Random Movie Musings

Taken: Not a bad action flick. I saw this mostly because I like Liam Neeson. He did a good job with the part and showed he could hang with 007 or Bourne. In fact I actually like it better than Quantam of Solace or the last two Bourne films, but that's just my opinion. The stunts in Taken have a more realistic feel to them, whereas in Bourne the guy is just unstoppable and in Bond the action stunts are a combination of over the top and often blurry. I thought the film had a nice message as well, definitely something people need to think about when traveling abroad.

I give it an 8/10
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There Will Be Blood (2007)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/review-there-will-be-blood-2007/
The first two-thirds of TWBB were really tremendous, it's such a shame that the final act went completely off the tracks. Day-Lew was powerful, but I felt he veered too much towards insanity in that final act, and one major flaw in the entire of the film was Paul Dano, I never bought him as a strong character or a rival to Day-Lewis. But, the film looked beautiful with great visuals and I loved the the allegory of the first two-thirds.

Touching The Void (2003)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/review-touching-the-void-2003/
I'm not a fan of documentaries to begin with, but initially I liked Touching The Void. Unfortunately that didn't last as the docudrama style didn't work for me at all, and the film became real boring real fast.

Babe: Pig In The City (1998)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/review-babe-pig-in-the-city-1998/
Babe: Pig in The City isn't on the same level as Babe, but that's only due to a few scenes ringing false. However, Babe: Pig In The City is still fun, with killer comedy, deep messages and themes that are a tad bit darker than in the first one, great voice acting, and a visual style that is breathtaking and hard to describe. If you aren't taken by the fake city that Babe inhabits then there's probably something wrong with you.

Magnolia (1999)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/review-magnolia-1999/
Magnolia is a splendid film, with a theme that runs throughout and works perfectly in the films resolution. I wish that some of the stories had been given more time near the end, but it's a minor gripe. Acting wise there isn't a weak link in Magnolia, and I know I keep on saying it but Tom Cruise is really great in this. However, my favorite performance was from John C. Reilly, a criminally underrated actor that was the lynch pin for the entire film. Tremendously directed, just a great movie all around.

Sex, Lies And Videotape (1989)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/review-sex-lies-and-videotape-1989/
I liked the way this handled its themes, and it featured a surprisingly good performance from Andie Macdowell. Stylistically it was very appealing, but I did feel like it fell a bit short of believable story wise, although most of that falls onto the shoulders of James Spader, I didn't buy his character, mainly the way he chose to portray Graham.

James And The Giant Peach (1996)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/review-james-and-the-giant-peach-1996/
Amazing film, full of wonderful characters, terrific voice acting and a brilliant integration of live action and stop-motion animation. The themes were all classic, but they were all presented in a unique and vibrant fashion, outside of a few minor glitches this was a great movie.

Apollo 13 (1995)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/review-apollo-13-1995/
Ron Howard's masterpiece and a brilliant movie. The cast is great top to bottom, and the amazing thing that Howard does is he allows it to play like a horror movie for the most part. The scenes are claustrophobic and the characters are trapped in their situation fighting and invisible killer, the fear and tension is palpable. Apollo 13 also does a great job of showcasing the wonderment that is Outer Space and space travel and why it is so sad that most people don't pay any attention to either nowadays.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/review-the-shawshank-redemption-1994/
One of my all time favorites as well as the movie I rank as #1 all-time. I've heard the complaints about the film, and I just don't see it. Everything about this movie is perfection, form the cast to the cinematography, to the score, the dialogue, the themes, the coloring, everything. This movie is more than worthy of all the praise it receives.

Sunshine (2007)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/review-sunshine-2007/
I really enjoyed the first two-thirds, but that last act was a letdown. I know people have criticized some of Boyle's other works for also falling apart in the final act, but I never witnessed it in his other pictures. However in Sunshine the movie does fall apart in the final act, there's too much of a tonal shift, it becomes too supernatural, too badly shot and too cliche. Still, the first two thirds were good, the CGI was very good, although I will say I don't understand what all the hubbub was about the music, because outside of a few places i found it rather ordinary.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters (2007)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/review-aqua-teen-hunger-force-colon-movie-film-for-theaters-2007/
Like I say in my review, any fan of the show will like this, but I don't see many non-fans caring for it in any way. It's the same type of humor from the show, some works, some doesn't and it's stretched out a bit too long. But, being a fan of the show I enjoyed this a lot.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/review-the-blair-witch-project-1999/
I've never understood the backlash against this film, it is a tremendous film, a great story idea and one of the best, maybe even the best, horror films to ever come out. Somewhere along the way horror fans began to think of horror as nothing more than blood and gore, and when a movie like The Blair Witch Project comes along and is about the true horror of suspense, the mundane and the unknown, people rebelled. Whatever, it's their loss, great movie.
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Master Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 4406 Location: Korriban

