At the Movies

[Deep Black]

Recent films you saw, cinema, DVD, video, download (or what ever you kids are into these days)

Saw the new "The Day the Earth Stood Still" at cinema the other night. Not bad, some nice stuff in there but a few niggles too.

Saw the original 15 years or so back & can't remembe it all that well.

Over all 6/10

[jag]

I remember the original very well. Klattu(?) the metal robot came out the spaceship and when he walked there were creases at his knee joints!!
Just watched 'Elf' on TV, a good family movie. Not been to the cinema for ages and the last DVD I watched was Sin City.

[RedKing]

Iron Man was the last film I saw and enjoyed at 'The Pictures', but have watched a heap of stuff via Sky Movies, including Cool Hand Luke which I watched for the seemingly dozenth time recently, but found I'd never watched the start at all. There's a whole sequence of stuff that I just don't remember. Possibly old age, tho'.

[disrepdog]

Watched Bad Santa on tv on Friday night. Unexpectedly funnier and better.

[rac]

Gort is the robot, Jag.

Eventually got to go see the new Jimmy Bond last week, and thought it was superb stuff.

Watched The Dark Knight dvd on Saturday and it was as good a I remembered, with Ledger towering over the entire movie- and in a film that has Morgan Freeman in it, that's no mean feat.

My partner had never seen Borat- so we watched that last night- through our fingers most of the time- especially during the toe-curling dinner party!

[jag]

Gort! Thanks rac, what was Klattu? Was that the human bloke?

[RedKing]

http://beatles.ncf.ca/klaatu_nightvienna.jpg

It was Ringo, all along! :D

[rac]

Gort! Thanks rac, what was Klattu? Was that the human bloke?

"Klattu barada nikto" was the phrase he told the woman to say to Gort.

[RedKing]

[Pedant mode]
Klaatu barada nikto
[/Pedant mode]

[Deep Black]

Watched Bad Santa on tv on Friday night
Watched that too, tis rather funny, saw it at Cinema when it came out too.

[Champagne Socialist]

Quantum of Solace.

Where was the Bond in that?!!
:-P

That is all.

[Deep Black]

*Pst there's already a movie thread on here*

[Champagne Socialist]

[Basil Faulty]
Right. Fine. Sorry. I'm just a complete idiot then.
[/Basil Faulty]

:-)
Should look before I post

[edash]

It's okay. That's what rac and I are here for, to tidy up after your laziness :)

[Deep Black]

& a damn fine bang up well done govenor tup of the morning job your doing too

[RedKing]

Creep!

[jag]

I'm looking forward to 'The Spirit', the new film from the guys behind 'Sin City' and '300'.

[Champagne Socialist]

I heard that most reviews were scathing

[RedKing]

Only film I'm looking forward to is Watchmen.

[armchairanarchist]

Only film I'm looking forward to is Watchmen.

Good luck with that (http://io9.com/5118049/fox-sets-fire-to-your-dreams-of-seeing-watchmen-in-march).

Actually, as that article points out, it probably won't be delayed. But it's already common knowledge that the ending will differ from the book, so I'll be skipping it as yet another movie that attempts to 'improve' a book I love by messing with the bit that matters.

Though they have made it look pretty awesome visually. Maybe I'll torrent it.

[Deep Black]

I liked some of the changes they made in V for Vendetta

[RedKing]

Yeah, me too. They made quite a decent stab at that, I think.

I think that Watchmen will turn out to be a good movie, too. Maybe not exactly shot for page, but they're trying very hard to keep as close to the spirit as possible, from what I've seen.

[jag]

Watched the Borat film last night. Some good bits.

[RedKing]

Watched Transformers today and enjoyed it.

[Chiaroscuro]

Spent Monday morning slumped on the sofa and watched the Hitchock double bill on BBC2 - Suspicion and Notorious! Joan Fontaine was so wet in Suspicion I wanted to slap her. :D

Anyway, they got me hooked back on old black and white films, so I had to record the last hour of Dangerous Moonlight yesterday morning as I was going out (come on a pianist who becomes a fighter pilot in WWII and gets amnesia, who could resist?) - looking forward to watching it later, after Spellbound.

Still to drag myself into the modern day - I watched most of V fo Vendetta when it was on a few days ago. Quite enjoyed it - it seemed quite lightheartedwhen I first tuned in (V cooking eggs in that get up looked quite comical to me anyway) but got very 1984 after a while.

Oh, and I've just caught up with the rest of the world and seen all the Lord of the Rings films. I loved them. Particularly Aragorn. :D

[Deep Black]

Extended versions or standard theatrical?

[RedKing]

I think Claire likes Aragorn's Extended Version, if you know what I mean and I think you do...

[Chiaroscuro]

Extended versions or standard theatrical?
Blind me with science would you, Deep? ;) Standard ones I think - they were on C4 a couple of months back.

I think Claire likes Aragorn's Extended Version, if you know what I mean and I think you do...

:D Ooh, you are awful...but I like you.

[RedKing]

;)

[Champagne Socialist]

New DVD's, Touching the void & march of the penguins

[RedKing]

The Big Lebowski on tv - true crazy genius.

[Chiaroscuro]

Watched Southern Comfort last night night on BBC1. I've seen it a couple of times before, but not for several years and I thought I might not enjoy it as I seem to have become more sensitive as I've got older :o, but I thought it was terrific - the tension in it is incredible. Admittedly the presence of Keith Carradine and Powers Boothe helped too.

[jag]

Went to the cinema to see 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
Blown away.

[edash]

9th Company - a Russian film centred around their invasion of Afghanistan in the late 80s, and not at all the propaganda fest I was expecting. Not one for those who want their war films full of action either.

[RedKing]

Ed, was that the one that was on BBC2 a while back? I thought it was the Russian equivalent to The Odd Angry Shot, the Aussie 'Nam movie.

[rac]

I bought Beowulf in the sales for £3 or something and watched it yesterday.
I was honestly expecting to no enjoy it- and maybe this has coloured me in some way, because I thought it was astounding.
I'm not in any way a fan of Gamian either, but he (along with Roger Avary) did a good job in retwlling the tale.

The dragon is jaw-droppingly good.

[edash]

Ed, was that the one that was on BBC2 a while back? I thought it was the Russian equivalent to The Odd Angry Shot, the Aussie 'Nam movie.


Not sure, I watched it on DVD. Don't recall seeing it in the TV listings anytime recent. It was made in 2005 but only got an international release in 2007.

[Deep Black]

Stopped at a friends house who's really into old horror stuff.

Watched "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie" (aka Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue)

Great stuff, if you like that sort of thing

[Chiaroscuro]

Talking of horror, it's not exactly a film, but did any of you watch Dead Set - the zombies/Big Brother three parter by Charlie Brooker? Some of it was really good, and some of it...wasn't.

