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

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 Jul 2006, 17:54

thelostdragon wrote:Mar, have you stopped rating films out of 4?

I don't know who "Mar" is, but for some reason I decided to mark out of ***** on this occasion. I just choose whatever suits. Maybe next time it'll be **** or maybe not?? 8)

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Jul 2006, 23:28

Hard Candy - 4/5
I don't know who it was, but someone compared this to "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance". Having seen this today, I couldn't agree less. I can't tell you guys anything about the storyline as I'd spoil the film for you then. Very powerful film indeed with a silly ending in my opinion.

There wasn't a lot of music in the film, but when there was it was absolutely good. I wish there was a soundtrack to the film.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 24 Jul 2006, 23:34

Duck Soup - 4/5

Marx Brothers comedy, which after having seen for the first time on Film4 today, really makes me appreciate what they did for comedy. Some classic moments in there, including the oft-copied mirror man scene, where one person copies another in place of a reflection from a mirror.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Jul 2006, 08:57

Damn I missed this

I haven't seen any Marx Bros. movies either.
Still I love the bit in "A Night At The Opera" when the music during the performance suddenly changes to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and a guy comes out going "Peanuts! Get your peanuts here!" and Chico uses the violin like a baseball bat

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pyjamas...
How he got into my pyjamas I'll never know."

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 25 Jul 2006, 19:33

thelostdragon wrote:Hard Candy - 4/5
I don't know who it was, but someone compared this to "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance".

That was me. Glad you finally got to watch it. There are echoes of other revenge themed Asian films as well, not to mention the duel project. Although if the filmmakers were ever influenced by these titles will remain a mystery forever (unless someone asks them).

the68monkey · Post by **the68monkey** » 26 Jul 2006, 02:38

La Leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (US Title: The Legend of 1900) - 3 out of 5

While the film itself isn't very remarkable, the piano music in this film is wonderful. Tim Roth gives a convincing performance of the piano player who has spent his entire life onboard an ocean liner. The "duel" with Jelly Roll Morton makes the film worth watching, even if only for competition.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Jul 2006, 09:38

Three Colors Trilogy - White: 4.5/5

Really, really enjoyed this. A great little film which is much more of a black comedy than "Blue" - or maybe a drama with a darkly comic narrative, I don't know..

Its' about a Polish hairdresser who plots a scheme of revenge against his beautiful French wife (Julie Delpy) after she deserts him.
I'll admit I'm probably more at home watching comedy movies than dramas (I do like dramas), I think this film was one of the first foreign language films I watched (I was 13 at the time).

dragonhero005 · Post by **dragonhero005** » 26 Jul 2006, 14:52

Picture of a Nymph (1988)

An obvious copy of A Chinese Ghost Story, directed by Wu Ma. I was suprised by how this movie is able to match ACGS visually.
Overall this movie has it´s moments and entertains at some points, but is far too melodramatic and the story doesn´t really go in a clear direction, to my mind. The there also is a lack of suspense...

Still a nice addition if you already know the ACGS movies in and out.

3/5

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jul 2006, 12:41

Superman Returns (at the cinema) - 3.5/5

Enjoyable film, I liked it.

Kevin Spacey seems to be really enjoying himself camping it up as Lex Luthor. I felt it was a cliché to give Luthor's girlfriend a "heart" ie she isn't comfortable with what he does, and questions his motives/sanity "This isn't a train set, millions of people will die!" - etc)
Brandon Routh was *okay* but not very remarkable, though scenes involving Supes averting a plane crash or the ones involving earthquakes, are thrilling and exciting but also terrifying and like it or not, recall 9/11 or the 2004 tsunami. At this point, with the benefit of hindsight it seems political - where was a Superman when we needed him?

Lois Lane is cute but really looks far too young to be the mother to a 5 year old child.
The twist was fairly obvious, even for me when I'm unfamilliar with the mythology.
When is the film set?

Unleashed - 3.5/5

Again, overall an enjoyable film. The fights are brutal and violent, fun to watch as there seemed to be little cutting/editing, and Jet Li does well in a variation on the fish out of water role discovering the "human" world around him. However, most of the other characters seem like clichés - Morgan Freeman's kind piano tuner who takes Jet in to his family, and especially Bob Hoskins' gruff cockney gang boss - the sort of role he could play over 20 years ago.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 28 Jul 2006, 14:27

Banlieue 13

More breathless, exciting and action-packed than anything to come out of HK in the last decade. The sheer physicality and energy on display puts stuff like New Police Story to shame.

