Schoolio's Movie Corner

[SoulDischarge]

Also, I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but I think Ed Wood is also wildly overrated. It's a gorgeous film to look at, and Martin Landau was fantastic. But the screenplay was as boring and cookie-cutter as could be.

I completely disagree. That movie is damned near perfect to me. I never get sick of it. Maybe the story is a bit conventional, but everyone involved instills so much life and humor and compassion into every minute of it, I never really care about the nuts and bolts of the filmmaking.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I'll agree with this, although I like Batman and Mars Attacks as fun genre trash a whole lot.

ah, you know what? i always forget about Mars Attacks! I really fucking love that movie

[schoolofruckus]

I completely disagree. That movie is damned near perfect to me. I never get sick of it. Maybe the story is a bit conventional, but everyone involved instills so much life and humor and compassion into every minute of it, I never really care about the nuts and bolts of the filmmaking.

I'd like to watch it again. I saw this one and Dead Man in the during the worst time period of my Johnny Depp hating, and found his performances in both to be bad enough that my impression of both movies were submarined. Even though I feel like I should love them both, and should probably give them both another chance. Dead Man has a better chance of improving with me, I think; I'm pretty sure I will still have the same problems with Ed Wood.

[RotationSlimWang]

Ed Wood was fucking brilliant you faggots. Go back and watch again.

"Yeah, but can he call Boris Karloff a cocksucker?"

Sleepy Hollow was distinctly mediocre. Sweeney Todd was less than.

[SoulDischarge]

Well, I actually liked Johnny Depp as an actor up until he started making movies for his kids, especially in movies like Ed Wood and Dead Man, so if you've always hated him, that might be a dealbreaker.

[SoulDischarge]

Randy agrees with me. I concede; I was wrong.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I absolutely hated Dead Man the one time I watched it. I've since grown to appreciate Jarmusch in general a great deal more, so perhaps I need to take a second look at it

I think that Ed Wood is pretty much perfect though. By far one of the best bio-pics ever made

[mountmccabe]

I like Tim Burton. His plots are always ridiculous but he makes movies that I find entertaining.

Though I will admit I have liked him a lot less this decade. My Burton fandom got me to see Planet of the Apes... and that caused me to skip the next several. I wanted to see Big Fish but have never gotten around to it. Same with Corpse Bride. Problem is, I keep thinking, oh, yeah, Planet of the Apes.


Also The Nightmare Before Christmas.

[MeowMixer]

JOE'S APARTMENT

[whynotsmile99]

JOE'S APARTMENT

finally we start talking about a good movie here

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[iv3rdawG]

oUV-bTqm5ss

[MeowMixer]

finally we start talking about a good movie here

yp5Uqqxcqa8

One of the cockroach voices is none other than.............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ..................................Tim Blake Nelson

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i have an ungodly love for Joe's Apartment

Part of it might be because it was the only time I was in a movie theater and the film actually melted against the projector in the middle of it and the theater thought the place was going to burn down, thus forcing me to actually go BACK to a theater to watch that horrible movie AGAIN...but since then i have seen it dozens of times and love it so much

[Sushov23]

Tim Burton hasn't made a good movie in 15 years.

MY GOD we agree on something.

[chairmenmeow47]

sweeney todd was pretty. the singing from carter & depp was HORRIBLE and some of the harmonies were completely missing. i don't know how many times depp blew sondheim to get his approval to do this project, but they were really lucky to get some real singers in the supporting roles (antony, joanna). definitely not a great movie, but it looked good.

big fish was alright, but i don't find myself sitting down to watch it again anytime soon. corpse bride was laughably horrible, it's like they were just singing about where they were walking on screen, the music was pure shit. and willy wonka was a travesty. they should have just built the set and charge people to play on it, that would have been more interesting.

i loved ed wood. *high five* patrick. it's just so silly.

i watched dead end yesterday and finally finished the english patient. it was hard to take the english patient seriously after watching the seinfeld where elaine keeps saying "JUST DIE ALREADY", i dunno, it was alright, but i obviously should have seen it when it came out. dead end was ok, i mainly watched because i had seen the play at the mark taper a few years ago. bogart was good, some of the kids were ok, but all that rough 30s kid talk sounds more funny than anything else these days.

[menikmati]

Big Fish is the only Tim Burton film worth seeing this decade...everything else is shit. Planet of the Apes was the worst of them all, you couldn't even pay me to sit down and watch that again. Heck, Jurassic Park 3 was better than it, and that's saying something.

[amyzzz]

I liked Big Fish OK and Sleepy Hollow A LOT, but other than that....*shrug*

[chairmenmeow47]

god, i forgot about planet of the apes. that was almost as bad as making marky mark a science teacher in the happening *shudder*

[wmgaretjax]

Ed Wood was fucking brilliant you faggots. Go back and watch again.

Yeah. What he said.

[SoulDischarge]

Plus, Ed Wood has maybe my favorite Bill Murray moment.

VdSFP9nu1R8

"Do you reject Satan and all his evils?"

"Sure."

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Planet of the Apes IS worth watching for Tim Roth's performance alone though. He is absolutely brilliant in it. it's a shame that such a creepy, amazingly eveil character be thrown away in that wasteland of a movie, but man was he fucking awesome

[chairmenmeow47]

speaking of tim roth, i watched about half of the legend of 1900 with my dad saturday and mr. roth was pretty cute in that; i just loved his piano duel with silent night & then finally playing so hot he lit a match on the piano wire :)

[PotVsKtl]

OK.

[wmgaretjax]

Speaking of Tim Roth, everyone here has seen The War Zone right?

[SoulDischarge]

Adding to my queue right now.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i also have not seen it but have the power to add to my queue

[C DUB YA]

I really like the rest of the photos, actually. I think it sounds like the kind of movie Tim Burton was born to make. Of course, I said the same thing about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I think that's one of the worst films of the decade.

I agree. I HATED Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, more than humanly possible at times.

I don't have hope for this Alice at all. (which might be a good thing) Tim Burton is already responsible for ruining two iconic stories (Willy Wonka, Planet of the Apes)

One could argue he ruined Batman as well. All though I "LIKE" that one. In my opinion there are only a handful of good Burton's out there.

Good
-------------
Ed Wood
Beetlejuice
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Edward Scissorhands

Ok
-------------
Sleepy Hollow
Sweeney Todd
Big Fish
Batman

Bad
-------------
Planet of the Apes
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Batman Returns
Mars Attacks
Corpse Bride

[C DUB YA]

Saw Transformers ROTF last night - don't bother, utter shit... Michael Bay is apparently back on form.

[schoolofruckus]

Plus, Ed Wood has maybe my favorite Bill Murray moment.

VdSFP9nu1R8

"Do you reject Satan and all his evils?"

"Sure."

That scene made me want to watch it again.

[real talk]

Gabe what did you think of Year One?

[bobert]

Speaking of Tim Roth, everyone here has seen The War Zone right?

That movie still haunts my dreams. Ray Winstone will never be the same.

[bobert]

Saw Transformers ROTF last night - don't bother, utter shit... Michael Bay is apparently back on form.

When did he ever stop cranking out manure? Say what you will about the man; he's a paradigm of consistency.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

When did he ever stop cranking out manure? Say what you will about the man; he's a paradigm of consistency.

being consistently AWESOME

I've got my tickets to see TF at the Dome this Sunday evening, so excited!

I am a huge Transformer nerd though (even went to BOTCON in Pasadena a few weeks ago), so it's pretty tough to disappoint me in these regards

[wmgaretjax]

That movie still haunts my dreams. Ray Winstone will never be the same.

Between that film and Nil By Mouth, I'm pretty much scared to death of him.

[schoolofruckus]

Gabe what did you think of Year One?

Valarie, I did not see it. And based on your review, Tessa's review, the reactions of the critical community and my general impressions of the movie based on promotional material, I don't anticipate that I will see it anytime soon.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Between that film and Nil By Mouth, I'm pretty much scared to death of him.

I just watched THE PROPOSITION last week, and while the film was not nearly as good as I wanted it to be, Winstone was fucking amazing in it!

[schoolofruckus]

being consistently AWESOME

I've got my tickets to see TF at the Dome this Sunday evening, so excited!

I am a huge Transformer nerd though (even went to BOTCON in Pasadena a few weeks ago), so it's pretty tough to disappoint me in these regards

Michael Bay's not consistent at all. Sometimes he makes a top-notch popcorn action movie (Bad Boys II, Transformers, The Rock), sometimes he makes films that are unrepentant horse shit. For me, his success is directly inverse to the level of pretense. If he's trying to make something "important" (Pearl Harbor), or if he's trying to stimulate intellectually (The Island), emotionally (most of Armageddon), or in any other way outside of sensory, the film's going to be unwatchable.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i am an unabashed Michael Bay fanboy. "Pearl Harbor" is the only one of his films that i can't stand.

I won't argue that his movies are good, but I find them totally awesome.

[sbessiso]

I remember kind of liking "The Island" but that movie benefited from having two awesome leads

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I remember kind of liking "The Island" but that movie benefited from having two awesome leads

and Steve Buscemi

[schoolofruckus]

i am an unabashed Michael Bay fanboy. "Pearl Harbor" is the only one of his films that i can't stand.

I won't argue that his movies are good, but I find them totally awesome.

I give him more props than many of the other big-name Hollywood action directors. If nothing else, he has an aesthetic all his own; in a weird way, he kind of fits the auteur theory, even if the films he's auteuring are widely considered repulsive. He'll never be my idea of "great" at anything...but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Transformers this weekend.

[sbessiso]

The new Transformers looks entertaining enough but the first one gave me a seizure at the end. It was just too much CGI for me

[humanoid]

Michael Bay has been responsible for a few decent, silly, yet entertaining flicks (Transformers, The Rock).....a few absolutely ridiculous jokes (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor)...and a few that I have never seen because I know I don't care (Bad Boys 1 & 2)...I'll probably see Transformers 2 with my daughter and little nephews, but am in no hurry

I don't remember a thing about the Island other than Scarlett Jo running around in a tight outfit



I just added Primer to the top of my Netflix queue, I remember hearing about it a few years ago and then totally forgot about it...very interested in seeing it

[bobert]

I couldn't even tell what the fuck was going on during half the action scenes in Transformers. All the robots looked the same - with the exception of the yellow one - so it was pretty hard to tell who was winning all the fights and I didn't care one way or the other anyways. That's the fundamental problem with all of Bay's movies where the fate of the world hangs in the balance: if you don't give a flying fuck about any of his characters, and in fact wish death upon them every time they open their mouths, is armageddon really such a bad thing?

[real talk]

I don't like Shia LeBouf either and Megan Fox is trashy looking. Or whatever their character's are called.

[menikmati]

I root for hardware malfunction every time a Michael Bay movie is on.