[Deep Black]

Yep, I really enjoyed that. Nice to see an original programme on TV for a change, that's what I pay my TV licence for.

Crooked House (shown over Christmas) was also decent.

[Champagne Socialist]

Changeling is scary.
Especially as it's a true story

[Chiaroscuro]

Yep, I really enjoyed that. Nice to see an original programme on TV for a change, that's what I pay my TV licence for.

Crooked House (shown over Christmas) was also decent.
Yeah, I watched Crooked House. It was very reminiscent of the old BBC adaptations of the MR James stories and had a couple of good spooky bits.

Changeling is scary.
Especially as it's a true story
The 1980 one with George C Scott or the 2008 with old chubby lips Jolie?

[Deep Black]

Watched Wall-E on DVD, pretty good

[RedKing]

The Day The Earth Stood Still. Keanu plays a plank of wood very well in this, suitably.

Best lines:

Kid: "Don't hurt him!"
Cop (pointing a gun at Klaatu): "Don't worry son, I'm not gonna hurt him."
Kid: "I wasn't talking to you."
Klaatu: "The pain will last but a moment..."

[Chiaroscuro]

The Day The Earth Stood Still. Keanu plays a plank of wood very well in this, suitably.
:D It is something he excels at, isn't it?

[ROU Read After Burning]

:D It is something he excels at, isn't it?

:)

They must've employed someone to keep woodpeckers off the set of 'Speed' with himself AND Sandra Bullock starring :D

[RedKing]

They had to tone down the kissing in Speed in case they set light to each other.

[Deep Black]

Off to see Watchmen at 4:15 on Sat

[jag]

Gonna see that on Sunday hopefully.

[Hagbard Celine]

Watched 'There will be Blood' last night, bloody great.
Recently watched The Wire seasons 1 - 5, OMG, I know it's not a movie, it's better than any movie I've ever seen, and I love movies.

The only shame is it ended, like one of TMH books it leaves you with a kind of empty feeling afterward.

Looking forward to The Watchmen.

[198505]

Anybody got a review of Watchmen yet? Going monday during the day

[Champagne Socialist]

I almost made it on Friday, but lost track of time playing lego star wars :-)
will also catch it Monday so would appreciate a review

[disrepdog]

Friend of mine has just seen it. Thinks it's brilliant, and he's a big fan of the graphic novels. Said it was spot on

[Deep Black]

Just got back from it. Not time for a review as i need the toilet then I'll loose use of computer to the wife :)

But over all - Excellent

[Hagbard Celine]

Doesn't open here until the 28th : (

[Champagne Socialist]

Watched The Young Victoria last night with the wife.
The film is about as bland and unoffensive as the woman herself, but a pleasent enough diversion for the time.

[Big Orange]

I found Watchmen solid and competent, but somewhat boring and souless, perhaps likely more so to anybody not acquainted to the source material. I found President Nixon a complete parody and his prosthetic nose very distracting, the guy playing Henry Kissinger was more convincing. Silk Spectre II and Nite Owl II were the most "straight" characters as in the graphic novel, so they were of course rather less interesting than the Comedian and Rorschach. I liked Ozy more than I expected and he kinda of channelled Tony Blair.

Dr. Manhattan was pitch perfect, while the production values were top draw, with the sets and props being spot on (in addition to the period music). I prefer Iron Man though, much more its own movie rather than a compressed copy.

[rac]

I loved it.
I thought the use of music was spot on and added a layer to the movie- like the song playing in the background before Adrian is attacked.
Rorshach though, was astounding- the actor playing him (can't remember his name) was nothing short of astounding.

[Conscious Bob]

Could Watchmen be the Alan Moore pleaser? Place your bets.

[rac]

Could Watchmen be the Alan Moore pleaser? Place your bets.

I bet 'No'.

[Conscious Bob]

I prefer Iron Man though, much more its own movie rather than a compressed copy.

Iron Man has been in print since 1963 and I daresay in common with the equally venerable Spiderman, the screenplay didn't have to follow the comic too closely because the amount of material would make such an undertaking impossible.

Watchmen is one story in one entire graphic novel so the screenplay had to follow the story to be authentic.

[Deep Black]

I bet he Alan Moore never sees it, which is a shame really.

Rorshach was indeed excellent.

Dr Manhatten was good, but just a little to CGI in be face I felt, glad you saw his wang though.

I liked the changed ending, I felt it worked well with out detracting anything.

Shame the Minute Men were so glossed over (except Silhouette who actually got a slightly expanded role)

The prison scenes were cracking.

Veidt seemes the least successfull casting to me, though not bad

Some of the fight scenes were slightly over done.

I look forward to the extended (4hr?) version, with more stuff inc an animated Black Freighter & the News Stand guy.

[Champagne Socialist]

saw watchmen.
having never read the comic.
long boring film that went nowhere.

[Deep Black]

Philistine.

Though you're right it was long.

I though my wife would say "long & boring" too, as she's never read the original. But, quite supprisingly, she liked it.

[198505]

watched it yesterday and was impressed by it, again never having read the comic book, although the ending was a bit like Espedair St.

[Deep Black]

Really? How so?

[Big Orange]

Iron Man has been in print since 1963 and I daresay in common with the equally venerable Spiderman, the screenplay didn't have to follow the comic too closely because the amount of material would make such an undertaking impossible.

Watchmen is one story in one entire graphic novel so the screenplay had to follow the story to be authentic.

I would've prefered a mini-series by HBO or Showtime, and original movie stories based on long established fiction containing hundreds of stories have more room to breath by default, while Snyder seemed a bit too hamfisted (like when Dan and Laurie viciously tore into that gang of thugs).

[Champagne Socialist]

Gran Torino.
Very good film, I won't say any more as saying anything will spoil it.

[198505]

Really? How so?

It's a dark tale that has a rather up beat ending, or at least compared to the whole of the story.

[Deep Black]

Gottcha

[jag]

Oh dear , got out voted today and had to go and watch 'Marley and Me'. I once had a labrodour called Tosh, named after The Wailers bassist.
Owen Wilson has a starnge nose.

[RedKing]

I managed to sleep through 'Hotel For Dogs' recently, much to the ire of my wife.

[Champagne Socialist]

Oh dear , got out voted today and had to go and watch 'Marley and Me'.


Oh you poor soul!
I feel your pain.

[jag]

Ah but, a recovery today for jag. I managed to find a few hours of my precious time to go and watch The 'Watchmen'. A visual stunner, plot a bit of a bummer, it was all going so well until the final 3/4 hour. So I'll give it a 6.5/10.
My fave character was Mr.Manhattan.

[edash]

Started to watch Gangs Of New York but, considering it's meant to be set among the Irish community, I'm left wondering where all the Irish people are. Honestly, some of those accents are s..t.

[jag]

I'm watching it to, amongst doing other things.

