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

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Oct 2007, 11:59

Have I Got News For You (with Omid Djalili): 4.25/5

Very funny

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:32

bradavon wrote:Crikey Mark you're hard on Run Lola Run (what's with the German name?). I thought it was ace and for once didn't outstay it's welcome.

Just didn't do anything for me... but as long as you enjoyed it that's all that matters...

Lola Rennt was the title I saw it under in German with English Subtitles.

I think you've missed the point. It's the same story told from three different angles and as such three different endings.

Lol, I did manage to work that one out myself, but thanks!! 8)

To add extra story and characters would've missed the point, as would adding extra padding to merely increase the films running time.

But is it wrong to ask us to care about the characters? "A sweaty redhead" and "a drug dealer" isn't enough character for me. I know that the nature of the structure meant that characterization had to be compact, but I just didn't care what happened in the end? I should've been rooting for Lola to succeed, but instead I just watched on passively. I mean we're talking about people who are willing to wave loaded guns at innocent people to save their own skins. That's not my idea of protagonists. I do, however, understand your viewpoint, and I do understand what the filmmakers were trying to do. But for me it just didn't come off.

The techno music added to the frantic pace, which is the point. Lola has no time to help out Manne.

Not my kind of music. It gave me a headache.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:37

grim_tales wrote:The Armstrong and Miller Show: 3.5/5

Patchy, but some skits were very funny, there was a brilliant parody of BBC show "Who Do You Think You Are?", and I enjoyed the skit with the WWII pilots who spoke in 21st century slang ("Jumbo Wilkins got shot down, yeah, and it was like, really bad because he died and everything"), and the sketch where a horrid Gordon Ramsay type finally got his comeuppance.

I saw this as well... I wouldn't normally bother but since it was a new series and the BBC have been advertising it A LOT...

Extremely uneven in the way that most sketch shows are. I'd say it was better than The Peter Serrre... The Peter Serffin... that crap that was on the other night. But that's to damn with feint praise. I smirked a few times, but a lot of it was pretty lame shit.

Won't be watching it again.

Have I Got News For You (with Omid Djalili): 4.25/5

Very funny

Now this WAS funny. I laughed quite a bit. Remains a fresh show after nearly 20 years.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:39

Run Lola Run was great. i recommend Famka in a movie called Anatomie, nifty little german thriller

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:41

SERAFINOWICZ!

HIGNFY WAS funny

I loved the part in HIGNFY with Paul pimping his book

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 27 Oct 2007, 14:54

saltysam wrote:Run Lola Run was great. i recommend Famka in a movie called Anatomie, nifty little german thriller

Famka?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 Oct 2007, 18:17

Markgway wrote:Not my kind of music. It gave me a headache.

Me either at all but in RLR it worked, fair enough.

saltysam wrote:i recommend Famka in a movie called Anatomie, nifty little german thriller

I hear this is pretty good. It's received a steller DVD from Sony too.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 27 Oct 2007, 18:53

Hhahaahhahaaa

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Oct 2007, 19:57

What?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 28 Oct 2007, 15:11

Why even post Grim hahahahaa

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Oct 2007, 18:56

Because I didn't know what you were responding to

I liked Run Lola Run for what it was, and it didnt outstay its welcome.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 28 Oct 2007, 19:47

I would guess Salty calling Franka Famka.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Oct 2007, 19:58

Ah fair enough.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 28 Oct 2007, 19:58

Nope just laffin for the sake of it

hooooo keeps the place happy.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Oct 2007, 20:31

Rome: S1 - Episodes 9-10: 4.25/5

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 29 Oct 2007, 02:14

Miss Congeniality 2
4 out of 10

Miss Congeniality is a fun Sandra Bullock comedy. Sure it's a bit silly but it definitely works and crucially it's funny. It's probably Sandie's best film. That doesn't mean the story is strong enough for a sequel. Boy this film is a turkey. The plot is a complete mess and like Shrek 3 it's not even a finished script as far as I'm concerned.

It's not funny and the central kidnapping plot is just woeful. Michael Cain played a camp stylist in Miss Congeniality, his presence is sorely missed. Avoid!

Tai-Chi Master
5.5 out of 10

So I finally see this, one of Jet Li's best films. I suppose considering how much it's loved I was bound to be a little disappointed.

First the good:

The fights were excellent. Both Li and Yeoh as per usual were great. Both have lots of charisma and of course now how to perform martial arts. The interplay between the old (and also young) Junbao and Chin Siu-hou worked well.

However:

As happens far too often in martial arts films when the action wasn't happening it was a little bit dull. The film seemed to be coming to an end around the 60 minute mark but so as to bump the film to the required 90-100 minute mark Yuen Woo-ping opted to plonk in a completely pointless and stupid comedic section. Which really didn't work and stopped the film dead.

Thankfully it picked up at the end. I'd have liked it if Yeoh had also joined in at the final fight. That was a wasted opportunity.

