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

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Apr 2006, 09:13

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 3.5/5

I enjoyed this a lot, it was a really easy to watch film. I started watching it and before I knew it the film was over

From what I remember of the book (which isn't much

) this is much closer to the book than the 1971 musical version (which Dahl reportedly hated). Mr. Bucket (Charlie's father) isn't in the 1971 version.
As with the 1971 version the set design and costumes are brilliant. I liked Johnny Depp as Wonka at first and then he started to slightly annoy me - Johnny Depp is very good but however much he would prove to the contrary, I feel his performance of the childish Wonka is reminiscent of another man-child, and just a bit too weird. He didn't endear himself to me like Gene Wilder, who was more charming.
There are some clever updates to the story - Mike Teevee is now a violent video game addict for example, and Roald Dahl's script is more vigorously adhered to - all the songs are the same as the book, which I liked a lot.

The fizzy lifting drinks bit is taken out though. There's also a subplot about reuniting Wonka with his father (Christopher Lee), which I'm not sure was in the book or not. Still it gives a reason why he wasnt a paticularly nice guy

During the part where Wonka is sending Wonka bars by television, there's a great little reference to Planet of the Apes (1968) - which Tim Burton directed the 2001 remake of.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Apr 2006, 14:23

Tom2681 wrote:It's also nice to see some comedy in a korean swordplay film. Of course it's not as funny as Flying Dagger or Butterfly Sword, but it's a nice touch anyway.

Do you mean HOFD? As I didn't find that funny. Pity it has comedy in it I don't like comedy in flicks like this. Still it sound awesome.

Tom2681 wrote:BTW: The version I've seen is 115 minutes long. It is the so-called "extended international version".

I hope this is the only cut released.

BiscLimpkit wrote:The thing is, it is a highly erotic film but not pornographic.

Don't say that you'll confuse Romero to him they're the same thing

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Apr 2006, 14:39

Brad I'm sure Flying Dagger and HOFD are 2 different movies.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 20 Apr 2006, 15:22

Brad wrote:Do you mean HOFD?

Nope. As Grim said I'm talking about a 1993 Chu Yen-Ping film with Jackie Cheung, Leung Kar-Fai and Maggie Cheung.

It's a film that can only be described as a "Wire-fu comedy" IMO.
Just like Swordsman 1, 2 and 3, Butterfly Sword, Moon Warriors, Tai-Chi Master, Dragon Inn (1992), Claws of Steel, Evil Cult, OUATIC 4, 5 and 6...

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 20 Apr 2006, 18:37

thelostdragon wrote:
What is "Jam Films S"?

Jam Films S

I have the JPN R2 but haven't seen yet.

Take the Lead 4.5/5

What an awesome feel good movie. Didn't realise it was based on a true story. Would I be a moron if I said that it's a better film than say... Brokeback Mountain?

Only thing is, I've seen these sort of films before... where teachers save bad kids. I.e. Sister Act II, Only the Strong, GTO, Dangerous Liasons etc etc. Still for what it's worth, really fun to watch. The whole hip-hop/ballroom thing is sweet.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Apr 2006, 17:52

Scary Movie 2.5/5

At one point, I thought this was the best comedy ever. However its value deteriorates as you get older. There are still one or two nice spoofs but the humour is rather dated.

Scary Movie 4 3/5

Actually kinda funny but again suffers from slapstick overdose. Humour is all about timing and I felt that some jokes should have been condensed. I love the Ju-On gags - that wee kid is hilarious. Interesting cameos...

PS: I thought the film looked kinda funny. Just found out that it was shot on digital format.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 21 Apr 2006, 23:06

Hard Boiled 2.5/5

uhm i really dunno what to make of this movie, i hated it since i had to watch it dubbed, which i always hate, but then the action was ok, even though i dont like gun play movies. chow yun fat was cool, but not, and yeah im just confused about it. started of really really slow, and then seemed to pick up a little, then all the gun play got annoying, but then the final fight scenes were good, and the baby scene was cool. but then the dubbbing ruined it. mayb it would be better if it was origional language..

just confused about it...the story wasnt that strong tho. or the elaboration on it wasnt so great or whatever.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Apr 2006, 23:21

Shen, if you don't add at least 2.5 stars to your score for Hard-Boiled I'm going to have to dump you and leave you to Yi-Long. I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be... 8)

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 21 Apr 2006, 23:30

see ya then

nah...i dunno what to make of it really, im not a big fan of gun movies and i cant stand dubbed movies, but we picked up the cheap dvd from music zone which didnt have the original track on it (sooo glad its not my dvd just for that reason lol) i dont think i ever really enjoyed many gun movies. theres just something so much mroe awesome about hand to hand combat, any idiot can fire a gun, although it takes something to make it look somewhat cool...

but give me good old ass kicking movies anyday hehe.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 22 Apr 2006, 00:14

To be fair, you shouldn't really rate a film if you haven't watched it in its original language

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 22 Apr 2006, 00:16

well the langauge is irrelevant in this part, since i just didnt like the action either

like i said before i dislike often gun play movies. although they surely have cool parts to them, its just bang bang bang someone died, next.... and even without the original langauge the movie just seemed under developed and lacking depth...maybe i would like it more in the original language, but then maybe not, i wont hurry to watch it again

the68monkey · Post by **the68monkey** » 22 Apr 2006, 01:05

Shen, are you sure you're visiting the right forum?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Apr 2006, 02:32

I would avoid most John Woo and Ringo Lam movies then if you don't like gunplay action and violence.

