[Movies] Talk about the last movie you saw 2: Electric Threadaloo
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
I'm not sure how much you want spoiled, but I'm PRETTY SURE I know what part he's talking about. In general, there's a lot of sudden R-rated violence, but there was one part that was really uncomfortable. It's also slightly a plot twist/surprise, so I guess I'll tag it.
the rape scene
I saw this last weekend and it's amazing.
Among other things, yeah. That.
So I've been following the reviews on Fandango.com for The Tree of Life.
Leslie Johansen Nack
STUPID STUPID STUPID. No real story and too much fluff and whispering. One of the worst movies I've ever seen! Skip it for sure! The father spends his life mistreating his kids, and then when one dies he feels bad and guilty an the mother - don't even get me started on the mom. She is absent emotionally and mentally from her children's lives. As far as I can tell she had no realtionship with her husband at all! Awful movie. 15 minutes of shots of space and the bottom of the ocean - for what? Stupid!
Sigh...
Leslie Johansen Nack
STUPID STUPID STUPID. No real story and too much fluff and whispering. One of the worst movies I've ever seen! Skip it for sure! The father spends his life mistreating his kids, and then when one dies he feels bad and guilty an the mother - don't even get me started on the mom. She is absent emotionally and mentally from her children's lives. As far as I can tell she had no realtionship with her husband at all! Awful movie. 15 minutes of shots of space and the bottom of the ocean - for what? Stupid!
Sigh...
W
Wasabi Poptart
I finally watched Avatar. Visually it was beautiful. The story was not as interesting as I had hoped. It seemed like Dances with Wolves, but with aliens instead of Lakota Sioux.
Yeah, this. Jesus.
I had the same reaction.
fade
Staff member
And about 40 other movies with the same exact story. And we're not talking story archetypes like the hero's tale, we're talking same story, different character.
Knowing
I didn't think this one was so bad. It got a much lower score than I expected on Rotten Tomatoes. I expected the critics would love the introspection and the suspense. I think it's spoiled by the borderline ridiculous ending, though. It's like having this decent film that suddenly turns into a clown ride.
I do have to agree with what a couple of the critics were saying. The movie is supposed to be a sci-fi, but they made the disaster scenes too good. It's true. The director lavishes attention on things like the plane crash, and they're really creepy and well done. But the problem is you forget the main plot. It almost becomes a subplot, and you want to see more of the spectacle. Nick Cage does pretty well with the role he has, which is down in the dumps the whole time.
Knowing
I didn't think this one was so bad. It got a much lower score than I expected on Rotten Tomatoes. I expected the critics would love the introspection and the suspense. I think it's spoiled by the borderline ridiculous ending, though. It's like having this decent film that suddenly turns into a clown ride.
I do have to agree with what a couple of the critics were saying. The movie is supposed to be a sci-fi, but they made the disaster scenes too good. It's true. The director lavishes attention on things like the plane crash, and they're really creepy and well done. But the problem is you forget the main plot. It almost becomes a subplot, and you want to see more of the spectacle. Nick Cage does pretty well with the role he has, which is down in the dumps the whole time.
I mean seriously, unobtanium?! Someone needs to retcon that as just slang already.I love how the biggest complaint "against" Avatar is "Simpsons did it BETTER!"
The Queen on broadcast TV... just at the climax of the film, they had a 2 minute funeral insurance advertisement 
I like Knowing. Roger Ebert called it I think one of the best sci-fi films ever.
Tales From Earthsea: I don't ever again want to hear someone say that Howl's Moving Castle is Ghibli's worst film.
This is not a bad movie, but it isn't a good one. It has the mark of amateur about it, where it wants to be too many things, like a tale of the heart as well as a revenge story as well as a story of cosmic balance as well as an epic adventure. It's desperate to have certain cliches in, like rescuing the girl, or even Ghibli cliches, like everything falling to the young girl at one point--even if it must be ham-fisted to insert them. The story feels like it's going nowhere in the middle as one character goes back and forth between two locations twice at the same time another set of characters are going back and forth between two locations three times. There was a neat sub-plot with the prince, but it gets muddled over with everything else and none of it feels dramatically satisfying or heartwarming. It's not a mess (until the end)--there's just not much of interest despite many elements being stacked together.
