NationStates Jolt Archive

with all the movies out there on DVD and in the theaters, sometimes picking out something to watch can become a form of Russian Roulette. will this film be a bomb? will it be a hit? who knows.

Being that I don't care for the critics who are paid to offer their opinions, I would rather listen to my friends and... well... people of NSG.

be warned tho. SPOILERS may be present. I would ask that those posting their reviews try to keep spoilers down to a minimum or use the tag.

my first offering...

The Eye
(original Chinese Release) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0325655/)
Finding this in a local rental store, I decided to take a sneak peak at the soon to be released Jessica Alba film.

While not gory, the suspense and mood that they created did more than elevate the atmosphere of this young woman's journey into the world of the sighted. I did like this film, and it does make me wonder what changes they would make in the US version. but from the trailers, looks like the ending will run similar.

there were some areas of the Chinese film that were... flimsy. like the therapist who suddenly came around to beleiving the young woman (Mun) he just met to the point of risking his career to help her. I hope they fix that in the US release.

[spoiler]but I did like the scene where Mun finally realizes that the woman she sees in the mirror isn't her and that gives the Doctor with her a clue as to what's happening to her.


so please, post any film you think people should watch, or be warned of.

I will get in a fist fight with anyone who recommends Napoleon Dynamite.

I will get in a fist fight with anyone who recommends Napoleon Dynamite.

...Napoleon Dynamite....:p

I quite like Lucky Number Slevin. It has a good steady plot and also a well executed twist at the end. If you haven't seen it I recommend it.

I will get in a fist fight with anyone who recommends Napoleon Dynamite.

Over the internet? I'd like to see that one time. :p
But yeah, I'll never get the time back that I wasted watching that stupid movie.

For my part, I highly recommend Cloverfield. I saw it yesterday and thought it was very well made. The characters are pretty believable and the effects are very well done. It was probably the most believable CGI I've ever seen, with the obvious exception of the creature itself. That's the only CGI part that actually looks CGI. I also thought the shaky first person camera work added to the atmosphere very nicely. Give it a shot.

...Napoleon Dynamite....:p

I quite like Lucky Number Slevin. It has a good steady plot and also a well executed twist at the end. If you haven't seen it I recommend it.

Slevin was good, but the twist was a bit obvious if you paid attention in the beginning. It's kinda like the twist in F.E.A.R., if you pay attention and take the time to put the pieces together, you can figure it out.

I quite like Lucky Number Slevin. It has a good steady plot and also a well executed twist at the end. If you haven't seen it I recommend it.

That movie was terrible. The twist was awfully easy to predict and overall I found the plot tedious, boring, and insulting to anyone with any intelligence.

...Napoleon Dynamite....:p

I quite like Lucky Number Slevin. It has a good steady plot and also a well executed twist at the end. If you haven't seen it I recommend it.

i felt that lucky number slevin suffered due to its stupid title. it WAS a solid movie that was worth seeing. who would have guessed?

*Adds Lucky # Sleven to list to rent*

Dragon War: D-War
Korean fable made conteporary...

Great effects, and it had it's moments. but I hated the Deus Ex Machina of the amulet at the end. that could've been done better.

Dragons vs Dragonflys... hehehehe...

the whole 'spirit of the girl comforting the hero' bit at the end failed miserably... Dunno why tho. I suspect had it been in a fully Korean/Chinese/Japanese film, it might've worked.

This is, I fear, more of a documentary than a film, but I enjoyed it all the same;

Deep Water; A British businessman and amateur sailor, Donald Crowhurst (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Crowhurst), enters the Sunday Times "Race Around the World", competing to surpass the accomplishment of Sir Francis Chichester and circumnavigate the globe in one voyage. The boat he constructs is wracked with faults, and yet he cannot return home because the sponsorship contract signed to permit him to compete would require him to repay the money given by his sponsor were he not to complete the race, and thus he would financially ruin his family. Crowhurst then conceives of a deception; to relay erroneous information as to his progress, whilst remaining off the coast of Brazil, before rejoining the race when his competitors pass him, and attempt to win. When doing this, he descends into madness, and his boat is found in the Atlantic unmanned, Crowhurst having committed suicide.

