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

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 23 Jul 2006, 15:52

thelostdragon wrote:Second in Command - 1/5
The latest Jean-Claude van Damme film turned out to be as shite as I expected it to be. Why does he keep chosing bad scripts? I guess out of the same reason why Seagal does it. Sony Home Entertainment offers good salaries. JCVD should return to quality films like "Hard Target", "Timecop" or "Bllodsport".

Does anybody know when "Kumite", the official sequel to BS (not bullshit, he he he! Bloodsport! ), will be released?

Kumite isnt ever coming out now. It was canned and the pieces were left to rot, they never finished it and they all walked away for various reasons sadly, after all the hype it fell apart and its never going to be a film. VD seems upset and everyone invilved was a bit pissed off, but hey nothing will ever come of it now it ended up a bit of a fiasco and total waste of everyones time.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 23 Jul 2006, 15:57

So what was the reason for cancelling it? They actually shot some footage?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 23 Jul 2006, 16:16

I dont think they ever gave a real reason, just lots of small ones. The thing is some people involved in the film say they had filmed lots and were nearly finished and some others say they never even started filming, its hard to beleve what the hell went on behind the scenes. Not one official statement was spoke of except it was over.

The thing is now rumors have sprung back up that the films going to be started up again, totally fresh! and may be out 2007! So in the end it may come back again, but at the moment its hard to say whats going on.

But now apprently the new film is called Bloodsport 2

but there is already a Bloodsport 2 confusing stuff, but I am following it and hopefully if they do start filiming again something will come of it this time

Heres a recent interview with him (well last 8 months) he talks for a bit about it, even he is confused as to what the hell is going on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go1pOk1hy38

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 23 Jul 2006, 19:58

hey,

Life On A String 4/5

The most difficult film of Chen Kaige's I've seen, rife with philosophy, symbolism, sparse dialogue and slow pace. Yet, even if nothing comes through, maybe a few percent only, it got to me. Lush visuals and haunting/gorgeous music adds on the fine but challenging experience this is.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 23 Jul 2006, 22:13

bradavon wrote:Superman Returns: A solid 8 out of 10.

First the bad:

Is this supposed to be a sequel to Part 2 or Part 4 because either way it makes little sense:

1. If it's a sequel to part 2 (as I read) where is the child in part 3???
2. Why is Lois no longer married???
3. If it's a sequel to part 4 it holds up a little better except mobile phones, camera phones and digital cameras weren't invented in 1987???

Superman Returns takes place 5 years after Superman 2. It disregards the 3rd and 4th entries as if they never happened. I don't think there was a ever a specific time period stated in the Christopher Reeve movies, so I don't think the technology aspect matters that much.

4. Kate Bosworth is so badly cast. We expected to believe she's 34? Considering she was clearly late 20s (29 as one review says) in the previous Superman films.

She's not remotely feisty either, she's really mellowed since being married.

She looks far too young to be Lois Lane. She isn't married in the movie either.

The world Lex Luthor created was full of kryptonite but Superman didn't seem to be affected by it until he literally came into contact with it. Oh and how on earth did Superman manage to over come kryptonite?

It does almost kill him but they manage to remove it all from his body.

Speaking of Lex's world I thought it was supposed to obliterate North and most of South America? It hardly seemed to dent it. How come Superman managed to be there for every crash?

Note to Bryan Singer: When disasters happen things don't break apart one after the other so your hero can stop them one after the other

It's a superhero movie.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 23 Jul 2006, 22:49

bradavon wrote:Did anyone else spot Nikita?

You can see her in the trailer.

A shame that she hasn't been given better roles in movie since the show ended. Why couldn't they cast her as Lois?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 Jul 2006, 01:33

Been revisiting some of my SE collection Bonds.

Out of *****

Thunderball ***
For Your Eyes Only **
The Living Daylights ****

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 24 Jul 2006, 08:29

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999 version with Donny Osmond) on DVD - 4.5/5

Absolutely awesome fun

I loved the Elvis Pharoah again

Donny is a fine Joseph and I like the different musical styles - the Elvis parody as just mentioned. the haunting Close Ev'ry Door, the French style song Caanan Days, the country and Western number and the calypso/carribean song

Maybe it was just me who spotted suggested nudity in this version (check some of the dancers and some Egyptian girls)

Maybe they were wearing body paint or something.
The narrator was also very good. Richard Attenborough, no less, played Jacob.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Jul 2006, 08:36

Mar, have you stopped rating films out of 4?

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 24 Jul 2006, 09:11

The Princess Bride 4/5

I hadn't watched this movie in god knows how long (i.e. many years), but it's still as good as ever. Definitely ahead of its time. William Goldman's script, dialogue and characters are perfect - I don't think Cary Elwes was ever as good in anything else (shame he never went on to become a bigger star). But every character (maybe the Princess is a bit too whiney) is great in this movie, from the good guys, villains to the small cameos such as Mel Smith, Peter Cook and Billy Crystal.

The 2 audio commentaries on the 2001 SE dvd by Rob Reiner and Goldman are also very informative, and fun to listen to.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 24 Jul 2006, 11:53

BiscLimpkit wrote:
Knetan wrote:hey,

made last year, directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong (his first stint as director), produced by Andrew Lau. Was a fair hit at the box-office.
Thanks Knetan. I think I've seen this title online but just ignored it as another piece of trendy HK fluff. But your review's made me curious to check it out.

And if you care to dig just a bit more deeper, skim through this why don't ya?

http://www.sogoodreviews.com/reviews/mo ... ntokyo.htm

a successful return for primarily Alan Mak to what you might call "odd" cinema. I call it creativity à la excellence. Even if that doesn't mean anything, I can do whatever I want when summing up a film where the directing duo does the same.

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?