What did you think of Sucker Punch, Necro? I don't recall discussing it with you.

I thought it was easily one of the more lame movies of last year. The acting was some of the most mind numbing you could fathom. I can't even say that the characters were caricatures because even those have more development than the ones in that film. Most just randomly pop up to spout the poorly written dialogue. The story was unremarkable, without a single aspect that stays in the mind once it's over. Visually speaking, which is what some apologists seemed to bring up a lot, it's not even that great. All in all, I found it so incredibly hard to give a shit about ANY aspect of it, any at all, that it's hard to say I even hated it. It was just utterly pointless, and nothing would change if it had never existed.

I agree!

I liked the industrial remix of Bjork's fascinating "Army of Me." And the figure on that semi-ethnic Highschool Musical chick with all the leaked n00dz.

Other than that, complete rubbish. Though I'm not nearly as bothered by the apologists who tote the VFX as a saving grace as I am of the people who think the film is some sort of transcendent work of art, howling from their nearest soapbox "if you don't like it, it's because you JUST DON'T GET IT!"

PROTIP: Ask them to explain it in plain terms to you, the unlearned pedestrian philistine unworthy of the blessed knowledge of the Ancients to decode this masterwork of cinematic art, and watch the ensuing feet-shuffling and eye-twitching with a condescending smirk.

Sucker Punch is one of the few movies that actually made me leave the cinema in an utter rage, so I have no idea how it ends... I don't consider this a great loss. I thought the aesthetics at least had some promise - I liked the overall look and, I hate to admit, that whole music video feel appeals to me - and the opening sequence was decently done, but, good grief, everything that followed was too awful for words. Fortunately, I haven't met anyone who tried to defend it from an intellectual basis - the few people I encountered who didn't hate it were your stereotypical geek/gamer/lifelong virgin types who tried to convince me that I should have suspended disbelief and just let myself "be carried away by the chaotic fun" (yes, quoting someone here) before giving in and admitting that they were only watching it for the stripping.



Exactly - couldn't have said it better myself. It really annoyed me because I liked most things about the film till that point - especially the whole concept of The Further; like Volute, I would've loved to see more of that.

The only good thing about Sucker Punch is the soundtrack. I'm glad I didn't watch it at the cinema.

Well, it's a good thing watching a movie is still the only way to have a real opinion, because it is worse than those movies.

Could you delineate for the rest of us why you thought Sucker Punch wasn't complete and utter horseshit? I'm not asking to be a pest. I really want to know.

I dunno...I don't think watching something is the only real way to have an opinion....

Johnny Suede: What a strange movie. I'm unsure what I just watched. There's this odd vibe that permeates this weirdly written film with a very slim plot about a dude (played by an almost unknown at the time Brad Pitt) who wants to be a rock star. He exchanges awkward and naive words with women and friends, robs a place, and Nick Cave (in the only scenes that actually made me laugh) cons him out of 20 bucks and bangs his ex-girlfriend.

Going to see a screening of Videodrome in a big 70 year old theater tonight. STOKED.

My biggest issue with Sucker Punch was that it seemed like it wanted to go the route of say Pan's Labrynth, Little Nemo in Slumberland, Neverending Story or The Paperhouse (check out Paperhouse if you havn't seen it, it's pretty good), it wanted to go into the "What's real and what's not" kind of storyt. The reason it made me so angry was cause I love those kinds of stories, the stories where we're left to guess whether or not magical creatures and worlds existed or if someone just dreamed them. To me, it seemed like it wanted to be that but due to a lack of good writter it failed utterly to make us guess if it was real o not. I knew early on in the film what I was really seeing and it hurt the film fast. The only redeemable thing for me was that the dream sequences where pretty damn entertaining, but not enough to save it.

I remember giving it a 5 out of 10, which was me being generous.

This is sitting in my apartment on VHS. I have no idea what it is. I have no idea how it got there. But I must. watch. it.

