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

[Heka]

...A je to! (Czechoslovakia, 1979-1985) - 5/5
Growing up in a "poor communist country" like Finland can be tough. One thing that made it a little less tough was the fact that we had access to the wonderful childrens programming produced in our friendly neighbour the USSR. No decadent capitalist propaganda, only good old fashioned social equality.
A je to is a stop motion animation about two friends living their life in the soviet era. It was created by Lubomír Beneš and Vladimír Jiránek. There is no dialog in the animations, just music. This is good since all the children of the Warsaw Pact could enjoy the fruits of the Prague based animation studio. Every episode is about a certain everyday problem the friends face. Hilarity ensues when the Pat & Mat (names of the characters) try to fix these problems. The later versions of the show with the name Pat & Mat are inferior to the original run.

My review is a little biased since this was my favorite TV-show as a child. Though these animation still make me laugh 15 years later. I like the fact that that the two friends never give up even though they clearly aren't the most skilled in what they do. The duo is also very innovative when it comes to solving problems. What I'm trying to say is that the show has a very positive outlook on life. The animation and designs are amazing considering the time and place they were done in. The harmonica tune is something that I always play first when I happen to have a harmonica in my possession.

The one good thing about communism is that they don't care about copyright. This means that most of the episodes can still be found on youtube by searching with the Czech episode names. Beware of the dubbed version, which have a horrible communist dub-track. I'll put some of my favorite episodes at the end of this post.

How they cooked food in Czechoslovakia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onSh-sbJrcg

I think this is why the Chernobyl disaster happened in Eastern Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDvDXUsAV7o

Decorating a house on the eastern side of the iron curtain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3dwy5tDuXo

[Shingster]

I don't understand your post.

If you actually applied your brain rather than facetiously stroking your immense ego you would see the point is obvious: The Killer Inside me is a respected novel and Winterbottom's film is a pretty faithful adaptation, so like the book it has an excellent chance of maintaining a cult following in the future.

[Markgway]

I don't understand your post.

If you actually applied your brain rather than facetiously stroking your immense ego you would see the point is obvious: The Killer Inside me is a respected novel and Winterbottom's film is a pretty faithful adaptation, so like the book it has an excellent chance of maintaining a cult following in the future.

No need to be a dick. It's not your film I'm criticizing. And to accuse me of egotism is surely the pot calling the kettle black? Seeing as your the one who posted to 'correct' me, I think my tongue-in-cheek resistance was justified. You always get your panties in a bunch when I disagree with your stance. Get over it. I don't care if anyone agrees with me - and neither should you. Besides Luckystars obviously loves the film so go bother him. I don't see how any of my opinion on the FILM becomes invalid just because the novel is respected. Lots of respected novels are turned into bad movies... this is just another one. Even being faithful doesn't guarantee success. So you think this adaptation will gain a cult following? You could be right. I don't think it will. The only outstanding attribute is the misogynist violence (it's all I recall critics commenting upon). As a movie thriller the plot seems dull and dubious. How that plays in the novel I neither know nor care. I'm not reviewing the novel.

This review pretty much sums up how I felt:
http://news.scotsman.com/movies/Film-re ... 6340248.jp
Better send him an e-mail quick to inform him he's obviously wrong.

[luckystars]

The reaction to the violence in Killer Inside Me reminds me of how overwhelmed people reportedly were watching Martyrs...drawing attention to the perverted viewpoint that Torture Porn type violence is only acceptable if its for 'fun' (Saw, Hostel etc.), and has no place played straight in a serious film.

I wouldn't compare the infrequent (and plot necessary) brutal violence in The Killer Inside Me to the sustained, repellent torture in the frankly hideous Martyrs. I didn't think 'Killer' was a good film, but I found Martyrs a disgusting excuse for entertainment... and to call it 'a serious film' is surely some kind of joke?

I wasn't.

