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

[EvaUnit02]

Yup, S1 of 24 is gripping stuff; S2 is just as good IMO, you'll love it. Too bad the show starts going down hill with S3.

Ong-Bak - 4/5
I saw the Besson Cut in theatres yesterday. Truly awesome. The fights were stunning. Plot was cliched (country boy goes to city, gets chased by/fights street thugs, etc), but who cares? The replaced French hip-hop score was fucking awful. I hope Premier Asia have gotten ahold of the original Thai Theatrical Cut; the R4 Eastern Eye is instantly one to avoid (since it will have the Besson Cut).

[grim_tales]

S3 was just as good as S2 IMO. Too bad I missed the last few episodes
I might get the series on DVD if theyre cheap

[EvaUnit02]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - 4/5
Really well-made horror flick. It does live up to it's reputation IMO. It had a constant eerie feel.

The transfer I saw was awful though. People may argue that enhances the film, screw them - this film is in dire need of remastering. Why that hasn't happened yet puzzles me, prob cuz Geneon (formerly Pioneer) are too lazy. If only someone like Anchor Bay or Blue Underground held the rights.

The Driver (1978) - 3.5/5
Excellent car chases in this flick. The minimalist plot is quite effective IMO.

[EvaUnit02]

Ghost World - 4/5
Well-acted, well-made quirky little film from the director of the superb Bad Santa.

The Enforcer - 3/5
A rather disappointing 2nd sequel to the excellent Dirty Harry. This time his minority partner was a woman, she was quite irritating. I was letdown by there being no catchphrases. The movie does have a number of good scenes and moments; Clint is in top form. I pasted over renting Magnum Force since I heard this was better.

[degeneration]

A few films I've watched over the past several weeks but don't think I've commented on here:

Cellular 4/5
Actually really enjoyed this one. Good film, solid in all areas.

Kolobos 3/5
Liked this a lot more first time I saw it, maybe now I didn't cause it wasn't as suspenseful on 2nd viewing onwards! Still, some decent gore and quite entertaining.

The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy 3/5
Could have been better. If you don't know the books then there is a very good chance that the film will seem really strange and incoherent and a bit of a mess. Fortunately I have read the book so it only seemed strange and a little incoherent and still a bit of a mess.

A few changes were maybe made to keep the film in it a decent running time, but some other bits were removed/editted and made less funny. I'd have liked to have seen Prosser being talked into lying infront of the bulldozer... I'm guessing there has to be another film made in the series as this one didn't really seem to have an ending, and other bits were there when not needed (yet)!!

Anyway, still quite funny and worth a watch for fans.

[grim_tales]

I'm looking forward to HitchHikers as well I heard it was close to the book/TV series but they changed some things a bit, like augmenting the love triangle between Zaphod/Trillian/Arthur.

That bit with Prosser lying down in the front of the bulldozer (in the radio/TV series) is funny.

Arthur: You hadn't exactly gone out of your wau to draw much attention to the plans had you? Like TELLING anybody or anything?

Prosser: The plans were on display

Arthur: I eventually had to go down the cellar

Prosser: Thats the display department

Arthur: With a torch

Prosser: Er, the lights had probably gone.

Arthur: So had the stairs.

[degeneration]

Was reading the screen-play earlier today!!

http://www.american-buddha.com/hitchhiker.screen.htm

[EvaUnit02]

Straw Dogs - 4.5/5
Directed by Sam Peckinpah. Truly carnal flick. An excellent character study of the struggle between human reason and animal instinct. Dustin Hoffman was superb.

[Markgway]

Road to Perdition
****/5

Good gangster film set in depression era.
Tom Hanks was better than I expected.
Didn't rate Thomas Newman's score though.

[ReconFive]

Failan - 5/5

This damn movie gets me SO close to sobbing like a little girl every time I watch it.
The unbelievable simplicity of the story gets me every time, Choi min-sik naturally gives an AMAZING performance, and Cecilia Cheung is just perfect. This is one of my all time favorite Korean films. Please watch it if you haven't seen it.

[degeneration]

I actually didn't like Failan that much... oh well.

Anyway, Armageddon 3/5

Entertaining nonsense, with too much of Ben Affleck's smarmy mug over it. My girlf likes him though... I'm not too sure what I don't like about him, but there is something.

[thelostdragon]

"Failan" is a wonderful movie. However, I didn't find the ending as sad as many other people.

Kingdom of Heaven - 4/5
Wow! Much better than Scott's previous epic film, "Gladiator". The characters could have been more developed, especially the Muslim characters. And finally a film where Arabs where speaking perfect Arabic. Subtitles were only used twice, but it worked.

@ReconFive
Who is that cute girl on your avatar.

