NationStates Jolt Archive

It's close enough to the end of this current solar cycle (gads! But has it gone quickly!).

In no particular order, I enjoyed (as in ones I'll get on DVD if I don't have them already):
Tom Yum Goong - best fighting movie since 'Oong Bak'. One Awesome scene has Tony Jaa (Muay Thai) fighting against someone with a sword, followed by a guy doing Capoeira (Brazillian martial arts, kinda like break dancing but with violence) then finally a wrestler. Super cool to watch the different styles. (Ha! I saw it 4 months ago and already have it on DVD and you yanks haveta wait until Xmas 2006 for the Miramax butchered version*)
A Very Long Engagement
Sin City
Wallace and Gromit
Star Wars

Going out on a limb here, but I'm already sticking King Kong in my best-of list. Any movie that has a giant ape fighting a T-rex has to be good!

To a lesser extent (as in I'll prob buy them for $1 when I next head into China):
Broken Flowers
Land of the Dead
Batman Begins
Fantastic Four (sequel should be better - they spent enough time laying the groundwork for it. I hope it has the silver surfer in it!)
Corpse Bride
Kung Fu Hustle (though I actually saw it Xmas 2004, but I'll add it to the 2005 list cause no-one else outside Asia had the chance to see it until mid-2005)


So what are yours?


*Apparently, the Weinsteins in their wisdom have decided the US audience aren't intelligent enough to understand the subtle Thai plotting and so are making big changes to it to make it 'more accessible' (read simple).
BTW, the plot is (sorry for spoiling it for you!):

A young man (Tony Jaa) has an elephant and baby elephant.
Man wants to buy them.
Tony says 'no'.
Man shoots Tony's dad and steals elephants.
Tony goes to Oz and kicks everyones (and I mean EVERYONES) ass.

But that's too difficult for the US audience to understand, apparently.
Makes me think the main reason for perceived US ignorance is due to the media thinking and treating you like you are.

I reserve final judgement until after I have seen "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and if it is the christian suckfest I fear, or the nice escapism I loved as a child.

I'm really hoping for NOT Christian suckfest. It's the post-PotC Disney, so it can't be SO bad.

I liked The Proposition.

I reserve final judgement until after I have seen "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and if it is the christian suckfest I fear, or the nice escapism I loved as a child.
I swear to dog (not mispelled), if the fucking christians ruin The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I will go on a hollywood executive killing spree!

Also a wonderful escapism I loved as a child.

I'll say this much, Stealth sucked so bad, I almost threw my computer out the window. Jamie Foxx is a horrible actor.

OMG!!! What is wrong with you people?!?! Why haven't you mentioned Constantine????

That is the best movie. Ever. Not just of 2005, but of ever. Period.

But yeah, Harry Potter 4 was pretty good too. And Star Wars 3 was quite awesome!!!! And there's probably another few I'm forgetting... but not that they matter.

I reserve final judgement until after I have seen "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and if it is the christian suckfest I fear, or the nice escapism I loved as a child.

It would be virtually impossible to make a movie based on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe without having Christian themes played out at some level. The plot and the characters are a deliberate allegory of Biblical events and figures, so the only way to de-Christianize it would be to eliminate or severely alter them, and I'm going to give Disney the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are at least going to try to stay somewhat true to the books. I guess it comes down to how subtle the film makers want to be about it: whether they decide to make the similarities to the Bible obvious or obscure.

(By the way Fass, I like your sig :) )

Of the movies I've seen this year, some of my favourites were Mr. and Mrs. Smith (best action movie I had seen in a while; also, it was like a romantic comedy for guys), Batman (best superhero movie I've seen) and Lord of War (really makes you think . . . and has more statistics than you can shake a Uzi at; it seemed like every other line was something to the effect of "4 out of 15 something-or-others are blah blah blah).

OMG!!! What is wrong with you people?!?! Why haven't you mentioned Constantine????

That is the best movie. Ever. Not just of 2005, but of ever. Period.

I hope this is a joke. I really do.

I hope this is a joke. I really do.

No. I am seriously in love with the movie Constantine. GO ahead, make fun of me for it... I don't care. Lol.

It would be virtually impossible to make a movie based on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe without having Christian themes played out at some level. The plot and the characters are a deliberate allegory of Biblical events and figures, so the only way to de-Christianize it would be to eliminate or severely alter them, and I'm going to give Disney the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are at least going to try to stay somewhat true to the books. I guess it comes down to how subtle the film makers want to be about it: whether they decide to make the similarities to the Bible obvious or obscure.

I know the story is very influenced by christian mythos, but I'm just hoping they don't seize the opportunity to turn it into a piece of proselytising propaganda, which I have read that some people have been demanding they do...

(By the way Fass, I like your sig :) )

I forget what it is, since I have them turned off, but thanks.

No. I am seriously in love with the movie Constantine. GO ahead, make fun of me for it... I don't care. Lol.

I don't need to mock you any more than that automatically does on its own.

I'll say this much, Stealth sucked so bad, I almost threw my computer out the window. Jamie Foxx is a horrible actor.

