sr edler
gold is not reality
- Mar 20, 2010
- 12,145
- 6,635
Can't give you a good answer on this. I feel there's tons of potential in pictures on sea, but most often it's either just disaster movies, monster movies or pirate comedies.
Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | {Insert Appropriate Seasonal Greeting Here}
- Thread starter ProstheticConscience
- Start date
Can't give you a good answer on this. I feel there's tons of potential in pictures on sea, but most often it's either just disaster movies, monster movies or pirate comedies.
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
Pretty sure he's also referring to his intense dislike of Ernest Hemingway hahaha
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
Me? Never read Moby-Dick or anything else by him. I like Hemingway (especially his shorter stuff, including The Old Man and the Sea) a lot though but I know Ceremony does not care for his books.
PK Cronin
Bailey Fan Club Prez
- Feb 11, 2013
- 34,533
- 23,964
I've been trying to catch up on things I've missed lately so I watched The Strangers (2008) and X (2022).
I had low expectations for The Strangers and it exceeded them, though it still wasn't great. Liv Tyler was good/decent and Scott Speedman was generic and replaceable. It was simplistic but I thought it executed the isolation better than most movies these days. There were still moments that didn't make much sense as I was watching and even less upon reflection.
I had high expectations for X and it was a massive disappointment. I'm not sure why I thought it would be good but it really wasn't. While The Strangers attempted to scare the viewer with mystery X seemed to try and just gross them out. Not with gore but with plot, and it wasn't scary or unsettling at all, it was just bizarre and random.
Overall I'd give The Strangers a 5 or 6 out of 10 and X is getting a 3/10 and I might drop it lower.
I had low expectations for The Strangers and it exceeded them, though it still wasn't great. Liv Tyler was good/decent and Scott Speedman was generic and replaceable. It was simplistic but I thought it executed the isolation better than most movies these days. There were still moments that didn't make much sense as I was watching and even less upon reflection.
Any time movies have the antagonists lurking around in the background not doing anything is a big turnoff for me. It's not a problem if they're stalking someone or trying to hide, but in this one (and many others) the antagonist is revealed to be in the same room as the protagonist but doesn't ever do anything and the protagonist has no idea they're even there. It's supposed to build suspense but it really only begs the question, why are they there and what are they doing? I'm really supposed to believe this person secretly gained entry into the house and then decided to risk being caught by standing in a corner for no reason at all, only to wander away into the darkness? It serves no purpose other than to unnerve the audience and it's really ineffective.
Why is Glenn Howerton's character not immediately calling 911, or screaming his friend's name, or doing anything else a sensible person would do? It was still fun to see him and also see him get accidentally killed but it didn't make much sense.
Why is Glenn Howerton's character not immediately calling 911, or screaming his friend's name, or doing anything else a sensible person would do? It was still fun to see him and also see him get accidentally killed but it didn't make much sense.
I had high expectations for X and it was a massive disappointment. I'm not sure why I thought it would be good but it really wasn't. While The Strangers attempted to scare the viewer with mystery X seemed to try and just gross them out. Not with gore but with plot, and it wasn't scary or unsettling at all, it was just bizarre and random.
How in the world are two geriatrics who can barely move murdering all these people? You could get the drop on one or two, maybe, but shotguns are loud and they're in a remote and unfamiliar place so there's no chance people are sleeping through that. Why is there pitchfork specific holes in the side of the barn? Jenna Ortega was locked in the basement for a long time before even making an attempt to escape. Lastly, why do I care about these old people banging and why is this part of the plot at all?
Overall I'd give The Strangers a 5 or 6 out of 10 and X is getting a 3/10 and I might drop it lower.
I feel like you and me are in the minority of our opinions on X, I really didn't like it whatsoever, I don't get all the praise for it by horror fans and it made me not wanna even watch the others in the series.
BobColesNasalCavity
Registered User
Went and watched the Book of Clarence.
I completely expected it to be funny and not serious. It had some funny parts, which seemed random at times, because it was actually a serious(ish) movie.
I’ll give it a 5/10 because it wasn’t bad, just not what I was expecting or wanted it to be.
Soundtrack is solid though
I completely expected it to be funny and not serious. It had some funny parts, which seemed random at times, because it was actually a serious(ish) movie.