@Bill Thompson

I liked the Blair Witch Project a lot the first time I saw it (in fact, on Halloween this year an old movie theatre screened it so me and some friends went. Perfect Halloween) but it gets less impressive each time I watched it. I really think the weak point is what's-her-name, the main girl in the lead role. I just couldn't buy her performance. Everyone else, bought it completely, but hers was a weak point for me. Just seemed too forced in some places and in others it felt like she wasn't trying at all. Just my opinion though, and I agree that its a great film. And I loved Sunshine, even though the ending was a little weird.
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Crash (2004)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/review-crash-2004/
Oh great and mighty Odin, how much I absolutely abhorred this film. Completely devoid of any subtlety, everyone is a racist, nope, there's no such thing as cool people in the world, only racists. Terrible overacting everywhere, this ranks as one of the worst movies I've ever seen, it's that bad.

Monster's Ball (2001)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/review-monsters-ball-2001/
Really good movie, tremendous performances from Boyle, Ledger, Thornton and Berry. Great statement on the human condition and the amount of "need" that exists in peoples lives and what we will do to appease that "need." Dirt, grungy and very authentic, this feels like a movie that is down on its luck, only part that didn't ring true to me was the expediency with which the dad was dealt with. I have yet to see a movie by Marc Forster that I haven't thought was great, Monster's Ball is yet another great film on his resume.

The Palm Beach Story (1942)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/review-the-palm-beach-story-1942/
So yeah, Preston Sturges is amazing, he not only has a comedic eye behind the camera but he writes such slick and smart dialogue that's also very realistic. He's basically what Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino have spent their entire careers trying to be and they'll never reach his greatness. Claudette Colbert has quickly become on of my favorite actresses, as cute as a button and fantastic in her delivery of lines with some of the best facial expressions. Mary Astor does steal the show when she makes her appearance, just a great comedy.

Doubt (2008)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/review-doubt-2008/
Every actor delivers a great performance, so no need to elaborate on that. I thought the script was excellent, as was the work of Roger Deakins but that's no surprise. This film touched on a lot of themes, and outside of that last line in the last scene it did a tremendous job of creating doubt and suspicion in the viewer, well before we were given anything to doubt.

Freaks (1932)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/review-freaks-1932/
Freaks is a film that I could never see being made in today's politically correct world, and that's a shame because it is a splendid movie. It functions just as much as a statement on the evil nature of humanity as it does as a horror film. The collection of Carnies are truly wonderful in how varied they are, and I loved how the film toyed with your sympathies and at the end made you question who you were being sympathetic towards. Other than the tacked on happy ending, this was a great film.

Killer's Kiss (1955)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/review-killers-kiss-1955/
There's nothing much to say about this film, it was basically a paint by numbers noir. The only reason to see it is because it is a very early Stanley Kubrick film and you can witness some of the style he will soon develop fully in far better pictures.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/review-snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-1937/
This is a classic for a reason. Pretty much a perfect fairy tale, with beautiful animation, whimsical characters, laughs, and a bit of a dark side as well. I really don't need to say much about this film, it speaks for itself.

Panic Room (2002)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/review-panic-room-2002/
Really good thriller, Fincher's visuals elevate it above the material. I liked the concept, although it did wear thin near the end. Foster and Stewart were really good and I was partial to Dwight Yoakam as one of the burglars. Not Fincher's best, but still a good film.

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/review-what-ever-happened-to-baby-jane-1962/
This is a tremendously macabre and dark comedy that also functions as a suspense and horror film. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford hated each other in real life and it comes across in their performances, you feel that Blanche and Jane really do hate each other. Full of disturbing imagery and acts of cruelty, this is also a very sly movie. From the get go its sets your sympathies on a certain path, but as the movie goes along your sympathies are called into question and you realize that in her own way Blanche is just as much of a monster as Jane, she just isn't psychotic like Jane. All around a great dark movie.