[humanoid]

I root for hardware malfunction every time a Michael Bay movie is on.

if by malfunction, you mean ridiculously over the top, multiple explosions, then yes, that would be absolutely appropriate

[C DUB YA]

i am an unabashed Michael Bay fanboy. "Pearl Harbor" is the only one of his films that i can't stand.

I won't argue that his movies are good, but I find them totally awesome.

Michael Bay hurts the film/movie world more than you will ever know - he is shit. Period.

[C DUB YA]

The new Transformers looks entertaining enough but the first one gave me a seizure at the end. It was just too much CGI for me

Seriously - consider this your warning - it is far worse than you can imagine.

[schoolofruckus]

Ebert's review (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997)of Transformers 2 is one of the most damning pieces I've ever read from him. First of all, I think it's the first negative review he's written in 10 years. Secondly, he liked the first one. I'm hoping this doesn't bode poorly for my enjoyment of it...

[wmgaretjax]

or you could stay at home and jerk off someone you know instead.

[schoolofruckus]

So.....what are you doing Friday night?

[RotationSlimWang]

Ebert's review (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997)of Transformers 2 is one of the most damning pieces I've ever read from him. First of all, I think it's the first negative review he's written in 10 years. Secondly, he liked the first one. I'm hoping this doesn't bode poorly for my enjoyment of it...

... how exactly did you plan to possibly enjoy it?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Zing!

[schoolofruckus]

... how exactly did you plan to possibly enjoy it?

By sitting in front of an IMAX screen on Friday night. Seems like a reasonable idea.

[JewFace]

I saw Gran Turino the other night. [SPOILER AHEAD]

Loved it! I was not expecting it to be so funny. Uproarious at times. I certainly learned some new.... terms of endearment to use on my Asian American friends. No one is going to accuse Eastwood of being a great actor, but he gave one of his finest performances here and you can feel the ghost of Dirty Harry and all those characters from the past when you watch his performance. In his old age, Eastwood has become the great humanist director. He has such a deft touch. He manages to make earnestness and sentimentality incredibly appealing. (Well, except for the cheeseball shot of the kid and dog driving the Gran Turino at the end.)

My friend Kevin said he thinks it's interesting that Eastwood is making all of these ironically violent films in his later years as a way to atone for his earlier violent pictures. I don't think Eastwood's atoning for anything. Somehow I doubt that man has too many regrets. I hope he lives to 120 and keeps popping 'em out.

[RotationSlimWang]

By sitting in front of an IMAX screen on Friday night. Seems like a reasonable idea.

Lightshow monkey.

[wmgaretjax]

He has such a daft touch.

Totally.

[SoulDischarge]

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/12/12/128736147146181999.jpg

[schoolofruckus]

Lightshow monkey.

I have a hard time saying no to fighting robots.

[RotationSlimWang]

You should be banned from ever possessing film equipment again.

[sbessiso]

"Up" was funny, heartfelt, cute, sad, and beautiful. But I guess you guys already knew that.

Sidenote, it was $40 for me, my sister and my mother. Jesus christ I forget sometimes why I dont go to the movies anymore

[PotVsKtl]

"Up" was funny, heartfelt, cute, sad, and beautiful.

You just reviewed a movie with Care Bears.

[real talk]

Did anybody see the Hangover?

[Still-ill]

Did anybody see the Hangover?

Yeah it's brilliant, I haven't enjoyed a movie that much in a long time.

[real talk]

Put it in a list of your favorite comedies of the last few years. This way I will know if I can trust your opinion.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i also thought "the Hangover" was amazing

[schoolofruckus]

I thought The Hangover was hilarious, but not as much as these other two.

[schoolofruckus]

You should be banned from ever possessing film equipment again.

I can't think of a movie you've genuinely expressed enjoyment for in the past few years. I would rather have me with a camera enjoying the occasional Michael Bay movie than you making a movie when you don't even seem to like movies.

[humanoid]

The Passion of the Christ
Affliction
The Pianist
The Hangover
Requiem for a Dream

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

The Passion of the Christ
Affliction
The Pianist
The Hangover
Requiem for a Dream

i am not even sure what to think of such a list, but I am extremely happy to see "Affliction" get some love. What a great fucking movie!

[SoulDischarge]

I watched Auto Focus last night and enjoyed it immensely, although it made me want to take a five year shower. It's worth watching just to hear Willem Dafoe justify slipping a finger up Greg Kinnear's ass by screaming "It was a group grope!"

[PotVsKtl]

Timecrimes is an endlessly predictable and derivative piece of shit. A pox on reviewers hyping it up.

[bobert]

The Passion of the Christ
Affliction
The Pianist
The Hangover
Requiem for a Dream

The Passion of the Christ certainly was hilarious. I never knew Jesus invented invented the four-legged table until I saw that film.

[chairmenmeow47]

The Passion of the Christ certainly was hilarious. I never knew Jesus invented invented the four-legged table until I saw that film.

ha ha ha ha ha ha, i know, right?

[bobert]

Juice by Jesus, juice by Jesus. Whoooooaaaa.... Jesus!!!!

[C DUB YA]

I wanna see DEAD SNOW!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/deadsnow/

I also wanna see District 9.

K-MsEm2zODk
wJqKwR4A1Es

[C DUB YA]

I put Hangover right above Old School in recent comedies.

Anchorman
Borat
40 Year Old Virgin
Hangover
Old School
Wedding Crashers

[AlecEiffel]

No one is going to accuse Eastwood of being a great actor

Why not, exactly?

[wmgaretjax]

"Amid concerns over a Holocaust-movie shortage and the usual speculation that this year's overall field of awards contenders could be weak, the Academy has made the astonishing decision to increase this year's number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten, meaning pretty much anything half-acclaimed and released by a studio with the money for a campaign has a pretty decent shot."

[bobert]

Yeah, I saw that. Hopefully this means they'll also be giving out prizes for second and third place as well. True, a bronze oscar wouldn't look as good on the mantle, but wouldn't it be nice to know you atleast cracked the top 5?

[wmgaretjax]

ugh...

[schoolofruckus]

Jared, why are you talking about the Oscars in a movie thread? Why don't you go start Garetjaxio's Advertising Corner if you want to talk about the Oscars?




The only reason for this change is so they can get away with having a Best Picture nominee in which the primary characters wear capes and masks.

[RotationSlimWang]

I can't think of a movie you've genuinely expressed enjoyment for in the past few years. I would rather have me with a camera enjoying the occasional Michael Bay movie than you making a movie when you don't even seem to like movies.

People who laugh frequently are almost certain to have no sense of humor. Apply the analogy appropriately and you have my answer. It's not my fault there's only three good movies made a year at most.

[wmgaretjax]

The only reason for this change is so they can get away with having a Best Picture nominee in which the primary characters wear capes and masks.

Heh, I was talking to my brother. This is exactly what I said.

[schoolofruckus]

Heh, I was talking to my brother. This is exactly what I said.

They had to get this law written and get everybody used to it before Nolan's next Batman movie comes out. Unless it's a trainwreck, they're going to Return of the King that shit and give it 13 nominations to make up for "robbing" the first two.

[higgybaby23]

Some one tell me I'm not alone in thinking Batman Returns was utter shit. Oh, and so was the first Transformers movie.

[bobert]

Some one tell me I'm not alone in thinking Batman Returns was utter shit.

Not a Danny Devito fan are we? I think you're alone in your belief that this a movie that was made within the last 15 years.

[MissingPerson]

Watching [Rec.]

Good fucking stuff.

[M Sparks]

I thought The Hangover was hilarious, but not as much as these other two.

I thought it was slightly more hilarious than Schooly R did, but still quite a bit less than Drinky and Ill.

I'll post a chart later.

[M Sparks]

I don't remember a thing about the Island other than Scarlett Jo running around in a tight outfit

The Island was one of my favorite MST3K episodes...

R3wgLvC9qIk

[MissingPerson]

[Rec] was awesome right up until the very, very end. Then it was kinda lame for a bit.

Still though, great fun.

[SoulDischarge]

This week, on Biography . . .

[JewFace]

10 Best Picture Nominees? My goodness they are desperate to improve their ratings. Of course this means that more MOR pictures will be nominated. But I wonder if this also means that smaller, independent films have a better chance of getting in there too? I'm a theatre major. Someone help me out here with the math. Doesn't that mean that the best picture winner could be selected by as little as just over 10% of the academy?

[PotVsKtl]

[Rec] was awesome right up until the very, very end. Then it was kinda lame for a bit.

Still though, great fun.

That final creature didn't work for you? That shit traumatized me.

[wmgaretjax]

David Fincher + Aaron Sorkin is a win in my book... but... this?

http://www.moviefill.com/David-Fincher-to-Direct-Facebook-The-Movie-17188/

[MissingPerson]

That final creature didn't work for you? That shit traumatized me.

The final creature freaked the everliving fuck out of me, by God it did. But just the very, very, very last few seconds; Didn't really feel like it had much of an ending, it just sort of... ended. I know what they were doing, it was just kinda unsatisfying.

Last night it was hot, so I slept outside. Tonight, I shall fall asleep sitting up, indoors, gripping a sledgehammer. That thing is going to live behind my eyelids for the foreseeable future.

Funny though, when we were talking about it at home, we were all using distinctly Resident Evilly terms. Final boss, melee weapon, etc...

[Tylerdurden31]

i'm watching Shoot Em Up for some odd reason...not from the beginning...this has got to be one of the dumbest action flicks ever. fucking terrible

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

an explanation of why TF: ROTF is "one of the greatest achievements in the history of cinema, if not the greatest. You could easily argue that cinema, as an artform, has all been leading up to this."

http://io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie?skyline=true&s=i

[MissingPerson]

Trailer for The Box is up.

wFm-6N4QbBQ

Was surprised to discover I didn't cringe at any point, but I still don't have high hopes. And I feel mildly cheated by the absence of Win/ Régine/ Owen's music from the trailer itself. For now I'll have to settle for the mild nerd-out I get from seeing their names in the credits, I guess.

[wmgaretjax]

that looks fucking awful.

[MissingPerson]

Have you read the script?

It's even worse.

EDIT: And it's full of fucking owls for literally no reason at all.

[SoulDischarge]

I really hope it's as absurdly terrible as Southland Tales, as opposed to mediocre terrible.

[MissingPerson]

No.

There is absolutely no attempt at humour or satire at any point. It takes itself absolutely seriously in a way that I don't think can be even accidentally funny, and there's no Justin Timberlake at all. Not even post-Sexyback phase. :(

Plus, there's a whole bunch of Sartre-abuse. Which I'm not really cool with. At all.

[SoulDischarge]

Please don't crush my dreams of Richard Kelly becoming the next Paul Verhoeven.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i did not find any of Southland Tales accidentally funny, especially when it was attempting to be...had it been, i would have found it at least remotely entertaining

What WAS hilarfious though was the making of doc wherein Richard Kelly rambled on and on self-importantly about how sophisticated and biting the satire of the "film" was

This is coming form someone who LOVED Donnie Darko btw

[wmgaretjax]

Plus, there's a whole bunch of Sartre-abuse. Which I'm not really cool with. At all.

