[Aptorian]

During the Christmas Holiday I watched Ridley Scotts Robin Hood, The Amazing Spider-man, Snow White and the Huntsman and The Town.

I was pleasently surprised by Robin Hood. I rememeber originally hearing a lot of critcism and mixed reviews of the film but I really liked it. Maybe it is because I watched the directors cut but I thought it was very well told, the characters were great and I liked the alternative take on a lot of the stuff in the traditional tale of Robin Hood. The last battle between the French and England was embarrasingly poorly handled though and made little sense from a military stand point. How the hell did the French develop D-day technology to sail transport ships across the canal?

The Amazing Spider-man is perhaps my new favorite Superhero film I think. It was a really good take on the Spider-man origin story, the actors were all great choices for the characters and I especially like the less nerdy but very young version of Peter Parker. Only real gripe I had with the film, which is an odd one I admit, is that I don't think I actually saw Spider-man really punch anyone the entire film. Which is sort of weird for Spider-man. He punches and kicks things and people a lot in the comics. His fast attacks are sort of a trademark, where they show him landing a dozen punches while flipping around faster than you can react. I really wanted to see just one instance of him punching the Lizard through a wall or something like that. I guess it a decision that was made to really focus on how young and inexperienced this Spider-man was and how overpowered the Lizard seemed.

Snow White and the Huntsman was a strange movie. I kind of liked it but not really... I think? I thought the characters were okay. Charlize Theron certainly owned that film. You know a movie villain is good when you want him/her to win. But the story itself, especially the last half was really fucking stupid. I don't think I have ever seen such a half-assed attempt at laying siege on a castle before and that last fight... seriously now.

The Town was a surprise for me. Ben Affleck has sort of lost his appeal over the years, too many missteps and forgettable roles but this was an okay film. I thought that the film sort of fails because it can't figure out if it wants to be an action/crime flick or if it wants to be a serious look at the stories behind the people who commit bank robberies, but it is an entertaining and satisfying film. It just doesn't hold a candle to something like Heat for example.

This post has been edited by Not Brent Weeks: 28 December 2013 - 02:40 PM

[MTS]

Not Brent Weeks, on 28 December 2013 - 01:53 PM, said:

During the Christmas Holiday I watched Ridley Scotts Robin Hood, The Amazing Spider-man, Snow White and the Huntsman and The Town.

I was pleasently surprised by Robin Hood. I rememeber originally hearing a lot of critcism and mixed reviews of the film but I really liked it. Maybe it is because I watched the directors cut but I thought it was very well told, the characters were great and I liked the alternative take on a lot of the stuff in the traditional tale of Robin Hood. The last battle between the French and England was embarrasingly poorly handled and made little sense from a military stand point. How the hell did the French develop D-day technology to sail transport ships across the canal?

http://www.cracked.c...awesome_p2.html

[Aptorian]

That doesn't sound like a good film at all. A detective movie based around 12th century detective techniques sounds as stupid as the landing boats.

Personally I think this film was the best take on the Robin Hood tale I have seen to date (granted I have never read any of the historical stuff on the real/mythical character).

This post has been edited by Not Brent Weeks: 28 December 2013 - 02:45 PM

[Traveller]

Star Wars Ep3 on tv at the moment.

It's amazing that even after so many viewings there are still so many new aspects of idiocy to discover.

I mean, why have droids/robot soldiers if they do nothing but stumble about chattering to each other and doing double-takes which result in them getting taken out by pretty much everything? You'd think that the whole point of droids would be that they could react with speed and precision... not act like they all  just fell out of a clown car.

And I swear, if you take out all the 'spaceship flies by the camera/lands/takes off' shots, this film would only be 20 minutes long.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 28 December 2013 - 07:46 PM

[Aptorian]

It helps if you think of Episode 1-3 as a really fucked up movie trilogy for kids.

[HoosierDaddy]

But. BUT. Anakin v. Obi Wan.

Worth it.

[QuickTidal]

Traveller, on 28 December 2013 - 06:29 PM, said:

Star Wars Ep3 on tv at the moment.

It's amazing that even after so many viewings there are still so many new aspects of idiocy to discover.

I mean, why have droids/robot soldiers if they do nothing but stumble about chattering to each other and doing double-takes which result in them getting taken out by pretty much everything? You'd think that the whole point of droids would be that they could react with speed and precision... not act like they all  just fell out of a clown car.<br /><br />And I swear, if you take out all the 'spaceship flies by the camera/lands/takes off' shots, this film would only be 20 minutes long.

The mastermind behind the whole shebang, Sidious, didn't want the droids to win. He established puppeting of both sides (Droids VS Clones) himself by manipulating both sides...and he wanted the clones to win for his eventual endgame. Thus, the droid army is fairly useless cannon fodder...I'm pretty sure that's on purpose.

[Kaamos]

Grimjust Bearegular, on 13 November 2013 - 08:55 AM, said:

I haven't really gotten around to reading any of the comics yet, so how much will/does the movies/comics adhere to what really happens according to the mythology?

Well, as a Nordic mythology hobbyist, I was able to watch the first Thor movie for 15-25 minutes before my brain went "äbäbäbäbäbäglööh", particularly over Laufey who is supposed to be a woman. Sorry.

If you'd like to peruse more "canon" Norse mythology comics, check out Peter Madsen's Valhalla.

