Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (5 Viewers)

[Daywalker]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

 

[Reg Lllama of Brixton]

Finally saw "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"...not the new one, the one that's all in French or whatever.

First 3/4 of the film were great but I thought the ending was a little goofy and wasn't consistent with the rest of the film.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Contraband

Meh. Don't bother.

Did you like Shooter?

Loved shooter. Shooter was a lot better than Contraband.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

This was surprisingly good. The first 20 minutes or so were a little cheesy or rushed to me, but once Caesar was home, i really began to enjoy it. By mid film you are invested in Caesar as a character, as if he was human and not some cgi. Really well done. 4/5

Question: how did this movie differ and /or intergrate the original planet of the apes (not walberg version)? Also, what is significance, if any, of the number 1228?

Haven't seen the original in a long time, though Rise is not based on the original, it's based on one of the sequels.

Yeah, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.I have Rise at home for this weekend, very psyched. I was a real Planet of the Apes freak when I was a kid. Even loved the TV show. I'm so glad this has gotten such wide ranging praise. I just hope I'm not over-hyping myself for it.

Allow me to temper your enthusiasm: the Lithgow character is annoying and the movie is a bit melodramatic. But what can I say? I scarcely had more fun with any other movie in 2011.

I liked it but i didn't like it. I really hoped it was going to be great, it just wasn't.

Spoiler

WTF was with the subtitles. That was it for me, that just sent me down a spiral. No need for it. I thought they were going to continue with it and it was really annoying me. But they didn't but then do it again later on for another scene! Why would you show it with subtitles! You didn't need to spell it out!

Plus he should have taken Ceasar to the woods much earlier, explained the situation to his girlfriend much earlier, shown the effect of the drug on his father much earlier.

But here we go. One of the greatest moments in cinematic history just remade. The dirty ape/NO! scene was just unbelievable. I got a little choked up by how good that was.

But from there, I don't know. It was good. I guess they did need the gas to extend the story with more apes being smarter. They made them get too smart too fast.

Spoiler

Whatever. Enjoyable. Thought this might have made the elusive 4.5/5 but it's only a 3/5

Spoiler

You thought it was going to be great? Maybe I'm cynical, because a lot of the movies I see, I expect mediocrity - and I am not disappointed.

Old age sucks - this is just about where I am lately too. Been very interested in a few newer movies and have been quite disappointed - Super 8 and Ides of March stick out as a couple. Maybe I should just set my bar a little lower. Seems like when I do that I find newer movies that I love. One that stands out in the last couple years is Kick-###. Thought there would be no way I would like that movie going in, and have watched it several times since.

It's a battle though. I feel as soon as I get into this mindframe I am giving up hope that movies can strive for greatness over mindnumbing entertainment.

I guess it's all about tempering your enthusiasm. There are movies we here are terrible and end up being decent, and there are movies we hear will change our life and disappoint.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Contraband

Meh. Don't bother.

Did you like Shooter?

Loved shooter. Shooter was a lot better than Contraband.

Have enjoyed almost every movie Wahlberg has done, but something about this just looks bad.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

wow - disagree 100% there. Thought that stuff was shoehorned in and just screamed "cue emotion now" every time they interacted. I think they should have cut that whole subplot out of the movie altogether. Almost as though they had a test screening of the movie and people thought Beane's character was too cold and wanted to try and humanize him more or something.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Contraband

Meh. Don't bother.

Did you like Shooter?

Loved shooter. Shooter was a lot better than Contraband.

Have enjoyed almost every movie Wahlberg has done, but something about this just looks bad.

Wahlberg's a pretty consistent actor, but Contraband is a mess.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

50/50: Very enjoyable about. Would have been great if they'd got an actor to play the role that Seth Rogan did. Gordon-Levitt was very good. Good story that moves along well. A couple parts could have been done a little better with the Therapist re: Ethics (Anna Kendrick ). Almost got a dusty near the end (the gf needed to re-hydrate after)... 4/5

Deadheads: Looked like a promising dumb-comedy about two guys waking up as functioning zombies... turned it off after 30 minutes when it hadn't made me even crack a smile. 0/5

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

why do people like Moneyball? The A's still always lost to the big money Yankees, didn't they?

