What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 26 Jan 2006, 14:11

Four Brothers - 3/5
Borrowed the DVD from a friend and watched it out of boredom. From the director of the shitfest 2 Fast 2 Furious so I wasn't expecting much. It was a surprisingly decent and well plotted revenge flick, but still highly forgettable and definately something I wouldn't even pay a dollar to see. The acting was decent enough and Mark Wahlberg hamming it up trying to be a street tough was amusing.

A Guy Thing - 3/5
Borrowed this the same friend. A dumb romcom with quite a few amusing gags with a good cast. Again highly forgettable and I wouldn't pay a $1 to see it.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Jan 2006, 14:24

Those are quite negative reviews for 3/5

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 26 Jan 2006, 14:31

grim_tales wrote:Those are quite negative reviews for 3/5

3 is an average in my books.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Jan 2006, 15:25

Fair enough, it is in mine as well

Though sometimes I can give out a 3 (or 3 1/2) if I was expecting to dislike a film but really enjoyed it (Accidental Spy, The Myth).

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 26 Jan 2006, 16:12

I love Jennifer's breasts as much as the next horny male, but The Tuxedo is Jackie's worst major movie. I actually thought The Medallion was quite watchable considering the negative reports I heard.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 26 Jan 2006, 20:55

THE FOG (2005) 2/5

a pale imitation of the carpenter original,with bland leads and a distinct lack of scares.
nice cinemtography though,

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Jan 2006, 23:06

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance 4.5/5

Let me say that I absolutely adore this film. It is a fitting and poetic conclusion to the emotionally charged 'revenge trilogy.' I believe that Mr Vengeance and Oldboy should really be viewed prior to Lady Vengeance, in order to appreciate Park Chan-wook's closing statements. This film is by far Park's most abstract work, favouring symbolisms over a linear storyline. I also love the black humour that the filmmaker handles so well and look forward to revisiting this title again.

I would say that it's the weakest in the 'revenge trilogy' but then that's like me saying The Two Towers was the weakest in LOTR - they are still fantastic titles in their own right. Oldboy, followed by Mr Vengeance and then Lady Vengeance.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jan 2006, 10:20

Onibaba (1964) - 4/5

A very good, interesting story and I liked the performances and also the use of music/score, where for 90% of the movie there is no music on the soundtrack (though there is intra-diagetic sound of course) and then suddenly there is a burst of music, its' a very frenzied score.

Deep within the wind-swept marshes of war-torn medieval Japan, an impoverished mother and her daughter-in-law eke out a lonely, desperate existence. Forced to murder lost Samurai and sell their belongings for grain, they dump the corpses down a deep, dark hole and live off the meagre spoils.

When a bedraggled neighbour, the former friend of the woman's son, returns from the skirmishes, lust, jealousy, and rage threaten to destroy the trio's tenuous existence before an ominous, ill-gotten demon mask seals their horrifying fate...

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 28 Jan 2006, 00:10

The Wicker Man: Director's Cut (DVD) 4/5

What an eerie film. Superb tension, humour and a fantastic climax. I knew how the film was going to end (sort of), as I've seen the iconic image so many times. However it was still an overwhelming conclusion. Furthermore it's set in Scotland, which is a huge plus.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 28 Jan 2006, 00:11

Grim man, did you get the Criterion?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jan 2006, 08:55

Bisc, no I just rented the R2 yo see what it was like

THE NAKED GUN 33 1/3 - 4/5

More of the same, another very silly, yet funny spoof

The best bit is undoubtedly Frank wreaking havoc at the Oscars.

