That I feel I haven't found time to write about, but really want to!
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Insomnia (2002)
Gran Torino (2008)
Thursday 27 May 2010
District 9 - Rating: 4.5/5
Simply. Awesome.
Totally blown away by this movie. Absolutely gobsmacked at how entertaining and engaging this was. Seemed to strike a chord on so many different levels...
Such a bizarre idea - but it works so well. A sort of modern era action/horror/drama. An infinitely more sophisticated Starship Troopers, but with integrity, and with some serious ethical points to make. In my relatively humble opinion, puts the likes of Avatar and Hurt Locker to shame... It's a travesty that this movie didn't get more global recognition. To be fair, it's not an obviously commercial affair, and it's at times difficult to watch - particularly in acclimatising the audience to the idea, and in some of the graphic imagery. There's not that universality that the afore-mentioned movies engender: with 3D techno wizadry, and a fresh-ish take on war in Iraq.
In just under two hours, I was genuinely disappointed that there wasn't more! The story's not finished, and there seems to be scope for a sequel. But perhaps that's the beauty of it, an unfinished sympathy that leaves you to guess and conjecture. Full all its graphic imagery, you're still left with much to the imagination.
To conclude: simply awesome.
Totally blown away by this movie. Absolutely gobsmacked at how entertaining and engaging this was. Seemed to strike a chord on so many different levels...
Such a bizarre idea - but it works so well. A sort of modern era action/horror/drama. An infinitely more sophisticated Starship Troopers, but with integrity, and with some serious ethical points to make. In my relatively humble opinion, puts the likes of Avatar and Hurt Locker to shame... It's a travesty that this movie didn't get more global recognition. To be fair, it's not an obviously commercial affair, and it's at times difficult to watch - particularly in acclimatising the audience to the idea, and in some of the graphic imagery. There's not that universality that the afore-mentioned movies engender: with 3D techno wizadry, and a fresh-ish take on war in Iraq.
In just under two hours, I was genuinely disappointed that there wasn't more! The story's not finished, and there seems to be scope for a sequel. But perhaps that's the beauty of it, an unfinished sympathy that leaves you to guess and conjecture. Full all its graphic imagery, you're still left with much to the imagination.
To conclude: simply awesome.
Friday 21 May 2010
Changeling (2008) - Rating: 4/5
Second BluRay Disc viewed from Blockbuster's online delivery service. BluRay features not as hi-tech/flashy/impressive as Terminator Salvation. Felt like an X-Men DVD from the early noughties, especially the sound effects.
Enjoyed the documentaries! All singing their praises for Eastwood's Directorial style.
Quite a morose movie... Reminds me a little of the style of Mad Men (though Eastwood's movie is set around 30 years earlier in 1928), with a simultaneous critique and portrait of the shifting social mores of the time, particularly with regards to the Los Angeles Police Department. RIch and meaningful, but deliberately no spectacle either. This is perhaps embodied in Angelina Jolie going Machinist, and John Malkovich playing an ageing, ruggedly, not-so-attractive crusading priest. The only clear-cut glamour is held by: the authorities, looking cool in their top hat long coats, puffing cigarettes out in smokey vignettes; symbols of justice: heroic and outspoken; or corrupt politicians looking seemingly sly, slick, and smooth - where the drama of their situation plays out as anything but.
My primary concern was the notion of how a woman missing her child, and getting that child back again (who's actually a different child altogether) could make for an interesting feature-length movie. And even as a Clint Eastwood fan, I had my doubts.
These doubts were adressed, and I was pleasantly surprised to be exposed to a world that was multi-faceted, layered, with a huge amount of emotional depth, and some profoundly shocking, even disturbing, revelations.
Nothing really happens until about half an hour in... I suppose that's necessary to setup the plot. What follows is a series of intrigues and a couple of plot twists that made for thoroughly engaging viewing. It plays out as something that's relatively well balanced in my view: we truly feel for the protagonist's injustice as she is cruelly victimised, there's a sense of heroism about some of the actions that are undertaken, and there's a rather satisfying conclusion that so easily could have indulged in over-sentimentality and contrivance.
