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

[saltysam]

Mars Attacks 2.5/5

Entertaining Tim Burton sci-fi/black comedy actioner isn't great but is well worth watching.The blu-ray is clean and colourful but nothing special.

Jaguar Lives 2/5

Joe Lewis was a great martial artist but unlike his friend Chuck Norris never made it as a film star,understandable when he's saddled with this as his launch to stardom.A blatant Bond-style rip-off with a multitude of guest stars making fleeting appearances,it leaps from country to country for no discernible reason.Joe is likeable enough though and the film at least never gets boring.

[bradavon]

Tamara Drew

First the good points. It was really funny in places and even quite moving in others, was well made, the acting was perfectly fine and Gemma Arteton has a fantastic bottom.

On the downside it was completely unrealistic, it was as if the director Stephen Frears had said "you'll be the country one", "you'll be the posh one", "you'll be the bitch". It was hammed up something chronic at times, it didn't always make a lot of logical sense (why did Gemma Arteton shag the old bloke? That all the women fancied, yet was completely vile) and the ending felt tacked on.

There was also an odd single shot of Gemma Arteton drugged up on heroine, which felt like the rape scene in Naked Weapon. It was completely out of place and describing it would've been plenty (which they had just done anyway).

It would've been better if Richard Curtis had written, but not directed it.

Overall a good fun yarn though. I laughed for a lot of the film, which is ultimately the point of a comedy. 6 out of 10 (6 out of 10 and up, means it's good in my book). I'd recommend it.

[saltysam]

Frozen 2.5/5

Effective little thriller from Adam Green about 3 friends who end up stranded on a cable car high up in a ski resort in sub-zero temperatures and no hope of rescue for at least a week.how will they survive? didn't care for the characters to much but it runs a nifty 90 minutes,moves quickly and has some scenes that made me cringe at least one character falls asleep then wakes up with her hand frozen to the safety bar..

[HungFist]

Brad, nice to see you reviewing films in this thread again

R (Denmark, 2010) – 3/5
This Danish prison film hits hard even in its own genre. Unlike most award-hungry prison film it doesn’t attempt to tell a “coming of age” story nor does it feature wise and philosophical narrator. Instead it’s a 90 minute dive to hell. R refers to its protagonists, Rune, and also supporting character Rashid, both of who are serving only a short term sentence in a prison where it’s impossible to survive alone. Loyalty must be towards those who can keep you alive. Even then, R does have his sunnier days behind the bars. The film doesn’t swallow itself in constant pessimism or overly graphic images, which only makes it more powerful. Many of the actors are real life prison guards and ex-prisoners. Impressive although not overly original film to depress the audience.

Kaboom (USA, 2010) – 3.5/5
“Weird is the new normal”. Upon receiving award for his previous film Mysterious Skin, director Gregg Araki was told by trash king John Waters that Mysterious Skin is great and all, but what he really would like to see is another old school Araki film. That is Kaboom: drugs, college sex, and mysterious men in animal suits. That’s for beginners, before it really starts getting weird. The increasingly trippy film ultimately escapes genre classification and wraps up with a big question: what the hell was this all about. It’s the latter that is Kaboom’s potential problem. While realism isn’t what you’d ask for from a Araki film, any movie nevertheless needs some rules and a logic, fantasy it may be, that is at least remotely understandable. Otherwise there’s no reward and the puzzle couldn’t possibly be solved by the viewer. Araki is balancing on a thin fence here, not quite falling but spending some time hanging with one hand. The director’s sunshine-approach towards the subject saves a lot, though - Kaboom is eye candy with terrific soundtrack. Call it the bright side of Donnie Darko if you will.

[bradavon]

Brad, nice to see you reviewing films in this thread again

Thanks. I've been rather lacklustre the past couple of months watching movies. I've not also had a strong enough opinion to comment on some I have seen. I've been too busy looking for work. I'm going to see if I can check out more though.

[romerojpg]

Thanks. I've been rather lacklustre the past couple of months watching movies.

I am surprised you even went to see Tamara Drew not exactly packing out cinemas, still I liked it for what it was, a nice odd film, still she was the main reason I went to see it

I watched it on a nice lazy Sunday afternoon back to back with The Runaways. Nice

[grim_tales]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: 4.5/5

I enjoyed it, but not my favourite Disney. It's impact on Disney and indeed, all cinema cannot be underestimated. Critics thought no-one would sit through a cartoon feature, calling it "Disney's folly". Some sequences are magnificent, the Queen in her castle, the way the forest comes alive and the part when the Wicked Queen makes the potion to turn herself into a beggar woman. These sequences of genuine darkness - which I think sets this apart from more modern Disneys - combine with cute scenes and timeless songs that have passed into cinema lore like Heigh Ho and Whistle While You Work.
While the build up and pacing of the film seems rather uneven (the film ends rather abruptly), I can see why it's so important.
The US Blu Ray transfer is amazing.

