Recently viewed movie thread - Rental Edition (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

Game of Thrones:

After my initial "not loving it" review of the first episode, I decided to try it again. I ended up watching the first season in 2 nights and losing sleep in the process. Really impressed with the amount of stuff going on (actually probably could have been a few episodes longer). Also, I have never seen a series with such blatant disregard for characters - people are getting offed left and right. Now I am itching for season 2 to come out - and this is why I usually stay away from series until they are 3-4 seasons in. Actually considering starting the books instead - I was breezing through the first book today at the store and it looked like the show was beat for beat with the novel.

I am a lazy reader, and this show makes me want to read the entire series. It's that good.

abso-#######-lutely ditto on all counts.that said- I'm a sucker for fantasies.

i am kind of in the middle of S1 and it's not as gripping for me. i appreciate what it's trying to do, which is no easy thing for tv, but it's pretty meh for me. i think my enjoyment of a scene, idea or character is in direct proportion to some of the actors. when these actors are not on-screen, i simply get bored. i love the fantasy genre - things like the arthurian stories and tolkien were seminal for me - but this isn't nearly as good as i hoped for. it's not especially good drama either. i would have liked to see what someone like ron moore (BSG) or even the "farscape" team could do with it.

who are you.

 

[El Floppo]

I think I might have seen John Carter. Jimmy Carter? Not sure. Flash Gordon mashed up with Star Wars. Flash Wars.

 

[jdoggydogg]

I think I might have seen John Carter. Jimmy Carter? Not sure. Flash Gordon mashed up with Star Wars. Flash Wars.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

 

[saintfool]

who are you.

eh, i'm a purist when it comes to fantasy. i grew up on the arthurian legends and tolkien before stumbling onto d & d as a kid. even the, i gave it up in favor of MERP once i got exposed to it. i never could get into piers anthony, thomas covenant, or whatnot.ETA - GoT feels a step below other HBO serials to me. somewhere on the same rung as "true blood" maybe.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

About halfway through Season 2. It's still good, but it does start to get "soap operaish".

 

[jdoggydogg]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

About halfway through Season 2. It's still good, but it does start to get "soap operaish".

I hear you. Still, a less than 100% Downton is still likely better than almost all the competition.

 

[jdoggydogg]

New Kevin Smith movie review show is up on Hulu for free. Not bad.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Safe House: Started off the same as every other action movie... fell asleep for a while... woke up for the end... ended the same as every other action movie. Denzel's shtick is old. 1.5/5

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Die Hard with a Vengence. Yup, still fun.

Live Free or Die Hard. Yup, still fun. Daughter was nice looking.

Book of Eli. I'm closer to meh than anything else. It was ok but for some reason it just didn't do that much for me, but I will grant I was exhausted when I watched and could have simply missed the goods.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

aaah, my opinion confirmed!

 

[FreeBaGeL]

i am kind of in the middle of S1 and it's not as gripping for me. i appreciate what it's trying to do, which is no easy thing for tv, but it's pretty meh for me. i think my enjoyment of a scene, idea or character is in direct proportion to some of the actors. when these actors are not on-screen, i simply get bored. i love the fantasy genre - things like the arthurian stories and tolkien were seminal for me - but this isn't nearly as good as i hoped for. it's not especially good drama either. i would have liked to see what someone like ron moore (BSG) or even the "farscape" team could do with it.

I was the same way after watching season 1. I thought it was decent but overrated.Season 2 was awesome though. It's by far my favorite show on now.Also, whomever mentioned GoT being willing to off characters like no show ever has. On that front it still pales in comparison to The Walking Dead which has like a third of the characters left after two seasons.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Game of Thrones:

After my initial "not loving it" review of the first episode, I decided to try it again. I ended up watching the first season in 2 nights and losing sleep in the process. Really impressed with the amount of stuff going on (actually probably could have been a few episodes longer). Also, I have never seen a series with such blatant disregard for characters - people are getting offed left and right. Now I am itching for season 2 to come out - and this is why I usually stay away from series until they are 3-4 seasons in. Actually considering starting the books instead - I was breezing through the first book today at the store and it looked like the show was beat for beat with the novel.