My only criticism lies in the pro-feminist agenda being a touch overplayed in the middle section, and in Angelina Jolie's climactic confrontation scene where I would have expected to see and feel more, of an otherwise very fine performance.
Whilst the production is extremely well-done, it falls short of 'Masterpiece' status, for having such a marginalist focus. I think the great masterpieces of our time have a sense of universality about it, almost a commercial appeal if you like. In Changeling, there's a lingering tension and unease that's never truly resolved upon leaving the film. There's a sense of profoundness that's reserved, understated, and cerebral, instead of being melodramatically explicit, or conclusively decided. And it works much the better for it.
Changeling - perhaps an affectionate term used to describe the figure of the generic 'young boy' throughout the movie, from one person to another; or perhaps the title describes the protagonist herself as someone who, by way of two or three other characters, changes her views and actions to strengthen her ultimate resolve, where she would have otherwise so easily fallen and given up.
Enjoyed the documentaries! All singing their praises for Eastwood's Directorial style.
Quite a morose movie... Reminds me a little of the style of Mad Men (though Eastwood's movie is set around 30 years earlier in 1928), with a simultaneous critique and portrait of the shifting social mores of the time, particularly with regards to the Los Angeles Police Department. RIch and meaningful, but deliberately no spectacle either. This is perhaps embodied in Angelina Jolie going Machinist, and John Malkovich playing an ageing, ruggedly, not-so-attractive crusading priest. The only clear-cut glamour is held by: the authorities, looking cool in their top hat long coats, puffing cigarettes out in smokey vignettes; symbols of justice: heroic and outspoken; or corrupt politicians looking seemingly sly, slick, and smooth - where the drama of their situation plays out as anything but.
My primary concern was the notion of how a woman missing her child, and getting that child back again (who's actually a different child altogether) could make for an interesting feature-length movie. And even as a Clint Eastwood fan, I had my doubts.
These doubts were adressed, and I was pleasantly surprised to be exposed to a world that was multi-faceted, layered, with a huge amount of emotional depth, and some profoundly shocking, even disturbing, revelations.
Nothing really happens until about half an hour in... I suppose that's necessary to setup the plot. What follows is a series of intrigues and a couple of plot twists that made for thoroughly engaging viewing. It plays out as something that's relatively well balanced in my view: we truly feel for the protagonist's injustice as she is cruelly victimised, there's a sense of heroism about some of the actions that are undertaken, and there's a rather satisfying conclusion that so easily could have indulged in over-sentimentality and contrivance.
My only criticism lies in the pro-feminist agenda being a touch overplayed in the middle section, and in Angelina Jolie's climactic confrontation scene where I would have expected to see and feel more, of an otherwise very fine performance.
Whilst the production is extremely well-done, it falls short of 'Masterpiece' status, for having such a marginalist focus. I think the great masterpieces of our time have a sense of universality about it, almost a commercial appeal if you like. In Changeling, there's a lingering tension and unease that's never truly resolved upon leaving the film. There's a sense of profoundness that's reserved, understated, and cerebral, instead of being melodramatically explicit, or conclusively decided. And it works much the better for it.
Changeling - perhaps an affectionate term used to describe the figure of the generic 'young boy' throughout the movie, from one person to another; or perhaps the title describes the protagonist herself as someone who, by way of two or three other characters, changes her views and actions to strengthen her ultimate resolve, where she would have otherwise so easily fallen and given up.
Thursday 20 May 2010
Background movie: Star Trek - Generations (1994)
Just in the mood for something a bit fantastical and spacey!...
Background movie: Ghost World
Think that's what I'm in the mood for... Identify with the protagonists. And perhaps subconsciously, have been seeing a lot of Steve Buscemi recently which might have lent itself towards choosing this! (Sopranos, Desperado, hearing about Con Air).