I’ll give it a 5/10 because it wasn’t bad, just not what I was expecting or wanted it to be.
Soundtrack is solid though
I, too, wasn't keen on X (I think that I gave it a 5/10), but did quite like Pearl (7/10), so you might care to check out the later, anyways. Of course, I thought that Mia Goth might get an Oscar nomination out of it and she didn't, so what do I know?
The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
- 49,081
- 30,020
Oscars *very* rarely give any sort of love for genre films. I'm still shocked Weaver got a nom for Aliens back in the 80s.I, too, wasn't keen on X (I think that I gave it a 5/10), but did quite like Pearl (7/10), so you might care to check out the later, anyways. Of course, I thought that Mia Goth might get an Oscar nomination out of it and she didn't, so what do I know?
Rodgerwilco
Entertainment boards w/ some Hockey mixed in.
- Feb 6, 2014
- 8,011
- 7,494
Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) - 9/10
Taking place about 6 months after the first Hunger Games film, Catching Fire continues following the story of Katniss and Peeta after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games. Not pleased with their shows of defiance and the resulting rebellion, which see Katniss as their symbol. The Gamemakers forge a plan to get rid of Katniss and Peeta using the veil of a so-called "Quarter Quell" which was concocted by President Snow.
I watched this entire series in a week, so the overall story was flowing very well for me. Very much enjoyed this film as well, and thought it was a big improvement on an already great film in the first Hunger Games. I found it interesting that they changed directors after the first movie, but from what I've read it was more to do with scheduling.
I've not read the books, so I was experiencing these films without having the background context of anything not included in the films. My wife filled in a little bit for me at times, as she's read them all and provided some extra context at times.
Excellent story, I really liked the development of the story. Great special effects and action sequences, the fight scenes were pretty intense without coming across as wholly unbelievable. The score was beautiful and engaging. The acting was, of course, incredible. I thought that the casting also was excellent, but I couldn't stop thinking that Anthony Hopkins would have made an incredible President Snow.
One minor thing that I did like is that it appeared they paid more attention to making it clear how many Tributes were left at various points in the 75th Game, which was one of my issues with the first film.
I REALLY liked Catching Fire and it may be my favorite film of the series overall.
Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) 8/10
Mockingjay Part 1 immediately follows the events of Catching Fire. Having continued her defiance and rebellion of The Capitol, Katniss begins formally becoming a symbol and quasi-leader of the Rebellion of the unified districts against The Capitol. Katniss, her family, Peeta, Gale, and a few others are brought to the District 13, which was thought to have been destroyed, but was secretly preparing for the next revolution against the rebellion.
As with the rest of the series, the production value of the film is incredible. The storytelling felt mostly well paced, but it was apparent that some of the information was left out from the book, but at times it felt as though there were some things I was meant to know, despite not having read the book. I didn't find it too much of an issue though, and my wife was able to fill in some gaps for me.
Mockingjay Part 2 (2015) 9/10
Again, immediately following the events of the prior film, Mockingjay Part 2 concludes the story of the series and follows the end of the rebellion by the unified districts against The Capitol. Under the leadership of President Coin of District 13, the rebellion continues to look to Katniss for inspiration and leadership.
The internal struggle of Katniss between not wanting/not being confident she'll be able to lead the rebellion, and her intense hatred of President Snow and the system that leads her to spearhead the rebellion.
The theme that continues through this film is one of poor Katniss being used as a tool by basically everyone around her. Even the ones who care for her try to mold and coach her into certain behavior and portraying a certain image, of course to no avail.
I really enjoyed the conclusion of the story, though I sort of predicted what would happen pretty early on into Mockingjay Part 1, it was still an engaging and interesting story. I really did not like the little romantic triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta. I felt like it took away from the overall story and made them seem like junior high kids. I know they're not much older than that in the story, but given their circumstances they're much more grown up.
I found it a bit comical that Katniss had the weight of an entire rebellion on her shoulders, as well as Peeta being brainwashed and Gale was all like "omggg you're not giving me enough attention.... omgggg you kiss Peeta better than you kiss me... omggg" as if she doesn't have enough shit to deal with lol.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is legendary as always. I didn't realize that these Mockingjay films were actually his last two films that he before his untimely demise.