[Halmyre]

I just watched 'The DaVinci Code' at the weekend. Jesus H Christ, it was terrible. If you hadn't read the book you'd have been totally lost, and even then I was having difficulty. At one point they showed some bishops hatching a plot, and one looked rather like Father Jack Hackett, so a few cries of "arse" and "feck" were called for.

[jag]

Yeah the book was good but the film was bad. I switched of after 1/2 an hour.

[Halmyre]

I didn't even think much of the book. I lost count of the endless new interpretations of the holy grail/rose line. By the time they introduced an Englishman nobleman who's preferred mode of transport was a stretch Jaguar limo with whitewall tyres, it was already too late to stop! Still, it was miles better than Angels and Daemons - what a festering pile that was.

[rac]

Still, it was miles better than Angels and Daemons - what a festering pile that was.

Better not mention to you the movie's out this summer then...

[198505]

Better not mention to you the movie's out this summer then...

Feck nooooo! What a shame I will not be going to watch that one.

[Halmyre]

Better not mention to you the movie's out this summer then...

No thanks, I've got a set of needles warming up nicely on the hob...

[Deep Black]

Recorded "Death Note" off Film4

[jag]

Mmmmm we want to go and see 'The boat that rocked'

[RedKing]

Watched The Watchmen, so there's the answer to that particular question.

[rac]

Watched The Orphange at the weekend.

That's some scary sh*t.

[RedKing]

Speaking of scary, watched [REC] the other evening. Very good as reading the subtitles made you watch really closely and thus get hit by the 'jumpy' bits!

[jag]

Did you enjoy Watchmen RK?

[Champagne Socialist]

Finally caught quantum of solace.

I thought it was much better film than the pundits described.

[RedKing]

Did you enjoy Watchmen RK?

Yes and no. The first 3/4 was great, doing some shots from the <s>comic</s> graphic novel on a like for like basis. Still don't know why they ending is different - the in-movie explanation made no sense to me at all. Will still be buying the full blown Directors Cut, of course...

[Champagne Socialist]

Yes and no. The first 3/4 was great, doing some shots from the <s>comic</s> graphic novel on a like for like basis. Still don't know why they ending is different - the in-movie explanation made no sense to me at all. Will still be buying the full blown Directors Cut, of course...

what was the original ending then?

[jag]

I watched under the influence of 4 diazepam tablets and it seemed a bit strange to me, mind you everything these days seems strange to me. Had a read of the comic/graphic novel in Borders the other day and most of it looked like the movie, a good job by all involved I'd say.

[rac]

what was the original ending then?

It was

SPOILER!!!!!!


A giant genetically engineered psychic space squid was teleported into the middle of New York by Ozymandias. The resulting carnage made the world think they were on the brink of an alien invasion, and everyone put away their differences to defend themselves against the aliens.


SPOILER ENDS!!!!!

[Conscious Bob]

It was

SPOILER!!!!!!


A giant genetically engineered psychic space squid was teleported into the middle of New York by Ozymandias. The resulting carnage made the world think they were on the brink of an alien invasion, and everyone put away their differences to defend themselves against the aliens.


SPOILER ENDS!!!!!

Erm, it was a lot better than it sounds.

[rac]

Erm, it was a lot better than it sounds.

Heh! I was thinking that as I typed it!

[RedKing]

It made more sense than the silly thing they tried to pass off in the movie. Do we have a set of working [spoiler] tags in the forum?

[RedKing]

Answering myself, we don't. Therefore:

[SPOILER] Highlight between the arrows -->

Somehow, Ozy set off a bunch of nuclear explosions in selected cities around the world, using the power generators he and Doctor Manhattan designed. This was passed off as an attack by Manhattan and thus did the same job as the teleported squid in the original. How this translated into a continuing threat, given that the world knew that Manhattan was a god like being and could snuff the planet without blinking, I don't know.
<--

[Deep Black]

Roll on the super 4 hour DVD cut.

The "reason" the ending needed to be different (in my opinion) was, to make the giant Squid work, the film would have to have been an hour longer.

Which "in-movie explanation" do you mean? Just the Nuclear ending or why there was no Squid?


Erm, it was a lot better than it sounds
Hmmm, the ending was the only (slightly) weak bit of the book.
I'm prepared to the contraversial & say the film ending was just as good if not better

Quote: Somehow, Ozy set off a bunch of nuclear explosions in selected cities around the world
Well in the Book he learnt "teleportation" from DrM. In the book it was Nuclear Explotions


Quote:How this translated into a continuing threat, given that the world knew that Manhattan was a god like being and could snuff the planet without blinking, I don't know.[/
Yeah he "apparently" attacked & left. So the threat was still "potentially" there.
After a while when the "threat" never re-appeared, everyone was already working together.

However, just as in the book, Rorschach's Journal threatens to undo it all

[RedKing]

Deep,

a) Thanks for putting in clear the spoilery bits I spent 10 minutes trying to hide :)
b) The squid could have been explained in Ozy's bit of exposition in Karnak in the same amount of time it took for the other one. Also the shots of the scientists building the machines could have easily been that of scientists teleporting objects, for example.
c) Disposing of the bodies using the intrinsic field negator also destroyed any surprise we might of had in it's use to try and kill Doctor M.

[Deep Black]

a) Thanks for putting in clear the spoilery bits I spent 10 minutes trying to hide :)
Sorry, I couldn't work out how to do it & only quotes bits. Have tried again (with, slightly, more sussess)


b) The squid could have been explained in Ozy's bit of exposition in Karnak in the same amount of time it took for the other one.
But the development couldn't, the nuclear threat was already there


Also the shots of the scientists building the machines could have easily been that of scientists teleporting objects, for example.
True, but not so easily the Genetic engineering


c) Disposing of the bodies using the intrinsic field negator also destroyed any surprise we might of had in it's use to try and kill Doctor M.
Yep, I'd like to have seen them frozen too

[jag]

Took the family to see 'The boat that rocked' and guess what?.......It feckin rocked, man. Great performances by the whole cast and a lump in the throat finale.

[Deep Black]

Finally finished watching "Death Note" now just have to catch part 2...

[RedKing]

Watched 'Jumper' last night with Eldest daughter. Not bad, even though Hayden Vader still 'acts' like a plank of wood. Jamie Bell's accent did a tour of the British Isles too.

[198505]

I wasn't impressed by jumper at all, but I did watch it after watching Clerks 2 and Hitman in that order

[RedKing]

Tonight it'll be No Country For Old Men and Tales Of The Black Freighter.

[rac]

Tales Of The Black Freighter

Watched this last night.
I'd tell you what I think, but that'd just spoiler the review I'm writing for the Fortean Times.

[Deep Black]

Saw this was out.
Will it be included in the bumper Watchmen DVD set when that comes out? If so, I'll wait...

