What movies have you seen lately? Now with reviews!Movies

[nk4e]

IP Man: The legend is born
If you ever watch Donnie Yen's IP Man and ever wondered how he got there. This movie is the prequel to it and I expect small amounts of traditional wire work, but didn't find one. Good action and its a fast paced story, 7/10.

Guest appearances:
Sammo Hung
Fan Siu-wong
Master Ip Chun ( Ip Man's son)
(*Note I bought this movie thinking it was part 2 if IP Man)

 

[CaptainHarlock]

While I've never seen Star Trek one only one Alien film (Reurrection, because it was written by Whedon), I have to disagree with Star Wars having done it all before. I found Lucas' vision to be pretty limited as each and every planet only have one ecosystem, and they're usually pretty outrageous (the jungle world in Revenge of the Sith, for instance?). While we might only see some parts of worlds in the Whedonverse, and least they're a little more grounded in reality. Stephen Hawking seem to think so; he claims that when humans start colonising the stars, the odds are high that Firefly shows what it's going to be like.

Hey, there's nothing that Whedon hasn't done that Outlaw Star didn't "inspire" him to do!

 

[jeffgoddin]

Hey, there's nothing that Whedon hasn't done that Outlaw Star didn't "inspire" him to do!

Sounds like somebody needs to visit The General Anime Thread! But just for the record, you mean Whedon's Firefly, not his other works, I'm sure. Though I suppose we're talking about space fiction here, so maybe that was assumed.

 

[mazda787]

Taxi Driver - 7/10. It was not dark as I was expecting it to be (the storyline seemed too simple), but Robert Deniro did a good job coming off as mentally unstable.

Margin Call - 6.7/10. Boring overall.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 7.7/10. Interesting story, but pacing is a little slow. Not worth it to watch in a theater as there aren't too many visually/acoustically stunning scenes.

Mission Impossible 4: 7.2/10. Decent action movie.

The Debt: 6.8/10. A good idea (to manage a secret for many years) manifested extremely poorly and unrealistically.

 

[Schwartz]

Truth in 24

Its a documentary about Audi's win at Le Mans in 2008. Best documentary ever. 10/10. It is free on iTunes. I highly recommend you download it.

 

[Patrick]

I agree with you Schwartz. Truth in 24 is an incredible film. It might be the only movie Jason Stathom is in where there aren't any explosions.

 

[SuperShouden]

Kung Fu Panda 2 - I will have to say, Angelina Jolie as Tigress is the best character of this series. She's far more kick-ass than Po the Panda. Kung Fu Panda 2 is half a prequel as it gives a lot of insight into Po's past and adds the voices of Michelle Yoeh, Danny McBride (As the bumbling Wolf boss. I rather liked this character.), Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gary Oldman and Dennis Haysbert to the already full list of stars.

However, the once proud and respectable Furious Five have become mere babysitters for Po, and spend most of the movie cleaning up his messes or helping him create bigger ones. I know he's the Dragon Warrior, but he ends up hurting the Five more than helping them, it seems. Before they were a team, now...they just seem like servants to Po's stupidity. One might argue that's what friends are for, but a real friend, would smack him upside the head a lot and tell him to grow up. And you keep expecting Tigress to do that as former leader of the Five, but...she never does.

Other than that, though...it was a great movie. I'll give a generous 4/5. Jack Black is a better actor when you can't see him.

 

[Northstar]

It might be the only movie Jason Statham is in where there aren't any explosions.

I swear that sounds familiar, I just can't put my finger on it.

I watched Transformers: Dark of the Moon, or was it Revenge of the Fallen, could have been the 1st one as well, can't remember as they are pretty much the same only they replaced Megan Fox with a not-as-hot chick who is 10X more annoying as are the parents.

 

[jeffgoddin]

@nk4e, IP mans are all good!

