It's About Liberty: A Conservative Forum

Topics => Entertainment => Topic started by: trapeze on March 09, 2011, 03:47:24 PM

Title: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 09, 2011, 03:47:24 PM
Welcome to trap's movie thread.

Please write about a movie that you like or loath. Old or new. Classic or camp. Any genre. Any era.

Rules:

1)One movie per comment entry. Keep it simple.

2)You must describe why you like or hate any given movie. Please don't just post something and say, "I liked this," or "I hated this."

I'm not looking for full blown reviews (although feel free to do it if you like). Just a few sentences that would perhaps compel someone to seek it out or avoid it like the plague.

One more thing: This is a bit unorthodox but I want to try it out...try and avoid commenting on other people's entries. If you feel differently about the same movie then post your own review rather than just agree or disagree with someone else's. I know you are going to do it but let's try and keep it to a minimum so that the thread can keep moving along...write about another movie, damn it!


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 09, 2011, 03:55:34 PM
I'll kick it off by reposting this recommendation I made in the "Faith & Family" board. It's by no means the best movie I've ever seen, but it is the most recent, and it was quite good in spite of the low made-for-TV production budget and specifically non-secular viewpoint. So here it is...
                                                                                                                                                             


...I watched a movie last night that affected me deeply, in a good way. It's called "Amish Grace" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559025/), and it is a dramatic account of the aftermath of the October 2006 schoolhouse massacre of 5 Amish girls in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.

I remember the media accounts at the time. The fact that the Amish community almost immediately stressed forgiveness of the killer was met with media incredulity, and when it became apparent that that was the sum-total of the story, the story was abandoned, and the massacre faded from the headlines.

This film stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley (whom you may remember as the daughter in "Father of the Bride") as a mother struggling with her hatred over the murder of her daughter, and her inability to relate to the community's rush to forgive - including her husband. The film does a wonderful, beautiful job of looking at this event from several different angles - from the viewpoints of several different people involved, and it does so objectively.

As the event occurs and everyone is left in its aftermath to deal with the consequences, broad concepts are examined with this tragic setting as a perfect backdrop. The film respectfully explores things like like forgiveness, hatred, evil, grace, God, religious dogma, loss and grief, judgment, and separatism. It is ultimately a film about the value of forgiveness, but it does not shy away from exploring things that all people of faith struggle with and question. Faith and forgiveness are explored honestly, daring to ask the most difficult questions without providing concrete answers, and yet in the end, faith emerges triumphantly above those difficult questions as the overriding and convincing theme of the film.

We can withstand much tragedy and strife with the application of faith, grace, love, and forgiveness - and the Amish community of Nickel Mines are a testament to it. I would highly recommend everyone see this film.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 09, 2011, 04:06:55 PM
"Secondhand Lions", w/Robert Duvall, Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment

Two old duffers, living on their farm (money hidden) get stuck, for a couple weeks, with their Great-Nephew by his good-fer-nuthin' mother.  The kid learns the tale of their exciting lives of adventure in exotic lands and he learns, as well, what it means to be a good man.

No mush but some touching scenes and a good plot.  Duvall and Caine are their usual excellent selves.

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzNjcyOTcxNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwODE5Mjk2._V1._SY317_.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 09, 2011, 04:11:09 PM
I believe Robert Duvall also "outed" himself as a conservative, IIRC.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 09, 2011, 04:21:05 PM
I believe Robert Duvall also "outed" himself as a conservative, IIRC.

Yes, he did. Some really good guys in Hollywood are open conservatives. Craig T. Nelson, Gary Sinise, and I've learned recently... Kevin Sorbo, the muscled hunk that used to play Hercules in that God-awful syndicated show of the same name.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 09, 2011, 04:23:06 PM
Craig T. Nelson is too? I always liked that show Coach, well the first few seasons anyway.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 09, 2011, 04:26:02 PM
Aliens (1986)

Written & directed by James Cameron

Sigourney Weaver
Michael Biehn
Lance Henrickson
Carrie Henn

Normally I am pretty intolerant of Cameron.  Especially his most recent stuff. Aliens, though, is in my opinion, one of the best (if not the best) sequels in movie history. The story is compelling. The action (after the setup) is unrelenting. The heros are heroic. The bad guys are about the worst thing ever conceived. There is some pretty serious splatter. And the good guys win in the end ("Ha, ha! Nuked your planet and threw you out the airlock!").

I really liked the space marines who were sent to rescue the colonists. They had the qualities that I always imagine US Marines to have, particularly the, "We are going to go kill some aliens and it's no big deal," attitude. And even when things turned out badly for them they just put their heads down and kept going, heedless of the risks and dangers because that's who they are and what they do.

The only thing about the story that bothered me was that they had the survivor from the original expedition (Weaver) who was brought along as a technical expert, having seen the aliens first hand, and then they pretty much ignore her advice until it's too late. I am pretty good at suspending disbelief when I see a movie but this just seemed ridiculous. But if you can get over that one logical mistake the rest of the film really works. It keeps you completely engaged all the way to the end. And it's one of those rare movies that I can see more than once just to see what details I might have missed on a previous viewing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 09, 2011, 04:30:42 PM
I liked all three of the Alien movies.  Aliens was the first movie I'd ever seen where the heroine didn't jump over the gun on her screaming way out of the room.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 09, 2011, 04:49:12 PM
Aliens is one of my favorites too. I also agree it's one of the best sequels ever (along with The Empire Strikes Back). That scene at the beginning when Ripley is at an inquest for hours on end, trying to explain why she engaged the self-destruct on her ship in the first film (i.e., because of the creature) and they keep questioning her sanity, bringing up crass bureaucratic concerns, etc, she finally loses it and goes off on the entire panel. I think of that scene a lot lately, when people ignore the enormous mess we're in and instead focus on their petty BS concerns that won't even matter once things really start coming unglued.

The one thing about that film I have trouble believing is that they would leave their ship in orbit completely unmanned. Seems they would at least have a sentry crew, or a reserve team to do an evac in case things go bad.

Overall a great movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on March 09, 2011, 05:46:51 PM
C'mon Trap...rules?!

OK, here goes.

The Fifth Element - 1997

Bruce Willis
Gary Oldman
Ian Holm   
Milla Jovovich

This has to be my favorite "just tune out and enjoy" movie. I think it's the perfect blend of Sci-Fi, action, fantasy, and (light) comedy. The movie flows like champagne - tantalizing and full of excitement. You're never quite drawn into a personal association with any of the characters but who cares?! It's harmless fun that pushes all the right buttons and never disappointments.

9/10 stars
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on March 09, 2011, 06:02:21 PM
And now for something completely different...

What Dreams May Come - 1998

Robin Williams
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Annabella Sciorra
Max von Sydow

I wanted to hate this movie. A friend loaned me the DVD not knowing how much I despise Robin Williams. I almost sent it back unopened. But I did read the blurb on the dustcover and it tempted me into watching.

I'm glad it did. It's a story of love and loyalty...and of loss. It's the story of a man who would literally walk through the gates of Hell to save someone. Obviously it isn't a "romp" or the stuff of casual viewing. And the pacing can be excessively slow at times, but I think it's worth the watch. The visuals can at times be stunning - or terrifying. I found myself relating in spite of myself.

Bring your hankie...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 09, 2011, 06:04:58 PM
I liked both of those as well, Soup.

"Basic" was good; John Travolta, Harry Connick, Jr., Tim Daley, Samuel L. Jackson, and bunch of faces I've seen a lot since then.  Had a female lead as well; too lazy to look her name up.

Jackson plays a sonofabitch DI, really hard on his team/trainees (SEALS or some such) in Panama (?) and the movie evolves into drug-dealing and murder, which a sort of renegade/washout Travolta is brought in to investigate.  The end was excellent; a surprise.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 09, 2011, 06:50:36 PM
How about a super-depressing but brilliant film about how generational dysfunction is passed down from father to son?

Enter, 1997's "Affliction" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118564/) starring Nick Nolte, James Coburn, Sissy Spacek, and Willem DaFoe.

It is among the saddest and most pathetic stories I've ever seen put to film, but it is riveting. The acting is top-notch, with Coburn standing out as giving an absolutely devastating performance as an old, abusive, hardcore drunken sonofabitch. Nolte as his son, DaFoe as little brother and narrator, Spacek as Nolte's girlfriend.

The setting is a small Northeastern town, where Nolte's character is the sheriff. The entire movie occurs in the winter, and much of it occurs outdoors, so the scenes are stark, cold, barren. Never a peek of sun; just gray skies.

First you get to know Nolte, who seems like a good-time, easy-going sheriff. But as the story unfolds, you learn that no one respects his authority, and his position as sheriff is beholden to town bosses who throw him scraps. His relationship with his ex and daughter are strained at first, and later you discover; irreparable. He's paranoid, and prone to outbursts.

The plot unfolds around a hunting accident. Nolte begins to believe that there may have been foul play. He begins following rabbit-trails that seem logical to him, and he keeps getting dragged deeper into his own troubles as he runs in circles around the plot that he sees. Both his devastated present and his utterly destroyed past begin to overwhelm him, and he embarks on a path of ever-increasing self-destruction, enveloping everyone around him. It eventually leads to a downward spiral and confrontation with his father over past abuses and current disappointments.

I'll say no more than that. I'll just conclude by saying that this film is so well scripted and acted, it is as if you're watching real people who are really, really f**ked up. It's devastating, but wonderfully done at the same time.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 09, 2011, 06:57:55 PM
I like the movie "Armegeddan".

Weird people, hot girl, spaceships, asteroids, hero, selflessness, selfishness, A bomb, drilling, common man, NASA ( before obama), oil rigs, guns in space, slingshots off moon, G's, reuniting with loved ones, 2nd chances, pride, fear, technology,  America saves the world.

If obama President during this time, we never pull this off.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 09, 2011, 07:00:35 PM
Oh, and I like Independence day for all the same reasons above.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 09, 2011, 07:16:32 PM
Got me to thinking...One of the most moving movies I have ever watched was a Kevin Bacon movie called "Taking Chance"...

It involves the procedures followed when a fallen soldier is brought back to the USA. One of the very, very, very few films where I welled up with tears. I highly recommend this doc.

"Taking Chance" trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 09, 2011, 09:32:03 PM
Die Hard (1988)

Directed by John McTiernan

Bruce Willis
Alan Rickman
Bonnie Bedelia

If you ever needed proof that Roger Ebert is a know-nothing, over-rated hack you need look no further than his review of Die Hard. He gave it two out of five stars. The fact that over twenty years later it is still one of the most popular movies ever says otherwise.

Fast paced. Tension filled. Suspenseful. Funny.

Outstanding dialogue..."Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..." or "We're gonna need some more FBI guys, I guess."

And a bunch of terrorists get killed in interesting and spectacular ways. So it's basically right wing porn. Yay.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 09, 2011, 09:40:19 PM
Willis is another Hollywood conservative.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 09, 2011, 09:52:21 PM
Die Hard (1988)

Directed by John McTiernan

Bruce Willis
Alan Rickman
Bonnie Bedelia

If you ever needed proof that Roger Ebert is a know-nothing, over-rated hack you need look no further than his review of Die Hard. He gave it two out of five stars. The fact that over twenty years later it is still one of the most popular movies ever says otherwise.

Fast paced. Tension filled. Suspenseful. Funny.

Outstanding dialogue..."Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs..." or "We're gonna need some more FBI guys, I guess."

And a bunch of terrorists get killed in interesting and spectacular ways. So it's basically right wing porn. Yay.



Ah, damn straight!  The best line in the movie is "Yippee ki yea, motherfcker!"  ::snoopydance::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 09, 2011, 09:55:33 PM
And speaking of right wing porn.....


Red Dawn (1984)

Patrick Swayze
Charlie Sheen (who was on a drug called Charlie Sheen)
Jennifer Grey
Lea Thompson
Powers Boothe

A combined Soviet-Nicaraguan-Cuban assault into the American interior by way of Mexico catches the US completely off guard. A small town in Colorado, which is now behind enemy lines, becomes the focal point of the film. A group of high schoolers flee into the surrounding mountains and slowly become an adept guerrilla band. A scene notable to those of us in the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (tm) was the part where the commander of the occupation force orders his men to collect ATF Form 4473 copies from the local gun shop so that private citizens with firearms can be identified and eliminated.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 09, 2011, 10:00:14 PM
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Directed by Rob Reiner

Christopher Guest
Michael McKean
Harry Shearer

This is a very funny movie. It is the funniest movie ever made about 1970's era arena-style rock bands and the music industry that surrounded it. Yeah, I know, there weren't any other parody movies made about 1970's era arena-style rock bands but, if there were a hundred of them this would be number one.

I could pick any of the scenes in the film but one of my favorites is the performance (and aftermath) of Stonehenge:

Spinal Tap Tiny Stonehenge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlf5ucFanpY#)

I really can't stand Rob Reiner but this film goes along way toward excusing about five or ten minutes of his otherwise ridiculous life. Same for Harry Shearer.

The fact is that this wouldn't be a very funny movie if it wasn't about 99% based on truth. But it is and because of that it's hysterically funny. Beginning to end.

The band, Spinal Tap, is all of the worst (and stupidest) elements of every hard rock band that's ever been, rolled into one big parody.

The songs (all actually performed by the actors) are first rate and absolutely ridiculous: Big Bottoms, Bitch School, Hell Hole, Gimme Some Money, and one of my personal favorites, Break Like The Wind*...

Spinal Tap - "Break Like the Wind" with Lyrics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7V406XfAaI#)

Dialogue:

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?
Marty DiBergi: I don't know.
Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

If you were there in the seventies and liked hard rock even a little bit (c'mon, who doesn't like Stairway To Heaven?) then you MUST see this movie.


*Break Like The Wind wasn't in the movie. The movie was so successful and the actors were so good at the music that they have since recorded a few CD's and have actually had several real concert tours. Break Like The Wind is the title tune from one of the CD's. Listen to the lyrics...they are patently ridiculous.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 09, 2011, 10:16:10 PM
RoboCop (1987)

Peter Weller
Kurtwood Smith
Nancy Allen

Set in the Detroit of the then not-so-distant future (which I figure roughly works out to our present) crime is out of control. Detroit is a thoroughly run down, corrupt, post-industrial wasteland, and the filmmakers deserve full credit for absolutely nailing that. The film is essentially a sci-fi action vehicle for biting satire of mindless, reactionary consumerism and corrupt crony capitalism. If the filmmakers were motivated by a left wing ideology in that portrayal, they may have inadvertently missed the mark because the corporatist environment portrayed is anything but a free market.

Anyhow, in this Detroit of the (then) future, the strapped city has entered into an agreement with monolithic corporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) to privatize and manage the police department. When an officer is brutally gunned down by a notorious gang, he is rushed to the emergency room where efforts to resuscitate him fail. Due to his body armor, his vital organs remained intact, and because he had been declared legally dead OCP decides to use him for their cyborg project to fuse a human mind with robotics. The result is the ass-kicking RoboCop who slowly begins to recover his essential humanity while doling out supreme justice to the creeps running wild in Detroit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQPcZ7QQBlE
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 10, 2011, 12:51:49 AM
Just saw the new True Grit.
Either I never saw the original or it was so long ago I don't remember.

Given that, I didn't have to do a comparison.

The young girl was fantastic and the story was told from her perspective.
Jeff Bridges played Rooster really "gritty" and Matt Damon played a different kind of character than we're used to seeing him

Good story with enough action to keep it interesting

I give it a 2 thumbs up
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 10, 2011, 02:46:56 AM
Just saw the new True Grit.
Either I never saw the original or it was so long ago I don't remember.

Given that, I didn't have to do a comparison.

The young girl was fantastic and the story was told from her perspective.
Jeff Bridges played Rooster really "gritty" and Matt Damon played a different kind of character than we're used to seeing him

Good story with enough action to keep it interesting

I give it a 2 thumbs up

Absolutely loved that movie, in every way.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 10, 2011, 06:49:58 AM
The Fifth Element is pretty good, I like movies with quirky characters, and Oldman's has to be one of the quirkiest evil dude's ever.  Plus Milla is quite easy on the eyes.   ;D

I still like the original True Grit, but if there was one way to improve the original it would be to take the girl in the new version and splice her into the old!  She did a heck of good job, much better than the gal in the original IMO.

I also gravitate toward war flicks like Patton, Tora Tora Tora, Midway, We Were Soldiers.

And westerns, like John Wayne flicks period, of recent variety I thought Silverado outstanding, as is Unforgiven.

Comedies?  Of the dark variety I don't think Dr. Strangelove can be beat!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 10:50:29 AM
Got me to thinking...One of the most moving movies I have ever watched was a Kevin Bacon movie called "Taking Chance"...

It involves the procedures followed when a fallen soldier is brought back to the USA. One of the very, very, very few films where I welled up with tears. I highly recommend this doc.

"Taking Chance" trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE#ws)

 I can't watch it without crying like a little bitch. But I would watch it as often as I can.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 10:59:19 AM
To Kill a Mocking bird.

 That is one movie that just hits me right.

Famous Speeches: To Kill a Mockingbird (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TgqenWW0I#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 11:02:17 AM
Lawrence of Arabia:

  It still holds up today when it comes to muslims.

Lawrence of Arabia - The Best of Them Won't Come For Money.. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdSz8WsNSYY#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 11:05:12 AM
Steel Magnolias:

  Just fun to watch.

I am pleasant! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHNBvGXLUt8#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 10, 2011, 11:13:42 AM
Steel Magmolias!

Isn't that a chick flick?
Sorry. Just had to throw that out
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 11:15:13 AM
Steel Magmolias!

Isn't that a chick flick?
Sorry. Just had to throw that out


   It certainly is. ::rockethrow::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 10, 2011, 11:26:01 AM
 ::slapfight::

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 10, 2011, 12:43:34 PM
Got me to thinking...One of the most moving movies I have ever watched was a Kevin Bacon movie called "Taking Chance"...

It involves the procedures followed when a fallen soldier is brought back to the USA. One of the very, very, very few films where I welled up with tears. I highly recommend this doc.

"Taking Chance" trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE#ws)

 I can't watch it without crying like a little bitch. But I would watch it as often as I can.

I welled up just making the post and watching the trailer. Freakin guys in the gym wondered what the heck I was doin....LOLOLOL
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 10, 2011, 01:07:42 PM
Got me to thinking...One of the most moving movies I have ever watched was a Kevin Bacon movie called "Taking Chance"...

It involves the procedures followed when a fallen soldier is brought back to the USA. One of the very, very, very few films where I welled up with tears. I highly recommend this doc.

"Taking Chance" trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmiLdzzgGE#ws)

 I can't watch it without crying like a little bitch. But I would watch it as often as I can.

I welled up just making the post and watching the trailer. Freakin guys in the gym wondered what the heck I was doin....LOLOLOL

That really is an awesome movie. I think it accomplishes exactly what it set out to accomplish.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 01:39:10 PM
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

  I lover the movie and the Johny Mercer music.

k.d.lang - Skylark ( a cappella ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-o92_OI5OU#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 10, 2011, 01:46:21 PM
Steel Magmolias!

Isn't that a chick flick?
Sorry. Just had to throw that out

You know a pretty good chick flick?  "In Her Shoes"; another Shirley MacLaine movie, her as grandmother, though.  It's about two sisters, and Grandmother, one irresponsible, flighty and promiscuous; the other just the opposite.

It's got several old-timer ladies in it as well - the Jewish contingent - and they are amusing.

It appealed to me because I have a sister whose neck I'd like to wring, too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 10, 2011, 01:52:37 PM
Steel Magmolias!

Isn't that a chick flick?
Sorry. Just had to throw that out

You know a pretty good chick flick?  "In Her Shoes"; another Shirley MacLaine movie, her as grandmother, though.  It's about two sisters, and Grandmother, one irresponsible, flighty and promiscuous; the other just the opposite.

It's got several old-timer ladies in it as well - the Jewish contingent - and they are amusing.

It appealed to me because I have a sister whose neck I'd like to wring, too.
men on film in living color (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PK6QkZG_Y0#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 10, 2011, 11:42:03 PM
True Grit (Both of them)

I have seen the original movie more times than I can count. It has had, for me, both a strong attraction and some elements of repulsion. I liked just about everything about it but I was frequently irritated by the annoying performance of Kim Darby* and the overall ham-handed acting by Glenn Campbell. John Wayne did his best to carry them both and the result was a watchable and enjoyable film that has a few awkward moments. Robert Duvall is excellent in his brief role as Ned Pepper.

Before the new version came out I decided to do something that I should have done years ago. I purchased a copy of the Charles Portis short novel to read on my Kindle For Mac. It was good. And, I realized, it was almost identical to the first movie in plot, pacing and dialogue. There really was only a minor difference between the first movie and the novel and it involves how the story ends. Another minor difference would be the scenery. The first movie has its scenes shot just about everywhere but in the places described in the book. But that's Hollywood.

The second movie took more than a few liberties with the original story. There were scenes and dialogue in the new movie that were made up out of whole cloth. On the flip side, the scenery is very accurate and so is the ending. I liked the actors who portrayed Mattie Ross and La Beouf. I especially liked the portrayal of Cogburn by Bridges, the way he was much more convincingly an alcoholic, the way his speech was slurred and frequently difficult to understand. Not that I didn't appreciate John Wayne's interpretation, I did. Both Wayne and Bridges were good but in different ways.

If I could have my own version of the film it would probably consist of a Bridges and a Wayne version that didn't include the annoying Kim Darby and the stiff Glenn Campbell, that was filmed in Oklahoma, with the completely loyal to the source material script. That would be the best of all worlds.

So...I recommend that you read the book (if for no other reason than it being an excellent story well told). I recommend that you see both movies and then allow whatever fusion of the films and the book that appeals to you to naturally occur. Because that is the best you are going to get and it's worth the trouble.



*Seriously, I found Kim Darby's interpretation of 14-year-old Mattie Ross to be so mind numbingly irritating that in the finale I was rooting for the snakes. I found myself imagining that Ned Pepper loses his temper and shoots her through the temple just to get her to shut up. Or that Tom Chaney, given the opportunity to kill the Texas Ranger, bashes Darby's brains out instead. I don't normally fantasize about the violent death of young women so you can imagine just how much I loath Kim Darby's performance in this movie. Glenn Campbell is, by comparison, merely wooden and more of a waste of space rather than a focus of overwhelming annoyance.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 11, 2011, 04:21:05 AM
You mean Bridges. Jeff Bridges, not Jeff Daniels.
 ::exitstageleft::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on March 11, 2011, 05:08:02 AM
Lloyd Bridges ... "Rooster Cogburn Meets Airplane"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on March 11, 2011, 05:21:16 AM
" Edge Of The City "  starring John Cassavetes , Sidney Poitier and Jack Warden .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: radioman on March 11, 2011, 05:35:09 PM
Ok

Just went to see "The Grace Card" today and I highly recommend it to everyone. It is up there with "Fireproof" and "Facing the Giants".

Sept 30, another good movie will be hitting the theatres - "Courageous".
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 11, 2011, 06:10:52 PM
You mean Bridges. Jeff Bridges, not Jeff Daniels.
 ::exitstageleft::

Thanks. I fixed it. That's what happens when I am tired and try to write.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 11, 2011, 08:31:46 PM
"The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" stars two favorites Tommy Lee Jones (Pete) and Dwight Yoakam (the sheriff).  A modern western set in a (pre-narco war) border state.  A post adolescent dumb-ass, thinking he is being fired upon, kills the Mexican goat herder and friend of rancher Pete, Melquiades Estrada.  

The killer discretely buries Melquiades but shortly the body is found and re-buried in town.  The sheriff is a slacker and is pressed upon by Pete to find the killer. There is good interplay between Pete and the sheriff.  Shortly Pete ferrets out the killer and takes him and the body of Melquiades, on a (Homeric?) journey to self-awareness and the final burial of Melquiades at his homestead.    

This is an excellent movie; good script, development, and acting.  
It is a three act play: the killing, the development of the characters in town, then the journey through the wilderness to the resolving of issues.  The only variation from tradition is that the third act is the longest. In another era John Wayne would have played Pete's role.

ETA:
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3k1iBYa5Z4#)




Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 12, 2011, 09:54:58 PM
Dark City (1998)

Directed by Alex Proyas

Rufus Sewell
William Hurt
Jennifer Connelly
Kiefer Sutherland

This is a dark movie. And I usually don't like dark movies. One of the reasons that I liked The Fifth Element is because it was bursting with color which is what I would want a science fiction future to be, bright and hopeful.

Dark City is something entirely different. It takes a little while to figure it out but I don't think I am going to spoil anything by saying that the protagonist and most everyone he interacts with are humans who have apparently been abducted by aliens and re-located on some kind of a giant spacecraft that resembles a human city, a city that perpetually exists at night time. The humans are being experimented on for some unknown purpose. Every night at midnight they are all made unconscious and the world is re-arranged, people change identities...it's pretty weird.

The protagonist is somehow different from everyone else and he is able to stay awake during these blackouts. The film begins with him exhibiting this for the first time (we don't know how long any of them have been like this). He witnesses the aliens, pale humanoids in long black overcoats, making the changes and it isn't very long before they discover him and his life is then in danger from them. He is already in danger from his fellow humans because a police detective believes he is responsible for a series of murders. He is clueless, not able to fully remember who he is, how he got there or much of anything else. He discovers that he has the same ability to affect reality as the aliens do, making him able to fight their schemes.

The film is visually arresting even though it is dark and everything takes place at night. It is one of those films where you can see it several times and still not see all of the details of the sets. And I have seen it more than once, always an indication that, for me, it's a good movie. There are many twists and turns. The plot is strange but easy to follow, interesting and keeps you guessing until the very end about just what is real and what is delusion.

EDIT: Almost forgot to mention Kiefer Sutherland gets to play a mad scientist type (he has been mostly co-opted by the aliens and is seen frequently jabbing an ominous looking hypodermic needle into people's brains...and he gets to talk oddly) who sort of helps the protagonist.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 13, 2011, 08:51:01 AM
Dark City (1998)...

Oooh, definitely a fave. The money shot at the end brings me chills every time I think about it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 13, 2011, 09:42:24 AM
Memento (2000) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/)
Starring Guy Pearce, Carrie-Ann Moss, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Inception)

This movie is a thinker. There are times when I like to kick back and simply be entertained without having to think too hard about what I'm seeing, and other times when I want to be forced by the film to maintain my attention or else be completely lost. Memento is the most bizarrely enjoyable complex bit of mainstream film-making I've ever seen. Look away for a moment, and you're forced to back up to rewatch what you missed, or the rest of the film will not make sense. But maintain your attention, and what unfolds is nothing short of brilliant. It gives you just enough to keep you constantly asking whether you're getting it right, and then feeding you bits of understanding to give you confidence that you are.

The film is about a man with short-term memory-loss trying to solve his wife's murder. He can remember nothing after the traumatic event of her murder, and he forgets everything that does not have his immediate attention. So as he attempts to solve the crime and seek revenge, he's forced to keep notes of everything either written, in photographs - or the really important facts - on tattoos covering his entire body, some backwards so he can read them in the mirror.

And to top it all off, the movie unfolds in reverse, revealing scenes in sequential backwards order. The last thing you see in a given scene is the first thing you saw in the scene preceding. It sounds really complicated, and because of its unique concept, it is. But a "flow" is established with the first "time-jump", and it becomes apparent that this concept is going to be absolutely integral to the film.

The dialogue dynamics caused by his memory loss is completely unique to any film - and I LOVE unique, well-written dialogue in book and film. It is well-acted, dark, disturbing, suspenseful, and creates a "mood" unlike any other film I've seen. You get to the end and you "feel" a certain way that is rather inexplicable, like you're not entirely sure what you just watched, but you know you liked it.

You may get to the end of the movie and say "I have to watch that again, cuz I'm not positive about _________." But if you're into intellectually stimulating films, it won't bother you that you feel you might have missed a detail. In fact, after seeing the film 4 times, I think it's intentional. I think that a feeling of being unsure of everything you've seen is built right into the film. As you watch this character interacting in a world he can't remember based on a strict set of "facts" that he manically tries to maintain, and you watch people who know of his condition manipulate him, there is a panic and uncertainty that draws you in, and that you share with the character as a viewer.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 16, 2011, 12:16:47 AM
Moon (2009)

Directed by Duncan Jones

Sam Rockwell
Kevin Spacey (voice)

This was one of the better pure science fiction movies I have seen. (By "pure science fiction" I mean it mainly seems to adhere to the laws of physics unlike Star Wars type movies where, for instance, spacecraft zip around the vacuum of space as if aerodynamics were in play. Pure scifi films mostly play by the rules rather than make them up.)

The story revolves around a mining facility on the moon and its lone caretaker, Sam Bell (Rockwell). He has a HAL9000-like computer as his sole companion and is able to view occasional video messages from his family back on Earth. As the movie opens he is near the end of his three year shift and is eagerly awaiting his replacement so that he can leave the Moon and go home. But the time in isolation has apparently taken a toll on him both physically and mentally and he seems close to losing it.  He ventures out to check on an automated mining machine, suffers a crash, and wakes up in the computer automated infirmary in a very confused state. And that's when things really begin to get strange. He discovers that the computer (voiced by Spacey) has been lying to him and that things are not at all what they appear to be. It's not long before he discovers an ominous secret about the reality of the facility and his own mortality.

I usually have a hard time watching a film with one actor. They bore me because it is so hard for one actor to carry it off. But Rockwell gives an outstanding performance and the story is interesting enough to keep me wondering how things are going to turn out. The big secret is revealed about one third of the way into the movie and then it really does come down to, "Okay, now what are they going to do with it?"

There are moral and ethical questions raised (not particularly deep ones) that do make you think a bit after it's over and that's always a nice thing. Much better than the usual forgot-what-it's-about-five-minutes-outta-the-theater feeling that I am usually left with. So, a good film.

One more thing...Who is this director Duncan Jones? Turns out he is the son of uber wierd music icon David Bowie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: radioman on March 18, 2011, 09:46:42 AM
Look for 'Atlas Shrugged' Part 1 coming in September!

http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/?gclid=CLKLm4at2KcCFcKd7Qodnxp45w (http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/?gclid=CLKLm4at2KcCFcKd7Qodnxp45w)

From the book of the same title by author Ayn Rand. This should be a good one for a change!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on March 18, 2011, 10:54:07 AM
On conservative actors, don't forget Andy Garcia. ::USA:: The "True Grit" review has me intrigued. I may actually have to see the movie. I was already to hate it after seeing the original so many times.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: radioman on March 18, 2011, 10:55:44 AM
On conservative actors, don't forget Andy Garcia. ::USA:: The "True Grit" review has me intrigued. I may actually have to see the movie. I was already to hate it after seeing the original so many times.

i watched it and highly recommend it!! 5 stars!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on March 18, 2011, 11:00:14 AM
I forgot to mention one of my movies:
Lonesome Dove

Robert Duval
Tommy Lee Jones
Ricky Schroeder

Really great flick with the only downside being they didn't kill off Robert Urich soon enough. ::hysterical:: And I still don't care for little Ricky Schroeder.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 18, 2011, 11:39:50 AM
Quote
I forgot to mention one of my movies:
Lonesome Dove

Excellent movie.
Made for TV, I believe. But great
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 20, 2011, 02:43:56 AM
Days Of Thunder (1990)

Directed by Tony Scott (who directed Top Gun and figured he could get away with it a 2nd time)

Tom Cruise (who thought he was making a serious and thought provoking film and, as usual, was delusional)
Robert Duvall (who should have known better but must have needed the money)
Nicole Kidman (who was only in this because Cruise made her do it)

I hate this movie. For me, Top Gun was barely tolerable because anyone who knows anything about the way that jet fighter pilots behave knows that almost nothing in that flick was even vaguely realistic. Days Of Thunder is Top Gun with stock cars. And I love NASCAR. This monstrosity makes a complete mockery of NASCAR in the same way that Top Gun makes a mockery of Air Force pilots and Naval aviators. So I hate it.

Tom Cruise is a joke as a human being and, although he is capable of good work, he frequently makes dreck like this. Heck, I think he even co-wrote this nonsense.

So yeah, I'm biased against this from the word "go" for so many reasons that I couldn't possibly list them all if I tried. I have mixed feelings about Jerry Bruckheimer productions. They are always ridiculously over the top but that's not always a bad thing. Sometimes it works in a campy sort of way like The Rock or Con Air. But most of the time they fall flat, crushed under their own weight of bad writing, bad acting and just plain stupidity...like Pearl Harbor. And Days Of Thunder.

If you want to see a very good film on NASCAR then I would recommend you instead invest your time and money on the mini documentary put out by the IMAX people, NASCAR: The Imax Experience (2004). It's a few years old (no Jimmy Johnson) but they do an outstanding job of capturing both the history of the sport and the modern experience of stock car racing. The sport is treated with the respect that it deserves instead of, like Days Of Thunder, making the drivers look like lunatics.

This movie should never be seen by anyone under any circumstances. It truly sucks. There are worse movies (I think I'll write about one next) but not that many. Not with a budget like this one had, anyway.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 20, 2011, 09:02:35 AM
Robert Mitchum sings The Ballad of Thunder Road (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdwUpxkfSJw#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 20, 2011, 09:02:59 AM
"Pillars of the Earth" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillars_of_the_Earth_%28TV_miniseries%29), adapted from the novel by Ken Follett.

The line of quality demarcation between feature films and television productions is increasingly blurred these days as the tools, talent, technology, and budgets of television production rivals that of the feature film industry. The results are some very excellent, well-produced, well-acted, well-scripted, and well-directed television programs that cede no quality to theater-released feature films. The screen adaptation of Ken Follett's novel "Pillars of the Earth" is one such program.

It's an 8-part historical mini-series set during the 12th century British "Anarchy", a period when under the reign of King Stephen, the succession to the monarchy was constantly in dispute, and wars and feuds were rampant. Set against that historical period is a fictional tale of the building of a cathedral over decades, and the struggles between people determined to see it built, and those who wished to thwart its building. Rife with political intrigue, corruption, romance, interesting characters, power-struggles, great plots and sub-plots, good, evil, and the bad guys definitely pay for their crimes in the end.

Excellent program; highly recommended.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 20, 2011, 09:11:41 AM
Kingdom of Heaven - What is Jerusalem worth? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6aPgA5549g#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 25, 2011, 01:41:42 AM
Okay, and now...the bad.

Battlefield Earth (2000)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/Ew_be_spoof.jpg)

Directed by Roger Christian

John Travolta
Barry Pepper
Kelly Preston
and a host of others who wish they had never heard of the damn thing.

Believe it or not I actually read this book when it came out. I was always a big sci/fi reader and I had never read anything by L. Ron Hubbard before. I had no idea what scientology was at the time...had never heard of it.  It was a bad book. I realized this after reading perhaps 200 pages but I was unable to put it down. I kept thinking, "There is no way that this book can keep being this consistently bad." and then when it did, curiosity got the better of me and I wondered, "Could it possible get worse?" Well, id didn't, which pissed me off because I invested all that time reading it through to the end and it just ending up being a crappy book.

I did, though, gain two valuable things from the experience. First, I knew never to buy another thing written by Hubbard (which led me to veer into discovering laughable joke religion that is scientology) and second, that when the movie came out I knew to avoid it like I would avoid venereal disease.

I did watch it on cable when the opportunity presented itself 'cause it was free and I wasn't doing anything and I already knew how godawful it was going to be. Knowing what a piece of crap it was and knowing it wasn't going to improve or even be funny allowed me to watch it and shut if off when it got too horrible. Thus I confess to never having seen it all the way through.

But really you don't have to. When you see a car plunging over the edge of a cliff it isn't necessary to run up to it in order to find out what happens next. The car is going to be crushed and everyone in it is going to die. You just know it.

This is a truly awful picture. The scenes are almost all universally drab and dark. The special effects aren't. The acting varies between just bad and really, really, really bad. The director inexplicably uses that tilted angle shot like they did in the Batman tv series whenever the villains were in the scene...except that it's used almost all the time.  The script is boring. If the script had been horrible then maybe the film would have qualified as camp but it's not. It's just dull.

The only thing that you can do to get relief is to turn it off and toss down some Advil. I'm not sure anyone has ever watched it all the way through. It's said that a lot of people left the theater rather than face blood streaming from their eyes and ears or maybe their brains exploding.

You have to wonder if Tom Cruise tried to stop his fellow scientology cultist Travolta from doing this. Or how he avoided ending up in this piece of garbage. Travolta to this day insists that this was the greatest sci/fi movie ever made. I'm not kidding. I looked it up.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 25, 2011, 01:59:35 AM
Night of the Iguana

Set in pre-tourist Acapulco.  A bus tour including Richard Burton, -de-flocked Episcopal preacher, bus driver/tour guide, alcoholic as Lawrence T. Shannon.  Debora Kerr as spinster taking care of aged poet father,  nymphet Sue Lyon with a screw chaperon.  The bus breaks down in the jungle and the group wind up at a tourist inn operated by Shannon's old friend Ava Gardner and her husband who is in one scene (maybe). 
That is the set up. This disconsolate group stranded at an Inn in the hot jungle. Sort of a "Casablanca" in the jungle, but instead of Nazi's the demons are internal.  The acting is excellent and so is the dialogue.
The only special effects are natural.

Some pulled quotes:
Hannah Jelkes: There are worse things than chastity, Mr. Shannon.
Lawrence Shannon: Yes: lunacy and death.

T. Lawrence Shannon: I thought you were sexless. But you've just become a woman. And do you know how I know that? Because *you* like *me* tied up! All women, whether they wish to admit it or not, would like to get men into a tied-up situation.

T. Lawrence Shannon: I'm panicking!
Hannah Jelkes: I know that.
T. Lawrence Shannon: A man can die of panic!
Hannah Jelkes: Not when he enjoys it as much as you do, Dr. Shannon.

Hannah Jelkes: Who wouldn't like to atone for the sins of themselves, and the world, if it could be done in a hammock with ropes, instead of on a Cross, with nails? On a green hilltop, instead of Golgotha, the Place of the Skulls? Isn't that a comparatively comfortable, almost voluptuous Crucifixion to suffer for the sins of the world, Mr. Shannon?

Maxine Faulk: So you appropriated the young chick and the old hens are squawking, huh?
T. Lawrence Shannon: It's very serious. The child is emotionally precocious.
Maxine Faulk: Bully for her.
T. Lawrence Shannon: Also, she is traveling under the wing of a military escort of a butch vocal teacher.

The Night of the Iguana (1964) - HQ Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPdFDfQyi_c#ws)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on March 25, 2011, 04:40:52 AM
Mad Magazine's takeoff was "Night of the Banana" .... Something appropriately sexual there which I missed the first time I read it .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 25, 2011, 08:01:01 AM
Quote
A bus tour including Richard Burton, -de-flocked Episcopal preacher, bus driver/tour guide, alcoholic as Lawrence T. Shannon.

Okay, I usually leave stuff like this alone but that word is one that I hear all the time and it bugs me so sorry but I just have to make the correction...it's "defrocked."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 25, 2011, 09:25:15 AM
Quote
A bus tour including Richard Burton, -de-flocked Episcopal preacher, bus driver/tour guide, alcoholic as Lawrence T. Shannon.

Okay, I usually leave stuff like this alone but that word is one that I hear all the time and it bugs me so sorry but I just have to make the correction...it's "defrocked."

Well, it's your spell checker and it said frocked, take it up with them.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 25, 2011, 01:49:51 PM
My spell checker? You jest.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 31, 2011, 12:44:15 AM

Against All Odds

Jeff Bridges, pro football player,  Rachel Ward, daughter of matriarchal owner of the football team and girlfriend of  Jim Woods, (darkside) nightclub owner/gambler and  third point of the the love triangle.  Bridges is put on wavers and offered a job to find runaway daughter. Intrigue follows.  Alltime great actor Richard Widmark plays evil lawyer and Alex (Mongo) Karass alltime great thespian, plays Sully, confidant and football trainer.   Night club scene including Kid Creole and the Coconuts is memorable.  The, must be seen on a big screen to appreciate, auto race between Bridges and Woods is excellent. The show moves from beginning to end and is excellent entertainment.

It's Rated R, can't remember why.

Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuvtoyVi7vY#ws)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 31, 2011, 08:50:33 AM
Here's one for the "Excellent movie in spite of it's bullsh*t Leftist multi-cult propaganda" category.

American History X (1998)
Starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120586/)

Ed Norton (great actor, notorious Leftist) plays a former neo-nazi skinhead convict trying to prevent his little brother (Edward Furlong from Terminator 2) from following in his footsteps. In a series of flashbacks, we see a younger Norton get sucked into White supremacy after his father is murdered by a Black guy, until Norton's hatred alienates him from his family and ultimately leads him to commit racist cold-blooded murder, and spend hard time in prison. In prison, the only person who treats him decently is a Black prisoner, and as he's torn between racism, prison-gang race stereotypes, and true friendship, he has a transformation, and rejects his hatred and his racism. Upon leaving prison, he attempts to save his brother from his associations with the skinheads.

If that was the extent of it, this would be a great teaching tool of the evils of racism and the self-destructiveness of unchecked hatred. Norton's work is nothing short of brilliant. The malevolent cut of his glare coupled with the thick black swastika on his chest has you believing the hate.

But that isn't the extent of it. The propaganda aspect of the movie attempts to lead the viewer to the conclusion that mainstream conservative thinking regarding race issues leads to neo-nazi violence and hatred. To those aware of it, it shows us that this attempt to portray mainstream America as racist has been happening on the Left for a long time.

Watch this scene (volume is quiet, so turn up a bit). This is earlier in the film, before Norton becomes fully engaged in the neo-nazi movement. The family is having dinner, with Eliot Gould playing the Jewish boyfriend of Norton's mother. The discussion turns to race relations, and if you listen to Norton's words, ignoring how they're delivered, as a conservative, you will likely agree with EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. That is... until he turns on a dime, and this character espousing perfectly mainstream conservative ideology regarding race and illegal immigration turns into a violent, abusive, racist maniac, ending with Beverly D'Angelo (mom) saying, "I'm shamed that you came out of my body," and Norton's reply, "Go run to your f**king kike." The film quite deftly associates conservatism with racist White supremacy, as you'll see here...

*Language*
American History X Tense dinner (long Version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK3FVK8hRBc#)

Here we see a perfectly mainstream conservative position on illegal immigration turned into an ugly racist violent action...

*Language*
American History X- About illegal immigrant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36irfDblN-s#)

The producers would have the viewer believe that mainstream conservative thought leads to White supremacy, which will ultimately lead to this:

*Language*
American History X - Derek shows who's the boss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgn7SUzGZpw#ws)

In spite of all this, there are lessons to be learned from the film, but one wonders how many people watched this otherwise excellent film, never cognizant of the propaganda hit job they were watching, instead absorbing the notion that conservative positions regarding race and immigration are equated to White supremacy.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 31, 2011, 09:10:22 AM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 31, 2011, 03:37:52 PM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward
::oldman::

http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,775.msg7668.html#msg7668
Another common tactic used in DHS sponsored training is the slander of certain ideologies by linking an erroneous characteristic to a particular group.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 31, 2011, 03:39:12 PM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward
::oldman::

http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,775.msg7668.html#msg7668
Another common tactic used in DHS sponsored training is the slander of certain ideologies by linking an erroneous characteristic to a particular group.



After reading IDP's review, that similarity occurred to me as well.  Great minds and all that ........
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 31, 2011, 04:02:06 PM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward
::oldman::

http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,775.msg7668.html#msg7668
Another common tactic used in DHS sponsored training is the slander of certain ideologies by linking an erroneous characteristic to a particular group.



After reading IDP's review, that similarity occurred to me as well.  Great minds and all that ........

Actually it was that thread that spurred my recollection of this movie. I meant o give it a hat-tip & a link, and became so engrossed in my review and searching for video clips that I forgot I was going to link to the thread.
 ::beertoast::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 31, 2011, 04:35:55 PM
I think where I first saw her was in the TV mini-series, The Thorn Birds with Dr Kildare, I mean Richard Chamberlain
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 31, 2011, 04:50:37 PM
...and just to be clear (because I have an inkling there might be some confusion up-thread)  ::thumbsup::... Rachel Ward wasn't in American History X. She was in Against All Odds...
 ::exitstageleft::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on March 31, 2011, 08:45:52 PM
I thought Ed Norton and Ralph Fiennes were excellent in "Red Dragon", which is the only good sequel (err prequel) to Silence of the Lambs. Fiennes plays the tortured Norman Bates type very convincingly. That scene where he forces his victim to observe a slideshow while revealing unexpectedly complex body art was creepy to the extreme.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 31, 2011, 09:55:18 PM
So...as long as we are talking about Edward Norton...

Rounders (1998)

Directed by John Dahl

Matt Damon
Edward Norton
John Turturro
John Malkovich
Martin Landau
Gretchen Mol (as the shrew)

First of all let me get this out of the way: This is the greatest poker/grifter movie ever made. Which is not to say that it is a great poker movie. I don't know if a great poker movie will ever be made. Poker is best described as hours of excruciating boredom punctuated with a few brief moments of sheer terror. You would think that someone could write a script that was both interesting and realistic but so far, no. So until that happens, "Rounders" is the best.

The movie works for me, though, on another level and that would be the character interaction between Damon and Norton. Damon plays the good and loyal friend and Norton plays the ultimate jerk friend. I have been in one of these relationships (as the good and loyal friend) and this movie carries this off to perfection.

The poker scenes are mostly ridiculous: Damon playing for all of his bankroll at both the beginning and the end of the movie. No one works to amass a multi-thousand dollar bankroll and then shoves the entire thing into the pot. Real poker players will only risk a very small fraction of their bankroll at a time. Why? Because unless you have the absolute best possible hand there is always a chance that you will lose. That's called "variance" which is a fancy way of saying, "Aces don't always win." The scene where Damon walks into a room where his professor and several of his friends are playing and then, having observed them for all of one minute, tells everyone at the table what is in their hands. Really good players can "read" other players at the table but it's based on a very long period of observation. And a good "read" will usually be a range of hands rather than predicting two specific cards.

Now on the other hand, the Norton character's habitual cheating was pretty darn realistic. People cheat at cards. All the time. And the funny thing is, people who are normally quite ethical have absolutely no qualms at all about cheating at cards. Some cheaters are lazy (bringing a few extra dozen poker chips from home and secretly adding them to their stack) and some are hard working and sophisticated. The Norton character fits into that second category. He was in prison at the beginning of the film and when he gets out he brags about having lots of time to practice his "stuff" which consists of dealing seconds and bottoms. A good card mechanic can deal seconds (retaining a valuable card on top to be dealt to himself) or off the bottom and it is almost impossible to tell. BTW: No one in their right mind uses marked cards.

Anyway, Damon puts up with Norton getting him into trouble over and over and over until the very end of the movie where they finally part ways. And that's the part of the film that is the best. What a friend will put up with for the sake of loyalty, for the sake of friendship. The hope that you can save someone that you care about from themselves. And then, ultimately being able to see that you can't help someone who won't help themselves and having the wisdom to just walk away from the train wreck instead of becoming engulfed in it. You keep pulling for Norton's character to wise up while simultaneously wishing that the Damon character will dump his shrew girlfriend in a spectacular way.

Great movie. I usually don't care to see Matt Damon in anything but in this he was tolerable. And Norton was brilliant which more than makes up for it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 16, 2011, 12:06:18 AM
Okay, this (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hobo_with_a_shotgun/) isn't out yet but I am going to see it when it does open. It is already a 90% rated film at Rotten Tomatoes making it one of the better reviewed films of the year.

This is the fake trailer that was so popular that they decided to make it. And when you think of all the crappy movies made from tv shows and comic books I guess it was only natural that they made this...

Hobo With a Shotgun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLsfs2YNgAE#ws)

So here is the real movie trailer:

Hobo With A Shotgun (2011) - Unrated Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssHEAOrAdCU#ws)

And the redband trailer...

Hobo With A Shotgun - Official Redband Trailer 2 [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSFKGn5ocLI#ws)

The return of Rutger Hauer. Just in time for the decadence of the Obama administration.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on April 17, 2011, 08:29:36 AM
Went to view Hanna last nite.....Thought it was gonna be like the Bourne Identity movies....I was wrong.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 17, 2011, 08:58:35 AM
Went to view Hanna last nite.....Thought it was gonna be like the Bourne Identity movies....I was wrong.

 Good or bad??
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on April 17, 2011, 09:11:26 AM
Went to view Hanna last nite.....Thought it was gonna be like the Bourne Identity movies....I was wrong.

 Good or bad??

I didn't like it. Slow in the beginning, attempting to set up the her story but failed, imo. I don't want to give away the movie, some may like it, but I thought it was a fail exhibiting the innocence of a child, who was trained to be a killer for her own self protection. Choppy and vague. The flick did not leave me in suspense.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 17, 2011, 11:34:18 AM
Went to view Hanna last nite.....Thought it was gonna be like the Bourne Identity movies....I was wrong.

 Good or bad??

I didn't like it. Slow in the beginning, attempting to set up the her story but failed, imo. I don't want to give away the movie, some may like it, but I thought it was a fail exhibiting the innocence of a child, who was trained to be a killer for her own self protection. Choppy and vague. The flick did not leave me in suspense.

 So that's one I wait to make the TV.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: stelalouis on April 21, 2011, 01:59:29 AM
I think , the movie was a good way to go for a new entertainment and I did the same at that time too .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 28, 2011, 11:29:35 PM
What would a movie thread be without a posting of something/anything that's MST3K? MST3K is a national treasure. From the vault, a black and white short subject:

MST3K - Keeping Clean and Neat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRB3xDg5pnU#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on April 29, 2011, 04:18:04 AM
Die Hard (1988)


Ah, damn straight!  The best line in the movie is "Yippee ki yea, motherfcker!"  ::snoopydance::

I thought 'Welcome to the party, Pal!' was a great line when it comes to bloodletting violence as applied to liberal politically correct do-nothings.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on April 29, 2011, 04:40:42 AM
My favorite movie of all time, and one I'm quite shockingly surprised this thread reached page six with nary a mention, is Blazing Saddles.  There is not one piece of this politically incorrect movie (made before political correctness) that is not funny; Blazing Saddles put the 'fun' in funny.  The saddest part of the movie for me is knowing that such a movie can never be made again.  Our loss. 

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Director: Mel Brooks


Cleavon Little
Gene Wilder
Slim Pickens
Harvey Korman
Madeline Kahn
Mel Brooks 

What's not to love?  Pick a scene, any scene, and there is a memorable line in it.

Best to let the movie speak for itself.

Blazing Saddles - Camptown Ladies Full Scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5WV-cELBB4#noexternalembed-ws)

blazing saddles quicksand scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiUdtxe2YnU#)

Authentic Frontier Gibberish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5Mr5eCF2U#)

Blazing Saddles - Harvey Korman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km7WD8wkb1c#noexternalembed)

Blazing Saddles, Harumph Scene, Governors Office (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-cje17OGnQ#noexternalembed)

Blazing Saddles "We Don't Want the Irish!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boO4RowROiw#)

Every scene's a winner.  "Have you ever seen such cruelty?"

If you haven't seen this movie, why the hell not?  If you haven't seen the unabridged version in a long time, why the hell not?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on April 29, 2011, 05:10:11 AM
All too often, the Bard translates to the screen in a horrid and boring way.  One such 'against the grain' treatment of the Bard is Henry V, perhaps the best of any film treatment of Shakespeare's work.  Why I do I love this movie?  For one reason, it probably has the single greatest battle scene in any 'war movie': The Battle of Agincourt.  That was one of those 'outnumbered, outgunned, be happy for today we die' battles from history, a very real 'against all odds' knockdown drag 'em out fight which changed the course of History.  From Wiki:  "The 2009 Encyclopædia Britannica uses the figures of about 6,000 for the English and 20,000 to 30,000 for the French."  I have never seen such a realistic screen treatment of a medievil battle; it is absolutely magnificent in all its mud and blood and guts and glory. Then there is Branagh's magnificent rendering of one of THE greatest 'rouse the troops' speaches of all time, the St. Crispin's Day speech, which we've all either read or heard.  But Branagh brings it to a new height.  This production of Shakespeare's play is pitch perfect, as when Henry V says: 

Quote
No; it is not possible you should love the enemy of France, Kate: but, in loving me, you should love the friend of France; for I love France so well that I will not part with a village of it; I will have it all mine: and, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then yours is France and you are mine."

Henry V (1989)


Director: Kenneth Branagh

Derek Jacobi
Kenneth Branagh
Simon Shepherd
James Larkin
Brian Blessed
James Simmons


Henry V Speech to the troops (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDZVxbrW7Ow#ws)

Henry V, Kenneth Branagh, Agincourt 1, "Nothing But Shame" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R98H2E9JWuY#)
If you've never seen this movie, I highly recommend it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on April 29, 2011, 05:36:25 AM
Now for a movie I absolutely loathe.  I'm a big fan of sci-fi movies, but bad sci-fi is just the worst.  In this category I place Logan's Run.  From the cheesy 'hamster run' special effects to the atrocious acting in a movie with a decent premise, it is plain ol' bad, in every sense of the word.  One wonders why they made this film, and once made, why they released it, and once released, why they didn't commit seppuku.  This film really puts the 'cheese' in cheesy.  I think bad sci-fi is even worse than bad pr0n.


Logan's Run (1976)


Director: Michael Anderson

Michael York
Richard Jordan
Jenny Agutter
Roscoe Lee Browne
Farrah Fawcett
Michael Anderson Jr.
Peter Ustinov

Logan's Run (trailer) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUUnc1M0TA#)
This movie is so bad, I cannot remember ever seeing it on tv, and I've seen plenty of bad movies on tv at three in the morning.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on April 29, 2011, 02:36:46 PM
There's not a thing wrong with Jenny Agutter in that movie. Good lawwwd. I bet she's still smokin.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 29, 2011, 04:24:54 PM
There's not a thing wrong with Jenny Agutter in that movie. Good lawwwd. I bet she's still smokin.


 See what you think:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jenny+agutter+images&qpvt=jenny+agutter+images&FORM=IGRE#x0y93 (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jenny+agutter+images&qpvt=jenny+agutter+images&FORM=IGRE#x0y93)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 16, 2011, 12:57:14 AM
I find a lot of good stuff to read in the sidebar at AoS.

Today there was the link to this outstanding piece at the Weekly Standard (http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/converting-mamet_561048.html?nopager=1) about David Mamet and his recent conversion to conservatism. It's a long article but well worth reading all the way through. It whets the appetite for Mamet's new book, The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture. It will be available on June 2nd of this year in both hardcover (http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Knowledge-Dismantling-American-Culture/dp/1595230769/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305520717&sr=8-1) and Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Knowledge-Dismantling-American-ebook/dp/B004IYIU0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1305520837&sr=8-2) versions.

Reference was made in the Weekly Standard article to the original "coming out" of Mamet in an article that he penned for the Village Voice, Why I Am No Longer A Brain Dead Liberal. (http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-03-11/news/why-i-am-no-longer-a-brain-dead-liberal/full/-1/) If you haven't read that one you might start with it (since it was written two years ago, just a couple of months after Toonces was immaculated) and then read the current one in the WS.

Here, though, is a quote from the WS article that I found especially gratifying:

[blockquote]"Dave is a very thorough thinker,” Mordecai Finley told me, “but it never occurred to him that there might be another way to think about politics.”

Finley is rabbi at Ohr HaTorah in Los Angeles, where Mamet attends services with his wife, the actress Rebecca Pidgeon, who converted to Judaism after their marriage in 1991. Mamet’s religious practice, along with his sensitivity to Israel, has deepened since he moved to Southern California and joined Ohr HaTorah. In 2006, he published a scorching book of essays, The Wicked Son, rebuking secular Jews for their (alleged) self-loathing and reluctance to defend Israel.

The Wicked Son is dedicated to Finley. He is a creature who is not supposed to exist in nature: the Republican rabbi of a liberal congregation packed with show people.

“For most of my congregants,” he said, “I’m the only Republican they know.”

Finley recalls a conversation with Mamet and Pidgeon during the California Democratic presidential primary in 2004. They asked the rabbi and his wife which Democrat they were going to vote for.

“We said, ‘None of them.’

“Dave said, ‘Oh no—you’re not going to vote for Nader!’

“I said, ‘No.’

“And then you could see it hit him. ‘Not Bush!’

'Well, yes. Bush.’ "

“Dave was apologetic. He thought he’d embarrassed us! He said, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to pry! I shouldn’t have asked!’

“I said, ‘No, no, it’s really not a problem. It’s not like we try to keep it secret.’ ”

Still safely with the herd, Mamet undertook to pry his rabbi away from his heretical politics. He began sending Finley books, potboilers of contemporary liberalism like What’s the Matter with Kansas?

“They were highly polemical, angry books,” Finley said. “They were very big on sympathy and compassion but really they weren’t”—he looked for the word—“they simply weren’t logically coherent. And Dave is very logical in his thinking. Dave thought What’s the Matter with Kansas? had the answer for why people could even think to vote for a Republican—it’s because they’re duped by capitalist fat cats. I tried to tell him that people really weren’t that stupid. They just have other interests, other values. They’re values voters.

“That’s one thing he began to see: The left flattens people, reduces people to financial interests. Dave’s an artist. He knew people are deeper than that.”

Before long, when Finley didn’t budge, the books from Mamet stopped arriving, and Finley asked if he could send Mamet some books too. One of the first was A Conflict of Visions, by Thomas Sowell of the Hoover Institution. In it Sowell expands on the difference between the “constrained vision” of human nature—close to the tragic view that infuses Mamet’s greatest plays—and the “unconstrained vision” of man’s endless improvement that suffused Mamet’s politics and the politics of his profession and social class.

“He came back to me stunned. He said, ‘This is incredible!’ He said, ‘Who thinks like this? Who are these people?’ I said, ‘Republicans think like this.’ He said, ‘Amazing.’ ” [/blockquote]

So for those of you who do not know who Mamet is and are wondering, "What's this got to do with movies?" I will list off a few of the ones that you have probably seen, heard of or should have seen and/or heard of...

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) screenplay
The Verdict (1982) screenplay
House Of Games (1987) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Games) director, screenplay
The Untouchables (1987) screenplay
Glengarry Glenn Ross (1992) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross_(film)) screenplay and original author
Wag The Dog (1997) screenplay
The Spanish Prisoner (1997) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spanish_Prisoner) director, screenplay
The Edge (1997) screenplay
Ronin (1998) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronin_(film)) screenplay

There are more but these are the highlights. There are many more plays but since this thread covers movies I won't go into that area.

I remember seeing House Of Games on one of the movie channels a year or so after it was released. It was an excellent psychological thriller involving a psychiatrist and a con artist. The film was so good that I noticed the name of the director/screenwriter and mentally filed it away as someone to watch for in the future. As you can see from the list above I didn't have to wait too long for other top drawer material to follow.

The best of the best was Glengarry Glenn Ross. Winner of a Tony award and the Pulitzer prize, Glenngarry is the best film ever to capture the essence of what it is to be a salesman. Noted for its profuse profanity it is sometimes referred to as "Death Of A F**kin' Salesman." Glengarry is absolutely riveting. The work by the cast is first rate, probably considered among the best performances of their careers which is saying a lot. Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey and, without a doubt, the best scene ever in the life of Alec Baldwin.

Incredible and memorable lines from the movie include this exchange:

[blockquote]Blake: You're talking about what. You're talking about... Bitching about that sale you shot, some sonofabitch who don't wanna buy land, some broad you're trying to screw, so forth. Let's talk about something important. They all here?

Williamson: All but one.
 
Blake: I'm going anyway. Let's talk about something important. Put. That coffee. Down. Coffee's for closers only. You think I'm f**king with you? I am not f**king with you. I'm here from downtown. I'm here from Mitch and Murray. And I'm here on a mission of mercy. Your name's Levine? You call yourself a salesman you son of a bitch?

Dave Moss: I don't gotta sit here and listen to this sh*t.
 
Blake: You certainly don't pal, 'cause the good news is - you're fired. The bad news is - you've got, all of you've got just one week to regain your jobs starting with tonight. Starting with tonight's sit. Oh? Have I got your attention now? Good. "Cause we're adding a little something to this month's sales contest. As you all know first prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anyone wanna see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired. Get the picture? You laughing now? You got leads. Mitch and Murray paid good money, get their names to sell them. You can't close the leads you're given you can't close sh*t. You ARE sh*t. Hit the bricks pal, and beat it 'cause you are going OUT.

Shelley Levene: The leads are weak.

Blake: The leads are weak? F**king leads are weak. You're weak. I've been in this business 15 years...

Dave Moss: What's your name?

Blake: F**k you. That's my name. You know why, mister? You drove a Hyundai to get here. I drove an eighty-thousand dollar BMW. THAT'S my name. And your name is you're wanting. You can't play in the man's game, you can't close them - go home and tell your wife your troubles. Because only one thing counts in this life: Get them to sign on the line which is dotted. You hear me you f**king fa&&ots? A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing. Always be closing. ALWAYS BE CLOSING. A-I-D-A. Attention, Interest, Decision, Action. Attention - Do I have you attention? Interest - Are you interested? I know you are, because it's f**k or walk. You close or you hit the bricks. Decision - Have you made your decision, for Christ? And Action. A-I-D-A. Get out there - you got the prospects coming in. You think they came in to get out of the rain? A guy don't walk on the lot lest he wants to buy. They're sitting out there waiting to give you their money. Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it? What's the problem, pal?

Dave Moss: You - Moss. You're such a hero, you're so rich, how come you're coming down here wasting your time with such a bunch of bums?

Blake: You see this watch? You see this watch?

Dave Moss: Yeah.

Blake: That watch costs more than your car. I made $970,000 last year. How much'd you make? You see pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a sh*t. Good father? F**k you! Go home and play with your kids. You wanna work here - close! You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you c*******er? You can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? You don't like it, leave. _I_ can go out there tonight with the materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can YOU? Go and do likewise. A-I-D-A. Get mad you son of a bitches. Get mad. You want to know what it takes to sell real estate? It takes BRASS BALLS to sell real estate. Go and do likewise gents. Money's out there. You pick it up, it's yours. You don't, I got no sympathy for you. You wanna go out on those sits tonight and close, CLOSE. It's yours. If not you're gonna be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying - a bunch of losers sittin' around in a bar. 'Oh yeah. I used to be a salesman. It's a tough racket.' These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. And to you they're gold, and you don't get them. Why? Because to give them to you is just throwing them away. They're for closers. I'd wish you good luck but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it. And to answer you question, pal, why am I here? I came here because Mitch and Murray asked me to. They asked me for a favor. I said the real favor, follow my advice and fire your f**king ass because a loser is a loser. [/blockquote]

So...there is your Mamet awareness post. The guy is very, very good at what he does and now he's on our side.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on May 16, 2011, 06:05:42 AM
Trap, thank you very much for the Mamet awareness post.  I'd read most of The Weekly Standard article previously but no one linked to, nor did I think to look for, the Village Voice piece, which is the meat and potatoes story of Mamet's conversion.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 16, 2011, 10:08:22 AM
I should have posted the youtube vid of the above Baldwin scene.

Alec Baldwin - Best performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI#)

Rent this or watch it on a premium channel so that you don't have any of it edited out. Yes, lots of cursing but it's worth it. This is reality. It's totally authentic in it's depiction of this particular employment niche. Desperate men drowning in tension, pressure and their own private misery.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on May 16, 2011, 11:29:47 AM

Bye Bye Life - "All That Jazz" 1979 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNcl0L7eJUY#)


All That Jazz de Bob Fosse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UN68ujZdTE#)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on May 16, 2011, 12:09:10 PM
I should have posted the youtube vid of the above Baldwin scene.

Alec Baldwin - Best performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI#)

Rent this or watch it on a premium channel so that you don't have any of it edited out. Yes, lots of cursing but it's worth it. This is reality. It's totally authentic in it's depiction of this particular employment niche. Desperate men drowning in tension, pressure and their own private misery.

 I had the pleasure of working for a guy like that for 60 days. He got fired for turning a 200 car a month dept into an 80 car a month dept.He pissed off the entire sales dept and we sat on or hands till he was gone. The guy he replaced had retired ans was a gentleman to work for, this guy was a bum and we treated him like a bum.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 16, 2011, 01:40:39 PM
I should have posted the youtube vid of the above Baldwin scene.

Alec Baldwin - Best performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI#)

Rent this or watch it on a premium channel so that you don't have any of it edited out. Yes, lots of cursing but it's worth it. This is reality. It's totally authentic in it's depiction of this particular employment niche. Desperate men drowning in tension, pressure and their own private misery.

 I had the pleasure of working for a guy like that for 60 days. He got fired for turning a 200 car a month dept into an 80 car a month dept.He pissed off the entire sales dept and we sat on or hands till he was gone. The guy he replaced had retired ans was a gentleman to work for, this guy was a bum and we treated him like a bum.

So, I will take that as a reinforcement of how realistic the scene is. If you have ever worked in sales (and I did briefly) you run across this stuff.

It's also a marker of sorts that Alec Baldwin can always point to and say that for at least 8 minutes or so he could act. And it was a great performance.

But the whole movie is outstanding from beginning to end and every one of the actors were great.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on May 16, 2011, 02:40:26 PM
Mamet brought The Unit to CBS about 6 years ago. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on May 16, 2011, 03:14:53 PM
I should have posted the youtube vid of the above Baldwin scene.

Alec Baldwin - Best performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI#)

Rent this or watch it on a premium channel so that you don't have any of it edited out. Yes, lots of cursing but it's worth it. This is reality. It's totally authentic in it's depiction of this particular employment niche. Desperate men drowning in tension, pressure and their own private misery.

 I had the pleasure of working for a guy like that for 60 days. He got fired for turning a 200 car a month dept into an 80 car a month dept.He pissed off the entire sales dept and we sat on or hands till he was gone. The guy he replaced had retired ans was a gentleman to work for, this guy was a bum and we treated him like a bum.

So, I will take that as a reinforcement of how realistic the scene is. If you have ever worked in sales (and I did briefly) you run across this stuff.

It's also a marker of sorts that Alec Baldwin can always point to and say that for at least 8 minutes or so he could act. And it was a great performance.

But the whole movie is outstanding from beginning to end and every one of the actors were great.




 I've been in sales all my life and those guys always burn out before their time. Every hero I have ever worked with wore out his welcome in short order. Those are the clowns that take the slash and burn approach and the problem with that is that after they made the mess they leave others to clean it up.

 You had to be at the meeting with the owner after that hero hit the skids.All of a sudden sales were up and complaints were down.

 I did see that movie trap and it did hit close to home.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on May 16, 2011, 05:16:19 PM
Mamet brought The Unit to CBS about 6 years ago. 

Did he now?  I did not know that.  It was a good series.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 16, 2011, 09:47:46 PM
I worked in boiler-room sales as depicted in "Glengarry Glenn Ross" for a few-year stint between bands back around '90. First I sold aftermarket auto parts to car dealership parts departments, and then I sold sales and management training courses. So much of the sales terminology from the movie was textbook stuff, set to drama.

The movie got all the details right - ABC "Always Be Closing"; sales guys bitching about the low quality of their leads; force-feeding non-receptive customers; sales guys backstabbing each other; big-talking; hard quotas; clamoring for lame spiffs - all that stuff was as real as it gets. The portrayal of the boiler-room sub-culture was dead-on, even though I thought the characters and their dialogue was quite a bit of caricature - but I think that was the point. The extreme to which the characters took the portrayal made the recognition of the reality in the film all the more obvious. What a great movie.

GGGR is kind of like "This is Spinal Tap" for salesmen, only not funny, but depressing instead. What I mean by that is that it holds a special meaning - a recognition of many truths - for those who've worked in that kind of business. "Spinal Tap" was hilarious, but I'm here to tell you that there was more truth packed into that movie than anyone who hasn't lived it would ever imagine. GGGR is the same way.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 17, 2011, 08:11:32 PM
What made This Is Spinal Tap funny was that there was so much truth in it. All good parody is firmly rooted in truth.

GGGR is good drama for much the same reason...that it is also fairly well rooted in the truth.

One of Mamet's strengths is his ability to craft realistic characters, arm them with realistic dialogue and then dump them into a stressful/suspenseful situation. He sometimes fails at this but his successes are really good.

One of my wife's favorite films is The Edge.

I really liked The Spanish Prisoner as a film that uses "the big con" as a plot device.

Ronin is a great spy movie.

(Did I mention that Mamet is a conservative now?)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on May 17, 2011, 10:24:49 PM
I really liked The Spanish Prisoner as a film that uses "the big con" as a plot device.

I think the same for 'House of Games', another con story and the movie which brought Joe Montegna to my attention.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 17, 2011, 10:43:42 PM
Okay, let's shift gears here a little. Let's talk about The Fantastic Four.

No, really.

But the movie I want to talk about is not the big budget attempted blockbuster of 2005. No. Instead, let's take a look at the extremely low budget version of The Fantastic Four that was made in 1994. Never heard of it? Me neither until an hour ago. I just happened to stumble across it and its obscure story. How obscure is this? It's so obscure that you can't even find a reference to it on wikipedia.

You can, oddly enough, find a reference to it at Rotten Tomatoes. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10005582-fantastic_four//) You can even find it on youtube...more on that later. But Rotten Tomatoes is where I found this bizarre tale.

(http://content9.flixster.com/site/10/24/32/10243271_ori.jpg)

Apparently in 1994 an outfit called Constantin Film held the movie rights to The Fantastic Four. In order to keep the rights to the movie they had to actually make it. Or try to make it. So they hired a director, wrote a script, hired a cast and went about making a movie that was never intended to see the light of day. The movie they ended up making in a word, stinks. How big a stinker is it? They hired Roger Corman to direct. Yes, that Roger Corman. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Corman)

Quote
The kicker here is that no one told the cast and crew the movie wasn't intended to be released; they all thought the movie was legit at the time. The fact that the director and cast thought they were making a real movie makes this weirdly fascinating to watch. The actors are clearly trying here (sometimes too much), and the movie does have a sort of hokey charm.

In some places, the movie actually does compare to the 20th Century Fox productions. I think this Dr. Doom is more true to what we'd expect from the comics, and The Thing from the later, big budget films doesn't really look that much better than he does here, although this Thing looks a little reptilian.
 LINK (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10005582-fantastic_four/news/1922657/marvel_movie_madness_part_4_fantastic_four_1994/)

Fantastic Four 1994 (Part 1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omKd_bUQlXo#)

More parts to this (if you can stand it) at youtube.

So there is your strange bit of movie trivia for the day.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 22, 2011, 12:51:06 AM
Just saw Meet The Parents (again) on television. There are more good scenes than I can name but the one that I remember is where Stiller's character encounters the brain dead stewardess who pretends that there is a big crowd waiting to get on the plane...

meet the parents airport scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4znNjfBeY#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 05, 2011, 01:17:07 AM
Last Man Standing (1996)

Bruce Willis
CHristopher Walken
Bruce Dern

Not exactly the best script (dialogue) but lots and lots of shooting and a very high body count as Bruce Willis plays both sides against the middle in a Irish mob versus Italian Mafia film noir piece set in west Texas near the Mexican border.

Funny thing...not much has changed. Corrupt Mexican army involved in smuggling bootleg alcohol during Prohibition compares quite nicely to today's Mexican drug cartels/gangs who often have the authorities paid off.

The gun violence is way over the top and grossly exaggerated which, if you like this sort of thing (and I do), is pretty good...especially the ridiculous scenes where the shooting victim literally flies away from Willis' guns while being filled with lead.

Christopher Walken is, as always, menacingly good...this time as the super bad ass hitman for the Irish mob.

Not a great movie but an okay to good movie. Here is a video of Willis' greatest hits:

Last Man Standing (1996) - starring Bruce Willis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ON3_CP3mC0#ws)

Link to IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116830/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on June 05, 2011, 01:32:01 PM
That was a GOOD ONE ! ( For those of us who like lots of gratutitous violence and 1911A1s in shoulder holsters .)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 06, 2011, 06:40:36 AM
That was a GOOD ONE ! ( For those of us who like lots of gratutitous violence and 1911A1s in shoulder holsters .)

It had that, in spades!

Saw the new Pirates movie this weekend...IMO it kinda blew chunks.  Maybe I should get a copy of Last Men Standing and forget I paid money to see that other crap.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 12, 2011, 12:56:41 AM
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (2005)
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010)


The Narnia books are one of my fondest memories from my childhood. I read all of them several times before I had even heard of The Lord Of The Rings...which I read several times, as well. Now, I know that Hollywood soils just about every original work of fiction that it touches so when I learned that Tolkien's masterpiece was going to get the real big screen treatment (as opposed to the Ralph Bakshi abortion) I was as skeptical as ever. But much to my surprise Peter Jackson treated Middle Earth with the respect that any fan knows it deserves. And that respect was rewarded with box office bucks and praise from both critics and moviegoers.

When The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe came out a couple of years after the third Rings film I was hopeful that the producers and director would be faithful to C.S. Lewis' stories. And that first film was pretty close to the novel. Sure, there were some minor plot deviations but for the most part it was very well done. That left me hopeful for the next entry in the series.

Sadly, I was to be hugely disappointed by Prince Caspian and even more so by The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader. I don't put too much in what the critics say but the Rotten Tomatoes aggregate review numbers have sunk with each new movie in this franchise and I have to agree. One of the most insulting things (and what prompted me to write this post) is the marketing for Dawn Treader which includes a frame in the trailer that sez: "From the C.S. Lewis Masterpiece..." This is so incredibly insulting. How do you acknowledge something as a masterpiece and then almost completely rewrite it? That would be like taking a famous painting and replacing it with a cartoon and then talking about how great the original was. Dawn Treader the movie resembles the book in only the most superficial ways imaginable: The characters are the same and they hang out on a boat with the same name and visit some of the same locations. What a joke. What an embarrassment.

I refused to pay good money to see Dawn Treader in the theater after the Prince Caspian hack job. Nevertheless, my young daughter insisted on renting it on DVD and I was forced to watch it with her (the things I do to be a good dad). But someone needs to put this franchise out of its misery. Soon. It's very painful.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on June 12, 2011, 04:56:00 AM
How do you acknowledge something as a masterpiece and then almost completely rewrite it? That would be like taking a famous painting and replacing it with a cartoon and then talking about how great the original was.
In the 'almost completely rewrite it' vein, there was one movie that totally disgusted me.

I was a big fan of Tom Clancy's books.  When I read The Hunt For Red October, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  Now some thought the movie was great, but I found it lacking, though I know the reason why.  Clancy's novels are so technical and far-reaching that making them into a two hour movie would try any script writer and director.

But the one book/movie rewrite that I find to be an abomination is The Sum Of All Fears.  In the book (1991), written at the end of the Cold War with commie Russians still being used as character plot devices, Palestinian terrorists find a lost Israeli nuclear weapon and set it off in Denver Stadium during the Super Bowl, killing the President.  The movie (2002) 'transformed' those Palestinean terrorists finding and detonating a Israeli nuclear device into 'innocent' Syrian scrap dealers finding then having the lost Israeli nuclear device eventually sold to neo-Nazis who detonate it in Baltimore during a football game (not the Super Bowl).  So Palestinean terrorists finding a lost Isreali nuclear bomb and detonating it (with Communist Russian help) in Denver during the Super Bowl (for maximum propaganda impact as we know terrorists are want to do) to kill the President are transformed into Syrian scrap dealers innocently finding the device and unwittingly selling it an arms dealer who then sells it to neo-Nazis who use it to attack the President while he attends a football game in Baltimore.  (Besides the obvious politically correct changes, what President in his right mind would watch a football game in Baltimore when the Redskins are the football religion in DC?  Supposedly, President Nixon even designed a play (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/08/the_play_richard_nixon_designe.html)* used by the 'Skins in a playoff game enroute to their Super Bowl loss to Miami in 1973.)  The plot changes made to The Sum Of All Fears were absolutely horrid.  The Palestinean/Communist Russian real world heavies were magically transformed, in only the way Hollywood can magically transform things, into innocent Syrian patsies and evil neo-Nazo heavies.  Of course, it was the evil Jews who lost their nuclear bomb in the 1967 War who did make the final movie cut.  Imagine that!  The changes (and non-changes) reflect the world of liberal thinking and rejection of reality, even post 9/11 (where those fun-loving Palestineans danced in the streets at the destruction of the World Trade Center towers).


*
Quote
--SNIP--

This got me interested. So I went into the archives. Turns out, there are a zillion different versions of this story, none of which seem to involve quotes from George Allen or Richard Nixon.

The first mention in The Post came about two weeks after than 1971 loss, in a Shirley Povich column:

It was on the eve of the Redskins-49ers game that President Nixon got on a hot line at the White House and confided to Allen one of his hot ideas for beating the 49ers....

"George," said the President of the United States. "I'd like to see you use Roy Jefferson on that end-around. It should be a long gainer for you." Quick as a flash, Allen understood that the President was talking about a flanker reverse....According to the explanations offered later in some circles, for Allen it came down to whether or not his name would stay on the White House guest list.

The play lost 13 yards, and this incident entered Redskins and Nixon lore. But the most comprehensive -- and most fascinating -- account of this play was written by the Syracuse Post-Standard's Sean Kirst in 1994, after Nixon's death. Kirst went back and talked to a whole bunch of the key figures from that game, including Billy Kilmer, who attributed the famous play directly to Nixon.
In a critical second-quarter situation, with the ball on the 49er 8-yard-line, the surprise reverse got hammered for a 13-yard loss. A subsequent field-goal try was blocked.

"A touchdown might have won it," recalls quarterback Billy Kilmer. "When it came in, (we) thought, 'Damn, they really called it."'
Kilmer had direct knowledge of Nixon's role in the play. During a private skull session earlier that week, the phone rang and Allen handed it to Kilmer. Nixon was on the other end. He suggested the 49ers might be fooled by a double-reverse, a play Kilmer says didn't exist in the playbook.

And yet Kirst's research later revealed that Allen apparently asked Nixon to suggest this play to Kilmer.
Twenty-three years later, (Marv) Levy says Allen gave that play to Nixon and then asked him to suggest it, both for strategic reasons and as a gesture of their friendship. If it worked, Nixon would come off smelling like roses. So it was presented to the team, Levy said, as a presidential request.

"(George) wanted the president to look very sage," recalls Levy, special-teams coach under Allen, who has now taken his own team to four straight Super Bowls.

