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

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 30 Dec 2007, 21:34

Smith played himself in Wild Wild West as well

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Dec 2007, 21:47

He also wishes he never starred in that film too.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 30 Dec 2007, 22:13

Does he? I didnt know that.
I don't blame him TBH

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 30 Dec 2007, 22:47

Shingster wrote:Of course, aside from being ultra-conservative, you're also the type of grumpy film "fan" who dismisses 99% of films for a variety of preconcieved absurd notions and stereotypes. So I'm not surprised you see Will Smith's name on a credit list and think of just one thing and will not be convinced otherwise!

I expect most films to disappoint. And most times I'm right. If I'm wrong I'll admit it. If I like something I'll praise it. I'm not easy pleased like some lefty leaf-eaters. So sue me. 8)

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 30 Dec 2007, 22:55

Markgway wrote:
Shingster wrote: I'm not easy pleased like some lefty leaf-eaters. 8)

Shingster & Brad started young

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Dec 2007, 23:04

Markgway wrote:I'm not easy pleased like some lefty leaf-eaters.

You say that like it's a bad thing

It's a common misconception that all Liberals are big Greens supporters too

Markgway wrote:I expect most films to disappoint. And most times I'm right. If I'm wrong I'll admit it. If I like something I'll praise it.

Don't you think, going in with such an opinion isn't giving most films a chance? It's no wonder you're mostly disappointed.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 30 Dec 2007, 23:08

Cromartie High School (2005 - Japan): 2 / 5

Watchable, but ridiculous.

This movie feels like some sort of overblown 85-minute joke.

Just like an early Stephen Chow / Wong Jing film, Cromartie High School is just one long succession of gags. Some are funny (the gay King Kong, the Wong Fei-Hung parody), some are just daft (the robot exorcism) and some are ambitious but rubbish (the alien battle climax and its numerous references to Casshern).

You can't just string a few gags together and hope they'll turn into a good film.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 30 Dec 2007, 23:20

bradavon wrote:
Markgway wrote:I'm not easy pleased like some lefty leaf-eaters.
You say that like it's a bad thing

Lol, I figure that since I've been cast as the "Ultra Conservative" (which ain't even true) I may as well go along with it, and take the piss out of you sandal-wearers.

It's a common misconception that all Liberals are big Greens supporters too

It's a common misconception that people who believe in responsibility and restraint are facists.

Markgway wrote:Don't you think, going in with such an opinion isn't giving most films a chance? It's no wonder you're mostly disappointed.

It might prevent me from watching a film... but if I do watch it I give it a fair chance and appraisal. I've seen films that I expected not to like and liked, and films I expected to like and loathed. But usually my first instinct is bang on.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 30 Dec 2007, 23:21

bradavon wrote:
Markgway wrote:I expect most films to disappoint. And most times I'm right. If I'm wrong I'll admit it. If I like something I'll praise it.
Don't you think, going in with such an opinion isn't giving most films a chance? It's no wonder you're mostly disappointed.

Wouldn't he have more chance of not being disappointed, since he'd had such low expectations to start with? It's easy to be disappointed with a film if you go and watch it with really high expectations.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 31 Dec 2007, 00:03

True.

@ Mark: Touché.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 31 Dec 2007, 14:56

Finding Nemo 5/5

The Incredibles 4/5

Just watched these 2 yesterday back to back. Fantastic movies. I didn't know if I'd like Nemo, but it surpassed all expectations. Almost as good as Monsters Inc (which I think is the benchmark of all the Pixar movies thus far that I've seen).

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 31 Dec 2007, 15:13

The Incredibles pisses all over Finding Nemo

in fact it pisses over most films.

