District 9
10/10 - brilliant, brilliant movie.
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District 9
10/10 - brilliant, brilliant movie.
Gran Torino - 9/10
Gripping storyline and great performance by Clint Eastwood.
Precious.
I'd give it nine-and-one-quarter impoverished teenagers out of ten.
The story itself isn't really that remarkable, in many ways it could have just been seeing how much crap this poor girl can take. Fortunately, they managed to inject a fair amount of humor ("My favorite color is fluorescent beige.") into the movie and made the title character not just something to pity, but to eventually learn to respect as she begins to figure out she shouldn't have to put up with it anymore and takes charge.
Also, the performances were great. Mo'nique bordered on almost too vicious, but managed to bring it together and managed to be much more complex. Definitely deserved the Oscar. Frankly, I'm really surprised Gabourey Sidibe didn't get anything because she was great, especially for someone with little to no acting experience. Hey, even Mariah Carey was good.
It wasn't a "movie" but the Trail Blazer/Warriors game on TNT last night had some great drama. Amazing come-from-behind win by the Blazers. They almost fell victim to the Warriors' crazy offense. But they pulled it together and got the job done. 10/10
Twilight - 4/10. It came on cable and I watched. I'm giving it a very generous 4/10. I understand that there are a lot of Twilight fans and I know there are a lot of Edward Cullen fans (that's his name, right?). But this movie was lame. It was 122 minutes of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart having pained looks on their faces. I'm not the first person to make that observation - I understand Saturday Night Live did a skit about this and I missed it and I do regret that. The only thing I did like was the cinematography - but I am a big fan of that style I guess so that's nothing. I'm sure the books must be better than the movies. I sure hope they are. There were lots of pretty-faced actors as well.
Shutter Island 9/10. Very good, very atmospheric.
A lot, a lot, a lot. This is what I remember:
Mutual Appreciation: :thumbs_up (I really appreciated this film, pun not intended.)
Hot Rod: :thumbs_up (I've seen it three times in the last month)
Damnation: :thumbs_up (In Tarr I trust.)
Mister Lonely: :thumbs_up (I should've had more faith in Korine. I avoided this one, but the moments captured remind me why Harmony Korine is one of my favorite directors.)
The Room: :ack2: (The all-intentioned drama, that's enjoyed as a comedy, is one of the creepiest films I've ever did see.)
Venom and Eternity: :thumbs_up (I couldn't begin to express my admiration for this film <--- I guess that's a start.)
The Ghost Writer - 10/10 - Roman Polanski is continuously proving to the world what a brilliant director he is. I know i'm speaking early, but I can't think of many valid reasons why he shouldn't win Best Director at next year's Oscars for this. Surrealism at its best, he borrows a lot from Hitchcock on this one.
That said - he still deserves to go to jail for the rest of his life. Being a complete artistic genius does not excuse one from crimes. It's kind of a shame, though, because his punishment will ultimately be more of a punishment for the world who will not get to enjoy such brilliant films any longer.
Cadillac Records 9/10
This movie is about Chess Records and the musicians, such as Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry and Etta James, who made music there in the 40's and 50's. The film centers around producer Leonard Chess, who is the owner of Chess Records, and Muddy Waters who was the first musician to sign on with Chess. In the opening credits, I noticed two phrases: "Based On a True Story" and "Executive Producer: Beyonce Knowles." So, I gather that there may have been more to the story than what is given in this particular film, and that's okay for somoene like me who wasn't even around when the Rolling Stones started making music.
According to the movie, Muddy Waters (played by Jeffrey Wright) was working on a plantation when two men pulled up in a car and wanted to make a recording of folk music for the Library of Congress. So he got out his guitar and sang and when they played the recording back for him, he heard his singing and playing the way someone else would have for the first time, and made the decision to leave the plantation and go elsewhere to make music. To be frank, I was more impressed with the music that was played in the early part of the film. Maybe it's the music itself or maybe it's some combination of Jeffrey Wright's performance and the music, but whatever it is, I am now on an internet mission trying to find CD's of that style of blues music.
