Until they fuse his mouth shut. :/
[Movies] Talk about the last movie you saw 2: Electric Threadaloo
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Maleficent
This was a really interesting idea that was ruined by bad execution. All of the acting in it, with the exception of Angelina Jolie, is poor and a lot of "comedic" antics and poorly-done lighter material just feel forced in among the dark material. It's a shame, really, considering the potential that is in here. As I said, Angelina Jolie is great in it, capturing Maleficent's attitude well and delivering a performance that feels as if she is the only one keyed into the film's true meanings. Honestly, I'm surprised Disney greenlit this film at all. Not only is it an intensely feminist film that one might not normally see from a studio like Disney, but it also feels like a big "screw you" to the original animated movie of Sleeping Beauty. The king is a paranoid and vengeful ruler, the three fairies are ignorant and poor caretakers, even Prince Philip is just reduced essentially to a prop. Meanwhile, the motives behind Maleficent's turn to evil is understandable and you can feel her pain. This film feels like someone greenlit it because they thought it had an interesting idea, then someone higher up read the script, went "WTF!?", then hijacked it to make it lighter and softer. Such a shame. As I said, interesting idea, terrible execution.
This was a really interesting idea that was ruined by bad execution. All of the acting in it, with the exception of Angelina Jolie, is poor and a lot of "comedic" antics and poorly-done lighter material just feel forced in among the dark material. It's a shame, really, considering the potential that is in here. As I said, Angelina Jolie is great in it, capturing Maleficent's attitude well and delivering a performance that feels as if she is the only one keyed into the film's true meanings. Honestly, I'm surprised Disney greenlit this film at all. Not only is it an intensely feminist film that one might not normally see from a studio like Disney, but it also feels like a big "screw you" to the original animated movie of Sleeping Beauty. The king is a paranoid and vengeful ruler, the three fairies are ignorant and poor caretakers, even Prince Philip is just reduced essentially to a prop. Meanwhile, the motives behind Maleficent's turn to evil is understandable and you can feel her pain. This film feels like someone greenlit it because they thought it had an interesting idea, then someone higher up read the script, went "WTF!?", then hijacked it to make it lighter and softer. Such a shame. As I said, interesting idea, terrible execution.
Cajungal
Staff member
I was really interested in that movie as well, but it was very poorly done. It didn't feel cohesive at all to me--more like a series of scenes that had been tacked together by a bunch of disorganized people. I also really did not like the CG. It was even cornier than The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jolie really pulled off the mannerisms and voice of Maleficent; that was my favorite part. I didn't really see her motivation for playfully picking on the fairies in the beginning (after they'd hidden Aurora in the cottage). It seems strange and made her efforts feel half-hearted really early on. Her resolve went away so quickly that it made the curse scene feel out completely of place. I understand that she was a good person in the end and realized that she harmed an innocent to get to someone else, and that's nice, but her flip-flop from happy nature-loving fairy to evil queen to college prank wizard felt odd. And why was she wearing a leather catsuit in those final scenes??
Yeah, this was done poorly. As I said, it feels like someone hijacked what could have a really interesting take on a fairy tale and took the teeth out by forcing in things like what you mentioned.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I loved it. I don't read comics, so I don't care if it's true to the original comic story (the MCU is its own continuity anyway). What I saw was a movie that successfully melded the cynical spy thriller genre with an idealistic, no nonsense do-good superhero. It posits idealism and freedom against order and security, with Captain America caught in the middle of it. Chris Evans is fantastic as the Captain, and Anthony Mackie was great as Falcon. The friendship between Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers was believable, two returning vets who've lost their best friends in war bonding together. In fact, that was one of the parts I liked best about the movie - that it treated Steve not as a man stuck in the past, but as a veteran returning home from war to a world he doesn't recognize anymore and is having trouble adjusting back to. Sure, the scene where he sits in on a veteran's support group organized by Sam isn't very exciting, but to me, it's very respectful of everyone who's served - it says, "If even Captain America is having a hard time dealing with coming home, you don't have to be ashamed of having a hard time, too." And when it came time to kick ass, Falcon certainly held his own - the flying combat scenes were intense and fast and thrilling.
