MOVIE COMMENT CATCH-ALL THREAD

[piranesi]

Well, the movie sat on the shelf for two years because of MGM going bankrupt, so the torture porn message was more relevant when it was written and filmed.

 

It was also fucking great and you are all fucking wrong.

 

 

Fowler, I need you to explain one thing to me though.  If Sigourney Weaver could fix the problem at the end by just killing Marty herself, then why couldn't, like, the Japanese version just open the door of that classroom and shoot all the kids when they defeated the JuOn ghost?  Like, if they were getting to the brink of apocalypse and everything.

[Travis Sheldon]

I'm not dense and got no message from the film. I only brought it up because of researching after watching Cabin.

If they were trying to convey a message they failed.

The thing I disliked the most about Cabin was the fact I figured the plot in 20 minutes, thereby losing any suspense concerning the "slasher" aspect of the film.

 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a "torture porn" film?

I hate the term so much I may start using TP instead.

Don't make me break out the TP.

I know what wikipedia says, but I don't like it much.

The films of Lucio Fulci could be described as TP (HA!) using the definition there.

[Reed]

Also, the guy and the girl came off like selfish assholes in the end. There was nothing admirable about it.

[piranesi]

Also, the guy and the girl came off like selfish assholes in the end. There was nothing admirable about it.

 

That I'm not so sure about.  Every time I watch the ending I get mixed feelings depending on my mood and just how misanthropic I'm feeling.

 

At least half of the times I've seen it, I was like "Yeah....fuck this stupid world."  especially after reading, like, some racist distant relative's facebook forward about Obamacare or something...I'm like "Bring on the Big Hand, Motherfuckers!"

[Travis Sheldon]

I would have preferred  a tentacle whipping out instead of a hand.

[Tabe]

Venus and Serena - Decent documentary covering the 2011 season for the Williams sisters. Also some of their history too. Some nice footage and decent insights. Pottery much confirmed my opinions of both. Serena comes off decent then reminds you she's a bitch by physically threatening a line judge and blows it off by claiming players in other sports do worse and get away with it (they don't). Venus, on the other hand, is great. Anyway. worth checking out on Netflix. 7/10.

[Tabe]

Two more from Netflix:

The Imposter - Documentary about a French guy who impersonated an American boy who had disappeared three years earlier - and even convinced the family. Not particularly great but all the principals participate but you are still left to marvel at how the family could possibly believe the guy. 5/10.

Heckler - Disorganized mess that starts out as a treatise on people who heckle at comedy shows and morphs into bashing critics. In between that, Jamie Kennedy confronts critics or hecklers and asks them why they hate him. Kennedy is the maker of the movie. In the end, the whole thing just kind of meanders without rally making a point. 2/10.

[Travis Sheldon]

Heckler - Disorganized mess that starts out as a treatise on people who heckle at comedy shows and morphs into bashing critics. In between that, Jamie Kennedy confronts critics or hecklers and asks them why they hate him. Kennedy is the maker of the movie. In the end, the whole thing just kind of meanders without rally making a point. 2/10.

 

I've been intrigued by some of the names listed in the synopsis, but have avoided it because of my hatred of Jaime Kennedy.

Guess I'll avoid.

[Travis Sheldon]

Forgot to report on this one:

 

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) Liked the intro with "flashbacks" from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), after that it was pretty much a mess.

Lots of problems with continuity, or lack thereof,  silly dialog, and the story. Once I got over the double turn at the beginning, I was fine. This is not a good movie, but enjoyable in the popcorn flick sense.

Saw the regular version, no 3D for me. Nice cameos by Billy Moseley, Gunnar Hansen, and Marilyn Burns. The film itself looked and sounded fine. 

Some gore, maybe this qualifies as "torture porn" (my new favorite genre). Worth a (free) Redbox rental. 4/10

[Neil Koch]

 

Heckler - Disorganized mess that starts out as a treatise on people who heckle at comedy shows and morphs into bashing critics. In between that, Jamie Kennedy confronts critics or hecklers and asks them why they hate him. Kennedy is the maker of the movie. In the end, the whole thing just kind of meanders without rally making a point. 2/10.

 

I've been intrigued by some of the names listed in the synopsis, but have avoided it because of my hatred of Jaime Kennedy.

Guess I'll avoid.

 

 

It starts out as a somewhat interesting look at heckling, but it soon turns into a Jamie Kennedy cry-fest of "why does everyone hate me?"  Maybe because you're not funny.  Case closed.

[Tabe]

It starts out as a somewhat interesting look at heckling, but it soon turns into a Jamie Kennedy cry-fest of "why does everyone hate me?"  Maybe because you're not funny.  Case closed.

 

That's a much better synopsis than mine   I mean, c'mon, he does a bit in there about country music and how you lose your dog and stuff.  That joke wasn't original 30 years ago, it sure isn't now.  And then he cries because some hecklers picked on him.