 

[cosjobs]

The Artist

I was hesitant to see this, as it seemed kind of gimmicky and I am a big fan of dialogue. But I thought if I was going to see it, I should go ahead and do so in a theater, as a silent movie would have a much smaller chance of pleasing me and holding my attention on a TV.

It was good/solid, but my reservations were justified.It jsut didn't work for me much less enamor me like many reviewers who seemed to fall under its spell. I'm glad they loved it and its the type of innovative cinema I like to see produced, but it left me kind of ho-hum.

3/5 stars, more out of respect than enjoyment

 

[cosjobs]

Carnage

Another film I expected to respect more than I enjoyed. It had so many warning signs: Stage play adapted to screen; Polanksi-directed; One set for the whole movie; only four characters; pretty much nothing but dialogue; would probably lose very little of its impact if I waited for the DVD and watched it on my tv.

I'm not sure why I overcame all these internal objections, but I am delighted I did. I laughed out loud at this movie more than any in the past decade. I was not along, the entire theater was laughing more than Birdesmaids or Hangover.

The mall cast was phenomenal with Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C Riley and the unexpectedly hilarious Christop Waltz.

Basically JOhn and Jodies' kid gets hit by Kate and Chris' kid and they get together to talk it over/sort it out. Courtesy and manners devolve a hilarious spectacle of drunkenness and projectile vomiting. But tastefully done.

4.7/5 stars because the kept it tight and funny rather than stretch it our another 20 minutes (its only 80m long)

 

[cosjobs]

Iron Lady

Sure, Meryl Streep is the Jimi Hendix of the silver screen, but this movie spent half its time with her dottering around as an extremely aged Thatcher and very belatedly coping with the loss of her husband.

THe parts of the movie that dealt with her rise to and reign as prime minister were very interesting, but the unrelenting and unengaging flashbacks (forwards?) ruined it for me.

2.8/5 stars

 

[cstu]

why do people like Moneyball? The A's still always lost to the big money Yankees, didn't they?

When you put it that way, 1/5.

 

[cstu]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

wow - disagree 100% there. Thought that stuff was shoehorned in and just screamed "cue emotion now" every time they interacted. I think they should have cut that whole subplot out of the movie altogether. Almost as though they had a test screening of the movie and people thought Beane's character was too cold and wanted to try and humanize him more or something.

The stuff with the daughter made it a lot more reasonable that he passed up the Red Sox job.

 

[cstu]

Ides of March:

A lot of heavy hitters in this movie, but I walked away a bit underwhelmed. I think I was into it right up the point:

Spoiler

When they introduced the sex scandal angle. I guess I am just tired of it, and assume 1/2 these guys are laying pipe across the country on their campaign trails. I was perfectly fine with it being about Gosling's character waffling about which side to be on, and the behind the scenes politics about giving promises for endorsements, etc.. I thought that brought enough interest and tension without bringing in that he diddled an intern too.

Spoiler

Also think Clooney's direction was a little off as well. I remember there being some weird lingering shots of seemingly nothing that were a little distracting. Still recommend taking a peek at it because of all the great actors, but would maybe temper the expectations a little bit. 6/10

I really dug the movie and it's easily in my top 20 of 2011.

 

[jamny]

Carnage

Another film I expected to respect more than I enjoyed. It had so many warning signs: Stage play adapted to screen; Polanksi-directed; One set for the whole movie; only four characters; pretty much nothing but dialogue; would probably lose very little of its impact if I waited for the DVD and watched it on my tv.

I'm not sure why I overcame all these internal objections, but I am delighted I did. I laughed out loud at this movie more than any in the past decade. I was not along, the entire theater was laughing more than Birdesmaids or Hangover.

The mall cast was phenomenal with Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C Riley and the unexpectedly hilarious Christop Waltz.

Basically JOhn and Jodies' kid gets hit by Kate and Chris' kid and they get together to talk it over/sort it out. Courtesy and manners devolve a hilarious spectacle of drunkenness and projectile vomiting. But tastefully done.

4.7/5 stars because the kept it tight and funny rather than stretch it our another 20 minutes (its only 80m long)

Saw this on Broadway with Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels. Thought it was hilarious as it grew and grew into the story. Glad to see the movie is good too. I was wondering how it would come across on film.