The Thing (1982)
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/review-the-thing-1982/
Made during Carpenter's heyday, The Thing is a masterful who is who story with great suspense, atmosphere and gore. The effects for the alien were amazing, the casting was really good across the board, and I thought the claustrophobic atmosphere and the dread that permeated the picture were fantastic touches. There were a few too many easy outs in the script, and I do agree with some others that Carpenter didn't utilize the Antarctic enough, but a great picture.
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As usual, full reviews can be found at,

Bill's Movie Emporium
http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/

Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Great film from a film maker I love in Jonathan Demme. The documentary style camera work really added to the realism of the story, but the main factor in how believable the story became were the three leads- Dewitt, Hathaway and Irwin. Plus, it was cool as heck to see DA Mike Powers from Reno 911! as the quite charming best man, Keiran. This film was funny in parts, emotional and outside of one paper plate it stayed true to itself and never went for too much melodrama.

Mars Attacks! (1996)
Mars Attacks! is certainly an imaginative film and there are moments when it is very funny and the surreal moments and imagery work. Unfortunately those moments are few and far between, instead a lot of the hammy acting and comedic moments fall flat. I felt the cast was too large and they focused on the human characters too much without ever actually doing anything with them. More time with the Martians and their cool CGI would have been a better choice.

Chung Hing Sam Lam (1994)
My first exposure to Kar Wai Wong, and this is a movie that was on my to watch list for years so I'm happy to have finally seen it and don't know for the life of me why I ever out it off for so long. As much as I do love visually appealing movies I've never been a big fan of the visual style over story substance film making, but Chung Hing Sam Lam is such a visual treat and tells its story through its visuals that the depth was in its style and not in its story. Faye Wong is like the ultimate manic pixie dream girl, Tony Leung is amazing, this entire movie is amazing.

Hotaru No Haka (1988)
Devastating, utterly devastating. This film had me bawling at the end, and while I'm not some sort of tough guy I'm also not one for crying. There are moments of happiness in joy in this film, but they just serve to make it all the more depressing because it becomes obvious at some point that there is only one way for Hotaru to end. By the time you get there it has ripped your guts out and put a hot poker through your heart, it is that emotionally devastating, and in an honest way there isn't any manipulation on display here. Hotaru is also one of those rare beautifully disgusting film, because the animation is so wonderfully rendered and their are moments of actual beauty but then you realize that the disgusting moments are rendered just as marvelously and are just as beautiful and you are in for a world of hurt yet again.

Der Untergang (2004)
So yeah, WWII buff, realistic film about Hitler, me likey! The best element about Der Untergang is the one thing that most people complained about, the humanization of Adolf Hitler. Bruno Ganz turns in a great performance as Hitler, making sure we see the paranoia and the delusion, but most importantly that he was human and not some alien monster, and that makes him all the more evil. Otherwise a beautiful looking film with superb set design and cinematography.

Suchîmubôi (2004)
Suchîmubôi is just a tiny bit better than Otomo's most famous work, Akira, but that's not saying a lot. From an animation standpoint the first two thirds do look outstanding with incredible detail and design ideas. The use of steam was also quite intelligent and innovative, but that's where the fun stops. The story is nonsense, the final act is a long battle that means nothing, with terrible cuts all over the place, character turns that are ridiculous and a final message that is frankly idiotic. Yet another lackluster work from Otomo, if only he could reign in his great ideas he would be a fantastic film maker.

Das Boot (Director's Cut) (1981)
Das Boot was long, really long, but it never felt long. This was very much a horror thriller, with the sub representing the horrors of being trapped both physically and metaphorically. The action scenes and subsequent aftermaths were layered with suspense, the ending was ironic but not too melodramatic, all in all a great picture.

Solyaris (1972)
My major complaint with Solyaris was that the characters felt so distant because of how detached the story was and because of how long it took to get going. I enjoyed the various ruminations on life and man, but I didn't think what was presented was strong enough to make up for the lack of a cohesive story. Still, a good movie.