But hey.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 31 Dec 2007, 15:35

Tom, Cromartie is a live action version of a manga... I've read some of the manga and watched the anime, they are good, not touching the film.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 31 Dec 2007, 16:14

Thanks for the info.
Will try the anime series.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 31 Dec 2007, 16:28

Pirate you mean.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 31 Dec 2007, 18:43

Failan 4.5/5

An absolute gem of a film.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 31 Dec 2007, 19:12

The second half is but I find the first half hard work.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 31 Dec 2007, 19:22

It's slow and requires a little patience. But it's still a thoroughly moving experience. I wonder if Korea (or any country) still makes films like this.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 31 Dec 2007, 21:05

hey,

Lifeline Express 4/5

Wonderfully entertaining Cinema City stuff from Kirk Wong, mixing freely comedy and horror to quite VALID effect. Some excellent comedic scenarios and chilling scenes.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Jan 2008, 13:36

Black Snake Moan - 3.5/5
Outrageous! A black man in the South holding a white woman on a chain? Wasn't it supposed to be the way round?

Really good blues film with Samuel L. Jackson.

The Deaths of Ian Stone - 2/5
Really expected more from this.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 01 Jan 2008, 14:29

Yakuza Graveyard (Japan, 1976) – 4/5
Although Battles Without Honor and Humanity didn’t fully convince me, Yakuza Graveyard leaves no room for doubts. Fukasaku’s study on the thin red line between the police and the yakuza is some of the best crime cinema I’ve seen in ages. The storyline holds up well, and the main character, played by Tetsuya Watari, is an excellent combination of cinematic anti-hero and realism. The female lead is played by Meiko Kaji, who gives another solid performance.

The Boxer’s Omen (Hong Kong, 1983) – 3/5
I’m not even gonna try to describe this film. The Boxer’s Omen is one of those movies that you won’t believe unless you see it yourself, and maybe not even then. The gross out level is high and snacks are not recommended while watching this black magic circus. Bolo Yeung’s kick boxing and Wai Ga Man’s naked body are used as filler footage whenever the special effects crew is taking a brief break from their ever impressive work. A sure hit among genre fans, but for some reason I found myself only entertained, not blown the moon.

5 Centimeters per Second (Japan, 2007) – 4,5/5
I can’t believe it took me this long to realize that every single Makoto Shinkai movie is about distance, either physical or emotional. 5 Centimeters per Second sets its storyline on smaller scale than the directors previous two films, but it also avoids their mistakes. There is no longer unnecessary scifi content or complex plotting. This is how it should be. The film consists of three related parts, running 25, 22 and 14 minutes.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 01 Jan 2008, 16:22

I found 5cm per second almost unbearably pretentious. 2 extremely dull central characters moping around because they had to move to opposite ends of the country in middle school. The visuals are absolutely gorgeous and Shinkai's rapid-shot editing style is as strong as ever, but he seriously needs to move away from long-distance relationships now as there's just no flair in his writing anymore.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 01 Jan 2008, 16:30

no, no, no. What I like most about Shinkai's films, even more than the visuals, is the themes.

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story – 2,5/5
Gotta admire this structure: have a woman being interrogated (read: tortured) in front of the ancient, merciless court. She tells her story (sex) in flashbacks, because whenever she tries to remain silent she gets tortured (violence). Brilliant. Only that the torture isn’t as much ”fun” as it should be. The backstory however offers enough wtf moments to keep your interest up. The amount of sex is quite high, but the leading lady is hot and I didn’t really get bored.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 01 Jan 2008, 16:57

hey,

certainly found the Tommy Wong/Yvonne Hung story quite....oddly touching. Shows Bosco Lam at his most creative. Of course Elvis Tsui and Julie Lee makes sure to ramp it all up to classic status as well as the GHOST referencing/parody.

Got the R1 dvd, Hung? Can you check if it includes an additional subtitle track with the old HK cinema translation? Discotek were going to attempt to include both and I for one don't fucking need new, redone subs with additional errors in favour of the old fun translation that works just as well with the flick.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 01 Jan 2008, 17:56

Haven't seen Ghost, missed the parody.

Got the R1, the menus state "Crazy Hong Kong subtitles", yes.