Season 2 is out and completed.

Sorry - meant come out on DVD. That will probably be 6 months or so? As tempting as it might be, I am not going to fire up the dish just for a show or two.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Die Hard with a Vengence. Yup, still fun.

Live Free or Die Hard. Yup, still fun. Daughter was nice looking.

Book of Eli. I'm closer to meh than anything else. It was ok but for some reason it just didn't do that much for me, but I will grant I was exhausted when I watched and could have simply missed the goods.

Oh wow. I thought Die Hard 4 was absolute horse ####. Taking out helicopters with cars and fire hydrants? Just terrible.

 

[KarmaPolice]

An Idiot Abroad:

Ended up watching Season 1 in a couple nights too. Ricky Gervais sends his friend around the world to supposedly go to the 7 Wonders of the World. Really it's more about putting him in uncomfortable situations and laughing at him. A couple dud episodes, but I was laughing a lot watching this one.

Now maybe I will actually watch a damn movie this week.

 

[bonesman]

Also, whomever mentioned GoT being willing to off characters like no show ever has. On that front it still pales in comparison to The Walking Dead which has like a third of the characters left after two seasons.

Meh... maybe TWD had more deaths, but they certainly couldn't be more impactful.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Good acting and cast. But pretty slow and hard to follow at times. While I understood the ending, I still think there's a lot I missed.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Safe House: Started off the same as every other action movie... fell asleep for a while... woke up for the end... ended the same as every other action movie. Denzel's shtick is old. 1.5/5

Haywire: See above review minus the Denzel comment. At least this one had Gina in it... 1.6/5.I'm done with action movies. Same crap every time. I think CGI has killed the standard action movie for me. I'd much rather watch giant robots or mutants fighting each other than a regular person dodging bullets and being otherwise superhuman.

 

[Jutz]

I need to start a thread for "recommended movies to watch with your son or daughter." Maybe I already did and I forgot about it.

I have a daughter who is 8 and a son who is 11. We just watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and the three of us all loved the sh$t out of it. Wholy enjoyable time for everybody. Yes, somewhat dated. Yes, a bit cheesy, but a great message, some funny one liners, hot-chicks-but-in-a-tame-kind-of-way, some dramatic tension, and enough slapstick to keep the kids interested. For a dad and his kids, this gets highest mark. I can't believe the same movie that I enjoyed as a 16 year old they enjoy as 8 and 11 year olds. But whatever.

So this movie gets included in the "fun for dad and kids," along with this mix of classic and recent:

Iron Giant

Ghostbusters

Goonies

Searching for Bobby Fisher

August Rush

Airplane

Field of Dreams

The Sandlot

The A-Team

The Princess Bride

Back to the Future

Men in Black

Support Your Local Sheriff (my favorite when I was 11, and my son loved it)

Oh Brother How Art Thou (this was a stretch for my son, but he made it through)

Apple Dumpling Gang

Sound of Music

Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang

These are all rentals that I've watched with them in the last 3 years, are a lot of fun for your 8-12 year old (or your nephew or niece), and have a lot of "rewatchability" so you will have fun watching with them.

I think I'm going to try and take it to the next level and bring Raising Arizona to our family vacation. I think the first 20 minutes will make my son's head explode. He LOVES slapstick.

We Bought a Zoo andOctober Sky

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Die Hard with a Vengence. Yup, still fun.

Live Free or Die Hard. Yup, still fun. Daughter was nice looking.

Book of Eli. I'm closer to meh than anything else. It was ok but for some reason it just didn't do that much for me, but I will grant I was exhausted when I watched and could have simply missed the goods.

Oh wow. I thought Die Hard 4 was absolute horse ####. Taking out helicopters with cars and fire hydrants? Just terrible.

