[Closed] Recent Viewing Part III

JS: ANOTHER YEAR (2011)

Back in the day, I used to hate Mike Leigh and his contemporary kitchen sink realism. Now I like it. Solid characters and performances that constitute the narrative nerve in and of themselves (without much else to speak of). But I do wonder why we never saw anything more of the Imelda Staunton character in the beginning....was she merely there to work as an overture to people unhappy with their lives?

World's greatest dad (trailer)

For a movie with a rating of 7.0 on imdb, I didn't enjoy it at all. Not the best acting performances; dull story; few funny moments. Oh, and am I the only one here who've really come to hate songs in movies? Everyone seems to say that this movie was super sad when [spoiler]Robin Williams found his son dead[/spoiler], but the use of a crappy song in this dramatic moment just made me think "What the hell is this crap? Why don't they use some proper scoring?". Perhaps this is a side effect of being a score fan. Songs completely turn me off and make it impossible for me to make an emotional connection to the scene in question.

My rating: 3 out of 10


Super (trailer)

Seemed like second rate Kick-ass. Some funny moments, but not too many of them. The main characters were psychopaths, so it was a bit difficult rooting for them. Most extreme violence I've ever seen in a comedy.

My rating: 6


Primer (trailer)

Very confusing movie. I had no idea what was happening while I was watching it. English being my second language had alot to do with it, but the fact that the movie is fast and complex and even deliberately tries to confuse the viewer are other reasons. I had to go and read a long analysis online to figure out what the movie was about. Intelligent movie, but it ultimately failed because they made it too confusing.

My rating: 5


8 mile (trailer)

I really do hate rap, and I think rap battles are some of the most bizarre things on this planet. Somehow I ended up enjoying this movie though. Eminem was ok, but he was always sorrounded by huge black guys so he looked like a tiny, frightened boy this entire movie.

My rating: 7

Peter

Glad to hear it communicated well outside of the country. It's a very stylish film. In some ways the treatment of key scenes reminded me of the direction of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN.

JS: THE MILL AND THE CROSS (2011)

Weird, abstract art film in the literal sense of the word, as it takes as its point of departure Pieter Bruegel the Elder's 1564 painting The Way to Calvary and some of the characters and scenarios depicted within, with Rutger Hauer as the artist. Basically just a series of tableaux set against a painting-like backdrop, interspersing Jesus' Passion with religious perspecution in Flanders in the 1500's. Among other things. Seems like a film suited to my taste (heavy on the audiovisual symbolism, little dialogue), but I did fall off a few times.

Ah, that's true. I've seen both, and while the American remake is OK, it fails to nail that particular atmosphere of suburban Sweden in the 70's, which is such a crucial backdrop for the film.

I don't agree. There are unique aspects of the book that can only be mirrored in the exact setting of suburban, winter-heavy Sweden in the 70's. Plus, the American version is far more conventional. But it's still pretty good.

I watched Suspicion (1941) last night with Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine (from Rebecca), Nigel Bruce (Watson) and Cedric Hardwicke (Ghost of Frankenstein). The Alfred Hitchcock picture was released be RKO and music was from Franz Waxman, his second collaboration with Alfred, the first being Rebecca. Here is a question that one of you might answer. There is a scene at the end of the picture called "Too Fast" which was later used by Selznick in what film? Hitchcock also made strong use of Strauss "Weiner Blut" which popped up on many occasions in versions other than only a waltz.
Tom

The 6th day

Not exactly an Arnie classic like Total recall, but it's pretty damn entertaining. Rabin's music is excellent as well.

Rating: 7


Underworld: Evolution

Übercool.

Rating: 7


The rocketeer

Wow, this was corny. So many cringeworthy lines and scenes. I love the music though.

Rating: 4


Willow

The choreography in the sword fights was atrocious. Pretty entertaining adventure movie though. I like Horner's score, but wasn't too surprised to find out that the main theme had been ripped off from some bulgarian folk song.

