Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (4 Viewers)

[KarmaPolice]

Continuing with my old movie catch-up phase, I watched The Graduate last night.

I ended up liking this movie even though I had my doubts after the first 20mins or so. However, this is one of the signs of a good movie for me: I am still thinking about it a day after. Really liked the scene where they meet at the hotel for the first time. Hoffman's nervousness seemed hokey at the beginning of the movie, but seemed to nail it during those scenes for me. Couple of laugh out loud moments during the movie which surprised me too. I didn't like the ending in general, or the fact that he fell for Elaine after a date or so (although I guess they probably knew each other in their youth/during HS). Also the very end depressed me - not sure if that was the intent, or if it's the way that I interpreted their looks on the bus.

This is a rare 50s/60s movie that I would watch again - and would probably give it an intitial 8/10.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I am a big fan of action movies. When done well, an action movie is about as entertaining as it gets. So there is a gigantic divide between SpiderMan and Kurosawa. I wasn't expecting Harper Lee. I expected junk and I got it.

Then why so angry?

Yeah, I do sound angry I suppose I feel this way because I think that bad movies are more than dumb. They are, in a way, offensive. No, not offensive the way a racist joke is offensive. But offensive in the sense that there's no art to these movies. And no, I am not delusional. I know that Hollywood is a business and that the point of a movie is to make money. But the older I get, the less tolerance I have for this ####ty nonsense.

Furthermore, the notion that these movies aren't art because they are summer blockbusters doesn't fly with me. Art and commerce are not incongruous. Bach wrote a lot of music for money. There are plenty of big blockbusters that were intended to rake in the cash but still managed to try something new or do something different.

I feel the same way (I just sat through GI Joe the other night ). The more I think of it, to me it's just old age catching up to me and the perception that I have of movies I saw growing up in the summer. When I think of stuff that used to be the big hits of the summer, I still think a lot of them have "something" else and still watch a lot of them. Movies that come to mind are Jurassic Park, Top Gun, Back to the Future, Die Hard, Batman, T2, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, etc.. Hell - I'll even put in Men in Black from time to time. Before that you had movies like ET, JAWS, etc...

Sure some of those are cheesy, but I'd put them up against the likes of the Star Wars movies, Spidey 3, Transformers, Harry Potters, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.. that is peppering the top slots every year. Even glancing at the list there were a lot more original movies that also made a lot of money, and I'd bet that it's 4 series that has a stranglehold over the last 10 years or so - HP, Spidey, PotC, and Transformers. To me it seems either the movies are getting worse and dumber, or the audience is - probably a combination of the 2.

Again, this could just be me looking through my grumpy old-fart glasses.

 

[SKribbles]

I am a big fan of action movies. When done well, an action movie is about as entertaining as it gets. So there is a gigantic divide between SpiderMan and Kurosawa. I wasn't expecting Harper Lee. I expected junk and I got it.

Then why so angry?

Yeah, I do sound angry I suppose I feel this way because I think that bad movies are more than dumb. They are, in a way, offensive. No, not offensive the way a racist joke is offensive. But offensive in the sense that there's no art to these movies. And no, I am not delusional. I know that Hollywood is a business and that the point of a movie is to make money. But the older I get, the less tolerance I have for this ####ty nonsense.

Furthermore, the notion that these movies aren't art because they are summer blockbusters doesn't fly with me. Art and commerce are not incongruous. Bach wrote a lot of music for money. There are plenty of big blockbusters that were intended to rake in the cash but still managed to try something new or do something different.

I feel the same way (I just sat through GI Joe the other night ). The more I think of it, to me it's just old age catching up to me and the perception that I have of movies I saw growing up in the summer. When I think of stuff that used to be the big hits of the summer, I still think a lot of them have "something" else and still watch a lot of them. Movies that come to mind are Jurassic Park, Top Gun, Back to the Future, Die Hard, Batman, T2, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, etc.. Hell - I'll even put in Men in Black from time to time. Before that you had movies like ET, JAWS, etc...

Sure some of those are cheesy, but I'd put them up against the likes of the Star Wars movies, Spidey 3, Transformers, Harry Potters, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.. that is peppering the top slots every year. Even glancing at the list there were a lot more original movies that also made a lot of money, and I'd bet that it's 4 series that has a stranglehold over the last 10 years or so - HP, Spidey, PotC, and Transformers. To me it seems either the movies are getting worse and dumber, or the audience is - probably a combination of the 2.

