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Subject: Nasty Goes To The Movies

Posted by: nasty_liar
Date: Nov 29 12

What it says up there

489 replies. On page 3 of 25 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

nasty_liar

Flight (2012)

An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.

Starring
Denzel Washington

Ever been to a movie and discovered that is not about what you thought it was? Well this was it for me. I had no idea what I was going to be watching, although I should have realised that there would be more than meets the eye when Washington was an oscar nominee. You don't generally get nominated for awards for playing straightforward characters.

I was fully invested in this film from start to finish. By discussing the subject matter around the events of a plane crash it gives so many more layers and avenues to explore and also helps to grab the viewer right from the get go.

One of my favourite actors, Washington is on top form as usual. Utterly convincing as this pilot. A tribute to his skill and the director and writer that you can feel sympathy for him throughout and at the end.

Something in here for everyone. This is my strongest tip for a while, go see it.

Reply #41. Feb 26 13, 11:54 AM

wwe84

Nasty i loved Zero Dark Thirty i rated 10 out of 10 it was that good

Reply #42. Feb 26 13, 12:17 PM

nasty_liar

If I did ratings I'd have to say 9 or 9 and a half! Standards are high for my 10's ;)

(Hurt Locker would be 10 if you've seen that)

Reply #43. Feb 26 13, 12:42 PM

nasty_liar

The Last Samurai (2003)

An American military advisor embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle.

Starring
Tom Cruise
Ken Watanabe
Timothy Spall
and Hiroyuki Sanada

A trawl through my dvd collection over the weekend led to the rewatching of this, one of my favourite films. I make no apologies for that fact, I know in parts this film is as blunt as a sledgehammer, probably not historically accurate and hinges on a couple of plot devices that are almost beyond belief.

But I don't care, it's an incredible film to me that has me choked every time I watch it due to the tragic honour of the Samurai that the story revolves around.

Tom Cruise delivers a compelling, if shouty, performance as Captain Nathan Algren the American soldier captured by Samurai. The strength of this movie comes once the Samurai are introduced, everything else is almost a contrivance to set them up in the plot.

The Japanese cast are magnificent, Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada play opposite Cruise amazingly well. Sanada in particular impressed me, he can convey so much with very little dialogue.

Overall, this is one of those films that when I think about it critically it is short of the mark but it just works despite its flaws. The score by Hans Zimmer is one of the best I have ever heard and (insert rhymes with bucks) you into the Samurai culture all the more. The whole movie is beautifully shot, just take in the incredible scenery. It makes me wish that I had seen it on the big screen.

If you want to see Tom Cruise playing a character that has a stoic sense of honour (and not an arrogant self importance), if you want to see epic battle scenes, if you want to see sacrifice, if you want to see love in an understated and unspoken way, if you want to see pride, duty, honour... watch this movie.

Reply #44. Mar 03 13, 2:10 PM

callie_ross

Nasty, I completely agree with your thoughts on "The Last Samurai". It has always been one of my favorite movies & it is Tom Cruise's best. The actors & actresses in this movie all did an amazing job. It's a beautiful story & it makes me cry everytime I watch it. One of the best movies ever made!

Reply #45. Mar 03 13, 2:53 PM

Blackdresss

Nasty, have you seen "Looper" yet, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis?

I watched "Looper" and then "Flight" back-to-back, and I think I completely destroyed my adrenal glands!

I plan to watch both of them again -- "Flight" was absolutely that good, and "Looper" was absolutely that confusing. I think I missed at least one "reality," and isn't that so annoying when that happens? It reminded me a little bit of "Inception," and every time I watch that one, I see something I missed the first time.

I haven't seen "Zero Dark Thirty" yet, but "The Hurt Locker" is definitely one of my favorite films, ever.

I love "The Last Samurai," too. I also love "The 13th Warrior."

I am really enjoying your movie critiques, and I don't think I've disagreed with even one of them so far.

Keep up the good work!

Reply #46. Mar 05 13, 5:23 AM

nasty_liar

Thank you for your comments, appreciate them very much.

I have seen Looper, in fact I'll do it next and I'll have to look up 13th warrior and watch it!

Reply #47. Mar 05 13, 7:39 AM

nasty_liar

Looper (2012)

In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self.

Starring
Bruce Willis
Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Fast becoming one of my favourite actors, I was eager to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt take the lead in this film. Bruce Willis plays off him well.

