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

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 09 Jun 2006, 17:07

Brother - 4/5
Classic Kitano. I enjoyed it immensely. It reminded me of Sonatine, the Aniki character just wanted to die an honourable death as a Yakuza would. He wasn't suicidal in the same way as Kitano's character in Sonatine was though, who was just sick of it all.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 09 Jun 2006, 23:05

Sonatine is possibly my favourite Kitano film, if only for the score. I bought the soundtrack to it and it genuinely moves me, every time I hear it. I have no idea how Joe Hisaishi does it.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 10 Jun 2006, 00:07

While the "Sonatine"-soundtrack is really great, I think the tracks on the CD are really repetitive. It's basically the same tune over and over again, only at times slower/faster/more instruments/less instrumens etc. My favourite Kitano film is "Hana-Bi". I think the "Hana-Bi"-soundtrack was a lot better as it is kinda varied.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 10 Jun 2006, 00:12

The main theme does get reprised 3 times, reflecting the transition of the characters at that time, but I do see what you're saying. Hana-Bi is the other competitor for my favourite Kitano film

. My favourite usually ends up being whichever I've watched last, just like with Hard-Boiled, The Killer and Face/Off from Woo's catalogue.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 12:27

La Haine - 5/5
Excellent film, which is very relevant today. Drives it's point across like a jab from a heavyweight boxer. Superb direction and acting. Very glad I bought the Ultimate Edition.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 10 Jun 2006, 21:22

Agree with that, there. Excellent film.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 10 Jun 2006, 22:09

I love it. Still waiting for a decent German disc.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 11 Jun 2006, 06:04

thelostdragon wrote:I love it. Still waiting for a decent German disc.

What's stopping you from buying the excellent UK release, other than a preference of viewing it in your native tongue?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 11 Jun 2006, 09:41

EvaUnit02 wrote:
thelostdragon wrote:I love it. Still waiting for a decent German disc.
What's stopping you from buying the excellent UK release, other than a preference of viewing it in your native tongue?

Nothing.

Isabella - 4/5
Can't believe I'll ever write this. Chapman To is a great actor.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 11 Jun 2006, 12:03

La Haine 4.5/5

Witty dialogue, razor sharp photography and a profound commentary on racial tension.

Superb.

Optimum's new 3 disc L.E. is lovely. Luckily it has correct English translations (some English DVDs may not be too accurate according to imdb).

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 12 Jun 2006, 06:50

Watched all of this while I was away:

Blackadder II - 5/5

Blackadder The Third - 5/5

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow (Mei Ah) - 4/5

Along Came A Spider - 3/5

First 60-ish mins of Alexander - 2.5/5

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 12 Jun 2006, 10:03

The Omen - 3.5/5
I actually enjoyed this much more then i expected. Very close to the original, very few changes..but still inferior. Quite a few really good scenes, but quite a few really crappy ones as well. A worthy remake though, IMO.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 12 Jun 2006, 18:10

Forgot to say I also saw -

The Pink Panther (remake), on a plane - 2.5/5

Steve Martin is no Peter Sellers, and Beyoncé is just eye candy. I did like some of the slapstick though and the scene where Martin tries to say "I would like to buy a hamburger" was very funny

Island of Fire - 4/5

Gritty prison drama, with some good, fairly brutal fighting. Jackie isnt in the film as much as the HKL cover makes out. Great turn by Sammo who shows he can act as well as fight
The subtitles are amusing at times.

"He cooked my mouse!"

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 12 Jun 2006, 18:48

OMG Grim you did actually go on holiday and more to the point you did actually leave the hotel room?

First 60-ish mins of Alexander - 2.5/5

That's really not giving it a chance. Did you at least see the awesome battle? 2.5 out of 5 on a film that lasts 3 hours and you saw 1 of it doesn't make much sense.

It's a 7 out of 10 in my book but no one else seems to agree (you're all wrong

). Still at least you saw 1 hour of it, most who hated it haven't even seen that.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 12 Jun 2006, 19:19

Hey I have not watched the dvd yet, and I got that instantly for some reason, even though the film wasnt great. Its been over a year now, crikey!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 12 Jun 2006, 23:56

bradavon wrote:most who hated it haven't even seen that.

I sat through the entire longer theatrical cut at the cinema and despise Alexander.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Jun 2006, 01:01

Fair enough then. You've seen it so at least can comment. You didn't think the first battle was well choreographed? I thought it was excellent, better than all the Troy battles put together.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 13 Jun 2006, 01:08

bradavon wrote:Fair enough then. You've seen it so at least can comment. You didn't think the first battle was well choreographed?

I couldn't tell the quality of choreography becuz of how badly Stoner shot all the battles. The first one in the desert being the most badly shot.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Jun 2006, 10:23

The battle I saw in Alexander was good, as you say Brad it was very well choreographed and looked well made. The fact so many characters spoke with an Irish brogue was somewhat distracting, I mean the movie is set in Macedonia and Persia, no?

I'll probably rent the movie and watch the whole thing, there wasnt time to see all of it.
LOL Brad of course I left the appartment. We actually went out a lot on sightseeing, the beach, etc.
Why cant I rate what I've seen, I'm only saying what I SAW was 2.5/5. Why is there no attempt to make Angelina Jolie look any older than Colin Farrell?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 13 Jun 2006, 10:45

Laurel & Hardy - Saps at Sea - 4/5
Man, their films are so old, but still work as probably the best comedies ever for me.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 13 Jun 2006, 18:29

S.P.L 4/5

man this movie was better than i had expected, it was weird to see sammo play a bad guy for once, and the ponytail really didnt suit him lol, but the movie itself was really quite cool. regarding the style of film, as quite dark, the cinematography was quite beautiful really, with the fading and such, it wasnt lame and half-assed like so many films. there wasnt as much action as i expected but what there was, was cool. the final fight between donnie and sammo was pretty good too. was the guy in white with the sword "jin wu"? or was it someother guy?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 13 Jun 2006, 22:10

Aye good film. I like the bit with the sword.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 13 Jun 2006, 22:22

Brutal.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 14 Jun 2006, 00:04

Shen wrote:was the guy in white with the sword "jin wu"? or was it someother guy?

Close enough.

That's Wu Jing, also known as Jackie Wu.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 14 Jun 2006, 00:06

hey on the tin it says jin wu, so how was i supposed to know!!

it also said "introducing jin wu" so is he new or what?