Blech.

[MissingPerson]

The only bit of Southland Tales I've seen is the bit with JT wandering through the arcade (see what he did there?) singing along to the Killers, which I did think was funny in a WTF? kinda way.

I have a hard time reconciling this Richard Kelly with the Donnie Darko guy, to be honest. And he is astonishingly deluded about his own awesomeness. I dunno about the next Paul Verhoeven, but I think he might have been the next Troy Duffy...

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

The only bit of Southland Tales I've seen is the bit with JT wandering through the arcade (see what he did there?) singing along to the Killers, which I did think was funny in a WTF? kinda way.


you would not ahve found it funny had you been sitting through Timberlake's horrible narration for the previous hour

[MissingPerson]

Blech.

It makes so little sense in the context of the script that I can't really imagine it making the cut. Basically, one of the characters sits down and reads No Exit. And that's in the script. All of No Exit, is in the script, as the character reads it.

Surreal.

[SoulDischarge]

Maybe he's trying to make a film that watching it replicates the experience of enduring existential hell.

[wmgaretjax]

that's kind of funny pathetic in a high school senior honors english class kind of way.

[MissingPerson]

that's kind of funny pathetic in a high school senior honors english class kind of way.

Exactly, and the really awesome bit is that, while he wants us to know that he knows what No Exit is, at the same time, he doesn't trust us to have read it ourselves. So he lays it out there, to help us keep up. Generous of him.

I eagerly look forward to finding out whether he's actually included it in it's entirety, as the script suggests, or whether he'll take fifteen minutes or so to show us James Marsden quietly reading it at a table in a library while all the other batshit lunacy happens around him.

And that's not even the most ridiculously incongruous element of it.

[wmgaretjax]

And that's not even the most ridiculously incongruous element of it.

This all sounds more terribly awesome than the trailer suggested.

[MissingPerson]

Owls, man. Owls.

For no reason.

[MissingPerson]

See for yesself:
http://drop.io/themovieguy/asset/thebox

To be fair, that's supposed to be a very old draft, and supposedly a lot's changed in the interim. But unless the ghost of Richard Matheson himself flew from the grave in righteous outrage, hellbent only on burning every copy of the thing to ash, I can't imagine a marked improvement since then.

Where exactly the dude with the box comes from, for instance, made me slap my forehead in disbelief, and I'm fairly sure everybody still lingering in the cinema by then will share the sentiment.

And the dialogue. Sweet hairy Jesus, the dialogue...

[C DUB YA]

an explanation of why TF: ROTF is "one of the greatest achievements in the history of cinema, if not the greatest. You could easily argue that cinema, as an artform, has all been leading up to this."

http://io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie?skyline=true&s=i

I can link 100's of smart, well written viewpoints that's a complete piece of shit - which it is.

[PotVsKtl]

When you reference Un Chien Andalou and Dr. Caligari at the same time you have to go on to explain yourself.

[PotVsKtl]

Oh wait, he did.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I can link 100's of smart, well written viewpoints that's a complete piece of shit - which it is.


well, the whole thing was meant as a joke, obviously

I haven't seen it yet, but I laughed my ass off reading that though

[SoulDischarge]

I can link 100's of smart, well written viewpoints that's a complete piece of shit - which it is.

A sense of humor can be surgically inserted for an astonishingly low price these days. Let me know and I'll refer you to a friend of mine. Does very clean work.

Anyway, I'm catching up on some Mike Leigh and watched Happy-Go-Lucky and Vera Drake. The only other Leigh film I've seen is Naked, which I adore, but these were both completely different experiences. Happy-Go-Lucky I'm not too sure how I feel about. The constant urge to strangle the central character is a huge hurdle to overcome in appreciating a movie, although I will admit she wasn't as consistently unbearable as I thought she would be after watching the first five minutes. Even thought she was extraordinarily obnoxious, the character was well developed, well acted, and never quite reached Natalie Portman/Garden State status, and I think the filmmakers were fully aware that she would come off as grating to 95% of the viewing public. Vera Drake, on the other hand, was completely devastating. There are scenes in it that are harder to watch than any torture porn movie (the scene with the ring in particular). The acting and the simplicity in the Leigh movies I have seen really put the more melodramatic high profile films that usually win Oscars and the like to utter shame. Any suggestions on which of his I should see next?

Edit: Reading Hoberman's review of Vera Drake, he mentions The Passion Of Joan Of Arc, which is the first thing I thought of during the second part of the movie. It borders on silent filmmaking for the most powerful scenes.

[roberto73]

Ebert's review (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997)of Transformers 2 is one of the most damning pieces I've ever read from him. First of all, I think it's the first negative review he's written in 10 years. Secondly, he liked the first one. I'm hoping this doesn't bode poorly for my enjoyment of it...

Ebert is so disgusted by Transformers that he wrote a sort of companion piece (http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html) to his review, predicting that this movie spells the end of big-budget, CGI-driven blockbusters.

The best bit is when he summarizes the movie's "story" this way: "A group of inconsequential human characters watch animation."

[wmgaretjax]

A sense of humor can be surgically inserted for an astonishingly low price these days. Let me know and I'll refer you to a friend of mine. Does very clean work.

Anyway, I'm catching up on some Mike Leigh and watched Happy-Go-Lucky and Vera Drake. The only other Leigh film I've seen is Naked, which I adore, but these were both completely different experiences. Happy-Go-Lucky I'm not too sure how I feel about. The constant urge to strangle the central character is a huge hurdle to overcome in appreciating a movie, although I will admit she was as consistently unbearable as I thought she would be after watching the first five minutes. Even thought she was extraordinarily obnoxious, the character was well developed, well acted, and never quite reached Natalie Portman/Garden State status, and I think the filmmakers were fully aware that she would come off as grating to 95% of the viewing public. Vera Drake, on the other hand, was completely devastating. There are scenes in it that are harder to watch than any torture porn movie (the scene with the ring in particular). The acting and the simplicity in the Leigh movies I have seen really put the more melodramatic high profile films that usually win Oscars and the like to utter shame. Any suggestions on which of his I should see next?

Edit: Reading Hoberman's review of Vera Drake, he mentions The Passion Of Joan Of Arc, which is the first thing I thought of during the second part of the movie. It borders on silent filmmaking for the most powerful scenes.

I'd never thought of the comparison to The Passion of Joan of Arc, but that's dead on.

I would watch Topsy Turvy next, to give yourself a bit of a breather before Secrets and Lies and All or Nothing. Also there is Abigail's Party which, if you can find it, is fucking unbelievably awesome. Both High Hopes and Life is Sweet are worth watching as well.

[M Sparks]

i'm watching Shoot Em Up for some odd reason...not from the beginning...this has got to be one of the dumbest action flicks ever. fucking terrible

Of COURSE it's one of the dumbest action flicks ever...that was the entire point. It's supposed to be on of the most ridiculous things ever made. I mean, weren't there TWO people killed by carrots? (And the carrots thing was clearly a Bugs Bunny homage.)

Not watching from the beginning might have been a slight problem. I've noticed when I watch it with other people, everyone seems to hit a "Oh, I get it now" moment somewhere in the first 5-10 minutes. That doesn't mean they all like it, just that they understand the intent. If you jump in at a point where they are trying to pretend that there is a plot, I can see where it might be annoying.

I would much rather see an intentionally stupid movie made by smart people than something made by a Michael Bay or Joel Schumacher who THINKS they are making something good. If that movie had been half of "Grindhouse 2", people would have known what to expect going in.

[AlecEiffel]

Owls, man. Owls.

For no reason.

He probably just saw Twin Peaks.

[AlecEiffel]

Of COURSE it's one of the dumbest action flicks ever...that was the entire point. It's supposed to be on of the most ridiculous things ever made. I mean, weren't there TWO people killed by carrots? (And the carrots thing was clearly a Bugs Bunny homage.)

Not watching from the beginning might have been a slight problem. I've noticed when I watch it with other people, everyone seems to hit a "Oh, I get it now" moment somewhere in the first 5-10 minutes. That doesn't mean they all like it, just that they understand the intent. If you jump in at a point where they are trying to pretend that there is a plot, I can see where it might be annoying.

I would much rather see an intentionally stupid movie made by smart people than something made by a Michael Bay or Joel Schumacher who THINKS they are making something good. If that movie had been half of "Grindhouse 2", people would have known what to expect going in.

The main problem with Shoot 'Em Up was that it was too self conscious. It had some awesome, over the top set pieces, but every ten seconds there was some awful ham fisted joke that was basically the movie saying "I am joking, really". If it had just played it straight it and respected the audience enough to know that we'd get it (and those who didn't get it would probably like it for the same reason they like the movies it is a parody of, anyway), it would have been a million times better. I think Punisher:War Zone is a better movie, in that regard.

[schoolofruckus]

10 Best Picture Nominees? My goodness they are desperate to improve their ratings. Of course this means that more MOR pictures will be nominated. But I wonder if this also means that smaller, independent films have a better chance of getting in there too? I'm a theatre major. Someone help me out here with the math. Doesn't that mean that the best picture winner could be selected by as little as just over 10% of the academy?

I think it will make upsets more possible. But I doubt this means that more independent/foreign films will be in the mix. I can't see it as anything but an excuse to put in more blockbusters/crowd-pleasers and maybe a couple of "prestige" films that would otherwise be on the bubble.

[M Sparks]

The main problem with Shoot 'Em Up was that it was too self conscious. It had some awesome, over the top set pieces, but every ten seconds there was some awful ham fisted joke that was basically the movie saying "I am joking, really". If it had just played it straight it and respected the audience enough to know that we'd get it (and those who didn't get it would probably like it for the same reason they like the movies it is a parody of, anyway), it would have been a million times better. I think Punisher:War Zone is a better movie, in that regard.

I don't agree with your conclusion, but yes, the "jokes" were the weakest part...weaker even than the plot. I laughed lout loud through the whole movie, but rarely at the "jokes".

I don't think I would have wanted it played totally straight though. You would have lost stuff like the umbilical cord bit. The jokes that bothered me were the "punch lines" at the end of every scene, where it was an actual punch line, or just an extra silly death scene. It's like every scene ends with a huge 'WINK'"

Anyway, it's clearly not for everyone. Unfortunately, the surface of it seems to drive away most of the people who would probably appreciate it the most.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Of COURSE it's one of the dumbest action flicks ever...that was the entire point. It's supposed to be on of the most ridiculous things ever made. I mean, weren't there TWO people killed by carrots? (And the carrots thing was clearly a Bugs Bunny homage.)

