El Pollo Guerrera
Grimlock
His name has chicken in it, and he is good at makin' .gifs, so that's cool.
Status: Runner
Posts: 14,896
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Feb 20, 2008 2:00:24 GMT -5
* Yes, here be SPOILERS *
I picked up and finally watched "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects". It was available as a 2-pack with an extra disc of the making of "TDR".
"H O 1000 C" was a great homage to independent horror movies of the 70's (I thought it was very "grindhouse"). It was a group of young adult's very strange decent into Hell with very little explanation as to why. The grainy handheld 'cutaway' scenes kept the film feeling like the old 70's indies, but the rest of the movie was clear and vivid. I wasn't distracted by any shaky camera tricks or MTV-esque rapid cutting that I was expecting. Rob Zombie did a great job for his first movie. I was told by friends that this was a bad movie... I have been deceived for such a long time.
(Also, I couldn't help but think that Sheri Moon Zombie would be a perfect choice to play Harley Quinn... she was amazing in this, being both sweet and sexy, then turning on a dime into psychotic.)
"TDR" was simply amazing. Where "HO 1000 C" had (to me) brighter and 'cheerier' tone, "TDR" was dirtier and grittier. It's almost as if the first movie was through the eyes of the Firefly family and "TDR" was from the point of view of the real world. These people don't have agendas, they're just vicious killers on the run. Watching the Sheriff fall apart was great, but watching the Firefly's reaction to what they created was incredible. It's like they finally realized that A) that is what they are and B) they aren't the top of the food chain anymore. When Otis was driving at the end, it seemed to me that he didn't have that fire in his eyes anymore... it's like the events that happened to him 'scared' him into reality.
My only complaint was that some of the digital effects were 'off', not always meshing with the action (the one that really stood out was when Priscilla Barnes dies).
Highly recommended.
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Grendel
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
But ... why is all the rum gone?
Posts: 17,593
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Post by Grendel on Feb 20, 2008 8:55:20 GMT -5
Die Hard 4.0 on DVD. This made me angry. Not at the film cause I think the film is good. I'm angry at DVD distributer. See despite saying on the box 'UNCUT VERSION NOT SEEN IN THEATERS!' it is in fact the movie seen in theaters with the violence toned down and John McClain's catch phrase muffled by a gunshot. I feel ripped off. It looks like I will have to get the complete version from overseas. I'm not sure, but on the uncut DVD, don't you have to choose to watch the uncut version? A lot of dvds give you the option. Anyhow, last night I was able to finally watch Lucky Number Slevin from start to finish. I don't know what the critics thought about this movie, but I thought it was very entertaining. I recommend it.
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Post by G✇JI☈A on Feb 20, 2008 9:12:31 GMT -5
Die Hard 4.0 on DVD. This made me angry. Not at the film cause I think the film is good. I'm angry at DVD distributer. See despite saying on the box 'UNCUT VERSION NOT SEEN IN THEATERS!' it is in fact the movie seen in theaters with the violence toned down and John McClain's catch phrase muffled by a gunshot. I feel ripped off. It looks like I will have to get the complete version from overseas. I'm not sure, but on the uncut DVD, don't you have to choose to watch the uncut version? A lot of dvds give you the option. Anyhow, last night I was able to finally watch Lucky Number Slevin from start to finish. I don't know what the critics thought about this movie, but I thought it was very entertaining. I recommend it. I did not get the choice. The F word is intact in the Blooper Reel though.
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Grendel
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
But ... why is all the rum gone?
Posts: 17,593
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Post by Grendel on Feb 20, 2008 13:18:55 GMT -5
I just saw some strange movie called Gabriel, about the archangel going to purgatory to battle the fallen. It was okay, but the laugh out loud moment was in the previews when they showed a trailer for some movie called Zombie Strippers. When I saw that title, I just lost it ...
But it's good to see that Jenna Jameson can still get work ... even though she's looking nasty as all hell.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Feb 20, 2008 17:55:44 GMT -5
Here's a two-shot...