"Lt. Frank Drebin - Police Squad!"
"Yeah, and I'm Robert De Niro"
"Mr. De Niro, we have to get inside"

(Upon discovering the bomb is inside the envelope containing the winning flop for Best Picture):

"Its' the bomb!"
*Audience cheers and applauds*...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jan 2006, 20:12

King Kong - 5/5

Absoloutely brilliant.
As someone said, even though you have to wait more than an hour for Kong to appear, its' more than worth the wait, the film never gets boring - even though it may be too long - and delivers some stunning set pieces, starting with the attack by the hostile natives of Skull Island and continuing with a dinosaur rampage. I also liked seeing Kong taking on dinosaurs (when he does appear, he is a true wonder to behold) and a terrifying tribute to the lost Spider Pit sequence from the 1933 original.
Andy Serkis really brings Kong to life IMO, I felt really sorry for him

He does a job of potraying a tortured soul, a la the Beast in Beauty and The Beast, or Gollum in LOTR, wonderfully. Naomi Watts is appealing and I liked the humor in the film brought by Jack Black's movie producer, and Lumpy the Cook (Andy Serkis again).
Fantastic movie

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 29 Jan 2006, 23:09

Darwin's Nightmare - 4.5/5
One hell of a great documentary. It is about how Europeans, Americans and Japanese are destroying Africa and killing its people by simply buying African goods. The whole documentary is not narrated and instead focusses on interviews with local people.
It really doesn't teach anything new to educated people or those who at least read articles about Africa's economy in news magazines, but I like the fact that such a film was made and released on DVD as most people are not reading regularly.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 30 Jan 2006, 21:43

Crash 4/5

Tense absorbing drama, whilst at times appears to be too self aware, manages to deal with racial issues without the usual cliches and stereotypes. The director Paul Haggis does a fairly good job of trying to show both sides of the story, and the starry cast all do a good job with their characters.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 30 Jan 2006, 22:59

Rat Race **.5/4

Uneven comedy, enough laughs though.

The bit where Jon Lovitz crashes a WW2 veteran's reunion dressed as Hitler had me in stitches...

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 30 Jan 2006, 22:59

Oh, and I'd definately shag Amy Smart!! 8)

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jan 2006, 23:12

John Q. - 3.5/5
The film has a heart-breaking story, but also benefits a lot from Denzel Washington's great acting. If it was an average actor who played the part of John Q., the film would have been of less interest to me.

Oh and also 0.5 points deducted for yet another Hollywood ending. I hate most of the Hollywood producers who force scriptwriters to change their scripts' endings.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 31 Jan 2006, 17:29

Equilibrium - 3/5

Pretty good movie that borrows some ideas from other sources (The Matrix being the main culprit IMO), but its' not bad. I liked the atmosphere. The "gun-kata" is very cool 8)

I did feel there were some plotholes though

If the purpose of the society is to surpress emotion, then why (for the example in the scene with the puppy or when Christian Bale's wife is arrested) do the cops look angry when Bale pisses them off?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 31 Jan 2006, 23:04

Gattaca - 4.5/5

Quite a clever little satire in a science fiction setting. The views of the characters are perhaps not too dissimilar to that of today's society. As usual, Mr Niccol represents my favourite breed of filmmaker - those who have the ability to write and direct their titles, displaying full creative control. The visuals are stunning; superb use of filters and a fine grasp of landscapes. I'm in love with this film.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Feb 2006, 00:08

Wait 'til you're older - 3/5
Andy Lau is in it and it is good. More about it in my detailed review.

http://asia-on-dvd.com/index.php?name=N ... cle&sid=52

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 01 Feb 2006, 08:55

Has anyone seen Equilibrium?

I loved the gun-kata and Christian Bale is too cool for school 8) However, I was just reminded of "Matrix" (replacing computers with emotion controlling drugs and brainwashing), "Minority Report" and some "Wizard of Oz" or "Farienheit 451". But Matrix had influences too, I still enjoyed Equilibrium even though it used some ideas from other movies.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Feb 2006, 09:25

"Equilibrium" has great visuals, but the film didn't do more for me.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 01 Feb 2006, 09:31

Agree with you in that it's very stylish 8) Also I congratulate Kurt Wimmer for making that sort of film look convincing on a low budget. However, I don't think anyone will look at this in 20 years time as an example of "Kurt Wimmer artistry" you know?

I remember Gil's rant about this film on the old BnB when he tried to convince everyone the film was a masterpiece LMAO

Its' not, its' influences are apparent. But it was a good movie

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 01 Feb 2006, 10:03

Brucey have you seen Equilibrium?

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 01 Feb 2006, 10:32