News | Forum | People | FAQ | Links | Search | Register | Log in
Film Thread.
I thought a trio of themed threads about other entertainment media might be good. If you're not interested, please just ignore the thread and pick some threads that interest you from here: http://celephais.net/board/view_all_threads.php

Anyway, discuss films...
First | Previous | Next | Last
Godzilla 
The movie was a two hour "Days of our Lives" marathon with a few teasers for a Godzilla movie during the commercials.

FYI 
Under The Skin 
this seems like people will either love it or hate it; it's a vague, slow, Kubrick-esque scifi/horror with very little dialogue or explanation, but some great cinematography and some very disturbing images. I saw an exhibit of Francis Bacon paintings recently and kept thinking about that while watching this. 
Some New, Some Not So New: 
X-Men - Days Of Future Past : Really good, my favourite in the extensive series. Context is really strong for this, actually gives it some purpose to the superhero dicking around. Start of it is great, characters are pretty good throughout.

Godzilla : Quite okay, escalates nicely and some good spectacles. Crams a lot of different stuff in, it's not just "omg big monster" which is nice, but equally is a bit patchy. The human story / human hero is overdone and the far more interesting background to the monsters is underdone.

The Others : Very good, essentially The Orphanage Lite but that's fair praise indeed. Creepy set-up and creepier characters and unfolds nicely.

The Thing : (the latest remake) Not bad, quite stylishly done, an interesting blend between a sort of remake and and a prequel setting it up well for the 1980's Thing. However it lacks the character and memorability of that classic, and is not as freaky and tense as it should be. 
And Long Overdue... 
Edge Of Tomorrow - fuck me this is good. Had high but wary hopes based on the trailer but it's better still - the whole Groundhog Day + Starship Troopers theme is inherently entertaining, but it's smart, well-paced, good characters and surprisingly funny. Definitely continues in the trend of well done sci-fi from a few years ago like District 9 and Source Code. Only regret is I didn't watch it earlier so I could catch it at the cinema again. 
Shambler 
Now go read the novel (All you Need is Kill), and tell me how it compares (haven't watched the film yet.) 
Bal 
Ordered the book (fucking paperback!) today AND watched the film again tonight in IMAX 3D. 
Some Tv 
well specifically some Scandinavian tv. Have had these lying around for a while so finally fired them up.

Forbrydelsen 1 (The Killing 1) - I've seen the American remake and I quite liked it despite some obvious flaws. The remake's plotting was a bit spotty but I liked a lot of the characterisations and acting and especially the atmosphere.

The original has the same good points as the remake but the plotting is much much superior and even the acting, characterisations and atmosphere are also better pulled off. This is probably hands down one of the best seasons of tv ever made.

Broen/Bron 1 (The Bridge 1) - Havent seen the US remake yet although will check it out as I have heard good things about that from trusted sources.

This is a little more pulpy plot wise than Forbrydelsen but otherwise IMHO just as brilliant in characterisation and acting, and probably superior in atmosphere.

If you are not averse to subtitles, these come highly recommended. Havent had time to watch Forbrydelsen 2 and 3 or Broen 2 yet. 
Didn't Realise There Was A US Remake Of The Bridge... 
... but I enjoyed the anglo-french one -- the tunnel. Haven't seen the original though. 
I've Read That The Tunnel Is Pretty Much A Carbon Copy 
whereas the US makes some interesting diversions since instead of being set around say US-Canada border, it is set around the US-Mexico border. 
Bron - Broen - Bridge 
Have seen all 3 all seasons. Original is the best one hands down. French 'Tunnel' has a great main british actor and the never-ending 'rosbeef/froggies' quarrel picking is once again used to thicken the sauce. But there's not much more to it. The US-Mexico border aspects are the best of the US version. Wooden stiff acting of Diane Kr�ger just doesn't work against Sofia Helin, the swedish cop. She's the real deal here: scarred-face emotion-impaired icy-blonde hot chick in leather coat+trousers with her 70's (Quaky!)bronze Porsche 911 ride. The character is even more gripping as Sarah Lund in Forbrydelsen.

