DVDs and Films You Have Watched Recently #2

[FLips]

What nods are made to the original? Spoiler them if you want!. I'm curious

[Wrestlingsnob]

Predators - I'll try & keep this spoiler free. Being a huge fan of the original I was excited & nervous in equal measures on how much this would succeed/fail. The original is pretty much deemed a classic by blokes of my age but I'm convinced that it's more because of the age we were when it was first seen (I was 10) as opposed to the film itself, which is still very good. I really enjoyed Predators, I was pretty much grinning throughout & there were a few nods to the original without it being shoved down your throat or too knowing 'wink wink'. The casting of Adrien Brody is fantastic, the whole cast play it completely straight where it would've been easy, given the premise & script to play it tongue in cheek & ruin the whole thing. There's little surprise & from the trailer it's pretty obvious what's going to happen but there's a few really good scenes, a couple of jumps & plenty of gore. Doubt it'll bear repeated viewings like the original but definitely worth checking out.

 

I saw this yesterday & totally agree with what you said. Its never going to be considered a classic film but I found it entertaining from beginning to end. I would probably describe it as 75% sequel and 25% remake rather than an outright sequel though as there are so many nods to the original.

 

 

[Dead Mike]

**********************SPOILERS******************

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Russian on the planet is armed with 'old painless'.

At the end Adrien Brody's character is begging the Predator to kill him & says 'Go on, kill me, do it, do it!'

 

And the best bit, maybe of the film....When Larry Fishburne's character turns up, he's a human who's survived on the planet for a while & killed a few Predators, he's in the Predators armour, helmet & using the invisibility. You hear someone whispering..'Turn around, over here' only to reveal himself and admonish the team for talking too loud....it's quality.

[Mr. Seven]

Predators is awful, uninspired shit.

[tiger_rick]

I watched A Serious Man, the Coen brothers latest effort. I didn't like it much. It's about a Jewish guy dealing with lifes usual dramas, questioning his faith, struggling to makes his wife happy, trying to get on at work. It's set in 1967. It's pretty dry and realistic but not a lot happens. That isn't always a bad thing but I didn't feel any of the characters enough to really care. The extra about making the film is more interesting than the actual film.

 

Oh, and it's marketed as a comedy but isn't remotely funny.

Edited July 10, 2010 by tiger_rick

[Loki]

The Coen Brothers' dramas tend to be really funny, and their comedies just weird, Lebowski accepted. To be honest I doubt they choose how their films are marketed, they just make them.

[DJ Kris]

I saw the A-Team last week and I'm pleased to say I really enjoyed it. Within 5 minutes I was completely comfortable with the new cast. I don't think I can fault the movie at all. Roll on the sequal!

[rockbus]

I saw the A-Team last week and I'm pleased to say I really enjoyed it. Within 5 minutes I was completely comfortable with the new cast. I don't think I can fault the movie at all. Roll on the sequal!

 

Couldn't agree more. Thought it was ace, especially considering what a train wreck it could have been.

[Jimmy_kahoona]

Ghost Rider

 

I`m going through a Superhero phase right now so decided to give Ghost Rider a go (even if I`ve heard nothing but bad reviews about it)

 

NIcolas cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a daredevil hotshot stunt rider who, along with his father, have a travelling circus style stunt show. After Johnny discovers his father has cancer a mysterious man turns up and offers a contract where by his fathers cancer will be cured but Johnny must give his soul to the mystery man. Several years later the mystery man returns and claims johnnys soul but says that he will release his soul back to him if he will destroy a demon for him, Johnny agrees and so the mystery man gives johnny the power of the Ghost Rider, the devils Bounty Hunter.

 

This is a strange film. On one hand you have everything a throwaway blockbuster should have, A superhero link, some very fine special effects, not a terrible plot and a name (cage) for the poster.

On the other hand you have a very souless movie. Theres just nothing in the film that hooks you in, makes you stay or captivates your imagination. Which is a shame as everything is there.

 

The special effects are great. When Cage changes into the Ghost rider the flame effects are excellent.

But Cage is a terrible lead role, his acting is truely awful and theres nothing there that doesn`t seem like cardboard.

The plot isnt bad. Theres a big backstory of a contract for 1000 souls and a demon for the bad guy.

But the bad demon guy just doesnt seem scary nor threatening. they try to go for the mysterious slow deadly demon but it comes across as lazy and just plain plain.