I caught the Hunger Games in theatres when it was released, and while details are now fuzzy, I still remember how much I was impressed by Lawrence's great acting. Back then, acting skills were always an afterthought to the special effects of big blockbusters, so I was pleasantly surprised that she actually acted and gave life to the character.
The only issue I have with the last movie in the original Hunger Games trilogy is that it is no longer Hunger Games, so it feels forced at times.
The only issue I have with the last movie in the original Hunger Games trilogy is that it is no longer Hunger Games, so it feels forced at times.
Rodgerwilco
Entertainment boards w/ some Hockey mixed in.
- Feb 6, 2014
- 8,011
- 7,494
I was also very impressed by her acting. I knew she gained her break from that series, but I didn't realize just how well she performed that role. Aside from genuine happiness, her role required quite a lot of emotional range. From indifference, to awkwardness, rage, sadness, despair, defiance, and everything in between.
Yeah, I can understand that critique there.
ItsFineImFine
Registered User
- Aug 11, 2019
- 3,745
- 2,389
You've Got Mail (1998) - 7.5/10
Outside of the unrealistic part about Tom Hanks leaving Parker Posey for Meg Ryan....this was was a lovely film. Really romantic and tasteful compared to what Hollywood does whenever it attempts anything close to this genre now and it's almost a bit nostalgic too with all the early internet AOL stuff.
Fallen Leaves (2023) - 7/10
Honestly a better film if you haven't see previous Aki Kausimaki films but unfortunately having seen a bunch, this feels like a re-hash and a bit unoriginal. In fact far too much of it resembles Drifting Clouds but the humour isn't as well done, still, his stuff is solid.
Like Father, Like Son (2013) - 8/10
Koreeda does family dramas with more gentleness and a peaceful rhythm than anyone. Maybe a bit more than his usual tension but like usual, handled in a lovely way. The second half maybe dragging a bit compared to the first is the only drawback.
The Matador (2005) - 7/10
Seems like a forgotten Pierce Brosnan 2000s film where he seems to have a lot of fun playing the bad guy who you root for anyways. It's a bit silly and camp and never really knows when to get serious and looks kinda ugly with that general yellow Mexico post-2000s aesthetic but it's worth just the acting performances.
Outside of the unrealistic part about Tom Hanks leaving Parker Posey for Meg Ryan....this was was a lovely film. Really romantic and tasteful compared to what Hollywood does whenever it attempts anything close to this genre now and it's almost a bit nostalgic too with all the early internet AOL stuff.
Fallen Leaves (2023) - 7/10
Honestly a better film if you haven't see previous Aki Kausimaki films but unfortunately having seen a bunch, this feels like a re-hash and a bit unoriginal. In fact far too much of it resembles Drifting Clouds but the humour isn't as well done, still, his stuff is solid.
Like Father, Like Son (2013) - 8/10
Koreeda does family dramas with more gentleness and a peaceful rhythm than anyone. Maybe a bit more than his usual tension but like usual, handled in a lovely way. The second half maybe dragging a bit compared to the first is the only drawback.
The Matador (2005) - 7/10
Seems like a forgotten Pierce Brosnan 2000s film where he seems to have a lot of fun playing the bad guy who you root for anyways. It's a bit silly and camp and never really knows when to get serious and looks kinda ugly with that general yellow Mexico post-2000s aesthetic but it's worth just the acting performances.
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Tasty Biscuits
with fancy sauce
Drive My Car (2021). A-
It seems contradictory to suggest one of the biggest strengths of a 3hr movie is how tight its screenplay it, but here we are. Chekov essentially earns himself a co-writing credit, based on how heavily used (and expertly integrated) his words are. Hamaguchi does a stellar job here in working with his cinematographer -- a scene in the back of a car where pivotal information is revealed is a particular standout, with the straightforward direction letting the actors and the words provide all the tension.
The leisurely pace of the film allows analysis and revelations from the viewer to happen almost in real-time, as opposed to the usual days-after once a film has had time to sit. Even then, there's plenty to chew on that would reward a second viewing. Once the end credits hit, it's hard not to almost feel like Yusuke in the back of the car, except instead of Watari, it's Hamaguchi behind the wheel, leaving us to comment on the ride being so smooth we forgot we were in a car in the first place.