One of the highlights, naturally enough, is the fight choreography. The fights are fast and brutally pragmatic for the most part rather than flashy - every character uses their environment, improvised weapons, and backup to their advantage whenever possible. What I also liked was that each character used an appropriate combat style for their training and body type. Georges St Pierre as Batroc was especially good, and rather than coming off as goofy, he came off as badass, using the French military's version of Savate; Captain America has definitely learned quite a few new MMA-type moves; The Winter Soldier, in keeping with his cover as a Soviet agent, seems to use a version of Combat SAMBO; Black Widow, since she is much smaller than most of her opponents, uses speed, leverage, and torsion to compensate for her comparative lack of power.
If there's any complaint to be made, it's a minor one - that The Winter Soldier himself is a pivotal but small role. Now, don't get me wrong, he's awesome in each scene he's in - you are left with no doubt that he's every bit a match for the Captain and he absolutely mows through basically everyone else. I really look forward to seeing more of him.
Well worth seeing, and if I wasn't going to see Godzilla soon, I'd happily see it again.
PS - okay, one other small complaint: No Coulson.
I loved it. I don't read comics, so I don't care if it's true to the original comic story (the MCU is its own continuity anyway). What I saw was a movie that successfully melded the cynical spy thriller genre with an idealistic, no nonsense do-good superhero. It posits idealism and freedom against order and security, with Captain America caught in the middle of it. Chris Evans is fantastic as the Captain, and Anthony Mackie was great as Falcon. The friendship between Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers was believable, two returning vets who've lost their best friends in war bonding together. In fact, that was one of the parts I liked best about the movie - that it treated Steve not as a man stuck in the past, but as a veteran returning home from war to a world he doesn't recognize anymore and is having trouble adjusting back to. Sure, the scene where he sits in on a veteran's support group organized by Sam isn't very exciting, but to me, it's very respectful of everyone who's served - it says, "If even Captain America is having a hard time dealing with coming home, you don't have to be ashamed of having a hard time, too." And when it came time to kick ass, Falcon certainly held his own - the flying combat scenes were intense and fast and thrilling.
One of the highlights, naturally enough, is the fight choreography. The fights are fast and brutally pragmatic for the most part rather than flashy - every character uses their environment, improvised weapons, and backup to their advantage whenever possible. What I also liked was that each character used an appropriate combat style for their training and body type. Georges St Pierre as Batroc was especially good, and rather than coming off as goofy, he came off as badass, using the French military's version of Savate; Captain America has definitely learned quite a few new MMA-type moves; The Winter Soldier, in keeping with his cover as a Soviet agent, seems to use a version of Combat SAMBO; Black Widow, since she is much smaller than most of her opponents, uses speed, leverage, and torsion to compensate for her comparative lack of power.
If there's any complaint to be made, it's a minor one - that The Winter Soldier himself is a pivotal but small role. Now, don't get me wrong, he's awesome in each scene he's in - you are left with no doubt that he's every bit a match for the Captain and he absolutely mows through basically everyone else. I really look forward to seeing more of him.
Well worth seeing, and if I wasn't going to see Godzilla soon, I'd happily see it again.
PS - okay, one other small complaint: No Coulson.
figmentPez
Staff member
Click
This is such crap! I watched it because it's free on Hulu, and I just wanted something on in the background to gawk at while folding laundry. There is so little intentional humor in this movie that actually works, but I was laughing at how bad it is for most of it.
The Adventures of Tintin
I wasn't paying exceptionally close attention, but I really liked this. It had some great action sequences, the story wasn't terrible, the voice acting was good. I liked it.
This is such crap! I watched it because it's free on Hulu, and I just wanted something on in the background to gawk at while folding laundry. There is so little intentional humor in this movie that actually works, but I was laughing at how bad it is for most of it.
The Adventures of Tintin
I wasn't paying exceptionally close attention, but I really liked this. It had some great action sequences, the story wasn't terrible, the voice acting was good. I liked it.
Coulson was rather busy, the collapse of shield was happening in the tv show concurrent to the movie.
My favorite part of winter soldier was the computer tech refusing to launch the helicarrier. He's this mousy little guy, with a gun pointed at him, but with cap announcing the truth behind what he would be launching, he refuses. "I can't, sir. Captains orders."