 

[Apple Jack]

Carnage

Another film I expected to respect more than I enjoyed. It had so many warning signs: Stage play adapted to screen; Polanksi-directed; One set for the whole movie; only four characters; pretty much nothing but dialogue; would probably lose very little of its impact if I waited for the DVD and watched it on my tv.

I'm not sure why I overcame all these internal objections, but I am delighted I did. I laughed out loud at this movie more than any in the past decade. I was not along, the entire theater was laughing more than Birdesmaids or Hangover.

The mall cast was phenomenal with Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C Riley and the unexpectedly hilarious Christop Waltz.

Basically JOhn and Jodies' kid gets hit by Kate and Chris' kid and they get together to talk it over/sort it out. Courtesy and manners devolve a hilarious spectacle of drunkenness and projectile vomiting. But tastefully done.

4.7/5 stars because the kept it tight and funny rather than stretch it our another 20 minutes (its only 80m long)

I've been wanting to see this. Regarding the bolded...have you seen In the Loop?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

wow - disagree 100% there. Thought that stuff was shoehorned in and just screamed "cue emotion now" every time they interacted. I think they should have cut that whole subplot out of the movie altogether. Almost as though they had a test screening of the movie and people thought Beane's character was too cold and wanted to try and humanize him more or something.

The stuff with the daughter made it a lot more reasonable that he passed up the Red Sox job.

Nope - he openly stated in the movie that he had already made one decision in life based on money. Spent a good bit of the movie with flashbacks of him and his baseball career, so that should be enough to explain his choice. The scenes with his daughter were to make him more likable on screen.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Ides of March:

A lot of heavy hitters in this movie, but I walked away a bit underwhelmed. I think I was into it right up the point:

Spoiler

When they introduced the sex scandal angle. I guess I am just tired of it, and assume 1/2 these guys are laying pipe across the country on their campaign trails. I was perfectly fine with it being about Gosling's character waffling about which side to be on, and the behind the scenes politics about giving promises for endorsements, etc.. I thought that brought enough interest and tension without bringing in that he diddled an intern too.

Spoiler

Also think Clooney's direction was a little off as well. I remember there being some weird lingering shots of seemingly nothing that were a little distracting. Still recommend taking a peek at it because of all the great actors, but would maybe temper the expectations a little bit. 6/10

Spoiler

I really dug the movie and it's easily in my top 20 of 2011.You are starting to sneak onto my list along with Andy and Cliff of opposite opinion reviewers.

What about the movie put it in the tops of the year for you?

 

[Apple Jack]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

wow - disagree 100% there. Thought that stuff was shoehorned in and just screamed "cue emotion now" every time they interacted. I think they should have cut that whole subplot out of the movie altogether. Almost as though they had a test screening of the movie and people thought Beane's character was too cold and wanted to try and humanize him more or something.

The stuff with the daughter made it a lot more reasonable that he passed up the Red Sox job.

Nope - he openly stated in the movie that he had already made one decision in life based on money. Spent a good bit of the movie with flashbacks of him and his baseball career, so that should be enough to explain his choice. The scenes with his daughter were to make him more likable on screen.

So, what was his reason for staying, if not mostly his daughter? The Boston job was more money, a better organization, a better park, a better tradition, a much bigger payroll...the only thing Oakland had over Boston was location. Whether she really was or not, she was the primary reason he turned down the Boston job in the movie.

 

[KarmaPolice]

The Artist

I was hesitant to see this, as it seemed kind of gimmicky and I am a big fan of dialogue. But I thought if I was going to see it, I should go ahead and do so in a theater, as a silent movie would have a much smaller chance of pleasing me and holding my attention on a TV.

It was good/solid, but my reservations were justified.It jsut didn't work for me much less enamor me like many reviewers who seemed to fall under its spell. I'm glad they loved it and its the type of innovative cinema I like to see produced, but it left me kind of ho-hum.

3/5 stars, more out of respect than enjoyment

The feeling I get from the couple reviews I've seen on it is that it is a cutesy movie that brings up people's nostalgia for classic movies, but doesn't bring anything different to the table. In other words, the exact type of movie that pulls on the Academy's heartstrings. From the trailers I've seen I fully expect this and Warhorse to battle it out for the Oscar this year.