[rac]

Saw this was out.
Will it be included in the bumper Watchmen DVD set when that comes out? If so, I'll wait...

Yup- apparently it'll be incorporated into the extended editon of the movie when it's released.

[RedKing]

It was a fiver in Tescos, so it was a 'buy me, buy me now!' scenario.

[jag]

'Once upon a time in the Mid-lands' by Shane Meadows. Watched this last night with Rosie after a hard days work and was a great, easy to watch relaxing film with loads of my fave actors involved, Rhys Ifans, Robert Carlye, James Cosmo, Ricky Tomlison, Kathy Burke and a great cameo from Reeves & Mortimer.

[RedKing]

Managed to avoid going to see "Hannah Montana - the Movie" by giving the tickets to wife and assorted children. Result!

[Deep Black]

Well done, distaster narrowly avoided there ;)

[RedKing]

It's a blimmin' long movie too, by all accounts, darn near 2 hours - is there that much plot, I wonder?

[Deep Black]

I bet there's plenty of "being an Amreican teenager" in there. ie shallow & repetitive ;)

[RedKing]

Sounds bang on. I'm working on the "don't ask, don't tell" principle, like the US military.

[198505]

Booked tickets to see X-men Origins; Wolverine on Wednesday, and may just have a date.

[Deep Black]

A date?

[RedKing]

Get a room, you two! ;)

[Conscious Bob]

Booked tickets to see X-men Origins; Wolverine on Wednesday, and may just have a date.

Hmm yeah, Big X-Men fan is she?

[198505]

Hmm yeah, Big X-Men fan is she?
Hugh Jackman fan, actually.

Great film, best seen on a very large screen!

[Old Vig]

I picked up a copy of Belleville Rendezvous in HMV. Just a fantastic film to watch with hilarious moments. I love the stretch 2CV's that the gansters drive.

[Conscious Bob]

Yeah, Highly distinctive film, as individual as Anime.

[BeckyH]

Went to see Wolverine-quite nice. I know damn all about the comic, but the film held together pretty well anyway. In true Marvel fashion there is no blood-even when Wolverine has just spiked someone with his claws they are bright and shiny. Bloodless shootings, stabbings, falls, burns and beheadings too.

[disrepdog]

I heard Jackman gets his butt out, good enough reason for me to see the film :p

Anyone going to see Coraline?

[rac]

Watched Night Watch over the weekend. Pleasingly bonkers and stylish- and not to mention confusing- Russian vampire moive.
I've not read the books on which it's based, but thought this was good fun. I've the sequel waiting to be viewed now...



Anyone going to see Coraline?

It looks gorgeous, and I remember quite liking the book. If the 3-D is anything as good as that in Aliens Vs Monsters it should be a superb show.

[edash]

Watched Night Watch over the weekend. Pleasingly bonkers and stylish- and not to mention confusing- Russian vampire moive.
I've not read the books on which it's based, but thought this was good fun. I've the sequel waiting to be viewed now...


The sequel is even more bonkers.

[Old Vig]

Anyone going to see Coraline?
Went on Saturday. The 3D didn't quite agree with my varifocals, but it was charming, with some visually beautiful segments. The theatre was nearly empty, maybe due to Wolverine opening the same week. Shame.

The trailers were amusing, there's a new film coming up featuring a special agent force made up of guinea pigs, would you believe? I think I'll catch that one later on DVD. Or not.

[Big Orange]

Yesterday I went to see State of Play, a movie adaptation of a relatively old BBC produced mini-series from back in 2003. It starred Russell Crowe and I while I didn’t like it as much as I did American Gangster, it was a well made thriller that sufficiently entertained me for 120 minutes, although I won’t buy/hire the DVD of it and I suspect the original mini-series is less watered down. Russell Crowe plays a slobbish press reporter who twigs that a back ally shooting and a Metro station “accident” are related to each other, and of course the plot kicks off from there. Ben Affleck plays a seemingly clean cut politician who is trying to shut down a multi-billion dollar mercenary security firm known as PointCorp, the ostensive antagonists, with the recent deaths putting serious pressure on the case. Rachel McAdams plays Crowe’s plucky sidekick, while Helen Mirren chews the scenery as Crowe’s put upon boss. The decidedly glassy eyed Michael Berresse could pass off as a less physically imposing version of Javier Bardem, he plays the mystery assassin with a military background.

Anyway the location shooting of Washington DC is well done and immersive, with the numerous shots and sounds of dark helicopters rumbling overhead effectively building up the palatable atmosphere of paranoia. It is a 12A so it has incidents of moderate gun violence and there are a couple of F-bombs. Although not to give too much away, the movie would’ve had a lower body count if

*SPOILER*
Ben Affleck’s character hired a private investigator to spy on his girlfriend-cum-colleague, instead of his mentally damaged bunk-buddy from his time in the US Army.*SPOILER*

But that would’ve made for a boring story. :)

[Big Orange]

I watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine the other night instead of Star Trek, alongside my bewildered and bored dad. While watchable fun and less of an anti-climatic mess than X-Men III, some of the CGI in the movie was kinda of terrible (Logan's claws in the bathroom) and why was Stewart made up to look like a smirking Muppet?

[Champagne Socialist]

I saw Coraline last night.
Loved it.

[Deep Black]

Off to see StarTrek this afternoon (with my dad, don't think he'll be "bewildered and bored" though, being a bigger fan than me he's probably more likely to dislike it though)

[Deep Black]

Some mild StarTrek Spoilers to follow
.
.
.
.
.

Saw it, rather good.
I liked the new actors in the old roles.
Decent story.
Maybe a bit to much action.
The alternate history was a bit of an obvious get out, but leaves it nicely open for some new stories.
Still can't see why the Romulans looks so different.
Rather convenient the way all the characters met up.
Not sure why all those cadets ended up with permenant role on the Federation flag ship.
Liked the green skinned lady.
What was all that red matter nonsense.

[Champagne Socialist]

Just saw star trek, in secret of course.
do you think this will lead to a new JJ Abrams based series?
I did enjoy it, though I think I would have prefered a more redemptive ending.

[Chiaroscuro]

Ended up watching Donnie Darko again last night.

Might have been one time too many - started to wonder if it was a bit pretentious.

[Deep Black]

do you think this will lead to a new JJ Abrams based series?
I don't think there will be a TV series. I reckon the cast will be in more films, but not necessarily with Abrams involved

[BeckyH]

Went to see UP and it was a delightful film. Mind you, there are plenty of sad moments and I wished I had a hanky, but a great time. The three-D was fun, and not overly intrusive.

[Hagbard Celine]

Went to see Star Trek last night, plotwise - meh! visually stunning though, seriously well produced, enjoyed it.

It played like an introduction to a series so I reckon we'll be seeing a few more of these.

[Chiaroscuro]

Finally watched Casino Royale.

What a load of pants.