This production is not only well fashioned an conceived, but also deals with the suicide of a father and husband with commendable compassion and respect. It also happens that I'm going out with one if his grandchildren, which is, in truth, the only reason I watched the bloody thing. That said, I would still recommend watching it; it portrays the power, and danger of dreams, with arresting skill.

This is, I fear, more of a documentary than a film, but I enjoyed it all the same


A documentary is a type of film.

A documentary is a type of film.

Fair enough.

I dunno about 28 Days Later. I wouldn't classify it as Horror, but thriller/action. Interesting story, but not enough shock to make it horror IMHO.

Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent movie. just one I wouldn't classify has horror.

I dunno about 28 Days Later. I wouldn't classify it as Horror, but thriller/action. Interesting story, but not enough shock to make it horror IMHO.

Don't get me wrong, it's an excellent movie. just one I wouldn't classify has horror.

I thought it all went wrong when they headed out of London and forgot what movie they wanted to make.

I thought it all went wrong when they headed out of London and forgot what movie they wanted to make.

Zombies or not, the first thing I'd do is leave London and get back to Manchester [/flippancy]

i saw "charlie wilson's war" last night.

the husband wanted to see it.

it looked a bit hokey on the ads but its surprisingly entertaining for a movie thats about funding a covert war in afghanistan. its well worth seeing. you should at least put it on your netflix list for later.

You have an unforgivable taste in cities.

That may be, but horses for courses :)

I thought it all went wrong when they headed out of London and forgot what movie they wanted to make.

yeah, I can see picking up more survivors and even losing some in that tunnel sequence and other places.

but once out of London it became a Road Movie.

would've been interesting to see them get to Manchester and have those military guys infected and what not.

I wonder why those that were infected were NOT attacking each other? it's not Zombies, but Uncontrolled Rage... so shouldn't they be attacking each other?

Zombies or not, the first thing I'd do is leave London and get back to Manchester [/flippancy]

You have an unforgivable taste in cities.

Zombies or not, the first thing I'd do is leave London and get back to Manchester [/flippancy]Didn't Manchester have the misfortune of being on fire? I'd imagine that make it a less enjoyable place to go than London in any case.

I wonder why those that were infected were NOT attacking each other? it's not Zombies, but Uncontrolled Rage... so shouldn't they be attacking each other?According to the comics that explain a bit of the unexplained things, the difference in smell is what makes us such lovely targets. Not enough adrenaline streaming from our pores, apparently.

Didn't Manchester have the misfortune of being on fire? I'd imagine that make it a less enjoyable place to go than London in any case.

I'm very tempted to be very gobby and northern. But I won't because occasionally people think I'm being serious.

Cloverfield. Wonderful movie. Warning though, don't have dinner right before watching it. You might have to deal with a puking boyfriend.

*Adds Lucky # Sleven to list to rent*

Dragon War: D-War
Korean fable made conteporary...

Great effects, and it had it's moments. but I hated the Deus Ex Machina of the amulet at the end. that could've been done better.

Dragons vs Dragonflys... hehehehe...

the whole 'spirit of the girl comforting the hero' bit at the end failed miserably... Dunno why tho. I suspect had it been in a fully Korean/Chinese/Japanese film, it might've worked.
My god, the only reason I can think of that you'd say these things is if the producers paid you. Dragon War has become my new watermark as to how bad a movie can get.

In the first fifteen minutes it had the dreaded quadruple flashback, that's right-a flashback that contained a flashback that contained a flashback that contained yet another flashback. The premise was explained in full 5 times in the first 20 minutes.

How do you have a Korean story with a Korean director about a Korean legend and still have the heroes be white kids from L.A.?

And the story flow, my god...it seemed that not one scene was motivated by another. The actual dragon war seemed like an after thought.

Even the 12 year old in the audience was pissed. That was hands down the worst movie I had seen in years, and I watched Ghost Rider and Rise of the Silver Surfer that year. The scaring might heal, but not soon...

My god, the only reason I can think of that you'd say these things is if the producers paid you. Dragon War has become my new watermark as to how bad a movie can get.