I wasn't expecting the greatest movie ever but I will grant that it wasn't in the same league as the first one - few movies are

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies.

"You killed a helicopter with a car."

"I was out of bullets."

 

[belljr]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

I thought 4 was better than 2

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

I thought 4 was better than 2

By a looonnng shot. Die Hard 2 and Temple Of Doom are probably my two least favorite sequels of all time. For both movies, I've revisited them thinking "well maybe I'd like it better the second time". Nope. They're horrible.

 

[Copeman]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

I thought 4 was better than 2

By a looonnng shot. Die Hard 2 and Temple Of Doom are probably my two least favorite sequels of all time. For both movies, I've revisited them thinking "well maybe I'd like it better the second time". Nope. They're horrible.

Just had this conversation with the g/f the other night. The second Die Hard was by far my least favorite. I'd rank them as #1, #3, #4, #2. And I doubt many will agree, but #3 is close to the #1 spot for me. I'd take either as the best.

 

[joffer]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

no less realistic than stopping yourself from free falling down an elevator shaft by catching the ledge of a ventloved all the Die Hards. 1432

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

I thought 4 was better than 2

By a looonnng shot. Die Hard 2 and Temple Of Doom are probably my two least favorite sequels of all time. For both movies, I've revisited them thinking "well maybe I'd like it better the second time". Nope. They're horrible.

Just had this conversation with the g/f the other night. The second Die Hard was by far my least favorite. I'd rank them as #1, #3, #4, #2. And I doubt many will agree, but #3 is close to the #1 spot for me. I'd take either as the best.

#3 is awesome because Jeremy Irons is so badass. I don't like the ending, but everything else is good fun. Having him walk in Harlem with the sandwich board was awesome.

 

[Copeman]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies."You killed a helicopter with a car.""I was out of bullets."

I thought 4 was better than 2

By a looonnng shot. Die Hard 2 and Temple Of Doom are probably my two least favorite sequels of all time. For both movies, I've revisited them thinking "well maybe I'd like it better the second time". Nope. They're horrible.

Just had this conversation with the g/f the other night. The second Die Hard was by far my least favorite. I'd rank them as #1, #3, #4, #2. And I doubt many will agree, but #3 is close to the #1 spot for me. I'd take either as the best.

#3 is awesome because Jeremy Irons is so badass. I don't like the ending, but everything else is good fun. Having him walk in Harlem with the sandwich board was awesome.

I really enjoyed SLJ in this one as well. Him and Bruce had good chemistry.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

aaah, my opinion confirmed!

Right, because it must be #### if I like it

 

[jdoggydogg]

Die Hard with a Vengence. Yup, still fun.

Live Free or Die Hard. Yup, still fun. Daughter was nice looking.

Book of Eli. I'm closer to meh than anything else. It was ok but for some reason it just didn't do that much for me, but I will grant I was exhausted when I watched and could have simply missed the goods.

Oh wow. I thought Die Hard 4 was absolute horse ####. Taking out helicopters with cars and fire hydrants? Just terrible.

I liked Live Free or Die Hard.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Downton Abbey: Season 2

I seem to recall Wikkid saying that season 2 was a disappointment. Three episodes in, I don't see it. Still a brilliant show.

aaah, my opinion confirmed!

Right, because it must be #### if I like it

 

[Maik Jeaunz]

Let Me In - horror/thriller with Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins. I normally don't like movies with kids, but I kinda liked this one. for the most part, it was pretty predictable but still entertaining. Chloe Moretz should be a fine actress for years to come. the score was well done, and added to the creepiness. best part for me was when I realized who Richard Jenkins really was to her...kind of a "whoa" moment. I'll give it 3/5...maybe 3.25.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I wasn't expecting the greatest movie ever but I will grant that it wasn't in the same league as the first one - few movies are

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies.