I didn't go in with any expectations of it being anything else really. It's just a retarded movie with a bunch of big silly action scenes, not really worthy of any hate to me. I think hating a movie like that so much doesn't leave any room for more offensive or terrible movies. And as for Watchmen, I love the comic, so even though the movie pretty much was a big old bloated mess too, it at least had that. Cloud Atlas however, was god-awful.



Well yeah, but I just don't think that someone who hasn't seen a film can tell someone who has seen it what's right or wrong. That's all.

@darkeningday: have fun, I don't even know if I liked it. It's hard to explain.
The Pianist: Well this was a depressing one. Two and a half hours of atmosphere, realism, great cinematography, and character development. Adrien Brody really gives it is all (and lost 32lbs during the course of filming as his character starved). He plays the role very believably, almost gliding from place to place, atrocity to atrocity, just trying to survive. A lot of the shots take a kind of POV approach as we see what he sees through windows and blinds. The movie pulls no punches either, showing harrowing executions and making you feel. It builds up and builds up to a scene I consider the best in the movie

God Bless America: Really dark and funny movie brought to us by Bobcat Goldthwait, the man behind the brilliant World's Greatest Dad. This is clearly his work. It moves at a brisk pace, gets pretty gruesome, and is just generally a lot of fun while making some legitimate points. But I have to say, it was TOO preachy. You never want your message to come before everything else in this kind of movie, and there are scenes where they're really shoving it down the audience's throat, which was my main problem.

The Perfect Host: Good showcase for David Hyde Pierce, who you don't really see in many things anymore, and a kind of interesting reversal of the whole person held hostage by criminal archetype. Beyond that, there isn't much to enjoy here. Predictable, drags, really fucking stupid and lame twist, and a shitty ending.

Being John Malkovitch: Haven't seen this in years, and when I did I was probably too young to fully enjoy it. This movie isn't really all that ''complex'' for a Kaufmann script. It's mostly just weirdly silly and surprisingly really funny with a bit of existential questioning sort of sprinkled in. Some weird ass twists and turns in this one too. They did this thing where they made every character really despicable and unlikable though, and that hindered my enjoyment in some parts.

Eddie Murphy Raw: I wasn't expecting this to be as funny as it was. Sure, I like Eddie Murphy's 80's films for some grade A dumb fun, but this is constantly lauded as one of the best stand up films ever. While I wouldn't say it's even in the top 3, it did make me laugh pretty hard in parts. His stuff about foreigners only understanding the curse words from his previous show and yelling obscenities at him when they recognize him in the street and his closing bit about his drunk father going completely batshit at the end in particular were gut busting. He really had a lot of energy back then, too bad he became the black Adam Sandler after the 80's.

Raping this thread a bit more, spent a lot of time at the theatre today. I saw Flight, which was awesome. A powerhouse performance from Denzel Washington, one of the best actors out there today, and really good supporting acting (John Goodman steals every scene he's in). A Compelling story and a long running time justified. I don't want to give anything away, but it's definitely worth seeing. I also saw Skyfall which actually mostly left me cold. I've never been a huge fan of the Bond series and, while it was probably the best one I've seen with some good acting all around (except Javier Bardem who's sometimes stupidly over the top and overacts), it dragged. This is a two and a half hour movie that seems to last 4, even with all the action. There are some useless scenes, and the pacing is odd. Resulting in quite a bit of boredome on my part. Still, big fans will love it, of that I'm certain.

I am jealous. That would be glorious.

