What have you watched recently?

Mindkiller · 26-03-2012 11:46pm

Black Oil wrote: »

Winter's Bone.

I'll be watching it for a second time as it was a blind buy on DVD, but I was little underwhelmed here. I can't fault the acting, the pacing, the direction or the mood of the piece. I don't know, can't put my finger on why it didn't win me over completely.

Probably the fact that it was super boring.

DazMarz · 27-03-2012 3:34am

The Matrix

Had forgotten how utterly class this film is. The story is pure genius, the action is so brilliantly executed, the effects are breath-taking (even 13 years later) and the characters are brilliant.

But the best aspect of this film for me is the power of the antagonists: namely the uber-sinister and evil Agents. Led by the now legendary Agent Smith, the other Agents are no less intimidating or frightening. They look like ordinary men, dressed in black suits with sunglasses. Like a bad parody of the FBI, really. But these are superhuman, almost unstoppable, heartless, remorseless, almost invincible killing machines. The first time we see an Agent (Agent Brown, not Smith) we are shown how truly intimidating these guys are. The only hope our protagonists have is to run, and run like f*ck. These are one of the best baddies ever committed to celluloid. And this is just one of the hugely brilliant aspects of a film that is brimming with awesomeness...

ntlbell · 27-03-2012 9:29am

Mindkiller wrote: »

Probably the fact that it was super boring.

You were expecting a new Terminator right?

That_Guy · 27-03-2012 10:58am

Wild Bill:

Really enjoyable film with a pretty good cast. I watched the trailer and it's very misleading. It makes it look like 'Snatch' or one of those other British gangster films a little bit.
While there is an influence of gangsters/drug dealers, there's a lot more to it than that.

It's quite a believable film and I really related to the characters. Will Poulter is a superb actor. Really like the chap and I think he has a huge career ahead of him.

If you're planning to see this, don't watch the trailer. I watched it, expected something, got something completely different but I didn't mind it. I was satisfied and really enjoyed it.

Turtyturd · 27-03-2012 2:44pm

The Hunger Games: Think it has already been covered, Battle Royale lite, spends too much time focused on some aspects of the story and ignores/fails to explain others that are important later on, the action scenes are terrible, unless they were filmed by an epileptic camera man mid seizure. Also has racist issues in the portrayal of some characters.:pac:

D'Agger · 27-03-2012 6:54pm

Turtyturd wrote: »

the action scenes are terrible, unless they were filmed by an epileptic camera man mid seizure.

LMBO

mikemac1 · 27-03-2012 9:52pm

The Fan

Second time seeing and liked it just as much as the first time
De Niro is just scary and obsessed, he does it well.
And Wesley Snipes was excellent I thought, one of his first films was Major League but this is a far more serious film

Good film, would recommend
However quite a few I've talked to thought it was an awful film
Make up your own mind

And on that note if you'd like this film I'd recommend Big Fan
It's a bit of a dark, depressing movie but I liked it a lot
This one is over football, not baseball

Sad Professor · 27-03-2012 10:17pm

Fucking Amal (aka Show Me Love)

This has been on my to-watch list for a while. It's a charming little Swedish film directed by Lukas Moodysson about a shy teenage girl who has a crush on another girl at school. Brilliantly captures the awkwardness of being a teenager. I can't imagine anyone not relating to it. The final scene is very funny and uplifting.

bnt · 27-03-2012 11:19pm

You're not going to believe this, but: Avatar, for the first time. I split it over two evenings. Only two-and-a-bit years after everyone else, but I was in no rush. Story: incredibly predictable, I could tell way in advance that the end would consist of (a) a big battle, (b) a duel between the main protagonists, (c) Jake gets his reward and becomes one of them. I thought I was going to be wrong about (c), but they got to it in the end.