[Big Orange]

I saw Star Trek. Overrated, I'd give it 7/10.

Certainly ahead of the hokey (but closely related) Nemesis and streets ahead of the abysmal Insurrection. I thought Chris Pine was a little underwhelming, he only gave off Shatner smarm during the training simulation, but Quinto, Urban, and Yelchin were pitch perfect in their roles. I didn't mind Simon Pegg, but he was played up too much as comic relief. Ben Cross, Eric Bana, Faran Tahir, and Bruce Greenwood were impressive in their supporting roles.

The storyline was silly and full of holes you could drive a Borg Cube through (come on, a sun going supnova threatening the Milky Way?!), with Voyager's "Year of Hell" having a better plot about a super ship causing a time paradox and a antagonist character with a better fleshed out motivation, even though that was silly as well and written by Brannon Braga.

[Deep Black]

No one been to the flicks for a while then?

We went to see Zombieland yesterday. It was better than I expected it to be. There were some great moments, though the characters did some pretty stoopid things at times. I liked the "rules of surviving in Zombieland" though the numbers didn't seem to add up. Kind of a shame that non of the main characters died by the end, but hey. Not quite the American Shaun of the Dead, but a decent effort.

[phazedout]

I thought it was better than shaun of the dead frankly, much better written and a lot gunnier to me.
Phaze
on the "watching the fiantly entertaining utter tosh that is Merlin, cardboard cut out villans and everything" ID

[Staberinde]

The last film I saw at the cinema was District 9. I loved what Peter Jackson did for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and had big hopes, but sadly I was a little disappointed with the film D 9. Still well worth the ticket price though.

Anyone heard of Avatar ? I'm really excited about it. It's a James Cameron film.


Avatar is the story of a paraplegic ex-marine, thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit Pandora, an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity. Eventually, Jake crosses over to lead Pandora's indigenous race (Na'vi) in a battle for survival.

Link to trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/)

I reckon this will be one of the best sci-fi films of the decade, out Dec 18th

[RedKing]

Avatar's use of 3D is supposedly as ground-breaking as the first use of sound or colour was. Can it match that hype, I wonder?

[Deep Black]

I think it'll be good but not brilliant, as such it won't live up to the hype & it'll be considered a failure.

I'm still planning to go see it though

[rac]

as such it won't live up to the hype & it'll be considered a failure.

Which is what people were saying before Titanic came out...

Not that I'm saying that Avatar will do those kind of numbers- I can't see any movie doing that again (but you never know)- but I think it'll do okay...

[Staberinde]

I think it'll be good but not brilliant, as such it won't live up to the hype & it'll be considered a failure.

I'm still planning to go see it though

Maybe it wont be considered a 'mainstream success' but I reckon amongst sci-fi fans it will come to known as a classic in years to come.


Which is what people were saying before Titanic came out...


I never bothered to see Titanic until it came to the small screen, and begrudgenly I was impressed ! Supposedly Avatar will now be the most expensive film ever made.

I hope to watch it at the Imax at Waterloo, that should do the 3d side justice.

[jag]

:oTook the family to see fame yesterday which was a pile of cack.
Looking forward to that new Tim Burton cartoon '9'

[Tangendentalism]

We went to see Zombieland yesterday. It was better than I expected it to be. There were some great moments, though the characters did some pretty stoopid things at times. I liked the "rules of surviving in Zombieland" though the numbers didn't seem to add up. Kind of a shame that non of the main characters died by the end, but hey. Not quite the American Shaun of the Dead, but a decent effort.

I was surprised at how much I liked it. Watching the trailers it came with I got a bit worried that I'd made a terrible mistake, but actually it was really good fun. I didn't realise it before, but I think I may love Woody Harrelson.

I was ambivalent about District 9. It was a really good movie, but I felt like they should have spent some more time thinking about the casting.

Going to see The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus at the weekend.

[jag]

Enjoy. Terry Gilliam is the man.

[Tangendentalism]

I know. I'm teaching Alice in Wonderland in the week and thinking of showing my students Gilliam's take on Jabberwocky.

[Conscious Bob]

I know. I'm teaching Alice in Wonderland in the week and thinking of showing my students Gilliam's take on Jabberwocky.

It's a pretty frabjaus film.

[Deep Black]

Loved Jabberwocky, bit grizzly in places (as I recall, not seen it for years) how old are the kids?

[Tangendentalism]

19-20. They're 2nd Year University students. Obviously, they should all be spending all their free time getting stoned and watching everything Python-related they can find, but I don't feel like I can count on that. I've also just put together (what I think is) a pretty rocking .ppt montage of various appropriations/adaptations of Alice ending with this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIB-LnoCNBM) weird indy film take on it.

[Deep Black]

Ah to be 19 again

[jag]

That Imaganarium of Dr parsnauss(?) looks well impressive.
Brazil is one of my all time faves.

[jag]

Just watched 'Zombieland' on a fairly good copy dvd.
Woody's character is cool and BM (it ain't Bob Marley!) has a great cameo.

[Deep Black]

Apparently there's a sequal in the pipeline too.

Watched Coraline on DVD, not bad, great stop-motion animation, pretty simple little story with some convenient / silly things in there to get us to a predictable end. 3/5

[Tangendentalism]

Went to see The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus at the weekend. I liked it a lot. The bits where Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell had been spliced into Heath Ledger's character worked wonderfully. There's is also a joyful level of uncertainty at the end that enabled me to believe that the end that we're shown isn't really the end. (I don't think that's a spoiler, but if someone disagrees I'm happy to white it out.)

[rac]

Up- brilliant brilliant stuff.

[jag]

Michael Jacksons' 'This is it'. Now, I was against going to see this but must admit to be amazed by it, and now have a new found respect for the man.

[BeckyH]

Men Who Stare at Goats. Lots of fun. Scary how little of it had to be changed to be used as fiction. Even stranger if you've seen the documentary or book it's based on.

[Deep Black]

Recorded Deathwatch off Film4 the other night
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286306/

[Tangendentalism]

Thought you meant Deathrace for a minute there. Awesome movie! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072856/

[RedKing]

UP.

It would take a heart of stone not to blub within the first 10 minutes. Not me of course, I just had something in my eye...

[Conscious Bob]

Law Abiding Citizen, barmy but pretty fun. If ever Use of Weapons gets the go ahead as a film, I vote Gerald Butler as Zakalwe.

[Deep Black]

The Omega man
&
Bad Santa

[rac]

Avatar, anyone?

I loved it. Yup, the story id by the numbers, but by Jebus! It looks incredible.

[Deep Black]

Not seen it yet, but plan to before it leaves the big screen.
My friend says very much what you do rac.
Shame the story doesn't match the visuals

[Champagne Socialist]

Just saw Avatar.
surprisingly good, sore bum lengthed, smurf-ahontess.
going to take Godson to Where the wild things are tomorrow.