In the first fifteen minutes it had the dreaded quadruple flashback, that's right-a flashback that contained a flashback that contained a flashback that contained yet another flashback. The premise was explained in full 5 times in the first 20 minutes.

How do you have a Korean story with a Korean director about a Korean legend and still have the heroes be white kids from L.A.?

And the story flow, my god...it seemed that not one scene was motivated by another. The actual dragon war seemed like an after thought.

Even the 12 year old in the audience was pissed. That was hands down the worst movie I had seen in years, and I watched Ghost Rider and Rise of the Silver Surfer that year. The scaring might heal, but not soon...
I've seen worse... believe you me. if ever you come across a drek called Starship (http://imdb.com/title/tt0090068/) don't pick it up unless you got absolutely NOTHING else to do, and that includes killing yourself, slowly and painfully...

I also don't compare the FX and story with any other films, but look on it on it's own merit.

granted I hated the ending as I said, the Deus Ex machina used was just...

but for a brainless source of entertainment... it's pretty good.

I've seen worse... believe you me. if ever you come across a drek called Starship (http://imdb.com/title/tt0090068/) don't pick it up unless you got absolutely NOTHING else to do, and that includes killing yourself, slowly and painfully...

I also don't compare the FX and story with any other films, but look on it on it's own merit.

granted I hated the ending as I said, the Deus Ex machina used was just...

but for a brainless source of entertainment... it's pretty good.
No. Just, no. Seriously. I wasn't comparing it or its effects to other movies. There's not a state brainless enough to find a way to enjoy that movie, and I do drugs. It's merits were poorly motivated scenes, which means that not only do you not know why each thing is happening (except that the premise is over explained) but you don't care. The actual 'dragon war' fails to actually deliver much of a war at all. And seriously, a quadruple flashback? Those are its merits, and they suck.

The Deus ex Machina ending was the least of its worries. If anything, we knew that the 'good' dragon was coming so it might be the most motivated thing in the whole movie.

Look, I like action movies, I wasn't in a movie called "D-Wars" looking for fucking Citizen Kane. But there's a minimum standard before you can call it a movie and not a collection of crap you shot and then subjected the public to. This movie was bad, Uwe Boll bad. I'm tired of people excusing steaming piles of crap with "Oh, you. It's just mindless entertainment." Have more respect for yourselves.

That might be a little extreme on a matter of opinion, but when a movie is that bad it's no longer a subjective thing.

Cloverfield. Wonderful movie. Warning though, don't have dinner right before watching it. You might have to deal with a puking boyfriend.Bad dinner, I take? It wasn't that gory.:p

Bad dinner, I take? It wasn't that gory.:p
I think she means the way it's filmed. You know, the constant, jerky camera moves. It's apparently a big problem for many people in that movie, like it was with the Blair Witch Project.

I saw Juno a few weeks back, I loved it, it was quirky enough to keep my attention yet Hollywood enough not to scare away people who aren't used to independent type movies. It's been a long time since I have felt so fully engrossed in a movie, I felt it was really well done.

I think she means the way it's filmed. You know, the constant, jerky camera moves. It's apparently a big problem for many people in that movie, like it was with the Blair Witch Project.Pfffrrt, bunch of girlies they are.:p

No. Just, no. Seriously. I wasn't comparing it or its effects to other movies. There's not a state brainless enough to find a way to enjoy that movie, and I do drugs. It's merits were poorly motivated scenes, which means that not only do you not know why each thing is happening (except that the premise is over explained) but you don't care. The actual 'dragon war' fails to actually deliver much of a war at all. And seriously, a quadruple flashback? Those are its merits, and they suck.

The Deus ex Machina ending was the least of its worries. If anything, we knew that the 'good' dragon was coming so it might be the most motivated thing in the whole movie.

Look, I like action movies, I wasn't in a movie called "D-Wars" looking for fucking Citizen Kane. But there's a minimum standard before you can call it a movie and not a collection of crap you shot and then subjected the public to. This movie was bad, Uwe Boll bad. I'm tired of people excusing steaming piles of crap with "Oh, you. It's just mindless entertainment." Have more respect for yourselves.

That might be a little extreme on a matter of opinion, but when a movie is that bad it's no longer a subjective thing.

