hooter311
Footballguy
Quarantine started strong and drew me in, but by the end, I realized what I was watching had gotten pretty awful.Been meaning to watch {REC}, will bump it up the queue based on the solid recommendation.
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Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Sigmund
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cosjobs
Footballguy
If you have a redbox nearby, they carry it for a buck.I'm not a big fan of the horror genre', mainly because most are so awful.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
Primarily why I've avoided it so long. I do like the zombie movies I've seen, though. And I think the 80's classic Fright Night is pretty entertaining.I won't ever watch the torture-porn stuff like Hostel and whatever...
cosjobs
Footballguy
Just found a great Firefox addon
Once installed, you can highlight any movie name, right click and search the Rotten Tomatoes review database.
Love it.
Once installed, you can highlight any movie name, right click and search the Rotten Tomatoes review database.
Love it.
hooter311
Footballguy
Andy,If your looking into jumping into the Horror genre I would suggest starting at the original 80's slasher flicks for a base. Like Friday the 13th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, etc... These films created a great foundation for the genre and most of the really gruesome parts are easier to stomach 25 years later.
Seems like any good to great recent horror films work because they borrow heavily from the classics. A lot of young directors that grew up worshiping this stuff are now trying to take it to the next level of violence, and I'm not really on board for any of that. I like the Saw films, but any of the other torture porn crap that comes out really turns me off.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
I saw NOES and Hellraiser a long time ago. I've never revisited because I'm guessing it'd be schlocky now. The one that I have meant to see is Halloween. Might have to check that one out.I wonder if I can find the thread done a while back that ranked the zombie movies...
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Death Race
Didn't expect much here, and that was wise. I DVR'd this for free from HBO On Demand. I like Statham, I like action movies, but turned this off 15 minutes in.
Didn't expect much here, and that was wise. I DVR'd this for free from HBO On Demand. I like Statham, I like action movies, but turned this off 15 minutes in.
hooter311
Footballguy
I wish I had this skill, but I always tend to watch everything. I'm afraid if it was ever released I would end up watching a 4 hour Death Race director's cut, and I didn't really care for it the first time around either.
SKribbles
Footballguy
Not sure what you guys were expecting... I went in expecting bad acting, bad plot, cool races, a few explosions, some T&A and gruesome death scenes. This movie had them all.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I'd just rather watch something else. HBO On Demand has a ton of movies.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I don't mind these movies at all. I am a fan. Maybe it's that I am over-saturated at this point. I don't know about you, but I've watch countless action flicks. I think the action genre is pretty stale right now. So when a fresh idea comes around, I get pretty stoked. For example, Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes could be good.
SKribbles
Footballguy
I watch plenty of action movies and go in with very low expectations every time. It isn't like this movie was hyped to be the next Die Hard or The Rock. It was promoted as a mindless action flick with some cool scenes. Movies like this one, The Condemned, the new Rambo, The Transporter series, etc... are only good for eye candy and you really shouldn't expect more than that.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
I don't expect more than that. I expect movies with no originality, and I am not disappointed. Like I said, I'm not saying these movies should strive to best Citizen Kane. But so many movies are made with so little effort. I think that these perfunctory movies would be a lot better with just a little more care. I don't reject explosions, cliches, weak acting, bad dialogue, and violence. Those elements have been used 1,000 times to make very entertaining movies. It's the complete lack of originality and passion that makes these movies suck.
Mookie Blaylock
Footballguy
Anyone recommend a few good (possibly obscure) spy films? My wife loves the Bond stuff (James Bond for this discussion) and I loathe the old James Bond stuff. Just hate it. We've seen all the Bournes and she loves those too. Ronin is one of my favorites and I actually enjoyed the MI series. I like the genre but have never spent much time reviewing "classics." Anyone have any good titles for me to check out? (If I can come up with some alternatives I won't have to watch so much of the Bond crap).
