental capacity of a seven year old. He obviously loves his daughter Lucy (played wonderfully by an amazingly mature Dakota Fanning) and she loves him. But with Sam's limitations, a social worker intervenes and the department of family services take Lucy away from Sam and leaves everyone questioning whether love is enough. Everyone except Sam and Lucy. Michelle Pfeiffer is fantastic in her portrayal of Sam's driven, obsessive, manic (and lying!) lawyer, Rita Harrison, "the lawyer who never loses". She's all that's tragic and wonderful about the corporate legal world. The way her high-powered, successful lawyer is juxtaposed against Penn's childlike simplicity highlights that life isn't about talent or intellectual, financial or corporate success. Sam and Lucy show, and Rita (et al) learn, that it's about love, honesty, consistency and slowing down enough and opening up to let people in, to care for one another, and to enjoy life together. The movie keeps you guessing right to the end. I love the camera work although some reviewers on other sites hate it - it is mostly hand held (I don't think they get that it is essentially trying to show the confusion of the world from Sam's view, and that we don't always see life from the view of a perfectly positioned tripod) and the Beatles covers are poignant and relevant. I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 because of its unabashed commercialism (Starbucks, Pizza Hut and IHOP get big wraps - I assume they contributed financially to this relatively low budget movie - 'relatively' given the stars involved) and the ending didn't quite work for me. Other than that, sheer enjoyable brilliance.

Daoust

Kinsey DNF

You all are going to find this rather funny, but I on the weekend my wife and I rented Kinsey (it was her idea, not mine, for the record), and I pretty much knew what to expect, lots of very open very in your face sexuality. But I will admit to being surprised at what they did show. I know were in the new millenium and all that stuff is blase, no big deal, whatever. Well, to me it is. My wife and her sister and her bf were watching the movie with us, and I'd have to admit that they (my wife and sister-in-law) are pretty naive and unexposed to that kind of stuff. Well, that's not really true. They just felt like it was soft core porn, and didn't want to watch it. (secretly I think if they were by themselves they would have, but in front of an audience they wanted to act all holier-than-thou) So they shut it off, and I haven't seen the end of it. I think I'll rent it again sometime when they're out of the house, because I liked the first half.

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radioguy

the longest yard -- the adam sandler one -- i never saw the original. i thought this one was great. it had my ass laughing throughout most of the movie. i'd watch it again.

CandleInTheDark

Assault on Precinct 13

I like actions movies. I like SWAT teams and police. Sadly, this moving fucking sucked.

Hey script writers! If you can right good dialogue between fight scenes, stick with the fight scenes!

5/10

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stevie667

Shaun of the dead.

Firstly, this movie didn't have a damned clue what the hell it was, humor, drama, peril, sadness, humor. It was meant to be a comedy, but i got up and took a leak half way through because i was bored.

Secondly most of the characters annoyed the fucking shit out of me (yes, lots of profanity, but it's deserved). Shaun and liz and the roomy that died are the best characters, the mother and ed i wanted to smack with that damned cricket bat.

However, the army had such cool guns, and it did have it's funny bits in some places.

5/10.


I'm just pissed off amazon charged me £15 for the damned dvd because i sent back hero instead of this one. Grrr

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QuasiMojo

I need to watch the original again...just to see if it holds up.

I've never been a big Sandler fan(with the exception of "Punch Drunk Love")
But Longest Yard v.2 made me laugh in many places


My only prob was distinquishing Goldburg from Steve Austin
heeeehaaa!

Nice Whiteboy soundtrack...kept me going.

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hambone

Collateral

It was kinda bleh. Nothing too bad, nothing too good.

7/10

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StormBerlin

Saw High Tension last night. If you're into blood and gore then it's great. The plot itself was so-so and so is the acting. There's a plot twist at the end that a lot of people guessed (I didn't because I could stop focusing on the "ewww" factor). I give it an 8/10.

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doodlebird

tale of two sisters. 8 / 10

freakin' sweet! korean horror. not really a chase you around Crystal Lake / Jason vs. Freddy type horror... more of a mental horror, although there are several frightening points and lots of general creepiness running throughout. it's beautifully shot and the sound design is a nice compliment.

it is subtitled. so for those of you who don't like to read, maybe this is not for you.

oh, and i have a thing for asians. i don't know what kind of thing yet, but it's something. (and latinas... and redheads... and ummmm, ok, i love everyone.)

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hambone

Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Plot kinda bleh, good action, pretty funny, very mindless.

Angelina looks AMAZING in this one though, so 9/10

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pan6467

The Cooler with Bill Macy and Alec Baldwin......a most excellent Vegas movie.

Some very real identifiable parts in it for me.

