The big list of movie reviews / discussion

[Axe]

This is an ongoing thread of movie reviews to give an idea of what's worth seeing, and what's worth fleeing (I spent the better part of the night coming up with this pun). I've seen a lot of movies in the last few years, and decided I would share my vast knowledge of what's worth watching. So if you're looking for something to rent/download/steal, this is for you. Feel free to ask about movies not listed as well.

 

Memento

I own this movie on DVD, eventhough I don't have a DVD player. It's just that awesome. Despite having a low budget, the movie has some great actors and one of the most orignal plots to come along in years. The entire movie is marvelously executed with reverse sequence scenes. Other movies have tried to pull off this effect, but none mastered it so well as Memento. Go watch this movie.

 

Vanilla sky

A lot of people didn't like this movie, so I'm probably going against the majority here. For the most part, the movie has an excellent soundtrack and great visual effects. The 2:15 runtime might be tiring if you're not into long movies. The story is confusing at times, and you're probably better off if you watch it more than once. The biggest complaint about the movie is the ending, which oddly enough I really liked. It could have been better in my opinion, but still worth seeing.

 

12 Monkeys

This is my favorite movie of all time. If you've never seen it you're missing out big time. Certain aspects are touched on (time travel, psychology), while not being too far fetched. This was Brad Pitt's standout performace, and certainly the best of his career. The acting, scenery, and plot are all top notch. Worth owning on DVD.

 

Dark City

This is a great movie often compared to The Matrix. A fantastic visual style with a mystery/sci-fi setting. The amount of work that must have gone into this movie is amazing. I don't want to give anything away plotwise, but you can find a small synopsis on IMDB. While this was actually filmed two years before The Matrix was filmed, and it's known that they used some of the left over sets for filming, there are some things that suggest The Matrix may have copied parts of this movie. If you've seen both movies, you might want to check out the similarities between the two (not in english, but easy enough to understand). I personally enjoyed it more than the Matrix. Worth owning on DVD.

 

The Big Lebowski

The first time I watched this movie I thought of it as being mediocre. Upon second viewing, I realized how brilliant it was. This is without a doubt one of the funniest movies ever made. There's a lot you miss the first time around, so repeated viewings is recommended. Jeff Bridges and John Goodman give the best performances of their careers. I gave the title of favorite movie to 12 Monkeys a while ago, but this movie is really starting to grow on me and I'm almost tempted to call it my favorite.I could watch it over and over and never get bored of it. Another movie I own on DVD, despite not having a DVD player. Go buy it now.

[Axe]

Bad Santa

It was fun to see Billy Bob Thornton do a funny role, since I had only previously seen him play a retard in Sling Blade. Don't be deceived by the cute name, this is definitly an R rated movie. The movie involes drunk guy, a midget, and a dimwit fat kid. The plot didn't seem all that involving, I thought it was building up for something that never came. Despite being a Christmas movie, the word "fuck" is used 147 times. Some good jokes, but most were pretty juvenile. Possibly worth renting. Not worth owning.

 

Eurotrip

A fairly typical teen comedy set in Europe (duh). I liked it better than other teen comedies such as American Pie and Old School, although that doesn't say a lot. It was entertaining enough for me to watch it all the way through which was a plus. If you're in the mood for something dumb to pass the time, this might be for you.

 

The Matrix Reloaded

I really liked the orignal Matrix, and I must say this was a bit of a let down. The Matrix would have been well off as a single movie, but after seeing DVD sales soar the Wachowski brothers decided to milk the cash cow for all it was worth. The Matrix Reloaded has top special effects and some really clever scenes, but it still lacks a certain element from the original. Worth renting once, probably not worth owning.

 

Pulp Fiction

I'm sure everyone has already seen this movie twice, being the most popular movie of the 90's. The unique style Quentin Tarantino creates for each movie is amazing. There's been a few knockoff of this movie since, but don't let those fool you. Pulp Fiction is an 100% awesome movie. Worth owning on DVD.

