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

Old Pang Yau · Post by **Old Pang Yau** » 20 Apr 2009, 07:08

Just saw Crank 2 as well. Now, I would say "They don't make 'em like this anymore"... but I don't think they ever quite made 'em like this to begin with! While I could use the cliche that this is a "Grindhouse style" film, I think it would be more accurate to say it's a 21st century stylized Grindhouse film, as it hits pretty much all of the same exploitive notes as those films, but with a video game mentality.

Speaking of which, every other review pretty much says that the Crank films are basically "Grand Theft Auto: The Movie"... I'd have to agree. In fact, edit Crank and Crank 2 together (the film initially picks up RIGHT where the last film ended, then jumps ahead three months), substitute any reference to LA with Liberty City, and it would easily be Grand Theft Auto the movie! An official GTA movie will only pale in comparison by this point, unless you actually have Neveldine/Taylor directing that as well.

My rating? 4/5

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 20 Apr 2009, 14:38

CRANK UNO is on ITV4 tonight. Will have to check it out finally.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 20 Apr 2009, 17:07

I gave CRANK 2 High Voltage- 4.5 out of 5

as well as frankly it IS the single most enjoyable film I have ever in my life seen in a cinema.

What I mean by that is I just had a smile from beginning to the end and I rarley ever let out even a small chuckle during any films really, but I could not stop laughing like some looney thru the entire film (everyone in the cinema was the same, so not just me).

I was in pain I was doing that so often! pretty long stretches of the film just had me in fits and I just could not even breath. The first 45 minutes were maybe one constant long amazing scene of hilarity like I have never experienced before

To say I cannot wait to see it again is an understatement, hope it is just as funny next time around

may go see it again in a few days.

The first Crank was great and I loved it, funny at times and it made me chuckle a bit here and there, but Crank 2 just worked every time with only a few of the bits and bobs not working for me (which gave me time to bloody breath!!!).

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 20 Apr 2009, 19:27

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/36974/cr ... h-voltage/

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 20 Apr 2009, 19:39

Yeah becuase that reviwer has taste. He liked 17 Again and Mutant Chronicles

I love the way he says Crank 2 is "predictable"

he did not even watch the film.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Apr 2009, 19:49

How do you know he didn't see it?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 20 Apr 2009, 19:57

Err becuase he said it is "predictable" anyone who thinks it's that has NOT seen the film at all.

You can call it many things but "predictable" is fucking insane.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 20 Apr 2009, 20:29

gasteropod wrote:http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/36974/cr ... h-voltage/

I See you happened to neglect linking to the 2nd review on the same site,so for balance i'll do it for you

Romero is absolutely right, though some may hate Crank 2 with a vengeance one thing it is not is predictable!

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/36975/cr ... tage-2009/

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 20 Apr 2009, 20:31

If someone paid me one millliiiioooon punds, no way could I EVER have guessed what was coming

that puts it mildly

Still I do not mind anyone having hate for the film, it is either a hit or miss, some hate these like the plague, some love em

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 20 Apr 2009, 23:56

CRANK 1.5/5

Possibly the dumbest action movie I've ever seen makes COMMANDO look like Charles Dickens. Headache-inducing, noisy, immoral, and packed with more mindless violence than any film I can remember. There are anti-heroes and then there's Jason Statham: A vicious, selfish thug whose grotesque actions we're actually supposed to cheer. Witless dialogue and terrible acting (was Amy Smart supposed to be stoned throughout or is she just that bad?) are crusty icing on a tasteless cake. I laughed a couple of times in spite of myself, but this really is braindead fare for those who found the original DOA too intellectually challenging. Is the sequel more of the same? Because if it is I'll know to avoid.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 21 Apr 2009, 03:38

Crank is literally supposed to be like a big blockbuster modern action videogame. Not a mature one with serious plot and actual fleshed characters (eg GTA4) either, but a highly juvenile, unashamedly gratuitous one (like Gears of War).

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 21 Apr 2009, 09:16

King of Kong - 3.5/5
Interesting documentary about some guy who wants to beat the world record at "Donkey Kong". Man, the world record holder is a completely arrogant idiot.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Apr 2009, 11:34

Hi LD

How are you?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Apr 2009, 13:18

I had a feeling Mark would hate it

. I thought it was fairly good fun "in places" but mostly rubbish. Even action films need some sort of plot.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Apr 2009, 13:19

EvaUnit02 wrote:Crank is literally supposed to be like a big blockbuster modern action videogame. Not a mature one with serious plot and actual fleshed characters (eg GTA4) either, but a highly juvenile, unashamedly gratuitous one (like Gears of War).

Whatever it was supposed to be it was awful.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 21 Apr 2009, 17:19

Markgway wrote:CRANK 1.5/5
Is the sequel more of the same? Because if it is I'll know to avoid.

I thought it was more of the same, but the people I took to the cinema one loved it, one hated it and said it was nothing like the first film. Mmmm.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 21 Apr 2009, 18:16

Markgway wrote:CRANK 1.5/5

... and packed with more mindless violence than any film I can remember.

SOLD!!! I gotta see it now!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Apr 2009, 01:27

WALKING TALL (2004) **

Toned-down remake of 70s hardnut classic starts out surprisingly well but runs out of steam half way. The action became mechanical and I could've done without talent-void Johnny Knoxville in support. Watch the original instead.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 22 Apr 2009, 11:39

I watched Walking Tall (2004) a few months ago. I doubt I'd give it more than 2 or 3 stars, but it was certainly nice to see that kind of movie again. Just a fun brainless 'let's kick some evil bad guys' ass!' flick.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Apr 2009, 18:22

CLERKS II

Disappointing sequel has its moments but is nowhere near as funny as the original. Genuine wit and clever dialogue has been replaced by crude humour and an over-abundance of profanity (which would've been fine were it funny). It speaks volumes that the better scenes in the film were the dramatic and romantic ones with Rosario Dawson giving a better performance than the film deserves. I've never strongly disliked any of Smith's films but having failed to achieve anything in the last ten years (much like his characters) you have to wonder what future he has as a filmmaker? Expect Clerks III in 2013.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 24 Apr 2009, 09:50

Bill Bailey: Cosmic Jam - 4/5
Tinselworm - 4/5

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 24 Apr 2009, 19:12

Gran Torino (USA / AU, 2008) – 4/5
The previous film Eastwood directed and acted in, Million Dollar Baby, wasn’t a very good film. But this time Eastwood succeeds almost flawlessly, despite the theme being racism, which can easily produce bad movies (such as Crash). But in Gran Torino Eastwood keeps it down to earth, not trying to build a bigger than life tragedy. Furthermore, despite the serious subject there’s loads of humour that comes mostly from realistic situations rather than added one-liners. Slight over-optimism can easily be overlooked thanks to Eastwood’s highly enjoyable performance and presence.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Apr 2009, 15:04

Million Dollar Baby is one of Eastwood's best works but I also hear this great. I'm not surprised you prefer this over MDB Hung, not surprised at all.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Apr 2009, 15:15

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Apr 2009, 15:25

Why are you repeating yourself?

Why do you think Hung would prefer this over MDB? He generally dislikes many Hollywod films (of which MDB fits better) but loves exploitation (which GT fits better).