[grim_tales]

The Punisher (2004) 2.5-3/5

Leaves the door open for a sequel don't you think?
Don't know much about the comics but it didnt feel like a "comic book movie" at all (except for the daft, fun ways in which people are despatched by Frank Castle). Dark and violent.

Wasnt there a 90's version with Dolph Lundgren?

It felt wierd how Castle only dons the Punisher shirt (with the skull) near the end. On the other hand who will he punish now, as he took revenge on the guys who pissed him off and killed his family???

[ReconFive]

Degeneration, could you elaborate alittle on what you didn't like about Failan? I'm very interested in your opinion.

Lostdragon, I'm going to see Kingdom of Heaven today..can't wait

My new av is the beautiful Akane Soma.

[EvaUnit02]

Kingdom of Heaven - 3.5/5
Quite good I thought, but a bit lacking. The battle/visuals were awesome and well-directed/edited and visuals were stunning. Balian's transition from blacksmith to nobleman/knight could've handled better though, it happened so rapidly and unrealistically seamless. The acting from the big name supporting cast was quite good, shame about the lead though... Orlando Bloom hamming it up, fuck that guy can't act. Surely they could've found a much better lead?

I look forward to seeing the 220min director's cut on DVD. Felt like shit was missing.
Eg The battle where the christian forces led by King Guy get their arses handed to them. I hope Fox include a DTS track on the DC DVD.

Definately shits from great heights onto trash like Troy and Alexander.

[ReconFive]

Memories of Murder - 5/5 -
Recently I've been re-watching alot of my favorite Korean films..Failan, JSA, Silmido, etc... Memories of Murder was even better this time around. It is deffinetly one of the best thrillers i've seen in recent years. Absolutly superb in all areas. Acting, direction, and cinematography are all top notch. Some people have criticized its occasional "black humor" elements, but I thought everything in the screenplay was very fitting in portraying the primitive nature of the investigation, and the way the Korean police force behaved at the time.
I also think the ending is just brilliant...brutal realism over "Hollywood" resolve.

I cannot say enough good about this film. Blows Se7en out of the water!


Insomnia - 4/5 -
Very well made thriller. Al Pacino is naturally just perfect with his role as a badass, very experianced detective, and dispite the mixed opinions I think Robin Williams was terrific playing a serious role as an inner-psycho type character.
Engaging story, well directed, solid perforances all around, great cinematography.
Recommended film.

[degeneration]

Degeneration, could you elaborate alittle on what you didn't like about Failan? I'm very interested in your opinion.

Basically I was rather bored by it. Nothing in the film really stirred me, Choi Min Sik's character bugged and annoyed me more than anything. To me, it just came across as another soppy melodrama that I could live without.

It has been quite a while since I saw it and I've forgotten a lot about it, so apologies that I can't really go into more specific detail.

[ReconFive]

I can understand where your coming from, but with all respect I must disagree. The film is very unique as its a romance drama without any actual romance, but in my opinion that is what makes the story so engaging.
Choi min-sik's character is supposed to be very annoying. The film spends the first 45 minutes showing how much of a worthless screwup he is, and how he is a complete lapdog of his boss.
Failan's pure innocence and kindness is what makes it so sad, IMO. She shows him such sincere gratitude, dispite is being obvious he married her only for convenience.
I found the last 20 minutes of the film to be very powerful. Choi min-sik's character realizing how much of a worthless bastard he is, combined with Failan's pure gratitude and kindness towards him is very sad, IMO.

I admit, I do enjoy melodrams if they are well done melodramas...but I truly don't think Failan is one of them.

This is a beautiful film, In my opinion...and I recommend giving it another try, if you feel like it.

[degeneration]

Alas, I sold on my copy of it shortly after I watched it and I've got way too many other films currently waiting to be watched on my shelf to go back and double-dip in this one!!

[EvaUnit02]

A Fistful of Dynamite - 4/5
Finally managed to see this Sergio Leone film. Quite good IMO, I thoroughly enjoyed it. James Coburn and Rod Steiger were excellent and had great chemistry. The first half was very reminiscent of tGtB&tU.

I wish Sony would hurry up and release the R1 SEs of Dynanite, AFoD, FaFDM (hopefully w/ English mono and retaining the DTS remixes on AFoD/FaFDM). I hope they're also released in a boxset with the existing tGtB&tU SE.

[thelostdragon]

Scent of Women - 3.5/5
Touching film and Al Pacino is great as always. The only downside is the weak subplot which leads to this cliché-like ending in the "courtroom" (everybody applauding etc.)

