Films I watched this week (Vol 2)
Discussion
RizzoTheRat said:
First film I saw in 3D. There was an advert before the film with a giant coffee or possibly coco bean head floating down the street. In 3D it was in the middle of the cinema and looked fantastic. Sadly the effects in the film were nowhere near as good as in the advert. I wouldn't personally call it cinematic spectacular.
I saw Avatar twice in the cinema when it came out. And then a third time when it was released on BlurayThe first viewing was indeed a cinema spectacle. Don't forget that modern 3D was new back then. I was completely enthralled by it and it was really rather magical (in my opinion, for me personally, obviously).
On the second viewing, the sense of wonder had been dulled, and you could then see the film for what it was - a rather simplistic re-hash of stories like Dances With Wolves, The Last Mohican, Pochahontas, etc.
My theory at the time, which I still subscribe to, is that the film was such a massive gamble with the new 3D technology that a safe, solid, well-trodden story mitigated the risk somewhat.
I will never forgive the use of the name Unobtainium though. Not least because it was our little joke for parts that are hard to find, and the film robbed us of it.
Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Monday 6th May 15:50
popeyewhite said:
They were not "all highly praised". The pleased the general mass of film going public who'd pay to watch a dog cocking its leg. They were praised by sections of the mainstream media and by the industry itself, which is never self-promoting. no sir. Never. Dig deeper than surface level and there's plenty of criticism of both.
the whole hate success thing is very weird. it was highly praised all across the board.Anyway the point is there are people that seem to make a noise about not liking films that are popular, they are successful because people like to watch them, simples..
Thesprucegoose said:
the whole hate success thing is very weird. it was highly praised all across the board.
Anyway the point is there are people that seem to make a noise about not liking films that are popular, they are successful because people like to watch them, simples..
That doesn't mean they're good films. And they aren't.Anyway the point is there are people that seem to make a noise about not liking films that are popular, they are successful because people like to watch them, simples..
peterperkins said:
'Cold Pursuit' = Steaming Turd.
A scene for scene remake of the much superior 2014 Norwegian original.. 'In order of disappearance.'
The acting is laughably bad with some weird editing and continuity..
Not a patch on the original..
All the actors looked and sounded like they were going through the motions. (Turds)
No wonder Liam Neeson's wife in the film f
ked off halfway through.
2 bodies rolled up in chicken wire out of 10.
I totally agree with every word apart from the score. 1 body for me. Ruined it.A scene for scene remake of the much superior 2014 Norwegian original.. 'In order of disappearance.'
The acting is laughably bad with some weird editing and continuity..
Not a patch on the original..
All the actors looked and sounded like they were going through the motions. (Turds)
No wonder Liam Neeson's wife in the film f
ked off halfway through. 2 bodies rolled up in chicken wire out of 10.
Halb said:
Depends what you mean by 'good.' I'm not a fan of Titanic, but I can clearly see it's beyond good, and when it's on the box I can watch it and suspend my disbelief.
Somewhat off topic, but there was Titanic Special done by the Mythbusters where they tried to work out whether Jack and Rose could have both survived, and concluded that had they wedged her life jacket under the wooden panel she was floating on, it would have yielded enough buoyancy to support both of them. However, they also had James Cameron assisting, and he said that Jamie & Adam were missing one key bit of data - that if he'd known this he would either have made the panel smaller, thinner, or from a less buoyant wood. 
Made me chuckle anyway.
Thesprucegoose said:
Leithen said:
I'm saying they were both crap films.
what is one of your top rated recent films then?Having three young children, all of whom have declared that they don't like films has somewhat curtailed our cinema visit frequency. Instead we wait for digital release, rent and view on a projector.
Looking at an all time box office list, it's not inspiring. My "best of a bad bunch" would start with Return of the King or Skyfall. Neither would rate as a favourite.
Adjusted for Inflation is more interesting - lots to choose from thankfully - Star Wars, Jaws, The Sting etc.
Last years box office is pretty dire - A Star is Born was good, First Man ok, Paddington 2 probably the best.
Thesprucegoose said:
the whole hate success thing is very weird.
Lost me there.Thesprucegoose said:
it was highly praised all across the board.
