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

[bradavon]

Did you watch the Theatrical (aka Director's) cut or Extended Cut? I've only seen the Director's Cut but it is good.

[grim_tales]

Theatrical.

[bradavon]

Why? Most who own the DVD/BD seem to watch the Extended Cut.

[grim_tales]

I hadnt seen it before so just thought I'd start with the Theatrical

[saltysam]

American Gangster: 4/5

A very well made film, Washington and Crowe are outstanding in it. Do you think Lucas is made out to be a kind of cult figure though? Maybe it's because of the music, cars etc that he seems so cool even though he's a drug dealer.
Interesting to hear interviews with the real Richie Roberts and Frank Lucas on Disc 2.

Boring movie.

[RickyTheDragonSteamboat]

Universal Soldier: Regeneration - 4.5/5
A solid action film with good acting and surprisingly well choregraphed fight scenes. This is easily the best film of the series and should've been released theatrically.

[luckystars]

Universal Soldier: Regeneration - 4.5/5
A solid action film with good acting and surprisingly well choregraphed fight scenes. This is easily the best film of the series and should've been released theatrically.

Really liked it too. 4/5 from memory

[saltysam]

Universal Soldier: Regeneration - 4.5/5
A solid action film with good acting and surprisingly well choregraphed fight scenes. This is easily the best film of the series and should've been released theatrically.

Really liked it too. 4/5 from memory

Don't tell Mark-he thinks it's the worst of the series

[romerojpg]

I wish it was cheaper and I would buy the bugger in HD

[Markgway]

Don't tell Mark-he thinks it's the worst of the series

True - but then all three of the official Uni Sol films are disappointments. I really hoped that JCVD was a breakthrough and that it would take him away from such empty-headed dross. Has anyone seen The Eagle Path?

[luckystars]

In the Blu-Ray extras for UniSol3, JCVD talks about being grateful for the positive critical reaction of the JCVD movie. He said it was like a 'shot in the arm' that has energized his career.

What I liked about about Regeneration was John Hyams using his relationship with the UFC scene. Adding real fighters/techniques from that field. And of course having his dad on the team helped.

For me its film that was really well crafted for what it is - a simple action movie - but still stood out as a good piece of work.

Plus I know John Foo from the UK martial arts/wushu scene

[grim_tales]

Naked Fist: 1/5

Cheesy martial arts B movie.

[grim_tales]

Casablanca: 4.5/5

A beautiful film

[grim_tales]

Dark Passage (1947): 4/5

Exciting film-noir thriller/adventure, it can be a slow burner but it's very good. Humphrey Bogart plays Vincent Parry, a man falsely accused of murdering his wife who esxapes from jail - and for the first hour, we see everything from his point of view... apart from his face, that is which I thought was really clever. Lauren Bacall is the woman who shelters and helps him after she reads her father has been convicted in a similar way so assumes Parry must be innocent.

[grim_tales]

Shrek Forever After: 3.5/5

I rather enjoyed it I liked the references to the 1st Shrek movie, it was also much better and funnier than the previous Shrek (Shrek 3)
But equally, this should be the end now, IMO. It was good (much better than the 3rd) but not a patch on Shrek 1 or 2.

"I love you Daddeh"
"Do the Roar"


The Groundhog Day type montage of Shrek having the same day over and over again was also hilarious

[DangerousLeeHandsome]

The Shephard: Border Patrol (2008) - 2/5
A real disappointment especially when u consider its from the same guy who made Undisputed 2 & 3. Director Isaac Florentine plays it waay too safe with JCVD; or could it be that JCVD's skills were simply too limited for Florentine's energetic style of choreography? IDK. What I do know is that the fights were short, slow and poorly edited. Scott Adkins is shamefully miscast as a side villain while some random looking guy gets lead baddie!?! Thumbs down.

[Markgway]

Van Damme's DTV efforts are better than Seagal's yet that somehow makes them more disappointing.

[DangerousLeeHandsome]

Predators - 4/5
Lots of fun. best predator movie since the original. thumbs up!

[luckystars]

Has no one seen Inception yet? I thought it rocked. No cinema goers here?

[bradavon]

I'm going tomorrow night. Care to elaborate?

[gasteropod]

I too am going tonight, been dying to see this for ages.

[romerojpg]

I liked it and it worked thats for sure, but no way is it as good as people are going on about it as THE BEST FILM EVER MADE OMG!!! which many seemd to say about The Dark Knight as well, I dont think its as good as that.

Not even close to "that" good. I have seen many films far better this year (well for me). For me it never blew me away, apart from the ZERO G Action which was stunning.

[bradavon]

Juno: 8 out of 10

Review date: 19/07/2010

I didn't know what to expect with this one. I knew it was a sleeper hit back in 2007-2008 and the lead protagonist was a pregnant female but that's about it.

Going in with no preconceptions and boy was I impressed. I loved it from the first minute to the last. The story had me laughing one minute and shedding a small tear the next, as the best movies tend to do.

I cannot believe Ellen Page (as the titular Juno) is only 23 (although she does look it), she shows a gravitas and acting ability far above her young age. Michael Cera (as Juno's boyfriend) was excellent too, showing complete naivety but at the same time hints of maturity.

I have said it before but it's always such a breath of fresh air to watch a strong female in a load role. Juno isn't your typical high school dumb blonde who only cares about make-up and shoes. Let's face it, that is how women in high school movies are almost always portrayed.

It's also equally refreshing to watch a film without any fat. It's short 92 minutes is just perfect.

If I have one complaint, it is the dialogue at times falls into what I like to call "Dawson's Creek syndrome". Sorry but 15-16 years old don't speak with a vocabulary that lengthy. Given that this is a film and it did make the dialogue more enjoyable, I am willing to forgive the filmmakers this one indiscretion.

Ellen Page is one smart young actress and definitely someone to watch out for. I think I better go and track down Hard Candy . . .

[romerojpg]

I think I better go and track down Hard Candy . . .

I love Hard Candy, the film and the look of the film with amazing photography and depth of field brining it all to nasty life. Well worth seeing.

Ellen for me has some wonderful films out there. Juno you know about, I would add Whip It to the list, I also loved her in that, great film she is just adorable in Juno and Whip it.

Then we come to Inception, not sure what to make of her in that

[bradavon]

Annoyingly the only Hard Candy BD is a shoddy Australian 1080i50 affair with zero extras. I'm going to pick up the DVD, which thankfully is cheap as chips and has a surprising amount of meaty extras. I can always get the BD later, when a proper release comes.