"Afterward, I remember chuckling among ourselves about it," Levy said. "George gave the play to the president, then it didn't work."

In other words, if Levy is right, the entire thing was a myth. Still, the failed Jefferson reverse, as suggested by Nixon, has become a permanent part of both men's official history. This is from The Post's A1 Allen obituary:
Allen's friends included President Nixon, and Allen used a play Nixon had suggested for the 1971 playoff game against San Francisco. It was a reverse to wide receiver Roy Jefferson that lost 13 yards. So much for presidential prerogative, but that play -- which was much utilized by political cartoonists -- indicated the level and intensity of interest Allen had created in the Redskins in Washington.

The Post has returned to this well again and again. In 1986, the Outlook section mentioned "the failed trick play [Nixon] sent in to Redskins coach George Allen during a playoff game in 1971." In 1991, Style mentioned "the time Richard Nixon called Allen to suggest a play that didn't work." In 2001, Ken Denlinger wrote that Nixon "suggested an end-around play that Allen used in a 1971 playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers that failed miserably." In 2004, George Solomon wrote that "Nixon's play was a dud." And in 2008, Mike Wilbon wrote that Nixon "sent a play or two to Redskins Coach George Allen."

So Bruce Allen says the President made some presumably vague suggestions. Shirley Povich says Nixon called George Allen the night before the game. And Marv Levy says Allen gave the play to Nixon and told him to suggest it right back.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 13, 2011, 09:57:40 PM
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Directed by Wes Anderson (also co-screenwriter)

Wes Anderson shouldn't be allowed to direct movies at all, let alone for children.

This movies is from a children's book that I have read to one of my children. It's a Roald Dahl book and if you know who Dahl is (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches...all made into movies already) you know that he is capable of writing very good, albeit twisted, children's stories.

Wes Anderson is, and I am being charitable here, an acquired taste. His credentials include Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. His movies are (again, charitably) described as "cerebral." That means that you really need to think hard in order to "get" the jokes that he puts in his movies. I have seen all three of the movies that I just listed and I have to say that cerebral movies are pretty dull. Or maybe it's just Wes Anderson. Yeah, that's it: Wes Anderson is dull and he makes dull movies that professional movie critics really like. A lot.

What Wes Anderson is not capable of is making children's movies that actually entertain children. A good children's movie should have a minimal standard of being able to entertain children. As a bonus, it should also be able to (on a different level, obviously) entertain the adults who are frequently forced to bring the children to the movies or sit with them while it is viewed at home.

Here is a typical snippet of dialogue from this "children's" movie:

Quote
Mr. Fox: [addressing the others from atop a pile of bricks] In a way, I'm almost glad that flood interrupted us because I don't like the toast I was giving. I'm gonna start over.
[Mr. Fox switches on his radio. "Le Grand Choral" plays. He gestures as if holding a wine glass]
Mr. Fox: When I look down this table, with the exquisite feast set before us, I see: two terrific lawyers, a skilled pediatrician, a wonderful chef, a savvy real estate agent, an excellent tailor, a crack accountant, a gifted musician, pretty good minnow fisherman, and possibly the best landscape painter working on the scene today. Maybe a few of you might even read my column from time to time, Who knows? I tend to doubt it.
[brief pause]
Mr. Fox: I also see a room full of wild animals.
[He approaches their groups as he speaks]
Mr. Fox: Wild animals, with true natures and pure talents. Wild animals with scientific-sounding Latin names that mean something about our DNA. Wild animals each with his own strengths and weaknesses due to his or her species.
[re-ascends the brick pile]
Mr. Fox: Anyway, I think it may very well be all the beautiful differences among us that might just give us the tiniest glimmer of a chance of saving my nephew, and letting me make it up to you for getting us into this, this crazy... whatever it is. I don't know. It's just a thought. Thank you for listening. Cheers, everyone.
[mimics draining the imaginary glass and smashing it to the floor]
Kylie: Lets eat!
[All eyes turn to Kylie]
Kylie: What? I was just playin' along with the bit he was doing...


Yeah, that's a regular laugh riot, isn't it? And it's typical...the whole movie is chock full of cutsie, inside baseball type dialogue that adults will have a hard time keeping up with.

I think Wes Anderson has two problems. First, he tries to make comedies and he does not have a sense of humor. Or at least, his sense of humor is derived from lectures that he attended about how comedy is created, lectures given at prestigious private schools. His second problem is that he was born too late. He was born in 1969 and therefore he missed out on an essential ingredient in making good children's movies. I speak of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Jay Ward (the primary driving force behind R&B) was a genius at being able to create work that appealed to both children and adults. It is obvious (to me, anyway) that the people who have been behind all of the Pixar and Dreamworks animated productions have at least seen episodes of the R&B show. Anderson seems to have learned everything he knows about making kid movies from the adult stuff on PBS.

So...bottom line: This movie does double duty...it both sucks and blows. Don't allow children to watch it unless you want them to be warped for life.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on June 13, 2011, 10:18:30 PM
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Directed by Wes Anderson (also co-screenwriter)

Wes Anderson shouldn't be allowed to direct movies at all, let alone for children.

This movies is from a children's book that I have read to one of my children. It's a Roald Dahl book and if you know who Dahl is (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches...all made into movies already) you know that he is capable of writing very good, albeit twisted, children's stories.

Wes Anderson is, and I am being charitable here, an acquired taste. His credentials include Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. His movies are (again, charitably) described as "cerebral." That means that you really need to think hard in order to "get" the jokes that he puts in his movies. I have seen all three of the movies that I just listed and I have to say that cerebral movies are pretty dull. Or maybe it's just Wes Anderson. Yeah, that's it: Wes Anderson is dull and he makes dull movies that professional movie critics really like. A lot.

What Wes Anderson is not capable of is making children's movies that actually entertain children. A good children's movie should have a minimal standard of being able to entertain children. As a bonus, it should also be able to (on a different level, obviously) entertain the adults who are frequently forced to bring the children to the movies or sit with them while it is viewed at home.

Here is a typical snippet of dialogue from this "children's" movie:

Quote
Mr. Fox: [addressing the others from atop a pile of bricks] In a way, I'm almost glad that flood interrupted us because I don't like the toast I was giving. I'm gonna start over.
[Mr. Fox switches on his radio. "Le Grand Choral" plays. He gestures as if holding a wine glass]
Mr. Fox: When I look down this table, with the exquisite feast set before us, I see: two terrific lawyers, a skilled pediatrician, a wonderful chef, a savvy real estate agent, an excellent tailor, a crack accountant, a gifted musician, pretty good minnow fisherman, and possibly the best landscape painter working on the scene today. Maybe a few of you might even read my column from time to time, Who knows? I tend to doubt it.
[brief pause]
Mr. Fox: I also see a room full of wild animals.
[He approaches their groups as he speaks]
Mr. Fox: Wild animals, with true natures and pure talents. Wild animals with scientific-sounding Latin names that mean something about our DNA. Wild animals each with his own strengths and weaknesses due to his or her species.
[re-ascends the brick pile]
Mr. Fox: Anyway, I think it may very well be all the beautiful differences among us that might just give us the tiniest glimmer of a chance of saving my nephew, and letting me make it up to you for getting us into this, this crazy... whatever it is. I don't know. It's just a thought. Thank you for listening. Cheers, everyone.
[mimics draining the imaginary glass and smashing it to the floor]
Kylie: Lets eat!
[All eyes turn to Kylie]
Kylie: What? I was just playin' along with the bit he was doing...


Yeah, that's a regular laugh riot, isn't it? And it's typical...the whole movie is chock full of cutsie, inside baseball type dialogue that adults will have a hard time keeping up with.

I think Wes Anderson has two problems. First, he tries to make comedies and he does not have a sense of humor. Or at least, his sense of humor is derived from lectures that he attended about how comedy is created, lectures given at prestigious private schools. His second problem is that he was born too late. He was born in 1969 and therefore he missed out on an essential ingredient in making good children's movies. I speak of the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Jay Ward (the primary driving force behind R&B) was a genius at being able to create work that appealed to both children and adults. It is obvious (to me, anyway) that the people who have been behind all of the Pixar and Dreamworks animated productions have at least seen episodes of the R&B show. Anderson seems to have learned everything he knows about making kid movies from the adult stuff on PBS.

So...bottom line: This movie does double duty...it both sucks and blows. Don't allow children to watch it unless you want them to be warped for life.

 That was for kids???I saw it but not for kids at all.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on June 13, 2011, 10:22:59 PM
wow that sounds really boring

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 14, 2011, 01:22:10 AM
That was for kids???I saw it but not for kids at all.

As I said, I read this story to one of my kids several years ago. Anderson wrote the screenplay and it is loosely based on the children's book. I would say that the movie contains about 5% to 10% of the book. The rest is all Anderson BS. Don't believe me? Here is the link to the book (http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Mr-Fox-Roald-Dahl/dp/3125737621/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308032302&sr=1-3) (which is okay, not Dahl's best work but not bad) at Amazon.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 14, 2011, 11:17:28 PM
I will ask because I can:

Is there a movie that you are looking forward to seeing this year?

Here is a link to Rotten Tomatoes "upcoming" page. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie/upcoming.php) Make sure to click on the month at the top of the page to advance past June.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 14, 2011, 11:28:21 PM
Here's one that shows promise:

Tom Hanks directs and stars in "Larry Crowne" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/) about a guy who gets laid off, goes back to college where he discovers liberal arts majors who are directionless, jobless and clueless about the real world.

Okay I made some of that up but just reading the plot synopsis makes me think that this is more or less what it's about. Except I'm sure it will have a big time lib bias against business, free markets and capitalism and instead will advocate for the "benefits" of unlimited higher education, blah, blah, blah.

Here is the real synopsis:

Quote
Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband.

Cool. Liberal higher education advocacy with a healthy dose of marital infidelity. What more could you ask for?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 14, 2011, 11:34:05 PM
Okay, seriously, I am looking forward to Cowboys And Aliens (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cowboys-and-aliens/) with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Alien invasion set in the old west. What's not to love?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on June 14, 2011, 11:38:08 PM
Here's one that shows promise:

Tom Hanks directs and stars in "Larry Crowne" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/) about a guy who gets laid off, goes back to college where he discovers liberal arts majors who are directionless, jobless and clueless about the real world.

Okay I made some of that up but just reading the plot synopsis makes me think that this is more or less what it's about. Except I'm sure it will have a big time lib bias against business, free markets and capitalism and instead will advocate for the "benefits" of unlimited higher education, blah, blah, blah.

Here is the real synopsis:

Quote
Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband.

Cool. Liberal higher education advocacy with a healthy dose of marital infidelity. What more could you ask for?

 Sounds like a take off of an old Rodney Dangerfield movie.

Contemporary American History (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bfgrj_62-Y#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on June 15, 2011, 12:02:47 AM

I couldn't take any more and stopped at "Magic Trip".
Ken Kesey, olympic wrestler, writer, friend of Timothy Leary, and his act was elaborated in Tom Wolf's "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". It was a breezy read and look into 1960's tripping, with Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, the Greaful Dead, the Hell's Angles, et al; the sceane.

I give it a probability of no stars but a big blackhole.

Quote
Magic Trip

——
Ken Kesey

Synopsis: In 1964, Ken Kesey, the famed author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," set off on a legendary, LSD-fuelled cross-country road trip to the New York World's Fair. He was joined by "The Merry Band of Pranksters," a renegade group of…
Synopsis: In 1964, Ken Kesey, the famed author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," set off on a legendary, LSD-fuelled cross-country road trip to the New York World's Fair. He was joined by "The Merry Band of Pranksters," a renegade group of counterculture truth-seekers, including Neal Cassady, the American icon immortalized in Kerouac's "On the Road," and the driver and painter of the psychedelic Magic Bus. Kesey and the Pranksters intended to make a documentary about their trip, shooting
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on June 15, 2011, 09:09:34 AM
Larry Crowne?

Hanks and Roberts--that's all I needed to know.  ::puke::

I'm not looking forward to any movies.  And I like going to the movies.  sadly, I don't get to go often because I value my money too much.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 19, 2011, 07:56:19 PM
Last night we were kidless.
20YO son was out getting in trouble (literally, it seems) and daughter was spending her 16th birthday (today) at her best friend's.
Wife and I went to the drive-in movies.
Saw Green Lantern and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Green Lantern was entertaining but not exceptional.
The story was mostly the background of how Hal Jordan became Green Lantern and the struggles with dealing with his new found power.

Pirates is always good,mindless entertainment.
Johnny Depp is once again great as Jack Sparrow

Fun night even though I faded out for part of Pirates
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 25, 2011, 01:06:03 AM
Okay, now I am ready to see Captain America. Check this out:

Captain America: The First Avenger Trailer 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4DlMggBPvc#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 25, 2011, 06:55:50 AM
Weren't the producers considering  messing around with the central theme,somehow?
I seem to recall something.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on June 25, 2011, 09:17:59 AM
Okay, now I am ready to see Captain America. Check this out:

Captain America: The First Avenger Trailer 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4DlMggBPvc#ws)

Want to see this one. Don't know how it will turn, but I like movies where our Armed Forces AND America are the good guys. I'm tired of visually good flicks (like Avatar) carry the message we destroyed our own planet and our military are nothing but glorified terrorists.

Have you seen Battlefield LA? Not much of a plot but one of the best flicks I've seen championing the United States and our Armed Forces.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 19, 2011, 11:32:43 PM
I saw this one tonight on the AoS ONT. I can't believe that I haven't posted on it before because, along with Animal House (more on that one later), it is one of my all time favorite raunchy cult comedies.

Slapshot (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076723/) 1977
Directed by George Roy Hill
Paul Newman
Michael Ontkean
Strother Martin

Old time hockey!

As a kid, I was moved around from place to place until I got into my high school years. One of those places was a two year stay in Canada. And in Canada hockey is like football in the USA. Those were the days, of course, of a half dozen tv channels and twice a week during the season there was a hockey game on. And they were great back then. There was actually a goalie who played for the Minnesota North Stars who didn't wear a mask. And it was a regular occurrence to have bench clearing brawls where they would have to mop the blood up off the ice when it was all over. Detroit's Gordie Howe was an absolute bad ass. Nobody wore stupid helmets. Good times, good times.

When Slapshot came out it was hilarious and nostalgic at the same time. The incredible Hanson brothers made the movie...

Slap Shot, Hanson Bros. Debut (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJkHm2WtSsk#)

Here is the original trailer and, if you want to, you can now rent it for $3 directly from youtube. Apparently that's a new feature or something...

Slap Shot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ2L2SgPldU#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on July 20, 2011, 03:46:55 AM
Here's one that shows promise:

Tom Hanks directs and stars in "Larry Crowne" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/) about a guy who gets laid off, goes back to college where he discovers liberal arts majors who are directionless, jobless and clueless about the real world.

Okay I made some of that up but just reading the plot synopsis makes me think that this is more or less what it's about. Except I'm sure it will have a big time lib bias against business, free markets and capitalism and instead will advocate for the "benefits" of unlimited higher education, blah, blah, blah.

Here is the real synopsis:

Quote
Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband.

Cool. Liberal higher education advocacy with a healthy dose of marital infidelity. What more could you ask for?

This sounds a lot like the plot to a Rodney Dangerfield movie I once saw .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 20, 2011, 06:44:34 AM
Here's one that shows promise:

Tom Hanks directs and stars in "Larry Crowne" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/) about a guy who gets laid off, goes back to college where he discovers liberal arts majors who are directionless, jobless and clueless about the real world.

Okay I made some of that up but just reading the plot synopsis makes me think that this is more or less what it's about. Except I'm sure it will have a big time lib bias against business, free markets and capitalism and instead will advocate for the "benefits" of unlimited higher education, blah, blah, blah.

Here is the real synopsis:

Quote
Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband.

Cool. Liberal higher education advocacy with a healthy dose of marital infidelity. What more could you ask for?

This sounds a lot like the plot to a Rodney Dangerfield movie I once saw .

 ::hysterical::

"Why don't you call me when you don't have any more class?"!

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 15, 2011, 12:55:43 PM
I saw two (rented) movies over the weekend...

Soul Surfer

This movie was pretty much panned by the critics and having now seen it I can only believe that this is due to the moderate (mild even) Christian tone to the picture. The photography was good. The acting was good. The story was inspirational. The script was good.

The film chronicles the true story of Bethany Hamilton who was the victim of a shark attack while surfing at the age of 13 (I mention her age because the actress who portrays Bethany appears to be several years older than 13). Anyway, as I understand it, the Bethany and the Hamilton family were incredibly strong throughout the ordeal and the aftermath and the tension and controversy displayed in the film was largely manufactured to give the film more drama. I enjoyed the movie and I think most others would, too.

Sucker Punch

I purposefully did not look at reviews of this film before I watched it so that I could form my own opinion without bias from the media. After I finished it I checked in at Rotten Tomatoes and found that (unlike Soul Surfer) this movie was reviewed much the way that I would have done it. Sucker Punch is a mess. First of all it's dreary. The set up is that a young woman's mother dies and then the evil stepfather proceeds to kill both of her offspring in order to claim an inheritance. He is successful in killing the heroine's younger sister but is thwarted in killing off the heroine. Instead he puts her in an insane asylum...presumably this takes place in the late fifties or early sixties when people were easily committed. The evil stepfather pays off the evil asylum manager to give the heroine a lobotomy so as to thoroughly cover his tracks. Seems like it would be easier to just kill her.

The movie ventures off into fantasy and quasi fantasy scenes that take place in the asylum and in some weird alternate universes. Now, I normally like this sort of thing but it has to make sense. Most of this stuff in the movie, however, is incredibly disjointed and odd. That is not to say that the film work and imagery is bad. It is over the top spectacular. But the movie has a very odd and unsatisfactory ending given the set up. Expectations are not met at all. I mean, you expect the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose. That doesn't happen.

Sorry for the spoiler but the bad guys win in this movie. The evil stepfather triumphs. The evil asylum manager gets arrested for something unclear but his evil sidekick gets away with everything and presumably takes his place. All of the good guys get killed except for one and it isn't the heroine. She gets a lobotomy*. I mean, you are rooting for the heroine and her accomplices all through this thing and one of them gets stabbed to death and two more are summarily executed with a 45 auto at point blank range by the evil asylum manager while everyone else watches, helpless to act.

So even though this movie has a lot of beautiful imagery (when it isn't dreary) and lots of great action from the people who brought you 300 it ultimately sucks. I wouldn't recommend anyone bother seeing it. Total waste of time.

BTW, if you want to see a movie where the bad guys win, the hero gets a lobotomy and, somehow, it all works and you have actually seen a really good movie then you should rent "Brazil." Sucker Punch is not trying to be Brazil and couldn't if it wanted to. I have no idea what Sucker Punch is trying to be other than a lot of really good action and imagery. Brazil made you think and it had more than a few darkly funny parts to it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 15, 2011, 01:04:53 PM
BTW, I also saw "Cowboys and Aliens" and "Captain America" in the theater recently. More detailed review to follow but I would recommend seeing "Cowboys and Aliens" on DVD. I saw "Captain America" in 2D after I was disappointed with "Thor" in 3D. CA was very good in 2D. Good story. Great action. An obvious lead in to "The Avengers" but a great set up. See it on the big screen if you can.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 15, 2011, 03:08:21 PM
BTW, I also saw "Cowboys and Aliens" and "Captain America" in the theater recently. More detailed review to follow but I would recommend seeing "Cowboys and Aliens" on DVD. I saw "Captain America" in 2D after I was disappointed with "Thor" in 3D. CA was very good in 2D. Good story. Great action. An obvious lead in to "The Avengers" but a great set up. See it on the big screen if you can.

The Avenger movie is set up.....Remember the end of Ironman, (who is the actor?) black guy with the patch? Same set up with Captain America. The movies are tied at the end.

Cowboys and Aliens.....Eh...I could have waited for the CD.


Watched Source Code this weekend on DVD.....Enjoyed it. Recommend it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 16, 2011, 06:35:14 AM
Rented the Lincoln Lawyer, actually pretty good, if you like whodunnits.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 16, 2011, 06:41:34 AM
Watched the "True Grit" reboot a few nights ago with Jeff Bridges - after having watched the original about a month ago. Both are amazing movies, and the reboot is remarkably true to the original. The Cohen brothers deserve kudos.

That Jeff Bridges is one hell of a treasure. He's spent his career being underrated, but I think that's over now.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 16, 2011, 06:53:05 AM
I think I still like the original better, but I thought the young gal in the re-make gave a much better better performance than the original.  Bridges appears to get better the older he gets.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 22, 2011, 03:02:46 AM
Amistad. What an excellent movie. I saw it years ago, but ran across it tonight on regular TV, and happened to catch it from the beginning.

It gives life to the notion that the anti-slavery contingency of our founding fathers intentionally placed the mechanisms for the abolition of slavery into the constitution for future generations to deal with the issue when the nation was mature enough to deal with it.

Excellent performances all around, particularly from Djimon Hounsou, playing the abducted African. And a special nod to Sir Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams invoking the founding generation, arguing on behalf of freedom before a supreme court stacked 7-2 with Southern slave-owners. Matthew McConeghey and Morgan Freeman also turn in excellent performances, as do the rest of the cast.

At one point, the Black man on trial is conversing with John Quincy Adams through a translator, and explains that in times of great need, his people call upon their ancestors and believe that they are with them, knowing that in his defining moment, HE is the sole reason for them having existed at all. In what is surely artistic license, that exchange is a dawning moment for John Quincy Adams, as the viewer is coaxed to draw the obvious parallel.

Oh, and it's a Spielberg film.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 22, 2011, 06:42:10 AM
Hopkins did an outstanding job in that role IMO.
Good flick.
 ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 22, 2011, 07:15:07 AM
/Bachmann stalking retard mode on

But...but...JQA was only 20something years old.  He couldn't have been working tirelessly to end slavery.

/Bachmann stalking retard mode off


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 22, 2011, 11:41:08 AM
Hopkins did an outstanding job in that role IMO.
Good flick.
 ::thumbsup::



 Definitely one of the good ones out there.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on August 23, 2011, 02:50:21 PM
Hopkins did an outstanding job in that role IMO.
Good flick.
 ::thumbsup::



 Definitely one of the good ones out there.

Just like Michael Caine has The Swarm (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078350/) to his detriment, Anthony Hopkins has Magic (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077889/) to his detriment.  It just goes to show that even the good ones make stinkers.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 23, 2011, 06:08:10 PM
Saw this the other day and was well worth the look.

Unstoppable Movie Trailer Official (HD) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM-0Ywc7wNY#noexternalembed-ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 02, 2011, 10:39:11 AM
(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ1MTAwODc3OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzI0MDQ3NA@@._V1._SY317_.jpg)

PRIEST (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822847/)

I won't spoil anything other than to say if you like films that come out of nowhere to surprise you; if you like sci-fi; if you like good super-hero movies... see this. I was pleasantly surprised.

If you enjoyed the "Underworld" series, or perhaps the "Riddick" series, this film will likely be on your "they need to make sequels" list.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on September 09, 2011, 12:31:58 AM
All pros - the football player (Jeff Bridges), the gambler (James Woods), the beautiful daughter (Rachel Ward) of the teams owner - from the pyramids of Mexico to the hills of Santa Barbaran, tension, love, greed and lust.  
"Against all Odds"


Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuvtoyVi7vY#)





Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on September 09, 2011, 02:07:55 AM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward.
I remember her from the mini-series, The Thorn Birds
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on September 09, 2011, 03:38:34 AM
Amistad. What an excellent movie. I saw it years ago, but ran across it tonight on regular TV, and happened to catch it from the beginning.

It gives life to the notion that the anti-slavery contingency of our founding fathers intentionally placed the mechanisms for the abolition of slavery into the constitution for future generations to deal with the issue when the nation was mature enough to deal with it.

Excellent performances all around, particularly from Djimon Hounsou, playing the abducted African. And a special nod to Sir Anthony Hopkins as John Quincy Adams invoking the founding generation, arguing on behalf of freedom before a supreme court stacked 7-2 with Southern slave-owners. Matthew McConeghey and Morgan Freeman also turn in excellent performances, as do the rest of the cast.

At one point, the Black man on trial is conversing with John Quincy Adams through a translator, and explains that in times of great need, his people call upon their ancestors and believe that they are with them, knowing that in his defining moment, HE is the sole reason for them having existed at all. In what is surely artistic license, that exchange is a dawning moment for John Quincy Adams, as the viewer is coaxed to draw the obvious parallel.

Oh, and it's a Spielberg film.

I showed that movie to my Social Studies class ( 98% black ) in Baton Rouge . The point was totally lost on them .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on September 09, 2011, 03:40:56 AM
I had the hots for Rachel Ward.
I remember her from the mini-series, The Thorn Birds

When it was first shown on T.V. ( circa 1983 ) I called it  "The Horney Birds" .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 11, 2011, 12:54:08 AM
Okay, in honor of George Lucas releasing Star Wars in BluRay and taking the opportunity to completely screw with the franchise yet again (the BluRay version has several "artistic" changes thrown in for no apparent reason other than to give the finger to the fans), I present you with the following Star Wars treats:

First, shamelessly stolen from the ONT at AoS, is Star Wars Episode 1 with added subtitles so that you can know what R2D2 was thinking. Warning: The little guy has a seriously nasty mouth:

R2D2 in Episode 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieUTKsg2iDI#ws)

Liked that? Want more? We can do more...

R2D2 in Episode 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0GG1IpRLxA#)

The same guy doesn't have a Part 3 out yet but there are plenty of others posting this stuff on youtube so have at it.

And now, a video free interlude: The Cracked Magazine bio of George Lucas' film career. (http://www.cracked.com/funny-2585-george-lucas/) And, yeah, it's laced through and through with profanity (notice how that's becoming a theme with Lucas critics?) so don't say you weren't warned...you were.

It just wouldn't be a complete "ridicule Lucas" post without including the links to the Red Letter Media reviews of the prequels. These came out quite a while back and if you've never seen them they are at one time both instructional (how to make a movie and how to totally screw up a movie with a huge budget) and hilarious. Know that these are rated R for language, though...

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 1 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKtZmQgxrI#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 2 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1AWVLnl48#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 3 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdQwKPVGQsY#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 4 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOlG4T1S2lU#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 5 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBvp1r2UpiQ#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 6 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORWPCCzSgu0#)

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 7 of 7) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWKMgJs_Gs#)

Alright! Well that was fun (if also very long) but... I'm not going to post the reviews to the other two prequels here. You can go here (http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones/) and see the review for Episode 2 and here (http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith/) for Episode 3. If you liked the review of Episode 1 then you will probably like these, too...just reserve about an hour for each one because they are long.

Finally, I leave you with the musical tribute to Episode 1 written and performed by Weird Al Yankovic:

"Weird Al" Yankovic - The Saga Begins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcjgJSqSRU#)

Well, that's it. Hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to tag on your own "Lucas is a douche" material. It's cathartic. Or maybe cathartical (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cathartical) if you really, really don't like Lucas.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on September 12, 2011, 02:32:55 PM
pretty amusing,trap
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on September 19, 2011, 08:46:25 AM
I watched a terrible movie last night.

The Green Hornet
In the movie, the hero was really a buffoon.
They could have picked Will Ferrell. In fact, I thought there was an uncanny resemblance between Seth Rogan and Ferrell.

For some reason, I don't recall watching the original series.
I'm guessing it was on while doing more carousing than watching tv.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: radioman on September 19, 2011, 08:51:12 AM
7 Days in Utopia with Robert Duvall

Very good for the family!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 19, 2011, 08:58:12 AM
I watched a terrible movie last night.

The Green Hornet
In the movie, the hero was really a buffoon.
They could have picked Will Ferrell. In fact, I thought there was an uncanny resemblance between Seth Rogan and Ferrell.

For some reason, I don't recall watching the original series.
I'm guessing it was on while doing more carousing than watching tv.

I recorded it last night but haven't seen it yet.

I am already prepared for the experience that you describe because I read a similar review posted at AoS.

The television series, as I remember it, was produced by the same people who did the Adam West Batman series. The Green Hornet television series wasn't campy like Batman was, though, and had the added benefit of Bruce Lee as Kato.

Maybe the movie producers thought that it should have been played goofy like the tv Batman series was. Who knows?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on September 19, 2011, 10:04:02 AM
7 Days in Utopia with Robert Duvall

Very good for the family!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14915419 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14915419)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 19, 2011, 10:17:43 AM
Anybody see "Priest" yet? I'm curious to see if anyone else here liked it as much as I did. But don't bother if you're not into post-apocalyptic sci-fi/neo-vampire flicks.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on September 19, 2011, 11:11:01 AM
Anybody see "Priest" yet? I'm curious to see if anyone else here liked it as much as I did. But don't bother if you're not into post-apocalyptic sci-fi/neo-vampire flicks.


Yeah, I liked it...But I like the post apocalyptic, vampire killing stuff. ::whoohoo::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 19, 2011, 11:14:21 AM
The killing pulled up short though...but I guess a sequel door has to be left open, eh?!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on September 19, 2011, 01:46:37 PM
The killing pulled up short though...but I guess a sequel door has to be left open, eh?!


Priest 2....The exorcism
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 19, 2011, 02:07:19 PM
I liked it that the heroes prayed before they engaged the enemies, and before they did their super-hero stuff. And I like it that the film blatantly said that our power does not come from the church, but from God.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 20, 2011, 06:21:27 AM
Yeah they got that right!

 ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 20, 2011, 10:20:23 PM
Okay so I watched The Green Hornet last night. I waited until now to write this because my brain was completely shot last night after I watched it.

I knew within perhaps ten minutes that I didn't want to watch it. It was unpleasant on so many levels.

First of all the script was pretty bad. It was bad from the standpoint of overall story. I knew this because I found myself not only not caring about the characters and how it was going to end for them but also because at some point I started to want to see the characters meet a particularly gruesome end. Especially Seth Rogen. I wanted to see him pushed off a cliff or something just so I didn't have to listen to his dialogue anymore. And that was the second part of the bad writing: the dialogue was ridiculous. I could give examples but then I would have a headache so I'm not going to. If you want a headache you can go here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990407/quotes) and peruse the quotes at IMDB.

The casting was easily as bad as the writing. Who thinks that it is a good idea (in the movies) to have the male hero's love interest be ten years his senior? Rogen is 29 and Diaz is 39. Worse, she looks older than 39...a lot older That's what hi-def will do for you, make you look older. The guy who played Kato is 32 and he looked younger, way younger, which made his play for Diaz look even sillier. So you are left with the thought as to why Cameron Diaz was even considered, let alone cast, for this part. You wonder if they thought she was still the same girl who was in There's Something About Mary or if no one else would take the part or maybe she lost a bet or something.

And, back to the script for a minute, who thought that it was a good idea for the "romantic interest" in the movie to hate the two male lead actors' guts? She hates the Brit Reid character from the word go and never warms to him...not even a little. She sort of likes Kato at first but then decides that he's a dick and hates him for the rest of the movie. Again, who thought this was a good idea?

And although I was cheering for the villain (see reason above), after a while I wanted him dead, too, so that maybe some other better villain might show up and get me interested in the film.

Having reflected on this movie for 24 hours (much the same way that one reflects on food poisoning (or maybe hives) the next day) I have these concluding thoughts:

- Someone thought that it was a good idea to put Seth Rogen in this movie, a part (hero) that he is clearly ill-suited for. Likewise, someone thought that it was a good idea to give him creative control of the film. Clearly, whoever made these decisions needs to be locked up with the guys who gave President Downgrade a Nobel prize. This is simply bad judgement gone horribly wrong.

- This movie, bad as it is, would probably have received a better reception if it had been made twenty or thirty years ago. You know...back when Michael Keaton was cast as Batman and Christopher Reeve was Superman. That was a time when heroes and super heroes had much lower (less serious) expectations. These days we are accustomed to having our heroes  be absolutely deadly serious (or at least credible as crime fighters) and our villains of the pure unadulterated evil variety (Jack Nicholson as The Joker and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor are a bit of a joke, ya' know?). And by that standard The Green Hornet simply does not measure up.

So anyway, I stuck it out for all 119 minutes and was eternally grateful that it wasn't 120 minutes because it's entirely possible that I might have suffered a stroke if it had lasted even one minute longer. But I suffered so that you don't have to. You have read my review and now you have been quite thoroughly warned about this awful mess.

Final thought: I feel really clever and immensely superior to anyone who actually paid full price to see this in a theater so there's that at least.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on September 24, 2011, 10:26:31 PM
I'm on a string of bad movies.
After Green Hornet, I watched a terrible movie called Machete.

Plenty of gratuitous, graphic violence, which was ok, it had some really big names
DeNiro, Don Johnson, Jeff Fahey and Steven Seagal were "bad guys"

Jessica Alba, Lindsey Lohan and Cheech Marin were among the "good guys"
The prtagonist was a guy named Danny Trejo who has to be the ugliest dude I've ever seen.

Short synopsis.
The bad guys were in bed with the drug cartels and were persecuting the honest, hard working illegal immigrants and wanted to do evil things like build a fence.

As bad as it was, it totally sealed it's awfulness when they used the line "we didn't cross the border, it crossed us"

You'd think I could have found something decent to watch.
I have Direct TV with 200+ channels +HBO, Showtime, Starz and a bunch of other crap

(The premium stations are all on free trials)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on September 24, 2011, 10:49:48 PM
I'm on a string of bad movies.
After Green Hornet, I watched a terrible movie called Machete.

Plenty of gratuitous, graphic violence, which was ok, it had some really big names
DeNiro, Don Johnson, Jeff Fahey and Steven Seagal were "bad guys"

Jessica Alba, Lindsey Lohan and Cheech Marin were among the "good guys"
The prtagonist was a guy named Danny Trejo who has to be the ugliest dude I've ever seen.

Short synopsis.
The bad guys were in bed with the drug cartels and were persecuting the honest, hard working illegal immigrants and wanted to do evil things like build a fence.


As bad as it was, it totally sealed it's awfulness when they used the line "we didn't cross the border, it crossed us"

You'd think I could have found something decent to watch.
I have Direct TV with 200+ channels +HBO, Showtime, Starz and a bunch of other crap

(The premium stations are all on free trials)

 I watched that one too,but I thought it made for good comedy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 28, 2011, 12:26:20 PM
On my "to watch" list of pointless gratuitous violence is "Hobo With A Shotgun" starring Rutger Hauer.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 28, 2011, 01:09:33 PM
Don't bother Trap. I thought the same thing, but it's not worth it. I turned it off after 10 minutes and threw it in the garbage. I'm a fan of gratuitous violence if it's done with the right attitude. HWASG is not gratuitous violence, it is gratuitous evil.

Trust me - or see for yourself. But if you do, don't say I didn't warn ya.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: jpatrickham on October 03, 2011, 12:00:16 PM
I watched a terrible movie last night.

The Green Hornet
In the movie, the hero was really a buffoon.
They could have picked Will Ferrell. In fact, I thought there was an uncanny resemblance between Seth Rogen and Ferrell.

For some reason, I don't recall watching the original series.
I'm guessing it was on while doing more carousing than watching tv.




Seth Rogen is just Will Farrell with a foot cut off his legs! I am embarrassed to say I sat through the Movie.  ::puke::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on October 03, 2011, 12:19:38 PM
Finally watched one that wasn't too bad.
Tron:Legacy

It had some funky philosophical stuff but fairly entertaining.

Also got around to watching Russell Crowe's Robin Hood.
It was different than previous Robin Hood movies. More like a prequel on how Robin was declared an outlaw and took up residence in Sherwood Forest.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 03, 2011, 02:36:55 PM
Finally watched one that wasn't too bad.
Tron:Legacy

It had some funky philosophical stuff but fairly entertaining.

Also got around to watching Russell Crowe's Robin Hood.
It was different than previous Robin Hood movies. More like a prequel on how Robin was declared an outlaw and took up residence in Sherwood Forest.


I liked Tron: Legacy too. As a kid growing up in the advent of video games, I enjoyed the first one, even though now it is utterly cheesy. But folding the new one into the old storyline was about as natural as one could have hoped for, since it was about re-entering that world a few decades later, and seeing how the technology had evolved. The ever-improving Jeff Bridges was an essential element, and it was pretty awesome how they digitally created new footage of him as a young man.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 03, 2011, 02:39:03 PM
Watched "Thor" with my boys last night. Daggum cool super-hero movie. And Natalie Portman is one of the world's most beautiful women.

Marvel is really onto something with this Avengers series. Haven't seen Captain America yet, but it's definitely on the short-list.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on December 08, 2011, 02:00:31 PM

The Wild Bunch

Click link, then click Watch Trailer

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065214/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065214/)

A classic, the first of Sam Peckinpah's stylistic movies.  It is excellent
but must be viewed on a big screen and uncut or it is reduced to irrelevant
action scenes.

 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on December 08, 2011, 04:38:49 PM
Watched "Thor" with my boys last night. Daggum cool super-hero movie. And Natalie Portman is one of the world's most beautiful women.

Marvel is really onto something with this Avengers series. Haven't seen Captain America yet, but it's definitely on the short-list.


Captain America is pretty good....and they are tying all the loose ends to have an Avenger movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 08, 2011, 05:02:40 PM
Yeah, we watched CA a couple weeks ago, and I neglected to comment. Loved it. All these: Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Cap'n America - have (aside from Dark Knight Batman) have been the best superhero flicks (IMHO), and The Avengers promises to follow suit. They've done an excellent job with disbelief suspension, character development, casting, screenplays, directing, graphics - and maybe most importantly for The Avengers movie, they've done a superb job tying the plots together.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 08, 2011, 05:16:52 PM
Quote
Marvel is really onto something with this Avengers series.

What is this series of which you write?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 08, 2011, 05:18:00 PM
See my post above Pan.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 08, 2011, 05:21:17 PM
See my post above Pan.

I saw it, I just don't understand.  Is "The Avengers" a single movie or a series of Avenger movies? 

Quote
... most importantly for The Avengers movie, they've done a superb job tying the plots together.

The plots of IronMan/Hulk et al.?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 08, 2011, 05:30:40 PM
Yes. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Cap'n America have all been released with the intent of tying them together into an Avengers film or film franchise. It centers around Stark Industries. If you've seen them and missed that aspect, it might be worth watching them again and looking for the many ways they've tied it all up. It's pretty deep plot writing.

NOTE: make sure to see the Incredible Hulk movie with Ed Norton and William Hurt. The earlier attempt with Eric Bana and Jennifer Connoly was bad.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 08, 2011, 05:31:39 PM
...Bad and not related to the Avengers franchise.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 08, 2011, 05:34:29 PM
Yes. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Cap'n America have all been released with the intent of tying them together into an Avengers film or film franchise. It centers around Stark Industries. If you've seen them and missed that aspect, it might be worth watching them again and looking for the many ways they've tied it all up. It's pretty deep plot writing.

NOTE: make sure to see the Incredible Hulk movie with Ed Norton and William Hurt. The earlier attempt with Eric Bana and Jennifer Connoly was bad.

Ah, I see now.  Thanks, IDP.

We have seen the Ed Norton version of Incredible Hulk, and both Iron Man ... er .... Men ... er ... Mans .... both of those, so it's onto Thor and Cap'n America then.

The Avengers movie isn't due for release until 2012.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 08, 2011, 05:52:11 PM
I haven't seen the new Hulk or Thor yet
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on December 08, 2011, 07:30:17 PM
I haven't seen the new Hulk or Thor yet

 I didn't think either were a big deal.  But this one coming out on the 25th looks interesting, War Horse.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 09, 2011, 12:11:32 AM
I'm  not familiar with that one.
Is that part of the Avenger stuff?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 09, 2011, 12:36:15 AM
I saw "Courageous" a few nights back.

This is a Christian produced film from the same outfit that made "Fireproof" and "Facing The Giants." I have seen both of those movies. "Facing The Giants" was very amateurish and nearly unwatchable. "Fireproof" was a marked improvement but still heavy handed in its preachiness. I understand and appreciate the intent (bringing the Christian message to the secular masses) of a sort of Tyler Perry style home grown film production thingy but it also missed the boat to a large degree.

"Courageous" continues with this idea and it gets closer yet to fulfilling that vision. The acting is better, The writing is better. Everything else is better. I was able to watch it without cringing. Better yet, when I finished watching it I thought that I might even be able to recommend it to others. And I guess that I am sort of doing that now.

It starts with an action scene that looks pretty good. A guy is filling his pickup at the gas station, turns his back for a few seconds to fetch a window squeegee, and a thug hops in and proceeds to drive away. The guy runs after him and clings to the side of the truck, trying to stop the thief by hitting him and maybe pull the keys out of the ignition. The truck ends up getting smacked into a tree or something and the bad guy gets away. When someone asks him why he was so crazy about trying to stop the carjacking the dazed guy stumbles up to the rear door of the truck and reveals that his toddler son is inside in a carseat. So far, so good.

Then they sort of ruin the credibility of that scene by revealing that the guy is a law enforcement officer. Personally, I find it hard to believe that any experienced cop is going to allow his pickup to get carjacked right under his nose. Cops usually have pretty good situational awareness and can see trouble approaching long before it shows up. So he should have noticed the very obvious gang banger checking out his truck from just a few yards away.

The movie is centered around the lives of five men and how they deal with the difficulty of family life and the occasional tragedy and moral dilemmas that lie therein. There is more action (which is mostly realistic and believable) in the middle and end of the film. There are some obvious plot turns and some not so obvious plot turns. I found myself interested in the characters and caring about how things were going to turn out.

It gets very preachy at the end with a big finale speech on stage in a medium sized church that probably could have been edited out...it would not have hurt the overall message had it not been there. It's sort of an alter call to Christian manhood and responsibility for family leadership. Which was, of course, the message of the entire film. So the ending kind of beats you over the head with the message as if to say, "Just in case you weren't paying attention we are going to sum this up for you." Again, could have been left out and I think the movie would not have suffered for it.

So...for a Christian themed and produced movie this was way better than average. I wasn't bored, looking at my watch, wishing I was somewhere else and wondering when it was going to end. I was entertained. Not entertained like a traditional big budget movie will generally entertain me but more like entertained the way that an above average television production might entertain me. If that makes sense. Yes, I would recommend it to a conservative. I'd recommend it to a lib if I thought for a second that their pride wouldn't force them to get up and walk out on it.

So that's it. Take it (and my review) for what it's worth.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 09, 2011, 12:43:34 AM
Man, I loved Facing the Giants and Fireproof, in spite of the amateurish aspects - which I do acknowledge. But I viewed them as movies made by Christians for Christians, and was hungry for the message within, so I didn't concern myself with expecting much beyond that. I ended up enjoying them as both entertaining and spiritual food.

Looking forward to Courageous. On the short list.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 09, 2011, 01:04:05 AM
I know what you mean but I guess I was under the impression that the whole point of these films is to not preach to the choir but rather to attract the un-churched and un-saved. It is my opinion that "Fireproof" and "Facing The Giants" fail to do that almost entirely. I found "Courageous" to be much closer to that "crossover" type film that might get some evangelistic results.

There is absolutely no question that every one of these films have, unlike a lot of Hollywood stuff, achieved overwhelming financial success. The films are very low budget and yet gross millions and/or tens of millions of dollars. "Fireproof" was made for $500,000 and grossed over $28 million. "Courageous" was made for a million and will probably gross well over $30 million when it's all said and done.

Personally, though, I would like to see these guys (Sherwood Pictures) do a different sort of story. There are countless true stories out there of people who have found Christ and turned their lives around, positively affected the lives of countless others, experienced miracles, etc. The whole manhood thing is important and all but after four (yes, four) similarly themed movies I really think they should try some other narrative direction. If the goal is to provide entertainment for Christians then it really is time to do something different. If the goal is to bring the Christian message to the un-churched and/or non-believer then a true story might go a lot further than this type of film.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 09, 2011, 01:19:19 AM
Did you see "End of the Spear"? IMO that movie went a very long way in accomplishing what you're describing. True story, well done, overt Christian message nicely folded within the context of the story.

I've heard that "Amazing Grace" is like that too, though I've not yet seen it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on December 09, 2011, 02:31:52 AM

The Wild Bunch

Click link, then click Watch Trailer

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065214/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065214/)

A classic, the first of Sam Peckinpah's stylistic movies.  It is excellent
but must be viewed on a big screen and uncut or it is reduced to irrelevant
action scenes.

 


Yeah . That's a great one . I saw it when it first came out . I'm a big fan of William Holden and Ben Johnson ... Warren Oates too !
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on December 09, 2011, 03:05:48 AM
I'm a big fan of William Holden and Ben Johnson ... Warren Oates too !

Do you have one of those Bill Holden Drinking Helmets?

Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Holden): 
Quote
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, on November 12, 1981, Holden was alone and intoxicated in his apartment in Santa Monica, California, when he slipped on a throw rug, severely lacerated his forehead on a teak bedside table, and bled to death.

/And, yes, I enjoyed some of the movies Holden made, Stalag 17 being my favorite, and the movie role which earned Bill his only Oscar for Best Actor.

He was also pretty funny on that I Love Lucy episode.

I Love Lucy - "L.A. at Last" (02/07/1955) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekic-DXMCZI#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 09, 2011, 06:43:12 AM
Holden was in The Horse Soldiers too with The Duke.

 ::thumbsup::

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on December 09, 2011, 09:34:29 AM
Holden was in The Horse Soldiers too with The Duke.

 ::thumbsup::

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/)

I followed the route of the production of "The Horse Soldiers" ... even stood on the steps or "Greenbriar" . Everything is still there including the front gate . I've also been to the Military Academy . The remainder of the bridge they blew up at the end of the film finally rotted away and fell into the bayou .

That movie was the first and only time Holden and Wayne worked together but was the beginning of an extremely close and life-long friendship .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 09, 2011, 09:56:49 AM
Holden was in The Horse Soldiers too with The Duke.

 ::thumbsup::

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052902/)

I followed the route of the production of "The Horse Soldiers" ... even stood on the steps or "Greenbriar" . Everything is still there including the front gate . I've also been to the Military Academy . The remainder of the bridge they blew up at the end of the film finally rotted away and fell into the bayou .

That movie was the first and only time Holden and Wayne worked together but was the beginning of an extremely close and life-long friendship .

Cool!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on December 09, 2011, 02:49:01 PM


I've heard that "Amazing Grace" is like that too, though I've not yet seen it.

One of my daughters says that's her favorite movie.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 27, 2011, 07:16:55 AM
Just saw War Horse yesterday
Regardless of his liberal politics, Spielberg can be counted on to provide a quality movie.
This one's no different.

There were a couple scenes similar to the opening D-Day invasion in Private Ryan with the massive death shown.

Overall, it was a good movie with a happy ending
It must have been the dusty theater that irritated my eyes a couple times
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 27, 2011, 07:34:26 AM
Yeah, saw it too AP.  My theater was quiet most the movie, a few groans of pain at some of the carnage and chuckles at the humor.  I thought it was a pretty good flick.  Didn't recognize any of the actors but I thought all did a pretty good job.  My viewing was packed (it was the first one of the day) and several people clapped at the end and I didn't hear any sounds of disappointment.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: radioman on December 27, 2011, 07:45:07 AM
Ditto
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 29, 2011, 07:46:53 PM
We watched " Cowboys and Aliens" last night. It delivered what one would expect from a movie called "Cowboys and Aliens". It didn't suck, the idea was a good one, the character development left a lot to be desired, but on the whole, worth watching on DVD or Blueray.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on January 01, 2012, 12:44:25 AM
Borrowed captain America from the library a few days ago and watched with my daughter.



 It fell flat for me.  It felt like a by-the-numbers tv movie to me.  I never felt the tension was that high or that the hero was ever in any danger.  I guess after his friend died when he was "trying" to be drunk was his dark moment but it didn't work for me. No chemistry between the hero and "the girl" whatever her name was. In fact it would have been better to cut that character altogether. 




I wanted to like it. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 01, 2012, 01:19:44 AM
I saw Crazy Stupid Love last night on pay per view.

It delivered on several levels. I liked the characters...cared about them...and the story was interesting. There was a great plot surprise that I did not see coming at all...always a nice touch.

It wasn't a laugh a minute comedy but it clearly wasn't meant to be. That said it was funny enough.

So I would recommend it. The subject matter is not for children so watch it when the kids have been put to bed.

The story involves four (but really only two) relationships...a long time married couple where the woman decides to ask for a divorce. It totally blindsides the husband and he collapses into a pathetic barfly. While at the bar he is observed by a confirmed ladies man who decides to take him on as a charity case. This pickup expert gives the wimpy leading man a makeover...helping him regain his manhood as it were. He succeeds, of course. Then the ladies man stumbles into a real relationship...he falls in love. There are two or three subplots that intricately weave themselves into the lives of these two guys and it all wraps up very neatly at the end.

It kept my interest all the way through which is not something that happens very much any more. That may be because at this point in my life I have seen just about anything and everything that the movies has to offer. That point is highlighted by the fact that Hollywood is churning out pure crap based on ridiculous stuff like television sitcoms rather than developing original stuff. In this case it is original and it's also pretty good.

On a scale of one to ten I would score Crazy Stupid Love as a strong seven or a weak eight.

Funny quote from the movie. Ladies man to wimpy guy: "The war between the sexes is over. We won the second women started doing pole dancing for exercise."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 01, 2012, 09:05:19 PM
So the next pay per view movie I have recently seen is "Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes."

On reflection, the most important thing that I could take away from this movie was, "Who thought that James Franco could carry any film as the male lead?" Because that was the most glaring thing about this movie...there was zero star power in it.

The story itself was chock full of holes. And the villain? Anyone care to guess? Yes, it is that old tried and true enemy of the left...corporate America.

The movie opens with what has to be simultaneously the most brilliant and inept scientists in the world working on a cure for Alzheimer's. They have the world's worst lab safety protocols because they allow genetically altered viruses to bounce around all over the place with little regard for quarantine type procedures. Plus they allow their infected test apes to come into close contact with humans and escape the lab.

At one point the mutated ape gets sent to some kind of special primate shelter where inexplicably every one of the caretakers are sadistic animal torturers. I say inexplicably because it is a government facility in San Francisco and as we all know it just isn't possible for Republicans to get government jobs in San Fran and only Republicans could possibly mistreat animals, right?

I don't think I would be putting out a spoiler by telling you that the apes end up winning and taking over the planet so here is another complaint...

See, the apes decide to cross the Golden Gate bridge en masse for some reason that isn't explained ('cause they are smarter than humans now so we can't understand it, I guess). And the humans (law enforcement, no less) try to take them out on horseback with batons. Not electrified batons but just plain old clubs. I don't know about you but I would have the twelve gauge loaded with .50 caliber slugs. But not these guys, no. When they eventually do open fire on the apes they are so incompetent and such poor marksmen that I think I saw a single ape shot and killed. Not even a helicopter mounted gun is capable of shooting an ape. And seriously...one helicopter in all of San Fran to stop a herd of terroristic apes? I guess it was lucky this didn't take place in Texas or the movie would have had to be called the "Rise And Extremely Sudden Fall Of The Planet Of The Apes." I didn't even see that many humans getting killed. What's going on with that? Apes are dangerous. Very dangerous. As famously evidenced a few years back they will rip your face off if given half a chance. And yet these apes didn't do sh*t. The just acted scary and knocked a lot of people over. What a let down. This movie should have climaxed with extreme bloodletting on both sides with maybe one or two of the genetically altered apes getting away to conquer the planet. But instead they escape to a redwood forest where they apparently hang out until mankind is wiped out by some plague that the idiot scientists also unwittingly release and spread all over.

Anyway, this film was highly rated at Rotten Tomatoes but I personally thought it was weak. Just how weak? The writers thought it was necessary or cute or something to steal the Charlton Heston line, "Get your paws off me, you dirty damned ape!" You would think it was enough to remake the movie without pilfering actual dialogue from one of the original films.

If someone asked me if this was worth watching I would say..no. Total waste of time. Complete suckfest. Watch it at your own peril.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 02, 2012, 01:04:52 AM
As far as I'm concerned, both the most recent "Planet of the Apes" reboots sucked rotten eggs. They finally have the technology to get the aesthetics right, and rather than do a reboot that honors the original by giving it a cinematic look and feel that was not possible in the 1960s, they think they know better, and muck it all up.

You can't remake a classic by reinventing the most basic premises and completely rewriting the story. At least I can't think of a successful one off the top of my head. People are too attached to the classic. And by "classic", I mean a film that is beloved and iconic to many loyal fans, not just a reboot of an old flick.

In my opinion, the "Star Trek" reboot by J.J. Abrams is a good example of how to walk that line with near perfection. If ever there was a monumental task, it was recasting and recreating a franchise that has perhaps the most loyal fans of all, and doing it in a way that honored the original, hat-tipping all the original character portrayals in at least some way, while generally freshening everything up a bit. The "Apes" reboots didn't even try, which to me, insults the original, and fans of the original.

If you wanna make an original movie, knock yourself out. I love originality. Just don't sh*t on Pierre Boulle, Rod Serling, Charlton Heston, and fans of a classic while you're indulging yourself.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on January 02, 2012, 04:50:53 AM
Why didn't the C.I.A. figure prominently in this mess ? I suppose as an "homage" to Pierre Boulle , the Golden Gate Bridge was substituted for the Bridge On The River Kwai . Maybe the monkeys were a metaphor for Japs ?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 02, 2012, 11:04:05 AM
Didn't see the new ape movie, looked to spider-manish to me, figured I'd pass, guess I made the right choice.

Rented "Columbiana"...kind of a tale of two movies to me, I found the young girl first part more interesting than the grown up assassin, so it turned out to be mediocre in my opinion.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 04, 2012, 08:17:34 AM
Soul Surfer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596346/)

Remember the 13 year old Hawaiian surfer girl Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm to a shark in 2003? This movie is her story of struggle, faith, setback, and comeback. I watched it late last night after a disgusting plow through the Iowa Caucus coverage, and found it was just the inspirational pick-me-up I needed. This is an openly Christian film, with the Christianity aspect carefully handled as to not seem overbearing, clumsy, or out of context. Mostly it just portrays the family as a Christian family, with a couple church scenes, a few biblically inspired conversations, and a poignant mission-trip-to-tsunami-ravaged Thailand scene.

This is not a great film by any stretch. It is too simple and straight-forward to be great. It stars Anna Sophia Robb as Hamilton, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as her parents, Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) as the father of Hamilton's friend who rescued her after the attack, Craig T. Nelson as the family doctor and friend who performed her surgery. The weak link acting-wise is a small role by singer Carrie Underwood as the church youth-group leader. But she's pretty, sweet, and wholesome, so she gets a pass for trying in my book.

The film asks you from the beginning to accept the premise that surfing can be the overriding motivation in ones life - similar to any other sports movie. The portrayal of Hamilton by Robb, the supportive father and mother (Quaid & Hunt), along with breathtaking oceanscapes and killer surfing footage, put you in that "surfing is my life" mindset right away, so the premise is sound.

One aspect of the film that is simple in today's filmmaking yet crucial for this film, was the digital removal of Robb's arm at the shoulder, and replacement with a digital stump. The film made zero effort to use camera angles to avoid showing the arm. From the moment it was lost, CGI took over that aspect of the film, and she was an armless girl, and the viewer was confronted with it throughout, just as Hamilton and her family would have been.

Ultimately this movie is a story of this girl's character and spirit. Her moments of despair are fleeting, as her inner strength and faith in God proves to be the thing that carries her loved ones and friends through the trauma. She helps them be strong for her. She inspires them to rise above their heartache over what happened to her, and thus be capable of supporting her in her times of need.

If for no other reason, I recommend this film as an antidote to the trash pumped out by Hollywood, and as a financial support for such films. Voting with your dollars, as it were.

There are a couple other things to note here as reasons for support of this film. Kevin Sorbo and Craig T. Nelson have firmly staked their careers in conservative ground. Sorbo as an openly born again Christian who seeks and accepts roles in openly Christian films, and Nelson as an openly conservative advocate for traditional American values, willing to part with Hollywood and appear on talk shows as a conservative. Dennis Quaid is openly Christian, and has made several inspirational films. Helen Hunt was an Academy Award winner with "As Good as it Gets", and yet her major roles have become scarce, which leads me to wonder if she has been somehow "blackballed" for conservative views. If one looks at her filmography and her directoral choices, it seems she has a preference for acting in and directing inspirational movies with spiritual themes. Carrie Underwood is openly Christian, and in spite of her immense popular appeal, has refused to go the trashy route.

SO if one is looking for reasons aside from just seeing an inspirational film that doesn't require a lot of deep thinking, support conservatives in conservative films.





Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 04, 2012, 04:32:47 PM
I've heard more than one person say that movie is a good one to see, I will have to check it out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on January 04, 2012, 08:20:38 PM
I saw Crazy Stupid Love last night on pay per view.

It delivered on several levels. I liked the characters...cared about them...and the story was interesting. There was a great plot surprise that I did not see coming at all...always a nice touch.


<snip>

"The war between the sexes is over. We won the second women started doing pole dancing for exercise."


Both my daughter and husband liked this movie.  Will have to check it out sometime.

My daughter references the above quote often.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 27, 2012, 07:54:05 PM
Aliens is one of my favorites too. I also agree it's one of the best sequels ever (along with The Empire Strikes Back). That scene at the beginning when Ripley is at an inquest for hours on end, trying to explain why she engaged the self-destruct on her ship in the first film (i.e., because of the creature) and they keep questioning her sanity, bringing up crass bureaucratic concerns, etc, she finally loses it and goes off on the entire panel. I think of that scene a lot lately, when people ignore the enormous mess we're in and instead focus on their petty BS concerns that won't even matter once things really start coming unglued.

The one thing about that film I have trouble believing is that they would leave their ship in orbit completely unmanned. Seems they would at least have a sentry crew, or a reserve team to do an evac in case things go bad.

Overall a great movie.

I liked Aliens just fine, but there is one thing that always bugs the back of my mind as I watch. The movie was filled with alien guts and bodily secretions being splattered in every direction, including onto the human shooters. In the first movie, a few drops of acidic alien bodily secretions burn through several bulkheads before becoming inert. Huge discrepancy. One must overlook it completely to enjoy the film - and enjoy it I did, so I had no problem overlooking it. But I sure noticed it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 06, 2012, 11:04:45 PM
Movies that I am looking forward to...

...which is to say, movies I hope don't suck but have a better than even chance of sucking 'cause, hey, Hollywood.

February release dates:

Act Of Valor (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/act_of_valor/) Real Navy SEALs do fictional action adventure movie about Navy SEALs.

ACT OF VALOR Trailer 2012 - Official [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw2hI5Y8VI8#ws)

March release dates:

John Carter (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/john_carter/) Classic Edgar Rice Burroughs story about Mars and aliens and battles and stuff. Big budget Disney movie.

John Carter Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlvYKl1fjBI#ws)

April release dates:

The Cabin In The Woods (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cabin_in_the_woods/) Joss Whedon (Firefly) does the horror genre.

The Cabin in the Woods Trailer 2012 HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXfc12BqFkc#ws)

The Raven (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/untitled_raven_project/) John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe. Supposed to be a serial killer thriller.

'The Raven' Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PGDV1SWRkQ#ws)

May release dates:

The Avengers (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marvels_the_avengers/) It's the Avengers. Think it can possibly live up to the hype? No, probably not. But Joss Whedon writes and directs so, who knows?

THE AVENGERS Trailer 2012 Movie - Official [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPpG4s3-O4#ws)

Dark Shadows (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dark-shadows-2010/) Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. The only question is whether it is played straight or for laughs. I'm hoping for straight. I grew up with this way off the beaten path soap opera.

Dark Shadows 2012 Sneak Peak : Beyond The Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB3OeaEMml8#ws)

June release dates:

Prometheus (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prometheus_2012/) The next Alien installment by Ridley Scott.

Prometheus - Official Trailer [TRUE HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU#ws)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/abraham_lincoln_vampire_hunter/) Will either be very good or very bad. A Tim Burton production (for what it's worth) so not a cheap film.

July release dates:

The Amazing Spiderman (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_amazing_spider_man/) Another series reboot.

Amazing Spider-man trailer (Official) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJQS16dGk0w#ws)

Ted (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ted_2012/) Seth McFarlane does big screen animation.
The Dark Knight Rises (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_dark_knight_rises/) The final installment in the current Batman series.

The Dark Knight Rises Official Movie Trailer Christian Bale, Batman Movie (2012) HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8#ws)

Neighborhood Watch (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/neighborhood_watch_2012/) Ben Stiller. Vince Vaughn. Alien invasion. What could go wrong?


2013 release date:

The Lone Ranger (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lone_ranger/) I wouldn't even know about this one yet except for the fact that it's being filmed this summer in my neck of the woods. Johnny Depp plays Tonto(?) It's a big budget Disney film.

I only listed ones that are of vague interest to me. There are many more that I didn't list. You can find the entire list here (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/movie/upcoming/) starting with February releases. Click on the month at the top of the page to see more. Feel free to list what you are looking forward to or what you wish wasn't coming out or what you wish would burn in a grease fire.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on February 06, 2012, 11:18:06 PM
Dang.....Dark Shadows.....I was young, but it was a can't miss.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 06, 2012, 11:46:43 PM
A blast from the past...

Barnabas Collins arrives at Collinwood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4OBqtZTelw#ws)

1225 original episodes.

And some background (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Shadows) for anyone too young to remember. Not at all like the current crop of emo-boy vampire crap fests.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 06, 2012, 11:54:49 PM
It's kind of easy to predict what you're going to get with a Tim Burton movie, with one exception: it's hit or miss whether it'll be good or terrible. His films are all stylized in a similar way - similar enough that you can pretty much see his signature in the scenery, costumes, dialogue, aesthetics, and overall look and feel. Whether it works or not is a crap shoot. I'm cautiously optimistic that "Dark Shadows" might be a project tailor-made for his talent. Depp nudges that optimism a bit up the scale.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on February 07, 2012, 12:25:36 AM
Kewl - new flicks to watch  ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 07, 2012, 06:46:43 AM
OMG, Dark Shadows!  My big brother would have that on when I got back from school...it seemed like such a weird creepy show, I was starting to wonder what the hell was wrong with my brother!
 ;D

Act of Valor I obviously will check out.  John Carter looks different, but what the heck, might be worth a matinee ticket.  Avengers?  Meh.  Horror?  Pass.  Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?
 ???
Tim Burton...OooKay.
(So that's where 'Soup got his new avatar!)
 ;D

More spiderman and batman...so not interested.

The Lone Ranger?  I dunno...

Neighborhood Watch?  Vince Vaughn & aliens?  Yeah, OK, I might give that an afternoon.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 07, 2012, 07:00:26 AM
I thought Burton's treatment of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow was magnificent. Batman II, notsomuch.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 07, 2012, 07:02:57 AM
One to avoid...Paul.  Starts out funny, kind of a potty mouthed ET, but takes an extremely dark turn when it just turns into an anti-Christian bash fest.  Setting up those red herrings and being "edgy" shootin' them down.  Checked out the "stars" and the woman who played the Red Herring is that Glee airhead with the Sarah Palin fetish.  Explains it all.  Just avoid this one.

Thinking of that Big Hollywood article about why the trash from Hollywood are having such a tough time...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 07, 2012, 07:05:20 AM
Agreed, Paul stunk on ice...I think Jesse Ventura must have been assisting the screenwriting of those anti-Christian screeds!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 07, 2012, 07:11:35 AM
We watched " Cowboys and Aliens" last night. It delivered what one would expect from a movie called "Cowboys and Aliens". It didn't suck, the idea was a good one, the character development left a lot to be desired, but on the whole, worth watching on DVD or Blueray.

Good.  That one should be in my mailbox when I get home.  Get rid of the bad taste from Paul.  

Little Big Soldier (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1319718/)

Pretty decent if you don't mind reading your movies.  Now that Jackie Chan is getting to old to break his body every movie he makes  ::laughonfloor:: he's been more back in Hong Kong and China making slightly more serious movies, and having more control over content, rather then getting chewed up and spit out by the Hollywood machine.  And in my household it's the best of both worlds.  I like all things Jackie, my wife likes all things Leehom Wang (a second generation American who went back to Taiwan to make his career.)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 07, 2012, 11:18:21 AM
I got sucked into a chick-flick a few nights ago that was actually pretty hilarious. It was called "You Again", starring Kristin Bell (adorable blond who played "Elle Bishop" the evil lightning girl on "Heroes"), Jamie Lee Curtis, and Sigourney Weaver.

Bell plays "Marni", a pretty, successful businesswoman who has issues because she was an ugly duckling in high school. Her brother brings home his new fiance Joanna (uber-hot actress Odette Annable), and whaddaya know; it's Marni's old nemesis - the beautiful popular girl who tormented her to the point of misery. And to top it off, her high school enemy either does not recognize her, or is pretending not to recognize her - you don't find out until later which it is for sure, so the comedy that ensues is hilarious as the two of them spar with innuendo and passive-aggressiveness, all the while Marni is trying not to let her brother know anything is amiss.

Of course Joanna is charming and beautiful, so Marni's mother (played by Curtis), father, and little brother are about as smitten with her as her brother who is engaged to her. Marni keeps trying to dig and probe and cast doubt, and her family doesn't even recognize it. Finally her mother does sense something's wrong with Marni, and spends a chunk of the film talking Marni down from her agitated state, telling her that there's nothing wrong, that the past is the past, and that she should let it go.

Then Joanna's super-rich aunt (Sigourney Weaver) who's paying for the wedding shows up at the home to discuss wedding plans with the family, and wouldn't you know it; Weaver and Curtis were high school nemeses, and the comedy starts all over again as all four of these women spar with one another.

Not a great film by any stretch. The tidy conflict resolution at the end is way simplistic. But the comedic dialogue throughout is really good. If you enjoyed "The Birdcage" with Robin Williams for the constant double-entendre and people trying to lie their way through uncomfortable conversations in order to avoid revealing the truth, this film has a similar frenetic feel.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 07, 2012, 11:28:56 AM
"...starring Kristin Bell (adorable blond who played "Elle Bishop" the evil lightning girl on "Heroes")"

I liked her better as Veronica Mars.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 08, 2012, 06:33:25 PM
One more thing regarding Dark Shadows...

...it's coming out in a boxed DVD set (http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Shadows-Complete-Jonathan-Frid/dp/B006Z7Z3KY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1328747478&sr=8-5) in a few weeks...all 1225 episodes...discounted to $420 so probably not for everyone. My wife would wonder about my sanity if I ordered it. Frankly, so would I.

I will wait for the movie instead.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 08, 2012, 06:41:05 PM
I liked the show as a kid, but not $420 worth.

BTW, does it escape anyone's attention that "420" is a direct and unmistakable reference to smoking pot? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_%28cannabis_culture%29)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 08, 2012, 06:48:42 PM
Well, actually it's $419.99 and no, I had never heard of that one before.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 08, 2012, 07:21:12 PM
Me either.  Damn old hippies and their code .........  ;)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on February 08, 2012, 07:25:06 PM
 Never ever smoked it so I didn't have any idea about 419.99/420.00 either.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 08, 2012, 09:16:38 PM
Well, actually it's $419.99 and no, I had never heard of that one before.

Oh, well forget it then. $419.99 is not a reference to smoking pot.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 09, 2012, 06:50:26 AM
I thought maybe you were saying a lid cost $420.

But no, did not hear that before.

But my rebel days are about 30+ years ago, so no surprise there!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 09, 2012, 09:33:45 PM
Okay, new trailer for "The Amazing Spiderman."

The Amazing Spider-Man Official Trailer 2 1080 (HD) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rokU4KaGU4I#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 09, 2012, 10:37:18 PM
Ya know, the Spiderman trailer looks cool, and I like superhero movies just fine. But it really is a sad testament to the lack of imagination coming out of Hollywood that they are doing a reboot of a three-film series that only debuted a decade ago, and whose last installment was in theaters a mere 4 years ago.

Aside from 3D, special effects haven't advanced enough to far surpass the other films, which all had excellent special effects. The Peter Parker/Spiderman story as told by Sam Raimi is still fresh in everyone's mind.

So unless it's a radical reboot ala the "Dark Knight" movies vs the Michael Keaton/Val Kilmer/George Clooney "Batman" movies, there doesn't seem to be any reason at all to reboot the Spiderman series from scratch.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 20, 2012, 07:41:23 AM
Act of Valor hits the screens this Friday (24th) -

http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/12952291/secretive-navy-seals-take-starring-role-in-new-film/ (http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/12952291/secretive-navy-seals-take-starring-role-in-new-film/)

I like how the Pentagon was miffed the SEALs went outside normal channels to do this, but the Pentagon ends up endorsing it anyway, then sends word out to not do that again.  Obviously these guys want to get their point across in this film, which I am guessing is perhaps the tightness of their exclusive fraternity more than anything, so I will be seeing it.  I like how instead of credits they list naval special warfare troops killed since the attacks of 9-11-11.

 ::USA::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 04, 2012, 05:17:29 PM
Saw Act of Valor yesterday.  I think those who are giving it bad reviews miss the point.  This is not a Hollywood blockbuster action adventure filled with dramatic acting and dazzling CGI effects and girls running around half naked like in video games.  It is a realistic look at the life our elite warriors live and in that spirit it achieved its purpose.  If that interests you go see it, if it doesn't, stay home.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 04, 2012, 07:48:06 PM
Saw Act of Valor yesterday.  I think those who are giving it bad reviews miss the point.  This is not a Hollywood blockbuster action adventure filled with dramatic acting and dazzling CGI effects and girls running around half naked like in video games.  It is a realistic look at the life our elite warriors live and in that spirit it achieved its purpose.  If that interests you go see it, if it doesn't, stay home.

Of course those giving it bad reviews miss the point. It's purpose was a glimpse into the lives of those brave souls who protect us...many times with thier lives. This is not Tropic Thunder. I found it very emotional and there were not many dry eyes in the theater.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 05, 2012, 06:46:14 AM
Saw Act of Valor yesterday.  I think those who are giving it bad reviews miss the point.  This is not a Hollywood blockbuster action adventure filled with dramatic acting and dazzling CGI effects and girls running around half naked like in video games.  It is a realistic look at the life our elite warriors live and in that spirit it achieved its purpose.  If that interests you go see it, if it doesn't, stay home.

Of course those giving it bad reviews miss the point. It's purpose was a glimpse into the lives of those brave souls who protect us...many times with thier lives. This is not Tropic Thunder. I found it very emotional and there were not many dry eyes in the theater.

The closing was perfect.  My theater was dead quiet at the end, you could hear a pin drop.  Message received.   ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 19, 2012, 09:59:34 AM
The Fighter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/)
Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

Not just another boxing movie.

I can't say enough about this film. The story is true and interesting. The characters are believable and multi-faceted.

Mark Wahlberg has made some less than stellar decisions when it comes to choosing roles. But I think he usually turns in a solid performance. He's not a great actor, but he has film star appeal, and he doesn't suck. When he's in a good movie, he pulls it off, and he does so here, with perhaps the best role of his career.

But Christian Bale. Wow. I think this guy is among the best actors alive today, and this role as a likable emaciated crack addict boxing has-been is among his best ever if not the very best. This role takes him decisively out of the movie star category and places him in the great actors of all time category. See this film, if for no other reason, just to see excellence on the part of Christian Bale.

A little treat at the end is a sign-off by the real brothers upon which the story is based as the credits roll. In that moment it becomes apparent that Wahlberg's character was clearly embellished for the sake of film. But Bale's character is so spot-on with the genuine appearance, demeanor, and speech patterns of the real guy it's almost creepy if it wasn't so brilliant.

See it, see it, see it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 19, 2012, 10:28:45 AM
The Fighter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/)
Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

Not just another boxing movie.

I can't say enough about this film. The story is true and interesting. The characters are believable and multi-faceted.

Mark Wahlberg has made some less than stellar decisions when it comes to choosing roles. But I think he usually turns in a solid performance. He's not a great actor, but he has film star appeal, and he doesn't suck. When he's in a good movie, he pulls it off, and he does so here, with perhaps the best role of his career.

But Christian Bale. Wow. I think this guy is among the best actors alive today, and this role as a likable emaciated crack addict boxing has-been is among his best ever if not the very best. This role takes him decisively out of the movie star category and places him in the great actors of all time category. See this film, if for no other reason, just to see excellence on the part of Christian Bale.

A little treat at the end is a sign-off by the real brothers upon which the story is based as the credits roll. In that moment it becomes apparent that Wahlberg's character was clearly embellished for the sake of film. But Bale's character is so spot-on with the genuine appearance, demeanor, and speech patterns of the real guy it's almost creepy if it wasn't so brilliant.

See it, see it, see it.



Put this on my watch list....I've head bale was excellent in the film.....Heath Ledger like in his portrail of the Joker.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 19, 2012, 11:48:55 AM
I guess my last full paragraph above is a spoiler of sorts. I didn't intend that. But since I did it, I'll expand a bit. Nobody dies in this film. It's just a story about life. There is no good vs evil narrative. Refreshingly, there is also no Hollywood moral equivalence, blurring the lines between good and evil. The only antagonist in this film is the inertia of family dysfunction. All the characters have good sides and bad sides, just like real people. It is an extremely bleak ride, but it doesn't leave you that way.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on May 19, 2012, 11:40:06 PM
Just finished watching The Fighter.

This was an excellent movie.
Bale probably should have gotten an academy award.
It's hard to believe that's Batman
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on May 20, 2012, 04:49:46 PM
You guys manage to see a hell of a lot of new movies . I think I manage to see a new movie once about every five years . I must be more disengaged than I thought ! ::eyes::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 20, 2012, 04:54:44 PM
For actually getting off my butt and going to a theater it might not be more than twice a year for me...sometimes once...and 99% of the time it is the earliest matinee time possible so as to deny them full price.

I guess I am not as disengaged as SH!   ;D

Anyway...anybody see Battleship?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 20, 2012, 07:45:06 PM
For actually getting off my butt and going to a theater it might not be more than twice a year for me...sometimes once...and 99% of the time it is the earliest matinee time possible so as to deny them full price.

I guess I am not as disengaged as SH!   ;D

Anyway...anybody see Battleship?


Watched Battleship today. Entertaining flick. Don't want to spoil it, but really enjoyed the old war guys.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 21, 2012, 08:05:14 AM
For actually getting off my butt and going to a theater it might not be more than twice a year for me...sometimes once...and 99% of the time it is the earliest matinee time possible so as to deny them full price.

I guess I am not as disengaged as SH!   ;D

Anyway...anybody see Battleship?


Watched Battleship today. Entertaining flick. Don't want to spoil it, but really enjoyed the old war guys.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on May 22, 2012, 12:01:30 AM
My oldest daughter and I watched Battle Los Angeles yesterday.  Enjoyed it.  Sometimes you just need to see a lot of stuff get shot and blown up to sleep well.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 22, 2012, 06:32:37 AM
My oldest daughter and I watched Battle Los Angeles yesterday.  Enjoyed it.  Sometimes you just need to see a lot of stuff get shot and blown up to sleep well.

So that's why I didn't sleep so well last night!    ::facepalm::

 ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 09, 2012, 12:06:58 AM
Who mentioned "Priest"?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 09, 2012, 12:32:11 AM
Who mentioned "Priest"?

That was me. You watch it?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 09, 2012, 12:40:25 AM
Who mentioned "Priest"?

That was me. You watch it?

Not yet.  We bought it this evening.  I looked around here for a review and have missed yours.  Would you accommodate me with a short review?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 09, 2012, 01:02:29 AM
Sure thing.

Here (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg30295.html#msg30295) are my comments (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg33106.html#msg33106) from earlier (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg33170.html#msg33170) in this thread.

It's like I said in the one comment, it's a "post-apocalyptic sci-fi/neo-vampire flick". The vampires are beasts, not people. The world is desolate, desperate. The "Priests" are like religious super-soldiers, remnant from the vampire wars, exiled now that the vampire war is over, and the Church reigns supreme - except that the vampires are not vanquished, and have a new leader...

I won't say more. I think the best analogy is the one I made earlier. If you like the flavor of the "Underworld" films, or perhaps the "Riddick" films, this one roughly falls into the same category of taste for me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 09, 2012, 11:35:09 AM
Aw, and you even linked to your comments!  Thank you very much for making the effort, IDP; much appreciated.

Every couple-three months we hit the WalMart video section and see what there is of interest.  I couldn't remember who (or if) recommended, so we included it on a hunch.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 09, 2012, 01:12:04 PM
Looks like Prometheus at the drive in tonight
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 13, 2012, 11:45:32 AM
Saw an interview of Marcus Luttrell at Blackfive about his new book, near the end he mentions the filming of Lone Survivor starts in September and Mark Wahlberg is starring.  I hope they stay true to the real story.

http://www.blackfive.net/ (http://www.blackfive.net/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 14, 2012, 06:43:45 AM
Sure thing.

Here (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg30295.html#msg30295) are my comments (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg33106.html#msg33106) from earlier (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,439.msg33170.html#msg33170) in this thread.

It's like I said in the one comment, it's a "post-apocalyptic sci-fi/neo-vampire flick". The vampires are beasts, not people. The world is desolate, desperate. The "Priests" are like religious super-soldiers, remnant from the vampire wars, exiled now that the vampire war is over, and the Church reigns supreme - except that the vampires are not vanquished, and have a new leader...

I won't say more. I think the best analogy is the one I made earlier. If you like the flavor of the "Underworld" films, or perhaps the "Riddick" films, this one roughly falls into the same category of taste for me.


My only complaint is it sure seemed like a short flick. Never did hear if they have any plans for more.

I rented Safe House the other night, Denzel Washington & Ryan Reynolds, was a decent flick, the ending was predictable, but worth the nominal rental fee.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 14, 2012, 05:04:30 PM
They sure left the door wide open for a "Priest" sequel, but I would expect that whether we see one or not will depend on DVD sales, because I'm pretty sure it wasn't a box office smash hit.

My hope for this becoming a franchise again compares to "Underworld". The original wasn't huge at the box office, but word of mouth and the "cool" factor were enough to justify sequels.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 14, 2012, 07:42:05 PM
They sure left the door wide open for a "Priest" sequel, but I would expect that whether we see one or not will depend on DVD sales, because I'm pretty sure it wasn't a box office smash hit.

My hope for this becoming a franchise again compares to "Underworld". The original wasn't huge at the box office, but word of mouth and the "cool" factor were enough to justify sequels.