Monday 17 May 2010
Hulk (2003) and Robin Hood (2010)
Movies watched today!
Watched Hulk with Director's Commentary - as a background movie, but ended up distracted watching it!
Saw Robin Hood in the cinema! Awesome! 4/5
Watched Hulk with Director's Commentary - as a background movie, but ended up distracted watching it!
Saw Robin Hood in the cinema! Awesome! 4/5
Saturday 15 May 2010
Thursday 13 May 2010
Review: Four Lions (2010) - Rating: 4/5
Like a movie version of Family Guy, with the 'watch-over-again' factor of a recent Paul Greengrass movie. Further extended: irresistibly amusing with black humour in parts, not always consistent; and like 'United 93' and 'Green Zone', the movie has a clear message, with a scathing critique, but not one that would compel you to repeat viewings.
Very daring, ballsy, brave and bold - and credit has to be given for that. A relatively flat first half, compared to an effervescent second with an ironic climax.
Very daring, ballsy, brave and bold - and credit has to be given for that. A relatively flat first half, compared to an effervescent second with an ironic climax.
Sunday 9 May 2010
Family film: Mortal Kombat (1995)
Cheesy poo...
Watching with my sis last night, and felt obligated to do so...
It's a video-game movie, and whilst it's one of the best out there, it's still not that great by any stretch of the imagination, and on any cinematic level.
The choice of 'actors' was near-perfect in my view as far as the aesthetic was concerned - Christopher Lambert in particular lends a sense of gravitas to the production. The premise is faithful to the video game (which is encouraging as a teenage fan back in the day). And with the exception of a few set-pieces, the martial arts sequences left much to be desired, as the fight choreography was smack-in-the-face obvious (compared to the modern-era Bourne and Chris Nolan Batman movies).
I have mixed feelings about the dialogue, which is simplistic and laced with artifice throughout. But it's not meant to be deep, and a lot of it is cheesy entertaining. The Johnny Cage character's lines in particular are a particular delight in their delivery, and you can't help but smile at some of the awkwardness and cringe-worthiness!
So yeah, a relatively 'enjoyable' actioner. But would have wanted there to be more depth, more esoteric martial arts action, and generally have more care and attention to detail for the more clumsy and jarring scenes pervading the movie. A welcome effort overall to the genre of video-game adaptation, and canon of the Mortal Kombat franchise (video game, not movie). Numb skulls will love it.
Watching with my sis last night, and felt obligated to do so...
It's a video-game movie, and whilst it's one of the best out there, it's still not that great by any stretch of the imagination, and on any cinematic level.
The choice of 'actors' was near-perfect in my view as far as the aesthetic was concerned - Christopher Lambert in particular lends a sense of gravitas to the production. The premise is faithful to the video game (which is encouraging as a teenage fan back in the day). And with the exception of a few set-pieces, the martial arts sequences left much to be desired, as the fight choreography was smack-in-the-face obvious (compared to the modern-era Bourne and Chris Nolan Batman movies).
I have mixed feelings about the dialogue, which is simplistic and laced with artifice throughout. But it's not meant to be deep, and a lot of it is cheesy entertaining. The Johnny Cage character's lines in particular are a particular delight in their delivery, and you can't help but smile at some of the awkwardness and cringe-worthiness!
So yeah, a relatively 'enjoyable' actioner. But would have wanted there to be more depth, more esoteric martial arts action, and generally have more care and attention to detail for the more clumsy and jarring scenes pervading the movie. A welcome effort overall to the genre of video-game adaptation, and canon of the Mortal Kombat franchise (video game, not movie). Numb skulls will love it.
Michael Lonsdale
Remembering in Munich (2005), was trying to remember where I saw him most recently...
Jogging my memory!
He was the French Diplomat in Remains of the Day!
Jogging my memory!
He was the French Diplomat in Remains of the Day!