[worry]

Any fight between Anakin and Obi Wan that didn't result in the actual, real-world death of actor Hayden Christensen('s career) cannot be considered "worth it".

[Illuyankas]

HoosierDaddy, on 28 December 2013 - 06:40 PM, said:

But. BUT. Anakin v. Obi Wan.

Worth it.

That boring tensionless dance routine?

[HoosierDaddy]

Illuyankas, on 28 December 2013 - 07:34 PM, said:

HoosierDaddy, on 28 December 2013 - 06:40 PM, said:

But. BUT. Anakin v. Obi Wan.

Worth it.

That boring tensionless dance routine?

Yes.

Other than the "I have the high ground" crap at the end.

[Traveller]

QuickTidal, on 28 December 2013 - 07:08 PM, said:

&lt;br /&gt;

Traveller, on 28 December 2013 - 06:29 PM, said:

&lt;br /&gt;Star Wars Ep3 on tv at the moment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; It's amazing that even after so many viewings there are still so many new aspects of idiocy to discover.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I mean, why have droids/robot soldiers if they do nothing but stumble about chattering to each other and doing double-takes which result in them getting taken out by pretty much everything? You'd think that the whole point of droids would be that they could react with speed and precision... not act like they all  just fell out of a clown car.&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;And I swear, if you take out all the 'spaceship flies by the camera/lands/takes off' shots, this film would only be 20 minutes long.&lt;br /&gt;

&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The mastermind behind the whole shebang, Sidious, didn't want the droids to win. He established puppeting of both sides (Droids VS Clones) himself by manipulating both sides...and he wanted the clones to win for his eventual endgame. Thus, the droid army is fairly useless cannon fodder...I'm pretty sure that's on purpose.&lt;br /&gt;

&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;<br /><br />Oh I know that. Was just commenting that the nature of the droids is sort of contradictory... why have machines and a droid army if they then have an AI that makes them clumsy and inept? You'd expect them to lack personalities, and ruthlessly carry out orders without hesitation... instead they bumble about getting fooled and distracted.

And I don't think much of the Anakin/Obi wan duel - it's just an overblown computer game sequence in front of a blue screen. I remember the first hints Obi Wan dropped in the original trilogy about a duel in a volcano with Vader, and the images that hint alone evoked.

Biggest cinematic let down ever.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 28 December 2013 - 08:00 PM

[HoosierDaddy]

You are all heathens.

[QuickTidal]

As decent as the Obi-Wan VS Anakin duel is, I prefer the scenes before and after it with Obi-Wan initially pleading with him, and then resignedly stating how he'd failed him. Being a fan of Obi-Wan, his personal guilt makes that sequence for me.

[Traveller]

Yes, I like the beginning and end of that sequence. It's just down to the final edit I guess.. such small changes would have made it so much better.'From my point of view the Jedi are evil'... why not have him saying 'the Jedi are evil'? It makes it look like he knows for sure that he's in the wrong.Cut the barrel chase on robots/lava as it's daft (anybody that close above lava would ignite) and the high-ground bit and it would have been very different.

[worry]

I'm just glad we could have one more Star Wars argument before the year ends. It makes me feel warm inside.

[Kaamos]

HoosierDaddy, on 28 December 2013 - 08:31 PM, said:

You are all heathens.

Why, thank you, good sir.

This post has been edited by Kaamos: 28 December 2013 - 09:33 PM

[amphibian]

QuickTidal, on 28 December 2013 - 01:25 PM, said:

I think my issue is that we don't need that table setting really, all of those things they show you in the opening scene also are expressed/shown before the 45-min catch up mark.....so it makes them quite pointless...at least to me.

As to which part I'd rather they'd have started with, if they were going to start mid-story:

Spoiler

You open it like LOCK STOCK...with the narration freeze framing on everyone and giving a brief explanation who they are, including the "sheik" stand-in...and then you open on the DeNiro table scene (the only tense one in the whole film) do the whole arabic speaking test bit, and cut to (** months earlier) before revealing how the end of it played out.

I also totally agree on the performances. 100% amazing across the board for everyone. The acting it top notch...it was the overwrought, mostly tensionless script that let me down and Russell's attempt at Scorsese style direction which felt jarring.

I'm quite conflicted about the whole thing really. LOL

The problem with opening with the Tellegio scene is that Irving isn't the one who solves it directly. The opening scene is crucial because it physically showcases Irving getting ready, his physical weirdness and the dynamic between him, Richie and Lady Greensly yields to a "Shit... we're out of options and quasi-fucked. Irving, we need you to improvise and solve this problem." And he does that, which is the whole point of the movie.

The weirdest thing is that quite a few people are calling this "not much of a story" or whatever, but in real life, most of the scheme stuff actually happened that way. The changes/improvisation was basically in the characters interacting among themselves and the actual ending of the scheme to make it a better story, instead of devolving into a series of trials.

[QuickTidal]

I think it was BECAUSE it was based on the whole true story Abscam thing that I expected it to be more tense, and was let down when it wasn't.

[worry]

Just watched Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay and really enjoyed it. The man is endlessly interesting. The production itself feels somewhere between a movie and a TV doc, though a well-made one (like an exceptional episode of A&E's Biography I guess). Definitely not as filmic as, say, Anvil! The Story of Anvil. But like I said, the man and the subject matter really shine through, for those interested.