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

[luckystars]

Ted. 3.5/5

[grim_tales]

I think that was the same rating I gave it I kinda thought that, beneath the crude stuff it was actually quite sweet Very funny in places

[saltysam]

Django 3/5 Legendary spaghetti western is not up to the Leone classics but certainly a worthy entry in the genre.Franco Nero stars as the coffin dragging stranger.

Taken 2 2/5 weak,by the numbers desperately disappointing follow up to the excellent original. what a stupid idea to have Neeson locked in a room for a good portion of the 90 odd minute running time this did good business though so no doubt there'll be a 3rd.

[Markgway]

Halloween II (1981-USA) **

Not as effective as I remembered.

[HungFist]

Looper (USA, 2012) [Cinema] - 3.5/5
Sci-fi action for grown ups, with interesting storyline and some challenging themes mixed with easy entertainment. Though it lacks fine detail and feels a bit heavy in terms of technical execution, the box office success comes as tremendous news. An R-rated, yet not ultraviolent, action film that dares to be original is a rare treat. Hopefully more similar productions will follow.

[Shingster]

I enjoyed Looper, but there's nothing remotely original about it!

[HungFist]

I enjoyed Looper, but there's nothing remotely original about it!

Care to actually explain?

[Markgway]

The Bourne Legacy (2012-USA) ***

Entertaining action adventure... after a slow start.
I actually prefer this to the overrated Greengrass entries.

[Shingster]

I enjoyed Looper, but there's nothing remotely original about it!

Care to actually explain?

Explain what? I think the statement speaks for itself doesn't it? Have you seriously never watched a science fiction actioner with a time-travel premise before? Have you never seen a science-fiction actioner with a vision of a dystopic future before? Have you never seen a science fiction actioner with a creepy child with telekinetic abilities before? Have you never seen a science fiction actioner where the hero comes up against an alternate version of himself before? (future person, past person, alternate universe version, cloned version, etc, it's all been done)

If the answer is "no" to all of the above then yeah, I guess Looper would come across as extremely fresh and "original". Like I say, I enjoyed the film quite a bit, but I prefer to appreciate the fact that it pieces together a fairly intelligent action film by cherry picking elements from classic science fiction rather than deluding myself into thinking it re-invents the wheel. The film is the very definition of the word "derivative", but it's good enough that it doesn't feel derivative as you watch it, you invest in the characters & enjoy the more sadistic elements.

[grim_tales]

The Bourne Legacy (2012-USA) ***

Entertaining action adventure... after a slow start.
I actually prefer this to the overrated Greengrass entries.

Hmmm.... I've heard from many this film wasnt as good as the trilogy (sadly).. should maybe check it out at some point

[Markgway]

Hmmm.... I've heard from many this film wasnt as good as the trilogy (sadly).. should maybe check it out at some point

Bear in mind that I wasn't a fan of parts 2 and 3 and of Greengrass' direction. I would say LEGACY is worth checking our regardless. The film benefits (like the original) from a strong female presence and isn't just talking heads in offices, we get a fair bit of outdoors scenery and scope. There are also a handful of confrontation scenes as strong as any in the series. My only real gripe is that much of the film doesn't make sense if you haven't seen its predecessors. Many complained about the title - there's no BOURNE!! - but his shadow hangs over proceedings in a big way and references are quite frequent. Given the new lead (Renner was good) and new style I would've hoped the film had stood as a stand alone, but it doesn't manage that.

[HungFist]

Explain what? I think the statement speaks for itself doesn't it?

"I'm here to tell you I'm right and I don't need to explain why". Come on Shing, we're not little children are we? Of course you need to explain your statement, even more so when you can see the other guy clearly believes the opposite.

Have you seriously never watched a science fiction actioner with a time-travel premise before? Have you never seen a science-fiction actioner with a vision of a dystopic future before? Have you never seen a science fiction actioner with a creepy child with telekinetic abilities before? Have you never seen a science fiction actioner where the hero comes up against an alternate version of himself before? (future person, past person, alternate universe version, cloned version, etc, it's all been done)

If the answer is "no" to all of the above then yeah, I guess Looper would come across as extremely fresh and "original". Like I say, I enjoyed the film quite a bit, but I prefer to appreciate the fact that it pieces together a fairly intelligent action film by cherry picking elements from classic science fiction rather than deluding myself into thinking it re-invents the wheel. The film is the very definition of the word "derivative", but it's good enough that it doesn't feel derivative as you watch it, you invest in the characters & enjoy the more sadistic elements.

Fair enough if your definition for original is that none of the elements has ever been done in any way before. Technically speaking you are probably correct. But then, could there ever be a movie that warrants the use of the term original? Probably at least not outside independent films. My intention was to call Looper original in relation to big budgeted scifi films. I don't recall seeing a storyline where criminals are being sent to the past for execution, or where the main character has to fight his own future self (perhaps because I haven't seen enough scifi films?), and most importantly big star vehicles very rarely use challenging storylines where Bruce Willis is killing children and the film dares to ask the audiece "maybe that's the best solution?".

Your feedback is very much welcome, and thinking about it now, Looper probably isn't as original even by my definition as I first thought. But considering me and many others try to keep the board alive and share opinions by writing mini reviews - something you never do - you could keep it constructive and explain your arguments.

[grim_tales]

Hmmm.... I've heard from many this film wasnt as good as the trilogy (sadly).. should maybe check it out at some point

Bear in mind that I wasn't a fan of parts 2 and 3 and of Greengrass' direction. I would say LEGACY is worth checking our regardless. The film benefits (like the original) from a strong female presence and isn't just talking heads in offices, we get a fair bit of outdoors scenery and scope. There are also a handful of confrontation scenes as strong as any in the series. My only real gripe is that much of the film doesn't make sense if you haven't seen its predecessors. Many complained about the title - there's no BOURNE!! - but his shadow hangs over proceedings in a big way and references are quite frequent. Given the new lead (Renner was good) and new style I would've hoped the film had stood as a stand alone, but it doesn't manage that.

