What did you watch today?

[Ain_Uussaar]

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

So what's the verdict - worth sitting through 4 hours?

Depends on your taste. I`m not a von Trier fan. But I would say it was much better than the pile of s**t that Dogville was. I`d say these could have been made to a one 2h movie cos I found them long and boring at times.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (From the unwatched piles this was the last film on DVD )

[Chris_Xa]

Lethal Weapon 4 (UK Blu) Still decent, but the last 10 minutes are really too much "syrup"... - 6/10
Top of the Lake (UK Blu) Big disappointment, nothing new here, it's kind of sub-sub-Twin Peaks. Never been convinced by Elisabeth Moss, who would obvioulsy like to believe she's Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs, but obviously is not (Peter Mullan and David Wenham were OK though!). Very slow, poor storytelling, quite predictable ending... I was probably expecting too much - 3/10

Probably agree with you on LW4, but it was a "satisfying" end to the series. As for TOP LAKE, will have to adjust my expectations now, given how much hype I've heard about it beforehand; thanks for the heads-up.

Watched the short that screened before Disney's Frozen film, GET A HORSE! ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980764 ) One of the best shorts I've seen recently (9/10): Very good animation and showcasing old vs new animation styles, and direction; excellent script; probably would look good in 3D (if you still have a chance to watch it somewhere in 3D, do that quick!).

For lovers of film only, SEDUCED AND ABANDONED (6/10, film doco http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402179 ): Good insights and anecdotes, but does not need to be watched at the cinema. The ending is somewhat abrupt though: clever yes, and not much more needed to be said, but one still gets the feeling that not everything has been "resolved" (won't spoil it by saying why). Sometimes uses split-screen/frames, which are done well but were distracting ((take attention away from the more-important audio comments) - so recommend you concentrate on one screen and listen to the comments, to get the most out of it. Or if you get/watch it at home on a DVD (whenever it comes out), you can always rewind.

[Davy_Lee]

THE IRON TRIANGLE (YouTube) - 7.5/10

Of the many films on Vietnam War that were churned out after the commercial success of Platoon, THE IRON TRIANGLE stands out as one of the more interesting and entertaining despite its B-movie nature.

This is not as popular as other films in the genre released in the 80's mostly because it stars unknown actors (with the exception of Beau Bridges and Haing S. Ngor) and didn't get a wide theatrical screening. It may also be that audience were bored with the Vietnam War films by 1989, when the film was released.

THE IRON TRIANGLE does not have the kind of factual accuracy and realism that Platoon or Full Metal Jacket has. However, it is interesting and entertaining as it offers a different take on the much-recycled plot on the Vietnam War. The story tells about the war from the perspective of a teen Vietcong soldier and his struggle for freedom. Beau Bridges stars as a US captain who is captured by the teen Vietcong soldier.

I remember watching this on video years ago. Watched it again just to make sure if the dvd is worth buying. So far it's only available on MGM MOD dvd-r collection but, at least, it's official.


GHETTO BLASTER (First viewing, YouTube) - 6/10

This is one I missed back in the video days of the late 80's. A middle-aged man (Richard Hatch, Battlestar Galactica) returns to his neighborhood and finds that it is rife with crime committed by Hispanic and Black American gangs. Meanwhile, the police are not doing anything to clear up the mess. After his father and friend are killed in cold-blood by the thugs, he takes the law into his own hands to settle the score.

I've seen the likes of this before many times and better. Even if this were available on dvd, it would only be worth watching once.

[Ain_Uussaar]

The Wild Life (1984)

[Vincent_Bouche]

Top of the Lake (UK Blu) Big disappointment, nothing new here, it's kind of sub-sub-Twin Peaks. Never been convinced by Elisabeth Moss, who would obvioulsy like to believe she's Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs, but obviously is not (Peter Mullan and David Wenham were OK though!). Very slow, poor storytelling, quite predictable ending... I was probably expecting too much - 3/10

As for TOP LAKE, will have to adjust my expectations now, given how much hype I've heard about it beforehand; thanks for the heads-up.

Maybe you'll find it amazing!

Le Passé (The Past - TV)
Great French movie by iranian director Asghar Farhadi: great actors, powerful story, always subtle and with the right tone.
Waiting to receive "A Separation", previous film of the same director, hopefully it should be as great as this one - 8/10

The Ward (German Blu)
Far from Carpenters' best, but still all right - 6/10.