I thought it was pretty obvious from the ads that that movie was going to suck. Is there any cliche in Science Fiction worse than the Computer Turned Evil? I never did see Stealth, and I don't think I ever will. I did, however, see both Ray and Collateral and I thought they were both pretty good, so I can't really agree with your assertion that Foxx is a horrible actor.

I forget what it is, since I have them turned off, but thanks.

It says that you tried to organise freedom, and that it was very Scandinavian of you.

I swear to dog (not mispelled), if the fucking christians ruin The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I will go on a hollywood executive killing spree!

Also a wonderful escapism I loved as a child.

If it comes to pass, you can come & hide out here. ;)

Sin City

Best movie i have seen in many years.

*snip*
Of the movies I've seen this year, some of my favourites were Mr. and Mrs. Smith (best action movie I had seen in a while; also, it was like a romantic comedy for guys.
*snip*

That's interesting. I thought it was awful. In fact, I thought it was so bad that I didn't even bother watching the last 30 minutes or so.

That's interesting. I thought it was awful. In fact, I thought it was so bad that I didn't even bother watching the last 30 minutes or so.

Thank whoever invented it for bittorrent! Saved me a few kronor there when I deleted the film due to suckage. You can't do that in a cinema, even though you could always set the place on fire...

You can't do that in a cinema, even though you could always set the place on fire...

Would it then be permissible to shout "fire", even if the theatre was crowded?

It says that you tried to organise freedom, and that it was very Scandinavian of you.

Oh, it's a nod to Björk's "Hunter." (http://www.bjork.com/videogallery/watch.php?video=14;size=medium)

Would it then be permissible to shout "fire", even if the theatre was crowded?

Depends on if the other people there liked the film, in which case it wouldn't.

Depends on if the other people there liked the film, in which case it wouldn't.

Not much chance of that if the cinema's showing Mr & Mrs Smith. ;)

Oh, it's a nod to Björk's "Hunter." (http://www.bjork.com/videogallery/watch.php?video=14;size=medium)

Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to withdraw my comment.

top 2005 films that are not mainstream: me and you and everyone we know, junebug, everything is illuminated, serenity, mirrormask.

the constant gardener was also pretty good. broken flowers was decent, but i was getting tired of murray's jaded tones/look.

Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to withdraw my comment.

No biggie. Someone who doesn't like Björk isn't fit to hold an opinion on my sig anyway. :p

top 2005 films that are not mainstream: me and you and everyone we know, junebug, everything is illuminated, serenity, mirrormask.

the constant gardener was also pretty good. broken flowers was decent, but i was getting tired of murray's jaded tones/look.I loved Junebug too - it was totally lovable.

I'd also like to put in a gentle nomination for the new Pride & Predjudice, which was so well done. Just the scenery, Kiera Knightly, and donald Sutherland are enouh to make this one a keeper, but the cinematography, script and all the supporting actors were excellent as well. The only thing that fell short was the guy that played Darcy - but then no one can play Darcy adequately (no, not even Colin Firth). He's just too perfect.

and just for balance, the worst movie of 2005 is unequivocally "War of the Worlds". I don't think there's any justification required there.

"Thumbsucker" was pretty good.

I also liked "Wolf Creek"

"Serenity" is a movie I'm always gonna be biased about.

"Batman Begins"! Truly awesome batman flick.

My favourite would have to be "Sarabande" though.

My favourite would have to be "Sarabande" though.

The Bergman film? Isn't it from 2003?

The Bergman film? Isn't it from 2003? Shhhh! Us lowly non-Swedes didn't get to see it till this year. :(

Haven't seen many films this year. I liked "Batman Begins", "Sin City" and "Broken Flowers".

Sadly, I missed the new Terry Gilliam film.

Sadly, I missed the new Terry Gilliam film.

The Brothers Grimm? It got terrible reviews.

The Brothers Grimm? It got terrible reviews.

I didn't read any reviews, but since I like all of his other films I wanted to see it. But it was only in the cinemas for a week or so, so I missed it.

SAW - never saw anything better ... or is it from 2004 ?

I didn't read any reviews, but since I like all of his other films I wanted to see it. But it was only in the cinemas for a week or so, so I missed it.

There's always bittorrent, or perhaps even some legal venue.

Sin City might have been the best I saw, but I also enjoyed:

Serenity
The wedding crashers
War of the Worlds
Can't remember more right now...

Star Wars was OK, which was disapointing because I had hoped for something spectacular. And since constantine was mentioned, I have to put that in the same category.

SAW - never saw anything better ... or is it from 2004 ?
It is. SAW 2 is from 2005. Slightly less good movie.

Walk The Line is the best movie of 2005, period!

Walk The Line is the best movie of 2005, period!

I just saw that. Damn good. Joaquin Phoenix was amazing.

But I'll give my award to Serenity.

SAW - never saw anything better ... or is it from 2004 ?


If you mean Saw II, then It's 2005. I thought that was a good film, but not great.

Sin City was a cool film. To be fair, I cant think of any particularly outstanding film. 2005 has been a disappointing year for me as far as the quality of movies go...