I wasn't overly impressed.  It wasn't bad, just nothing special.   ::whatgives::

We saw "The King's Speech" last night and IT was very good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 22, 2012, 12:38:36 PM
This looks interesting, same people that did Act of Valor.

The Prototype Official Teaser Trailer 2013 [HD] #1 - Andrew Will Sci-Fi Movie Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2TLqbSEQvU#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 03, 2012, 01:37:40 AM
Roger Corman's Gas-s-s-s (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065760/) hurt my brain. I saw "end of the world" and "hippies" and just clicked (after all I was already 1 and a half whiskeys in, might as well go for three. Besides , Corman is a MST3K favorite, and if it contains the phrase "the end of the world" I am pretty much into it-- its gotta be better than what we are facing.

Quote
  It's an irreverent comedy about a noxious gas that wipes out everybody- at least in the US much as we can figure- who's over the age of 25. Party-time! In what appears to be, in the premise, as a slight twist on Corman's own Last Woman on Earth, it's an epic of low-budget proportions, a rampant fiasco of kids in hippie-wear (or not as case turns out) and the Darwinian struggles that take place as the roughnecks, jocks and bikers-on-country-clubs face off against those darn 'commie-anarchists'.....
The second is a little more subtle, which seems to be a play on his film the Trip, as in the psychedelic-type scenes (i.e. dancing to Country Joe and the Fish) with the camera zooming in and out fast, lots of hand-held, etc). Corman's gone through this all before, so it has to be questioned: how much of this is tongue in cheek, and how much is just almost shoddy film-making? Can't be sure. At least there was consistent chuckling to be had, especially at seeing a young Bud Cort in a cowboy hat, and, of all people, Talia Shire!

The Edgar Allan Poe on a Motorcycle is about a Steampunk as you can get - before Steampunk was invented. The 42 on the Football player jersey stood out, being 6 years before hitchhikers, and I couldn't shake the feeling this was Zombieland: circa 1970. This is probably a far better prediction of what the  liberal Apocalypse we are expecting and facing will  look like: Imagine Mad Max meets Hair. There is even a woman who decides to just not have a baby- when she is very pregnant. Did I mention it hurt my brain?

I was born in 1970.  Was it really this screwed up then? Its amazing that we even got another 40 years out of it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on July 03, 2012, 02:08:38 AM
No, it wasn't this screwed up in '70, but it was escalating due to the 60s.  Of course it hurt your brain and what was beginning to be seen was hurting a lot of peoples' brains then ... of what they were permitted to see.  Some just tuned it out; they had kids to raise, jobs to do, houses to paint and what they watched on the "news" left them a bit confused and bewildered because what they were permitted to see was not what they'd grown up with, and they weren't given the whole story, thank you, Mr. Cronkite.  The parents were about the age you are now, Weisshaupt; my mother was 37.  Do you know how young that seems to me now?

I was 16 in 1970, just starting Senior year in high school, still wearing nice clothes, skirts a fashionable but decent length, wondering what the hell that smell was wafting out of the girl's bathroom, and what they hell were these weird kids doing sitting in their tie-dyed rags on the dirty floor in the hallways.

And the moolies were strutting their Afro-ed selves around the place, looking for someone or something on which to vent their communist-inspired wrath, although they didn't realize who was stoking their undeserved sense of deprivation -- most of them were from low-to-middle class families living decent lives in a predominantly Jewish town, which meant the schools were still good and the spirit of "giving" came straight from the Temples, and the Church, and for their benefit should anyone be hard up enough to accept charity.  Because a majority of the teachers were Jewish, "tolerances" were allowed for those who had been "damaged by society".

I wasn't interested then in diagnosing the weird and the "tolerant", and I had places to go -- my own apartment at 19 -- a job and a newfound sense of freedom.  So I went, went, went.

Around eleven years later, at 30, I stood still long enough to assess what was going on around me, and didn't recognize a freakin thing. 

No one told me when to run; I missed the starting gun.

It wasn't until 45 that I began looking into WHAT HAPPENED?! and with the advent of the internet, at 50, 51, 52 I began to understand.  Not what happened, but what had been done.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on July 03, 2012, 04:19:54 AM
Am I mistaken or does this sound like "Wild In The Streets" ?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on July 03, 2012, 08:42:17 AM
I was 18 in 70 and in my last year of High(no pun)School and got by slapping every idiot that asked me for spare change or flashed a peace sighn at me. God help me I hated Hippies and all they stood for.

  But it did get me a little satisfaction in showing them that if you don't work you need spare change and a bath and if you're too passive you were open to a slap in the mouth.

  I always worked since age 6(long story) and I wasn never too passive,Passive pisses me off.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on July 09, 2012, 09:50:37 AM
Just saw The Amazing Spiderman last night at the Drive In

I liked it.

There were some variations from the traditional Spiderman legend.
No Mary Jane or Jamison.
However, the new love interest is a hottie

His photography was there a little in the beginning then never to be seen again.

It's a little darker than the Toby McGuire Spiderman movies. Sort of like the newer Dark Knight varies from the old Batman movies.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 09, 2012, 10:45:13 AM
Watched "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" last night, on cable.

It was gritty as hell, with full-frontal nudity and explicit sex. Some a bit gratuitous, but not out of context, as sexual abuse is integral to the story.

It was an intriguing story that required attention, thought, and delivered surprises. Daniel Craig is hired by a wealthy man (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the disappearance of his sister 40 years earlier. Craig is aided by a young pierced and tattooed street-wise computer hacker.

I liked it a lot, and want to see it again, as my attention was distracted several times during the course of the movie. (Downside of TV movies, with no DVR.)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 09, 2012, 07:48:22 PM
I have "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" on the DVR (you have to get one of those) and I will be seeing it sometime soon.

I came upon this tonight and I will probably see it at some point when it comes out on DVD. Not that I was ever a fan of the guy (damned if I didn't date more than a few girls who were nuts about him) but I remember him quite distinctly from the seventies and this documentary is about him turning himself around and becoming a decent person...something that I find very interesting regardless of who the subject is. He was a very severe drunk and drug abuser.

I looked it up on RottenTomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/paul_williams_still_alive_2011/) and it is very highly rated by both film critics and audiences.

Paul Williams Still Alive Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Gc-fW_aSU#ws)

From what I can see on the trailer and what I can read in this interview (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/09/qa-how-once-ubiquitous-entertainer-paul-williams-disappeared-into-cocaine-booze/?intcmp=features) I think that I would actually like the guy now.

EDIT: Now, I did see this (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phantom_of_the_paradise/) in the theater when it came out (1974)...Brian DePalma & Paul Williams, who would have thought it possible? I haven't seen it since and I have to wonder how it holds up. Still, RTs gives it a 94% rating.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 09, 2012, 07:59:11 PM
Among my favorite of his roles...

(http://dangerousminds.net/images/uploads/afiles/paulwilliamsvirgilmask.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on July 09, 2012, 08:46:26 PM
Williams always gave me the creeps - even when he wasn't being a monkey.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on July 09, 2012, 11:11:37 PM

Good writer.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 12, 2012, 11:52:36 PM
The 50 Best Movies You've Never Seen (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20483133_20609091,00.html#21180862)

Although I have seen ten of them. Plus there were two that I knew about and wanted to see but haven't gotten around to them yet.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on July 13, 2012, 11:19:36 AM
The 50 Best Movies You've Never Seen (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20483133_20609091,00.html#21180862)

0 out of 50.

Whaddoeye win, a lifetime subscription to Netflix?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 13, 2012, 11:47:44 AM
I have seen exactly 6% of this list and I think it is going to stay that way for quite a while...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on July 13, 2012, 12:15:36 PM
I've seen 8 of those movies. ::unknowncomic::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on July 13, 2012, 06:27:58 PM
I've seen 8 of those movies. ::unknowncomic::

Me? not even that many. And I'm hard-pressed to want to seek out any of the others - even for free.
Just jaded I suppose...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 14, 2012, 02:30:57 PM
I've seen three of those. "Fly Away Home", "The Iron Giant", and "Moon". All were pretty decent for completely different reasons.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 28, 2012, 11:02:00 PM
Hey, who's up for a pretentious big budget quasi sci-fi film? (http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/07/26/the-6-minute-cloud-atlas-trailer-premieres/)

Quote
Adapted from the best-selling book of the same name by British author David Mitchell, “Cloud Atlas” is told through the interwoven lives of six characters throughout six time periods, from Belgium in the 1930s to present day London to a futuristic and dystopian Korea and beyond. If it sounds complicated, it is. We read the 528-page book and found ourselves a bit confused at times.

Each of the six storylines are represented in the trailer, including Tom Hanks (in what seems to be an orange-blond wig), Ben Whishaw as a young British composer and Korean actress Doona Bae as a futuristic waitress named Sonmi-451.

Big name ensemble cast? Check

Three directors because one isn't enough for some reason? Check.

Ridiculous budget of somewhere north of $100,000,000? Check.

This could be a huge hit but I'm betting that it will probably be the high brow version of recent mega flop "John Carter."

Here is the long ass trailer...

Cloud Atlas Extended Trailer #1 (2012) - Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Wachowski Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnAqFyaQ5s#ws)

The movie is adapted from a best selling novel (that I had never heard of). The author sums it up (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Atlas_(novel)) thusly:

Quote
"All of the [leading] characters are reincarnations of the same soul ... identified by a birthmark. ... The "cloud" refers to the ever-changing manifestations of the "atlas", which is the fixed human nature. ... The book's theme is predacity ... individuals prey on individuals, groups on groups, nations on nations."

It's really hard to pull off the deep thinking pointy headed intellectual stuff on the big screen. Usually it comes off as either boring or confusing. This one looks like it's going for the confusing route.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 28, 2012, 11:36:43 PM
I occasionally see these things in the collage that is put up at the end of a youtube video. I've seen a few but before today I hadn't bothered to look up the actual website. (http://www.howitshouldhaveended.com/) There are over a hundred of these little animated satire pieces at the site. Here is a sample of "How The Return Of The Jedi Should Have Ended."

How It Should Have Ended: How Return Of The Jedi Should Have Ended (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7wvINQAmx0#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on July 28, 2012, 11:51:49 PM
Quote
It's really hard to pull off the deep thinking pointy headed intellectual stuff on the big screen. Usually it comes off as either boring or confusing. This one looks like it's going for the confusing route.

That's because we're not sophisticated enough of thinkers (imagine my nose in the air as I sniff that one out). Expect to see it in the discount bin at wallyworld by xmas...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 29, 2012, 12:19:26 AM
Expect to see it in the discount bin at wallyworld by xmas...

It would have to be quite the stinker for that to happen. It comes out at the end of October. So maybe by spring break.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 31, 2012, 04:15:22 PM
So it turns out Ender's Game is in production. The idiot director Gavin Hood who did the Wolverine Origin movie is in charge.  From Wikipedia  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender's_Game_(film)) and apparently took the liberty of heavily modifying the screenplay.  Even better, "the film will be released on November 1, 2013, by Summit Entertainment through Lionsgate." Yeah, thats right, the same Summit Entertainment that brought you the  Twilight films.

Quote
In May 2012, Orson Scott Card visited the set of the film and recorded a voice-only cameo as a pilot making an announcement to his passengers. Card praised the understated acting of Ford and Butterfield, whom he saw filming a scene written by Gavin Hood. Card stated that "very few" of the film's scenes had appeared in the novel, but that he was comfortable with the liberties being taken with the source material. "My book was already alive in the mind of every reader. This is writer-director Gavin Hood's movie, so they were his words, and it was his scene."[/url]

However, the Casting seems to be well done. However, its probably going to be a well acted let down.  Why  can't directors submerge their egos and do what they are supposed to do - make films.  No, its got to be their F'ing story too. Know what a real filmmaker can do? He can take something like Lord of the Rings and bring it to the screen with minor changes that (IMO) make it better.  Hood? I think he will just rip you off. Hence the name.  It could turn out fine. A story can sometimes be told better by a second person, and movies obviously require a different type of story telling.  I just don't hold high hopes that anyone in Hollywood has the ability to tell a conservative story without F'ing it up. 

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on August 03, 2012, 02:47:58 PM
Just saw for the first time in years , "Tarzan's New York Adventure" , my all time favorite Tarzan Movie !  ::bows:: ::whoohoo:: ::bows::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on August 03, 2012, 03:06:39 PM

Mmmm, this is delicious, what is it?

Food, eat.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 03, 2012, 05:03:55 PM
Just saw for the first time in years , "Tarzan's New York Adventure" , my all time favorite Tarzan Movie !  ::bows:: ::whoohoo:: ::bows::

Maureen O was a pretty hot Jane too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on August 04, 2012, 04:12:06 AM
Tarzan bought his hunting knives from Abercrombie & Ungawa .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on August 04, 2012, 07:36:14 AM
There was only one real Tarzan.

Johnny Weissmuller.
All the rest were poor imitations.
As an aside, when I came home from work late last night(early this morning), TCM was running some  Jungle Jim movies
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on August 04, 2012, 02:24:19 PM
I enjoyed those as a kid too .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 04, 2012, 09:26:05 PM
I agree about Weissmuller.

But I liked George of the Jungle, too. The original animated version...it was a hoot.

"Awk, awk, eek, eek, tookie, tookie."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 05, 2012, 04:35:39 AM
Cockneys vs. Zombies Redband Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3p-giK1MU#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on August 05, 2012, 04:36:42 AM
His gorilla talked like Ronald Coleman .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 05, 2012, 09:07:47 AM
TheNew Red Dawn will suck

 (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/north-korea-invades-america/)
Quote
But don’t expect it to linger very long. Where the 1984 original successfully played upon widespread public fears over a supposedly rising and belligerent Soviet Union, the remake expects viewers to take North Korea seriously as an existential threat. We’re guessing the flick is going to get a lot of unintended laughs.

You see, the actual North Korea is a country of 24 million people with a GDP roughly equal to North Dakota’s. It’s an impoverished, even starving, prison state that lacks modern weaponry and any ability to deploy forces globally. If preview clips posted this weekend are any indication, the movie magically gifts North Korea with a huge fleet of long-range transport planes … because it has to. Of course, how these planes get past the U.S. military’s 3,000 jet fighters is anyone’s guess.

Obama called them up and promised he  would make sure Air defense was compromised.

Quote
The new Red Dawn has been sitting on the shelf for a couple years owing to financing troubles and at least one major revamp by screenwriters Carl Elsworth and Jeremy Passmore. As originally written, the relaunched Red Dawn was only slightly less silly. The bad guys were Chinese. And while China has no discernible intention of invading anyone, much less the U.S., Beijing at least commands a $7.3-trillion economy and an increasingly modern, two-million-man army. But it’s bad business to portray one of the world’s fastest growing film markets as brutal world conquerors, so the producers swapped in North Korea, a country no one counts on for ticket sales.

Because China would never invade anyone. Certainly not Tibet or Taiwan.

The Narrative is everywhere.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 05, 2012, 11:27:13 AM
Cockneys vs Zombies.  Awesome.   ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on August 05, 2012, 04:11:42 PM
 ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 05, 2012, 04:19:28 PM
The old guy with the walker is hilarious.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 05, 2012, 04:33:17 PM
Cockneys vs. Zombies Redband Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3p-giK1MU#ws)


 ::hysterical:: ::hysterical:: ::hysterical::

Looks like Zombieland with an edge.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 05, 2012, 06:58:39 PM
  OH crap,Falling skys is on tonight.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 05, 2012, 07:20:11 PM
  OH crap,Falling skys is on tonight.

Is that a bad thing?   ::saywhat::   ::pokeineye::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 05, 2012, 10:09:30 PM
  OH crap,Falling skys is on tonight.

Is that a bad thing?   ::saywhat::   ::pokeineye::

Not to me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 05, 2012, 10:32:03 PM
  OH crap,Falling skys is on tonight.

Is that a bad thing?   ::saywhat::   ::pokeineye::

 No I don't ever miss it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on August 05, 2012, 10:44:01 PM
I watch 2 hours of TV a week.
Falling Skies is one of them

(The other is a cultural experience-Call of the Wildman.)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 06, 2012, 06:36:44 AM
After last nights episode it looks as though things are about to pick up.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 09, 2012, 06:43:53 AM
Daniel Day-Lewis transforms into Abraham Lincoln  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2185658/Daniel-Day-Lewis-transforms-Abraham-Lincoln-official-picture-Spielbergs-biopic.html)

Looks interesting but being based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book makes me a little skittish...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on August 09, 2012, 12:30:46 PM
Now , if he can get the high twangy voice right , he'll be okay .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 14, 2012, 12:03:22 AM
This evening I was looking for something for my (nearly teenage) daughter to watch with me and I settled on "Batman Returns" which is the Tim Burton directed sequel to Burton's "Batman."

I had completely forgotten how much I didn't like this movie.

It really sucks.

I have seen the original "Batman" movie several times. I liked it the first time I saw it and I still like it. I guess it's the Joker portrayal by Jack Nicholson. I liked Heath Ledger's portrayal much better but I still enjoy watching Nicholson do the role.

But "Batman Returns" is repugnant beyond any reasonable level of expectation. It embodies everything that I detest about just about any Burton film you care to name (except "Batman" and a few others noted below). The surreal atmosphere of Gotham from "Batman" is stepped up to the point of the cartoonishly grotesque...instead of Gotham being dark it is filthy and begs the question, "Why would anyone want to live there?"

In the sequel Michael Keaton (who always seemed like an odd choice for the role) seems to be thoroughly emasculated, a shadow of his former self in either the Bruce Wayne or Batman persona. The villians are equally disappointing with Christopher Walken playing an evil and greedy industrialist (is there any other kind in leftist Hollywood?) and Danny Devito trying way, way too hard to be a better bad guy than Nicholson and failing miserably. As with the rest of the sets and backdrops, both of the antagonists come off looking more filthy than anything else. This film just oozes dirtiness and you feel dirty after having watched it. And of course, there is Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman to round things out. She was cast to look sexy and desirable as Bruce Wayne/Batman's quasi enemy and romantic interest which is stupidly schizophrenic.

Let me expound upon the whole Catwoman thing. First of all I know that this character is somewhat, if not completely, true to the original comic book concept. That is, a love/hate kinda anti-villian romantic interest for Batman. I find that concept stupid on its face. Comic book heroes and villians are traditionally, if nothing else, very one dimensional. The good guys are good and the bad guys are bad. Catwoman should have been captured or killed on sight by Batman right out of the gate. Batman is extremely unsympathetic to criminals of any kind and the notion that he would cut any slack to one just because she happens to be female and good looking is ridiculous. Batman is pathalogically driven to fight criminals. Period. So that whole thing never made sense to me at all and still doesn't.

Anyway, in this movie Catwoman looks severely slutty instead of sexy. The scene where she is briefly on top of Batman and it looks like she is going to kiss him and instead licks him from chin to nostril is so creepy and disgusting that it nearly defies description. It is not even vaguely romantic. It's sleazy. I see it and I think she needs to be shot with a tranquilizer gun and kept in a cage. And then maybe put to sleep. The character and almost every scene she is in garners no sympathy or empathy or respect. Instead I feel disgust and I am disgusted with Bruce Wayne/Batman for being attracted to her.

The story of the movie is thin and doesn't hold my attention. Or if it does at all it is in the form of wishing that it would end so that my misery can end with it. Unfortunately, my daughter is caught up in it (because, hey, shiny object) so I can't just turn this drivel off after I remember why I hated it the first time I saw it. Instead of a quality story with good characters I get nothing but wretched Tim Burton themed scenery which is horrid beyond belief.

One of the things that I can't understand is how Tim Burton continues to get good projects to visit his one-trick talent on. Don't get me wrong...I don't hate everything that Burton has ever done. In addition to the aforementioned "Batman" I very much like "Beetlejuice" which also stars Michael Keeton and makes excellent use of Geena Davis and the usually insufferable Alec Baldwin. I also enjoyed Burton's tribute to Ed Wood who must have been an artistic soulmate of sorts even though Wood never made anything but horrid crap. His animated films have been okay...not great but okay. Just about everything else that Burton has touched has been pure garbage and "Batman Returns" is sort of a gleaming (or perhaps steaming) example of how awful he can be.

It's like he got the huge movie budget to work with (because you know he did) and decided to see how little quality stuff he could get for the most money. The end result is a cheapo looking production that seems designed to insult and offend the audience with its very atrociousness. About the only thing missing was Johnny Depp and I'm sure it wasn't for lack of trying on Burton's part...he was probably busy or wasn't convinced that it would be horrible enough to warrant his presence.

The sheer awfulness of this movie is enormous. It's a black hole of art and talent that should have sucked the careers of anyone and everyone involved into movie making oblivion. Somehow, it didn't and that is a tragedy. There should be a price to be paid for shoveling less than well crafted garbage like this on an unsuspecting public. If there was any justice in this world (but there isn't much, witness President Obama and Vice President Biden) all of those involved would be sentenced to a life sentence in New Jersey dinner theater.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 14, 2012, 12:29:51 AM
And while I'm bitching about Batman movies let me get one more thing off my chest that is also more that a little irritating.

Why do the people that produce these things (i.e., comic book hero movies) feel compelled to supply them with more than one villain?

This isn't just a Batman phenomenon. You see it all over the place. In the above mentioned abortion, Batman had three separate villains to deal with. Most of the time the hero has two bad guys to face. Why? Is it because the good guy is so incredibly mighty and stuff that one just isn't a fair fight? I mean, if that's the case then why not just make the bad guy several orders of magnitude more evil, more strong, more ingeniously smart, etc.?

About the closest we have come to experiencing this is "The Dark Knight" where Heath Ledger was almost the only villain until the very end of the movie where Two Face put in an appearance that was almost gratuitous in its brevity. I didn't understand the point of throwing that villain into the movie at all...it was like a script afterthought...an almost useless inclusion that served as more of a distraction than a character. I guess the first Spiderman movie had the Green Goblin as the sole villain so there's another one.

But most of the time it's like a bad guy buddy movie. You get introduced to one bad guy and then before you know it there's another one who inexplicably teams up with the first one like some kind of a perverse extra from Villains Local #35 (Hey, we gotta union!).

You just don't see this in other movie genres. At least not as an almost rule like we see in comic book superhero type movies. Can you imagine, for instance, John McClane facing down Hans Gruber in the Nakatomi Tower and all of a sudden some other bad guy shows up to work with Hans as his unexpected bad guy buddy? No? Me neither. But in superhero movies it happens all the time.

It's stupid and we deserve a bad guy who is bad enough to challenge the hero all by his or her self without the need of a super evil buddy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 14, 2012, 01:50:30 AM
....About the closest we have come to experiencing this is "The Dark Knight" where Heath Ledger was almost the only villain until the very end of the movie where Two Face put in an appearance that was almost gratuitous in its brevity. I didn't understand the point of throwing that villain into the movie at all...it was like a script afterthought...an almost useless inclusion that served as more of a distraction than a character....

I actually found the Harvey Dent/Two-Face character's inclusion quite brilliant at the time - and even more so after seeing the 3rd film. Like you, I was pleased by the brevity of the Two-Face character's presence. But the way I saw it, Dent's transformation into Two-Face was only there to serve and move the storyline, not to offer another villain to dilute the plot. The character for the sake of the film was Dent. His transformation at the end was critical to the trilogy plot - tying films together, and giving justifications for what was to come.

I saw the Harvey Dent/Two-Face character as the perfect way to include another lesser-known Batman villain while setting up the story for the 3rd movie. Without Dent's transformation from squeaky-clean justice-seeker into the vengeful, insane, and disillusioned Two-Face, and the subsequent actions of Wayne taking the blame for his death in order to protect Dent's legacy and the justice it wrought, the entire plot for the 3rd movie would've needed a completely different justification.

But in principle, I agree with your point 100%. The latter Batman movies (with George Clooney and sadly, Val Kilmer - everything after the first Michael Keaton one for that matter) were pathetic, and the multi-villain platform was jumping multi-sharks in every one of them.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 14, 2012, 02:03:56 AM
To clarify, I thoroughly enjoyed the reboot of Batman (haven't seen the third one yet...I'm hoping to see it with my son who should be home from Kandahar for a couple of weeks any day now). I agree about the use of Dent/Two Face and how it was necessary...it just seemed kind of tacked on rather than fully fleshed out as a villain in that film. It in no way compares to the "buddy" villain concept that I was complaining about in other super hero films.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 14, 2012, 02:10:10 AM
To clarify, I thoroughly enjoyed the reboot of Batman (haven't seen the third one yet...I'm hoping to see it with my son who should be home from Kandahar for a couple of weeks any day now). I agree about the use of Dent/Two Face and how it was necessary...it just seemed kind of tacked on rather than fully fleshed out as a villain in that film. It in no way compares to the "buddy" villain concept that I was complaining about in other super hero films.

Ah, I hope I didn't spoil anything. Suffice it to say that when you see DKR, you will understand why Dent/Two-Face in TDK was absolutely critical to the setup for #3. I would even recommend watching TDK beforehand if it is not fresh in your mind. The plight of Gotham and the rise of Bane depends entirely on what Batman/Wayne and Gordon did in response to Dent's transformation and death.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 21, 2012, 10:41:05 PM
Cross-posting my review (opinion, really) of "The Dark Knight Rises" here. (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,6438.msg74583.html#msg74583)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 27, 2012, 07:29:53 AM
Let Me In (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228987/)

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNDQ4MjQ4OTMwMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTYzNDc4Mw@@._V1._SY317_.jpg)

Caught this one on "Starz", and really liked it a lot. Apparently it's a remake of a Swedish film that received critical acclaim.

Owen (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee - child Spock in JJ Abram's Star Trek reboot) is a timid, bullied, 12 year old boy whose parents are recently divorced, and whose mother drinks. You're immediately in the position of feeling extreme sympathy for the plight of this kid. His spirit is broken, and McPhee pulls it off well.

Owen meets 12 year old "Abby" (played by Chloe Grace Moretz) outside his apartment building. She also appears to be a rejected child; shoeless in the cold, eyes downcast. They strike up a friendship. We watch as each child is nurtured by the friendship of the other. Abby gives Owen strength and confidence, and Owen gives Abby comfort and companionship.

As the story progresses, we learn that Abby is more than she appears to be (clue in the title). As revelations about Abby unfold, viewers learn everything just before Owen does. All the while, we watch what appears to be the sweet innocence of prepubescent romance with all its tentative charm unfold between the two.

Is it the most poignant look at preteen romance ever made? Or is it a story of pure predation? The film is so expertly made that the question lingers even now.

On a side note, I think we'll be hearing a lot more from Chloe Moretz. She was an absolute acting powerhouse in this film, and she was only 12 when it was made. In my opinion her performance in "Let Me In" was Oscar-worthy as lead actress.

She's 15 now. Photos have been released of her covered in blood for the "Stephen King's Carrie" reboot. Alas, another reboot.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 27, 2012, 10:18:02 AM
I know that I've mentioned it before but I'll say it again...I am absolutely stuck in a certain vampire movie type and it has to do with a childhood experience I had hearing one of those late night stories told around a campfire. This is where the vampires are all evil all of the time, they multiply exponentially, they have to be destroyed via wooden stake, etc.

The closest movie (and book) that I have seen re-create that experience was Stephen King's "Salem's Lot." Quentin Tarantino's "From Dusk Til Dawn" also more or less follows those rules. The Bram Stoker story also follows those rules although it seems to take a while for a bitten person to transform into a vampire. There were several old school movies, those with Christopher Lee usually, that tended to follow those rules although they were always cheesy Hammer productions.

All other versions of the vampire myth (romantic and benevolent vampires being the worst) just don't do it for me. As I have said earlier, I like the bad guys to be bad/evil who must be defeated/killed/destroyed. Post modern notions of sympathetic bad guys (with few exceptions) just annoy me to no end.

I don't seem to care much about zombie conventions, though. Fast moving or slow moving zombies have made equally entertaining films. Of course that is because no one (outside of comedies) wants to get romantic with a zombie...they are pretty much all evil. I guess it's that whole "uncontrollable urge to eat your face" that probably steers young impressionable girls away from getting cuddly with zombies. That said, I am certain that Stephenie Meyer will find a way to make it happen sometime soon now that she has thoroughly trashed the vampire genre and is probably wondering what to screw up next.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 27, 2012, 01:06:50 PM
I'm not much of a Tarantino fan....But I did like The Dusk to Dawn movies. There was one other...Girl loses her leg and she sticks a shotgun on the stub...rides a bike.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 27, 2012, 01:25:57 PM
Found this trailer... It's not sparkly vampires...

Let Me In - Official Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h39ikMdei4#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 27, 2012, 01:30:29 PM
...another cool thing about this movie... for no apparent reason, it is set in the 80's. No 80's shtick. Just a feel. Reagan on the TV in the background... puffy down jackets... hair & clothing styles... cars...

Just a cool touch.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 27, 2012, 03:50:35 PM
I'm not much of a Tarantino fan....But I did like The Dusk to Dawn movies. There was one other...Girl loses her leg and she sticks a shotgun on the stub...rides a bike.

Grindhouse
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 27, 2012, 04:36:49 PM
I'm not much of a Tarantino fan....But I did like The Dusk to Dawn movies. There was one other...Girl loses her leg and she sticks a shotgun on the stub...rides a bike.

Grindhouse

yeah....LOL. I'm gonna need to watch it again.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 27, 2012, 09:25:18 PM
"From Dusk Til Dawn" was on IFC this evening. Caught a few moments of it, but "Stars Earn Stripes" started at 8, so we flipped to that.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 03, 2012, 12:24:14 AM
Watching "Iron Man" and it just occurred to me that it is one of those very rare films which has arab terrorists as bad guys. The best scenes involve Tony Stark beating the crap out of the islamofascists and there are two of them. One where he builds the original suit and uses it to effect his escape and the second one where he returns to the same locale and uses the new and improved suit to destroy a whole pack of militant (is there any other kind?) muslims.

Really, the movie just isn't quite as good after that where the villain shifts to Jeff Bridges. It's good but it could have been stellar with Iron Man wiping out a few more sharia warriors.

So...

...there are other movies besides "True Lies" that feature contemporary arab bad guys. Are there others I'm forgetting?

Bonus:

(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2420/supermanbatmanspiderman.jpg)

Kills muslims and is damn proud of it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on September 03, 2012, 07:39:08 AM
I remember the old Aladdin cartoon has muslims as bad guys. There was also a pre 911 flick I believe called Executive Decision where Muslims attack NYC. I remember it because I had a large distaste for towelheads even then.

I'm sure there are more.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 14, 2012, 09:57:15 AM
http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/)

I wonder if when Mary Todd Lincoln walks into Ford’s theater to the sound of applause, she’ll say, “You like me, you really like me.”
Comment by Norma Rae

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 23, 2012, 11:43:46 PM
Okay, well, "The Cabin In The Woods" came out on DVD/pay-per-view this week. I had purposefully avoided reading any of the detailed reviews with spoilers so that I could experience it first hand.

It was pretty good. I am not a huge fan of the horror movie genre but I do have more than a passing acquaintance with it and I was able to recognize more than a few of the movie references.

The humor was all over the place from inside baseball type jokes for the horror movie fans to office stuff...my favorite was the "Am I on speakerphone?" joke.

It really was true, too, about the character archetypes (the athlete, the whore, the scholar, the fool and the virgin)...they can be found in just about every movie of the genre. Heck, even Scooby Doo had them. I won't reveal anything else about the movie in case you haven't seen it.

Anyway, I was glad that I didn't ruin it for myself by peaking before I saw the film. It wasn't great but it was good. Well worth renting.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 24, 2012, 12:08:59 AM
I also saw "Snow White & The Huntsman" this weekend on pay-per-view. This was a movie that my twelve-year-old daughter wanted to see. We had (against my better judgement) already seen the atrocious "Mirror, Mirror" earlier, a movie that I will not review and can scarcely stomach admitting having seen. The huntsman movie was vastly superior, in my opinion.

First of all, it is a serious story...no real jokes at all. Suspense, adventure and drama but no jokes. The evil queen is pretty darned evil. Secondly, the Snow White character is more heroic than heroine...sort of like the Alice character in its most recent Tim Burton incarnation. Yes, Snow White is actually wearing knight's armor and swinging a sword by film's end. And the whole Prince Charming thing is turned on its head, as well.

Anyway, the writers obviously take quite a bit of liberty with the story that most of us are familiar with but they manage to do it in a way that is not obnoxious.

The acting revolves around three main characters. Snow White is played by the dreary girl who is love struck by octogenarian vampires in the Twilight franchise. In this movie she is put to much better purpose and unlike her character in Twilight I wasn't actively rooting for her to die a hideous death. The evil queen is played by Charlize Theron and she does it for all it's worth...completely over-the-top full on evil. A bad character that you can really appreciate for sheer badness. The huntsman is played by Thor and he does a passable job, as well.

There are also dwarves. mrs. trapeze tells me that every last one of them were full sized actors (I'll take her word for it since I care almost nothing about such things..I would just as soon set most Hollywood actors on fire as look at them) so they must have employed that same technique that was used to make the hobbits short in "The Lord of the Rings" movies. They were the closest thing to comic relief in the movie. But the humor, such as it was, came from the fact that you really didn't want to face down dwarves because they were a vicious pack of midgets who would rather kill you in as violent a fashion as possible and then sort of make small talk about it afterwords.

Unlike most movies you really can't spoil this one...everyone knows how it turns out...the queen is killed...Snow White gets poisoned by an apple and then revived by a kiss...and so on and so on. The ending of this movie, though, is somewhat ambiguous. You aren't really sure what happens after the grand finale which is sort of reminiscent of the finale of "Star Wars" episode 4 where there is a big celebration in a throne room kind of ceremony. And the stupid, "what do you think happens next?" ending was really the only part that left me annoyed.

But overall it was a good movie. I wouldn't say to run out and rent it necessarily but I would probably watch it if it came out on a free channel next year.

But compared to the godawful "Mirror, Mirror" it was like Academy Award material.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 24, 2012, 12:50:16 AM
Finally, I saw the original "The Flight of the Phoenix" movie this weekend. This was the 1965 film with Jimmy Stewart and several other well known actors whose names I won't bother to list because I'm lazy and don't feel like looking them up to get the spelling correct (two of them are George Kennedy and Ernest Borgnine).

I like this movie on a couple of levels.

First, this was from the era when actors didn't actively hate America, Republicans and conservatives. They mostly hated communists and heck, some of them even ratted them out when given half a chance. That's good because then I can enjoy the movie without despising the people in it.

Then there is the sheer ridiculousness of the story and how the producers really make you buy into the premise: That a bunch of lunkheads who crash land in the middle of a north African desert tear apart their plane and build a new one to effect their escape from certain death. It's totally nuts and yet you find yourself wondering how on earth they are going to pull it off.

One of the things that I didn't know was the fact that a stunt/test pilot bought the farm while it was being filmed. They had his name prominently featured at the end so I looked it up. Here is the quote from wikipedia:

Quote
A famous racing/stunt/movie pilot and collector of warplanes, Paul Mantz was flying the Tallmantz Phoenix P-1, the machine that was "made of the wreckage", in front of the cameras on the morning of July 8, 1965. He was performing touch-and-go landings, and on one touchdown the fuselage buckled. The movie model broke apart and cartwheeled, killing Mantz and seriously injuring stuntman Bobby Rose on board.[3]
Although principal photography was completed on August 13, 1965, in order to complete filming, a North American O-47A (N4725V) from the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Claremont, California was modified and used as a flying Phoenix stand-in. With the canopy removed, a set of skids attached to the main landing gear as well as ventral fin added to the tail, it sufficed as more-or-less a visual lookalike. Filming using the O-47A was completed in October/November 1965. It appears in the last flying scenes, painted to look like the earlier Phoenix P-1.
The final production utilized a mix of footage that included the O-47A, the "cobbled-together" Phoenix and Phoenix P-1.
The final credit on the screen was, "It should be remembered that Paul Mantz ... a fine man, and a brilliant flyer, gave his life in the making of this film ..."

They don't make movies like that anymore. Not with CGI to do all of the heavy lifting.

This film reminds me of "12 Angry Men" set in the desert except the men aren't just all pissed off at each other but are pretty much doomed to die, too. Plus, Henry Fonda isn't there making an ass out of himself. (http://www.cracked.com/article_18815_the-5-most-wildly-illegal-court-rulings-in-movie-history_p2.html) BTW...for further exposition on how ridiculous "12 Angry Men" is you can read this article, (http://www.avclub.com/articles/did-12-angry-men-get-it-wrong,83245/) too. It should rank right up there with another famous and equally ridiculous legal drama, "A Few Good Men," which is more Aaron Sorkin liberal evil US military fantasy crapola. I can't stand Aaron Sorkin but that's another posting all by itself.

"The Flight of the Phoenix" is just good old fashioned drama/adventure made by people who knew how to do it. I especially like the way the film opens with the plane already in trouble, the credits splashing across the screen as the characters are freaking out. There was a sort of updated version of this theme (no, not the remake) that came out a while back with Liam Neeson and wolves in the Yukon wilderness. It didn't end very well for the characters and wasn't as good a story, I thought, as this one.

Worth watching when you see it on free television.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on September 24, 2012, 10:36:22 AM
Tonight I get to watch an oldie but a goodie titled Ten Little Indians that was really the basis for a lot of movies where a group of people get lured into a secluded home and one by on come up dead. Haven't seen in in over 20 years but I remember it being a puzzler to the end.

  I don't remember the ending which is a good thing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on September 24, 2012, 11:40:51 AM
Wasn't that on last night on TCM?
Or did you dvr it?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on September 24, 2012, 02:31:56 PM
Wasn't that on last night on TCM?
Or did you dvr it?

 I had to DVR it because of the time it came on,too late for my old butt.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on September 24, 2012, 02:44:53 PM
Only mentioned in case your "tired old butt" was a confused one.
I should have known better
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on September 24, 2012, 03:19:23 PM
Only mentioned in case your "tired old butt" was a confused one.
I should have known better

 As they say down here,might could be.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on October 06, 2012, 11:45:22 PM
So I watched the "Dark Shadows" movie on pay-per-view tonight.

It was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a farce, a comedy...as the trailers led me to believe it was. It was, bizarrely, played mostly straight.

I say bizarrely because, well, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Those two are not exactly known for drama. Unless you count "Ed Wood," which, as drama, sucked.

It has some parts that could be considered comedy. These are mostly centered around the fish-out-of-water moments experienced by the 1750's Barnabas Collins waking up in 1972. But most of these are not funny at all and those that are...are merely (and vaguely) amusing. There are no laugh out loud jokes or bits. None.

The music is mostly good...pop and rock from the early seventies. A couple of missteps where the music is from 1973 instead of '72. Alice Cooper does a cameo with a performance at a social ball at the Collinwood manor and he is, as usual, quite good.

And there are killings. Quite a few, actually, with lots of blood. But not in a way that would qualify this as a true horror movie. It isn't.

There is a sort of a weird romance thing between Barnabas and the governess, Victoria. But it's more weird than romantic.

In short, and I do not want to really do much more than a brief review, this movie is a wretched mixed up mess. It does not know what it is or where it's going. It's a nuisance to watch...mostly boring. It has no soul.

I did not like it. At all.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 21, 2012, 12:53:51 AM
I had recorded "Goon" on DVR a few days ago and watched it this evening. There aren't a lot of movies about hockey. Lots and lots of movies about football and baseball. More than a few about basketball. But not a whole lot of movies about hockey.

That said, one of my favorite movies and one of the best movies about hockey is "Slapshot." If you haven't seen it you should. Like all good sports movies you don't have to actually like hockey to enjoy "Slapshot" because it's about more than hockey. Plus, it's extremely funny...

Slap Shot, Hanson Bros. Debut (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJkHm2WtSsk#)

I spent a healthy amount of my youth in Canada and "Slapshot" is nostalgic in so many ways. I remember when nobody wore helmets. Nobody. The goalies had the face masks that the "Jason" character from "Friday The 13th" wore but no helmets. Heck, there was a goalie for the Minnesota North Stars (before they went to Dallas) that didn't wear a face mask at all. And then there were the fights. The NHL fights of those days (early 1970's) were epic. Bench clearing brawls could be expected several times a season and there would be one or two fights per game some times. So that's one of the reasons that I enjoyed "Slapshot" so much...it was goofy, funny and yet, pretty realistic about the way that hockey was before the NHL cracked down on fighting and everyone started wearing helmets..

"Goon" is like that, too. It's funny, has a better story than "Slapshot" actually, and is (I suppose) similarly realistic in its portrayal of minor league hockey. The film's namesake is a bar bouncer, a nice (and kind of Forrest Gumpish) guy who is gifted in brawling. I mean really, really gifted. When a minor league hockey player climbs into the stands to attack his friend, Doug beats him senseless which earns him a tryout for the home town team. Doug then moves up to the next level of minor league play in Halifax where he meets and falls in love with a hockey groupie, a self described slut. So there's this oddball romance thing where Doug loves her but she has to come to terms with him. By the end of the film they are a couple and he has inspired his team to overcome their mediocre play and get into the playoffs.

There is a lot (no, really..a LOT) of profanity in this movie so if this bothers you then you should probably not see it. It is based on the real life story (http://www.amazon.com/Goon-Unlikely-Journey-League-Hockey/dp/1591293022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353479496&sr=8-1&keywords=Goon%3A+The+True+Story+of+an+Unlikely+Journey+into+Minor+League+Hockey) of Doug Smith who had never skated a day in his life before the age of 19 and somehow managed to get a championship ring in the #2 hockey league.

Anyway, I was surprised that I liked this film as much as I did. Not surprised that I liked a film about hockey but that, with as few hockey films as there are, this one was very good. It was filled with characters that were completely likable...people that you could sympathize and empathize with...that's always a big plus for me. I hate it when I find myself actively rooting for a character's demise (usually in some gruesome way) because either through bad writing, bad acting or both (see my postings on "Twilight") I just want them dead. Horribly dead. Mangled in a blender dead. And this movie wasn't like that at all so, yippee.

Goon Red Band Trailer Official 2012 [HD] - Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Wxar9b9F4#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on November 21, 2012, 07:14:07 AM
I liked Slapshot a lot, not the off-ice parts as much (although the Hanson brothers playing with toys and the bus mooning was good), so I'll have to check this out.

The goalie you are thinking of is "The Gump", Gump Worsley.  He played without a mask.  We had Cesare Maniago back then too, and I remember my father taking me to the old Met for games and hoping I saw The Gump in net.
 ;D

Wiki has this entry -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gump_Worsley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gump_Worsley)

And I will never forget this quote, one of the better ones I've ever heard, from when The Gump was with the NY Rangers - Asked what team gives him the most trouble his reply was "The NY Rangers"!
 ::hysterical::

ETA - The fun really kicks in closer to the 4 minute mark as the Bruin guy goes past the MN bench...


Boston Bruins vs Minnesota North Stars - Bench Brawl - Literally on the bench (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf4MhVEquVE#)

Ahh, the good 'ol days...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 21, 2012, 10:59:47 PM
This is one of my favorites which I actually saw on tv when it happened. Ah, hockey night in Canada...good times, good times.

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins bench clearing brawl 1970 November 8th (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBkvn4SsR5A#)

I got to meet one of the great brawlers and greatest ever players, Gordie Howe, not too long after this happened. Got his autograph, of course. Still have it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 22, 2012, 01:22:53 AM
And now a salute to one of the most over-rated (or frequently miscast) actors of our lifetime: Kevin Costner.

Costner has a unique acting style. It's basically this...he plays himself in just about every role that he gets. He has the shallowest range of any mega-salary actor that I can think of. Perhaps the most extreme example of CostnerStyle is the 1991 "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" which has Costner playing a more talkative and cheekier version of his "Dances With Wolves" character except that it's in medieval England. Yep, the voice, the mannerisms and just about everything but the script and the setting are the same. Inexplicably, someone or several someones who must include both the producer and director allow Costner to trudge through this role without an English accent. Costner instead sounds exactly like what he is in real life, a native Californian. The movie would have been more accurately titled, "Robin Hood: Prince of Surfer Dudes." They may as well have cast Eddie Murphy for the lead. It would have made as much sense. Maybe more. Also inexplicably, this movie made a lot of money. Go figure.

Here's the thing...Costner isn't (always) a bad actor but he is cast for a lot of roles (maybe 90%+) that he is ill-suited for. When he is cast correctly it usually comes off very well. For instance, "Field of Dreams" is more or less about a couple of grown up hippies who somehow end up owning a farm and, due to consuming way too much acid in the sixties they end up seeing invisible depression era baseball players. They must have removed the scenes where the hippie couple dump several hundred gallons of LSD into the drinking water of the nearby city so that thousands of other people are forced to share their drug addled hallucination but, hey, editing. Costner is extremely believable in this role and it is one of his best films.

Going the other way, though, Costner is patently ridiculous as the world's savior in both "Waterworld" and "The Postman." In both roles he is essentially wooden and uninspired. Both films are consistently in just about anyone's list of the worst movies ever made and for good reason. Someone must have told Costner that the secret to a "deep and intellectual" role is brooding. So he broods a lot in these movies. Plus he looks wistfully at the sunset. If that's not golden I don't know what is. Side note: "The Postman" is ridiculous on so many levels. Costner's character comes across a skeleton with a USPS uniform on and decides to strip it off of the bones and wear it. Sure. Maybe that uniform was made of some new non-rotting material but I'm guessing it wasn't. A lot more likely that some kids found a USPS uniform and thought it would be funny to dress up the skeleton. And then there is Tom Petty as the "mayor" of Bridge City. What on earth were they thinking? And they actually hint that Petty is playing himself 'cause you know that's what anyone would do...elect a rock star as your post apocalyptic town mayor. Sure. "The Postman" is bad. It's bad on dozens and dozens of levels. Waterworld is horrible, too, but "The Postman" just goes out of its way to insult your intelligence and be as offensive to rational thought as humanly possible. Total success there, though.

Actually, Costner seems to do pretty well in westerns. There was the aforementioned "Dances With Wolves," but there was also the very satisfying "Open Range" where he gets to do a lot of shooting of bad guys and ends up getting the girl in the end. And he was okay in Silverado.

Not that he is incapable of making a bad western. He had the title role in "Wyatt Earp" where he sucked hind tit. Plus, it was seriously overshadowed by the vastly superior Earp film, "Tombstone" where Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer were just plain outstanding.

One of my favorite Kevin Costner roles was where he played Alex in "The Big Chill." Probably his best work of all time. Incredible acting in that one. Should have got an Oscar. Oh, well.

Costner's first real big opportunity, though, was playing Elliot Ness in "The Untouchables" in which he was not merely bland but he was instead very bland. Put Costner in any film next to a real actor, in this case DeNiro and Connery, and he is immediately and automatically reduced to what he really is, a decent supporting actor. I never appreciate it when the people in charge of putting a film together allow the talent to be inexplicably mismatched (think Keaton/Nicholson in Burton's "Batman"). This is yet another one of those Costner film moments where you find yourself asking, "What were they thinking?" It would be one thing if the role had never been filled by anyone or if it had been previously filled by someone whose bland/boredom ranking was somehow greater than Costner's but as most of us know that just isn't the case here. When I think of Elliot Ness I'm thinking Robert Stack every single time, not Kevin Costner.  You know what role Costner could do where he would be way more interesting than the original lead? He would be a much better Joe Friday than Jack Webb ever was in "Dragnet." Of course, my dog could be a more interesting Joe Friday than Jack Webb, too.

Roles in which Costner's signature bland acting seems to work well: "JFK" (yet another film where no one seemed to care about Costner's non-attempt to get into a regional character...Louisianan's and residents of New Orleans most definitely have unique accents) and "The Bodyguard" were both films where he played rigid, methodical, boring guys who occasionally do something interesting. More recently he played a very boring and not even particularly scary serial killer in "Mr. Brooks."

Never afraid to stretch as an actor...a boring and one dimensional actor...Costner has even managed to inject himself into sappy chick flick fare such as "Dragonfly" and the thoroughly noxious "Message in a Bottle." As bad as these movies were when they were released they have at least been surpassed in obnoxiousness by the execrable "Twilight" movies. Not that that's a recommendation to see them...it isn't.

So there it is...my Costner rant. With very few exceptions I just can't stand the guy as an actor.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on November 22, 2012, 01:44:42 AM

Hey, he carried Cheech Marin and Don Johnson in "Tin Cup".
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on November 22, 2012, 03:59:48 AM

One of the things that I didn't know was the fact that a stunt/test pilot bought the farm while it was being filmed.


I saw it during it's first run in the theaters . Also LIFE magazine had a story about Mantz's death while working on the film with stills from the sequence with the plane breaking up . As a side note , Hardy Kruger , who plays the "engineer" over-seeing the construction of the plane was one of the many unfortunate Hitler Jugen forced ( at the age of about 15 ) into combat during the closing days of WWII . Luckily he was able to surrender to allied troops before anything bad happened to him .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on November 22, 2012, 05:09:25 AM
I thought Costner's best movie was No Way Out.  But then, it had Gene Hackman so take that for what it's worth. I hated the Clint Eastwood directed A Perfect World but I enjoyed Bull Durham
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on November 22, 2012, 08:43:04 AM
This is one of my favorites which I actually saw on tv when it happened. Ah, hockey night in Canada...good times, good times.

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins bench clearing brawl 1970 November 8th (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBkvn4SsR5A#)

I got to meet one of the great brawlers and greatest ever players, Gordie Howe, not too long after this happened. Got his autograph, of course. Still have it.

 I ran into him at the airport in winsor locks and I too have one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on November 22, 2012, 09:52:56 AM
Quote
Costner has a unique acting style. It's basically this...he plays himself in just about every role that he gets.

Why not? It worked so well for John Wayne. And it really did work well for Wayne. Maybe it was just that he got complimentary roles to play but I think it was more than that. He performed his roles with a casual warmth that was comfortable like a well-worn pair of shoes. Kostner is more like that pair of shoes you bought at Walmart that never fit right and gave you a blister.

I can't recall if there was a single JW movie where I bought into the suspension of disbelief - he was still JW all the way through - but with JW movies I didn't care. Probably because I admired the man. Probably because he was admirable.

You mentioned Postman and Waterworld - two of my favorite movies.....to loathe. I wanted to like each of them. Badly! I thought that the premises of each were really fertile for exploration. I thought they wussed out or went for the low-hanging fruit on both of them, and alienated me in the process. So Kostner was a perfect fit, considering my disappointment.

When it comes to Kostner I have to beckon back to a comment I overheard my gym teach in high school say,
 
"He isn't bad....he just isn't very good"

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on November 22, 2012, 10:09:19 AM
I think good Costner movies are good in spite of him, not because of him. Even though "Dances with Wolves" was an obvious White man-evil, Red man-good propaganda film, it was a beautifully made film, and the lack of Costner dialogue - reducing the vast majority of his speech to wooden first-person narration - was the saving grace of the film.

The only film I ever saw him act in that I would say he did an OK job as an actor was "Silverado", and his part was smaller, and well before he became the "sex symbol" Kevin Costner.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on November 22, 2012, 11:27:19 AM
Like Silverado a lot, wish they'd make more westerns instead of the3 usual metrosexual tripe and Mulligan's of past classics...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 22, 2012, 10:59:44 PM
Yeah, I agree that John Wayne did about the same thing but I do not recall him ever being cast as an Englishman. Using that criteria he was miscast as Davy Crockett in "The Alamo" because no way was he ever going to sound like he was born and raised in Tennessee.

That said, JW seemed to mostly have roles created for him and that worked out pretty well for the most part. You knew what you were getting. Most of those roles were in westerns and since he seemed to be sort of type cast as the heroic cowboy type character there was rarely a bad movie of that genre. Sure, some were not so great but most were acceptable and there were a few that were outstanding. "True Grit" was pretty good. And "The Searchers" was, for a western, really something different for JW...a dark and almost sinister character.

One of my favorite JW movies is not a western. That would be "The Quiet Man" where he was an American of Irish descent who returned to Ireland to discover his heritage. I suppose it's not a coincidence that, like "The Searchers" it was directed by John Ford.

Yet another John Ford western with JW that was both outstanding and showed a non-traditional JW would be "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Another one of my favorite JW films.

Most of the war movies were not as good. I never did care much for "The Green Berets" which seemed to have a confused and disjointed script...seemed more like a Pentagon propaganda film than a real feature. "In Harm's Way" was a much better film directed by Otto Preminger where JW also gets a decent script and outstanding co-stars to work with. "Sands of Iwo Jima" also presents a different sort of JW character, dark and mean...hard.

Finally, another western, "The Shootist" was much more dramatic than the standard JW cowboy fare. His last film, it echoed JW's own demise as the character struggles with the inevitability of fast approaching death from cancer. Not exactly a traditional western story and a fitting way for JW to end his career.

So, anyway...although I can see the point that JW mostly did play himself I personally wouldn't make the comparison. John Wayne was, in my opinion, a much better actor than Kevin Costner.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 22, 2012, 11:02:54 PM
Like Silverado a lot, wish they'd make more westerns instead of the3 usual metrosexual tripe and Mulligan's of past classics...

Western's seem to come and go in waves or cycles. We won't have any for a few years and then suddenly there are a handful that all hit the theaters within a short period of time.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on November 23, 2012, 08:49:33 AM

So, anyway...although I can see the point that JW mostly did play himself I personally wouldn't make the comparison. John Wayne was, in my opinion, a much better actor than Kevin Costner.



Back in 1988 or '89 Time Magazine ran a cover story on Costner describing him as "the new Gary Cooper" . I had to laugh at first ... And then I had to throw up .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on November 23, 2012, 01:24:14 PM
I can't take it anymore.  Im having nitemares. By decree, Uttering the words "Kevin Costner" in regards to anything artistic is now and will forever be considered hate speech.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 24, 2012, 10:47:34 PM
Okay, change subject.

I purchased a Roku (http://www.roku.com) box the other day and finally got around to installing it last night. Pretty damned incredible little device as some of you may already know but I am going to describe it for those who don't.

Roku is one of many different devices that allow you to stream video (and audio) content onto your television via a high speed internet connection. I will reserve full judgement for a week or two but I have a feeling that I may be cutting back on my satellite subscription in favor of this thing.

First of all the quality of the video is nothing short of amazing. Last night I was streaming an HD television program and I would not have known the difference from my satellite receiver...it was indistinguishable. The same for sound. Now maybe during the next week or two I will see some drop in quality or something. Time will tell. But for right now I am thoroughly impressed with the video. Oh, yeah...this thing is working over my wireless router connection so that makes the quality all the more impressive. Also, as long as I am on first thoughts, the setup was as easy or easier than anything else I have ever had to do with AV. It took about fifteen minutes total. Plug power into the box. Connect the HDMI cable from box to television. Follow the steps  on the screen to connect to the wireless router, set up an account (free) and choose channels. Which leads me to believe that the people who reviewed the thing on Amazon and gave it low marks because they couldn't get the thing to work, well, they are ObamaVoters...total morons. I had a bad HDMI cable and it took me longer to figure out that that was the reason the television wasn't seeing the box than it did to do the actual setup once I switched out the cable.

Available content is not the same story, though...not amazing. Good but not amazing. There are many different "channels" available and some are free and some are not. For instance, Netflix requires an $8/month subscription. There are many hundreds of movies available to stream via Netflix but unfortunately most of them are crap. There are also dozens of network and cable television series available for streaming but none of them are current. For that you have to subscribe to hulu plus (http://www.hulu.com) which is also about $8/month. Example of what I mean: On Netflix you can watch the first two seasons of "The Walking Dead" but the current season is unavailable. The current season is available on hulu plus. However, not all television series are available on hulu plus in their entirety. So...if you want to see a series from beginning to end and it is still a current show you have to subscribe to both.

Or...you can become a member of Amazon Prime (http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime) (cheaper at $6.58/month) and rent an entire series. Usually on Amazon the previous episodes are free to Prime members and then you can watch current episodes for a per episode fee. Which seems ridiculous if you can watch them on hulu.com for nothing. Which is okay, I guess if you don't care about watching them on your laptop. To stream to your television you have to shell out for hulu plus. Sorry, there are no simple solutions here but they do all seem to be cheaper than satellite. Of course, there are other benefits to being an Amazon Prime member but I'm not going to go into that here. Amazon does seem to have more free movies (a LOT more) than hulu or Netflix but, like the other two, most of them are crap.

There are other free channels on Roku (and other devices) like Crackle which also have free movies available to stream. Crackle is owned by Sony so that is the source of their movie selections.

Roku and other streamers are not a full substitute for cable or satellite, though, because they lack (so far) the advantage of live streaming. In other words, you aren't going to be able to watch NASCAR or the US Open or live news programming from FNC or CNN. Perhaps some time down the road but not now. And so long as that is the case I will probably not be able to dump satellite completely. Exception: There are subscriptions available that allow you to watch MLB, NBA and NHL. Haven't checked them out but I am expecting the fees to be similar to what cable or satellite charge for the same thing. So, I guess they can do live streaming but it's expensive and as of now does not include news.

There are a LOT of channels available. Some of them are bizarre. I have a feeling that these streaming channels are probably the new home of what used to be public access channels on cable television where some clown is uploading his own content from his mother's basement like Wayne's World. Party on, Garth.

I will be experimenting with this thing for the next several weeks and then I will decide if I can drop part of my satellite subscription because, honestly, a lot of the stuff on the movie channels that I pay extra for is also crap. Stuff I wouldn't watch ever. And yet, I'm paying for it. So it's sort of the same thing as these streaming pay subscriptions except they cost more. Or at least, I think they do. I will need to find out what I want to pay for and then do a cost comparison with satellite. Right now, though, I am encouraged that maybe there is a way to cut back my satellite bill and still have more content than I know what to do with.

If anyone else on the forum is currently using a streaming device I would like to know their thoughts and experiences so that maybe I can benefit from them in this experiment.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Sectionhand on November 26, 2012, 04:32:57 PM
http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/)

I wonder if when Mary Todd Lincoln walks into Ford’s theater to the sound of applause, she’ll say, “You like me, you really like me.”
Comment by Norma Rae

 ::hysterical::

Went to a matinee today and saw "Lincoln" or rather Steven Spielberg's version of history . As entertainment it's fine . As history , it's bad . It's woven together with contrivances and liberally sprinkled with horse sh*t . There are so many things which were blatantly wrong that it's hard to even start listing them . I haven't read an assessment by any credible historians yet like James MacPherson or Gary Gallagher but I'm sure they'll get around to it eventually . Right now the critical praise for the film is so great that historical accuracy will have take a back seat for the time being .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on November 27, 2012, 07:28:28 AM
http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/)

I wonder if when Mary Todd Lincoln walks into Ford’s theater to the sound of applause, she’ll say, “You like me, you really like me.”
Comment by Norma Rae

 ::hysterical::

Went to a matinee today and saw "Lincoln" or rather Steven Spielberg's version of history . As entertainment it's fine . As history , it's bad . It's woven together with contrivances and liberally sprinkled with horse sh*t . There are so many things which were blatantly wrong that it's hard to even start listing them . I haven't read an assessment by any credible historians yet like James MacPherson or Gary Gallagher but I'm sure they'll get around to it eventually . Right now the critical praise for the film is so great that historical accuracy will have take a back seat for the time being .

Well yeah, you can let a little thing like historical accuracy get in the way of numerous Oscar nominations and the lock for best actor for whatshisface, not an American dude...Lewis!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 04, 2012, 11:39:53 AM
http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/ (http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/lincoln-trailer-spielberg-daniel-day-lewis-dreamworks-disney-video/)

I wonder if when Mary Todd Lincoln walks into Ford’s theater to the sound of applause, she’ll say, “You like me, you really like me.”
Comment by Norma Rae

 ::hysterical::

Went to a matinee today and saw "Lincoln" or rather Steven Spielberg's version of history . As entertainment it's fine . As history , it's bad . It's woven together with contrivances and liberally sprinkled with horse sh*t . There are so many things which were blatantly wrong that it's hard to even start listing them . I haven't read an assessment by any credible historians yet like James MacPherson or Gary Gallagher but I'm sure they'll get around to it eventually . Right now the critical praise for the film is so great that historical accuracy will have take a back seat for the time being .

Another kiss of death for this Lincoln movie - Rahmhole is recommending people go see it!

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rahm-emanuel-likens-obama-lincoln (http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rahm-emanuel-likens-obama-lincoln)

I will not see that crap, no way, no how!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on December 04, 2012, 11:53:51 AM
One of my kids had a well-known Lincoln expert as a professor.  He took a meeting with Spielberg along with a bunch of other people when Spielberg was prepping this movie.  Apparently, Spielberg wasn't interested in his thoughts on Lincoln though since his expertise was at odds with what Spielberg wanted to do.   I also heard Spielberg was shocked to learn the Republicans freed the slaves.

 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 04, 2012, 11:55:53 AM
Quote
I also heard Spielberg was shocked to learn the Republicans freed the slaves.

OMG!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 04, 2012, 12:01:50 PM
Doesn't surprise me one bit...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 05, 2012, 01:41:48 AM
Roku update:

So I've had this thing now for around ten days and it's still as good as the first day. Picture quality is very good. So is the sound.

Selection is not bad but not great either. There aren't a lot of movies available that I haven't already seen and want to see. There are a LOT of truly awful movies available...stuff that cable won't even play....stuff that is ripe for the MST3K treatment. On the other hand, there are a lot of television shows that I haven't seen that look like they might be okay. Plus I can re-watch some shows that I did like...Lost and 24 come immediately to mind. It's funny that there are some television shows that aren't available. I say funny because there are so many that are it seems odd to find one that isn't offered. For instance, I wanted to see "Justified" and it wasn't available.

There is some live streaming news if you look for it but none of it is American. SkyNews is available as a live streaming program. And CNN International. If I wanted to go to the trouble, I could watch a channel that supposedly streams American television but it takes a lot of work. It is supposed to be only available to IP addresses that aren't in the US so if you want to see it you have to get there by way of a VPN or proxy server.

I am trying out Amazon Prime and they have many times the movies available that Netflix or huluplus has.

One other negative about the Roku box: no youtube vids. Which is too bad because they have some free movies. Plus cat vids.

All in all I am very satisfied with the thing. The question now becomes, "Can I cut all or some of my satellite?" Not all I don't think, but I can probably ditch the premium movies channel package that I am currently subscribed to.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 05, 2012, 06:36:39 AM
Interesting.  I heard on the radio this morning that Disney came to some agreement and more movies are going to be on Netflix, but not for 2-3 years or something.  More of the intellectual property rights battles, lawyers, they kill all fun and make everything more expensive!  Shakespeare was onto something, eh?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 06, 2012, 08:21:04 PM
There is actually a Disney channel available on Roku. Not my thing so I haven't looked into it as to whether it is a pay channel or not. I would guess it is a pay subscription.

Speaking of Disney, though, here is a life imitating art event (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/9687977/Jonathan-Trappe-flies-a-house-on-helium-balloons-like-the-PixarDisney-film-Up.html?frame=2403006) in Mexico. Worth looking at if you have seen all things Pixar.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on January 08, 2013, 11:49:36 AM
How the heck did I  miss this? (http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Dark-Knight-Returns-Blu-ray/dp/B008RV5K5E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357667090&sr=8-4&keywords=the+dark+knight+returns)

Amazon, you are falling down on the recommendation job! Available for instant play, as well, but I just ordered the Bluerays.  I love this comic.  I found this because I was trying to find the original image from the comic to "quote it"   - Like the recent batman films? This is an animated adaptation of the Comic that inspired them. (as yes, Batman works better as animation.. you just can't get the suit right in live film.. )

I will let you all know how I like it..



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 08, 2013, 12:04:44 PM
Before Frank Miller, Batman was to most people, Adam West and cheesy camp. Miller's treatment of the Batman gave the character new life, and from that life sprang the entire Batman movie franchise that exists today. Without Miller's Dark Knight, even the 80's Keaton/Nicholson movie would not have existed, not to mention the Chris Nolan films.

I'm not big on cartoons, but I might watch this one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on January 08, 2013, 02:01:40 PM
Before Frank Miller, Batman was to most people, Adam West and cheesy camp. Miller's treatment of the Batman gave the character new life, and from that life sprang the entire Batman movie franchise that exists today. Without Miller's Dark Knight, even the 80's Keaton/Nicholson movie would not have existed, not to mention the Chris Nolan films.

I'm not big on cartoons, but I might watch this one.

From reading the reviews , they made the decision to leave out the "internal dialogue" present in the original work. Voice-overs like that are hard to do in film without getting campy, so I get why they might omit it, but I fear much of the story will be gone without them.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 09, 2013, 01:19:08 PM
Watched "Casablanca" last night on Roku (actually it was from Netflix) in HD. I have never seen it in HD before and I suppose that this is as close to being able to see it in the theater as you can get these days.

I actually enjoyed it much more in HD than I thought I would. The expressions on the faces were much sharper and because of that I appreciated the acting of the players that much more. It was really good. I am going to have to look into other classic movies that I have never seen in HD.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on January 09, 2013, 01:47:53 PM
Watched "Casablanca" last night on Roku (actually it was from Netflix) in HD. I have never seen it in HD before and I suppose that this is as close to being able to see it in the theater as you can get these days.

I actually enjoyed it much more in HD than I thought I would. The expressions on the faces were much sharper and because of that I appreciated the acting of the players that much more. It was really good. I am going to have to look into other classic movies that I have never seen in HD.

I am a Huge advocate for Home Theater projectors.  I bought my first one about 10 years ago for $5300 - plus another $800 for the screen, and I am not even going to begin on how much money I spent on sound equipment.  but   I soon learned that I enjoyed watching a movie at home on a 90 inch screen far more than I liked going out to a "real" theater.  No one talking, you can stop it whenever you want and take a break, and often the picture was much sharper.. even on that archaic medium called DVD ( My first projector had a built-in upsampling to 720p)   Now you can get a full HT projector package complete with 16x9  92" screen   for $1900 and the picture is 1000 times better than on my first projector, and I always thought that picture was stunning. ( want the 120" tensioned electric screen? Thats $2300)  Plus, if done right, the whole setup  becomes invisible to the wife when not in use.  Many projectors are bright enough now ( Cause of the 3D requirements)   that you don't even need the dark room anymore ( but you will still want one for the best picture)

I sold my equipment with the house ( it was a dedicated theater room.. built in 19 inch rack, Screen recessed into the wall with black velvet surround, )  and I find I miss it.  We watched LOTR on the 27 inch LCD- all well and good, but still not the same. If you  find you are in the market for a "Big Screen LCD"  definitely considered doing a projector instead.
I have dealt with visual apex (http://www.visualapex.com/)  twice now, with excellent results, and the reviews at projector central (http://www.projectorcentral.com/) have never lead me wrong. After we get this move over I am going to build some DIY  AviaTrix speakers to replace my (missed) B&W P6 pair  (http://speakerdesignworks.com/AviaTrix_1.html)   ( as the first test of  the CNC  (http://buildyourcnc.com/greenBullCNCMachineKit.aspx) which will dirve me teotwawki business of course!)  and probably go with a Epson 5020UB model ( They offer a UBe modell too - built in wireless HD to the projector so you don't have to run cables to the ceiling or coffee table - you still get to do power though.. )   You know, providing I get spousal approval. Probably have to do some Teotwawki spending first. .


Another oldie you should check out  is "The Big Trail"  (http://www.amazon.com/Big-Trail-Blu-ray-John-Wayne/dp/B0080GEV0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357760823&sr=8-1&keywords=the+big+trail)- its an old John Wayne.. and one of the first ever shot in wide screen .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 09, 2013, 01:58:21 PM
I happened to catch a movie last night that I had never heard of, and I was pleasantly surprised.

It's called "The Station Agent" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/), and stars Peter Dinklage - the dwarf dude on "Game of Thrones".

This is a purely character-driven movie. No action. No deep plot. Just intersting people dealing with life.

Dinklage is scarred, withdrawn and anti-social from living life as a dwarf. He finds solace in a fascination with trains and railroad history. His only friend dies, leaving him an abandoned train station in rural New Jersey, which he subsequently moves into, thinking that it is a good place to wallow in his self-imposed isolation.

Instead, he reluctantly encounters townspeople who treat him kindly. Before he even realizes it himself, he is involved in friendships that slowly draw him from his shell.

I found it to be a very simple and eloquent story, and beautifully acted as well.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on January 09, 2013, 08:05:30 PM
I happened to catch a movie last night that I had never heard of, and I was pleasantly surprised.

It's called "The Station Agent" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/), and stars Peter Dinklage - the dwarf dude on "Game of Thrones".

This is a purely character-driven movie. No action. No deep plot. Just intersting people dealing with life.

Dinklage is scarred, withdrawn and anti-social from living life as a dwarf. He finds solace in a fascination with trains and railroad history. His only friend dies, leaving him an abandoned train station in rural New Jersey, which he subsequently moves into, thinking that it is a good place to wallow in his self-imposed isolation.

Instead, he reluctantly encounters townspeople who treat him kindly. Before he even realizes it himself, he is involved in friendships that slowly draw him from his shell.

I found it to be a very simple and eloquent story, and beautifully acted as well.


 Saw it a couple of years ago and I have to agree with you.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 10, 2013, 12:47:19 AM
We have that one on DVR. Should be watching it soon.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 02, 2013, 10:06:36 PM
So part two arrived this week. I waited to watch part one till it came...so..

The Dark Knight Returns . Review:  Good enough. (Yes, I mean that to mirror the ending line)

Yeah you can nit pick.  The animation isn't  top notch, but it reminds me of Akira-- certain scenes are amazing. Others are low grade. Others don't mesh well, being a combination of the two. Not sure if it isn't deliberate.  Just to seem a bit -off.  The story is a bit disutrbing, so why shouldn't  the video be? Voice Talent? Peter Weller as Batman?  Yeah, it sorta works. Not perfectly, but good enough. Much of it uses the comic as a story board. Art is true to Frank Miller's.  2nd part excerices a bit more artistic license, but all of it true to the original, and I found it welcome when it occured.  Didn't realize it, but the first part's adherence to the comic as storyy board was actually too much.  . Dialog? Almost entirely verbatum from the comic. Batman's internal dialog is gone.  Does it hurt? Somewhat, but not as much as you would think. Yes I miss it, but  the underlying sentiment is there- they don't loose the subtext.. its there, if you know to look for it- they just express it in some other way than a voice over- moving it to an appropriate place in the verbal script or showing it visually.

Bottom line, Yeah, I really found myself enjoying it. The nitpicky stuff doesn't end up detracting. Whoever was in charge of the production "got it"- they tried earnestly to bring it to the screen. I missed some of of the internal comments, but really, inserting them would almost be cheesy.  Like LOTR, your enjoyment will be enhanced by having experienced both the (graphic) novel  and the moving pictures.  ("Movie" isn't right, its more than reading a comic, less than watching a movie) - Not perfect, but "good enough.

 Good enough to join It's a wonderful life, To Kill a Mockingbird, LOTR, Firefy and Watchmen as part of the yearly ritual..


 



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 02, 2013, 11:46:17 PM
...Good enough to join It's a wonderful life, To Kill a Mockingbird, LOTR, Firefy and Watchmen as part of the yearly ritual..


You like Watchmen huh? That is one I haven't seen. I was so hyped to see it for about a year before its release, and then when it came out, the cacophony of bad reviews and disappointment was so unanimous that I never bothered.

Tell me why fans of the graphic novels were wrong to be so disappointed. I may check that one out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on February 03, 2013, 12:52:23 AM
I saw Skyfall last weekend.

Daniel Craig's Bond is a huge departure from traditional Bonds.

Of course Sean Connery was the only real Bond. The rest were imposters.
The thing I left the theater feeling was that Bond is now an action hero.

Daniel Craig's Bond  isn't the suave debonair 007 of the past.
He is a lot grittier
This movie didn't have a traditional Bond girl as we've grown to expect that Bond always conquers with his charm.

I didn't dislike the movie at all. It just wasn't what I've come to expect.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 03, 2013, 01:44:04 AM
I watched a couple of movies this weekend (so far).

The first was the latest installment in the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible franchise, "Ghost Protocol." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229238/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) I think that of all of the MI movies this one was the best (with the first one coming in at number 2). It was directed by Brad Bird (He first came to my attention when he helmed Pixar's "The Incredibles") and he did a very good job.

The story and action were, respectively, improbable and ridiculous but that's what you expect in a MI movie so that's not a problem. There was lots of goofy high tech gadgets and which one was the goofiest is debatable. I would cast my vote for the magnetic gloves used to climb around on the outside of the world's tallest building in Dubai. The thing that I found funny about the gloves was that, okay...the gloves can stick to glass or concrete and allow you to climb up walls but what keeps your hands from sliding out of them as you climb?

The guy who played "Sawyer" in "Lost" (Josh Holloway) had a throwaway role at the beginning of the movie and that kinda sucked. Seems to me he could have been interesting if they had let him live more than two minutes on screen.

Other than that, though, it was a great way to burn a couple of hours.

Also clocking in at a couple of hours was a black and white Otto Preminger film starring Jimmie Stewart, Ben Gazzara and a very young George C. Scott, "Anatomy of a Murder." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052561/?ref_=sr_2) This movie is as old as I am and it's largely a courtroom drama...sort of a Perry Mason for the big screen. I was trying to remember the other Otto Preminger movies I had seen and had to consult imdb.com It turns out that I had only seen one before this one, "In Harm's Way" which was kind of mediocre John Wayne WWII movie...more soap opera-ish than dramatic. "Anatomy of a Murder" is slightly better, in my opinion.

What makes it interesting for me, however, is the way that it documents the major changes in society that have occurred in the intervening years. The story is about an Army lieutenant (Gazzara) who kills a bar owner who had supposedly raped his wife. There are eye witnesses to the killing so the courtroom drama revolves around the defense attorney, played by Stewart. They decide to go for a temporary insanity defense but first they have to prove that his wife was, in fact, raped. The attitudes expressed about the wife being raped (how she was dressed and how she behaved...i.e. she was asking to be raped...plus the very casual attitude toward the crime of rape...the callousness displayed by pretty much everyone right in front of the victim) were startling to my 21st century mindset.

The case turns, just like a Perry Mason case, in the actual courtroom when the co-prosecuting attorney George C. Scott makes the obvious (to me, anyway) mistake of asking a witness a question that he does not already know the answer to. The audience is already set up and knows that he is making a colossal mistake and that really is a screw up in the making of the film...Preminger misses an opportunity to end the film in a surprise. It's a surprise for Scott but that's it.

So..."Anatomy of a Murder" was interesting for me as sort of a historical snap shot of they way things used to be. They try to play the courtroom procedure very, very straight and realistic which makes its historical significance all the more interesting. The story was anti-climatic and not particularly exciting so it will not be one I can recommend on that basis.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on February 03, 2013, 05:51:13 AM
I was trying to remember the other Otto Preminger movies I had seen and had to consult imdb.com It turns out that I had only seen one before this one, "In Harm's Way" which was kind of mediocre John Wayne WWII movie...more soap opera-ish than dramatic. "Anatomy of a Murder" is slightly better, in my opinion.

Then by all means, watch this 1944 Preminger film:  Laura (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037008/).

Gene Tierney, to put it mildly, is hot.

An earlier courtroom drama, from 1955, is The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047956/), from back when Hollywood was pro-Western Civilization, with its warts and all.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 03, 2013, 11:53:13 AM
...Good enough to join It's a wonderful life, To Kill a Mockingbird, LOTR, Firefy and Watchmen as part of the yearly ritual..


You like Watchmen huh? That is one I haven't seen. I was so hyped to see it for about a year before its release, and then when it came out, the cacophony of bad reviews and disappointment was so unanimous that I never bothered.

Tell me why fans of the graphic novels were wrong to be so disappointed. I may check that one out.

I don't know if anyone "likes" the watchmen. The guy who originally sold me the Graphic Novel told me "I'm there for you" as he handed it to me.
Its disturbing on many levels. 

The theatrical release doesn't include the comic book side story - which really ties it all together, and they changed the ending in the movie from what was in the comic to something a bit more plausible, without really affecting the story materially. I personally found it an improvement,  but I suspect that is what got most of the fan-boys panties in a wad. Theres oter stuff to nit pick if you are so inclined.  Like the Dark Knight Returns  series I just watched.. they didn't "nail it"- but it was a good effort and I found it well done.  However I never saw the theatrical release. Knowing the black ship comic was being added into a drectors cut   made me wait to see it till that edition arrived on DVD.  And when you have a theater in your house, its nicer watching things there anyway.

Casting, dialog, everything were pretty much spot on for me.  If you weren't a fan of the comic, or had never read it, then I suspect that made it easier to hate - plus its just dark, violent, and a whole lot of no fun, because ultimately that is what Watchmen is.   
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 03, 2013, 12:09:10 PM
I saw Skyfall last weekend.

Daniel Craig's Bond is a huge departure from traditional Bonds.

Of course Sean Connery was the only real Bond. The rest were imposters.
The thing I left the theater feeling was that Bond is now an action hero.

Daniel Craig's Bond  isn't the suave debonair 007 of the past.
He is a lot grittier
This movie didn't have a traditional Bond girl as we've grown to expect that Bond always conquers with his charm.

I didn't dislike the movie at all. It just wasn't what I've come to expect.

I agree, Connery is hands down the best Bond ever.  Given what followed him though I have to say I dislike Craig less than the others, but there is a gulf between first and second place.

PS - The Watchmen is dark but the characters are compelling, as for comic book genre I find it more entertaining than the usual fare that has been dished out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on February 03, 2013, 01:16:13 PM
Roger Moore was decent. I never cared for Brosnan.

Lazenby and Dalton?
Where were there heads at?

With Craig, it's like seeing the label and opening the can to find something different inside.
As I said, I liked the movie well enough. It just wasn't a Bond formula.

Why make a Bond movie if you're going to change the recipe?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 03, 2013, 01:27:58 PM
The thing with Moore is that he was too clean and always blinked when he shot a gun (he even admits the latter), thus I found him less believable as a secret agent man.  I know the latter seems a bit unrealistic given the nature of the Bond fantasy, but the girls and clever innuendos and gadgets and easily fabricated escapes from overconfident villains aside, the acting should at least posses a modicum believability.

 ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ChrstnHsbndFthr on February 03, 2013, 03:20:27 PM
http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html (http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html)

Have you all ever seen this? I was not aware of it til a friends sent it to me.

It appears to be very close to the truth of what happened, according to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946))

I am not sure if this belongs here or the second amendment thread? Its a movie about why we need the second amendment.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 03, 2013, 06:27:53 PM
http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html (http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html)

Have you all ever seen this? I was not aware of it til a friends sent it to me.