Again, this could just be me looking through my grumpy old-fart glasses.

It could very well be the age thing (I'm 28). But I'm sure there were plenty of craptastic "blockbusters" that came out during the period you are referencing.

 

[SKribbles]

The Escapist: Set in an Irish prison, an inmate setups up an escape so that he can see his daughter for the first time in years. Some of it is pretty tough to understand as some of the guys have thick Irish accents. It was good for most part except for a couple completely unbelievable parts leading up to the escape. Didn't like the Fight Club-esque ending. 3/5

The Dog Problem: Quirky movie about an author (Giovanni Ribisi) with some serious mental issues. He sees a shrink (Don Cheadle) who tells him to by a dog. Hilarity ensues. Okay maybe not. The movie was listed as a comedy but there weren't really any laughs. It was like a dark romantic comedy just without the comedy. Lots of familiar faces in what looks like a really low budget film (Ribisi, Cheadle, Caan, Suvari, Corrigan, Tito Ortiz, Kimo Leopold). The only funny scene was Ortiz and Leopold fighting which really isn't funny unless you're a MMA fan. Asides from me expecting the funny and not getting it, it was a fairly good movie. 3.5/5

 

[jdoggydogg]

I am a big fan of action movies. When done well, an action movie is about as entertaining as it gets. So there is a gigantic divide between SpiderMan and Kurosawa. I wasn't expecting Harper Lee. I expected junk and I got it.

Then why so angry?

Yeah, I do sound angry I suppose I feel this way because I think that bad movies are more than dumb. They are, in a way, offensive. No, not offensive the way a racist joke is offensive. But offensive in the sense that there's no art to these movies. And no, I am not delusional. I know that Hollywood is a business and that the point of a movie is to make money. But the older I get, the less tolerance I have for this ####ty nonsense.

Furthermore, the notion that these movies aren't art because they are summer blockbusters doesn't fly with me. Art and commerce are not incongruous. Bach wrote a lot of music for money. There are plenty of big blockbusters that were intended to rake in the cash but still managed to try something new or do something different.

I feel the same way (I just sat through GI Joe the other night ). The more I think of it, to me it's just old age catching up to me and the perception that I have of movies I saw growing up in the summer. When I think of stuff that used to be the big hits of the summer, I still think a lot of them have "something" else and still watch a lot of them. Movies that come to mind are Jurassic Park, Top Gun, Back to the Future, Die Hard, Batman, T2, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, etc.. Hell - I'll even put in Men in Black from time to time. Before that you had movies like ET, JAWS, etc...

Sure some of those are cheesy, but I'd put them up against the likes of the Star Wars movies, Spidey 3, Transformers, Harry Potters, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.. that is peppering the top slots every year. Even glancing at the list there were a lot more original movies that also made a lot of money, and I'd bet that it's 4 series that has a stranglehold over the last 10 years or so - HP, Spidey, PotC, and Transformers. To me it seems either the movies are getting worse and dumber, or the audience is - probably a combination of the 2.

Again, this could just be me looking through my grumpy old-fart glasses.

I don't think it's just that we are getting older. I think that the big studios simply do not take risks anymore.

 

[Adebisi]

Angels with Dirty Faces was a great movie. It was interesting to see how much Cagney had progressed as an actor since The Public Enemy. There was also plenty of unintentional comedy from all the old-time slang, mannerisms, and slapstick. Highly recommended to anyone who likes crime/mob films (and who doesn't?) or great classic films.

Anyone have any other Cagney recommendations?

 

[jdoggydogg]

Angels with Dirty Faces was a great movie. It was interesting to see how much Cagney had progressed as an actor since The Public Enemy. There was also plenty of unintentional comedy from all the old-time slang, mannerisms, and slapstick. Highly recommended to anyone who likes crime/mob films (and who doesn't?) or great classic films.

Anyone have any other Cagney recommendations?

I am really dumb about Cagney movies. Thanks for the tip.