Cheers Perhaps a rental is in order (or purchase if its cheap enough).

[Shingster]

Explain what? I think the statement speaks for itself doesn't it?

"I'm here to tell you I'm right and I don't need to explain why". Come on Shing, we're not little children are we? Of course you need to explain your statement, even more so when you can see the other guy clearly believes the opposite.

Get over yourself Hung, I stated an opinion: nothing more, nothing less. Not a particularly controversial one either! This isn't the "carefully and considerately explain every single comment you make" thread, the very nature of threads like these is that someone posts a brief review/comment on a film and other members can either agree or not.

Nice dig about my lack of contribution to the forums as well. Perhaps you should instigate a forum rule that you're not allowed to express an opinion in a thread until you've made X number of posts in it?

[Markgway]

Pitch Perfect (2012-USA) **½

Amusing, occasionally sharp teen musical-comedy; however, characters are less appealing that one would like and the songs are mostly pants.

[Markgway]

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2010-France) **½
Whimsical period adventure with a chirpy, attractive heroine.
Luc Besson minor, the story is wafer-thin, but I did like the Pterodactyl...
...and was sorry to see it get killed!

The Raven (2011-USA-Hungary-Spain) **½
Grisly horror is a bit like 'From Hell in Baltimore' but mostly it's not bad.
John Cusack is arguably miscast as a shouty, brooding Poe.

[Markgway]

The Dictator (2012-USA) **½
Occasionally hilarious, typically uneven satire from Sasha Baron-Cohen.
I expected to be 'offended'... and was still surprised at what they got away with.

Iron Sky (2012-Finland-Germany-Australia) **½
Mad as a bag of spiders - but fun.
Not sure who comes off worse - the Moon Nazis or the US government!?!

[Markgway]

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012-USA-China) **

A veritable feast of colourful, cartoonish, crimson-spraying camp undone by, arguably, the most wooden lead performance ever committed to celluloid. The RZA's face is practically immobile... I've seen coma patients with a greater range of expression. This guy makes Wang Yu look like Laurence Olivier! Clearly, as a director, he has some imagination, though his love of the genre is betrayed by bizarre missteps like foul-mouthed dialogue, sexual situations, and rap music pasted over CGI-dominated fight sequences. I don't remember any of those in King Boxer. Not the disaster I expected, but a very mixed bag nonetheless.

[grim_tales]

I've heard mixed things about this as well, wouldnt mind checking it out though.

[Markgway]

The Gate (1986-USA-Canada) **½

Pretty scary horror movie for kids.

[luckystars]

A Good Day to Die Hard 5.5/10
At the start I was worried the film was looking a bit like a TV movie or direct to video. As soon as the action started I was firmly in 'the hot seat' and thoroughly enjoying the thrills and crass one liners. The film itself plays out like a big budget B action film. Like some of JCVD's more recent movies. The screenplay isn't great but is more hit than miss in the context of what they set out to archive.

Technically the film starts off looking a bit cheap (some framing issues and lack of overdubs making some poor sound in some scenes) but I honestly stopped noticing once the first action set piece started. An utterly superb and destructive highway highway chase with some really stand out stunt work. People will always hate this film based on comparing it to the original films. I personally totally disliked DH4 so it was already going to be more enjoyable in my eyes.

Bottom line, If this was just a Bruce Willis film and not a DH movie people would probably saying it was a great film for an old star and better than a lot of other action films today. I found it an enjoyable watch in the cinema and the action packed finale was frankly incredible on the big screen

[Markgway]

Broken Flowers (2005-USA-France) **½
Good acting and dialogue redeem inconsequential "indie" project.

Hitchcock (2012-USA) **
There's an interesting movie to be made on the making of Psycho... this isn't it.
The film isn't unenjoyable and both Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson are very good, but the decision to employ morbid fantasy and marital woes at the expense of a revealing look at the filmmaking process is a huge mistake. A curious misfire.

Sinister (2012-UK-USA) **
Risible chiller.

The Losers (2010-USA) *½
Awful and obnoxious action comedy.

Argo (2012-USA) **½
Good... but there was something missing.

House at the End of the Street (2011-USA) **
Not terrible... but the more you think about it the less plausible it gets.
I expect this would have gone DTV if not for Jennifer Lawrence.

The End of Watch (2012-USA) ***
Gritty police drama is fascinating once you get past the contrivance of everyone using video cameras to document their actions.

The Stepfather (1986-UK) **½
Not bad psycho thriller, though a bit like a TV movie with added violence.

[gasteropod]

Mama (2013) - 2/5

It was OK for the most part (whilst nicking things from Shutter and Ju-On), but the over the top sentimental fantasy ending let it down.

[Markgway]

Mama (2013) - 2/5

It was OK for the most part (whilst nicking things from Shutter and Ju-On), but the over the top sentimental fantasy ending let it down.

Saw the trailer a couple of weeks back and it looked pretty scary for a PG-13.

[grim_tales]

Wreck it Ralph: 3.5/5

Enjoyable film, especially the references and nods to retro and classic games.
The candy coloured racing game brought to mind Zool or Cool Spot on the SNES/Mega Drive A female bounty hunter character feels like Samus Arran (Metroid) in all but name, and I loved the marching Oreos - "Oooh-reeee-ooohhh", LOL
Gets rather saccharine in the middle and towards the end but very cleverly made. The short film at the start however, 'Paperman' was simply beautiful