Sette note in nero / Seven notes in black / The Psychic - 4/5

Been recently digging into Lucio Fulci's less supernatural horror, mostly his giallo stuff although this one is pretty borderline on conventional horror, and it truly shows how great of a director he is. Although this one might seem a bit unusual for some people since there is almost no gore, no killing and zero nudity. It's a relatively slow paced almost psychological horror, and it's quite tenseful at parts. I don't want to give in too much, but by giallo standards in the story, it's not particularly conventional. It's about a woman who supposedly foresees the future, like the suicide of her own mother which happened the way she saw it. She had another vision of a murder, which leads to the discovery of a corpse. And it breaks ties with how the killer is portrayed and acts throughout the film. The plot is pretty clever with the usual red herrings and bits which at first don't make sense and then does, and it's done particularly well so you really get invested in the film. The music is as usual from this type of film, terrific, with the help of Fabio Frizzi. The ''sette note in nero'' song is awesome, and it's no wonder Tarantino used it in Kill Bill vol. 1. One of Fulci's best, but at that point it seems a big portion of his films are among his best hehe.

The other ones I recently saw were Don't torture a duckling and The lizard in a woman's skin, and both were very sweet gialli with neat intrigues with several twists and big red herrings. The first one reminded me a bit of The house with the laughing windows in the sense that it takes place in rural Italy. It's about the murders of children, so it got quite a different feel from most gialli. The second one definitely ups the sleaze factor, but maybe not as much as Sergio Martino's films, as well as the gore, which is still subdued compared to his supernatural horror flicks. And this one definitely messes up a bit more with you than your usual giallo. The ending is not that surprising (although it is in a way) but there's quite a bit going on that at some point it could be anyone. Both are very recommended.

OH yes, I've been really digging into Fulci's stuff and i'm so glad, because there's a lot more to him than The Beyond/Gates of Hell/Zombi and so on, but most people just don't seem to know these films so well. I really enjoyed Seven Notes in Black, but the most recent one I experienced was The New York Ripper. Got to say, I was steeling myself for a really trashy film judging by some comments people had made about it, but I was surprised at how genuinely good the movie was. Uncomfortable, mind you, especially with all the sleazy sexual content juxtaposed with most graphic and sudden murder pieces, and an ending that makes you feel horrible for enjoying what you've just watched. It was definitely a little bit of a challenge, but one built for the 1980s, as opposed to Don't Torture a Duckling, which was, I suppose, an attack of sorts as well. it seems that FUlci has a few bones to pick with society and he often uses his films to show this. TO that end, The New York Ripper was pretty manipulative, but I have no doubt it was absolutely intended to be that way. also, the music was amazing, especially during the nightclub scenes.

New York Ripper is somewhere on my ''to watch list'', although for reasons you alluded to I'm a bit reluclant to watch it. The Black Cat and Manhattan Baby are also on there. But I do like it when movies try to manipulate you. And it seems Fulci likes to do it. There's this really weird scene in Don't torture a duckling when a kid meets a naked Barbara Boutchet which is very awkward...

New York Ripper is totally cool. Just a bloody, tasteless riot that goes for the throat...totally old school, vintage kind of slasher/exploitation flick, but like Abom said, really quite good in spite of all its vulgarity, and underneath it all there's a tense, shocking horror film. Haven't seen that one or any Fulci movies in a while, but everything I've seen is at least solid. The Beyond is still my favorite though. God, what a classic of supernatural horror that one was.

Right, some quick reviews, then...

Ruby Sparks - 3.25/5

I've heard nothing but good things about this movie, which is a quirky independent comedy about a writer who brings his "dream girl" to life by accident, and then has to undergo a character developing plot about what it means to be in a healthy relationship, or some shit like that...it was definitely OK, with a nice flow and some cool ideas here and there, with good, compact pacing and some humor, but I dunno, couldn't really get into it much on a personal level, to be honest. None of the characters were that likable and the movie was so short that it barely left an impact. If I want a movie like this I'll probably just go watch TIMER again instead; that one was much better.

