What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Film Reviews and Release Comparisons
Post Reply
User avatar
luckystars
Royal Tramp
Posts: 1893
Joined: 12 Sep 2005, 09:01

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by luckystars »

6 out of 10 (***/*****) = Good

The film is nearly so much of a curious animal that it could qualify (so bad its goid type thing) but it just loses out at the end.

P.s. if I had to judge it just on being faithful to supermans character I'd provably say 1/10 :D
2010 - The return of the HK movie industry :)
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by saltysam »

The Walking Dead Season 2 3.5/5 The hugely successful Zombie epic continues, this is mostly great, compelling viewing occasionally let down by slow pacing and redundant characters who seem to be there just to make up the numbers.roll on season 3 out on blu-ray soon.
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

The American (2010-USA) **
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by HungFist »

Maniac (USA, 1980) [DVD] – 4/5
A terrific horror film mixing grindhouse splatter with character study. The film has the feel – and unforgettable gore – of a genre film, but greatly benefits from Joe Spinell’s terrific performance as the mentally disturbed killer. The film draws the viewer into his world – not to sympathize with it, but to witness it. Cinematography, music, and the use of New York footage are frequently excellent. Lead Caroline Munro’s less-than-impressive performance, and cutting some storyline corners around halfway, are easily forgiven.

Maniac (France, 2012) [DVD] – 4/5
An excellent updating of William Lustig’s slasher classic retains the original’s feel while presenting a terrifying vision of its own. The film is a horrifying look into the mind of a mentally insane young man. With the entire film seen from the killer’s perspective, the audience is drawn into his world with no escape. Though many of the film’s strengths are the same as the original – including effective use of big city locations – the film achieves them in different ways and stands on its own. Acting, sound design and cinematography are first grade, not to mention special effects. This is a true horror movie rather than an easy splatter flick.
gasteropod
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 6868
Joined: 03 Nov 2004, 18:16

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by gasteropod »

The Conjuring (2013) - 1.5/5

How many more times do we have to watch doors slamming and birds flying into windows? Nothing new in this film, bored me so much I was just thinking all the way through it about how to make my own horror film, and I'm genuinely not sure if I fell asleep or not. No idea why it's getting all the good reviews, although it is competently made, normally I reserve 3/10 for genuinely bad films but this one has just annoyed me with its lack of imagination and lack of scares, just a total waste of time.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by HungFist »

gasteropod wrote:The Conjuring (2013) - 1.5/5
...lack of scares
MPAA disagreed. They refused to give PG-13 even for a cut version, because "It’s just so scary. [There are] no specific scenes or tone you could take out to get it PG-13" :lol:
- http://www.movie-censorship.com/news_en.php?ID=5194
gasteropod
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 6868
Joined: 03 Nov 2004, 18:16

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by gasteropod »

HungFist wrote:
gasteropod wrote:The Conjuring (2013) - 1.5/5
...lack of scares
MPAA disagreed. They refused to give PG-13 even for a cut version, because "It’s just so scary. [There are] no specific scenes or tone you could take out to get it PG-13" :lol:
- http://www.movie-censorship.com/news_en.php?ID=5194
I know, it's all a conspiracy to make the film do well ;)
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

Hard Target (1993-USA) ***

UK Blu Ray: 100m uncut version.
Image
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22071
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by grim_tales »

How does it look? I know ANYTHING would be an improvement over the windowboxed UK DVD, but still :D
Still have to check mine out.
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

grim_tales wrote:How does it look? I know ANYTHING would be an improvement over the windowboxed UK DVD, but still :D
Still have to check mine out.
Go watch it for yourself!
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by HungFist »

Markgway wrote:
grim_tales wrote:How does it look? I know ANYTHING would be an improvement over the windowboxed UK DVD, but still :D
Still have to check mine out.
Go watch it for yourself!
http://caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergleiche/c ... p?cID=1823
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by HungFist »

Leon (USA, 1994) [DVD] – 4.5/5
One of the best action films of all time – in its “International Version”. The original theatrical version removes half of the film’s best scenes to make it a more straight forward action film. Incredibly though, Besson seems satisfied with the dumbed down theatrical version.

Super Fly (USA, 1972) [DVD] – 3.5/5
A blaxploitation classic full of excellent early 70’s New York footage. A drug dealer tries to go clean by organizing a massive drug deal to make enough money for the rest of his life. The film is very light on action, but comes with competent performances. Aside Ron O’Neal, his pusher partner Carl Lee has a couple of standout moments. The soundtrack is a classic as well, but the film drags a bit during the middle third – reportedly the script was so short it was barely enough to make a feature film. By today’s standards the film is politically incorrect with its almost glamorized drug dealing/using scenes.