Then again, I do like the B-Movies so... that probably influenced my opinon.

and i did ask for other's opinions as well. :)

One film I saw recently was Duel. This was Stephen Spielberg's first film. Frankly, it's not much. It's about a guy dealing with this jerk in a big rig who is hell-bent on slowing him down. It's done with skill - I can understand why this film could get a guy noticed - but the concept sucks. I don't recommend it. That said, I didn't finish watching it, so it might get better later.

For guys looking for a movie to take their girlfriend to, I suggest Beowulf. While it may not be quite accurate to the ancient saga, it contains most of what made Beowulf popular in the Dark Ages, and kept it around for centuries. The 3-D doesn't detract much. It looks CGI, but jaw-dropping gorgeous CGI - what you'd expect from a high-end video game. The final battle scene is awesome. Also, in complete accordance with the legend, Beowulf goes toe-to-toe with Grendel completely naked (this is how you convince your girlfriend to come).

I highly recommend Charlie Wilson's War. It would be a good movie to get on DVD, which is how I saw it (a friend of a parent of a friend is a radio host, and got an awards copy). Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant.

And even if you aren't an anime fan, I have to recommend Princess Mononoke, which is my favorite animated movie of all time (dethroning Lion King). If you don't believe me, believe Roger Ebert (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19991029/REVIEWS/910290303/1023).

I've been on a documentary kick lately, and I've just seen the film F**k, which is an exploration of every aspect of the infamous four-letter word, from clouded etymology (it's NOT an acronym) to the way it and it's proponents are viewed in society. It features interviews with everyone from Alan Keyes to Ice-T and from George Carlin to Pat Boone, so it's relatively even-handed, which was a pleasant surprise.

I've noticed a tendency for documentaries to be partisan affairs, which is understandable, but it seems to me that you do your subject no favors by showing only your favorite side and giving only lip service to the opposition. There's plenty of opposition in F**k, and while a few of those in the anti- camp are strung up by their own ridiculous words, many of them make excellent points about vocabulary choice and how taste and redundancy enters the picture.

I highly recommend this movie for a solid, 93-minute exposure to a great and controversial word.

Look, I like action movies, I wasn't in a movie called "D-Wars" looking for fucking Citizen Kane. But there's a minimum standard before you can call it a movie and not a collection of crap you shot and then subjected the public to. This movie was bad, Uwe Boll bad. I'm tired of people excusing steaming piles of crap with "Oh, you. It's just mindless entertainment." Have more respect for yourselves.

That might be a little extreme on a matter of opinion, but when a movie is that bad it's no longer a subjective thing.

AGREED, well spoken! Entertainment can be fun without being utterly mindless. Think of Groundhog Day -- simple, reality-suspension plot (what would you do if you had the same day to live over and over again), mild moral (be yourself and be nice and good things can happen), and all kinds of levels of comedy, from slapstick to satire to sarcasm. Is it an Oscar-winning comedy? No, but there aren't many of THOSE to begin with. I'm just tired of the crap coming out that calls itself comedy and is just thinly-wrapped body-humor jokes or worn-out cliches (think Adam Sandler's or Will Ferrell's most recent films). I let a lot slide for a film like Balls of Fury, because it has just enough meat in it to make it worth sitting through the nut-shots and other telegraphed bits. But I swear, Vince Vaughan needs to take a fucking sabbatical. He hasn't been funny since Swingers, and he's played that one note he's got to death. Ferrell's smart enough to know better, but he also knows money when he sees it. He's milking his Old School persona for as much as he can, but the deliberately oblivious idiot schtick is very tired (especially when he was so good in Stranger Than Fiction).

I think she means the way it's filmed. You know, the constant, jerky camera moves. It's apparently a big problem for many people in that movie, like it was with the Blair Witch Project.

Oy gevalt, hold the camera still already. Sorry, but a little of that technique goes a long way.

Speaking of my love of B-Movies...

This one (http://imdb.com/title/tt0430926/quotes) should only be watched by a true lover of B-Movies. if you thougth D-Wars was horrible... stay away from Vampire Wars: Battle for the Universe. but if you like your movies with Cheese... then you're in for a treat.