Cold Souls (2009). C+
The above reminded me of another Chekov-integrated flick, so I decided to revisit this li'l oddity. Paul Giamatti is the actor, Paul....Giamatti, who feels bogged down playing the role of, you guessed it, Uncle Vanya in a theater production in New York. Things seem hopeless until a friend recommends a new business where you can have your soul removed and stored away. Things of course, do not go as planned.
There's a lot less Chekov here than in Drive My Car, but there's enough up top to set things up thematically for our protagonist. Speaking of the protagonist, Giamatti does great work here, essentially playing 3 different characters throughout the film, all of them distinct without being over-the-top, which, given the premise, would be an easy thing to do. The relatively restrained performance helps ground the premise and infuse the film with its, well, soul.
When it was released, a criticism levied against it was it being Charlie Kaufman-Lite, a quirky premise that doesn't quite deliver on its promise, and its hard to disagree with that. More time than necessary is devoted to the fleshing out of the world, which is not satisfyingly executed. Maybe this idea would've worked better as a mini-series, or maybe a more experienced director could've crafted a more fulfilling journey. Still, this is a nice rainy day flick. If you're a fan of Giamatti's work, definitely check it out. If you're not, you might be after watching it.
It seems contradictory to suggest one of the biggest strengths of a 3hr movie is how tight its screenplay it, but here we are. Chekov essentially earns himself a co-writing credit, based on how heavily used (and expertly integrated) his words are. Hamaguchi does a stellar job here in working with his cinematographer -- a scene in the back of a car where pivotal information is revealed is a particular standout, with the straightforward direction letting the actors and the words provide all the tension.
The leisurely pace of the film allows analysis and revelations from the viewer to happen almost in real-time, as opposed to the usual days-after once a film has had time to sit. Even then, there's plenty to chew on that would reward a second viewing. Once the end credits hit, it's hard not to almost feel like Yusuke in the back of the car, except instead of Watari, it's Hamaguchi behind the wheel, leaving us to comment on the ride being so smooth we forgot we were in a car in the first place.
Cold Souls (2009). C+
The above reminded me of another Chekov-integrated flick, so I decided to revisit this li'l oddity. Paul Giamatti is the actor, Paul....Giamatti, who feels bogged down playing the role of, you guessed it, Uncle Vanya in a theater production in New York. Things seem hopeless until a friend recommends a new business where you can have your soul removed and stored away. Things of course, do not go as planned.
There's a lot less Chekov here than in Drive My Car, but there's enough up top to set things up thematically for our protagonist. Speaking of the protagonist, Giamatti does great work here, essentially playing 3 different characters throughout the film, all of them distinct without being over-the-top, which, given the premise, would be an easy thing to do. The relatively restrained performance helps ground the premise and infuse the film with its, well, soul.
When it was released, a criticism levied against it was it being Charlie Kaufman-Lite, a quirky premise that doesn't quite deliver on its promise, and its hard to disagree with that. More time than necessary is devoted to the fleshing out of the world, which is not satisfyingly executed. Maybe this idea would've worked better as a mini-series, or maybe a more experienced director could've crafted a more fulfilling journey. Still, this is a nice rainy day flick. If you're a fan of Giamatti's work, definitely check it out. If you're not, you might be after watching it.
Bahama Mama
Sunny days
Chairman Maouth
Retired Staff
Stillwater (2021)
Character bios taken from Wikipedia.
Matt Damon as Bill Baker, an unemployed roughneck whose daughter ends up wrongly imprisoned for murder in France. Bill believes in his daughter's innocence so strongly that he takes up investigating her case when no one else will.
Abigail Breslin as Allison Baker, Bill's daughter. Convicted of murdering her roommate and lover Lina, she still maintains her innocence even after five years of imprisonment. She inadvertently sets her father out to investigate her case by asking him to pass a letter to her lawyer.
Camille Cottin as Virginie, a single mother living in France who decides to help Bill investigate his daughter's case. She rents Bill a room and translates for him as he pursues leads.