It was clearly Killer Inside Me vs. 'standard thriller' is like the reaction of Martyrs vs Saw/Hostel etc.

Winterbottoms film wasn't misogynist (you're mistaking content for intent), and the central character was a murderer of men and women. But it did focus on his relationship with the two female LEADS (sexual and otherwise).

[Markgway]

Winterbottoms film wasn't misogynist (you're mistaking content for intent), and the central character was a murderer of men and women. But it did focus on his relationship with the two female LEADS (sexual and otherwise).

I never said it was misogynist film, but that the violence clearly is, because the lead character is. He kills men only when he has to, but takes immense pleasure out of brutalising women. He could have chosen any method to murder those women, and still framed his victim, but he specifically chose to pummel them to death because that gave him most pleasure. I didn't misunderstand the movie, and the violence, ugly though it is, isn't the real problem I had with it. The lead character has no depth and is undeveloped throughout. We're never let inside his head - so what's the point? I believe from what I've read the novel does a much better job as character study. The plot is unconvincing, the ending risible. What can I say - I didn't rate it. If you did that's fine by me.

[saltysam]

The Killing 4/5 Excellent early Kubrick heist thriller,with the daring racetrack heist shown from different perspectives and timelines.Sterling Hayden is excellent in the lead,aided and abetted by great character actors like elisha cook.The climax is superb the look of despair Hayden's face as he gives up the ghost and there's a quite shocking i imagine for the time offensive use of the word nigger

[HungFist]

You guys talk like misogynism was a bad thing

[gasteropod]

A friend of mine doesn't like Dario Argento films 'because they're misogynist'

[HungFist]

What's the opposite of misogynist?

[gasteropod]

Philogyny is the opposite of misogyny.

[HungFist]

Philogyny is the opposite of misogyny.

No, I mean what would be the correct reason to hate The Thing? The bastards only kill men in that one! How disgusting is that? I demand they kill men and women, blacks and whites, evenly!

[gasteropod]

Ahh, well hatred of men is misandry

[Markgway]

A friend of mine doesn't like Dario Argento films 'because they're misogynist'

Some of them are... Have you seen Mother of Tears??

[gasteropod]

I have and it was shite.

[Markgway]

Rush Hour 3 **

Lazy sequel.

[bradavon]

You guys talk like misogynism was a bad thing

It's not?

80s action film misogyny is okay though. The language/racism in such films adds to it's fun.

No, I mean what would be the correct reason to hate The Thing? The bastards only kill men in that one! How disgusting is that? I demand they kill men and women, blacks and whites, evenly!

Are there any women in it?

Ahh, well hatred of men is misandry

I wonder which films are heavily misandrous?

[gasteropod]

Rush Hour 3 **

Lazy sequel.

Yeah it was, 2/5 from me.

[HungFist]

You guys talk like misogynism was a bad thing

It's not?

In real life, yes. But it always crack me up when someone calls a movie misogynist

No, I mean what would be the correct reason to hate The Thing? The bastards only kill men in that one! How disgusting is that? I demand they kill men and women, blacks and whites, evenly!

Are there any women in it?

You haven't seen The Thing? Or did you just miss my point?

[gasteropod]

Let's Scare Jessica to Death - 2.5/5

I'd read about this being rather scary, but unfortunately it didn't do it for me.

[gasteropod]

Charade (1963) - 4/5

Reminded me of Foul Play, and the UK DVD upscales surprisingly well, looked great.

[grim_tales]

It's a great film. I loved it, very Hithcockian.

[gasteropod]

Gothic (1986) - 4/5

Spooky and exciting, that's 4 out of 4 Ken Russell films I've really enjoyed so far.

[Markgway]

Stay Alive **

Teen horror fails to deliver on an imaginative premise.

Surprisingly gruesome (and scary) for a PG-13.

[Keung]

Shifty 4/5

[Markgway]

The Messengers **

April Fool's Day (Slaughter High) *