Movies

[J.]

Having a clear "good guy", "bad guy", or even "anti hero" has nothing to do with the characters all seeming to be human. Or maybe I'm reading your reply incorrectly.

In the book, Achilles is the hero, the man we're rooting for. In the movie, one minute he's an honorable man that refuses to fight for others' greed, the next he's an arrogant whiny sissy baby. The movie clearly made out Hector to be the protagonist, and the man we should all be rooting for, at least that's what I thought, but the book does not do this.

Don't know, I didnt like that there were three different mini-wars going on within the Trojan War.

 

[lurch70]

my point was that I liked the fact that nobody in the movie was really b/w ... all had their inner conflicts. Paris, Achilles, all ... just like all of us.
I guess this is the reason I liked the movie ...that it did not tell me ...
"look ... this is the guy to root for"

 

[NAD]

Hey, has anyone seen this? http://www.5minutesonline.com/1D/godspeed.htm

Whoa! Haven't seen or heard of it, I'd like to though, since you know, the band that borrowed that name kicks all kinds of ass.

 

[jimbobhickville]

Dawn of the Dead
Decent zombie flick. enjoyable to watch once, but likely won't watch it again. What's with saving the boobies until the credits? Still, a nice going away gift I suppose.

Austin Powers: Goldmember
A few funny scenes scattered through an overall boring movie. I was falling asleep more than laughing. Still, the opening scene and a few others were pretty funny.

 

[KILL TULLY]

Office Space is godlike.

 

[NAD]

Bowling for Columbine

Amazing film, after it was done I got a letter from my bro in jail (scan + email) due to a gun charge. Sucks.

 

[J.]

I thought Bowling for Columbine was pretty good, too. It amazing that just a bridge separates Michigan and Canada, yet the violence in the Michigan border town/city/area was so much more vast than the Canadian city.

But hey, everyone needs an uzi to defend their patch of grass, right?

 

[NAD]

Merlin (TV miniseries from 1998)

Shit rules, I watched it when it came out VHS shortly after it was on TV, and finally watched it a second time. I've always loved the whole King Arthur story anyhow, but this is quite an awesome movie. Plus all the chicks are incredibly hot, like Helena Bonham Carter.

 

[J.]

Man on Fire

Awesome film. Great directing style on this one. Far from an original story, but they threw some new stuff in there, and Denzel just makes any movie that much better.

 

[Demilich]

That movie was pretty good. The kid's a good actress. What else was she in? "I am Sam" with Sean Penn?

 

[lurch70]

and Denzel just makes any movie that much better.

hmm ... I don't know why he gets so much praise. He is a good actor no doubt ... but he always plays that same angle, the Malcolm X role he can't shake ... some angry, scorned black man with an agenda role.

 

[J.]

The Replacements

Anyone else love this totally unoriginal movie? Sure, Keanu can't act too well, but I love the athletes-getting-a-second-chance movies. And between all the corny humor and semi-bad acting, I think they played that angle very well. Don't know, it just hit home, I guess.

 

[Russell]

Man on Fire

Awesome film. Great directing style on this one. Far from an original story, but they threw some new stuff in there, and Denzel just makes any movie that much better.

I felt that everything, in terms of directing, was a bit excessive.. Those unusual subtitles served no purpose, and the aesthetic elements tended to fragment the story. Good movie nevertheless tho.

I finally got around to watching Versus, and this week I've seen Team America, World Police, Garden State, and 9 Souls. All pretty good, 9 Soulds being by far the weakest.

Next up, Suicide Circle, and perhaps Irreversible

 

[Russell]

That movie was pretty good. The kid's a good actress. What else was she in? "I am Sam" with Sean Penn?

She's in Hide And Seek, with Robert DeNiro It's released here next week.. No idea about I Am Sam..

 

[lurch70]

and perhaps Irreversible

ahhh .. a saucy good time ... will have to revisit this one soon.

 

[JayKeeley]

I saw Aliens v Predator finally, now that it's on DVD. OK so it's not phenomenal a la Ridley Scott, but it's far from being the atrocity I thought it would be. I guess it helps with the fact that the DVD is the extended edition, but I can't compare to the theater release so who knows.

Anyway, apart from the piss poor dialogue, it was a cool popcorn movie with some very good set pieces. I liked the whole pyramid under the ice idea, with the chambers opening and closing every ten minutes. It could have also done with more predators and some full scale battles, but otherwise, I'd give it a 6.5/10.

 

[jimbobhickville]

Extended Edition, eh? I wonder if that helps fill in some of the plot holes. Still, I doubt it could be made into a good movie since the acting was so piss poor to be distracting. As for the changing pyramid, I'm gonna call the originality police on that one. Can anyone say Cube?

It did have some cool moments, though, so I'd give it a 5/10.

I saw:
Empire of the Sun - good, but way longer than it needed to be. I had no idea Christian Bale had been around this long, or that Ben Stiller had a bit part in it (how old is he? at least 10 years older than Christian Bale).

Wuthering Heights (remake) - booooooooring. I fell asleep. It was pretty hard to follow, I think the director assumed you had read the book so you knew what was going on. Oh well, my girlfriend was happy to make me watch it.

 

[JayKeeley]

Extended Edition, eh? I wonder if that helps fill in some of the plot holes. Still, I doubt it could be made into a good movie since the acting was so piss poor to be distracting. As for the changing pyramid, I'm gonna call the originality police on that one. Can anyone say Cube?

It did have some cool moments, though, so I'd give it a 5/10.

Yeah, I forgot about Cube. I've never actually seen it (or its sequel) though. Yes, the acting (especially from the leading lady -- where did they dig up that unknown?) was crud, but the script dialogue was even worse.

There were some redeeming factors though -- I liked the idea of the pyramid representing one civilization, and 'The Thing' type atmosphere (lots of flares and shadows). The fight with the queen alien was alright too.

I didn't really think the idea of her joining the predators was that far fetched only because I'd read the original comic many years ago.

I saw:
Empire of the Sun - good, but way longer than it needed to be. I had no idea Christian Bale had been around this long, or that Ben Stiller had a bit part in it (how old is he? at least 10 years older than Christian Bale).

Malkovich always rules too. The best part of this film was when the planes come to destroy the prison camp, and they're flying 2 inches above the rooftops. No CGI = great, great stuntwork & choreography.

The other night I saw "Secret Window" on tv. I have to say, this could quite easily be one of the worst films I've seen in the last 5 years. Johnny Depp couldn't have been more miscast - it was laughable, especially at the end when he starts wearing the hat.

As a sidenote, I think it's funny how 'major' actors sign up to do films that turn out to be such shit. Apparently, Jennifer Garner is coming out and disowning Elektra already, saying it was part of a binding contract etc. Even she thinks it's a turd. I love it when Hollywood eats humble pie.

 

[speed]

I thought Secret Window was mediocre, nothing more. I was forced to see Finding Neverland this weekend by the woman and her friends, and it was pretty damn good actually.

 

[jimbobhickville]

Agreed on Finding Neverland. I actually liked Secret Window, but the end was too predictable. Still, John Turturro rules all.