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
The Good Shepherd is decent (DeNiro and Damon). Pretty slow, though. Enigma was good, especially if you like Kate Winslet. Though Enigma is based on a true story, so it's much more realistic than a Bond film. The Bank Job is a heist film, but there is a character in that film that goes undercover.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
Not a fan of The Good Shepherd. To say it's slow is like saying that World War 2 was a misunderstanding.
I did like Breach. Maybe it's because I like Chris Cooper so much.
saintfool
Dead sexy
"The Third Man" is a classic of the genre with Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten in post-WW2 Vienna. "Three Days of the Condor" is good. Same goes for "Parallax View" with Warren Beatty is good 70's paranoia. Add "The Conversation" to that period of filmmaking too."La Femme Nikita" is good french action-styled from the guy that did "The Professional"."Ipress File" with Michael Caine is similar in many ways to the Bond films."Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" is an underrated, fun kind of take on the spy genre. "Smiley's People" is an outstanding Le Carre adapted as a BBC miniseries that runs like 5-6 episodes. Alec Guiness stars in it.
Mookie Blaylock
Footballguy
Awesome. Good stuff, guys. Thanks!
cosjobs
Footballguy
THe bolded are damn good recommendations - especially "condor."I do not really see Nikita as espionage genre, more of a thriller/action. That said, its a very good movie.
I have not seen the other Mind or Smiley, but I'll check them out. Smiley sounds especially interesting. I'm a sucker for BBC productions (except their period pieces).
saintfool
Dead sexy
i can't bring myself to read le carre because he's kind of an awful writer". "smiley" does not make me cringe like some of his other adapted works do like "tailor of panama" or "the spy who came in from the cold". i forgot to mention that "smiley" is a kind of sequel to "tinker, tailor, soldier, spy" - also with guiness- and that is superb. my mom is a sucker for the genre and i grew up enjoying them both.eta - "the marathon man" with hoffman and olivier is really good too.
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cosjobs
Footballguy
I looked thru the "espionage" category at Netflix. Here's what I've seen and recommend:
U-571 - a lot of folks did not like this one, but I enjoyed it a lot 3.5/5*
Traitor - Good Don Cheadle vehicle. Runs out of steam with plot contrivances toward the end, but solid overall, 3/5*
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Very different type of spy movie. 4/5*
Day of the Jackal & Jackal - the original is better than the remake "Jackal," but both are solid - original 3.5/5 , remake 3/5
The Third Man - Orson Wells classic 4/5*
Dam Busters - excellent WW2 Brit film about bouncing bombs rather than spys 4/5*
Tailor of Panama - LeCarre adapation, with P Brosnan in an atypical role doing a bang-up job 4/5#
Pickup on South Street - Sam Fuller directing tough guy Widmard, set in the early days of the cold war. Pretty dated, but lots of fun if you're a fan of 50s hollywood tough guys and their dames. 3.5/5
Undercover Brother - Pretty damn blaxploitation/espionage spoof. 3.5/5
The In-Laws (original) - Alan Arkin and Peter Falk are great in this one. Highly recommend as a comedy/espionage. 4/5
Any Hitchcock in the category. He made quite a few. Many are are short (90 min or less) and all are more dialogue-driven than modern cinema, but they come with a helping of classic Hitchcock suspense elements 3.5-4.5 stars: Topaz, Torn Curtain, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Notorious, Saboteur, Foreign Correspondent, Sabotage, Secret Agent, 39 Steps.