Not watching from the beginning might have been a slight problem. I've noticed when I watch it with other people, everyone seems to hit a "Oh, I get it now" moment somewhere in the first 5-10 minutes. That doesn't mean they all like it, just that they understand the intent. If you jump in at a point where they are trying to pretend that there is a plot, I can see where it might be annoying.

I would much rather see an intentionally stupid movie made by smart people than something made by a Michael Bay or Joel Schumacher who THINKS they are making something good. If that movie had been half of "Grindhouse 2", people would have known what to expect going in.


What leads you to believe that "Shoot'em Up was made by 'smart people'? Michael Davis is a shlock director who works with shitty scripts and has worked his way through romantic comedies, to horror and now to action flicks, and they're all terrible

It's one thing to make an over the top, ridiculous action flick, but it's c ompletely different to maked unwatchable garbage like "shoot'em Up"

The problem was it's not funny. Why should an R-rated exploitative action movie be filled to the brim with weird Bugs bunny references? Who the fuck cares or thinks thinks that's funny or relevant in any way?

the first CRANK did a much better job at that, or any of the dozens of '80 action flicks it was attempting to parody

EDIT: also, I say this as someone who was extremely excited for it. I get what you're trying to say about the movie and its intentions, but I think all of that fell extremely flat and ultimately wasn't the "fun ride" for me that i wanted it to be

[liquidsnake28]

Can somebody briefly explain Eraserhead to me? I liked the film, I just don't really get it.

[bobert]

Happy-Go-Lucky I'm not too sure how I feel about. The constant urge to strangle the central character is a huge hurdle to overcome in appreciating a movie, although I will admit she was as consistently unbearable as I thought she would be after watching the first five minutes. Even thought she was extraordinarily obnoxious, the character was well developed, well acted, and never quite reached Natalie Portman/Garden State status, and I think the filmmakers were fully aware that she would come off as grating to 95% of the viewing public.

I really liked Happy-Go-Lucky. Most people I know that have seen it found the main character extremely irritating, but I loved her - thought Sally Hawkins gave a tremendous performance. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the dialogue in the film - there's something about British conversation that I find very amusing - and Mike Leigh is a master at creating these very natural verbal exchanges between his actors. Nothing ever feels scripted. I've known people like Sally Hawkins character, Poppy, who are impossibly optimistic and good natured. Guess I've always admired that quality in people since my own demeanor leans more towards the cynical viewpoint. Overall I thought the film was nice change of pace for Mike Leigh, who I'd wager would also admit to being a cynic.

[roberto73]

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the dialogue in the film - there's something about British conversation that I find very amusing - and Mike Leigh is a master at creating these very natural verbal exchanges between his actors. Nothing ever feels scripted.

This might just be movie-making folklore, but I seem to remember reading that Leigh's scripts grow out of improvisations with the actors. That's what makes the dialogue feel so authentic – it started out as actual conversation. Can any other Mike Leigh fans verify this? Jared maybe?

[mountmccabe]

Anyway, I'm catching up on some Mike Leigh and watched Happy-Go-Lucky and Vera Drake. The only other Leigh film I've seen is Naked, which I adore, but these were both completely different experiences. Happy-Go-Lucky I'm not too sure how I feel about. The constant urge to strangle the central character is a huge hurdle to overcome in appreciating a movie, although I will admit she was as consistently unbearable as I thought she would be after watching the first five minutes. Even thought she was extraordinarily obnoxious, the character was well developed, well acted, and never quite reached Natalie Portman/Garden State status, and I think the filmmakers were fully aware that she would come off as grating to 95% of the viewing public.

Mike Leigh was at the screening where I saw it and afterwards he talked for about an hour. I don't know him well enough to know if he was playing or what but he seemed to be genuinely surprised and seriously disappointed that people found her to be grating.


Mike Leigh is a master at creating these very natural verbal exchanges between his actors. Nothing ever feels scripted.

He also talked about how he makes films, how he sat down with Sally and they created a character. And as they developed a story they said, oh, we need _______ as a counterpoint, and then they'd look for that person and bring them in and develop that character and develop the scenes.

Though, again, I have no idea how much of this was bullshit. Dude came off as quite the closeminded dick. I really liked Happy-Go-Lucky too but after the Q&A period with Leigh I went away having no desire to search out any more of his films.

[mountmccabe]

Hey, crosspost with Roberto

[humanoid]

Ebert is so disgusted by Transformers that he wrote a sort of companion piece (http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html) to his review, predicting that this movie spells the end of big-budget, CGI-driven blockbusters.

The best bit is when he summarizes the movie's "story" this way: "A group of inconsequential human characters watch animation."


let me first say that I agree with much of what Ebert says here. I have yet to see the sequel, yet I'm sure I eventually will, even if unintentionally. Much of the first one was chaotic and ridiculous, even if slightly entertaining at times. I didn't really like it, but I didn't hate it either, I just took it for what it was.

Secondly though, let's not forget that this is a film about gigantic talking robots that transform to and from various types of vehicles, waging a war on Earth after traveling here to find a massive cube that holds the key to conquering the universe. It it based up toys we played with as kids and cartoons from a similar era. What should someone realistically expect from this movie considering the source material?

I'm just curious why Roger Ebert would feel so offended by it. Yes, he is absolutely entitled to his opinion, and he may be completely right about most of it. But was the 67 year old film critic included in the intended target demographic? I understand that the continuing success of movies like this does encourage future production of similar films and that he may be worried about the integrity of the film industry as a whole. But, didn't we already know that many summer "blockbuster" type films are full of ridiculous action, inconsequential characters and inane dialogue? This is hardly a new phenomenon or a trait specific to the Transformers franchise.

I'm not defending this film or it's creators, as I'm completely aware that Michael Bay is responsible for several loads of utter garbage. I do wish that more people had the patience and intelligence for well crafted, brilliantly written, more subtly nuanced films that don't rely on CGI for the vast majority of the length of the film. But, I also know that people like watching stupid movies in the summertime, and I don't see that changing drastically.

[bobert]

This might just be movie-making folklore, but I seem to remember reading that Leigh's scripts grow out of improvisations with the actors. That's what makes the dialogue feel so authentic – it started out as actual conversation. Can any other Mike Leigh fans verify this? Jared maybe?

Yeah, that's how he does it. They start with his script, do weeks of rehearsals with the actors and the dialogue takes shape from there. The characters end up being a very collaborative creation between the actors and Leigh.

[SoulDischarge]

I meant to say she wasn't as obnoxious as I first made her out to be. I definitely don't think Poppy was a poor character, just not someone I would typically want to be around. The film gives a lot more depth to her character and the story than the first couple minutes would imply. So I respect what they did with the film, but it's just sometimes hard to enjoy due to her overbearing peppiness. And she's pretty much the antithesis of David Thewlis' character in Naked. And John, regardless of how much of a prick Leigh may have come off as in person, you should still check out Naked and Vera Drake.

[wmgaretjax]

Most of his films start with loose scripts that are mostly sequences of events from what I understand. Leigh's rehearsals are longer than his shooting times and he allows the actors to take complete ownership of the roles. So much so that, for example, in Secrets and Lies a fairly big twist wasn't told to an actor until the day of shooting.

[AlecEiffel]

What should someone realistically expect from this movie considering the source material?


I hate that argument. There is a good movie in any concept if it's in the right hands.

[humanoid]

I hate that argument. There is a good movie in any concept if it's in the right hands.

I agree with you, but I also think the sense of outrage is a little misplaced. I think ideally, we wish that people of Christopher Nolan's caliber could be involved with all summer blockbuster films, but realistically we know this isn't the case. This movie was made for it's target audience(which is clearly not 67 year movie critics) and I'm sure it will do quite well with those that it is intended for. No, it is not the artistically ambitious, intellectually viable film that it could possibly be, and that some of us wish, but I am not surprised. It is a Michael Bay film, it is based upon a set of toys and it is a summer blockbuster film intended to draw "the masses". I was simply curious as to why Ebert was so offended that his scathing review wasn't enough, but he felt so strongly about it that he followed it up with a companion piece.

[bobert]

Ebert's not the only one. I can't remember a film that has outraged the critical community to this degree. Peter Travers, whose opinion holds more weight with me than most critics, is calling it the worst movie of the decade. Perhaps the failing economy has something to do with the reaction. In these times, when money is tight, maybe the idea of cutting Michael Bay a $200 million check to pursue his artistic ambitions is a lot less palatable than it was in the past.

[schoolofruckus]

The only recurring complaint that scares me is this talk about the "twin" transformers that allegedly fall between Song of the South and Jar-Jar Binks on the "blatant stereotyping of African-Americans" scale. I've heard the movie referred to as a fighting robot minstrel show. That's going to be a little hard to swallow.

[humanoid]

I'm sure he's not the only one, and if I see it, it's likely that I may agree with much of it. I just find it a little interesting to hear respected critical voices telling us things that we already know. To me, it doesn't help to illustrate the sophistication of one's taste or knowledge of filmmaking to call out the height of cheeseball summer cinema as just that. Guess what? The latest Britney Spears album isn't very good either.

I agree with the notion that possibly, due to widespread economic issues, it may seem crass to pour ridiculous amounts of money into meaningless entertainment ventures. But, people have still been willing to spend money at the theaters to view mindless escapism, so the masses don't seem too offended by the idea. Paul Blart :Mall Cop made almost $150 million, Fast and Furious $ 150 million, so people are still spending money at movie theaters.

Again, I don't really care, I haven't seen the movie yet, just interested that somehow this movie stands out as atrocious amongst all the other movies of it's ilk.

[Young blood]

The only recurring complaint that scares me is this talk about the "twin" transformers that allegedly fall between Song of the South and Jar-Jar Binks on the "blatant stereotyping of African-Americans" scale. I've heard the movie referred to as a fighting robot minstrel show. That's going to be a little hard to swallow.

I wont see either movie but it sounds like they are sticking close to the cartoon with the "twin" transformers.

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt318/reallyrealrecords/Animated/STEREO_WALK.gif

[humanoid]

Forgetting about Transformers, I just received Primer from Netflix today and am highly anticipating watching it later tonight.

[indietron]

I saw Transformers and LOVED it. Ive been a fanatic for some time, as some of you may know. Heck, I even have optimus prime for my avatar.

However, I am completely baffled as to why this movie is receiving so much hate. As humanoid kinda said, what else were you expecting? It really isn't that much different from the first one. Its the same action-packed, over-the-top, ridiculous nonsense as the first one. Yet, for some reason, everybody is hating on this sequel.

The characters are still the same. Women were desensitized in both the first and second. The parents are still ridiculous. Shia and Fox are the same. The sector 7 dude is the same. Etc. Etc.

The humor is still bad. Enough said.

The robots are the same. They are still huge and awesome. They have the same sized heads (see Ebert article). They are still complex and "hard to tell apart" (Although I personally don't feel like its that difficult). They still tear each other apart with their fists(see Ebert article again).

