What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5
- Markgway
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slasher13
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- captainjoe
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- grim_tales
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Orchestra Seats - 3.5 - 4/5
Seemed a slow burner a few times, but its a simple story and very charming film
Cecile de France - (who played Monique in the Jackie Chan version of Around the World in 80 Days) takes the lead as a friendly, cute small town waitress who falls in love with a musician (something like that anyway). The location for the film is the theatre district of Paris and we get to meet some of the characters that cross paths at a cafe. The film is mainly seen through the eyes of a young woman who has come to Paris full of tales of the luxury life from her grandmother.
Cecile de France plays the character of the young woman, Jessica, at the centre of the film and she lights it up. In her time at the cafe she comes across a frustrated Concert Pianist who wants to give up the grind of the International Circuit, a Millionare Businessman selling off all his possesions with a gold digger and suspicious/jealous son in close proximity and a popular soap star who wants to impress a visiting American director.
As the poster says, it makes you want to visit Paris

Seemed a slow burner a few times, but its a simple story and very charming film
Cecile de France - (who played Monique in the Jackie Chan version of Around the World in 80 Days) takes the lead as a friendly, cute small town waitress who falls in love with a musician (something like that anyway). The location for the film is the theatre district of Paris and we get to meet some of the characters that cross paths at a cafe. The film is mainly seen through the eyes of a young woman who has come to Paris full of tales of the luxury life from her grandmother.
Cecile de France plays the character of the young woman, Jessica, at the centre of the film and she lights it up. In her time at the cafe she comes across a frustrated Concert Pianist who wants to give up the grind of the International Circuit, a Millionare Businessman selling off all his possesions with a gold digger and suspicious/jealous son in close proximity and a popular soap star who wants to impress a visiting American director.
As the poster says, it makes you want to visit Paris
- Markgway
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ROCKY BALBOA 3/5
Nice conclusion to the series -- but honestly I'm not sure it was really worth the effort. Seemed to cover much the same ground as ROCKY V. As a drama it was decent and I have a lot of time for Stallone and the Rocky character but I found myself underwhelmed in the entertainment stakes. The training sequence and the final fight have been done better by each of the previous sequels and the whole enterprise felt sadly like - to use a music analogy - an original artist doing a latter-day re-recording for a budget label. I really wanted to like this more. It was fair but not the knockout punch I was hoping for.
HOLLYWOODLAND 3/5
Almost really good noirish mystery based on the alleged unsolved murder of Superman actor George Reeves. The direction was good, with effective cross-cutting between Reeves' Hollywood trails and those of the detective investigating his gruesome end. But the (understandable) lack of a clear resolution left me with more questions than answers and the domestic stuff with Adrien Brody's kid took up too much time. How accurate the screenplay is I've no idea as I knew very little about the case. Strong performances, with Ben Affleck better than I've ever seen him.
Nice conclusion to the series -- but honestly I'm not sure it was really worth the effort. Seemed to cover much the same ground as ROCKY V. As a drama it was decent and I have a lot of time for Stallone and the Rocky character but I found myself underwhelmed in the entertainment stakes. The training sequence and the final fight have been done better by each of the previous sequels and the whole enterprise felt sadly like - to use a music analogy - an original artist doing a latter-day re-recording for a budget label. I really wanted to like this more. It was fair but not the knockout punch I was hoping for.
HOLLYWOODLAND 3/5
Almost really good noirish mystery based on the alleged unsolved murder of Superman actor George Reeves. The direction was good, with effective cross-cutting between Reeves' Hollywood trails and those of the detective investigating his gruesome end. But the (understandable) lack of a clear resolution left me with more questions than answers and the domestic stuff with Adrien Brody's kid took up too much time. How accurate the screenplay is I've no idea as I knew very little about the case. Strong performances, with Ben Affleck better than I've ever seen him.
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EvaUnit02
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- grim_tales
- Bruce Lee's Fist
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- grim_tales
- Bruce Lee's Fist
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- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
- Location: St. Albans, UK
- grim_tales
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- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
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Shaolin Wooden Men - 3.5/5
Not half bad - I enjoyed it
The decision to make Jackie "mute" isn't new but its quite a shock when he did spesk at the end. The fights are quite good in this early work, he must have done some of the fights.
The training sequences do drag a bit though.
The idea of one of Jackie's teacher being a killer has been used again as well, notably in Knockabout, but I liked the idea of Jackie learning kung fu from both a good person (the kind woman Five Plums) and the guy who turns out to be his father's killer.
Shouldnt the language of the film be Mandarin?
A real shame the HKL is barebones - not even a trailer!
Not half bad - I enjoyed it
The training sequences do drag a bit though.
The idea of one of Jackie's teacher being a killer has been used again as well, notably in Knockabout, but I liked the idea of Jackie learning kung fu from both a good person (the kind woman Five Plums) and the guy who turns out to be his father's killer.
Shouldnt the language of the film be Mandarin?
A real shame the HKL is barebones - not even a trailer!
- BiscLimpkit
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The Namesake (Mira Nair) 4.5/5
The Namesake follows a Bengali family, as they immigrate to the US and raise second generation NRIs. The protagonist is the couple's first son, played by Kal Penn, who is torn between two cultures and is burdened by the origins of his name. This is a stunning drama from Nair and I'm sure that many NRIs will be able to relate to the story's themes. Being of Bengali origin myself, I saw a lot of my own life in this film. The camerawork is simply sublime and the atmosphere is beautifully desolate. Wonderful acting from the cast as well, most suprisingly Kal Penn, who I've only seen in trashy MTVstyle productions (although Harold and Kumar was pretty cool).
Thank you Mira Nair for another sombre classic. DVD purchase is essential.