It appears to be very close to the truth of what happened, according to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946))

I am not sure if this belongs here or the second amendment thread? Its a movie about why we need the second amendment.

We have a thread going somewhere about this, just recently.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 03, 2013, 06:38:47 PM
http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html (http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html)

Have you all ever seen this? I was not aware of it til a friends sent it to me.

It appears to be very close to the truth of what happened, according to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946))

I am not sure if this belongs here or the second amendment thread? Its a movie about why we need the second amendment.

We have a thread going somewhere about this, just recently.

http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,7491.0.html (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,7491.0.html)

http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,5012.0.html (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php/topic,5012.0.html)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 03, 2013, 06:41:06 PM
One of the occasionally reoccurring themes in H'wood movies is that of the corrupt authorities who are put down by the ordinary citizens with guns. "The Battle of Athens" was unique in that it also happened to be true, based on an actual historical event.

But what I find slightly interesting is that H'wood continues to make movies where there is corruption in high places and the good guys kill the corrupt authorities with guns. Usually lots of guns and usually a very high body count. So, H'wood has been selling this theme, this genre now for decades and the brain dead people who inhabit H'wood act all surprised when ordinary Americans believe that, yes, it is possible (likely even) that one of these days a gun will be needed to protect oneself from authority.

Typical example: And only because I just watched it for the umpteenth time before the SuperBowl started today (and because it's the only Costner movie that I have been able to stomach in recent years and that's only because Robert Duvall carries the film), "Open Range." In "Open Range" two cattle herders minding their own business are attacked by corrupt sheriff and his corrupt deputies. Cattle herders fight back, rally the timid citizens of the town to their side and basically kill each and every one of the bad guys who have been running roughshod over the cowardly townspeople. Moral of the story: If you run into an evil town boss and his evil mercenary sheriff you need to kill them them and their evil deputies right on main street in the middle of the day in front of the rest of the town so that you can be the heroes and get the girl.

Another typical example: War weary Vietnam veteran walks into town and is immediately assaulted by the town sheriff. This is, of course, "First Blood" starring anti-2nd Amendment actor Sylvester Stalone (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/03/sylvester-stallone-who-needs-an-assault-weapon/) as John Rambo. Rambo uses lots and lots of guns against local law enforcement and even the National Guard in his quest for justice. Moral: Local law enforcement and pretty much most of the federal government is fabulously corrupt and they must all be killed with guns. Lots of guns.

But these movies and ones like them work (are successful) because they are believable. People know instinctively that there are other people out there who will hurt them unless they are able to fight back effectively. And that means guns. Because when it comes right down to it disputes are settled in one of two ways, reason or force. Disputes that are settled by reason make for very uninteresting cinema and thus we end up with high body count films. Another thing that doesn't sell movie tickets very well is a story where the underdog loses. And that brings about films where "law enforcement" or "the government" or "pick your own non-underdog authority type" has to be made to be the "bad guy" so that the underdog can win and the audience can cheer. Plus H'wood likes to showcase stories where little guys get to stick it to "the man."

So, I guess I am somewhat annoyed that, after decades of movies that firmly demonstrate that guns are the answer to nearly any dispute, I have to endure condescending and empty-headed anti-gun preaching by the H'wood left.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 03, 2013, 06:45:54 PM
Shooter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/?ref_=sr_1)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on February 03, 2013, 07:03:12 PM
Shooter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/?ref_=sr_1)

     ::newyear::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on February 03, 2013, 11:43:55 PM
Shooter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/?ref_=sr_1)


Yea....when he was told he was " free to go", he knew exactly the meaning.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 04, 2013, 07:01:51 AM
Shooter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/?ref_=sr_1)

The Stephen Hunter books are good, buy 'em all and read 'em.  He's got a third generation ass-kicker started up now to move on from Bob Lee Swagger...but the whole Swagger series is a fun read.

 ::cool::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 26, 2013, 09:17:38 PM
The Long Kiss Goodnight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116908/?ref_=sr_1)

Geena Davis
Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by Renny Harlin

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f7/Long_kiss_goodnight_ver1.jpg/215px-Long_kiss_goodnight_ver1.jpg)

The Long Kiss Goodnight is an absolutely terrific movie...the perfect mixture of action and comedy.

Quote
Samantha Caine, suburban homemaker, is the ideal mom to her 8 year old daughter Caitlin. She lives in Honesdale, PA, has a job teaching school and makes the best Rice Krispie treats in town. But when she receives a bump on her head, she begins to remember small parts of her previous life as a lethal, top-secret agent. Her old chums in the Chapter are now out to kill her so she enlists the help of a cheap detective named Mitch. As Samantha remembers more and more of her previous life, she becomes deadlier and more resourceful. Both Mitch and Charly proceed to do the killing thing, the bleeding thing and the shooting thing.

This is one of those movies that I can watch multiple times and continue to be entertained. The chemistry between Davis and Jackson (and briefly with Brian Cox) is an unexpected pleasure...great script writing helps, too.

I really liked this one a lot. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 26, 2013, 09:26:58 PM
And while I'm at it...another similar movie with great action and comedy (although it is an ensemble rather than a buddy film) is RED. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245526/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Red_ver7.jpg/220px-Red_ver7.jpg)

Quote
Frank (Bruce Willis) is retired, bored and lonely living off his government pension in a nondescript suburb in an equally nondescript house. The only joy in Frank's life are his calls to the government pension processing center when he gets to talk to his case worker Sarah (Mary-Louis Parker). Sarah is as bored and lonely as Frank and marks her conversations with the unknown Frank and her spy novels as the only things fun in her life. When something in Frank's past forces Frank back into his old line of work and puts an unwitting Sarah in the middle of the intrigue, Frank and Sarah begin a journey into Franks past and the people he used to work with. Like Frank they are all RED ... Retired Extremely Dangerous.

This is another one that I can watch multiple times and not get tired of. Bruce Willis one liners. Old guys versus young guys. Ex-gov versus government. Corrupt vice president gets shot at the end. What's not to love?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 26, 2013, 09:32:21 PM
The Long Kiss Goodnight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116908/?ref_=sr_1)

Geena Davis
Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by Renny Harlin

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTUxMTY5MDE0OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzU5NjgxMQ@@._V1_SY317_CR8,0,214,317_.jpg)

The Long Kiss Goodnight is an absolutely terrific movie...the perfect mixture of action and comedy.

Quote
Samantha Caine, suburban homemaker, is the ideal mom to her 8 year old daughter Caitlin. She lives in Honesdale, PA, has a job teaching school and makes the best Rice Krispie treats in town. But when she receives a bump on her head, she begins to remember small parts of her previous life as a lethal, top-secret agent. Her old chums in the Chapter are now out to kill her so she enlists the help of a cheap detective named Mitch. As Samantha remembers more and more of her previous life, she becomes deadlier and more resourceful. Both Mitch and Charly proceed to do the killing thing, the bleeding thing and the shooting thing.

This is one of those movies that I can watch multiple times and continue to be entertained. The chemistry between Davis and Jackson (and briefly with Brian Cox) is an unexpected pleasure...great script writing helps, too.

I really liked this one a lot. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I watched this just last night and I agree.  Good movie.

I agree on RED as well.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Miltrainer on February 27, 2013, 06:58:55 AM
I can't wait for RED II to come out.  ::danceban:: I think it is this month.  ::thinking::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 27, 2013, 07:06:10 AM
Long Kiss Goodnight is entertaining, like RED much better, and John Malkovich playing his usual goofball self  is always good for snorts & giggles, the whole ensamble was good though.  Didn't know another is in the works, will have to check that out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Miltrainer on February 27, 2013, 07:16:43 AM
RED 2 will be released in Aug of this year.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: benb61 on February 27, 2013, 12:11:03 PM
RED was on Showtime last night and even though I've seen it a few times I had to watch again, it is that good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 28, 2013, 01:05:52 AM
Watched (for the second time) "End of the Spear" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399862/) which dramatizes the true story of American missionaries trying to reach the Ecuadoran savages in the late 1940's and early 1950's. The mission was, of course, to bring salvation to the savages but to also end the perpetual tribal revenge mass murdering, putting and "end to the spear" killings. The missionaries knew that the chances of success, of surviving their first encounters with the natives were very slim and yet they went anyway. Being willing to actually die for your beliefs is a concept which is utterly foreign to our popular culture today.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9c/Endofthespearposter.jpg/220px-Endofthespearposter.jpg)

It's a hard movie to watch, especially at the beginning where you know that the male missionaries are going to be killed and the narrator is going to be left fatherless. Nevertheless, it is worth it because it is a good (and true) story, it is well told and the ending is especially gripping and satisfying.

There is another film that documents the story (an actual documentary) called, "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337868/?ref_=tt_trv_cnn) which I will be watching soon. Both films can be found on the Netflix streaming service.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 28, 2013, 01:16:52 AM
Also watched "The Way" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441912/) with Martin Sheen plus a bunch of other actors who I've never heard of.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/The_Way_poster.png)

Quote
"The Way" is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son's desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn't plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him and his "California Bubble Life". Inexperienced as a trekker, Tom soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey. On his journey, Tom meets other pilgrims from around the world, each with their own issues and looking for greater meaning in their lives: a Dutchman (Yorick van Wageningen), a Canadian (Deborah Kara Unger) and an Irish writer ('James Nesbitt')

So it ends up being a buddy film where there is hiking instead of driving. Martin Sheen plays a bitter asshole throughout most of the movie waiting until the final 20 or so minutes to finally warm up to his companions. One of the things I found (certainly unintentionally) funny is the scene where Sheen gets drunk in public and the local cops drag him off to jail. It was funny for me because I thought that Sheen has had plenty of practice with this behavior in real life so it was almost like not acting at all.

(mrs. trapeze made me watch this one.)

But it wasn't awful. Just predictable and kind of ordinary in its writing and drama. What is it? It's semi-religious, spiritual wannabeism for California and European atheists agnostics.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 19, 2013, 08:56:56 PM
Shamelessly lifted from AoS because, well, it's KickAss Part 2 and it might, just might revive the failing career of ultra lib asshole Jim Carrey. This also looks like it might be that ever so rare occurrence: a respectable sequel.

They have a red band trailer which you can watch here. (http://geektyrant.com/news/2013/3/13/kick-ass-2-badass-red-band-trailer.html?utm_source=geektyrant.com&utm_medium=featured) There is a lot of bad language in it and that, of course, is why it is a red band trailer so don't say you weren't warned.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 22, 2013, 01:50:48 AM
I'm not big on musicals, as a rule. They usually suck. But every once in a while one comes along that just works for me. Such is the case with...

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5b/Little_shop_of_horrors.jpg/215px-Little_shop_of_horrors.jpg)

Little Shop of Horrors (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091419/?ref_=sr_1)

Who knew that Rick Moranis could sing? Ridiculous story but great cast, great musical numbers, wonderful sets and a killer plant from outer space. What's not to love?

Minor parts cast to Steve Martin, Christopher Guest, John Candy, Jim Belushi & Bill Murray. The song, "Dentist" performed by Steve Martin is worth the price of admission all by itself.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on March 23, 2013, 12:01:18 AM

"He's a professional"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on April 01, 2013, 02:55:35 PM
Les Miserables (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/)

Aside from films that rely on CGI, it's been many years since I've been as surprised by film-making brilliance in every regard as I was by this film. (To me, the advancement of CGI places CGI films in their own category.)

I watched "Les Miz" with my sons last night, and I want to see it again, right away. It was that good from top-to-bottom, beginning-to-end.

Career best performances by brilliant actors: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried. Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen were also excellent in their less prominent roles. Every extra was awesome, child and adult. Every line of the movie was sung. The few instances when a line was spoken, it was within the context of dramatic effect inside a song.

Biggest surprise: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried are all world-class vocalists. Second biggest surprise: Although Russell Crowe is not, it didn't matter a bit. His performance was breathtaking - but they all were, with special recognition for Jackman, Crowe, and Hathaway.

I was in constant amazement at the fact that having every line sung did not detract or distract from the acting one iota. If anything, it enhanced it. I usually despise musicals. I almost forgot this even was a musical, it so fully enveloped me in the story.

It is a sad tale. Nothing uplifting about it whatsoever; hence the title. But damn, what an excellent movie.

ETA: I found it beneficial to watch with the subtitles on. Hearing every word being sung is difficult, at least for me, especially with the European accents. Subtitles ensured that I didn't miss a thing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 01, 2013, 05:57:26 PM
The most cinematic cat video you will ever see

???????????????????NOTHING CAN RIVAL THE JUMPING CAT! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WEMtYj2pJc#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: charlesoakwood on April 01, 2013, 06:27:38 PM

77.16+ inches, good for us he's little.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 02, 2013, 06:54:30 AM
Young and springy, little bugger can launch pretty good.  I like the down-angle shots where he's coming at you, the look of determination and the swat of the paw, pretty cool!  ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on April 02, 2013, 08:14:28 AM
Who sez ya can't train a cat, hmmm?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 02, 2013, 11:38:14 PM
Les Miserables (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/)

Aside from films that rely on CGI, it's been many years since I've been as surprised by film-making brilliance in every regard as I was by this film. (To me, the advancement of CGI places CGI films in their own category.)

I watched "Les Miz" with my sons last night, and I want to see it again, right away. It was that good from top-to-bottom, beginning-to-end.

Wow you are glutton for punishment aren't you?  Just watched it tonight with Michelle. Yes, the film making and performances are excellent, and its a wonderfully made movie. However,  I liked it no more than I did seeing it on Broadway 20 years ago.  Pathetic characters struggling through their pathetic lives, striving to find nobility in the most mundane moral quandaries, and still, for the most part failing. I love this man, but I would deny him the love of another?  Do I let another man take the rap for me, or condemn the hunderds in my care to poverty?  Do I, as a rich man, give up the revolution and pursue a woman instead?  Do I let this man break parole because I owe him or should I kill myself because.. i don't know, just because. ? Nothing uplifting about it? That's an understatement.  But I guess nothing about the French revolution was uplifting either. Put me in the place of any of those people and I would be on a boat as an indentured servant to America within a fortnight. Or to England. Italy? Spain? South America?  Anywhere but there.  Perhaps that is why I dislike it so.. that most  of the characters just accept their lot, and just won't fight for their lives or freedom , and that includes the revolutionaries. They don't act to fix anything - I can only guess because they enjoy feeling like a victim and wallowing in  misery. You could just get on a boat and be free, but no, stay there and get  killed over a pile of chairs, hunted over stolen bread and parole violations, or commit suicide because you just can't stand the thought of mercy in a minor "criminal"  

Yes, I might die on a barricade in the near future ( a thought that hadn't occurred to me 20 years ago)  but that is because there ISN'T a place to run to.  When I am on that barricade, its because there is no longer a way to carve out a peaceful place in my life, and I am no longer able to protect those I love in any other way.
  

 Honest Trailers - Les Miserables (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBYfA3zTxFE#ws)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on April 05, 2013, 02:34:08 AM
Who sez ya can't train a cat, hmmm?

I think you're missing the point.  The cat wanted a workout and had its human servants keep tying the string and mouse higher (a dangerous stepstool endeavor), as well as measuring the height of the 'obstacle' for posterity's record books.  Who's training whom?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 05, 2013, 06:37:03 AM
Heh!   ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 24, 2013, 03:48:48 AM
Just got done watching "Promised Land" against my will. I knew it would be utter bullsh*t and it did not let me down. Yes, this is yet another one of mrs. trapeze's movie picks. Truth be known, she is responsible for picking the lion's share of crappy movies for us to watch...it's a gift or talent or something. Me? I can smell a stinker from miles away and "Promised Land" had putrid written all over it. Flies were circling this veritable shopping bag of dog excrement.

"Promised Land" is the infamous anti-fracking movie from the skull cavity of Matt Damon. That was enough to warn me off of it right there but mrs. trapeze is damned stubborn about her crappy movie selections and I am putting down markers for better, cooler movies that will be coming out soon. So, putting up with this little bit of exquisitely hand crafted garbage is a small price to pay for getting my way, in spades, later.

So...what is the basic theme of this movie? Is it that fracking is bad? Is it that big corporations are evil? Well, yeah, of course those things are a big part of this movie. But no...the basic and overarching theme of this movie is that people from the country are total dipsh*ts. Yeah, we've seen this movie so many times before where people from flyover country are pretty much made out to be morons and this movie takes that theme and runs with it. Hard.

An energy company comes to town to hand out money, a lot of it, to anyone and everyone who owns property. Now this is not the way it works in the real world, of course...there are these things called mineral rights and a lot of people who own property do not own the mineral rights to that property. I have certainly seen that happen both in Colorado and in Texas. But put that aside. The big company comes to town and starts offering what amounts to a lifetime of wealth to the people there and what do they do? They turn their collective noses up at it. They decide to vote on it as if the majority of property owners could somehow prevent the others from leasing their properties out. But mainly they treat opportunity as a curse. Yeah, right. No one is going to turn down the opportunity to be financially self sufficient, to be wealthy. No one. But these rednecks? They are ready to stand up to that energy company and fight for their right to live in poverty and most likely lose their homes and farms some day. The dialogue is pathetic (I couldn't find direct quotes so my paraphrasing is just going to have to suffice here)...

Ignorant Rednecks: "We aren't going to just let your company take our land, mister!"

Patient Energy Company Rep: "Uh, no...we are going to pay you handsomely for the privilege of putting in a gas well but only if you just happen to want gobs of money for basically sitting around and watching while we do all of the work...you may refuse our offer and keep living like trailer trash if that is your desire."

Ignorant Rednecks: "Damned straight! Now get off our land...hey, who has a beer?"

The characters are as unbelievable as the plot. Matt Damon plays the part of some kind of junior executive with the energy company and he starts out as being mostly professional in his attitude about what he is there for (to sign contracts with property owners) and about his attitude toward his company. Several times at the beginning and once in the middle of the film he pretty much lays it out truthfully about the reality of things: "Here is an opportunity to make a lot of money with almost zero downside. Please, for the sake of your children, don't be stupid." But then he starts to get nostalgic about his young life on the farm and inexplicably starts to see things from the redneck point of view. As the left likes to say, he grows. Uh, yeah...he grows into a stupid idiot.

The energy company then also becomes inexplicably stupid. They send in a fake environmentalist who then uses faked tales of fracking nightmares that supposedly happened in Nebraska. Now here is where things really spiral out of control as far as the plot goes. At the beginning of the movie there is quite a bit of fun made of some stupid ass (redneck) politician who seems to be the only guy in town who can't make proper use of the internet to look up basic facts about natural gas deposits. So now, when presented with a story of a fracking apocalypse in Nebraska, everyone in town who could previously use Google somehow forgets that that is an option and just accepts the wacko environmentalist's story as fact. Not a single person in town bothers to check the story out and instead let the creep pound signs into their yards that show dead cows strewn about and that tell the energy company to "go home." Sure. Well, it gets worse. The energy company doesn't let Matt Damon in on their trick. They send him some info that allows him to think that he can prove the enviroweenie is lying and he runs with it. But then Matt Damon, genius that he is, figures out* that the whole thing is a setup. He starts to look like he is thinking very deeply about very important and deep thoughts. Oooo...suspense! Then at a big town meeting Matt Damon blows the lid off of the energy company's evil machinations and tells everyone that it's all been a big old nasty energy corporation trick! Zoiks! Rednecks get all angry and tear up their contracts and throw those nasty old energy company people out of town! Yay! The town is saved!

I'm serious as a heart attack, here...that is really the plot and that is really how the movie ends. The big "scandal" is not that fracking is going to destroy their homes and leave them penniless and living in a toxic wasteland. That was the movie that Matt Damon wanted to make. Very, very badly wanted to make. But the problem is that it would then have ceased to be a drama and instead it would have been a fantasy. And that's because there is literally zero truth to any of the "fracking is bad and it kills" nonsense. Fracking doesn't do anything except extract a butt load of energy from the earth that otherwise could not be gotten. So Matt Damon had to come up with a ridiculous and nonsensical "scandal" that would make the energy company the evil corporate bad guy anyway. So here it is: The "scandal" or the "conspiracy" was that the energy company had to trick the poor, stupid country bumpkins into getting rich because they were too damned stupid to do it without manipulation. But fortunately Matt Damon was there to shut them down! Oh, and he threw his career away, too, because the energy company immediately fired his stupid ass but that's okay because he is going to stay in the backward little redneck community and shack up with a school teacher he met in a bar once and talked to a couple of times.

Yeah, that's how it happens in the real world. Sure.

This movie is made for dumbass urban libs who believe all of the left wing talking points without question. And that's the irony here. The real stupid people here are the ones who think that light comes out of the switch on the wall, that milk comes from the grocery store and that electric cars are "green." The target audience for this BS are people who think that recycling actually helps the environment (it almost never does), that the war on terror is over and that the polar bears need to be saved from drowning...that something must always be done.

Thank goodness that Matt Damon grew at just the right moment and foiled the evil plans of the energy company so that several hundred rednecks could continue to live on unemployment and disability! Being a one percenter sucks! Who needs money? We have dirt! Yay!

And for the record, as is so often the case, mrs. trapeze said, after the movie was over, "You were right, that was awful." I appreciate that I don't have to say, "I told you it would suck."

______________________________________________________________________________________


*Okay, well he didn't really figure it out. The energy company sent him a bigger picture of the Nebraska dead cows and there is a lighthouse in the background with a circle around it and a big arrow pointing to it. OMG! That farm isn't in Nebraska! It's in Louisiana! Just for fun I looked up Louisiana lighthouses and if there is one anywhere near a place that cows wouldn't be underwater I didn't see it. The internet thing is kinda cool, eh?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 24, 2013, 06:33:10 AM
"Promised Land" is the infamous anti-fracking movie from the puss-filled skull cavity of Matt Damon."  FIFY!

 ::thumbsup::

PS-Was this the flick some folks were not allowed to see at some premier or something because they were not "true belivers" in such OWS-style eco-terrorist tripe?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 24, 2013, 08:18:07 AM
No, that was the sequel to the fraudulent and debunked documentary "Gasland."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 24, 2013, 09:27:02 AM
They all look alike...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on April 24, 2013, 10:05:36 AM
Dredd (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/)

This resurrection of the comic book character portrayed in the 80s by Sylvester Stallone bore no resemblance whatsoever to the Stallone film. No camp. Not a single lighthearted moment. Dark as hell, and visually spectacular.

I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised, as I had low expectations.

It stars Karl Urban (Eomer: LoTR, Dr. McCoy: Star Trek). If the ladies are waiting to see his handsome face, fuggettabottit. The helmet is on, from beginning to end. The nemesis is excellently portrayed by Lena Headey (Cersi Lannister: Game of Thrones).

The premise: America's post apocalyptic future has 800 million people gathered into one mega-city - the rest of the country having been laid to nuclear waste.  Within that mega-city are evenly-spaced, towering, hulking high-rise sectors, housing over 70,000 people each. "Mama" as portrayed by Headey is the leader of a cartel in one sector that seeks control through drug-trade over all the other sectors. Dredd and his partner are investigating a murder in Mama's sector, and Mama overrides the building controls, locks the building down, and a war begins between Dredd, his partner, and Mama's family.

Urban's stoic portrayal of the lawful-good judge, jury, and executioner was what it needed to be.

Worth seeing for visual, special effects, and a surprisingly uniquely put together world within which the story takes place.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 27, 2013, 11:39:16 PM
Dredd (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/)

I will see it when I can. Sounds like I will enjoy it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 28, 2013, 12:35:13 AM
I watched "The Impossible" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1649419/) on PPV this evening. Another movie pick by mrs. trapeze but this time she got lucky. It was a very good film.

"The Impossible" chronicles the true story of a family literally torn apart by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

It is a good movie on several levels. The acting is top rate and very convincing, especially the children. The story is, well, it's all true and very compelling. I guess, though, that the thing that got me the most was the ridiculously realistic portrayal of the actual tsunami itself. On one level you know damn good and well that the movie crew wasn't present during the real thing but on the other hand it looks exactly as if they were. From the first crash of the waves into the resort swimming pool area (where the family was gathered) to the interminable time that they floated inland with zillions of tons of debris and flotsam, it looks just like they filmed it as it happened. There are shots where they are filming the mother and son clinging to each other and they zoom out and out and out and you see wasteland and devastation everywhere. Truly a masterpiece of special effects and CGI wizardry.

We all know the basic story of what happened. The tsunami struck the day after Christmas and among the thousands of miles of shorelines were several resort hotel areas frequented by Europeans. The family that the story is about have three small boys, the oldest might have been ten. They are all immediately separated when the wave hits even though the father is clutching the two youngest boys. The story mainly focuses on the mother and we see her swept and tossed around for quite a while. She surfaces after a while and somehow manages to cling to a palm tree. She then sees her oldest son go zipping by, carried away by the current so she lets go of her safety and tries to reach him. During this time she is severely injured but she eventually does catch up to her son and they manage to stay together. They are rescued by locals at some point and are brought to a hospital. After that we see the father, who has rather miraculously managed to find both of the younger boys, searching near the resort for his wife and oldest son. The rest of the movie is about how they manage to reunite.

An amazing story, that is simultaneously exciting, tragic and uplifting. Death is literally all around them (over 230,000 people were wiped out) and yet, in amongst the devastation there are glimpses of beauty, kindness and hope.

My only complaint is that the film does not spend more time with the father and that it does not show how he became reunited with the two younger boys. A small complaint but the film seems somewhat incomplete without it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 28, 2013, 06:18:49 PM
Top box office draw this weekend is the Michael Bay true crime story, "Pain & Gain." Not the usual fare for Michael Bay who has a well earned reputation for cheesy, big budget action films for the undiscriminating moviegoer. This movie is decidedly different from Bay's other work. It's supposed to be very dark and insanely funny. I say "supposed to be" because I haven't seen it.

The story is about these incredibly stupid body builders who plot and execute a plan to kidnap a rich guy and get all of his money. Torture, murder and dismemberment follow. Really. I read about it and it piqued my interest enough to look up the story that it is based on. I found it at the Miami New Times. (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/pain-gain/) Here is an excerpt:

Quote
...the gang's first attempts to kidnap Schiller failed. To be kind, they were not smart plans -- not in their conception, especially not in their execution. For Halloween they planned to don ninja outfits and trick-or-treat in Schiller's neighborhood. They'd knock on his door and nab him when he answered. But instead they opted to spend the night at a strip club. They thought of another scheme: kidnapping him as he drove along the Palmetto Expressway during rush hour. But as they tried to catch up to his car, Schiller took an unexpected exit ramp.

The most complicated tactical operation took place early one November morning, right in Schiller's front yard. Although he lived in a gated community, access to the home was simple: A perimeter road next to a canal allowed anyone entry. Schiller's house was the closest to this road.

Adrian Doorbal, Stevenson Pierre, and Carl Weekes waited for Schiller to open his door and walk outside to pick up the morning paper. The three men were dressed all in black and wore gloves and military camouflage makeup. (Weekes remembered this application technique from his Marine Corps training.) They crawled across the lawn and huddled under movers' blankets in a chilly predawn rain, preparing to storm the house and hold the family hostage. But a passing car spooked them, and they radioed the now-familiar "mission abort" message to Lugo, who was in a nearby park with the van. The group ran all the way back to the vehicle.

When morale was down after yet another failed abduction (there had been six by now) Lugo would take the crew to the Solid Gold Club on 163rd Street, Miami's premier strip palace, and hand his colleagues money for the dancers. He would buy the guys drinks and tried to buoy their confidence. If the gang pulled off this Schiller caper, he'd say, these voluptuous naked centerfold fantasies could be theirs!

The story is very long but also engrossing in a "I can't believe that people, even stupid ones, would believe that they could get away with this" sort of way. I might see the movie after reading this.

Did I mention that this is a LONG story? It is. The above link is to Part 1.

Here are the links to Part 2 (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999-12-30/news/pain-gain-part-2/) and Part 3. (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2000-01-06/news/pain-gain-part-3/)

Pain & Gain Red Band Movie Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8w_jN7fgw0#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 07, 2013, 11:20:48 PM
I took my daughter to see "Ironman 3" this evening. It was better than expected for a sequel of any kind, let alone one with a number 3 in the title.

They managed to hide quite a bit of the plot from the trailers so I really had almost no idea what the story would be about. The only plot device that I had trouble with was Tony Stark suffering from frequent and unpredictable anxiety attacks (and insomnia) as a reaction to his little adventure in "The Avengers." The movie hints that it was the traveling into the wormhole that really freaked him out...the aliens and stuff. Personally, I'm thinking that anyone who can engineer themselves into being a superhero, who is comfortable hanging out with other (far more bizarre) superheroes, probably wouldn't be all that freaked out by the existence of space aliens and inter-dimensional rifts in the space/time continuum. But that's me. Obviously, the writers needed this vulnerability in order to have a proper story arc for the film. I get it. It just seemed a bit contrived.

Other than that, though, the rest of the movie was pretty good. It was different from the previous two Ironman movies in that Tony Stark spends an inordinate amount of screen time not suited up. Not suited up and simultaneously trying to track down the bad guys while they are trying to track him down and kill him. He improvises a lot and even reverts to the cave-in-Afghanistan mindset to whip up some homemade bad guy whoop-ass in a can stuff.

The movie culminates in a frenetic action scene that, like "The Avengers," probably goes on and on for a good twenty or thirty minutes. But there is no real absence of action in most of the movie. It's kind of hard to follow the plot details at times because the thing just moves so fast. I mean to say that, yes, you can follow the plot but there are little details that can fly past you and cause you to make mental notes to pay more attention the next time you see it. And for me that will be when it becomes available as a rental.

There is, if you can believe it, more humor in this one than in the previous two combined. I had to wonder how much of the funny stuff is scripted and how much is Robert Downey Jr. just ad libbing stuff from time to time. He really is the only actor I would ever want to see in this role.

Saw several trailers before the film rolled. Saw the new Star Trek trailer for "Into Darkness" and also "The Lone Ranger." Saw the trailer for the next "Thor" movie and something called "After Earth" with Will Smith that I didn't really come away with any understanding about what it was all about other than a sci fi movie where they crashed a space ship and got chased around by animals.

So...enjoyable evening. My daughter liked it a lot. I would recommend going to see it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 08, 2013, 12:03:53 AM
I watched it this evening on the IMAX 3 d......which was way cool. I liked the interaction between stark and the kid. The terrorist angle was clever and it's all ill say since I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I also appreciated the storyline of stark desperate to protect pepper, thru the brilliance of his "iron men", only to see his new found quirks create a situation of harm.

The humor was good. The hot mess stuff was clever and Starks interaction with the bad guys was funny as hell. The last 45 minutes is non stop and I'm telling you, in the IMAX it was totally cool.

Did you sit thru all the credits to watch the final scene?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 12, 2013, 01:03:11 AM
We saw Iron Man 3 tonight, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Fun ride.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 12, 2013, 02:51:21 AM
Did you sit thru all the credits to watch the final scene?

But of course. "I'm not that kind of doctor." Funny. Watching the credits was like seeing whole pages of the White Pages phonebook, though.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 12, 2013, 10:51:59 PM
Did you sit thru all the credits to watch the final scene?

But of course. "I'm not that kind of doctor." Funny. Watching the credits was like seeing whole pages of the White Pages phonebook, though.



I was intrigued by the line " tony stark will return", since the end of the flick indicated ironman is no more. I can't see another Avengers without ironman.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 16, 2013, 11:18:47 AM
Supposed to be a comedy?  ::saywhat::

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2013/may/07/white-house-down-trailer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2013/may/07/white-house-down-trailer)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 16, 2013, 01:06:08 PM
Supposed to be a comedy?  ::saywhat::

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2013/may/07/white-house-down-trailer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2013/may/07/white-house-down-trailer)


I believe there is a segment of the population who believe blowing up the white house would be an improvement. I haven't seen Olympus is Fallen......I probably won't see "White House Down"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 23, 2013, 08:22:07 AM
Saw this, (http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/2013/05/helen-mirren-pretended-to-be-queen-having-tea-sick-child) this morning.

Quote
Ten-year Oliver Burton’s story is heartbreaking. Without getting into all of the details, the young boy has Down’s syndrome and has battled a variety of other cancers, leading up to a recent diagnosis of terminal spine and bone marrow cancer. Throughout all of it, though, his family has tried to make Oliver as happy as possible, so when Queen Elizabeth II couldn’t or wouldn’t fulfill his dream of having tea with her at Buckingham Palace, they got him the next best thing.

Actually, in my opinion, it’s the better thing, but they took Oliver to the Gielgud Theatre to watch Dame Helen Mirren perform as the Queen in The Audience. And after the play, Mirren remained in character as she welcomed Oliver backstage to join her for tea, as the other cast members participated in costume. They even let Oliver meet the corgis.

So...decency on parade...which, these days, is by definition, remarkable. To mark the occasion here is some more Mirren awesomeness:


Red 2 - Official Trailer #2 (HD) Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcVkavITnAI#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 27, 2013, 11:58:06 AM
Looks interesting Trap, Anthony Hopkins going to out-crazy Malkovich?  Should be a good race. 

Saw the latest Star Trek offering this past Friday, extending the new timeline, an interesting ride...I like JJ Abrams' shooting style, was entertaining and worth the ticket.

Star Trek Into Darkness Official Trailer #3 (2013) - JJ Abrams Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAEkuVgt6Aw#ws)

Saw previews for this...I dunno...Cap'n Jack as Tonto?

The Lone Ranger Official Trailer #2 (2012) - Johnny Depp Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjFsNSoDZK8#ws)

Saw this preview too...looks intense...Brad Pitt, meh.

World War Z TRAILER 2 (2013) - Brad Pitt Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EC7P5WdUko#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on May 27, 2013, 12:20:59 PM
I saw Star Trek last night at the drive in.
Our drive in has 5 screens. One large main screen, 2 medium and 2 small screens in the back.
Unfortunately, Star Trek was on one of the smaller screens.

It was entertaining but not great.
There have been better
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on May 27, 2013, 12:25:40 PM
I know I'm going to be disappointed in the Lone Ranger but, like a car crash, I need to watch it.

From the previews, it looks a little campy.
Sort of like the Michael Keaton Batman.

I grew up with the Lone Ranger on TV as well as many westerns
The Lone Ranger is an Americon icon
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 27, 2013, 12:52:16 PM
I saw Star Trek II last night in 3D, and I was blown away. I'm a sucker for all things Trek though. I loved every moment. And if I've said it once I've said it 1000 times, after years of DVD, Blu-ray, and HD flat-screen TVs eating into theater revenues, 3D technology is making leaps and bounds toward making the theater experience something special again.

Yesterday was a rare two-movie day. I took the little one to see "Epic" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848537/), also in 3D.

It's the latest computer animated film from the "Ice Age" guys. It's about tiny beings in the forest, locked in the classic war of good vs evil - portrayed as a war between life and decay. A scatterbrained scientist is convinced they exist, and has set up an elaborate technological web in an attempt to capture evidence. His daughter comes to live with him after the death of her mother. She thinks he's wacko - until she gets shrunk down and embroiled with the Leaf-Men in the struggle against decay. Once a skeptical disbeliever in her father's seemingly worthless pursuits, she now must save the forest in the tiny world she denied.

Now, one would think that given the subject matter, this movie would be an automatic check-the-box propaganda film for environmental Leftism. Happily, I can report that this film avoids proselytizing on behalf of environmental Leftism almost entirely. It's really a classic a good v evil story. Of course, it assumes that life in the forest is better than decay - hardly a controversial viewpoint. Even if one were to find issue with that aspect, there are no other cringeworthy environmentalist moments.

One thing that made me think twice was the slogan of the Leaf-Men: "Many leaves - One tree" - the idea being, interconnectedness of beings, and the importance of community. No hat-tip to rugged individualism in that slogan. The hat-tip is clearly in the direction of community. And if they would have beat it to death, it would have taken away from the film for me. But they didn't. They said it, and left it alone. As it is, I cannot find serious fault with the idea that there is a web of life, or that people need community.

Another thing was the assumption of broken family. We arrive in the film with the mother dead, the father and daughter estranged. We assume that the mother left the father because he is eccentric. We assume that the daughter's relationship with the father was basically non-existent until they come together in the film.

The 3D was absolutely spectacular. The story was passable. The voice acting was passable. The little one loved it. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5. If you're going to bother seeing it, take a child, and see it in the theater in 3D.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on May 27, 2013, 07:44:33 PM
Quote
If you're going to bother seeing it, take a child, and see it in the theater in 3D.

I don't know any children but I'm rapidly regressing to one myself. Does that count?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on May 27, 2013, 08:01:17 PM
Quote
If you're going to bother seeing it, take a child, and see it in the theater in 3D.

I don't know any children but I'm rapidly regressing to one myself. Does that count?

But of course!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 27, 2013, 08:57:59 PM
I freely admit that when it comes to entertainment - more specifically movies - childlike wonder is among the attributes I value in myself.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 27, 2013, 11:18:12 PM

One thing that made me think twice was the slogan of the Leaf-Men: "Many leaves - One tree" -
The problem is that is is true. The libs appropriate it as their own, but simply stated, we do depend on one another. The question remains a to if that is a voluntary or involuntary arrangement. Conservatives want the voluntary, evil the other.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on May 28, 2013, 12:01:14 AM

One thing that made me think twice was the slogan of the Leaf-Men: "Many leaves - One tree" -
The problem is that is is true. The libs appropriate it as their own, but simply stated, we do depend on one another. The question remains a to if that is a voluntary or involuntary arrangement. Conservatives want the voluntary, evil the other.
 

I want as little or as much of it as I can stand; people annoy the crap out of me, as a rule, but I require their company.  I need to live in a "community", but of like-minded people.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 28, 2013, 06:44:03 AM

One thing that made me think twice was the slogan of the Leaf-Men: "Many leaves - One tree" -
The problem is that is is true. The libs appropriate it as their own, but simply stated, we do depend on one another. The question remains a to if that is a voluntary or involuntary arrangement. Conservatives want the voluntary, evil the other.
 

Yup, and that was the way it was used in this film. They didn't equate the need for human interdependence with communism. It was refreshing, especially since I expected it to do just that.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 03, 2013, 02:00:27 AM
Watched "Dark Skies" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dark_skies_2013/) on PPV this evening. mrs. trapeze was in the mood for a scary movie.

It's about a family living in the suburbs who begin to experience an escalating series of unusual events. Seems that they are being visited by some malevolent aliens...probably bent on abducting one of their two kids. The family makes all of the usual horror movie mistakes including my two favorites: 1)walking around the house at night and for some reason not turning on the lights...every-single-time...and 2) splitting up when it's obvious to anyone and everyone that it makes more sense to stay together.

The movie is reminiscent of "Signs" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/signs/) except that you are never really sure of what is real and what is being imagined by the family members. There are several scenes in which the characters "wake up" and you realize that what you have been looking at for the last minute or so is a hallucination. Or not. It's hard to tell sometimes. It's enough to drive you nuts as you watch this film wondering if what you are seeing is real or imagined or whatever.

So here are a few things that irritated the heck out of me: 1) The first incident is where the mother wakes up, wanders downstairs (in the dark) and finds that a whole bunch of stuff from the refrigerator has been arranged into some kind of precarious sculpture on the table...and the sliding glass door is open. Cause for alarm? It would be for me. Not these people. They assume it's one of their two kids. Who were demonstrably asleep at the time. 2) Yet another break in and this time every single picture frame in the house has been emptied of photos. Their reaction? Pay the alarm company bill so that they can turn the alarm system on. Me? I'm gonna be camping out downstairs with a shotgun and all of the lights turned on, indoors and out. Not them, though. They don't have a gun. Instead they spend a small fortune installing CCV cameras all over the house so that they can "catch" the bad guys in the act. And guess what? It doesn't work. Every time the aliens show up the cameras mysteriously get all freaked out. 3) A whole sh*tload of birds inexplicably ram into the house. They show a bunch of guys in bunny suits picking up the dead birds as if they are radioactive or something...they say they are worried about "bird flu." Yeah, sure. The bird experts seem totally uninterested and unimpressed that this happened. Meanwhile the parents start to interrogate their kids as if they somehow made all those birds commit suicide. Ridiculous. 4) Somewhere toward the end of the film after countless inexplicable things have happened (every single family member loses consciousness at one point or another...usually in broad daylight in front of witnesses...and sleepwalk, bleed uncontrollably from random body orifices, self mutilate themselves and other such nonsense and NO ONE seems to think that maybe there is a problem. 5) They go and see the local fruitcake UFOlogist and his sage advice is, "You're f**ked. The aliens are gonna screw you, take one of your kids and there isn't a damned thing you can do about it. And BTW, they have already put mind control sh*t in your head...look here's mine." So that was a big help. 6) They get this ferocious ass German Shepherd dog and it barks its ass off when the aliens show up for the big finish and then that's it. It's like the dog then got bored with the whole thing and either went to sleep or maybe outside to take a dump. The dog turns out to be absolutely useless. Maybe the aliens ate the dog. Who knows? 7) Dad waits downstairs (after telling everyone to split up) and shoots into blinding white light when the boarded up front door gets knocked in. As soon as the door hits the floor he starts blasting away (with the shotgun he just bought and has no idea how to operate...the Joe Biden school of firearms) at the light and...gasp...that's it. We have zero idea as to whether or not he has hit anything or anyone. The aliens somehow completely evade dumbass dad and manage to get upstairs to terrorize mom and the kids.

The movie is absolutely chock full of stupid stuff like this. It goes on and on and on. Side note: After a while you get tired of the "story" and start noticing (thanks to hi-def) that mom (Keri Russell) has several unattractive bumps on her face, one right in the middle of her upper lip. Yikes. That's actually more creepy than the movie, itself.

There were one or two "startling" moments in the film but the increase in tension and/or suspense that you know the director is desperately trying to achieve comes off as contrived rather than natural. The director/writer (same person) has very obviously borrowed from a lot of other (better) material...."Signs" is perhaps the most obvious source material but so is "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and just about any other alien abduction movie that you can think of.

The ending is disappointing but not unexpected after you witness the unconvincing build up to the big finale. You get to the end and you are thinking, "That's it?...that's what I suffered through for an hour and a half?" So, you get to sit through a bunch of crap, have your intelligence insulted numerous times and there is zero payoff.

On balance, I liked "Signs" better, one of M. Night Shyamalan's less horrid films. In fact, "Signs" got a 75% at the Rotten Tomatoes site whereas "Dark Skies" got a paltry 38%. But I guess I could say that I probably find just about any alien abduction movie better than this one.                                                                                                                                                                                              
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 03, 2013, 06:41:38 AM
"So, you get to sit through a bunch of crap, have your intelligence insulted numerous times and there is zero payoff."

Welcome to America 2013!

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 03, 2013, 08:38:20 AM
Hey, I'm just taking the arrows for the team on this one. Forewarned is better than renting this thing blind.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 03, 2013, 09:07:43 AM
Just a general smart-assed comment on my part Trap, we appreciate your warning!   ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 03, 2013, 12:47:22 PM

One thing that made me think twice was the slogan of the Leaf-Men: "Many leaves - One tree" -
The problem is that is is true. The libs appropriate it as their own, but simply stated, we do depend on one another. The question remains a to if that is a voluntary or involuntary arrangement. Conservatives want the voluntary, evil the other.
 

I want as little or as much of it as I can stand; people annoy the crap out of me, as a rule, but I require their company.  I need to live in a "community", but of like-minded people.

Hot Airs review (http://hotair.com/archives/2013/06/02/film-review-epic/) with a claim of Agenda Free.
Sadly this is how I pick which films my Kids see.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 03, 2013, 12:57:36 PM
I read that review yesterday, Weisshaupt.  It pretty much confirms IDP's review.

And not for nothing, but I really like "Signs" and "Lady in the Water".
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 03, 2013, 02:42:55 PM
I read that review yesterday, Weisshaupt.  It pretty much confirms IDP's review.

And not for nothing, but I really like "Signs" and "Lady in the Water".

Confirmed it so closely in some regards, I wondered to myself if he read my review.

I liked Signs and LitW also. Especially Signs.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 08, 2013, 10:58:21 PM
I haven't seen this. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082622/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) But I will probably watch it soon. I hadn't even heard of it before it got a mention in the AoS ONT.

Knightriders Part 1/8 and yeah, that's Ed Harris as a king (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIEnT-vnf9U#)

So what is it?

1) It's a movie made by George Romero.

2) It's a movie about guys who joust (for real) on motorcycles.

3) It's supposed to be the most awesome movie ever. Or so some people say.

4) It has the ever obnoxious Stephen King (and his obnoxious wife) in a cameo.

5) It got a 75% on Rottentomatoes.com (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/knightriders/) so go figure.

So, I guess I gotta see it now.

Here is the wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightriders) entry.

And the plot summary from rottentomatoes.com:

Quote
Knightriders may well be the only cycle flick ever to be played out in suits of armor. A hardcase motorcycle gang led by Ed Harris has found itself a neat money-making gimmick. Dressed as the knights of the round table, the cyclists pick up a few bucks at local "renaissance" fairs, selling handicrafts made by the more talented members of the gang. Harris' great rival is Tom Savini, who has his own band of "black knights." Keep an eye out for a chucklesome unbilled bit by novelist Stephen King. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 09, 2013, 01:32:06 AM
I saw Knightriders several times, many years ago. It was a "cult" film in my circle of friends a few years outa high school. We thought it was so cool because George Romero directed it and Tom Savini was in it. We were "Living Dead" freaks.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 09, 2013, 01:35:34 AM
MAMA (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2023587/)

If you're into creep-fest, check this out. Guillermo del Toro does a good job with an interesting plot, and tons of creep factor.

Feral children are found after five years and brought back to live with their uncle and his girlfriend. How did they survive by themselves? Watch the movie and find out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 09, 2013, 12:50:39 PM
MAMA (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2023587/)

If you're into creep-fest, check this out. Guillermo del Toro does a good job with an interesting plot, and tons of creep factor.

Feral children are found after five years and brought back to live with their uncle and his girlfriend. How did they survive by themselves? Watch the movie and find out.


Feral children? Hell, they lived off foodstamps and public housing. watch the movie to find out what happens when brought into the real world.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 13, 2013, 01:32:44 AM
Best movie ever made or crap? I guess the good news is that it can be either one when the movie in question is "Sharknado." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2724064/)

From a checklist point of view this movie does have nearly everything you could possibly ask for: CGI sharks, chainsaws, improvised explosives, shotguns, horrible writing and acting, high body count, guy with Australian accent, guys being swallowed by sharks, guys with chainsaws cutting themselves out of shark's stomachs, helicopters attacking tornados with bombs...absolutely amazing in its godawfulness and yet, kinda impossible to look away from once you start watching. Sort of like a cinematic car crash of epic proportions.

After this John Heard will be in permanent dinner theater mode. But he doesn't last very long before he gets eaten. And after a while, though, you start hoping that other characters get eaten next.

You have to wait quite a bit for the actual tornado full of sharks...about three quarters of the way in. But while you are waiting you get to see one ridiculous shark attack after another. I could describe in excruciating detail the many outrageously stupid things in this movie but I really think you just need to see it for yourself. And if you didn't see it last night (I DVR'd it) it is going to be broadcast again on July 18th (I think...pretty sure).

It would also make a heck of a drinking game where you have to toss one back after each dead shark. Or dead human. Or horrible dialogue exchange. Take your pick...they all work.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 13, 2013, 09:06:10 AM
Sounds like a plan, I'll mark my calendar.

ETA - Caught this cinematic masterpiece last night.  All I gotta say is that it is sooo bad that it would be a lock for the MST3K treatment...now that would have been a hoot.

Oh, one more thing....whinny useless people whose sole purpose in life is to annoy and ask stupid questions...yeah, they wouldn't last with me...fed to the next shark they would be.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 20, 2013, 10:47:10 AM
Well, here's a little something to look forward to this fall. Due out in September which gives you plenty of time to watch the two earlier films if for some reason you haven't already seen them...

Riddick - Restricted Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Dm9zRogpE#ws)

Will it follow the formula of the other two? Almost certainly. Which means it will be hard for it to go wrong.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 20, 2013, 10:55:33 AM
And I really want to see this. I know that it has Jim Carrey in it but he isn't starring in it so I think that I can justify seeing it even though it has that as a douche factor.

Kick-Ass 2: Extended NSFW Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nje6dcArZrI#ws)

This might be one of those rare sequels that is better than the original. Maybe.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 20, 2013, 10:56:51 AM
I saw that Riddick trailer earlier this morning. It looks like "Pitch Black 2" to me. I REALLY liked how the "Chronicles of Riddick" movie took the character out of Pitch Black and placed him in a completely different, unique, very cool sci-fi universe. Hopefully this new film will at least capture the essence of both, rather than rehashing the plot of Pitch Black.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 20, 2013, 11:55:25 AM
I'm good with "new and different" as long as that translates to "good movie."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 20, 2013, 10:27:43 PM
I love the Riddick flicks.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on July 21, 2013, 09:02:38 AM
I love the Riddick flicks.

Me too.  I do not love whatshername -- Sackoff -- though.  Maybe they'll kill her off early.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 21, 2013, 10:19:29 AM
I love the Riddick flicks.

Me too.  I do not love whatshername -- Sackoff -- though.  Maybe they'll kill her off early.

Wouldn't count on it. Looks like the main female character to me. Riddick always has a chick pining after him.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on July 21, 2013, 12:46:14 PM
I love the Riddick flicks.

Me too.  I do not love whatshername -- Sackoff -- though.  Maybe they'll kill her off early.

Wouldn't count on it. Looks like the main female character to me. Riddick always has a chick pining after him.

Killjoy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 21, 2013, 06:56:11 PM
Riddick I'll see... "Whose the better killer?"

 ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 02, 2013, 11:54:10 AM
Like I needed more reason not to watch the Oscars...

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/ellen-degeneres-to-host-oscars-1200566939/ (http://variety.com/2013/film/news/ellen-degeneres-to-host-oscars-1200566939/)

 ::mooning::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: benb61 on August 02, 2013, 07:00:46 PM
Like I needed more reason not to watch the Oscars...

http://variety.com/2013/film/news/ellen-degeneres-to-host-oscars-1200566939/ (http://variety.com/2013/film/news/ellen-degeneres-to-host-oscars-1200566939/)

 ::mooning::

Like I would ever want to watch a bunch of asshat liberals pat each other on the back and congratulate each other for being asshat liberals.

 ::rockets::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 02, 2013, 10:45:29 PM
Like I would ever want to watch a bunch of asshat liberal high school dropouts pat each other on the back and congratulate each other for being asshat liberals.

Slight edit.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on August 03, 2013, 02:25:25 PM
the Oscars are the liberals' beauty pageant without....the beauty

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 03, 2013, 02:59:26 PM
the Oscars are the liberals' beauty pageant without....the beauty

(http://in2eastafrica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Juliannes-little-toes-were-hanging-out-of-the-side-of-her-shoes-while-others-seemed-squished-under-the-straps.jpg)

http://in2eastafrica.net/cannes-film-festival-2013-julianne-moores-tortured-toes-are-on-full-display-at-cannes-film-festival-opening-ceremony/ (http://in2eastafrica.net/cannes-film-festival-2013-julianne-moores-tortured-toes-are-on-full-display-at-cannes-film-festival-opening-ceremony/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on August 03, 2013, 03:02:02 PM
 ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 03, 2013, 07:02:38 PM
 No wonder they're pissed off all the time.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 03, 2013, 11:03:12 PM
No wonder they're pissed off all the time.

Yep.  "Beauty knows no pain".  Except when it does.  Soon as ole Julianna sat down, she prolly whipped those bad boys off, Gunsmith sez.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 04, 2013, 12:06:14 AM
No wonder they're pissed off all the time.

Yep.  "Beauty knows no pain".  Except when it does.  Soon as ole Julianna sat down, she prolly whipped those bad boys off, Gunsmith sez.

There would have to be a sado/masochistic element involved to find beauty in those shoes as worn. The only thing missing is barbed wire straps.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on August 04, 2013, 07:13:53 PM
There would have to be a sado/masochistic element involved to find beauty in those shoes as worn.

No beauty but probably a famous designer.

Incidentally, if one of my kids tried on shoes and they looked that we wouldn't be buying them no matter who designed them.  Even if they were FREE.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 08, 2013, 07:44:16 AM
Haven't seen it, not going to see it...and this info does nothing but reinforce that desire...

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/08/07/elysium-drector-star-matt-damon-deny-movie-has-political-agenda/ (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/08/07/elysium-drector-star-matt-damon-deny-movie-has-political-agenda/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: RickZ on August 08, 2013, 08:08:55 AM
I thought foot binding was outlawed?  I guess not in Hollyweird.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 16, 2013, 07:41:16 AM
Wow, Reagan mischaracterized in a libiot Hollyweird movie?!

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2013/08/15/reagan-biographer-blasts-butler-inaccurate (http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2013/08/15/reagan-biographer-blasts-butler-inaccurate)

Alert the media, alert...the..umm...ahhh...

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 18, 2013, 08:39:21 PM
I have not been to the movie theater in months. How long? I'm not sure (without consulting posts on this thread) what the last movie was that I saw in a theater.

And who could blame me?

This has been the worst year for new movies, especially for alleged blockbuster movies, in years. I can't remember a year as bad as this for new releases. One awful film after another.

You know the drill...you wait for a big name film with a big name actor, or two, and it gets panned (big time) by the critics and you think, "Well, the critics always hate blockbuster action films like this," and hope and pray that they are wrong. Because, face it, they have been wrong many, many times in the past about action film classics. I remember that the critics thought "Die Hard" was a stupid piece of crap, for instance. But not this year. No, this year the critics have been pretty much dead on correct about H'wood's offerings because audiences have agreed. H'wood has paid a very heavy price for releasing crap with one megaflop after another dying a quick death at the boxoffice.

I guess that it couldn't last forever, though, and I also guess if I had to wait this long for a decent movie I'm pretty glad that it was this one.

There has been a lot of hype leading up to this one and it appears that it is going to be well deserved. Rotten Tomatoes is showing a critic rating of 93%. That's big. I know...who gives a damn what the critics say? Well, RTs is also indicating a 97% audience approval rating and when the audience and the critics align in that range it is usually cinematic magic.

So...I'm going to the movie theater just as soon as it shows up in my little corner of Podunk land. It may be another week or two but I am going to see this just as soon as it hits the theater here. You guys will almost certainly have an opportunity to see it before me. Some of you may have even seen it already. If you have or if you do...please hold off on any reviews that contain spoilers because I want to experience it without any foreknowledge of the plot other than what has already come out in the trailers.

Oh, yeah...what movie is this? It's this one. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_worlds_end/) Enjoy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 18, 2013, 10:59:34 PM
I have not been to the movie theater in months. How long? I'm not sure (without consulting posts on this thread) what the last movie was that I saw in a theater.

And who could blame me?

This has been the worst year for new movies, especially for alleged blockbuster movies, in years. I can't remember a year as bad as this for new releases. One awful film after another.

You know the drill...you wait for a big name film with a big name actor, or two, and it gets panned (big time) by the critics and you think, "Well, the critics always hate blockbuster action films like this," and hope and pray that they are wrong. Because, face it, they have been wrong many, many times in the past about action film classics. I remember that the critics thought "Die Hard" was a stupid piece of crap, for instance. But not this year. No, this year the critics have been pretty much dead on correct about H'wood's offerings because audiences have agreed. H'wood has paid a very heavy price for releasing crap with one megaflop after another dying a quick death at the boxoffice.

I guess that it couldn't last forever, though, and I also guess if I had to wait this long for a decent movie I'm pretty glad that it was this one.

There has been a lot of hype leading up to this one and it appears that it is going to be well deserved. Rotten Tomatoes is showing a critic rating of 93%. That's big. I know...who gives a damn what the critics say? Well, RTs is also indicating a 97% audience approval rating and when the audience and the critics align in that range it is usually cinematic magic.

So...I'm going to the movie theater just as soon as it shows up in my little corner of Podunk land. It may be another week or two but I am going to see this just as soon as it hits the theater here. You guys will almost certainly have an opportunity to see it before me. Some of you may have even seen it already. If you have or if you do...please hold off on any reviews that contain spoilers because I want to experience it without any foreknowledge of the plot other than what has already come out in the trailers.

Oh, yeah...what movie is this? It's this one. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_worlds_end/) Enjoy.



Dang.....thought it was gonna be kick ass 2.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on August 18, 2013, 11:04:20 PM

Dang.....thought it was gonna be kick ass 2.

me too, I was afraid I was going to have to go see it 'cuz trap liked it.
 ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 18, 2013, 11:17:58 PM
Well, we'll see, won't we? I am going to see it and I am going to write about it and if it is as good as the previous two movies...even if it only approaches the greatness of the previous two movies then it will be light years ahead of the crap that H'wood has put out this year.

So there's that.

But, I'm guessing that it's going to be pretty good.

And you don't have to see it. You could go and see Matt Damon's socialist/OWS fantasy epic "Elysium" instead. I won't see it but maybe someone should and then write about it.

And the word is that "Kick Ass 2" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kick_ass_2_2013/) is okay (28%/77%) but not as good as the original. So I'm waiting to see it on PPV or something. Probably Jim Carrey's fault. Maybe if they had been able to work Kevin Costner into it (as a long winded and boring villain) it would have been better...I would pay to see Hit Girl work over Costner any day.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 22, 2013, 08:59:20 AM
Please. Someone make them stop. (http://www.slashfilm.com/sequel-bits-bill-ted-3-blade-runner-2-fast-furious-7-the-expendables-3/)

Taxi Driver 2? Blade Runner 2,  Bill and Ted 3?

AGGGHH!
 
Looks like the cool kids have reached middle age and now just want to relive past glories- and its a pathetic for them as it for Bill-Bob the High School Quarterback superstar sitting there with is Bud Light and 50 lbs of beer belly.
So many wonderful stories from SF yet to be told - that couldn't be told well till there was CGI, and they leave them on the sleves and want to return to Bladerunner? Hey- you know, Philip K Dick actually wrote a bunch of stories- and so far I really haven't come across one I didn't find compelling. Maybe do one of those?  There is even one about a post collapse California (Dr. Bloodmoney) - I hear the doomsday stuff is popular right now for some reason.  How about Asimov (no not a movie you just give one of his story  titles to)  or Niven, Or Mcaffrey, or heck evena  Piers Anthony Xanth Novel. That would be fun.
But no. Everyone has got to look at their shoes.  (http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Shoe_Event_Horizon)

Just more proof we are in a declining Civilization. No one wants to  do anything new, they just want to hide in the past.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 22, 2013, 09:11:05 AM
I just heard the other day that some numbnuts plans on rebooting the "Blade" franchise - without Wesley Snipes.

Now, one can question the value or need for a reboot after three films. But Snipes just got out of prison for tax evasion. He's still in excellent physical condition. He's a martial arts master. He was iconic in the role. He looks cool as heck in the role. The Blade movies are "dark" superhero movies, which is apparently in vogue.

Why not just make a new Blade movie instead of the idiotic re-imagining? Throw Snipes a bone in the process?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 18, 2013, 10:32:33 AM
Went to see "Gravity" last night, in 3D. I thought it was wonderful.

The story was simple; stark; surface. No deep meanings in this film. It's got two actors: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. (Yes, I know I put money in Clooney's pocket).

The thing that makes this movie worth seeing it not its acting (good from Bullock, adequate boilerplate from Clooney). It's not the story (extremely linear and one-dimensional).

There are two things that make it worth seeing, now, in the theater, in 3D.

First, from moment 1, this film puts you so realistically in space, it is as if there is no disbelief to suspend. Emotionally, you're transported into the film more palpably than any film I've ever experienced. I cannot think of a film that evoked the feeling of sustained desperation and panic as viscerally as this one.

Second, this film simply could not have been made before now, thus, you are witnessing yet another HUGE leap in filmmaking technology. The graphics and 3D are just unbelievable in their believability.

Now, downsides.

Clooney is a smug bastard, but we all know that. Thankfully, his role in the film only makes us deal with his Clooneyishness in brief spurts.

While the visual physics in the film seem hyper realistic, the chain of events often stretches credulity. I know that clashes with my above statement re; no need for suspension of disbelief. But the realism comes from the visuals, and the emotion generated. The improbability of specific events occurring is a minute distraction, and I only found myself a handful of times saying "no way that could happen", even though the whole film is basically one big "no way that could happen."

If you want a full immersion cinematic experience, I'd see this one now, and see it in 3D.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 06, 2013, 12:08:05 PM
I will be wanting to see this!

http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=215655 (http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=215655)

http://screenrant.com/turn-tv-show-trailer-amc/ (http://screenrant.com/turn-tv-show-trailer-amc/)

 ::thumbsup::

Timely too.  We may need to replicate and update things for our time and our war to regain our independence and liberty.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 15, 2014, 12:39:23 AM
Well...it has been a while since I posted on a movie.

I meant to see "World's End" as I said in an earlier post but, living in the middle of nowhere, it never came to a nearby theater. Not even to one of the theaters which are an hour or more away. Darn. It's been on pay-per-view (very briefly) by now but I haven't bothered to see it that way.

Oh, well. Perhaps I will see it on Starz, Encore or one of those other "premium" channels that I have on DirecTV. Or I will get it on Netflix or something.

But I did see another movie on pay-per-view recently and I thought that I might offer up an opinion. So, what did I see? "Ender's Game."

And believe me, I was ready to be disappointed in yet another horrid adaptation of a very good book. I read the book many years ago...probably the year after it came out because my copy is in paperback rather than hardcover. And I have a LOT of scifi in hardcover.

There is a very short list of good adaptations of books to film with an even shorter list of good adaptations of scifi books to film. "2001: A Space Odyssey" was a pretty good adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's short story, "The Sentinel." Not scifi but Peter Jackson did a pretty damned good job with "The Lord Of The Rings" trilogy.  There are probably a few more which are noteworthy but it's a lot easier to name all of the horribly botched ones.

So, imagine my pleasant surprise when "Ender's Game" didn't suck. It was (mostly) faithful to the source material due probably in no small part to the author being one of the exec producers on staff. Not that that is any guarantee of a good picture...remember the ridiculous interpretation of "Dune?" I always wondered if Frank Herbert died early due to that film. No, "Ender's Game" was more than just faithful to the book, it was a pretty good movie. Good script, good pacing, good acting, all that stuff. The only place where the movie seriously deviated from the book was the necessary condensing of the part where Ender keeps winning games and changing his strategies to keep his enemies from anticipating his next move.

Will I see this movie again? Maybe. Probably not but maybe. Which is not a criticism. It has more to do with my familiarity with the source material. I am pretty sure that I have read the book at least twice, maybe three times. So, the movie, being a pretty faithful interpretation, was not something new to me. But it was an enjoyable experience seeing the film because it was well done and the source material is among the best that scifi has to offer. I would recommend it to anyone.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 15, 2014, 09:35:52 AM

So, imagine my pleasant surprise when "Ender's Game" didn't suck.

Actually I would go so far as to say it was well done. Not hit it out of the park well done, but at least a A- effort.  A lot of that was time, and they cut the entire sibling sub plot.. and even then my wife who had not read it had a bit of a time following because she wasn't familiar with the story.  The re-watch or not for me is more about intensity.  Like Watchman, there is only so much I can stand in a short time, and its an intense story and really doesn't end on feel good terms.

As for Dune.. there is no way to make that Movie in less than 6 hours.  Its was doomed from the start because they did not have the time to tell it properly.  I did love the look and feel of the world they created, but its just not possible to cut that story down. .  I fear its the same with Winter's Tale.  I read that book while going to school in New York and I loved it - but the previews I have seen suggest they have turned it into something its not..a valentines love story. Yes those elements are in there,  but its also about architecture, steam, progress and utopian dreams. Its 600 Pages of dense prose, that leaves you with strong visuals as much as LoTR does.   I want to see what they did with it, but then I don't, because I just know they cut anything that wasn't love story.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 16, 2014, 09:53:46 AM

So, imagine my pleasant surprise when "Ender's Game" didn't suck.

Actually I would go so far as to say it was well done. Not hit it out of the park well done, but at least a A- effort.  A lot of that was time, and they cut the entire sibling sub plot.. and even then my wife who had not read it had a bit of a time following because she wasn't familiar with the story.  The re-watch or not for me is more about intensity.  Like Watchman, there is only so much I can stand in a short time, and its an intense story and really doesn't end on feel good terms.

As for Dune.. there is no way to make that Movie in less than 6 hours.  Its was doomed from the start because they did not have the time to tell it properly.  I did love the look and feel of the world they created, but its just not possible to cut that story down. .  I fear its the same with Winter's Tale.  I read that book while going to school in New York and I loved it - but the previews I have seen suggest they have turned it into something its not..a valentines love story. Yes those elements are in there,  but its also about architecture, steam, progress and utopian dreams. Its 600 Pages of dense prose, that leaves you with strong visuals as much as LoTR does.   I want to see what they did with it, but then I don't, because I just know they cut anything that wasn't love story.

Do I need to announce a spoilers alert?  OK, I will anyway.  I ordered Enders Game off PPV a couple nights ago, and not reading the book I had no idea what it was about other than the trailers that basically described gamer kids of the future saving mankind from extinction before an aggressive alien species.  Sure, OK, that genre is nothing new, let's see what their spin on it is.  Watching the movie I thought it was interesting enough, well put together...the gravelly cantankerous Ford character was perhaps a bit tiresome but I was buying it.  Then the ending.  It is what it is, but I was like what's the big deal, threat removed, all is well, right?  Would I have did what he did and found a home for the former enemy?  Probably not.  It kinda felt like the typical liberal Hollywood meme that war is bad, even if for survival, so lets feel guilty and save the poor aliens from outright extinction.  Kinda left me feeling "Jeez, WTF was that?"!

Anyway.

As for Dune, the first attempt tried to compress too much into too little and had to add elements not originally there to make a story work.  It is a mixed bag with mixed results.  The SciFi channel production of the first three books was better and much closer to the books, but that whole literary series is so deep, unique and epic that anybody would struggle with it in a cinematic format.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 18, 2014, 11:21:24 AM
I watched "Mr. Holland's Opus" again last night for the umpteenth time. That movie gets me every time. Beautiful story, beautiful message, and a superb job by Richard Dreyfus.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 18, 2014, 11:30:12 AM
Richard...oh, the guy who survived sharks and aliens.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: oldcoastie6468 on February 18, 2014, 12:11:58 PM
I watched "Mr. Holland's Opus" again last night for the umpteenth time. That movie gets me every time. Beautiful story, beautiful message, and a superb job by Richard Dreyfus.

I saw Mr. Opel's Anus one time. Thats it for me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 18, 2014, 01:17:02 PM
I watched "Mr. Holland's Opus" again last night for the umpteenth time. That movie gets me every time. Beautiful story, beautiful message, and a superb job by Richard Dreyfus.

I enjoy it as well, IDP, every time.  Getting older myself and watching some things pass away -- it allows a new understanding of how times and people change.

I get a kick also, every time, of this part, starting at 2:02 minutes ......

Mr. Holland's Opus - Lou Finds the Beat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5pKiflwew#)

..... I could feel Holland's frustration when he snatched the drumsticks away; used the kid's shoelaces to keep his foot moving in time to the beat; drummed on the helmet on the kid's head in time to the beat ........  It points to stereotypes and generalizations as they apply to groups, not all individuals, and realizing that is sometimes an amusing thing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 18, 2014, 02:40:33 PM
Then the ending.  It is what it is, but I was like what's the big deal, threat removed, all is well, right?  Would I have did what he did and found a home for the former enemy?  Probably not.  It kinda felt like the typical liberal Hollywood meme that war is bad, even if for survival, so lets feel guilty and save the poor aliens from outright extinction.  Kinda left me feeling "Jeez, WTF was that?"!

Well the twist is that Ender didn't know he was actually acting to  exterminate another alien species, and perhaps the movie didn't bring this across well enough, but the whole point of choosing Ender was because he had that Killer instinct-- that the proper way to win a war is to act to end it form the beginning. "lefty" wars of aggression are fought "humanely" to protect a status Quo - don't cross this line, don't engage in this activity.  Wars used to be fought such that you killed every male  over 18. That put an end to it.  No "lefty wars" go on forever..  So really Enders Game is pro  real-war, instead of "get along wars"  -- Orson Scott Card is an odd bird, and being raised LDS I think he has a lot of very conservative attitudes, but there is a bunch of liberal blended in-- (Old School Liberal - sort of like Jim Henson)....  much of his writing is very pro-morality and pro-family. He had the gays boycotting Enders game because he dared suggest that the Homosexuals shouldn't be using govt power to force people to accept them as it hinders the possibly of them ever being accepted.  The further books in the Ender's game series are very different and very much about different types of alien and the possibility of getting along ( with an EXPLICIT admission there will be creatures so alien  that co-existence is impossible)  The whole bent of his writing is  - Yes we need to try to  get along, but not at the cost of morality or civilization.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 19, 2014, 06:58:08 AM
Then the ending.  It is what it is, but I was like what's the big deal, threat removed, all is well, right?  Would I have did what he did and found a home for the former enemy?  Probably not.  It kinda felt like the typical liberal Hollywood meme that war is bad, even if for survival, so lets feel guilty and save the poor aliens from outright extinction.  Kinda left me feeling "Jeez, WTF was that?"!

Well the twist is that Ender didn't know he was actually acting to  exterminate another alien species, and perhaps the movie didn't bring this across well enough, but the whole point of choosing Ender was because he had that Killer instinct-- that the proper way to win a war is to act to end it form the beginning. "lefty" wars of aggression are fought "humanely" to protect a status Quo - don't cross this line, don't engage in this activity.  Wars used to be fought such that you killed every male  over 18. That put an end to it.  No "lefty wars" go on forever..  So really Enders Game is pro  real-war, instead of "get along wars"  -- Orson Scott Card is an odd bird, and being raised LDS I think he has a lot of very conservative attitudes, but there is a bunch of liberal blended in-- (Old School Liberal - sort of like Jim Henson)....  much of his writing is very pro-morality and pro-family. He had the gays boycotting Enders game because he dared suggest that the Homosexuals shouldn't be using govt power to force people to accept them as it hinders the possibly of them ever being accepted.  The further books in the Ender's game series are very different and very much about different types of alien and the possibility of getting along ( with an EXPLICIT admission there will be creatures so alien  that co-existence is impossible)  The whole bent of his writing is  - Yes we need to try to  get along, but not at the cost of morality or civilization.

Oh it did, and I get it, but the action then is what, one of "screw you, I'll show you who the better man is by saving this species?"!  Seriously, if they posed a mortal threat once that required these lengths to eliminate, do you really think bringing them back is a good idea?  I just think that part left me dissatisfied.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 19, 2014, 09:18:31 AM

Oh it did, and I get it, but the action then is what, one of "screw you, I'll show you who the better man is by saving this species?"!  Seriously, if they posed a mortal threat once that required these lengths to eliminate, do you really think bringing them back is a good idea?  I just think that part left me dissatisfied.

Oh I see.  Michelle had the same issue.  Major Spoiler alert! Major plot points of the series revealed  ahead:

So it turns out Enders Game is really just a prologue to introduce the character of Ender, that ended up growing  into its own novel, so that is part of the reason this isn't explained well...     I think OSC was trying to point out how very very alien,  alien life forms might be and how that may very well lead to real problems in understanding one another.

In the book and subsequent books its revealed that  the initial  Hive Queen/Earth interaction was not an invasion.. and the Hive Queens were using the game he was playing to contact him.. not as an attack but as a cry for mercy.    A hive Queen basically shares the same soul as its 1000s of workers. The workers HAVE no soul and no intelligence without the queen ( which is why if you destroy the queens ship, the rest just fall out of the sky)  and they communicate using a "philotic" connection - basically a instantaneous faster than light  connection enabled by the spirit/ soul  ( in this universe, every bit of matter  has a "soul" - and that is the basis for quantum entanglement )  - and the queens talk with each other this way too.

The point being that the queen who invaded earth's system squashed a few humans as a way of letting the other queen know she was there. As a tap on the shoulder, because the queen couldn't sense  a "philotic" connection in the system she could talk to.  The idea of each human being a separate living sentient organism  was foreign to the queen, but by then the war was started.  The remaining queens informed by the invading queen via philotic connection of what happened, figured out that we were a swarm of tiny  sentient beings,  but none of them could contact a human to admit wrong doing and tell them that they had no intention of seeking another confrontation.  Eventually they formed a philotic connection with the computer Ender was playing  - and manipulated the game in an attempt to contact him, and in so doing eventually found his soul and started talking directly to it instead of via the conduit of the computer.  - but meaningful communication was NOT established before the human fleet arrived, and the Xenocide was committed. Also not really portrayed in the movie, was  that Enders final desperate move to destroy of his defending ships and use the MD on the planet was an act of rebellion and anger at his instructors. He was exhausted from being tested, frustrated by the seemingly impossible battle before him, and  he just chose the fastest route to ending the simulation- hoping to freak his instructors out, and not realizing he was committing 1000s of real live humans to death.  Likewise, in the movie he found the Hive Queen on the planet they commanded the battle from. In the book that was an Asteroid in our own system,  and Ender returned home victorious, and to find his Brother in charge and his presence as a rival unwelcome ( an entire, very interesting subplot of the book that was dropped, for understandable e reasons)  and so he sets of with his sister to colonize one of the Hive worlds-- and his Soul connection was used by the remaining infant hive queen to ensure he would come to her world, hundreds of cycles later earth time.. over which the bond becomes strong enough for meaningful communication and the Hive Queen can (finally) tell her side of the story - admit guilt, and beg/rely on the human who exterminated her race to find a new home for her - and Ender comes to know her over a long life and trust she will not seek revenge upon the human race.  ( they are a bit like Vulcans - doing so would not be logical)

  And you thought  it was a fun sci fi story about gamers in the future :)  Most of OSC's work is philosophical and he seems to delight in setting up real ethical conundrums and really hard choices for his characters..  I started Enders Game at 10pm at night and finished at 5:30 in the morning and shuffled off to work.  It is the only book I have ever read that I  literally could not put down.

Ultimately I think there is some truth to Ender's statement that to know an  enemy well enough to defeat him you must love them.  Its not a universal truth and yes Hollywood decided to come over heavy handed with it because I am sure  the lefties there think it is.  But sadly I know its not universal (more on that in a bit)  and so did OSC-- as Ender starts wandering the universe   his sister writes a description of http://ansible.wikia.com/wiki/Hierarchy_of_Foreignness (http://[url=http://ansible.wikia.com/wiki/Hierarchy_of_Foreignness)]the Heirarchy of foreigness[/url]

Quote
Utlanning are individuals who are of the same species as the subject, and are from a different region, city, or country. Culture is similar, communication between subject and Utlanning is generally easy.

Framlings are individuals who are recognized as being of the same species as the subject, but who are from another planet. Culture and manners between Framlings may be different, but they are still similiar.

A raman is an individual recognized as a sentient being who is of another species, but with whom communication is possible.

The varelse are true aliens: they are sentient beings, but are so foreign that no meaningful communication is possible with the subject. Only war with Varelse is justified.

 For this heirarchy to work, the being involved have to be MORAL beings- or at least moral enough to recognize the right of others to exist, and to make their own decisions, and live their own way. So there is an class of being in the Enderverse with which war is inevitable, and I would argue that "meaningful communication" requires recognition of  the simple moral principles inherent in the idea of  inalienable rights. .  And sadly that really is what we are facing with the Left. They do not recognize those principles., and cannot see a reason to do so... They are Varelse.

I  understand them - often far better than they understand themselves, but I feel no love for them - other than love perhaps expressed as pity. But even so I can't tell you what goes on their heads when they hear what I say.  But I do know   Meaningful communication with them is impossible. .. because they refuse or are incapable respecting the lives of others - especially if the focus, goals and values of that life differ from their idea of what they should be.  . .  The left will  literally NEVER respond to our arguments, or engage in any sort of good faith communication on the subject.  They do not keep promises, they have no standards but double standards regarding us, and  our mere presence elicits their hatred. 

Like  the hive queen, the idea that we are ( and want to be) independent from their community (hive)  is completely foreign to them.  Unlike the hive queen, they are unwilling to accept that in any capacity. . They are unwilling to live and let live, or to accommodate our foreign ways in their midst.  They refuse overtures to simply separate and live apart - and insist that we be assimilated or die.  After all, live and let live imposes our values on them-- our value of our own life as our and not owned by the collective. Maybe the left is capable of understanding and refuses to .. maybe they will only understand when we have beaten every one of their brains open with a rock. From our perspective it doesn't matter. They refuse to agree to any terms that recognize our right to live separate and out of the direct control of the hive, and  as such war is inevitable.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 19, 2014, 11:24:40 AM
Oh, so another case of a book that makes you think butts into a Hollywood that just wants to make you feel lost-in-translation thing!

At least I have Michelle to commiserate with!   :D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 19, 2014, 12:41:15 PM
Oh, so another case of a book that makes you think butts into a Hollywood that just wants to make you feel lost-in-translation thing!

At least I have Michelle to commiserate with!   :D

Yes. Exactly. But in this case, you really don't find all of this out till the last chapter, with the narrator telling it to you, and even then it feels rushed, so I don't know how you stick it into a movie.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 19, 2014, 12:46:18 PM
Oh, so another case of a book that makes you think butts into a Hollywood that just wants to make you feel lost-in-translation thing!

At least I have Michelle to commiserate with!   :D

Yes. Exactly. But in this case, you really don't find all of this out till the last chapter, with the narrator telling it to you, and even then it feels rushed, so I don't know how you stick it into a movie.

In that case I guess I can let up on 'em a bit...in other circumstances Hollywood has not been shy about rewriting things to fit a more standard plot line, it appears they at least tried.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 20, 2014, 05:37:04 PM
The Lego Movie has someone's panties in a bunch.  (http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/business-good_781552.html#) At the weekly Standard no less.  At least I think his panties are in a bunch.. maybe he liked it,  either way I am not sure why he bothered to write about it..

Quote
The critics who like The Lego Movie—and that is most of them, as the movie has a head-spinning 96 percent “fresh” rating at the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes—have fallen over themselves to remark on its “subversive” qualities. By this they mean that though it may have been made by major multinational conglomerates, it somehow manages, without those conglomerates knowing it, to blow the whistle satirically on their soul-deadening conformist hypnosis. The reviewers seem to think that it’s a modern version of the Stalinist mural Diego Rivera painted in the lobby of Rockefeller Center—only rather than having it destroyed, John D. Rockefeller Jr. had it mass-marketed!