There's life out there, too bad most of it's Vampiric. Many different species of Vampires exists, from blood suckers to organ eaters to even worms that possesses bodies... and to stop them, the Government of Earth created the Vampire Santiations Teams.

A V-San, Vampire Sanitation, team intercepts a call for help and comes to the rescue of a lone surivor of a mining colony. but when the transit station she is dropped off at is overrun by vampires, the crew suspect that the Mining station survivor is actually a traitor. is she working for a vampire clan who's leader wants to... get this... rule the universe?

Bad dinner, I take? It wasn't that gory.:p
I think she means the way it's filmed. You know, the constant, jerky camera moves. It's apparently a big problem for many people in that movie, like it was with the Blair Witch Project.
What she said.
Pfffrrt, bunch of girlies they are.:p
I apologize for my lack of Y-chromosomes. Forgive me, o great one?

I apologize for my lack of Y-chromosomes. Forgive me, o great one?Thou art forgiven.:p

Thou art forgiven.:p
:p

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13444446&postcount=76

Woohoo, I must sig one of these posts.:p
sig...HC Eredivisie owns god and y-chromosomes?

Woohoo, I must sig one of these posts.:p

sig...HC Eredivisie owns god and y-chromosomes?
Yes.:p I love linksignatures.;)

Maybe we can make a movie out of it?:D

Yes.:p I love linksignatures.;)

Maybe we can make a movie out of it?:D

an NSG movie...

I wouldn't mind Wayne Knight (http://imdb.com/name/nm0001431/) to play me.


The Feast (http://imdb.com/title/tt0426459/) was pretty good, IMO. Enough tongue-in-cheek humor to match the tongue-through-cheek horror.

The Feast (http://imdb.com/title/tt0426459/) was pretty good, IMO. Enough tongue-in-cheek humor to match the tongue-through-cheek horror.
That was the first Project Greenlight that I really felt that the director was just getting hosed. The first two that happened, but I didn't like those guys anyway. But Gulager, it was just mean.

The last few weeks Ive seen: gory Rambo, interesting I-Legend, gay 300 Spartans :D, Time warping Rendition ,incomplete Golden Compass, mysterious Cloverfield.
(yes some of them are from late 2007)
I enjoyed them all one way or another...

Meet the Spartans. A++
I am legend. A++
Golden Compass. A++

Rendition A+ my GF did not get the Timewarping rite away... my NSG experience helped me with that ;)

Cloverfield B+ I had very-very low expectations for this movie.. and It was kind of fun after all.. It was refreshing.

Rambo B- this was like a roman Circus, the audience accounts for 80% of the entertainment points. :D

Beowulf B+ I liked Angelina Jolie.. I totally enjoyed this moment: When my GF asked me "Why is Beowulf accepting the deal. would you?" and I replied "of course, Its Angeline Jolie !! " :cool:

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=548621


The previews that got my attention:

Vantage point A++
Guild of Assassins (or something like that) A++

--of course preview ratings are for the entertainment value of 3 minutes--

I've got to back up the guy who mentioned Princess Mononoke, but I'd shift that to Nausicaa, by the same director, Hayao Miyazaki.

Golden Compass. A++

Are you kidding me? That movie was so bad my friends and I started making fun of it in the middle.

We tried. We REALLY tried to enjoy it, but it just wasn't working.

I will get in a fist fight with anyone who recommends Napoleon Dynamite.

I'll hold them...you punch :D

so please, post any film you think people should watch, or be warned of.

I wholeheartedly recommend "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street".
I saw it yesterday. It is a musical/horror with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter in a dark 19th century setting. I thought it was amazing, and the singing part was not memorable but enjoyable.
Other than that, a great but a bit older(2005-ish) film was "The Grimm Brothers", the brothers go around german villages and play with the people's superstitions, hoaxing stuff like demon-banishing, until they finally come across a true fairy-tale in a dark forest. The humor and dark fantasy atmosphere in this film are top-notch.

I've got to back up the guy who mentioned Princess Mononoke, but I'd shift that to Nausicaa, by the same director, Hayao Miyazaki.