 

Band of Brothers

While it's really a miniseries, watching it you would be certain it's a movie. It's the biggest and most expensive miniseries ever produced, and it certainly delivers. Great acting, fantastic effects, and a story you can't get enough of. By the end you will be wowed guaranteed. The DVD set is around $80, which seems a little steep. Renting or buying used might be a good idea, unless you're made out of money.

[Angeldust]

hey. what did you think of the Butterfly Effect?

[nemo]

Snatch.

 

One of the few movies (together with The Big Lebowski and what not) that I own on (special double-disc) DVD. Snatch is really Lock & Stock-deluxe, but oh-so-much better in my opinion. The movie in itself doesn't have a very interesting story, but due to great fucking acting and awesome characters, not to mention the best script of any movie ever, this is, together with The Big Lebowski, my favorite movie of all time, and I've seen it on a three-week-repeated basis since I bought it last summer.

 

GET IT NOW.

[Beyonder]

Vanilla sky

A lot of people didn't like this movie, so I'm probably going against the majority here. For the most part, the movie has an excellent soundtrack and great visual effects. The 2:15 runtime might be tiring if you're not into long movies. The story is confusing at times, and you're probably better off if you watch it more than once. The biggest complaint about the movie is the ending, which oddly enough I really liked. It could have been better in my opinion, but still worth seeing.

 

Very much agree, I really liked the movie - made me think. :)

[pikacheney]

Excuse me while I take you through almost the entirety of Kubrick's career :cool:

 

 

Paths of Glory

Fucking stellar movie, easily one of Kubrick's best. Also one of the best war films I've ever seen, but don't be fooled by that. It's at once a War Action, War Drama, Court Drama and so much more. Kirk Douglas gives an awesome performance to an awesome story. If you want to see a good World War I film (barring maybe All Quiet) then you have to check this out.

 

Dr. Strangelove

Wow. Just fucking, wow. A legendary film both for it's serious intents and dark morbid humor. Mind-bogglingly ahead of it's time, Dr. Strangelove switches between three running story lines about the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. The Black comedy that every other Black comedy tries to be and is compared to. The brilliance derives from Kubrick's ability to make the small foibles of human problems seem rediculous when placed on a massive scale.

 

2001: A Space Odyssey

A classic, obviously. Without a doubt the most influential science fiction film of all time. 2001 has still yet to be succeeded in originality. An attempt by Kubrick to combine an awe with the implications of outer space/technology/human consciousness and a cautionary tale about the relationship between man and machine, 2001 is utter brilliance. It's not for everyone. By today's standards, it's slow and bland. In my opinion, you have to be a huge fan of film, and even then a particular fan of film to be able to appreciate 2001 to its fullest extent. But if you want to have your mind blown and "it's too slow" was never a problem, see this or face a life not worth living.

 

A Clockwork Orange

A cult classic for a reason. The second piece in what's recognized as Kubrick's moral trilogy (2001, ACW, BL), A Clockwork Orange tells the tale of criminal and philosopher Alex DeLarge. ACW effectively created one of the most memorable universes ever seen in film. The settings, the costumes, the characters, the language; it's a world unlike any other yet seems so rediculously similar to our own. A really fantastic movie that anyone who's anyone should be familiar with by now.

 

Barry Lyndon

The most forgotten of Kubrick's works, Barry Lyndon is surprisingly fantastic. Like every (seriously, except like 2) Kubrick film, the criticism is split right down the middle. Some would say it's a beautiful film, all form and no content. The other half, which includes me of course, would argue that Barry Lyndon is an amazing picaresque journey through painfully gorgeous settings with an unforgettable climax. Either way, the reviews have SOMETHING good to say. Set during the Seven Years War in Northern Europe, BL spins the tale of a young Irish peasant who rises the top of the social elite. It's got all the staples of 17th century drama (after all, its based off a novel by Thackeray): revenge, betrayal, duels, forbidden love and of course a rediculous amount of manners. But beware, this is another long one. Running over 3 and a half hours, Barry Lyndon is the slowest of Kubrick's films. It doesn't bother me of course, because it's the most beautiful fucking film I've ever seen. I'd be willing to frame every shot in this film on my wall.