 

[niky]

Interesting Christmas break for me... in the middle of my Avatar: The Last Airbender marathons, I've managed to watch one or two movies I'd never watched before:

The King's Speech

Okay, so I watched it on TV... still... interesting movie. I would have dismissed it as typical arthouse fare... Oscar bait... but still, I found it interesting enough to sit down and watch. Wonderful flick. Great performances all around, and the dry humour and the chemistry between the leads (the King and his speech therapist) managed to keep the movie going even during periods of dead air. Predictable, but then, it's history. Still... it manages to be more than the sum of its parts and worth a watch for those who think all historical drama is dull, dry and boring.

9/10

The Skycrawlers (Sukai Kurora)

Either you like the fact that Japanese cinema uses silent and slow-moving scenes to create atmosphere or you hate it. Obviously, if you hate it, you'll hate this movie. If you accept it as part of the genre, you may like it.

While it promises to be an action-movie filled with (bloody) aerial dogfights and the well-detailed machinery inherent in wartime anime/manga, this is actually a mystery wrapped in a philosophical conundrum. Centered around the lives of "Kildred" (kill-dolls), genetically-engineered humans who never grow past adolescence, who participate in legalized and highly ritualized air war in a world at peace, it attempts to cover multiple topics within a limited amount of space, and, as such, it runs pretty long for an animated movie,a t over two hours.

In the future, with war abolished, cultural tensions are eased by the use of limited corporate warfare, covered by the media and gobbled up by a public in need of heroes and drama. Kildred are bred to be the best of the best pilots, and, since they never grow old, we're treated to one of the more common cliches of the anime genre... "teenagers" smoking, drinking and fornicating... but with justification... since these aren't teenagers. One character even has an eight-year old daughter. However, events within the movie raise questions of identity, memory and purpose as the endless war grinds on.

The stoic numbness of the main characters manages to carry much pathos... sometimes too much, and it's reminiscent of Japanese teen angst cinema, only broken up by the more human motivations and reactions of supporting cast and characters. Reasons are revealed at the end, though. Ended up enjoying it... somewhat... but your mileage may vary.

7/10

Taxi Driver - 7/10. It was not dark as I was expecting it to be (the storyline seemed too simple), but Robert Deniro did a good job coming off as mentally unstable.

I loved this movie. Within the context of its time, it was rather risque and subversive... a sort of dark comedy...

 

[paskowitz]

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 8/10

First, do not see this with the kids. Especially if you have not had "the talk" yet. There is also a good chance your wife will not like this movie. If you or the people you are going with are not comfortable with

Spoiler

rape

, do not see this movie. This is not Law and Order SVU.

However, if you are comfortable watching all this, you are in for a great movie. The cinematography, atmosphere, script, acting, etc are all there. The murder mystery, like many have said, could be better, but is far from bad. It is not as good a story as Se7en, but it is far nicer to look at... obviously apart from all the gruesome scenes.

 

[TankAss95]

Braveheart.
FREEEEEDOOOOMMMM!
Actually really good film, but embarrassingly inaccurate. If only Gibson had stayed close to the actual bases of history.

 

[DA__dogg]

Saw a couple of movies today:

Pulling John - a movie about the arm wrestling legend John Brzenk and the challengers to his place as top arm wrestler in the world. At first I watched it as a joke but the movie is fascinating imo. Brzenk is a quiet and unassuming guy while his main US challenger is loud and brash and their contrast in personality and technique is shown very well onscreen. It's a documentary about Brzenk and his bid to stay on top of the arm wrestling world, all leading up to an exciting championship match. Yeah believe me I never thought I'd say those words lol. 8/10

The Resident - Starring Hilary Swank and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Well acted but the plot is very predictable. 6/10

 

[Diego440]