Spectacular CGI, as everyone knows, though some of the physics was way off e.g what was going with the gravity on Pandora? They said it was a low-G planet, and that seemed to be the case when e.g. the armoured suits jump out of the "carrier", but not when characters fall off things. Oh well, I can now say that I've seen Avatar.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 27-03-2012 11:22pm

got Mesrine on bluray this week so watched killer instinct tonight. wish i'd started it earlier as i dont have time to watch part 2 now, will have to wait till tomorrow. one thing thats annoying me that's not related to the movie is I watched Un Prophete the same night I first watched Mesrine, and didn't buy that on blu ray.. so when i finish mesrine tomorrow there's going to be a prophet sized hole on my tv

fantastic movie, will have to go on a cassell binge some time soon

willmunny1990 · 28-03-2012 12:09am

The devil inside: Possibly the worst film i have ever seen.

I have never been a fan of these "found footage" horrors, i have not seen a good one yet but this was by far the worst. I thought nothing could surpass the Blair witch in being sh*t but this did.

Funglegunk · 28-03-2012 10:43am

Sad Professor wrote: »

I watched Pandorum the other night. Sci-fi horror starring Dennis Quaid and Ben Forster. The editing is a bit much, but overall I thought it was pretty good. It's no Alien, but it beats that '90s cheese-fest Event Horizon.

I like this movie if only for Forster's performance and the 'ship porn' during the end credits. I found the monsters pretty boring.

Tony EH · 28-03-2012 10:45am

bnt wrote: »

You're not going to believe this, but: Avatar, for the first time. I split it over two evenings. Only two-and-a-bit years after everyone else, but I was in no rush. Story: incredibly predictable, I could tell way in advance that the end would consist of (a) a big battle, (b) a duel between the main protagonists, (c) Jake gets his reward and becomes one of them. I thought I was going to be wrong about (c), but they got to it in the end.

Spectacular CGI, as everyone knows, though some of the physics was way off e.g what was going with the gravity on Pandora? They said it was a low-G planet, and that seemed to be the case when e.g. the armoured suits jump out of the "carrier", but not when characters fall off things. Oh well, I can now say that I've seen Avatar.

Only saw it for the first time a couple of months ago too and have to say, it didn't even make a dent on me.

One of the most overrated films in recent history. Totally undeserving of the lavish praise that was heaped upon it and I have to say that I wasn't all that blown away by the CGI either.

barone · 28-03-2012 3:52pm

PARKED

with colm meaney and colin morgan

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571409/

quality acting by lead two.. worth a view.. slow moving

Mal-Adjusted · 28-03-2012 5:03pm

I was The Hunger Games last thursday. I really can't understand the praise heaped on it. the structure was a bit of a mess. It starts out like it wants to be a social commentary and setting up the world of the books, with the bit people paid to see, the actual fight, only starting in the second half. we are then subjected to terrible editing, shaky-cam, and quick-cuts to create the illusion of violence without actually showing much (to keep the rating low)

THe acting was very good, but the film never really decides what sort of tome it wants to be and the whole experience comes across as "only okay".

OldeCinemaSoz · 28-03-2012 6:00pm

I liked ZOMBIE FLESHEATERS.

It had a lot of guts.

mikemac1 · 29-03-2012 12:10pm

made for TV film

Ike - Countdown to D-Day

Tom Selleck is superb in it as General Eisenhower
A realy different role for him, just top acting

Very good film, realy enjoyed it

Judgement Day · 29-03-2012 12:43pm

The Halo Effect (2004) - DVD €2 from Chernobyl Orphanage charity shop. If you like Stephen Rea and Simon Delaney - you'll like this movie. Fatso (Stephen Rea) is the owner of a North Inner City Dublin chip shop, in hock to his ears with various money lenders, beset by useless staff, deadbeat customers and a with a chronic gambling addiction....Panned by some critics I found it a great late night movie!

craftypaddy · 29-03-2012 3:28pm

barone wrote: »

PARKED

with colm meaney and colin morgan

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1571409/

quality acting by lead two.. worth a view.. slow moving

i liked this film as well didnt have a clue what it was about but i was pleasantly surprised

SarahBM · 29-03-2012 10:15pm

When Saturday Comes
football film staring Sean Bean.
I enjoyed it, thought it was good, but not completely blown away. maybe because I had heard it was very good from so many people I thought it would be better.
I love Sean Bean, but your wan playing the love interest had the most god awful "Iorush" accent I have ever heard. Id put it up there with Tom Cruise in Far and Away.