Lilou Siauvaud as Maya, Virginie's daughter. Bill helps Virginie care for Maya and acts as a father figure to her.
I don't believe this film received any accolades, but it should have. Matt Damon's performance is understated, but in its understatement he commands your attention every moment he is on-screen, and he is on-screen for the vast majority of this film. It is a travesty that he did not receive an Oscar nomination for his role, and I compare it to Christoper Walken in "At Close Range". I cannot explain why neither of their performances received Oscar nominations.
Also, with the obvious exception of Damon and his A-list actor clout, none of the supporting cast was hired for their looks. No Charlize Theron or Scarlett Johansson here dressed in leather bikinis. There are just fantastic actors who look like real people practicing their craft, and doing it extremely well. In this respect, "Stillwater" reminds me of "After Life" by Ricky Gervais. Gervais also doesn't fall into the trap of hiring actors because they're hot. He hires them because they're good actors.
The story is compelling, apparently loosely based on the Amanda Knox case, and the acting by literally every major character is first-rate. This film is one I hadn't heard of but upon discovery, I found a true gem. It holds your attention throughout.
I'm not going to go into many details about the plot, but there is a dancing scene that brought me to the verge of tears.
Yeah, I recommend this movie.
Character bios taken from Wikipedia.
Matt Damon as Bill Baker, an unemployed roughneck whose daughter ends up wrongly imprisoned for murder in France. Bill believes in his daughter's innocence so strongly that he takes up investigating her case when no one else will.
Abigail Breslin as Allison Baker, Bill's daughter. Convicted of murdering her roommate and lover Lina, she still maintains her innocence even after five years of imprisonment. She inadvertently sets her father out to investigate her case by asking him to pass a letter to her lawyer.
Camille Cottin as Virginie, a single mother living in France who decides to help Bill investigate his daughter's case. She rents Bill a room and translates for him as he pursues leads.
Lilou Siauvaud as Maya, Virginie's daughter. Bill helps Virginie care for Maya and acts as a father figure to her.
I don't believe this film received any accolades, but it should have. Matt Damon's performance is understated, but in its understatement he commands your attention every moment he is on-screen, and he is on-screen for the vast majority of this film. It is a travesty that he did not receive an Oscar nomination for his role, and I compare it to Christoper Walken in "At Close Range". I cannot explain why neither of their performances received Oscar nominations.
Also, with the obvious exception of Damon and his A-list actor clout, none of the supporting cast was hired for their looks. No Charlize Theron or Scarlett Johansson here dressed in leather bikinis. There are just fantastic actors who look like real people practicing their craft, and doing it extremely well. In this respect, "Stillwater" reminds me of "After Life" by Ricky Gervais. Gervais also doesn't fall into the trap of hiring actors because they're hot. He hires them because they're good actors.
The story is compelling, apparently loosely based on the Amanda Knox case, and the acting by literally every major character is first-rate. This film is one I hadn't heard of but upon discovery, I found a true gem. It holds your attention throughout.
I'm not going to go into many details about the plot, but there is a dancing scene that brought me to the verge of tears.
Yeah, I recommend this movie.
zombie kopitar
custom title
- Jul 3, 2009
- 6,173
- 1,158
Mean Girls(2024) 6/10
I'm going to be nice and bump it up a point or a half. Some of the new bits were solid writing, with Tina Fey's fingerprints all over them. The low points were pretty bad, story was rushed to fit in the musical numbers, and overall just extremely sterile and lifeless in any replication or execution of the original content. I've heard some of the musical numbers a handful of time as I listen to Sirius Broadway on occasion (no shame); I loved the style/production they went as a whole, other than the fact the lead can't sing (and was overall the most poorly cast imo). The scene that stole the movie was the Halloween party and the song 'Sexy', if everything was up to that standard it would have been a home run
I'm going to be nice and bump it up a point or a half. Some of the new bits were solid writing, with Tina Fey's fingerprints all over them. The low points were pretty bad, story was rushed to fit in the musical numbers, and overall just extremely sterile and lifeless in any replication or execution of the original content. I've heard some of the musical numbers a handful of time as I listen to Sirius Broadway on occasion (no shame); I loved the style/production they went as a whole, other than the fact the lead can't sing (and was overall the most poorly cast imo). The scene that stole the movie was the Halloween party and the song 'Sexy', if everything was up to that standard it would have been a home run
Nakatomi
Registered User
- Dec 26, 2022
- 156
- 200
Thank you for this. I thought it was an excellent movie when it came out and don't recall knowing anyone in real life who saw it. The one or two reviews on here were tepid. I think it is a gem.