U-571 - a lot of folks did not like this one, but I enjoyed it a lot 3.5/5*
Traitor - Good Don Cheadle vehicle. Runs out of steam with plot contrivances toward the end, but solid overall, 3/5*
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - Very different type of spy movie. 4/5*
Day of the Jackal & Jackal - the original is better than the remake "Jackal," but both are solid - original 3.5/5 , remake 3/5
The Third Man - Orson Wells classic 4/5*
Dam Busters - excellent WW2 Brit film about bouncing bombs rather than spys 4/5*
Tailor of Panama - LeCarre adapation, with P Brosnan in an atypical role doing a bang-up job 4/5#
Pickup on South Street - Sam Fuller directing tough guy Widmard, set in the early days of the cold war. Pretty dated, but lots of fun if you're a fan of 50s hollywood tough guys and their dames. 3.5/5
Undercover Brother - Pretty damn blaxploitation/espionage spoof. 3.5/5
The In-Laws (original) - Alan Arkin and Peter Falk are great in this one. Highly recommend as a comedy/espionage. 4/5
Any Hitchcock in the category. He made quite a few. Many are are short (90 min or less) and all are more dialogue-driven than modern cinema, but they come with a helping of classic Hitchcock suspense elements 3.5-4.5 stars: Topaz, Torn Curtain, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Notorious, Saboteur, Foreign Correspondent, Sabotage, Secret Agent, 39 Steps.
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cosjobs
Footballguy
I have never made more than a few chapters of any LeCarre novel, but I've enjoyed a number of his films. And I liked the Tailor of Panama a whole lot and consider it one of the most under-rated films listed here. And great call on Marathon Man.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
I thought Traitor was pretty good.
Not technically a spy flick, but Body of Lies was solid too.
Not technically a spy flick, but Body of Lies was solid too.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Oooo yeah. All good movies.
Homer J Simpson
I don't push
I just watched The Last House on the Left.
Other than the very final minute, this movie was pretty friggin' awesome. I was expecting some sort of slasher crap but I was sucked in from the first scene.
That was an extremely interesting two hours. Well spent, I say.
Other than the very final minute, this movie was pretty friggin' awesome. I was expecting some sort of slasher crap but I was sucked in from the first scene.
That was an extremely interesting two hours. Well spent, I say.
Homer J Simpson
I don't push
Wait...you're not talking about the Bruce Willis flick are you?
Buckychudd
Footballguy
Good catch. The Bruce Willis one is awful.
R. Duke
Footballguy
saintfool
Dead sexy
my favorite line in the movie is when clark sees the picture on the wall.clark: is that a picture of you with mussolini?carmine: well, it ain't tony bennet!brando's delivery is priceless there for me.
hooter311
Footballguy
I recently watched Heartbreak Ridge for the first time. If you like grumpy Eastwood, make sure that you've seen this because it was a real treat for me.
Just saw this one yesterday.Cast was definitely interesting, Stoltz playing some stoner dude with a silly accent was weird.
Anyway, I guess this one strikes close to home, in my late 30's, have a lot of real close friends that I rarely get to see, like to party hard :IBTL: ...also, when I was watching this one, I found it very hard to believe that they were the same age as the lead looked quite a bit older than her other two friends...and the men looked older than the women too, most of which was confirmed this morning when looking it up on imdb.
But, the real reason you should watch this one is Caitlin Keats is about the hottest woman I've never heard about. Holy crap.
hooter311
Footballguy
Swimming With Sharks
A great under appreciated black comedy. Just a step down from Glengarry Glen Ross or Office Space when it comes to entertainment value in an office setting. Piven obviously ripped a lot of traits from Spacey's character when he developed Ari Gold. I'd still say that Piven does it better because Spacey's character at times realizes he is being over the top and goes with it, Piven's Gold lives completely over the top and wouldn't break a smile after belittling Lloyd out of his office. Still, very good stuff and Spacey is on top of his game.
4/5
A great under appreciated black comedy. Just a step down from Glengarry Glen Ross or Office Space when it comes to entertainment value in an office setting. Piven obviously ripped a lot of traits from Spacey's character when he developed Ari Gold. I'd still say that Piven does it better because Spacey's character at times realizes he is being over the top and goes with it, Piven's Gold lives completely over the top and wouldn't break a smile after belittling Lloyd out of his office. Still, very good stuff and Spacey is on top of his game.
4/5
saintfool
Dead sexy
The character of "Ari Gold" is based on a real person.