Did anyone else know that the cute sister used to be a teenage porn star??

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jul 2006, 14:30

Hey,

Re: Superman Returns

Also I thought the newspaper headline Superman is Dead was a nod to the reaction of the passing of Christopher Reeve. To many, he WAS Superman. The last act was really quite sad and moving

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 28 Jul 2006, 17:18

Markgway wrote:Banlieue 13

More breathless, exciting and action-packed than anything to come out of HK in the last decade. The sheer physicality and energy on display puts stuff like New Police Story to shame.

Did anyone else know that the cute sister used to be a teenage porn star??

No I didnt know that!!! intersting as she did look a little used and skanky at times

I liked the film thats for sure, only problem I had was the ending I wanted a bigger battle

still top film and I guess he makes a good movie star compared to his BBC adverts

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 28 Jul 2006, 19:02

romerojpg wrote:
Markgway wrote:Did anyone else know that the cute sister used to be a teenage porn star??
No I didnt know that!!! intersting as she did look a little used and skanky at times

Well, to be fair, that was the character. The drug lord turns her into a heroin addicted sex slave, so...

I liked the film thats for sure, only problem I had was the ending I wanted a bigger battle

I was surprised that the main villain was killed well before the finish, but liked that in the end it came down to two guys on the same side questioning each other's opinion with fists

I guess he makes a good movie star compared to his BBC adverts

Who?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jul 2006, 19:36

Hey Mark,

Have you seen Superman Returns yet?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 28 Jul 2006, 22:45

Nah, not really bothered.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 29 Jul 2006, 03:31

The Weather Man - 4.5/5
Whoa! Wonderful soundtrack, an entertaining film without murder and violence and without stupid Hollywood humor. The role of the weather man is just perfectly written for Nicolas Cage. He gives a wonderful performance as does Michael Caine as his father. Just a realisticly conceivable depiction of a man whose problem is not that he is kind of a celebrity, but rather his family life.

Easily one of the best films I have seen this year.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Jul 2006, 09:50

Did you see Banue.. er, District 13 at the cinema Mark

? I've heard its very good, isn't the R1 out now?

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 29 Jul 2006, 10:15

Watched Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Chest - 3.5/5

I quite enjoyed this movie, it was very good. Although i did think they made Johnny depp character a bit harsh, when he wasn't suppose to be. The special effects are very very good, and worth going to the cinema to see it. It is funny, but not as funny as the 1st one. One thing is that my wife (who is a big fan of the orignal) hated this one. Dunno why, and one of my friends, again who is a big fan was the same.
Great ending thou, can't wait for the 3rd one

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 29 Jul 2006, 14:33

i thought dead mans chest was great! jack sparrow was more developed but still funny with his mincing walk and everything. the ending was weird because of how it ended i the first movie...but it was really funny, and the special effects looked really great! i kinda like it more than the first, but they are both good

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Jul 2006, 18:53

Hey Brad you seen Unleashed/Danny The Dog yet?
I enjoyed Unleashed, great fights, I doubt I'd buy DTD though.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 29 Jul 2006, 23:53

Jakob The Liar 3.5/5

great movie, i really like Robin Williams in dramatic roles. a bit similar to "Life is Beautiful" the only thing that sorta messed it up a little was the total inconsitency in language... the jews spoke english but wrote in polish, the germans spoke german, and english when they felt like it, annoucing stuff with "achtung" then continuing the announcement in english, just little stuff like that made the film not recieve higher rating since its kinda off putting.

but its a really good film, drama , but mixed in wit ha little of the regular Williams humour pmakes it almost perfect, except for the damn inconsistency!

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jul 2006, 16:02

Election 2 - 3.5/5
Better than the first film in my opinion as it is easier accessible.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 30 Jul 2006, 16:51

Markgway wrote:
I guess he makes a good movie star compared to his BBC adverts
Who?

Him (the non copper fella of the pair of good guys)

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1042642/

He did them BBC free running adverts

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 30 Jul 2006, 18:16

Here is a link for them, no wonder he looked sooo familar when I saw this movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAMAr8y-Vtw

Cheers Romero

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 30 Jul 2006, 19:55

Him and a few others were the origanators of the whole free running craze in france it seems

he is a good actor and his skillstransfer perfectly to the cinema screen thats for sure.