The Namesake follows a Bengali family, as they immigrate to the US and raise second generation NRIs. The protagonist is the couple's first son, played by Kal Penn, who is torn between two cultures and is burdened by the origins of his name. This is a stunning drama from Nair and I'm sure that many NRIs will be able to relate to the story's themes. Being of Bengali origin myself, I saw a lot of my own life in this film. The camerawork is simply sublime and the atmosphere is beautifully desolate. Wonderful acting from the cast as well, most suprisingly Kal Penn, who I've only seen in trashy MTVstyle productions (although Harold and Kumar was pretty cool).
Thank you Mira Nair for another sombre classic. DVD purchase is essential.

- BiscLimpkit
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Lourdes
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24: Season 6 - 0/5
I forced myself to finish it just for the sake of completion. But let me tell you, it is so bad it makes me angry. I have never watched a TV series this bad, even stuff like Ultimate Farce is better. Everything is predictable, inconsistent and just plain stupid.
I'll stick to seasons 1-2.
Training Day - 2/5
Presumably the inspiration for "The Shield." It amused me while it lasted but it's just cheap exploitation and you see everything coming.
Lucky Number Slevin - 3/5
Decidedly average, great cast but their performances were not so great at all. I liked the Yojimbo-inspired setting but I don't feel it really went anywhere. What really ruined it for me was about 25 minutes of 'wrap-up' portraying in detail what the viewer has already figured out.
Bullit - 3/5
I'd never seen it until now.
Pretty good but I don't think it's really that special.
Land of the Dead - 1/5
Gave up after 20~ minutes.
Flags of Our Fathers - 3/5
I have never seen a less intense war-film. I did not feel the slightest bit of excitement or involvement in what was going on. I know it's not me because I can usually go with decent manipulation but this just did not do it for me AT ALL. Hope to see Letters soon.
The Matrix - 5/5
I only saw the first half because it was still too fresh in my mind and I hate not having a long time between viewings. However it's still as good as ever and my word the HD-DVD looks nice. Although I hope the BD will have an even better encode. Anyway, some of the CG is starting to look a little dated but I still think it's a damn good film.
The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions
Pretty much unwatchable, even the action sequences are horrible for the most part.
Die Hard Trilogy - 4/5
Until now I had never seen all of these films in their entirity, I always missed a bit. Classics. Two brings down the average but 1's action and humour and 3's SLJ make it a fantastic trilogy.
Lethal Weapon 1-3 - 3/5
There's something not right about these films, the pacing just never seems right and Riggs and Murtaugh are a more a standup act than a duo with chemistry.
I forced myself to finish it just for the sake of completion. But let me tell you, it is so bad it makes me angry. I have never watched a TV series this bad, even stuff like Ultimate Farce is better. Everything is predictable, inconsistent and just plain stupid.
I'll stick to seasons 1-2.
Training Day - 2/5
Presumably the inspiration for "The Shield." It amused me while it lasted but it's just cheap exploitation and you see everything coming.
Lucky Number Slevin - 3/5
Decidedly average, great cast but their performances were not so great at all. I liked the Yojimbo-inspired setting but I don't feel it really went anywhere. What really ruined it for me was about 25 minutes of 'wrap-up' portraying in detail what the viewer has already figured out.
Bullit - 3/5
I'd never seen it until now.
Land of the Dead - 1/5
Gave up after 20~ minutes.
Flags of Our Fathers - 3/5
I have never seen a less intense war-film. I did not feel the slightest bit of excitement or involvement in what was going on. I know it's not me because I can usually go with decent manipulation but this just did not do it for me AT ALL. Hope to see Letters soon.
The Matrix - 5/5
I only saw the first half because it was still too fresh in my mind and I hate not having a long time between viewings. However it's still as good as ever and my word the HD-DVD looks nice. Although I hope the BD will have an even better encode. Anyway, some of the CG is starting to look a little dated but I still think it's a damn good film.
The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions
Pretty much unwatchable, even the action sequences are horrible for the most part.
Die Hard Trilogy - 4/5
Until now I had never seen all of these films in their entirity, I always missed a bit. Classics. Two brings down the average but 1's action and humour and 3's SLJ make it a fantastic trilogy.
Lethal Weapon 1-3 - 3/5
There's something not right about these films, the pacing just never seems right and Riggs and Murtaugh are a more a standup act than a duo with chemistry.
- thelostdragon
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- thelostdragon
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- captainjoe
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slasher13
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The Good Shepherd - 3.75 / 5
Actually a really good movie about the CIA and it beginning. It also talks about Skull and Bones which was strange. Matt Damon is pretty good in this, and the plane scene is quite disturbing, might buy this on dvd when it is cheap. Recommended to watch.
Actually a really good movie about the CIA and it beginning. It also talks about Skull and Bones which was strange. Matt Damon is pretty good in this, and the plane scene is quite disturbing, might buy this on dvd when it is cheap. Recommended to watch.
What!!!, Did you like Night, Dawn or Day of the Dead? I felt this was a good follow up on the Dead moviesLand of the Dead - 1/5
Gave up after 20~ minutes.
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Lourdes
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DangerousLeeHandsome
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- Shingster
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Oh don't get me wrong, I think Die Hard 3 is great fun, I was speaking more in terms of genre classics. The Matrix, love it or hate it, really made a special impact on the action genre and will be considered as a classic of the genre many years from now.Lourdes wrote:Samuel L Shing, Samuel L.Shingster wrote:There's nothing special about Die Hard 2&3
Die Hard 2 though I think is an atrocious film, but it is occasionally unintentionally hilarious (Naked shadow boxing = genius).
- HungFist
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