Tremendous Upside
Footballguy
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Baby Mama
Don't give me ####. It's free on HBO. I am trying to slog my way through this junk, and it occurs to me: any movie that has that happy, twinkly, bubbly music sucks. Automatically. Like, the music almost always occurs in a movie like this within two minutes of the opening credits. And I realized that I am thankful. Much like a dark alley that's blocked by a serial killer holding an axe, these movies give you a direct, clear warning that they are going to murder your brain.
Don't give me ####. It's free on HBO. I am trying to slog my way through this junk, and it occurs to me: any movie that has that happy, twinkly, bubbly music sucks. Automatically. Like, the music almost always occurs in a movie like this within two minutes of the opening credits. And I realized that I am thankful. Much like a dark alley that's blocked by a serial killer holding an axe, these movies give you a direct, clear warning that they are going to murder your brain.
SKribbles
Footballguy
Year One: Yup. It was bad for the most part but there were quite a few funny scenes. Lots of "good" actors with little bit parts that were great (Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, Paul Rudd). I didn't expect much but I thought it would be a lot worse based on reviews. Jack Black just didn't work for this part, not sure why. Cera's humor is getting old in a hurry. Olivia Wilde 
2/5
2/5
Buckychudd
Footballguy
Buckychudd
Footballguy
In Bruges - I really liked it. Great acting in every role.
Get Smart - I completely tuned out during this movie, not good.
Get Smart - I completely tuned out during this movie, not good.
jdoggydogg
Footballguy
Unless your wife likes really dark indy films, I am certain she will enjoy Baby Mama.For some reason my wife really wants to see this movie.
Wingnut
Footballguy
I was surprised at some of the actors in it, as I didnt watch the opening credits.Wasnt as good as I thought it would be. In fact, I thought it would be more "cave-manny" if that makes any sense.Year One: Yup. It was bad for the most part but there were quite a few funny scenes. Lots of "good" actors with little bit parts that were great (Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, Paul Rudd). I didn't expect much but I thought it would be a lot worse based on reviews. Jack Black just didn't work for this part, not sure why. Cera's humor is getting old in a hurry. Olivia Wilde2/5
I didnt like Cera in this at all, I thought it was a horrible casting job for the part. Him and JB didnt work well together on screen, IMO. Im starting to think hes a one trick pony, essentially playing the same character in everything hes in. Black was the usual Black, but I think he needs more support from his co-star, and Cera didnt give him much to go on.
Overall Id give it 6/10, cause like you said, there were quite a few funny parts, but too much non-funny filler in between.
saintfool
Dead sexy
so late last night i am channel-surfing and stumble across...
"black sheep"
it's a surprisingly funny new zealand comedy-horror film about genetically mutated sheep that run amok on a remote NZ farm and begin killing the locals. characters include mad scientists, PETA-types, land barons and a guy actually afraid of sheep. it is really kind of fun because it takes the horror part seriously enough but is campy enough to throw out some funny lines.
"black sheep"
it's a surprisingly funny new zealand comedy-horror film about genetically mutated sheep that run amok on a remote NZ farm and begin killing the locals. characters include mad scientists, PETA-types, land barons and a guy actually afraid of sheep. it is really kind of fun because it takes the horror part seriously enough but is campy enough to throw out some funny lines.
it is not high art but it fun with decent production values. i found myself laughing a lot while watching it. it's a loving send up. i had forgotten that Aussie and NZ kind of have a real stranglehold on the jokey horror genre.
hooter311
Footballguy
The Koreans are a pretty twisted bunch as well, I really get a kick out of their sense of humor.
hooter311
Footballguy
Next Day Air
Really liked this movie. Its like a Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels light. Very tight script twisted into a 90 minute story that never lets up. Really enjoyed the Mike Epps and Wood Harris exchanges. Best crime movie I've seen since the Bank Job probably.
4/5
Really liked this movie. Its like a Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels light. Very tight script twisted into a 90 minute story that never lets up. Really enjoyed the Mike Epps and Wood Harris exchanges. Best crime movie I've seen since the Bank Job probably.