Background movie: Munich (2005)
I think fits the mood for now... Something for myself.
An action thriller, that's serious, complex, with a lot of emotional depth, and really well-made.
Randomly recall Seth Rogan referencing this in Knocked Up: a cool Jewish Hero!..
Exemplified in Eric Bana - think he's well cool, and thought his role in Hulk was awesome!
An action thriller, that's serious, complex, with a lot of emotional depth, and really well-made.
Randomly recall Seth Rogan referencing this in Knocked Up: a cool Jewish Hero!..
Exemplified in Eric Bana - think he's well cool, and thought his role in Hulk was awesome!
Family movie: Avatar (2009)
Family movie, minus Dad (who bought it, and half insisted upon watching it as a family when he got home today!).
Third time watching it. I liked it before, and still like it now! I'm definitely sensitive to what's around me. And the conditions for watching (a forced family lunch totally at odds with what individuals wanted to do for themselves today), as well as my preconceptions for why people were watching (because a friend praised it highly, and being swayed by the Oscar buzz), meant that I couldn't fully enjoy this sitting...
Anger. That I had seen this before, and sang it's praises, and Mum couldn't have cared less... But as soon as a friend says something, she has to watch it then. I'm always relied upon to provide movies for a family occasion (otherwise we do fuck-all and stare at eachother, or there's no sense of occasion), and I resent that deeply. I never want to do that again. I need to stop being accommodating. Desperately need to think about looking after myself. Nobody else will.
Third time watching it. I liked it before, and still like it now! I'm definitely sensitive to what's around me. And the conditions for watching (a forced family lunch totally at odds with what individuals wanted to do for themselves today), as well as my preconceptions for why people were watching (because a friend praised it highly, and being swayed by the Oscar buzz), meant that I couldn't fully enjoy this sitting...
Anger. That I had seen this before, and sang it's praises, and Mum couldn't have cared less... But as soon as a friend says something, she has to watch it then. I'm always relied upon to provide movies for a family occasion (otherwise we do fuck-all and stare at eachother, or there's no sense of occasion), and I resent that deeply. I never want to do that again. I need to stop being accommodating. Desperately need to think about looking after myself. Nobody else will.
Saturday 8 May 2010
Background movie: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Re-watching. Have seen it numerous times - and really love it! But it's only just more prominently occurred to me that some of the set-pieces lie on the fringes of believability!
Notably:
- The chase at the top of some Venetian rooftops, ending in dangling over a conveniently placed scaffolding, beneath shattering glass.
- Using a motorbike in the river whilst treating boats like crocodile steppings to reach your location! (Perhaps a reference to Live and Let Die, when Sir Roger hotsteps those pesky lizards?).
- The falling out of the aeroplane and catching the parachute just on time (oozing CGI, but not as bad as bombastically unbelievable as the Brosnan expeditions).
- The explosion in the desert building, conveniently setup for a cool aesthetically pleasing stylistic shot (a la Matrix, just before Laurence Fishbourne jumps out of the building into the helicopter).
Other than that, you're not really conscious of the practicality of the stunts interspersed throughout the narrative. These are the 'hold on a minute' moments where you sit back questioning what you see, even for just a fleeting moment!
Notably:
- The chase at the top of some Venetian rooftops, ending in dangling over a conveniently placed scaffolding, beneath shattering glass.
- Using a motorbike in the river whilst treating boats like crocodile steppings to reach your location! (Perhaps a reference to Live and Let Die, when Sir Roger hotsteps those pesky lizards?).
- The falling out of the aeroplane and catching the parachute just on time (oozing CGI, but not as bad as bombastically unbelievable as the Brosnan expeditions).
- The explosion in the desert building, conveniently setup for a cool aesthetically pleasing stylistic shot (a la Matrix, just before Laurence Fishbourne jumps out of the building into the helicopter).
Other than that, you're not really conscious of the practicality of the stunts interspersed throughout the narrative. These are the 'hold on a minute' moments where you sit back questioning what you see, even for just a fleeting moment!
