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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2012 19:42:16 GMT
Okay, I'll admit it -- I thought that The Hunger Games was pretty good, although far from perfect, and I haven't even read any of the books.
I was a bit dismayed that in this new era of films based on a hefty series of books (H. Potter, Narnia, Twilight, LOTR....), the first film did not even pretend have an ending. It just set up a different ominous setting for upcoming new nastiness and, ultimately, a revolution.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 30, 2012 14:58:01 GMT
I really enjoyed it, too. As a big fan of the books, I have a couple of bones to pick with it, but overall it was a well done and faithful adaptation. I agree, though, the ending needed work. My main problem with the movie is I think they should have thrown a little more money into it. They're obvious going to make a killing, so why spare any expense? I'm mainly thinking of the cheesy CGI dogs in what was supposed to be the big climatic scene. That scene was so much scarier in the book. In fact, each "muttated" dog (the novel's spelling, not mine) bore a resemblance to a dead tribute. Very unnerving. The movie creators probably didn't feel like putting time and money into it, though. The acting was pretty strong across the board. Jennifer Lawrence did a great job (although she needs to work on romantic chemistry a bit). The girl who played Rue was as adorable as the one in my imagination. Donald Sutherland was the perfect unctuous, evil politician. I was glad to see the screenwriters actually gave him more scenes than his character had in the book. Woody Harrelson was very good; however, I wish he had free reign to be more of a tortured, broken, fall-down drunk. But I understand they have to be careful portraying alcoholism in a movie marketed to kids. Ok, I'll stop now. There are many boards dedicated solely to The Hunger Games, I should do my yacking there. It's just sometimes I feel like talking to adults, you know?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2012 18:56:27 GMT
I'm sorry, but 2 Days in New York is vastly inferior to 2 Days in Paris. The first time was an uncomfortable but rewarding surprise, but the second time was a recycling of the same family members and situations and just a rehash. However, it should interest people who didn't see the first movie, and of course putting Chris Rock in the middle of this weird family is a delight.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2012 19:44:25 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2012 20:02:01 GMT
Actually, I was doubly disappointed today, because I also went to see the Israeli movie Policeman. I am always fascinated by movies showing modern Israeli society, but this started by showing the policeman in an anti-terrorism squad caring for his pregnant wife and a few social events with his colleagues, and also another colleague with a brain tumor for whom he was caring. Then it switched to a group of young middle and upper middle class revolutionaries planning some sort of terrorist event to show Israeli society that it is on the wrong track. We finally get to the event which is the wedding of a rich young woman attended by some billionaire industrialists. The young revolutionaries are total amateurs and just hole up in a hotel basement with their hostages while waiting for the media so they can read their laborious revolutionary statement.
The police squad shows up, quite a bit of blood is spilled, and the movie abruptly ends. I just did not see the point of all this. I've seen lots of Israeli movies ten times better than this one.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 31, 2012 20:05:02 GMT
What a beautiful puppy! I love the adoring look on her face.
I really like the books for first person narrative. You can't help but be emotionally invested when you're inside the character's head.
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Post by bjd on Mar 31, 2012 20:15:05 GMT
Just caught the tail end of Toulouse's Latin American film festival. We went to see Las Acacias, an Argentine movie. Not much happening but very good acting and a real pleasure to watch.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2012 20:19:41 GMT
Oh yes, I saw that one and liked it quite a lot.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2012 20:35:02 GMT
As you say, Bjd -- not much happening in the trailer, either, but there's something about it that really drew me in. Thanks for that recommendation.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 16:34:34 GMT
I found Young Adult to be one of the most upsetting and creepy movies that I have seen in a long time.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2012 12:23:56 GMT
The Cabin in the Woods is awesome, if you can stand the gore.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2012 20:07:44 GMT
Should I admit that I went to see American Reunion this morning? The French title is simpler: American Pie 4. I rapidly discovered that I was not really extremely aware of all of the ins and outs of the characters. I knew who the main guy was (Jason Biggs) and his wife what's-her-name (Alyson Hannigan), and I knew what the father looked like and also of course the Seann William Scott character, Stifler -- but having only seen this crap in bits and pieces on TV or maybe on airplanes, I really had little information about who all of the other people were, although it was clear that anybody owning the box set of DVDs would be fully conversant with everything that had gone before.
Frankly, I thought the movie was relatively well done and coherent in its storyline. There was the obligatory naked kitchen scene with fully exposed penis (I don't know if the other movies went that far, but I don't think so), and lots of obnoxious Stifler behaviour, also obligatory. Perhaps the most unbearable element is that everything is so totally moral and everything ends up perfect in the sugar coated ending.
I kind of feel sorry for American cinema when I see things like that, even though I have to admit that I generally prefer endings with a certain dose of morality to the movies which show absolutely no moral values -- but this kind of movie really goes overboard in its preachiness.
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Post by nycgirl on May 7, 2012 4:50:11 GMT
The Cabin in the Woods is awesome, if you can stand the gore. I don't think I'm up for gore, but I can't wait to see Wheedon's other movie, The Avengers.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2012 5:07:28 GMT
I saw it last week. Gets off to a slow start since each and every character has to be given introductory screen time, but naturally the big finale is impressive. The humour in the movie is very welcome as well.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2012 4:52:25 GMT
Dark Shadows was okay. Unfortunately, the ending left room for a sequel.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2012 20:30:18 GMT
I really enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I thought the beginning was completely stupid, but once they were settled in Jaipur, it was all quite charming. How can anyone not love old British actors?
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Post by nycgirl on May 25, 2012 3:38:08 GMT
Had a great time watching The Avengers. Funny script, nice chemistry between the actors.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2012 11:54:21 GMT
Okay, I went to see On the Road today, which obviously could only be disappointing to some of us. However, it was long enough (something like 2h20) to erase a lot of its mistakes along the way.