 

[Apple Jack]

Ides of March:

A lot of heavy hitters in this movie, but I walked away a bit underwhelmed. I think I was into it right up the point:

Spoiler

When they introduced the sex scandal angle. I guess I am just tired of it, and assume 1/2 these guys are laying pipe across the country on their campaign trails. I was perfectly fine with it being about Gosling's character waffling about which side to be on, and the behind the scenes politics about giving promises for endorsements, etc.. I thought that brought enough interest and tension without bringing in that he diddled an intern too.

Spoiler

Also think Clooney's direction was a little off as well. I remember there being some weird lingering shots of seemingly nothing that were a little distracting. Still recommend taking a peek at it because of all the great actors, but would maybe temper the expectations a little bit. 6/10

Spoiler

Spoiler

I really dug the movie and it's easily in my top 20 of 2011.

You are starting to sneak onto my list along with Andy and Cliff of opposite opinion reviewers.

What about the movie put it in the tops of the year for you?

I'm not him, but I'll say the concise manner in which it gets across the reality of what ####bags politicians are. I know, most of us know that already blahblahblah...but not everybody does, and there are a lot of stories told that have points that we're already aware of. Just happens that this one is relevant to everybody in this country. Good performances, good direction, and good tension. It's not a perfect film, just a really engaging one. And you can't cast better than using Paul Giamatti and PSH as opposing campaign managers. I'd love to see a film just about them. Oddly, as much as I like Gosling, if there is a weak link in the movie, I think he may have been a bit miscast.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Moneyball.

Good flick. A bit better then I expected. Great job adapting the book to screen. The parts with Beane and his daughter were some of the best in the movie. Nicely done.

I had forgotten the details of the 20-game win streak. What drama and really drove home the "romantic" side of baseball as they said.

Pitt was solid but nothing to rave about. Maybe I just couldn't get his character from Burn After Reading out of my head whenever he was excercising or roming around the locker room all pissed off.

They really creamed Jeremy Giambi in this. Ouch. Thought they were pretty fair to A. Howe.

3 out of 4 stars.

wow - disagree 100% there. Thought that stuff was shoehorned in and just screamed "cue emotion now" every time they interacted. I think they should have cut that whole subplot out of the movie altogether. Almost as though they had a test screening of the movie and people thought Beane's character was too cold and wanted to try and humanize him more or something.

The stuff with the daughter made it a lot more reasonable that he passed up the Red Sox job.

Nope - he openly stated in the movie that he had already made one decision in life based on money. Spent a good bit of the movie with flashbacks of him and his baseball career, so that should be enough to explain his choice. The scenes with his daughter were to make him more likable on screen.

So, what was his reason for staying, if not mostly his daughter? The Boston job was more money, a better organization, a better park, a better tradition, a much bigger payroll...the only thing Oakland had over Boston was location. Whether she really was or not, she was the primary reason he turned down the Boston job in the movie.

I just stated a reason. I think it would have been enough for him to say that he made one decision in life based on money. Tells us he regrets his decision to go to the bigs in the first place, and my feeling from his character in the movie is that really left a bad taste in his mouth. Also seemed to enjoy sticking it to the big boys during the movie as far as trades, etc.. Didn't say it in so many words, but I also got a sense of loyalty from him to the organization that let him stick around and work his way up the ranks. I don't think it would have been out of character for him at all to stick around with the A's after meeting with Boston.

Of course I am also coming at this from the angle that I didn't not like the father/daughter stuff at all. I would agree with you guys that is how it came across on the screen (staying b/c of his daughter), but there were other factors, and I argue they would have been reason enough for him to stay.

 

[saintfool]

caught "tinker tailor soldier spy" yesterday with the wife. good but not great. i'll probably check out the alec guinness original from back in the day.

also started to watch "red hill" the other night. someone recommended it among the current crop of good aussie films made recently. this film was awful and i quit it after about 30 minutes or so. maybe "the square" and/or "animal kingdom" will be better...

 

[Mr. Mojo]

why do people like Moneyball? The A's still always lost to the big money Yankees, didn't they?

When you put it that way, 1/5.

I liked it - very entertaining.But one problem was that they made it appear that the guys they added made the whole difference and never showed or mentioned the seasons that Tejada (34 HR, 131 RBIs .308, MVP), Chavez (34 HR, 109 RBI, .275), Hudson (15-9, 2.98 ERA) and Zito (23-5, 2.75 ERA) had that year.