WtWTA very good, aimed more at the parents that read the book than the children its read to I believe though, but the tyke was a monster for the rest of the day

[RedKing]

Am awaiting an opportunity to see Avatar in 3d IMAX. It costs an arm and a leg, but me & eldest daughter have this on our "must do" list.

[Champagne Socialist]

I can't watch 3d films due to glasses.
It seems the polarised lenses don't function properly over corrective lenses.
I just get a headache.

[Conscious Bob]

I can't watch 3d films due to glasses.
It seems the polarised lenses don't function properly over corrective lenses.
I just get a headache.

Yeah, I've noticed the makers of 3D films don't bring this issue up very often.

I remember watching the Gadget Show with Otis raving about 3D tellys, Jason with his huge specs kept a dignified silence.

[Old Vig]

I can't watch 3d films due to glasses.
It seems the polarised lenses don't function properly over corrective lenses.
I just get a headache.
I recently watched Coraline in 3D, and found it didn't work too well with my varifocals, I was constantly having to fiddle with the glasses to make it work. I always get a headache at the cinema with or without 3D glasses.

I wsn't going to bother with Avatar, but now Michael Moorcock has said it's good from a genre perspective I might do.

[iamhanuman]

i know little of Avatar other than good comments from those who have viewed it. no spoilers please

[Champagne Socialist]

Avatar = smurf pocahontis in fern gully in space.

[rac]

I know of a couple of other folks who say the 3d glasses give them a headache, but they've never given me a problem and I wear varifocals too.

[Conscious Bob]

i know little of Avatar other than good comments from those who have viewed it. no spoilers please

Nah, there are no spoiler warnings here and far too many random movies being discussed.

Tell you what, away see Avatar and post up your review, that's if someone doesn't beat you to it...

[Deep Black]

Having watched The Omega Man recently I was expecting a couple of scenes that weren't there.

A guy dancing semi-naked in a church
&
A guy addressing some cardboard cut-out people from a PA system on a balcony.

Clearly I have mixed up 2 (or more) films in my mind.

Anyone know where these scenes are from? I'm now thinking maybe it was some Australia film were everyone on Earth dies except those that were close to death anyway....

[iamhanuman]

Having watched The Omega Man recently I was expecting a couple of scenes that weren't there.

A guy dancing semi-naked in a church
&
A guy addressing some cardboard cut-out people from a PA system on a balcony.

Clearly I have mixed up 2 (or more) films in my mind.

Anyone know where these scenes are from? I'm now thinking maybe it was some Australia film were everyone on Earth dies except those that were close to death anyway....

maybe just some dream you had? are you interested in the naked guys?

[iamhanuman]

there is On the Beach...?

[Conscious Bob]

Having watched The Omega Man recently I was expecting a couple of scenes that weren't there.

A guy dancing semi-naked in a church
&
A guy addressing some cardboard cut-out people from a PA system on a balcony.

Clearly I have mixed up 2 (or more) films in my mind.

Anyone know where these scenes are from? I'm now thinking maybe it was some Australia film were everyone on Earth dies except those that were close to death anyway....

Sounds like a New Zealand Movie called The Quiet Earth, good movie. You need to wait for all the credits to roll before the end of this particular film becomes clear...

[iamhanuman]

Sounds like a New Zealand Movie called The Quiet Earth, good movie. You need to wait for all the credits to roll before the end of this particular film becomes clear...

yes forgot about that one
i liked that one

[Deep Black]

Is "On the Beach" your film suggestion iamhanuman?

Whilst it's always possible that the answer is "it was a dream" I don't think it's the case here. As to naked guys... well are there any naked ladies with them?

Hmmm could be "The Quiet Earth" Bob, I'll check it out...

EDIT - looks like we could have a winner, can't find the clips I remember but it looks right, based on a novel of the same name

[Conscious Bob]

EDIT - looks like we could have a winner, can't find the clips I remember but it looks right, based on a novel of the same name

Just gimme the prize...

It better be good...

[Deep Black]

Here it is------

----- a big fat, Thanks.

[Big Orange]

Law Abiding Citizen, barmy but pretty fun. If ever Use of Weapons gets the go ahead as a film, I vote Gerald Butler as Zakalwe.

He's a viable choice, but I see James Purefoy in my head when reading Use of Weapons - he can be slimy and creepy, but is also good at playing anti-heroes.

I've recently endured Blade: Trinity, one of the worst movies I've seen, but I've half-watched A Series of Unfortunate Events which was a lot better and Jim Carrey was great as usual.

[RedKing]

Alvin & The Chipmunks - The Squeakquel - 'nuf said.

[Conscious Bob]

Sean Of The Dead, loved it.

Generally in films the hero leader is influenced by someone in the team to make a wrong decision. This convention is turned on it's head in Sean of The Dead.

Sean with the shear force of his pragmatic personality, convinced the rest of his team of survivors to go with him to the Winchester.

The Winchester for many reasons is the wrong place to go. It was so wrong it should've had a zombie pub lunch menu.

'Why did I take them to the Winchester?' Yeah Sean, why?

[Big Orange]

Uh, sorry to be pedantic, but Pegg's character is called Shaun...

[Conscious Bob]

Uh, sorry to be pedantic, but Pegg's character is called Shaun...

Yeah, it's one of those names... spelling all over the place.

Ta.

[jag]

Went to see Sherlock Holmes. A great double act and some good fight scenes. Cool Movie apart from the end....YoY do they always have to have a fight way up high??

[Deep Black]

Is that new or an old one?

Saw: Love, Honour & Obey on DVD the other day.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199727/
British film, not bad, kinda silly ending.

[Big Orange]

At the moment Sherlock Holmes and Daybreakers seem the most interesting films to see. Just wait for that darn snow to clear...

[Hilarity Unit]

Saw Avatar over the hols and it was simply awesome. OK the plot may not be up to much (i.e. not particularly original and not without a few holes) but as a spectacle it simply sets a new standard - go see it while you still can [at the cinema]. Even my non-SF wife thought agrees.

I saw the 3D version (not at all gimmicky) but wouldn't mind seeing the 2D version as well.

[Deep Black]

Hoping to go this weekend if we can sort child care out

[Deep Black]

Finally got around to seeing Avatar today.

Over all pretty good.

Was supprised that the showing was a sell out even after a month on release, no wonder it's still raking it in.

3D was good, but I'm still unconvinced about it. Like when things are very close or far away, they are blury & you try to focus on it, but it's still blury.

***bit of a spoil***
Nice to see the Aliens winning on screenfor a change

[jag]

'ordered' a few movies: Gamer, District 19(?), Law abiding citizen and 44 inch chest.

[Deep Black]

District 9 or District 13?