This film might have been mind-blowing if it had been released 30 years ago but there has been such a saturation of these sci-fi films that think they are clever but often are just plain silly. I think the closest resemblance would be 'Terminator', but that classic had an outstanding and compelling back story and has stood the test of time. Looper has not and will not.

It is a decent enough attempt. It is easy to sit back and become invested into this future world. The two leads as I mentioned are very watchable, especially Levitt who I rate very highly. The story ticks over quite nicely but I would have to describe it as predictable.

Overall, good film if you like the genre, steer clear if you don't like films such as Terminator, Minority Report both of which make butchered attempts to utilize time travel/seeing the future as central to their plots with the results solely dependent on the films ability to persuade you to suspend disbelief.

Reply #48. Mar 08 13, 6:54 AM

Blackdresss

Hi Nasty,

So... I watched "Looper" again, certain I had missed one "reality," and then I went to IMDB to read the Message Board posts on this film.

A couple of hours and 20 pages of topics of posts later, but nowhere near completing reading all the posts, my brain was starting to go numb, so I stopped.

I decided there were way too many holes in this film (that you could drive a truck through) and several red herrings, so when I arrived at the MB, it was interesting to discover how many people were in my camp, and how many almost-scary experts there are out there about time travel and space-time continuum, complete with one person who actually drew a diagram, with straws, explaining time travel, something either Old Joe or New Joe mentioned he didn't want to do when they met in the diner. It was one of the two "jokes" of the film, in fact.

And then there were the multitudes who were so, so confused about Cid. In fact, "Cid" is the hottest topic on that MB, with many, many theories about just who/what and even "when" he is. Cid was the other "reality" I thought I might have missed, and I'm still a little uncertain about Cid.

I might watch it again and this time, really focus on Cid. You have to admit, he is one amazing little actor.

But the one film all the time travel experts kept recommending to the rest of us was "Primer." I've never heard of it, but I'm going to look into it. It seems to be the film all other sci/fi space travel films strive to reach, but apparently never do.

Reply #49. Mar 12 13, 6:29 AM

nasty_liar

I try not to get too upset about something like time travel making sense. I mean, it is always going to be fantasy so really, films can do whatever they like with it.

The real crux of it is whether what is going on in front of you is either a) believable enough to hold your attention, or b) a good enough story/character to hold your attention enough for you to simply suspend disbelief.

This is why I try not to watch some films that second time because that is when I KNOW that I will start to pick things apart and not enjoy it as much. Looper is clearly one of those. It was enjoyable enough once, but it will not sustain a repeat viewing in my opinion.

But even if I did watch it again I wouldn't worry too much about the time travel aspect, that is merely the plot device designed to put the characters into position for the story to unfold... the film lives or dies on how good the script is and whether or not it manages to create suspension of disbelief, not how accurate the time travel was. So while these guys and gals leaving messages on IMDB (great site by the way) might worry about the finer points of time travel, I think it is fairly inconsequential.

Reply #50. Mar 17 13, 5:24 PM

nasty_liar

And... I must look out for 'Primer'. Never seen it.

Reply #51. Mar 17 13, 5:25 PM

nasty_liar

The Debt (2010)

1965, three Mossad agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the agents share come back to haunt them.

Starring
Helen Mirren
Tom Wilkinson
Jessica Chastain
Sam Worthington

Ahhh, missed this one a couple of years back but finally saw it last night. On paper it looked excellent, great setup, great actors but what happened?

This film does not work for me and I'm finding it so difficult to work out why. The scenes from 1965 are definitely stronger with the supreme Chastain standing out a mile yet again (kudos to Jesper Christensen too for a great turn as Doctor Bernhardt). Unfortunately there is a horrendously disjointed feel to proceedings as the action finally gets back to 1997 and the subdued performances from Mirren and Wilkinson.

Maybe the director could have interspersed the action somehow or maybe we just need to see the same actors playing older versions of themselves, I don't know. The plot might have needed some tweaking too. Regardless of how it fails, this film certainly fails to deliver for me. I have no real investment in the characters by the end and don't care very much about what happens! Apathy, not a good reaction to evoke considering the setting.

Reply #52. Mar 17 13, 5:56 PM

nasty_liar

Been too busy, on holiday in Spain and then at the Crucible theatre Sheffield whenever I've had chance this week so haven't been to the cinema in ages!!!