 

[hooter311]

also started to watch "red hill" the other night. someone recommended it among the current crop of good aussie films made recently. this film was awful and i quit it after about 30 minutes or so. maybe "the square" and/or "animal kingdom" will be better...

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

 

[saintfool]

also started to watch "red hill" the other night. someone recommended it among the current crop of good aussie films made recently. this film was awful and i quit it after about 30 minutes or so. maybe "the square" and/or "animal kingdom" will be better...

maybe it's just not my type of movie but i thought this was really *terrible*. i don't normally quit movies but there wasn't really much to recommend here.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

The first one was pretty awful.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

The first one was pretty awful.

No it wasn't. It was fun.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

The first one was pretty awful.

No it wasn't. It was fun.

Just caught most of it again last week. Very un-good.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

The first one was pretty awful.

No it wasn't. It was fun.

Just caught most of it again last week. Very un-good.

At this point, that's about what I'd expect you to say.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

The first Sherlock movie is much better than this new one.

The latter took forever to get going, seemed to have several superfluous scenes, and didn't have much of a payoff.

The first one was pretty awful.

No it wasn't. It was fun.

Just caught most of it again last week. Very un-good.

At this point, that's about what I'd expect you to say.

Okay?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

At this point, that's about what I'd expect you to say.

Okay?

Don't take it personally. I simply cannot remember ever seeing that you've enjoyed a "just for fun" movie.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

At this point, that's about what I'd expect you to say.

Okay?

Don't take it personally. I simply cannot remember ever seeing that you've enjoyed a "just for fun" movie.

Plenty of them. Recently, Tucker and Dale and Snow Beast come to mind. Tough to describe Tucker and Dale as anything other than fun. Snow Beast was so terrible that is was fun. And pretty much every comedy or comic book movie. Sherlock Holmes was just a miss IMO (like Captain America or Midnight in Paris).

 

[saintfool]

No it wasn't. It was fun.

while i happened to enjoy myself while seeing this film, i can see where some would be put off by it. i think if a person is annoyed by the ritchie gimmickry, for example, then it could be less fun. i think there is also some formula that posits the delight that one has in this film is likely in direct proportion to one's affection for RDJr. if you like him then you'll probably enjoy this or any of the "iron man" films. finally, if you're s holmes loyalist - in any way, shape or form - then i could see where this could make you dislike the film.

 

[Statorama]

Watched 'The Iron Lady' and if you want to picture Margaret Thatcher as a bucktoothed idiot this is the movie for you. An extraordinary amount of time in the movie is spent watching Thatcher spiral into dementia in her later years, which will delight it's target audience of Thatcher haters. After seeing this, I have no doubt it will be followed by Tom Hanks riffing on an alzheimers riddled Ronald Reagan.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

No it wasn't. It was fun.

while i happened to enjoy myself while seeing this film, i can see where some would be put off by it. i think if a person is annoyed by the ritchie gimmickry, for example, then it could be less fun. i think there is also some formula that posits the delight that one has in this film is likely in direct proportion to one's affection for RDJr. if you like him then you'll probably enjoy this or any of the "iron man" films. finally, if you're s holmes loyalist - in any way, shape or form - then i could see where this could make you dislike the film.

I think he is fantastic. Really enjoyed both Iron Man flicks. Maybe it is my growing dislike for non-CGI action movies.

 

[cosjobs]

Watched 'The Iron Lady' and if you want to picture Margaret Thatcher as a bucktoothed idiot this is the movie for you. An extraordinary amount of time in the movie is spent watching Thatcher spiral into dementia in her later years, which will delight it's target audience of Thatcher haters. After seeing this, I have no doubt it will be followed by Tom Hanks riffing on an alzheimers riddled Ronald Reagan.

Liberal Thatcher-hater here. If you had time to peruse my review posted above, rather than project my thoughts, you would have found I had the same issues with the movie you did. I would much preferred to have seen more of what she actually did while in office than any of the old age stuff.