[bradavon]

I am surprised you even went to see Tamara Drew not exactly packing out cinemas, still I liked it for what it was, a nice odd film, still she was the main reason I went to see it

I was hoping for a Brit romcom in the vein of Four Weddings and Notting Hill. It's no way in the same league. Why critics are mostly given it 4/5 out of 5 I've no idea. It's definitely a 3 out of 5 film.

[romerojpg]

I was hoping for a Brit romcom in the vein of Four Weddings and Notting Hill. It's no way in the same league. Why critics are mostly given it 4/5 out of 5 I've no idea. It's definitely a 3 out of 5 film.

Ahh I can easily say I never expected anything like Four Weddings and Notting Hill (I dont like them anyway haha).
I cannot say I disliked anything about TD, did the job perfectly really, if a little like some sort of ITV drama of the week rather than a cinema event

[saltysam]

if a little like some sort of ITV drama of the week

How would you know anything about ITV drama...you told us the other day you don't watch tv

[romerojpg]

I wouldn't watch them on TV if I was gonna it would be dvd or HD net version etc..

[HungFist]

Lebanon (Israel, 2010) – 3.5/5
Samuel Maoz’s war film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Based on the director’s own experience as a tank gunner in the Lebanon war in 1982, the film could be described as the Das Boot of tank movies. Opening and closing shots aside, the camera stays inside the tank for the entire film. Maoz places the viewer where he was; trapped inside a tank, only knowing what the radio tells him and only seeing what he can see from inside the tank. The director’s choice makes the film as difficult and claustrophobic as it’s impressive. Needless to say Lebanon is not a tale of war heroes. Maoz stated people think veterans get together and share their old memories. That’s bullshit, Maoz says. Those are times you never want to remember again, yet they will haunt you for the rest of your life. War is kill or be killed. And when Maoz once hesitated to pull the trigger, it resulted in team member being killed. Lebanon attempts to display real war on screen to the extent possible without losing the audience. Much of the footage that, according to the studio, would make no one want to see the film, was left in the cutting room.

I’m Gonna Explode (Mexico, 2008) – 2.5/5
Mexican Bonnie and Clyde for teenagers, perhaps with a drop of Natural Born Killers without killing. Two 15 year olds run from home with guns and big talks. The parents are left home wondering what went wrong and who is to blame. The strengths and weaknesses of I’m Gonna Explode are as described before. It’s a slightly pretentious film with something to say and plenty of artistic shots – God help the viewer with all the sudden cuts to blue sky at a dramatic moment. Romance, sex, and cry for freedom – what else would be on a 15 year olds mind – also make it bit strange experience considering its protagonists’ young age. Nevertheless, the film is at its best when it lets go and sings for freedom. Immoral and dangerous it may be, but better cinema. These bits are, however, are ultimately in a minority in an otherwise preachy movie. Even then, it does manage to be decently captivating, partly thanks to the cinematography. The grainy film stock used supports the teen angst dream flawlessly.

[HungFist]

Armadillo (Denmark, 2010) – 4/5
The most talked about movie in Scandinavia right now, and hopefully in the rest of the world soon! Janus Metz’s documentary film follows a platoon of Danish solders in Afghanistan for several months. Why are these young men traveling to the other side of the world to fight and die in a war that has nothing to do with them? What could easily be another “war is hell, ice is cold” documentary becomes so much more in the hand of Metz. He remains objective and unsentimental to the extent of not featuring any interviews or narrator in the film. Instead the cameraman is one member of the platoon, following them everywhere they go, including battlefield. This gives Armadillo an extremely cinematic feel and structure, not to mention the almost unbearable tension in the “battle scenes”. The cinematographer, fully armed to protect his own life, gets involved in the gunfights and is lucky not getting hit by any of the bullets that seriously wound some other soldiers right next to him. Armadillo also creates a very interesting comparison piece to Samuel Maoz’s Venice Winner Lebanon (2009). While Maoz stated, based on his own experience, that war is hell that you will never want to experience again, Armadillo shows how many of the soldiers in fact enjoy the adrenaline rush of it. Many of them returned home, only to sign up for 2011 comeback to Afghanistan. It’s no wonder the film has been an eye opener and somewhat of a small scandal to the public in its native country. Technically a documentary, Armadillo should be treated as what it truly is: a superb movie that happens to be 100% reality.


- thread: https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... f=5&t=5671

[bradavon]

Never Say Never Again - 3 out of 10

This is supposed to be taken seriously right? What garbage. It's as if they've taken all the good bits about Bond, made them cheesy and come up with this mess. The action was poor too. Connery was way too old and overweight. The whole film was just bland. What were they thinking? Kim Bassinger is hot and that's literally the only good thing I can say about the film.