Oh, absolutely. And you know, once again we see Captain America's real superpower: to inspire the people around him to do better. To find it within themselves to stand up to evil and so, "No. I will not be part of this, and even if it costs me my life, I will do my best to stop you." That delay from that geek was long enough to allow Captain America and Falcon to be in place to take down the hovercarriers. If the carriers had been online 30 seconds sooner, thousands would have been wiped out in an instant. Instead, one mousy little nerd feels the gun to his head, and shaking and scared, manages to delay them long enough to save the day. All the non-HYDRA members of SHIELD who were killed in the attempted coup gave their lives to keep the bad guys from winning, because Captain America told them the truth, and trusted them to stand up for what was right. And they succeeded - every second they bought, every HYDRA minion that was downed and unable to be thrown at Cap and Falcon, was worth it.
Okay, strike what I said.I ordered the Blu-ray box set of all three Friday, it should be here today.
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris: Holy graininess, Batman, what the hell happened? The other two discs looked mostly fine on my HDTV, but this one there's a mountain of grain and a flicker at points in the middle of the screen. Really distracting and it's convinced me to get the Blu Ray.
As for the movie, this one works not as well as a standalone film, so I'm surprised I used to watch it by itself so much. There's less plot momentum and more character/lore stuff, lots of wrapping up of things from the previous two movies. It's still great though, and in fact I'm pretty sure I watched it so many times because the last 30 minutes would blow me away on each viewing. The rest of it's good too though; the relationship between Ayana and Iris is unique, but familiar in its sense of co-dependency leading to abuse. A lot of interesting effects work and ideas, and the way some of the human stuff is done makes it obvious why Kaneko was hired as director for the live-action Death Note movies.
Great trilogy. Just wish the DVD's picture quality had been better. But the Blu Ray will fix that and I'll be happy.
Captain America is a better Superman than Superman nowadays. That's what the MCU has really gotten right for me. Heroes can be flawed, yes, but in the end, they're heroes because of who they are, not what their powers allow them to do. Also, regarding the comics, they kept pretty damn close to the origins of the Winter Soldier from the comics, with the exception of Bucky not being a child, of course.
I also have to agree on the friendship with Falcon. It felt really genuine.
I read this as box set of all three Fridays, as in the Ice Cube classic and then awful two sequelsI ordered the Blu-ray box set of all three Friday, it should be here today.
Oh thank God I'm not the only one.
I'm suddenly trying to imagine what a giant monster version of the Friday movies would be like.
godzilla blowing weed smoke in mothra's face until she decides to chill and just leave us alone[DOUBLEPOST=1401857199,1401857105][/DOUBLEPOST]
although now that I think of it, it's probably a TERRIBLE idea to get giant monsters high since their munchies would probably kill the human race faster than before
That could EASILY be a Robot Chicken sketch. And it'd be hilarious.
I'm reminded of a Joe Landsdale short story -- GODZILLA'S TWELVE STEP PROGRAM.
Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster: Fuuuuuuck, this movie is even dumber than I remember. The frilly-neck bad guys, Mothra's fairy twins showing up on a talk show ... I'm not even a half-hour in and this movie is trying my patience. I'm gonna keep going, but knowing there's a heated discussion between Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra later doesn't help. The Mothra larva looks awful--the light is too bright, so you can see paint.
Oh, and the princess assassination plot. "She's hiding from her assassins by pretending to be a Martian and gaining attention in the news." Derp it up some more, detective.
I will say the dubbing is pretty good compared to some of the other Toho movies of the time and there's no American butchery ... but perhaps it could've used some.
Oh good. Now there's mobsters. -____-
Oh, and the princess assassination plot. "She's hiding from her assassins by pretending to be a Martian and gaining attention in the news." Derp it up some more, detective.
I will say the dubbing is pretty good compared to some of the other Toho movies of the time and there's no American butchery ... but perhaps it could've used some.
Oh good. Now there's mobsters. -____-
That movie was mostly shit. Even the monster fights sucked, aside from Rodan slamming Ghidorah mid-air, and Ghidorah zapping Godzilla in his sensitive places. You know, intense stuff.
Godzilla vs Gigan: ... you know, comic artist, if you're designing a monster, don't dress it in your girlfriend's outfit. She's bound to notice.
