What was the last movie you watched?

[CountKrazy]

First of all, the only thing District 9 was nominated for was Best Screenplay. Maybe that's what you meant, but you might want to be clearer, because it definitely wasn't voted for Best Picture, which is generally what "nominated for a Golden Globe" implies.

Secondly...

Darnit! Come on! This is Peter Jackson we're talking about! That movie looks wicked...but...I haven't seen it so...you may be right...

Peter Jackson did not direct it. I've said this to so many people, but everyone still thinks he directed it. He produced it, but that's it. And, yes, Peter Jackson made Lord of the Rings and King Kong and Heavenly Creatures... but in all reality, he's made a lot of pretty bad movies. He's by no means a perfect director. Though me made Lord of the Rings, which are some of the best movies ever made. So he's not a bad director, either.

Also... while I didn't particularly enjoy the movie, I wouldn't say that by no means should you not watch it. It's got a ton of swearing, which I know would make a lot of people here uncomfortable, and some pretty gruesome violence. The violence, however, didn't feel needless (in my opinion). I could easily name movies with much gorier and gratuitous violence. That was the least of my problems with the movie.

The ending of District 9 was horrible. I'm not the only one that agrees with that bit. It strayed way too far away from the original intent and style of the movie and became nothing more than an incoherent gunfight.

I very much appreciate the message the movie was addressing and the story with which they communicated it. I think it came out pretty flawed, mostly due to some poor cinematography and scriptwriting. The script was, at times, very powerful and well-written, but then it would be no more than people screaming the f-word. I have a hard time respecting that, because I think of it more as laziness than anything else.

Overall, I feel a lot of different things about District 9, but I'd say it was a movie with as much good as there was bad, which isn't really going to sell me on it. I think it could've been so, so much better if they had evened out some of the flaws, but then again, I'm one of the few that actually thinks it wasn't amazing. I will say, it's absolutely revolutionized blending reality and fantasy in film, as well as storytelling, and I have a lot of respect for that.

I'd give it a B- or a C+, in the end. And all you naysayers can just deal with that. =P

Avatar

A

Watched in 3D. My 2 younger brothers didn't care too much for it, but this sucker was rock solid. Plenty of cool moments, the visuals rocked, and I enjoyed the story/characters. Better than the Dark Knight methinks. >.>

Well, sure, it's better in terms of visuals. It's better than just about any movie out there in terms of visuals. But it comes nowhere near The Dark Knight's moral and social commentary, which are ultimately much more important and substantial than a beautiful movie. Though goodness knows there's nothing quite like a thrilling, beautiful, wondrous movie. <3

[Keero]

Rong.

my opinoin > urz

Thus, Avatar's take on the military economy and tree huggin' aliyuns is better. ^__^)_b

[CountKrazy]

lulz, I'll agree that Avatar's themes are very relevant. It addresses corporate greed, imperialism, and biodiversity, which are all problems that have hovered over our heads for many a year now. So it's more than a thrilling, beautiful, wondrous film, as I previously stated. But when it comes down to it, people are going to leave amazed at the beauty, not at the plot. XD For the most part, at least. I was pretty happy with both the beauty and the themes, though, even if the story was insanely predictable.

That's just my take on it, at least. In the end, The Dark Knight and Avatar are two radically different movies that shouldn't really even be compared, but I can honestly understand if you like one more than the other. 'Cause Avatar truly was freaking gorgeous (as well as socially and morally relevant, in plenty of ways). o_o

[Kendrik]

lulz, I'll agree that Avatar's themes are very relevant. It addresses corporate greed, imperialism, and biodiversity, which are all problems that have hovered over our heads for many a year now.... I was pretty happy with both the beauty and the themes, though, even if the story was insanely predictable.

I wasn't happy with the attempts at social commentary (which I hold distinct from the comments themselves). Not because of what was said, but because of how it was said. It so terribly lacked in complexity that I really couldn't care less. When moral perspective is simply thrown at me (or even shoved down my throat), I shrug and lose interest. It doesn't matter if it's egoism (Ayn Rand), humanism (2012), naturalism (Avatar), monism (Pocahontas), Christianity (generic film), or anything else. Anyone can force a view on you, or at least try to.

