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

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Oct 2007, 23:52

bradavon wrote: Nicholson makes it for more.

Funny. I thought Jack was the worst thing about BATMAN in a grotesque OTT performance that was more buffoonish than scary. Don't be surprised if Heath Ledger blows him out of the water. I liked Keaton because he looked like a weak, edgy character who would need a suit to mask his split personailty and lack of physical prowess.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 18 Oct 2007, 23:56

Havent seen Crash (yet), but did see MDB and although I didnt feel it's a GREAT movie (typical Hollywood 'wanting to win an oscar so we make a serious flick stuff'), it didnt seem all that preachy to me.

So Eva, how do you feel about that crapfest Requiem for a Dream? I mean, THAT was WAY over the top anti-drug preachy propaganda!

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 18 Oct 2007, 23:57

The cinematography worked beautifully in Collateral IMO. The action was shot and edited really well. The action sequence in the Triad night club is nothing short of brilliant.

He goes totally overboard with Miami Vice though, the big shoot out at the end was near unfollowable and gave me a migraine.

The biggest downfalls of Collateral is the inferior 3rd act and the casting. Whilst Tom Cruise is pretty decent as Vincent (and it's his best performance since "On the Fourth of July" or possibly "Magnolia"), think of how awesome it would've been with the director's first pick:- Val Kilmer. Kilmer is a spectacular actor with the right material.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:01

Miami Vice is 5 bucks at a local shop. Should I pick it up or skip it!?

Havent seen Collateral yet. Still meaning to pick it up. Will do probably within a month when I start dvd shopping for Xmas.

Ow yeah, the Island is also 5 bucks now. Any good?

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:06

Yi-Long wrote:Miami Vice is 5 bucks at a local shop. Should I pick it up or skip it!?

Skip it. It's nothing beyond an average rental.

Ow yeah, the Island is also 5 bucks now. Any good?

It's okay. Certainly much better than Transformers, but that's not saying much.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:15

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:Miami Vice is 5 bucks at a local shop. Should I pick it up or skip it!?
Skip it. It's nothing beyond an average rental.

Ow yeah, the Island is also 5 bucks now. Any good?
It's okay. Certainly much better than Transformers, but that's not saying much.

I thought maybe Miami Vice would be worth it for Gong Li!? But the rest of the cast doesnt interest me in the slightest, plus I doubt the movie even comes close to the quality of the TV series.

The Island seems like fun. Just a popcorn blockbuster with a hot babe in it.

What about my earlier question Eva, a few posts above...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:18

Miami Vice the Movie and TV Series are actually very different except both are set in Miami and are cop focused.

I thought it was decent. It annoyed me how they mumbled but that's just a niggle. Gong Li is perfectly fine if miscast. I'll be picking up the HD-DVD. I'd like to see the DC. It's annoying it's a Combo though :shock:

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:28

Yi-Long wrote:What about my earlier question Eva, a few posts above...

Oh, missed that one. I made a thread on RfaD some time ago, dig it up and have a read.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Oct 2007, 00:32

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:What about my earlier question Eva, a few posts above...
Oh, missed that one. I made a thread on RfaD some time ago, dig it up and have a read.

That sounds like a lot of effort. Just tell me it's crap and I'm ok...

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Oct 2007, 01:05

EvaUnit02 wrote:The cinematography worked beautifully in Collateral IMO. The action was shot and edited really well. The action sequence in the Triad night club is nothing short of brilliant.

I'm not talking about the filmmakers' skill, but just that look that tells you it wasn't shot on regular film. Ach, nobody knows what I'm talking about so I'll shut the fuck up now.

He goes totally overboard with Miami Vice though, the big shoot out at the end was near unfollowable and gave me a migraine.

Miami Vice was a big nothing. It wasn't good and it wasn't bad. It just was.

The biggest downfalls of Collateral is the inferior 3rd act

You mean because of the reappearence of Jada's character?

Whilst Tom Cruise is pretty decent as Vincent (and it's his best performance since "On the Fourth of July" or possibly "Magnolia")

Cruise is sometimes a very good actor (you mentioned two of his best performances) but can also be wooden (Mission: Impossible) or coasting (Mission: Impossible II). I thought he was good in Collateral. Not brilliant, but good, and better than the overrated Jamie Foxx, who was extremely bland. I know he's supposed to be a cabbie, but did he have to be a cabbie with one expression?

Kilmer is a spectacular actor with the right material.

Have you seen Spartan? I thought he was very good in that.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Oct 2007, 01:14

Is Spartan any good? I have that DVd for over a year now, but it seemed like a B-movie so never bother with it (came in a 4 pack, with only 1 movie I was interested in, and the others I havent watched yet)

I never liked Cruise as an actor. At best, he puts in a good performance, but never ever a brilliant one. If you're lucky, he doesnt bring a movie down. But he pretty much never IMPROVES a movie. Every movie he has been in, could have been better if it would have had a better actor in it. A guy like Depp makes a movie better. Same with Clooney. the ADD something good/great to a movie.
Tom Cruise is just... mediocre.