Fist of Legend
6 out of 10

I saw this film years ago on the MIHK Video and decided it was about time I reappraised it been underwhelmed the first time. Sadly my opinion back then hasn't changed much today.

First the good:

Obviously the fight scenes are great and boy this film is full of them. I liked the fact they changed the story so while it felt like a remake it was still very different in places. The fight between Chen Zhen and the uncle looked nice too, with the leaves flowing in the wind. The final fight between Chen Zhen and the general is very good.

However:

The dojo fight between Chen Zhen and the Japanese doesn't come close to the original Fist of Fury fight. I don't mind that particularly as it was still good.

The film-makers clearly spent so much time on the fight choreography they opted to completely and utterly forget about a story, character development or anything other than the fights frankly. This deeply hurt the film. I didn't care about any of the characters nor was I rooting for Jet to win. Like Tai-Chi Master, Fist of Legend was all a bit dull when the fights weren't happening. I do wonder why they even bother making films. It would make much more sense to just film fight documentaries, that's all most fans and the film-makers are really interested in.

As the fights were more frequent and were definitely better than Tai-Chi Master however, it does make it a better film to Tai-Chi Master.

The Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy are fine examples of what can be achieved when as much time is spent on characters, story, plot, cinematography and fight choreography. The cinematography in the OUATIC Trilogy is just wonderful in places. I was so happy when Wong Fei-hung finally got together with Aunt Yee in OUATIC3.

I no longer give a monkey's when Dragon Dynasty get around to releasing Fist of Legend or Tai-Chi Master. I am looking forward to Bodyguard for Beijing though, which I remember being much better.

Coffy
6 out of 10

Following all the recent talk I've been having with Hung over his fetish for Japanese Exploitation it got me thinking about American exploitation and in particular blaxploitation.

Coffy is the film that started Pam Grier's career. Yes the acting is woeful, yes the story is non-existent. The pimps costume is completely ridiculous and cannot be taken seriously in the slightest. But the joy of watching Pam Grier kicking ass and telling every badass what she really thinks is such a joy it really doesn't matter. Grier has bags of charisma. In fact many of the negative aspects are also positives. Whenever you see the pimp costume you have to laugh.

Coffy knows it's completely ridiculous but doesn't care.

I appreciate these are somewhat odd comments considering my disappointed at the martial arts films above for not spending enough time on aspects other than the central ones. I guess the film just worked for me. I don't consider it a keeper though.

Foxy Brown
4 out of 10

Foxy Brown is considered the bigger of the two. Frankly I don't really know why. I suspect due to the success of Coffy director Jack Hill decided to give us more story this time, but sadly he's clearly not a very good director so instead of a fun and no frills film we get a more serious film that fails to work.

Foxy Brown takes itself far too seriously and way too much time is spent on the supporting characters, when all we really want is Foxy kicking the shit out of someone and spieling off one liners. Speaking of the supporting characters there is way too many of them. An entire new character is introduced 15 minutes before the film ends and has no value whatsoever.

Both films do have some classic dialogue though. "Yah Dig! Right on Brother"

Overall a disappointed.

Eastern Promises
7.5 out of 10

A new one this one. I think it only opened over here last Friday. It's the new Cronenberg film. You can download trailers here:

https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=3712

While it doesn't entirely work. Naomi Watts English accent is acceptable but a bit ropey, like most attempts at an English accent it's too over the top (unlike Gwyneth Paltrow who is able to pull it off perfectly). The story is also a little all over the place, some better editing was in order.

Those aside it is a solid crime thriller.

The decision to set a Russian mob story in London worked very well indeed. Apart from her accent Watts is as usual very good. Armin Mueller-Stahl as the father was excellent. The two stand outs however are Viggo Mortensen as the driver and Vincent Cassel as the son. Both are grimy Russians and are both clearly really enjoying themselves. Viggo Mortensen is particularly excellent.

On the whole Eastern Promises is a well made and solid film. Recommended!

2001: A Space Odyssey
9 out of 10

I've left the best for last. I first saw this on a Full-Frame VHS video years back and I simply didn't get it. I thought it was dull and to put it simply I was baffled. I was also not mature enough to appreciate the magnitude of the subject matter.

I watched my DVD the other day (it's a solid remastering job, with slight edge enhancement early on) and 2001 is one of those films that is completely and utterly lost when shown in a full-frame fashion, unlike most films where you "could" watch cropped if you had to. The sheer magnificent of the cinematography is crucial to the film and this needs Widescreen!

For those who don't know the film opens to the "Dawn of Man" with a fantastic opening 20 minutes features apes first use of "tools". 2001 then jumps 4 million years in the future (with a brilliant jump cut). Here man has become so dependent on his tools, in this case spaceships and computers.

The scenes in space are outstanding. Space is literally deadly silent except for the breathing of the astronauts. Oh my god the ending is at the same time baffling but also incredibly beautiful and moving. Talk about an epic subject Kubrick is discussing here, but at the same time the film's meanings are completely left open to interpretation, as Kubrick doesn't do anything to help you figure out what on earth you've just watched.