 

[SKribbles]

The Hurt Locker: It was a great movie even though it may be one of the most predictable movies I have ever seen. Was there a single dramatic scene where you didn't know exactly what was going to happen? 4/5

Fifty Dead Men Walking: Based on the book by Nicholas Davies and Martin McGartland; the movie is based on Martin's life as he is recruited by the British Police to infiltrate and spy on the IRA when he is 22. I had very little understanding on the entire conflict in Ireland so it took a bit to catch onto the movie and the accent are pretty thick (gets sub-titles!). Very good movie but perhaps about 20 minutes too long... it really drags in a couple spots. 4/5

 

[Tony Jabroni]

I got Valkyrie for my birthday, and I really enjoyed it. The lady did too. There were a lot of guys from the HBO series Rome in it.

Anyways, a good movie, IMO.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Continuing with my old movie catch-up phase, I watched The Graduate last night.

I ended up liking this movie even though I had my doubts after the first 20mins or so. However, this is one of the signs of a good movie for me: I am still thinking about it a day after. Really liked the scene where they meet at the hotel for the first time. Hoffman's nervousness seemed hokey at the beginning of the movie, but seemed to nail it during those scenes for me. Couple of laugh out loud moments during the movie which surprised me too. I didn't like the ending in general, or the fact that he fell for Elaine after a date or so (although I guess they probably knew each other in their youth/during HS). Also the very end depressed me - not sure if that was the intent, or if it's the way that I interpreted their looks on the bus.

This is a rare 50s/60s movie that I would watch again - and would probably give it an intitial 8/10.

It had one of the best soundtracks ever, too.The ending is still one of the best ever.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

I got Valkyrie for my birthday, and I really enjoyed it. The lady did too. There were a lot of guys from the HBO series Rome in it.Anyways, a good movie, IMO.

I noticed the same thing (Rome actors). And don;t ever change that avatar..ever...

 

[Adebisi]

Angels with Dirty Faces was a great movie. It was interesting to see how much Cagney had progressed as an actor since The Public Enemy. There was also plenty of unintentional comedy from all the old-time slang, mannerisms, and slapstick. Highly recommended to anyone who likes crime/mob films (and who doesn't?) or great classic films.

Anyone have any other Cagney recommendations?

I am really dumb about Cagney movies. Thanks for the tip.

This is supposedly the film that Macaulay Culkin uses to scare the burglars in "Home Alone" is based upon. They called that "Angels with Filthy Souls."

 

[rascal]

Just finished watching Mongol.

Wow...what a great movie. I can't recommend it enough. Can't wait for the second film to come out.

 

[jdoggydogg]

I got Valkyrie for my birthday, and I really enjoyed it. The lady did too. There were a lot of guys from the HBO series Rome in it.Anyways, a good movie, IMO.

I think this movie is underrated. Great supporting cast.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Just finished watching Mongol.Wow...what a great movie. I can't recommend it enough. Can't wait for the second film to come out.

I liked that a lot. And I didn't know there was going to be a sequel!

 

[gigantor]

just watched Knowing..eh, not really sure about it. Ok at best

 

[jdoggydogg]

Watched Zach Galifianakis live again last night on Netflix streaming last night. This guy is the funniest, most brilliant comic around. And it's not close.

 

[D_House]

Coraline - 9/10. Superb movie. By far the best thing I have seen thus far this year.

saw it in the theatre last week and really liked it a lot. 8.5/10 here

This one was a bit of a letdown (I was really excited going in), but it was still pretty good.Thought it looked great and had a cool premise, but I found Coraline annoying/bratty.

 

[Wingnut]

The Hangover -- 8/10

I Love You Man - 7/10

Terminator Salvation - 7.5/10

Duplicity - 7/10

 

[Buckychudd]

The Kite Runner

I read the book about 5 years ago and loved it. When the film came out it got so-so reviews and scared me off. Finally saw it this weekend and was pleasantly surprised.

 

[cosjobs]

Just finished watching Mongol.Wow...what a great movie. I can't recommend it enough. Can't wait for the second film to come out.

I liked that a lot. And I didn't know there was going to be a sequel!

A trilogy, I think.

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

Decided to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend.

I didn't even finish this floater. What an awful movie. The lead character got to the point of being so annoying, that I kept wishing something terrible would happen to him. There were a few "chuckle" parts, but I don't thing anything actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand, I thought the chick from the 70's Show (Mila Kunis, or something like that) was really likable in the movie and did a good job.

 

[saintfool]

Decided to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend.

