Foo - Movies these days..

I'm really stunned at the selection of movies coming out these days. It seems like special effects and cool camera angles have taken presidence over plot and originality.

I saw The Lady in the Water and I have to say it was horrible. No plot, super weird storyline. Hard to follow all the weird words and characters. Lacking originality. The entire movie took place at one spot. I kept thinking it would get better, and by the time the movie was over an hour in I realized this movie blowed.

Miami Vice. Where to start. Tons of talking throughout the movie, but I'd classify it as rambling. I could barely make out anything that was being said, not to mention the terrible accents. I was hoping for some kind of Steven Seagal-esque action movie, instead I got lots of rambling. Tons of scenes that didn't contribute to the plot, or develop characters. Basically the entire movie had no plot, at least not a very detailed one. The weird camera angles didn't serve the movie, they just made it a very annoying experience trying to watch the movie. The blood splatters looked fake, almost like red powder going into the air. Overall, it was a waste of 2 hours of my life.

Last good movie I saw was jackass 2 and the davinci code. Dang.

Lawrence of Arabia. Check it.

Yeah, they suck, I have seen anything worthwhile in a LONG time... Personally I'd like to see horror or action films with so much gore and violence that you'd need to sign a waiver to get in....

Having read the book first, I thought The DaVinci Code kinda sucked. I imagined a much more suave and intellectual character. Hanks doesn't even compare to Harrison Ford in Indianna Jones. Interestingly enough, the last movie I really liked was The Incredibles. Wedding Crashers and Borat were humorous, but in too much of a silly slapstick cheap-comedy sort of way; entertaining while you watched, but completely out-of-mind once you've left the theatre.

I'm really stunned at the selection of movies coming out these days. It seems like special effects and cool camera angles have taken presidence over plot and originality.
So true, so true.

Although...I'd not say that plot, story and originality are gone.....they are just becoming harder and harder to find.

I loved the Matrix trilogy, not because of the special effects but because it was a totally fresh story with a deep plot. I remember being very annoyed walking out of the 2nd movie and hearing some blowhard loudly commenting about how the movie sucked because there was no "new" special effects. It was just the same old effects already used in the first movie. I'm thinking to myself that if all you care about going to the movies are special effects, then you are missing the best parts of the movies.

A Few other great movies:
Gandhi
Amadeus
The Lord of the Rings
Hidalgo
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Seven Samurai (Japanese)
To Live (Chinese)
Red Sorghum (Chinese)
12 Monkeys
The Usual Suspects

I wont watch any M. Night Shamalamadingdong movies anymore, his twists suck. Miami Vice also sucked, I regret seeing it opening night.

If your a real man, you'll watch Cannibal Holocaust, and sit through the whole thing.

I wont watch any M. Night Shamalamadingdong movies anymore, his twists suck.
He started good. His first two or three movies were very good, I thought. The last few have been pretty horrible though. I hope its just a rut and he has some good ones coming. I'd hate to think he just had a few lucky ones at the start of his career.

TCM--Turner Classic Movies--on cable. No commercials, beer from your own fridge, you can sit around in your skivvies if you want--and nothing but great moves 24/7. Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Ginger Rodgers, etc., and the occasional European art film. And by the way, you don't have to watch 30 minutes of pre-flick stupid trailers either.

anyone seen The Good Sheppard? I saw it and am still undecided about it. I think I'll have to see it again to really appreicate it.

anyone seen The Good Sheppard? I saw it and am still undecided about it. I think I'll have to see it again to really appreicate it.
Yep...I didn't like it much.

The acting was fine, but there was virtually no plot/story to it. It was about the birth of the CIA, and they tried to use the Bay of Pigs to have an overall story, but it really barely did anything with that when they built it up like it would be a big plot. I was pretty unimpressed. The only thing good was the acting, I thought.

A couple of newish movies I've seen recently that I thought were worth watching:

The Motorcycle Diaries
Downfall
A Prairie Home Companion
An Inconvenient Truth
Babel
Borat

I think there are always good movies to be found, but sometimes it takes a bit more effort to find them. And if you can't find a film you're interested in watching at your local theatre, try a video store. A good, independent video store, where people really care about good movies, is a wonderful thing.

KT, I think that is my hangup with the movie as well. Besides, it moved......so.....very.....slow......