[Chris_Xa]

...TOP LAKE, will have to adjust my expectations now, given how much hype I've heard about it beforehand; thanks for the heads-up.

Maybe you'll find it amazing!

Will see - given what you wrote, won't rush for it given I've got many more things to watch beforehand.

My favoured crime-noir-ish (& other) dramas at the moment are the scandinavian stuff. In no particular order, THE BRIDGE, THE EAGLE, UNIT ONE, THE KILLING, BORGEN... wonder if this is their "golden age"... Even THE SPIRAL (french) was interesting (a somewhat different take of a euro THE WIRE, and interesting nonetheless). Just watched BRIDGE s02e08 yesterday - they sure know how to keep the tension going without giving anything away, with 2eps to go.

[Ain_Uussaar]

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Hardbodies
Hours
Oldboy (2013)

[Samuel_Scott]

Wednesday:

Dangerous Mission (1954) - Not a bad little film, but there were a few scenes which felt misplaced and some good chunks of dialogue felt forced, making the story appear disjointed at times. The characters were stereotypical, casting reasonable, and end result mediocre. Worth viewing, but likely not appealing enough for a second visit. 5/10

Born to Race: Fast Track (2014) - Low budget movie about some rookie racing drivers overcoming their differences for glory. Some good driving sequences string together the wafer thin plot that is nothing we haven't seen before. 4/10

BURN-E (2008) - Clever short from Pixar based on WALL-E which features the usual stunning animation, a great score, and genuine laughs. 7/10

The Angels' Share (2012) - Ken Loach always brings a sense of realism to his films, and beneath the dark social backgrounds of our characters lies a true 'glass half full' comedic story which is handled perfectly in tone and nature. I've long been a fan of John Henshaw (check out TV series Early Doors for absolute genius) and he was perfectly cast here, as was Paul Brannigan in his debut role as Robbie. 8/10

Thursday:

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - It's not often Scorsese injects so much humour into his films, yet he does it flawlessly in The Wolf of Wall Street, which boasts an impressive cast, a fascinating story of corruption and greed, and sublime pacing which makes the three hour run time just fly by. 9/10

Getaway (2013) - Ouch, that was a bumpy ride... and not the right type of bumpy. The acting was horrendous, the set action shots boring and unimaginative, and the writing was about as tight as a 70 year old porn stars' fanny. 2/10

Currently about 3/4 of the way through American Idiots also, which is bloody awful. Will watch the end soon...

[Ain_Uussaar]

Bananas
Parental Guidance
300: Rise of an Empire
Summer Job
The New Kids
The Heavenly Kid

[Vincent_Bouche]

Sweeney Todd (UK Blu)
Last, but not least, of the Burton movies from the UK boxset. For me, it’s among the best of the director’s, great songs, wonderful photo, actual Burton-ian story. – 8/10

Firefox (US Blu)
I had never watched this movie before. Minor but decent cold war flick – 6/10

The Innocents (German Blu)
First viewing: this is a wonderful movie, with great mood, beautiful pictures, haunting music. It reminded me of Picnic at Hanging Rock at some points – 9/10

The Lover (German Blu)
A true rediscovery: beautiful pictures, bewildering music, convincing actors, and the voice of Jeanne Moreau reading excerpts of the book as the story goes on adds a whole new dimension. I think this movie made quiet a scandal when it got released because of its “sex scenes”; well, there’s nothing vulgar here: some people must really be living in Disneyland not to enjoy this sensitive and sensual love story. Maybe not the most powerful one I watched (Breaking the Waves? Paris, Texas?), but close – 8/10

[Vincent_Bouche]

Hannibal: Season 2 (TV)
Last episode watched tonight... words are lacking to describe how good this is. Even in dreams, I never imagined this could become to series, what Silence of the Lambs is to movies. After an amazing first season, this was even better - 10/10

[Davy_Lee]

THE FREAKMAKER (First viewing, German dvd) - 7/10

If you have watched Freaks (1932) and liked it, chances are that you will like The Freakmaker too. Don't expect it to be as good as its predecessor. It's a fun blend of low budget 70's sci-fi and horror film, nonetheless.

