Watched any good movies recently?

[SunXia]

I have this image in my head of Dong Zhou and his sister doing an Ebert and Siskel style little show!!

Anyway, I have little time for Final Destination movies, but I definitely prefer the death scenes in the first that the rest as they get progressively...idiotic in the later sequels, I certainly found the shocking deaths in the first t be far more entertaining as there were a few that were just hinted at then boom!! The second you may fine enjoyable however there were several holes as it was clear they were trying to do that "he shouldn't have been there to do that" as excuses for things when the entire situation was created by said people so some of the formula has holes but the first two I don't mind watching but the third and after....another story!!

[Dong Zhou]

I have this image in my head of Dong Zhou and his sister doing an Ebert and Siskel style little show!!

Heh. The problem is my sister and I mostly watch films together that we are likely to both like or end up disappointed by the same thing so there isn't that much disagreement.

Thanks for the heads up about the Final Destination sequels. Will still watch, think it is a pity the basic idea doesn't seem to have been taken on into a much greater direction.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

My sister and I had never seen an Indiana Jones film before so when the latest one came out, it occurred to us that we should try to see the trilogy. Was nice to see the iconic boulder scene!

There was a lot wrong with the film. The first thing I noticed was the voice acting seemed... like it was being dubbed on and was poorly delivered during the first half. Not entirely sure if the cast got better or we just got used to the voice problems. The writing seems poor, maybe bits were cut out, but there seems to be plot holes, suspend your brains please moments or lacking a bit of consistency

two examples. Major spoilers

Marian is in pilot seat. Suddenly jumps from pilot seat to gun seat back to pilot seat. Also Indiana clambering onto the submarine, travelling a long distance on an under-water vehicle and able to sneak onto base without being spotted by U-boat crew or base guards with no explanation.

The romance gets hit by a few thing: Marian's personality seems to shift somewhat to suit the need of the scenes, doesn't quite get built up properly as I felt more "she should go with Bellog " at times rather then Indiana and after a great romantic scene which pretty much made up for all of that... it followed up with a "What on...?"

major spoiler

Indiana falls asleep as they kiss after a strong romantic scene. Next moment, she is naked in his bed. What on earth did we miss? How did one lead into the other?

For all the flaws, it was a fun film. For example Marian and the romance, it was hard not to like her as she was a fun character, decently performed by Karen Allen, who clicked well with Indiana with some fun scenes and good lines. There is a fair bit of humour, the action is good bar one phase where it felt flat, it has an awesome monkey, the whole thing clicks well together. Allow the brain to relax and sure, the writing could be better, I have seen better from Ford, the late Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina and John Rhys-Davies, but it has what I need from an action film. Good action, a sense of humour, intresting characters (I liked the contrast between Bellog and Indiana) who bounce off each other, good dialogue, nice touches like the map. To the films credit, they even made the early exposition enjoyable. Overall ending phase went on a bit too long though it finished well with two good scenes. My sister greatly enjoyed the music near the end but felt action was poor throughout the film.

Overall: Grew more and more into the movie, fun despite it's story problems.
Me: 7.0/10, Sister: 6.0/10

[Iain]

I saw The Amazing Spiderman a few days ago, outshines the Tobey trilogy from a few years back I at least felt more comfortable watching it something about those other ones made me cringe somewhat. I liked the story too they didn't waste too much time on the updated origin and the Lizard was an inspired villain at least better than re-treading the Goblin again.

All in all a very enjoyable film and Its always fun to spot Stan (Hitchcock) Lee doing his famous cameo too ^^

[Ayame]

Watched the first Iron Man on telly today. I like Tony Stark. Later, I'll be watching Red Cliff.

[SunXia]

Watched Giant (1956) yesterday and must say I love this film and the themes it represents between the two main characters and how their background differ but how they learn to influence one another to the point that the man becomes more liberal like her both in terms of females being more than just a wife and Mexicans being treated equally too!! Have to say don't get the big deal about James Dean, and how he seems to look like he's always about to headbutt somebody but I really enjoyed this film!!

[Zyzyfer]

I watched The Descendants a few days back. It's a really good film overall, a nice and powerful plot keeps it moving along very nicely, although it slipped up in the middle to me. The middle makes sense in the end but I didn't feel that way until I got to the end.

George Clooney is great in it. One of the final scenes, which is powerful anyway, I didn't recognize him at all. He just does a good all-around job of stringing together a really disjointed situation.

Tried to watch The Tree of Life, but you really have to be in the mood for that kind of thing. It definitely doesn't lay itself out on the table for you to examine.

[Jason]

God Bless America, was pretty good. Although I fear it's me in the future if I don't learn to let the little things in life go.

[Dong Zhou]

Peter O'Toole has retired. Not seen his most famous film but made an entertaining Henry II for Becket, the first half of the film is pretty much made worth watching by O'Toole' force of personality, then a less eye-catching but still charismatic performance as the same man in The Lion in Winter then as the sometimes creepy Maurice in Venus. Every time I have seen O'Toole, he has been excellent

Watched the first Iron Man on telly today. I like Tony Stark. Later, I'll be watching Red Cliff.

I liked Iron Man but it was partly ruined for me by the hype. You enjoy Red Cliff?

[Dong Zhou]

Horton Hears A Who

From the Dr. Seuss book, adapted by Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul and Jeff Siergey (latest film as writer). Music by John Powell, editing by Tim Nordquist (latest film as sole editor), produced by Chris Wedge, first-timer Bruce Anderson and Bob Gordon in his latest film, directed by both Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino (first film as director). Premise: In the Jungle of Nool, a tiny dust speck is pushed off a flower and when it passes elephant-teacher Horton (Jim Carrey), he hears a scream and rescues it. He gets in contract with one of those that lives on the speck, the Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell), both will have to work together to get the speck somewhere safe.

At first, it seems a beautifully drawn, superbly voiced, fairly pleasant family film with jokes that are hit or miss for adults. The sort that gets a 6 or becomes slightly boring as time goes on. It was much more then that, though it remained beautifully drawn, superbly voiced including by narrator Charles Osgood, pleasant family film. Some of the writing, presumably the lines that were taken straight from the book, is poetic, it has some inventive idea's for both worlds, and the film drew us in, making us care both what happens to Horton and the Who's. It could mix poignancy with a humour that had got stronger, with some very good jokes and the adorable/strange Katie (Joey King). By the end, even though part of you suspects that a family film would never allow bad things to happen, it was able to build tension for it's climatic moment. Having done that, it's ending is so strange and out of nothing that it would wreck another film, for us it was hilarious.

Overall: Funny, warm family film that grows on you.
Me: 7.0, Sister: 8.0

[epaminondas146871]

The Fountain starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz was excellent, along with the soundtrack. The full movie can be found on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CTECzJTK7c