Don't Look Now (Nicolas Roeg, 1973) -- All I knew about this movie prior to watching it was that it's usually at the top or near the top of the best British movies of all time, and maybe that's what had me thinking it was going to be great; it isn't. Like so many 70s movies (and this movie is very much in that vein), the scenes are extremely slow and long and there's loads of nothing happening and many of the actor's expressions are supposed to transmit a lot of unspoken messages and for a long time you're left to wonder what they mean by them. In the end, the 'surprise' comes in the last 10 minutes and it's not very surprising at all. I've seen a few reviews on it saying that only smarter viewers will 'get it', but in my opinions the best movies are the ones that people 'get' regardless of their smarts... or at least some are that way. In all honesty, I hyped this movie too much before watching it and the consequence is that it's nothing of what I expected and didn't enjoy a thing of it. There's a few bits in it that reminded me of Von Trier's Antichrist and Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense, but in general, nothing too great. Perhaps I should watch it again to make a better judgement of it, but I'm really in no hurry to do so again. 3.5/10

 

[TB]

SThe Gamers: Dorkness Rising, which led me to it's predecessor The Gamers.

My review of Dorkness Rising is about on par with yours - stupid and campy but done just well enough that it works.

 

[jeffgoddin]

My review of Dorkness Rising is about on par with yours - stupid and campy but done just well enough that it works.

Ha ha! Yeah, some people will appreciate it but not most. Surprised you gave it a 7/10 given that you never pencil-and-paper roleplayed just console. Such a (dorky) cool dynamic between players and their dungeonmaster.

 

[TB]

Surprised you gave it a 7/10 given that you never pencil-and-paper roleplayed just console.

I must have been feeling generous that day. That and, as I said, having the Final Fantasy victory song at the beginning set the tone for this long time lover of the franchise.

 

[astrosdude91]

Interesting Christmas break for me... in the middle of my Avatar: The Last Airbender marathons, I've managed to watch one or two movies I'd never watched before:

The King's Speech

Okay, so I watched it on TV... still... interesting movie. I would have dismissed it as typical arthouse fare... Oscar bait... but still, I found it interesting enough to sit down and watch. Wonderful flick. Great performances all around, and the dry humour and the chemistry between the leads (the King and his speech therapist) managed to keep the movie going even during periods of dead air. Predictable, but then, it's history. Still... it manages to be more than the sum of its parts and worth a watch for those who think all historical drama is dull, dry and boring.

9/10
[/COLOR][/B]

I was actually really surprised with The King's Speech. I thought I would be asleep within half an hour. But it really kept me engaged. I thought it was a fantastic film.

 

[mazda787]

Crazy, Stupid, Love: 5/10. I really don't understand how this movie has a 7.5 on imdb. There weren't that many funny moments, and the story itself was weak.

 

[Diego440]

Edited due to insane amounts of swearing

Now it's an eventual placeholder for the last seen movie, stay tuned!

 

[CMvan46]

Saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol last night in IMAX. I'm my opinion it was a great movie and very enjoyable. The stunts were good, sounds were fantastic and the special effects were top notch. Had a lot of fun watching it, although I'm easily impressed by movies, and I'd give it an 9/10. Highly recommend it, especially if you have the option of IMAX.

 

[Omnis]

Just saw Green Lantern. Man, what a dumbass movie! Probably the worst superhero movie I've ever seen.

It was so mediocre for something with such a huge budget. I mean, they spent all that money animating a green hot wheels track? Jesus...

 

[FoolKiller]

Saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol last night in IMAX. I'm my opinion it was a great movie and very enjoyable. The stunts were good, sounds were fantastic and the special effects were top notch. Had a lot of fun watching it, although I'm easily impressed by movies, and I'd give it an 9/10. Highly recommend it, especially if you have the option of IMAX.

Maybe you can explain the mask thing I mentioned in my review in spoiler tags.

 

[DA__dogg]

Saw Cowboys and Aliens yesterday. It was an okay movie with good special effects.

 

[Clytius]

Watched Fight Club yesterday. Amazing movie.

 

[LouTs337]

Carnage
7,5/10
Simple fun movie but very predictable. The fake couple vs caring couple, going to woman vs the men and back.

