Printable View
I saw Glass tonight with the wifey. If you liked Unbreakable and Split then you’ll probably like it. The story was good and the ending was a bit unexpected.
I thought they spent a bit too much time on the character from Split and not enough time on Samuel L and Bruce Willis, but overall worth the $5.50 for a Tuesday ticket.
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
4/5
The hype surrounding this film is not mere hyperbole, that's for sure.
I have been putting off seeing this film because it has been oogled and ahhhed about practically non-stop and I was afraid it was due to fanboy overload.
But at a certain point when the praise I kept hearing was coming unamimously from my professional (i.e. paid) critic friends, my friends with kids, my friends without kids, my friends who are just plain comic book nerds, and my friends who could give less than two shits about comic books, it finally made me perk up and think "perhaps there is something to all the hullabaloo."
This film is straight bonkers from the get-go.
A veritable whirlwind of eye candy and pure comic book bravado, it succeeds due to whip-quick pacing, a solid sense of humor (much of it derived from Harold Lloyd silent films and classic Looney Tunes), some great meta-moments, and some of the most bristling action sequences ever put to screen.
It also pays homage to just about every incarnation/era of Spider-Man imaginable.
I would have given it a full 5 out of 5, but the animators/directors opted for this blurry background look that was not only annoying, but incredibly distracting. I read an article saying that they were going for the blurred, pastel-tinged watercolor look of traditional anime, so I understand what they were aiming for, but frankly they missed the boat and I found myself thinking that the theater might have been showing the 3-D version but forgot to supply me with the glasses...
Other than feeling like my eyes were out of focus 50% of the time, the film crackles with verve and a keen sense of how to actually translate the often goofy elements of comic books to the cinema.
All of the voice actors are awesome, too, and there's a couple of surprises in that regard, as well (the Noir Spider-Man is hilarious)
This film is the complete antithesis to Venom, that's for sure!
If you dig superhero films, this is easily one of the best to hit the Silver Screen in quite some time and puts most of the live-action ones to shame.
High praise indeed!
FWIW, I saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse clean-and-sober, but about 3-minutes in realized that it would be a stellar "red-eye" matinee...
...and I am super bummed that I didn't see it in 3-D, too.
So true! I was well medicated and it didn’t disappoint.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
What I thought was really amazing was how cinematic some of the shots felt, which I have never really seen in an animated movie.
Have you ever peeped out Cowboy Bebop? It's pretty damn cinematic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermoon
:)
I haven’t! But I will try to track it down. I am not, by any measure, an expert on any type of movies, especially animated one. Lol.
Edit:
Just saw this, though. Pretty awesome. It's some of the original storyboard animations for the movie.
https://vimeo.com/311716775
Greenbook was ok/good, but BR killed it. Would not be surprised if Rami Malek wins for best actor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheeseburger King
I thought Green Book was more than ok/good. Also saw it with my grandmother who grew up in the Bronx with mom & dad fresh off the boat from Italy, so I’m biased. Mahershala Ali is the real deal
Gonna have to agree with you on this one. I actually went to the cinema last week to see Aquaman, but after buying my ticket it turned out that the woman in front of me with the baby bjorn-strapped baby on her chest and a sniffling, coughing 3 y/o had also bought tix to see Aquaman, so I slipped in to see Bumblebee instead.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
BUMBLEBEE
2/5
I have only seen the first 3 Transformers films. They all had amazing FX, but lame stories. This one kind of follows suit. I admit that I was taken in by the trailer, but the trailer was way better than the entirety of this film.
The entire film felt like it was written by a millennial who grew up hearing how awesome the '80s movies were from her parents. But instead of actually watching any of the films her parents loved, she instead just Youtubed key scenes and then said to herself "Oh, I'll stick that in my movie.
There are lots of "classic" moments in Bumblebee which were cribbed from Spielberg and Hughes, yet they were stitched together without a shred of sense in terms of actually adding anything to the story.
The film is brimming with lots of tropes that never get elevated beyond limp-wristed and misguided cliche.