[Markgway]

Never Say Never Again - 3 out of 10

This is supposed to be taken seriously right? What garbage. It's as if they've taken all the good bits about Bond, made them cheesy and come up with this mess. The action was poor too. Connery was way too old and overweight. The whole film was just bland. What were they thinking? Kim Bassinger is hot and that's literally the only good thing I can say about the film.

Yeah, not a good film... and I didn't think Basinger was all that either.

The girls in Thunderball were waaaay hotter.

[bradavon]

Basinger isn't my type but she's definitely good looking. The brunette was easily hotter though.

The Bond in Never Say Never Again couldn't be any more out of tune with the Bond in From Russia with Love. Connery oozes sex appeal in From Russia with Love but in Never Say Never Again, he has no charisma and just looks past it. He's not even a double O for the first 40 minutes. What!

It's officially the worst Bond I've ever seen, thankfully it's not an official one.

[Markgway]

MONA LISA
Gritty prostitution drama with an excellent Bob Hoskins; engrossing, but grubby viewing.

TRIANGLE
Mindfuck horror which manages to be both too clover and not clever enough; Melissa George does a good job.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
Classic horror from Wes Craven; though it breaks its own rules on occasion and the ending still sucks.

BLUE VELVET
Lynchian wierdness abound in stylish, but muddled mystery; more accesible than you might imagine.

[bradavon]

Blue Velvet is one of Lynch's best, my favourite being Mulholland Drive. Mona Lisa is also excellent, back when Hoskins was at the top of his game.

[Markgway]

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010)

The critics really hated this one with a vengeance... so I was expecting, frankly, a piece of shit. But, against the odds, I felt that this, admittedly unecessary, remake wasn't bad at all. In fact, in some ways, and this surprised me as much as much as it would anyone, it was an improvement. The script is better, shit actually makes sense now, and the direction is technically more proficient. Another plus is the acting, which, barring the character of Freddy Krueger, easily surpasses the original. What it misses can be summed up in two words: Robert Englund. There's just no escaping the fact that Englund IS Freddy. The look, the voice, the personality... it's all gone with Jackie Earle Haley (who's at his best when playing caretaker Fred). The ingredient that made Elm St iconic is no longer present and that's the big difference between a classic and an above average redux.

BTW. I'm liking the new Nancy (Rooney Mara). She's just my type.

[HungFist]

Sound of Noise (Sweden, 2010) – 2.5/5
Good idea can take you far – around 30 minutes in case of Sound of Noise. This Swedish crowd pleaser is pure ingeniousness in the beginning. 6 musical terrorists attack a city and turn any objects they can find into musical instruments. It’s the Jackie Chan art of action applied to making music. Unfortunately after the classic hospital attack the film turn for repetition gear for the following 80 minutes. While relatively entertaining, and cinema novices will no doubt find it mind blowingly original, those more familiar with the inventive cinema of Takashi Miike and the likes would expect bets to be raised throughout the film. The ending aims at epic but comes out soft and corny. A catchier remake or shameless rip off would be more than welcome to give the concept the execution it deserves.

Classic dialogue

- What the hell did they do to him?
- They played music on him.

[HungFist]

Sauna (Finland, 2008) – 4/5
Jade Warrior director A.J. Annila showcases a huge leap in quality with this superb Finnish horror movie. Set in the 16th century, the film follows five men, two Finnish and three Russian, sent to unknown areas in Northern Finland to draw the official line between the Russian empire and Sweden. They discover a small town in the middle of swamp, built around a sauna that is believed to be able to wash away your sins. That will be the last place they ever visit... Sauna is an extremely atmospheric and genuinely chilling horror movie relying on excellent screenplay and terrific performances. There are no action scenes or cheap shock effects that you find in most horror movies. Annila knows that what you can’t see is scarier than what you can. The screenplay explains very little, leaving a lot open for interpretations, and the actors give subtle performances. The cinematography is terrific. The only slight negative is the dialogue – while decidedly not authentic, there are a few occasions of very modern expressions used that can be a bit distracting for native Finnish speakers.



out on US and AU dvd as well. The feedback is almost fully positive:
http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/sauna.php
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39799/sauna/
http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=3633
http://www.digital-retribution.com/reviews/dvd1/312.php
http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2008/09/t ... -sauna.php

Just don't see the US trailers. They're god awful, doing their best to mispresent the film as fast paced slasher type horror. Yuk.

[Markgway]

Anyene else see Elm. St? Curious to see if I'm alone in my respect for it?

[saltysam]

King Kong BD 5/5

Timeless classic ranks as a tremendous piece of film making, with effects that though quaint are still preferable to today's cgi-laden fare.The climax is a little rushed but as a whole a superb film.The blu-ray looks good.

[IronMonkey]

Anyene else see Elm. St? Curious to see if I'm alone in my respect for it?

I'm going to watch it tonight...

[romerojpg]

It was total and utter dog shit. The original I am no big fan of, but at least it was charming and fun at times - the remakes bile of the highest order in every single way, not one thing good about it.