Looking forward to getting back into the cinema going soon particularly since Star Trek Into Darkness is fast approaching. A film that I may well do a preview for since it (and Star Trek 2009 a few years ago) is simultaneously one of the films I have the highest level of anticipation for and also dread.

Anyway, here's an old film that I watched in the mean time.....

Reply #53. Apr 25 13, 6:16 AM

nasty_liar

Crimson Tide (1995)

On a US nuclear missile sub, a young first officer stages a mutiny to prevent his trigger happy captain from launching his missiles before confirming his orders to do so.

Starring
Denzel Washington
Gene Hackman

with Viggo Mortensen and James Gandolfini

This is another one of those action thrillers directed by the late Tony Scott. As usual with his films it has great tension, fast paced action and booming score (by the incredible Hans Zimmer).

The lead actors are absolutely phenomenal to watch alongside one another. The environment of the enclosed submarine just augments that level of tension between the two. The lighting and up close and personal way that Scott has shot this do well to compliment it too. There are a couple of incredibly tense submarine battle scenes to go with a few impressively tense character scenes.

The dilemma is the part of the movie that is both fascinating and gives it that extra dimension that all action movies need. Who is right? Or is nobody right. Do you follow the chain of command or do you have room to question an order?

My only wish is that we had been treated to this dilemma equally from either side. Hackman's character is so overbearing, arrogant and on the edge of lunacy that it is hard for the audience to side with his point of view. But it makes for an excellent on screen performance as we see him go toe to toe with Washington. So good is this head to head that I almost forgive the way they have polarised the opinion. Almost.

I love many Tony Scott movies and this is another superb outing. The dilemma gets bogged down in the way the leads are portrayed. It would be nice if they let the viewer decide who to root for instead of shoving it down our throat that Hackman is a loose cannon. But then maybe it wouldn't have quite had the tension created between the leads if they were less polarised so it's a trade off I can live with.

Reply #54. Apr 25 13, 6:32 AM

C30

The above (which I have not seen), may well be an entertaining film if you suspend belief.

Why? A warship, of any type, and of any nationality, is not a "debating society". Anyone senior to another, has to know that any order given, will be carried out.........NO WARSHIP could EVER function if orders were queried BEFORE being carried out. To do so is known as MUTINY........mutiny is not a thing viewed leniently. If the Captain gives an order, that order is carried out....full stop.

Reply #55. Apr 25 13, 7:50 AM

salami_swami

I couldn't help but notice your paragraph on "The Impossible" was a bit shorter than the rest. :P I really liked that one,, though I'd never see it again because it was far too sad and made me queasy at parts. ;)

Reply #56. Apr 25 13, 8:43 AM

nasty_liar

Ray, I never said it was realistic ( I don't pretend to know much about serving in the military), just that it was an interesting dilemma that makes for a great movie. :)

Salami, I preferred not to comment much on that movie since it is based around events that has touched the lives of many. It was a difficult movie to watch and so I think did a good job of telling a story about the tragedy. PM me to discuss in more detail?

Reply #57. Apr 25 13, 10:17 AM

nasty_liar

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

coming soon

I've seen it but since it's not out in the US just yet then I'll wait a bit before giving my verdict.

Reply #58. May 14 13, 4:31 PM

nasty_liar

Source Code (2011)

An action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

Stars
Jake Gyllenhaal

What a neat little package this film is! Only 93 minutes, but that's all it needs to wrap up this story with a little bow on it.

The concept is interesting, done in an interesting way. It is shot in a fast paced manner and has a thought provoking ending! The science is kept nice and woolly to aid with suspension of disbelief and the performance from Gyllenhaal imbibes/engulfs/draws/absorbs (why can't I us the word I wanted to!) the viewer into his world. It even has time to tug gently on the heartstrings. Fantastic!

Proof that an action movie doesn't have to be dumb and predictable and can still be made without booming sound effects and in your face special effects.

Reply #59. May 14 13, 4:43 PM

Blackdresss

Hi Nasty!

I'm reading all the posts in your thread, and I might have a couple of films to ask about, recommend, and even warn you about, based on how awful I thought they were.

Aren't movies fun? Love them, hate them, or completely ambivalent about them, it's always fun to talk about films, and especially fun right after you have seen them, and the MOST fun if you've just seen them together and get to go grab some food or a latte and talk about them for an hour or two. Or three.

Reply #60. May 28 13, 1:31 AM

489 replies. On page 3 of 25 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

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