L.A. Story (1991) - A Steve Martin romantic comedy with a lot of heart, and a lot of laughs. There are some great bits here that hold up well 30+ years later, and I get a kick out of how topical some of the plot points are today. Worth checking out, despite losing a bit of steam in the second half.
Chairman Maouth
Retired Staff
Chili
Time passes when you're not looking
- Jun 10, 2004
- 8,787
- 4,922
The Way Back-2010
Early in WWII men imprisoned in the Gulag in Siberia with long sentences decide to risk all, attempting an escape and arduous trip to freedom. The film was inspired by the book The Long Walk (great read). The book claimed to be a true story when it was first released in the 1950's but parts have been disputed since then, although many of the scenes in the film are right out of the book. It wasn't filmed on the actual locations but there are lots of impressive shots. Spot on cast, really brought the book to life. Great story of escape, adventure and survival.
Scarecrow-1973
'Better check the big one's ID Charlie...If he can get it out of his pants'
Re-visiting an old favorite, Hackman & Pacino very early in their careers. Two drifters meet by chance on the road, Max (Gene Hackman) is just out of prison after several years. He's big and tough which is how he gets into trouble. He's headed to Pittsburgh where he has a stash of cash and plans to open a car wash. Lionel (Al Pacino) is just back from 5 years at sea where he went to get away from a relationship and responsibility. He's headed to Detroit to contact the girl he left.The two form a friendship/partnership and head out on the road together.
Enjoyed Hackman's striptease routine in a bar and Pacino doing his Long John Silver impression for some kids. Some quality cinematography along the way. It's a drama with lighter moments, the dream of a car wash together like Lennie & George's farm in Of Mice and Men and the trip to Florida in Midnight Cowboy. A fine buddy/road trip film with two legends getting to flex their acting range.
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Too good really quite unheralded movies. I especially have a soft spot for Scarecrow, and how good Pacino and, especially, Hackman are in their respective roles..
Hey everyone, keep up the good work as I enjoy reading all the reviews. My family health situation is ongoing but thankfully progressing in the right direction.
I recently got some time to relax and recharge, so I went out to see The Iron Claw. I agree with most that it was great/ pretty good. Efron and the acting were great, the story was great, cinematography great, wrestling scenes great, editing great, and it communicated its messages of machismo/ masculinity/ alphaness/ physicality-even, obsession/ passion, pressure, manipulation, family, and compassion/ support/ bonding/ “love” effectively without ever feeling excessive or exaggerated. That said, I just felt like it was missing something to turn it into an excellent film, or one of the “best films of the year”, but not completely sure on why. My best guess is direction and/or writing. I felt too often it wasn’t elaborative or meditative or vivid enough, or as much as it could and should have been. Which I felt was necessary to give the audience the fullest/first hand experience of what our main characters were actually living and going through, which was one hell of a stormwind. It felt a bit rushed, even at 2hours 10minutes+. Well, balancing so many characters is probably part of the reason or problem for that. And even if stoicness was largely at hand and promoted here, I felt the lack of the above held the film back a bit and needed to and likely bled through more than it was presented. Thoughts?
I recently got some time to relax and recharge, so I went out to see The Iron Claw. I agree with most that it was great/ pretty good. Efron and the acting were great, the story was great, cinematography great, wrestling scenes great, editing great, and it communicated its messages of machismo/ masculinity/ alphaness/ physicality-even, obsession/ passion, pressure, manipulation, family, and compassion/ support/ bonding/ “love” effectively without ever feeling excessive or exaggerated. That said, I just felt like it was missing something to turn it into an excellent film, or one of the “best films of the year”, but not completely sure on why. My best guess is direction and/or writing. I felt too often it wasn’t elaborative or meditative or vivid enough, or as much as it could and should have been. Which I felt was necessary to give the audience the fullest/first hand experience of what our main characters were actually living and going through, which was one hell of a stormwind. It felt a bit rushed, even at 2hours 10minutes+. Well, balancing so many characters is probably part of the reason or problem for that. And even if stoicness was largely at hand and promoted here, I felt the lack of the above held the film back a bit and needed to and likely bled through more than it was presented. Thoughts?