The best thing about the film were the FX. I mean Bumblebee looked amazingly real next to the human actors.
But, again, a lot of schtick was lifted from the likes of E.T., Short Circuit, and The Breakfast Club, but without a shred of irony or even the slightest sense of homage.
In the end this is a shallow film pretending to be retro chic.
1. you are aware that you severely misuse the term "meh", right?Quote:
Originally Posted by PassTheDutchie
"Meh" means "uninspiring" and "unexceptional"...So, saying "Meh, I liked" is a contradiction in terms, literally.
:)
I will agree, Emma Stone was the weak link in The Favourite, but she was still decent. Not sure why they didn't go with another British actress for her role. Methinks Emma Watson would have been a better choice. Or another up/coming English actress.
THE FAVOURITE
4/5
This film is deliciously wicked (at least the first 2 acts). The acting is superb (Olivia Coleman straight kills it as Queen Anne and Rachel Weisz is all smoldering cattiness. Oh yeah, Nicholas Hoult plays foppishness to the hilt).
The opulent sets are amazing and totally make the film worth seeing in theaters.
And extra points for the term "cunt-struck."
Between the snarky dialogue and flamboyant tapestry there are some genuinely absurdist moments (the Queen's ball with crazy twerking dance moves, for one).
The third act gets a bit sober and the ending is downright dour (which keeps in tune with the director's previous films: The Lobster and Killing of a Sacred Deer).
RIYL
A Knight's Tale; The Three Muskateers (the 1973 Richard Lester-directed film); The Four Muskateers (the 1974 sequel); Dangerous Liasons; Barry Lyndon
A Star is Born: 5/5
I wanted to hate Bradley Cooper but couldn't do it. Lady Gaga is a true star of monumental scale. Andrew Dice Clay and Chappelle are great. I cried during and for 30 minutes after this movie. Just bought the soundtrack for my g/f.
https://mseewv.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/man-card.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
Just kidding, sort of.
DESTROYER
2/5
I was really psyched for this film based on the previous collaboration between the director (Karyn Kusama) and the screenwriters (Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi). That film, The Invitation, was a complete mindfuck thriller that had me on the edge of my seat until the final frame.
Sadly, Destroyer isn't in the same league.
I was really disappointed in this film.
I felt that Nicole Kidman was severely miscast.
For starters, she is 15 years older than all the other cast members that she was supposed to be contemporaries of. Secondly, her "old, weathered, alcoholic, burnt-out cop" make-up was horrible. She had prosthetic teeth, matted hair, and it was just distracting as hell.
That said, the story was great, the direction solid, and the twists were decent. But the cast wasn't in sync and, again, Kidman wasn't right for the role and as such she brought the whole film down.
Was not worth the 45-minute trip to Reno or the $8.50 bargain matinee price to see it on the BIG screen. It would be an okay rental if you're in the mood for a mediocre cop/bank heist thriller, but I wouldn't go too far out of your way to see it.
Sean Penn has my back but then again I've always loved musical theater and don't give a fuck about man cards:Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper
"In a fair world, A Star is Born sweeps the awards. It’s just such a gift. Clear minds and hearts cannot possibly deny it its due. It’s over and over again one of my favorite films of all time"
Um, what has SP done lately?
Yeah.
Right.
That's what I thought.
:)
(or, perhaps, more importantly, what has he been smoking lately?)
:)
I am resisting seeing this film simply because I've seen 2 of the 3 previous versions and they both sucked.
The Judy Garland version was bloated and treacley.
The Barbara Streisand/Kris Kristofferson version was sappy and over-acted.
I know the story, which is of Hallmark/Lifetime caliber to begin with, so can BC and LG really elevate the material that much?
That said, the inclusion of Chappelle and ADC sounds slightly intriguing, but only slightly. And I do dig me some Sam Elliott...but those 3 aren't enough to get me into the theater.
Now if Tom Waits were in the film...