I won't spoil the ending, but things seem to happen at random almost and character direction is all over the place.
Even some bits of the animation are lacking; I kept catching shots of characters walking or running and appearing to just stand in place while the same animation recycled. I know that happens, but it was very obvious because those particular bits weren't well animated. If you're going to reuse something, make sure it looks good. I'm not even sure why they did that; I thought Ghibli was a very successful company.
Willem Dafoe gives a very nice, restrained performance as Lord Cob, the dragons have a nice look, and the music is gorgeous, sounding like it belongs in a much better film. That's all the good I can say for it. I'm glad Hayao came back to do Ponyo, because I'm not interested in seeing what else Goro might be working on (though according to the end credits, Hayao came up with this adaptation from the Earthsea books, so maybe even in his hands it wouldn't have fared well).
This is not a bad movie, but it isn't a good one. It has the mark of amateur about it, where it wants to be too many things, like a tale of the heart as well as a revenge story as well as a story of cosmic balance as well as an epic adventure. It's desperate to have certain cliches in, like rescuing the girl, or even Ghibli cliches, like everything falling to the young girl at one point--even if it must be ham-fisted to insert them. The story feels like it's going nowhere in the middle as one character goes back and forth between two locations twice at the same time another set of characters are going back and forth between two locations three times. There was a neat sub-plot with the prince, but it gets muddled over with everything else and none of it feels dramatically satisfying or heartwarming. It's not a mess (until the end)--there's just not much of interest despite many elements being stacked together.
I won't spoil the ending, but things seem to happen at random almost and character direction is all over the place.
Even some bits of the animation are lacking; I kept catching shots of characters walking or running and appearing to just stand in place while the same animation recycled. I know that happens, but it was very obvious because those particular bits weren't well animated. If you're going to reuse something, make sure it looks good. I'm not even sure why they did that; I thought Ghibli was a very successful company.
Willem Dafoe gives a very nice, restrained performance as Lord Cob, the dragons have a nice look, and the music is gorgeous, sounding like it belongs in a much better film. That's all the good I can say for it. I'm glad Hayao came back to do Ponyo, because I'm not interested in seeing what else Goro might be working on (though according to the end credits, Hayao came up with this adaptation from the Earthsea books, so maybe even in his hands it wouldn't have fared well).
I did too, but another board I frequent seem determined to be disappointed. None of them said it was bad, just not as good as other Miyazaki films, which makes it bad to them.
figmentPez
Staff member
I watched Disney's "Tangled" today. I loved it. I don't know if it's just the super-happy mood I've been in lately, but I had a blast watching it. I laughed and sighed and it was so much fun.
I rewatched Michael Clayton this week with some friends. It is pretty awesome! Kind of got lost in the shuffle with all the awesome 2007 releases, though.
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad: I put this on for everyone, and NOBODY was into it but me.
Tragedy. I suppose as new special effects come and go, the work of old masters like Harryhausen will fade away.
Tragedy. I suppose as new special effects come and go, the work of old masters like Harryhausen will fade away.
Yeah, I've tried to show old Harryhausen flicks to folks and... they just don't care for them
fade
Staff member
I forgot how good the Pirates of the Carribean movies were. And I don't care if their popularity means I have to turn in my Film Snob™ card. They're a spectacle. The kind that the 80s was full of. That's what it brings to mind for me--those grand adventure movies from the mid 80s. Surprisingly harsh for Disney films, too. People being folded through portholes, kids being hanged.
I first read that as "People being folded through plotholes".
That to.
P
Philosopher B.
First one's great, second one's good, third one is the most excessive and tired. I am a fan though (hell, I own the trilogy on DVD, even #3). I wish more people would make movies about pirates, goddamit. It's certainly been proved they can make hella bank.
IF you haven't watched UP yet, be prepared for tears the first 10-15 minutes. I'm not joking at all, it's a great movie, love it, but just dang... need tissues.
Yeah I've seen UP. It ruined me.