What was the last movie you saw?

[J-Sun]

Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.

-- Laurie Anderson


Saw Aeon Flux (2005), the talky live action version of some dialog-less MTV cartoons. (Yeah, I'm slow.) By almost any standard, this was awful. Taken seriously as a film about real people doing real things it certainly was. But as pretty colors flying through the air to impinge on my retinas, it actually had some cool aspects. They just ruined it by trying to explain what they were doing with lots of dialog and lifting concepts from every other SF/F movie they could and plopping them down in a tired, yet mostly nonsensical, fashion.

I can see Charlize Theron's performance being savaged or appreciated. I myself have to wonder what was in (or on) her head trying to go around as a blonde, because she makes a fantastic brunette. I thought her flat, low delivery of her lines was good - if she has to talk, that's how. And I think she did a fantastic job with her physical movements. That can't have been easy to do - I mean just the walking and whatnot - not the special effects stuff.

So I dunno - I'm glad I saw it and would probably watch it again despite it not being good (left brain) because it was good (right brain).

[Interference]

I found the story extremely weak. I'm afraid it failed to engage me at all. I was a little annoyed that the actors were directed to perform as though they were cartoons. Surely the whole point of switching media like this is to add a dimension. Left and right brain are in accord over the possibility of ever seeing this one again by choice.

Also saw Johnny English - I know, I know, but I was curious. Perhaps the lingering memory of a pre-Bean comic actor called Rowan Atkinson seduced me, perhaps it was the Aston Martin, but there really was very little else of merit that I could see in this tired, formulaic spy-spoof.

[thatollie]

Originally Posted by Interference

Also saw Johnny English - I know, I know, but I was curious. Perhaps the lingering memory of a pre-Bean comic actor called Rowan Atkinson seduced me, perhaps it was the Aston Martin, but there really was very little else of merit that I could see in this tired, formulaic spy-spoof.

If you ever feel the need to watch a spy spoof again, take my advice and watch Spy Hard (again?).

[Interference]

Leslie Nielsen? Might be worth looking into, at that Thank you.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

X The Unknown (1956)

A radioactive, flesh melting creature emerges from the depths to rampage through the Scottish countryside. A fairly decent horror/SciFi offering from Hammer and (I think) best described as a Quatermass movie without Quatermass.

I actually found this one to be scary when I first saw it as a kid. Pretty pedestrian by today's standards, but well done anyway. Dean Jagger lends an air of credibilty as the lead actor. I have an old VHS copy. I guess it's out on DVD now.

[Adasunshine]

Was sucked in by Stuck On You last night... I love that film, forget how good it is!

Was also put through the mill by my son and was made to watch both King Ralph and Johnny English, not sure which was worse really although I laughed a bit at both. Didn't realise Jackie Tyler was King Ralph's love interest, wonder what the Doctor would make of that?

Was also pulled in by My Sister's Keeper, caught it about mid way through and found it pretty harrowing, non-stop tears so turned it over but seems like it was well put together and acted, might watch it when I'm less emotional

xx

[slack]

se7en.

Seen it many times before, and it never fails to be entertaining. The atmosphere is palpable, unrelenting. There are so many great shots that just leave me stunned, like during the chase scene when Mills dangles out the fire escape and it's shot from above, the water dripping in, and later on in the alley when he gets smacked and you see John Doe's shadow approach in the reflection of pooling water, and the shot of the gun against Mill's head, and the extreme narrow depth of field. Truly inspired filmmaking.

It's also interesting to watch the character of Mills develop through the film. In order for the ending to be credible, we have to believe that this is a man who is capable of doing something impulsive, rash, and every one of his scenes is devoted to that end.

[Interference]

Originally Posted by Adasunshine

....I laughed a bit at both....

Happily, I've been spared King Ralph so far, but I suspect the laughs in Johnnie English happened around the time Peter Howitt (I never watched Bread again after he left the cast) blinked and Atkinson was accidentally allowed to utilise his talent.

Looked at Spy Hard and realised I'd seen it before. Found the sight-gags were several dozen times better than the verbals, overall much better than J.E., though.

I wonder what might happen if someone had the courage to make a "silent movie" these days.

[HoopyFrood]

"What's in the box? What's in the box?!"

I'm about to watch Role Models. I bought it as a present for the house, 'cos we all rather like it.

[thatollie]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

"What's in the box? What's in the box?!"

I'm about to watch Role Models. I bought it as a present for the house, 'cos we all rather like it.

Great film, and I think the gag reel in the extra features is a classic of extra features history. God bless DVD.

[Allegra]

Moulin Rouge, I'm in love with the film from the beginning to the end. Everything is fabulous - acting, music (even though Ewan McGregor sang a bit spring chicken-ish, no matter, I'm a big fan of his), dance, filming... It was a real treat.

[Diggler]

The Thing

Seeing that I had high hopes of seeing the remake on Thursday, I felt like watching John Carpenter's version. This was the HD-DVD version, which looks mighty spiffy in 1080P. While the film has aged a bit, the FX still holds up pretty damn well with some extremely creepy looking monsters.

Unluckily, my chances of seeing the new Thing is not looking good. It seems they intend on only doing a limited release that won't be available in the particular cinema we want to view it. Have not been having much luck, I also missed out on Fright Night because of the same issue.

The Green Lantern

I really don't know what all the fuss was about. Maybe old age is kicking in with me, and my tolerance of films has grown. I quite liked this film. It was light, fluffy, silly and really quite an enjoyable ride.

A Boy and His Dog

Don Johnson as a teeny bopper, using his trusty telepathic K-9 friend to hunt down chicks in a post apocalyptic wasteland. Based on Harlan Ellison's classic novella of the same name. This is a great flick that I unluckily fell asleep through due to excessive consumption bourbon.

[Connavar]

Thor


I saw Green Lantern few days before and its a huge difference in how you adapt a comic,space hero to film version. GL film made GL story so boring, campy and not epic space cop story like the comics. Thor which i never liked in the comics was made to be awesome. Looked awesome, nice effects when he used his powers. An actor that fit the role so well. Script, storywise i bought into the world of Thor instantly.

I hope to see more Thor films. His awesome powers must be used much more in Avengers film and next Thor film.

[slack]

Social Network.

Pretty good. It just seemed like the film moved too fast. Few, if any, scenes left an impression. The Zuckerberg character (Eisenberg) came across so robotic and unsympathetic. That may just have been how the script was written, though.

I thought Timberlake stole the scenes he was in. The score was pretty good, especially the opening credits piece. Glad to see Reznor got a nod for his work. Some of the music came from his earlier Ghosts material.

[biodroid]

Priest - Good movie even though it had low ratings. Lets just say it was fun, nothing new, but entertaining at least.