[Movies] Talk about the last movie you saw 2: Electric Threadaloo

I borrowed it from my local library for free, so maybe paying for a lousy story would have upset me. The story was pretty crap, but I guess the mood I was in just didn't care about story. I wanted pretty visuals, drama and exciting action, and the lack of cohesive purpose or narrative flow didn't bother me.
Fair enough. The visuals are incredible, especially given the budget and studio size.

In order to not derail the thread any further:

I haven't watched a new movie in a while. However I have recently rewatched:
Once Upon A Time in the West (Which really was SO MUCH BETTER the second and third time than it was the first time)
and the entire
Back to the Future franchise twice more just in this January. Because Back to the Future is awesome.
Also I recently watched
The Birds for the first time in like 6 years. It still bothers me that the movie just kind of stops, rather than ending. But hot damn, nobody does horror like Hitchcock.
 
P

Philosopher B.


I just saw several horror movies.

The Cottage

An absolutely hilarious British kidnapper/slasher film starring Andy Serkis. Gory as fuck and funny to boot, I have a feeling I'm going to be watching this a couple more times.

I Sell the Dead

A film about grave robbers, it starred Dominic Monaghan and Ron Perlman, two actors I enjoy very much. It had an interesting setup, anthology-style, in which Dom's character recounted various grave-robbing incidents. It was weird how casually everything in the movie was more or less taken, but then again, some of the comedy sort of came from that. I dunno if I'd call it a must-see, but it was worth a watch.

Splice

When this movie started out, I thought it was pretty much going to be 'Oh, those crazy scientists!' But then there were motherhood issues and all kinds of other stuff swirling around thematically, and then an ending which sort of morphed into what I kind of had expected the rest of the movie to be, except it didn't feel quite right by that point ... I dunno, it was a hell of an experience, but I'm still not sure what I feel about having had it.

It was unique, let's say.
 
Been seeing quite a few lately with my girl.

Crank
Holy crap, this movie was fun! Nothing in the way of character development or plot. It probably has the most ridiculous premise for action ever, and yet it makes it more awesome as a result. It was so over the top that me and my girl were laughing our asses off. Of course, we realized the over-the-topness was intentional. Normally, I hate camera work that feels like it's filmed on the back of a rabid dog having a seizure, but in this movie, it oddly worked. The dude kept taking hyperactive drug after drug, so you felt like you were going along for the ride with him.

According to a co-worker, the second one is even more over the top; so much so that it goes over the top and comes full circle right around.

We rented it last night and will be watching it tonight. :D

Let Me In
Let me preface this by saying that I loved the original Swedish film, Let the Right One In. I went in with some pretty lofty expectations, especially after hearing quite a number of good reviews on this version.

And...yeah, overall, I really liked it. It did some things better than the Swedish version. In fact, the majority of it, I liked more than the original. There was less focus on the ancilliary characters (aka: victims) That said, the original was much more subtle in its handling of the vampire special effects and such. Every time she attacked to feed off of someone, we got this really hyperactive CGI stuff that stuck out like a sore thumb. Plus, from what I recall, the Swedish version didn't apply any make up to her when she "vamped out," which I preferred.

Still, definitely recommend it. Think I'd still suggest the original Swedish version over it, but just barely.
Added at: 10:06
Nick & Nourah's Infinite Playlist

Watched it more for name reasons than anything else. But it wound up being a fun little flick. Better than I expected. Of course, I had some good company to enjoy it with. :D
 
J

Jiarn

Being the huge Jason Statham fan that I am (hairstyle inspired actually) I loved the hell out of the Crank films. So I'm glad you got a kick out of them too.

I am totally going to have to disagree with you on the Let Me In thing though, personal opinion-wise. I felt that the American version lost all the dystopian feel that the original had. In the original, you really felt that she would have gotten away with as much as she did for as long as she did because of the total lack of "give a shit" the authorities had in that area. This one basically took place in a suburbian apartment complex. I just couldn't "buy it" that it took that long for anyone to figure it out. I was just completely taken out of the film by the setting.
 
That's true. Keep in mind, though, that I'm a little hazy on the original.

I will say this much, though: unless it was mentioned in other features like the commentary, there was NO mention of the original Swedish version. I watched one of the behind the scenes featurettes (the main one) and there was nary a mention of it. Mentions of the book, of course, but that's all.

Given how much they cut and pasted, that really pisses me off.
 
J

Jiarn

Yeah it was pretty much scene for scene, like the Psycho remake. I also didn't like the cut out of the "explanation" of her gender. I thought it was a powerful scene in the original.
 