They're both excellent. They're quite similar - environmental themes, pacifist main characters. I prefer Princess Mononoke, personally.

Knotthole Glade;13445417']Other than that, a great but a bit older(2005-ish) film was "The Grimm Brothers", the brothers go around german villages and play with the people's superstitions, hoaxing stuff like demon-banishing, until they finally come across a true fairy-tale in a dark forest. The humor and dark fantasy atmosphere in this film are top-notch.

I saw that one. I like how they tried to blend in elements of the Grimm Fairy Tales.

Are you kidding me? That movie was so bad my friends and I started making fun of it in the middle.

We tried. We REALLY tried to enjoy it, but it just wasn't working.so, what are your top movies of the last 2 months?

They're both excellent. They're quite similar - environmental themes, pacifist main characters. I prefer Princess Mononoke, personally.

Though good, that movie suffered from trying to get to many points across.

This is, I fear, more of a documentary than a film, but I enjoyed it all the same. *snip*

A documentary is a genre of film. I suppose you're not as "indy" as you think.

Film Student: 1.
Fool: 0.

i saw "charlie wilson's war" last night.

the husband wanted to see it.

it looked a bit hokey on the ads but its surprisingly entertaining for a movie thats about funding a covert war in afghanistan. its well worth seeing. you should at least put it on your netflix list for later.

I enjoyed it too. When I first saw Forest Gump I wasn't a big fan of Tom Hanks, but as I grew older I learnt to appreciate the film and his unique style of acting. After studying Saving Private Ryan, I noticed how well-suited he is to dramatic roles, especially in the war genre, and as I expected, he was amazing in Charlie Wilson's War. Julia Roberts surprised me, to be honest. I'd never seen her like that before, but I think she was very true to the character. I'd definitely reccomend this movie as well.

I saw Juno a few weeks back, I loved it, it was quirky enough to keep my attention yet Hollywood enough not to scare away people who aren't used to independent type movies. It's been a long time since I have felt so fully engrossed in a movie, I felt it was really well done.

With all the advirtising, praise and hype surrounding it, I was worried that it would be a little like American Pie. However, I was surprised because it was such an indepent-type/arthouse film. The characters are quirky yet relatable, and I was fully engrossed in the storyline as well. The soundtrack, may I add, really topped it off for me. I'm so glad that movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Juno are finally in the public eye.

*snip*
I am legend. A++*snip*

Why?

While Will Smith is a fantastic actor, I really don't think he pulled this one off. A nearly-one-man film with zombies? No. No. No.

Knotthole Glade;13445417']I wholeheartedly recommend "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street".
I saw it yesterday. It is a musical/horror with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter in a dark 19th century setting. I thought it was amazing, and the singing part was not memorable but enjoyable.
Other than that, a great but a bit older(2005-ish) film was "The Grimm Brothers", the brothers go around german villages and play with the people's superstitions, hoaxing stuff like demon-banishing, until they finally come across a true fairy-tale in a dark forest. The humor and dark fantasy atmosphere in this film are top-notch.

I'm not a big fan of Johnny Depp, but I've heard the musical version is great. Does Johnny Depp steal the spotlight like he does in nearly every other film he's done recently? I think I'll need some convincing to see it.

"Sergeant York"

Old B&W film about Corporal Alvin York, real-life WW1 hero. Very good story.

Only recent releases I've seen are Atonement and There Will Be Blood. Both were okay by me. Atonement needs the big screen, TWBB doesn't. Storyline in TWBB was lacking, but it's worth a look to see the rare appearance of one of the greats: Daniel Day Lewis.

so, what are your top movies of the last 2 months?
I just watched a movie called "Leon" last Sunday. Simply amazing. Definitely the top on my list for recently watched movie now.

I just watched a movie called "Leon" last Sunday. Simply amazing. Definitely the top on my list for recently watched movie now.The movie with Reno? Yeah its a great movie, I do like LucBezzon art.

but my question was, what New movies have you seen (last 3 months releases) that are clearly better than TGP or IAL.

Why?Because it was more fun to watch than most other current movies, I must ask you the same question I asked Ladamesansmerci.

What are your contenders? (new releases)

Because it was more fun to watch than most other current movies, I must ask you the same question I asked Ladamesansmerci.