[grim_tales]

Musa - 4/5

Started off quietly and had some slow patches IMO, but overall it's a very good, moving film. Very well made/beautifully shot, the story bringing to mind Seven Samurai for some reason (though its not as good as that masterpiece). It seemed to get better in terms of pacing as the film went on and I was more gripped and involved. Not sure why..?
The battles are pretty grisly (check out the scene where a guys head is sliced clean from his torso) and it gets emotional at times Sometimes it was hard for me to tell who was who.
Looking forward to watching again in 5.1 though

[EvaUnit02]

Resident Evil - 1.5/5
What can I say? Mindless poorly-directed action bollocks. Doesn't even have the cheesy fun factors that '80's flicks like Commando, Rambo 2&3 had. Some redeeming factors were Milla's hotness and the fantastic production design that all W.S. Anderson flicks have.

Oh the potential RE had. Could've been a horror fan's wetdream if George Romero had directed, alas it turned to instant crap once Paul W.S. Anderson touched it. When will studios realise that Anderson utterly sucks? I think they're getting the message one-by-one though. Notice how he has never had no more than one dreck produced by the same studio?

Police Story - 3.5/5
Saw the R4 HKL disc. Fantastic stunts and action sequences. Chan in top form and a fucking hot female supporting cast - Maggie Cheung and Brigette Lin :mrgreen: ... a shame they're nothing but window-dressing here (especially the fantastic actress, Cheung.) I loved the humour, was in fits of laughter during several scenes. Also another top-notch Bey commentary.

Misery - 4/5
One of those rare and far in-between Stephen King adaptations which is actually good. A well-made suspense flick with awesome performances from Kathy Bates and the under-used James Caan (entirely his fault though, cuz of his former long-term cocaine addiction.)

Thelma & Louise - 3/5
A decently-acted, well-made film IMO. Still I wouldn't bother with a repeat viewing anytime soon, let alone buying it - not my cup of tea (although my friend who LOVED Erin Brockovich would prob really dig this). Just wanted to get another Ridley Scott film out of the way. Speaking Scott, I want my Blade Runner SE! FUCK YOU JERRY PERENCHIO! :shock:

[bradavon]

Is .5 a mark so much?

How can you give the great T&L 3 out of 5 and say it's average but PS 3.5 out of 5 and say it's excellent?

I enjoyed Resident Evil for what it was. Oh and check out Kubrick's Shining for one of the most scary and terrifying films ever made.

I look forward to seeing the 220min director's cut on DVD. Felt like shit was missing.

I thought the same also. Is 220 mins confirmed?

Definately shits from great heights onto trash like Troy and Alexander.

I couldn't disagree more well as far as Alexander is concerned. I saw it earlier and am at a complete loss why it has been slated so much.

Sure it has the odd flaw and continuity issue, Angelina as Alexander's mother took a lot of getting used to, the last major scene with King Philip (Val Kilmer) would've worked better earlier on in the film and why do the Macedonian's have Irish accents?

But these are really just niggles. Angelina is such a good actress she managed to make me forget about their ridiculous age differences, the two main battles were outstanding (especially the first). I've not seen battles so good since LOTR. The cinematography was outstanding. I loved the level of detail about Alexander, sure it skimmed over a fair bit but come on there is no way Stone could show it all in one film.

The first battle was truly outstanding, my jaw was open with amazement all the way through and that elephant vs. horse charge was awesome.

It's a sorry state of affairs when the most people can concentrate on is the openly conveyed fact Alexander was bisexual which to me he looked more gay. He didn't even seem to like women let alone fancy them. I thought he only slept with women so he could have an air, which never happened.

Kingdom of Heaven was good but I can't help thinking it wanted to be a better film and Ridley Scott cut it back dramatically. The MTV style battle editing annoyed me, you couldn't see shit. It wasn't very exciting either and one really battle wasn't enough. It is a deeper and more complex film than Gladiator which works to help and hinder it. Gladiator is nigh on perfect though so it would be hard to top that.

Both were good films but Alexander is fantastic. I'd give Kingdom of Heaven 7 out of 10 and Alexander 9 out of 10. Not only is Alexander not a turkey it's a very good film.

I think of Troy as a dumb action film, it's good fun then. 5 out of 10 in my book.

[bradavon]

As for Failan. I thought the first half was boring and pretty average but then wham the second half is fantastic. It is so emotional.

Having said that the first half killed the film.

Blows Se7en out of the water!

OMG I just had to comment Seven is in another league compared to the VERY overrated average Memories or Murder.

Sure it has moments of great power but they are some what lost in all the unfunny and not needed comedy, and general silliness. I couldn't believe what ridiculousness I was watching at times.

Seven is far, far, far better. Not that the two can really be compared they're different beasts.

What ever happened to "Love" Hewitt? She was hot.

She has an album out/coming out and is uber hot. OMG she is HOT!

It made me chuckle to hear her babylon's had to be taped down when filming the upcoming Katherine Hepburn film as her jubblies weren't as big .

I liked the first IKWYDLS, tis a good teen slasher flick.