They’re suckers, the lot of them. The “subversive” message of The Lego Movie is really just part of the overall marketing strategy shared by the studio, the distributor, and Lego—the perfect way to ensure that a corporate product gets itself treated kindly by liberal critics as it attempts to break free of the limitations of its kiddie audience.

And so, that is a good thing right? 

Its Corporate propaganda!   Seriously, a movie made entirely with Lego products becomes a commercial for that product? I couldn't have guessed!

I saw it with the kids. Opening day in fact.  And you know that I have overly sensitive radar for Political (or other propaganda)  and use them as teaching moments ( the kids get lectured all t he way home when they choose the wrong movie to see. They, as a consequence, are choosing more wisely now..)  There was no lecture on the way home from the Lego movie. The kids even asked why there was no lecture.  Yes the "bad guy" is "lord business", and that seems to be more of an artifact that he is a stand-in for a child's suit-wearing working father,  who doesn't think his Legos are for playing with.   The political message, if there is one, is so muddled as to be indistinguishable.  The closest I can express it is  "Conformity is good, sometimes, and other times not so much, and sometimes its a good idea  to play by the rules and other times its fun to be creative" Really, the movie is more about a Cat poster caption than anything else.   There are times in the film  when the creative Master Builders  have to "follow the rules' and the non-creative  rule followers ( the protagonist)  have to be creative. Mostly its a long string of (sometimes groaningly bad and other times hysterical) jokes.  (And yeah, it would totally suck to be interested in a girl and then find out she is dating Batman.)

My kids came  home from the Lego movie encouraged to get out toys they already own and to be creative with them, vs getting on the computers.   Yeah that SUCKS!

And the satire of the trendy, stupid, conformist cesspool of a culture we live in is dead on. You want to name the bad guy "lord business" and claim its somehow capitalism that causes this conformity so you can fool stupid lefty reviewers into liking it?  Go for it- it was the only slightly annoying aspect of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag_JRtK07gQ#t=0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag_JRtK07gQ#t=0)

$38 coffee! Awesome.

And that dang song..  the perky, meaningless, popularity focused tripe that PERFECTLY EMBODIES the Liberal way of looking at the world- and how EVERYTHING IS AWESOME.  Having no job is awesome. Obamacare is Awesome. Govt Spying is Awesome. Debt is Awesome!  The Song is the liberal drumbeat of denial --- Listen to the whole thing.. listen to the lyrics. They are hysterical. Oh, yeah, than this thing is Trending as a popular song on Billboard. Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y)

Now I can't read Zerohedge without that song in my head.. because who can read Zerohedge and not come to the conclusion that EVERYTHING IS AWESOME
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on February 20, 2014, 08:14:03 PM
When we were growing up TV was just coming into its own. Barely past the novelty stage it was starting to realize its potential for shaping attitudes instead of merely whetting appetites. I (fondly) remember the cartoons. They all seemed to have both subliminal meanings and double entendre. the cool thing for kids (especially young kids) was to "get" the cartoons. The largest agenda I recall being practiced from the cartoons of my youth (well, the cartoons that were enjoying airing on TV at the time) were the war propaganda cartoons with Bugs Bunny & co. They were fun, they were funny, and they weren't insulting to ones intelligence.

When I reached that point in my life where I was no longer a kid but had kids of my own I tried to take an active part in their development of TV discriminating skills. I would steer them towards stuff I would prefer they watch and away from the really stupid crap. It didn't always work - but sometimes it did.

And that brings me to Pokemon. When Random came over for a weekend and turned on Pokemon I had a WTF! moment. That was some seriously bizarre stuff! But she adored it and it appeared safe enough. She was about 6 when the first full-length movie came out "Pokemon - Mewtwo Strikes Back" and I got to take her to the movies to see it. The thing I remember about it was that there was no ulterior agenda. They never got a lecture - except to treat each other the way they would prefer to be treated (sound familiar?). The kids in that theater seemed to enjoy the movies like I remembered from my youth.

I had the pleasure of squiring Random to several of the sequels (I can't remember how many) and they were, more or less, the same. Nothing outstanding, nothing with an earth-rattling relevance. Just pleasant, engaging, simple, safe, entertaining. The characters were relentlessly cute, the plot-lines were simplistic and unabashedly noble, and the dialog was syrupy and completely nonthreatening.

Thank you Pokemon, you gave my child some entertainment, some solace, and a warm respite from the harsher realities of life. Job well done.

(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g369/J-reb/General/pokemon22_zps75ca7275.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 20, 2014, 10:27:06 PM

When I reached that point in my life where I was no longer a kid but had kids of my own I tried to take an active part in their development of TV discriminating skills. I would steer them towards stuff I would prefer they watch and away from the really stupid crap. It didn't always work - but sometimes it did.

And that brings me to Pokemon. When Random came over for a weekend and turned on Pokemon I had a WTF! moment. That was some seriously bizarre stuff! But she adored it and it appeared safe enough. She was about 6 when the first full-length movie came out "Pokemon - Mewtwo Strikes Back" and I got to take her to the movies to see it. The thing I remember about it was that there was no ulterior agenda. They never got a lecture - except to treat each other the way they would prefer to be treated (sound familiar?). The kids in that theater seemed to enjoy the movies like I remembered from my youth.

And its still that way -- they are on Season 17 of Pokemon - and its still the same formulaic story- and its still just as inane and harmless, with some morality about honor, honesty and good sportsmanship thrown in. Did Random play the game and collect the cards too?  My son actually has a gaming club at school and Pokemon is one of the games they play ( along with settlers and dominion) - so like the Lego movie the commercial aspect of Pokemon (collect em all!) encourages them to interact with something besides the all-addicting light box, so I am happy.

 Its just sad that every time I take my kids to the movies or turn on the TV ,  I cringe like I am going to be bludgeoned with some stupid liberal indoctrination agenda, because I might be.  Maybe its because of that I don't find corporate propaganda like the Lego Movie very trying- it seems mild by comparison.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: oldcoastie6468 on February 23, 2014, 12:03:28 PM
We watched the movie "Nebraska" last night.

Really a great flick! I'm gonna watch it again.

Bruce Dern said he's waited for a role like this for 77 years, which is how old he is! He's an academy award contender for his role in this movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 25, 2014, 01:20:28 AM
Okay, so what are we interested in seeing on the big screen this year?

So far I am most interested in this:

World Premiere of First Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTZ2Tp9yXyM#ws)

I am not a comic book person but I have to say that I have been seriously entertained over the last decade and a half by a lot of movies that have originated from comic books. Some of them I had heard of and some, like this one, I am blissfully unaware of until it shows up at the cinema.

Anyway, this looks promising...has a sort of "Firefly" flavor to it. And what's not to like about a genetically modified raccoon with a talent for firearms? And, btw...that's Vin Diesel as the plant thing.

If you want to know where this movie is heading here is a vid with some background on the comic stuff:

Who Are the Guardians of the Galaxy? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBGiskdYzt4#ws)

Guardians of the Galaxy "Meet Rocket" Featurette (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fkXQrgDUto#ws)

BTW...ever trapped a racoon? They are vicious.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 25, 2014, 02:12:55 AM
Not interested at all: Noah (because eco angle), Pompeii (because looks soap opera-ish), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (because...know the story, yawn)

Sort of interested in but wait for video: Amazing Spiderman 2 (because why so many villains?), X-Men Days of something, something (because, yawn, x-men again)

Interested in somewhat: Captain America 2 (somewhat rather than really interested because Redford is in it which is blech), Edge of Tomorrow (because even though it's another Tom Cruise vehicle it has Bill Paxton who is usually worth the price of admission...other than that it's Groundhog Day with alien invaders)



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 27, 2014, 12:45:41 PM
I finally got around to watching "The Big Lebowski".

What an odd movie. I was entertained throughout, although sometimes I couldn't really tell why. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, which for me, is very unusual. Comedy movies don't usually evoke much more than a smirk from me. Jeff Bridges is one of my faves these days. John Goodman was awesome.

I'd give a 3.5 out of 5.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 28, 2014, 06:44:24 AM
It is odd but pretty good.  I liked Goodman's role, seemed form-fitted just for him. 

A local radio show love's playing The Dude's "Well, that's just your opinion, man" line whenever they want to pooh-pooh someones statement.

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 01, 2014, 11:29:03 PM
So, last night I watched a movie by accident. It was "Basic" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264395/) which starred Travolta and a few others.

Synopsis:

A sadistic drill sergeant (Samuel L. Jackson) takes a group of Army Rangers into a Panamanian jungle for a live fire exercise during a hurricane. Only two come back alive and the mystery is just what, exactly, happened out there. Travolta is a former Ranger and current DEA agent who is tasked with interrogating both survivors to solve the mystery. As you might expect the stories from each survivor do not exactly come off the same. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Is anyone telling the truth? Travolta has to figure it out and now we are off to the races. And, for atmosphere, the entire movie (with the exception of one or two flashback sequences) takes place at night in a hurricane so it's dark and wet and noisy.

This is, without a doubt, the most confusing plot, script and movie I have probably ever seen. And it is on purpose, apparently. This is the ultimate cinematic example of a literary gimmick called the "shaggy dog story." Honestly, I had never heard of this. I mean, I've heard shaggy dog stories before but I didn't know that there was an actual name for it in literature. Here is how wikipedia sums it up:

Quote
In its original sense, a shaggy dog story is an extremely long-winded anecdote characterized by extensive narration of typically irrelevant incidents and terminated by an anticlimax or a pointless punchline.

Shaggy dog stories play upon the audience's preconceptions of joke-telling. The audience listens to the story with certain expectations, which are either simply not met or met in some entirely unexpected manner. A lengthy shaggy dog story derives its humour from the fact that the joke-teller held the attention of the listeners for a long time (such jokes can take five minutes or more to tell) for no reason at all, as the end resolution is essentially meaningless.

Example (brief example...there is one in a Mark Twain book that goes on for four or five pages):

A boy owned a dog that was uncommonly shaggy. Many people remarked upon its considerable shagginess. When the boy learned that there are contests for shaggy dogs, he entered his dog. The dog won first prize for shagginess in both the local and the regional competitions. The boy entered the dog in ever-larger contests, until finally he entered it in the world championship for shaggy dogs. When the judges had inspected all of the competing dogs, they remarked about the boy's dog: "He's not that shaggy."


In this case, nearly the entire movie is one big huge shaggy dog story and when the "big reveal" comes at the end the viewer is left holding the bag with nothing to show for the time invested in watching it. One professional movie reviewer said that perhaps it would be possible to mentally put everything together so that it eventually makes sense but it would take a minimum of half a dozen viewings and that's pretty hard to do with a movie that you really probably wish you hadn't seen the first time after the lights come up. So, the joke is on the viewer..."ha, ha, made you buy a ticket and this is what you get for your time and money."

And it's too bad because Travolta, Jackson and the others do a passable job of performing. The script is mostly engaging and the action is convincing. It's just that about half way through, after you have been exposed to the third of fourth plot twist (there are seemingly endless plot twists) you begin to realize that 1) you aren't sure at all what is going on and 2) that you may never know what's going on. Then at the very end you think that finally it all begins to make sense (sort of) and the final plot twist rears its ugly head and only then do you figure out that you have been had.

Now don't get me wrong...I personally like plot twists. mrs. trapeze will annoyingly attempt to figure out how every single movie we watch is going to end up (and usually does) so it's always nice to find one which has a truly surprise ending. Probably one of the best examples of that type of movie is "The Usual Suspects" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/?ref_=nv_sr_1) which posed the question: Who is Keyser Soze? When you find out at the end of the movie it is both surprising and satisfying. Not so with "Basic" because the surprise ending gives you thoughts of tracking down everyone responsible for this movie and violently killing them.

How to describe the end of "Basic" without just coming out and telling you the "surprise" ending? Well, it would be like watching the entire ninth season of "Dallas" and then being told that none of it was real, that Pam Ewing just dreamed that Bobby had died at the end of season eight. Or watching the entire series of "Lost" and finding out on the final episode that the writers had no idea at all how to tie up all the loose ends and just decided to fake out the audience with some kind of an afterlife ending.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 01, 2014, 11:35:21 PM
And, in case you missed it elsewhere on the web, you will probably NOT want to shell out your movie ticket buying money for the new Liam Neeson action vehicle, "Non-Stop."

Why?

Well, it insults conservatives with the villain that they choose to use. You may read about it (rather succinctly) here. (http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2014/02/28/non-stop-review-neeson-thriller-new-left-wing-low) Everything at that link is a spoiler so if you are bound and determined to see this movie you should not click through. But I won't be seeing it. I refuse to pay to be insulted.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 01, 2014, 11:40:58 PM
I finally got around to watching "The Big Lebowski".

What an odd movie. I was entertained throughout, although sometimes I couldn't really tell why. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, which for me, is very unusual. Comedy movies don't usually evoke much more than a smirk from me. Jeff Bridges is one of my faves these days. John Goodman was awesome.

I'd give a 3.5 out of 5.

I also just recently watched this movie for the first time. I, too, enjoyed it. Chock full of adult language and some nudity so viewers be fore warned in that respect. But, it was an enjoyable and unusual movie which is not common these days. It is a Cohen brothers film and that perhaps explains it. They either hit it out of the park or they don't. But, as you watch the film you realize (or I did, anyway) that you have known people similar to the lead characters and it is interesting to see people like that thrown into a truly bizarre situation.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ChrstnHsbndFthr on March 02, 2014, 02:18:02 PM
http://chicksontheright.com/posts/item/25488-i-found-out-what-liam-neeson-s-new-movie-is-about-so-i-m-not-going-to-see-it-fyi (http://chicksontheright.com/posts/item/25488-i-found-out-what-liam-neeson-s-new-movie-is-about-so-i-m-not-going-to-see-it-fyi)

Anywho, here's the setup: 


Neeson plays a "burned-out, alcoholic flight marshal hoping for a nice easy flight in first class, where after sneaking a smoke and drink, he might be able to catch a little shut-eye.  A text message informing him that one person on the flight will die every twenty-minutes unless $150 million is wired to an account, ruins that plan. Counting pilots and crew, there are around 150 souls on board. Marks has 20 minutes to figure out which one is the bad guy. Red herrings abound. Is it one of the many actors whose faces we recognize but names we can't remember? People start to die. Marks is fingered as the hijacker. Who's doing this? Why are they doing this? What is their motive?"

And here's your spoiler:


...the villain is not a hijacker but a terrorist -- someone who wants to murder everyone on the plane to further a political goal.

The terrorist is a 9/11 family member. Yes, you read that right; the terrorist is a 9/11 family-member who lost a loved-one in the World Trade Center on that terrible September morning.

It gets worse…

After 9/11,  this 9/11 family member-turned-terrorist then joined the military but found himself disillusioned by the pointless wars.

And now…

The 9/11 family member-turned-terrorist is upset because America hasn’t done enough to ensure there will never be another 9/11. And so he figures that if he can get an air marshal blamed for a terrorist attack, America will wake up and anally probe us before we're allowed on a plane, or something.

It gets worse…

The villain's sidekick is a member of the American military willing to murder 150 innocent people for a payday.

It gets worse…

The one passenger on the plane who is forever helpful, kind, reasonable, noble, and never under suspicion is a Muslim doctor dressed in traditional Muslim garb including a full beard.

And there you go.

I'm actually shocked that the villain wasn't a Tea Party member.  But I digress.

Hollywood can totally suck it.
>
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on March 02, 2014, 06:10:46 PM
Well.....I watched NON Stop last nite. We went because we liked Neeson in the Taken flicks. It is as advertised. Left wing propaganda, but you don't really know it until the end of the movie and it isn't so overtly thrown in your face as it was in the ( Was it?) White House Down flick until the very end.

But it's there. The flick takes your mind off the left wing antics by allowing Neeson's character to "confess", so to speak, as to why he isn't a good man, which literally makes him a hero to those on the plane. ( The ultimate liberal feel good moment is what I called it)

Actually, it followed the script of White House Down. Agent, down on his luck, becomes hero...so to speak.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 07, 2014, 01:59:49 PM
"The Lego Movie" = Delightful.

Lil one had the day off school, so we went to the matinee. What a gem this movie is!

The story is boilerplate "regular guy discovers the hero inside" stuff. But the backdrop is an interesting world, with "reveals" scattered throughout that nurse along your understanding of what's going on - until the end, when your hunches finally pay off in a ridiculously delightful revelation.

The hat-tips to characters, concepts, and quotes from other films are so numerous, it may bear a second or third viewing to catch them all. They even prominently hat-tip "V-ger" from "Star Trek the Motion Picture". The timelessness of the Lego brand is prominent throughout. There were at least a dozen "laugh out loud" moments, when I missed what was said next because I was laughing too hard.

If you need a bit of whimsey, see it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on March 08, 2014, 04:54:51 PM
The whole family saw The Lego movie. The youngest wanted to see it but for some odd reason the rest of us wanted to go too! I never go to branded movies like this but we were going in the afternoon (a time we rarely go) and it just seemed right to blow off the afternoon as a family.

I didn't hate it, in fact, it was rather fun. Frankly, it was better than many movies I've regretted forking over money for (Rango!).

We have now taken the Awesome song and sing it out when ever it feels appropriate like when we hear something stupid from the left.

I will not watch Non-Stop. Couldn't pay me. It's insulting. I remember once when I told a co-worker I didn't go to movie I found offensive or insulting and as a typical lib preceded to inform me she wasn't so close-minded.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on March 09, 2014, 06:40:01 AM
This and "Unbroken" are the only 2 movies I'm anticipating.

300: Rise of an Empire - Official Trailer 1 [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 10, 2014, 06:47:52 AM
Yeah I'll watch those Alan.   ::thumbsup::

Caught the second Hunger Games flick last night on PPV, not bad, the story continues...so they've successfully sucked me in to seeing the next one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 30, 2014, 11:22:29 PM
One more film that I am interested in seeing. It probably will not make it to any screen anywhere near me because it's a documentary and they almost never see the light of day anywhere, let alone where I live. But the subject matter is very interesting to me.

It is called "Jodorowsky's Dune" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935156/?ref_=nv_sr_1) and it opened this month somewhere in the USA. It tells the story of the "Dune" movie that was never made. I'm not sure that it should have been made given the tech available at the time, it was a couple of years before the first "Star Wars" movie came out. But what a story. You can read about it here. (http://boingboing.net/2014/03/28/dune.html)

Quote
Pavich’s documentary focuses largely on Jodorowsky, now 85, who recounts his courtship of each of the film’s key players. He spins one unlikely story after another. “Whenever you think that he’s embellishing it, you kind of roll your eyes and think, ‘Well, this possibly can’t be true,’ somebody else would back it up,” said Pavich, whose previous feature was N.Y.H.C., a 1999 documentary about New York Hardcore music scene. “These stories really did happen like that. It was a weird time. I think that the circles [Jodorowsky] was travelling in—of course he would be at a weird party in Paris, where Mick Jagger would be.”

Fanboys and girls would have drooled over the visual team. A then-obscure H.R. Giger designed the creepier Harkonnen settings. Dan O’Bannon, known at the time for his work with John Carpenter on the sci-fi film Dark Star, was brought on as the special effects wiz. (Jodorowsky rejected Douglas Trumbull because he found him too full of himself.)  British artist Chris Foss designed the space craft. And Jean Giraud, aka French comic book artist Moebius, brought Jodorowsky’s dreams to life in some 3,000 storyboard drawings that perfectly capture a character or scene with a few quick pencil marks on the page

Guess I will have to wait for it to show up on Netflix or Amazon. But I can wait.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 31, 2014, 06:48:06 AM
Orson Wells as the Baron Harkonnen?  Heh, that could have been good.  Pink Floyd, Mick Jagger among soundtrack artists?  Interesting.  An epic film never realized...died of its own mass more than anything...it sounds like it would have been a wild ride.  The few storyboards they show are interesting.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 06, 2014, 02:04:49 AM
Okay, so I saw "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" tonight...took my daughter. I wasn't hot to see this movie because I thought it would be "bleh" like the second Thor movie was. But I read a few reviews (the one at Breitbart (http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2014/04/03/captain-america-review) was especially convincing) that made it look pretty good. And, surprisingly, it was good...much better than I thought possible.

It had three fairly big tie-ins to today's real world: Drone killings, NSA spying on everything and the release of classified info. The overarching theme for these tie-ins is the utopian notion that freedom (liberty) must be exchanged for safety and order. Captain America, of course, stands against this theme..."The price of freedom is high... and it's a price I'm willing to pay." (As a side note: the release of classified data, ala-Snowden, was not done in a way that glorified what Snowden did because the motives and circumstances were entirely different. If Snowden had done what he did in response to the movie circumstances then he would not have been the traitor that he is in reality. That the movie did not glorify what Snowden did (releasing classified data for its own sake and probably to enrich himself and/or make himself famous) was a relief. But the tie-in is unmistakable, though.

I'm told that if you have been a Marvel comics reader that there are very few surprises here as to who the bad guys are and especially the identity of the Winter Soldier. I won't reveal any of that stuff to you because that would be horrible and besides, if you want to know what happens then you can always look up the plot summary at wikipedia. But don't. Go see it instead. This is without a doubt the best of the Marvel movies since the first Iron Man and yes, that includes "The Avengers." This is a dark movie with some dark themes to it. Perhaps "paranoid thriller" would best describe it. Lots of action, decent dialogue, introduction of a new hero, many surprises for the non-Marvel-comics-enthusiast so, highly recommended. I might even have to go see it again.

There are two post-movie clips: one in the middle of the credits and the other at the end so make sure to see them both. The first one is a reveal for next year's Avenger's sequel. And, yeah, it looks like "Guardians of the Galaxy" will be tied in at some point.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on April 06, 2014, 10:41:31 PM
Saw the movie tonight and it is as advertised. I will encourage anyone to watch, but if you didn't see the first Captain America, I would encourage you to watch it first.

Seems to be a tie in to the television series, too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on April 08, 2014, 09:46:32 PM
I haven't seen a single episode of the television series but it does make sense that there is a tie in there. After a shaky start to the cinematic Marvel universe (two attempts at the Hulk franchise, neither one working, comes immediately to mind) they seem to have a real game plan now. The upcoming "Guardians of the Galaxy" film is yet another tie in with the "infinity stones" (plus Thanos) looking to be a central theme that will connect to The Avengers.

I'm thinking that I am going to have to do a binge viewing of the television series at some point in the not too distant future or I will find myself missing out on something that will be referenced on the big screen.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on April 09, 2014, 03:53:22 PM
I haven't seen a single episode of the television series but it does make sense that there is a tie in there. After a shaky start to the cinematic Marvel universe (two attempts at the Hulk franchise, neither one working, comes immediately to mind) they seem to have a real game plan now. The upcoming "Guardians of the Galaxy" film is yet another tie in with the "infinity stones" (plus Thanos) looking to be a central theme that will connect to The Avengers.

I'm thinking that I am going to have to do a binge viewing of the television series at some point in the not too distant future or I will find myself missing out on something that will be referenced on the big screen.


The first few episodes of the TV series were fairly lame.....But the last ( few) episode(s) tied in the SHIELD issues and even used a couple scenes from the movie. It was good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on April 09, 2014, 08:20:04 PM
sounds like a movie I'd like to see
thanks for the review, trap
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 29, 2014, 10:09:37 PM
Space Battleship Yamato (starblazers)  was awesome.

Okay, so I am regressing back into childhood or something... escapism is what escapism is I guess,  but it worked well tonight.
When I was a Kid there was a kinda goofy anime cartoon called StarBlazers -  but like most anime, it tended to be a little more - I don't know - not serious, but perhaps would explore more adult themes - like honor and sacrifice, and just sported a more complicated mutli-episode plot.  I was entranced, but the local network would air it sporadically, and I would see 3-5 episodes, and then it would be gone and I find it and pick it back up  10 episodes later, and I never saw the whole thing.  (hey remember that paper TV guide thing you would pick up and look for when your shows were on? )  Anyway, I remembered the basic plot and no details..

So back to the point.. I discovered they made a Live Action reboot of the series a few years ago and bought the DVD on a flyer.  Boy am I ever pleased.  They did an excellent job of casting IMO, and the acting - well - the acting wasn't good exactly  - it was anime-ish, like the original. And its a pretty good adapation of the story - or at least what I remember of it..  In any case, if you have any interest in Anime or remember the original (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSy0JtBCZMQ&list=ELOr7Kf5pv-m8) check it out (link goes to all 77 episodes on Youtube..or Amazon has it on instant play for $22 a season, but now we are talking die hards... )  - just watch the live action film..

It was a wonderful  and entertaining two hours.. and if you are a major geek like me, you will probably enjoy it was well.  No its not Masterpiece theater. It is way better than the trash they are producing in Hollywood.

Someone posted the full length movie to You Tube - its English subtitles--  so deal with it - or buy the DVD (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=star+blazers)- with a 5.1 English mix (my son refused to read, so we watched the dubbed version-- it wasn't too bad.)

Movie Space Battleship Yamato English Subtitles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW1-U-e1WaE#)

They have also rebooted it as a new Anime Series Yamato 2199 ( yes its a spaceship made from THAT Yamato (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato)- again, its Japanese - deal with it)  and it looks beautiful - but I haven't taken the time to watch it either.. and they want $35 an episode on DVD...  so you will want to you tube that one too..

Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Episode 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWCWIJsN0Q#ws)

Oh crap, look what I found (http://www.amazon.com/Bandai-Tamashii-Nations-Battleship-Yamato/dp/B00E15ECCM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398824896&sr=8-2&keywords=star+blazers) Now I am gonna need $200.   ( no not really, but yeah, that big kid in me is poking me and telling me to buy that for him for Christmas.. )

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 17, 2014, 11:54:55 PM
Just Finished Yamato 2199 with the kids.  Pretty Dang awesome.  My son proclaimed it the best TV series he had ever seen.  I told him Firefly was still better,  but I am at a loss to name a second TV series that was better.  The reboot was faithful to the Cheesy 70's versions expect they almost perfectly were able to remove the cheese, fill the plot holes, and in general just tighten up the original story all while introducing new plots, new characters and generally adding an extra dose of awesome. Definitely worth the time... and again your other choices are what? While all of your other shows are off season, check this out.

And While I am touring Nerdom, I also watched Gamers III: The Hands of Fate.  (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHc4_u7OKafrBD6e1-iZhn5vwkvGrxlL)  which of course is the sequel to Dorkness Rising (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOUksDJCijw)  - which is the sequel to The Gamers ( which I would skip..I won't even give you a link. )
If you ever played Dungeons and Dragons or been into gaming,  they are hysterical.  If not, then they are still funny and entertaining, but maybe not as much.  Plus there is a shout out to Firefly in "Hand of Fate" so yeah, that is always going to work to make a movie endearing to me. And if you like them, consider looking them up and sending a donation, or buying a DVD. Because rather than pay the great Satan and fund the homo-networks,  you can pay the people who are entertaining you directly,  with no middle man, just as they used to in the old days, where  AFTER LEGALLY enjoying their production they would pass the hat.  You want more? You put some in.

And since it s not out of the way I will mention the Guild (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grCTXGW3sxQ&list=PL5wBMT6Z03J7aw1dw6EZ-DVy-Acana0_D) and Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUvPfZqEftI) - though I have probably mentioned them before. But you didn't watch them. Why not? Do as I say.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 18, 2014, 01:18:08 AM
Well, gosh, I finally got around to seeing the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost movie, "The World's End." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213663/) It was worth the wait. So...what is this movie about? First, some background...

This is the third movie directed by Edgar Wright and written by Simon Pegg and Wright. The first was "Sean of the Dead" and the second was "Hot Fuzz." The first movie used zombies as a plot device and the second was a conspiracy theory themed tale. "The World's End" is about an alien takeover and it happens during a second attempt at an epic pub crawl of twelve beer establishments.

On to the plot summary:

Quote
Gary King is determined to reunite his friends from his youth in an attempt to recreate an epic pub crawl from 20 years ago. Their target: "The Golden Mile" in their town of Lechtworth, New Haven. Their plan: five friends, twelve pubs, twelve pints, a few random shots, maybe some action with the ladies. Their first attempt failed miserably as they failed to make it to The World's End with the entire crew intact. This time around, they're older, wiser, and ready to get drunk - that is except for Gary's friend Andrew, who has gone sober. Starting with the The First Post, they realize the town may have changed, and they as individuals have changed, but there's something fishy about the town - the main factor is that the residents don't seem to quite recall the events of that epic night. As they hit the next bars on their list - The Old Familiar, The Famous Cock, The Trusty Servant, The King's Head, and so on, they discover that there's something really unusual about the citizens that now inhabit the town, and as they hit each pub, another piece of the conspiracy unravels. However, Gary is determined to make it to the Worlds' End if it winds up killing his whole group, and most of humanity in the process. But does the fate of mankind rest in his hands?

Enjoyable and outrageous to be sure but not as good as the preceding "Hot Fuzz." Worth a look, though, especially to see how the aliens are finally defeated.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 18, 2014, 11:28:40 AM
Just a warning to anyone with children/grandchildren who would be in the market for some harmless summer film entertainment:

The upcoming sequel to the animated "How To Train Your Dragon" has a little surprise (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/05/17/character-in-how-to-train-your-dragon-comes-out/?intcmp=features) for the kiddies. It seems that one of the lesser characters from the original movie is going to be announcing that he is a homo in this film. Just thought you might like a heads up on that one.

Quote
Dean DeBlois, the openly gay writer and director of the movie, told Eonline that when Ferguson was recording his lines, he ad-libbed the second reason and said, “Yup, Gobber is coming out of the closet.” DeBlois thinks it’s a, “really fun (and) daring move to put in. I love the idea that Gobber is Berk’s resident gay.”

This should also settle any debate about how superior Craig Ferguson would have been to anyone else selected to host the CBS Late Show.

Thread subtitle: Why Dreamworks will always be second banana to Disney/Pixar.

(http://cdn.breitbart.com/mediaserver/Breitbart/Big-Hollywood/2014/05/17/gobber/Gobber.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 18, 2014, 11:46:59 AM
We watched "Prisoners" with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhall. My Lord, what a powerful, disturbing, well-written, well-acted movie. Not exactly entertaining, but a fine piece of film art for the raw emotion it evokes.

Without giving too much away, the premise is that the families of Jackman and his business partner are having dinner at the partner's home, when their two young daughters disappear while walking to Jackman's home to retrieve something.

The heartache and chaos that unfold among the families and community is almost too realistic to watch. Gyllenhall enters as the detective assigned to the case. As the plot thickens and splinters toward conclusion, the film explores how everyone touched by the tragedy reacts to it, and the real point of the film is how each character is in some fashion, imprisoned by themselves, the past, parents, drugs, responsibility, emotional weakness, ineptitude, pride, guilt, etc.

The unfolding of the plot moves from a long and deliberate setup of face-value events and reactions, into an incrementally weirder and weirder chaotic spiral and web of connections that is really brilliant to watch. The climax is completely unexpected.

After seeing Les Miserables, Jackman came onto my radar as more than just "Wolverine". He is a fine actor, and this movie deepens his resume considerably.

Gyllenhall too - excellent. Compare his performance in this film to Jodie Foster's "Clarice Starling", and you won't be far off the mark. Not the character, but the performance.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on May 18, 2014, 06:45:29 PM
Heaven Is For Real. Saw it last night with my wife and mother-in-law. I say it's a "must see" movie because it's good, but mostly because it's true.

One thing I didn't realize by the previews, but should have known by being a parent. The kid is 4 yrs old. He's not going to hold a complete conversation about what he saw in Heaven. When he sees something that prompts his memory, he'll explain what he saw. Then goes back to being a 4 yr old and doing 4 yr old things.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 19, 2014, 01:24:17 AM
I saw "Monsters" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/) tonight on the Roku box. Nowhere near as exciting as I thought it might be, the movie chronicles the story of a couple who attempt to traverse northern Mexico which has been fenced off due to the presence of horribly violent alien life forms. There are some very obvious and heavy handed allusions to the illegal alien pathway to the USA via the eyes of these two American travelers. The special effects are mostly restrained which is certainly okay...when used correctly, what you don't see can be quite effective. The end of the movie is especially unsatisfactory. One of these days I will see "Cloverfield" (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloverfield/) which is supposed to be much better than this.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 19, 2014, 06:42:38 AM
It will be interesting to see what you think of Cloverfield, I'll reserve comment until then.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 19, 2014, 12:24:51 PM
It will be interesting to see what you think of Cloverfield, I'll reserve comment until then.

me too....
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 20, 2014, 11:06:12 PM
This evening I saw "3 Days to Kill" which I guess is the latest Kevin Costner vehicle. Now...as some of you probably know I cannot stand Kevin Costner. I find him to be pretty much one dimensional and an almost talentless actor. Almost every single one of his movies is a variation on "Dances With Wolves." In other words, Costner sleepwalks through almost every one of his roles, playing the exact same character over and over again. Not that that is particularly bad in and of itself...Nicolas Cage does almost the same thing but, unlike Costner, Cage is likable and funny. To me, anyway. Costner is largely a bore. Not unlike William Hurt...an even bigger huge crashing bore who plays the same character in just about every movie he has ever been in.

HOWEVER...

"3 Days to Kill" is different. Which is notable. Wow, a different Kevin Costner film. Please note that I said, "different" rather than good. Or great. Which is not to say that this is a bad film but it most certainly isn't a great film But it is a notable film because Costner is not playing the same character that he always plays. Which seems to be himself. In this film he plays a rather "by the book" CIA wetwork specialist. It is similar to the role that John Cusack played in "Grosse Pointe Blank," a film that I rather enjoyed. In "3 Days to Kill" Costner plays a cleaner, a killer, who is under contract by the CIA to pretty much do whatever needs to be done. But here's where it parts from what you might expect: Like Cusack in "Gross Pointe Blank," Costner's character is trying to redeem himself. In this movie, though, he is trying to win the heart of his daughter rather than his love/sex interest. He is dying. He has just a few months/weeks to live and he wants to make things right, set his affairs in order...while at the same time he has the CIA pressuring him to deal with some nasty bad guys. He spends his remaining time juggling his personal life (his daughter) with his ridiculously complicated and dangerous professional life.

The emphasis here is on the interpersonal relationships rather than the traditional shoot-em-up type of action thriller thingy. Costner actually acts in this movie rather than playing the same character (himself?) that he always plays. The story is interesting and engaging. It isn't a great movie but it is an okay movie and worth seeing (but perhaps not worth paying for) if for no other reason than to see Costner not be a crappy actor for a change. It's notable. It's remarkable.

Not that this changes my opinion of Costner. He is still and will probably always remain an incredibly over-rated and minimally talented actor. But...in this he is okay. I have to imagine that the writing (Luc Besson has a hand in it) and directing (someone I've never heard of) forces him to not be bland.

So...there it is: a Costner movie that I don't just outright hate. I never would have imagined it could happen.

Unrelated: I decided to cut back on my DirecTV subscription. I cancelled out my Encore/Starz/Showtime package...probably saved myself about $60 or $70 a month. I am going to try and get my movie fix via Netflix/Amazon Prime internet route. Should be interesting.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on June 20, 2014, 11:33:55 PM
I was reluctant to watch this because of Costner. His movies suck. Scenes from waterworld still haunt me. This movie wasn't a total suck. I liked the storyline and Costner actually seemed to have a sliver of personality.

I thought the same about tom cruise. A one trick pony but I actually thought he did a good job acting in Edge Of Tomorrow.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 21, 2014, 08:07:45 AM
I finally watched "Ender's Game" last night. Pretty good. Not blowaway awesome, or even very good. But good, and entertaining. I never read the book, so I can't comment on the film's representation of the book. But I liked it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 21, 2014, 08:50:14 AM
HBO and Cinemax are free for me this weekend on Direct and Enders Game is on so I'll record it
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on June 21, 2014, 09:58:21 PM
I read "Ender's Game" when it first came out. It was a good read back then. It is said that it is a very popular book with military students. But it is a good read. The movie is a truncated and yet reasonably accurate version of the book. If you liked the movie you will also like the book. Plus the book may add quite a bit to the movie experience. I didn't care much for the sequel, "Speaker For The Dead."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 21, 2014, 10:56:20 PM
I read "Ender's Game" when it first came out. It was a good read back then. It is said that it is a very popular book with military students. But it is a good read. The movie is a truncated and yet reasonably accurate version of the book. If you liked the movie you will also like the book. Plus the book may add quite a bit to the movie experience. I didn't care much for the sequel, "Speaker For The Dead."

The book is way better.  They did a good job with the movie.. it was just one of those "you really can't do it justice in two hours" problems.
Yeah, Orson Scott Card claimed Ender's game was actually a prologue to the following books that  just sort of became its own novel - arguably better than the the story he was trying to tell in Speaker for the Dead and the follow on books.  Its about a steep transition as going from the Hobbit to Fellowship. I personally think OSC had a lot of very interesting things to say in the latter part of the series ( Center Cultures/Fringe Cultures,  and the  Hierarchy of Foreignness (http://ansible.wikia.com/wiki/Hierarchy_of_Foreignness)  )  but its a rather jarring let down if you were expecting more of Ender's Game (  he does return to that sort of narrative later when he tells of Peter's quest to become Hedgemon, and Bean and the other Battleschool graduates  involvement (or resistance to)  that - but then he pulled a Piers Anthony and decided to tell the same story over from a different  characters' persectives - interesting in a way, I guess, but that bored me easily because I already knew how things played out.

You win some, you lose some. However, I have read most of what he has written and I usually find it at least thought provoking..some of his lesser known stuff is  also worth picking up  The Worthing Saga - while a bit rough and not as polished writing wise,  was worth the read, as was "the Folk of the Fringe" -  which is basically short story musing of what he thinks the Mormons will do after Teotwawki. Also his attack against the PC culture BS,  "The Redemption of Christopher Columbus" - where time travers go back and stop Columbus from opening a path to the new world,  and the sort of world that came about after that..

 And then I also found the Alvin Maker books to be good - but unfinished as a series as of yet and very, very Mormon in outlook - or anti-mormon. Or something.  Its an  Alternate Universe America with Mormon beliefs thrown on top- of a Christ-like figure  in America shortly after the Revolutionary war.  But OSC excels at setting up various moral quandaries and then asking the reader, so smarty pants, what is the morally right action here? And unlike Modern Hollywood, there will usually be a right answer-- but with a trade-off.  Welcome to real life.   He is very liberal in many views on his website, with a bit of a libertarian leaning ( which is why Gays were boycotting Enders Game because OSC had the gall to point out that other people have a right of conscience)  , but when he writes,  he ends up writing books for conservatives - many of which I think make excellent learning opportunities for older children (young teens)  as they are trying on their own moral decision making skills - largely because the problems that are proposed are complex, without obvious answers, and with obvious costs and trade-offs that have to be sorted through. And often different characters are presented with similar problems and they all solve it differently, with different  results.  Its something that drives home the fact that life is complex,  its individual,  and one size won't fit all no matter how many times the socialists tell you it will, and what is right for you might not be right for someone else, for reasons you may never understand.

Quote
Hey, hey, hey — don't be mean. We don't have to be mean. 'Cause, remember: no matter where you go... there you are' - Buckaroo Banzai

Another Book and Movie people should see if they haven't before. Though I guess it may  be an acquired taste... like most of the weird crap I watch. Hey at least I am not suggesting anyone watch Hal Hartley films :)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 11, 2014, 11:36:38 AM
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/07/upcoming-moses-movie-attacked-for-having-white-actors-appear-in-brownface/ (http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/07/upcoming-moses-movie-attacked-for-having-white-actors-appear-in-brownface/)

Well, to be fair...in Free Shyt Amerika...it might be hard to find colored folk who will actually work...  ::rimshot::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 11, 2014, 11:37:13 PM
This had sure better not suck because if it does then these are the good parts...

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - Official "Extended Look" Trailer #3 (2014) [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHUBlv5_K8Y#ws)

The one thing that I have to look forward to this summer because the rest of the country is full on suck.

This might be good. Maybe. It was a halfway decent television show so maybe...

The Equalizer Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Denzel Washington Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAI7rF0eQyQ#ws)

And since Spider-Man gets a reboot I suppose anything goes these days. Now the turtles get the full Michael Bay treatment (which could be bad because Transformers and Pearl Harbor) so who really knows?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Official Trailer #2 (2014) - Whoopi Goldberg, Megan Fox Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdgNSJiWJTo#ws)

This might be good but I am immediately prejudiced against it due to the ludicrous (and demonstrably false) premise that we use only 10% of our brains. And by "we" I mean the non-MSNBC target demo...

Lucy Official International Trailer #1 (2014) - Scarlett Johansson Movie HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnKVv8Lp_xU#ws)

It's directed by Luc Beson who has done stuff that I have liked in the past (notably "The Fifth Element") so again, who knows?

And they say that Nic Cage is and has been crazy stupid with all of the money he has ever made and thus is now either dead broke or in debt up to his eyeballs and will therefore do just about anything for a buck...

Rage Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Nicolas Cage Thriller HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoREt4C6l3k#ws)

Cage is behind Clint Eastwood on the all-time movie kill list but this one will certainly push him past.

(http://iowntheworld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lethal.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 14, 2014, 12:39:12 AM
Tonight I watched "Pain & Gain" on Roku. This is a movie that I posted on a while back. (http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php?topic=439.msg97229#msg97229) It is supposed to be a true crime story and it is most definitely based (very, very loosely based) on actual events that happened in Miami during the mid nineties. They really butchered the story.

Now, I understand that it is frequently necessary to take artistic license with the truth in order to make a story interesting enough to work on the big screen. Believe me when I say that there is absolutely no way that this story (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999-12-23/news/pain-gain/) needed to be embellished. Not even in the slightest. If you didn't read the entire story back in April of 2013 when I originally posted on this...hey, you gotta believe me that this story is worth your time to read. It is nearly* the most  incredible crime story I have read in just about forever.

But the movie is another story. Literally, another story. First of all they took a tragedy and turned it into a comedy. Completely unnecessary. Then they decided that there was just no way that the audience was smart enough to keep track of all of the players in the real story. In reality there were seven to nine people involved in the kidnapping/torture/murder scheme but the movie producer felt that the audience was too stupid to handle that many characters. What they did was to eliminate several people from the story and create a composite (and therefore completely fictional) character that was supposed to represent three to four of the perpetrators. They also made the first victim out to be an asshole. He was a shady character (he was later convicted of Medicare fraud) but by all accounts he wasn't a dickhead.

The most insulting thing about the movie, though, is that the producer used it as a platform to bash Christians. This was done via the composite character played by Dwayne Johnson. The character, Paul Doyle, is a self-professed Christian and goes out of his way to promote the notion both verbally at almost every opportunity and by wearing "Team Jesus" shirts. Nevertheless, he seems to have no trouble whatsoever being a party to kidnapping and then torturing one person and then being an accessory to murder of two others all the while snorting copious amounts of cocaine. At one point he even forces their Jewish hostage to convert to Christianity...claims he has a "gift" for such things. It was truly a sickening display of anti-Christian bigotry on the part of the film makers that had nothing to do with the original story...a total fabrication that made no sense.

So...bottom line is that I would not recommend this movie at all. I would whole heartedly recommend that you read the very excellent and comprehensive account of the true story as written by the Miami New Times.

*What would be either a close second or a tie would be the story of Anthony and Frances Toto. (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-04-13/features/9001310150_1_tony-toto-frances-toto-extraordinary-love-story) Frances attempted to kill her husband (an infamous philanderer) at least five separate times. She didn't succeed and ended up in prison. Incredibly, he forgave her for it because he loved her and she also loved him. A pretty good film (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_You_to_Death) of this story was made that starred Kevin Kline and Tracey Ullman.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on July 14, 2014, 07:30:11 AM
I just read Empire a couple of months ago and Card definitely goes off on the MSNBC culture.  He incorporates their own language into his story, which of course, attracted an avalanche of 1 star reviews on Amazon, because of such.

I found it a worthy read.

The Homecoming Books are also a decent read, if you don't mind the touches of Mormonism that do sneak into his books.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 14, 2014, 07:46:01 AM
I guess Dawn of the Planet of the Moochelle's is doing OK...

http://nikkifinke.com/box-office-dawn-planet-apes-starts-4-1m-late-shows/ (http://nikkifinke.com/box-office-dawn-planet-apes-starts-4-1m-late-shows/)

 ::)

TMNT...Whoopi Goldberg?   ::saywhat::   ::puke::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 14, 2014, 08:17:05 AM
The Homecoming Books are also a decent read, if you don't mind the touches of Mormonism that do sneak into his books.

Touches? They are overtly Mormon.. but  since a lot of his books are about point out hypocrisy in and correcting the Mormon Faith along libertarian guidelines,  I don't see how they couldn't be.  I haven't read anything by Card I hated, but after while the above theme because so repetitive that it grates on you a bit.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 14, 2014, 03:02:34 PM
If Stallone will do one more "Expendables" flick he will pass Ahnold on the kill list.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on July 15, 2014, 07:45:05 AM
Not as overtly Mormon as Lost Boys, a must read if you again don't mind the Mormonism, and the most disturbing ending to a book in history, which is part of the appeal.  It's a book you will never forget.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: LadyVirginia on July 15, 2014, 10:51:13 PM

So...bottom line is that I would not recommend this movie at all. I would whole heartedly recommend that you read the very excellent and comprehensive account of the true story as written by the Miami New Times.



I read the whole thing. Incredible story.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 16, 2014, 06:55:41 AM
If Stallone will do one more "Expendables" flick he will pass Ahnold on the kill list.

Heh, it's like wow, man...your Kung Fu is good!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/)

Cast:  Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger,...others: Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer (huh?), Robert Davi, Randy Couture, yadda yadda yadda...

They'll have to out-do each other!

Looks like a the makings of flick choke full of mucho grande violence!   
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on July 16, 2014, 07:04:26 AM
Chock full of geriatrics.
No Bruce Willis?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 16, 2014, 07:35:35 AM
Well yeah, hey, as long as those walkers and wheelchairs have guns mounted all is well!   ;D

And no Willis that I saw, maybe a cameo somewhere though...they like doing that stuff...

ETA - Speaking of geriatrics...there are a few here too!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/?ref_=nm_flmg_msc_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2488496/?ref_=nm_flmg_msc_1)

...I dunno about this...

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 16, 2014, 09:01:10 AM
If Stallone will do one more "Expendables" flick he will pass Ahnold on the kill list.

Heh, it's like wow, man...your Kung Fu is good!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2333784/)

Cast:  Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger,...others: Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer (huh?), Robert Davi, Randy Couture, yadda yadda yadda...

They'll have to out-do each other!

Looks like a the makings of flick choke full of mucho grande violence!

Don't forget Rowdy Ronda Rousey. That chick is not only the baddest woman on the planet, she's got three movies ready to drop.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 17, 2014, 06:53:03 AM
You see trailers for this Jupiter Ascending flick?  Looks kinda wild, even by SciFy standards.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 22, 2014, 02:44:56 AM
I just finished watching "Snowpiercer" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706620/?ref_=rvi_tt) on pay-per-view.

I had never heard of this thing until I saw it mentioned in the sidebar at AoSHQ. They noted that it had extremely high reviews. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/snowpiercer/) Seriously, it gets a 94% That, in and of itself, is not enough for me to watch something, though. After all, "The Crying Game" was super well received, too, as was "Brokeback Mountain" but no way am I going to enjoy homo propaganda. But I was intrigued by this film and the buzz that it was getting. So, I did a bit of research into it by reading the comments and reviews of ordinary people at imdb.com What interested me the most is that there was no agreement on just what the meaning of the film was supposed to be. But sure enough, most people really liked it regardless of their interpretation.

On the one hand you had leftists bragging that it was something along the lines of OCW where the 1% kept the 99% down...that it was an indictment on capitalism (which was ridiculous since there was no business being conducted in this dystopian future) and "the rich." I believe the preferred leftist term used here is "income inequality" so big whoop.

But then there was also a sizable number of people who thought the opposite, that it represented a command and control economy gone all the way to its logical conclusion with the elites attempting to dominate everyone else via a socialistic totalitarian regime which practiced population control and other things.

So, I decided that I really needed to see it for myself and form my own opinion.

This film is actually in theaters right now (so they say) and I suppose it is...somewhere. But for the rest of us it is on pay-per-view. Which is good, in a way, because it allows viewing in hi-def with pause and rewind...very convenient for a film like this.

The thing is visually stunning. CGI is used in a very limited, very sparing fashion to great effect. Most of the beauty comes in the form of over-the-top attention to detail in set design. The acting is quite good. The direction is extremely competent and the script is just what it needs to be...nothing more or less. So, what is this thing about?

Well, first of all it is a science fiction based story but it is the type of science fiction that uses the genre only loosely. Do not expect very much of the premise to make sense, it doesn't. But that isn't a problem as long as you realize that a realistic (plausible) premise is beside the point, that the film isn't about the premise but rather about a society and the people in it and how they behave. The director is Korean and the source material is a many decades old French graphic novel...go figure.

The story takes place in the not too distant future, 2031 to be specific. In 2014 the Algores of the world developed some kind of chemical that, when released in the upper atmosphere, would counteract the supposed effects of global warming. I found it a nice touch that the film maker implied that the work was done with airliner "chemtrails." For me, that was as nice a reference as trutherism...that the promoters of this "solution" to AGW were nuts. Well, the chemical treatment of the atmosphere goes horribly wrong and within a very short period of time the earth freezes over to the point that all life is extinguished. The survivors now exist on a train that travels endlessly around the frozen globe making one complete circuit every year. It has been going around the earth now for seventeen years, long enough for the passengers to have largely forgotten all about what life was like before getting on the train.

The conflict is between the classes or castes that occupy different places on the train. The elites (paid ticket holders) are in the front of the train and live in relative luxury compared to the rabble who live in the last one or two cars. Comparisons that immediately come to mind are "The Time Machine" by Jules Verne and others such as "1984" or "Brave New World." As the action moved forward (literally as the rebellion starts and moves from back to front of the train) I was also reminded somewhat of "Logan's Run." And "The Wizard of Oz" to a very small degree.

It's a smart film that (despite any complaints about plot holes and irrational, non-scientific technical stuff) that keeps your attention all the way through to the end and does not insult your intelligence. Please note that the train is powered by a perpetual motion machine and the food never seems to run out. And speaking of food, another film reference that immediately popped up for me was "Soylent Green." Trust me when I say that I am not giving anything away with these comments. You will realize all of these things quickly near the beginning of the movie.

Please note that this is a spectacularly violent film with frequent doses of profanity. John Hurt (not, thankfully, William Hurt) is in it as well as Ed Harris. The other actors are lesser known (although Chris Evans is kind of a name now with the Captain America lead) and unknown. Not a bad thing at all, it takes the star power out of the way and puts the emphasis on storytelling.

I don't pretend to "know" the meaning of this film. At least not after a single viewing. But I will probably watch it at least one more time to look for details and plot points that I missed. Perhaps after that I will have a better understanding of what everything "means." But apart from any deep meaning it is an enjoyable (albeit insanely bleak and violent at times) film that I would recommend seeing on a 1080p big screen with good sound. It is one of those rare films that makes you think about what you just saw and ask yourself questions. And, I will say that I am leaning toward the anti-AGW/anti-socialist interpretation of the movie.

Further recommendation: Avoid reading anything about this movie that includes spoilers. Better to just see how it all turns out than to know what's coming, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 22, 2014, 06:58:27 AM
Wow, 17 times around the globe and not a single derailment?  Either really good engineering up front and/or no government engineers driving the thing! 

 ::hysterical::

Sounds interesting enough to watch, I'll give it a gander.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 23, 2014, 12:12:25 AM
Wow, 17 times around the globe and not a single derailment?  Either really good engineering up front and/or no government engineers driving the thing! 

 ::hysterical::

Sounds interesting enough to watch, I'll give it a gander.

As I said, the premise is preposterous. But the film isn't about the premise. Once you accept the premise, absurdities and all, then you can move on to what it's really about and that is where the real thought provoking controversy is. But you have to accept that:

1) Someone built a train that runs all the way around the world, non-stop, in a year,

2) The train runs without fuel and by way of some kind of perpetual motion machine for an engine,

3) That the passengers and/or train workers are somehow able to create enough food to live on for 17 years,

4) That man was able to artificially and irrevocably create a new ice age by spraying something into the atmosphere,

5) That said ice age killed every single living thing save the occupants of this train,

plus quite a bit more.

So, yes, the premise is ridiculous. But the story that is unleashed by accepting the premise is very thought provoking.

The reason why I lean toward this story being about the evils of socialism and leftist-leaning totalitarianism is because of the elites referring to the train and its engine as being (literally) "holy" and to the train's creator as being a savior. These are themes that are traditionally and historically found in marxism and socialism. People who tend to lean right do not worship the state. People who tend to lean right tend to worship God if they express a religious preference at all. It is leftists who tend to look at the state as the source of all things...source of all power, source of all food, source of all housing, source of all purpose for existence, etc. and therefore they worship it as if it were God.

Anyway, it is a good film. A well made film and should be considered for viewing. IMO.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 24, 2014, 06:39:19 AM
Wow, 17 times around the globe and not a single derailment?  Either really good engineering up front and/or no government engineers driving the thing! 

 ::hysterical::

Sounds interesting enough to watch, I'll give it a gander.

As I said, the premise is preposterous. But the film isn't about the premise. Once you accept the premise, absurdities and all, then you can move on to what it's really about and that is where the real thought provoking controversy is. But you have to accept that:

1) Someone built a train that runs all the way around the world, non-stop, in a year,

2) The train runs without fuel and by way of some kind of perpetual motion machine for an engine,

3) That the passengers and/or train workers are somehow able to create enough food to live on for 17 years,

4) That man was able to artificially and irrevocably create a new ice age by spraying something into the atmosphere,

5) That said ice age killed every single living thing save the occupants of this train,

plus quite a bit more.

So, yes, the premise is ridiculous. But the story that is unleashed by accepting the premise is very thought provoking.

The reason why I lean toward this story being about the evils of socialism and leftist-leaning totalitarianism is because of the elites referring to the train and its engine as being (literally) "holy" and to the train's creator as being a savior. These are themes that are traditionally and historically found in marxism and socialism. People who tend to lean right do not worship the state. People who tend to lean right tend to worship God if they express a religious preference at all. It is leftists who tend to look at the state as the source of all things...source of all power, source of all food, source of all housing, source of all purpose for existence, etc. and therefore they worship it as if it were God.

Anyway, it is a good film. A well made film and should be considered for viewing. IMO.

Well, I watched Snowpiercer last night.  I did what you suggested and just suspended common sense and logic and let the story unfold in its own context.

I have to say my initial reaction during and after was a blend of: a) What the Hell was that?  b) Why do I get the odd sense that somehow this is telling me something important? c) Actually not a badly made or poorly acted flick.  d) Hey, that reminds me of ______!

It had elements of just about every major Dystopian/Utopian story ever written or put to film, and I have to agree that I find it difficult to fathom how a lefty/prog could watch this and a) not identify with the privileged higher class types at the front who are rewarded with unrestrained hedonism for their mindless obedience and servitude to the Dear Savior and b) rationalize that elitism and blame the wretched masses in the back for f**king it up for everybody else, thinking "if they only were more obedient and thankful for what they are given".  They would blow right past the fact that the AlGore/Gaia/Eco-Nazi/Smug-Fart-Sniffing-Progs created this calamity in the first place (with the properly benign-sounding name CW-7) and just as quickly forget all that psuedo-egalitarian concern for the little guy as soon as they were seated up front.

And SPOILER ALERT!

Who knew the wacky Mongolian dude was right in the end?  His plucky little gal pal was funny, she had some of the best lines in the whole movie, though the confessional of Chris Evans' character near the end was pretty good.

I might have to spin 'er up again and see what I might have missed.  The dialogues with that translator doohickey I couldn't make out too well.  Without the sub-titles I'd have been screwed.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 24, 2014, 10:51:58 PM
Okay, just found this (http://www.mtv.com/news/1873653/galaxy-quest-oral-history/) and if you are a fan then you have to read it all the way through. It's "Galaxy Quest: The Oral History" which deals out a LOT of trivia that I never knew about the film. I actually saw it in the theater when it came out...dragged mrs. trapeze to it because I was absolutely sure that it was going to be great. And of course, it was. I got a DVD of the thing and can't pass it by when I see it while channel surfing.

Quote
Gordon: “By Grabthar’s Hammer” was a temp line. It was basically the Hammer of Thor, but Grabthar just sounded so silly. I kept meaning to change it, but around the production offices, they started to make t-shirts, it started to sink in a little bit.

Rickman: The ending scene, where Kwellek is dying, and I say the “Grabthar’s” line for him. There were all these different layers with these characters. It is such a great acting challenge. You are only as good as the script, really.

Long: The funniest line, at the mall. “By Grabthar’s Hammer . . .what a savings.” I just saw Nick Frost and he said he and Simon Pegg and all those guys, that’s the line they quote all the time.

Quote
Gordon: The line that I like the most when I’m watching with an audience – because it gets this delayed rolling laughter – was one I knew was great when I typed it. I hate it when people say this, but it surprised me when I wrote it. It’s when Sigourney says, “We gotta get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!”

Rockwell: I wanted to ennoble the coward archetype. I thought of the best cowards in cinematic history, like John Turturro in “Miller’s Crossing.” When we did the shuttle scene I drank four cups of coffee and downed two Excedrin. I wanted to be so hyped that I would have a nervous breakdown on the shuttle. I don’t know if it worked but I was very hyper and freaking out. I think I had a couple beers to come down.

Mitchell: Sam Rockwell in this movie, man. I die every time. “Did you guys ever WATCH the show?!?”

Johnson: “Did you guys ever WATCH the show?!?” That’s my favorite moment.

Rockwell: Guy is a cheeseball. And a Trekkie geek. But he’s a coward. My template was Bill Paxton in “Aliens” mixed with Michael Keaton in “Night Shift.”

Quote
Shalhoub: My part as written – we basically had to throw it all out because it didn’t work with me in there. I mean, we couldn’t figure out how to make that work. So Dean said, “Look, we’ll invent a new character as we go along.”

Parisot: Tony and I were talking all the time, “There’s nothing here, there’s nothing here, what are we going to do, what are we going to do?”

Shalhoub: It’s a tribute to the other actors that they were open to us changing my lines every day. Usually, when you come to work, people want to know what’s going to happen.

Parisot: Tony brought up David Carradine in “Kung Fu” [another example of a non-Asian actor playing an Asian character] and the story goes — I don’t know if it’s true — that David Carradine was completely stoned all of the time on that show. Dialogue would just come out of his head and people would just stare at each other and think, “Where did that come from?” We knew we couldn’t do a stoner because we needed to hit a PG-13, but we basically suggested that.

Rockwell: Tony played it like a failed Scientologist.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 28, 2014, 01:28:03 PM
So I venture out and Watch "Lucy" last night. First, Scarlette Johanson is smokin hot......But the movie wasn't. I didn't like the evolution angle, the beginning of the movie ( and I guess the end) as a single cell, and Smokin Hot Scarlette asking me what I have I done with my life, which maybe the question was rhetorical, but knowing hollywood, I'm sure not. Plus, instead of a naked Johansson, I get to see the "first" Lucy, a naked ape with a humanoid face.

And the plot.  She was used to carry drugs, it leaks in her stomach and turns her brain into a wonderment to solve the cosmos....And the movie reminds you of it the whole time....Lucy at 20%....at 40%....brain at 70%.....yada, yada, yada. Along the way, she vomits "pure energy"(?), turns into some sort of black goo, creates a superchip for Freeman and the movie (thankfully) ends as a single cell.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 28, 2014, 04:39:36 PM
So I venture out and Watch "Lucy" last night. First, Scarlette Johanson is smokin hot......But the movie wasn't. I didn't like the evolution angle, the beginning of the movie ( and I guess the end) as a single cell, and Smokin Hot Scarlette asking me what I have I done with my life, which maybe the question was rhetorical, but knowing hollywood, I'm sure not. Plus, instead of a naked Johansson, I get to see the "first" Lucy, a naked ape with a humanoid face.

And the plot.  She was used to carry drugs, it leaks in her stomach and turns her brain into a wonderment to solve the cosmos....And the movie reminds you of it the whole time....Lucy at 20%....at 40%....brain at 70%.....yada, yada, yada. Along the way, she vomits "pure energy"(?), turns into some sort of black goo, creates a superchip for Freeman and the movie (thankfully) ends as a single cell.

LOL. You had me at "smokin hot."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 28, 2014, 06:50:35 PM
So I venture out and Watch "Lucy" last night. First, Scarlette Johanson is smokin hot......But the movie wasn't. I didn't like the evolution angle, the beginning of the movie ( and I guess the end) as a single cell, and Smokin Hot Scarlette asking me what I have I done with my life, which maybe the question was rhetorical, but knowing hollywood, I'm sure not. Plus, instead of a naked Johansson, I get to see the "first" Lucy, a naked ape with a humanoid face.

And the plot.  She was used to carry drugs, it leaks in her stomach and turns her brain into a wonderment to solve the cosmos....And the movie reminds you of it the whole time....Lucy at 20%....at 40%....brain at 70%.....yada, yada, yada. Along the way, she vomits "pure energy"(?), turns into some sort of black goo, creates a superchip for Freeman and the movie (thankfully) ends as a single cell.

LOL. You had me at "smokin hot."

I guess you need to see the movie....lol
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on July 28, 2014, 09:25:28 PM
The problem is with the premise: that we only use 10% of our brain. I am pretty sure that even those who are functionally retarded use way more than 10% of their brain. We use almost every bit of our brain. If someone ever tells me that nonsense I challenge them to go and see a brain surgeon and ask them to remove the parts that they aren't using. Or I remind them how even a mild head injury can have very deleterious effects.

Now, that said, I know that I just posted on a movie (Snowpiercer) that requires you to pretty much ignore the premise in order to enjoy the movie but I would hazard to guess that that isn't the case with this one. I would guess that with this movie the "we use only 10% of our brain" premise is presented as "fact" in order to make the movie work. A subtle distinction, I know, but consider this: What they could have done...just say that these chems increased her ability to use her brain, etc. rather than to say that she is now able to use 100% of her brain.

However, that perhaps gets a little too close to "Limitless" except for all of the supernatural mental effects.

Ah, well...at least Johansson is smoking hot.

Still waiting for "Guardians of the Galaxy" to start in a few days.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 29, 2014, 06:56:47 AM
The problem is with the premise: that we only use 10% of our brain. I am pretty sure that even those who are functionally retarded use way more than 10% of their brain. We use almost every bit of our brain. If someone ever tells me that nonsense I challenge them to go and see a brain surgeon and ask them to remove the parts that they aren't using. Or I remind them how even a mild head injury can have very deleterious effects.

Now, that said, I know that I just posted on a movie (Snowpiercer) that requires you to pretty much ignore the premise in order to enjoy the movie but I would hazard to guess that that isn't the case with this one. I would guess that with this movie the "we use only 10% of our brain" premise is presented as "fact" in order to make the movie work. A subtle distinction, I know, but consider this: What they could have done...just say that these chems increased her ability to use her brain, etc. rather than to say that she is now able to use 100% of her brain.

However, that perhaps gets a little too close to "Limitless" except for all of the supernatural mental effects.

Ah, well...at least Johansson is smoking hot.

Still waiting for "Guardians of the Galaxy" to start in a few days.

^^^ That!!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 29, 2014, 08:20:24 AM
I only need the primal part of my brain to enjoy a Scarlett Johansson movie.

(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p98/IronDioPriest/imagejpg1_zpsf030a8f0.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 29, 2014, 08:22:48 AM
 ::bashing::

I try to scroll down but I still only get as far as the waist...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 29, 2014, 01:29:29 PM
The problem is with the premise: that we only use 10% of our brain. I am pretty sure that even those who are functionally retarded use way more than 10% of their brain. We use almost every bit of our brain. If someone ever tells me that nonsense I challenge them to go and see a brain surgeon and ask them to remove the parts that they aren't using. Or I remind them how even a mild head injury can have very deleterious effects.

Now, that said, I know that I just posted on a movie (Snowpiercer) that requires you to pretty much ignore the premise in order to enjoy the movie but I would hazard to guess that that isn't the case with this one. I would guess that with this movie the "we use only 10% of our brain" premise is presented as "fact" in order to make the movie work. A subtle distinction, I know, but consider this: What they could have done...just say that these chems increased her ability to use her brain, etc. rather than to say that she is now able to use 100% of her brain.

However, that perhaps gets a little too close to "Limitless" except for all of the supernatural mental effects.

Ah, well...at least Johansson is smoking hot.

Still waiting for "Guardians of the Galaxy" to start in a few days.


Yes, the 10% of brain function is presented as fact....so was the "we came from apes" aspect of the movie. I'm not sure it was only to make the movie work. It could have been made without using percentage of brain function and we were forced fed the % throughout the flick.

I'm also waiting on Guardians of the Galaxy. Turn on the Boob tube and we are inundated with promos and the claim of best Marvel movie, which better make it fantastic since I really like the Marvel movies.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on July 29, 2014, 02:22:21 PM
The "only use 10% of our brain" claim is similar to the "98% of DNA is junk" claim.  For a long time that claim was made about our genetics.  Now they're getting around to learning that a lot of those "junk" genes are responsible for unexpected things.  To me, neither claim ever made any sense simply because nature abhors anything wasteful. It would make no sense to assemble a complex organ like a brain, with the significant metabolic cost of maintaining it, only for 90% of it to be useless.

The more truthful assessment would be to say "at present we are incapable of understanding what 90% of it does", but that's too much like humility I guess.  A lot of things that were scientific gospel for generations end up being revised with previously unavailable information. Yet for some reason this doesn't deter the continued assertions about things like manmade global warming.

Humanity in general is due for a nice serving of Humble Pie.  Good news, we're going to get it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 29, 2014, 03:47:29 PM
Humanity in general is due for a nice serving of Humble Pie.  Good news, we're going to get it.

Unrelated to the topic, but directly relevant to your comment...

Quote
Romans 14:11

For it is written: “‘As I live,’ saith the Lord, ‘every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’”
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread (NEW MOVIE ALERT!)
Post by: trapeze on July 31, 2014, 10:19:45 PM
Okay so, MAJOR ALERT...

"Guardians of the Galaxy" is getting a 90% positive rating at RottenTomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/guardians_of_the_galaxy/) and the reviews are NOT saying that it is cerebral or has deep truths or societal commentary. Instead they are saying that it is fun, funny, visually arresting, a throwback to the good old days, etc. It is being compared (in spirit) to "Galaxy Quest." That's a pretty good endorsement in and of itself.

I will be seeing it on Saturday with my daughter and (get this) my brother and his three kids who are in town on vacation at a very opportune moment of the cinematic calendar.

(http://content7.flixster.com/rtmovie/12/02/120201_gal.jpg)

(http://content6.flixster.com/rtmovie/11/77/117712_gal.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on July 31, 2014, 11:15:42 PM
I'm gonna try to take it in this weekend. For some reason, I'm on a movie watching binge. Bored, I watched Hercules and guess what, it did not suck. I don't want to give it away, but he is more of a mercenary who chooses his life after losing his family. He was in the fighting game for the money. Of course there is betrayal and he finds his way.

If you have nothing better to do, you may enjoy it.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 01, 2014, 01:09:09 AM
I'm gonna try to take it in this weekend. For some reason, I'm on a movie watching binge. Bored, I watched Hercules and guess what, it did not suck. I don't want to give it away, but he is more of a mercenary who chooses his life after losing his family. He was in the fighting game for the money. Of course there is betrayal and he finds his way.

If you have nothing better to do, you may enjoy it.

is it wrong I have more interest in seeing Snow-piercer?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 01, 2014, 01:17:40 AM
I'm gonna try to take it in this weekend. For some reason, I'm on a movie watching binge. Bored, I watched Hercules and guess what, it did not suck. I don't want to give it away, but he is more of a mercenary who chooses his life after losing his family. He was in the fighting game for the money. Of course there is betrayal and he finds his way.

If you have nothing better to do, you may enjoy it.

is it wrong I have more interest in seeing Snow-piercer?

Yes!  Hang yer head.

/jk
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 01, 2014, 08:54:54 AM
OK, Trap's thread is 27 pages long and I'm not gonna parse every pages so forgive me if I'm repeating something someone else posted.

Last night I watched "Remnants". It was recommended to me by some cute little algorithm that says, "If you liked that, you'll love this!"

I didn't love this.

IMDB gives it a 4.1 rating - one that I find reasonable. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800367/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800367/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)

The premise was what pulled me in - "A rare astronomical event causes a permanent worldwide black out, forcing residents of a middle-class suburb to get by with no modern conveniences. The community pulls together and adapts ..."

Only the true story has precious little to do about anyone "pulling together". It is my belief that the producers of this flick put it out in order to say, "F'k you preppers if you think you're gonna have fun in the Apocalypse!"

As a kid one of my favorite films was "Swiss Family Robinson". Y'all remember the tale - a family of travelers is shipwrecked on the proverbial desert isle and works to make a life out of their circumstances. A Disney production from the days when that meant quality, the movie was obstinately upbeat with an indelible "never say die" optimism. It imprinted itself onto my DNA and, years later still drives me forward.

Once I saw the direction Remnants was going I actually started fast-forwarding to the end. The pessimism in this thing is pervasive almost has a Jim Jones quality to it. If you're a glutton for punishment here's a link to a u-toob stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8icNGpE340 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8icNGpE340)

Don't say you haven't been forewarned...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ChrstnHsbndFthr on August 01, 2014, 12:04:58 PM
Couple of quick comments:

1. LOVE the thread....it really is nice to have an idea what is WORTH watching and what is trash, BEFORE spending big money...which is what they charge nowadays at the theater.
2. Can't wait to see Guardians of the Galaxy, in part knowing it will be good because of Trap's recommendation.
3. With it having reached 27 pages, is it time for a thread, like perhaps ?"Trap's movie thread II" Or trap's Movie thread, the Sequel?


OK, Trap's thread is 27 pages long and I'm not gonna parse every pages so forgive me if I'm repeating something someone else posted.

Last night I watched "Remnants". It was recommended to me by some cute little algorithm that says, "If you liked that, you'll love this!"

I didn't love this.

IMDB gives it a 4.1 rating - one that I find reasonable. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800367/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800367/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)

The premise was what pulled me in - "A rare astronomical event causes a permanent worldwide black out, forcing residents of a middle-class suburb to get by with no modern conveniences. The community pulls together and adapts ..."

Only the true story has precious little to do about anyone "pulling together". It is my belief that the producers of this flick put it out in order to say, "F'k you preppers if you think you're gonna have fun in the Apocalypse!"

As a kid one of my favorite films was "Swiss Family Robinson". Y'all remember the tale - a family of travelers is shipwrecked on the proverbial desert isle and works to make a life out of their circumstances. A Disney production from the days when that meant quality, the movie was obstinately upbeat with an indelible "never say die" optimism. It imprinted itself onto my DNA and, years later still drives me forward.

Once I saw the direction Remnants was going I actually started fast-forwarding to the end. The pessimism in this thing is pervasive almost has a Jim Jones quality to it. If you're a glutton for punishment here's a link to a u-toob stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8icNGpE340 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8icNGpE340)

Don't say you haven't been forewarned...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 01, 2014, 12:28:36 PM
I'm gonna try to take it in this weekend. For some reason, I'm on a movie watching binge. Bored, I watched Hercules and guess what, it did not suck. I don't want to give it away, but he is more of a mercenary who chooses his life after losing his family. He was in the fighting game for the money. Of course there is betrayal and he finds his way.

If you have nothing better to do, you may enjoy it.

is it wrong I have more interest in seeing Snow-piercer?

As I have watched both, the storyline in Hercules is more believable....lol
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 03, 2014, 01:05:11 AM
Okay, as noted above, I did see "Snowpiercer" and it was a worthwhile endeavor. Not for everyone, of course, because hey, what is? But it was interesting and thought provoking after you invoke the suspension of disbelief which is necessary for most things not documentary in nature.

Now...this evening I did see "Guardians of the Galaxy" and it was pretty much as advertised and promoted.

Refreshingly, it did not waste very much time at all with origins and backgrounds of characters and got on with the actual story rather quickly. Contrast with, say, "Captain America, The First Avenger" which was just about 1/2 and maybe even 2/3's origin related. It was a good picture but you found yourself wishing that the producers/director would just hurry up and get on with the story. Guardians interspersed a modicum of character origin throughout the film (and in the case of Groot, none at all) and was way more than 85% actual story. Very nice trick, that.

There is a lot of comedy...a lot of funny lines and sequences. My favorite one involved the acquisition of a prosthetic leg during the prison break sequence. My daughter liked the Groot facial toward the end of the movie. But there was a lot more and I almost certainly missed a few due to the inevitable audience noise in the theater. There was at least one seriously off-color joke about a black light and Jackson Pollock art that would have made no sense at all to those unfamiliar with both references. And there was a joke that involved identifying the female lead as a "whore." More (unnecessary) bad language like that than I cared for my daughter to hear but that's the way of the world these days so there it is.

Links to other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies: Thanos and The Collector. Both of these characters make fairly substantial contributions to this story compared with the snippets we have seen at the ends of other movies. (And yeah, there are two after movie sequences in this one. Both are comedy only and do not provide hints about future events.)

As promised, lots of action and darned if the CGI just doesn't keep getting better and better to the point of my not even thinking, "Wow, great CGI" or "Wow, that CGI sucked and was really distracting." Instead it really helps with the inevitably necessary suspension of disbelief...you just experience one mind blowing visual after another and they look so believable that you just accept what you are seeing and move on.

I could describe more but that would not really build a case for anyone to see it or not. This is one of those films that you are either attracted to or you aren't and all I can say is that if you are attracted to it you will enjoy it and if you aren't you may find that it is surprisingly entertaining. When it comes out on disc I will probably spend the extra bucks to get a blue ray version because I will want to see it in all of its glory on the high def big screen.

1. LOVE the thread....it really is nice to have an idea what is WORTH watching and what is trash, BEFORE spending big money...which is what they charge nowadays at the theater.


Yes, it is and I appreciate every commentary that I read here.

Quote
2. Can't wait to see Guardians of the Galaxy, in part knowing it will be good because of Trap's recommendation.

Well, a bit premature but now I can say that I have seen it and it most certainly does have my endorsement.

Quote
3. With it having reached 27 pages, is it time for a thread, like perhaps? "Trap's movie thread II" Or trap's Movie thread, the Sequel?

Umm, sorry but no. This is my legacy to the trivial (because, hey, it's entertainment) and I won't have it any less monumental.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 03, 2014, 11:18:03 AM
Quote
Quote

   
Quote
3. With it having reached 27 pages, is it time for a thread, like perhaps? "Trap's movie thread II" Or trap's Movie thread, the Sequel?

Umm, sorry but no. This is my legacy to the trivial (because, hey, it's entertainment) and I won't have it any less monumental.

Because sequels rarely live up to the originals ;')
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 03, 2014, 12:40:39 PM
Sunshine(2007) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/)

I saw this on cable a couple nights ago. As I've said before, I'm a sci-fi nut. So a sci-fi film just has to be good for me to thoroughly enjoy it. I loved this movie, a whole lot.

It's a Danny Boyle film, visually spectacular, intensely suspenseful, uniquely plotted, coherent, and decently acted. Notable acting from Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, and Chris Evans.

The sun is dying. A first attempt at sending a ship to create a nuclear event to restart the sun failed with no word or indication as to the fate of the ship. A second ship with the same mission is sent out, and en route, encounters the first ship, intact behind Mercury. Close proximity to the sun seems to have unforeseen psychological effects. And one crew member f**ks up really bad, beginning a cascade of catastrophic events that threaten the mission.

It's hard to oversell the visual beauty of this movie. Every scene is visually unique and appealing, and it all fits perfectly in the context of the film.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 03, 2014, 06:47:21 PM
Okay, as noted above, I did see "Snowpiercer" and it was a worthwhile endeavor. Not for everyone, of course, because hey, what is? But it was interesting and thought provoking after you invoke the suspension of disbelief which is necessary for most things not documentary in nature.

Now...this evening I did see "Guardians of the Galaxy" and it was pretty much as advertised and promoted.

Refreshingly, it did not waste very much time at all with origins and backgrounds of characters and got on with the actual story rather quickly. Contrast with, say, "Captain America, The First Avenger" which was just about 1/2 and maybe even 2/3's origin related. It was a good picture but you found yourself wishing that the producers/director would just hurry up and get on with the story. Guardians interspersed a modicum of character origin throughout the film (and in the case of Groot, none at all) and was way more than 85% actual story. Very nice trick, that.

There is a lot of comedy...a lot of funny lines and sequences. My favorite one involved the acquisition of a prosthetic leg during the prison break sequence. My daughter liked the Groot facial toward the end of the movie. But there was a lot more and I almost certainly missed a few due to the inevitable audience noise in the theater. There was at least one seriously off-color joke about a black light and Jackson Pollock art that would have made no sense at all to those unfamiliar with both references. And there was a joke that involved identifying the female lead as a "whore." More (unnecessary) bad language like that than I cared for my daughter to hear but that's the way of the world these days so there it is.

Links to other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies: Thanos and The Collector. Both of these characters make fairly substantial contributions to this story compared with the snippets we have seen at the ends of other movies. (And yeah, there are two after movie sequences in this one. Both are comedy only and do not provide hints about future events.)

As promised, lots of action and darned if the CGI just doesn't keep getting better and better to the point of my not even thinking, "Wow, great CGI" or "Wow, that CGI sucked and was really distracting." Instead it really helps with the inevitably necessary suspension of disbelief...you just experience one mind blowing visual after another and they look so believable that you just accept what you are seeing and move on.

I could describe more but that would not really build a case for anyone to see it or not. This is one of those films that you are either attracted to or you aren't and all I can say is that if you are attracted to it you will enjoy it and if you aren't you may find that it is surprisingly entertaining. When it comes out on disc I will probably spend the extra bucks to get a blue ray version because I will want to see it in all of its glory on the high def big screen.

1. LOVE the thread....it really is nice to have an idea what is WORTH watching and what is trash, BEFORE spending big money...which is what they charge nowadays at the theater.


Yes, it is and I appreciate every commentary that I read here.

Quote
2. Can't wait to see Guardians of the Galaxy, in part knowing it will be good because of Trap's recommendation.