While all of the critics seem to say that Sam Riley was excellent as Sal Paradise and that Garrett Hedlund was disappointing as Dean Moriarty, I feel the opposite. I think that Garrett Hedlund got the manic energy and the irritating insensitivity of his character absolutely perfectly right, while Sam Riley seemed quite uncomfortable with a lot of his role (which worked fine when he was supposed to be uncomfortable, not so much when he was supposed to be relaxed!). The various actresses like Kirsten Dunst, Elizabeth Moss, Kristen Stewart and Amy Adams were all quite good, but of course their roles were quite abbreviated compared to the main roles. Viggo Mortensen's screen appearance was pretty much a waste of time, but at least it gave the movie a chance to spend the obligatory time in Louisiana. Tom Sturridge as Carlo Marx was able to emerge as a real character. The Mexican sequences were also quite impressive, and the Mexican whorehouse looked like a lot of fun. Steve Buscemi is too well known to have the role of the "unnamed faggot" but his face and demeanor certainly fit the part.
As a Franco-Brazilian co-production, it has only come out in French-speaking Europe, the Netherlands and Portugal so far with Brazil scheduled for mid-June. It's supposed to be released in the United States this year, but no date has been set yet.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 28, 2012 14:37:06 GMT
I guess the two mentions of The Cabin in the Woods stayed with me, as I zeroed in on this poster I came across online. Nifty picture.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2012 14:44:47 GMT
The Escher theme is pretty good. In France they went for the Rubik's Cube.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2012 17:01:24 GMT
Obviously, such posters make perfect sense to anybody who has seen the movie.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 28, 2012 19:33:48 GMT
Cool! And the two pics make sense together, as well.
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Post by komsomol on May 28, 2012 19:43:09 GMT
In -Evil Dead- once they started running around the various rooms and the basement, the cabin seemed to be about ten times bigger inside than outside.
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Post by Jazz on May 29, 2012 3:08:41 GMT
For the third time, tonight I watched The Queen, with Helen Mirren. A great film. Mirren’s performance as Queen Elizabeth II is a ‘tour de force’. The film certainly wears well. This time I noticed much more of the handling of the politics of the time, very well done.
Essentially, the film takes place just before and (mostly) after the death of Princess Diana. For anyone interested in the British monarchy, or, any monarchy of today, this must be seen. I won’t even begin to discuss my thoughts re: the monarchy and the politics of this passionate period. (the idea of monarchy deserves its’ own thread.)
The whole film is fascinating, but one scene will stay with me forever,
One afternoon, a day or so after Diana’s death, the Queen is driving on her estate. The feeling is that she is mulling everything over... what in god’s name should she do? The jeep breaks down. For her, it is a time of stress to the breaking point. Diana is dead. At this moment in time, the public hates the monarchy – her very existence - and the intensity of the rage and hatred is building by the hour. There is widespread grief and confusion. Possibly, the end of the British monarchy. She gets out of the jeep in the woods. From the back only, we see her crying. Then, a stag appears on a nearby hill... proud, beautiful, and free. Her tears dry as she contemplates this magnificent animal. Somehow, he reawakens her strength.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 12:50:39 GMT
I really want to see Marigold Hotel,thanks for the review K2,and also your take of On The Road.
Jazz,I agree that particular scene is one of the most compelling scenes in that movie. I could easily do a rewatch of that film.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 12:57:21 GMT
I want to see Marigold Hotel too. Sounds like a fun movie.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 17:12:44 GMT
Unfortunately, I am getting tired of seeing Dev Patel stuck in his "ethnic accent" roles. Choosing a British actor to play in Slumdog Millionaire was already somewhat questionable, but dragging him back to India again for Marigold Hotel is a bit pitiful, because it's not as though India doesn't have tens of thousands of available actors to play Indians. I'm very happy that his career is going well but I would really like to see him play a young urban Londoner more often instead of funny-talking Indian comic relief.
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Post by nycgirl on May 30, 2012 14:49:29 GMT
I'm very happy that his career is going well but I would really like to see him play a young urban Londoner more often instead of funny-talking Indian comic relief. I agree. You'd think playing the lead in a Best Picture winner would lead to better opportunities. It's a shame because I think he's just trying to work. So many A-listers have no one to blame but themselves for making poor choices.
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Post by nycgirl on May 30, 2012 15:00:26 GMT
One afternoon, a day or so after Diana’s death, the Queen is driving on her estate. The feeling is that she is mulling everything over... what in god’s name should she do? The jeep breaks down. For her, it is a time of stress to the breaking point. Diana is dead. At this moment in time, the public hates the monarchy – her very existence - and the intensity of the rage and hatred is building by the hour. There is widespread grief and confusion. Possibly, the end of the British monarchy. She gets out of the jeep in the woods. From the back only, we see her crying. Then, a stag appears on a nearby hill... proud, beautiful, and free. Her tears dry as she contemplates this magnificent animal. Somehow, he reawakens her strength. That was my favorite part, too. Helen Mirren was wonderful. And like the Queen, I too mourned the death of the stag later in the film. Although I doubt the real Queen has a soft spot in her heart for stags, it was a good scene for the purpose of the film. Damn hunters! Well, that's also a topic for another thread.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:07:00 GMT
David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis is interesting if not really pleasurable (but then again, was it meant to be?). Robert Pattinson proves that he is a bit more than a twlight vampire, but I am still waiting for a more convincing role.
I did not read the novel, but apparently it concerns trying to cross NYC in a limousine on a very eventful day (on 42nd St, if I read some of the information correctly?). The trip takes 24 hours, including sex, drugs and no rock & roll.
Once again, no release date has yet been set for the United States, but since the director is Canadian, there is a Canadian release next month.
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