For the record I would give Hard-Boiled *****

It's one the best and purest action movies I've ever seen.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Apr 2006, 02:40

"Overall" I prefer Face/Off to Hard Boiled, The Killer and ABT

. All are good but overrated. I own all on DVD which unlike Romero I don't buy DVDs of films I dislike

For pure entertainment Face/Off is just better IMO. I've yet to watch my ABT2 or BITH DVDs. Put it this way Face/Off definitely has much more rewatch value.

Shen wrote:firstly, i cant stand shu qi, shes so whiney and well airheaded

Don't dis my wife

. I so disagree btw and to think I was kind of backing you up

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Apr 2006, 03:07

bradavon wrote:"Overall" I prefer Face/Off to Hard Boiled, The Killer and ABT .

Which is why nobody asks you, Brad....

Shen wrote:firstly, i cant stand shu qi, shes so whiney and well airheaded

She's whiney... but she could do a lot with those lips...

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Apr 2006, 03:44

I used to like "Face/Off" when I saw it for the firts time. I still like it, but never in the way I like say "The Killer". "The Killer" is my all-time favourite film and it was probably the first John Woo-flick I had ever seen. This probably explains how often I must have watched this.

As for "Face/Off"... it's one of Woo's better Hollywood efforts, along with "MI2" and "OBA". His best Hollywood flick will remain "Hard Target", though.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 Apr 2006, 08:39

I used to like "Face/Off", don't like it much anymore.
Its not a bad Hollywood film but doesnt even compare to classics like ABT, The Killer, BITH and HB.
For some reason Eva hates The Killer - each to their own

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 22 Apr 2006, 10:12

This is turning into a Hard-Boiled appreciation thread, after Shen's... frankly shocking rating

. Granted, you saw it in a dubbed format, but when I first saw this way back when, I saw it dubbed too. Didn't stop me giving it 5/5, then or now

.
I find it difficult to split between this and Face/Off, as the way I look at it, H-B has the better action, but F/O has the edge on characterisation. That's not to say that Hard-Boiled has no characterisation (Leung's scene in the warehouse, before Chow turns up is amazing), and Face/Off has no action (5-way stand-off? Yes please!), but that's the way it plays for me.
Actually, I prefer whichever I watched last. So, Hard-Boiled at the moment.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 22 Apr 2006, 10:14

LostDragon what is OBA?

Broken Arrow?

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 22 Apr 2006, 13:03

lol brad! i said that like 4pages ago...still think this tho, maybe she is different in other movies? just the ones i've seen of her she just grates on my nerves alot...which ok is only two movies, but unless there is a really good film where she isnt whiney and is acting good, then i stand by my conviction lol..

i've seen the killer also, and i liked it more the hard boiled, the story was just better...

sorry but i like to see a movie that has depth of story, not mindless killing just for some "cool " action movie...hey atleast i watched the movie then said i didnt like it...

dragonhero005 · Post by **dragonhero005** » 22 Apr 2006, 13:19

To my mind, Bullet in the Head and The Killer will always be Woo´s best works.
They both combine great action with good acting (the performances of Jackie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in Bullet in the Head were awesome!).

I agree with Shen up to a point, talking about Hard Boiled. But if you just want to relax and watch a cool action movie, Hard Boiled is the one to go for. You won´t see such great action in any Hollywood film!

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Apr 2006, 13:27

grim_tales wrote:LostDragon what is OBA?

Broken Arrow?

Yes.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Apr 2006, 16:22

What does the O stand for in OBA?

You just can't compare the overblown Hollywood ham that is Face/Off with genuine masterpieces of HK cinema like The Killer and Bullet in the Head.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 22 Apr 2006, 16:39

Operation Broken Arrow (german title).

Shen wrote:Hard Boiled 2.5/5 ...all the gun play got annoying...the elaboration on it wasnt so great

*Starts pounding on Shen's head with a big baseball bat...*
*Calms down... Looks at Shen's rotting corpse...*
*...throws gasoline on Shen's corpse and lights a match...*

Hard-Boiled is John's best movie by a mile !

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 22 Apr 2006, 17:02

uhm...okay....your really beginning to scare me now...its just a movie!! its just senseless gun firing, great if you like that kinda thing, but i kinda go for the more artistic style of movies...lol calm down dude no need to kill me....