Escape to Victory is next in the "To Watch" pile

Sad Professor · 29-03-2012 10:28pm

Missing (aka Sil Jong) — South Korean serial killer film. The Chaser/I Saw the Devil, it is not. Deranged chicken farmer abducts attractive young wannabe actress and tortures her in the usual ways. Then the girl's sister comes looking for her with predictable results. Other predictable things happen. It's not a gore-fest like Saw or Hostel, not even close, but it still plays out like voyeuristic torture porn. It reminded me of The Girl Next Door - not a good thing.

The Uninvited — Awful American remake of A Tale of Two Sisters. The original is a masterpiece of atmospheric horror. This is basically a teen movie with loads of gratuitous bikini and cleavage shots. And good thing too or else there would be no reason to watch. The relationship between the two sisters and the final revelation has none of the heartbreaking resonance of the original. If you haven't seen the original, then do. Avoid this dross!

MJ23 · 29-03-2012 11:00pm

I watched 'I love you man' tonight. Very funny. Slappin da bass

shamrock55 · 29-03-2012 11:22pm

i saw law abiding citizen the other night with gerard butler and really enjoyed it if you havent seen it i deffo recommend it;)

Hobite · 30-03-2012 9:46am

Last week I saw This means war. Beautiful actors, in some case funny. But overall nothing special. Most suitable as a background for some party or etc. :rolleyes: What I remember is nice Reese dresses

bnt wrote: »

You're not going to believe this, but: Avatar, for the first time. I split it over two evenings. Only two-and-a-bit years after everyone else, but I was in no rush. Story: incredibly predictable, I could tell way in advance that the end would consist of (a) a big battle, (b) a duel between the main protagonists, (c) Jake gets his reward and becomes one of them. I thought I was going to be wrong about (c), but they got to it in the end.

Spectacular CGI, as everyone knows, though some of the physics was way off e.g what was going with the gravity on Pandora? They said it was a low-G planet, and that seemed to be the case when e.g. the armoured suits jump out of the "carrier", but not when characters fall off things. Oh well, I can now say that I've seen Avatar.

I saw Avatar couple of times. I like fantasy and science fiction books and movies, so I really enjoyed this movie.

Hootanany · 30-03-2012 9:48am

Hunt To Kill Steve Austin very good film but under the radar.

Kolido · 30-03-2012 11:52am

Watched 'Dream House' last night.

I thought it was quite good, but maybe I was just in the right mood, I'm usually quite critical.

Sad Professor · 30-03-2012 11:57am

I have to disagree about Dream House. One of the worst films I saw last year. Sheridan thought it was so bad he tried to have his name taken off it.

johnny_ultimate · 30-03-2012 12:17pm

Sad Professor wrote: »

Fucking Amal (aka Show Me Love)

This has been on my to-watch list for a while. It's a charming little Swedish film directed by Lukas Moodysson about a shy teenage girl who has a crush on another girl at school. Brilliantly captures the awkwardness of being a teenager. I can't imagine anyone not relating to it. The final scene is very funny and uplifting.

Watched this last night too. Same as yourself, had been waiting an age to watch it, and its DVD availability has been limited to a boxset where I already own the rest of the films :pac:

Saw it on Netflix and jumped. Unfortunately, the picture quality is sub- VHS: I know the film was lo-fi to begin with, but this is a ridiculously poor transfer.