I really get frustrated with lines like these. Just takes the discussion out of movies too much and seemingly give movies - mainly action ones that we are talking about - a free pass to be braindead flashes of light that we watch while we shove nachos into our cakeholes.

Two of the best action movies feature time travelling cyborgs and aliens that have acid for blood. Suspension of disbelief is not the issue here. Nobody is going into most action movies or summer blockbuster thinking it's going to be Kubrick movie or Casablanca. That is not the issue either. My beefs start coming when they take a franchise like Die Hard, which was mainly Bruce taking out the baddies with guns and fists, and neutering it with some silly cgi fare with spouts of water taking out helicopters. Granted we are talking about a fourth installment of a franchise/series, and that is never a good thing. I don't think I could come up with movies that got into the 4th+ movie of a series and was still strong. Maybe my anger just clouded my judgement of DH4 - a lot of my favorite series were shat on in the last decade or so, and maybe a dumbed down pg-13 Die Hard just put me over the edge. Now that Die Hard, Aliens, Terminator, and Indiana Jones (and don't get me started on what they did to the Transformers) have all been killed it feels like a piece of my adolescence has been ripped from me.

I am really having trouble coming up with many action movies in the last 15 years or so that I thought were well done or live up to the level of those movies. About all I can think of that I would consider a straight action movie is the Bourne series. What am I missing??

 

[KarmaPolice]

Die Hard 2 and Temple Of Doom are probably my two least favorite sequels of all time. For both movies, I've revisited them thinking "well maybe I'd like it better the second time". Nope. They're horrible.

80s had horrible sequels. DH2 and Temple of Doom >>>>>>>>>>>>>> crap like Ghostbusters 2, etc.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I don't think I could come up with movies that got into the 4th+ movie of a series and was still strong.

I understand your overall point, but this statement is pretty much where I am on the series. By the 4th, Bruce it too old to me, so I wasn't expecting it to be on the level of the first one. But I enjoyed it for what it was. It was a fun action movie and since I like that character I'm willing to give it more leeway, knowing that it can't be as good as the first one (or the third for that matter which I agree is very good).I don't get the hate for the second one. The NYPD Blue guy was hysterical, the great one liner about lead in his rear or crap in his brains was stupid and funny all at the same time. The twist was decent enough to be entertaining. I liked it. And while I'm on the Die Hard subject, what the hell is wrong with his wife? She leaves him in New York for a job in LA. He goes out there and you can tell he misses her and loves her. He ends up saving her life in one of the greatest action movies of all time. Then he transfers to LAPD to be with her even though he is a New York cop, and once again saves her and an entire airport in DC as an LA cop, only to have her kick him out and fight with him enough to make him go back to NY and get his old job back... only, some years later to have his daughter hate him too. WTF? What's a guy gotta do?

 

[Dr. Awesome]

The Raid has been mentioned a few times but if it's an action movie you want, this is one of the best action movies I've ever seen. Strongly recommend this for any fans of the genre.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Two of the best action movies feature time travelling cyborgs and aliens that have acid for blood. Suspension of disbelief is not the issue here. Nobody is going into most action movies or summer blockbuster thinking it's going to be Kubrick movie or Casablanca. That is not the issue either. My beefs start coming when they take a franchise like Die Hard, which was mainly Bruce taking out the baddies with guns and fists, and neutering it with some silly cgi fare with spouts of water taking out helicopters. Granted we are talking about a fourth installment of a franchise/series, and that is never a good thing. I don't think I could come up with movies that got into the 4th+ movie of a series and was still strong. Maybe my anger just clouded my judgement of DH4 - a lot of my favorite series were shat on in the last decade or so, and maybe a dumbed down pg-13 Die Hard just put me over the edge. Now that Die Hard, Aliens, Terminator, and Indiana Jones (and don't get me started on what they did to the Transformers) have all been killed it feels like a piece of my adolescence has been ripped from me.