In the middle of the movie, Beyonce Knowles comes in as Etta James, and at that point, the movie seemed to be about Beyonce performing Etta James' music. The film stopped three times so that we could watch Beyonce Knowles sing an Etta James song wearing an Etta James wig. I like Beyonce, when she is being Beyonce. Her teary Etta James performances did nothing for me personally but then I realized that this is the year 2008 and Beyonce Knowles' appearance might be the bridge from the past to the present for some viewers who wouldn't be compelled to watch this movie otherwise.
Knocked Up - It was a warm piece of poo.. The only reason I didn't turn it off was because I was at someone else's house and they like the movie. It seemed like every actor was a caricature. 4.5/10
Oh no, really? I liked it but I was all about Seth Rogen for a while so that might have something to do with it. I guess I like raunchy humor maybe. One of my favorite characters was Jodi - my college roomnmate was like that freshman year. She sounded exactly like her...when she said "Are you hungry?"Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
Sweeney Todd. I liked it, the songs were great and the music all together was really good... there was something missing from the plot I think, it needed something epic or, I don't know. Helena Bonham Carter was great and Johnny depp too like usual, and the young boy was so good... dark and disgusting, very Burtonian.... 7/10
Casino by Martin Scorsese
Superbly acted film with excellent shots. Robert de Niro performed well, as did Joe Pesci but Sharon Stone takes the cake. This almost 4-hour crime-drama is worth sitting through as it takes you to the interesting, violent, yet sometimes overwhelming world of a Las Vegas casino run by a mafia.
The soundtrack of the film, with tracks from Rolling Stones, Devo, the Animals..etc is also ace. :thumbs_up
8/10
Iron Man...now maybe a dozen times viewed
9/10 (hoping that the next one could be better)
Downy presents great wit as usual. The movie inspires my creative and inventive side. Plus it has good music...
The Secret of Kells.
Last night I watched this rather surprise nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year's Oscars. It's a real shame it didn't win, because it is very obviously a work of great love and care.
It's an odd fairy tale set in the 9th Century, and it focuses on the creation of the famous Book of Kells, one of the great masterpieces of Insular art. Brendan, the main character, is a young monk at Kells, and the nephew of the Abbot. His uncle has become obsessed with fortifying the monastry against the ravages of the Viking northmen, and has everybody building walls around the place, while the master illuminator Aidan of Iona tries to promote the continued importance of the monastry's intellectual work. Brendan is caught between loyalty to his uncle, and an immense sense of wonder over the unfinished Book of Iona.
I won't spoil the story - it is simple but captivating. The art style is incredible, carrying the viewer in a dream-like fantasy from start to finish, and focuses with joy and affection on the beauty of the Insular art style.
This is an excellent film - I cannot recommend it enough!
The Men Who Stare at Goats... 7/10
It was better than Avatar.
Up. Visually spectacular. It is no "Not Another Teen Movie," however.
I have the DVD of this film for months now but haven't had the chance to watch it yet. Your rating (7/10) is enticing though.Quote:
Originally Posted by JuniperWoolf
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
7/10
I think I fell in love more with George Peppard and his character- the sensitive and bookish writer Paul Varjack than I was with Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn). But that may stem from the fact that I could identify with Holly's philosophy with not wanting to "belong to anyone" & “I’m like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don’t even belong to each other.” Paul refutes this argument, making me feel more pathetic than I already was by saying:
You know what’s wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You’re chicken, you’ve got no guts. You’re afraid to stick out your chin and say, “Okay, life’s a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance anybody’s got for real happiness.” You call yourself a free spirit, a “wild thing,” and you’re terrified somebody’s gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you’re already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it’s not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It’s wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.