But the strengths of the film shine through. It moves at a thoroughly engaging pace, the characters are very well drawn (from cruel to contemplative), and everything is handled with a real casualness and honesty. Great soundtrack too.

It's a real shame that after this, Together and (to a somewhat lesser degree as the warning signs had begun to appear) Lilya 4 Ever Moodysson disappeared up his own arse.

Boom_Bap · 30-03-2012 12:31pm

Last night I watched The Dilemma - Not sure why I sat down to watch this, I was looking for something that was light, a bit of humour and didnt require my brain to work too much. The Dilemma pretty much ticked all those boxes, and I honestly wasnt expecting much from the movie.

It turned out to be OK, I found myself asking how I would deal with the situation Ronny (vince Vaughn) found himself in. I think that the performances from the actors was average enough, nothing special, but they are solid enough actors to hold down a good performance without stretching themselves.

No major twists either, everything that happens is what you expect to happen.

Tatum Channing (sp) puts in a great performance, I think that he is well suited to doing comedy and looking forward to him evern more now in 21 Jump Street.

A few others I've watched recently....watch for the common denominator

:

Bloodsport
KickBoxer
Black Eagle
Cyborg
Universal Soldier
Death Warrant

Outside of Van Damme, I've also watched:

Moneyball - great movie, even though I know little about baseball, it was still entertaining.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - I really really enjoyed this. I wasnt expecting much from it for some reason, but excellent story and execution.

The Decendants - Who would have thunk there are high rise buildings and modern hospitals in Hawaii? Great movie, not sure about all the awards it's gotten, but Clooney is great, especially running in flip flops. One of the best end credit scenes ever.

In Time - pretty bad movie, interesting concet of buying and selling your time, but could have been done much better. Timblerlake is becoming a great actor though.

Birneybau · 30-03-2012 1:04pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

The Halo Effect (2004) - DVD €2 from Chernobyl Orphanage charity shop. If you like Stephen Rea and Simon Delaney - you'll like this movie. Fatso (Stephen Rea) is the owner of a North Inner City Dublin chip shop, in hock to his ears with various money lenders, beset by useless staff, deadbeat customers and a with a chronic gambling addiction....Panned by some critics I found it a great late night movie!

I really, really don't, so I wont...:)

Sad Professor · 30-03-2012 1:13pm

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Watched this last night too. Same as yourself, had been waiting an age to watch it, and its DVD availability has been limited to a boxset where I already own the rest of the films :pac:

Saw it on Netflix and jumped. Unfortunately, the picture quality is sub- VHS: I know the film was lo-fi to begin with, but this is a ridiculously poor transfer.

But the strengths of the film shine through. It moves at a thoroughly engaging pace, the characters are very well drawn (from cruel to contemplative), and everything is handled with a real casualness and honesty. Great soundtrack too.

It's a real shame that after this, Together and (to a somewhat lesser degree as the warning signs had begun to appear) Lilya 4 Ever Moodysson disappeared up his own arse.

I watched it on Netflix as well, and yeah, the quality was terrible. The film looked like it was shot in 16mm, so it would probably look pretty good (albeit very grainy) if there was a decent DVD, but most of the releases are non-anamorphic or lack English subs.

Re: Moodysson, I've heard that about his recent output alright. Prior to watching this, I'd only seen Together and Lilya 4 Ever which I thought were excellent. Have you see Mammoth with Michelle Williams? I was under the impression that was a return to form. It's on Netflix as well, so I might check it out later.

Skinfull · 30-03-2012 1:14pm

Get him to the Greek. Although I should say I tried to watch it, rather than recently watched. I missed the first 15 mins, and turned it off after an hour and oh man it was a struggle to last that long! Horrible, horrible collection of unfunny gags that cumulated in the appearance of Lars Ulrich (the last straw for me).

