TominAtl's review pretty much covered the essential aspects of this wonderful movie. This was Jeremy Renner's finest acting. Yes, it is a murder mystery and certainly makes important social commentaries. It is also a story grief and how to survive the pain of loss. Moreover, it has a very unique and different film score. Don't miss this movie. If possible see it on the big screen for its cinematography, stunning landscapes and the sounds of wide spaces and isolation.
Why they so cheap? I thought they were expensive criterion type releases. Also what's this about a recent Seven Samurai, TG?
These are the BFI versions, which don't seem to have the same range of extras but as it was such a good deal I was happy just to grab them. And they aren't bereft of additional things to watch by any means.
And I know that you're living in a log cabin in the wilds of the North American tundra but you can't have missed that there's a newish Mag seven. You were probably being facetious, on reflection. I like that.
I'd entirely forgotten about that Mag Seven. I'd be okay without extras for the other films, just as long as they're good looking and complete versions of the films.
I'd entirely forgotten about that Mag Seven. I'd be okay without extras for the other films, just as long as they're good looking and complete versions of the films.
They're very good-looking, especially Ran, which is gorgeous and made me want to travel to Japan to see the grass-covered hills and unspoilt plains, until one of the extra interviews betrayed the fact that the camera was placed very carefully in many of the shots to avoid a Sony factory just to one side and an apartment block to the other (or something similar).
And I know you've seen some crappy films in your time but I'd recommend avoiding the new Mag 7 - there's nothing better about it than either of its predecessors. They even manage to bugger up the motivation of the main character by giving him an ulterior reason for helping the villagers against the bad guys.[/endspoiler]. Idiots. Hi
Sorry TG, but I liked the new Magnificent Seven. The original is the best, of course. I wish the remake had taken more time to fully develop the main characters. On the other hand, I found it to be rousing and action-packed with decent acting. I was thoroughly entertained.
Sorry TG, but I liked the new Magnificent Seven. The original is the best, of course. I wish the remake had taken more time to fully develop the main characters. On the other hand, I found it to be rousing and action-packed with decent acting. I was thoroughly entertained.
Well all three of the females under my roof rejoiced when Chris Pratt recently became single again, so maybe I can understand some of the appeal!
I felt that the whole thing was undermined and hollowed out by the development in the spoiler text above. The most welcome thing about it for me was the recapitulation of Elmer's theme.[/endspoiler]. And I don't know if that's even a spoiler!
Once Upon A Time In Venice - 2.5/10 Bruce Willis barely musters the effort to act these days. The script seems 20 years late and the music is a misplaced love letter to Tarantino. If you want to see a naked skateboarding Bruce Willis shove a gun up his arse then this is the film for you. Quite painful.
Found the film pretty cringe worthy when I saw it on first release. I liked it a bit more the second time. But the problems remain- I don't like the CGI. The 3D animation looks ironically flat and 2D. It looks all fuzzy around the corners too. I hate color degrading. The action sequences while seemingly fantastic, lack suspense for some reason. The script and acting devolve as the film progresses. Obviously the writer/director loves classic serials, and animated shorts (Fletcher's Superman to be exact). But instead of using them as an inspiration , he sort of copied and pasted these ideas into his own film. In short he failed to create a "World" of his own. (Unlike my God George Lucas) <--- That last part was for my buddy Phelps.
A New Leaf 4.5/10 Matthau is ok but I felt like it needed a top form Leslie Neilsen. Scenes go on for too long and it just feels like the timing or something is a bit off. I liked the butler then read about his tragic real life story.
The Founder 7/10 decent enough and watchable thanks to Michael Keaton on good form as were the actors playing the McDonald brothers. Not much to do for Laura Dern, Patrick Wilson or Linda Cardellini though. Made me want to eat a burger and watch a documentary about the McDonald's story.
The Belko Experiment 4/10 I was expdcting to enjoy this a but more as it was written by James Gunn and it's your basic straight to DVD idea I thought he'd elevate with some interesting or quirky scenes or deaths or anything. But it just remains a B/C grade watch once and bin film. Some decent actors in here too but no decent characters for them to play. The main guy is really bland and charmless. The reasoning for it all is also un satisfying and makes no sense. The CGI building they all occupy looks unconvincing and bad too.
Didn't expect to enjoy it but frankly I did. A few good twists and directorial effects in a Guy Ritchie vein. All the impressive cast took it seriously - to do otherwise would have spoiled it. Lucy Liu stood out in a role far removed from (for instance) O-Ren Ishii. Don't really recall the score but I don't remember thinking badly of it.
Slevin out of ten (c'mon, you must have seen that coming)
My TV planner's a bit full up, so I watched three films last night:
Went The Day Well 9/10 - Some German fifth columnist troops dressed as English soldiers take over a sleepy English village. As this was made during the war (1942) there's a strong element of propaganda, the Germans are cold & cruel & the fight back from the villagers is really violent & unapologetic. A classic.
Clear & Present Danger 7/10 & Patriot Games 6/10. I saw then in the wrong order, not that it matters, quite enjoyable if you're in the mood.
Kagemusha The Shadow Warrior 9/10 Stunning visuals and use of colour, rival armies duking it out over unseen castles, blood-soaked aftermaths of brutal battles and dialogue that's sly in the subtitles and must be glorious in the original Japanese. All that you'd expect and nothing to not like.
Yes, Went the day well has that brilliant scene where the widow serves tea to the german - chatting away about why her and her husband never had kids - then chopped him up with the axe. Gotta see it.