The action is still extravagant. The explosions are huge. The robots still have epic battles. It still changes screens every other second.


Someone please explain this to me. The first and second were SO similar, yet this one is hated. Why? And please don't lecture me on why I shouldn't like the first one at all, or why Bay sucks. I already know how you all feel on that.

[wmgaretjax]

that desensitization of women is rough stuff.

[roberto73]

I'm sure he's not the only one, and if I see it, it's likely that I may agree with much of it. I just find it a little interesting to hear respected critical voices telling us things that we already know. To me, it doesn't help to illustrate the sophistication of one's taste or knowledge of filmmaking to call out the height of cheeseball summer cinema as just that. Guess what? The latest Britney Spears album isn't very good either.

The difference between the two movies (as far as I can tell from the reviews, and bearing in mind that I haven't seen it myself) seems to be one of degree. There's no denying that the first Transformers was big and dumb and loud and long, but the sequel is bigger and dumber and louder and longer, and with no attempt to do anything artful or meaningful. Ebert points out that robot movies and action movies can be done in a way that is smart and that leaves an impression on the audience that goes beyond, "Gee, that was loud" or "That stuff blowed up real good." Bay, on the other hand, seemed content to simply amplify everything that sucked (but which was just restrained enough) about the first movie. The problem isn't that the movie was made; it's the way it was the made. Or, as Ebert often says, "It's not what a movie is about that matters. It's how it is about it." If this robot movie had been done in a way that was thrilling and exciting and smart, and not crassly commercial and shallow, we wouldn't be seeing this vitriol from the critics. I'm actually a defender of the first Transformers movie, but if its sequel hasn't actually improved – instead just becoming bigger and louder and more bloated – then it'll be easy for me to see what the critics are complaining about.

[menikmati]

I agree with you, but I also think the sense of outrage is a little misplaced. I think ideally, we wish that people of Christopher Nolan's caliber could be involved with all summer blockbuster films, but realistically we know this isn't the case. This movie was made for it's target audience(which is clearly not 67 year movie critics) and I'm sure it will do quite well with those that it is intended for. No, it is not the artistically ambitious, intellectually viable film that it could possibly be, and that some of us wish, but I am not surprised. It is a Michael Bay film, it is based upon a set of toys and it is a summer blockbuster film intended to draw "the masses". I was simply curious as to why Ebert was so offended that his scathing review wasn't enough, but he felt so strongly about it that he followed it up with a companion piece.

If Nolan would have done Transformers, it would have been just as long, filled with 25 extra lame and useless sub stories, way too many sub-characters, and a crap attempt of trying to come across as "dark and realistic"....hey that sounds just like some film released last summer...

[rage patton]

I actually enjoyed the new Transformers. It was much better than the first. I grew up on Transformers and was actually pretty disapointed in the first movie. I didn't get why everyone loved it so much. I thought this new one was very entertaining. I know why I enjoyed it more too. It felt more like the cartoon. I felt like the first movie was all about Shia and Fox, and the Transformers were just part of their story. This movie was ALL about the Transformers, Shia's character was there to support the Transformers. Like it should be. And Megan Fox was just in it to show off her lips, boobs and legs. I don't like her very much, but that is beside the point. I enjoyed the new Transformers quite a lot because it brought back fond childhood memories, instead of taking the fun out of them like the first movie did.

[JewFace]

I just saw Birth for the first time since its theatrical release. It held up very well. I don't think Jonathan Glazer's second film was too warmly received, but I found the entire affair spellbinding from the perfectly composed opening scene of the jogger running through Central Park to the sad, strange unresolved ending. It's beautifully shot and edited and makes such great use of Alexander Desplat's unusual score. You get a spookily convincing performance from young Cameron Bright, a strikingly lovely performance from Kidman (that scene in the opera house in which we get a 2 minute close up of her face is a film acting tour de force!) and excellent performances from the supporting cast. Hell, even Anne Heche is exceptionally good in this film.

This film is a great companion piece to Eyes Wide Shut and not just because both films feature two of Nicole Kidman's best performances. Both films have a spooky and eerie tension and Glazer demonstrates how exceptionally talented he is at composing a perfect shot and sustaining that tension throughout. Don't get your jockstrap in a twist; I'm not suggest that Glazer is the next Kubrick, just that in terms of aesthetics and mood fans of Kubrick's work (or at least Eyes Wide Shut) would probably enjoy this film.

-hFO9sA7LsA

[wmgaretjax]

I really enjoyed Birth. But it was really fleeting, the film didn't really stick with me.

[Alligator Bogaloo]

I saw Transformers and LOVED it. Ive been a fanatic for some time, as some of you may know. Heck, I even have optimus prime for my avatar.

However, I am completely baffled as to why this movie is receiving so much hate. As humanoid kinda said, what else were you expecting? It really isn't that much different from the first one. Its the same action-packed, over-the-top, ridiculous nonsense as the first one. Yet, for some reason, everybody is hating on this sequel.

The characters are still the same. Women were desensitized in both the first and second. The parents are still ridiculous. Shia and Fox are the same. The sector 7 dude is the same. Etc. Etc.

The humor is still bad. Enough said.

The robots are the same. They are still huge and awesome. They have the same sized heads (see Ebert article). They are still complex and "hard to tell apart" (Although I personally don't feel like its that difficult). They still tear each other apart with their fists(see Ebert article again).

The action is still extravagant. The explosions are huge. The robots still have epic battles. It still changes screens every other second.


Someone please explain this to me. The first and second were SO similar, yet this one is hated. Why? And please don't lecture me on why I shouldn't like the first one at all, or why Bay sucks. I already know how you all feel on that.

Everyone hated the first one too...

[M Sparks]

What leads you to believe that "Shoot'em Up was made by 'smart people'? Michael Davis is a shlock director who works with shitty scripts and has worked his way through romantic comedies, to horror and now to action flicks, and they're all terrible

Not familiar with the director. I was speaking more about the actors, trusting them to not get involved with toal crap.

Though actually, Giamatti really bugged me in that movie. And he did that idiotic movie with the kid from Malcolm In The Middle. Oh, and he was in Planet of The Apes too, wasn't he? And Sideways was overrated. Wait, why DO I like Giamatti? Never mind, fuck Giamatti.

Why should an R-rated exploitative action movie be filled to the brim with weird Bugs bunny references?

Because the writer liked Bugs Bunny? Looney Toons were originally created for adults. For that matter, do kids these days even know who Bugs Bunny is?

[wmgaretjax]

Paul Giamatti's latest film, Cold Souls, is quite good.

[M Sparks]

The only recurring complaint that scares me is this talk about the "twin" transformers that allegedly fall between Song of the South and Jar-Jar Binks on the "blatant stereotyping of African-Americans" scale. I've heard the movie referred to as a fighting robot minstrel show. That's going to be a little hard to swallow.

I tried watching the first one, and I gave up when one of the robots said "What's crackalackin?"

[M Sparks]

Paul Giamatti's latest film, Cold Souls, is quite good.

Geez, I just looked at his IMDB...The Illusionist, Lady In The Water, Fred Claus...why the hell have I been giving him so much credit?

He's great at playing real people, though. He was the best part of Private Parts (not that there was much competition- there were hardly any actual actors in that.) He was a great Bob Zmuda, and American Splendor was genius. I'm not into historical dramas, but he was still good in John Adams.

Holy shit...he's going to play Col Tom Parker in Bubba Nosferatu!

[AlecEiffel]

Holy shit...he's going to play Col Tom Parker in Bubba Nosferatu!

Fuck Bubba Nosferatu. Ron Perlman is awesome and everything, but Bubba Hotep was all about Bruce Campbell's performance, and you'd think Coscarelli would realise that.

[PotVsKtl]

Bubba Hotep was all about the fact that Bruce Campbell was playing Elvis. In reality the movie was just poor on all levels.

[AlecEiffel]

Bubba Hotep was all about the fact that Bruce Campbell was playing Elvis. In reality the movie was just poor on all levels.

It was about the fact that he was playing an elderly Elvis teaming up with an elderly, black JFK to fight a mummy. While I don't agree that it's all around bad I would say that it isn't worthy of the praise it got and is for sure on the boring side.

I've always thought Coscarelli was over rated anyway, aside from the fact that Angus Scrimm looks like a creep and Reggie Banister apparently plays himself (which I really dig for some reason) Phantasm is a pretty big piece of crap.

[wmgaretjax]

that movie sucked.

[PotVsKtl]

Phantasm is absolutely terrible. I own the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street boxsets. I've seen and enjoyed just about every 80s B-horror. Phantasm I can't even make it through.

[AlecEiffel]

Well it's lacking something that those two series have in abundance: Fun.

[C DUB YA]

I REALLY want to see this - The Invention of Lying.

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/features/exclusive/

[C DUB YA]

Looney Toons were originally created for adults. For that matter, do kids these days even know who Bugs Bunny is?

My 2 year old LOVES Bugs more than life.

[C DUB YA]

this could be really good too


http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809912192/video/14159298

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

this could be really good too


http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809912192/video/14159298

that looks REALLY interesting

Fun to hear that Placebo in there too

[wmgaretjax]

What an unnecessarily awful cover song.

[PotVsKtl]

If you're excited for Daybreakers I recommend you do not watch the directors' previous movie.

[C DUB YA]

What an unnecessarily awful cover song.

it's quite old that cover. They didn't do it for the film.

[SoulDischarge]

Unnecessary and awful pretty much describes Placebo in general. Although it's not nearly as bad as this one:

HNUNLn8pgcI

And that movie looks like a terrible execution of a halfway decent premise, for a vampire movie.

Also, Phantasm is infinitely better than Friday The 13th. Jason flicks are seriously the most boring fucking b-movies around.

[C DUB YA]

If you're excited for Daybreakers I recommend you do not watch the directors' previous movie.

which is... (don't make me look it up)

[PotVsKtl]

http://www.imdb.com

[C DUB YA]

Ok jesus I'll look it up. You coulda just typed the title in the post but nooooooo.

I am not familiar with UNDEAD at all. Zombies in the outback with a budget of 100k, no thanks. The trailer and story (lack of) are apparent right away, not so much in this one. I don't need more than 3 minutes to realize their first flick is very bad.

BUT

If you are suggesting we have to give up on directors after one bad (low budget) film... hmmm?

Daybreakers has a very cool premise - which is half the battle these days, and who doesn't like Dafoe for christ's sake?

[wmgaretjax]

it's quite old that cover. They didn't do it for the film.

I don't fucking care. It's shitty.

[C DUB YA]

I don't fucking care. It's shitty.

imo - so is the original

[SoulDischarge]

95% of horror movies from this decade are extended car commercials with blood.

[wmgaretjax]

imo - so is the original

crazy talk.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Although it's not nearly as bad as this one:

HNUNLn8pgcI


holy crap hahahahahahahaha!