[vermeer]

Saw Avatar over the hols and it was simply awesome. OK the plot may not be up to much (i.e. not particularly original and not without a few holes) but as a spectacle it simply sets a new standard - go see it while you still can [at the cinema]. Even my non-SF wife thought agrees.

I saw the 3D version (not at all gimmicky) but wouldn't mind seeing the 2D version as well.

Saw Avatar last week, loved it and went to see it again. :D

It then took me a few days thinking and rereading parts of "The hero with a thousand faces" to figure out why I like it so much. Great stuff!

Saw the 3D first time, then 2D... going to watch the 2D I was worried it wouldn't look as good, and I my fears were realised. I agree there are some issues with the 3D, focus and clarity, but it wasn't overplayed and really drew me into the movie. I'm looking forward to see how this tech works out.

[Deep Black]

It then took me a few days thinking and rereading parts of "The hero with a thousand faces" to figure out why I like it so much. Great stuff
Please to be explaining :confused:

This is quite good:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/04/avatar-pocahontas-in-spac_n_410538.html

[vermeer]

Please to be explaining :confused:

A bit long... basically it's to do with the Hero deed unifying the subconscious and conscious, mostly in the last chapter of the book. :)



This is quite good:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/04/avatar-pocahontas-in-spac_n_410538.html

Haha, haven't seen Pocahontas, but very funny.

[Big Orange]

I've seen Sherlock Holmes and was pleasantly surprised.

As with The Fifth Element, I liked Guy Richie's Sherlock Holmes much better than I expected from the previews. I could see some of the plot twists from miles away and it falls into the same trap that the PotC movies did by drawing out action set pieces a bit too much, but I really liked it for the most part, and it craps upon Wild Wild West (1999) and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from an exceedingly great height. 9/10.

Next up Daybreakers.

[cabbo]

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's graphic novel form should be good. Alan Moore had a hand in it, I think.

[Conscious Bob]

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's graphic novel form should be good. Alan Moore had a hand in it, I think.

Did he base it on the movie?

[Deep Black]

NNNNNNNnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[jag]

SH was great, I really enjoyed it.

[cabbo]

Did he base it on the movie?

Oh dear God no.

[Conscious Bob]

Oh dear God no.

Heh, I enjoyed Volume One and I've got Volume Two to read. I've also got Watchmen and V for Vendetta...

Just noising you up.

[Deep Black]

Loved both Watchmen & V (Graphic Novels),

Both film versions were decent too, shame Alan won't watch them :(

[Big Orange]

Daybreakers was OK if a little underwhelming after seeing Sherlock Holmes, maybe a 5/10 or 6/10? A competent cross between the Blade movies and Minority Report, OK if I watch it once, but not to rewatch. The premise and setting is very reminiscent of a Phillip K. Dick novel, although the timescale for such a different society seems off (it should be more like 2029 or even 2049 instead of 2019, if you consider the elaborate vampire supporting infrastructure like the Subway or the vampire children who never grow up starting to have meltdowns after a long time).

For the budget, the sets depicting the vampire superstate are impressive and the CGI is mostly OK (but some of the bats and the tracer fire from that armoured car was suspect).

[BeckyH]

Just saw Avatar-and I'm trying to figure out if there was a cliche left out of the plot. Not many huge plot holes but a few questions-what is unobtainum used for? Is 20 million per kilo really enough to make it worth shipping it across 6 years of AFTL travel? Having gone to such lengths to find the dind the stuff, couldn't they find some that wasn't under somebody's house? Have we learned nothing from the last 150 years of resource extraction?
And the 3D was cute, but I found it neither amazing nor extreme.
Really looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

[Deep Black]

& what are the chances of such a trick to get hold of substance being called "unobtainum" ;)

[cabbo]

Found the end of Watchmen a little weird; Bubastis was left completely unexplained. If they didn't want the genetically engineered psychosquid from space in the movie, then they should have removed Bubastis. But they really shouldn't have taken out the squid.

[Deep Black]

Yep, my wife (who at the time hadn't read the Graphic Novel a tthe time) asked about that funny cat/dog thing too

[Big Orange]

I've recently seen From Paris With Love; I quite liked the movie and was by the Luc Besson (The Fifth Element), even though it's getting killed on Rotten Tomatoes (http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/from_paris_with_love/). The curse of Scientology strikes again, I guess the novelty of that obnoxious cult has long worn out, and Travolta is damaged goods like Cruise.

I overall didn't think much of X-Men: Origin the first time, and my opinion is vindicated with this good video review of it (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/fbv/bmbe/18487-x-men-origins-wolverine), and despite a few moments it is riddled with continuity errors with the other X-Men movies and instances of bad special effects (Patrick Stewart after getting digitally treated resembled the Kinder Egg Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOFRIWx5F9c)).

EDIT: I also watched a limited release of Ponyo (http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ponyo/) about a couple of weeks ago, and was nice animation which was good clean fun and didn't talk down to the audience.

[cabbo]

X-men: Origins doesn't just have inconsistencies with the films. I noticed that wolverine had claw bones as a kid? WHAT?



Arrested Development movie is in the works. Ooooooh yeash.

[Champagne Socialist]

Looking forward to watching some movies this weekend.
Alice in Wonderland and Greenzone

[Big Orange]

I've seen Shutter Island.

[jag]

Gamer is my new fave movie.

My mates have all given AiW so-so reviews.

[cabbo]

Gamer? Oh god...

Alice was alright. A few quite bad things. The white queen was horrible. Not getting the whole 3d thing. Doesn't seem to add anything, for me.

[Flashman]

Not getting the whole 3d thing. Doesn't seem to add anything, for me.

Me neither. Last one I saw the 4d thing became an issue.

[Champagne Socialist]

Gamer? Oh god...

Alice was alright. A few quite bad things. The white queen was horrible. Not getting the whole 3d thing. Doesn't seem to add anything, for me.

I enjoyed Alice.

Strangely sexualised young woman (I'm sure Lewis Carol would have heartily approved) teams up with Nigel Lawson against Queenie from Black Adder the Third.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!

[cabbo]

Hmm. Oh, it was a good flick, alright. No doubt. Just... you know... when something gets over-appreciated, you tend to want to exaggerate your own dissapointment. No, it was good. Just, not as good.

[black]

Just watched The Lovely Bones. Brilliant adaptation of the book. Top class.

[Big Orange]

I've seen Green Zone with my dad on Thursday the 1st of April; on Wednesday we tried to see, but it was a coupon night and the place was overflowing with students, pikeys, and fat people (with overworked minimal staff).

[RedKing]

... overflowing with students, pikeys, and fat people ...

Is there a Venn Diagram for this? I'd like to see the fat, pikey student wedge.

[cabbo]

So, Students, Pikeys, and fat people are avid coupon fans, then?

[Big Orange]

I've seen Kick-Ass, a decent movie that has supposedly bombed at the box office.