They stink for the most part. Try watching George Washington or The Station Agent. They are two good movies I have recommended lately.

Besides, it moved......so.....very.....slow......TOTALLY....it was hard following what little story there was because it was moving so slow you'd forget to pay attention thinking that it stopped.

To Live (Chinese)


Sorry to be pedantic, but if that's the movie about the old man dying of cancer, it's in Japanese...

I also love Akira Kurosawa's Dreams. It's not so heavy on plot (and not on such a grand scale as his more well-known works), but is just a magical film for me.

COOL HAND LUKE



Nuff Said

I also love Akira Kurosawa's Dreams. It's not so heavy on plot (and not on such a grand scale as his more well-known works), but is just a magical film for me.

One of the best ever. Ever. Of all time.

His King Lear adaption, Ran..hell, all of his films!

The Prestige...awesome.

Overall, modern films are market driven, and cost a lot to make, so they aim low. Very low.

I like a lot if not most of the Luc Besson films...

I just bought the first movie by M. Night Shaymalan - a movie called Wide Awake. The ending is a touch over the top but the rest of the movie is so good its completely forgiveable. Yes - his stuff has gotten worse as its gone on.

Other faves - check out a movie called Fandango (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089126/). EARLY Kevin Costner - like before Big Chill. Recently I liked that new Will Farrell movie Stranger than Fiction. Had more heart and substance than most of his movies.

Also - I kind of want to see the new Rocky movie. The thing has like a 78% approval rating on Rottentomatoes.com which is not shabby. That in and of itself for another Rocky sequel is a bit jaw dropping for me. I gotta see what the deal is there....

The Prestige...awesome.
Yes, forgot to mention this one. One of the recent movies that was fantastic!

King Arthur was really good if you dont mind some violence.
National Treasure was along the same lines as Devinci Code but I thought it was better.
The Crow is one of my favorites...not new but if you havent seen it...I recommend it.
there are alot of good movies out there...maybe not right this moment but there out there.

Funny - I just put King Arthur in my Netflix queue just a few minutes ago... :)

The Proposition was excellent (Aussie Western). Different, visually brilliant, and painfully violent - which isn't something I usually go for, but it was well done.

I'll also 3rd the recomendation of The Prestige - a very well done film.

TCM--Turner Classic Movies--on cable. No commercials, beer from your own fridge, you can sit around in your skivvies if you want--and nothing but great moves 24/7. Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Ginger Rodgers, etc., and the occasional European art film. And by the way, you don't have to watch 30 minutes of pre-flick stupid trailers either.
+1 :D

Also, more "recently": L.A. Confidential, Blue Velvet.

COOL HAND LUKE



Nuff Said
+1 :D "What we have heah, is a failuh ta communicate."

+1 :D

Also, more "recently": L.A. Confidential, Blue Velvet.

Blue Velvet? Yeoow.

Why is the worth of a movie always determined by the plot? I know sometimes I just want to watch **** blow up and people get the crap beat out of them for 1.5 hours. I don't care about crazy plot twists as long as someone gets eaten by a dinosaur. What is so bad about that?

Nothing. It's kinda like watching p0rn. :lol:

Why is the worth of a movie always determined by the plot? I know sometimes I just want to watch **** blow up and people get the crap beat out of them for 1.5 hours. I don't care about crazy plot twists as long as someone gets eaten by a dinosaur. What is so bad about that?

Bloodsport and Kickboxer r0x0r!!! Seriously. If you're in the right mood, they are just fantastic.

Why is the worth of a movie always determined by the plot? I know sometimes I just want to watch **** blow up and people get the crap beat out of them for 1.5 hours. I don't care about crazy plot twists as long as someone gets eaten by a dinosaur. What is so bad about that?

Nothing.

"Roll up a doobie, and we can watch any movie"

-Aristotle?

My favorite movie of all time would have to be an OLD movie, of course.......

Bogart and Bacall, in "The African Queen"!

My favorite movie of all time would have to be an OLD movie, of course.......

Bogart and Bacall, in "The African Queen"!

Bogie really surprised me in that one. Every actor should "ugly up" at least once in their career. It makes for stunning results in character!

