[HoosierDaddy]

The Dresden Files theme is fooling everyone. Might need to change that.

I'm from Indianapolis.

[worry]

[HoosierDaddy]

I will say that Hoop Dreams was fantastic. Loved that documentary. The school that one kid ended up at (Mineral Area or somesuch) always flabbergasted me,

[MTS]

Been on a real Western kick lately. The gf is not as pleased about this as I am, but then I watched Breaking Dawn with her so she can consider this well-deserved payback. Over the past few weeks I've subjected her to the awesome delights of Sukiyaki Western Django, The Fistful of Dollars Trilogy, High Plains Drifter, Once Upon A Time In The West and Shane.

And for tonight? How The West Was Won.

[amphibian]

The Proposition is one of the best cowboy movies ever made. Very bleak though. Probably something you want to watch alone.

[polishgenius]

amphibian, on 19 March 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

The Proposition is one of the best cowboy movies ever made. Very bleak though. Probably something you want to watch alone.

Can't wait for Cave and Hillcoat's next writer/director collaboration, The Wettest County. The only thing giving me pause is that Shia LaBeouf appears to be the lead, but since it also has Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska I'm willing to hope he can lift his game...

[amphibian]

polishgenius, on 19 March 2012 - 02:59 PM, said:

Can't wait for Cave and Hillcoat's next writer/director collaboration, The Wettest County. The only thing giving me pause is that Shia LaBeouf appears to be the lead, but since it also has Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska I'm willing to hope he can lift his game...

Did you not see Even Stevens or Holes? Le Beouf can actually act rather well and with genuine charisma. The recent spate of blockbusters under directors who basically churn out shitty character after shitty character (Michael Bay's last awesome character was Harry Stamper from Armaggeddon in 1998 and George Lucas killed off his last charismatic character in Darth Maul the next year in 1999) is what's killed his general image.

I think doing this Cave/Hillcoat movie is a great way to return to the real acting he grew up doing after making a filthy amount of money doing those idiot blockbusters.

[Morgoth]

Seems like this is shaping up to become a great movie year

http://www.metacriti...-movies-of-2012

[SylvanShade]

I recently watched House of Sand and Fog, and I thought it was pretty good. Acting was all pretty flawless.

I also watched Another Earth. It was alright. Worth watching at least. I wasn't sure how to feel about it, it had its moments.

At the moment I've got my eye on Melancholia. Anyone seen it?

[QuickTidal]

For those who like Documentaries, I saw the amazing JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI this aft and was really quite blown away.

I like documentaries to begin with, but this one is lavishly shot, funny, endearing, and just plain wonderful. If you get the chance and it is playing near you, do yourself a favour and see it.

http://trailers.appl...odreamsofsushi/

[HoosierDaddy]

SylvanShade, on 23 March 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

....

At the moment I've got my eye on Melancholia. Anyone seen it?

Melancholia. Hmmm. I liked it. Somehow.

It's vivid look is matched only by the dreariness and darkness of its plot and characters.

Very well acted.

A bottle-episode of Armageddon which is unique but fits what they were going for. I'll be honest, at times I wanted to fast forward because it's pretty long (2:15) matched with its tone drags. But, that could be part of the point. Being weighed down and waiting for relief.

There are tones of sci-fi/the supernatural, but there are a few views you could take leaving most to interpretation.

7 out of 10.

In Time:

Cliche after cliche, but with a creative mechanism to get the plot moving along.

6 out of 10.

[worry]

Saw Contagion, and it reminded me a lot of Syriana. Smartly-written, well made, honest, broad in scope, and intermittently quite interesting -- but never particularly moving to me. I'd give it like a 3.4 out of 5, just high enough so that I would never have to round up to 4.

Also saw Young Adult, which I thought was fantastic. Funny, brutal, and refreshing, with a final act that hits all the right notes.

[MWKarsa]

Went to go see Star Wars: Episode 1 3D today- was surprised it was still in a theater so I decided to go hoping to see if they could improve the original CGI. Yeah no- almost 90% of movie was just like watching the original version. Was pumped to see what they could do with the lightsabers and the final 30 minutes of the movie and instead it really was like they just stopped doing anything halfway through the movie because you had already paid for your ticket.

