What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[bradavon]

I'd have to deduct points for Yeoh.
She's the most unconvincing witch I've ever seen.

Is she bad though? I wouldn't expect realism from a Mummy film.

Jet gets above the title billing on the poster so it can hardly be a cameo.

And?

I think Brad's been reading the DVDTalk advanced review, which IIRC said Li & Yeoh's roles were glorified cameos.

I have been, hence the question.

So they're not cameos then?

[saltysam]

Starship Troopers:Marauder blu-ray 2/5

This DTV effort is better than the 2nd film i'll give it that. i've read some terrible review of this and yes,it's not good but it earns points for at least attempting to capture some of the first film's style.(fails though) plenty of bug action but the effects are pretty cheap and the blu-ray shows them more.Returning Star Casper Van Dien disappears after 20 minutes and only appears sporadically before returning for the disappointingly short climax obviously budget hampered.contains the most hilariously bad theme song i've heard in years "It's A Good Day To Die"

[Markgway]

So they're not cameos then?

[grim_tales]

The Dark Knight: 4.25/5 (maybe 4.5/5)

Very good film, if not excellent. Impressive
Heath Ledger is amazing as The Joker, a world away from Jack Nicholson's panto performance, Ledger's Joker is one of genuine anarchic terror. I found the writing very sharp, especially for a comic book film, and it's very dark in places particularly towards the end when Harvey Dent becomes 2 Face. For a UK 12a this is a very violent film, it should have been a 15 IMO.

There were a few niggles, Bale's especially gruff voice when in the role of "Batman" was very hard to understand and I couldnt very well hear him! Also I thought the bat sonar was overused a bit! I can understand why he'd use it, I mean he's a bat, and bats hear/see with sonar right? But the revelation he was using it to spy on people made him no better than the criminals. Harvey Dent seemed to become 2 Face (ie descend into badness) a bit quickly.

His make up was quite strong for a 12a!

I didnt catch the bit why Batman doesnt get to Rachel. He said he was going to save her? Why does he get to Harvey first?

I don't know as much about Batman as I do Spiderman.

[HungFist]

I didnt catch the bit why Batman doesnt get to Rachel. He said he was going to save her? Why does he get to Harvey first?

I thought Joker intentionally gave him wrong locations so that he would save the "wrong" person.

I agree about the film 100%. I would even have rated it 4,25 if my scale allowed such rating. Only one thing to add, I didn't like Harvey's face "make up" at the end. Seemed too digital

[saltysam]

Escape From New York Blu-Ray 4/5

Excellent Carpenter effort has stood the test of time well.nice transfer,not reference but solid.

[bradavon]

There were a few niggles, Bale's especially gruff voice when in the role of "Batman" was very hard to understand and I couldnt very well hear him!

He did it in the first film too. It works well enough, even if it is illogical. It would be nice if they explained it though.

Also I thought the bat sonar was overused a bit! I can understand why he'd use it, I mean he's a bat, and bats hear/see with sonar right? But the revelation he was using it to spy on people made him no better than the criminals

That's the entire point. Batman is only a thin line away from being a criminal himself. I thought that scene was very powerful (when he shows it to Morgan Freeman's character.).

[grim_tales]

Oh yes, great scene

[tom2681]

Is it okay for me to see The Dark Knight if I've never seen any of the previous Batman films?
I don't know shit about Batman. Am I likely to understand anything at all?

[Yi-Long]

Is it okay for me to see The Dark Knight if I've never seen any of the previous Batman films?
I don't know shit about Batman. Am I likely to understand anything at all?

What you need to know and understand is that Batman was bitten by a radioactive bat when he was a kid, and that turned him into the Batman.

Bats are very well known for their crimefighting, so that's why he fights crime.

It's a great great story.

[grim_tales]

I don't know much about Batman either but I still like the films

[bradavon]

@ Tom: It helps if you've seen the first film but you can still enjoy it if you haven't.

What you need to know and understand is that Batman was bitten by a radioactive bat when he was a kid, and that turned him into the Batman.

That's Spider-man .

None of that happens in the film.

[Markgway]

Grim - Better watch out! You're criticisms will make Brad accuse you of being a hater. 8)

I understand that Bale is trying to disguise Bruce Wayne's voice, but it's not quite right. Sounds too affected, slightly silly even. I think Michael Keaton's whisper worked better. It's a tiny niggle though. Worse was the poor sound quality - with LOUD music and effects and dialogue mixed somewhere in the basement. You'd think with millions of Bat dollars they could do better.