 

The Shining

To think this film was directed by Stanley Kubrick is pretty strange. The movie doesn't have nearly as much to say as the rest of his movies, but man is it a great one. One of the scariest movies I've ever seen, and that was his intent. In an interview I read, Kubrick said that he wanted to take a bit of a break with The Shining and just play with the relationship between director and audience. Mainly he just wanted to scare the shit out of everyone. And boy does it work. A classic horror film that everyone should see cuz it's probably the most accessable of Kubrick's films.

 

Full Metal Jacket

Probably one of my favorite Kubrick's, if not my favorite, Full Metal Jacket is a stellar war film. Placed in the Vietnam war, though not exactly talking directly about the Vietnam war specifically, FMJ succeeds extravagantly in depicting the horrors of war. Everyone likes the first half better than the second half, and I must say I do too, but it's amazing to see how they relate to each other. Of all of Kubrick's characters, the drill seargant in FMJ is probably the most quoted (outside of maybe HAL9000 or Alex, it's arguable) and most memorable of all. This is probably the other Kubrick film I'd reccomend to everyone. It's not even violent really, for a war film at least. Well, it is. It's just not very frequent.

 

Eyes Wide Shut

Probably the least accessable movie by Kubrick. Eyes Wide Shut is a psycho-thriller about a married couple. The main character is the husband, played (poorly) by Tom Cruise. He finds out his wife is maybe not as faithful as he had thought which causes him to embark on a rediculous journey through the New York underground. Plays with so many philosophical, moral and just plain weird notions at once, Eyes Wide Shut is dense and fantastically ambitious. Kubrick died before he could finalize much of the editing, leaving this a little more rough than his other films. Even keeping that in mind, it's a strange flawed film. An akward end, some might say, to Kubrick's career. On the contrary, I wrote a two dozen page paper on EWS (and 2001 and BL) this year and EWS has so much to say it's hard to ignore. Still, unless you're willing to watch (what most consider) a boring film a few times, you probably won't appreciate this one. I know I didn't until I studied it.

[glory]

The Emperor's New Groove

One of my favorite Disney movies ever. That and the Lion King. The actors who played the voices were amazing, and the whole kronk character was just great and, in my opinion, really helped make the movie even better.

 

Toy Story

My favorite toy story movie is the first one, I didn't like the second one that much with the introduction of the woody's round up gang, but the first one is a must see. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!

 

Goodbye, Lenin!

A story about a mother and two sons who lived in former east germany. The mom fell into coma or something like that during the fall of the soviet union, and she woke up afterwords or something and if she expeirences anything new she will have a heart ache and die, so the boys try to make her apt and house look like it did before the soviet union collasped, and buy old soviet stuff, because she might die if she sees all the new changes. It is really cool and beautiful movie!

 

Lost in Translation

A movie with bill murray and some hot girl who are in toyko, it follows their wild hyjinx through the days until they have to leave. it's a pretty indie lover movie (filme lol) but even though it was lacking a real plot it was pretty good, and so was the acting.

 

Ameile

Another indie movie lover film about a girl who likes to help people and she speaks french alot and she tries to follow this guy who she thinks she loves but shes afraid to admit it i think and there is some guy who paints pictures. it has a pretty good ending.

 

Cool Runnings

One for the money, two for the show, 3 lets get going its bobsledding time!!! John Candy plays the role of a ex olypmic bobsled team captain but was in troble but now he is bringing the jamaicans to the olympics to kick BUTT, but one problem they have no money and they don't have a rep. when they make a mockey of themselve they get down and then the father is like U HAVE TO COME HOME, BUT I DONT WANT TO FATHER pretty intense parts, but aside from that it is a happy movie that had me in tears in the end!!

 

Suicide Club

its a group of kids that commit suicide and investigators try to figure out why, i dont know i didnt have english sub or dub but they don't figure out why and some shit happens. WHY KIDS

 

Flight of the Navigator

This movie rocked when I was a kid, its about a kid who gets beamed up to space ship and flies around and this chick that listens to twisted sister helps him and its really great and the scene in toyko is harilous LOL!!! but the kid looks like my brah and his brother is such a dweeb XD LOL but man one of the great 80s movies that indie fags havent ruined YET so if u want to be ahead of the scene RENT IT!!