I am really having trouble coming up with many action movies in the last 15 years or so that I thought were well done or live up to the level of those movies. About all I can think of that I would consider a straight action movie is the Bourne series. What am I missing??

I could probably come up with a couple if I really thought about it, but certainly less than a handful. That said, you mentioned the Alien and Terminator franchises in the same post (albeit getting at another point) which are as much sci-fi as they are action, if not more.In general, I think the pure action movie has gone to the wayside. Whether that be for the lack of pure action stars, scripts, box office profit, etc or a more than likely combination. Statham, maybe The Rock, are the only actors Id even consider action guys at this point, and neither has had an even above average script in that genre. Maybe The Mechanic?

Its almost like as the century ended, so did action as a popular genre. After sitting here typing this for 5 minutes, the best I can come up with Nic Cage's trifecta of The Rock, Con Air, and Face/Off, which in all honesty I'll take over the Bourne Trilogy

Even then, thats pushing 15 years as the window. Between Bourne and M:I, or even Statham's Transporters or Crank, it appears to make an action movie it needs to be part of a series at this point.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I wasn't expecting the greatest movie ever but I will grant that it wasn't in the same league as the first one - few movies are

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies.

I really get frustrated with lines like these. Just takes the discussion out of movies too much and seemingly give movies - mainly action ones that we are talking about - a free pass to be braindead flashes of light that we watch while we shove nachos into our cakeholes.

Two of the best action movies feature time travelling cyborgs and aliens that have acid for blood. Suspension of disbelief is not the issue here. Nobody is going into most action movies or summer blockbuster thinking it's going to be Kubrick movie or Casablanca. That is not the issue either. My beefs start coming when they take a franchise like Die Hard, which was mainly Bruce taking out the baddies with guns and fists, and neutering it with some silly cgi fare with spouts of water taking out helicopters. Granted we are talking about a fourth installment of a franchise/series, and that is never a good thing. I don't think I could come up with movies that got into the 4th+ movie of a series and was still strong. Maybe my anger just clouded my judgement of DH4 - a lot of my favorite series were shat on in the last decade or so, and maybe a dumbed down pg-13 Die Hard just put me over the edge. Now that Die Hard, Aliens, Terminator, and Indiana Jones (and don't get me started on what they did to the Transformers) have all been killed it feels like a piece of my adolescence has been ripped from me.

I am really having trouble coming up with many action movies in the last 15 years or so that I thought were well done or live up to the level of those movies. About all I can think of that I would consider a straight action movie is the Bourne series. What am I missing??

Storyboarding overtook story, especially with the advent of 3D. Plot has not been a guarantor of boxoffice for a very long time and the talent of directors who make sensate pictures appears to be the opposite of the kind required to make sensible pictures. It continues to amaze me that the Bruckheimers, Silvers & other action movie producers spare no expense for all aspects but story. They could at least have a Logic Dept to vet the ridiculousness out of blockbuster scripts, so that people who require exposition between explosions can enjoy big movies as much as the fanboys at whom theyre targeted.

 

[belljr]

[i am really having trouble coming up with many action movies in the last 15 years or so that I thought were well done or live up to the level of those movies. About all I can think of that I would consider a straight action movie is the Bourne series. What am I missing??

What me to name some?I'll start with CON AIR

 

[Apple Jack]

Action film as a genre has pretty much sucked for years. Taken and the Bourne films (really just the first one) are the only ones I've seen that were worth the time to watch.

And 99 times out of a 100 sequels are terrible. I will not see them and never plan on seeing them unless I'm familiar with the source material and think it will be good, it's being made by somebody I like, or the hype reaches a point that I'm curious. But on spec, anything with a "2" behind is a giant WGAF for me.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Die Hard 4 is fun. Some people are just able to take "willing suspension of disbelief" further than others in order to have a good time at the movies.

I really get frustrated with lines like these. Just takes the discussion out of movies too much and seemingly give movies - mainly action ones that we are talking about - a free pass to be braindead flashes of light that we watch while we shove nachos into our cakeholes.