:)
That's how I felt before I saw the movie but I knew LG would be a musical force...and she is with much more. Sean Penn 3 academy best actor awards and 5 nominations notwithstanding isn't he regarded as a tough guy with respect to his man card? Although he did win the BA award for Milk.
Plus, There are so many bad movies now. The action and sci-fi formulas are so cliche and soulless you should be relieved there is a movie like this.
Hey, it was a pretty good movie, actually a great date movie, and I liked Lady GaGa. But I didn’t cry, and I almost cried for Joy Luck Club.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
I'm a crier. That's what art is supposed to do whether it is laugh or cry.
Wait.Quote:
Originally Posted by 4matic
What?
As if this film isn't cliche and formulaic?
:)
There have been some solid sci-fi and action films this year: Upgrade and Prospect, just to name a couple.
:)
PS
I have cried in a few films, including:
Forest Gump (but I was really buzzed)
The Wild Bunch (the 5th time I saw it I realized that it's really a very sad and poignant film masquerading as a blood-soaked western)
Garden State
Charlotte's Web (but I was like 10)
I sobbed like a baby in the middle of Transformers 2.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
Not as in good tears, but weep for the state of humanity tears.
You should, certainly. It's great. It's the only pokemon I like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermoon
Touche’ and yes it is. I suppose because the other multiple versions were forgettable in my eye that the story in this one made me forget. Lady Gaga is just more believable in the role than Barbara Streisand. It wasn’t the tragic scene that drew my emotions either. It’s Gaga.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
I will see those sci-fi movies on your recommendation.
One of my all time favorite movies is Lost in Translation.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
Not hearing good things about Alita thus far...
Don't listen to those retard film critics. I saw it last night and it was freaking outstanding!!! Here's the thing about it. Most of the critiques I'm hearing about it are by people who are obviously unfamiliar with the source material. Hell, Rodriguez and Cameron were honestly more true to the manga than the OG (and super short lived) anime! Some of the stuff in the movie was shot for shot out of the manga. I was a diehard fan of the print series and have read all of the stuff that got released in the US back in the 90s (now compiled into 6 books), and that's not where it quite ended either. Thankfully there are some fan made translations of the manga that didn't make it here yet that you can dig up online. Anyway, I can pick apart just about every critical headline I've seen and tell them why they're wrong. Haha.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
My ONLY gripe about it, and perhaps this is kind of a biggie, is that they toned down the violence to squeeze in that PG-13 rating. The manga was far more graphic. At least they were able to sneak in a couple scenes that almost redeemed it on that factor. Christoph Waltz was PERFECT as Dr. Ido. Rosa Salazar was divine as Alita. Actually the entire cast was perfect and obviously hand picked for each specific role.
So, I'll just leave it at this. If you like the manga, you will love this movie if you can forgive the toned down violence. If you're not familiar with the source though, it could go either way.
This is neat. Interview with the original creator, Yukito Kishiro. Sounds like he gives the new film his stamp of approval! Also saw a good interview with Robert Rodriguez discussing the manga. He and Cameron were apparently huge fans of it. Very cool.
https://www.cbr.com/battle-angel-ali...iro-interview/
https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpr...fit=crop&w=738
If being familiar with some fairly obscure source material is a prerequisite to enjoying the movie, that kinda sounds like a fail.Quote:
Originally Posted by AustinFromSA
Here's the thing, though. It's far from obscure. In fact it's pretty well known. I'm not saying you HAVE to read it to understand it or appreciate it. But if you haven't read it, you have to go in with the understanding that there just might be more to the story than was presented in this given two hour medium.Quote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
For example, I'm seeing critics complain about how this or that wasn't explained in the film. Well, that's because it literally wasn't explained at that point in the manga either. It's a "to be continued..." thing, which is exactly how they left it in the movie too. It would be like a film critic watching Star Wars IV - A New Hope back in 1977, but then being critical about all the stuff that wasn't revealed until the sequels.
EVERY critique I've seen is explained later on. This is why their ignorance is annoying. I'm seeing them treat is as a singular and whole story rather than the epic saga that it actually is.