Well, a bit premature but now I can say that I have seen it and it most certainly does have my endorsement.

Quote
3. With it having reached 27 pages, is it time for a thread, like perhaps? "Trap's movie thread II" Or trap's Movie thread, the Sequel?

Umm, sorry but no. This is my legacy to the trivial (because, hey, it's entertainment) and I won't have it any less monumental.

Ok...I watched it this afternoon and happy to report it is as advertised. Trap did a great job describing the events (as he always does) but I'll add there is something for the heart strings if the wife ( sorry females for the stereotype) doesn't think this is her type of flick. I thought the humor was good, although I could have done without a couple of words. I also watched it on IMAX, which was a treat because of the fantastic special effects.

I enjoyed how the actors were introduced as I found myself absorbed in the movie as we learned their backgrounds. It was well done. I also will watch it again.....there is actually a lot going on during the movie in regards to the cast of characters, so I know I missed some nuances.

The only part I found disappointing were the extra endings. Marvel probably laughing over this one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 03, 2014, 10:26:49 PM
Quote
Quote

   
Quote
3. With it having reached 27 pages, is it time for a thread, like perhaps? "Trap's movie thread II" Or trap's Movie thread, the Sequel?

Umm, sorry but no. This is my legacy to the trivial (because, hey, it's entertainment) and I won't have it any less monumental.

Because sequels rarely live up to the originals ;')

Oh, wow...trivial monument...I made an oxymoron.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 03, 2014, 10:38:43 PM
So, okay...IDP and I are both serious sci-fi aficionados apparently (guess I will have to see "Sunshine") so here's a game to play:

Name three and only three sic-fi novels (includes complete series) that you would like to see get the full-on Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings" film treatment. Must not have had the big screen treatment before so no remakes allowed. I could have named a couple of dozen here but I am making three the limit which forces me to pick the books I have enjoyed the most which I also think could make a proper transition to the screen. And no fair naming books which could have but didn't make your list.

I will start with:

1) Ringworld by Larry Niven,

2) Riverworld by Phillip Jose Farmer and

3) Marooned In Realtime by Vernor Vinge

Any other sic-fi readers out there want to take a swat at this?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 03, 2014, 10:49:07 PM
You had me at "Ringworld" ;')
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 03, 2014, 11:02:13 PM
Yeah, damn, Ringworld is already taken.

Ann McCaffery's Dragon-riders of Pern. ( yeah this is inbetween fanasy and sci fi)
Piers Anthony  Xanth Series ( always fun, lots of stupid puns)  or  "on a Pale Horse" (and ignoring the others in the series)
Orson Scott Card's Worthing Saga.

Yeah yeah thats four. So sue me. Thats what you get for stealing Ringworld. Integral Trees also would be wonderful..



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 04, 2014, 09:14:04 AM
I sort of lump fantasy into the sci-fi category with this selection, but I would LOVE to see "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever" by Stephen R. Donaldson in film form.

That series (particularly the first three books, but really - all of the first six if I had my way) introduced me to the concept of the anti-hero when I was a teenager, and had a huge impact on expanding my love for fantasy beyond Tolkien. I read those six books four times through, and they hold up well. He wrote four more in the series many years later, but I haven't read them and I've heard they aren't as good.

So my entry will be "Lord Foul's Bane", "The Illearth War", and "The Power That Preserves". As a follow-up, I would submit "The Wounded Land", "The One Tree", and "White Gold Wielder".
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 05, 2014, 07:54:35 AM
Robert Silverberg's Majipoor series.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on August 05, 2014, 08:03:06 AM
I'm a little different than you, IDP.

To me, Fantasy is fantasy and Sci-fi isn't.

I spent the '60s cutting my teeth on Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Van Vogt and others.
Never got into the fantasy genre.
Unless you count Riverworld in that.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 05, 2014, 08:44:08 AM
introduced me to the concept of the anti-hero when I was a teenager...

Oh Man, I loved the concept and setting of the books, and I did read the ones you mentioned.  But I HATED THOMAS COVENANT.  Anti Hero?  No Kidding.
If I ever met in him real life I would beat the sh*t out of him.. if you are ever having a multi-week delusion - just go with it jerk!
What harm would it do to try? Yes a couple of days of denial?  Sure.  But I think sometimes he was there for YEARS... and after the first time and you get "back to reality" with no ill effects,  you are still freaked about it the next time?  ::pullhair::


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 05, 2014, 10:00:12 AM
introduced me to the concept of the anti-hero when I was a teenager...

Oh Man, I loved the concept and setting of the books, and I did read the ones you mentioned.  But I HATED THOMAS COVENANT.  Anti Hero?  No Kidding.
If I ever met in him real life I would beat the sh*t out of him.. if you are ever having a multi-week delusion - just go with it jerk!
What harm would it do to try? Yes a couple of days of denial?  Sure.  But I think sometimes he was there for YEARS... and after the first time and you get "back to reality" with no ill effects,  you are still freaked about it the next time?  ::pullhair::

He was a loathesome, self-pitying sonofabitch, wasn't he?

But then, if I was stricken by leprosy, causing me to lose every good thing in my life, and suddenly I was inexplicably propelled into an alternate reality where I was seen as The Messiah, I might have a little trouble coping too. Especially when people call me "The Unbeliever". I might just live in constant fear that I was going to "wake up" and have my miserable life back, and that might make me unwilling to fully embrace this new role. Doubly so after having it ripped away and reintroduced.

After all, his "back to reality" was a return to leprosy, disfigurement, numbness, a family who abandoned him, and a community who feared and shunned him. Who wouldn't fear returning to that to the point it might cloud your enjoyment of being treated as someone you don't believe you are deep down?

I thought the brilliance of the character was partially in how he was never able to fully let go of his real-world pain, even as his here-and-now was propelling him into a role that gave him everything he was missing in the real world. Even his motivations for doing heroic things were somehow tied into his conflicting self-image/ideal.

But yeah, real sonofabitch.

 ::thinking::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 05, 2014, 10:40:49 AM
[ I might just live in constant fear that I was going to "wake up" and have my miserable life back, and that might make me unwilling to fully embrace this new role. Doubly so after having it ripped away and reintroduced.

And I could live my entire life in fear of being hit by a truck, or dying of ebola  in a FEMA camp.  I don't. I get up every morning and live my life as if those things won't happen - even if I fear them as possibilities.  Serenity prayer and all of that.   Yeah,  he might wake up - so he should reject any happiness and relief he can find in the meantime?

I thought the brilliance of the character was partially in how he was never able to fully let go of his real-world pain, even as his here-and-now was propelling him into a role that gave him everything he was missing in the real world. Even his motivations for doing heroic things were somehow tied into his conflicting self-image/ideal.

The Character's brilliance was lost after the first book.  At some point you just go with it, instead of ruining the here and now. His stubborn clinging to pain and self-pity, and his entirely self-serving accidental heroism wore on me..  I keep thinking of THIS:

Life of Brian - Alms for an ex Leper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U74s8nFE7No#)

There is no pleasing some people, but I am not sure I would want to watch a person like that for 120 minutes.  Much less 6 times that amount. The books took me forever to get through because of it. By the last one I was reading it just to finish it - I was too far through to quit, and the character NEVER evolved. He never learned the lesson IMO :  Enthusiastically  Embrace the blessings in your life when they come.  He would get close, and then the author would put him right back into self-pity mode.
It was a lesson I guess I never had trouble with-- but perhaps it was useful because I developed such a loathing for Thomas Covenant it probably pushed me even more in the opposite direction.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 05, 2014, 11:36:52 AM
I might just live in constant fear that I was going to "wake up" and have my miserable life back, and that might make me unwilling to fully embrace this new role. Doubly so after having it ripped away and reintroduced.

And I could live my entire life in fear of being hit by a truck, or dying of ebola  in a FEMA camp.  I don't. I get up every morning and live my life as if those things won't happen - even if I fear them as possibilities.  Serenity prayer and all of that.   Yeah,  he might wake up - so he should reject any happiness and relief he can find in the meantime?

I always assumed that's why the author afflicted Covenant with leprosy - an affliction so horrific and far outside the experience of the reader that the character's hopelessness and ruined self-image would be self-evident.

I found Covenant fascinating in a morbid way, and uniquely complex beyond just about any heroic figure in the genre.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 05, 2014, 07:51:56 PM
Ild Man's war is coming to Sci Fi (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/syfy-adapting-futuristic-military-drama-723323?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fcolumns+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Columns)

I very much enjoyed it in book form in a "Starship troopers" don't take it all that seriously kind of way ..
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 07, 2014, 03:07:34 AM
Okay, second round (since I made the rules for this I get to amend them):

1) The "Foundation (http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Isaac-Asimov-ebook/dp/B000FC1PWA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407397411&sr=1-1&keywords=foundation)" series by Isaac Asimov (which thanks to the later books would also get to include the robot stories involving R. Daneel Olivaw) This would seem difficult to make into a movie since so much of the plot involves so little action but actually I think that it would condense into a movie length plot easier for that reason.

2) "The Empire of the East (http://www.amazon.com/Empire-East-Fred-Saberhagen-ebook/dp/B003J5UIR8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407397063&sr=1-1&keywords=empire+of+the+east)" by Fred Saberhagen (which gets to include the subsequent "Books of Swords (http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Book-Swords-Saberhagens-ebook/dp/B004SRC70W/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NKCQJKSRMG8MQ96E2M1)" series). And, face it, the Beserker (http://www.amazon.com/Berserker-Saberhagens-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00A4Q4FLK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407397356&sr=1-1&keywords=berserker) series was already done what with the "Terminator" franchise (although Harlan Ellison also claims to have had the original idea from which the movie was conceived, i.e. plagiarized) the only difference being the time travel element. Anyway, this is a fantasy series with its origin roots in science and technology...magic becomes reality through the use of a doomsday type machine in the distant past but remnants of technology still exist and still work.

3) "Pandora's Star (http://www.amazon.com/Pandoras-Star-Peter-F-Hamilton/dp/0345461622/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KPD85938GRFZWTWKF90)/Judas Unchained" (The Commonwealth Saga) by Peter F. Hamilton. This is a sweeping sci-fi space opera that has it all. Two books, over 1500 pages with Dyson spheres and the best Mr. Spock-type character ever in the form of a female police detective. Seriously, you need to read this one and it should be made into a movie.

And about "Ringworld"...for Pete's sake, stop whining. I know that I took the best one but look at all of the other Niven material I left you. And what about Pournelle and Niven/Pournelle? Come on. (I met Niven once. Nice guy. Signed all of my hardcovers including "The Integral Trees" and "Ringworld Engineers" I met Donaldson, too, and have signed first editions.)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 07, 2014, 09:31:50 AM
Saw "Divergent" on DVD last night,  and I really enjoyed it.  It has the same feasibility problems as Hunger Games, in  that the society the story takes place in is very contrived-- but its written for young adults in school so  we shouldn't be surprised that they like stories with contrived societies since they have to be forced to live in one .. But IMO opinon this story is far better than Hunger Games.  I have not read the books ( but just ordered the Kindle editions .. i liked it that much)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 10, 2014, 12:30:34 PM
Took the whole family to see "Ninja Turtles" a couple nights ago. The consensus was that it was great fun. The CGI was awesome. Dang Turtles looked like they were right there for real on film. The Turtle characters were great - four distinct personalities, adherent to the comics. Shredder was cool. Splinter was cool. The dialogue was clever. I never expected it to be laugh-out-loud funny, but it definitely was. There were times when the whole place was in an uproar of laughter that lasted well beyond the gag, causing the whole theater to miss subsequent dialogue.

The plot was meh. They messed with the Turtles origin story, if you care about such things. And a couple of the action sequences were WAY over the top - but we're talking about 4 teenage talking ninja turtles.

These two absolutely LOVED it...

(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p98/IronDioPriest/3875022e-0ab1-4746-86df-5767534fe0a2_zps8e5dd040.jpg)

Oh yeah, and....

(http://wallpapershd3d.com/wp-content/gallery/megan-fox-wallpaper/megan-fox-beautiful-best-wallpaper-hd.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on August 10, 2014, 07:08:20 PM
So Fox goes from Transformers to Turtles.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 14, 2014, 07:06:54 AM
Saw "Divergent" on DVD last night,  and I really enjoyed it.  It has the same feasibility problems as Hunger Games, in  that the society the story takes place in is very contrived-- but its written for young adults in school so  we shouldn't be surprised that they like stories with contrived societies since they have to be forced to live in one .. But IMO opinon this story is far better than Hunger Games.  I have not read the books ( but just ordered the Kindle editions .. i liked it that much)

 ::siren::  Spoiler Alert!   ::siren::

I saw "Divergent" on PPV last night.  There are feasibility problems...the least of which is trying to convince me that after a devastating world war they provide no background or context of wipes everybody out but these survivors in of all places...Chitcago.

 ::laughonfloor::   ::speechless::

Hilarious and stupid that premise is!

And hilarious too that progressive bullsplatter has to take center stage again and create a society of one size (well, OK 5 actually, 6 if you count the castouts) fits all and if you don't fit, well, screw you.  Seriously, how much is this contrived for plot or wishful thinking on the part of the writers and producers?  I mean is it that much of a stretch to think that with Common Core, NSA, the Police State et al that herding humans into manageable groups and then see the Intelligentsia faction enslave the Warrior faction when they perceive the Meek faction as easy pickings and an opportunity to ensalve all groups to the Elitists cannot happen in our society?

Having said all that I do agree it is better than The Hunger Games only because (other than a few points) it is at least a more believable storyline than Hunger is IMO.  And at least the ending didn't leave me feeling hosed like in Enders Game.  So I rate it a decent flick, good, not great.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 14, 2014, 08:29:24 AM

I saw "Divergent" on PPV last night.  There are feasibility problems...the least of which is trying to convince me that after a devastating world war they provide no background or context of wipes everybody out but these survivors in of all places...Chitcago.

Actually- they never specify the threat on the outside and in the book it says the gates lock from the OUTSIDE. It may have been a prison like Manhattan in Escape from New York.

And hilarious too that progressive bullsplatter has to take center stage again and create a society of one size (well, OK 5 actually, 6 if you count the castouts) fits all and if you don't fit, well, screw you.  Seriously, how much is this contrived for plot or wishful thinking on the part of the writers and producers?  I mean is it that much of a stretch to think that with Common Core, NSA, the Police State et al that herding humans into manageable groups and then see the Intelligentsia faction enslave the Warrior faction when they perceive the Meek faction as easy pickings and an opportunity to enslave all groups to the Elitists cannot happen in our society?

The Book suggests, but doesn't provide any great detail, that the factions were formed around what human vice should be blamed for causing the Armageddon war - cowardice, selfishness, lying, ignorance, or cruelty. At first I thought "yeah, right"-- but then I realized that the people who somehow survived this would be the reality show loving, screen addicted, non-contributing adults in diapers generation for whom racism is a plausible explanation for any opinion they don't like, so yeah.  I provide as further evidence any high school - where the kids SELF-SORT into factions of geeks, jocks, stoners, thespians, and "cool kids" - so suddenly deprived adult-adolescents might very well organize into factions around who and what they blamed for their deprivation.
So, yeah.  And its based on a book written for "young adults"  who are being told each and every day by their peers to pick a faction - so no I don't think its a leftist plotline by any means. Its an adolescent plot line- and any bearing it has on real world leftist politics is a result of the immaturity of leftists, not the other way around.  ( I just realized perhaps I like this book just  because I refused to pick a faction in high school, and instead consistently wore colorful Hawaiian shirts, John Lennon sunglasses, and a "Don't Panic" pin - mostly to point out I didn't mind - and in fact enjoyed -   being factionless. I think think  of it in those terms of course.  I was just entertained by the irrational hatred such attire generated in my peers)

Here is a picture of me in High School - lower right hand corner.

(http://newbeautifulera.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/gary-larsen.png?w=500)




 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 14, 2014, 08:40:57 AM
Heh.  I was a lazier non-conformist...I wore whatever did whatever and didn't give a crap what other people thought...

Come to think of it in many respects I remain unchanged.    :D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 22, 2014, 09:45:29 PM
Just watched "Warm Bodies"  (http://www.amazon.com/Warm-Bodies-Nicholas-Hoult/dp/B008220BLG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408761283&sr=8-3&keywords=warm+bodies) and its now my favorite zombie movie.. even better than Zombieland in my opinion. Its the Romeo and Juliet of Zombie movies, complete with balcony scene..
Of course maybe I was just responding to the hopeful message that maybe Zombies can come back to life... well, some zombies anyway.

Anyway, a thumbs up from me..

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 22, 2014, 09:59:53 PM
Just watched "Warm Bodies"  (http://www.amazon.com/Warm-Bodies-Nicholas-Hoult/dp/B008220BLG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408761283&sr=8-3&keywords=warm+bodies) and its now my favorite zombie movie.. even better than Zombieland in my opinion. Its the Romeo and Juliet of Zombie movies, complete with balcony scene..
Of course maybe I was just responding to the hopeful message that maybe Zombies can come back to life... well, some zombies anyway.

Anyway, a thumbs up from me..

I really liked that one too. Clever spin on the genre.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 22, 2014, 10:37:12 PM
Wow...saw the trailer for that and all I could think was that it was zombies do "Twilight" and (because I absolutely loathe "Twilight" and anything even vaguely like it or that aspires to be like it) crossed it off the list of movies I would even consider watching.

The above comments are not, however, convincing enough for me to make the actual effort to view it. I might, though, not skip past it if it shows up on the programming guide. Maybe. Dunno.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 23, 2014, 08:37:09 AM
Wow...saw the trailer for that and all I could think was that it was zombies do "Twilight" and (because I absolutely loathe "Twilight" and anything even vaguely like it or that aspires to be like it) crossed it off the list of movies I would even consider watching.

The above comments are not, however, convincing enough for me to make the actual effort to view it. I might, though, not skip past it if it shows up on the programming guide. Maybe. Dunno.

Nope, not Twilight in any way. It's clever dark comedy, and very pointed commentary on society. Trust me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 23, 2014, 08:45:58 AM
Here's the first four minutes of the movie. Definitely not Twilight. Idunno if this will convince you to watch it or not, but it ain't Twilight...

Exclusive: Warm Bodies - The First 4 Minutes | Movie Clips | FandangoMovies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI1AkFh3QgU#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 23, 2014, 10:18:43 AM
I loath Twilight as well.. Neighbor suggested it.  I was skeptical..but its more like Zombie land and only vaguely twilightish in that its a love story involving monsters.. There the similarity ends..
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 23, 2014, 10:46:36 AM
I loath Twilight as well.. Neighbor suggested it.  I was skeptical..but its more like Zombie land and only vaguely twilightish in that its a love story involving monsters.. There the similarity ends..

They do a good job in creating suspension of disbelief re; the love story too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 24, 2014, 12:42:14 AM
Well...maybe. Still don't know about romantic zombie movies. I guess that I would find zombies as more sympathetic (and human) creatures than, say, islamofascists. But that's not much of a hurdle, is it?

And now, a cautionary tale...

And yeah, I knew better.

I always know better than to let mrs. trapeze pick movies but occasionally yield in a bow to marital harmony or some such ridiculous notion. You would think, though, that after literally 2.5+ decades of damned near perfection in picking cinematic stinkers she would give up and completely surrender that responsibility to me. Well, think again because a few nights ago we experienced Nic Cage in (ugh, I still can't believe I volunteered for this) "Rage."

Now, I hadn't read a review of this thing but there were plenty of clues that it was a total dog's breakfast without having to rely on a critic's opinion.

First of all, I don't remember seeing "Rage" in theaters. Ever. Since I watched it I have looked for box-office data on it and have found nothing so that sort of firms up my original suspicion that it had a very limited release...perhaps one night in one theater. I'm guessing that Cage skipped the premier night showing. (Hard to believe that it had a $21 million dollar budget. Really hard to believe.) Plus, it has the repugnant Danny Glover as a co-star. Try and remember the last time that Glover was in anything of any consequence. And there is always the knowledge that Cage is in serious debt and will do  just about anything that pays a few bucks. This looked like a strong contender for one of "those" films.

And it was. An absolutely horrible script highlighted with uninspired acting and tepid direction that telegraphed the surprise/shock ending just about from the very beginning. mrs. trapeze threw in the towel at about the twenty minute mark and suggested that we watch something else. I refused. She needed to be punished for selecting this monstrosity. So, what was the plot? Cage plays a commercial construction contractor who used to be involved with organized crime, specifically the Irish mob. Of course. Cage looks Irish, after all, right? He and his second wife leave his sixteen-year-old daughter at home with two obviously horny male classmates who are eyeing the liquor cabinet (yeah, I know...anyone would do that) and go out to a dinner party. Somehow the police know where he is because they fetch him from the restaurant just after midnight. They tell him that his daughter has been abducted from their home. When they return home they find the place crawling with law enforcement, as you might expect, doing a lot of police-looking stuff...taking pictures and picking sh*t up with tweezers and such. The two male classmates tell of a home invasion where the daughter is carried off by three assailants. There is a sign of a struggle with lots of broken furniture and glass and such. Cage freaks out and angrily demands to know why the two boys didn't do more to prevent the abduction of his daughter. The next day Cage visits one of the boys at home and asks him for details about the kidnappers...their accents, their clothing, how they smelled, etc. The boy tells him that he noticed none of these things. Or that he couldn't remember because it was scary or something. Presumably this same tale was told to the police and they believed him and his friend. By now it's been twelve hours and there are no ransom demands or anything.

Okay, you can probably figure out right now who the guilty party is. But Cage and the police can't and here is where it gets really stupid, really fast. The police call him and tell him that they have 1) found his daughter, dead, of course and 2) that she was killed with a shot to the head at close range and that the bullet came from a Russian Tokarev pistol. Cage immediately concludes that the Russian mob is responsible and goes on a killing spree which quickly decimates their local ranks. I could go on and on with the plot details that follow but that's pretty much it...Cage acting all pissy and furious and killing a bunch of Russian mobsters. At one point Cage looks up at the sky, opens his mouth wide and just howls with, well...rage, I guess. This is supposed to really, really convince you that Cage is genuinely angry or that if he was really, really angry before he is really, really, really angry now. If Cage is a method actor I'm guessing that he was visualizing where he is now in his career and those two times where he received an Oscar. That would do it for most people.

Did I mention where this action takes place? No? Oh, well...you probably assumed, like me, that it just has to be in Mobile, Alabama because everyone knows that Mobile is the very heart of the Russian and Irish organized crime world. Everyone knows that.

Danny Glover plays one of the most inept police detectives ever depicted on screen. He knows of Cage's mob history and yet never bothers to assign someone to surveil him. No, not even after Russian mobster corpses start showing up literally everywhere, killed in just about all ways imaginable. He even drops in on Cage at a diner and tells him a story over coffee of how he, himself, could have gone off on a killing spree once-upon-a-time but didn't and afterward was very glad that he hadn't. Glover all but tells him, "Hey, I know that you are murdering Russian mobsters and maybe you should lighten up a bit and let us, the grossly incompetent and clueless law enforcement placeholders, get to the bottom of this crime." Seriously. That scene happens. I half expected to see Glover at some point interrogating an organ grinder (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnlIWpZSPXU) about his "minky."

The plot holes are numerous. The killers are obvious to the audience from the word "go." The ridiculous nature of the police non-investigation is beyond annoying and nearly irrelevant to the plot. Example: How do you know that someone was killed with a shot to the skull at close range  from a Russian Tokarev pistol? I looked it up and there are a couple of possibilities with that notion. (The "close range" thing is easy, I guess, because of powder burns. They don't mention that but I will give it to them.) As for the murder weapon that they mysteriously identify...the Tokarev fires a 7.62x25mm cartridge. The bullet can be either a copper jacketed steel core (considered armor piercing and illegal for US import) or copper washed steel plated lead core. Either way, a shot to the head from close range is unlikely to leave much of a bullet behind for examination. The steel core is going to zip right through and leave nothing and the lead core is also likely to go right through. With a typical muzzle velocity of 1500 ft/sec. and 400 ft/lbs of energy I like its odds of going cleanly through a skull (monster exit wound, though) with no recoverable evidence. But that's just my opinion. I'm guessing, though, that there are several Soviet/Chinese/Eastern bloc pistols that shoot this round so I don't know how they could conclude that it was the gun that killed the girl. Basically, it's just bullsh*t designed to allow Cage some sort of justification to go on his killing spree rather than apply common sense as to who the actual killer(s) might be.

(Incidentally, Cage goes to the morgue and kisses his deceased daughter. Her skull is remarkably intact)

In one outrageously ridiculous scene there is a meeting between the Irish mob boss and the Russian mob boss. Perhaps the Irish guy picked up the red phone in his office and said, "Dimitry, let's you and me and several of our henchmen meet up on top of a parking garage in downtown Mobile and have a pow-wow about all of your guys getting killed." So they do that. They meet on top of a parking garage in downtown Mobile, Alabama and within less than one minute they start shooting at each other. All of the henchmen are killed immediately so that only the two mob bosses are left. Francis, the Irishman, is out of ammo, though, and continues to pull the trigger on his revolver like an adolescent girl (or liberal media type, but I repeat myself) expecting it to shoot. The Russian boss walks up to him and blows his head off because he, like Francis, inexplicably wasn't killed in the  preceding hail of gunfire. And now Dimitry is really pissed off, too, because he has to go find some more Russian mobsters and chase down Nic Cage. I guess no one noticed all of those gunshots in downtown Mobile because that kind of thing happens all the time in broad daylight. Certainly Danny Glover wasn't around or if he was he probably thought, "Kids with fireworks" or something like that and went back to eating donuts.

But that's really all the movie is about...Cage and a couple of his buddies killing everyone in sight who is even vaguely associated with the Russian mob. One particularly memorable (and ridiculous) scene involves these three clods paying a visit to some black guy who is supposed to "know stuff." He tells them he doesn't know anything (because he doesn't and everyone knows this except for Cage and company) and they proceed to "persuade" him to spill his guts. The guy has a girlfriend who appears to be drugged to the point of unconsciousness so one of Cage's friends take a rope, ties it to a cinder block (these things just happen to be present in this guy's apartment) and puts the other end of the rope around her neck. Then without any warning at all he tosses the brick out the window (chortling maniacally) which causes the rope to begin to strangle the girl. My thought, based on the length of the rope and the weight of a standard cinder block, is that the girl's neck would most likely have been snapped instantly. But it doesn't and she somehow survives although, being drugged out, she is all but oblivious to the throat injury.

When the "shock" ending eventually rolls around it is more of a relief than anything else because we know that the credits are coming soon and our misery will be terminated shortly. But you just can't get those 92 minutes of your life back, can you?

Sometimes a movie can be so incredibly awful that it is enjoyable to watch. It's funny because it's so bad. This isn't one of those movies. It's bad on the worst possible level: It's dull and predictable. Not exactly the words one would like used to describe an "action thriller." It might have been salvaged if they had only pushed the detestable Danny Glover off a building or had him drown slowly in a submerged car or had his fingers yanked off one at a time or boiled in oil or crushed by a steam roller or decapitated with a ninja sword or burned in a grease fire but unfortunately none of those things happen.

So, there...avoid this one. Even on free tv it should be avoided.

And mrs. trapeze is very, very sorry and promises to not select another movie for a very long time. But she usually forgets transgressions such as this so I am probably in for another one in the not too distant future.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 24, 2014, 03:08:25 AM
Quote
And mrs. trapeze is very, very sorry and promises to not select another movie for a very long time. But she usually forgets transgressions such as this so I am probably in for another one in the not too distant future.

trap, next time, just say "no".

And, does the mrs. know you've marked her among your friends here as the party who chooses bad movies?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 24, 2014, 08:30:23 AM
Well...maybe. Still don't know about romantic zombie movies. I guess that I would find zombies as more sympathetic (and human) creatures than, say, islamofascists. But that's not much of a hurdle, is it?

And now, a cautionary tale...

And yeah, I knew better.

And after IDP and I told you what you should watch too....
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 24, 2014, 09:15:08 AM
Well...maybe. Still don't know about romantic zombie movies. I guess that I would find zombies as more sympathetic (and human) creatures than, say, islamofascists. But that's not much of a hurdle, is it?

And now, a cautionary tale...

And yeah, I knew better.

And after IDP and I told you what you should watch too....

Hehe.  ::pokeineye::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 24, 2014, 09:15:33 AM
Quote
And mrs. trapeze is very, very sorry and promises to not select another movie for a very long time. But she usually forgets transgressions such as this so I am probably in for another one in the not too distant future.

trap, next time, just say "no".

And, does the mrs. know you've marked her among your friends here as the party who chooses bad movies?

mrs. trapeze (and everyone who knows her closely) is very well aware of her "super power." Last night while I watched the NASCAR race at Bristol she and my daughter watched "The Amazing Spiderman 2" which I also warned her about. It's a gift she has, I tell you.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 24, 2014, 10:39:19 AM
Quote
And mrs. trapeze is very, very sorry and promises to not select another movie for a very long time. But she usually forgets transgressions such as this so I am probably in for another one in the not too distant future.

trap, next time, just say "no".

And, does the mrs. know you've marked her among your friends here as the party who chooses bad movies?

mrs. trapeze (and everyone who knows her closely) is very well aware of her "super power." Last night while I watched the NASCAR race at Bristol she and my daughter watched "The Amazing Spiderman 2" which I also warned her about. It's a gift she has, I tell you.

LOL.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on August 24, 2014, 10:53:59 AM
I think the last movie I recommended for the wife and I was "Throw Momma From the Train". So I quit making recommendations.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 24, 2014, 11:02:40 AM
You are redeemed if you can tell us that the surprise ending is the revelation that the original kidnapping and murder was done by members of the Chinese Tong.

Cue Cage with a WTF look on his face.

 :o
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on August 24, 2014, 02:16:21 PM
You are redeemed if you can tell us that the surprise ending is the revelation that the original kidnapping and murder was done by members of the Chinese Tong.

Cue Cage with a WTF look on his face.

 :o

Unfortunately, that is not the "surprise" ending.

It does end, though, with Cage realizing that he is really kind of a stupid douche with a temper, that he has nothing to live for (well, except for his young and beautiful spouse but I guess he forgets about her in his douchy griefiness) and that he must pay for his transgressions so he allows the remnants of the Russian mob (gee, there sure are a lot of Russian mobsters in Mobile, Alabama) to kill him. As the credits roll we see Danny Glover and his crack team of investigators looking at Cage's body and the murder scene. Danny Glover looks thoughtful and resolute in his determination that this time he will actually get to the bottom of the mystery. They just don't make actors like that anymore.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 24, 2014, 03:24:17 PM
danny glover looking thoughtful - sometimes you crack me up Trap!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 25, 2014, 06:29:54 AM
Didn't Danny cash in on that look through 4 Lethal Weapon flicks and God knows how many other easy paychecks?

I bet if he were white he'd be lucky to get roles that lasted longer than two minutes...

Could say similar things for at least 2/3rds of Hollywood types these day though...

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 25, 2014, 07:48:01 AM
If you have to watch a movie for Her, you could do worse than Blended.  Harmless light comedy with nothing to offend those with an IQ higher than an Obama voter.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on September 03, 2014, 09:19:29 PM
Tonight is a great tv movie night. I'm finishing up the chronicles of riddick and before it was the flick " battleship", which has become a movie I enjoy watching whenever it's on tv. I believe I enjoy it so because our armed forces are shown in such a positive manner, getting the job done. Probably why I also enjoy all the transformer movies......our military kicks ass in each one.

Now, time to watch riddick stem the killer beasts.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 04, 2014, 06:37:05 AM
"Who's the better killer?"

Good butt-kickin' fun...although the whole Necro thing is weird...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 04, 2014, 07:45:14 AM
I like the arc of the Riddick storyline. Having begun introducing him in "Pitch Black" and then creating a whole different kind of sci-fi film in "Chronicles of Riddick", they opened the door nicely for this 3rd film "Riddick" which is more like the first with elements of the second. If they wanted to expand the franchise, they could go right back to his altercation with the Necro-Mongers, and bring Karl Urban back as his nemesis.

For a somewhat under the radar sci-fi franchise, they've done a nice job expanding the scope of the character.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 05, 2014, 06:44:16 AM
Tonight is a great tv movie night. I'm finishing up the chronicles of riddick and before it was the flick " battleship", which has become a movie I enjoy watching whenever it's on tv. I believe I enjoy it so because our armed forces are shown in such a positive manner, getting the job done. Probably why I also enjoy all the transformer movies......our military kicks ass in each one.

Now, time to watch riddick stem the killer beasts.

Oh hey, and the best part of 'Battleship' for me is when the old salty dogs are called upon to fire up Big Mo!   ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on September 05, 2014, 05:35:40 PM
Tonight is a great tv movie night. I'm finishing up the chronicles of riddick and before it was the flick " battleship", which has become a movie I enjoy watching whenever it's on tv. I believe I enjoy it so because our armed forces are shown in such a positive manner, getting the job done. Probably why I also enjoy all the transformer movies......our military kicks ass in each one.

Now, time to watch riddick stem the killer beasts.

Oh hey, and the best part of 'Battleship' for me is when the old salty dogs are called upon to fire up Big Mo!   ::thumbsup::

I mean...was that cool or what! I love that scene. The freakin greatest generation. And watching the scene...you KNEW what was gonna happen. You knew it and when it did it was just cool.

Too many flicks that portrait our military ( cough, cough Avatar) in a bad light.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on September 05, 2014, 07:34:43 PM
Tonight is a great tv movie night. I'm finishing up the chronicles of riddick and before it was the flick " battleship", which has become a movie I enjoy watching whenever it's on tv. I believe I enjoy it so because our armed forces are shown in such a positive manner, getting the job done. Probably why I also enjoy all the transformer movies......our military kicks ass in each one.

Now, time to watch riddick stem the killer beasts.

Oh hey, and the best part of 'Battleship' for me is when the old salty dogs are called upon to fire up Big Mo!   ::thumbsup::

I mean...was that cool or what! I love that scene. The freakin greatest generation. And watching the scene...you KNEW what was gonna happen. You knew it and when it did it was just cool.

Too many flicks that portrait our military ( cough, cough Avatar) in a bad light.

I usually don't add to a chain that's already this long but I gotta pile on.....I loved that part!

I actually cringed as they went down the road because I'm so used to having everything decent in this world trashed and disrespected by Hollyweird. The movie itself completely strained credulity but it ended up in the plus column for me because of that plot twist.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 05, 2014, 11:30:09 PM
I watched "Battleship" last week (it was my teenage daughter's choice for the evening) and it was everything that I expected it to be.

I was pretty sure that I would be watching "Top Gun" with a whacky sci-fi twist. That turned out to be mainly correct. One difference was that at the start of the movie the protagonist is a civilian f**kup instead of a naval aviator f**kup. Somehow, beyond any reasonable expectation of a passing acquaintance with reality, the male lead joins the Navy and becomes a lieutenant commander in charge of the weapons systems aboard a destroyer.

As in "Top Gun," the behavior exhibited by the lead actor would never be tolerated for five minutes in the US military and would likely land him in either the brig or a psych ward. There is flat out no way that a person like this would ever be put in charge of anything of any consequence.

While I am thinking about it...what kind of super advanced race of aliens would travel half way across the galaxy for a war of conquest and have zero redundancy in something as crucial as communication to the home world? And how long did it take the signal from Earth to reach the alien world? The speed of light is a pretty significant barrier to communication when it comes to interstellar distances. But that's just nitpicking.

Additionally, the connection to the game of "Battleship" is tenuous at best and is (finally) demonstrated when the humans give up on trying to track/target the enemy with radar and switch to a grid system of tsunami wave monitors...which is absolutely ridiculous. Every bit as ridiculous as the flying battle scenes in "Top Gun."

And I am pretty sure it is impossible to start up and operate a stone cold, decommissioned WWII battleship in twenty minutes with a crew of twelve.

BUT...as mentioned above and just like in "Top Gun," there is a very positive attitude shown toward the military that is absent in other films which makes all of the utterly illogical and unrealistic nonsense dialogue and plot devices totally worth overlooking. And yes, it was clever using the retired WWII vets to man the USS Missouri. So...on balance it was an entertaining film and I didn't hate it which is always a plus. I will say, though, that I liked another film featuring the USS Missouri better than this one. That would be the Steven Segal/Tommy Lee Jones/Gary Busey "Die Hard" on a battleship movie, "Under Siege." It had lots of ridiculous stuff, too, but in spite of the big name actors the real star of that movie was the ship itself which I thought was a pretty cool thing when you look at it that way.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 07, 2014, 02:23:59 AM
Finally got around to seeing "God's Not Dead" this evening. I knew that I was going to see it because I usually make a point of seeing most of (or nearly most of) the Christian produced/themed movies...among them: "Left Behind" and "Fireproof" and "Facing The Giants" and "Courageous." Plus at least a few more that don't come to mind at the moment. The one thing that seems to be common to all of these films is that they tend to be, and I will be charitable here, unpolished. The acting tends to be second or third rate, the scripts are not particularly clever, the production values are weak and the direction is usually uninspired. Which is not to say that Christian themed movies have been awful, they just haven't been great. Which is too bad because the messages that these films attempt to deliver are, of course, good.

Producing a Christian themed movie is, obviously, not easy. Producing any movie at all isn't easy. It merely looks easy to the neophyte or layman. One of the universal truths in life is that a professional, a master craftsman or performer, is able to make what he does look easy when the fact is that it isn't. An example: We all drive cars (or most of us do) and because of  that it's a pretty short leap to the mistaken conclusion that being a race car driver is not all that difficult. Which is utter nonsense. I won't go into the reasons why it's nonsense but it is. Perhaps the notion that making a good movie is not a big deal comes from the rather recent innovation of cheap but high quality camera phones...anyone can be a film maker with an iPhone,  I suppose.

I say all this because it has been my hope for longer than I can remember that someday someone will make a high quality Christian themed movie...one that will have universal appeal and therefore attract an audience outside of its most obvious target demographic. "God's Not Dead" is not that movie but it's the closest one yet to achieving that goal.

The movie starts out with an absolutely great hook: A Christian student is faced with the easy path of denying his faith or the very difficult choice of defending it, his academic and possibly his professional future on the line in the process. The student refuses to deny his faith at the demand of his atheist professor and is then required to defend that decision. This idea would have made a great movie all by itself but unfortunately, at least as I see it, the producers make the mistake of spreading the screen time around in the form of interconnecting and intersecting characters and plot lines. We've seen this technique done before and it can be done very well. Films like "Love Actually" or "Crash" come to mind. And this brings me back to what I mentioned near the beginning of this post, that a truly gifted artist or craftsman can make things look easier than they really are. I wish that the makers of "God's Not Dead" could have stuck to just the one main plot line. If they had they could have developed the characters more and given the audience a little more cinematic meat to chew on I believe this could have been a very good film. Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier, this is the best of the Christian themed movies to date. I liked it. I just didn't like it a lot. I wanted to like it a lot and I wanted to say that it was a great movie. But I can't say that.

Now, all that said, it is worth seeing and you will probably enjoy it. I did.

Some plot and character detail comments:

If you have seen any promo stuff at all about this movie you will already know that Kevin Sorbo is the heavy as the atheist philosophy professor who demands that his freshman students dispense with belief in God on day one of his class. Sorbo is pretty good in this role, the script works for his character almost all the way through...he is totally believable playing the part of the intellectual snob college academic who could not possibly care less about anyone whom he considers to be mentally beneath him. He, like the global warmists, has a completely closed mind to anything that challenges his world view. (Incidentally, Sorbo is a Christian...I did not know this) His character should have gotten a lot more screen time.

And of course, his opponent should have also gotten more time...this was supposed to be the meat of the movie. The Christian student who would not deny God is played by Shane Harper. Harper, who I had not heard of before, is (surprisingly) not a total unknown. He actually has a fairly extensive entertainment resume for a young person and handles his role quite competently. He, like Sorbo, is also a Christian. I cannot underemphasize my disappointment that Sorbo and Harper were not allowed to dominate this movie.

There were about a half a dozen or so peripheral characters with plot lines with varying degrees of success in the way that they intersected with each other and the main characters. Only one of them is recognizable, Dean Cain, and his character is woefully thin. Cain plays a douchebag attorney who cares for nothing and no one other than himself. But Cain's talent is completely wasted here. We learn very little about why he is a douche and his character does not change during the story. Kind of pointless.

Another character played by a total unknown female is Cain's girlfriend and she is likewise a complete douche. She is cast as an ultra left wing blogger/citizen journalist who thinks that it's clever to "ambush" her interview victims. She interviews Willie Robertson (who along with his wife do a quickie cameo as themselves) and would be completely unbelievable in the role were it not for far too many real life examples of her behavior which can be found on MSNBC at any given moment.

Another unknown actress is cast as the daughter of a sharia law fanatic. It is revealed about a third of the way in that she has converted to Christianity and I was seriously impressed that the film makers had the guts to show a very mild representation of what an islamofascist does to any woman who strays from sharia (he merely smacks her two or three times in the head and then tosses her out the front door...no stoning, burning or battery acid to the face). The movie would have been better without her character or plot line but since it was included at least they didn't overly sugar coat it.

There is also a Christian pastor played by mostly unknown (he has produced and acted in a small number of Christian themed movies), David A. R. White. White, unsurprisingly, produced this film.

Anyway..."God's Not Dead" is, in my opinion, the best Christian themed movie to date and is both watchable and interesting. Christians will enjoy it for obvious reasons and if non-Christians happen to view it they may find themselves challenged by the brief but stimulating presentation in defense of God's existence put on by Shane Harper's character.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on September 11, 2014, 12:12:06 AM
Just a small point of movie trivia: Did you realize that "Guardians of the Galaxy," which opened on August 1st is still the number one movie as of this week with $10.4 million in tickets for a cumulative of $275.4 million? It still has a very, very long way to go to catch "Marvel's The Avengers" of course, but in a summer of no "blockbusters" it is doing surprisingly well and if you haven't seen it, well...you should...it really is pretty damned good. I've seen it twice. Once with my daughter and once with (and this is really hard to believe because she hates movies like this) mrs. trapeze. And yeah, she enjoyed it and laughed at all of the funny parts.

A personal trivia point: When the original "Star Wars" movie came out I saw it 16 times at the theater. This was remarkable for not only the number of times that I saw it but where I saw it. I will never understand why but where I lived it was only available in one theater for an entire year. And for that year just about every show was sold out. It was a cultural media phenomenon. Sadly, you can no longer see the film as it was when it was on the big screen. George Lucas has totally bastardized the film and has changed it several times. He believes that he is "improving" it but he is apparently an idiot these days. I suppose that it is possible for a blind squirrel to occasionally find a nut and Lucas proved that he was able to get it right exactly one time in his life. But...that one time was enough to make him a zillionaire. But he is still a douche for not making the original film available.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 11, 2014, 06:46:30 AM
Haven't seen Guardians yet.  I'll get to it, someday...  Probably when it hits PPV.

Saw the first of the new Spiderman flicks the other night, it is hitting the non-premium cable channels.  Not terribly impressed.

Rented the second Captain America last night, that was at least entertaining enough to justify the $5 I spent, plenty of action and Scarlett isn't too hard on the eyes.  Looks like they have another one coming along soon.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 11, 2014, 08:54:48 AM
A personal trivia point: When the original "Star Wars" movie came out I saw it 16 times at the theater. This was remarkable for not only the number of times that I saw it but where I saw it. I will never understand why but where I lived it was only available in one theater for an entire year. And for that year just about every show was sold out.

Cooper?
I miss that theater. And being forced to see Star Wars there with a completely full house  was one of the best movie going experiences of my life. No Movie screen has seemed larger or so immersive   to me since.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on October 26, 2014, 09:33:08 PM
I saw a couple of movies on pay-per-view this weekend..."X-Men: Days of Future Passed" and "Edge of Tomorrow."

Both of them involve time travel and both of them do a passable job of it which is saying a lot because time travel that isn't ridiculous is not easy.

Of the two movies, if I had to choose, I would recommend "Edge of Tomorrow" (now being called "Live, Die, Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow") over the X-Men picture. They are both well-acted and technically beautiful but the story in "Edge of Tomorrow" is better. The X-Men movie is weak in that regard because it is largely a rehash of a previous movie(s), the "humans are trying to exterminate mutants" theme redux with time travel.

Me? I would like to see the X-Men battle an enemy that isn't mutant-hating mankind for once. Why can't it be the X-Men versus Godzilla or something? So, in that, it's disappointing. Other than that point, though, it's a good movie* and I would recommend it.

"Edge of Tomorrow" is great. Tom Cruise stars in it and he is very good (acting). In fact, as he is want to do, Cruise does all of his own stunts and he must really take a beating. The special effects are very well done and come out great in 1080p hi-def. I especially like the costuming which consists primarily of not-too-far-in-the-future infantry exoskeletons which are packed with serious video game-style weapons and ammo. But the deal-maker is the story. It's great. Compelling, even. Cruise plays Major Cage, a cowardly PR man who avoids fighting in the war by "selling" it to would be recruits. He gets crossways with a four star general and ends up being shanghaied into an infantry company on the day before the big invasion of Europe. Seems that Europe is over-run with lightning fast tentacled aliens with the ability to re-live a day over and over until they know what will happen and, therefore, can't be beaten. Cage gets covered in alien blood during the invasion and then is killed. Except he isn't. The baptism in blood gives him the aliens' ability to keep repeating the day over every time he is killed. Thus, the movie is a combination of "Aliens" (the gungho space marines) and "Groundhog Day." Cage re-lives the same day, the day just before the invasion through until the invasion day morning, thousands of times and dying every time. How he escapes this situation is the real story of the movie.

The only weak point of "Edge of Tomorrow" is the very final scene (what happens to Cage) and I could tell you what it is and why I think it's weak but that just isn't necessary. It doesn't ruin the story or anything. It's just weaker than the rest of the movie. And the rest of the movie is pretty good so I can recommend it without reservation.

*A complaint, though: The X-Men movie is rated PG13 but it is pretty well packed with profanity up to and including "f**k" plus, as an extra unnecessary bonus: Hugh Jackman's butt naked butt. Since I watched this movie with my 15-year-old daughter, that was a bit disappointing. The Tom Cruise movie by comparison had a remarkable lack of profanity. There was some but considering the life-and-death nature of the battle scenes it was largely absent from the film.

Edge of Tomorrow - Official Trailer 1 [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw61gCe2oqI#ws)

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST - Official Trailer (2014) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK2zYHWDZKo#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on October 27, 2014, 06:44:55 AM
I'd have to be given the Hydra mind-control treatment for just about any Cruise flick, I just can't stand that short little cultist dweeb...

IMHO diminutive little metro's like this are a dime a dozen...and cannot compare with the male (or female!) contempories of yesteryear...

It's my opinion and it is what it is.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on October 27, 2014, 08:48:34 PM
I'd have to be given the Hydra mind-control treatment for just about any Cruise flick, I just can't stand that short little cultist dweeb...

IMHO diminutive little metro's like this are a dime a dozen...and cannot compare with the male (or female!) contempories of yesteryear...

It's my opinion and it is what it is.

I'm no Cruise fan but he is actually quite good in this. He starts out as a spineless media weasel and he all but wets himself when he hits the battlefield. But...then he wakes up like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day" and does the whole "I don't get what's happening to me" thing just perfectly. By the third or fourth iteration he is desperately trying to get anyone to listen to him ("The invasion is a trap! They know we are coming!") and ends up with duct tape over his mouth in the troop transport. Like Murray in "Groundhog Day" he tries everything including skipping the invasion battle altogether and instead goes to a London pub to drown his sorrows. And then resigns himself to doing whatever it takes to defeat the enemy so that he can escape his doom.

It really is a first rate sci-fi movie. Again, highly recommended.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 27, 2014, 09:46:25 PM
Sometimes actors achieving extreme fame become their own worst enemy. Tom Cruise as a tabloid persona overshadows his acting. But his acting doesn't suck all the time. He can be good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on October 27, 2014, 11:41:05 PM
Sometimes actors achieving extreme fame become their own worst enemy. Tom Cruise as a tabloid persona overshadows his acting. But his acting doesn't suck all the time. He can be good.

The vampire Lestat was one, imo.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on October 28, 2014, 01:19:01 PM
Cruise was good in Edge of Tomorrow. The storyline is strong and the special effects are believable, especially in lite that eco type skeletons for strength are being experimented with today.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 11, 2014, 10:33:07 PM
From the "even a blind squirrel will eventually find a chestnut" file...mrs. trapeze picks a not awful movie.

mrs. trapeze insists on picking movies from time to time (and almost always with no input from me at all) and usually this turns out to be rather unpleasant. It's sort of a running joke in our household as regards how bad she is at picking movies. She isn't good at it and she knows it. But every once in a while she does pull off the odd good pick. This last weekend she picked a movie I had never heard of (bad sign number one) that had made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival (bad sign number two). But it wasn't awful. It was well made and had an interesting premise. The film was "The One I Love" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2756032/) and it is a so-called "dramedy." I didn't think there was much comedy to it at all but that was okay. It was more like an episode of "The Twilight Zone" than anything else.

Plot basics: A couple see a marriage therapist who recommends that they visit a house in the country for a weekend alone to try and get to know each other better/again. When they get there they discover (separately) that there are exact duplicates of themselves residing in a detached guest house. Well, not exact duplicates. The duplicates are sort of better than the originals...nicer or more interesting or sexier or whatever...a more idealized version of themselves. The story gets more strange from that point until the very end. And the ending is not explained which leaves the viewer trying to determine just exactly what happened at the end. And that's not a bad thing. It gives you something to think and talk about when it's over.

So...wtg mrs. trapeze...a pretty good movie pick.

(and if you see Ted Danson in the trailer, don't worry...he has about two minutes of screen time, tops)

The One I Love Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Elizabeth Moss, Mark Duplass Romantic Comedy HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCOvhojlZzQ#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on November 12, 2014, 06:19:31 AM
Two minutes of Ted Danson?!   ::speechless::

(http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/libertasinfinitio/Warnings/NOOOOO.gif)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on November 12, 2014, 11:53:12 PM
No, seriously...it's a nothing part and the rest of the film is only the other two actors. Very minimalist that way. Anyway, it's thought provoking and the plot is pulled off in a very clever way.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 28, 2014, 12:01:54 AM
Crunchyroll.  (http://www.crunchyroll.com/) Awesome. Though I call it crunchy frog because it annoys my kids.
Watching Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online.

Pretty cool folks.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on November 28, 2014, 09:17:19 AM
Having really enjoyed the first two installments of the "Hunger Games" franchise, we went to see the third - "Mockingjay" a few nights ago. I wasn't super impressed. I'm still invested in the characters and story enough to see the fourth and final film when it comes out (assuming there is still an economy able to support frivolity like films), but this movie was more like 2 hours of connective tissue between #2 and #4. As a stand-alone movie, it offered little to nothing.

For the first time, Jennifer Lawrence didn't seem as if she was fully on board with the character. She's a fine actress, but this time her lines felt forced, as if she was looking at the the director off camera pleading with her: "More angst! More angst!"

If you liked the first two and plan to see the fourth, see it. It didn't completely suck hind-tit. But if you haven't seen any of them, and you're thinking about rushing out to buy #1 and #2 so you can get up to speed and then see "Mockingjay", wait for reviews of #4 to see if it's even worth it. If it's no better than #3, don't bother.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on November 28, 2014, 12:27:53 PM
The Farce Awakens...

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-force-awakens-teaser-752571 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-force-awakens-teaser-752571)

WTF is this?

 ::facepalm::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on November 28, 2014, 01:36:07 PM
Having really enjoyed the first two installments of the "Hunger Games" franchise, we went to see the third - "Mockingjay" a few nights ago. I wasn't super impressed. I'm still invested in the characters and story enough to see the fourth and final film when it comes out (assuming there is still an economy able to support frivolity like films), but this movie was more like 2 hours of connective tissue between #2 and #4. As a stand-alone movie, it offered little to nothing.

For the first time, Jennifer Lawrence didn't seem as if she was fully on board with the character. She's a fine actress, but this time her lines felt forced, as if she was looking at the the director off camera pleading with her: "More angst! More angst!"

If you liked the first two and plan to see the fourth, see it. It didn't completely suck hind-tit. But if you haven't seen any of them, and you're thinking about rushing out to buy #1 and #2 so you can get up to speed and then see "Mockingjay", wait for reviews of #4 to see if it's even worth it. If it's no better than #3, don't bother.


Yep...# 3 was lacking. Lawrence looked a little lost in character. Maybe she was distracted over the nekked pics online. Not to ruin anything, but #4 is set up to take the munitions mountain, which should equate to much more action. I actually drifted off to sleep at one point early in the flick.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on November 28, 2014, 06:18:04 PM
If I would have seen the nekkid pictures, I would have been distracted too
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 29, 2014, 10:30:47 PM
Crunchyroll.  (http://www.crunchyroll.com/) Awesome. Though I call it crunchy frog because it annoys my kids.
Watching Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online.

Pretty cool folks.

Oh crap. Sword Art Online turned into the Bugaloos at episode 14. How disappointing.. .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 02, 2014, 09:42:40 PM
Having really enjoyed the first two installments of the "Hunger Games" franchise, we went to see the third - "Mockingjay" a few nights ago. I wasn't super impressed. I'm still invested in the characters and story enough to see the fourth and final film when it comes out (assuming there is still an economy able to support frivolity like films), but this movie was more like 2 hours of connective tissue between #2 and #4. As a stand-alone movie, it offered little to nothing.

For the first time, Jennifer Lawrence didn't seem as if she was fully on board with the character. She's a fine actress, but this time her lines felt forced, as if she was looking at the the director off camera pleading with her: "More angst! More angst!"

If you liked the first two and plan to see the fourth, see it. It didn't completely suck hind-tit. But if you haven't seen any of them, and you're thinking about rushing out to buy #1 and #2 so you can get up to speed and then see "Mockingjay", wait for reviews of #4 to see if it's even worth it. If it's no better than #3, don't bother.

The first movie was a decent action genre film. The second movie was much the same. The third movie was mind-numbingly boring. (I was dragged to all three by my daughter)

The third film has almost no action whatsoever. And, what little action there was did not involve the lead character. The "Katniss" character shoots a grand total of one (1) arrow in the entire film. One. Arrow. And she wasn't directly in danger when she shot it. Ridiculously, she uses this one arrow (which presumably had an explosive head) to bring down an attacking plane. I could be wrong but it looked like she brought the plane down (with accompanying massive explosive force) in the middle of the good-guys' hospital. The rest of the movie she stands around looking distraught. There is only so much of Jennifer Lawrence's hurt/sad/depressed facial expressions that I can stomach in two hours.

So...it sucked.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 02, 2014, 09:56:27 PM
Now...in the "movies that don't/didn't suck" category I will nominate "The November Man" starring Pierce Brosnan. This is a classic spy thriller movie in the spirit of "Three Days of the Condor" except with lots more action/violence/explosions/ and a higher body count. This is Pierce Brosnan's best movie in, well...ever. If he had picked something like this instead of the stupid James Bond movies he was so hot to be in his career could have been something to be proud of.

Although this is not the greatest spy/action movie I have ever seen it is better than average and I would recommend seeing it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 03, 2014, 06:51:11 AM
Now...in the "movies that don't/didn't suck" category I will nominate "The November Man" starring Pierce Brosnan. This is a classic spy thriller movie in the spirit of "Three Days of the Condor" except with lots more action/violence/explosions/ and a higher body count. This is Pierce Brosnan's best movie in, well...ever. If he had picked something like this instead of the stupid James Bond movies he was so hot to be in his career could have been something to be proud of.

Although this is not the greatest spy/action movie I have ever seen it is better than average and I would recommend seeing it.

I caught this a couple nights ago, it was decent, not great, better than OK.  It has a little more believable storyline to it, nice take on the Chechnya conquest and lethal spy biz.  That Olga chick is sure showing up in a ton of flicks the past few years.  And yeah, better than that bond crapola he did.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 05, 2014, 09:34:31 AM
Anybody see Tom Cruise in Oblivion? Pretty decent sci if flick. Visually awesome. Decent outings for Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Female leads did well too.

The plot is a little ambiguous and hard to follow at first. The reveals don't really come until you're far enough in that if you weren't paying close attention you might be lost.

But all in all I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on December 05, 2014, 09:39:23 PM
Anybody see Tom Cruise in Oblivion? Pretty decent sci if flick. Visually awesome. Decent outings for Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Female leads did well too.

The plot is a little ambiguous and hard to follow at first. The reveals don't really come until you're far enough in that if you weren't paying close attention you might be lost.

But all in all I enjoyed it.

Yes. It was OK.

I had to watch it three times before the plot made sense to me.

Maybe it was me   :o
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on December 06, 2014, 07:55:46 PM
Anybody see Tom Cruise in Oblivion? Pretty decent sci if flick. Visually awesome. Decent outings for Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Female leads did well too.

The plot is a little ambiguous and hard to follow at first. The reveals don't really come until you're far enough in that if you weren't paying close attention you might be lost.

But all in all I enjoyed it.

Yes. It was OK.

I had to watch it three times before the plot made sense to me.

Maybe it was me   :o

 No it wasn't
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on December 07, 2014, 10:53:16 AM
Anybody see Tom Cruise in Oblivion? Pretty decent sci if flick. Visually awesome. Decent outings for Cruise and Morgan Freeman. Female leads did well too.

The plot is a little ambiguous and hard to follow at first. The reveals don't really come until you're far enough in that if you weren't paying close attention you might be lost.

But all in all I enjoyed it.

Yes. It was OK.

I had to watch it three times before the plot made sense to me.

Maybe it was me   :o

 No it wasn't

Thanks JF - sometimes I gotta wonder ;')
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 07, 2014, 11:55:26 AM
I'd have to get oiled up to spend one dime watching that demented little cultist...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 14, 2014, 09:56:58 PM
My neighbor loaned me the "Desolation of Smaug" and conned me into going to see the battle of the five armies when it comes out. I avoided it deliberately last year.
I was disappointed with the first installment of "the hobbit"
After seeing the desolation of Smaug, I have decided Peter Jackson must die.

OMG. LOTR was apparently a fluke, a complete miracle. 
I really, really hate anyone who loaned their name to this project.
If you want to mess around telling the story of attacking the necromancer, I <MIGHT> have given you a pass, but the liberties that took here just piss me off
Damn Hollywood. Damn them to hell.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 14, 2014, 10:19:14 PM
We recently watched Guardians of the Galaxy.   ::saywhat::

Lame and campy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 15, 2014, 03:06:28 AM
Damn Hollywood. Damn them to hell.

Too late. Hackers already did it this week. It's horrible and it's going to get worse. It's like the Edward Snowden version of Hollywood. The smug little studio sh*ts thought they could say anything about anyone and no one would ever find out about it. And now it's all coming out. Plus the hackers shut down Sony's studio financial system. Plus they stole scripts...big ones like the new Bond script.

But as to Petey Jackson's tampering with some of the most sacred source material ever? Well, it's hardly new. Crap, look at what they did with the Noah story. Look at what they did with C.S. Lewis' Narnia stories...that one was so execrably bad that they killed the franchise after 3 of 7 books. Can you imagine if they had killed off the Harry Potter franchise after 3 book's worth of movies?

My teenage daughter dragged me to the second hobbit film and I vowed to never see another. What utter dreck. I think they are scheduled to make, what? Four installments? This from a single book. Jackson made three extremely long (and good) movies from three extremely long LOTR novels, made tons of money along the way and everyone was happy. But apparently they believe that the LOTR audience is too stupid to not pay for three or four or whatever movies worth of hobbit crappola. The Hobbit was a good book. Not a great book like any one of the LOTR novels. It was a good book who's primary audience was children (go back and look at the writing style if you are in doubt). Making The Hobbit into some kind of epic multi-film elf/man/dwarf bloodfest is obscene.

But then, people are paying to see it so I guess they are right...most people are chumps.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 15, 2014, 03:10:49 AM
We recently watched Guardians of the Galaxy.   ::saywhat::

Lame and campy.

Not the movie I saw. I thought it was great. Soundtrack music was cleverly worked into the plot and the music was great. But, that's me. I find what I consider to be good movies in both obvious and hidden places.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on December 15, 2014, 03:23:44 AM
Usually I find direct to pay-per-view movies to suck. There is a reason that they don't do well in theaters or that they never made it into theaters. But this evening I watched one that didn't stink. It wasn't the best movie I have seen in a while...it was reasonably acted, directed and written. The critics panned it but I think that they were expecting something other than what the film delivered.

The film was, "And So It Goes" directed by Rob Reiner (who is an asshole but an above average director) and stars Michael Douglass and Diane Keaton. Douglass plays a bigoted asshole real estate broker who cannot get along with others in his species. Keaton plays a frequently over emotional lounge singer. It is very similar to "Something's Gotta Give" (which also starred Keaton as the love interest of the bigoted asshole). Keaton as usual plays her character like she plays just about every other character she has ever played...an amazingly one dimensional actress. But it's an okay little movie and worth seeing. Maybe not paying for but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on a free channel.

(Posting mostly about pop culture these days because the politics are too depressing to go into...and this after we beat the stuffing out of the Democrats. Crap, we may as well have let them keep the Senate and hand over the House for all the good it's done us with Boehner running the show. I keep hoping that Boehner will get hit by a bus or fall down an elevator shaft but so far he has escaped those dooms.)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 15, 2014, 04:31:06 AM
We recently watched Guardians of the Galaxy.   ::saywhat::

Lame and campy.

Not sure about "lame".
I was entertained .
It has a talking raccoon who shoots things-  it was supposed to be campy
But no I can't imagine that it will stand the test of time..but even Michelle sat down to watch it a second time ( she took the kids the first..)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 15, 2014, 04:40:29 AM

But as to Petey Jackson's tampering with some of the most sacred source material ever? Well, it's hardly new. Crap, look at what they did with the Noah story. Look at what they did with C.S. Lewis' Narnia stories...that one was so execrably bad that they killed the franchise after 3 of 7 books. Can you imagine if they had killed off the Harry Potter franchise after 3 book's worth of movies?

My teenage daughter dragged me to the second hobbit film and I vowed to never see another. What utter dreck. I think they are scheduled to make, what? Four installments? This from a single book. Jackson made three extremely long (and good) movies from three extremely long LOTR novels, made tons of money along the way and everyone was happy. But apparently they believe that the LOTR audience is too stupid to not pay for three or four or whatever movies worth of hobbit crappola. The Hobbit was a good book. Not a great book like any one of the LOTR novels. It was a good book who's primary audience was children (go back and look at the writing style if you are in doubt). Making The Hobbit into some kind of epic multi-film elf/man/dwarf bloodfest is obscene.

But then, people are paying to see it so I guess they are right...most people are chumps.

Yes. Luckily I didn't give him a dime to watch the second one. Unfortunately I told the neighbor I would go see the third with him.. Michelle pointed out most of the people watching these things probably have never read the book.. probably haven't picked up a book since High School.
One just has to wonder why they feel compelled to do this ( other than maybe we can make 4 movies out of it and sell tickets 4 times.)
Once upon a time I think Hollywood cared a little more about the art. LOTR will be watched for the next 100 years.  The Hobbit is going to be ignored and fall into the same category as the old cartoon version of LOTR..
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 15, 2014, 05:12:33 AM
We recently watched Guardians of the Galaxy.   ::saywhat::

Lame and campy.

Not the movie I saw. I thought it was great. Soundtrack music was cleverly worked into the plot and the music was great. But, that's me. I find what I consider to be good movies in both obvious and hidden places.

We liked it - as much or more than any of the Marvel films - saw it in the theatre and just grabbed the DVD, out last week, as an family Christmas stocking stuffer - and I made a DJ mix of the soundtrack, tossing in a few extras by Cream, The Velvet Underground & Blondie.

(http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/gablabs/2014%20Mix%20Art/Gaurdiansremix_zpsa8d0abe4.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 15, 2014, 06:49:37 AM
I saw it this past weekend on PPV, I thought it was good, not great and not horrible, it is what it is.  The music was an interesting contrast to the visual experience, I think I liked Cherry Bomb as they readied for war the best.  As with movies of this type the small notes in the banter are the gems...Star Lord calling Rocket "Ranger Rick", stuff like that.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on December 15, 2014, 01:27:37 PM
Hey...Guardians of the Galaxy was cool....lol I find myself watching for the special effects. Amazing what can be done today.  It was a bit campy but I went  expecting it.....If you watched the previews, especially a few of the actors who have played in Will Ferrells stuff....you had to expect campy.

The music was great. Plus, with all that tech...saved by a talking tree. lolol
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 15, 2014, 04:09:24 PM
The more I learn about GotG, the more I think I'm not gonna like it. I'm not too big on camp.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 15, 2014, 05:00:39 PM
It will never be called a classic but I thought it was fun entertainment
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on December 15, 2014, 09:36:34 PM
Here's one for ya....

Has anyone seen Iron Sky?

IMDB gives it a 6.0 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/?ref_=nv_sr_1)) - I'd consider 2.5 to be generous.

The premise: The Nazis set up a secret base on the dark side of the moon in 1945 where they hide out and plan to return to power in 2018.

OK, I know, a movie about space Nazis has nowhere to go but up, right? Wrong. It starts there and turns straight down. Don't get me wrong - I love "quirky" and "unconventional" and even some "cult" but this is just rank amateur.

It seems that "The President" - a Sarah Palin lookalike - is in desperate need of a hook to ensure her reelection. So she sends men to the moon for the first time in 30 years. Including a token black (you know - as "outreach" to "The Community"). Upon arriving on the moon they discover a lost colony of Moon Nazis living in a swastika-shaped structure, busily preparing a reunion tour where the Fourth Reich will assume the world throne.

If you're like me you're picking your jaw up off the floor and thinking, "Well they've hit rock-bottom now". Au contraire Mon Frere! We still have the love interest between the black astronaut and a Teutonic Teacher (played by Julia Dietze who, as the only redeeming facet of the flick, got better looking as the movie stumbled along), and an invasion of America by space dirigibles. Did I mention space Nazis?!

The truth is that this is a Z-grade leftist propaganda film where the loons presuppose to think how conservatives act. If you do watch it (you were warned!) you'll immediately see leftist behavior and bias in the imaginary right wingers.

What a waste.  There were so many things that they could have done with this movie but they settled for cheap shots at conservatives.

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM2MDg5MzgxNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODUzNjMxOA@@._V1_SY317_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 16, 2014, 06:37:46 AM
Sounds truly horrific.  I wish MST3K was still around, I bet they would have a riot with that!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 16, 2014, 08:34:57 AM
Sounds truly horrific.  I wish MST3K was still around, I bet they would have a riot with that!

MSt3K isn't around any more, but Mike and the Bots still do their thing  at rifftrax (http://www.rifftrax.com/)
However I don't think they have done Iron Sky (but a number of people have requested it..)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 16, 2014, 08:50:40 AM
Sounds truly horrific.  I wish MST3K was still around, I bet they would have a riot with that!

MSt3K isn't around any more, but Mike and the Bots still do their thing  at rifftrax (http://www.rifftrax.com/)
However I don't think they have done Iron Sky (but a number of people have requested it..)

Heh, cool, I might have to check this site out.  Thanks. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on December 16, 2014, 11:13:23 AM
Sounds truly horrific.  I wish MST3K was still around, I bet they would have a riot with that!

MSt3K isn't around any more, but Mike and the Bots still do their thing  at rifftrax (http://www.rifftrax.com/)
However I don't think they have done Iron Sky (but a number of people have requested it..)

Heh, cool, I might have to check this site out.  Thanks.

Marked it on my favorites. ::whoohoo::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 15, 2015, 08:23:42 AM
Jupiter Ascending Official Trailer 2 + Trailer Review : HD PLUS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUXdo6rTi9Q#ws)

This looks pretty wild.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on January 15, 2015, 09:13:47 AM
Yeah, Jupiter Ascending was the one preview I saw at the Hobbit that I thought I might enjoy seeing.  Of course, at this point that means waiting till netflix or amazon has it :)
You have no idea how getting a projector changes your movie viewing habits.

I just purchased Atlas Shrugged III ( since JF pointed out that I could) and The Gamers: The Hands of Fate  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3buuXcHOBkI&list=PLC94D9A19FF391865)since I just watched it for the fourth time via You Tube and the deserve some money for it.
The original short they made was okay. Dorkness rising was hysterical. Hands of Fate proved they could tell a story.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 15, 2015, 09:00:24 PM
Thoroughly enjoying Denzel in The Equalizer (on DVD) tonight. . .

The Equalizer Movie - Extended International Clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrXCDPxCmwE#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 16, 2015, 06:29:04 AM
Let us know how that is Pablo, I've been thinking of catching it, haven't got around to it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 16, 2015, 10:18:30 PM
Let us know how that is Pablo, I've been thinking of catching it, haven't got around to it.

A...good...fix.  ::popcorn::  ::thumbsup::

(vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord...but until then...consider my man Denzel)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on January 17, 2015, 08:32:32 AM
Let us know how that is Pablo, I've been thinking of catching it, haven't got around to it.

A...good...fix.  ::popcorn::  ::thumbsup::

(vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord...but until then...consider my man Denzel)

Now you've piqued my interest.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: rustybayonet on January 19, 2015, 05:55:33 PM
Finally, just went to see the movie "Unbroken".  After reading both books-i.e. "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand and "Devil at my Heels" by Louis Zamperini; the movie was good, but left out as much as it covered.  Don't think I'll buy the video when it comes out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrjJbl7kRrI&feature=player_detailpage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrjJbl7kRrI&feature=player_detailpage)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on January 19, 2015, 07:20:18 PM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 20, 2015, 06:34:35 AM
Let us know how that is Pablo, I've been thinking of catching it, haven't got around to it.

A...good...fix.  ::popcorn::  ::thumbsup::

(vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord...but until then...consider my man Denzel)

Now you've piqued my interest.

I caught it on PPV, it was good.  Sometimes you spend your $5 and feel like even for just $5 I just got hosed, this thankfully wasn't one of those times. 

*Spoiler alert - I like that the bad guys are Rooskie thugs and corrupt cops...pretty realistic, eh?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 20, 2015, 06:36:33 AM
Finally, just went to see the movie "Unbroken".  After reading both books-i.e. "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand and "Devil at my Heels" by Louis Zamperini; the movie was good, but left out as much as it covered.  Don't think I'll buy the video when it comes out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrjJbl7kRrI&feature=player_detailpage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrjJbl7kRrI&feature=player_detailpage)

I hate it when that happens, and you can usually tell if you read the book before the movie even is announced as a concept they are going to leave out tons, and it doesn't have to be that way, there are ways to tell the story without making it too much or too little, and they don't often get it just right.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 20, 2015, 06:38:39 AM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

I have a good excuse...I've been busy with closing my BIL's books and more recently ice fishing!   ::beertoast::

I have to get out sometime this week though and see it.   ::thumbsup::

Did you catch it yet?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 21, 2015, 08:15:13 AM
Ya don't say. Now why would that be, George?  ::whatgives:: ::thinking:: ::hysterical::

George Lucas: Disney ditched all my ideas for the new Star Wars. (http://www.cnet.com/news/george-lucas-says-disney-ditched-his-ideas-for-star-wars-the-force-awakens/#ftag=YHF65cbda0)

Bad he sucks. How much, he knows not.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on January 21, 2015, 08:22:00 AM
Well, ditching the entire extended universe built up over 30 years leaves me with zero interest in this movie, or anything Star Wars related ever again.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 21, 2015, 08:44:14 AM
"Bad he sucks. How much, he knows not."

(http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/libertasinfinitio/LOL/you-are-too-funny-ag1.gif)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on January 21, 2015, 09:03:39 AM
^^

 ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 21, 2015, 11:17:40 AM
Well, ditching the entire extended universe built up over 30 years leaves me with zero interest in this movie, or anything Star Wars related ever again.

Ya gotta read the article Hawk. They didn't ditch the universe.

When Lucas sold Disney the rights to make the films, he presented them with outlines created specifically for the new films. They bought the rights and the ideas, but ditched all the ideas and just kept the rights!

 ::hysterical::

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on January 21, 2015, 04:12:24 PM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

I have a good excuse...I've been busy with closing my BIL's books and more recently ice fishing!   ::beertoast::

I have to get out sometime this week though and see it.   ::thumbsup::

Did you catch it yet?


Not yet. Wife wants to see it and she is out of town.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 22, 2015, 06:42:45 AM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

I have a good excuse...I've been busy with closing my BIL's books and more recently ice fishing!   ::beertoast::

I have to get out sometime this week though and see it.   ::thumbsup::

Did you catch it yet?


Not yet. Wife wants to see it and she is out of town.

I'm going to try to catch it this weekend.  I have to do W2/W3 & 1099's   ::puke::   and I will want a decent reward after that!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 22, 2015, 07:48:32 AM
Academy, tired of negroes?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/django-unchained-producer-selma-oscar-764888 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/django-unchained-producer-selma-oscar-764888)

 ::hysterical::

Whatever...

Bet it is short lived exhaustion...the Justice Bro's will see to it!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 22, 2015, 08:42:54 AM
Who's idea was Jar Jar Binks?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 22, 2015, 10:22:14 AM
Who's idea was Jar Jar Binks?

Presumably Mr. and Mrs. Binks.  ::rimshot::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 22, 2015, 11:07:14 AM
Who's idea was Jar Jar Binks?

Presumably Mr. and Mrs. Binks.  ::rimshot::

hank you. I'm sorely in need of something funny and that tickled me funny bone.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 22, 2015, 11:31:49 AM
Who's idea was Jar Jar Binks?

Presumably Mr. and Mrs. Binks.  ::rimshot::

Binky and Sqwinky Binks bumped bugglies and banged out a bouncing little Binks!   ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on January 22, 2015, 11:36:12 AM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

Watched it last week-end. Very good movie.

Read the book, but that was 4-5 books ago and don't remember all of the details. I'm guessing the movie has some embellishments.

Bradley Cooper did an EXCELLENT job as Chris Kyle.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 22, 2015, 12:00:20 PM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

Watched it last week-end. Very good movie.

Read the book, but that was 4-5 books ago and don't remember all of the details. I'm guessing the movie has some embellishments.

Bradley Cooper did an EXCELLENT job as Chris Kyle.

This movie really has the libbies a-wailin' and a tooth-gnashin', doesn't it?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on January 22, 2015, 04:38:39 PM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

Watched it last week-end. Very good movie.

Read the book, but that was 4-5 books ago and don't remember all of the details. I'm guessing the movie has some embellishments.

Bradley Cooper did an EXCELLENT job as Chris Kyle.

This movie really has the libbies a-wailin' and a tooth-gnashin', doesn't it?

Even more so since Selma got snubbed. Why am I getting so much enjoyment from all of that?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 22, 2015, 05:02:03 PM
So....Guess no one has watched American Sniper....

Watched it last week-end. Very good movie.

Read the book, but that was 4-5 books ago and don't remember all of the details. I'm guessing the movie has some embellishments.

Bradley Cooper did an EXCELLENT job as Chris Kyle.

This movie really has the libbies a-wailin' and a tooth-gnashin', doesn't it?

Even more so since Selma got snubbed. Why am I getting so much enjoyment from all of that?

scha·den·freu·de
?SHäd?n?froid?/
noun
pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on January 22, 2015, 05:02:34 PM
Going to see it Friday Nite.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 24, 2015, 11:52:23 PM
It is not often that I use the words, "one of the worst movie experiences of my life," but I'm about to do just that.

This evening I took mrs. trapeze and our fifteen-year-old daughter to see "Into The Woods" and it was one of the worst movie experiences of my life.

A dog's breakfast.

Unfunny and yet emotionless.

Painful. Especially as regards the music but everything else, as well. Imagine a musical where the creative talent had to be thinking, "Hey, remember all those great musicals of the last fifty years? Let's not do anything like that!"

Will be used in the future by the CIA as part of an enhanced interrogation technique to break the wills of the most hardened prisoners.

There is bad. There is forgettably bad. And then there is, "Please Lord, help me to forget this horribly bad experience," bad. This movie would be that third one.

How anyone had the nerve to release this travesty into movie theaters is a total mystery. They should be tied up in a burlap sack with several rabid badgers. And then burned.

So, no, it should not have gone into theaters. It should not have gone straight to DVD or pay-per-view. All copies should have been burned. Do not watch this. You will be very, very sorry if you do.

I wanted all of the movie characters to die. A lot of them actually did.

I would have gotten up and left after five minutes but my daughter (and her female friend) were seated somewhere else in the theater and I did not want to go and look for them. So mrs. trapeze and I endured it. We should file a lawsuit for pain and suffering.

Johnny Depp can be kinda creepy, right? So, sure...cast him as the Wolf opposite Little Red Riding Hood and make it appear that he wants to (very badly) sexually assault her. He doesn't but it sure looks as if he is fantasizing about a BTK-style serial killing.

Things happen inexplicably in this movie. Some characters die and for no apparent reason come back to life. Others just die for no apparent reason and for no apparent benefit to the plot (such as it is). Sometimes it seems as if the singing will never stop. And then it does and there is dialogue for an extended period of time and you begin to forget that it is supposed to be a musical and then the singing starts up again and you wish it would go back to merely inane dialogue.

Did you ever see, "Hansel & Gretel, Witch Hunters?" I caught it on regular cable a few weeks ago and it was awful. Twenty minutes into this I was wishing very hard that I was watching that movie instead. It made more sense and there was zero atrocious music and singing.

At one point in the movie you are led to believe that it is ending and you think, "Ah, relief...I can leave and put this behind me," only to discover that, no, there is another twenty minutes of torture left. That is just plain cruelty on the part of the producers.

Many years from now if I am not killed unexpectedly I will be on my death bed looking back on my life, remembering the good times and the bad and I can tell you right now that I will remember this movie and the two hours or so of my life that it took from me, wishing I could get them back.

EDIT:

I wrote the above before going to RottenTomatoes to see what the "experts" thought. I suspected that the critics would love it and I was correct. It got a 71% favorable from critics. The audience numbers were less positive at 55%. I know why the critics loved it, it "broke the rules" and "gave a new take on traditional stories" and crap like that. I can even explain why audiences rated it as high as 55%, the "Emperor's New Clothes" syndrome where no one wants to admit that they just got suckered out of the price of admission plus it has all these big name actors so it must be good, right? Well, it isn't. It totally sucks.