Manhunter - 4/5

This is the ur-Hannibal Lecter film, the original one that started them all, and it's good. A lot of this is pretty much the stereotypical detective/serial killer film, and there aren't any real surprises to be had for people who have been watching this genre for a while. But the film succeeds at having a GREAT unusual atmosphere with lots of sandy, sunset-soaked beaches and eeriily flat, dark settings with lots of killer 80s minimalist synthesizers underneath it all. It's not the usual dark and dank and overcrowded serial killer thriller, but a more quiet, paced and atmospheric one, and that much gives it an edge beyond the rather generic story. And there's also just something really personal and subtle about the characters, as the movie understands the great truth of cinematic character writing way better than its remake Red Dragon did - show, don't tell. Here we don't get a lot of background info on the characters but we do get some insights into their personalities and tics just by the strength of the acting, which really is very good. So this is a quiet, subtle, well crafted and stylish take on the detective movie that I enjoyed quite well. Not as iconic or as polished as Silence of the Lambs, but well worth your time anyway and miles better than any of the other movies in the franchise.

Lincoln - 4/5

This is a hard movie to review and I will likely do a bigger piece on it when I have more time, but I did like it. The main draw here is obviously Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln himself, as he gives a 100% performance as always and really takes you back to Lincoln's time. The film is well written and cinematically beautiful, with spot-on directing like you'd expect from Spielberg. Just seeing Lincoln animated and moving and talking is worth the price of admission, and Day-Lewis's Lincoln is wistful, charismatic, odd and commanding all at once. There is a bit of a tendency to drag in the parts when he isn't on screen, and maybe too much of the focus here was on the 13th Amendment's passage rather than Lincoln's personal life, but the movie really does do a great job at characterizing the man. It is, in the end, a stately, patriotic and majestic film, bit on the safe side at times story-wise but redeemed by the fact that nobody has ever done a movie like this before. So its unprecedented nature and the fact that we finally get to see Lincoln come alive redeem most of its faults.

Argo: Based on true events and a very serious subject, but the whole film feels quite light-hearted. Ben Affleck has certainly kicked it up a notch in terms of his acting in recent days. A lot of people find him despicable, and yes, his acting works in the past have been pretty hammy, but he is definitely good here and his directing works have definitely been good, even if falling a bit short of the mark. That happens with Argo as well. It's all pretty funny and intense as well, but especially the end turns much too hollywoodian with its close calls and "phew, just made it"s. And believe me, there are plenty of them: It's just ridiculous. Funnily enough, the biggest laugh is provided by the end credits where they show a photo of the person Affleck himself is playing in the movie.

Beau Geste (1939): An adventure film from the late 30s with Gary Cooper. A fun romp though in retrospect a bit racist, imperialist and... Well, pretty dumb too: Brits are honorable and stick together. Americans are a bit dull in the head, but good natured and well meaning. Soviets are greedy and evil. Arabs (the Berbers might actually be insulted if called that) are statists and... Well, human cattle that need the guarding and protection of their benevolent masters and overlords; the French. So... Perhaps more than a bit, eh?

Total Recall 2012 > Skyfall

Rango really was just a fluke. John Logan can't write for shit.

Consider yourself banned from my heart. forever.

I'll remember you always, Metantoine as the guy who liked a shitty movie slightly less than a shittier movie.

Hahahaha

I think your opinion is shit, darkening, but at least you could provide some arguments (that I'll disregard like a real cunt)

I'll admit Skyfall has flaws despite being a Bond fanboy (I really think every James Bond is cool, some are "so bad it's funny" and others are legitimately good). I think Skyfall falls into the later category. Yeah, the "I'm a blond hacker with a fucked up mouth, I'm psychotic and I want to kill my ex boss" plot wasn't really good, but the acting (Bardem is always fucking amazing), the art direction, the settings were truly amazing. I always wanted to visit Scotland (the land of my ancestors) and the ending convinced me! I'll agree with Necro that M is a meh character but the addition of Ralph Fiennes is quite welcome. I see Skyfall as the third movie of a 5 chapters saga with Craig. It's the establishment of the full and formed Bond character. His past will be behind him for the remaining episodes and we will truly see what he can do a complete and quintessential Bond. The 4th one will probably be about the secret organization of the first 2 Craig 007. BTW, yes, I think Quantum of Solace is kinda shitty, it's not a Bond. It's really what was expected of the series.