[Pestilence]

Axe, 12 monkeys vanilla sky and momento, pulp fiction and band of brothers great movies.

 

i loved band of brothers so much, too bad i only saw like 4 shows...i wanna get the DVD box set but its like $200 and i dont even own a DVD player.

 

Vanilla sky was also great, ive seen it about 5 times...no one i knew who watched it liked it...i dont understand why...then again all these people dont like quintin tarentinos work, so their all fuck heads anyways.

 

Snatch, never saw it, tried downloading it, but all i got was porn, i heard it was really good though

 

Piak, i love all your movies pretty much, kubrick was a genious...eyes wide shut was ok...but there were some parts i didnt like. the weird piana stuff was cool though.

 

glry, i was gonna rent lost in stanslation, but my gf wouldnt let me, i heard it good though.... lion king and toy story kick ass tooo.

[Pestilence]

Cant buy my love (lol i think thats what its called)

its about this nerd kid who pays some chick $1000 to be his GF for a month so he can become cool. its nothing fancy, but its kinda cool...seth green is in it too, he plays the main dudes younger brother.

 

Breakfast club

if you havent seen it its a must, if you seen not another ten movie they spoof one of the scenes near the end. this movie is great...probably one of my fav 80's movies (im a sap for 80's love stories)

 

Reservoir Dogs

probably one of my fav tarentino movies, the acting and dialog are great (well that pretty much goes for all his movies) The first scene, the washroom dog scene and the stuck in the middle with you scene are sme of my favs.

 

Mean Girls

it was actually really good, very funny and its kinda true to life (the bitchyness of high school girls) the actors in it are really good (all the adults are from SNL pretty much) and the chciks are fucking hot as hell.

 

Hellboy

it is a really cool movie, hes like the offspring of stalin and satan, probably one of the best comic adaptation that has ever been released. and the guy they got the play him was perfect

 

Shrek 2

probably even better then the first, its really funny and they spoof alot of movies...ending has a song and dance number of course

 

Hackers

hacking on a MAC, cant get any better then that...angelina joli is in it and she does a toplesss scene

 

Gia

again angelina, shes naked for half the movie...lol actings ok

 

this last movie was this european love story between 2 lesbian teenage girls, they're in different groups and arent really friends, but they come together at the end...it is a really good movie, kinda sad a little...i cant remember the name, but it has something to do with love.

[Himmelstossen]

I like certain type of movies especially adventure type movies that take you somewhere far far away most of my friends like my taste in movies so I'll just chuck in a short description and a rating out of 5 that I would give it.

 

13 WARRIOR

Story: During the Dark ages an arab from Bagdhad is sent into exile as an emabssador (Antonio banderras) to the northern provinces, during a raid by mongols his carvan takes refuge near a river where they meet a camp of Vikings who back in that era where known to travel huge distances by ship. Whilst staying with them news reaches the vikings of a terror in their homeland and taking advice from an oracle 13 warriors must go. But the 13th warrior must be no north man. Given that profecy the embassador is given little choice but to go with them and face the threat.

 

Rating:Easily my favourite movie to whatch again and again.. the story isn't highly involving however it gets straight to business, the soundtrack is good, the acting or at least the actors fit their role extremely well (especially the head Viking dude)and I think they where norwegian actors some of whom I've seen in other movies like the Cadfael medieval series that used to run on the BBC. The budget wasn't to lowly and the costume design and sets are better than good. Well worth seeing and a good one to own. 4.5/5

 

CONGO

Story: Exhbedihtion in Africa (Congo area) to find a rare diamond type is wiped out by a mysterious animal. Another team is sent in to investigate and also retrieve a sample of the diamond if possible.