Background movie: Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Was in the mood for something 'cool', dramatic, well done, and loaded with emotion and meaning.
Had this on whilst cooking and cleaning.
Recall this beating Titanic for Movie Soundtrack at the Oscars way back when!...
(I have to double check this).
And deservedly so.
The sheer originality and diversity of the music is far superior to the rather disarming and incongruent prevalence of electronic-sounds-passing-for-orchestra in Titanic. The latter felt like it was lost between a John Williams-esque dramaticism, and a complete Hans Zimmer score.
NB:
Actually, it was BAFTA not OSCAR in 1997!
Had this on whilst cooking and cleaning.
Recall this beating Titanic for Movie Soundtrack at the Oscars way back when!...
(I have to double check this).
And deservedly so.
The sheer originality and diversity of the music is far superior to the rather disarming and incongruent prevalence of electronic-sounds-passing-for-orchestra in Titanic. The latter felt like it was lost between a John Williams-esque dramaticism, and a complete Hans Zimmer score.
NB:
Actually, it was BAFTA not OSCAR in 1997!
Review: Terminator Salvation (2009) - Rating: 4.5/5
First Blu Ray Disc from 'Blockbuster online!' Watched with sis after cooking bacon/pasta/cabbage with cheese this evening.
Surprisingly enjoyable and entertaining!
Obviously had my concerns and reservations with McG at the Directorial Helm (of Charlie's Angel's fame). But what's presented here is a serious attempt at making something 'realistic', artistically cinematic, and deeply respectful to the first two movies in the franchise. That the effects employ the services of George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic is astonishing, for the scope of the movie's visual grandiosity (a barren post-apocalyptic desert) is far superior to the entire concept of the Star Wars prequels (as well as the Matrix Sequels) combined - the latter two being an over-indulgent fetish with CGI.
Given James Cameron's inclination towards sentimentality and romanticism (of science fiction, and characters with a wider metaphorical agenda), McG's incarnation is refreshingly sparse and reserved by contrast: what you see is what you get. You're thoroughly absorbed into the character's struggles and motivations for survival - it's raw and visceral, there's nothing more cerebral about it ie. condemning, and warning of the dangers of technology for example. There's also light touches of horror and suspense laced throughout the movie. Definitely got the guys' cool factor with some macho fighting sequences, machine explosions, and cool robot sequences reminiscent of the Transformer movies (only better!).
My only criticism, a minor quibble, is that it feels slightly rushed at the end, and the acceleration and frequency of events is noticeably increased and condensed respectively, compared to the rather measured and controlled pacing of everything that precedes it.
The movie compliments well the legacy of Terminator set by Cameron's first two movies (though I rather guiltily enjoyed the third one too!) which are referenced and nodded to many times in subtle and clever ways, and serves as a nice full stop to the Terminator franchise (as you imagine how the rest of the story plays out). The continuation of this, with proposed sequels would only spoil the effectiveness of this hugely entertaining movie.
Surprisingly enjoyable and entertaining!
Obviously had my concerns and reservations with McG at the Directorial Helm (of Charlie's Angel's fame). But what's presented here is a serious attempt at making something 'realistic', artistically cinematic, and deeply respectful to the first two movies in the franchise. That the effects employ the services of George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic is astonishing, for the scope of the movie's visual grandiosity (a barren post-apocalyptic desert) is far superior to the entire concept of the Star Wars prequels (as well as the Matrix Sequels) combined - the latter two being an over-indulgent fetish with CGI.
Given James Cameron's inclination towards sentimentality and romanticism (of science fiction, and characters with a wider metaphorical agenda), McG's incarnation is refreshingly sparse and reserved by contrast: what you see is what you get. You're thoroughly absorbed into the character's struggles and motivations for survival - it's raw and visceral, there's nothing more cerebral about it ie. condemning, and warning of the dangers of technology for example. There's also light touches of horror and suspense laced throughout the movie. Definitely got the guys' cool factor with some macho fighting sequences, machine explosions, and cool robot sequences reminiscent of the Transformer movies (only better!).