Further reading of the wiki of this film told me of the controversy surrounding the character of Holly's Japanese neighbor Mr Yunioshi (Mickey Rooney), who portrays a stereotypical, loud, buck-toothed Asian. The Asian community back in the days were apparently offended and the director Blake Edwards was quoted saying "Looking back, I wish I had never done it...and I would give anything to be able to recast it, but it's there, and onward and upward." I was honestly surprised, reading about it. Mr. Yunioshi's antics in the film to me, were a bit theatrical but non-offensive.
Overall, I thought the film was slightly overrated. Just, slightly. Audrey Hepburn was charming as always, and the art direction was great and so was the Cat, I loved the Cat; that no-name slob. But something tells me the book by Truman Capote will be much better.
It Happened One Night - Oh what a joy it is to watch a film like this. One may argue that it is a fantasy and that it invented all of the cliches that we know in romantic-comedies today, I don't care. This film is so perfect, so perfectly written, so perfectly acted, so perfectly funny, that it becomes a fantastic hymn to love and life.
Sometimes I feel humilated as a critic, because sometimes some movies are so great that they're indescribable. This is Capra's best film, and undoubtably one of the greatest romantic-comedies ever made (in my opinion, the best) with one of the greatest scripts. Please see this with a loved one! 10/10
Defiance - 10/10
I do not give out perfect ratings often. I won't go on about it, but I strongly reccomend it.
One of my favorites.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielBenoit
Zombieland - How can a Zombie movie go wrong?? 8/10.
The Reader. I have ambiguous feelings about it. It was quite interesting as a storyline and I liked the psychological impact, but it was much more slow than it should have been and many of its conclusions were a bit rash or unjustified. Good movie, however. I would give it a 7/10.
Misery. 9.2/10. One of the few movies I've watched where I've been cringing and horrified nearly the entire time.
last night we finished a three weekend 'marathon' of sort watching all Star wars movies. I really do love'em. and I'm trying to teach my boy all about these movies, my favourite is Return of the jedi but they are of course all very entertaining....
when my son is a little bit older it will be a Star trek marathon
but all SW get 8-9 out of 10
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 10/10
I think I may have taken the "Princess for a weekend" theme too seriously. :lol:
I watched this tonight with my sisters and we were all charmed and nostalgic by the end of the film. So much memories. You can never go wrong with a Disney classic.
How indeed?? I watched this one last night. Great!Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
Kate & Leopold-8/10
I saw it because my friend said so..but i really liked it..and leopold was such a funny duke!!! I loved it!
Paranormal Activity 7/10
Parts of it were laughable I must say, but the ending managed to creep me out a little.
It's very well made considering it's done on a home video camera. The fact it all took place at night, mostly when they were asleep added to the fear.
:D
SawVI 6/10
Yes, I realise they've gradually become worse after the first two but:
i. I have a profoundly sick sense of humour
ii. I have a compulsion to watch them all
The opening scene was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen.
Zombieland- a rare 10/10
Love this movie; glad my library owns a copy. I have seen it many times now. I love Capri movies. He was a genius.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielBenoit
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Set in 1950's suburban America, the film tells a story about a young, married couple (played by Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio) who decide to take a risk and leave a comfortable, settled, though routinely life in Connecticut to discover their passions and true selves in Paris.
However, problems arise when April (Winslet) learns that she is pregnant and Frank's (Di Caprio) sudden promotion in the firm forces them to reconsider their migration. This displeases April immensely, and at the height of her emotional breakdown, she attempts to abort the baby herself. An enraged Frank questions his wife's sanity at the same time confesses his own infidelities.
Kate Winslet & Leonardo Di Caprio give such outstanding performances in Revolutionary Road. Definitely one of the best / most emotional films I've seen in a long while. 10/10
Across the Universe is Julie Taymor's Beatles Music psychedelic masterpiece! My 19-yr-old turned me onto this movie. It has a cult following in his age group, but the people the movie is about- the children of the 60's- barely seem aware of it's existence. More's the pity!