What are your contenders? (new releases)

It's an A++ because it's "fun"? Okay...

Recent releases? Juno. American Gangster. Charlie Wilson's War.

i saw "charlie wilson's war" last night.

the husband wanted to see it.

it looked a bit hokey on the ads but its surprisingly entertaining for a movie thats about funding a covert war in afghanistan. its well worth seeing. you should at least put it on your netflix list for later.

I enjoyed it too. When I first saw Forest Gump I wasn't a big fan of Tom Hanks, but as I grew older I learnt to appreciate the film and his unique style of acting. After studying Saving Private Ryan, I noticed how well-suited he is to dramatic roles, especially in the war genre, and as I expected, he was amazing in Charlie Wilson's War. Julia Roberts surprised me, to be honest. I'd never seen her like that before, but I think she was very true to the character. I'd definitely reccomend this movie as well.
I'd like to third (or is it fourth) this. Tom Hanks is very good, and the fast talking banter between the leads really plays off, and highlights, the serious overall tone. The ending really catches you unaware; even for someone aware of the aftermath of the operations. And I totally didn't recognise Julia Roberts.

My only gripe is with some of the CG and stock footage. Seriously? An F16? Come on, guys. (you'll see what I mean)

In keeping with the spirit of the thread, which was to recommend movies on DVD or in theaters, allow me to wholeheartedly advocate that you see:

Bubba Ho-Tep

Often overlooked by moviegoers because of its apparent wierdness, they miss the fact that wierdness is sometimes a good thing, in this case a very good thing. The plot outline is in fact one of the most riotously wierd and hilarious premises for a movie ever: an aging Elvis impersonator who is convinced he is Elvis and an aging black man convinced he is JFK team up to fight a soul-sucking mummy that haunts their East Texas rest home. Now, once you've caught your breath, allow me to say first that you are absolutely right in that this is a shoestring budget B-movie. But that shouldn't lead you to think that it is therefore a low-quality movie, for several reasons.

First and foremost, Elvis, played by the ever-hilarious Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame, does something absolutely astonishing and disappears completely into the role: 15 minutes into the movie, as amazing as this sounds, you will have completely forgotten that you are looking at Bruce Campbell and will really think that this is an old, cantankerous Elvis. It is actually not uncommon for people who know this little gem of a movie to remark that Bruce Campbell was totally gipped for an Oscar nod.

Second and perhaps more importantly, this movie doesn't shy away from pointing out that while this may really be Elvis and black JFK to us, to the rest of the world they are just a bunch of semi-invalid coots. In so doing, they make very substantive points about how we laugh at the lost dignity of the elderly, how we squander our youth and don't appreciate what would really make our life have meaning until it's too late to act on them, and how even small things give us a chance for redemption even at the very end. While clearly satirizing action movies (the obligatory high-speed carfight happens on an electric wheelchair), it also takes very seriously the notion of heroism and redemption that action movies are supposed to be about, and by the end of the movie, you'd have to have a heart of stone not to be rooting for Elvis, I mean, Sebastian Haff.

I must highly recommend the movie "Sunshine"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/

An interesting concept is made all the better by great performances from a solid cast, excellent effects, fantastically appropriate music, and a series of plot events and twists that leave the viewer engrossed from beginning to end.

I watched it three times in three days...something I've never done with any movie before.

Even if you're not a big sci-fi fan, this movie has plenty to offer, and it's out on DVD. Go get it! :)

I'm not a big fan of Johnny Depp, but I've heard the musical version is great. Does Johnny Depp steal the spotlight like he does in nearly every other film he's done recently? I think I'll need some convincing to see it.

The cast is pretty good, there are 2 actors that played in Harry Potter films( Snape and some guy who served Voldemort), and they do a good job. Helena Bonham-Carter is also fascinating.

Knotthole Glade;13446828']The cast is pretty good, there are 2 actors that played in Harry Potter films( Snape and some guy who served Voldemort), and they do a good job. Helena Bonham-Carter is also fascinating.Alan Rickman is NOT to be referred to as simply "the guy that played Snape"! :mad:

Knotthole Glade;13446828']The cast is pretty good, there are 2 actors that played in Harry Potter films( Snape and some guy who served Voldemort), and they do a good job. Helena Bonham-Carter is also fascinating.