Gandhi (1982)
I recently watched My Left Foot, an example of how great a biopic can be when it steers away from going into exaltation mode. Gandhi does not avoid that pitfall and instead of presenting a portrayal of Gandhi the man it presents Gandhi the super being that no one can relate to. I found this far too sentimental and manipulative for my liking, but it ended up getting high marls because it moved along rather fast, was engaging and Ben Kingsley really nailed the look and physicality of the role.

Do The Right Thing (1989)
I have no problem with the ending, unlike a lot of people. I thought Lee did a well enough job of highlighting racial issues, although the absence of drugs in the landscape was very false. Still, for as colorful and splashy as the visual style was I felt it also left a lot to be desired. Too many characters and none of them are ever given enough time to develop, so the story never matches up to the themes. When Sal and his sons end up more developed than every "minority" character in a movie about race then I think Lee misfired along the way. Great music though, Public Enemy are still awesome, although playing Flava's 911 Is A Joke when the police arrive would have been choice.
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Here are a couple of movies I've never thought to discuss before, but greatly enjoy: Ocean's 11, 12, and 13. Now I don't really remember Ocean's 11, because it was so many moons ago that I watched it. However, I absolutely love Ocean's 12 and 13. I don't even know what to say to express how much I enjoy them, but they're just excellent movies! The way they're so complex and yet everything works in their favor. And I especially like how they take us backward to show us what they were doing earlier in the movie that we didn't even realize. Smile

All in all, excellent movies. Somebody else feel free to help me out here with an explanation. Smile

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They are movies I need to see, I vaguely remember the first one and liking it. I want to see Soderbergh in a more fun and action oriented setting and see how he translates.
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I liked Ocean's 11, however I thought 12 just pushed it to far and it just came off as...cluttered. I haven't seen 13 yet.

Now the original Ocean's 11 with the Rat Pack was also a good movie. Frank Sinatra was actually a pretty good actor, and Dean wasn't too bad either.

However, you can go even farther back with Seven Thieves, a most excellent movie, black and white, with Rod Steiger. Now this isn't a direct take of Ocean's 11, but the theme and style of the movie is so similar, it could be considered the original.
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As usual full reviews can be found at,

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Fanny Och Alexander (1982)
To start, the only real problem I had with Fanny Och Alexander was that it is obvious that it has been edited down from the TV mini-series, because there are moments and scenes that are clearly missing. Outside of that, a great Bergman picture. I'm not willing to call it his best, because i don't think much separates his top work. This is much more accessible than his earlier work, and while it still meditates on life and involves the supernatural, it also has a much more conventional narrative. The final theatrical film of a great director.

True Romance (Director's Cut) (1993)
It's no secret that I am not a Tarantino fan , and like most I find Scott passable at best. For those reasons I was surprised to love True Romance as much as I did. It's a fun fantasy tale, with great dialogue and over the top nature that works and a really nice cast. The blood flows, Gary Oldman tries to steal the show, just an overall great, energetic experience.

Dark City (Director's Cut) (1998)
I'm a huge sci-fi fan, but I generally find the dystopia based stories hit or miss. Dark City is definitely in the hit category, as I found every facet of this film pretty great and a far superior version of many of its followers. A tremendous look, I liked the effects, Sewell and Connelly were great like usual, and a film that made you think, even after the supposedly happy ending.

Hôhokekyo Tonari No Yamada-kun (1999)
Tremendous fun, but not in a slapstick sort of way, although there is a lot of slapstick humor. This was a heartfelt and cheerful film, that had its tender moments but always kept an air of sweetness and comedy about it. Isao Takahata is a great filmmaker, and this is but another entry in his diverse collection of films.

Jigokumon (1953)
Some really bad acting in this one, especially from Machiko Kyo who is usually stellar. All the battle scenes were far too chaotic and you never had any idea what was going on or who was who. The story itself was okay, but not all that deep and pretty standard stuff.

Rebecca (1940)
All the typical Hitchcock flair is present, although he is more reserved with his camera work. But, Hitchcock left two important things behind, emotion and humor. Because of the omission of any humor and emotion Rebecca ends up feeling more mechanical than anything else. I could tell a fine movie was being made, but it never gave me any reason to acre, if I'm making any sense.

My Left Foot: The True Story Of Christy Brown (1989)
For the most part this avoids the typical biopic pitfalls, although it does veer towards forced sentimentality on a few occasions. But, it remains a great movie because of the great performances of the cast as a whole, the much known stellar job by Daniel Day-Lewis and the never given enough credit portrayal of young Christy by Hugh O'Conor.

Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)
It's Jimmy Stewart letting loose in court, opposed by George C. Scott, that's more than enough right there. But, outside of a few lulls in the story, Anatomy is the best deconstruction of what the judicial system is all about ever put to screen. It's why lawyers need their egos and why star power in the court room matters more than the truth, brilliant material.

La Battaglia Di Algei (1966)
When watching this I was initially impressed with what was being shown to me. The raw, documentary style is always impressive and Battaglia ends up a finely crafted film, but it took a stance and ended up being too uneven in its want to support that stance. The actions of the French are always played so as too be terrible atrocious acts, but when the FLN commit atrocities of their own they are played silently and with no emotion in an attempt to get us not to associate the FLN with the deaths and to rally in their cause against the French. This started off great, but it ended up very uneven.

Hook (1991)
There is so much that is wrong with this film, yet I still had a lot of fun with it. That's really all it comes down to with me, despite its many flaws I had a lot of fun and enjoyed it more than enough to make up for its many faults.

Dracula (1992)
So yeah, Coppola is big on romance, and illicit sex and lush scenery and whimsical ideas. Not so much on the story, or actually giving me a Dracula I want to see or a John Harkens that doesn't sound like a surfer dude with a German accent in his attempt to sound British. I liked a lot of this film, but I have a feeling that was more due to my general "I heart you" feelings towards the entire Dracula mythos. Hey, it's Tom Waits, he's just as insane as I thought he would be, and oh my, Ms. Bellucci you can turn me into a vampire any day of the week!

Burakku Jakku (1996)
I liked the idea of the medical mystery, but it slowly loses steam as the movie devolves into a bland action film with cheesiness and shoot outs galore. I also wasn't a huge fan of the still style animation and the character of Black Jack was way too underdeveloped. Still, I did enjoy the first thirty or so minutes.
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I read your full review for Hook, and I suppose that puts me in the minority. I didn't realize so many people disliked this film. I love it! It's been one of my more favorite movies ever since I was little. And who knows...that might have something to do with it. But I can't even remember bothering to pick out flaws, which is something I tend to do with most movies I see more than once. *shrugs* Oh, well...I really enjoy it. So to each their own. Smile

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"It's not about the legacy you leave, it's about the life you live." ~Mara Jade Skywalker

I liked Hook. Smee was awesome! And I thought Dustin Hoffman was perfect for the role. It's very difficult to even notice that it's him. He's a perfect Hook.
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Watchmen

First off, great movie. I really liked it. They did a superb job with the acting, nailing the roles of the characters, capturing the story and feel of the graphic novel, displaying splendid imagery, and an excellent score. Best of all, they got Rorschach right. He was the key. There was a few small things they left out and one small thing they changed with the ending, but it was nothing that caused any detriment to the film. I think it worked out very well, and the director truly captured the comic in film form.

Now for people who didn't read the comic and who go to see this movie, well, I can't speak for them. To me in all made sense and it was easy for me to follow along. I'm not so sure how well it will work for others just because of the sheer amount of information and events they had to cover. And amazingly, they covered just about all of them.

Personally, I'd say this one topped The Dark Knight because Watchmen didn't pull any punches. When someone was about to be exploded, the camera didn't cut away to a new scene, it stayed and showed the bloody mess. There wasn't any need to tone down the film for some lower rating. They kept it as it was, a dark, gritty, and sporadically violent story. Plus the acting here was solid across the board.

As a satisfied fan, I give it 5/5 STARS
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Master Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 4406 Location: Korriban

I'm also satisfied Skuldren. I'm a fan of the comic and I have to say the characters were done perfectly. I was disappointed in that ending change you pointed out. They've admitted it was done through laziness and that it was a cop-out. Oh well though, well done movie. And the director's cut DVD will have the UNDER THE HOOD documentary segments edited in and the Tales of the Black Freighter with Gerard Butler is being added so I think this movie is going to get even better.
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I was wondering what their reasoning might be for the ending. The end result was still the same just a different mode of getting it.

Click here to see the hidden message (It might contain spoilers)

I'll have to remind myself to hold out for the super extended complete collector's edition DVD whenever they come out with it. The extra features should be pretty good.
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