Haven't seen Scoop, but I finally caught, Match Point and that was gooood. Really gooood.
Hey, I totally forgot about this, if you want a flick that totally passed under the radar, but is fun as all hell: "District B13". It's an action flick from France. And the action sequences are like....wowza. I had to buy it after reading about it - and here's one of the reviewer quotes on the package: "A dizzying ricochet of wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, roof-to-roof daredevilry."
THAT quote sure fits the movie like a glove. Yeah, check this one out.
I LOVED V for Vendetta. The ending was awesome. I also liked Shopgirl quite a bit. Oh, and in a similiar fashion (quiet, yet really good movies), I would highly recommend Junebug.
As of right this moment, my queue has:
1. An Inconvenient Truth
2. The L Word (disc 4).....
3. Slither
4. Monster House
5. Swimming Pool
6. Life of David Gale
7. Devil and Daniel Johnston
8. American Movie
9. Cars
10. Wordplay
Here are my Top 10 movies as of today (they always change):
In no particular order:
1.) Jet Li's Fearless
2.) MurderBall
3.) School of Rock
4.) Mail Order Bride
5.) Waiting
6.) V for Vendetta
7.) Invincible
8.) Saint Ralph
9.) Black Hawk Down
10.) Sideways
I LOVED V for Vendetta. The ending was awesome. I also liked Shopgirl quite a bit. Oh, and in a similiar fashion (quiet, yet really good movies), I would highly recommend Junebug.
As of right this moment, my queue has:
1. An Inconvenient Truth
2. The L Word (disc 4).....
3. Slither
4. Monster House
5. Swimming Pool
6. Life of David Gale
7. Devil and Daniel Johnston
8. American Movie
9. Cars
10. Wordplay
Must be I am on a documentary fix....haha.
Liked Monster House MUCH MORE than Cars. Strange, as I'm a huge Pixar fan (as a student of animation, how could I not be?), but while Cars is gorgeous, it's a bit more empty than Monster House.
I just received Wolf Creek via BB and have Beerfest from Blockbuster in store. They really did a good thing by allowing you to return your movie to the store in exchange for a new one.
I thought Hills Have Eyes was complete garbage. The storyline was great, but the movie itself was just horrid. Recently seen MI:3, thought it was ok, nothing spectacular. Also seen Idlewild, dont waste your time. I actually like House of Wax much better than HH eyes.
I just received Wolf Creek via BB and have Beerfest from Blockbuster in store. They really did a good thing by allowing you to return your movie to the store in exchange for a new one.
I thought Hills Have Eyes was complete garbage. The storyline was great, but the movie itself was just horrid. Recently seen MI:3, thought it was ok, nothing spectacular. Also seen Idlewild, dont waste your time. I actually like House of Wax much better than HH eyes.
When does Saw III come out?
I'm always perplexed when someone actually prefers something like "House of Wax" over a true horror film like "Hills Have Eyes".
Junebug is on top of the DVD player, waiting for me...
This thread has added to my Queue...
Murderball
Midnight Clear
Brick
Saint Ralph
I don't like horror or too scary, so I skip over those suggestions...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patricia
Liked Monster House MUCH MORE than Cars. Strange, as I'm a huge Pixar fan (as a student of animation, how could I not be?), but while Cars is gorgeous, it's a bit more empty than Monster House.
My problem with Cars was knowing who's voices they were. No problem with Owen Wilson, but I kept imagining him with Bonnie Hunt. They don't fit...
It's really the suspense parts that kill me. I prefer no real gore, but I can take it. I don't like that feeling when you know it's coming.
True horror films use suspense - much like Alien. And why Alien is not only one of THE best horror films, but grew out of that genre to become one of the better films ever. It's crafted with skill. You have characters that you care about; albeit, the backstories are rather slim, but the story is as such you're willing to overlook that one bit and completely dive into that story.
By setting the whole events in space - there is a true sense of remoteness, being alone and helpless as this thing systematically kills everyone you've grown to like.
It's realistic. That's another sign of a good horror film. You actually feel the horror since you feel so close to the events taking place.
These are why movies like "Wolf Creek", "The Devils Rejects" (another really, really good horror film), "High Tension", and "Hills Have Eyes" are so effective.