 

Rating: A good movie even if the stories focus wanes back and forward from different charachters.. its a movie that takes you for a definate ride, I found it worth owning for when u have friends over who havn't seen it. Some of the special effects are pretty awesome especially towards the end. 3.5/5

 

THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS

Story: Based on a true story during the late 1800's or early 1900's in Africa where an Irish engineer is working to build a bride in Tsavo, however there has been a number of mysterious attacks by lions specifically targeting men. The engineer must first kill the lions before he can complete the bridge.

 

Rating: This movie got mixed reviews but I say its well worth seeing and has a fucking good story to it. I checked out how true the story was on the net and some of the incidents that happend in the movie actually happend. Apparently the lions claimed 140 people ;0 The movie does a good job of building suspense and is definatley entertainment value. 3.5/5

 

 

LORD OF THE RINGS Extended editions

need I say more? Like it or hate it I just thought I'd include them.. I won't post a rating though.. If you havn't got or seenthe extended editions then do so.. theres 20 mins of extra footage in the first and 40 mins in the second.. it tells the story alot better and alot of beneficial story was left out of those 40 and 20 mins.

 

RAVENOUS

Story: Set in America during the American-mexican war this little gem I found a while back and its well worth seeing. Its about canabalism at the lonley fort forgot what the name was but anyway its bound to keep you entertained and features the main star of Full monty and Guy pierce (Momentum).

 

Rating: 3.5/5

 

THE LAST SAMURAI

Story: A burnt out/Disgruntled American War hero is sent to Japan to help train its armies and put down a rebellion during the 1800's. During a skirmish he is taken captive and finds that the best of friends are always where you last expected to find them.

 

Rating: This movie makes a definate point about honour and the impact of technology, you'll notice this at the beginning of the movie and at the end. All through out this movie the way of the Sumarai as a code of conduct and honour is presented to the viewer. This movie will appeal to most generations from old to young and is one of Tom Cruise's finest performances. 5/5

 

BRAVEHEART

Story: I think most of you have seen it but if u havn't I'll summarize.. its about a guy in medieval Scotland who looses parents to war, goes to live with his uncle where he is tutored, returns to his hometown to find english tyranny at its height, marries the woman of his dreams, woman is killed by english, man turns to rebel, man recruits army and fights England.

 

Rating: Fuckin good movie with awesome directed battle scenes for which they used 2000 extras by getting irish reserve troops to perform in the movie.

Mel's most memorable movie I guess with his general mix of drama/humour/action and romance. The story is far from the truth but it makes for a good tellin 4.5/5

 

GLADIATOR

You probably all know it by now, if you don't fuckin go see it..

Set in ancient rome starring Russel Crowe the movie is highly entertaining and has alot of special effects and amazing sets.

 

rating 4.7/5

 

 

RONIN

Story: If you love car chases, a gripping story and theme set in the underworld of crime then this is for you. Starring Robert Deniro and John Reno the movie is about mercanaries who are brought together in France to perform a job. No one knows who's who and no one trusts anyone. The car chase scenes where conducted by grand prix drivers and are the real thing not like too fast too furious where they just blur the exterior of the car to make shit look fast.. in the movie you'll notice less camera pans for cover ups. Robert De Niro said doing this movies car chase scense was one of the scariest things he's ever done since he had to be in the car on a few occassions.

 

Rating: 4/5

 

ALIENS

An oldie but a goody.. if you havn't seen it its well worth getting on a rainy night when you've got shit all ealse to do. Space marines go in to find out why they've lost touch with a colony. That all you need to know.

 

rating: 3.5/5

 

 

TROY

Troy wasn't a bad movie at all and I found it to be highly engrossing for a movie that tries to portray the days of old greece.. although alot of artistic licence is taken with the history some parts of it are true. Like Hectors one on one with Archilles. Loads of special fx, good acting and good story the only depressing thing is if you know what actually happened in real life at the end. Hollywood can't live without a happy ending I guess but its all good since in real life the bad guys got what they had coming anyway which is sorta portrayed in the movie as well.

 

rating: 3.9/5

 

 

 

Thats all I can think of at the moment.. more when I remmember/see stuff.