4/5
hooter311
Footballguy
Death At a Funeral
Hilarious, recommended even for people that don't usually care for British humor. Cast handles the subject matter very straight faced which is a relief from all the slapstick that has been released lately. Its about the funeral of a patriarch and all the things that go along with it such as homosexual midgets, dropping acid, murder, and what not. Sad to see that they are releasing an American version starring Martin Lawrence scheduled in 2010. This was a film made in english in 2007, we need a remake already? Its going to be awful.
4.5/5
Swamp Thing
I had a strange urge to bump this to the top of my queue. Terrible mistake. Like a lamed down Toxic Avenger (I realized Toxie was released a few years later), with almost no redeeming qualities. The final fight with the wolfman mutation armed with a samurai sword and while Swamp Thing is assisted by a mutated goat midget, wasn't nearly as cool as it should have been.
2/5
Hilarious, recommended even for people that don't usually care for British humor. Cast handles the subject matter very straight faced which is a relief from all the slapstick that has been released lately. Its about the funeral of a patriarch and all the things that go along with it such as homosexual midgets, dropping acid, murder, and what not. Sad to see that they are releasing an American version starring Martin Lawrence scheduled in 2010. This was a film made in english in 2007, we need a remake already? Its going to be awful.
4.5/5
Swamp Thing
I had a strange urge to bump this to the top of my queue. Terrible mistake. Like a lamed down Toxic Avenger (I realized Toxie was released a few years later), with almost no redeeming qualities. The final fight with the wolfman mutation armed with a samurai sword and while Swamp Thing is assisted by a mutated goat midget, wasn't nearly as cool as it should have been.
2/5
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
Watched this a couple nights ago and liked it a lot as well. I wouldve liked a little more Mos Def screentime, but other than that not really any complaints. Avon Barksdale was good, and Mike Epps was golden. I dont think Ive ever seen Mike Epps in a movie or do standup and didnt laugh my ### off. That guy is hilarious, I wish he was in more movies.
SKribbles
Footballguy
So I Married An Axe Murderer: Fan-freaking-tastic. Caught this on TV this week while on a business trip. One of my favorite comedies of all-time. I miss the days when Mike Myers was funny. So many great quotes from this movie... a couple of my favorites: (5/5)
Wet Hot American Summer: I heard a Bill Hader interview and he said this was one of his all-time favorite comedies so I thought it would be worth a watch... it did not disappoint. The movie doesn't take itself seriously and has some really over-the-top scenes, some that work and some that don't. The cast is filled with the SNL crew and then random others like David Hyde Piece, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni etc. Pretty much every camp counselor has gone on to have a decent career (film is from 2001). 4/5
Observe and Protect: Oof. Failure at its finest. Not sure how Seth Rogan got roped into doing this piece of trash after all of his recent success. It was like a bad rip-off of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. 1/5
Wet Hot American Summer: I heard a Bill Hader interview and he said this was one of his all-time favorite comedies so I thought it would be worth a watch... it did not disappoint. The movie doesn't take itself seriously and has some really over-the-top scenes, some that work and some that don't. The cast is filled with the SNL crew and then random others like David Hyde Piece, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni etc. Pretty much every camp counselor has gone on to have a decent career (film is from 2001). 4/5
Adebisi
Footballguy
Road to Perdition was not a bad movie, but it wasn't all that great, either. It held my interest, but you could see the ending coming from a mile away. There were also a lot of things that just didn't make a whole lot of sense (the casual machine gun murders in the streets, the seemingly pointless bank robberies, etc... there's more, but I can't really allude to them without giving away spoilers). I will say that Tom Hanks can pretty much do absolutely anything as an actor. The guy is amazing. Daniel Craig is good, too, but I thought his role in this film was a bit beneath him (and I do realize that this movie was filmed before he became a true leading actor).
cosjobs
Footballguy
This was a very disappointing film to me. It had all the elements to be a great film: the actors, direction, cinematography... but it never congealed or "took off."