Plus, the protagonist behind the horrible events of each of these movies, they aren't talkative, they don't want to explain why they do what they do. They just want to maim, mutilate and kill. They want to destroy. That's the only reason they exist. And to have such a thing exist in these movies, is what really is terrifying. It's why the original "Texas Chainsaw Masacre" became a classic. IT's also one of the least bloody horror films out there - it literally is almost bloodless, but the movie is crafted so well and that you feel you've seen exactly how each person is being killed. Imagination allowed to run amok. Now THAT'S horror. BTW, the guy who directed that movie (Tobe Hooper), went on to direct "Poltergeist".
I really think movies like House of Wax and Saw are good for fun. Not horror.
Two of my favorite movies were both released in 2003 and are complete opposites:
1. LOTR Return of the King (HUGE movie)
2. The Station Agent (great independent film with unforgettable characters)
Add The Station Agent to your queue today...you won't regret it. Let me know what you think. Maybe more later...cool thread Alchie!
__________________ “I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.”
-- Zachary Taylor, 12th U.S. President, 1849-1850
This might make me a wuss, but I don't like to see movies about evil degenerate people. I tend to avoid movies like The Devil's Rejects and The Hills Have Eyes (although, I liked the original one, years ago).
I like Silence of the Lamb, but after reading Hannibal, I stopped seeing those movies, too. Hannibal went too far. I know that people like that exist, but it went too far and ended up glorifying the evil and sadistic nature.
I learn about those people in the news. In my movies, I want them to lose and lose big.
Two of my favorite movies were both released in 2003 and are complete opposites:
1. LOTR Return of the King (HUGE movie)
2. The Station Agent (great independent film with unforgettable characters)
The Station Agent was great. Loved it.
I loved every LOTR movie.
"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you *stand, Men of the West!*"
This might make me a wuss, but I don't like to see movies about evil degenerate people. I tend to avoid movies like The Devil's Rejects and The Hills Have Eyes (although, I liked the original one, years ago).
I like Silence of the Lamb, but after reading Hannibal, I stopped seeing those movies, too. Hannibal went too far. I know that people like that exist, but it went too far and ended up glorifying the evil and sadistic nature.
I learn about those people in the news. In my movies, I want them to lose and lose big.
What's interesting about the new "Hills Have Eyes" is how, at the beginning, there is a very clear line that seperates the family from the killers. But, towards the third act, that line begins to slowly dissipate. What's the real horror of this movie? The will to survive and where it can take what was a normal human being? The killing? The destruction? We've seen much destruction and killing before in movies - so I doubt that it's those elements. It's the primal human action and reaction by both protaganist and "victim" in these movies that create real horror.
Good horror movies observe human nature during events that is out of the realm of their control - or so they think.
Ah, but really, right now, horror movies are interesting and why I'm watching 'em. It's a genre that's really grown tremendously these last couple of years; especially after years of....nothing. The 70s were a real great "horror" decade, too.
I can really see why people love those movies. They are hard for me to watch. The suspense really kills me. I need to have something that makes the outcome worth for me. Clear cut or obvious, I suppose.
Part of it is that I'm a lazy movie watcher. I often won't give subtitled movies the chance that I should, either. Dubbing was so much more entertaining, anyway... Really, would anyone have ever given Monster X a shot if it was subtitled?
I can really see why people love those movies. They are hard for me to watch. The suspense really kills me. I need to have something that makes the outcome worth for me. Clear cut or obvious, I suppose.
Part of it is that I'm a lazy movie watcher. I often won't give subtitled movies the chance that I should, either. Dubbing was so much more entertaining, anyway... Really, would anyone have ever given Monster X a shot if it was subtitled?
Some of the most compelling movies I've ever seen have been "subtitled". Let's face it, a REALLY good movie, either subtitled or not, will not need further explanation from the characters' actions. Therefore, if it's a REALLY good foriegn film, the subtitles are just easily to pinpoint references.
Good movies cross over language barriers.
Some awesome, awesome foriegn films: Oldboy (this film has been discussed here before), Camille Claudel, Queen Margot (Camile and this one - french and stars one of the most beautiful woman to ever grace the screen, Isabelle Adjani), La Femme Nikita, Infernal Affairs (the original Hong Kong version that "The Departed" is based on), City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, Amelie, A Very Long Engagement, Tale of Two Sisters, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, any of the Kurosawa films - just to name a few.
Dubbing, imo, gets in the way of a really good movie. I think of it as coddling or hand holding - and I don't need to be coddled. Don't treat me as stupid!