Rodgerwilco
Entertainment boards w/ some Hockey mixed in.
- Feb 6, 2014
- 8,011
- 7,494
Very glad to hear that about your family situation. Glad our reviews were reaching you well.
Speaking of Reviews...
Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Kubrick 9.5/10)
Excellent satirical war film with many points that are still very relevant to modern culture. Tried to watch it a few months ago, but didn't get into it the first go. Very glad I gave it another shot, really enjoyed it.
The film takes place at the height of the Cold War and follows the story of Air Commander Jack D. Ripper, a crazed and paranoid officer who is firmly in the grasps of the Red Scare. Commander Ripper uses an obscure order "Wing Attack Plan R" to circumvent the chain of command to secretly launch a false "retaliatory" nuclear strike on the USSR. Ripper commands his RAF Exchange officer Mandrake (Peter Sellers) to shut off all contact and orders the air units to switch to a coded frequency to assure they reach their targets undisturbed by the reality of the situation.
Much of the film also revolves around the War Room strategizing between US President (also Peter Sellers) and his various advisors and Chiefs of Staff, which include the titular Dr. Strangelove (also also Peter Sellers), a former Nazi scientist who advises for post-apocalyptic strategies for moving the human race ahead.
As the situation comes to a head the scramble to stop Commander Ripper's plan is on and they try from various angles. One suggestion is even to, not only allow the attack to happen, but to double down and use it as an opportunity to launch a full-on attack on the Soviets, which is quickly shot down.
The movie is a great satirical look at the craziness of Mutually Assured Destruction (including the Doomsday Device), the insanities of war, and the dangers of intense wartime paranoia. Perhaps one of the most apparent dilemmas brought up by the film are the ethical implications of using nuclear devices.
I also found one of the greatest issues addressed in the film is the ineffective and often dangerous nature of bureaucracy and war being controlled by politicians. I think this is one of the things that is most relevant to today's modern society. At many points in the film it is shown how politicians often implement dangerous and wide-sweeping policies without the full insight into how they can and will effect the population as a whole. Obviously this is a rather severe case, but I think this is easily related to more every-day matters of policy.
I find that you can also look at many of the attitudes toward their Russian counterparts and see how extremism can be bred and utilized to urge troops into very harsh and heinous actions simply at the instruction of who they consider to be "in command".
The back-drop of comedy in this film does a wonderful job of keeping the attitude light in what would otherwise be an incredibly dark and bleak film which mirrors the reality of many attitudes of the period.
Edit to Add: I'm now just about half-way through (15/31) with the list of films mentioned in the game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Here's the list, with the films I've seen crossed out.
Films mentioned in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Godzilla: King of Monsters! (1954)007: From Russia with Love (1963)Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)It Came From Outer Space (1953)- The Last War (1961)
- Forbidden Planet (1956)
- Earth vs. The Spider (1958)
- On the Beach (1959)
The War of the Worlds (1953)For a Fistful of Dollars (1964)- Them! (1954)
- Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)- The Guns of Navarone (1961)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)- North by Northwest (1959)
The Blob (1958)The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)- The Alamo (1960)
- Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
The Thing (1951)- Frankenstein (1931)
- Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
- The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
- The Quatermass Experiement (1955)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)Dracula (1931)- The Alligator People (1959)
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I've not seen two of those movies on the list (The Alligator People and The Last War. It's an odd collection (The Alamo?), but you have several treats to look forward to including two big ones, The Guns of Navarone and North by Northwest.
The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
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So my weird take is of Kubrick's "great" films (Strangelove, 2001, Clockwork, Lyndon, Shining, FMJ, EWS), Strangelove is clearly and distinctly at the bottom of them for me. It's great - like 8/10 maybe? if I'm rating it, but I just like it - don't love it. Feels like a minority opinion but it's just something about it that doesn't sing to me the way the rest of his top tier films do.
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