 

[Statorama]

Watched 'The Iron Lady' and if you want to picture Margaret Thatcher as a bucktoothed idiot this is the movie for you. An extraordinary amount of time in the movie is spent watching Thatcher spiral into dementia in her later years, which will delight it's target audience of Thatcher haters. After seeing this, I have no doubt it will be followed by Tom Hanks riffing on an alzheimers riddled Ronald Reagan.

Liberal Thatcher-hater here. If you had time to peruse my review posted above, rather than project my thoughts, you would have found I had the same issues with the movie you did. I would much preferred to have seen more of what she actually did while in office than any of the old age stuff.

I didn't even read yours, but I will. I just got the feeling while watching it that it was Thatcher-hate pron.

 

[Chaka]

Days of Heaven - I definitely get the love for this film. It is quite simply beautiful to look at. The story is told with an economy of dialogue, an abundance of wonderful imagery and a running narration that doesn't so much speak to what is happening on the screen but is used to flesh out the characters so we can better understand who they are.

This is only my third Malick film, I still need to see The New World and Tree of Life, but I put Days of Heaven and Badlands far above The Thin Red Line.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Watched 'The Iron Lady' and if you want to picture Margaret Thatcher as a bucktoothed idiot this is the movie for you. An extraordinary amount of time in the movie is spent watching Thatcher spiral into dementia in her later years, which will delight it's target audience of Thatcher haters. After seeing this, I have no doubt it will be followed by Tom Hanks riffing on an alzheimers riddled Ronald Reagan.

Liberal Thatcher-hater here. If you had time to peruse my review posted above, rather than project my thoughts, you would have found I had the same issues with the movie you did. I would much preferred to have seen more of what she actually did while in office than any of the old age stuff.

I didn't even read yours, but I will. I just got the feeling while watching it that it was Thatcher-hate pron.

All you really need to know about the movie is in the choice of actress to play her, isn't it.?Kind of like how I know how "The Reagans" would be because James Brolin plays The Gipper.

 

[cosjobs]

Watched 'The Iron Lady' and if you want to picture Margaret Thatcher as a bucktoothed idiot this is the movie for you. An extraordinary amount of time in the movie is spent watching Thatcher spiral into dementia in her later years, which will delight it's target audience of Thatcher haters. After seeing this, I have no doubt it will be followed by Tom Hanks riffing on an alzheimers riddled Ronald Reagan.

Liberal Thatcher-hater here. If you had time to peruse my review posted above, rather than project my thoughts, you would have found I had the same issues with the movie you did. I would much preferred to have seen more of what she actually did while in office than any of the old age stuff.

I didn't even read yours, but I will. I just got the feeling while watching it that it was Thatcher-hate pron.

All you really need to know about the movie is in the choice of actress to play her, isn't it.?Kind of like how I know how "The Reagans" would be because James Brolin plays The Gipper.

Really? Do you see everything Hollywood produces as agenda-driven? Meryl Streep as an activist?I thought the movie was even-handed to moderately pro-Thatcher, as far as her depiction from her political career.As far as the old age stuff- that's a universal malady and do not think there was desire to show that it was a conservative condition, but a human condition. Either way, I did not care for that part of the film at all. I wish all that screen time ahd further developed things like the Falkland war and IRA bombings, etc.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

All you really need to know about the movie is in the choice of actress to play her, isn't it.?

Kind of like how I know how "The Reagans" would be because James Brolin plays The Gipper.

Really? Do you see everything Hollywood produces as agenda-driven? Meryl Streep as an activist?I thought the movie was even-handed to moderately pro-Thatcher, as far as her depiction from her political career.

As far as the old age stuff- that's a universal malady and do not think there was desire to show that it was a conservative condition, but a human condition. Either way, I did not care for that part of the film at all. I wish all that screen time ahd further developed things like the Falkland war and IRA bombings, etc.

"Everything"? No.But it seems that in things conservative, you're not going to get a liberal performer to take the role if it's flattering of the other side.

Of course the opposite is nearly just as bad - a conservative (if you can find one that is) will only take the part if nothing negative is presented.

 

[cosjobs]

All you really need to know about the movie is in the choice of actress to play her, isn't it.?

Kind of like how I know how "The Reagans" would be because James Brolin plays The Gipper.

Really? Do you see everything Hollywood produces as agenda-driven? Meryl Streep as an activist?I thought the movie was even-handed to moderately pro-Thatcher, as far as her depiction from her political career.