The Godfather - Most overrated movie ever made. Most boring piece of crap I've ever seen. Marlon Brando is laughable. 0/10
Quote:
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Set in 1950's suburban America, the film tells a story about a young, married couple (played by Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio) who decide to take a risk and leave a comfortable, settled, though routinely life in Connecticut to discover their passions and true selves in Paris.
However, problems arise when April (Winslet) learns that she is pregnant and Frank's (Di Caprio) sudden promotion in the firm forces them to reconsider their migration. This displeases April immensely, and at the height of her emotional breakdown, she attempts to abort the baby herself. An enraged Frank questions his wife's sanity at the same time confesses his own infidelities.
Kate Winslet & Leonardo Di Caprio give such outstanding performances in Revolutionary Road. Definitely one of the best / most emotional films I've seen in a long while. 10/10
I also watched revolutionary road very recently and found the acting incredible. It must have been very difficult, particularly the scenes of intense animosity and frustration when they shout at each other. Great film. Would definitely recommend it
Band of Brothers ~ HBO miniseries. I loved it!
This review is from my review on Amazon:
Stunning production presented with great respect for humanity.
Band of Brothers (DVD) This is one of the best miniseries I have ever seen and experienced...you don't just see this film you take it in and experience each moment as it happens. I think it is now my alltime favorite war film. I can't see one thing I would have changed about this fine film. The performances were totally engrossing and the intense and varied action was so engaging; also suspenseful. One truly felt the chaois present in a battle and the subsequent 'thoughtful' moments were just stunning...they stopped me dead in my tracks; I still think and ponder on those profound/poignant moments in the film. Attention to detail was wonderful. Some key moments I don't want to reveal here, because I think this would spoil the film for others.
I borrowed this fine set from a friend and so far, within a two month period, I have watched the entire production (including extras) three times. I could easily watch it again many times over. Everytime I watched it, I felt more involved and more understanding and appreciative of the individual men who fought, against all odds, for our freedom in WWII. I was totally engaged with the characters and got to know them even better after my third veiwing. I am eternally grateful to all of these brave men, ones that lived to tell the story and ones who died in battle. Survivors suffered much and they had great fortitude. I would like to thank them all personally...everyone one of them were heros! Richard Winters, in real life, was much too modest, (in the documentary) when he said he was not a hero, to his grandson, but rather he served with a company of heros. He was exempletory in his leadership skills; he cared about his men and he no doubt, saved countless lives by his wise judgement. Damien Lewis did a fine job playing Dick Winters. The entire cast was well chosen and very believable as the characters they portrayed; all performances were extraordinary. I can't say enough about this film. It is well worth owning. The set is beautiful and very well done; worth the investment. Beautiful score as well. I heard the lyrics to the main theme recently on YT and they are amazing....very uplifting. I am considering buying the score. It fit the movie well. The way the film was presented looked very authentic and the cinamatography was well done. 10/10 for sure!
couples retreat, crap, hardly even funny
Navy Blue and Gold (1937): Best movie about the Naval Academy, ever, including both genuine good elements and unintentional humor. Fisticuffs! Football! Friendship! It also has Jimmy Stewart, an automatic bonus. The plot's a little cliche, but honestly it's just a great fun little movie and somehow manages to be more accurate to the Naval Academy (even that of 2010) than "Annapolis" (2006).
8.7/10
The last movie was Avatar, which was the first and last time I see this movie :P It was a very fantastic movie when you see this weird new world, but the plot wasn't my fav.
I've seen HP 6 for the fifth times now ^_^ enjoying it as always, not as much as the book though.
Overrated? How? The film is pretty perfect.Quote:
Originally Posted by toni
Revolutionary Road - 10/10 - I've written about this film many times, but I saw it again today. Amazing.
Leaves Of Grass - 9/10 - Good to see Edward Norton in a new movie. This film was great, but didn't really stick with me enough to be a 10/10.
Just saw the new Sherlock Holmes movies -- total crap. Insipid. Boring. 1/10