It's when you are taken aback, having to think through the morality of what's going on on screen, wrestle with what is truly right and what is truly wrong that social commentary and moral perspective actually deserves credit. As it was, Avatar just played to American buzz topics. In effect, they said "HERE IS HOW IT SHOULD BE, DO IT" instead of forcing people to think rationally through issues... which, interestingly enough, is not unlike the way that the military force was used in the story itself.

Sure, Avatar addressed buzz topics, which are often denoted by the buzz word that is "relevance," but it was ultimately flat and trivial on this level. Conversely, Dark Knight demanded that you think through right and wrong and look deeply into the darkness (pun unavoidable) of human nature to truly reason for yourself what is right and good and just. Moreover, these dealings are truly relevant to all of humanity for all time.

Dark Knight is absolutely the superior film in terms of its themes and consideration of morality.

Avatar has its place: It is a great piece of cinema. It deserves high praise for that. But it falls very short of Dark Knight in terms meaningful messages.

[CountKrazy]

I absolutely agree. When I said I was happy with the themes, I just meant that I thought they were important things to address and that they were subjects of importance for me personally, but I remain disappointed with the way they communicated them. It was essentially, as you said, simply saying that this is good and this is bad and you should do/not do it. It's hard for me to get into that, and I'm pretty sure it's hard for most people.

On the subject of the word "relevant," it's a perfectly valid word, depending on its usage. It's generally overused and, as you said, is very much a buzzword that people seem to think adds importance to a subject. But its proper use should be to describe things that are currently happening and affecting the world or society, and I felt that Avatar addressed issues such as those. It just did a poor job doing it.

I remain unconvinced that The Dark Knight and Avatar could ever hope to compete with each other, for all the reasons you stated. It's like saying that the wading pool is as fun to swim in as the ocean. One movie just goes so much deeper than the other.

[Kendrik]

I absolutely agree. When I said I was happy with the themes, I just meant that I thought they were important things to address and that they were subjects of importance for me personally, but I remain disappointed with the way they communicated them. It was essentially, as you said, simply saying that this is good and this is bad and you should do/not do it. It's hard for me to get into that, and I'm pretty sure it's hard for most people.

On the subject of the word "relevant," it's a perfectly valid word, depending on its usage. It's generally overused and, as you said, is very much a buzzword that people seem to think adds importance to a subject. But its proper use should be to describe things that are currently happening and affecting the world or society, and I felt that Avatar addressed issues such as those. It just did a poor job doing it.

I remain unconvinced that The Dark Knight and Avatar could ever hope to compete with each other, for all the reasons you stated. It's like saying that the wading pool is as fun to swim in as the ocean. One movie just goes so much deeper than the other.

I agree with your agreement with what was more or less agreeing with you in the broad scheme of things.

"Relevant" is totally a legitimate word, but it's been so run into the ground by progressively minded people everywhere. So, again, I agree with you.

I just had to draw attention to the fact (which I find humorous) that "relevant" has become a buzzword for people who want to talk about buzz topics, issues, and presentations (not all of which are truly meaningful).

[Voyde]

For the record, I strongly disagree with him.

District 9 was a triumph of storytelling.

Ok. I'm going to have to watch it for myself. I'm sure it's not all THAT bad...thanks for the contradictory input, everyone.

[Voyde]

Secondly...

Darnit! Come on! This is Peter Jackson we're talking about! That movie looks wicked...but...I haven't seen it so...you may be right...

Peter Jackson did not direct it. I've said this to so many people, but everyone still thinks he directed it. He produced it, but that's it. And, yes, Peter Jackson made Lord of the Rings and King Kong and Heavenly Creatures... but in all reality, he's made a lot of pretty bad movies. He's by no means a perfect director. Though me made Lord of the Rings, which are some of the best movies ever made. So he's not a bad director, either.