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Gimmick

Team America: World Police- This movie was full of very mindless stupid humor, but who could honestly go without these types of movies?! Not me! Its a good movie to just sit back, turn your brain off, and laugh! And its the funniest thing to watch those puppets try to do the simplest things like walk! The music is also pretty funny, "America, Fuck Yeah!" Overall I would give it 7/10

Grasshopper Green

I just rented Rushmore. It was pretty good...crazy as hell, with some really funny bits in it. 7/10

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cartmen34

Batman Begins = 12 / 10

Most awesomest most bestest batman movie evar!

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Gilda

Batman Begins *** (out of ****):

The performances were all spot on, and we have the first convincing Batman in history. Gotham City looked right, the villain didn't control the piece, the story was interesting and plausible, and seamlessly integrated elements of Year One, The Long Halloween, and Blind Justice, and did it well. It's by far the best live action Batman ever.

However, it still falls short of the animated series, and is far from perfect. The big twist at the 2/3 mark is telegraphed ten minutes into the movie, and Christopher Nolan, skilled though he is at all of the other elements of directing, cannot direct a fight to save his life. Dang it man, you've got Christian Bale, who knows how to stage a fight scene, use him and get rid of the badly cut fights in which it's impossible to tell who's doing what. Here's a hint: Rent several of Jet Li's movies, and watch those. Notice how the fight scenes show the whole body, and show exactly who is hitting or kicking whom, and where, and how one move flows into the next? The MTV style of close-up shots cut every half second make for a terrible, confusing, difficult to understand fight scene. I could have been the one in the suit in those scenes and nobody would have noticed any difference.

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-Ever-

Last of the Mohicans 10/10

For those of you that have seen my previous posts, I'm a tough rater and don't think I've ever given a movie a 10 before, even if it's a favorite. I use to watch this when I was younger and hadn't seen it in a long time. I came across it at WalMart and bought it immediately. It's just as powerful as I remember it and the story finally makes sence now that I'm not twelve years old anymore I consider it to basically be a perfect film as far as my preferences go.

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muttonglutton

Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Four and a half stars of five.

In 90% of the movie, Angelina did nothing for me. In the other 10% she was holding her body just the right way, or wearing just the right thing to make my vision go fuzzy.

And uh.. if you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about when I say that that would be the -best sex ever-.

And uh, oh. The movie existed somewhere in there too. The plot was passable for an action flick containing two of the hottest people around, and there was some arbitrary coolness (and hotness) sprinkled without.

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Seer666

Batman Begins. 15/10
They FINNALY got Batman movie right. I've heard a lot of poeple say they wish they would have done the fights sceans, but as it waspointed out to me, that made it feel MORE like a Frank Miller comic book. Think about it. how often do you see him in a full out fight in the comics? Not much. This film was meant to give the impression of Batman. And boy does it ever. Bale nailed the roll dead on. Great cast, great acting, great story.

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Gilda

I disagree.

First, the movie was based chiefly on Year One, drawn by Dave Mazuchelli, with elements borrowed from The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, (early days stories written by Jeoph Loeb) which were drawn by Tim Sale. I got out my Year One hardback (great book, very reasonable price) and checked the fight scenes, and they show pretty clearly what's going on, especially given that it's a comic with only still images.

Frank Miller did draw The Dark Knight Returns, and once again, it's pretty much the opposite of the rapid cutting that obscures the action. He revels in setting up the seminal moments of a fight. Look at the climactic fight between Batman and the leader of the gang; it's a series of clearly drawn moments. Even better, look at the movie Sin City, and at the fight scenes there. They're set up as a series of connected moments, cut together, true, but in such a way that it's pretty clear what's going on in the fight.

The fights in Batman Begins looked more like an early 90's MTV video--so many cuts made so rapidly that it's practically nasea inducing.

Maybe its a perception thing. Those of us who hold up Jet Li's Hong Kong action movies--clear linear presentation--as a basis for comparison are going to find the fights lacking. Those who are more used to MTV style music video cutting--a montage style of presentation--won't even notice that you can't tell what's going on in the fights because it's more familiar.

Me, I want to understand who's hitting whom and when and how, which is something you get in comics when they're well done. Look at the best martial arts books, Shang Chi, Way of the Rat, Batgirl, The Karate Kid*, and you'll see clearly presented confrontations. Montage doesn't really reflect the comic effect.

*Yes that was a joke. The Karate Kid is easily the worst martial arts comic in history.

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Seer666

That is is to understand. It's Batman hitting the bad guys a whole lot. I myself was kind of iffy about the fights at first, but what can I say, it grew on me. Mostly though, I think that it's just everything else about the movie so damn kick ass, I'm willing to over look it.

And the Karate Kid was horrible. Read two pages of it once, and have tried to foget it ever happened.

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