Everything about that video and cover is AMAZING....ly bad

[PotVsKtl]

Ok jesus I'll look it up. You coulda just typed the title in the post but nooooooo.

I am not familiar with UNDEAD at all. Zombies in the outback with a budget of 100k, no thanks. The trailer and story (lack of) are apparent right away, not so much in this one. I don't need more than 3 minutes to realize their first flick is very bad.

BUT

If you are suggesting we have to give up on directors after one bad (low budget) film... hmmm?

Daybreakers has a very cool premise - which is half the battle these days, and who doesn't like Dafoe for christ's sake?

I do think it looks promising. My suggestion was serious. If you want to give Daybreakers its best shot, do not watch Undead.

[C DUB YA]

crazy talk.

K Bush has never been my cup of tea. Just one of those weird things.

[schoolofruckus]

This thread is so much less interesting when C DUB YA is around.

I watched Gran Torino tonight with my dad. I can say - honest to God - it was the worst fucking movie I've seen in at least a couple years. Out of all the crimes Hollywood films routinely commit, I can't think of a single one this film omitted. Anyone who liked it should be slapped into a fucking pillory and made to stay outside while passersby spit on them.

The acting in this film makes Watchmen look like A Woman Under the Influence. It makes Twilight look like There Will Be Blood. It cannot be overstated just how terrible each and every performance is. Clint included, fuckos; as a Warner Bros. employee, I'm well aware that Clint gets to do whatever he goddamn well pleases, and we will all sit here and beg for more. I get it. But if you seriously thought he was great in this movie, your evaluation of the theatrical craft will forever be called into question. The entire film was built to make his performance look great. He seems to have chosen everyone else in the cast (except for Norm Gunderson as the barber) by holding auditions and then changing the rules to golf scores so that his work would tower over them. He lends every supporting character just enough development so that the average Clintophile will laud him for exploring an "exotic" culture, and yet subverts the humanity of each and every one of them to the functions of his own character's journey. And after nearly two hours of one terribly obvious (and obviously terrible) scene after another, he has the George W. "Family Values"-level chutzpah to have his character let himself be killed in order to put the bad guys in jail and then fall to the ground in a Christ pose.


I hereby christen this the worst film of 2008, and it may end up as my least favorite film of the decade. That's right - Juno has officially been put on watch. This is going to be the Gatti-Ward IV of awards races.

[schoolofruckus]

Also, movie trailers are getting continuously worse. Not the movies themselves, necessarily, as much as the sensibilities of the trailer-cutters. What is intended to arouse and excite here really just screams in neon fucking lights "YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE".

GJ-tsmrm51U

[nbvwes]

as far as Amelia Earhart goes,
Amy Adams >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hilary Swank





just watched Martyrs, easily one of the most fucked up, insane horror flicks i've seen in quite some time... and strangely unpredictable.

aside from bad english dubs the film is quite flawless. if you can find the film in the original Italian with English subtitles, i'd recommend that.

[JewFace]

If anyone needs me, I'll be being slapped into a fucking pillory and made to stay outside while passersby spit on me.

[menikmati]

This thread is so much less interesting when C DUB YA is around.

I watched Gran Torino tonight with my dad. I can say - honest to God - it was the worst fucking movie I've seen in at least a couple years. Out of all the crimes Hollywood films routinely commit, I can't think of a single one this film omitted. Anyone who liked it should be slapped into a fucking pillory and made to stay outside while passersby spit on them.

The acting in this film makes Watchmen look like A Woman Under the Influence. It makes Twilight look like There Will Be Blood. It cannot be overstated just how terrible each and every performance is. Clint included, fuckos; as a Warner Bros. employee, I'm well aware that Clint gets to do whatever he goddamn well pleases, and we will all sit here and beg for more. I get it. But if you seriously thought he was great in this movie, your evaluation of the theatrical craft will forever be called into question. The entire film was built to make his performance look great. He seems to have chosen everyone else in the cast (except for Norm Gunderson as the barber) by holding auditions and then changing the rules to golf scores so that his work would tower over them. He lends every supporting character just enough development so that the average Clintophile will laud him for exploring an "exotic" culture, and yet subverts the humanity of each and every one of them to the functions of his own character's journey. And after nearly two hours of one terribly obvious (and obviously terrible) scene after another, he has the George W. "Family Values"-level chutzpah to have his character let himself be killed in order to put the bad guys in jail and then fall to the ground in a Christ pose.


I hereby christen this the worst film of 2008, and it may end up as my least favorite film of the decade. That's right - Juno has officially been put on watch. This is going to be the Gatti-Ward IV of awards races.

I agree, it was the worst acting I've ever seen in a film. But it still ranks above Juno...nothing can rate below that piece of crap. Gah don't get me started on Juno...never seen a film with that much forced and crappy in your face acting/attitude....it was so fake and disgusting.

[faxman75]

I loved both Juno and Gran Torino. Eastwood commands attention when he's on the screen and he's a decent actor.

I saw that new Transformers movie today with the kid. Did that really have to be 2 hours and 40 minutes? Megan Fox was nice to look at but that goes without saying. I think when a story is good the acting is secondary anyway.

I recently rewatched "The Wonder Boys". Talk about a great movie. I love it. Michael Douglas as a pothead writer who is so descriptive his novels have more pages than the bible. Toby McGuire in probably his best acting role as an eccentric young student who gets stuck telling fable after fable all the whilst being swooned by Robert Downey Jr. who plays the inappropriate editor who is in town to check up on the progress of the stoner authors latest novel. This movie is also more proof that Frances McDermott is big screen gold and reminds us that Katie Holmes had an acting career *snicker* prior to being abducted by Tom Cruise. I found this movie to be very enjoyable.

[Principal Onyx Blackman]

I agree, it was the worst acting I've ever seen in a film. But it still ranks above Juno...nothing can rate below that piece of crap. Gah don't get me started on Juno...never seen a film with that much forced and crappy in your face acting/attitude....it was so fake and disgusting.

Thank you. Juno was so pretentious and forced it made me want to vomit.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

haven't seen Gran Torino but I constantly have people ranting and raving about how amazing it is...but I am in the same boat with you guys on thinking that Juno was atrocious, so maybe I'll just not watch Gran Torino

[schoolofruckus]

I agree, it was the worst acting I've ever seen in a film. But it still ranks above Juno...nothing can rate below that piece of crap. Gah don't get me started on Juno...never seen a film with that much forced and crappy in your face acting/attitude....it was so fake and disgusting.

Gran Torino was fake and disgusting as well. But you're right, I was being slightly too harsh. Juno is without a doubt the greater atrocity.

If anyone needs me, I'll be being slapped into a fucking pillory and made to stay outside while passersby spit on me.

I appreciate you not making me ask twice.

I loved both Juno and Gran Torino. Eastwood commands attention when he's on the screen and he's a decent actor.

I saw that new Transformers movie today with the kid. Did that really have to be 2 hours and 40 minutes? Megan Fox was nice to look at but that goes without saying. I think when a story is good the acting is secondary anyway.

I recently rewatched "The Wonder Boys". Talk about a great movie. I love it. Michael Douglas as a pothead writer who is so descriptive his novels have more pages than the bible. Toby McGuire in probably his best acting role as an eccentric young student who gets stuck telling fable after fable all the whilst being swooned by Robert Downey Jr. who plays the inappropriate editor who is in town to check up on the progress of the stoner authors latest novel. This movie is also more proof that Frances McDermott is big screen gold and reminds us that Katie Holmes had an acting career *snicker* prior to being abducted by Tom Cruise. I found this movie to be very enjoyable.

You're right in your assessment of Wonder Boys, if not your regurgitation of its title. Nevertheless, you need to follow JewFace's lead and get thee to the pillory.

haven't seen Gran Torino but I constantly have people ranting and raving about how amazing it is...but I am in the same boat with you guys on thinking that Juno was atrocious, so maybe I'll just not watch Gran Torino

I like you, Drinkey McDrinkerstein. I recommend that instead of watching Gran Torino, you punch the next person who rants and raves about how amazing it is.

[Hannahrain]

I walked through what turned out to be a bunch of Alice in Wonderland props the other day. There will be columns. Columns of substantial girth.

[JewFace]

I can't take this Clint Eastwood bashing any more! I think Clint stopped reading the boards after Winehouse canceled and thank goodness, because he's not very popular 'round here!

I'll give you this, you don't need to check IMDB to know that he hired unknown amateurs to play his neighbors. I doubt either of those kids have bright futures as actors, but this was obviously a very deliberate choice of his to get non-actors. I found it a bit jarring as well, but as the film progressed, I warmed to them both, especially the girl.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think Eastwood has said this the last film he would star in. Even if that's not the case, the ghosts of the characters he's played from Million Dollar Baby to Dirty Harry loom large in this film. That may be a bit too self-conscious for some of you, but I think the film stands up very nicely as a comment on the consequences and affects of violence on ordinary people and, inevitably, a summation of Eastwood's work as an actor and a director.

schoolofruckus, you work for WB and you need to be told why they still finance his films? Let me list a few reasons for you:


He's Clint Dirty Harry Eastwood; a fucking legend.

He's a beloved cultural figure; a known brand. These days, how many people (outside of cinephiles) really go to see a movie because of the director?

He's got the dichotomy of the tough guy Dirty Harry balanced with 'soft, sensitive' Clint who shared a tub with Meryl Streep in the Bridges of Madison County and played surrogate father to Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. Being an insider, you'd know more about this sort of thing, but I'd imagine that Clint has broad appeal for male and female audience members.

His films, especially in his autumn years, get solid to excellent reviews. He knows how to make the prestige/Oscar bait films with mainstream appeal. Not to mention that, despite his age, he doesn't seem to mind campaigning for the Oscar, which is something your marketing departments and PR agencies probably appreciate.

And, again, I'm not an insider as you are, but I would assume that potential box office proceeds would factor in somewhere. His films make money domestically and abroad. Has every one of his films set the box office on fire? Of course not, but I think these numbers speak for themselves (and, yes, I understand there are marketing costs on top of the production costs):

Gran Turino (Budget: $33M, Dom. Gross: $148M, Int Gross: $115M)
Changeling (Budget: $55M, Dom. Gross: $35M, Int Gross: $77M)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Budget: $19M, Dom Gross: $13M, Int Gross: $54M)
Flags of our Fathers (Did not make money at the box office, so perhaps no more war epics for Clint.)
Million Dollar Baby (Budget: $30M, Dom. Gross: $100M, Int Gross: $116M)
Mystic River (Budget: $25M, Dom. Gross: $90M, Int Gross: $66M)


haven't seen Gran Torino but I constantly have people ranting and raving about how amazing it is...but I am in the same boat with you guys on thinking that Juno was atrocious, so maybe I'll just not watch Gran Torino

Drinkey, I cannot tell you how much I loathed Juno. And that's weird, because I usually love films written by strippers. That awful, cloying dialogue made me want to rip my ears off too. Despite my feelings of ill will towards Diablo Cody, I loved Gran Torino. I do not see a connection between a distaste for Juno and lack of appreciation for Gran Torino. I would say a better indicator for you would be your appreciation or lack thereof for Eastwood's films post Mystic River. If you've enjoyed his later work (especially Million Dollar Baby, which is closest in tone) I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy Gran Torino.

