but the ones I've seen are written in the same cheesy way. In Tarantino it almost doesn't matter what race the actor/character is, because the whole thing just screams "hollywood badass" aka "verdict: retarded." sure it doesn't take itself as seriously as 80's action films but it's that very "clever" irony, as if it's better than it is, that pisses me off.

Plus as someone else pointed out, Samuel L Jackson has been playing the same character for 20 years, and it hasn't gotten any better. Whereas, even if Morgan Freeman has been playing the same character for 20 years, it's usually still good. And, on another note, there is no excuse, for anyone anywhere, to have any respect for John Travolta. Ass-chinned scientologist ugly dried-up washed-up ass(chin). lol. 

But in PF Travolta and Jackson were well-cast. It was Jackson's break-through roll.

TBH as much as I like Kill Bill, I don't think they are as legendary as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. Jackie Brown also wasn't as good. Death Proof was OK because it was slightly different, but it was still a bit Meh. But Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs are classics. Untouchable. If not only for the performances in them, and how different they were from other movies around at the time. 

I'm right there with you, Tronyn. Tarantino is a hack who is very adept at hiding that very fact behind "clever" dialogue and "references" (could also call it theft). There is simply nothing left once you subtract all that.

Whedon on the other hand does have a real knack for great writing and dialogue. His characters often work, and if he finds a good ensemble, his writing shines. But I do agree that he's a bit overhyped by the nerds. I never got into Buffy, either - maybe I am too old (and male) for that. But Firefly was simply one of the best shows in its time. And I wouldn't really call it a Sci Fi show because the major story elements and themes don't require the story to be set in the future (same applies, to a lesser extent, to BSG btw).

TL;DR version: Whedon > Tarantino 

Well, this was a very strange movie. One of those where the trailer has all the good bits. The bits that weren't in the trailer are all over the place -- sometimes kinda kiddie humour, sometimes kinda dark but without any real sense of threat (even when innocent people are dying). Would not recommend. 

I find Joss' ideas better than his execution whereas IMHO, at least pre-Death Proof, Tarantino provided the reverse.

The man also knows visuals much much better than Whedon.

Tronyn, seen Jackie Brown? 

I've never liked Tarantino. Pulp Fiction was awesome, as was Kill Bill 1 (haven't seen 2) from an action perspective. Jackie Brown was boring and I must have been too young for Reservoir Dogs because I've completely forgotten anything about it. Just didn't find it that memorable.

Death Proof proved that Robert Rodriguez is a better director. And Inglourious Basterds, after all the hype, ended up being boring. I wouldn't watch it again.

The reason I particularly dislike him is because of all the cheesy, trying-to-be-cooler-than-it-really-is dialogue.

Re Whedon... I didn't even know who he was until a week ago. Never got into Buffy or Angel. Never watched Firefly, perhaps I'll give it a shot but it can't have been that great if it got cancelled after 1 season. 

In some corners of the internet, that would be a masterful troll :)

(I haven't seen it and am not a Whedon or QT fanboy at all...) 

lol. I was going to add as I was writing it, that then again Brimstone was a great horror series that didn't even last one season. Travesty.

But then I'd sound like a hypocrit. 

Haven't watched Firefly, either, only the movie. The fact that it's by the same director as Buffy and Angel doesn't get my hopes up; and that dick from Castle whom Spirit is so fond of makes it even worse...

Not sure about Lexx. It's been a long time since I watched it and don't really remember much. I only recall it feeling quite trashy and weird. 

Yeah it was a bit trashy and weird. But the second season was really good - one main antagonist throughout the season who's devouring the entire universe. At the end there's only one tiny part of the universe left before it's all turned into darkness, so the battle ensues. It was very compelling viewing, I thought.

Seasons 3-4 probably weren't so good though, judging by the plot. 

The movie had to appeal both to ppl who didn't know the series and the fans. Given that, it's surprising that it works at all.

That dick from Castle is also much better in FF. Castle is horrible: bad acting, flat characters, foreseeable stories and worst of all, the authors didn't bring the funny.

Re jackie brown, believe it or not, but I like it more than any other of his movies. 

is easily the best film IMHO, although I probably love Pulp Fiction as much for entirely different reasons. 

FireFly was cancelled after one season for a lot of reasons, but it not being very good wasn't one of them. :) 

I got very bored and annoyed of castle and stopped watching.

serenity on its own is not a very good or special movie. it is nice if you are attached to the world and characters already.

firefly was great fun but it got old for me after 3 watches or so. I highly recommend it. 

Shit in this case meant generally disappointing and meh. Agree with nitin that Captain America and Iron Man were good and fun and nice, and I have no aversion to silly action whatsoever.

I also like Joss Whedon a lot, mainly for Firefly. It's a massive cliche to like Firefly on the internet so it pains me to say it though. Just fantastic characters. I would Serenity is pretty average as a standalone film, but watching it after the almost-series that was Firefly is a great experience... it ties up a lot of ends and is generally a satisfying watch.

Not sure what the problem with Avengers was for me, it was all just ok. Maybe too many protagonists? Loki as a kind of lame baddie? Whedon witty witticisms falling a bit flat? Perhaps seeing it in 3d detracted a bit, maybe it's because I'm not a big Avengers fan. I don't really know who Black Widow is. 

Liked it. I just like what happens at the end. Iron Man and The Hulk FTW. 

Pfft, no wonder it was a flop. Trying to compete against Avatar with this crap.... Good effects, but that's nothing special these days. Neither is dumb story, characters, acting, but one should think it's a good idea to aim at keeping it above the average level in blockbuster movies, not below. 

Good fun film, typical comic book blockbuster but a bit more fun because each of the heros had their own back story and style, and the humour in it was actually quite funny. The main disappointment was that the enemy alien things had no personality whatsoever and were utterly generic apart from the cool shark things, which was somewhat at odds with the heroes each having some sort of personality. 

not as good as Iron Man or Captain America but still pretty decent and on par with the Norton Hulk movie. And another standalone Marvel film I much preferred to The Avengers.

Loki was more interesting this time round too. 

MI:4, didnt like it as much as the third one because the start and end were a bit average and it also lacked Hoffman's memorable villain.

But that entire Dubai sequence of 40-50 min was brilliant and more thrilling than most recent action movies put together. 

The end. Super creepy. 

Watched it, think I enjoyed it, can remember very little about it at all... which must say something, right? 

Fairly good entertainment but obviously not as good as it should have been - it could have been great if the content had matched up to the style. It's all rather dark and dramatic and has pretty cool fantasy setting, but lacks depth and a strong background - the style reminded me a lot of BB / TDK, but while they had some sensible mythology to support and enhance it, this film doesn't, which is a pity because what is hinted on (especially Ravenna and her effect on the land) could be quite intriguing. 

watched only the first season so far, but was impressed. it avoided melodrama, and the one major death (no spoilers) was totally unexpected to me. noted a few actors from the wire kicking ass, and also there were a couple wire-ish moments (one was a serious ass-kicking in an empty house), but generally it's totally different, though still about a community and the interactions that go on between all the different elements. I hope David Simon makes a show every year for the next 50.

In addition to Wendell Pierce (who's awesome, though his character is written a bit too predictably comedic), the guy who played Pearson in the Wire (possibly the top star), Kim Dickens (loved her in Deadwood, also great in this) it also has John Goodman, who I've liked in every role I've seen him in. 

the only thing I havent cared so far is Annie and her boyfriend but looks like s2 might fix that.