Image Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

Sudden Death (1995-USA) **½

HD only makes the obvious stunt doubling worse.
Was Van Damme injured on this one, because there are some fights where he pretty much does just the close-ups?
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by saltysam »

The Driver 4/5 Excellent late 70's thriller from Walter Hill,RYan O'Neal is the almost mute Driver, Bruce Dern the unlikeable but determined cop out to arrest him.Though the characters are pretty unlikeable and the film is humourless the action sequences and performances make this a memorable 90 minutes. Amazingly i first saw this in the cinema back in the late 70's when it was an "A" Certificate :o the cold blooded murder of Ronee Blakely qualifies this for an upper rating alone
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

The cinema and VHS versions were cut by the BBFC.
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by saltysam »

Markgway wrote:The cinema and VHS versions were cut by the BBFC.
Well it's over 30 years since i saw it in the cinema but i'd still suggest the subject matter was probably more suited to a higher rating despite cuts.
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by HungFist »

Savage Streets (USA, 1984) [DVD] – 4.5/5
1980’s vigilante diamond with one of the best soundtracks of the decade! Linda Blair and her girls look like straight out of a 1970’s Toei pinky violence film when they walk the streets in the fabulous opening credits sequence. The film even has a girl fight with shirt ripping, plus Linda Blair’s topless scene as a contractual obligation for the Japanese financiers. Only the ending is slightly underwhelming in its briefness. The terrific villain gang (evil punk bastards complete with one member wearing red headband) steals the show in nearly every scene they are in, except when John Vernon on screen!

Image Image

Toei girls from a decade before: Sukeban Blues (1971) and Lynch Law Classroom (1973)
Image Image

(yeah, I know, Mark disagrees about the film :lol: )
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

HungFist wrote:(yeah, I know, Mark disagrees about the film :lol: )
Yes, he does! :D

I seem to remember it being amateurish and boring as hell.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

The Numbers Station (2012-UK-USA-Belgium) **

Scary MoVie (2013-USA) *
Ghastly spoof sequel; surely the rusty nail in this series' coffin.
The level of crude humour you can get away with in a PG-13 now is shocking.
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by saltysam »

Lovelace 2.5/5 ok story of Linda Lovelace who became a huge name in the early 70's starring n the porno Deep Throat.it's a strange film in many ways, we see the same story essentially told twice, firstly as a light hearted look into a girl getting into the porno industry,the second the harsh reality.undeniably sympathetic to the title character the cast is good though Amanda Seyfried is too attractive as Lovelace..though she gets her tits out...no bush though i liked the retro style cinematography as well.
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

Only mainstream Hollywood could make a film about a porn star without showing her bush (it's the 70s, she wouldn't even have needed to shave it). The book it's based on is, apparently, one to take with a pinch of salt. How do they get around the, erm, 'Deep Throat' issue? An actress who refuses to show bush isn't gonna pop a cock in her gob is she? Do they even cover the infamous scene?
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by saltysam »

Markgway wrote: The book it's based on is, apparently, one to take with a pinch of salt.
it was certainly sympathetic to Lovelace and from what i've read probably not a fully true recount of her life.
Markgway wrote:How do they get around the, erm, 'Deep Throat' issue? An actress who refuses to show bush isn't gonna pop a cock in her gob is she? Do they even cover the infamous scene?
it's there though done "strategically"
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

Semi-Pro (2008-USA-Germany) *
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

Only God Forgives (2013-France-Thailand-USA-Sweden) **

Hung Fist will adore this:

It's arty - LOADS of moody shots of Ryan Gosling vacantly staring into the abyss, bathed in neon light.
It's pretentious - the title alone SCREAMS pretention on what is a glorified revenge flick.
It's ultra-violent - a man has his eyes stabbed out with an ice-pick.
It's Asian - the style seemed more Japanese than Thai to me, but I'm no expert on either cinema.

That all said... I found the film more watchable than I expected. Partly because I expected to hate it. Too interesting and arresting too ignore, and the character of the retired cop is badass - he's the real hero of the film, not Gosling who's really a bad guy throughout - though the least bad of a bad bunch. Gosling's performance is strictly one-note and sorely lacking in the charisma to pull off such a taciturn, stoic character. Kristin Scott-Thomas is much more effective as a wicked bitch (did anyone else find the final scene between her and Gosling weird and downright twisted?).

This is definitely a work which will polarise some viewers (not least Cannes). I can see why some will hate it, and even understand (up to a point) why some would love it. It is what is and defiantly so.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out

Post by Markgway »

A Haunted House (2012-USA) *

This spoof stinks so bad it makes Scary MoVie seem tolerable by comparison.
Image
Post Reply