Still enjoyed seeing Obi-wan vs. Darth Maul but the "3D" sucked unbelievably and at least I know now not to go the other movies when they come out in "3D".

[McLovin]

Speaking of movies in 3D, took the kids to see THE LORAX in 3D. The animation was amazing, and the story is pretty good too. I'm still not sure the 3D added anything to the experience. But definitely a worthwhile trip to the cinema.

[HoosierDaddy]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (America!FY version): I liked it. Bet the book had lots of little bibs and bobs that added flavor to the story, but this was good. 7/10

Martha Marcy May Marline: How to get inducted into a cult and not lose them in 10 days. Quite enjoyable and thought-provoking. Throws you in like GotM and the psychological thrills crescendo well. 7/10

The Musketeer: Silly good fun. Good action scenes, some funny comedy. Love me a good sword fight. 6.5/10

[Beezulbubba]

I'm going to watch the hell out of this!

This post has been edited by QWOPstadFrustrationHammer: 29 March 2012 - 04:55 AM

[QuickTidal]

Saw THE HUNGER GAMES last night. I really enjoyed it. It was very true to the books, and the acting was really well done across the board with Katniss, Rue and Haymitch being the standouts for me...all htree gave their roles everything they had in them.

The design was pretty spot on across the board (though the outlying Districts didn't exactly look like I pictured them), and especially the garish clothing and outlandish, selfish behavior of the citizens of the Capitol was well done. It was like a microcosm of the very worst reality TV viewers, and they flaunt it to the point that the regular Panem folk look at them like they are nutbar...but they are supposedly the aristocracy. It was deftly done to show the class line, and the fact that something is VERY wrong with a society that holds Hunger Games.

There was ONE silly moment

Spoiler

Peeta's camouflage in the mud/riverbank/rocks was too perfect for him to have done while laying down with mud on his head...not looking...I don't care how many cakes he's decorated.

The score by James Newton Howard was very well done. The mocking Jay whistle was memorable. Katniss' song was memorable.

The film's pacing is spot on and the movie doesn't feel like it is 2 1/2 hours at all, the time flies by.

Oh, and for a PG-13 movie they didn't skimp on the gore...the blood is thick, gouting and viscous...One scene was a bloodbath...

My ONLY issue...only...is that for some reason Gary Ross and his DOP decided to shoot a lot of the film (even quiet character scenes) early on guerrilla style (AKA handheld) so we get even scenes that should be stationary a little shaky. It's not Blair Witch or anything, but to a film nerd like me it was noticeable...but only for the first half hour or so, then things were fine.

Great film, probably the first proper hit of the year (although I'd personally call that JOHN CARTER...but the rest of the world doesn't seem to agree)

Can't wait for CATCHING FIRE now....though I wonder if they'll call it just that or if they'll add it like a subtitle THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE or something...

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 29 March 2012 - 12:44 PM, said:

Can't wait for CATCHING FIRE now....though I wonder if they'll call it just that or if they'll add it like a subtitle THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE or something...

I'm almost certain that this is what will happen.

I want to see THG but I don't know anyone who'd go with me and I don't much like going to the cinema by myself.


I saw Wild Bill yesterday, I did enjoy that. It was trailered like a Guy Ritchie wannabe but it's a much different film, really- the center is a family drama with a warm heart (which manages sincere without cheese) and the Cockney Gangstah bits are played with much more of a pisstake than usual. And it's very well acted. Not startlingly original but just solidly well made.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 29 March 2012 - 07:18 PM, said:

I want to see THG but I don't know anyone who'd go with me and I don't much like going to the cinema by myself.

It's probably from all my years of attending the Toronto International Film Festival (an event where it is rather difficult to attend the same films with other people due to the way the ticket packages and random draws are laid out) but I have no trouble attending films alone, and sometimes I really prefer it.

[HoosierDaddy]

Can't wait to watch Bully. The MPAA wanted to give pre-teen/adolescent reality a rating that under 17s couldn't see without an adult. It's comical.

This post has been edited by H.D.: 30 March 2012 - 06:31 AM