What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Jan 2006, 18:34

Black

To call this film a masterpiece would be an understatement, perhaps even an insult as the term is carelessly used today to describe any decent production that attracts the public’s eye. Even if I were to review it, I would find it awkward to award it a mark out of five. Just as the Mona Lisa is a priceless painting, cherished by art lovers worldwide, I feel the same about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s fantastic accomplishment. In addition to the marvellous lighting and tranquilising score, the icy shades and calm monochromes help paint a bleak picture. The protagonist’s exhausting journey from complete isolation into a life of knowledge has been wonderfully illustrated with incredible aplomb. Black is a title that is likely to restore your faith in life without the need for manipulation and over the top melodrama. The UK DVD comprises of a beautifully decorated digipak with brail markings on the cover, along with a few nice extras. It is a shame that the disc is now expensive and of limited supply. Until a new batch comes in, good luck with finding a copy.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 04 Jan 2006, 01:07

Superman 2 - 3/5

Good sequel, but the effects look really dated. Not as good as the first one. Would love to see the much coveted "Donnor" cut of the film.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 Jan 2006, 01:14

I read that about 70% of Superman II is Richard Donner's.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 04 Jan 2006, 01:17

Yeah, he shot about 70% before getting sacked. I would like to see a proper version though, with the Jor El scenes and the film more in tone with the first one.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 Jan 2006, 01:23

I thought the Superman films were boring.

The best thing is John Williams' theme music.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 04 Jan 2006, 12:36

Seconded.

I may have had a deprived childhood, missing out on the Superman films but watching them now, I felt that they were pretty bad. I sold my boxset immediately after viewing.

I love the Superman stories but I feel they are best depicted by the excellent Smallville series.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:00

What???

Superman 2 is excellent. Superman vs. those 3 badass dudes is great.

Superman is pretty good too; Superman 4 is a bit of a guilty pleasure but Superman 3 is dire. I'd only want to own Superman 2 though.

Superman and Superman 2 are of course one story but it was considered to much for one film.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:11

Sin City: Theatrical Cut

7 out of 10

The film is fantastically shot with incredible use of colours, not since Hero have I been so impressed with the use of colour in a film.

BUT after you get over the initial WOW factor the film is actually fairly weak and vacant, it's very much style over stubance (break it down and there isn't much there). Sure it has some COOL moments (I particularly liked the 2nd Dwight story) but most of it is overrated.

It's also incredibly graphic in places, to graphic actually. There is no way they'd have got away with that level of violence if it were in colour.

It does worry me the amount of young men who find Sin City cool; much the same happened with Irréversible I seem to remember, that features a graphic rape scene, that's NOT cool!

The net is swarming with men saying how much they love Sin City. Violence of this level and an intense rape scene (even if the rape doesn't actually happen) are NOT cool. I actually found the end of the last story a little hard to stomach. It reminded me of when Mel Gibson's feet were smashed to bits with a hammer in Payback, that wasn't needed and is just gratuitous.

The film is also incrediblely sexist. I'm happy to forgive that one though as I realise that's the whole point.

Anyway like I said I did enjoy it overall (hence the rating) but I don't think it's the classic many say it is. Again like I said earlier the Dwight Hard as nails Prostitue story ark was the strongest.

As for the DVD quality many reviews are giving the PQ tops marks. I disagree it's decent but I've seen much better. Strangely the ex-rental R2 I watched is noticeably worse than the R1 Retail I've seen bits of (my brother recently bought it).

I watched it in DD5.1 as the rental version doesn't get DTS, the R1 DTS is better.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 04 Jan 2006, 17:27

Outlaw Brothers - 2/5

Fairly average plit/acting wise IMO.
I quite liked the fights though

The climactic fight(s) were good.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 05 Jan 2006, 15:06

The Wizard of Oz - 4.5/5

I have to say I really enjoyed this

Of course I'd seen clips over the years but never seen the film "properly" but it was great fun!
I suppose it's a kids' film (or at least a family film) but having said that, like all the best famiy films, it has a timeless appeal. There's a nice story, great characters and timeless songs, that I knew most of as a kid.
Put simply, I loved it! A nice touch is that everyone Dorothy meets is in fact versions of everyone she knows back home. Isn't the Wizard Prof Marvel?
Mrs. Gulch = The Wicked Witch of the West
Hunk (Ray Bolger) = The Scarecrow
Zeke (Bert Lahr) = The Lion
Hickory (Jack Haley) = Tin Man

The Ultra Resolution transfer on the DVD is beautiful

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 05 Jan 2006, 15:38

The Flying Monkeys are scary as fuck.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:02

That reminded me of The Simpsons

Burns to monkeys: Fly my pretties.. fly!
(Monkeys fall to the ground)
Burns: Continue the research

Total Recall - 4/5

Great Arnie movie

I know I've said this before but its' a rather smart film, pre-dating the ideas in The Matrix by almost 10 years, with the "what is real/what is fantasy" storyline.
At what point does Arnie's life stop being "real"?