I'm not a fan of Jamie Foxx. I thought he totally SUCKED in his TV show, and in In Living Color. But apparently he's very good in Ray and Collateral, so I'm still willing to give him a chance. But give me Don Cheadle over Jamie ANY day!
Jamie is so fucking overrated it aint even funny. Not to mention he's Fugly.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Oct 2007, 04:41

Yi-Long wrote:I'm not a fan of Jamie Foxx. I thought he totally SUCKED in his TV show, and in In Living Color. But apparently he's very good in Ray and Collateral, so I'm still willing to give him a chance. But give me Don Cheadle over Jamie ANY day!
Jamie is so fucking overrated it aint even funny. Not to mention he's Fugly.

Don't tell me you're rating Foxx based on some two bit TV shows?

Dude watch Ray I bet you'll be impressed. He doesn't play Ray, he IS Ray. It's remarkable how he pulls it off, watch an interview afterwards and you'll struggle to tell the difference. He's decent in Collateral and also very good in Dreamgirls, which I know isn't macho enough for most on this forum.

You reckon Foxx is ugly? I've always thought he was very handsome not that I see what that's got to do with his acting ability.

Markgway wrote:I'm not talking about the filmmakers' skill, but just that look that tells you it wasn't shot on regular film. Ach, nobody knows what I'm talking about so I'll shut the fuck up now.

Yes we do, it's just most don't mind so much. Hungfist seems to actually prefer it and Romero hates it too.

Markgway wrote:and better than the overrated Jamie Foxx.

Have you seen him in anything else?

EvaUnit02 wrote:He goes totally overboard with Miami Vice though, the big shoot out at the end was near unfollowable and gave me a migraine.

I thought it worked brilliantly. It's not often a shoot out actually feels real. The sound effects especially are excellent.

EvaUnit02 wrote:think of how awesome it would've been with the director's first pick:- Val Kilmer. Kilmer is a spectacular actor with the right material.

Cruise was fine, Kilmer would've been better. The problem with Cruise is he's so well known it's hard to forget it's Cruise you're watching (the same goes for Brad Pitt, he managed it in Babel though). He also often plays himself which gets a bit annoying.

He is a much better actor than most give him credit though. Cruise also knows a good script when he sees one. The man hasn't made many turkeys.

Collateral is a strange one for Cruise though, it's not your usual Hollywood blockbuster.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Oct 2007, 05:00

Oh Yi, you're like a broken record. We had this very same exchange about a month ago.

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:I'm not a big fan of Jamie Foxx. I though he was just BAD in his TV Show... and I never liked him on In Living Color. I dont know. To me, he just isnt a great actor.
Oh he's a rubbish comedian, his strength is in his acting.

He was good in Any Given Sunday though. Havent seen Jarhead, Ray and Collateral yet.
There's your problem right there.

Jamie Foxx is a total shithouse comedian, don't dismiss his dramatic work because of this. He's a terrific DRAMATIC actor though (good singer too, if you've heard his R&B work.). As Brad said, he's outstanding in Ray, it's like he's channeling the soul of the real thing.

He was also good in Any Given Sunday and Ali.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 19 Oct 2007, 09:32

Heroes - Episode 8: 4.5/5

Is Calire's father a bad guy (kind of). He's also called HRG
Most characters in the show have a dark side (Nikki sure does).

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 19 Oct 2007, 09:35

Markgway wrote:
bradavon wrote: Nicholson makes it for more.
Funny. I thought Jack was the worst thing about BATMAN in a grotesque OTT performance that was more buffoonish than scary. Don't be surprised if Heath Ledger blows him out of the water. I liked Keaton because he looked like a weak, edgy character who would need a suit to mask his split personailty and lack of physical prowess.

I thought Nicholson was too panto and camp as the Joker TBH. Maybe that was the point?

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Oct 2007, 12:33

EvaUnit02 wrote:Oh Yi, you're like a broken record. We had this very same exchange about a month ago.
EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:I'm not a big fan of Jamie Foxx. I though he was just BAD in his TV Show... and I never liked him on In Living Color. I dont know. To me, he just isnt a great actor.
Oh he's a rubbish comedian, his strength is in his acting.

He was good in Any Given Sunday though. Havent seen Jarhead, Ray and Collateral yet.
There's your problem right there.
Jamie Foxx is a total shithouse comedian, don't dismiss his dramatic work because of this. He's a terrific DRAMATIC actor though (good singer too, if you've heard his R&B work.). As Brad said, he's outstanding in Ray, it's like he's channeling the soul of the real thing.

He was also good in Any Given Sunday and Ali.

Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record? Whats a broken record?

Anyway

I know we had this discussion before. I'm not the one who stirred it up. But might as well pitch in my opinion while we were at it.

I DID NOT think he was very good in Ali, but then again, Will Smith wasnt great either. I mean, there is nothing wrong with their performances, but they were playing REAL people, and Smith just was NOT Ali, and I didnt recognize Brown in Fox' s role either.
I have seen Any Given Sunday, and he was pretty good in that.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Oct 2007, 15:33

WTF??? Will Smith was fantastic in Ali. What does an actor have to do to embody a character that will actually impress you?