Tom - Watch Batman Begins first. It helps a lot if you know the background. You don't need to bother with the previous series.

[Yi-Long]

@ Tom: It helps if you've seen the first film but you can still enjoy it if you haven't.

What you need to know and understand is that Batman was bitten by a radioactive bat when he was a kid, and that turned him into the Batman.

That's Spider-man .

None of that happens in the film.

Spider-man was never bitten by a radioactive bat, Brad(!)

Spiderman comes from the exploded planet Krypton, and thus logically has alien powers, like the power of the spider, while conveniently looking like a man!

[bradavon]

Neither was Batman, but Spider-man was bitten by a radioactive Spider. Superman is from Krypton.

I imagine you're taking the piss anyway.

[Yi-Long]

Neither was Batman, but Spider-man was bitten by a radioactive Spider. Superman is from Krypton.

I imagine you're taking the piss anyway.

I love it when Batman gets angry, turns green and whips out his claws....

[gasteropod]

I understand that Bale is trying to disguise Bruce Wayne's voice, but it's not quite right. Sounds too affected, slightly silly even.

It's meant to intimidate people as well, which is why I think it's a bit of a mistake that they make him still use that voice when talking to people who know him.

[Yi-Long]

I understand that Bale is trying to disguise Bruce Wayne's voice, but it's not quite right. Sounds too affected, slightly silly even.

It's meant to intimidate people as well, which is why I think it's a bit of a mistake that they make him still use that voice when talking to people who know him.

Yep. That's just dumb.

[Shingster]

He did it in the first film too. It works well enough, even if it is illogical. It would be nice if they explained it though.

It was explained in the first film, he does it to sound more menacing and "inhuman". It's all part of the theatricality he was taught to employ.

[Shingster]

It's meant to intimidate people as well, which is why I think it's a bit of a mistake that they make him still use that voice when talking to people who know him.

Nah it makes perfect sense, Wayne is essentially a method actor, so long as he is wearing the suit then he IS Batman, and Batman doesn't have a normal voice.

It might sound silly and impractical in normal conversation, but it does make sense.

[HungFist]

The Match Factory Girl (Finland / Sweden, 1990) – 1/5
Nearly unwatchable, minimalistic tragi-comedy from Aki Kaurismäki. It’s a story of a grown up girl living with her parents, working at a factory, and getting abused by everyone she meets. Lots of long, uncomfortable scenes that slowly go exactly where you’d expect them to. Interestingly the pic was released the same year as the magnificent I Hired a Contract Killer.

[grim_tales]

Abre Los Ojos: 4.5/5

My thoughts

WOW!
Brilliant film, but confusing! The film playing with your mind about what may be real/a dream is ingenious and made me jump at times and wonder what was going on.
After the car accident, nothing is real right? Even the Penelope Cruz character isnt real (?), when César goes to bed with Cruz its in his head and he wakes up with Nuria. Sofia (Cruz) - tender, loving, is the image of how he wants the other girl to be.
Nuria didnt die in the car accident, but Césars body was frozen (set up by the LE company).
The part in the club where everyone stops moving shows César is dreaming and the parts when he looks in the mirror (handsome face) and looks disfigured gave me a jolt.
In another club scene, the music playing is a version of Willow's seduction dance music from The Wicker Man (1973).
This (Abre Los Ojos) is an excellent psychological thriller.

[bradavon]

After the car accident, nothing is real right?

If memory serves me correctly, correct. Except for the part at the hospital, near the end.

In another club scene, the music plays is a version of Willow's seduction dance music from The Wicker Man (1973).

I didn't know that.

Agreed it's an excellent thriller. I'd wait a few months before watching Vanilla Sky, let it set in first. Vanilla Sky is also very good but Abre Los Ojos has the edge, it's a commendable remake though.

[grim_tales]

I think it says at the end - From the part when Cesar wakes up on the pavement, nothing is real. Cesar had a car accident which left him disfigured, so he takes pills and kills himself, then he's taken to the LE company and is awoken 150 years later. From that point, he's just dreaming (I think)

[bradavon]

Correct, except he's not dead, he's frozen and is dreaming what he asked to be programmed/dreamt while alive. That's it.

He gets better after the accident but is then frozen. I'm hazy on the details.