Donald Pleasence, as usual, plays an eccentric and rather mad biochemistry professor who secretly conducts DNA experiments to create mutations of humans and plants. The problem is that he uses his students as unwilling guinea pigs.

The freaks in this film play supporting roles as freaks in a side-show of a traveling carnival. One thing worth noting is that the actors playing the freaks are real people with physical deformities.

In the interview segment with Robert D. Weinbach the writer, he admitted that The Freakmaker was an homage to Tod Browning's Freaks.

[Samuel_Scott]

Watched a few of late but a couple of new releases to note:

RoboCop (2014) - Big fan of Jose Padhila's Elite Squad films, so had to check this one out. He did the remake proud IMO. Very good, but perhaps lacking a little more of the political bite that made the original so good. 8/10

Walk of Shame - Elizabeth Banks' latest has her as a news anchor who gets a job to go national and has to get to work through the city after a one night stand. Some amusing moments, and a decent enough cast. 6/10

I, Frankenstein - Mediocre cast, clunky script, not very exciting. 4/10

[Chris_Xa]

RoboCop (2014) - Big fan of Jose Padhila's Elite Squad films, so had to check this one out. He did the remake proud IMO. Very good, but perhaps lacking a little more of the political bite that made the original so good. 8/10

Haven't seen this yet, but someone else who watched it thought it was a bad remake. Part of their gripe was the cybernetic modifications needn't have been so excessive given the injury he had, that the family angle was badly directed, and that (given the level of crime in this film's city), he likened this "robocop" to "trying to swat a fly with a falling tree" (ie too much effort for something normal cops could supposedly manage more easily - compared to the original anyway). Based on these, at the moment I'm awaiting a DC (if one ever comes out) that may perhaps fill out the story better (as supposedly that is where the problem lay with this film). How do others here feel re these views?

[Samuel_Scott]

that the family angle was badly directed

I thought the family angle was done well. It's about not knowing the difference between man and machine in these parts, and how much emotion gets past the actual computer components put into the technology of RoboCop (enough to notice to random public, but not enough to family and friends etc).

that (given the level of crime in this film's city), he likened this "robocop" to "trying to swat a fly with a falling tree" (ie too much effort for something normal cops could supposedly manage more easily - compared to the original anyway).

Quite a different kettle of fish here to be fair. Again, the crime really is more of a back story. The motivation for having a RoboCop, is greed and capitalism by Omnicorp. They want to show a robot with human emotions, that can catch criminals by accessing CCTV in real time, and using other technology that puts Murphy ahead of the 'beat on the street' as it were. The capitalism and corruption within government forces and police, are just a couple of the political impacts of the film.

may perhaps fill out the story better (as supposedly that is where the problem lay with this film).

Apart from some extended scenes of dialogue for further characterisation for some of the characters, I don't think too much more can be achieved here.

Have you seen the Elite Squad films? He has bought some of that to RoboCop, and it works great.

[Vincent_Bouche]

Agora (Spanish Blu)
Good but imperfect movie by Amenabar. Many interesting topics (end of the roman empire, rise of christianism, astronomy...), but IMO it lacks rhythm (and "passion") to make it really great - 7/10

[Ain_Uussaar]

Veronica Mars
Tokarev (Rage)

[Ain_Uussaar]

Best Night Ever
City Lights (1931)

[Samuel_Scott]

Little Black Book (2004) - Yawn. Good cast, and a great small role for Rashida Jones, but ultimately a tiresome affair. 4/10

Gumball 3000: Coast to Coast (2009) - These Gumball documentaries for the MTV-audience come out every year with the usual messing about in cars and parties. Although fun to watch, the footage is not much different to any other year and becomes a little too familiar. 5/10

The Last Gladiators (2012) - Not too much a fan of ice hockey, but this was a great insight into the players who are effectively known as 'goons' or 'enforcers'. The players who are there to protect their teams better players, and fight. Unfortunately, some of the more well known characters from the NHL have had lives which have been tough, and this documentary from Alex Gibney shows these tough guys when they are at their weakest, as well as at their best. 7/10

[Vincent_Bouche]

Lifeforce (UK Blu)
Surprisingly good mix between sci-fi/vampires/plague - 7/10