Once again, scratch beneath the surface and you'll see it most definitely wasn't.Thesprucegoose said:
Anyway the point is there are people that seem to make a noise about not liking films that are popular,
Ah I see what you are saying now. That's not the case here though is it?Thesprucegoose said:
they are successful because people like to watch them, simples..
I sometimes wonder if £millions in marketing ever plays a part. I mean quite often a high % of a film's budget is allocated for marketing - yet you think this makes no difference. Or the selection of cinemas. Or the fact the film is a sequel. Or the fact critics post positive reviews (not that that means anything, plenty of films have been slated by critics and gone on to be huge earners), etc etc Halb said:
Captain Fantastic, oh my. Recorded it first time on SUnday but it missed the start, read a review above and gave it another shot on the repeat screening. Just an amazing story. Had to stop it at a certain point, thought it would go formula, but it didn't. Viggo is a damn fine actor.
Underrated!ajprice said:
parabolica said:
Bad Times at the El Royale - fantastic. Like a Tarantino movie without the arrogance; kept me guessing right up to the end and fantastic performances from Jeff Bridges and Lewis Pullman, but special shout out to Cynthia Erivo and that powerhouse voice of hers!
Watched it this weekend, and yes to what you said. I missed it in the cinema, so I got it as a cheapie rental from Google Play. I've been thinking about it and reading up on it since, so I must have really liked it. The only thing I can think of that was off was Chris Hemsworth not really coming across as dark or creepy enough, someone else would probably have been better as that character.Leithen said:
Thesprucegoose said:
Leithen said:
Given that the All Time top three includes Avatar and Titanic, the bar isn't that high....
I'm confused are you saying they are crap films as they both were highly praised and won numerous awards, or is it this new thing to say everything is crap even if it really isn't.yes they have broad appeal but that is the point of blockbusters,Trois couleurs: Bleu is available for the aficionados.
both have their place, and their are decent and poor films of both type
Got round to watching Barry Lyndon for the very first time on I-Player at the weekend.
I don't go for period dramas but I'm a fan Kubrick's other films so had to give this a go.
It seems like a 180 to 2001. By that I mean I sympathize to those who don't like 2001: visually appealling and not much seems to happen. I found it very boring for the most part and was only really captivated by the last hour where Ryan O Neal's haunting face does justice and by then I respected Kubrick's intentions to mimic Georgian artwork. The duels were tense and up there with Morricone's stand-off's.
I feel like wanting to give this another go but don't feel desperate to watch it again.
I don't go for period dramas but I'm a fan Kubrick's other films so had to give this a go.
It seems like a 180 to 2001. By that I mean I sympathize to those who don't like 2001: visually appealling and not much seems to happen. I found it very boring for the most part and was only really captivated by the last hour where Ryan O Neal's haunting face does justice and by then I respected Kubrick's intentions to mimic Georgian artwork. The duels were tense and up there with Morricone's stand-off's.
I feel like wanting to give this another go but don't feel desperate to watch it again.
entropy said:
Got round to watching Barry Lyndon for the very first time ........
Kubrick AppreciationI couldn't sleep, so got up at 4.30am and had an uninterrupted viewing long before breakfast and the day's chores.
I actually enjoyed it very much - yes it did have a few tedious moments, but it is a long film and a lot to take in.
I count it as one of Kubrick's masterpieces ( partly when you have read up later about the pioneering lens technology used in filming ), and suggest you give it another go.
http://neiloseman.com/barry-lyndon-the-full-story-...
I never thought of Ryan O'Neill as a CAD and he deserves all he gets, but he acted this part so well.
I'd quite happily give his son and heir a kicking too !
8 / 10 by me.
Incidentally, you also mentioned 2001. While changing channels, I caught the HAL scene not having seen it in many years and was struck at how forward looking it was when originally made.
Can't believe I haven't seen it before now. The Departed
South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster's trust, a career criminal named Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) infiltrates the police department and reports on its activities to his syndicate bosses. When both organizations learn they have a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin must figure out each other's identities to save their own lives.
Absolutely stellar cast, very sweary, very violent. 9 out of 10 R's replaced with AH's
South Boston cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). As Billy gains the mobster's trust, a career criminal named Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) infiltrates the police department and reports on its activities to his syndicate bosses. When both organizations learn they have a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin must figure out each other's identities to save their own lives.
Absolutely stellar cast, very sweary, very violent. 9 out of 10 R's replaced with AH's
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