BTW, that's my draw to horror films: that they are hard to watch. If you have an inkling of humanity in you, they are suppose to be difficult.
I don't really like the dubbing, although with DVD technology, it could be an option, I suppose.
I agree about the subtitles. I just wanted to point out my lazy streak. I find a lot of movies boring and stop watching them (like MI-III, for instance). But, I'll turn off the boring sub-titled movie earlier, simply because of the work involved.
For boys in my age group, dubbing was a big thing. As kids, some of the best tv was Japanese action shows, action and martial arts movies, and monster movies, all dubbed. Not best quality, but best because we couldn't get enough.
"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you *stand, Men of the West!*"
Aragorn -- LOTR: The Return of The King
That's a great quote, LD. I have all three sound tracks on my hard drive here at work and listen to the entire trilogy over and over. The music that goes with that speech gives me chills every time!
__________________ “I have always done my duty. I am ready to die. My only regret is for the friends I leave behind me.”
-- Zachary Taylor, 12th U.S. President, 1849-1850
Speaking of subtitles I just saw "The Yakuza Papers" directed by Kinji Fukusaku (directed the epic Battle Royal). I think it's based on some real life characters that created the first Yakuza families post-WWII.
Robert Altman's last film "Prairie Home Companion" is the best film I've seen recently. I suppose I liked it so much in part because it was filmed at the state theater in downtown St. Paul, location of some great concerts when I was living in the area. Garrison Keilor is a national treasure and Woody Harrelson has his best part in years.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
This online Bluckbuster thing is great. I'm always so indecisive at the store. But with this, I fill up my online queue and it goes and picks them in some mysterious order and mails them out. I get surprised and like it.
Plus, it's nice that you can take the movies back to any blockbuster (rather than mail them in). They scan in the mailers and you get to check out one (from the store) for each that you just checked in. Plus, they STILL send the next ones in your queue. This really gives you like 5-6 movies at once. Plus, it great for when I pickup the kids, as I can just bring two mailers back and each kid gets to trade it for a flick for the weekend. Sweet. 17.95 per month.
You have characters that you care about; albeit, the backstories are rather slim, but the story is as such you're willing to overlook that one bit and completely dive into that story.
Yep, I liked all the characters in Alien, including Ash. Each character's personality was distict and different, but none of them were repulsive, lecherous.
And like you said, there was absolutely no exposition on the "Alien" or the relic where the crew found it. No origin, no reason. It just was and did what it did.
An old favorite of mine was "Forbidden Planet." A good metaphor for the destructive and murderous nature of the subconscious mind and our need to keep it in control lest we destroy ourselves.
Dog soliders is a good movie, i watched when it came out on dvd or vhs ( dont remember) and just recently saw it on the scifi channel.
Wolf Creek- it didnt really 'scare' me but it was a really good movie, i've watched it multiple times
THe hills have eyes- I never saw the original but again it didnt 'scare' me but was disturbing, another good movie
oh did i mention that im never going to the desert? ever? ;p
I LOVED V for Vendetta. The ending was awesome. I also liked Shopgirl quite a bit. Oh, and in a similiar fashion (quiet, yet really good movies), I would highly recommend Junebug.
As of right this moment, my queue has:
1. An Inconvenient Truth
2. The L Word (disc 4).....
3. Slither
4. Monster House
5. Swimming Pool
6. Life of David Gale
7. Devil and Daniel Johnston
8. American Movie
9. Cars
10. Wordplay
Must be I am on a documentary fix....haha.
an inconvient truth was eh. I think they could have done better with less graphs and more pictures. It would have been cool to see it in person.
i never really get disturbed by horror movies. The only horror movie that's ever scared me or grossed me out is the exorcist, simply for the idea behind it.
This might make me a wuss, but I don't like to see movies about evil degenerate people. I tend to avoid movies like The Devil's Rejects and The Hills Have Eyes (although, I liked the original one, years ago).
I like Silence of the Lamb, but after reading Hannibal, I stopped seeing those movies, too. Hannibal went too far. I know that people like that exist, but it went too far and ended up glorifying the evil and sadistic nature.
I learn about those people in the news. In my movies, I want them to lose and lose big.
Manhunter has one of the coolest ending scenes in it in synch to "Inagodda Divita"
Linear Mode