I didn't even finish this floater. What an awful movie. The lead character got to the point of being so annoying, that I kept wishing something terrible would happen to him. There were a few "chuckle" parts, but I don't thing anything actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand, I thought the chick from the 70's Show (Mila Kunis, or something like that) was really likable in the movie and did a good job.

it wasn't until this movie that i came around on her. i hated "that 70's show" and avoided it at all costs. this movie showed me that she's a pretty hot chick. even my wife agreed with me on her.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Decided to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend.

I didn't even finish this floater. What an awful movie. The lead character got to the point of being so annoying, that I kept wishing something terrible would happen to him. There were a few "chuckle" parts, but I don't thing anything actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand, I thought the chick from the 70's Show (Mila Kunis, or something like that) was really likable in the movie and did a good job.

I enjoyed it

 

[Bogart]

Watched two documentaries on Netflix Watch Instantly this weekend:

Modify - Not for those with a weak stomach. Film about body modification. Tattoos, branding, cutting, piercing, suspension and more. I found it simply amazing to watch. But be prepared to see some amazing art and extreme modifications including a tongue cut in half, people hanging from hooks and a lot of blood from surgeries done. And lots of male and female privates being cut, pierced and inked up.

We Are Wizards - Film that followed around a bunch of Harry Potter super-fans. Nothing that interesting other than now there is now a musical genre known as Wizard Rock where really bad musicians fill packed venues to sing songs only about Harry Potter. OK, I take that back, nothing really interesting at all.

 

[SKribbles]

The Boat That Rocked: Film about a pirate radio station in the UK during 60's (Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the lead DJ). The radio station was broadcast from a ship in the North Sea and housed only the radio staff... which were a bunch of weird bastards. The movie starts out very slow but definitely picks up towards the end. 3.5/5

Angel of Death: Worst.Movie.Ever. -2/5

 

[saintfool]

watched a classic the other night - "how to steal a million" - with audrey hepburn and peter o'toole. this is a trifle of a movie but i found it very charming and fun. i'm a total sucker for audrey hepburn too. the journeyman director william wyler (everything from "roman holiday" to "the best years of our lives") directs this comic heist film. a young peter o'toole plays the lead opposite of audrey and it's nice to see him in a light comic role at this early stage of his career. o'toole and hepburn have decent chemistry too.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Decided to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall this weekend.

I didn't even finish this floater. What an awful movie. The lead character got to the point of being so annoying, that I kept wishing something terrible would happen to him. There were a few "chuckle" parts, but I don't thing anything actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand, I thought the chick from the 70's Show (Mila Kunis, or something like that) was really likable in the movie and did a good job.

it wasn't until this movie that i came around on her. i hated "that 70's show" and avoided it at all costs. this movie showed me that she's a pretty hot chick. even my wife agreed with me on her.

I'd take Kristen Bell any day and twice on Sunday...

 

[Wingnut]

The Boat That Rocked: Film about a pirate radio station in the UK during 60's (Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the lead DJ). The radio station was broadcast from a ship in the North Sea and housed only the radio staff... which were a bunch of weird bastards. The movie starts out very slow but definitely picks up towards the end. 3.5/5

Got this one lined up to watch this week.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Re-watching The Wire again - since the wife hasn't seen it before. I can't praise the show enough. We've all heard that already.

To just add one point: yes, the show has incredible acting and writing. But we've seen a lot of good acting and writing on television. I think that the best part of this series is that it's nothing short of a complete dismantling of the TV crime show genre. The Wire didn't just best Law and Order or NYPD Blue. The Wire succeeds in abandoning the hundreds of hoary, rote cliches that most TV dramas are founded upon.

 

[Adebisi]

Re-watching The Wire again - since the wife hasn't seen it before. I can't praise the show enough. We've all heard that already.

To just add one point: yes, the show has incredible acting and writing. But we've seen a lot of good acting and writing on television. I think that the best part of this series is that it's nothing short of a complete dismantling of the TV crime show genre. The Wire didn't just best Law and Order or NYPD Blue. The Wire succeeds in abandoning the hundreds of hoary, rote cliches that most TV dramas are founded upon.