There are some great lines too -
*Arnie is trying to escape from the bad guys*
Johnnycab: Where would you like to go today?
Arnie: *Drive!* *Drive!*
Johnnycab: Please state your destination...
Arnie: *Shit, shit!*
Johnnycab: I'm not familliar with that address

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:08

Grim, my favourite quotes off Total Recall are:

'WHAT DA FUCK DID I DO WRONG?!'

'Don't bullshit me'

'Consider dat a divorce'

'If I am not me, den who am I?'

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 05 Jan 2006, 19:39

BTW, to my eyes the picture looks a bit better than the R1, its' quite grainy/dirty at times but its not bad for a 16 year old film.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 06 Jan 2006, 00:50

Superman 3

I'm surprised how much I like this. Enjoyed it more than 2 to be honest.

Superman 4

Very dodgy effects, but still cheesy fun. Nuclear Man rules.

Grim,

I love the black humour in Total Recall. My favourite is when Arnie uses a civilian as a human shield to stop from being shot, and then Michael Ironside and his cronies trample all over the poor bastard to chase after Arnie.

That scene always makes me laugh....

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 06 Jan 2006, 01:05

brooce-leroy wrote:I love the black humour in Total Recall. My favourite is when Arnie uses a civilian as a human shield to stop from being shot, and then Michael Ironside and his cronies trample all over the poor bastard to chase after Arnie. That scene always makes me laugh....

I'm now slightly disturbed you know where I live.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:09

Bruce,
At what point is everything "real" and then "set up" in Total Recall? The guy from Rekall who comes in and tries to presuade Arnie to take the red pill to return to reality (sounds lke Matrix again) is set up right?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 06 Jan 2006, 10:39

BTW, will there ever be an unrated version of TR? I doubt it but you never know.
"R" rated TR is slightly cut (not by much):

Film was initally given an X-rating by the MPAA. The following are the scenes that were trimmed to receive a R-rating:

* Benny's death is optically cropped to remove the exiting drill erupting from his stomach.
* The innocent bystander used as a shield was bloodier before trimming.
* The stabbing of the alien in the bar had the bowie knife slicing up his stomach. Stills of this were actually featured in Fangoria magazine at the time of the film's release.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Jan 2006, 12:31

brooce-leroy wrote:Superman 3

I'm surprised how much I like this. Enjoyed it more than 2 to be honest.

OMG??? Why did you dislike Superman 2 so much? The fight offs are cool IMO.

brooce-leroy wrote:Superman 4

Very dodgy effects, but still cheesy fun. Nuclear Man rules.

Yeah this is a guilty pleasure.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 06 Jan 2006, 19:12

Ricky Gervais Live: Politics - 4/5

The Mummy (1932) - 3.5/5

Superb performance from Boris "The Uncanny" Karloff.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 07 Jan 2006, 00:29

grim_tales wrote:Bruce,
At what point is everything "real" and then "set up" in Total Recall? The guy from Rekall who comes in and tries to presuade Arnie to take the red pill to return to reality (sounds lke Matrix again) is set up right?

I think that is a set up. The guy starts shitting his pants when Arnie points the gun.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 07 Jan 2006, 00:32

bradavon wrote:
brooce-leroy wrote:Superman 3

I'm surprised how much I like this. Enjoyed it more than 2 to be honest.
OMG??? Why did you dislike Superman 2 so much? The fight offs are cool IMO.

brooce-leroy wrote:Superman 4

Very dodgy effects, but still cheesy fun. Nuclear Man rules.
Yeah this is a guilty pleasure.

I don't dislike Superman 2. However, whilst watching them back to back, I found myself enjoying Supes 3 more than 2. I guess the comedy factor in 3 played a part, and I like the idea of a bad superman.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 07 Jan 2006, 02:14

grim_tales wrote:Bruce,
At what point is everything "real" and then "set up" in Total Recall? The guy from Rekall who comes in and tries to presuade Arnie to take the red pill to return to reality (sounds lke Matrix again) is set up right?

Ah, the thinking man's action movie.

The doctor is "fake". Sharon Stone tries to persaude Arnie that he's having an episode and that taking the pill will allow "Doug" to return to himself, but she's lying. The Scientist works for Ronny Cox, and Arnie knows this because he sees the doctor sweat. If Arnie were dreaming so to speak the doctor would not sweat would he? Complex, I know.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 07 Jan 2006, 09:17

Ah.
At the beginning, Sharon Stone says that their meeting and falling in love etc was implanted and set up. So Arnie actually going to Rekall must be set up.. I think

But interestingly throughout the movie, he does exactly what was described in his secret agent ego trip (kill the bad guys, get the girl and save the entire planet).

Thats why I love Total Recall, you can talk about it afterwards

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 07 Jan 2006, 13:54

Yes, Verhoeven plays with the nature of reality throughout... but in the end we're supposed to believe that Arnie REALLY IS the secret agent/traitor and that it's not a dream or fake memory (hence the Rekall assistant's exasperated "We haven't implanted it yet" line)