[Tabe]

It starts out as a somewhat interesting look at heckling, but it soon turns into a Jamie Kennedy cry-fest of "why does everyone hate me?"  Maybe because you're not funny.  Case closed.

 

That's a much better synopsis than mine   I mean, c'mon, he does a bit in there about country music and how you lose your dog and stuff.  That joke wasn't original 30 years ago, it sure isn't now.  And then he cries because some hecklers picked on him.

[The Natural]

Watched a film at the cinema late last year and before it there was a trailer for Silver Linings Playbook (2012). I fancied seeing the film but never got round to seeing it there. Yesterday, I watched Silver Linings Playbook for the first time. Bloody good film that. The film deservedly got Academy Award nominations including for Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress won by Jennifer Lawrence, Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actor (Jacki Weaver) which made it first time for years a film produced nominations in all four acting categories and Best Director (David O’Russell). I recommend this to others.

[Tabe]

Tabe watches more Netflix:

 

Witness - Remember when Kelly McGillis was scorching hot?  When she was scorching hot even when wearing Amish clothing?  Yeah, this is that movie.  Kelly plays an Amish mother whose son, Samuel, witnesses a murder in a bus station bathroom.  Harrison Ford plays the detective investigating.  He quickly learns that the murder was perpetrated by dirty cops who then seek to murder him so he hides out on Kelly's family farm.  Ford must adopt Amish clothes and ways to fit in and so he does.  Romance sort of blooms and then we get the big finale.  The movie is excellent with the relationship between Ford and McGillis portrayed in a quiet, understated way in which glances and words take on extra meaning.  I do have some complaints, seeing McGillis topless not being one of them, mostly centered around the little boy.  Early in the movie he's portrayed as borderline retarded or just stupid instead of just unfamiliar with "English" ways.  When asked to describe the killer, he isn't traumatized yet is unable to find such hard words as "short" or "black" or "tall".  The kid is bilingual, clearly supposed to be bright, and yet in that conversation he's treated as stupid because he's Amish.  Anyway, really good movie and great way to spend 2 hours.  8/10.

[Brisco]

 

 

Heckler - Disorganized mess that starts out as a treatise on people who heckle at comedy shows and morphs into bashing critics. In between that, Jamie Kennedy confronts critics or hecklers and asks them why they hate him. Kennedy is the maker of the movie. In the end, the whole thing just kind of meanders without rally making a point. 2/10.

 

I've been intrigued by some of the names listed in the synopsis, but have avoided it because of my hatred of Jaime Kennedy.

Guess I'll avoid.

 

 

It starts out as a somewhat interesting look at heckling, but it soon turns into a Jamie Kennedy cry-fest of "why does everyone hate me?"  Maybe because you're not funny.  Case closed.

 

 

Jamie Kennedy will always get a pass for the awesome Malibu's Most Wanted.

[ivpvideos]

You got that Gamecast?

[Swift]

This post is heavy on Michael Jackson. Feel free to skip it if it's not your thing.

 

I watched The Band Wagon tonight, a 1953 Fred Astaire/Cyd Charisse movie. I had heard before that it influenced Michael Jackson, but I had no idea as to the extent of it. Being a huge Jackson fan in my teenage years, I DVR'd it when it showed up on TCM recently. In the movie, the two characters are putting on a show, and there's a 15 minute sequence near the end of the film with a noir type theme. And holy shit, did it influence him! I was blown away by the references.

 

Here's a video someone put together that gives most of the references...

 

 

He misses out on the Billie Jean reference. In the movie, a stalker trenchcoat wearing guy disappears and all that's left behind is a tiger stripe rag. In Billie Jean, a stalker trenchcoat guy finds said rag. Also, the girls featured on the screen in Billie Jean are identified as Louisa. In The Band Wagon, Astaire sings a song about a girl named Louisa.

 

Here's a great video someone edited together of scenes from the movie with Smooth Criminal playing throughout. This really gives you the overall feeling.

 

 

A youtube adventure then lead me to this video of a 19 year old Michael Jackson singing Get Happy and tapping like Fred Astaire. I'd never seen it before, so I thought I'd share it.

 

 

That led me to wondering where Get Happy is originally from. Turns out it was performed by Judy Garland in a film called Summer Stock, and what do you know? The opening bit where all the guys fall down to reveal Garland is a bit Jackson used in his 1995 MTV performance, right down to the music.

 

[piranesi]

That was the scene that ended any chance of me ever not being in love with Cyd Charisse.

 

So amazing.

[Johnny Sorrow]

At this point in my life, nothing can grab me and cheer me up more than a classic MGM musical. The talent level involved in every aspect of all those movies is just astounding.

If this doesn't fill you full of joy than I fear you may be either dead in the soul or a liar.

 

 

And yeah, Cyd Charisse was so amazing. Looking back, the only names of incredible dancers of the Golden Age that come up are of course, Astaire and Kelly, but Charisse was just as good. I'd say the best female dancer of the era.