Theres some excellent scenes and shots that i actually liked, the ghost rider on the roof and the helecopter was an excellent image

But then not 15 seconds later it all went to shit.

 

It just seemed all too `meh`. The film just seemed plain, nothing in the film that screamed `wow` and now I read theres a sequel. Hopefully they manage to find that factor that`ll make it worthy of a cinema viewing.

[Jimmy_kahoona]

Predators

 

Like most guys in my generation i`m a fan boy.

 

from seeing all the movies to fan films to buying the action figures to graphic novels, I`ve done it all. But after the dissapointing AVP and the lets please forget Requiem, I wasn`t holding out too much for Predators (OK I lie, i was hoping so friggin much this would save the franchise)

 

Did this movie manage to pull off a small miracle of movie magic?

 

Oh Yes!

<-- click on 'spoiler' to show/hide the spoiler

 

Bringing the Jungle back was a plain and simple move, knowing that the imigery of predator was the Jungle Location. Having guys randomly firing off hundreds of rounds in the fleeting hope of killing something was an excellent move again

I would have liked (if I havent missed it) an Alien skull in the camp site. Would have marked out big style

Bringing in the loony half way through kept the attention in the plot, allowing the characters to know more (and allowing us to know more) without some stupid find of a diary or something or equal crindgeworthyness.

And the biggest plot drop which will allow the franchise to continue on its merry way was the inclusion of the Predator clans. This was an excellent move as now you have at least a trilogy of how these clans are fighting and how their society works. One techno heads and one more brutal fighters.

 

 

[close spoiler]

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So yes, this fan boy is smiling and is now awaiting the next installment of an excellent franchise.

[Steveo2007]

Went the pictures to see the new Shrek with a few mates and thought it was alright. Nothing on the original but it had a few good laughs and a good message to take home. Definitely one for the kids.

[Devon Malcolm]

Definitely one for the kids.

 

None of that gritty social realism of the first films then?

[tiger_rick]

Benny and Joon Great little film here, heard nothing about it really but saw it on TCM (underrated movie channel, saw some classics on here in recent weeks/months including De Palma's 'Blow Out'), decided to record it and I had a really nice time watching it. Great soundtrack, interesting characters and some fine acting (particularly from Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson...you know, the drummer girl from 'Some Kind of Wonderful'). Really heart warming stuff in this one as Johnny Depp's Buster Keaton inspired Sam (who likes to make cheese toasties using an iron) moves in with Benny (Aidan Quinn, who you will have seen in something) and the very slightly mentally Joon (Masterson). Check it out!

 

yeh my girlfriend made me watch that a few months ago, i'd never heard of it. Odd little romance movie, it's good stuff.

I watched this on Saturday, it's really good. It's a real quirky little film that moves quite quickly but doesn't rush anything, explore several relationships at once without ever losing you and has a really good soundtrack. I thought I'd love it the second "I would walk 500 miles" popped up over the opening credits. There are a couple of perfect songs that light up two beautiful scenes in the movie too.

 

I'd definitely watch this again. Johnny Depp is really good but Aidan Quinn is even better as Benny.

 

Finding a cracking little film like this is why I love this thread.

[The Four Horsemen]

Boiler Room heres the synopsis from IMDB:

 

Seth Davis, a Queens College dropout has high aspirations. The casino Seth operates from his apartment is a good source of revenue; but does not meet the high expectations of his father. His father is a successful judge who is stern, which makes his approval important to Seth. One night, when Seth looks out his front door at the yellow Ferrari, he is introduced to the wealth potential of stock brokerage. Seth pursues a career with J.T. Marlin, a wire house located on Long Island. As a junior associate he learns the craft of sales over the phone. He is aiming for a position as a senior broker after obtaining his Series 7 license. He's terrific salesperson. Once he completes his training, the pay is phenomenal. He soon notices the commissions earned at J.T. Marlin are much larger than average. At this point he becomes apprehensive of J.T. Marlin's business practices. While entering this profession to impress his father; Seth soon figures out he may have chosen the wrong profession.

 

Not a million miles away from some of the Telesales/Call Centre jobs I have worked in. Really good little independent film.

Edited July 12, 2010 by The Four Horsemen

[Loki]

It's really good little film that. I wish Vin Diesel was in more films like that, he's really very good.