As far as the old age stuff- that's a universal malady and do not think there was desire to show that it was a conservative condition, but a human condition. Either way, I did not care for that part of the film at all. I wish all that screen time ahd further developed things like the Falkland war and IRA bombings, etc.

"Everything"? No.But it seems that in things conservative, you're not going to get a liberal performer to take the role if it's flattering of the other side.

Of course the opposite is nearly just as bad - a conservative (if you can find one that is) will only take the part if nothing negative is presented.

So you think Meryl Streep is too liberal to give a credibly conservative portrayal of Thatcher?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

So you think Meryl Streep is too liberal to give a credibly conservative portrayal of Thatcher?

I'm sure she gives a credible performance. I've heard as such.I simply don't believe, however, that Streep would have taken the role had it portrayed Thatcher in a more positive light.Does that answer your question?

 

[KarmaPolice]

No it wasn't. It was fun.

while i happened to enjoy myself while seeing this film, i can see where some would be put off by it. i think if a person is annoyed by the ritchie gimmickry, for example, then it could be less fun. i think there is also some formula that posits the delight that one has in this film is likely in direct proportion to one's affection for RDJr. if you like him then you'll probably enjoy this or any of the "iron man" films. finally, if you're s holmes loyalist - in any way, shape or form - then i could see where this could make you dislike the film.

I think he is fantastic. Really enjoyed both Iron Man flicks. Maybe it is my growing dislike for non-CGI action movies.

That last line does not compute. I will never understand how people can tolerate movies looking like video games. Nothing takes me out of a movie faster or takes the "magic" out of a movie for me quicker than obvious cgi.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

No it wasn't. It was fun.

while i happened to enjoy myself while seeing this film, i can see where some would be put off by it. i think if a person is annoyed by the ritchie gimmickry, for example, then it could be less fun. i think there is also some formula that posits the delight that one has in this film is likely in direct proportion to one's affection for RDJr. if you like him then you'll probably enjoy this or any of the "iron man" films. finally, if you're s holmes loyalist - in any way, shape or form - then i could see where this could make you dislike the film.

I think he is fantastic. Really enjoyed both Iron Man flicks. Maybe it is my growing dislike for non-CGI action movies.

That last line does not compute. I will never understand how people can tolerate movies looking like video games. Nothing takes me out of a movie faster or takes the "magic" out of a movie for me quicker than obvious cgi.

I'd rather watched some crazy looking robots battle it out then watch Jason Statham get punched in the head 100 times but shake it off and kill someone. If I'm going to suspend disbelief I'd prefer it to at least look pretty awesome. Don't get me wrong, something like Ong Bak >>>> CGI but those are few and far between.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Carnage

Another film I expected to respect more than I enjoyed. It had so many warning signs: Stage play adapted to screen; Polanksi-directed; One set for the whole movie; only four characters; pretty much nothing but dialogue; would probably lose very little of its impact if I waited for the DVD and watched it on my tv.

I'm not sure why I overcame all these internal objections, but I am delighted I did. I laughed out loud at this movie more than any in the past decade. I was not along, the entire theater was laughing more than Birdesmaids or Hangover.

The mall cast was phenomenal with Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C Riley and the unexpectedly hilarious Christop Waltz.

Basically JOhn and Jodies' kid gets hit by Kate and Chris' kid and they get together to talk it over/sort it out. Courtesy and manners devolve a hilarious spectacle of drunkenness and projectile vomiting. But tastefully done.

4.7/5 stars because the kept it tight and funny rather than stretch it our another 20 minutes (its only 80m long)

Love these kind of movies (when well done). Sounds promising.

 

[jdoggydogg]

The Artist

I was hesitant to see this, as it seemed kind of gimmicky and I am a big fan of dialogue. But I thought if I was going to see it, I should go ahead and do so in a theater, as a silent movie would have a much smaller chance of pleasing me and holding my attention on a TV.

It was good/solid, but my reservations were justified.It jsut didn't work for me much less enamor me like many reviewers who seemed to fall under its spell. I'm glad they loved it and its the type of innovative cinema I like to see produced, but it left me kind of ho-hum.

3/5 stars, more out of respect than enjoyment

I understand the importance of silent film. But no part of me is interested in seeing another one.