DEDICATION Starring Billy Crudup as an author of children's books who suffers from OCD and depression among other various mental health issues that prevent him from riding in cars, stirring clockwise, etc. When his long-term illustrator and closest friend (played by Tom Wilkinson) dies, he is forced to team up with a new illustrator (Played by Mandy Moore) to finish his contracted book. Through this process, he learns to actually share a bit more of himself with somebody else while actively trying to stop a few of his neuroses.
Billy Crudup was great at being completely neurotic but somehow likable. Mandy Moore played the role of her career thus far, being believable, emotional, and funny all at the same time. The movie itself was hit-or-miss but is a suitable romantic comedy that's a bit more intelligent and slightly more realistic than the rest. I called it a romantic comedy but it's not even really a comedy. It's just a slightly dark look at people trying to find something to believe in.
*** out of *****
HEAT
Pacing can make or break a movie. If the pacing is too fast, the viewer gets lost in the details and is almost disconnected from the movie. If the pacing is too slow, the viewer gets bored and loses interest. As a movie gets longer in length, the pacing has a tendency to slow down to a crawl, making an almost 3 hour movie feel like it's taking 5 hours. This movie, at almost 3 hours, absolutely nails what a good pace for a movie should be. Throughout the running time, I never looked to see how much time was left or waited for something to happen. It just kept you hooked throughout.
Another thing that directors and writers should take from this movie is it's ability, through simple visual or oral clues, to completely explain a character without getting ridiculous. One only needs to look at Dennis Haysbert's character Donald Breedan who character was as well defined as the rest, even though his screen time was roughly 15 minutes out of the whole movie. They didn't have to say or do everything in the world to make you understand each character's motivations, which helped from bogging down the viewers with too many details. For a heist movie, that's hard to do, but they pulled it off.
When you watch really talented actors performing really well it just transcends the screen. This is what Pacino and De Niro both brought to the table. I don't want to take away anything from the amazing supporting cast (Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo) but these two are what this movie is all about. From beginning to end they both had me absolutely captivated in their performances and the little nuances behind each.
The movie's story also presented a message beyond being a heist movie. It's about finding balance. No scene showed that more than the dinner scene with the band of criminals who, just hours prior, had a shootout with a couple of would-be assassins. At dinner with their kids and wives, they looked nothing like the criminals they were but like regular people with regular lives. The movie's message, while not beat over your head, is something that every single character is looking for in the movie and they do it without Pacino having to have a specific speech about balance in your life.
I guess, at the root of it all, I just think everybody needs to see this movie.
***** out of *****
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Feb 21, 2008 12:58:17 GMT -5
I just added a complete list of the movies I personally reviewed on the first page, will be reviewing Run, Fatboy, Run and possibly Rambo later on today...
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rra
King Koopa
Posts: 10,145
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Post by rra on Feb 21, 2008 14:11:41 GMT -5
I just added a complete list of the movies I personally reviewed on the first page, will be reviewing Run, Fatboy, Run and possibly Rambo later on today... Are you trying to compete with me?
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Jiren
Patti Mayonnaise
Hearts Bayformers
Posts: 35,163
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Post by Jiren on Feb 21, 2008 14:19:25 GMT -5
All the boys love Mandy lane
Very good, it's not exactly a horror film but it's enjoyable & a nice break from the norm
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Reverend BTY
Hank Scorpio
Christian Troy: God's Gift
Posts: 7,206
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Post by Reverend BTY on Feb 21, 2008 14:20:21 GMT -5
Run Fat Boy Run-
A fun little romantic comedy. I should be writing a review on my LJ sooner or later.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Feb 21, 2008 15:04:26 GMT -5