[caley]

Watched Five Minutes to Lie (AKA 'Door to Door Maniac') the other night.  It stars Johnny Cash (!) as a bad guy who teams up with Vic Tayback to rob a bank. The plot's actually sorta clever with Cash holding up the bank manager's wife at gunpoint in their house, while Tayback blackmail/ransoms the manager into cashing a $70,000 cheque, promising Cash will shoot his wife if he doesn't do it and that it he's interecepted on the way out of the bank and the call doesn't come through, Cash is under strict orders to plug her.  It's too bad it's a rather lousy screenplay with some awful dialogue and horrible performances (Ronnie Howard is in the cast as the manager's son and he just acts CIRCLES around the rest of the cast).  Cash is clearly no actor whatosever, often having to look away from the people he's talking to (presumably to check his script) with a weird delivery of his lines (At one point he says "Wait in the car!" and it sounds like the start of a song).  Also, the woman who wrote the screenplay co-stars so the movie goes out of its way to praise her looks repeatedly.  I thought the idea of Cash in a movie was a great one before i watched it.  I no longer feel the same way.

[Swift]

Isn't that the plot of quite a few movies? I think The Friends of Eddie Coyle for one. In fact, they're a common real life occurrence too, particularly in Ireland at one point - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_kidnapping

[Burgundy LaRue]

Watched Five Minutes to Lie (AKA 'Door to Door Maniac') the other night.  It stars Johnny Cash (!) as a bad guy who teams up with Vic Tayback to rob a bank. The plot's actually sorta clever with Cash holding up the bank manager's wife at gunpoint in their house, while Tayback blackmail/ransoms the manager into cashing a $70,000 cheque, promising Cash will shoot his wife if he doesn't do it and that it he's interecepted on the way out of the bank and the call doesn't come through, Cash is under strict orders to plug her.  It's too bad it's a rather lousy screenplay with some awful dialogue and horrible performances (Ronnie Howard is in the cast as the manager's son and he just acts CIRCLES around the rest of the cast).  Cash is clearly no actor whatosever, often having to look away from the people he's talking to (presumably to check his script) with a weird delivery of his lines (At one point he says "Wait in the car!" and it sounds like the start of a song).  Also, the woman who wrote the screenplay co-stars so the movie goes out of its way to praise her looks repeatedly.  I thought the idea of Cash in a movie was a great one before i watched it.  I no longer feel the same way.

 

I watched this a couple of years ago and while Cash is no great shakes as an actor, he has a certain presence.  Raw energy, I suppose.  The problem is that he doesn't stop being Johnny Cash.  His character's name is Johnny, he carries a guitar, he sings the the title song.  The screenplay does nothing to make this more than a Johnny Cash commercial. I agree that Ronnie Howard OWNS everyone in the movie.  Five years old and he leaves the rest of the cast in his dust.  But as a B-list crime thriller, it's entertaining. Tayback is good  and the premise, while not original, held my interest.  It's a decent watch.

[Travis Sheldon]

Got caught up with the Fright Night franchise over the weekend. Here are my thoughts.

Fright Night (1985) Long been one of my favorite vampire movies. Saw this one in the theater in it's initial theatrical run. Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon chew this film to shreds. Little for me to complain about. Fine story, looks nice, and the acting is solid.

Why did the pencil in Charlie's room cause Jerry Dandridge so much damage in the initial confrontation between the two? Was there a church sponsorship on the pencil?

Other than that I have no questions. 9/10

 

Fright Night Part 2 (1988) Saw this one the theater back when it was new, but never had a chance to see it again. Didn't remember anything about this film. Follows the trend of so many sequels that copy the formula of the original. Luckily Roddy McDowall and William Ragsdale reprise their respective roles. Julie Carmen looks great and gives a good performance in the antagonist role here. 6/10

 

Fright Night (2011) Remake/Remodel. Most of the major set pieces are here, possibly in different order. Wikipedia lists this film as a comedy horror film, but I don't think it is in the Bad Taste/BrainDead style of horror/comedy that i think of. Just because there is humor does not mean it's a comedy. Saw the 2d version, so the 3d aspects didn't work adnd stood out when they occurred. Was prepared to blast this film until I watched the next film. 7/10

 

Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013) I had read synopsis on this film and was hoping they would rethink their strategy, but they didn't. This film is a reboot of the franchise. Charlie, Amy, and Ed are college students in Romania. Peter Vincent is the host of supernatural reality show "Fright NIght". Gerri Dandridge is played by Jamie Murray. The story is a mix of the original 2 films with some new twists thrown in. Echolocation anyone? I was shaking my head and talking to the film more than I like. 3/10

[piranesi]

Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013)

 

 

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT?????????????

[Fat Spanish Waiter]

The Colin Farrell Fright Night is awesome because Colin Farrell just steals the entire thing effortlessly.