I also don't think the movie is overlong except the underwhelming ending. I liked the classiness and traditional feel of it though, but it feeled a bit rushed. The character of Kincaid (Albert Finney) was cool though, an old dude randomly taking care of the old Bond mansion.

I didn't like Sucker Punch very much, but for those of you who are asking how ANYONE could like it I highly recommend Moviebob's reviews. I usually don't agree with him but he is a very talented and intelligent critic. Plenty of insight to be found in his reviews. He also thought Cloud Atlas was terrific.

Moviebob's Sucker Punch review: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/ ... cker-Punch

Admittedly the review itself doesn't say all that much. He also made two videos explaining what the director was really going for. If anything this made me appreciate the production more. Very informative:

Part 1: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/ ... h-Part-One

Part 2: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/ ... h-Part-Two

Moviebob's Cloud Alas review: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/ ... loud-Atlas

Jesus Christ, not another MovieBlob fan .

Life of Pi - 5/5

I was so afraid that Ang Lee would find a way to ruin one of my favorite books of all time. I was afraid that Pi's life in India would be all but erased. I was afraid that the zebra, orangutan, and hyena would be omitted from the story. I was afraid that many other things would never be included. All my fears were for nothing. This is my nomination for the best movie of 2012. Very few events from the book were cut, and those that were cut were minor scenes that at least get hinted at (Pi figuring out how to get fresh water, building his raft, fishing, etc.). Sadly, I didn't get to see it in 3D because I'm a poor son of a bitch, but every source I've read says the 3D is probably the best around (nothin's gonna ever keep it down). But even in 2D, this movie was fucking gorgeous.

Go see it now. And then go get the book. You plebeians.

Yup, Skyfall was excellent. Probably my favourite Craig one so far (which is really only comparing it to Casino Royale since Quantum sucked ass). Still, Casino Royale was a great rejuvenation for the franchise, and Skyfall gives me hope for a bright future. I was delighted that they went for a much more simplified plot than what they've been going for lately, because it really paid off. The movie was more small-scale and personal (Bond's tensions with M, Bardem's feud with M, Bond's anxieties about 'getting back in the saddle' after being wounded). Sam Mendes seems to really understand how to make a Bond film work by striking a good balance between the action we want and the character we want. It's really easy to turn a Bond film into a mess when it's overloaded with ridiculous action sequences which is exactly what Quantum suffered from as well as the latter Brosnan films.

So, darkeningday, did you watch Johnny Suede yet?

It's by the guy who made the 2003 Hulk movie and the trailers look incredibly ridiculous...maybe I need to read the book to get it.

Good luck with that. That book made me want to shoot myself in the head. Honestly, how exciting can a movie about some snotty kid stuck on a raft with a snotty tiger be?

I thought you liked The Dark Knight?

@Necro and Meta: SOON (on both)

I wouldn't exactly call myself a fan. Like I said, I've disagreed with him on nearly every single movie. He's an objectively intelligent and down-to-earth critic, however, and that cannot be denied. So I find his reviews highly entertaining to watch.

He also made Sense & Sensibility and The Ice Storm. And also, for those who liked it, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

Not to mention the absolutely brilliant Lust, Caution, one of the best huge-budget movies I've seen this millennium.

So I finally watched Prometheus. Beautifully shot film. Very gorgeous-looking. Incredibly dumb characters. Very badly-written script. The intro basically spoiled the whole thing. This movie makes so little sense, that even the fans' attempts at filling the Swiss cheese plot with their own explanations and propositions fail embarassingly. All of them. Yet at the same time, if there's a movie that's in desperate need of a sequel, this is the one. There must be a sequel, because otherwise, what the fuck? Also, please ditch the current writers.

Yeah, I know Ang Lee has done other stuff. But all I know him from is that Hulk movie. Not exactly a stunning reference point...