[Solipsist Mercenary]

I just saw The Golden Compass on cable the other night, and I quite liked it. I've seen several of the Harry Potter movies, which seemed aimed at a similar demographic (which I'm not part of) and they didn't really do it for me. Wikipedia says that there was some dispute over discrepancies with the book, just wondering if anyone's read it, and if it's worth a read as an adult, or if I'd be happier having just seen the film?

-sm

[Deep Black]

The Northern Lights (name of the 1st book in the trilogy that became The Golden Compass) is a very good book.

Definatly worth a read as an adult I'd say. Books 2 & 3, The Subtle Knife & The Amber Spyglass, are good too. ...Knife was my fav of the 3. I was a little dissapointed with the conclusion personally.

The books go more into God & religion (in a negative way) than the film, especially in parts 2 & 3.

[Flashman]

SM, I read this trilogy several years ago and really liked it. I saw the film last year and really didn't like it. It would be interesting to know if anyone read the books first and then enjoyed the film... Good read and, in this case, far better than the film. Recommended.

[Deep Black]

Books 1st - thought they were good over all.
Film 2nd - not bad, but could have been better. The kids were a bit anoying & Christopher Lee shoud have had a bigger part.
I'd still like to see the rest made, I'm sure they'd be better than Potter.

[jag]

I'm looking forward to that new LDC film 'Inception' about lucid dreaming.

[Rackon]

I thought the film was rather a mess, pretty much everything I hate about Hollywood adaptations rolled up into an incoherent muddle - except for the art directionm which I thought rather beautiful. Everything New Line got right with LOTR they got wrong with this.

I think the book trilogy itself is excellent; Pullman is a fine and serious writer. Although nominally "young adult", these aren't really kids books, although young people probably enjoy them, if on a more superficial "adventure" story level. Pullman's take on organized religion shouldn't trouble any fam of IMB.

Nothern Lights was released as The Golden Compass in US, hence the movie title.


I just saw The Golden Compass on cable the other night, and I quite liked it. I've seen several of the Harry Potter movies, which seemed aimed at a similar demographic (which I'm not part of) and they didn't really do it for me. Wikipedia says that there was some dispute over discrepancies with the book, just wondering if anyone's read it, and if it's worth a read as an adult, or if I'd be happier having just seen the film?

-sm

[Not Registered Here]

Finally saw Watchmen.

Really really really liked the first 3/4's of the movie, the build up and the tension was great, and then they went to the North Pole, talked for a bit and decided to go home again. Seriously? Ok fair enough, what happened was quite reasonable and realistic, but it could have been a bit more exciting.

The soundtrack was great, from Simon and Garfunkel to 99 Luftballoons. Also I really liked that it was a Cold War film, you could say more so than a superhero film.

[Not Registered Here]

Just watched Doom, based on the game. Wasn't bad, was just your typical confined space/genetic mutation/alien movie, nothing groundbreaking, but wasn't bad. Could have done with a little more action, they really just left it all till the last 10 minutes, before that it was just lots of bad writing and worse acting.

The only attempt at making it similar to the game (1st person part at the end) was an abysmal failure in my opinion. There's a few parts in it where the alien/mutation thing is standing there waiting for the character to reload his gun, or where he just turns around and there's one standing there ready to get shot. I enjoyed the part where he's fighting the guy in the wheelchair with a chainsaw though. Serious lack of BFG as well, it only fires off two shots in the entire movie. Also, where were the Nazis? I remember that game being full of Nazis.

[Deep Black]

Finally saw Watchmen.

Really really really liked the first 3/4's of the movie, the build up and the tension was great, and then they went to the North Pole, talked for a bit and decided to go home again. Seriously? Ok fair enough, what happened was quite reasonable and realistic, but it could have been a bit more exciting.

Well there was a rather big bang & Rorschach exploded too :)
Damn shame the super extended vertion was never released on DVD over here in the UK :(

We saw Four Lions at the cinema the other day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Lions
Though it was good but not great.
Pretty dark in places & had some really funny bits, but kinda failed to deliver in the end.
Still worth a watch though...

[Not Registered Here]

To be honest, I didn't think either of those explosions were that great. They were all right, but I dunno...

[Deep Black]

Ohh well
http://www.bestanimations.com/Military/Explosions/Explode-02-june.gif
Have you read the original Graphic Novel? There's a big alien squid thingy job in that :)

[RedKing]

And the bit in Karnak is pretty much the same in the comic and the movie - lots of talking and then everyone ( mostly ) goes home...

[Not Registered Here]

I'm not big into graphic novels to be honest, though I've seen most of the (mainstream) movie adaptions. I try to judge them as movies in their own right and forget about the novel. I heard about the squid thing, and I'm sorry, that's ridiculous. Yes I am a heartless cynic.

[Solipsist Mercenary]

Just watched Doom... Also, where were the Nazis? I remember that game being full of Nazis.

Nazis were in Castle Wolfenstein, the predecessor (and there was a true 3d version released in, oh, 2002 or so). I kind of liked the film also, if you're going to try and turn a violent game with a thin plot into a movie, The Rock is just the man to star!

-sm

[Not Registered Here]

Oh, I was sure there was Nazi's in Doom as well. No, it doesn't make any sense in my head either.

[Old Vig]

I'm not big into graphic novels to be honest, though I've seen most of the (mainstream) movie adaptions. I try to judge them as movies in their own right and forget about the novel. I heard about the squid thing, and I'm sorry, that's ridiculous. Yes I am a heartless cynic.

For me, the film was notably faithfull to the graphic novel. I'm not such a purist, so I don't really care that they replaced the squid with something easier for audiences to understand. I laughed out loud at the flamethrower climax bit. Probably the reason people are dissatisfied with the last 1/4 of the film stems from following the book too faithfully. The film format is much more structured compared to graphic novels, and it stands out when something a bit more creative happens (especially wth US made films). Like you said, not enough huge explosions for your typical cinema goer.

[Not Registered Here]

No, huge explosions and car chases aren't what make a film good in my opinion. What I meant to say was that I didn't feel there was enough emotional involvement (on my part) in the explosions and action scenes, so I didn't really care when New York blew up.

[Not Registered Here]

Just watched the Prestige. Amazing film. Much more of a psychological thriller than I thought it would be. Christopher Nolan is a genius.

[RedKing]

The Prestige is a great film. Watching it the second time, you go; "Oh, yeah, that's why... " v clever, indeed. And it has the "Exact Science is not an Exact Science" line which is made of pure win.

[Not Registered Here]

i might watch it again tonight actually, we'll see. Only other film I rewatched immediately was Primer, and that was definitely worth it.

[RedKing]

I watched Primer several times and thought about it in a different way each time I saw it. I find it amusing that there's an absolutely complex time-line diagram on t'internet that tries to explain what's going / gone on.

[Conscious Bob]

The Story of Anvil, great movie. Pretty light on the thrash metal though.