Another example of how bad it is: Toward the end of the movie there is a musical number where the surviving characters sing (and literally point) at each other as to how it is their fault that things have turned out as miserably as they have.

I really wanted a forest fire to sweep through "The Woods" and take them all.

EDIT:

Why did I see this? I wanted to see "American Sniper" with mrs. trapeze and let the two teenage girls see this stinker on their own. But, to my eternal regret, "American Sniper" was sold out and there wasn't another movie that would have ended at the same time as this piece of stylized garbage.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 25, 2015, 01:37:43 AM
We took the little one to see that a couple weeks ago. I concur. It was definitely in the bottom 5 of all movies I've ever seen. Maybe even the very worst, but when movies are that terrible, it's hard to see the suck clearly enough to place the suckage on a scale.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AlanS on January 25, 2015, 09:02:32 AM
We started to go see "Into The Woods" last night with our youngest son and his g/f. Opted to see "Taken III", even though I swore I would never give Liam Neeson a nickle of my money.

It wasn't that great of a movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 25, 2015, 09:07:00 AM
We started to go see "Into The Woods" last night with our youngest son and his g/f. Opted to see "Taken III", even though I swore I would never give Liam Neeson a nickle of my money.

It wasn't that great of a movie.

At least Liam Neeson doesn't make you want to burn your eyes out with hot pokers like "Into the Woods". You dodged a bullet my friend.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 25, 2015, 09:14:28 AM
My thought process in the first two minutes of "Into the Woods" was funny.

I've always HATED musicals with a passion. I can't describe how badly. Then I saw "Les Miserables" with Hugh Jackman, Russell Crow, and Anne Hathaway. It was one of the best movies I've ever seen (Even though I had to watch it with subtitles to catch the sung dialogue).

We went to "Into the Woods" without a clue that it was a musical. I just had no idea. The trailers didn't emphasize it. In fact, I remember seeing trailers, and I don't remember singing at all.

So when it opened with singing, and they kept singing, and didn't stop singing, I thought to myself, "Oh, it's a musical. Maybe it'll be good like Les Miserables." Within that first two minutes, I realized that I was in for two hours of torture. I was quickly back to hating musicals again.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on January 25, 2015, 10:54:23 AM
The Kids and I finished Full Metal Alchemist (http://www.amazon.com/Fullmetal-Alchemist-Brotherhood-Complete-Collection/dp/B0071LEPDE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422203673&sr=8-1&keywords=full+metal+alchemist) last night -  As a story its one of the best 10 -- there is this huge cast of characters, and you will be invested in them ALL. 

After hearing everyone's experiences at the theaters this weekend, I am still happy I opted to stay home and use the home theater ( which by the way is becoming more affordable all of the time.. My projector is now available with 92 inch fixed screen for $1200 for the complete package.  (http://www.visualapex.com/projector-package-deals/Epson-projector-packages.asp?for-the=Home-Cinema-8350)
and its a great machine.. Outlaw Audio  is offering a combo price on the 975 preamp with model 5000 amp (5X125 watts)  of $1000  and  you get get very good DYI speaker kits for bookshelfs for $140 a pair. (http://www.parts-express.com/overnight-sensations-mt-speaker-kit-pair--300-706)  and then get a decent sub for around $350.

Though I still can't recommend the ones I built highly enough (Around $1400 in parts for center and mains and free advice  from me  ::cool:: . Its more work because you can't just get a knock down kit, but  it is soo worth it  )

 But that basically means you can have an in home experience I guarantee you will enjoy more than any $40-45  Movie night at a local theater. Nobody talking, no driving, no expensive concessions, a pause button for bathroom breaks and   and your family cuddled on your own comfortable couch under a blanket. ..    for well under $3000 - even if you have none of the equipment right now.  Much less if you already have a sound system you are happy with. 
 
Just for grins I threw Full Metal up on the 42 inch LCD for the kids and asked them if we should have watched it that way..  It looked so small after watching 32 hours of it on the big screen.  You just don't have any idea how much it really changes the experience till you have one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 25, 2015, 11:59:55 AM
Wow, thanks for the warning on "Into the Woodshed".

Trap, what did your kids think of it? Excellent review BTW...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 25, 2015, 12:10:26 PM
Wow, thanks for the warning on "Into the Woodshed".

Trap, what did your kids think of it? Excellent review BTW...

My 10 year old daughter didn't even like it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on January 26, 2015, 01:27:46 AM
Wow, thanks for the warning on "Into the Woodshed".

Trap, what did your kids think of it? Excellent review BTW...

mrs. trapeze and I kept our mouths shut after the movie because on the extreme off chance that perhaps the two girls liked it we did not want to influence them. The giveaway, though, was that neither one of them said a single thing about it on the way home. Usually, if they see a movie which they like (even a little bit) they will make comments about this scene or that but not this time. Not even a Johnny Depp comment which is extremely unusual since my daughter was nuts for him in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. We had a long drive home and not a word about the movie was said. Not one word.

And I don't hate musicals. I don't care for most of them but there are a few that I really like. Perhaps my all time favorite is "My Fair Lady" which is odd since I usually can't stand Rex Harrison. Maybe it was because he had Audrey Hepburn opposite him or maybe he was actually very good in it...don't know but I really like that movie. On the big screen with good sound it is great.

I mostly liked "West Side Story" and "Mary Poppins" was very well done. "The Sound of Music" would also be on my list of tolerable musicals although I've seen it too many times now in various broadcast tv venues. On the slightly bizarre/goofy side of things, I really enjoyed "Little Shop of Horrors." Also of the bizarre nature and occasionally good was "Phantom of the Paradise." (I recently saw the 2004 film version of "The Phantom of the Opera" and couldn't figure out why it was such a big broadway hit.)

On the other side of the spectrum you would find me in utter revulsion at having to endure the musical stylings of Clint Eastwood in "Paint Your Wagon" or (far worse if that's possible and yes, yes it is) Pierce Brosnan in "Mamma Mia."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFaXN3NAQLg#t=51 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFaXN3NAQLg#t=51)

Clint Eastwood. "I Talk To the Trees" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn8YubD01sk#ws)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 26, 2015, 07:37:00 AM
Took my father to see American Sniper yesterday, it was nice to watch a good well-acted movie without any Hollywood leftist BS and in a quiet theater from start to finish.  My father choked up at several points, the biggest punch in the gut for me was the stamping of the tridents on caskets.

(http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/libertasinfinitio/Military/200px-US_Navy_SEALs_insignia_zps1wmspxzr.png)

Movie pretty much followed the book, some things being slightly different.   The opening scene in real life did not have the kid.  The long distance shot was on a regular RPG-toting scumbag, and while he was called The Legend by his teammates, the jihadis called him “The Devil of Ramadi”, I don’t recall the latter in the movie, maybe it was there and I missed it, but he did have bounties on his head, and the 160 kills is a low number…160 confirmed (witnessed) is the official number, the real number being just under  300.  He did like The Punisher symbol (skull) and had it on it ball cap, tattooed a crusader cross on his arm.
 
Other things are composites, a typical device to portray many things that are real into a shorter time-frame.  Mustafa the jihadi sniper did exist, but somebody else (not sure) got him, because the deaths by enemy sniper ended.   The Butcher character did not exist in real life, though the many atrocities committed by the savages did occur, and retribution on civilians cooperating with the American’s was severe.
Anyway, there is nothing in the book that mischaracterizes the man or the story one bit.  Everyone should see it and get a small glimpse into what the warrior elite life is like.

Chris, and certainly Taya and the kids, did not deserve to be separated from each other by a disturbed young man, but he was trying to help other Vets the only way he knew how and in the process was helping himself, and he did help a lot of people, it just sucks he had to go that way.

But, just think of how many lives he saved here and there?!

(http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/libertasinfinitio/Military/ChrisKyle_02032013_zps2e30fd10-1_zpsdkwprjgd.jpg)

(http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/libertasinfinitio/Patriots/militarysalute.gif)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 26, 2015, 08:52:42 AM
My folks loved "Paint Your Wagon" so it got prominent airplay at home. I didn't really mind it - beyond the embarrassment of Eastwood trying to sing. I thought Lee Marvin attempting to sing was deliciously absurd!

As for the genre, I tend to shy away from musicals, no matter what the theme or meme. Not my cup o tea.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 26, 2015, 11:35:45 AM
The more the fat libiot prog propagandist goes after Eastwood, American Sniper and liberty-loving American's the more attention Eastwood gets, the more money the movie makes and the more American's want to shove this fat turds stupid face into a puddle until the bubbles stop.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2015/01/far-left-icon-michael-moore-pours-gas-on-fire-bashes-clint-eastwood-chris-kyle-again/ (http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2015/01/far-left-icon-michael-moore-pours-gas-on-fire-bashes-clint-eastwood-chris-kyle-again/)

Keep it up, buttface...you're only hurting yourself and your ilk!!!

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: rustybayonet on January 31, 2015, 10:10:26 AM
Went to see "American Sniper" last Monday - great movie.  Ordered the book from Amazon, be here about Feb. 3 - also pre-ordered the DVD before release estimated April 3rd to 6th delivery.  Both wife and daughter, neither of which are fans of military movies, loved it and said they would see it again.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on February 02, 2015, 12:22:45 AM
Saw two movies this weekend on pay-per-view.

First up was my choice which was "The Equalizer" with Denzel Washington in the lead. It was ultra violent and loaded with profanity (from the bad guys) and very mature subject matter (the bad guys ran, among other things, a prostitution ring). The movie was mostly what I thought it would be and was very entertaining...totally held my interest all the way through. It was funny because after it was over I commented to mrs. trapeze how it was not unlike the tv series and she revealed that she had no idea the film was based on a tv show. But she enjoyed it as well which puts it into the rare category of action/adventure shows that she likes.

mrs. trapeze selected the second movie (which I wanted to see anyway so it was a win/win for me) which was "The Judge" with Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall. Stellar performances by all and a decent (although not remarkable) story and script. I am not going to provide a synopsis because you can find it elsewhere but both of these movies are ones that you will not be pissed off at for having wasted your time. Not great movies (those are rare) but good movies, nonetheless.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 02, 2015, 07:27:08 AM
Speaking of Clint Eastwood and musicals, you could do worse than Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Avalon and the Four Seasons.

The Judge was a preview on the above DVD.  Definitely looked worth checking out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 02, 2015, 10:18:50 AM
Speaking of Clint Eastwood and musicals, you could do worse than Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Avalon and the Four Seasons.

The Judge was a preview on the above DVD.  Definitely looked worth checking out.

A musical where the subject of the movie is music and musicians isn't really a musical, at least in my mind. To me, a musical is a movie where all the characters sing and/or dance for no reason, and all innately know the lyrics to the songs and the complex dance steps.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 02, 2015, 11:12:04 AM
Adaptive Curmudgeon recommended "The Man in the High Castle" based on Phillip K. Dick's story (https://adaptivecurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/man-in-the-high-castle-why-you-should-read-philip-k-dick/) - Amazon is looking at funding this for an entire season.. and you should go and watch it, take the survey and vote for them to do that because

Quote
Remember that one night you drank too much tequila and were absolutely certain that it made perfect sense to drunk dial your ex and then set your pants on fire? Philip K. Dick understands that moment. His moment is the time when it all fits together and it’s logical and right to do precisely this thing to which you’ve set your mind, and all the people telling you to put down the matches, they’re the fools! If only they would just listen to you it they’d understand too and then you’d all set your pants on fire together and it would fix everything. That’s Philip K. Dick’s natural state.

Philip K. Dick is going on the trip with or without you. In his best works the reader gets to come along. In his lesser works you’re halfway through the book and still haven’t figured out whether the main character is or is not dead (see Ubik).

Is he that good? Yes, excellent! Is he that bad? Absolutely, terribly bad! Is he confusing? Usually, in fact when it makes sense is when you’ve really lost it.

Lucky for us, Philip K. Dick was a prolific author. Even so I try to pace my reading of his stuff because the dude’s dead and when I’ve read the last Philip K. Dick book… then what? Also, if you binge read too much Philip K. Dick you’ll wind up spaced out and floating.

The pilot was really good.  Its free to watch, and the season will be free to Amazon Prime users if its produced ( and I am sure everyone else can do a pay per view-- but $100 a year for music streaming, a large Netflix-like video streaming library and two day shipping on every order has been very worth it to me.)

So go add your vote or Amazon will produce something those idiot masses want to see and quite frankly there is enough programming for the idiot masses to watch already. (I saw women and men ( I think) in wedding dresses running a race through mud the other day as I was setting up the Network so I could watch Amazon Prime on my TeeVEE..  so see the masses  can watch that..)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 02, 2015, 11:49:39 AM
I was going to ask about the Amazon TV sticks...as I understand it there is like a basic version and a full version...the full version probably has more than I need, but either way I think there is some stuff (netflix) that require subscriptions and other things that don't...I don't know the full breakdown of what is/is not free or what they all contain (not sure if there is an explanation in detail either, and the young kids at the store are no help!) but I would be interested in doing something through the internet and start disconnecting in part or in whole from the bloody cable!

Sorry to go O/T, curious what others may know/do.   ;)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 02, 2015, 01:53:43 PM
Speaking of Clint Eastwood and musicals, you could do worse than Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Avalon and the Four Seasons.

The Judge was a preview on the above DVD.  Definitely looked worth checking out.

A musical where the subject of the movie is music and musicians isn't really a musical, at least in my mind. To me, a musical is a movie where all the characters sing and/or dance for no reason, and all innately know the lyrics to the songs and the complex dance steps.

You mean at the the end, with Christopher Walken joining the rest of the cast in a complex dance, for no reason, doesn't count?

 ::bustamove::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on February 02, 2015, 02:27:56 PM
Quote
I was going to ask about the Amazon TV sticks...

"Hello, pants"
Gary Busey tells you all you need to know
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 02, 2015, 03:23:43 PM
Speaking of Clint Eastwood and musicals, you could do worse than Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Avalon and the Four Seasons.

The Judge was a preview on the above DVD.  Definitely looked worth checking out.

A musical where the subject of the movie is music and musicians isn't really a musical, at least in my mind. To me, a musical is a movie where all the characters sing and/or dance for no reason, and all innately know the lyrics to the songs and the complex dance steps.

You mean at the the end, with Christopher Walken joining the rest of the cast in a complex dance, for no reason, doesn't count?

 ::bustamove::

LOL, I haven't seen "Jersey Boys". Is it a musical? I assumed it was more like a biopic.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on February 02, 2015, 04:27:57 PM
Weisshaupt, just starting to watch The Man in the High Castle.
Looks really good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 02, 2015, 04:53:24 PM
Weisshaupt, just starting to watch The Man in the High Castle.
Looks really good.
Just remember to follow the link at the end of video and fill out the survey ..

or there won't be any more.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 02, 2015, 05:08:22 PM
I was going to ask about the Amazon TV sticks...as I understand it there is like a basic version and a full version...the full version probably has more than I need, but either way I think there is some stuff (netflix) that require subscriptions and other things that don't...I don't know the full breakdown of what is/is not free or what they all contain (not sure if there is an explanation in detail either, and the young kids at the store are no help!) but I would be interested in doing something through the internet and start disconnecting in part or in whole from the bloody cable!

Sorry to go O/T, curious what others may know/do.   ;)

Well first make sure your TV isn't already Internet capable.  A lot of newer TVs basically have a Roku-Box like thing built in that will support, at minimum,  Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. I hadn't used that feature of thE TV till yesterday.  It also does skype. (and the camera is covered over with tape)
And I have a hard wired connection to it, so I can unplug it when not in actual use.  Its an extra step connecting to the network before I can watch.  Thats okay.


Failing that there are various set top and stick-like boxes you can add - and they all pretty much do the same thing.  I am a big amazon customer, I pay for Prime just for the shipping,  and so  I would want that service on my box as well.

Unless you are a big gamer and want to download and play games I wouldn't worry about the upgraded FIRE box.  Though AMAZON still hasn't seemed to have figured out their creep factor.  The Amazon Fire phone flopped and I can't say exactly  why.  i do know I wasn't interested because the  interfaces RELIES ON CAMERAS WATCHING YOU  to be used.   You can't just cover them up.  And the Fire Stick offers a voice remote control, which is cool till you figure out you remote is listening to you all of the time.  But your Cell phone already has Nsa hacks in  it to let them do that to you as well- even when the phone is off. Big Brother is here, but I don't see adding another device to that mix, so I would probably go Roku before fire stick.  But they will probably dup that feature as well.
Just don't talk seditious while watching movies. Your entertainment center is watching you.

Mind all of this stuff can just be watched on your laptop or tablet, and you can easily plug that in via a HDMI port  -- only downside is you want a long output cable so you can control it from your seat. Otherwise you go all old school and have to get up to change things.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on February 02, 2015, 05:36:52 PM
Quote
Just don't talk seditious while watching movies. Your entertainment center is watching you.

Through Roku boxes too?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on February 02, 2015, 06:21:47 PM
Thanks for sharing that.
I hope they make this into a series
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 02, 2015, 07:01:56 PM
Speaking of Clint Eastwood and musicals, you could do worse than Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Avalon and the Four Seasons.

The Judge was a preview on the above DVD.  Definitely looked worth checking out.

A musical where the subject of the movie is music and musicians isn't really a musical, at least in my mind. To me, a musical is a movie where all the characters sing and/or dance for no reason, and all innately know the lyrics to the songs and the complex dance steps.

You mean at the the end, with Christopher Walken joining the rest of the cast in a complex dance, for no reason, doesn't count?

 ::bustamove::

LOL, I haven't seen "Jersey Boys". Is it a musical? I assumed it was more like a biopic.

It is a biopic, of a Broadway Show, with a musical number at the very end.  Better than I thought it would be.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 02, 2015, 08:11:40 PM
Quote
Just don't talk seditious while watching movies. Your entertainment center is watching you.

Through Roku boxes too?

I don't believe so.  No SKYPE support and no camera  and no mic to my knowledge.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 03, 2015, 06:24:53 AM
I was going to ask about the Amazon TV sticks...as I understand it there is like a basic version and a full version...the full version probably has more than I need, but either way I think there is some stuff (netflix) that require subscriptions and other things that don't...I don't know the full breakdown of what is/is not free or what they all contain (not sure if there is an explanation in detail either, and the young kids at the store are no help!) but I would be interested in doing something through the internet and start disconnecting in part or in whole from the bloody cable!

Sorry to go O/T, curious what others may know/do.   ;)

Well first make sure your TV isn't already Internet capable.  A lot of newer TVs basically have a Roku-Box like thing built in that will support, at minimum,  Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. I hadn't used that feature of thE TV till yesterday.  It also does skype. (and the camera is covered over with tape)
And I have a hard wired connection to it, so I can unplug it when not in actual use.  Its an extra step connecting to the network before I can watch.  Thats okay.


Failing that there are various set top and stick-like boxes you can add - and they all pretty much do the same thing.  I am a big amazon customer, I pay for Prime just for the shipping,  and so  I would want that service on my box as well.

Unless you are a big gamer and want to download and play games I wouldn't worry about the upgraded FIRE box.  Though AMAZON still hasn't seemed to have figured out their creep factor.  The Amazon Fire phone flopped and I can't say exactly  why.  i do know I wasn't interested because the  interfaces RELIES ON CAMERAS WATCHING YOU  to be used.   You can't just cover them up.  And the Fire Stick offers a voice remote control, which is cool till you figure out you remote is listening to you all of the time.  But your Cell phone already has Nsa hacks in  it to let them do that to you as well- even when the phone is off. Big Brother is here, but I don't see adding another device to that mix, so I would probably go Roku before fire stick.  But they will probably dup that feature as well.
Just don't talk seditious while watching movies. Your entertainment center is watching you.

Mind all of this stuff can just be watched on your laptop or tablet, and you can easily plug that in via a HDMI port  -- only downside is you want a long output cable so you can control it from your seat. Otherwise you go all old school and have to get up to change things.

Well, if they heard me on my phone last night...

Obviously, I cannot promise to comply with such a tall order...

You are not new around here, I thought you knew me?   ::hysterical::

Thanks for the rundown though.   ::hat-tip::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 03, 2015, 07:37:27 AM
Quote
Last week I recommended Amazon's Pilot Episode for The Man In The High Castle. I stand by that. It was awesome. I hope everyone watches it and the show garners a zillion positive reviews. I'd like to crowbar Amazon's ass off the couch and make those bastards film the rest of the series. (It's possible you didn't like it. If so may I recommend Ow My Balls for a more appropriate choice of entertainment?)

As for myself, I couldn't wait. I bought The Man in the High Castle in book form. (Actually I bought it in Kindle form. For better or worse I've ditched paper so thoroughly I'm as likely to buy a paperback as an illuminated manuscript.)

I'm glad I picked it up. I'm halfway through and it's been excellent. (I just wish I had more time to read. You know how it gets when you've got a killer book at hand but are continually distracted by... life.)

I'm thinking the folks at Amazon have their antennae tuned to the wind because they just dropped the price of the book. That's right. While yours truly paid a reasonable (but not cheap) $7.69 everyone else can go get it for $2.99. Life; it 'aint fair.

You heard it here first. Apparently it's possible to buy a book from 1962 and and still make the purchase a week before the price drops. Is there a word for "53 years late to the party and still an early adopter"? (https://adaptivecurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/ive-been-philip-k-dicked-over/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 08, 2015, 08:02:12 PM
It seems like film and TV entertainment has turned so dark. I find my tastes have gravitated in that direction. So once in a while it's nice to step out of that and remember that entertainment can also be whimsical with no darkness at all.

Today we saw an absolutely delightful movie. It was a clever, fun, impeccably clean, and all-around nice story: Paddington. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1109624/)

I didn't have high expectations for a cute movie about a anthropomorphic bear. I figured it would be "Ted" for kids, but it was way different. A refreshing surprise.

The whole movie has a British theme, which added a style all its own. It had its expected "cute bear in the big city" hijinks, and some very "cartoonish" moments. Not cartoonish as in animated, but in a Looney Toons kind of way. For instance, in one scene, Paddington floods the entire house. The next morning, nothing was ruined and everything was dry, just like Wile E. Coyote gets blown to shreds, and is just fine in the next scene.

This is a live action movie with a CG bear who emigrates from the forests of Peru to London. Suspension of disbelief is dealt with in the first two minutes of the film, and the premise is carried throughout very adeptly. Nicole Kidman does a good turn (albeit unchallenging) as the antagonist of the film. Otherwise the actors were unknown to me.

The thing that really surprised me that I wasn't prepared for, was that from top-to-bottom, the theme of this movie was an intentional, quite obvious, adoption advocacy story. I s'pose that as an adoptive parent, that might mean more to me than it does to someone else. But in a couple moments, the movie actually had tears brimming in my eyes because of the beautiful way it addressed love and relationship in an adoptive family.

Even if you don't have kids, and you're just tired of the darkness in entertainment, and you're looking for something lighthearted and meaningful, but not stupid - I'd go see this movie. Take a grandkid if you're too embarrassed to see it on your own. It's not the greatest movie I've seen, but I enjoyed it more than many. I'd give it 5 out of 5 stars, while acknowledging that it's probably a 4 out of 5 film for most people.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 09, 2015, 06:45:20 AM
Clean simple fun...the new Sponge Bob!  Probably better off seeing that than most of the crap out there.   :D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 11, 2015, 11:03:31 AM
I'd watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnGX4FuIK60#t=122 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnGX4FuIK60#t=122)

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 11, 2015, 11:45:47 AM
Heh, glad my mouth was dry when I watched that!   ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 13, 2015, 07:26:19 AM
True, it is just fantasy, but...

British action-adventure Kingsman: The Secret Service features Colin Firth as a dapper, tailored super spy, Samuel L. Jackson as an evil billionaire with a Russell Simmons lisp, and slick shenanigans that’d make James Bond jealous. It also boasts a controversial moment that rivals the explosive, hacker-baiting money shot that earned Sony’s The Interview the ire of North Korea.  (Warning: Spoilers ahead.)  In a sequence that should get tongues wagging at distributor 20th Century Fox’s sister network Fox News (also owned by Rupert Murdoch), the cheeky comic book movie from Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn makes history—not for reinventing the spy genre, but for being the first major studio film to kill President Barack Obama.  (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/the-first-hollywood-movie-to-kill-obama.html#)

It will be interesting to see how people react, eh?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 20, 2015, 05:20:24 PM
Want to check out some Anime?  Got everyone sick and nothing to do?
I get regular 48 Hour, full access passes from crunchy roll  to hand out  on a monthly basis for being a "premium member"

So far my $9/month membership has been worth it - because we are continuously finding something new to watch, a lot of the anime is just simply better than any of the crap on American television, or even on Hulu and netflix ( because,well, its American) and they recently added a huge collection of Manga to read online as well.

I have 3 passes to hand out at the moment, if anyone wants to take a gander and watch what they have. I recommend the first season of Sword Art Online (there are two after that, good but not great)  or Attack on Titan.   The bad news of course is you have to binge watch as the pass only lasts 48 hours.  But the good news is it doesn't cost you a dime.   Just PM me. When they are gone they are gone.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on February 20, 2015, 05:59:24 PM
True, it is just fantasy, but...

British action-adventure Kingsman: The Secret Service features Colin Firth as a dapper, tailored super spy, Samuel L. Jackson as an evil billionaire with a Russell Simmons lisp, and slick shenanigans that’d make James Bond jealous. It also boasts a controversial moment that rivals the explosive, hacker-baiting money shot that earned Sony’s The Interview the ire of North Korea.  (Warning: Spoilers ahead.)  In a sequence that should get tongues wagging at distributor 20th Century Fox’s sister network Fox News (also owned by Rupert Murdoch), the cheeky comic book movie from Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn makes history—not for reinventing the spy genre, but for being the first major studio film to kill President Barack Obama.  (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/the-first-hollywood-movie-to-kill-obama.html#)

It will be interesting to see how people react, eh?

I went to the movies. That in itself is notable because I never go to the movies (I think the last time was with Random about 7 years ago).

The outing was paid for by my company as some sort of phony-baloney feel-good exercise (I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop). Kingsman was the feature. I enjoyed it (well most of it at any rate).

It fails for the same reason so many do these days - instead of being an action movie it was a frenetic amphetamine rush. If you've ever taken amphetamines you know what comes next - the inevitable crash. The movie wears you out with the frantic camera work and the too-loud soundtrack. They had a bunch of really interesting scenes but they tried too hard.

Fair warning: it's gory in the same over~the~top fashion. Much of it is predictable, some is silly, a bit catches you by surprise, but at least it isn't offensive. Well, maybe to Øbongo but who cares, right?!

All in all some good clean fun.

Enjoy.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 23, 2015, 06:58:45 AM
This is what you get when a faggot has free reign...

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/02/23/25F8A48D00000578-2959076-image-m-30_1424661735689.jpg)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2959076/Oscars-Neil-Patrick-Harris-makes-ill-timed-joke-winner-dedicates-award-son-committed-suicide.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2959076/Oscars-Neil-Patrick-Harris-makes-ill-timed-joke-winner-dedicates-award-son-committed-suicide.html)

...and true to form, Hollyweirdo's pick lame-ass flicks and throw awards at them...

...while truly good films the people went to in droves like American Sniper get snubbed in all the major catagories and are given a token win for sound editing...

And this is ornic, huh, given the snubbing...maybe they should have...well, anyway... (http://twitchy.com/2015/02/22/and-the-oscar-goes-to-lapd-snipers-who-will-keep-hollywoods-elite-safe-tonight/)

Hollywierd political bullsh*ttery regins supreme once again.

Honestly, can we end this charade and just have this crap mailed out by UPS?   ::whatgives::   ::mooning::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on February 23, 2015, 07:42:00 AM
I wonder why gay men are so stereotyped?   ::thinking::

This piece of feral trash will certainly get be back into theaters...not.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 26, 2015, 09:30:17 PM
The. Best. 28. Minutes. I have. EVER. Spent

The Voices of a Distant Star  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370754/)accomplishes more in 28 minutes than most anime can accomplish in  26 episodes

It. Was. Awesome.  (http://www.crunchyroll.com/voices-of-a-distant-star/episode-1-voices-of-a-distant-star-521660)

Free for you to watch on Crunchy Roll. Just PM me if you want to get rid of the ads.
Folllow the link
now.

I.  am. absolutely. Blown. away.
And I picked it randomly from Crunchy roll.

Yes. Spend 30 minutes on this. Do. it. now.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 27, 2015, 10:35:50 PM

Voices from a Distant Star was produced by a SINGLE guy. On his MAC.  and that only adds to the Awesome.

 Watch the anime. Get over the fact its a cartoon. When it comesto anime they THINK about what they show. Its "ART" in a way that Americans films rarely are.  Its normal and common place in anime.

Watched 5 centimeters per second tonight

http://www.crunchyroll.com/5-centimeters-per-second/5-centimeters-per-second-5-centimeters-per-second-521140 (http://www.crunchyroll.com/5-centimeters-per-second/5-centimeters-per-second-5-centimeters-per-second-521140)

This guy is a Frigging genius.

When I first became interested in the woman who was to become my wife, she said she was seeking "sacred moments"  and when pressed, clarified with Joseph Campbell.. seeking her "bliss"
It is at least 1/2 the reason I married her.

These films are nothing but those sacred moments laid bare. Yeah they are love stories... but not of the typical kind.
Watch. Them.

PM  me if you will wish to watch them without commercials.

Tomorrow its "The place promised in our early days. "

Free to watch with commercials.  Free to watch without. (why is no one sending me a PM?

http://www.crunchyroll.com/the-place-promised-in-our-early-days/episode-1-521652 (http://www.crunchyroll.com/the-place-promised-in-our-early-days/episode-1-521652)




Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on February 28, 2015, 01:40:05 PM
Quote
(why is no one sending me a PM?)

Sorry Weisshaupt, I've been hanging onto my job by the very tips of my fingers and haven't had time for much else. I do appreciate anime, but I'm conflicted about it at the same time.

Random left me some movies - I have no doubt you've heard of some of them:

Appleseed Saga - Ex Machina - "a futuristic utopia where humans, cyborgs, and bio-engineered human beings called "Bioroids" are attempting to live in perfect harmony. However, a series of random terrorist attacks perpetrated by cyborgs and humans alike threaten to throw Olympus into total chaos."

Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within - "A scientist makes a last stand on Earth with the help of a ragtag team of soldiers against an invasion of alien phantoms."

And an endearing one that is my favorite:

Spirited Away - "In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into beasts."

I wasn't aware of these movies and only slightly aware of the genre before I found them on her laptop. I think that they're top-notch movies but (for obvious reasons) they're difficult for me to watch.

BTW: I located 5 Centimeters Per Second: http://stagevu.com/video/pqewfhxzvcci (http://stagevu.com/video/pqewfhxzvcci) and Voices of a Distant Star: http://stagevu.com/video/govcqbybwmqb (http://stagevu.com/video/govcqbybwmqb) at Stagevu.com and downloaded them for later viewing (due to uneven internet access this is my preferred method of viewing anything larger than a quick u-toob).




Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 28, 2015, 05:31:08 PM
I've never given anime a first look, let alone a second. My only real exposure to it was via osmosis, when I happened to be in room when my boys were watching DragonballZ as kids.

I must say, your strong advocacy has me curious Weisshaupt. I think I may just give it a try.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 28, 2015, 07:00:39 PM
Quote
(why is no one sending me a PM?)

Appleseed Saga - Ex Machina - "a futuristic utopia where humans, cyborgs, and bio-engineered human beings called "Bioroids" are attempting to live in perfect harmony. However, a series of random terrorist attacks perpetrated by cyborgs and humans alike threaten to throw Olympus into total chaos."
.
APPLESEED SAGA - you just did me a huge favor. I couldn't remember the name of the other series my Japanese Major friend showed me ( and translated in real time from a crappy VHS) - That was it.  But is ones of those that went on forever.. its going to be as monumental as trying to watch every episode of Dr. Who.

And Yes, the other two are excellent and I have seen them. Final Fastasy actually came after the Game.  Spirited Away is by the one guy that broke through into Hollywood and got Disney to produce some stuff. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 05, 2015, 07:26:49 PM
Saw 5 centimeters a second and Garden of Words,  neither blew me away like voice from a distant star, but both were worth the time.
This guy has a particular way of focusing on mundane images that are the sort of things I noticed and thought about in child hood. I guess that makes it work for me.
Both are good, and some of the scenes in Garden of Words have you asking if you are watching film, and visually they are both stunning.
Both are good stories.
 I have seen Voice from a distant Star now three times.  Got the (used)  DVD and watched the English dubbed version.   Its better than subtitled ( which is unusual, but I suspected a lot of content was getting lost in the the translation, and they did an excellent job. This is also one of the few times where the visuals are every bit as important as what is said, and hearing English lets you concentrate on that )  The soundtrack just gets better and better.  I am still surprised at how much I like it. (a bit like Dr. Horrible in that respect)

Seriously take the time to watch this stuff. It may not be the best moments of your life, but worth more of your time than anything out of Hollywood these days.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 15, 2015, 10:02:03 PM
The Kids have started forcing Michelle to watch Full Metal Alchemist.  She is not a fan yet, but on the second viewing I am enjoying it more, because I understand more of what I am seeing. They Foreshadow lots of things,  but you can't sort what they are doing until later when you have a context to fit it into.

Also watched 'Children who Chase Lost Voices" and "Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind" -which ( as far as I can learn ) is a recent Disney remake of an 80's Anime of the same name.  Both were very good.  In many ways Children who Chase Lost voices  came close to being as good as "Voices from a Distant Star" for me.  Same eye candy anime, with the same talent for  infusing  those everyday moments and scenes with more meaning.  The Story even borrows a bit from Full Metal Alchemist. 

Nausicaa has an excellent story, but the eye candy isn't there.  The animation is well done, but never makes you say 'wow". There is also  what I believe to be a shout out to Space Battleship Yamato in it,  so it is a bit like coming full circle. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on March 15, 2015, 10:31:23 PM
I totally forgot that I had a copy of Space Battleship Yamato that I had downloaded from the 'net.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 16, 2015, 08:50:54 AM
I totally forgot that I had a copy of Space Battleship Yamato that I had downloaded from the 'net.

If this is the live action movie , the English dub is better than the subtitle translation ( if you have a choice)
Its a good treatment of the material, but you can only do so much taking 13 hours of original material and compressing it into 2 hours. If you move on to watch a series, the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 reboot  is well worth your time.  I ended up torrent  on that one...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 16, 2015, 10:25:02 PM
Just watched "The Place Promised in Our Early Days (http://www.crunchyroll.com/the-place-promised-in-our-early-days/episode-1-521652)" on Crunchy roll ( Still Have free passes left if you want to watch without commercials!- IM me...) - and its the last feature length Makoto Shinkai film I have to watch.  I think I may have saved the best for last.  "Voices from a Distant Star"  tells a similar story and in far less time, but this one benefits from the longer telling in my opinion (and an entire studio producing the film instead of Shinkaialone on his powermac G4) .  All of his films were consistently stunning visually, the stories had  similar themes ( platontic young love, loss and separation,  longing)  and similar  symbolism (trains, rain)  so some might feel they have "seen this one before"  - but  I have a high tolerance for repetition, and I enjoyed seeing the variations on the main theme.   They aren't the same stories by any means - and its a bit like watching Tarantino progress toward "Pulp Fiction"  film by film.. - but way more fun and with far less blood and gore.

I don't think  Shinkai has had his "pulp fiction" moment yet,  but when he does and he makes that film, its going to be truely brilliant.

Quote
“ Shinkai has been hailed as the next Miyazaki, and his dreamy mindscapes often equal or surpass the anime maestro in breadth of detail and depth of emotion. Shinkai extends the innate possibilities of the anime dynamic, reapplying its principles of lush effects, inflated background detail and sometimes undernourished character animation to mirror the interiority of the characters in every nuance of their surroundings." – Ronnie Scheib from Variety"

I have seen quite a few Miyazaki films.. I liked them.  I like Shinkai films more than any of them.


Now, just to try sand convince you folks to watch Weisshaupt's silly cartoons, here is a listing of awards he has garnered:

She and her Cat ( short film)
Human Grand Prix in SKIP Creative Human award – 2000
 Grand Prix in 12th DoGA CG-animation contest

Voices from a Distant Star
listed 100th on DVD Verdict's Top 100 DVD Films list
2002 Animation Kobe for packaged work
2003 Seiun Award for best media

5 Centimeters per second
won the Lancia Platinum Grand Prize at the Future Film Festival for best movie in animation or special effects
Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
The limited edition DVD of the film was ranked 3rd on the Tohan charts between 18–24 July 2007, while the regular edition of the film was ranked 7th.[33] The film was Japan's fourth most popular Blu-ray film in 2008.[34]
Mania.com lists 5 Centimeters Per Second as the best anime not by Hayao Miyazaki.
The Japan Times?'?s Mark Schilling commends Shinkai saying that he is better than Miyazaki "at piercing the veil of the everyday to reveal a poignant, evanescent beauty most of us notice only in rare moments."
 (emphasis mine.)

Children Who Chase Lost Voices

Children Who Chase Lost Voices received highly positive reviews from film critics with many critics describing the film as a near-perfection of Studio GhibliLuke Halliday from Capsule Computers gave the film a perfect score, heralding the film as Shinkai's finest "Children Who Chase Lost Voices is an astonishing film that truly feels like the culmination of Shinkai’s entire career up until this point. It is his most ambitious work to date and quite simply his crowning achievement in the art form." He continued on to highlight the film's significance to anime as an artform "This is perhaps the most important anime film of the new millennium, because it marks an important changing of tides. It is films like Children Who Chase Lost Voices that remind us of how magical anime can truly be."

The Garden of Words
 Year's Best Animation in iTunes' Best of 2013
 won the 2013 Kobe Theatrical Film Award
At the 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival, it shared the Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation with Berserk: Golden Age Arc III – Descent while winning the Audience Award for Best Animation Feature.[
2014 Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, it won the AniMovie Award for feature films


Amaze yourself and you friends. Next time you are looking for "something good to watch" try one of these.
 
Storyboards, original art, and other material from The Garden of Words were exhibited between June 28 and October 19, 2014 at the Ooka Makoto Kotoba Museum in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. The museum, run by Z-Kai Co., also featured Shinkai's commercial Cross Road (made for Z-Kai Co.), along with She and Her Cat and 5 Centimeters Per Second. In addition to the display materials and film viewings for each of the works, a replica of the shoes designed by Takao was also on display.[105]







Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 17, 2015, 09:56:57 AM
Even the commericals he does are gorgeous (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy0-t__TZOvej2aEq9FrpskggmP7-I7II)

Also see some short films - all about cats.

Dareka no Manazashi (Someone's Gaze) [ENG SUB] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSwbnUQJGnA#ws)

and

Neko no Shuukai ("A Gathering of Cats") (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YKuxZgDamM#ws)


and

She & Her Cat (???????) ~ [English Fandub] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc2xSY0iBiY#)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 26, 2015, 08:31:14 AM
Spielburg to Direct Ready Player One (http://deadline.com/2015/03/ready-player-one-movie-steven-spielberg-ernest-cline-warner-bros-1201398299/)
Good be a good thing or a bad thing.  Not sure.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 26, 2015, 10:11:43 AM
Saw "Unbroken" last night. Angelina Jolie did a very good job at directing and co-producing. More later perhaps...I didn't even look back to see if someone else has already covered this movie...but this is a very good, ultimately uplifting, and true story that is well told. I would recommend it with the only caution being that the prison camp torture is fairly brutal although, truth be told, nowhere near to the actual inhumanity that the Japanese inflicted on their prisoners.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 28, 2015, 10:08:34 PM
I think I just saw one of the worst movies with the highest acclaim.

Rented Birdman and turned it off 1/2 hour or so into it.

I really wanted to like it because I like Michael Keaton and he's a genuine Pittsburgh guy.

Words elude me on this.

It just sucked!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on March 30, 2015, 02:10:05 AM
I think I just saw one of the worst movies with the highest acclaim.

Rented Birdman and turned it off 1/2 hour or so into it.

I really wanted to like it because I like Michael Keaton and he's a genuine Pittsburgh guy.

Words elude me on this.

It just sucked!

mrs. trapeze saw it and told me not to bother. I asked her why and she said that it embodied just about everything I detested in film. I then asked her if it was an actors' film about actors lamenting, proudly the act of acting and she said that was as good a summary as any considering I hadn't seen the movie. And I won't be.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on March 30, 2015, 08:54:04 AM
I should have known with all the Hollywood acclaim that it would suck.

I got it partly for Mrs. AP but can't blame her totally.
I thought I wanted to see it, too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on April 03, 2015, 10:14:49 PM
We took the little one to see the new live-action, Kenneth Branaugh produced version of "Cinderella" this afternoon.

Maybe I'm just getting sappy in my old age. Maybe my fatigue over current events is causing me to seek occasional escape into innocent entertainment. Maybe it's a desire for nostalgia.

But I'll be damned - I thought this movie was better than good. From beginning to end, it was just right. Hyper-faithful to the original. Well-acted with top-tier actors. Beautiful to look at.

I almost didn't go with them, because, Cinderella. But I'm really glad I did.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: trapeze on May 12, 2015, 11:42:55 PM
Start with apology: I'm sorry that I've been away recently. My business and personal life have been intruding into my free time.

I wish that I could comment on politics but it's too depressing. Except for Ted Cruz. I like Ted Cruz. I think he's the best of the lot. At least I think that now. Perhaps he will say something very stupid or take a policy position which is a deal breaker for me but it doesn't look like that's in the cards. Ben Carson continues to disappoint with rookie mistakes (I don't care how good he might be I think it's stupid for someone's first whack at elected office be the highest in the land) and bizarre policy positions. Don't even get me started on Jeb Bush or Huckabee...clods like that just make me angry.

So...anyway...how about a movie review?

I took my daughter to see the latest installment of The Avengers a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't suck.

The first one didn't suck. It wasn't the greatest piece of film craftsmanship ever but it wasn't supposed to be. The same can be said for the most recent one. The story was mostly good. The special effects were not horribly noticeable. The pacing was not unlike a fast moving freight train. I managed to make it all the way through without having to visit the bathroom...really went slow on the diet Pepsi.

The complaints I have are very minor and are more or less thematic. I didn't care for the staggering number of one-liners in the movie. There was a lot of dialogue that was intended to be funny. Some worked, some did not. And I asked myself why that bothered me and the answer that I came up with was that my real problem with the film was (and I hate to say this given the history of this forum), tone. I liked the film but I wanted the tone to be dark as in the Dark Knight trilogy. I mean, the survival of the planet and the human race is at stake which is a kind of serious issue and these guys are cracking jokes left and right. There were some (a very few) jokes in the Batman series and they were all the more funny for the overall lack of them. Batman had a pretty serious mess on his hands in each one of those movies and he took it very seriously. There was a very discernible element of coolness to that.

The Avengers was not like that at all. These guys were saving the world but they were acting as if they were having a great time doing it. There was no time when I thought, based on their attitudes, they were the least bit concerned about how seriously in trouble they might be. Avenging is, by definition, pretty serious stuff. I wanted to see them rolling up their sleeves, getting pretty pissed off, and basically ripping the arms and legs off of anyone or anything that threatened the human population. I wanted to see the Avengers dismember the enemies of humanity with the same blood-drenched zeal that the Spartans put on the Persians in 300.

So...a thematic complaint about a movie which was, on balance, well crafted and enjoyable. I would see it again if I didn't have to shell out so much for a movie ticket. And that's because I'm cheap.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on May 13, 2015, 06:46:28 AM
Thanks, Trap.

I saw this last week end at the drive-in.
I thought it was entertaining with lots of action, some suspense and lots of things blown up.

I think "cocky" is why they are sometimes flippant.

The Avengers are cocky because they're so bad-ass

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 13, 2015, 06:56:35 AM
Sounds like good matinee material.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 13, 2015, 10:03:07 AM
Thanks, Trap.

I saw this last week end at the drive-in.
I thought it was entertaining with lots of action, some suspense and lots of things blown up.

I think "cocky" is why they are sometimes flippant.

The Avengers are cocky because they're so bad-ass

I saw it too and enjoyed it probably the most of the Marvel franchise movies I have seen.
Batman  is Dark.  The Avengers aren't.  So it should be. Captain America is just not a "dark" kind of guy..

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 13, 2015, 11:17:55 AM
Thanks, Trap.

I saw this last week end at the drive-in.
I thought it was entertaining with lots of action, some suspense and lots of things blown up.

I think "cocky" is why they are sometimes flippant.

The Avengers are cocky because they're so bad-ass

I saw it too and enjoyed it probably the most of the Marvel franchise movies I have seen.
Batman  is Dark.  The Avengers aren't.  So it should be. Captain America is just not a "dark" kind of guy..

Raciss!!!

 ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 13, 2015, 02:21:44 PM
I love the Marvel stuff. I thought the last Avengers movie might move a little darker but I'm not disappointed it did not. Since I watch them all, I knew the one liners would be there and I expect them. I mean, how can you not laugh as Thor is defending Loki, calling him his brother and of Asgard as someone quips, but he killed 80 people.....and Thor laments "He's adopted". Plus, it gets me to watch them several times to pick up on all the small nuances scattered throughout all their movies.

Captain America, The Winter Soldier had the opportunity to be dark. Good guys, bad guys, bad guys who are now good. The captain, who does not compromise his principles.....Captain America is a good candidate for a "dark Knight" type of flick.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 27, 2015, 10:26:53 PM
Steins;Gate.
Now the best anime I have seen ( and I have not finished it. Probably will tomorrow) It takes all of the elements I loved from "Voices from a Distant Star" and puts them together with Groundhog's day ( times eleventy). Tonights last episode just knocked it out of the park for me. Its in the same league with LOTR now.
 
I am so enjoying this one. And yeah that is just under  13 hours entertainment (guaranteed!) for about $1.16 an episode for blue ray and DVD together on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Steins-Gate-Complete-Classic-Blu-ray/dp/B00KU3Y5CG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432783246&sr=8-1&keywords=steins+gate)

I laughed. I cried. Its was better than Cats.  I want to see it again and again

Update: Finished it. Totally lives up to expectations, and it gives me a potential new "fun" project for the future...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncqDI6mUXd4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncqDI6mUXd4)

Main Character is a bit like Dr Horrible, and its really a nice blend of comedy and drama. 
So don't be a one banana cautious carl, use the whole bunch and buy the series. Now.

 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 28, 2015, 06:46:27 AM
Steins;Gate.
Now the best anime I have seen ( and I have not finished it. Probably will tomorrow) It takes all of the elements I loved from "Voices from a Distant Star" and puts them together with Groundhog's day ( times eleventy). Tonights last episode just knocked it out of the park for me. Its in the same league with LOTR now.
 
I am so enjoying this one. And yeah that is just under  13 hours entertainment (guaranteed!) for about $1.16 an episode for blue ray and DVD together on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Steins-Gate-Complete-Classic-Blu-ray/dp/B00KU3Y5CG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432783246&sr=8-1&keywords=steins+gate)

I laughed. I cried. Its was better than Cats.  I want to see it again and again

 ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 05, 2015, 10:01:57 AM
My 5 screen drive-in that announced it was closing permanently last year re-opened.

Yay!

Last night went to see a double feature:
Mad Max and Run All Night.

Mad Max was non-stop mayhem and blowing things up.
Not much else.

Run All Night, with Liam Neeson and Ed Harris wasn't too bad.

Their characters were life-long friends.
Harris' character built a crime empire and Neeson was his hit man.

Harris' son was part of the family business.
Problem was that while Harris was going "legitimate", the son was trying to put a major drug deal together with some Albanians who gave him a lot of upfront money which he spent.
Dad nixes the deal and the Albanians want their money back.
Son kills them.

Neeson's son is trying to go straight and they have been estranged for years.

He's a semi-pro boxer with a limo service that just happens to transport Albanian drug dealers and a normal family
When Harris' son kills them, he tries to erase all evidence and tries to kill the limo driver.

Neeson kills Harris' son and the rest of the movie is about he and his son eluding everyone trying to catch them.

It wasn't bad
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on June 05, 2015, 11:07:47 AM
Does neeson die in the end? Otherwise I'm not interested.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 05, 2015, 11:38:51 AM
A demise like Redford's in Captain America-The Winter Soldier...I could watch that on loop...

 ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 05, 2015, 12:08:55 PM
Yes, he dies in the end.

Happy ending.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 05, 2015, 12:37:45 PM
I watched "The Sound of Music" for the first time ever last night. I had been missing out all those years.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 05, 2015, 12:46:10 PM
I watched "The Sound of Music" for the first time ever last night. I had been missing out all those years.

How. Did. You. Manage. That? Did your parents just hate you or what? I was set down in front of it at the age of 3.  It did the same with my kids. My daughter used to ask for it so she could watch the abbreviated version ( she would watch the first half, often skipping ahead to songs) and she LOVED do-re-me.

When I bought my very first projector for waaay too much money, the very first thing I watched on it - before I even had a screen -- was The Sound of Music.  I had ordered the DVD just so it could be the first thing I watched in full 16x9 wide screen ( this is back in the olden days when no TV had a 16x9 aspect and waay before blu-ray)  - and as a result it was the first time i had ever really seen it.  The cropped 4x3  version I saw on tv as a kid simply doesn't do it justice. Please tell me you at least watched it in 16x9?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 05, 2015, 02:38:45 PM
I believe I've made mention of my lifelong aversion to musicals. I always considered Sound of Music to be in that formerly loathsome category. Now that I've expanded my horizons to include musicals, opera, ballet, etc, I thought it was time to watch the classic. What an excellent film from a much simpler time.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 05, 2015, 02:55:52 PM
Oh, now you're ready for Paint Your Wagon...

 ::rimshot::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 05, 2015, 03:36:23 PM
Catching up on Oscar movies that don't look like they suck too bad and ya know what?  The Theory of Everything doesn't suck.  It's quite good, in fact.  And Eddie Redmayne's performance leave you believing you really are watching Steven Hawking, it's so good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 05, 2015, 03:37:53 PM
I believe I've made mention of my lifelong aversion to musicals. I always considered Sound of Music to be in that formerly loathsome category. Now that I've expanded my horizons to include musicals, opera, ballet, etc, I thought it was time to watch the classic. What an excellent film from a much simpler time.

You've never got plastered and seen Tommy or The Wall or Rocky Horror or Heavy Metal or the like, at a midnight show?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 05, 2015, 05:28:35 PM
I believe I've made mention of my lifelong aversion to musicals. I always considered Sound of Music to be in that formerly loathsome category. Now that I've expanded my horizons to include musicals, opera, ballet, etc, I thought it was time to watch the classic. What an excellent film from a much simpler time.

You've never got plastered and seen Tommy or The Wall or Rocky Horror or Heavy Metal or the like, at a midnight show?

I saw Tommy at thee drive-in. Hated it - but then, I hate The Who.  ::exitstageleft::
I saw The Wall several times in various states of mind IYKWIMAITYD. I enjoyed it least while sober. But that's not really a musical.
Walked out of RHPS. Didn't like anything about it.
Loved Heavy Metal. But that's not really a musical either.

When I think musical, I think of everybody bursting into song and dance for no reason, and everyone automagically knowing the words and dance steps. I always had a problem with that. Then I saw Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in Les Miserables, and loved it. So the genre as a whole isn't so poisoned in my mind anymore. And I really loved Sound of Music. Beautiful film.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on June 05, 2015, 05:44:42 PM
Tommy - hated it.
The Who - hated them.
The Wall - hated it.
RHPS - hated it.

Hmmmm, I'm noticing a trend....
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 05, 2015, 06:41:59 PM
When I think musical, I think of everybody bursting into song and dance for no reason, and everyone automagically knowing the words and dance steps. I always had a problem with that. .

Just think to yourself  "Its just a show, I should really just relax..."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 05, 2015, 11:32:13 PM
I'm with IDP.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 06, 2015, 10:13:30 AM
I'm with IDP.

IN what way?  Not that I don't understand it - I was the same way as a kid - It bothered me for those same reasons IDP gave. . It also bothered me that I had inherited the musical gene and enjoyed them anyway (and now my son as well) - but in the end its just a show. If you are entertained, it worked. We have a local dinner theater here and my kids really enjoy going. So  much that we have season tickets now..

As for the list, yeah that is dead on.. The Wall and Heavy Metal aren't traditional musicals- they are more like Music Videos. I personally like The Wall. But that is  probably because I like Pink Floyd.  And I still don't listen to Dark Side of the Moon anymore without also putting on Wizard of Oz. (I find it an oddly relaxing and enjoyable experience)

Tommy is really awful, and really as much as I like cult stuff, I never liked RHPS either.. if you go to the midnight show the AUDIENCE is fun,  the but film without the audience antics, its just perverted and painful.

I also highly recommend "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog"  - at 40 minutes I discovered its the "right length" for a musical.  I enjoy it more for that reason I think.. (of course Sound of Music its not..)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on June 06, 2015, 10:39:35 AM
And just to muddy-up the waters even more..

I disliked "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in a similar way to the way that I disliked Rocky Horror (squirm-inducing camp), but I actually enjoy "Across the Universe"

 ::whatgives::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 27, 2015, 07:11:44 PM
Steins;Gate.
Now the best anime I have seen ( and I have not finished it. Probably will tomorrow) It takes all of the elements I loved from "Voices from a Distant Star" and puts them together with Groundhog's day ( times eleventy). Tonights last episode just knocked it out of the park for me. Its in the same league with LOTR now.
 
I am so enjoying this one. And yeah that is just under  13 hours entertainment (guaranteed!) for about $1.16 an episode for blue ray and DVD together on Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Steins-Gate-Complete-Classic-Blu-ray/dp/B00KU3Y5CG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432783246&sr=8-1&keywords=steins+gate)

I laughed. I cried. Its was better than Cats.  I want to see it again and again

Update: Finished it. Totally lives up to expectations, and it gives me a potential new "fun" project for the future...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncqDI6mUXd4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncqDI6mUXd4)

Main Character is a bit like Dr Horrible, and its really a nice blend of comedy and drama. 
So don't be a one banana cautious carl, use the whole bunch and buy the series. Now.

Hulu Plus splashed my Roku with a 2 month free trial.  I came back here to get the show name and there is it.  I think I'll check it out.  It's been quite a while since I've watched an anime.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on June 29, 2015, 08:34:40 PM
  Falling skys back on the air as of last sunday. I get to watch tonight. for those who care it's back!!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 30, 2015, 05:33:19 AM
I watch Falling Skies, too, John.

I thought the season premier was so-so.

Hal is a real dick and I hope they kill him off soon.

BTW, do you watch Last Ship?
I like that one
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 30, 2015, 06:50:08 AM
I've been watching both of these...

It seems FS is struggling a bit to write an ending.

And with TLS they are midstream and it perhaps has a little more interest to me. 

At least it fills an otherwise bland Sunday evening...after some episodes though I think I might have enjoyed reading something instead...these last two were just...OK.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 30, 2015, 09:16:56 AM
It seems TLS is transitioning.
They have the cure but many are trying to get it for control
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 30, 2015, 04:21:18 PM
I probably see more kid movies than most here. I like all kinds of entertainment, and that includes quality G-rated entertainment. When a kid movie entertains me, I'm not too embarrassed to pass it along if I think people will enjoy it even without kids. That's why I shared "The Lego Movie" and "Paddington". And it's why I'm now sharing "Inside Out."

"Inside Out" is very cleverly conceived. It's the CGI story of a little girl coming to grips with some inevitable disappointments of growing up, as expressed from the perspective of animated characters living inside her mind: "Joy", "Sadness", "Fear", "Disgust", and "Anger", with a guest appearance by her recently forgotten imaginary friend, "Bing Bong".

The emotion characters are in charge of processing and categorizing the girl's long-term memories. Up until she experiences her life-changing disappointment, "Joy" is in charge, and strives to turn every experience into a joyful memory. This symbolizes the innocence of childhood, and a parent's desire to preserve it.

But after the disappointment, the emotions are thrown into chaos. "Joy" is no longer able to direct events inside the girl's head, and must learn to cope with the reality that as the girl grows up, the other emotions become necessary in order to cope with life. In the end, "Joy" even learns that sometimes the pathway to joy must lead through "Sadness".

I don't do it too much justice here. I find it hard to articulate the scope of how this was all depicted. But I loved it. I'd definitely see it again, with or without the little one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 30, 2015, 07:31:03 PM
I've seen a depiction of a bit of the movie as a tie-in to some product (which I failed to note) and it does look interesting, so I'm looking forward to seeing it as well.

I loved "Up" enough to buy it on DVD.  Despite Ed Asner.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on June 30, 2015, 08:51:21 PM
Quote
I loved "Up" enough to buy it on DVD.  Despite Ed Asner

My daughter (20 yo) and I plan to grab this, too.
We had it on DVR until I fired Direct
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 30, 2015, 10:07:24 PM
I loved "Up" enough to buy it on DVD.  Despite Ed Asner.

Absolutely loved that movie. Such a beautiful message. I never knew it was Ed Asner until after it was over, so it wasn't spoilt the first time through.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on July 01, 2015, 12:22:55 AM
Older movie, 1987,  y'all may want to look into:  Batteries Not Included.  Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and a couple other folks ye may recognize.  Not animated.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 01, 2015, 07:07:39 AM
Older movie, 1987,  y'all may want to look into:  Batteries Not Included.  Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and a couple other folks ye may recognize.  Not animated.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

Gosh, I remember overlooking that one a hundred times at the Blockbuster back in the day! I'll have to check it out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on July 01, 2015, 08:15:17 AM
I watch Falling Skies, too, John.

I thought the season premier was so-so.

Hal is a real dick and I hope they kill him off soon.

BTW, do you watch Last Ship?
I like that one

  Yes I do and I have to say that them using the city I live in as part of the story was a bit of a laugh(Port Saint Lucie)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on July 01, 2015, 08:15:39 AM
Older movie, 1987,  y'all may want to look into:  Batteries Not Included.  Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and a couple other folks ye may recognize.  Not animated.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

   Love that movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on July 01, 2015, 12:42:05 PM
Older movie, 1987,  y'all may want to look into:  Batteries Not Included.  Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and a couple other folks ye may recognize.  Not animated.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092494/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

   Love that movie.

I do too. If you want to watch something that will tickle your empathy-bone and not insult your intelligence, morality, or sensibilities give this one a shot. I think that it has aged well and has a timeless message.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on July 10, 2015, 09:11:24 AM
Weisshaupt, for some reason my wife is already getting tired of me going, "too to roooooo."   ::whatgives::

Japanese men do have some weird caricatures of women, don't they.  Issues.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 10, 2015, 11:13:11 AM
Weisshaupt, for some reason my wife is already getting tired of me going, "too to roooooo."   ::whatgives::

Japanese men do have some weird caricatures of women, don't they.  Issues.

Well, the whole Japanese  culture is in crisis so I guess we should be surprised when that Crisis shows up in their art. 
After all, if you look at the muck coming out of Hollywood and our "artists"   I think you can see our Crisis as plain as day as well.

The women in Manga and Anime I think represent what Japanese  "men"  (http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23182523) find attractive.  So, yeah, "issues" - issues brought on by their economic structure being 10-15 years ahead of ours on the curve, and a population educated well enough to read the writing on the wall.  Success is not on option for this generation. They cannot support a family in the traditional way, they cannot do honor to their ancestors, and so I think many just say "f**k it"--  and the women say it too - finding no attractive ( strong, confident successful)  men to date.

 Maybe our "electronic wasting disease" is a sign of the same thing here. These games and devices  and art are fantasy worlds to allow our children escape from reality - to a world where success comes quick and it  comes easy. Real life looks a lot less fun in comparison. (The invention of the Holodeck will mean the end of the human race..)

Steins;Gate  ( and pretty much all anime) has too much "fan service (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_service)" for my taste- and it probably what turns most people off of anime.. the Harem (a guy with lots of pretty girls around- usually enamored with him) and the gratuitous tendency for the camera to focus on cleavage and bottoms. But  I suspect most male controlled "cameras" focus on the same things in real life.. so its at least honest if  annoying. 

There also seems to be a disturbing trend toward "liking your sister"  - in anime its always a non-blood relative, but given how they really do dress girls in Sailor Moon costumes in Japan as school uniforms - there just has to be an unhealthy current of pedophilia in that country that I admit I do not fully understand the causes of.

But that is the downside.  I appreciate that in Japanese Anime  the women are portrayed so as to be  admired for both their beauty and for  their strengths. The  Harem principle is usually used to showcase this .. all of the women in a Harem will be pretty, so the story will tend to revolve around the other attributes that make them desirable (intelligence, attitude, combat skills, and so on) -so the camera focus will usually fall on their, umm, physical attributes, but the story focus will be about who they are and why they do what they do; The Strength of their convictions and beliefs, leadership skills, attitudes, and development of  practical skills- all while admitting ( sometimes way to obviously)  that these characters are female, and subject to typical and uniquely  female foibles. (Foibles that our stories, art and culture will deny exist. ) 

Fundamentally I think that is what my daughter is responding to ( and she has become an Anime fiend)  - she dislikes the fan service, (and like Mayuri) tends to simply pretend it doesn't exist.. but I think she is responding to the truth behind the caricatures - there is more depth of character to female characters in Anime because they will admit of (female) weaknesses..and how the characters cope with them - which is something American programing would simply dare not show..  This, when combined with the more complex and longer multi-episode  story lines - typically with some moral and principled underpinnings,  simply provides a better story and more drama than can be achieved from the immorality pushing, dry humping,   depravity exulting  American cesspit of program offerings.

Seriously - which is worse - Gratuitous shots of cleavage and buttocks because that is in reality what is attractive to men, or gratuitous storylines in which those attributes are freely offered to men, often in unsavory or questionable dealings that have nothing to do with marriage, love or respect? Where promiscuity and depravity  is celebrated? Where people of principle and character are torn down and made to look like fools to serve the storyline?

But back to Steins;Gate..


Mayuri's "too to roooooo." really annoyed me at first. By the end I just found it adorable and I started to really like the character, and found  her contrast with Kurisu ( the American)  very interesting.

Mayuri accepts lewd comments in stride as compliments (when she acknowledges them at all; being too "innocent" to notice the double entendre in most cases - or she just accepts the reality - Men are what they are.. no use in getting upset over it, right?)  while Kurisu encourages such actions because she reacts (as a feminist would - afraid to not be taken seriously because she is pretty)  - Its  a Stereotypical portrayal and somewhat exaggerated  caricature of each personality type, but then I have also met both of these women in real life.. so yeah.  (is it possible for a woman to be too sweet and happy all of the time? -  yes,  yes it is)

I guess the same even goes for Faris.. I have meet her in real life too - without the cat costume of course...

I suspect that Japanese women are strong only to the point that they have been "westernized"  - Anime characters seldom look Japanese,  except occasionally in dress, and I suspect traditional Japanese women are often seen my the men there as too docile..and there has always been a conflict between the old culture and the new Western ideas they strive to adopt... so we some of that play out as well ...  Our problem is we went too far--in  the United States - Women have to  be Strong like men are strong.. In Anime they are strong like women are strong ( as it should be)

So yeah, issues all around, but I know which one I prefer.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 11, 2015, 06:50:48 PM
 Yes That is the reason ! (https://youtu.be/PRh1SC7SV2o)

The video at the link explains why I feel CGI is over used and non-engaging in modern films.  I just couldn't articulate it.
Its not real because its too pretty and our brains realize its too pretty and therefore don't suspend disbelief and allow us to get emotionally involved in the story.

I was very excited to see Smog the Dragon on screen, but when he was there we was simply not engaging for me..
.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 10, 2015, 11:13:30 PM
So we just watched Steins;Gate The movie.  Turns out my daughter totally picked up on everything I was saying above.  In the movie Okabai says something along the lines of "Mayuri is more mature than Kirisu"  and when asked how that could be my daughter said "Oh Daru, you are so Naughty" She implicitly knew that not letting herself get flustered or upset was the way to win. Yea anime!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 11, 2015, 06:57:37 AM
Well, parents typically want their children to learn lessons easier than they learned them, the vehicle of delivery not as important as the delivery itself...I'd say you have a good daughter to work with, but I think that has been obvious all along.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 22, 2015, 11:13:37 PM
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/09/22/this-new-muppet-show-is-going-to-be-a-train-wreck-isnt-it/ (http://hotair.com/archives/2015/09/22/this-new-muppet-show-is-going-to-be-a-train-wreck-isnt-it/)

They were doing this years ago -- I sat down when my son was 3 to watch some Muppets special or another and Gonzo was making jokes about "Girls gone Wild"
Yep , it can be funny in a way. But stop. Please stop.  The Muppets are kids stuff, and they should stay kids stuff. But no - we will release a kids movie and then do this , because the waters aren't muddy enough.


 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 27, 2015, 10:59:59 AM
Attack on Titan is out in the US this week. There are 3 theaters local who claim to be showing it for a limited run (1-3 nights)  and one of them is this one

http://www.harkinstheatres.com/onlyAtHarkins.aspx (http://www.harkinstheatres.com/onlyAtHarkins.aspx)

I didn't know these guys existed.. they show first run movies and classics, and offer day care for $6 a kid while you watch your movie.

Here is the schedule:
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/movies.aspx (http://www.harkinstheatres.com/movies.aspx)

Just thought it was cool that someone was offering something a bit different... they have a few in other Southwest States as well.
Daughter is very excited, but even with opening night just two days away I was able to get tickets, so its obviously a small niche audience around here.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on September 27, 2015, 11:05:00 AM
Live action or anime?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 27, 2015, 04:25:38 PM
This is the Live Action movie of Attack on Titan.. There will be just 1-3 showing in most locales.
I found this theater through this site.

http://www.attackontitanthemovie.com/theater/ (http://www.attackontitanthemovie.com/theater/)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 20, 2015, 10:19:56 PM
Quote
Last week I recommended Amazon's Pilot Episode for The Man In The High Castle. I stand by that. It was awesome. I hope everyone watches it and the show garners a zillion positive reviews. I'd like to crowbar Amazon's ass off the couch and make those bastards film the rest of the series. (It's possible you didn't like it. If so may I recommend Ow My Balls for a more appropriate choice of entertainment?)

As for myself, I couldn't wait. I bought The Man in the High Castle in book form. (Actually I bought it in Kindle form. For better or worse I've ditched paper so thoroughly I'm as likely to buy a paperback as an illuminated manuscript.)

I'm glad I picked it up. I'm halfway through and it's been excellent. (I just wish I had more time to read. You know how it gets when you've got a killer book at hand but are continually distracted by... life.)

I'm thinking the folks at Amazon have their antennae tuned to the wind because they just dropped the price of the book. That's right. While yours truly paid a reasonable (but not cheap) $7.69 everyone else can go get it for $2.99. Life; it 'aint fair.

You heard it here first. Apparently it's possible to buy a book from 1962 and and still make the purchase a week before the price drops. Is there a word for "53 years late to the party and still an early adopter"? (https://adaptivecurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/ive-been-philip-k-dicked-over/)

Full Season now on Amazon Prime. Kinda excite to have something to watch . but then not watching it, because its so depressing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on November 21, 2015, 06:38:38 AM
I watched 4 or 5 episodes last night.
Probably the rest tonight.

It's really good
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on November 22, 2015, 10:51:02 AM
I watched 4 or 5 episodes last night.
Probably the rest tonight.

It's really good

I viewed the pilot online and was impressed - I may need to find a friend with a boob-toob ;')
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on November 22, 2015, 11:27:06 AM
You can stream it on your computer
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: fordguy_85 on November 25, 2015, 01:33:26 PM
I've watched the whole first season now, and really hope they continue the series.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on November 25, 2015, 03:48:18 PM
It seems significantly different than the book.
Just started the book.

I really liked the show but not sure they could go anywhere else with this
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 16, 2015, 08:40:27 AM
My Son is very excited to see Star Wars. I am less enthusiastic, but the limited reviews range from OK to excellent, so maybe we will go see it.
I got to telling him about the Cooper where pretty much everyone in Denver saw the original Star Wars - and  pretty much everyone who did is left with a profound nostalgia about it.  It remains to this day my best ever movie going experience.  The Cooper was first created to show Cinerama films-- 3 Projectors aimed 3 different ways  from three different projector rooms in perfect sync...  They were projected on a 146 degree  108 x 35 foot curved screen, in a theater that held 814 people - plus had lounges around the sides for smoking/eating and drinking during intermission.   And the  Sound System had to be experienced. Deep bass. Soaring Highs. The Cooper is probably the reason that I have a projector in my home, along with those massive speakers.  Still trying to recapture that wonder from when I was a kid.

(http://photos.cinematreasures.org/production/photos/70826/1365119472/large.jpg?1365119472)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tg3_kGF6yFU/SAUi-JvBDKI/AAAAAAAAFSw/m_qq2qVi8MY/s400/ctcooperdenver1.jpg)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tg3_kGF6yFU/SAUi9pvBDII/AAAAAAAAFSg/832ATvMEWtE/s400/ctcooperdenvers.jpg)

You are in  second Grade. That theater is PACKED with excited happy people,  those curtains slide apart and the Star Wars theme begins playing  ( Yes they opened and closed the Curtains between the previews and the feature..) I am seated on my legs, so I can see over the taller person in front of me.. in one of those sets in the lower left of the picture on the right hand side of the theater.  Yes it left an impression.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tg3_kGF6yFU/SAUi-ZvBDLI/AAAAAAAAFS4/T0GNrE3yQYw/s400/ctcooperdenver2.jpg)


 It was razed to the ground  by Barnes and Noble and now the lot has a starbucks and bookstore. (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Barnes+%26+Noble/@39.699145,-104.940705,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1s-lRC7SFkJ2hE%2FVlp5tysCK2I%2FAAAAAAAJxGY%2FjqQBwhPhXGQ!2e4!3e12!6s%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2F-lRC7SFkJ2hE%2FVlp5tysCK2I%2FAAAAAAAJxGY%2FjqQBwhPhXGQ%2Fs392-k-no%2F!7i3264!8i2448!4m5!1m2!2m1!1sbarnes+and+noble!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x5a4dc45e455ef11c!6m1!1e1.)

But it turns out I am not the only one with such memories... and luckily this other person also has money... (http://www.fohonline.com/news/12630-wyomings-studio-city-mesa-gains-competitive-edge-with-meyer-sound.html)

(http://www.fohonline.com/images/stories/15/05/0-foh-pics-May14-800/meyer-mesa/mesa_studio_city_011_hi.jpg)

The screen is only half size though - a mere 64 feet.
So yeah, if my son wants me to brave crowds to go see Star Wars, I think its going to involve a road trip to Casper Wyoming. 








Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 16, 2015, 11:48:25 AM
Might be heading out to see Creed tonight.
I'm a sucker for Rocky movies
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 16, 2015, 12:07:33 PM
Be prepared to slap the crap out of moaners and groaners like this silly racist tart...

https://youtu.be/G4MemWayPcA

...if we can bite our tongues at queer storm troopers certainly the trigger-happy thin-skinned pansies out there can STFD and STFU for a couple hours!

But I doubt it, so be prepared to smack 'em!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 17, 2015, 05:44:30 PM
MST3K is back ! (http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/mst3k/234946/mst3k-reboot-news-14-episodes-funded-full-details-here)- 14 episodes - entirely crowdfunded

(http://cdn3.denofgeek.us/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/insert_main_wide_image/public/2015/12/mst3k-reboot-poster-steve-vance.jpg?itok=dCkdiUwa)

And Yea ! Felicia Day will in fact play the new villain. ( Yeah. Thats right - you should have watched Dr. Horrible and the Guild when I told you to.)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 18, 2015, 07:07:26 AM
Swell, hopefully I'll get to check out some episodes before everything goes dark!   ::whoohoo::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 18, 2015, 08:20:04 AM
Heh.

http://youtu.be/64uH3oUG00U (http://youtu.be/64uH3oUG00U)

http://youtu.be/hEcjgJSqSRU?list=RDAXYTP78xvhg (http://youtu.be/hEcjgJSqSRU?list=RDAXYTP78xvhg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 18, 2015, 10:05:44 PM
Didn't plan on seeing Star Wars today. . Mormon family had an extra ticket in a group of something like 20 people.. so I went

I have to admit I had an involuntary shudder when I saw Episode VII - I have waited a very, very, long time for this.... please don't suck.
 

This is the Star Wars you are looking for. The movie's opening line is " Hopefully this will help make things right" - and it does.
I liked it better than Return of the  Jedi. Maybe better than Empire Strikes Back.
Yes, you can go see this one.  Worst review I saw before I went was " I know its poetry but does it have to rhyme so completely ?"  and Yeah, there is some of that, but not enough to spoil it.
If  you can like a movie with Ewoks you can easily like this..
The CGI is good, but NOT overhanded or over used.


MINOR Spoilers ahead

 I give a crap about the new Characters, and Han Solo and Chewbacca have a part and it doesn't feel forced.
The interactions between Han and Leia are a little unnatural to me and the are some plot points that are somewhat irritating.
But they are back on with telling the story again, so all complaints are pretty minor.

Thank God they took it away from Lucas.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on December 19, 2015, 09:07:05 AM
I agree.  I have seen it twice now.  I always get more out of the second viewing.  The first viewing was digestion of the fact that the Star Wars story is finally moving into new territory, and having to accept that some of your assumptions about what must've happened have been dashed.  I liked it on the first viewing, but I like it a lot more after the second.

The characters make some humorous call backs to things they did in the original trilogy, without overdoing it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 19, 2015, 09:41:32 AM
So, neither of you were in the theater where the projector broke halfway through and pandemonium ensued, eh?

I will wait for the buzz and crowds to dip, sneak in one early Saturday morning showing and then get the heck out.  I hate big crowds, lines and waiting...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 19, 2015, 01:31:37 PM
I will wait for the buzz and crowds to dip, sneak in one early Saturday morning showing and then get the heck out.  I hate big crowds, lines and waiting...

I got in on one of those dealys where there is a big fan , who is going to do all of the line waiting, and planning, and what not. I showed up 20 minutes before the film, handed him $10 and sat down. Otherwise I wouldn't have been there.  But sometimes a happy active crowd makes the movie better in my opinion. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 19, 2015, 02:41:16 PM
I will wait for the buzz and crowds to dip, sneak in one early Saturday morning showing and then get the heck out.  I hate big crowds, lines and waiting...

I got in on one of those dealys where there is a big fan , who is going to do all of the line waiting, and planning, and what not. I showed up 20 minutes before the film, handed him $10 and sat down. Otherwise I wouldn't have been there.  But sometimes a happy active crowd makes the movie better in my opinion.

You must like people (in general) more than I.   ::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 19, 2015, 04:51:09 PM

You must like people (in general) more than I.   ::hysterical::

You probably say that because, like me, there are very few groups in which you can belong. Just as I enjoyed that 800 person crowd cheering at the Cooper when I was 7,  I enjoyed this crowd as they clapped as Han Solo appeared,  when the best jokes were made,  and so on. Its nice to occasionally be in  a crowd of people of like mind ( when that like mind isn't hell bent on hurting someone..)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on December 19, 2015, 10:15:53 PM
I saw it Thursday night, the pre-premiere, and that was definitely a serious Star Wars crowd (as expected).  The second viewing was among more of a general movie-going audience.

I am not a fan of people in general, but with certain esoteric interests it's cool to be among those who "get it" when it comes to that mutual interest.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 20, 2015, 08:35:55 AM

You must like people (in general) more than I.   ::hysterical::

You probably say that because, like me, there are very few groups in which you can belong. Just as I enjoyed that 800 person crowd cheering at the Cooper when I was 7,  I enjoyed this crowd as they clapped as Han Solo appeared,  when the best jokes were made,  and so on. Its nice to occasionally be in  a crowd of people of like mind ( when that like mind isn't hell bent on hurting someone..)

That...and no matter what, simple math is at play...the more people I encounter the higher the chance of running into a Prog...and their sub-groups of minions is legion.

PS-I like that pic you put in the Entertainment thread, there are many I would cross an icy river to slay...but a lot more don't require as much effort.
 :D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: warpmine on December 20, 2015, 09:31:55 PM
http://www.wnd.com/2015/12/there-i-said-it-the-new-star-wars-stinks/?cat_orig=diversions (http://www.wnd.com/2015/12/there-i-said-it-the-new-star-wars-stinks/?cat_orig=diversions)
I read this review today without seeing the damn movie and he described it from a Star Wars fan pov so I'm going with it. I'll see it when it comes out on Netflix in a few months minus the 3D effects so oh no, I'll miss that but I've seen this stuff before so whatever.

Quote
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (Episode VII) is an entertaining and exciting film, unusually funny for the franchise, with a few gorgeous scenes and the special effects spectacle we’ve come to expect from the “Star Wars” universe. Its frequent homages to the past six movies and familiar characters popping up around every corner in surprising ways are sure to delight “Star Wars” fans everywhere.

But I’m going to declare what 95 percent of “Star Wars” fans lauding this movie seem to be missing: This isn’t a great film. In fact, it’s not even a good one.

Before I explain why, this caveat: I’m actually a “Star Wars” fan! The first film (Episode IV), despite some poor acting and a mediocre script, is still one of the greatest films in Hollywood history. Its rich, fantasy world, revolutionary visual and audio special effects, epic sweep and iconic score overcame all its flaws to truly redefine “blockbuster” and impact the culture of a whole generation like almost no film before it. It belongs with “The Wizard of Oz” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” on the list of most re-watchable movies ever made.

None of those things can be said of “The Force Awakens” (except for the “mediocre script” part – that’s more true than ever).

The primary protagonist of the film, to be fair, is one of the movie’s stronger points. Actress Daisy Ridley shows both action and acting chops as a charismatic and watchable Rey, an orphan girl on a desert planet who shows not only unusual talent at mechanics and piloting, but also a startling natural affinity for using “the force” (ala Anakin Skywalker). She’s engaging enough to carry the film, but major unanswered questions – Who was her family/support system that enabled her to survive on this planet? Why is she waiting for someone? What’s her story? – leave her character tragically underdeveloped.

Yet she’s the most developed character in the whole movie!

The secondary protagonist, Finn, is a storm trooper who has a sudden pang of conscience and ditches “The First Order” white armor for a life of heroism. But alas, this redemption happens out of thin air, without any idea what leads to his conversion or why he’s suddenly become a good guy. We’re told (not shown – the film does suffer from a lot of telling us instead of showing us) Finn was taken from his parents as a child and trained and brainwashed for years to be a mindless, obedient storm trooper – and yet, poof!, he’s now a good guy defined by a code of “doing what’s right,” without any internal conflict over completely abandoning a lifetime of moral training for his angelic new one.

