That's one of the best movies I've ever seen. It had a moving story, engaging characters and the visuals were astounding.
I lulz'd. >.>
The Invention of Lying
This movie proves that you can have a load of amazing actors in cameos... and still suck. Edward Norton? Phillip Seymour Hoffman? Jason Bateman? Such good actors... that were unable to do anything for the movie. It had so much potential, but ultimately, I only got a few laughs out of it.
C
Dude, I enjoyed seeing it in 3-D. It's my personal opinion, but I thought that was a great movie. The story may have been a little to simplistic, but it was still an amazing movie overall.
Cameron has also said that he's had a trilogy in mind from the start. I'm partially happy, and partially skeptical, mainly because I didn't see where a sequel could go.
Brilliant mockumentary. It's about a film crew that follows a serial killer named Leslie Vernon as he plots his next string of attacks. What makes the film so great is that it is chock-full of references to the cliches and motifs of the slasher genre, pointing them out and poking fun at them, but also paying tribute. The last half hour of the film is classic slasher film material. Some of the more obscure references were also a lot of fun.
"I'm addicted to cold turkey, so I think I'm going to quit. I tell people this and they say 'what are you quitting?' I'm quitting freaking cold turkey."
You were telling him about Buddha, you were telling him about Mohammed in the same breath. You never mentioned one time the Man who came and died a criminal’s death...
The Hero of Time (aka the Legend of Zelda fan film)
The bad news? It wasn't atrocious, but it definitely came up short of decent by Hollywood standards. Most of the acting was meh. Camera usage was terribad, and too much shoddy-quality greenscreening took place.
The good news? It actually was quite good when you take it for what it is: A fan film. I've only seen a couple of fanfilms that I find superior, and I've seen many of them. The score was nothing short of excellent. The writers took a lot from Ocarina of Time, but made a great number of changes to fit their limitations as filmmakers. Most of these changes were actually good and stayed true to the spirit of Zelda even if they rewrote the OoT storyline.... M04R.
Overall, am I recommending it? Eh... not really. I didn't find it to be a waste of my time, and I'm ultimately glad I did see it.
PS Wasn't terribly fond of the girl who played Zelda. Come to think of it, Link was fairly meh, too. However, Ganondorf was quite good. Also, Saria (minus the overacting at the end).
I was impressed for how well done it was when I saw how small a cast and crew was in play. Fan films have a long way to go before they can dream to compare to professional releases, but the heart and dedication these folks put into The Hero of Time (four years of work) is definitely the right direction.
Outstanding. Terrific science fiction film (definitely one of my favorites). I liked the general scientific plausibility, the characters, and the thrilling and dramatic storyline. And the soundtrack has to be among the top 5 soundtracks I have ever heard in a film.
"I'm addicted to cold turkey, so I think I'm going to quit. I tell people this and they say 'what are you quitting?' I'm quitting freaking cold turkey."
The Book of Eli - I really enjoyed this movie, but agree with the general consensus: it was definitely too short, and Solara was annoying (and surprisingly fashionable for a post-nuclear fallout.) Otherwise I was really impressed with the direction, fine acting, and good music. Also, killer twist. A lot of twists hurt a movie, but this one just made it that much better. B+
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - I didn't like it the first time, and only watched it because I got invited to my best friend's little brother's birthday party. Surprisingly, I think I liked it more the second time, mainly because I knew what to expect. It's still a cheesy action movie with generally bad acting, some shoddy special effects, and a stupid plot, but it's decent entertainment. However, I think my Understanding the Times has ruined 'just being entertained' by a movie. :/ D+
Most of Groundhog Day, for the first time. I'll definitely have to finish this, I can definitely see why it's a comedy classic, despite not always being that funny.
The Hurt Locker - Despite fantastic direction and good performances, I thought it was only average. Don't hurt me. C+
I decided that I needed to see the movie that made Paul Thomas Anderson famous. The way that the film is directed removes the emotionality involved with sexuality, stripping it down to the bare affect of pornography, in that it is a hollow, empty thing that destroys lives. What remains is a poignant look at basic human needs, such as connection and love and trust, and how those things are lacking in a good part of society today. That the movie in itself is also a striking portrait of a series of characters - both caricatured and not - is not something to ignore. Indeed, even the smallest of roles is portrayed in such a way that makes it somehow vital, completely human, and results in the viewer caring deeply about these flawed, needy people.
Mark Wahlberg's surprising star turn as Dirk Diggler (a pseudonym in the film) shows why, in subsequent years, he's had success in a series of roles that have both elevated him and made him falter. Excellent supporting roles by Burt Reynolds (!), Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Thomas Jane, and perhaps most surprisingly, Heather Graham, all add to the importance and validity of a film that allowed director Anderson to gain budgeting for subsequent and more personal films, while still providing biting satire and commentary on the culture and the era that we come from and that we live in.
Ultimately, this is not a movie I can recommend based on the sheer nature of the content. While not as graphic or explicit either imagery or dialogue as I suspected, the content is still suspect. Striking scenes of violence also punctuate the film, designed to shock and appall, as opposed to aestheticize the imagery and glorify it in thus doing so. Boogie Nights is probably one of the better films I've seen recently, though it is also one of the more difficult to watch.
You were telling him about Buddha, you were telling him about Mohammed in the same breath. You never mentioned one time the Man who came and died a criminal’s death...
Well... it was not as I expected, and this doesn't surprise me at all. First let's get the negatives out of the way. The plot (which is already lackluster)... had very, very little direction. At some points it seemed to come to a complete halt. A few of the characters were simply too annoying (Tweedledee and Tweedledum, for instance). The positives... it's one of the most visually beautiful movies I've ever seen, and the acting was actually quite good. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Mia Wasikowska were so, so endearing, and they did excellently with what was given to them. They were hands down the highlight of the film (aside from the visuals). All in all, it was a beautiful movie with many shortcomings, and, unfortunately, it departs significantly from the nature of the book.