My only criticism, a minor quibble, is that it feels slightly rushed at the end, and the acceleration and frequency of events is noticeably increased and condensed respectively, compared to the rather measured and controlled pacing of everything that precedes it.
The movie compliments well the legacy of Terminator set by Cameron's first two movies (though I rather guiltily enjoyed the third one too!) which are referenced and nodded to many times in subtle and clever ways, and serves as a nice full stop to the Terminator franchise (as you imagine how the rest of the story plays out). The continuation of this, with proposed sequels would only spoil the effectiveness of this hugely entertaining movie.
Thursday 6 May 2010
The Adventures of Tin Tin: Secret of the Unicorn (2011)
Just randomly came across this (originally looking up John Williams, scoring this too). This looks and sounds absolutely awesome!! I'm not sure where they can go wrong... Top class actors, a very respectable ensemble cast (almost best of British)!
Can't wait for this to come out end of next year!
Wikipedia article here.
Can't wait for this to come out end of next year!
Wikipedia article here.
Monday 3 May 2010
Mood movie: Braveheart (1995)
5:57am
Just in the mood for something well done, a bit of an actioner, with some emotional depth...
Also with a James Horner Score conflating electronics with seemingly authentic Scottish folk instruments...
Just in the mood for something well done, a bit of an actioner, with some emotional depth...
Also with a James Horner Score conflating electronics with seemingly authentic Scottish folk instruments...
Sunday 2 May 2010
Unleashed - Rating: 4/5
Watching a bit of last night, and the rest of it today before breakfast. A really under-rated film!
Thought Empire's 2-Star verdict a bit harsh: "As a Screenwriter, Luc Besson is a great DIrector!"
That view is taken completely out of context. It's a martial arts action movie, with an attempt to draw some high-art elements married to an unusual story. To compare it with cinema's best is unfair, it's not competing to be. It's just an above average action movie with some heart, some emotional depth, and all the chop-socky you would expect of anything with Jet Li in it. On the last point, the movie more than delivers.
The addition of Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman adds a further sense of gravitas and credibility, and are well used.
Thoroughly enjoyable, and entertaining, providing you're willing to let go your sense realism (it's far from realistic, and it's not meant to be), and take the socio-metaphoric implications with a pinch of salt for purpose of dramatic narrative over stereotypical discrimination.
Thought Empire's 2-Star verdict a bit harsh: "As a Screenwriter, Luc Besson is a great DIrector!"
That view is taken completely out of context. It's a martial arts action movie, with an attempt to draw some high-art elements married to an unusual story. To compare it with cinema's best is unfair, it's not competing to be. It's just an above average action movie with some heart, some emotional depth, and all the chop-socky you would expect of anything with Jet Li in it. On the last point, the movie more than delivers.
The addition of Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman adds a further sense of gravitas and credibility, and are well used.
Thoroughly enjoyable, and entertaining, providing you're willing to let go your sense realism (it's far from realistic, and it's not meant to be), and take the socio-metaphoric implications with a pinch of salt for purpose of dramatic narrative over stereotypical discrimination.
Saturday 1 May 2010
Mood movie: The Fellowship of the Ring
2:37pm
Not feeling Episode III so much...
Definitely up for something fantastical, epic, with fight sequences.
But prefer something that's well done.
A background movie for doing stuff...
Can randomly hear sis is watching Much ado about Nothing, with Kenneth Branagh!
Not feeling Episode III so much...
Definitely up for something fantastical, epic, with fight sequences.
But prefer something that's well done.
A background movie for doing stuff...
Can randomly hear sis is watching Much ado about Nothing, with Kenneth Branagh!
Mood movie: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Just in the mood for a background movie for some mindless fantasy, space stuff, and light-sabre fighting!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