[wmgaretjax]

You really think screaming from the rooftops about someone's financial success in Hollywood and how they are a brand name in every home is gonna change anyone's mind? Jesus christ...

[PotVsKtl]

That's a real heeb movie review.

[nbvwes]

i liked Gran Torino... it was awesome if compared to summer blockbuster fare, but only crap if compared to oscar season fare...


as far as Transformers go... i fuckin hate michael bay. period.

the ORIGINAL Transformers 1986 movie >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
both shitty live-action pieces of fuck

[Dale Gribble]

Isn't the new transformers almost 3 hours long? Give me a break...

[BlueDevil50]

watch it before you hate...it's entertaining.

[bobert]

I enjoyed Gran Torino, although probably for all of the reasons Schoolio hated it. As a drama, it was an unqualified failure. The script was terrible, and the acting was laughable in almost every way I can think of. And I guess that's why I found it so entertaining. Some of the funniest movies ever made are the bad ones - who cares if most of the laughs were unintentional?

[Sushov23]

watch it before you hate...it's entertaining.

REALLY???:nono

[nbvwes]

watch it before you hate...it's entertaining.

did you think the last one was entertaining?

cause it wasn't.

[hawkingvsreeve]

So I was over at the USS Midway the other day and the AV guy there and I were talking about making a zombie movie on the ship using only built in apple isight cameras. You want in on this Gabe?

We can show it before Jetters.

[Down Rodeo]

I want to switch gears a bit here and talk about the greatest Spanish language filmmaker of all time, Luis Bunuel. I recently watched The Exterminating Angel, which was one of his most scathing and cynical absurdist satires. This was the 7th film of his that I've seen, all of which I've enjoyed immensely. I'm not sure which I would call his best, but I might have to side with the later work, like Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie or That Obscure Object of Desire. Anyway....I just thought we should talk about a better director than Clint Eastwood for a while.

Thoughts?

[schoolofruckus]

I can't take this Clint Eastwood bashing any more! I think Clint stopped reading the boards after Winehouse canceled and thank goodness, because he's not very popular 'round here!

I'll give you this, you don't need to check IMDB to know that he hired unknown amateurs to play his neighbors. I doubt either of those kids have bright futures as actors, but this was obviously a very deliberate choice of his to get non-actors. I found it a bit jarring as well, but as the film progressed, I warmed to them both, especially the girl.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think Eastwood has said this the last film he would star in. Even if that's not the case, the ghosts of the characters he's played from Million Dollar Baby to Dirty Harry loom large in this film. That may be a bit too self-conscious for some of you, but I think the film stands up very nicely as a comment on the consequences and affects of violence on ordinary people and, inevitably, a summation of Eastwood's work as an actor and a director.

schoolofruckus, you work for WB and you need to be told why they still finance his films? Let me list a few reasons for you:


He's Clint Dirty Harry Eastwood; a fucking legend.

He's a beloved cultural figure; a known brand. These days, how many people (outside of cinephiles) really go to see a movie because of the director?

He's got the dichotomy of the tough guy Dirty Harry balanced with 'soft, sensitive' Clint who shared a tub with Meryl Streep in the Bridges of Madison County and played surrogate father to Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. Being an insider, you'd know more about this sort of thing, but I'd imagine that Clint has broad appeal for male and female audience members.

His films, especially in his autumn years, get solid to excellent reviews. He knows how to make the prestige/Oscar bait films with mainstream appeal. Not to mention that, despite his age, he doesn't seem to mind campaigning for the Oscar, which is something your marketing departments and PR agencies probably appreciate.

And, again, I'm not an insider as you are, but I would assume that potential box office proceeds would factor in somewhere. His films make money domestically and abroad. Has every one of his films set the box office on fire? Of course not, but I think these numbers speak for themselves (and, yes, I understand there are marketing costs on top of the production costs):

Gran Turino (Budget: $33M, Dom. Gross: $148M, Int Gross: $115M)
Changeling (Budget: $55M, Dom. Gross: $35M, Int Gross: $77M)
Letters from Iwo Jima (Budget: $19M, Dom Gross: $13M, Int Gross: $54M)
Flags of our Fathers (Did not make money at the box office, so perhaps no more war epics for Clint.)
Million Dollar Baby (Budget: $30M, Dom. Gross: $100M, Int Gross: $116M)
Mystic River (Budget: $25M, Dom. Gross: $90M, Int Gross: $66M)




Drinkey, I cannot tell you how much I loathed Juno. And that's weird, because I usually love films written by strippers. That awful, cloying dialogue made me want to rip my ears off too. Despite my feelings of ill will towards Diablo Cody, I loved Gran Torino. I do not see a connection between a distaste for Juno and lack of appreciation for Gran Torino. I would say a better indicator for you would be your appreciation or lack thereof for Eastwood's films post Mystic River. If you've enjoyed his later work (especially Million Dollar Baby, which is closest in tone) I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy Gran Torino.

Did I express even the slightest befuddlement as to why Warner Bros. is in the Eastwood business? Or are you just pretending that I did so that you can bring up irrelevant facts?

Everyone in the world knows why people love Clint Eastwood. I may hate most of his post-Unforgiven work, but I'm not in the dark as to what people like about it. The general moviegoing public likes tons of shitty movies and precious few good ones. Clint's work is often better than the lower-end spectrum of films that make solid profits; the only reason I can call something like Gran Torino the worst film of its year is that I didn't see Mamma Mia! and the latest Mummy movie and so forth. But a guy who can take a "prestige" film from script to screen in 5 months, while garnering Oscar nods AND beating out Bride Wars at the box office will always find work; you can't possibly accuse me of not understanding that.

The thing that bothers me the most is not that Clint is successful. It's that every time he releases one of these Oscar-begging morality crusades, I have to hear the same drooling idiots refer to him as some kind of "master American filmmaker". In reality, he is merely an action star who has accumulated years of goodwill by being a reliable manifestation of ancient macho ideals - many times in very good or great films. Now that he's an old man, all he has to do is make a few gradually-paced, "unpretentious" movies that show "range" by subverting his fascist tendencies in favor of humanism (or what passes for it in Hollywood) for our mediocrity-christening culture to annoint him as the best director our country has to offer.

I think if you showed Gran Torino and then the end credits read "Produced and Directed by McG", people would boo the film off the projector.

I enjoyed Gran Torino, although probably for all of the reasons Schoolio hated it. As a drama, it was an unqualified failure. The script was terrible, and the acting was laughable in almost every way I can think of. And I guess that's why I found it so entertaining. Some of the funniest movies ever made are the bad ones - who cares if most of the laughs were unintentional?

See, you get it. No pillory for you.

[wmgaretjax]

I want to switch gears a bit here and talk about the greatest Spanish language filmmaker of all time, Luis Bunuel. I recently watched The Exterminating Angel, which was one of his most scathing and cynical absurdist satires. This was the 7th film of his that I've seen, all of which I've enjoyed immensely. I'm not sure which I would call his best, but I might have to side with the later work, like Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie or That Obscure Object of Desire. Anyway....I just thought we should talk about a better director than Clint Eastwood for a while.

Thoughts?

The Exterminating Angel isn't one of my favorites... I enjoyed it, but it was a little heavy handed (even for Bunuel). I think my favorite is The Phantom of Liberty, it's the only of his films that had me laughing out loud.

[pancakespancakes]

I agree with Bobert on this one in a sense -- but I am a self-described Clintophile, so it's a bit different.

Schoolofruckus I don't think I could argue with you on whether or not Gran Torino is a "good film." I'm an 18-year-old kid who's seen The Godfather a couple times and I can't tell you shit. But was Gran Torino rediculously entertaining? Yes, it was. It was not thought-provoking and it was not shiver-inducing. Every other film Clint has directed in the last 5 years has done both to me but I knew halfway through this film that this was not at all his objective. I'm not saying this movie was a comedy, (although I did laugh hard and consistently through the entire film), but I think there's a small chance, from what I've gathered, that you were taking Gran Torino just a bit too seriously.

It's a cheeseball of a movie. A pretty lovable little cheeseball. I'd be awefully surprised if Clint didn't recognize this. He may not have started out the film with this intention, and he certainly wasn't in charge of marketing it this way. But there's no way someone with this much experience in the industry and so many hours logged working on timeless cinematic masterpieces could watch this and take any part of this movie seriously, the ending in particular. I'm not saying he's some special brand of artistic genius but he's obviously quite a veteran of his industry.

Now it's my personal theory here that based on past work in this decade, (and of course the vast body of work in decades past), Clint does not put anything less than his greatest effort and energy into directing his films. He could not have possibly started off with a drama and ended with a cheeseball by accident. There is no way Clint was not proud of what he released last year.

[wmgaretjax]

wait... you thought Million Dollar Baby was shiver inducing...

Maybe you mean the joy of just the possibility that someone might kill Hillary Swank?

[pancakespancakes]

Well her mother was pretty shiver-inducing, and that's about all I can remember right now. There has to be more...

[wmgaretjax]

Well her mother was pretty shiver-inducing, and that's about all I can remember right now. There has to be more...

i laughed my way through that whole film.

[BlueDevil50]

REALLY???:nono

did you think the last one was entertaining?

cause it wasn't.

it's a fucking summer-blockbuster-action movie...it is what it is. sorry kids, but the first one was a fun movie to watch. second one was decent, just not as good as the first.

[sbessiso]

I can't believe Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is rated PG. This is such a dark chapter all things considered, I mean you know what happens to you know who (not THAT you-know who) at the end. I'm sure it'll still be decent but the last two have not even come close to matching the awesomeness that was Prisoner of Azkaban

[RotationSlimWang]

We get it.

[sbessiso]

Fuck off, Wang! Harry Potter fandom is not gay

[RotationSlimWang]

In what faggot universe is a (theoretically) grown man being a Harry Potter fan not gay? Shouldn't you lean more towards LoTR considering that you look like a bloated hobbit?

[TommyboyUNM]

Fuck off, Wang! Harry Potter fandom is not gay


You're right, it's just childish.

[schoolofruckus]

I agree with Bobert on this one in a sense -- but I am a self-described Clintophile, so it's a bit different.

Schoolofruckus I don't think I could argue with you on whether or not Gran Torino is a "good film." I'm an 18-year-old kid who's seen The Godfather a couple times and I can't tell you shit. But was Gran Torino rediculously entertaining? Yes, it was. It was not thought-provoking and it was not shiver-inducing. Every other film Clint has directed in the last 5 years has done both to me but I knew halfway through this film that this was not at all his objective. I'm not saying this movie was a comedy, (although I did laugh hard and consistently through the entire film), but I think there's a small chance, from what I've gathered, that you were taking Gran Torino just a bit too seriously.