If a new movie has pre-reqs, thats definitely a fail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
Let me make this even more clear. There are no pre-reqs for you to just go and enjoy Alita on the big screen. I'm calling out the professional film critics, not the movie-goers. This movie is getting great reactions from actual audiences. There's a pretty big disparity between most of the film critic's reviews and the user reviews on IMDB. Vast majority of the user reviews are ranting and raving about it, even for those who haven't read the manga. My main point is don't listen to the film critics on this one. Go and judge it for yourself. This video mirrors what I saw from the audience last night. People were leaving the theater just freaking out about it. It was all smiles, hoops and hollers, and just overwhelming positivity all the way around!Quote:
Originally Posted by mcski
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luX_Kg2QeYs
Agree; no pre-reqs needed. Enjoyed the quality and acting, however, story line is very simple YA level. I prefer a more mature, complicated plot. Several reviews that I've read, all favorable, seemed to cringe a little at the violence (cyborg dismemberment) in such a YA story.
I was only mildly interested in Alita. I'm not familiar with the source material and it kind of sounded silly. However, my interest in it has grown. The huge gap in response between professional movie reviewers and the audience is interesting. I often like movies where that happens. I'm not sure I'll have tome to get to the theater to see it but I hope to.
Big screen 3D was definitely worth it.
Except it isn't. Don't get me wrong. I can totally see how you'd think it was YA due to the relatively simple plot thus far, BUT in the source material, it is far, far more graphic in its violent nature. Since the movie's so fresh I don't want to lay out the differences as to not spoil anything, but suffice it to say that NOW the cyborg dismemberment is YA appropriate. The original scenes? Like beyond R-rated. Another good example is that the scene with Scarlett Johansson hanging out in her apartment (you know the one. lol). In the anime she was buck nekked as God intended. Not in the live action film. TOTALLY understandable across the board as they had to tone it all down from a hard R or even NR rating to a perhaps pushing it a bit PG-13. Anyway, just making the point that the original story is not quite YA stuff. Still solid either way, though. Glad you liked it.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
Whoa whoa WHOA
How DARE you compare Ghost in the Shell to Alita?!?!?!? :fmicon:
Seriously, the central plot line in GitS (Anime - the live-action, Scarlet version was execrable ) was sophisticated and delivered with subtlety and nuance. Since there wasn't a full length animated version of Alita it's perhaps unfair to compare the two, but you stated that the current live-action version was remarkably close to the original Manga presentation, so I'm going to do it any way: apples vs oranges , mature sophisticated plot vs YA plot. Not a really big deal, as most (but fortunately not all) Manga stories are YA with a titillating frizz of mayhem and sex anyway.
WOOPS! I meant to say Jennifer Connelly. NOT Scarlet Johannson. Had a total brain fart there. Now you'll know what scene I was referring to. Hehe.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
Alita imax 4/5
I liked it. Enough story to keep it interesting. James Cameron knows how to make movie.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
Technically no longer in Theaters, but we don't have a general post-theater movie thread (weird), so here:
Prospect - a delightful cross between True Grit and Firefly/Serenity, but pared down to a much more visceral and spare theme. Now available in Comcast On Demand. Pedro Pascal is eerily similar (the dialogue is spot on) to Nathan Fillion.
我的天阿Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
Mei Yong Ma Duh Tse Gu Yong
How Shi Sung Chung
Wen Gua Pi
How W'rin Bu Lai, Whai W'rin Bu Jwo
保重
I saw it back in October in the theaters.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
I stumbled upon it after reading an article about short films being turned into feature length films (i.e. short film filmmakers getting funding from Hollywood).
I posted a review of it along with a link to the original short here:
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...90#post5511590
:)
In regards to a general movie thread you could start one...but there's already NF, Amazon, and Redbox threads, plus a "Films You Missed The First Time Around Thread"...
:)
A general movie thread might be redundant, but perhaps genre threads (there's a Horror one, but no Comedy, Drama or Sci-Fi film threads)...