He's way better than Denzel Washington the overrated and frankly pretty rubbish Training Day. They should've picked Smith for the "first black Oscar"! Washington is overall a better actor though but there's no way "that" performance is worth an Oscar.

I don't remember Foxx in Ali at all.

and Smith just was NOT Ali.

He certainly was. He didn't "quite" pull it off like Ray did but boy he almost became Ali, just not quite. It still looked and sounded like Ali though.

I have seen Any Given Sunday, and he was pretty good in that.

Now you really are repeating yourself. That film isn't even one of Stone's best.

Markgway wrote:Funny. I thought Jack was the worst thing about BATMAN in a grotesque OTT performance that was more buffoonish than scary. Don't be surprised if Heath Ledger blows him out of the water. I liked Keaton because he looked like a weak, edgy character who would need a suit to mask his split personailty and lack of physical prowess.

Agreed Joker wasn't particular scary but he sure made up for it with the OTT performance as you put it. I loved that. Keaton on the other hand facially looks the part, he has a strange moody face in that but physically he's all wrong and he has a charisma problem.

I don't mind though as Nicholson saved the day and the film is still decent. So is Batman Returns although it doesn't top the first one and thus I don't need to own it.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:09

bradavon wrote:They should've picked Smith for the "first black Oscar"!

They gave someone a black oscar!!

Seriously Brad, you really need to swot up on Oscars history!

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:14

Wasn't James Baskett awarded an Oscar for his performance in Song of the South?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:17

Yi-Long wrote:Is Spartan any good? I have that DVd for over a year now, but it seemed like a B-movie so never bother with it

It wasn't a hit, so you don't hear much about it, despite it's pedigree. Written and directed by David Mamet. I found it to be a tough and smart thriller, others may not like it. But at least give it a try.

I'm not a fan of Jamie Foxx. But apparently he's very good in Ray and Collateral

I haven't seen Ray. Subject doesn't interest me. But I found him quite dull in Collateral. Like Cruise or not: he IS a real movie star.

But give me Don Cheadle over Jamie ANY day!

Yes. He would have been far better.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:18

grim_tales wrote:Wasn't James Baskett awarded an Oscar for his performance in Song of the South?

Yeah, but his was an Honorary Award, so technically not the first Best Actor winner. Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to win an acting oscar: Best Supporting Actress for Gone With The Wind in 1939.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:21

bradavon wrote:also very good in Dreamgirls, which I know isn't macho enough for most on this forum.

Hey, I'll see it on TV.

Have you seen him in anything else?

Yeah, Miami Vice, and he sleepwalked thru that one.

He goes totally overboard with Miami Vice though, the big shoot out at the end was near unfollowable and gave me a migraine.
I thought it worked brilliantly. It's not often a shoot out actually feels real. The sound effects especially are excellent.

Slightly O/T, but you know what shootout impressed the shit out of me? The finale of Costner's Open Range. The man knows gunfights, it actually felt like I was watching images of the real thing.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Cruise also knows a good script when he sees one. The man hasn't made many turkeys.

Good point. I can't think of many Cruise movies which have sucked. Some I don't care for though... like Jerry Maguire.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:32

Shingster wrote:They gave someone a black oscar!!
Seriously Brad, you really need to swot up on Oscars history!

I know Washington wasn't the first black person to win an Oscar but my wording was badly phrased. You knew what I meant though.

Markgway wrote:Hey, I'll see it on TV.

Good but the music is fantastic it will be lost on the Freeview format, especially only Stereo.

Shingster wrote:Yeah, Miami Vice, and he sleepwalked thru that one.

Until you see Ray or Dreamgirls to a lesser extent I suggest you stop commenting how bad Jamie Foxx is as an actor, the same goes for Yi-Long.

You're both basing your opinion of him as an actor on his considerably lesser films. He was perfectly fine in Collateral IMO but it sure as hell didn't give him a chance to shine.

Good point. I can't think of many Cruise movies which have sucked. Some I don't care for though... like Jerry Maguire.

I said that not Eva

I didn't care for JM either. I don't get why it's so popular. "Almost Famous" is brilliant though, so much fun. I prefer the shorter theatrical cut though, the pacing is lost on the longer Director's Cut. Only one extra scene is really of any worth.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:47

bradavon wrote:I know Washington wasn't the first black person to win an Oscar but my wording was badly phrased. You knew what I meant though.

I assumed you meant the first black person to win the best actor in a leading role Oscar? If so you're mistaken, Sidney Poitier won that in 1963. (iirc)

bradavon wrote:
Shingster wrote:Yeah, Miami Vice, and he sleepwalked thru that one.
Until you see Ray or Dreamgirls to a lesser extent I suggest you stop commenting how bad Jamie Foxx is as an actor, the same goes for

It wasn't me, boss! Honest!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Oct 2007, 16:54

It wasn't to you what?

Sorry no. I was commenting on the year where a black guy had to win because a black woman one (Berry who did deserve it). Smith's performance was much better than Washington's.