I just added a complete list of the movies I personally reviewed on the first page, will be reviewing Run, Fatboy, Run and possibly Rambo later on today... Are you trying to compete with me? Nah, if I was doing that I would've made a separate thread for each and assume everybody was enthralled by it... But yeah, if anybody was interested in cataloging all the reviews in this thread (With links to posts), I'd be more than happy to include it in the original post... RUN, FAT BOY, RUNIn David Schwimmer's feature film directorial debut, Simon Pegg stars as Dennis, an overweight security guard who left his pregnant fiance Libby (Thandie Newton) at the alter. Five years later, Dennis has gone absolutely nowhere. He's behind on his rent, is a chain smoker, and generally despises everything about his life, with the exception of his son Jake (Matthew Fenton). When Libby lets it slip that she has a boyfriend, Whit (Hank Azaria) who is, as the film calls it, "Peter Perfect", Dennis realizes truly how much he loves Libby. When he finds out that Whit is running the marathon, in a moment of male idiocy, Dennis tells Libby that he's also running the marathon, to prove to her that he can finish something. He's helped along by his friend Gordan (Dylan Moran) and his landlord Mr. Ghoshdashtidar (Harish Patel) to get ready. The movie is a romantic comedy but it's written by the two comedic talents of Simon Pegg and Michael Ian Black who bring a lot of humor to the movie. I was happy to see Pegg in a role that wasn't some over-exaggerated version of London and it's outlying areas (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) and the humor was rooted in reality. There were some truly funny parts but, being a romantic comedy, there were a lot of touching moments. I loved seeing Pegg and Fenton interact as father and son, as Pegg pulled off the "Father who really, really tries, in spite of himself" role. Azaria was at his a-hole-ish best here but the movie reveals his shortcomings slowly until finally the a-hole inside explodes out. Credit goes to Moran and Patel who bring surprisingly more funny moments than Pegg himself. I also have to give credit to Schwimmer who truly understood the British humor and the way to shoot it. I was legitimately surprised that he was directing when I saw the first credit roll by. It was a fun flick that, while not as classic as Pegg's prior two hits, will definitely bring the entertainment. I can wholeheartedly recommend it when it hits theaters in the US on March 28th. **** out of *****
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,971
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 21, 2008 15:21:09 GMT -5
Jackass 2.5
Okay, I wouldn't really call it a movie, per se, but it is an experience. I'll say this: if you have the chance, watch the DVD with the deleted scenes, rather than just the "movie". It's got some pretty great scenes, like Dico in a wheelchair eating a dead bird in front of a restaurant.(I assume it was fake, but it might of been real.) Also, the Nair Cut is a sight to see.
The first movie was about the stunts, the second was the gross out, and while I didn't get as disgusted as I did with the horse scene in two, it's got some very trying scenes. I had to take a little break now and then to regain my composure.
Still, isn't that a lot of what this is about? Comradery in the most primitive sense. You watch it with some friends, and share in the experience, and find yourself talking about it for days.
I like that about the series and movies, that after all of the crap they put each other through, you really get the impression they're great friends. I would NEVER pull a prank on Knoxville or Bam, because the payback would be hellish, but I would hang out with them a little. While watching out for the clippers, of course. I don't look good with a buzz.
I couldn't really give this a score. If you hate the films, skip it, obviously, but if you like them, you'll probably have some fun.
Also, if you're among those who hate Bam, some really bad things happen to him in it, such as them causing REALLY nasty damage to his Lambo. You might enjoy that, too. I personally don't hate Bam, but I can obviously understand those who do.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Feb 21, 2008 17:00:47 GMT -5
RAMBO
God I missed the action movie. Loud explosions, thousands of gunshots, all while the hero stands tall atop a mountain wearing a cape made out of the American Flag that is splattered with the blood of whatever group of foreigners are causing trouble. Blood, guts, heads exploding, intestines falling out, arms getting cut off, legs ripped off... These are the movies I grew up with and the 80s was chock full of them. Yes, there was a message behind all the mayhem... That America was f***ing awesome!
Fast forward a decade or two and the classic Action movie is no more. Replaced by a bunch of whiny men in Hollywood, there's no place for a brainless movie about killing and destruction anymore. Even worse, when they finally release something that looks like a good action movie, there's always some overly explained message that just mucks up the whole machine.
Rambo doesn't f*** around.
There's very little story, very little exposition, and next to no lines for Rambo. He's there, he's angry, and he's got a badass Bow & Arrow set. Explosions here, arrow through the head there, it's all represented with equal gusto in the Rambo universe. Even the mercenaries, who I expected were to be fodder for the enemy, entertained and destroyed... But Rambo's the star of the show and he'll be sure to remind you of that several times. I'm not going to go on about acting or screenplay or the directing... I just know that America is f***ing awesome!!!