Why why why did this get so much attention when other better movies get swept aside.

johnny_ultimate · 30-03-2012 1:21pm

Sad Professor wrote: »

Re: Moodysson, I've heard that about his recent output alright. Prior to watching this, I'd only seen Together and Lilya 4 Ever which I thought were excellent. Have you see Mammoth with Michelle Williams? I was under the impression that was a return to form. It's on Netflix as well, so I might check it out later.

Haven't seen Mammoth - had always heard very mixed things about it. A Hole in My Heart, however, is genuinely one of the most obnoxious pieces of crap I've ever had the misfortune to endure. Almost entirely worthless film, and baffling that it's from the same guy who made films as warm and charming as Together and ****ing Amal. Couldn't bring myself to watch Container, which is apparently more 'experimental' still.

I like Lilya 4 Ever, but I do think it's actually quite basic and formulaic beneath the very strong direction.

Tony EH · 30-03-2012 1:41pm

'The Cruel Sea'

Remarkably accurate portrayal of the "U-Boat war" from the British POV and all the more interesting because it was made at a time when historical accuracy wasn't at the top of the agenda in war films, although British war films have always been a bit more even handed than their Hollywood counterpart in that regard.

Jack Hawkins is the captain, first of a flower-class corvette (Compass Rose) and then of a larger castle-class corvette (Saltash Castle) and is charged with convoy escort in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and then in the Arctic. His job is to hunt down the U-Boats that have been attacking Allied shipping. Donald Sinden also appears as his first officer, in his debut role and a young Denholm Elliott too is in the cast.

'The Cruel Sea' is great example of "getting it right" when it comes to making films about the war, although it was toned down somewhat from the source material. There's no jingoism, no flag waving and no nonsense going on here. Everything is played straight and it does a very good job of showing what life was like aboard an escort vessel during WWII.

Even though it was made nearly 30 years before, it's an excellent companion piece to 'Das Boot', which excels in showing the war from the opposite side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joUDAD3GB3g

Judgement Day · 30-03-2012 2:10pm

Last night Terminator .3. Rise of the Machines (2003) - have it on DVD and still one of my favourite sci-fi movies that I keep coming back to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeC-lGnajT0

WHIP IT! · 30-03-2012 3:39pm

Wrath of the Titans (2D)

Just....... woeful...

Hobite · 30-03-2012 3:40pm

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Wrath of the Titans (2D)

Just....... woeful...

So, it is not worth to go to cinema to watch this movie?

WHIP IT! · 30-03-2012 3:43pm

Hobite wrote: »

So, it is not worth to go to cinema to watch this movie?

In my opinion... most definitely not... just saw it in cineworld... thought it was awful, cannot for the life of me figure out what Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were thinking.

Hobite · 30-03-2012 3:46pm

WHIP IT! wrote: »

In my opinion... most definitely not... just saw it in cineworld... thought it was awful, cannot for the life of me figure out what Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were thinking.

Usually the names of these actors atracts me to watch movie. However, I have made mistake when I went to watch films with Nicolas Cage - Drive Angry and Season of the Witch. The later was feeeeee, actually I left, didnt watch.

Ok, thanks, I will keep in mind about Wrath of the Titans.

Technocentral · 30-03-2012 3:54pm

Tony EH wrote: »

'The Cruel Sea'

./QUOTE]

Great movie, if you haven't already seen it you should also check out another great 50s Brit war movie; "Ice Cold In Alex" again its quite a progressive film in its treatment of the Germans and not a revenge fest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaJ5UBi4z2c

Mal-Adjusted · 30-03-2012 5:21pm

WHIP IT! wrote: »

In my opinion... most definitely not... just saw it in cineworld... thought it was awful, cannot for the life of me figure out what Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were thinking.

that's a shame. the original is one of my all time favorites and i thought the remake was decent enough.

any chance you could tell us what you thought was bad about it please? (without giving away spoilers if i do end up going to it)

cheers

WHIP IT! · 30-03-2012 5:56pm

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

that's a shame. the original is one of my all time favorites and i thought the remake was decent enough.

any chance you could tell us what you thought was bad about it please? (without giving away spoilers if i do end up going to it)

cheers

I was just very disappointed in it altogether. I'm not familiar with the original or any further guises of this movie so maybe it will in fact appeal more to fans of the series. I really feel Neeson and Fiennes sleptwalked through their roles, Edgar Ramirez, who plays the main character's brother, was very poor and, I hate to say, but there was several moments that had the audience just laughing out loud at bits that weren't supposed to be funny.