Saw both seasons of Bron and all 3 of Forbrydelsen. All of them are great. Lisbeth Salander and the Millenium movies opened a breach here. The Killing US is a well done remake of Forbrydelsen, thanks to great acting (Enos/Kinnaman) and writing. But as nitin said, you must to go with the original+subtitles for a complete immersion. Great atmosphere. Washed-out and snowy landscapes. Damp twilight. Matchless and very addictive.

In a more sci-fi oriented style I also enjoyed both season of �kta M�nniskor, to add just some more to the sm�rg�sbord. 
I Think These Are Far Better Than The Dragon Tattoo Movies 
which I liked but also had too many issues with.

Need to get my hands on Broen 2, have Forbrydelsen 2 and 3 but probably ownt watch them straight away. 
Mr. Nobody 
The Fountain meets Slaughterhouse Five, with Jared Leto as a dude who lives every life he could have lived. Starts out making intentionally zero sense but quickly explains itself without holding your hand one bit. 
Utopia 
Don't run away only because the genre is "conspiracy thriller". It is deliciously bleak, swinging from horrifying to morbidly hilarious on a whim, but without whiplash. The conflict is not a black vs. white cliche, since the "good guys" are everymen in almost every sense of the word and the "bad guys" do what they do out of genuine concern for the world. Nobody really trusts eachother, and to be frank, it's only natural that they don't.

Did I mention the wonderful production values yet? It may as well have been a German indie film, with all the saturated colors and haunting electronic soundtrack. Possibly the best looking/sounding TV show after Breaking Bad. 
Fargo 
Never seen the movie so I can't tell how similar the series is, but I can tell you it is wonderful. Probably prefer it to True Detective. It's a very neatly told tale about temptation, consequences of a lone wolf passing by through a peaceful countryside, and a timid man's descent into his true asshole self. 
 
Oh yes but does it have that quaint, subtle humour of Fargo? Bet it doesn't.

Just watched "Now You See Me", I thought it really good, and I didn't pick the ending. 
Fargo Series 
First I must say I really love Cohen movies. Among them, Fargo is one of my faves. I saw it several times and I was in serious doubt about that series. Let me say this. Go for it without hesitation! It's a masterpiece! Same gritty humour, same snow, same 'local people wit behind apparent dumbness'. A special reward goes to the script and acting. The leads are just fantastic: B.B. Thornton, Martin Freeman (best character yet, imo), Colin Hanks (just perfect)... I could go on that way but, long story short, I you liked Fargo, the movie, you gonna LOVE the series! 
Fargo 
Fargo is lovely, great Cohen stuff.
I cant compare it to True Detective though
They are both very good but to me very different

I dont know why, I really have this feeling a lot of people although really liking True Detective are missing some things/layers about it which make it something really really very special. 
Oofta 
Martin Freeman (best character yet, imo)

I only started watching Fargo because of Freeman and now I can't see him as anybody else but as Lester. 
Pretty Sure The Coens Were Involved In The Series To Some Extent 
havent seen it yet though, waiting for the blu ray. 
Otp 
have you seen s2 of Utopia or just s1? Just wondering if s2 is one the same level. 
Nitin 
Most people disagree but yeah, it's just as good as the first. The season premiere in particular is a peach of an episode. 
In Particular 
I've heard people say that the latest episode was the weakest one overall, while IMO it was miles better than 1x02 which nearly made me give up on the series wholesale. 
Kona 
quaint, subtle is very much how I'd describe TV Fargo's humor. 
2 posts not shown on this page because they were spam
First | Previous | Next | Last
You must be logged in to post in this thread.
Website copyright © 2002-2024 John Fitzgibbons. All posts are copyright their respective authors.