Mmmmm....cake....

 

[KarmaPolice]

Action film as a genre has pretty much sucked for years. Taken and the Bourne films (really just the first one) are the only ones I've seen that were worth the time to watch.

And 99 times out of a 100 sequels are terrible. I will not see them and never plan on seeing them unless I'm familiar with the source material and think it will be good, it's being made by somebody I like, or the hype reaches a point that I'm curious. But on spec, anything with a "2" behind is a giant WGAF for me.

I don't agree with this at all. There are a lot of good sequels, especially in the comic book and Pixar/animated run that we are having in the theaters. X2, Spidey 2, Dark Knight, Toy Story 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, etc, etc.. are all damn good movies and either improve on or are nearly as good as the original. I think the huge dropoff in quality starts happening when you are entering the 3rd/4th installment of the series.

Don't know why, but I let myself have some mild hope of Die Hard and Terminator not dropping off so much for me. Should have known from seeing both as pg-13 that they didn't have the original fans of the series in mind at all. Hugely disappointed in both of them. I tried watching Terminator: Salvation again a few months ago and couldn't get through it. I have not watched Die Hard 4 again, but maybe it's worth a shot with some of the comments in here stating it wasn't that bad.

 

[saintfool]

The Raid has been mentioned a few times but if it's an action movie you want, this is one of the best action movies I've ever seen. Strongly recommend this for any fans of the genre.

Damn straight. I kind of forgot how much I liked this.After challenging night with my 2-year old, I needed lighter fare. Watched "Adventureland" with Jesse Eisenberg and Kirsten Stewart. It's slightly better than okay. It didn't make me laugh but I was amused mostly. This is the first time I have seen Stewart in a flick really (couldn't watch more than 5 minutes of a Twilight film on a plane) and she seemed up to the task for this film. She knows how to play moody and angsty. It's a fun film even if it wasted Ryan Reynolds comic charm. I appreciated the character played by Martin Starr in this. He's tremendous as Roman on "Party Down" too.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I am really having trouble coming up with many action movies in the last 15 years or so that I thought were well done or live up to the level of those movies. About all I can think of that I would consider a straight action movie is the Bourne series. What am I missing??

The Rock

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Storyboarding overtook story, especially with the advent of 3D. Plot has not been a guarantor of boxoffice for a very long time and the talent of directors who make sensate pictures appears to be the opposite of the kind required to make sensible pictures. It continues to amaze me that the Bruckheimers, Silvers & other action movie producers spare no expense for all aspects but story. They could at least have a Logic Dept to vet the ridiculousness out of blockbuster scripts, so that people who require exposition between explosions can enjoy big movies as much as the fanboys at whom theyre targeted.

Are you only talking about action movies here? There are a ridiculous amount of movies with fantastic stories from the modern era.Even with action movies, plenty have good stories. Stuff like Pirates (the first one), The Adjustment Bereau, and plenty of others have had good stories. Sure, there's plenty of the crude Battleship type messes, but there are a lot that have had a solid story as well.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Storyboarding overtook story, especially with the advent of 3D. Plot has not been a guarantor of boxoffice for a very long time and the talent of directors who make sensate pictures appears to be the opposite of the kind required to make sensible pictures. It continues to amaze me that the Bruckheimers, Silvers & other action movie producers spare no expense for all aspects but story. They could at least have a Logic Dept to vet the ridiculousness out of blockbuster scripts, so that people who require exposition between explosions can enjoy big movies as much as the fanboys at whom theyre targeted.

Are you only talking about action movies here? There are a ridiculous amount of movies with fantastic stories from the modern era.Even with action movies, plenty have good stories. Stuff like Pirates (the first one), The Adjustment Bereau, and plenty of others have had good stories. Sure, there's plenty of the crude Battleship type messes, but there are a lot that have had a solid story as well.