It's a cheeseball of a movie. A pretty lovable little cheeseball. I'd be awefully surprised if Clint didn't recognize this. He may not have started out the film with this intention, and he certainly wasn't in charge of marketing it this way. But there's no way someone with this much experience in the industry and so many hours logged working on timeless cinematic masterpieces could watch this and take any part of this movie seriously, the ending in particular. I'm not saying he's some special brand of artistic genius but he's obviously quite a veteran of his industry.

Now it's my personal theory here that based on past work in this decade, (and of course the vast body of work in decades past), Clint does not put anything less than his greatest effort and energy into directing his films. He could not have possibly started off with a drama and ended with a cheeseball by accident. There is no way Clint was not proud of what he released last year.

I must be expressing myself poorly.

I understand that it was supposed to be funny and not all that realistic. I understand this. And I'm sure the movie that came out is just what Eastwood intended it to be - heavy-handed, considerable degree of awkward humor, centered around a character that is an amalgam of every one of his major roles, a finale that subverts his usual character arc in favor of something surprising and more poignant.

ALL OF THESE ARE REASONS WHY IT'S DOGSHIT.

Not only that, but this movie is an affront to the very existence of subtext. I understand that this isn't important to everybody, but would it have killed Clint to leave a single idea unspoken? Let just one emotion or realization or random thought linger in the air without being commented upon, in hopes that the audience could pick it up based on observing everything else that was happening? The answer is apparently yes.

The best single-sentence description I've read of this movie is that it was made for the people who thought Crash had too much subtlety and nuance.

[RotationSlimWang]

Gabe I thought you love movies that intentionally suck?

[hawkingvsreeve]

Crash was such a pile of shit.

[nbvwes]

In what faggot universe is a (theoretically) grown man being a Harry Potter fan not gay? Shouldn't you lean more towards LoTR considering that you look like a bloated hobbit?

in what universe is anything sbessio likes not automatically uber-gay?


it's a fucking summer-blockbuster-action movie...it is what it is. sorry kids, but the first one was a fun movie to watch. second one was decent, just not as good as the first.

wow. i guess i'm skipping the 2nd one then, cause i thought the first one was a stinking pile of dogshit... and i would LOVE nothing better than a fuckin awesome Transformers movie...

Crash was such a pile of shit.

the one from '96 is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

[dorkfish]

last couple of weeks bad movies round up

Angels and Demons - Way worse than the Da Vinci Code. Unwatchably bad.
Terminator: Salvation - Badly written. Badly executed. Even the special effects were pretty dull.
The Proposal - Didn't watch it. My mother saw it last week. I ad libbed what I believed the plot to have been. My mom says I was spot on. Based on that, terrible movie.
Twilight - Not for me. Not for anyone, I'd hope. Fan base aside, this was one of the worst crafted films I've ever watched.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Transformers is a lot of fun...there's stupid shit by the boatload, for sure, but HOLY CRAP there's a lot of giant robots pummeling the crap out of each other!

[schoolofruckus]

Gabe I thought you love movies that intentionally suck?

I hated Death Proof and The Happening, didn't I?

[MissingPerson]

I enjoyed the first Transformers immensely.

Don't really understand the complaints about it either. A little too much time with the damn humans, but beyond that, it's a film about giant fucking fighting robots. What did you hate about it, the lack of a believable emotional arc in the giant fucking fighting robots? The giant fucking robot fights?

Or were you just not aware when you sat down to watch it that the film "Transformers" was going to feature giant fucking fighting robots?

[wmgaretjax]

Bad movie or not Clint Eastwood has done more with his like than you.

What do you do at WB? Are you anybody of consequence?

Your reviews are awful and your posts are overly pompous.

You give yourself way to much credit. I'm sure you have really done nothing with your life.

I hate people who have self awarded entitlement.

Your review is lacking. I award you only 1 troll star.

[faxman75]

I liked Gran Torino better when Michael Douglas was Falling Down. Crash reminded me of a lesser version of Grand Canyon.

Hollywood needs new themes.

[M Sparks]

I hate people who have self awarded entitlement.

So naturally, you choose to read a thread that someone has named after themselves.

[AlecEiffel]

Bad movie or not Clint Eastwood has done more with his like than you.

What do you do at WB? Are you anybody of consequence?

Your reviews are awful and your posts are overly pompous.

You give yourself way to much credit. I'm sure you have really done nothing with your life.

I hate people who have self awarded entitlement.

When did this become an IMDB board?

[Hannahrain]

What do you do at WB? Are you anybody of consequence?

It's unwise to speak like this to Michigan J. Frog.

[schoolofruckus]

Bad movie or not Clint Eastwood has done more with his like than you.

What do you do at WB? Are you anybody of consequence?

Your reviews are awful and your posts are overly pompous.

You give yourself way to much credit. I'm sure you have really done nothing with your life.

I hate people who have self awarded entitlement.

Nuh-uh! I have done so much more with Clint's like than he has, you don't even KNOW!

[Hannahrain]

Slap him with your hat and cane.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

the criticism of criticism on the basis of "I'd like to see you try that!" is so fucking stupid. The ability to critique a film has absolutely nothing to do with the ability to make a film

[PotVsKtl]

Bad movie or not Clint Eastwood has done more with his like than you.

What do you do at WB? Are you anybody of consequence?

Your reviews are awful and your posts are overly pompous.

You give yourself way to much credit. I'm sure you have really done nothing with your life.

I hate people who have self awarded entitlement.

Should have kept lurking. I'll make you a deal, keep your post count at 10 and you can stay off the people to ban list.

[hawkingvsreeve]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[schoolofruckus]

As I suspected nothing! It's cool. When you're homeless with a shopping cart spouting random reviews to yourself I will give you a quarter! I got your back!

11 posts and counting!

1 star yes!

Remember, your first mistake was defending Brand New!

First of all, I didn't defend Brand New. I said I enjoyed them every once in a while. I enjoy plenty of shit I wouldn't dare defend (Southland Tales and Transformers are frequently cited examples from this thread alone).

I do plenty of things at Warner Bros., and I have sufficient authority over many things that happen here. However, that doesn't mean I won't someday be homeless and desperately in need of you to pay me a quarter for my reviews; it just won't be anytime soon. I appreciate the offer very much.

[schoolofruckus]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, this guy's like Elaine Benes with the exclamation points.

[wmgaretjax]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now look what you've done... You got Brandon all excited.

[faxman75]

First of all, I didn't defend Brand New. I said I enjoyed them every once in a while. I enjoy plenty of shit I wouldn't dare defend (Southland Tales and Transformers are frequently cited examples from this thread alone).

I do plenty of things at Warner Bros., and I have sufficient authority over many things that happen here. However, that doesn't mean I won't someday be homeless and desperately in need of you to pay me a quarter for my reviews; it just won't be anytime soon. I appreciate the offer very much.

Fail, you got sucked in.

[schoolofruckus]

Wrong. I strategically accepted an offer that may prove beneficial to me in the future - a move which my opponent probably didn't anticipate. That means I win.

[amyzzz]

I finally saw Drag Me to Hell, and while entertaining, it didn't have quite enough campy horror in it to be REALLY good. I enjoyed the campy humor it did have though -- our heroine stapling the gypsy woman's face to defend herself, the heroine killing her kitten, the goat, etc.

[bobert]

Saw The Hurt Locker this weekend. Highly recommended. Never seen a war movie quite like it, frankly. Suffice to say that it is disarmingly (no pun intended) free of any politics or sermonizing and is probably one of the most tense and exciting action films you'll ever see. Jeremy Renner certainly deserves all the praise he's getting for his performance, and I guess I'm as amazed as anyone that Kathryn Bigelow would make a film this good.

[schoolofruckus]

Glad to hear it. That one's on the list for this week, along with Tetro, Moon, Public Enemies, and yes, Transformers in IMAX.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Saw The Hurt Locker this weekend. Highly recommended. Never seen a war movie quite like it, frankly. Suffice to say that it is disarmingly (no pun intended) free of any politics or sermonizing and is probably one of the most tense and exciting action films you'll ever see. Jeremy Renner certainly deserves all the praise he's getting for his performance, and I guess I'm as amazed as anyone that Kathryn Bigelow would make a film this good.

i only just heard about this about a week ago by way of seeing the trailer online and it looks amazing. Saw it's playing at the Arclight, gotta try and see it on the big screen

[amyzzz]

Be sure to report back on Public Enemies.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

MMM Public Enemies is one of my most anticipated films in a long time. The only time I've ever not liked Mann was "miami vice," but that was his most recent flick...

Anyway, i don't think i'll be able to see it until late next week ARG

[M Sparks]

Saw The Hurt Locker this weekend. Highly recommended.

Great! I'll just go buy a plane ticket and jet off to one of the 4 theaters in the country that's showing it!

(That's not humorous exaggeration. It's playing on 4 screens... versus 4000 for Transformers 2: We All Transformin'. I hate you, general American moviegoing public.)

[wmgaretjax]

I also recommend Hurt Locker. It's an intense time.

[schoolofruckus]

Hurt Locker will expand in a couple weeks. It's sold out every show so far.

[bobert]

i only just heard about this about a week ago by way of seeing the trailer online and it looks amazing. Saw it's playing at the Arclight, gotta try and see it on the big screen

Yeah, I saw it at the Arclight. There was a Q&A session after the film with Brian Geraghty, one of the film's lead actors. Mixed in with all the blatant ball-washing ("Let me start off by saying you were brilliant in the film....") were some of the most needlessly convoluted, nonsensical 10-part questions I've ever heard lobbed at anyone. Some people are hopelessly in love with the sound of their own voice, and I think it was a testament to Mr. Geraghty's abilities as an actor that he was able to "answer" these questions with a straight face.

[schoolofruckus]

I tend to bail on Q&A's for this reason. Unless the subject is a truly engaging speaker (like that PTA/DDL event where I saw There Will Be Blood), these things are generally insufferable. The personality type that lends itself to asking questions in a public forum often has a compulsive need to prove itself fluent in the subject at hand - as well as to engage in ball-washing. The Q&A rarely adds to the experience (Eli Roth's appearance post-Hostel was a notable exception in that it was more entertaining than the movie), and it often takes away from it (Wes Anderson post-Darjeeling cast something of a negative spell on the movie - which I genuinely liked - and on my impression of him in general).

[lmntz4]

I watched Atom Egoyan's latest, Adoration, on the weekend. As with The Sweet Hereafter, I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the performances. And I got to see trailers for Moon and The Hurt Locker - both now on the agenda.

[wmgaretjax]

damn... i'm excited for that one... is it on dvd yet?