I won't say any more of the plot as A: It would seriously hinder your enjoyment of the film and B: I could be completely wrong anyway. I think I worked it out to only read an Essay on Empire website that gave a completely different account of the film. I prefer their interpretation than the one I came up with.

If I have one complain it is that 2001 is a cold film, it's not a film you can empathise with and nor could you watch it very often. Not that it ultimately matters as the cinematography and sheer epic scale of the story more than makes up for this. This is storytelling at it's highest.

It's crazy to imagine 2001 is 40 years old next year. It barely looks it. Highly Recommended!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 29 Oct 2007, 10:25

TWINS OF EVIL ***/4

Probably the best of the 70s Hammer Horrors. Peter Cushing is on terrific form, and the dialogue is intelligent. Surprisingly The Collinson Twins (former Playmates) act rather well, especially Madeline as the evil one. They are dubbed by English voice over artists, but the dubbing is among the best I've ever seen. The nudity and gore is more restrained than you would find in a recent horror film, but fans can look forward to bare breasts, a machette to the head, and a decapitation.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 29 Oct 2007, 16:08

bradavon wrote: For those who don't know the film opens to the "Dawn of Man" with a fantastic opening 20 minutes features apes first use of "tools". 2001 then jumps 4 million years in the future (with a brilliant jump cut). Here man has become so dependent on his tools, in this case spaceships and computers.

How anyone seriously into cinema not know this? It's even been parodied on the Simpsons.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 29 Oct 2007, 18:14

Even I know that (and I've not even seen it)

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 29 Oct 2007, 20:08

Wrong Turn 2:Unrated 3/5

Here's a surprise-a straight to dvd horror sequel that's pretty good. no real surprises here but gore is plentiful and the film is very entertaining. this was far more deserving of a theatrical outing than the same studios similarly themed Hills Have Eyes 2.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Oct 2007, 18:04

grim_tales wrote:Even I know that (and I've not even seen it)

You really owe it to yourself to check out the new 2 Disc SE. It really is a magnificent film. You may need to watch it twice to fully appreciated it. It's a hard film to grasp at first, but stick with it.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 30 Oct 2007, 18:48

Tai-Chi Master
5.5 out of 10

....

However:

As happens far too often in martial arts films when the action wasn't happening it was a little bit dull. The film seemed to be coming to an end around the 60 minute mark but so as to bump the film to the required 90-100 minute mark Yuen Woo-ping opted to plonk in a completely pointless and stupid comedic section. Which really didn't work and stopped the film dead.

While Jet going a little crazy may have been a bit much for some, the whole essence of this section (if you are referring to the bit where Jet starts going all whacko and stuff) is absolutely vital to the film and to Jet's realisation of his new fighting style - tai chi. It is these scenes, where he hits the rocking dummy thing and hits the ball in the water that capture the power and nature of the fighting style...

Firefly & Serenity 5/5
Just finished watching Firefly and I don't know why it wasn't that popular as it is really good! Really wish it wasn't cancelled as it could have been awesome if the story would have been allowed to be fleshed out more!!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Oct 2007, 19:01

degeneration wrote:While Jet going a little crazy may have been a bit much for some, the whole essence of this section (if you are referring to the bit where Jet starts going all whacko and stuff) is absolutely vital to the film and to Jet's realisation of his new fighting style - tai chi. It is these scenes, where he hits the rocking dummy thing and hits the ball in the water that capture the power and nature of the fighting style...

I am. Interesting, that does put it in another light. Even so does Jet need to go all whacko to understand what Tai-Chi is? Sadly it still doesn't making it enjoyable to watch :-(

What fighting style is Jet using before?

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:06

bradavon wrote: I am. Interesting, that does put it in another light. Even so does Jet need to go all whacko to understand what Tai-Chi is? Sadly it still doesn't making it enjoyable to watch :-(

What fighting style is Jet using before?

Well..... considering he and Chin Siu Ho escape from the Shaolin Temple... I'm guessing his style must be Judo...(!)

(Shaolin Kung Fu, Brad! Duh!!!)

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:07

In all honesty I don't know what style he was using before. Cinematised kung fu probably... I only realised (from that read, I was told) that those scenes where he is crazy are what capture the essence of Tai Chi. Was told this by a kung fu master when I was trianing in San Fran quite a few years ago, so I assume he knows what he was talking about!

I agree, the unnecessary whacko Jet does make it irritating, but what Hong Kong films DON'T have completely out of place and unfunny comedy moments.

After he's realised his new fighting style, I don't know if he sticks to it completely in his final fight, but the essence is the more power someone hits with, the more power there is to use against them! That's what the hitting the ball in the water showed. If you don't hit it, it doesn't come back at you, but the harder you hit it into the water, the harder it will come back at you.