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

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Feb 2008, 17:23

EvaUnit02 wrote:Mark: Out of 5, how do you rate it?

Hmm.... 3.5 or maybe 4

Might need a second home viewing to decide.

If you like action/Rambo/Stallone/violence check it out.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Feb 2008, 17:42

grim_tales wrote:LOM had some excellent 70's (not 80's) music and some great humour as well.

Thanks.

Markgway wrote:They should've created a new rating for this one: VAF or Violent As Fuck!

It's amazing it got the same rating as American Pie! The MPAA so needs to bring in that Hard R the movie business has wanted for years.

It's good to hear you liked it Mark. Annoyingly it's not showing my local area this week, hopefully it will next week.

thelostdragon wrote:The Warlords - 4/5
Jet Li shows again that he is exactly what Jackie Chan always says he wants to be: An actor who can fight rather than a fighter who can act.

It's also good to hear you liked this too. I agree btw.

Markgway wrote:If you like action/Rambo/Stallone/violence check it out.

Does it feel like an 80s action movie or a modern action movie? I don't expect it to be up there with the best action films of the 80s but would it fit in well with them?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 22 Feb 2008, 19:04

bradavon wrote:It's amazing it got the same rating as American Pie! The MPAA so needs to bring in that Hard R the movie business has wanted for years.

It's called NC-17 and it's been around for years.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Feb 2008, 19:17

bradavon wrote:Does it feel like an 80s action movie or a modern action movie? I don't expect it to be up there with the best action films of the 80s but would it fit in well with them?

Modern, I think.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Feb 2008, 19:18

Shingster wrote:It's called NC-17 and it's been around for years.

Since 1990, but no bugger uses it!

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 Feb 2008, 23:32

She Shoots Straight (Hong Kong, 1990) – 2,5/5
Not one of the best girls with guns films. Female leads Joyce Godenzi and Carina Lau are both quite alright but director Corey Yuen could have done his job better. Despite the action being good and coming with some impressive stunts, there isn’t really anything too exceptional on display. A much bigger problem is the sobbing marathon that has no place in this (or any) film. It goes on for too long even to be funny. On the positive side Yuen Wah, who plays the villain, is as good as ever. Overall flawed but still moderately enjoyable actioner.

Sex Hunter (Japan, 1980) – 2,5/5
Meisaku Roman s&m schooling genre takes a welcome turn by replacing the usual noble housewife with a young and innocent ballet dancer (Ayako Ohta). Director Toshiharu Ikeda does his best to create a balance between the sex overload and real cinematic storytelling. The camerawork manages to keep many scenes alive, and the weird jump cuts make audience wonder if they’re intentional or not. Using classical music to create contrast between audio and images is not the most original trick but does the job every now and then. The shocking, and by far greatest, Coca Cola product placement scene of all time made me question not only the film-makers’s sanity but also their understanding for gravity and human biology. Some outdoor settings are effective as well but are ultimately, like all the good things in Sex Hunter, somewhat under-used.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 00:05

I thought "She Shoots Straight" was supposed to be pretty good?

Shingster wrote:It's called NC-17 and it's been around for years.

Like it matters when no one uses it, you fail

, try harder!

Markgway wrote:Modern, I think.

Thanks

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 23 Feb 2008, 01:29

bradavon wrote:
Shingster wrote:It's called NC-17 and it's been around for years.
Like it matters when no one uses it, you fail , try harder!

Whether they use it or not, the option is clearly there for them if they want it and a harder R would just serve exactly the same purpose - and probably be just as likely to remain unused like the NC-17.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 23 Feb 2008, 02:01

bradavon wrote:I thought "She Shoots Straight" was supposed to be pretty good?

2.5/5 = average in most people's books, not terrible.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 03:19

Shingster wrote:Whether they use it or not, the option is clearly there for them if they want it and a harder R would just serve exactly the same purpose - and probably be just as likely to remain unused like the NC-17.

I know, gee thanks.

As I understand it NC17 isn't used as it has a stigma against it, there's no evidence to suggest Hard R would immediately have the same stigma. It's well known many in the Hollywood film business have been asking for a Hard R for years, that's not "dip shit Bradavon saying it" but Hollywood professionals working in the business.

Many have complained there is far too much use of R. A two rating system for the majority of films is absurd.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 23 Feb 2008, 04:51

And how long will it take for a "Hard R" rating to end up with its own stigma too? Personally I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with the current classification system in america - it puts the onus on adult filmgoers to decide if their children/younger siblings or friends can handle the material in the film or not. It gives more power and choice to the viewers and that can only be a good thing.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 04:57

I completely agree but to only be able to choose between PG-13 or R leads to a complete gap of the 15 type rating.

Rambo vs. American Pie is the perfect example.

I'd presume everyone would agree they should be in different categories from each other. Even if you take offence to the nudity in American Pie it's so infrequent to mean on a scale of violence vs. nudity it's absurd they get the same rating.

This is where an additional Hard R would make much more sense. It's also equally absurd you have a rating (NC-17) as you point out but due to public perception it is effectively (outside of Porn) worthless. That too is absurd.

I do agree a Hard R "may" end up like NC-17 but I don't thin it's a given. It is bizarre by giving the lot to an R they manage to fool the public into thinking it's less violent/more family friendly than a stronger rating.