Really? One of the reasons I couldn't get into The Wire was because it was so full of cliches. Detective sleeping with the DA, cop thinking nothing of drinking beer in his car, cop taking a fall in order to collect disability, that sort of thing... if memory serves me right, anyway. This was at least two years ago that I tried to get into this series. I wanted badly to like this series, too. I endured maybe 6 or 8 episodes before I finally had to pull the plug.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Re-watching The Wire again - since the wife hasn't seen it before. I can't praise the show enough. We've all heard that already.

To just add one point: yes, the show has incredible acting and writing. But we've seen a lot of good acting and writing on television. I think that the best part of this series is that it's nothing short of a complete dismantling of the TV crime show genre. The Wire didn't just best Law and Order or NYPD Blue. The Wire succeeds in abandoning the hundreds of hoary, rote cliches that most TV dramas are founded upon.

Really? One of the reasons I couldn't get into The Wire was because it was so full of cliches. Detective sleeping with the DA, cop thinking nothing of drinking beer in his car, cop taking a fall in order to collect disability, that sort of thing... if memory serves me right, anyway. This was at least two years ago that I tried to get into this series. I wanted badly to like this series, too. I endured maybe 6 or 8 episodes before I finally had to pull the plug.

Well, sure. But you could argue that Irish cops, alcoholism, and racism are all cliches, as well. But what you didn't see is a gunfight or a car chase every episode. And that's why I love the show.

 

[Adebisi]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

I liked Schindler's List. But I think Downfall was a far more important Nazi movie.

 

[Adebisi]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

I liked Schindler's List. But I think Downfall was a far more important Nazi movie.

Yeah, I actually watched Downfall not even a week ago... don't think I posted anything to this thread though.Anyway, yes, I agree. Downfall was excellent. I thought it was much better than Schindler's List (which, again, was a very good movie, just maybe a bit overrated).

 

[jdoggydogg]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

I liked Schindler's List. But I think Downfall was a far more important Nazi movie.

Yeah, I actually watched Downfall not even a week ago... don't think I posted anything to this thread though.Anyway, yes, I agree. Downfall was excellent. I thought it was much better than Schindler's List (which, again, was a very good movie, just maybe a bit overrated).

I think Spielberg's Munich is a better movie than Schindler and will eventually be thought of as his best drama.

 

[Adebisi]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

I liked Schindler's List. But I think Downfall was a far more important Nazi movie.

Yeah, I actually watched Downfall not even a week ago... don't think I posted anything to this thread though.Anyway, yes, I agree. Downfall was excellent. I thought it was much better than Schindler's List (which, again, was a very good movie, just maybe a bit overrated).

I think Spielberg's Munich is a better movie than Schindler and will eventually be thought of as his best drama.

Munich is actually near the very top of my queue. Maybe I'll check that out next...

 

[jdoggydogg]

Schindler's List: I watched this movie because it's made a lot of "best ever" lists over the past 10 years or so. I've been told that I "have" to see it, just once. Well, it held my attention, and I thought it was a very good movie, but I didn't think it was an all-time great movie. I can't really say that it was worth 3+ hours of my time.

I liked Schindler's List. But I think Downfall was a far more important Nazi movie.

Yeah, I actually watched Downfall not even a week ago... don't think I posted anything to this thread though.Anyway, yes, I agree. Downfall was excellent. I thought it was much better than Schindler's List (which, again, was a very good movie, just maybe a bit overrated).

I think Spielberg's Munich is a better movie than Schindler and will eventually be thought of as his best drama.

Munich is actually near the very top of my queue. Maybe I'll check that out next...

I don't want to hype it too much. But I thought Munich was one of the better movies that year.Still, I can't forgive you for hating on The Wire

 

[jdoggydogg]

This is interesting:

Quentin Tarantino reviews There Will Be Blood

 

[saintfool]

watched "smoking aces" on cable over the weekend. this was kind of fun but for the really crappy ending.

 

[jdoggydogg]

watched "smoking aces" on cable over the weekend. this was kind of fun but for the really crappy ending.

Yeah. This is an unabashed Guy Ritchie ripoff. Which really wouldn't bother me at all if the last 30 minutes wasn't so heavy-handed.

 

[jdoggydogg]

This may be too weird to post in a new thread. But readers of this thread may find this interesting:

The Headless Woman

 

[Buckychudd]

I don't want to hype it too much. But I thought Munich was one of the better movies that year.Still, I can't forgive you for hating on The Wire

Munich is very good, and I just bought it out of the bargin bin at WalMart for $5.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Film fans should really check these out on YouTube. Tarantino discusses some of the best films ever made.