Alan Rickman and Peter Pettigrew. Both had extensive careers before Potter, so their "good job" was to be expected, as was Bonham-Carter's (she's been captivating since she was the title character in Lady Jane, a good movie in its own right, featuring Cary Elwes -- aka Westley of Princess Bride and several other films -- as well).

Alan Rickman and Peter Pettigrew.

Timothy Spall. He was in Last Samurai as well.

I'm not a big fan of Johnny Depp, but I've heard the musical version is great. Does Johnny Depp steal the spotlight like he does in nearly every other film he's done recently? I think I'll need some convincing to see it.

i AM a big fan of johnny depp but the thought of johnny singing was a bit offputting.

what made me go see it was realizing that it is indeed the stephen sondheim version of sweeny todd.

depp doesnt steal the spotlight because he is the main character. he IS the spotlight.

if youre a fan of the story and dont need the singing to be top level, its a great movie. i liked it so much that i saw it twice at the theater and rented 2 other versions off netflix.

i AM a big fan of johnny depp but the thought of johnny singing was a bit offputting. Actually, the idea of Captain Jack Sparrow singing puts me off. And that's what Depp's Todd sounds like to me...

Knotthole Glade;13446828']The cast is pretty good, there are 2 actors that played in Harry Potter films( Snape and some guy who served Voldemort), and they do a good job. Helena Bonham-Carter is also fascinating.Alan Rickman is NOT to be referred to as simply "the guy that played Snape"! :mad:

How about...
The guy who played Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/ulteriormotives/Youre-a-MONSTER.jpg

Sorry, I couldn't resist...
He was great in that movie, even though the movie itself was bad.

<snip> i really felt how completely batshit insane they both were and that worked for me.

Considering the actors, is that at all surprising?

How about...
The guy who played Alexander Dane (Galaxy Quest)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a205/ulteriormotives/Youre-a-MONSTER.jpg

Actually, the idea of Captain Jack Sparrow singing puts me off. And that's what Depp's Todd sounds like to me...

hes not a great singer but he does OK. hb carter really cant sing. the 2 young characters are the only ones who CAN sing and they do a very good job. too bad their parts were cut back from what is in the play.

what i liked was the intensity that both depp and carter brought to the roles. much more intense than the stage play. i really felt how completely batshit insane they both were and that worked for me.

:eek: :mad:

Well it was... mind you I own a copy, 'cause it's fun to watch them poke fun at Star Trek & Trekkies

The movie with Reno? Yeah its a great movie, I do like LucBezzon art.

but my question was, what New movies have you seen (last 3 months releases) that are clearly better than TGP or IAL.
I haven't said anything about I Am Legend, because I haven't seen it yet. I just personally thinks The Golden Compass sucked. I thought Cloverfield was much better than The Golden Compass. This is coming from a HUGE Phillip Pullman fan. I love the His Dark Materials series dearly, I love his other works as well. And the movie simply didn't meet my (potentially unfair) standards.

hes not a great singer but he does OK.I've heard him in the previews. It didn't sound bad, but it sounded like Captain Jack, which weirded me out.

Sorry, I couldn't resist...
He was great in that movie, Yes, he was.
even though the movie itself was bad.:eek: :mad:

I haven't said anything about I Am Legend, because I haven't seen it yet. I just personally thinks The Golden Compass sucked. I thought Cloverfield was much better than The Golden Compass. This is coming from a HUGE Phillip Pullman fan. I love the His Dark Materials series dearly, I love his other works as well. And the movie simply didn't meet my (potentially unfair) standards.

I don't think it ever could, really. There was simply too much depth in His Dark Materials to be covered in 2 hours or so. Kinda like Lord of the Rings, although that's a different kettle of fish.

Alan Rickman is NOT to be referred to as simply "the guy that played Snape"! :mad:

I am ashamed of my ignorance. Truth be told, I watch very few films, only the ones that really get me excited, so I can hardly tell between Bruce Willis and the guy that plays in something with cars(bleh), The Courier or something.