It's also worth remembering a Hard R would still put the onus on the parent, whereas the physiological thinking that "it's absolutely not safe for kids" means to many Americans NC-17 must either mean extreme violence or filth.

A Hard R is very much needed to give the public a better idea of what they can expect. Is it extremely violent or only a little? Does it feature lots of boobs or just one shot?

We don't have that thinking in the UK where 18 is just considered by most to be more for adults than a 15 rating. I do think in that respect the British system works better, there is no stigma to any of the ratings.

Do you disagree?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 Feb 2008, 09:26

One Foot In The Grave - Season 3: 4.5/5

Classic comedy, not only often very funny indeed, but the series also combined the comedy with more tragic and poignant moments, which are very well done.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Feb 2008, 10:56

Serenity (HD DVD) - 3/5

I thought this was pretty good, although I've not watched the TV series it was based on so I don't have much of a clue on the background of the characters. Some good special effects and the HD transfer is stunning.

The Prestige (HD DVD) - 4/5

Pretty baffling at times but I thought it was really good. Some great twists and turns and you've got to love Christian Bale's accent!

Black Rain (HD DVD) - 3/5

Not as good as I remember, but a memorable 80s thriller. I love the location shots in Japan - they reminded me of Blade Runner in some ways.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Feb 2008, 14:05

The irony is AMERICAN PIE had to be CUT for an 'R' whereas RAMBO (which is an NC-17 in all but name) escaped with an UNCUT 'R'. Bizarre.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 23 Feb 2008, 14:56

Markgway wrote:The irony is AMERICAN PIE had to be CUT for an 'R'

Cut for R? Lol, the unrated version was 11 in Finland

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 23 Feb 2008, 17:38

bradavon wrote:Do you disagree?

Of course I disagree, you simply cannot compare American Pie to Rambo when it comes to the MPAA, because they are and have always been much more lenient on violence than sexual content and profanity. Even if you had a soft R and hard R, American Pie would still have gotten a hard R because - as Mark quit rightly pointed out - the original edit of the film was pushing NC-17 rating by the MPAA, just as say a film like Clerks very nearly recieved an NC-17 rating as well. There is also the matter of MPAA-studio-star politics that can increase or decrease a rating (ie: Sam Raimi probably wouldn't have gotten Rambo an R-rating uncut, but Stallone can).

Your whole argument about the "15 rating" is completely based around your own culture, America tmk has never had such a rating and your own arrogance and ignorance is telling you that the "British" way is the correct one.

It's not, there is absolutely nothing wrong in principal with America's rating system, just the organisation that uses it.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Feb 2008, 18:45

HungFist wrote:
Markgway wrote:The irony is AMERICAN PIE had to be CUT for an 'R'
Cut for R? Lol, the unrated version was 11 in Finland

Well, that's maybe the other extreme. I certainly wouldn't show AP to kids.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 19:23

Shingster wrote:Of course I disagree, you simply cannot compare American Pie to Rambo when it comes to the MPAA, because they are and have always been much more lenient on violence than sexual content and profanity.

And my point is proven that there is something very wrong with the way the MPAA rate films.

Shingster wrote:There is also the matter of MPAA-studio-star politics that can increase or decrease a rating (ie: Sam Raimi probably wouldn't have gotten Rambo an R-rating uncut, but Stallone can).

Agreed, another reason why it's broken.

Shingster wrote:It's not, there is absolutely nothing wrong in principal with America's rating system, just the organisation that uses it.

Well maybe but I don't think the American public would stand for NC-17 being used more wildly, which would create just the ignorant point I raised of a lesser and higher rating.

I thought you said the American rating system was perfect because it puts the onus on the parent, funny how NC-17 goes against that. A Hard R would solve this problem as I already pointed out, as it would still put the onus on the parent to decide.

You keep having cheap jabs that I'm the ignorant fuck, look at yourself in the mirror. I'm disagreeing with you but I'm not throwing personal comments your way.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 19:23

Markgway wrote:The irony is AMERICAN PIE had to be CUT for an 'R' whereas RAMBO (which is an NC-17 in all but name) escaped with an UNCUT 'R'. Bizarre.

That doesn't surprise me at all. The MPAA is run by Christian fundamentalists who get off on violence but despise nudity.

Do you mean the Unrated DVD was the original cut?

IronMonkey wrote:The Prestige (HD DVD) - 4/5

Pretty baffling at times but I thought it was really good. Some great twists and turns and you've got to love Christian Bale's accent!

I thought this was ace too, a solid Hollywood thriller. Not that Thriller is probably the perfect word.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Feb 2008, 20:30

bradavon wrote:Do you mean the Unrated DVD was the original cut?

In this case: Yes.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 20:42

Thanks. I always presumed it was just an Unrated cut.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 23 Feb 2008, 20:44

bradavon wrote:a solid Hollywood thriller. Not that Thriller is probably the perfect word.

Nor is Hollywood, since it was by an English director, English writers, about 5 English stars in it, and a joint US/UK production

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Feb 2008, 20:51

Bollocks! It's a Hollywood film, it may have English cast and crew but it's Hollywood.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Feb 2008, 22:32

bradavon wrote:Thanks. I always presumed it was just an Unrated cut.

Sometimes it's purely a marketing exercise, but for others it's censorship. Cynics might think that these days some companies hold back material just so they can reinsert it later and market their DVD as extended or uncut. That practice was virtually non-existant back in 1999.