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

[gasteropod]

I do find it a little lacking in the spectacle department.

The epic IMAX action scene with the Tumbler etc. is pretty fucking spectacular!

[luckystars]

On first viewing I thought it was a fantastic movie. Not perfect and I noted my criticisms here, but still fantastic...

... however, it seems to offer very little replay-value.

That's because it's nearly all thrills and not enough intellectual content to keep you happy on consecutive viewings.

I'm not trashing it, its a science

People who said this is the best film ever aren't mature enough to see it's not. Or to get bored with it!

It's a brilliant film but just not close to masterpiece level..

[Markgway]

Dark Knight was nowhere near as good as the hype suggested,i've always said that.An overlong ,bleak,joyless superhero film lacking in thrills and Bale's annoying Batman growl,a seriously underused Freeman & Caine to boot.i think on reflection i preferred the first one,though that wasn't great either.

Seems we're on the same page... or at least in the same chapter.

I did enjoy Batman Begins though.
Not perfect, but good. Hence my *** for it compared to ** for TDK.

[Markgway]

The epic IMAX action scene with the Tumbler etc. is pretty fucking spectacular!

Don't get me started on that fucking Imax shit. What were Warners thinking by reframing the Imax footage to 1.78? Pointless and distracting when the bulk of the movie is 2.35. The film's appearence changes completely between shots (back and forth)! You can tell they used different cameras/film stock. They should've made the whole film 2.35 ala the DVD. Imax isn't even 1.78 (about 1.44 isn't it?) so it's a compromise that should please no one. Also on the BD by isolating the Imax scenes it seems to emphasise the fact that the Imax footage actually isn't all that spectacular (ooh, it's a skyscraper). Watch the BD and you might get what I mean... There's not a single top quality action set piece in the whole picture. Why did they bother? I hope TDK Returns is a return to form.

[gasteropod]

Hey don't get me wrong, the differing aspect ratio shit annoys me too, if they re-release The Dark Knight in full 2.35:1 and minus the DNR and EE, I'll buy it again. But I can't believe you don't find that action scene in the tunnel and with the Batbike and that impressive, I think it's one of the best action scenes of all time.

The Dark Knight Rising is rumoured to be filmed completely in IMAX this time, apart from dialogue scenes which will be using quieter cameras, but still higher resolution than usual I think.

[romerojpg]

action scene in the tunnel and with the Batbike and that impressive, I think it's one of the best action scenes of all time.

High praise indeed!

[Markgway]

There's nothing in TDK that I would call anything like the best action sequence of all time and the IMAX just hightlights that for me. It's like a blatant sign telling me that what I'm watching is supposed to be spectacular - but isn't.

[Yi-Long]

On first viewing I thought it was a fantastic movie. Not perfect and I noted my criticisms here, but still fantastic...

... however, it seems to offer very little replay-value.

That's because it's nearly all thrills and not enough intellectual content to keep you happy on consecutive viewings.

I'm not trashing it, its a science

People who said this is the best film ever aren't mature enough to see it's not. Or to get bored with it!

It's a brilliant film but just not close to masterpiece level..

I'm not sure THAT's the reason for me. Maybe it's actually the opposite. I didn't think the action-scenes were really all that great or memorable.

I wouldn't call Hard Boiled and Fist of Legend 'intellectual', but the action and the pacing is all perfect, so I enjoy watching those over and over and over and over again.
They're enjoyable and FUN to watch.

The Dark Knight, while a great movie, doesn't really give you stuff in there that you enjoy watching over and over again.

[bradavon]

Dark Knight is full of spectacle.

I loved the alternate aspect ratios. The grander scale of the IMAX scenes makes them look incredible and you wish Warner didn't bother? . I'd have preferred the whole film be in 1.78:1 than 2.35:1. Although I like how it uses both best but it is inconsistent.

Of course the scenes weren't going to be in 1.44:1. That just wouldn't work properly on a 16:9 TV and make it even more jarring.

The Dark Knight is a damn sight more intellectual than most superhero films. Did anyone really expect it to be intellectual? It's a superhero action film.

[Markgway]

I loved the alternate aspect ratios.

You would.

The grander scale of the IMAX scenes makes them look incredible and you wish Warner didn't bother?

Maybe in theatres... but not on Blu Ray.

It just looks ridiculous to go from a 2.35 shot to a 1.78 establishing shot of a skyscraper then back to another 2.35 shot then back to 1.78 for the bulk of the action scene then back to... you get my point. I found myself thinking why did they bother shooting that in Imax? It would have been just as good for me if the whole film were 2.35. But that's just my opinion.

Of course the scenes weren't going to be in 1.44:1. That just wouldn't work properly on a 16:9 TV and make it even more jarring.

The IMAX preview on the Begins disc is 1.44.

[Yi-Long]

I agree with Mark (who after that comment won't be able to sleep on his stomach tonight, I'm sure... ), in that the changing aspect-ratios are ridiculous and does very little to enhance the quality of what we're seeing on screen.

[Shingster]

The epic IMAX action scene with the Tumbler etc. is pretty fucking spectacular!

Don't get me started on that fucking Imax shit. What were Warners thinking by reframing the Imax footage to 1.78? Pointless and distracting when the bulk of the movie is 2.35. The film's appearence changes completely between shots (back and forth)! You can tell they used different cameras/film stock.

Some of the footage makes sense in the original IMAX theatres though, particularly the bank heist opening when they're suspended between the buildings, you got a superb sense of perspective and vertigo.

[romerojpg]

All the IMAX footage on the Blu Ray sadly did was show us how flawed the rest of the transfer was

[Markgway]

All the IMAX footage on the Blu Ray sadly did was show us how flawed the rest of the transfer was

Yeah, it's funny how it's not just the ratio that changes but the entire texture and look of the film. Gimmicks always come at a cost.

[grim_tales]

Source Code
Very good film
Groundhog Day meets Total Recall/Inception
Very intriguing idea with themes about fate, and the theory of multiple universes.
I felt it was even too short in some ways with a lot to pack into 90 minutes.

4/5

How come everyone on the train was the same? I would like to have learned more about the bomber - he was almost incidental? He was just a geek and that was it

Plot Hole?
Why didnt Jake Gyllenhaal search out "himself" (ie another person called Sean, with his name? Didnt the female officer say something like that?

[romerojpg]

Source Code
Very good film
Groundhog Day meets Total Recall/Inception
Very intriguing idea with themes about fate, and the theory of multiple universes.
I felt it was even too short in some ways with a lot to pack into 90 minutes.

4/5

I thought it was pretty poor/average, the actual central idea was abysmal.

I guess Moon is a one hit wonder for that Director so far then.

[gasteropod]

Moon is overrated, Source Code is on a par with it.

[romerojpg]

overrated

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Have you turned int Brad

[saltysam]

Moon is overrated,definitely a once-watch only deal.

[luckystars]

Moon = one of the best films of 2009.

[romerojpg]

and cheap costing about 200 times less than some of the cockbusters, which suck.

[saltysam]

and cheap costing about 200 times less than Transformers 2, which absolutely sucks donkey ass..

agreed

[luckystars]

romerojpg

[HungFist]

$5 000 0000?

Yoshihiro Nishimura would make 25 zombie epics with that money

[thelostdragon]

Did anyone really expect it to be intellectual? It's a superhero action film.