The two redeeming performances you might say, came from Bill Nighy and Toby Kebbell, who offered some light comic relief here and there.

Unspectacular, seen-it-all-before type stuff. Pity.

Tony EH · 30-03-2012 5:58pm

Technocentral wrote: »

Tony EH wrote: »

'The Cruel Sea'

./QUOTE]

Great movie, if you haven't already seen it you should also check out another great 50s Brit war movie; "Ice Cold In Alex" again its quite a progressive film in its treatment of the Germans and not a revenge fest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaJ5UBi4z2c

"Worth waiting for"

I've seen it so many times, I could act in it. Brilliant film.

MagicMarker · 30-03-2012 6:56pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Last night Terminator .3. Rise of the Machines (2003) - have it on DVD and still one of my favourite sci-fi movies that I keep coming back to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeC-lGnajT0

hahaha, very good.

Wait, you were joking, yes?

tim_holsters · 30-03-2012 8:43pm

Drive. A seemingly effortless display of cool from Mr. Gosling but fans of Mad Men (which really should be everyone) steel yourselves.

Judgement Day · 30-03-2012 10:06pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

hahaha, very good.

Wait, you were joking, yes?

Nope - I like all the Terminator movies - even the Christian Bale one!

I like Arnie in most of his movies. What do you not like about "The Rise of the Machines"?

Syferus · 30-03-2012 10:16pm

Re-watched The Thing (1982) last night, it is one of my favourite films of all-time. I know it was a well-worn source, I know Alien was a more influential take on this story, but The Thing is better because it is such a wonderful concotment of John Carpenter at his peak, Ennio Morocone scoring (one of the few times Caroenter didn't composing the music himself) and Kurt Russell giving the definitive action hero performance. It had just enough levity to stop it from becoming a depressing slog and the supporting cast of characters were drawn in bold lines and a very large number were instantly distinguable, something that's more of an achievement than it's given credit for.

Sure, there can be plotholes picked, laughs made at the expense of some of the facial SFX models used, but if anything it's become more ethereally scary and foreboding removed from the time of the techniques used in it.

"Yeah, f**k you too."

Comic Book Guy · 30-03-2012 10:56pm

Not seen the original The Thing in donkeys years but loved it at the time. Can still remember bit at start where Kurt kills the chess game with whiskey "Cheeky Bitch"

.

Had "Gerry" on the planner for an age so gave it a go this evening. I'm sorry but thats 2 hours i wont get back. Interesting idea but delivered as absolute dung.

grohlisagod · 31-03-2012 12:11am

The Hunger Games. Decent film. Interesting concept. Woody Harrelson is excellent as the contestants mentor as is Stanley Tucci as the TV presenter.

However, there is a pretty blatant cop out on the writer's path which completely changes the whole direction on the film which really annoyed me. The shaky camera effect got a little tiresome also. As a result it only gets a 6/10 from me.

GAAman · 31-03-2012 1:30am

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

Not seen the original The Thing in donkeys years but loved it at the time. Can still remember bit at start where Kurt kills the chess game with whiskey "Cheeky Bitch" .

I always thought he said "Cheatin bitch" which for me was funny as hell because it is a machine so it probably just beat him and he got pissed off.

Anyway I watched Killing Bono tonight and I really enjoyed it was very funny.

What have you watched recently?

Comments