 

[Apple Jack]

Action film as a genre has pretty much sucked for years. Taken and the Bourne films (really just the first one) are the only ones I've seen that were worth the time to watch.

And 99 times out of a 100 sequels are terrible. I will not see them and never plan on seeing them unless I'm familiar with the source material and think it will be good, it's being made by somebody I like, or the hype reaches a point that I'm curious. But on spec, anything with a "2" behind is a giant WGAF for me.

I don't agree with this at all. There are a lot of good sequels, especially in the comic book and Pixar/animated run that we are having in the theaters. X2, Spidey 2, Dark Knight, Toy Story 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, etc, etc.. are all damn good movies and either improve on or are nearly as good as the original. I think the huge dropoff in quality starts happening when you are entering the 3rd/4th installment of the series.

Don't know why, but I let myself have some mild hope of Die Hard and Terminator not dropping off so much for me. Should have known from seeing both as pg-13 that they didn't have the original fans of the series in mind at all. Hugely disappointed in both of them. I tried watching Terminator: Salvation again a few months ago and couldn't get through it. I have not watched Die Hard 4 again, but maybe it's worth a shot with some of the comments in here stating it wasn't that bad.

You just cited pretty much every good sequel ever done.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Storyboarding overtook story, especially with the advent of 3D. Plot has not been a guarantor of boxoffice for a very long time and the talent of directors who make sensate pictures appears to be the opposite of the kind required to make sensible pictures. It continues to amaze me that the Bruckheimers, Silvers & other action movie producers spare no expense for all aspects but story. They could at least have a Logic Dept to vet the ridiculousness out of blockbuster scripts, so that people who require exposition between explosions can enjoy big movies as much as the fanboys at whom theyre targeted.

Are you only talking about action movies here? There are a ridiculous amount of movies with fantastic stories from the modern era.Even with action movies, plenty have good stories. Stuff like Pirates (the first one), The Adjustment Bereau, and plenty of others have had good stories. Sure, there's plenty of the crude Battleship type messes, but there are a lot that have had a solid story as well.

fantastic would be the right word for modern story sense. even the best moviemakers these days - Scorsese, Coens for example - have poor understanding of 3rd acts. movies were a writers medium when studios made 40 $million pictures a yr and hoped word to get out well enough for the best to stick instead of $100mil investments on opening wkends. TVs the place for storytellers these days, nostalgic though some may be for films that excite AND satisfy.

 

[jamny]

An Idiot Abroad:

Ended up watching Season 1 in a couple nights too. Ricky Gervais sends his friend around the world to supposedly go to the 7 Wonders of the World. Really it's more about putting him in uncomfortable situations and laughing at him. A couple dud episodes, but I was laughing a lot watching this one.

Now maybe I will actually watch a damn movie this week.

Loved Season 1. Season 2 was a bit of a disappointment. A little too disjointed, didn't seem as authentic. Some funny moments but not nearly as good.

 

[jamny]

Let Me In - horror/thriller with Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins. I normally don't like movies with kids, but I kinda liked this one. for the most part, it was pretty predictable but still entertaining. Chloe Moretz should be a fine actress for years to come. the score was well done, and added to the creepiness. best part for me was when I realized who Richard Jenkins really was to her...kind of a "whoa" moment. I'll give it 3/5...maybe 3.25.

If you get the chance, check out the original, Let the Right One In. Much creepier and atmospheric, imo.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Let Me In - horror/thriller with Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins. I normally don't like movies with kids, but I kinda liked this one. for the most part, it was pretty predictable but still entertaining. Chloe Moretz should be a fine actress for years to come. the score was well done, and added to the creepiness. best part for me was when I realized who Richard Jenkins really was to her...kind of a "whoa" moment. I'll give it 3/5...maybe 3.25.

If you get the chance, check out the original, Let the Right One In. Much creepier and atmospheric, imo.

Problem with that is that you have to spend two hours listening to people speak Swedish. :X