The Darkest Hour
7/10
Pretty straightforward action movie, with good special effects, decent acting and somewhat of a story. Though the 'invaders' background i would want to know more about, characters seems believable (which most horror movies have problems with, always making the wrong choice), not making really 'strange' choices. Actually looking forward to part 2, if it ever comes.

Doodslag (Dutch Movie)
6/10
For me it fails because it does not show real emotion in the leading character and the whole 'dilemma' is not discussed much.

 

[Lain]

Just got done watching What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Quite a moving film.

Leonardo DiCaprio did a damn good job playing the mentally challenged Arnie Grape in this movie. I've heard jokes like "maybe it comes naturally to him lol", but c'mon. The man deserves proper credit for this role.

Most of the other actors were also very good, with maybe just one or two exceptions...

 

[Rusi]

Watched I Saw The Devil this film follows all the rules of Korean Cinema. Revenge, blood, boobs and cigarettes. I never get tired of it. Unfortunately the movie looses pace at the end and the main actor is just not good enough. Still an enjoyable watch because Korean Cinema is great. Like seriously every scene is a piece of art Hollywood could learn a thing or two about set direction and cinematography from the Koreans.. end rant.

6.9/10

 

[FoolKiller]

So, this is what happens when I let my wife pick movies.

I Don't Know How She Does It - (4/10)

So, Sarah Jessica Parker stars in this film as a married mom of two kids who is also a successful businesswoman (investment banker, I think. It didn't matter.) And no one knows how she does it. I do, I do. Her husband, who is also in the middle of a successful career, takes care of everything at home while she is on business trips, and none of her failings at work are called out because the head of her company (or a partner company - still doesn't matter) has a crush on her, despite the horse face. Truthfully, she doesn't do it. She mucks it up non-stop. But it is supposed to be a feel good comedy for all the working moms out there. Too bad it sucks and is based on the premise that she succeeds, only in the real world she would fail most of the time.

We Bought a Zoo - (7/10)

I can't hate on this one too much. I actually kind of liked it. It's based on a true story and is a genuine feel good film for the family. Matt Damon plays a character that I actually like for the first in a long time. He plays a normal person and feels like a normal person. It is based on a true story, although I want to know the real details because everything only works because of a bit of too perfect timing in a surprise. Similarly, as you close in on the climax of the film it just becomes a long list of bad luck problems that suddenly get cleared up at the last moment. It's almost as if life is painted as just a list of good luck or bad luck without an inbetween. It was always either everything is lost or everything is good. There were no "we're good today, but if anything goes wrong tomorrow we're sunk" kind of moments. Just hope and despair. Aside from some writing issues though, this wasn't too bad. It isn't worth getting excited over, but it has that Marley & Me vibe going for it.

 

[Diego440]

Das Boot (a.k.a. The Boat) (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981) -- A story a German U-Boat crew during WWII, with the film examining how these submariners maintained their professionalism as soldiers, attempted to accomplish impossible missions, while all the time attempting to understand and obey the ideology of the government under which they served. A movie that shows how important is leadership in maintaining the crew together, along with a great show of tension and suspense in scenes that rarely show more than a group of men in an underwater tin can. This is a truly great movie, with excellent plot, direction, acting, cinematography, sound, music and editing. Unfortunately I only found the English dub, and while it's not that bad, it's not the original. It's #65 in IMDb's Top 250-- 9/10



The Great Dictator (Charles Chaplin, 1940) -- Twenty years after the end of WWI in which the nation of Tomainia was on the losing side, Adenoid Hynkel has risen to power as the ruthless dictator of the country. He believes in a pure Aryan state, and the decimation of the Jews; Chaplin's critique against the US for doing nothing abut Hitler's rise and subsequent actions, earned him the unsurprising banning of this movie in Germany, but also a high amount of critiques from all around the world. It remains Chaplin's highest grossing movie, but also his most controversial. Still, while being touching and critiquing, it's also very funny. A great Chaplin classic, which is #76 in IMDb's Top 250. 9/10