Example: Tarantino On Taxi Driver

 

[jdoggydogg]

I don't want to hype it too much. But I thought Munich was one of the better movies that year.Still, I can't forgive you for hating on The Wire

Munich is very good, and I just bought it out of the bargin bin at WalMart for $5.

Nice. Despite owning a PS3 blu ray player, I still pick up DVDs occasionally.

 

[hooter311]

watched "smoking aces" on cable over the weekend. this was kind of fun but for the really crappy ending.

Yeah. This is an unabashed Guy Ritchie ripoff. Which really wouldn't bother me at all if the last 30 minutes wasn't so heavy-handed.

To its own credit, the last 30 minutes did include one of the sweetest .50 caliber picking off Federal agents scenes in film history.I agree with jdogg that it isn't anything more than a loud, stupid, Richie ripoff, but sometimes that's all I'm looking for and I wouldn't mind if they made more of them.

 

[hooter311]

U Turn

I completely forgot about this being an Oliver Stone movie. I hadn't watched it since it was released and all I could really remember was the premise and Joaquin Phoenix's character, TNT. The pacing and dialogue remind me a lot of Jim Jarmusch's work, and I think he could have pulled this story off better the way Stone was trying to. Still, its dark, crafty, and a lot of fun. All the characters are such scum that is pretty easy to watch bad things happen to them without much emotional attachment. 1995-2002 I think was the low point of Penn's career so far, he just wasn't putting the effort in to the performances of his earlier work and recent work.

3.5/5

Recommended for any Pulp Fiction or Natural Born Killer's fans that may have missed it when it was released.

 

[Adebisi]

U Turn

I completely forgot about this being an Oliver Stone movie. I hadn't watched it since it was released and all I could really remember was the premise and Joaquin Phoenix's character, TNT. The pacing and dialogue remind me a lot of Jim Jarmusch's work, and I think he could have pulled this story off better the way Stone was trying to. Still, its dark, crafty, and a lot of fun. All the characters are such scum that is pretty easy to watch bad things happen to them without much emotional attachment. 1995-2002 I think was the low point of Penn's career so far, he just wasn't putting the effort in to the performances of his earlier work and recent work.

3.5/5

Recommended for any Pulp Fiction or Natural Born Killer's fans that may have missed it when it was released.

What? These were two entirely different types of movies.

 

[saintfool]

watched "smoking aces" on cable over the weekend. this was kind of fun but for the really crappy ending.

Yeah. This is an unabashed Guy Ritchie ripoff. Which really wouldn't bother me at all if the last 30 minutes wasn't so heavy-handed.

To its own credit, the last 30 minutes did include one of the sweetest .50 caliber picking off Federal agents scenes in film history.I agree with jdogg that it isn't anything more than a loud, stupid, Richie ripoff, but sometimes that's all I'm looking for and I wouldn't mind if they made more of them.

i think i sort of grew bored with the piven - crying, coked up and addled - character after the first few minutes of the film. everyone and everything else was more interesting. this includes andy "inert" garcia! the backstory didn't need the near constant looping (it's not an errol morris film) but instead should have focused on the convergence of all of those characters onto the hotel. i thought of this film as being more a jerry bruckheimer film than anything guy ritchie could cook up.

 

[hooter311]

U Turn

I completely forgot about this being an Oliver Stone movie. I hadn't watched it since it was released and all I could really remember was the premise and Joaquin Phoenix's character, TNT. The pacing and dialogue remind me a lot of Jim Jarmusch's work, and I think he could have pulled this story off better the way Stone was trying to. Still, its dark, crafty, and a lot of fun. All the characters are such scum that is pretty easy to watch bad things happen to them without much emotional attachment. 1995-2002 I think was the low point of Penn's career so far, he just wasn't putting the effort in to the performances of his earlier work and recent work.

3.5/5

Recommended for any Pulp Fiction or Natural Born Killer's fans that may have missed it when it was released.

What? These were two entirely different types of movies.

It combines a genuine, twisted crime story and colorful characters of Pulp Fiction with the visually twisted and darkly manipulated style of Natural Born Killers. They may be entirely different movies, but I think most people hold them in the same regard whether they love them or hate them. U Turn is about as polarizing, but not as good as either.