Rating: 7

Peter

THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY ( 1954 )

Just watched this on BBC 2, an early forerunner of Irwin Allen's disaster movies starring John Wayne in a disaster struck airliner, DIMITRI TIOMKIN did the score which I thought was AWFUL! Whaddafuk waz all those heavenly choirs all about? It was a seriously overwrought melodramatic score and it WON the Oscar....see kids, it isn't just nowadays that Academy gets it wrong.

And just for the record, the Oscar should have gone to Leonard Bernstein's ON THE WATERFRONT.

MELACHOLIA | lars von trier

I didn't liked it so much. It started well though, and funny with the stuck limo (I thought that was hilarious) and odd events at the wedding. But then it got a bit ridiculous (shitting close to hole 18, fucking a random person on your wedding, ...). What a fucked up wedding! Part 2 got interesting again because of the scifi element coming up and how that had its effect on the main characters, but it was mostly not an engaging movie. Kirsten Dunst did boil my blood though, what an annoying character (except when she's laying naked in front of that blue light).

The music was way off, with just one piece coming in at certain times and getting annoying at the end. Bah! Rather failed pretentiousness.

IDES OF MARCH | george clooney

What a cool movie. Well paced, good story (although it is rather cynical about the game of politics) and a great score. Clooney obviously portrayed a Obama-inspired character, but I don't think a candidate in the USA would ever say he does not believe in God. Clearly, Clooney was a communist, with close ties to fascism.

Does anyone know what happens after the end titles start rolling? [spoiler]Noting the title 'Ides of March', I guess would Ryan Gosling make public the affair he had with the young girl?[/spoiler]

INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY | bbc

Another really good documentary series from BBC. Michael Mosley takes you through a trip in the human body, showing our adaptability and lots of fascinating tidbits of information, combined with some extra-ordinary stories from humans (a girl that can talk about 10 languages at age 10, and computer animation. I hope Earth Flight is soon on tv.

It is a children's movie! Or, perhaps more accurately, a 'family movie'. I like all that. It reminded me of early Zemeckis.

I just returned from Tromsø International Film Festival, where I obviously saw lots of films, like:

WAR HORSE (2011)

Some serious flaws in terms of script, casting and performances, but bloody brilliant when it comes to the classic spielbergian traits. Fantastic Williams score!

LES PETITS MOUCHOIRS (2010)

Basically a remake of THE BIG CHILL, it's a loooong film about a group of friends assembling while their 'center' friend is recuperating from a serious motorbike accident. Lots of humour, but also serious with tone shifts. I liked some parts of it, but didn't so much others. Could have been cut down with at least 30-40 minutes, and the last saccharine part is really drawn out.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (2012)

I loved RED ROAD and FISH TANK from Andrea Arnold, and while the gritty visual style was beautiful in its own right, a fresh, realistic take on the Victorian era (which I adore!), the film was FAR too drawn out. Outright boring. And the adult Hinchcliffe character was really bad. So I'm a bit divided on this.

RA-ONE - 3D (2012)

A Bollywood sci fi film starring superstar Shakrukh Khan! Totally crazy in terms of visuals (superb FX and action setpieces which are some of the most impressive I've seen in years, even by Hollywood standards), but obviously just plain silliness all around. The 3D aspect was really cool too. Has to be seen to be believed!

INTO THE ABYSS (2011) and CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (2011)

3D version of the last. Didn't like any of them, but then I've never really liked Herzog in the first place. The first tries to be Erroll Morris, but is just too drawn out and uninteresting despite an interesting subject matter (death row in Texas). The second is better, but again with some unnecessary long takes that become grating. More like a documentation. Herzog's interview technique and voice-overs can sometimes be entertaining, but also a bit annoying in terms of rhetorics.

LES NEIGES DU KILIMANDJARO (2010)

http://montages.no/2012/01/ujevnt-arbei … limanjaro/

LOW COST (2011)

http://montages.no/2012/01/low-cost-tar-helt-av/

THE ARTIST (2011)

http://montages.no/2012/01/imponerende- … he-artist/

JEAN GENTIL (2007)

http://montages.no/2012/01/antydningens … an-gentil/


....and some others.

Yeah, but what did you see?

Why would you put yourself through this? I'd rather have my jaw torn off by one of those masks, than seeing any of those films again.

Peter