Also... while I didn't particularly enjoy the movie, I wouldn't say that by no means should you not watch it. It's got a ton of swearing, which I know would make a lot of people here uncomfortable, and some pretty gruesome violence. The violence, however, didn't feel needless (in my opinion). I could easily name movies with much gorier and gratuitous violence. That was the least of my problems with the movie.

The ending of District 9 was horrible. I'm not the only one that agrees with that bit. It strayed way too far away from the original intent and style of the movie and became nothing more than an incoherent gunfight.

I very much appreciate the message the movie was addressing and the story with which they communicated it. I think it came out pretty flawed, mostly due to some poor cinematography and scriptwriting. The script was, at times, very powerful and well-written, but then it would be no more than people screaming the f-word. I have a hard time respecting that, because I think of it more as laziness than anything else.

Overall, I feel a lot of different things about District 9, but I'd say it was a movie with as much good as there was bad, which isn't really going to sell me on it. I think it could've been so, so much better if they had evened out some of the flaws, but then again, I'm one of the few that actually thinks it wasn't amazing. I will say, it's absolutely revolutionized blending reality and fantasy in film, as well as storytelling, and I have a lot of respect for that.

I'd give it a B- or a C+, in the end. And all you naysayers can just deal with that. =P

Avatar

A

Watched in 3D. My 2 younger brothers didn't care too much for it, but this sucker was rock solid. Plenty of cool moments, the visuals rocked, and I enjoyed the story/characters. Better than the Dark Knight methinks. >.>

Well, sure, it's better in terms of visuals. It's better than just about any movie out there in terms of visuals. But it comes nowhere near The Dark Knight's moral and social commentary, which are ultimately much more important and substantial than a beautiful movie. Though goodness knows there's nothing quite like a thrilling, beautiful, wondrous movie. <3

Ok...I guess that I haven't seen any bad movies by Peter Jackson. Yep, that explains a lot.

[Voyde]

I put "Over the Hedge" on for my sister, and saw parts of it as I came and went. I've seen it in it's entirety before, and it was pretty good...but the movie that I saw my siblings watching later was just crappy, and I was thanking God that I hadn't ever seen it before, and also asking Him why I was seeing parts of it right then at the moment.

"Sharkboy and Lavagirl". Words can't describe how...how bad this movie is! And the fact that Taylor Lautner is in it--priceless. Once a bad actor, always a bad actor!!

[CountKrazy]

Ok. I'm going to have to watch it for myself. I'm sure it's not all THAT bad...thanks for the contradictory input, everyone.

Yeeeaaah. I would generally recommend thinking for yourself rather than going off of some Internet person's opinion. XD

[SpartanOmega]

For the record, I strongly disagree with him.

District 9 was a triumph of storytelling.

Ok. I'm going to have to watch it for myself. I'm sure it's not all THAT bad...thanks for the contradictory input, everyone.

It seriously is...

I never said it didn't tell the story well... It's just the story it tells is no good.

[Kendrik]

Yeeeaaah. I would generally recommend thinking for yourself rather than going off of some Internet person's opinion. XD

^Thiiiiiiis. Especially when you get strongly opinionated people like Drew (Drewsov), Riley (CK), Zak (Obigone), and myself posting radically different things about the same movie. Trying to make sense of that can quickly become a headache.

Making sense of things for yourself, though? So much better.

It's how movies should be watched, anyway. Even though you don't interact with movies in the same way that you do with games, you're supposed to personally process the things going on on the screen instead of simply listening to someone else's processing of the film.

[TripExistence]

They're A Weird Mob - I realize that an Australian film from the 60's isn't exactly going to win any popularity contests, but I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It wasn't the greatest, but it was certainly entertaining enough. C

Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian - The absolute pinnacle of film making. Words cannot describe how absolutely wonderful it was... F

[IceMedic]

The lord of the rings return of the king

Good stuff

[Pheonix]

Yeeeaaah. I would generally recommend thinking for yourself rather than going off of some Internet person's opinion. XD

I hope I'm not the only one who sees the irony in this statement.