Also, theme park guys want to blow up Monster Island. A. nothing suspicious here and B. that sounds as likely to succeed as the military's plan in Godzilla 2014.
At some point I will resume watching the Godzilla movies I recently bought instead of the ones on Netflix and Hulu.
Godzilla vs Gigan: ... you know, comic artist, if you're designing a monster, don't dress it in your girlfriend's outfit. She's bound to notice.
Also, theme park guys want to blow up Monster Island. A. nothing suspicious here and B. that sounds as likely to succeed as the military's plan in Godzilla 2014.
At some point I will resume watching the Godzilla movies I recently bought instead of the ones on Netflix and Hulu.
Godzilla v. Gigan is a weird movie for me. On the one hand the plot is ridiculous, and the talking kaiju is pointless. On the other hand, Gigan is the greatest action figure of all time. I guess I'll just take the good then.
Though I'll admit I wish the artist's monsters would appear in the movie, at least for surrealness sake.
Though I'll admit I wish the artist's monsters would appear in the movie, at least for surrealness sake.
It has to have the most boring first 25 to 30 minutes of any Godzilla movie.
I know Gigan does well against Godzilla and Anguirus later, but when he and Ghidorah are fighting the military, his lack of a projectile weapon really shows as a setback.
Now that it's over ... Godzilla vs Gigan is a crappy one, but unlike Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster, I had fun watching it, and that's what matters. Plus it ends with that sweet Godzilla song.
(I know most fans hate it; I don't give a shit, I was waiting the whole movie to hear it while Godzilla and Anguirus swam off into the sunrise.)
(I know most fans hate it; I don't give a shit, I was waiting the whole movie to hear it while Godzilla and Anguirus swam off into the sunrise.)
Godzilla vs the Smog Monster aka Godzilla vs Hedorah
Ahem ...
Ahem ...
I fucking love that one, its just so damned weird!
I'll agree on the weird part. Power to you, but it felt like an endless slog for me. I do appreciate the factoid that Toho told the director, Yoshimitsu Banno, that he would never work on another Godzilla movie, and then 40+ years later Gareth Edwards gave him a token position on Godzilla 2014.
I feel like it could've been a decent Godzilla movie; Hedorah has some nasty powers. But the people writing it seemed to want to make a Gamera film that starred Godzilla, and the director was out of his mind. Eiji Tsuburaya had passed away by this point, so there was no one to help make the rubber suit effects look more convincing without just coating Hedorah in slime and at one point glitter.
I was really glad that Banno was working on the new Godzilla movie, little sad that Deathla never became a reality but if I wanted to complain about Godzilla monsters that never were we'd be here all day.
I can't fault you on liking vs Hedorah, Yoshi. I'm probably the only person who loves vs Spacegodzilla, though I acknowledge every one of its faults.
Godzilla vs Biollante: ahh, sweet, merciful, good Godzilla movie. Not that good, mind you. After the first monster "fight", the movie starts to drag a little with all the military plans that aren't very well thought out. The Heisei movies had the problem of wanting Godzilla to be the bad guy, wanting him to win because people would root for him, but still trying to stop him. It got better once they realized they had to create a nastier villain monster for Godzilla to fight (yay!) and get tired out enough that he'll leave (series continues!)
Godzilla vs Biollante: ahh, sweet, merciful, good Godzilla movie. Not that good, mind you. After the first monster "fight", the movie starts to drag a little with all the military plans that aren't very well thought out. The Heisei movies had the problem of wanting Godzilla to be the bad guy, wanting him to win because people would root for him, but still trying to stop him. It got better once they realized they had to create a nastier villain monster for Godzilla to fight (yay!) and get tired out enough that he'll leave (series continues!)
XMen: DOFP
Hugh Jackman's naked ass.
Hugh Jackman's naked ass.
Strange, I had a completely different reaction...
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: Fun little kids film, really loved the foodimal's designs.
I haven't seen it yet, but I saw it as an animated, kid-friendly version of Evolution.
--Patrick
I'm just going to blame this on the mango-flavored rum. I don't remember posting it. But it's funny as all hell.XMen: DOFP
Hugh Jackman's naked ass.