Crank 2

I...but...it...what? What was...? I don't even...? And why was...? And he...? But...? But...? But..?

WHAT!?

Seriously, WHAT!? I've seen some messed up movies in my life but...Holy Hannah, this was messed up!

And yet...it was also awesome in that same vein. I...think there was a plot? Kinda, sorta? And...a Godzilla-like fight straight out of nowhere?

So yeah, to sum up....WHAT?!
 
Crank 2

I...but...it...what? What was...? I don't even...? And why was...? And he...? But...? But...? But..?

WHAT!?

Seriously, WHAT!? I've seen some messed up movies in my life but...Holy Hannah, this was messed up!

And yet...it was also awesome in that same vein. I...think there was a plot? Kinda, sorta? And...a Godzilla-like fight straight out of nowhere?

So yeah, to sum up....WHAT?!
I remember when I saw that in theaters. For some reason, after seeing it all I could think of was that film. If I tried to talk, it would be an incoherent mixture of laughter and chatter of that film.

It was so messed up, it actually shattered my mind. Thank goodness for an hour of meditation.
 
There were several times while watching it where I sobbed, screaming "THIS MOVIE IS BREAKING MY BRAIN!"
I simply checked out and let the madness soak over me. It was like getting a peek in the Necronomicon and finding out some horrible truth, so your mind makes up for it by sending you around the bend.
 
J

Jiarn

Crank 2 wasn't about thinking, should have got that from the trailer. It was about "Awesome Statham".
 
Avatar: The Last Airbender

No, not the recent M. Nightmare film, the Nickelodeon cartoon series. Actually came up highly recommended for me on Netflix (i.e. in the first slot), and my three-year-old son who knows how to work Netflix noticed it and thought "Hey, cartoon! I can watch those!" so he actually put it on himself at first. I sat and watched the first two episodes with him (it was rated Y-7, which is borderline to me), and he loved it and I thought it was far easier to watch than most of the shows he likes to watch (Diego, Wiggles, Thomas...*shudder*). So, since it was borderline to let my son watch, I decided to watch them myself over the past two weeks. Really well told stories, great characterization, and an extremely interesting take on an admittedly formulaic elemental magical presence. Begging to have someone make a decent video game adaptation of it, but don't understand the desire to go with a live-action two-hour feature movie of it.

As far as letting my son watch the rest of it, I think he's fine watching season 1, but seasons 2 and 3 are probably a little dark for him.
 
The King's Speech- Basically what I thought it would be. A well made, yet passionless period piece. It was still very good, but I am now more resolute in my wanting Social Network to win everything.

The Killer Inside Me - Some good acting, some really brutal/unflinching depictions of violence and all, but something just felt kind of off. I felt like it was a little hard to get into. I still liked it and am glad I saw it, though.
 
The Social Network

Thought it was quite good. Good writing, good acting, etc etc.

Guess I just don't see what all the hullabaloo is about.
Added at: 02:57
Pirahnna (remake)

Bloody awesome.
 
Of Mice and Men, the Burgess Meredith edition. Fantastic film, I was puzzled why it didn't win any Oscars until I looked up the competition it was against. Quite possibly the best group of films ever nominated for an Oscar were nominated that year.
 
Yep, a very, very tough year for great movies. Probably 10-15 great movies and each and every one was character driven. Maybe hollywood should take a hint from the movies of 1939.
 
Predator 2
I hadn't watched it since I was maybe 10, so when my friend was telling me how awful it was, my memory of it just didn't match up with what he was telling me. Had to rewatch it. Oh man, is it ever bad. The predator talks!


Predator
Now that's more like it!
 
I haven't watched it in years, so I can't defend Predator 2, but I always liked it.

Now, you gotta sit yourself down and watch Predators. It's fucking awesome. Not quite as good as Predator, but high and above better than 2.
 
Predators was surprisingly good!

I'm watching Buried right now... holy cow. Very good hitchcockian thriller. Seriously, anyone tells you Ryan Reynolds can't act please direct them to this.
 
I didn't care for Predators that much. It was better than 2, but not by much. Eh.

Also I agree on Ryan Reynolds, he's also really good in Adventureland.

I REALLY need to see Black Swan this week.
 
J

Jiarn

Paranormal Activity 2: This is a hard one to explain, I'll put it thusly: If you enjoyed PA1 then this is exactly what you're looking for. A prequel/sequel to the original that really fleshes out what happened/happens in the lives of this family without breaking the feel and mood of the first film.
 
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