***1/2 out of *****
For Comparison: Rocky Balboa - **** out of *****
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Indigocrates
Unicron
I got bored. Decided to become a philosopher. Just 'cause.
Posts: 2,953
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Post by Indigocrates on Feb 21, 2008 17:11:43 GMT -5
Hot Fuzz
Awesome as everyone says it is.
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Post by MNM's Official "Fixer" on Feb 21, 2008 17:57:15 GMT -5
I Know Who Killed Me
Just wow. Where do I start with this one? Probably one of the most unintentionally funny movies I've seen this year. Lindsay Lohan is plain out horrible in this film. The director must have had an obsession with the color blue, because a lot of things in this movie are blue. Blue roses, the school's colors are blue, and even the killer's gloves and tools are blue. Stained glass windows which are.....you guessed it, blue.
I assume this was supposed to be a thriller. But I ended up laughing throughout most of the film. For example, LL is upstairs f***ing her bf for the first time. Her "mom" is downstairs listening to them moaning and groaning. So, she starts cleaning the sink. And as the moans get louder, she starts to scrub harder and harder. Why not just go outside or something???
I'd only recommend this if your a fan of Lindsay, or just have some time to kill.
Overall, ** out of *****
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Post by thesam07 on Feb 22, 2008 3:31:06 GMT -5
2 Robots drive through the desert to arrive at a town in Inyo County, California visiting an avant-garde facility in their quest to become human. Art movie, sad ending. *** stars
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
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Post by Mozenrath on Feb 22, 2008 3:45:40 GMT -5
2 Robots drive through the desert to arrive at a town in Inyo County, California visiting an avant-garde facility in their quest to become human. Art movie, sad ending. *** stars So, Daft Punk was playing at your house, at your house?
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Post by thesam07 on Feb 22, 2008 4:29:30 GMT -5
2 Robots drive through the desert to arrive at a town in Inyo County, California visiting an avant-garde facility in their quest to become human. Art movie, sad ending. *** stars So, Daft Punk was playing at your house, at your house? Lol, I wish.
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Post by G✇JI☈A on Feb 22, 2008 5:11:52 GMT -5
DUMBO (1941)Saw this film for the first time since I was a child and forgot how sad this film is. I mean really sad there is Dumbo being teased for being different, being separated from his mother and forced to be clown and he only has one friend in the world other then his mother. Poor little guy Anyway the film while short (64 minutes) was touching and pretty good. I felt guilty for laughing at the Crows though. Now I must say what was the staff at Disney on when they came up the 'Pink Elephants On Parade' scene? I mean this film was not made in the drug heavy decades of the 60s and 70s. I mean that scene is some trippy shit. I''m guessing Opium had something to do with it. And who thought that Elephants could be utter c***s. I will give the film a 3 out of 5.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2008 11:35:10 GMT -5
Sunshine (2007): The film, set in 2057, follows the crew of a spacecraft equipped with a payload to re-ignite our dying Sun, which threatens Earth. The crew is made up of an ensemble cast including Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong and Michelle Yeoh. My thoughts: I watched this last night and it was easily one of the best films I've seen in a while and woefully underrated in terms of release and reception. I can see this becoming another cult classic should it ever be seen by enough fanboy eyes. It was one of the few movies that actually had me in that whole "edge of your seat" mind set where I was legitamately interesting in the psychology of the characters and the twists in the plot. I'm not one to really be "gripped" by a film, but this one really pulled me in. Sunshine also was really good about tastefully using its special effects so that it didn't become the focal point of the movie or distract your from the form & style of the film. The acting all around was great, most notably was Chris Evans (Fantastic 4's Johnny Storm) as one of the pilots. I have never really been impressed with any of his movies until now. Between this and Street Kings coming out soon - it looks like this guy might be an actor after all. I can't recommend this film enough and it lends credence to my longstanding theory that best films don't a widespread theatrical release.
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bigHEADinc
El Dandy
Wanted Conway Twitty as a special title.
lest we forget...
Posts: 7,711
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Post by bigHEADinc on Feb 22, 2008 11:51:31 GMT -5
Congratulations, you just convinced me to watch this movie...
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