Bogie really surprised me in that one. Every actor should "ugly up" at least once in their career. It makes for stunning results in character!
Agreed! As far as I'm concerned, that's Bogey's best, followed by "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"!:D

+1 :D "What we have heah, is a failuh ta communicate."
best line evah in the history of forevah!!!!!!!!
http://www.dcmsoft.com/zuba/image/CHLcaptain.jpg

One of the best movies I've seen in a while is the new Rocky movie (Don't laugh). It was the best Rocky movie since the original. It was very well done.

One of the best movies I've seen in a while is the new Rocky movie (Don't laugh). It was the best Rocky movie since the original. It was very well done.

See? This is what I'm talking about. Color me curious d@mnit...

Last good movie I saw was jackass 2 and the davinci code. Dang.

+1 for Jackass 2

Sweet movie. Johnny Knoxville is the man!

Blue Velvet? Yeoow.Hey Blackberry! Good to see you again. Oops, does that qualify as thread hijacking? Ummm....took my daughter to see Dreamgirls. Excellent flick. I went in kicking and screaming and walked out really happy.

Night of the Living Dead - All four of 'em. Great *ahem* mindless entertainment.

But seriously, as with music, I find it nearly impossible to pick one or even ten favorites, and there are tons of movies I'd like to watch but haven't found the time for.

Night of the Living Dead - All four of 'em. Great *ahem* mindless entertainment.


Actually great social commentary on consumerism and gov't overreach!

Actually great social commentary on consumerism and gov't overreach!
Agreed. Did you know that the band members of N R B Q played the caged zombies in Day of the Dead?

Agreed! As far as I'm concerned, that's Bogey's best, followed by "Treasure of the Sierra Madre"!:D
No way....."The Maltese Falcon" is his best, IMO.

Why is the worth of a movie always determined by the plot? I know sometimes I just want to watch **** blow up and people get the crap beat out of them for 1.5 hours. I don't care about crazy plot twists as long as someone gets eaten by a dinosaur. What is so bad about that?
There is nothing wrong with those crap type of movies if all you want is mindless entertainment. Just don't call them "good movies". :p

TCM--Turner Classic Movies--on cable. No commercials, beer from your own fridge, you can sit around in your skivvies if you want--and nothing but great moves 24/7. Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Ginger Rodgers, etc., and the occasional European art film. And by the way, you don't have to watch 30 minutes of pre-flick stupid trailers either.
+1
The last movie I saw in a theatre was Forrest Gump (over 10 years ago). The absolute worst movie I have ever seen (buddies wife rented it because of George Clooney) was this:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/ Quentin Tarantino should be Institutionalized.:eek:

The absolute worst movie I have ever seen (buddies wife rented it because of George Clooney) was this:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116367/ Quentin Tarantino should be Institutionalized.:eek:
That wasn't that bad of a movie. It was pretty decent in fact. I remember renting it expecting it to be crap and being mildly suprised. They took a cheesy topic and made it a better than average movie.



And BTW, it wasn't a Quentin Tarrantino movie. He played a part in it, but he didn't direct it. Robert Rodriguez directed it (who is a pretty darn good director too).

Q. T. is credited with the screenplay.

It started out bad and my buddy and I kept waiting for it to get better; it only got worse. When it was over, we were both feeling a little sick and angry that we had wasted the time and sat through the entire thing. I remember telling him: "If I had paid to see that in a theatre, I'd be really pissed off right now!"

For anyone who has never seen it: You were warned!!

Q. T. is credited with the screenplay.

It started out bad and my buddy and I kept waiting for it to get better; it only got worse. When it was over, we were both feeling a little sick and angry that we had wasted the time and sat through the entire thing. I remember telling him: "If I had paid to see that in a theatre, I'd be really pissed off right now!"

For anyone who has never seen it: You were warned!!
When I think of "PersonX's movie", that typically means the director.

I still say it was decent....cheese, but it was purposeful cheese, not "accidental" cheese. Don't go in there expecting Oscar Award Winning Movie....that was a "pure entertainment" movie.

I liked "Everything Is Illuminated" until I read the book it was based off of.

Lady is the water was indeed TERRIBLE!

I'm not huge on movies these days. The last movie I paid to see and that was pay preview was "The Devil wears Proda". It was okay.

Even when there is a blizzard outside which has happened alot lately I don't watch much tv or try not too. :)