Worse still is the film’s villain, Kylo Ren, an emo version of Darth Vader, who we’re told (again, not shown) really, really hates his dad. But we aren’t told why. Or what happened. Or why he turned to the dark side. Or anything, really, about his past or his motivation or what makes him an interesting character. Or anything about the re-emergence of the Sith Lords, or anything about where this evil came from. He’s just bad, and mad at dad, and deal with it, a cardboard character used just to advance the plot.

But what plot?

This could have been a film about Rey’s coming of age and discovering her place in the battle between good and evil (ala Luke Skywalker in Episode IV), but it doesn’t spend enough time and detail on that storyline to make it the centerpiece. It could have been a film about the redemption of former storm trooper Finn, but that magically happens in a snap and is never dealt with again. It could have been about the rise of the new Sith lords, but it’s not. It could have been about the return of Han Solo and Princess Leia’s prodigal son, but it’s not. It could have been about reconciling Solo and Leia’s estranged relationship, but it’s not. It could have even been about finding the missing Luke Skywalker, but in one of the most blatant and textbook examples of a bad filmmaking technique called Deus ex machina, even that gets magically and inexplicably solved in a snap.

Instead, “The Force Awakens” is about the rebels blowing up another Death Star (which at least two of the previous movies have already done) … and that’s it.

In short – we have characters we really know nothing about, a villain we aren’t allowed to care about, doing stuff for no apparent reason in order to rehash a plot we’ve already seen twice. And call me cynical if they don’t just throw in the shiny baubles of the original actors from the first three films to distract “Star Wars” fans from how bad this new movie really is.

As for worldview, the absence of meaningful character development or significant plot leaves me nothing to comment upon but all the “force” gobbledygook, how it “moves through and surrounds every living thing,” how it’s “light and dark” and needs to be “balanced” – a lot of New Agey, quasi-Taoist blech. The whole “force” thing has been a part of the “Star Wars” universe from the beginning, sometimes more innocent, at other times more paralleled to Christianity, at other times more clearly pagan. This film is more pagan in its depiction.

In the final summary, for “Star Wars” geeks (and I am one), there’s lots to geek out about in “The Force Awakens.” My fellow geeks will naturally enjoy it. But I’m not just a “Star Wars” geek; I’m a story geek. And “The Force Awakens” is not a good story; it’s a prolonged homage to a story and a bridge to the next story. I just hope when Episode VIII comes out, the filmmakers will finally tell (or better yet, show) us the story.

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/12/there-i-said-it-the-new-star-wars-stinks/#qBm6smLm54vQMZgi.99 (http://www.wnd.com/2015/12/there-i-said-it-the-new-star-wars-stinks/#qBm6smLm54vQMZgi.99)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 21, 2015, 12:05:47 AM
I read this review today without seeing the damn movie and he described it from a Star Wars fan pov so I'm going with it.

Spoilers ahead - but if you read the review already its not my fault.


I see the reviewers points,  but not knowing the characters full story gives you a mystery that pulls you in. How many good books lay out everything about every character on the first page they are introduced? If he is a "story telling geek", he should know that some amount of mystery pertaining to character and motivation is a good thing.  I am not sure that this reviewer knows what good storytelling is.

Maybe is because they cleverly lowered my expectations with the pre-quels, but by  the end of this film I found my self liking these characters, finding them interesting and ready to hear more. Yes there are certainly open ends with the new characters - even when we are told (instead of shown)  the "short versions" of their back stories,  it doesn't explain the motivations - the how and why, and I don't know why he thinks a "good story" has to start with that  - everything neat and in chronological order.

Yes,  I was disappointed they felt they had to blow up another Death Star. (After building  two and being defeated where did these New guys get the money and time to build yet another even more awesome death star?!?.. though the effect was pretty cool)  That was in fact my big disappointment with the film was that they went there instead of finding some other way to encounter the enemy. .  The other homage and rhyming was often appropriate and drew me in more.

Quote
"This could have been a film about Rey’s coming of age and discovering her place in the battle between good and evil (ala Luke Skywalker in Episode IV), but it doesn’t spend enough time and detail on that storyline to make it the centerpiece. It could have been a film about the redemption of former storm trooper Finn, but that magically happens in a snap and is never dealt with again. It could have been about the rise of the new Sith lords, but it’s not. It could have been about the return of Han Solo and Princess Leia’s prodigal son, but it’s not. It could have been about reconciling Solo and Leia’s estranged relationship, but it’s not. It could have even been about finding the missing Luke Skywalker, but in one of the most blatant and textbook examples of a bad filmmaking technique called Deus ex machina, even that gets magically and inexplicably solved in a snap."

But it was about ALL of those things. It just doesn't resolve them in a neat gift wrapped box with a bow on it. Yes, we have  a bit of Deus ex machina because R2D2 was sulking. Or was he? Maybe Luke just told him to stay quiet until he was needed. Who knows. THEY HAVEN"T TOLD US YET!
  No. Its not a self contained film. It ends on a cliff hanger. We already know there are AT LEAST two more coming. Luke didn't become a Jedi or "come of age" in the first film- he merely started the journey. Han didn't get fully over his selfishness in the first film.  Leia didn't get together with either of them. What happened to that Ben Dude when he just disappeared? Why is  this that Darth Vader dude such a dick, and what  happened between Vader and Luke's Father?  The Empire wasn't finished by any means.   But for some reason - with all of those questions left open, the original Star Wars  gets a pass from this guy. 

Its fine he didn't like it,and yeah, some of the homage to previous films may have been too much. But in my opinion the storytelling overcame those shortcomings. They gave me enough to want more, while proving their street cred that they "get it"
Yes I hope they tell more story in the next one, but yes there is a plot, and yes it borrows heavily from things you have seen before - but that doesn't mean there wasn't a plot. Told properly Star Wars is the Joseph Campbell Mono myth- WE ALL KNOW THE PLOT. Its the some one that has been in use for LITERALLY thousands of years.  If the plot seems tired and old, that is part of the reason why.

And no, the characters that aren't fully developed because they are involved in a 3 movie arch.. get a grip folks.

 Its not Episode IV.  Its also not Episodes I-III  - Its a good effort with a lot to like, and yes, it was, in my opinion, good storytelling. Maybe not great. But good. Yes it could have been better. Return of the Jedi could have been better too.  It wasn't a prequel grade POS, and if you are a fan of the original you will probably like this one.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on December 21, 2015, 11:17:35 AM
Frankly, I was underwhelmed. Just watch the first Star Wars and you've seen this one, but with better special effects and a bigger Death Star. I mean, could you have tweaked the scrip a bit? Did you have to dust off an old script with different characters? Maybe this will be like the Hunger games or Divergent, where I thought the first ones were weak but the sequels were better.

The whole finding the Millinium Falcon, captured by a ship which happened to house Solo, his cargo and the mercs who happen to show up.  The snitch, with the Jabba the Hut wanna be......Light saber kept in a box downstairs.....Sorry, the whole thing was corny.

I'll say this....The sequels will be better, trust me, no way it could be worse.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 21, 2015, 08:26:47 PM
I'll say this....The sequels will be better, trust me, no way it could be worse.

Jar Jar Binks could be the villian.
See I made it worse. Don't play that game with me. My kids insist we play it all of the time and I always win.

http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/221975/ (http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/221975/)

Quote
THE FORCE AWAKENS: Saw the new Star Wars movie yesterday afternoon in San Jose; the theater was virtually packed; standing a few people behind us in line was a paunchy fellow in Han Solo’s red-striped pants and collarless pullover from the Empire Strikes Back; another gentleman wore a “HAN SHOT FIRST!” T-shirt. A woman in a wheelchair was sporting Princess Leia bun-shaped earmuffs. As in 1999, everyone cheered when the Star Wars logo appeared and John Williams’ triumphant score roared back to life. Unlike 1999’s The Phantom Menace and the rest of the prequels, the crowd applauded at key moments throughout the movie: the surprise first appearance of the Millennium Falcon; the first appearance of its best-known pilot and navigator; the first appearance of everyone’s favorite pair of robotic comedic relief, and the first appearance of Princess, err, General Leia.

Beyond that, no spoilers; I’m pretty sure everything I just mentioned can be seen in the film’s trailers. As someone tweeted on Friday, “This No-Star-Wars-Spoilers thing is the closest I’ve seen Americans work together since 9/11.” I’m not sure when the expiration date expires for that consensus, but for now, if you’d like more detailed — and equally spoiler-free reviews, check out Kyle Smith in the New York Post, John Nolte at Big Hollywood, C.T. Rex at Hot Air, and “Yid With Lid’s” Jeff Dunetz.

If there’s a consensus they share, it’s this, as Nolte wrote:

    In ways big and small, TFA’s main story is shockingly similar to “A New Hope,” which is actually a distraction as you compare the two.

    Overall, I walked away with the sense that Abrams is using TFA to cleanse the franchise’s palate. Disney wants to pop one of these out every year until the end of time, and TFA feels like an apology, a repentance for the sins of creator George Lucas. Abrams and Disney are saying, “We hear you. We’ve fixed it. Let’s kiss and make up so we can hold hands and walk off into a marvelous future together.”

Which makes the achievement of 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back all the more rarefied — the only Star Wars sequel that both unabashedly worked and didn’t crib major plot elements and story beats from the original 1977 movie.

But unlike the clunky, cringe-inducing (“Hold me, like you did by the lake on Naboo!”) prequels, The Force Awakens is a fun, enjoyable ride, and a seamless merging of physical sets and atmospheric special effects. And atmosphere seems to be the right word — unlike the other movies, several of the major spacecraft battles were fought in planetary atmospheres, adding, particularly in the climactic shootout, the weather enveloping the ships. It was as they were returning to the original source material for the Death Star trench scenes, WWII aerial dog-fighting movies such as 633 Squadron and The Dam Busters.

Emphasis Mine.

Corny? You did see the original Star Wars ... right? It has its moments as well
Yes, I wish that hadn't done so much of a rehash. But - apology accepted. I am willing to see what else they can do.
No I wasn't overwhelmed either. But I wasn't underwhelmed and at this point, that is a step up.






Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on December 22, 2015, 08:06:44 AM
From what I've read (and I have read the entire plot) it sounds like they just re-wrote the first movie to incorporate new, young actors. 

/yawn

They could have movieized (and condensed) the time timeline of the extended universe, made something great, and then passed it off to a new generation.  Instead we have something typically lightweight of JJ Abrams, all flash and no substance.

I have yet to see a JJ Abrams "epic" and remembered what the movie was about, a month after the fact.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 22, 2015, 08:37:14 AM
From what I've read (and I have read the entire plot) it sounds like they just re-wrote the first movie to incorporate new, young actors. 

/yawn

They could have movieized (and condensed) the time timeline of the extended universe, made something great, and then passed it off to a new generation.  Instead we have something typically lightweight of JJ Abrams, all flash and no substance.

I have yet to see a JJ Abrams "epic" and remembered what the movie was about, a month after the fact.

At least his Star Trek reboots had a story with characters a little deeper than a waffer.  But that universe is more tightly defined than the hodge-podge realm created by Lucas...the Lucas universe is all about flash and suspending criticism and just enjoying the ride.  I can enjoy a ride, but I will unleash a flurry of questions later.  At this point I guess I am more interested in seeing what the hubbub is about more than anything.  I'll have to see if I can slink in over the holidays.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 22, 2015, 08:39:50 AM
We watched Interstellar, with Matthew McConaughey, last night.  Interesting, suspenseful, a little far-fetched.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on December 22, 2015, 09:25:24 AM
Interstellar was a little far-fetched but a pretty good movie.
I liked it, too
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on December 22, 2015, 01:03:20 PM
Perfect example.  I can remember what Interstellar was about.  Those two Star Trek movies?  Nope.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 22, 2015, 03:06:13 PM
We watched Interstellar, with Matthew McConaughey, last night.  Interesting, suspenseful, a little far-fetched.

Loved that movie. Definitely far fetched, but also extremely intellectually and emotionally engaging.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 22, 2015, 04:02:13 PM
We watched Interstellar, with Matthew McConaughey, last night.  Interesting, suspenseful, a little far-fetched.

Loved that movie. Definitely far fetched, but also extremely intellectually and emotionally engaging.

We are talking about the film where black holes lead to nooks behind bookcases? Watched it recently but I just didn't get it. Like someone was trying to remake 2001/2010 and adding in a bit of Rama for good measure. It was interesting and engaging (emotionally and intellectually)  but I can't say I liked it.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on December 23, 2015, 04:03:32 PM
I'll say this....The sequels will be better, trust me, no way it could be worse.

Jar Jar Binks could be the villian.
See I made it worse. Don't play that game with me. My kids insist we play it all of the time and I always win.

http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/221975/ (http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/221975/)

Quote
THE FORCE AWAKENS: Saw the new Star Wars movie yesterday afternoon in San Jose; the theater was virtually packed; standing a few people behind us in line was a paunchy fellow in Han Solo’s red-striped pants and collarless pullover from the Empire Strikes Back; another gentleman wore a “HAN SHOT FIRST!” T-shirt. A woman in a wheelchair was sporting Princess Leia bun-shaped earmuffs. As in 1999, everyone cheered when the Star Wars logo appeared and John Williams’ triumphant score roared back to life. Unlike 1999’s The Phantom Menace and the rest of the prequels, the crowd applauded at key moments throughout the movie: the surprise first appearance of the Millennium Falcon; the first appearance of its best-known pilot and navigator; the first appearance of everyone’s favorite pair of robotic comedic relief, and the first appearance of Princess, err, General Leia.

Beyond that, no spoilers; I’m pretty sure everything I just mentioned can be seen in the film’s trailers. As someone tweeted on Friday, “This No-Star-Wars-Spoilers thing is the closest I’ve seen Americans work together since 9/11.” I’m not sure when the expiration date expires for that consensus, but for now, if you’d like more detailed — and equally spoiler-free reviews, check out Kyle Smith in the New York Post, John Nolte at Big Hollywood, C.T. Rex at Hot Air, and “Yid With Lid’s” Jeff Dunetz.

If there’s a consensus they share, it’s this, as Nolte wrote:

    In ways big and small, TFA’s main story is shockingly similar to “A New Hope,” which is actually a distraction as you compare the two.

    Overall, I walked away with the sense that Abrams is using TFA to cleanse the franchise’s palate. Disney wants to pop one of these out every year until the end of time, and TFA feels like an apology, a repentance for the sins of creator George Lucas. Abrams and Disney are saying, “We hear you. We’ve fixed it. Let’s kiss and make up so we can hold hands and walk off into a marvelous future together.”

Which makes the achievement of 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back all the more rarefied — the only Star Wars sequel that both unabashedly worked and didn’t crib major plot elements and story beats from the original 1977 movie.

But unlike the clunky, cringe-inducing (“Hold me, like you did by the lake on Naboo!”) prequels, The Force Awakens is a fun, enjoyable ride, and a seamless merging of physical sets and atmospheric special effects. And atmosphere seems to be the right word — unlike the other movies, several of the major spacecraft battles were fought in planetary atmospheres, adding, particularly in the climactic shootout, the weather enveloping the ships. It was as they were returning to the original source material for the Death Star trench scenes, WWII aerial dog-fighting movies such as 633 Squadron and The Dam Busters.

Emphasis Mine.

Corny? You did see the original Star Wars ... right? It has its moments as well
Yes, I wish that hadn't done so much of a rehash. But - apology accepted. I am willing to see what else they can do.
No I wasn't overwhelmed either. But I wasn't underwhelmed and at this point, that is a step up.


I'm sure I'll watch the sequels....But when you advertise to me the FORCE has awakened and you give me the old script, literally to a tee, with new players and a bigger death star...it underwhelmed me.

And the map scene.....are you kidding me? One section of the map missing and they couldn't connect the dots???? Why didn't they use the awakened force to deduct...."hey, the line stops here...but picks up there.....I bet I know where he is"....And who in the theater didn't figure out ( except for the actors) that the old r2d2 had the last "piece" of the puzzle.

I'm not sure how to deduct TFA cleanses the palate. It was like opening the fridge to leftovers.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 23, 2015, 08:49:23 PM
I'm sure I'll watch the sequels....But when you advertise to me the FORCE has awakened and you give me the old script, literally to a tee, with new players and a bigger death star...it underwhelmed me.

It was too similar - I agree. But there were enough variations on the theme it  wasn't enough to kill it for me

And the map scene.....are you kidding me? One section of the map missing and they couldn't connect the dots???? Why didn't they use the awakened force to deduct...."hey, the line stops here...but picks up there.....I bet I know where he is"....And who in the theater didn't figure out ( except for the actors) that the old r2d2 had the last "piece" of the puzzle.

My recollection was that the dotted line "ended" in that missing sector, but its pretty immaterial-- the plot device is there is a missing bit of information they need to track him down.  The empire already add all of the map but that segment. It wouldn't have changed the drama or the story a whole lot if R2D2 had volunteered the info at the outset of the film.. or if both sides has the whole map except of the missing bit. And Ray was already having dreams of the Island Skywalker  was on - so yes the force was already playing a role there. What is more annoying to me is that Ray gains better control of the force in 10 minutes alone than Luke achieved after 3 movies with a former Jedi training him
 
I am not saying there aren't problems and annoyances,  but the OLD films had those (Ewoks. Yuck. )  Its just not something you can take too seriously. I am just glad I was able to enjoy the ride. But then going in my expectations were low.  Or as Big Bang would have it " I enjoyed that more than I expected"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 24, 2015, 10:29:32 AM
http://occupythefarmfilm.com/ (http://occupythefarmfilm.com/)

Oh yeah.  Watch the Berkley Professors confront the little libtard monsters they created as they fight over the use of 12 acres of land.
Watch with glee  as "more government" shows up  to drive the more govt voting hippies off of the lot.
Watch as the hippies make the "food desert" worse by denying that community a Whole Foods market!

And finally victory! they get 1.2 Acres to farm as a "community" because they successfully made enough of a nuisance of themselves that no one wanted to deal with their selfish narcissism anymore.

Can't live with em, can't shoot them. At least not yet.

Oh how I love looking into these things after they are produced...

http://occupythefarm.org/be-prepared-to-mobilize-to-save-the-gill-tract/ (http://occupythefarm.org/be-prepared-to-mobilize-to-save-the-gill-tract/)

Quote
"Dear Farmrades!

We have some unfortunate news.  Sprouts Supermarket—yes, that corporate chain store that’s just itching to pave over a historic farm land—filed for their building permit with the City of Albany on September 24th.  Does this mean the fight is over?  Hell No!  Please be on the lookout for calls to mobilize in order to save Gill Tract.

We need your support more than ever!!  With people power on our side, we know that we can defeat corporate and privatized interests.  Let’s take a stand for a truly local and just food system for the East Bay!"

We got what we wanted because we made ourselves such a pain in the ass, and now you will give us more or we will do it again!


And what a surprise -  one of the current leaders of the farm lives off of others and is - of course - a Student at UC Berkley

https://www.gofundme.com/GillTract (https://www.gofundme.com/GillTract)





Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 26, 2015, 03:39:20 PM
I saw Episode 7 this morning with my nephew and I can find myself agreeing or sympathizing with the reviews above. I blurted a muffled "WTF?!" seconds in when the Long time ago scroll stated Luke Skywalker is missing. Missing? So we go from young Jedi to bleep it I'm gone to decades later and Han & Leia are estranged and their kid is a low self esteem pouty dweeb with more dark energy than brains, the Force can create fast-evolving Jedi's (and Sith's too?), and the universe hasn't repaired itself in a societal or economic sense and resembles a post-Obama dystopia.  It seems like a lot was skipped over, some of which may be explained in the next episode but I suspect much cannot be because of the sheer volume left unexplained. In the originals I could connect with most of the characters, less so in the prequels and in this one the young girl is about it.  I liked her sick piloting skill, might be the highlight of the film. The Ren guy seems like a joke to me and the back story on the First Order and who this Supreme clown is not being explained is a huge mistake. I didn't hate it nor do I love it, while perhaps underwhelmed might be considered harsh or unfair I can understand that reaction. At least no more annoying cabage patch critters, if a new robot is all there is I can take that over annoying critters any day.  My biggest beef is how so much less appears to be in this galaxy and sure maybe lots of warring will do that, but we haven't a clue to any actual why, how or when.  It seems part reboot, part new and insufficiently linked.  What happens next? Old man Luke becomes the new Yoda? Gets translated like Obi Wan? Either Don is right and the next two are better, or they are the same muddle, or they get worse. The final grade on this episode won't be etched until what is seen next is weighed, and right now I am not sure of the direction they will go.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: warpmine on December 26, 2015, 05:46:01 PM
Well, that seals it for me, I'll wait until it's on Netflix next year and watch the hoopla then.
If the Emperor was the Empire, than the thing should have folded like a wet paper bag with a restoration of the Republic or at the very least a struggle between good and evil to rebuild and lead.

I never could get my mind around those "converters" that seem to run everything and yet there seems to be no real energy sources. Probably should have slapped a quirky name on it like "Mr. Converter". I suppose you could have stuffed a Ewoks in the tank and off you go. The effing universe is so much like fairies and unicorns

I was always left in a state of astonishment that the basis for an entire movie is kept secret very much like our entire hydrocarbon based economy seems to be lost to progtards. All we're left with is a hokey pseudo religion that seems to weed out the normals from those that can manipulate it.

The clues for this movie should have been in the book Lucas wrote but since I never wasted my time reading it...the hell with it. Been a Star Trek guy anyway, enjoy the reboot thus far. I thoroughly hated the reboot of BSG and I'm not holding my breath for this Episode VII to pan out into VIII and IX.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the movie because you're not getting that time back. ::kissface::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 01, 2016, 01:06:47 PM
Got to see TFA Wednesday night.

While entertaining and fun, it didn't have the excitement for me of others.

Because it doesn't have to make sense, some things didn't.

The Force just comes on for the chick and she's almost fully developed in skills with the persuasive voice, light saber skills and the strength to resist the guy who had years of training on the Dark Side.

It was an almost identical story to the original one.

Carrie Fisher didn't age real well, did she?

One thing I could never figure out.
With all the high-tech weaponry, why do they still fight with swords?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 01, 2016, 01:19:40 PM
Enjoying these during the combined holiday downtime:

(http://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Me96dd7deacf9712161a0f7b6f640e901o0&pid=15.1) (http://www.layman.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WarRoom_MoviePoster1.jpg) (http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M5f52119ff6f2d2d0a8c474b1717415c3H0&pid=15.1)

and re-watched this,last night:
(http://www.englishmoviez.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Patriot.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on January 02, 2016, 10:25:56 AM
I bought into TFA hype. There are reasons to like the film but when you advertise a blockbuster don't give me a film which was edited out of the original.

But....I will watch at least one of the sequels. If it underwhelms, it'll be free on TV in 6 months. Plus, I want to see Luke teach her how to use his light saber. ::cool:: ::mooning:: ::danceban::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 03, 2016, 01:12:28 AM
Typical Star Wars, only good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 03, 2016, 05:49:16 AM
The Force Awakens Sucks or How I learned to stop worrying and love Star Wars the Phantom Menace

https://youtu.be/ZPgtvVTmJMg
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: warpmine on January 03, 2016, 01:34:04 PM
The Force Awakens Sucks or How I learned to stop worrying and love Star Wars the Phantom Menace

https://youtu.be/ZPgtvVTmJMg
Ha, that was indeed amusing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 03, 2016, 03:22:16 PM
I wasted a little time and read a few of the comments for amusement
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 03, 2016, 07:24:37 PM
Vader worship, yeah...jeesh, needed a bad guy with the Dark Side, so hey let's worship a melted helmet of a guy who slayed his Master for his son and hope nobody asks any questions as to how that mucks up the story.  Seriously, if a young girl can spontaneously develop Light skills the template is established to have Dark skills without mask worship.

And yeah the similarities in the story line to the original is eerily similar, it's like the motive for the entire move was to exorcise Lucas, basically saying he got the story wrong.  But really the story is fine, where Lucas made an error was with giving dumbass Saturday morning cartoon critters bigger and bigger roles, all he had to do is cut that crap out and all this new episode had to do was not make the same mistake, which they did but they made all new ones by mucking up the fairytale story that harkens back to morality tales by Homer.

That and my already stated gloss-over of critical progression lines and so many shortcuts and ideas shotgunned at us killed this.  I could have lived with some of the minor fails if they avoided big fails.  In the end it is a muddle, not bad filmography and effects, great escape/chase scene, the new girl was probably the only performance that sucked the least...the whole First Order thing seems weak.  This guy in the youtube commentary nailed that speech part, what a hilariously stupid scene!

All they had to do was not eff up the recipe.  They effed up the recipe.  As I stated before, it could be repaired in the next episode, but they just upped the ante on the stakes.  Part of me thinks they don't care and will do whatever they want, because the thing is generating piles of cash.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 06, 2016, 07:39:56 AM
Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”  Based upon the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi”.  Comes out later this month.  It will no doubt focus on the aspects on the ground as experienced by those who were there, so from that standpoint I am hopeful Bay stays accurate there.  Where I have a beef though, is when Hollywood is presented other opportunities like this in the past that occurred under the oppositions watch, they take liberty to put the blame on them...and even change events on the ground to fit their narrative.  Here we have clear evidence Clinton took her 3am call on hung up and let people die, and the REMFs in the Pentagon followed suit...all to protect the gunrunning to Daesh-ladden Syrian rebels!  And not one word of this will ever be uttered in the film.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

Anyway, the families of the fallen and those who were there know who is to blame (http://dailycaller.com/2016/01/05/benghazi-soldiers-say-they-believe-victims-families-and-not-hillary-in-dispute-about-video-conversation-video/) but Hollywood continues to ignore it...because it makes their guy and their gal look painfully awful.

Pisses me off to no end!!!

Good people die...and they and their relatives get crapped on, over and over again...   ::pullhair::

Honestly, I don't know if I can go see this.  It will just get me irate all over again!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 09, 2016, 06:30:59 PM
This is a movie coming out this summer that, so far, looks interesting.
 Here's the trailer:
www.youtube.com/free (http://www.youtube.com/free) state

 
Quote
Between late 1863 and mid-1864, an armed band of Confederate deserters battled Confederate cavalry in the Piney Woods region of Jones County, Mississippi. Calling themselves the Knight Company after their captain, Newton Knight, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the Leaf River, where, legend has it, they declared the Free State of Jones.

 The story of the Jones County rebellion is well known among Mississippians, and debate over whether the county actually seceded from the state during the war has smoldered for more than a century. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of Newt Knight's interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, Rachel, a slave. From their relationship there developed a mixed-race community that endured long after the Civil War had ended, and the ambiguous racial identity of their descendants confounded the rules of segregated Mississippi well into the twentieth century.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Free-State.../dp/0807854670 (http://www.amazon.com/The-Free-State.../dp/0807854670)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 09, 2016, 07:15:06 PM
By pure coincidence I just finished the book! (the book was published in 2001)
I look forward to seeing what they do with it. The story is fascinating!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: AmericanPatriot on January 09, 2016, 08:50:54 PM
From what little I have seen, there is a lot of legend and a lot of the facts are less than certain
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 10, 2016, 10:30:24 AM
The El Chapo movie will get all the star power though...

http://nypost.com/2016/01/09/el-chapo-met-sean-penn-before-his-capture-rolling-stone/ (http://nypost.com/2016/01/09/el-chapo-met-sean-penn-before-his-capture-rolling-stone/)

...no doubt the love scene between El Chapo and Spicoli will redefine Hollywood masculinity once again...

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on January 11, 2016, 01:33:40 PM
Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”  Based upon the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi”.  Comes out later this month.  It will no doubt focus on the aspects on the ground as experienced by those who were there, so from that standpoint I am hopeful Bay stays accurate there.  Where I have a beef though, is when Hollywood is presented other opportunities like this in the past that occurred under the oppositions watch, they take liberty to put the blame on them...and even change events on the ground to fit their narrative.  Here we have clear evidence Clinton took her 3am call on hung up and let people die, and the REMFs in the Pentagon followed suit...all to protect the gunrunning to Daesh-ladden Syrian rebels!  And not one word of this will ever be uttered in the film.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

Anyway, the families of the fallen and those who were there know who is to blame (http://dailycaller.com/2016/01/05/benghazi-soldiers-say-they-believe-victims-families-and-not-hillary-in-dispute-about-video-conversation-video/) but Hollywood continues to ignore it...because it makes their guy and their gal look painfully awful.

Pisses me off to no end!!!

Good people die...and they and their relatives get crapped on, over and over again...   ::pullhair::

Honestly, I don't know if I can go see this.  It will just get me irate all over again!


I will, most likely, go see this. First, Bay normally portriats the military in a good light. So with that in mind, I'll go watch. I'm not expecting any real "truth" will come from the film, as far as who left them to die. We know who.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 12, 2016, 07:09:22 AM
Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”  Based upon the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi”.  Comes out later this month.  It will no doubt focus on the aspects on the ground as experienced by those who were there, so from that standpoint I am hopeful Bay stays accurate there.  Where I have a beef though, is when Hollywood is presented other opportunities like this in the past that occurred under the oppositions watch, they take liberty to put the blame on them...and even change events on the ground to fit their narrative.  Here we have clear evidence Clinton took her 3am call on hung up and let people die, and the REMFs in the Pentagon followed suit...all to protect the gunrunning to Daesh-ladden Syrian rebels!  And not one word of this will ever be uttered in the film.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!

Anyway, the families of the fallen and those who were there know who is to blame (http://dailycaller.com/2016/01/05/benghazi-soldiers-say-they-believe-victims-families-and-not-hillary-in-dispute-about-video-conversation-video/) but Hollywood continues to ignore it...because it makes their guy and their gal look painfully awful.

Pisses me off to no end!!!

Good people die...and they and their relatives get crapped on, over and over again...   ::pullhair::

Honestly, I don't know if I can go see this.  It will just get me irate all over again!


I will, most likely, go see this. First, Bay normally portriats the military in a good light. So with that in mind, I'll go watch. I'm not expecting any real "truth" will come from the film, as far as who left them to die. We know who.

Which is why I hold Hollywood in such contempt...they will stoop to outright lies to make anyone but their ilk to look guilty and wicked...but they cannot ever tell the truth about their own even when the truth is smashing them in the face.

I hope "the big one" can be televised when it hits...seeing most of this ilk perish will be the best show ever.

ETA - SITYS:  http://www.weaselzippers.us/250222-number-of-times-hillary-clinton-is-mentioned-in-new-benghazi-movie-13-hours-zero/ (http://www.weaselzippers.us/250222-number-of-times-hillary-clinton-is-mentioned-in-new-benghazi-movie-13-hours-zero/)

 ::pullhair::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 17, 2016, 10:17:32 PM
Daughter is Still on the Anime Kick.  Ended up signing up for the Funimation site as well.  $5 a month for subtitles only.  Still way cheaper than the Cable.

Shinsekai yori (from the New World) - Watching now. A bit less dramatic and tamer than most we have watched. But an interesting take on a wolrd where everyone has Psy powers. (Crunchy Roll)

Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist)  Story about a son of Satan rebelling against the Demon realm - interesting and entertaining , but ultimately forgettable. (Hulu)

Death Note - Highly rated by almost everyone. Pretty much my least favorite Anime we have watched.  Its okay. Its better than American TV,  but yeah, not watching it again. Ever.(Hulu)

Noragami - About a God of Chaos trying to change who he is.  One of the better ones. (Funimation)

Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan)  Due to being a rare 3rd Season this  spring. Violent. Gory.  Fiarly interesting story and th only one so far that has Daughter reading ahead in the Manga. (Crunchy Roll)

Zetsuen no Tempest (Blast of Tempest). Big God Fruit, people turning to stone, magic and time travel. A pretty good ride in all. (Crunchy Roll)

Boku dake ga Inai Machi (Erased or The town where only I am missing)  - This one is next up. Its still in progress and being aired on Thursdays on Crunchy Roll.  Its often compared to Steins;Gate and people are loving it.


Of Course, If You haven't watched Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (On HULU)  or Steins;Gate ( Hulu)  then you need to start there. Absolutely the best Anime has to offer at the moment. So if you are in a "show hole"  check them out



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 29, 2016, 07:39:33 AM
Got sad?

(http://tpc.pc2.netdna-cdn.com/peoples_resource/image/37985-Sad_O_Affleck.jpg)

http://www.thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/topic17743.html (http://www.thepeoplescube.com/peoples-blog/topic17743.html)

 ::hysterical::

PS-I heard Zootopia passed $700M mark.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 07, 2016, 05:44:09 PM

New Starwars Not 8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9xjqfgYLcA&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=non_opener&utm_medium=email&utm_content=star_wars_rogue_one&utm_campaign=04-06-16 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9xjqfgYLcA&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=non_opener&utm_medium=email&utm_content=star_wars_rogue_one&utm_campaign=04-06-16)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 07, 2016, 09:53:52 PM
Spin-off?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 10, 2016, 02:23:16 PM
Michelle started us watching this Wayward Pines show directed  M Night Shyamalan. It was painful to the point as we are wondering how anyone could have put that much work in and not realized how stupid it was.  Avoid.




Spoilers ahead. But trust me you don't want to see it anyway






SO the setup is this Fed goes to a small town to investigate disappearances and then wakes up in the hospital after an accident.  The town is basically a police state - surveillance is everywhere. You don't buy a house -you are given one.  You don't find a job - you are given one.  A telephone will ring and everyone will just do what the voice on the phone says because otherwise they will be publicly  executed. No one can talk about the past or the "outside"  without running afoul of being punished.  The Town is in a box canyon with sheer cliffs and a Jurassic Park style wall runs around the entire town.  Otherwise its 2016 suburban life as usual.  Only its the year 4000 something, and all of these people came out of Cryo, and in  this giant base in the cliffs,  this megalomaniac who invented the cryo and abducted these people  runs the town with the help of a group of volunteers who entered cryo to help "their savior"
In the 2000 years while they were in cryo, humans became super fast predatory monsters ( who become ever less so as the series  progresses) and that is what the wall is for - to keep them out. Only you can't tell the townspeople that because ten they would go crazy like "Group A" did and kill themselves because its no longer 2015 , and they will never see tier friends and family, and they live in a world where its basically the same luxuries as the pinnacle of human society, but you know they just kill themselves anyway. The children are okay, because  they aren't as ingrained in the the old world and their minds are more flexible, and are told the truth in school while being inducted into a sort of Nazi Youth group structure where they are made to promise to not tell their parents. Of course the adults who volunteered to help run the show -- they don't go crazy and kill themselves, because - they knew they were volunteering for this I guess?
Anyway, the secret gets out and Mr. Megalomaniac lets the monster humans in to kill off the town ( because you see there are enough people still in Cryo that he can create a group C)

Gee what is wrong with this?  Teenagers keeping a secret as a group.  The fact that somehow a working community was built or repaired  up to 2016 standards using materials stored for 2000 years and or collected with vicious man eating monsters about.  And those 2016  standards are maintained  - in town - clothes for sale, beer , food , gasoline, and on and on... etc. The idea that NO one could handle the truth.. and so forth.. just what happens when a bunch of libtards that think electricity comes from the wall write sci fi
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 12, 2016, 12:07:02 PM
Just started an  older series  called House M.D. on netflix (yeah, I know, always late to the party)  - mostly because undoomed  references it all of the time in his videos.
For the INTJs out there, the thing is hilarious.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on August 12, 2016, 12:34:54 PM
I like House.  I met a wannabe at the real-life hospital once, too.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 12, 2016, 05:12:11 PM
She's a brick, house?

Oh, not that far back?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 12, 2016, 06:00:08 PM
More on this...prequel/spin-off...

https://youtu.be/frdj1zb9sMY

December, huh?  Well, if I am not otherwise engaged in my own fight for Liberty, sure.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 01, 2016, 10:25:15 PM
Just got done watching the netflix original series "Stranger Things" -  this may be targeted right at me, because I was 12 in 1982, but I really enjoyed it.  Imagine E.T., the Goonies, Poltergeist, Firestarter, Alien, Stand By Me, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Carpenter's The Thing, all thrown in a blender  in a respectful homage kind of way, but without being a copy of any of them. The Music, the beginning titles, the dress , the decor, the cars ,  even the dialog  are so 80's perfect that you will wonder if this wasn't filmed in the 80s and you just missed it.

Season 2 is scheduled for 2017 some time. But yeah,  the $8  I paid to netflix this month was totally delivered upon  with this one show . Only 8 episodes in season 1  though, so husband them and don't binge watch .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on September 01, 2016, 11:03:31 PM
Oh good, something new to check out.  Thanks, Weisshaupt.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on September 02, 2016, 12:08:33 PM
Yeah I have heard good things about Stranger Things.  I'm going to check it out.

And I think Rogue One has potential to be quite good.  It might be better than Ep. 7, as it's set back during the "classic" Star Wars time period of rebels fighting an Empire at peak strength.  One thing I think is very cool is that they are finally cross pollinating the films with the rest of the Star Wars universe.  The character played by Forrest Whitaker is Saw Gerrera, who was a character originally introduced in the Clone Wars animated series.  Which btw, if you like Star Wars you should watch the Clone Wars animated series.  It was fantastic.

Saw Gerrera was leader of a band of freedom fighters who were fighting against the occupation of their planet by the Separatists during the Clone Wars.  When the Republic defeated the Separatists and turned into the Empire, Gerrera's band just transitioned from fighting the Separatist droid army to fighting the new Imperials.  Kind of mirrors real history, where today's allies turn into tomorrow's enemies and vice versa.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 02, 2016, 07:11:05 PM
I'm starved for quality entertainment...the utter dreck permeating the bazillion channels we have today is stunning in its lack of originality and imagination...

Honestly I think watching my cat clean himself is more entertaining than dialing into any of that!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 02, 2016, 07:45:54 PM
(http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/4191/4567/original.jpg)

 ::rolllaughing::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 03, 2016, 11:32:16 AM
Stranger Things has been on my radar for a couple weeks now. Bonus: I always had a crush on Wynona Ryder.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 03, 2016, 11:50:28 AM
Stranger Things has been on my radar for a couple weeks now. Bonus: I always had a crush on Wynona Ryder.

Yeah, so did I. Warning: She is not as cute as she once was... but I think she made the transition to playing middle aged mom pretty well.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on September 03, 2016, 01:50:58 PM
Ryder's role was tedious and annoying. Sorry.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on September 03, 2016, 04:43:53 PM
Ditto.  But we'll live through it.

eta:  On second thought, I found her tedious and annoying in every movie except the third Alien(s) film.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 03, 2016, 06:46:16 PM
I thought she gave a masterful performance opposite Daniel Day Lewis in "The Crucible".

Also loved her in the Alien movie, "Heathers", and "Beetlejuice".

Didn't like her too well on the surveillance video of her shoplifting though.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 04, 2016, 12:44:54 PM
Who?

 ::unknowncomic::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on September 04, 2016, 02:29:17 PM
Don't forget her role as Mina in Dracula, playing opposite a block of wood known as Keanu Reeves.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on September 04, 2016, 04:13:04 PM
Don't forget her role as Mina in Dracula, playing opposite a block of wood known as Keanu Reeves.

I turn that one on whenever I have insomnia. Works like a charm...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 04, 2016, 07:32:24 PM
Ryder's role was tedious and annoying. Sorry.

In Stranger Things? Perhaps. The whole thing is a string of tropes, and the "Mom Crazy to find her child"  thing isn't new, and therefore could be tedious.. but I am not sure that is the actor's fault. . I was just glad to see she wasn't trying to relive glory days pretending she was still a hottie, or something. Middle aged Crazy Housewife is the role she got, and I think its the role she played. Its sort of the nature of the films that this is borrowing from  that the adults be rather clueless,  cutout and ineffective.. thus giving the children an opportunity to take initiative. I can't say she was over the top fantastic in the role, but I can't say I was annoyed by the portrayal either.  But hey sometimes you just don't like an actor.   Keanu Reeves is the one my wife hates - all she can see when he is on the screen is Ted from Bill and Ted's Excellent adventure. But yeah, you see him in anything else where he isn't playing Ted in some form, he turns to a wooden doll.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on September 04, 2016, 09:42:36 PM
Yea, I don't want to overstate it but I just didn't enjoy her performance. I thought the kids did great though.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 05, 2016, 01:10:56 AM
Gary Oldman was masterful in that Drac movie, as he is in just about everything he's in.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 05, 2016, 08:39:59 AM
Watched episode 1 of Stranger Things last night. Weisshaupt's review is right on the money. It truly feels like a movie from the 80s that I just never got around to seeing. That synth soundtrack!!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 29, 2016, 08:42:21 AM
So they have announced a second Yamato Series will be airing in Japan in 1Q2017, and since my recommendation in March 2015 they have also done a full length movie to intro the new series... which appears to again be a remake of the Original's second series.  This was called Star Blazers  here in the US in the 70s and what you saw then was a watered down, Americanized version because American Kids were pussies - and it was still awesome...

This review give a nice feel for it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APjYsaYU7wU&index=30&list=PL8IaGw1W9X7aN7-FCWA0AS4Rp9oSEJ5EZ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APjYsaYU7wU&index=30&list=PL8IaGw1W9X7aN7-FCWA0AS4Rp9oSEJ5EZ)

I am not sure this should be classified as "obscure" - its not obscure in Japan.
Space Battleship Yamato's original movie was released in 1977  against Star Wars and did better than Star Wars in Japan. It was this series that turned my daughter into an Anime fiend ( no its not my fault- I asked my son to watch, and daughter just wanted cuddle time..)   and Michelle still thinks its her favorite or a close second to Steins;gate.


But, the  review is correct on the fact that there is no good legal way to watch this.
But anyone wanting bunker entertainment at cost should PM me.



Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 29, 2016, 11:46:19 AM
So, they resurrected their ship of theirs we sent to the briney deep in WWII in 1945?  The same mighty ship that ran from a fight with Sprague at Leyte when all Sprague had were tin cans that fought like demons?

Second times the charm, eh?   ;D

Hope they have a better Admiral than Kurita. 

PS-In that same Leyte battle, sister ship Musashi finally capsized and sank after incurring five different carrier attacks from four different carriers.  Didn't see a sister ship mentioned here...poor souls on earth have this ship and no other to save their bacon from certain extinction.  Bummer dude.

Clip sure has a lot of caucasians in it...what's that all about?   ::pokeineye::

Need round-eye money!

And everybody gets cool first and/or last name space names! 

Pretty sure they should leave the "Blazer's" title out...unless they're targeting chronic huffers...





Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 29, 2016, 02:17:15 PM
So, they resurrected their ship of theirs we sent to the briney deep in WWII in 1945?  The same mighty ship that ran from a fight with Sprague at Leyte when all Sprague had were tin cans that fought like demons?

Second times the charm, eh?   ;D

Hope they have a better Admiral than Kurita. 

PS-In that same Leyte battle, sister ship Musashi finally capsized and sank after incurring five different carrier attacks from four different carriers.  Didn't see a sister ship mentioned here...poor souls on earth have this ship and no other to save their bacon from certain extinction.  Bummer dude.

Clip sure has a lot of caucasians in it...what's that all about?   ::pokeineye::

Need round-eye money!

And everybody gets cool first and/or last name space names! 

Pretty sure they should leave the "Blazer's" title out...unless they're targeting chronic huffers...

Well, there is a reason they called the ship the "Argo" in the American 70's release. I believe they were working off the idea of "Trail Blazers". Translation and re branding in Anime as it comes to North America  has never been spectacular.  With Voltron they actually didn't even get the anime series they were after.. they said "the one with the lions"  and they got Beast King GoLion instead of Mirai Robo Daltanious,and the dialog was made up while watching the episodes... not translated.  Star Blazers got similar treatment, but "it was the first popular English-translated anime that had an overarching plot and storyline that required the episodes to be shown in order. It dealt with somewhat more mature themes than other productions aimed at the same target audience at the time. As a result, it paved the way for future arc-based, plot-driven anime translations... Being marketed to a school-age audience, this animated space opera was bowdlerized by the American editors in order to satisfy the broadcast standards and practices offices of American television stations....Even in its edited American form Star Blazers retains practically all of its uniquely Japanese characteristics in terms of content, plot, character development, and philosophy.. Principal changes in the transformation to Star Blazers included westernization of character names, reduction of personal violence, toning down of offensive language and alcohol use (references to sake were changed to "spring water", and the Doctor's perpetually drunken state was portrayed as merely good humor), removal of sexual fan service, and reduction of references to World War II (though the sunken battleship ruins were still identified as the battleship Yamato in dialogue). The most significant reference removed—and the longest single edit in the series—was a section from episode two depicting the Battleship Yamato's final battle during World War II, including imagery of the captain tied to the helm as he went down with his ship. ... Many fans regard Star Blazers as more "adult" than other cartoons shown in the United States at the time, as personal tragedy, funeral scenes for fallen comrades, and the extinction faced by humanity were left intact. The very Japanese theme of "the honorable enemy" was also a tremendously important aspect of character development; in particular, the major villain of the first series, Desslok, during the second and third seasons, as well as in the later movies. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Blazers)"

And its that additional realism in the story telling that captured my imagination in the 70's ( but I never did see them in order as a kid)  and exactly what captured my daughters attention now ( after having her brain addled largely  by the more innocuous Disney sitcoms) . One of the things I like about Anime is that it tends to drive home basic morality, and the importance of moral decision making,  without being preachy.  Respect,  Honor and loyalty  are of course large components of Japanese culture, and I don't think its a problem if my kids gain a little of those qualities either. .

The Yamato has great cultural significance in Japan, much like the USS Constitution here ( and yes the Constitution had to run on occasion...)  and Anime is always Caucasians with big round Disney eyes - and the starring  woman is nearly always a (buxom) blond. The Japanese largely engaged in WWII because they felt culturally they were  insignificant in the larger world, and yes, they largely adopted a "if you can't beat em, join em " attitude during the occupation, and I  think it served  them well for a time (  they are totally screwed now of course)  The decision to bring this series to the United States was that of the  Westchester Film Corporation - which I can't find a lot of information on, but I bet its employees were a bunch of  round eyes - and it was round eyes who gave them space names.  The Japanese names are pretty boring and common.

But yes, the Yamato in this story is a bit of a  Cultural  Phoenix for Japan , in that their wreck gets to be the one that goes on the Journey (in the reboot the wreck  is just camouflaging the real star ship as in the 80s the real  Battleship Yamato  was discovered on the sea bottom in broken bits, and it takes the combined  power of the entire world to launch it.)  but its not a Japanese centric tale -- and speaking of tails..   while there is fan service,  its actually kept pretty toned down.  There is only one "Girls thinking in a bath" scene and seriously, where else could girls go to  do their thinking?? 

Another review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBiga754d5g&index=3&list=PL8IaGw1W9X7aN7-FCWA0AS4Rp9oSEJ5EZ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBiga754d5g&index=3&list=PL8IaGw1W9X7aN7-FCWA0AS4Rp9oSEJ5EZ)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 30, 2016, 06:53:11 AM
Seems pretty detailed, which I guess for a guy of my generation who is accustomed to low-brow slapstick humor in my animation experiences...I struggle getting interested in anything deeper than that...but I understand certain stories are probably more easily translated into animation than live-actor cinematography...it's just hard for me for some reason...I can't really explain it very well I guess beyond what I already attempted.

And I can understand the attachment the Yamato might have in Japanese lore...it did eventually capsize and sink...but it took something like 19 torpedo and bomb hits to do it, she did not go quietly into that briney deep, and that I can respect.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on September 30, 2016, 08:50:18 AM
Seems pretty detailed, which I guess for a guy of my generation who is accustomed to low-brow slapstick humor in my animation experiences...I struggle getting interested in anything deeper than that..

I understand completely. 

Out of curiosity - Did you ever see Heavy Metal? Did you like it? Or did you have the same problem?


I understand tat cartoons are just not a  form of story-telling Americans are conditioned to seeing as "serious". Cartoons are for Bugs Bunny , Scooby-doo and the Flintstones and only children watch them.   If you can't get over that hurdle in your mind then Anime will never work for you.. But given the cesspool of American made crap, it may be worth a little effort to try.


 Unlike American made TV, when the Japanese set out to produce a show, they already know the beginning, middle and end of the story arc, and while some series introduce filler episodes that do nothing to advance the plot ( if you see an episode count over 100, that is what is happening)  most productions  have 12, or 26 episodes in which to tell their story, there probably won't be a followup series, and if there is, it will be a different story arc.  Most anime are adapted from already  established and well liked Manga, so the stories have been through a sort of quality control, and unlike Hollywood,  Anime directors understand deviating from the Manga is usually a bad thing to do.

There is a live cinematography version of Space Battleship Yamato ( actually its what started me on my adult Yamato kick)   - you can rent it for $5 on Amazon and for what it is, its pretty good, but the story seriously suffers being edited from 13 hours down to 2.  However, I am not sure I could have gotten my kids to watch the Anime if they hadn't seen the live action first. Maybe Yamato is  the anime gateway drug, and you just need that film experience to get you hooked and wanting more? Leading you to Yamato 2199, and then to Steins;gate and Fullmetal Alchemist:Brotherhood. (IMO if you see those three, you have seen the very best the genre has to offer. There are other entertaining rides, but those stand out as exceptional.
 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 30, 2016, 11:28:25 AM
Seems pretty detailed, which I guess for a guy of my generation who is accustomed to low-brow slapstick humor in my animation experiences...I struggle getting interested in anything deeper than that..

I understand completely. 

Out of curiosity - Did you ever see Heavy Metal? Did you like it? Or did you have the same problem?


No, I tried...a little...same issue.  I might just have to bite the bullet some night...give it a full attempt.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on October 04, 2016, 08:34:45 AM
 Picked up the first season of Ash vs. The Evil Dead and watched the first four ( of ten)  episodes last night.  If You liked (Bruce Cambell vs.)  The Army of Darkness or the Evil Dead movies you will love this series.  Directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell and Lucy Lawless ( yes, the warrior princess)
and features what you would expect, Ash being stupid and funny, and lots of gore.  Other than Campbell looking his age,  this could have been filmed right after Army of Darkness -  same style, same dialogue -- better special effects of course - well when they feel like it :)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on October 04, 2016, 09:15:14 AM
Picked up the first season of Ash vs. The Evil Dead and watched the first four ( of ten)  episodes last night.  If You liked (Bruce Cambell vs.)  The Army of Darkness or the Evil Dead movies you will love this series.  Directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell and Lucy Lawless ( yes, the warrior princess)
and features what you would expect, Ash being stupid and funny, and lots of gore.  Other than Campbell looking his age,  this could have been filmed right after Army of Darkness -  same style, same dialogue -- better special effects of course - well when they feel like it :)


I'm watching Ashe vs Evil Dead. I'm not sure why I like this type of campy, stupid with humor stuff, but I do so I try not to question it. I also like Z nation and the Sharknado stuff.....lol
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on October 04, 2016, 09:44:00 AM
My wife wanted to "go to a movie' while we waited for our daughter to finish gymnastics practice a few days ago. Nevermind that there was absolutely nothing in the theater that sparked any interest for me - for her, it's about going to the theater and eating popcorn while you watch a movie. So she let me pick, since I wasn't enthused - which was very considerate.

Being a Jeff Bridges fan, I chose "Hell or High Water", co-starring Chris Pine (new Cap'n Kirk), and Ben Foster (have loved everything he's been in since I first saw him in "30 Days of Night").

The two younger fellas are brothers on a bank robbing spree, and Jeff Bridges is the about-to-retire Texas Ranger fixin to catch 'em.

It was extremely formulaic. Extremely. Did I say extremely? There was literally nothing in this movie that could not have been predicted after watching the first 10 minutes.

It was watchable only because you get to see Jeff Bridges being Jeff Bridges, and seeing two fine young actors play their roles well. Otherwise, there was nothing to separate this film from 1000 films you'd see by accident on cable TV while channel-flipping.

Skip it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on October 04, 2016, 11:32:25 AM
Sharknado?!

 ::ohno::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on October 04, 2016, 03:07:54 PM
Sharknado?!

 ::ohno::

Sharknado...1...2....3....4......I've watched them all.... ::beertoast::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on October 04, 2016, 05:28:34 PM
We rarely attend movies in theatres (last one we saw was Avengers Civil War). I Buy them when they are released on DVD.

The latest one I'm watching is 'Genius', abut the rise of Thomas Wolfe as an author. It stars Colin Firth & Jude Law - Firth plays Wolfe's editor. Very enjoyable (but I was a Literature major) - the dynamic of the battling friendship between the 2 men is intriguing. It also delves into the creative process & how the brain of a genius thinks & associates.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCvcD3IBSlc#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on October 04, 2016, 05:29:24 PM
Sharknado?!

 ::ohno::

Sharknado...1...2....3....4......I've watched them all.... ::beertoast::

And I wager alcohol was consumed in something more than moderate quantities.   ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on October 04, 2016, 05:31:29 PM
We rarely attend movies in theatres (last one we saw was Avengers Civil War). I Buy them when they are released on DVD.

The latest one I'm watching is 'Genius', abut the rise of Thomas Wolfe as an author. It stars Colin Firth & Jude Law - Firth plays Wolfe's editor. Very enjoyable (but I was a Literature major) - the dynamic of the battling friendship between the 2 men is intriguing. It also delves into the creative process & how the brain of a genius thinks & associates.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCvcD3IBSlc#)

Nice, has that feel back when America was racist as all get out...but yet people got along well enough...better than now...

That's gotta be propaganda pushed by the damn white man!!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on October 30, 2016, 03:02:47 PM
This looks a little bit awesome...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI#)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 07, 2017, 08:28:25 AM
So My daughter, who has a terrible habit of entirely forgetting anything that happened to her more than two years ago,  tells me she does not remember watching "Much Ado About Nothing" with Kenneth Branagh. She is Thirteen. She watched this at 11. I didn't believe her. So I pull up a scene on youtube from the movie and ... she still doesn't remember it.

But in the side bar there is a scene from the David Tennant  version, also with Catherine Tate .. Now I knew Tennant was doing Shakespeare on stage.. but who knew he was good at it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SctmgTOf9IE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SctmgTOf9IE)


 I like the Branagh version,  but in many places I felt it was too forced - and in others far to "proper" - I would smile at Branagh's version, but I was laugh out loud at this scene with Tennant. The physical comedy and expressions he and Tate brought to the performance were golden. At least to me. So I go looking  to buy a copy... and  then discover that Josh Whedon did a version in 12 days, at his house. 

https://www.amazon.com/Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Digital/dp/B00ECR7KX2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488895421&sr=8-2&keywords=much+ado+about+nothing+fillion (https://www.amazon.com/Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Digital/dp/B00ECR7KX2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1488895421&sr=8-2&keywords=much+ado+about+nothing+fillion)

Okay. $6 on DVD. People loved it or hated it. But  same could be said of Dr. Horrible. I ordered it. I will let you know once I watch it..

However, I failed to find the Tennant version on DVD. But, it is available for streaming at a reasonable price ($6) here :

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/much-ado-about-nothing-tennant-tate/play (http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/much-ado-about-nothing-tennant-tate/play)

Again, much better than the crap from Hollywood.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 07, 2017, 10:25:53 AM
Josh Joss Whedon is, himself, some of that crap from Hollywood.  Just sayin'.

Edited to correct name.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 07, 2017, 11:10:33 AM
Yeah, Firefly was blind squirrel action, but still good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on March 07, 2017, 01:48:00 PM
Josh Whedon is, himself, some of that crap from Hollywood.  Just sayin'.

I was disappointed when I learned this...but since it's happened so many times I'm grown a callus.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on March 07, 2017, 02:41:27 PM
Ya think they'd learn by now to just sthu about their politics thus not alienating half their audiences.  But nooooo ...........
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 08, 2017, 06:46:08 AM
I've been saying the same thing for so long now I forgot when it started!   :o
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on March 08, 2017, 08:44:36 AM
It's not a movie, but my wife and I are about three episodes away from finishing a full watch-through of "The Sopranos" for the first time. Good TV. And it's the earliest example I can think of, being one of the first great TV shows of this modern era we've discussed - when TV programming content began to compete with feature films in the quality of writing, casting, budget, etc. Through 6 seasons, we haven't run across an episode that wasn't top-notch, the quality easily compared to an excellent feature film.

I think that for anything character-driven, TV has emerged as superior in every way to feature films. There's just no way a movie can flesh out a character like a TV show over the span of several seasons.

And I can't think of a better fictional example than Tony Soprano of Proverbs 26:11... "As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." What a character. What a show full of characters!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 08, 2017, 09:16:42 AM
I was more suggesting watching the British Theater Stream  than the Joss  version.
I also watch a lot of Anime and old series I missed (wandering my way trough Lost in Space now..after finsihing UFO and Space 1999 -- probably do Time Tunnel next. ) .

Joss' movie may be good. It may not. But hey its Shakespeare. As long as we don't have him adding a gay couple, I think we will be fine.

 I think Joss is far more interested in telling a good story, and really doesn't care about politics much beyond saying what he needs to say to be successful in Hollywood and thereby securing his continuing ability to tell good stories.  And after Firefly and even Avengers, he got lots of 'splaining to do  to the Hollywood establishment I suspect. Gotta establish his street cred.
Or he is a full die hard liberal, but - like most of them, is work is compartmentalized away from his emotional politicking, and he is even aware of when they conflict.

 I can't say I provide a 100%  boycott of the Holloywood leftists I dislike,  but the cable is off, I  very rarely see movies in the theater, or even buy them anymore.  I am sure they all get some small share of the $20 a month I spend on Hulu and Netflix ( and netflix as a company has the same crappy politics, but they have A series of Unfortunate Events,  Stranger Things ( which has our stupid Sheriff lefty) ,  House and soon, MST3k. so they get my $10 for that reason only. And when I no longer need those things, and if nothing replaces them, I am outta there.. And while I will continue to watch the good, non preachy shows,  You can bet I won't be following the liberal talent to other endeavors because I like them. In all, the money I used to spend on Hollywood and its cesspool has been dramatically reduced. My Children watch mostly youtube programs- and I think Hollywood, like traditional music and print publishing, is on a downward spiral they will neither adjust to or endure.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 16, 2017, 10:13:00 PM
Robot Roll Call

https://parade.com/554208/ccopelan/reboot-roll-call-all-new-mst3k-coming-to-netflix/

MST3K Reboot premieres on April 14th.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 17, 2017, 07:32:58 AM
It was so much more enjoyable with Joel Hodgson...for me it was like the Beatles after Yoko once he left...Mike Nelson was OK but it was so much better with Joel, his snarky Minnesotan affectations and all...and seeing it on the old Ch.23 the first time I was like "What the heck is this?" but once you start watching and hearing the clever quips and exaggerated mouthed sound effects...I was hooked!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on March 17, 2017, 08:10:04 AM
It was so much more enjoyable with Joel Hodgson...for me it was like the Beatles after Yoko once he left...Mike Nelson was OK but it was so much better with Joel, his snarky Minnesotan affectations and all...and seeing it on the old Ch.23 the first time I was like "What the heck is this?" but once you start watching and hearing the clever quips and exaggerated mouthed sound effects...I was hooked!

(https://static.parade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Primary-MST3K-Season-11-Cast-Photo.jpg)

Joel is there,  3rd over from  the right ( if you Include Tom Servo) - He is the one who brought this back to life.  I agree Mike Nelson was never as good as Joel, and te sow declined ( but was still funny) after Joel left....but now Joel is back and  we get to see if New guy can be better.  ( Probably not)
And I like Feliica Day ( The Guild, Dr. Horrible )  I have high hopes
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 17, 2017, 08:18:18 AM
Yeah Joel helped bring this back, wish he was the front man again...guess they want somebody younger...shame.  And yeah, I like Felicia, she's got spunk.

But I am resigned to the fact that it will never be as good when it was new...

(sigh)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 06, 2017, 08:25:24 PM
Okay folks,

Remember when I told you to go watch  the Anime of Voices from a Distant Star and got on this big kick about a guy you never heard of (Makoto Shinkai) and said he was going to be the next studio Ghibli? -- well his recent movie has been climbing the (all time best)  Anime lists - and it currently at #1 on most of them, so I knew he was doing well... but I didn't know how well till yesterday.  Funimation told me the movie was going to be playing in American theaters , so I was ready for the hour long drive to town to see the thing on its one day engagement right?   Wrong. Its getting a full blown American release ( in dubbed and subtitled versions)  - Because it is now the highest globally grossing Japanese film ever.. and it hasn't opened in America yet . 

It didn't beat Spirited Away in Japan alone --yet, but if you where wondering what to go see... 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-anime-your-name-became-an-phenomenon-969255 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-anime-your-name-became-an-phenomenon-969255)

Its got a long list of awards ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Name (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Name))

And it opens tomorrow.

https://www.funimationfilms.com/movie/yourname/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=032017-th-YourName&utm_content=Your+Name+Image (https://www.funimationfilms.com/movie/yourname/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=032017-th-YourName&utm_content=Your+Name+Image)


Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4-URMnBOPU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4-URMnBOPU)

Oh and don't forget MST3K starts the 14th..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ct0Z2bQndM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ct0Z2bQndM)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on April 07, 2017, 09:56:55 AM
The only upcoming movie I am anticipating is Alien: Covenant.  The promotional video and teaser trailers look good so far.  The first two Alien movies were great. The rest were pretty much trash. This one looks like it might get back to the disturbing sense of dread that made it so successful in the beginning.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 07, 2017, 10:14:28 PM


'Man Down,' Starring Shia LaBeouf, Likely to End U.K. Run With Just 3 Tickets Sold | THR News

'Man Down' — starring Shia LaBeouf as a PTSD-suffering U.S. soldier returning home from Afghanistan — made headlines Tuesday after it was found have opened in the U.K. with just one solitary

 Serves him right.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 07, 2017, 10:46:38 PM
Just got back from "Your Name" - totally met expectations  My daughter's non-anime loving friend thought it was really good, so even if you aren't an Anime person, give it a try
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 12, 2017, 05:03:30 AM
So My Name made 1.7 Million over the weekend even though it played in only 303 theaters nationwide.  So that means you are going to get at least another week to go watch it.

GO. WATCH.  IT.
I guarantee it is the best romantic, body switching, time travel story you have ever seen .   :o

Radwimps soundtrack Music is awesome too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ze62AL9r0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ze62AL9r0)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDSkFeMVNFs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDSkFeMVNFs)


I am going again.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 15, 2017, 10:33:45 PM
Every country, has a monster, they're afraid of , in their nation.

MST3K is back on Netflix, and they had the brains to not mess with anything. Its MST3k. With Will Wheaton, and Erin Gray, who obviously tagged along from the Guild.. . And no, the host isn't as good as Joel (deal with it)  , but EP1 was hilarious. My face  hurts from laughing.  They have a David Hasselhoff film in the line up I am looking forward to ( My Kids are watching Attack On Titan Season 2 , and this will be the follow up, since that little 20 minute episode isn't satisfying.)




Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 16, 2017, 11:56:32 AM
Wonder if they're doing any DVD/Blueray releases for the new MST3K?

Anyway...looking forward to GOTG2 May 5th.

https://youtu.be/duGqrYw4usE

https://youtu.be/2cv2ueYnKjg

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on April 16, 2017, 08:18:30 PM
Every country, has a monster, they're afraid of , in their nation.

MST3K is back on Netflix, and they had the brains to not mess with anything. Its MST3k. With Will Wheaton, and Erin Gray, who obviously tagged along from the Guild.. . And no, the host isn't as good as Joel (deal with it)  , but EP1 was hilarious. My face  hurts from laughing.  They have a David Hasselhoff film in the line up I am looking forward to ( My Kids are watching Attack On Titan Season 2 , and this will be the follow up, since that little 20 minute episode isn't satisfying.)






I caught the pilot last night. They captured the essence without making it annoying. I think it'll be good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 17, 2017, 08:26:35 PM
Explain , preferably using Rap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiJylMyfu9I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiJylMyfu9I)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on April 23, 2017, 07:43:44 PM
I took my daughter to see the "Beauty and the Beast" movie today. In spite of all the bluster from the Right about Le Fou being a homosexual (it was definitely suggested) and the Beast looking like Baphomet (he definitely did), this move was absolutely magnificent. There are very few films that inspire in me an immediate desire to rewatch, but this was definitely one of them. Outstanding.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 24, 2017, 08:43:58 AM
We saw Beauty and the Beast a few weeks ago. I didn't hate it,  and  the homosexuality of La Fou is only slightly more blatant in the movie than it was in the cartoon, but therein lies the problem. In many cases this is almost a scene for scene remake of the cartoon often using the same camera angles and pans - but hey can "Be Your Guest get even more over the top than it was in the Cartoon? With CGI - you betcha.

They laid some interesting back story framework that would have enhanced the story and relate-ability  of the characters and motivations if fleshed out, but they instead of just left it  a "read between the lines" skeleton. Thankfully they modified certain scenes just enough so that its no longer a story about Stockholm syndrome.... but they missed a chance to make it more. ( Probably because someone at Disney forced them to return to a  known cash cow format) The songs are also, in many cases, over-dubbed with a too perfect studio version.  So much so that you wonder if that is really the on-screen cast still singing them ( it is - but I had to look it up to be sure)

Its a fine effort, and still very enjoyable to watch,  and probably better than the original animated version... but only just in my opinion.  Granted my kids were of an age at the time that I saw the original cartoon just a bit more than a few times - so that may be adding to my perception that  it was canned and  unoriginal  in a disappointing way. . Michelle  had the same perception of the film so its not just me.. 

Plus after the "he for she" nonsense, Emma Watson's arrogant ( but very very pretty and perfectly casted ) mug still gets on my nerves. Shut up and sing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on April 24, 2017, 10:24:07 AM
Believe it or not, I've never seen the original cartoon. So my opinion is based solely on my experience at this viewing of the new film. I went because my daughter wanted to go, and my wife is out of town, so I figured, "hey, she went fishing with me the day before because I wanted to, so I'll sit through a kid's movie." I wasn't expecting to even be entertained, and I wound up mesmerized.

I honestly don't have any criticisms of it. Maybe if I thought hard I'd come up with some. But a day later, I still want to see it again. I loved the music, the scenery, the story, the flow, the CGI, the casting, the character growth, and the pace. Emma Watson (as obnoxious as she is in real life) was enchanting as Belle. Pitch-perfectly cast, in my opinion. I've seen her casting in that role criticized elsewhere, so I wasn't expecting to like her in the role. To the contrary, I thought she was perfect. And what a beautiful young lady!

Regarding the controversies: I get it. Conscious decisions were made regarding the not-so-ambiguously gay character, and to give the Beast the visage of Baphomet. But I'll say this: the gay character was not a flattering portrayal of homosexuality. It was stereotypical, clownish, and completely served as comic relief. No kid will come away from that movie wanting to emulate Le Fou. And as far as Baphomet - he looks cool. They had to make the character look like a beast-man, and they picked a really cool-looking beast-man.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on April 24, 2017, 02:45:48 PM

Believe it or not, I've never seen the original cartoon. So my opinion is based solely on my experience at this viewing of the new film.

That explains it.  The original animated film was quite well done, and other than having seen it about 100 times, and the more overt Stockholm syndrome incorporated in it,  its really a good film - beautiful and entertaining in many aspects- especially  for Kids.   I was hoping the live action version would be more "broadway musical" and less " use the original film as a storyboard for shooting this one"   - But as the Original was excellent , and this followed it closely, they got a similar excellent and marketable product, with almost zero risk.  Its a good film. Its an excellent soundtrack ( just as it was when the animated version aired)  but there was little surprising or new in it, and I found myself getting bored as there wasn't enough new material to keep and maintain my interest.

Emma Watson (as obnoxious as she is in real life) was enchanting as Belle. Pitch-perfectly cast, in my opinion. I've seen her casting in that role criticized elsewhere, so I wasn't expecting to like her in the role. To the contrary, I thought she was perfect.

She was the right one for the part for sure. She  played the role very well, and I can't imagine who I would rather see  playing that part if not her.  But that doesn't make me like her any better.

The throw away joke about the guy liking to be dressed in women's makeup and gowns was more annoying to me than Le Fou.. and I think your description of his character is spot on, and he really doesn't detract ( or add) much to the performance besides his comic relief. And really the original cartoon version was enough that I was wondering if Disney were trying to sneak a gay character in back then.. so I was wondering what all of the hub-bub about a gay character was about... because Le Fou - other than a more overt quip here and there, was not much different than he was in the original. I even wondered if he was really  the character that had gotten everyone so upset, or if there was someone new that was going to be introduced.

My criticism is mostly that I  would have preferred Belle's alienation from her community and loneliness had been played stronger,  thus giving a more solid foundation to her desire and willingness to stay with the beast,  and even to become attracted to him as they both find solace in each others company.  That element was there in bare-bones form - and was an intriguing deviation for the original..  but I think Disney missed the opportunity to explore that part of the courtship and the underlying motivations, and I think if they had, it would have been a stronger and more emotionally involving story. Perhaps my irritation is simply that the bare bones were there  as if to say  " Yeah, we know we could have gone there and made this even better for audiences who have seen this all before, but  we knew  most would be happy with a duplicate of the original so we didn't bother.. and took the safe way out. I can even see some exec somewhere hacking that out of the script screaming "The original was a winner! don't fix what isn't broken!!" Which is of course why I was more enthralled with Your Name, than this film.. That director is still taking risks
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 26, 2017, 07:18:46 AM
Jeesh!

http://www.thewrap.com/disney-pushes-fifth-indiana-jones-film-2020/ (http://www.thewrap.com/disney-pushes-fifth-indiana-jones-film-2020/)

It looked like he was close to needing a walker in The Force Awakens...lucky for him he's out of those now...is he gonna kick in this flick too?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 26, 2017, 07:39:00 PM
Jeesh!

http://www.thewrap.com/disney-pushes-fifth-indiana-jones-film-2020/ (http://www.thewrap.com/disney-pushes-fifth-indiana-jones-film-2020/)

It looked like he was close to needing a walker in The Force Awakens...lucky for him he's out of those now...is he gonna kick in this flick too?


  They're still not sure that it's over,  Trust me it's over,
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 19, 2017, 09:05:31 PM
Just saw "Alien: Covenant". As a huge fan of the original, and someone who enjoyed the entire franchise to one degree or another, this movie was the absolute worst. No, I don't mean the worst of the franchise, although it was definitely that. I mean it was just about the worst movie ever made. For all of the justified complaints that "Prometheus" was disjointed and incoherent, this film was ten times worse, with a heaping dose of awful. Don't bother.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on May 20, 2017, 10:10:44 AM
(http://neveryetmelted.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AlienStapler.gif)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 20, 2017, 12:12:29 PM
Sorry to hear Alien Covenant sucked. I had hopes....

My family is off at Guardians of the Galaxy while I am stuck here on a weekend shift. 

Did anyone take my advice and see Your Name?

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on May 21, 2017, 01:55:52 PM
Interesting take on it IDP.  I saw it too.  I didn't think it was the worst, I think Alien Resurrection and the Aliens vs. Predator movies own that title.  I do think Scott is trying too hard at making some deep and pseudo-religious mythology for the franchise though.  I liked it much better when all we had was speculation about what the creatures are and where they came from -- most likely some sort of bioweapon created by the equally mysterious alien race that piloted the crashed spaceship.

My main complaint about Covenant is the pacing was too fast. The first film was sometimes criticized for its slow pacing, but that was how it built up a brooding suspense that turned to horror as events unfolded. This one was just sort of bang-bang-bang this event, now this event, roll credits. I almost got the impression Scott is rushing us through it to get to his next one.

I don't know how much you follow the franchise in general (it's my 2nd favorite sci-fi universe after Star Wars) but there is a lot of speculation that Scott is basically trying to preempt other Alien films that were in the early stages. There was a sequel film that was going to bring back the survivors from Aliens (Ripley, Hicks, and Newt) and cut Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection out of the canon. Sounds like Scott wanted to put the kibosh on that.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 21, 2017, 06:10:53 PM
I even liked AVP better than this. But I suppose I owe some rationale...
***SPOILERS***
As I said, I am a big fan of the franchise. I think the original is a masterpiece in any genre, and I felt that all the sequels were either good, or at the very least, worth watching. I liked 3 because of the dark setting of the prison. Resurrection was OK. AVP was watchable because it was, well, AVP. Suspending disbelief to enjoy the galaxy's most badass hunter hunting the most badass alien wasn't too tough for me.

I really loved what Prometheus TRIED to do, even though on some levels it failed. Visually it was stunning. The characters were interesting - particularly Shaw. The situation was true enough to the xenomorph canon that the variations were acceptable. I thought the way they danced around the edges of the human origin story - or at least alien involvement in the human origin story - was interesting. The way they played it out into no satisfactory answer left me frustrated and unsatisfied with a movie that I otherwise really enjoyed a lot - but eager for the sequel.

Which leads me to "Covenant". It took the setup from Prometheus and went absolutely nowhere with it. The only thing the Prometheus film served in this movie was explaining the presence of David and a hat-tip to Shaw. Not only were no questions about the intriguing connections suggested in Prometheus answered, but more, even less interesting questions were left hanging, and by the end, I didn't really care whether or not I ever get the answers.

The plot was sooooo predicatable - except when it wasn't. What I mean by that is, it seemed that either a) I was leaning over to my wife and predicting the next plot device, or b) the plot went somewhere that made no sense and offered no interesting advancement to the film.

The characters were boring. The female lead was bland, uninteresting, and offered no mettle in the tradition of Ripley or Shaw.

The variation to the xenomorph (microscopic insect swarm) seemed contrived for the sole purpose of CGI. The CGI aliens aren't nearly as terrifying as the creatively superior aliens from the very first film in the 1970s.

The David/Walter thing was broadcast from across the galaxy. Was ANYBODY surprised when it wasn't Walter?

I'll say one good thing about it. Michael Fassbender is a very good actor. It's a pity his talent (and the awesome character he created in Prometheus) were squandered in this film.

When its sequel comes out, I will wait until it is on free TV, unless someone I trust spends their money before me and convinces me they've corrected their mistakes.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 22, 2017, 07:30:10 AM
(http://neveryetmelted.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AlienStapler.gif)
::hysterical::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on May 27, 2017, 11:21:00 PM
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

Very good movie.  One is aware of the "twist" and can almost ...... almost ...... see it coming.  Brad Pitt, Kate Blanchett.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 28, 2017, 09:43:19 PM
 I love the Alien movies....but I really didn't like Covenant. I didn't like the "solar flare" and the "helmet massage", or whatever the hell it was, which led to scrapping their mission for the new one. I didn't like the " married" angle and the token gay guys, which we get fed every flick, it seems.

The captain.....and the angle he had faith, was weak.....plus, he was really stupid, he deserved the alien bug implant...how the crew was killed off, it was just poor. The predictability was nauseating, especially the end because if you didn't figure out the switch, then you had already fell asleep in the theater. And the female, she survives and for a fleeting moment seemed to figure out she was putting her life in the hands of the wrong synthetic, which could have led to a cool twist, but no, I guess she won't live in the cabin by the woods. Stupid bitch.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Predator Don on May 28, 2017, 09:50:18 PM
One last comment.....The funniest part of the flick was once we left and my wife commented the android was right and humans didn't deserve to save the race if this was the best and brightest left on earth. Looks like democrats finally ruled the earth.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on May 29, 2017, 12:35:41 PM
So Alien: Covenant has dropped like a rock at the box office.  It's 2nd weekend earnings are like 80% down from the opening weekend.  I think Scott is to a certain extent suffering from the same thing that took hold of George Lucas -- he simply can't tell his own stories anymore.

I think the Alien fanbase would have been much more interested in the rumored sequel that was set to bring back Ripley and Hicks (and thus writing off Alien 3 and Resurrection).  I would be more interested in that, but it's probably never happening now.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on May 29, 2017, 02:34:44 PM
Looking forward to this...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCcx85zbxz4#)

Blade Runner 2049
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 30, 2017, 07:02:21 AM
How about Logan's Run?  Carousel might be more humane an end than what the current batch of statist clowns have in store for us, eh?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Glock32 on May 30, 2017, 08:28:04 PM
How about Logan's Run?  Carousel might be more humane an end than what the current batch of statist clowns have in store for us, eh?

Jessica 6   ::pimp::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 31, 2017, 06:46:19 AM
How about Logan's Run?  Carousel might be more humane an end than what the current batch of statist clowns have in store for us, eh?

Jessica 6   ::pimp::

 :D

867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone.  Who else could he be signing about? 


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on July 20, 2017, 08:30:10 PM
Te good news.. there will be a Full Metal Alchemist Live action movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihc964sRt8M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihc964sRt8M)

The bad news.. despite this being one of the most widely seen Anime of all time, popular world wide, set in a fictitious European country,  the main character, Edward Aldric, a blond  white kid, will be played by a Asian with a bad hair dye job. Because we all know you couldn't possibly find a blond who speaks Japanese fluently.   I am sure the other characters will also  suffer... In a movie that will have world wide appeal,  whose characters are naturally diverse, including Asian, and middle eastern,  they cast a Japanese guy as a blonde. His hair is no where near long enough either.

Also got to see Koe No Katachi.. which beat our Mokoto Sinkai's "Your Name" for best Animation of the year.

 https://myanimelist.net/anime/28851/Koe_no_Katachi (https://myanimelist.net/anime/28851/Koe_no_Katachi)

Well, the Animation was pretty and well done, and many say  it is as emotionally moving as 'Your Name.' - but not for me it wasn't. Its a fine well made movie but  I didn't like the characters, found them frustrating and pathetic and really couldn't get into this one.   

I think its "An  Affair to Remember" phenomenon - I have met many  women for which
"An  Affair to Remember" is a crying-inducing, heartfelt romance.  For me its about two disgusting people who cheat on their spouses, and  then can't communicate well enough past the needs of their own hurt feelings,  ego and pride  to discover that they still want a relationship.  And I am supposed to care if they get together?  They can't even communicate well enough to continue a courtship, and I should be expected to care about their longer term relationship?

SPOILERS: If you are going to see Koe No Katachi. stop reading.

The story opens wit a teenage boy contemplating suicide as a teenager in High School. Why?  Because he bullied a deaf girl in grade school, felt guilty and decided he was unworthy of ever having a friend again in his life.  He went to apologize to the girl before offing himself, and instead pledges to be her friend, and she basically grants him the opportunity - so I suppose he is obligated to stay alive- especially after his mother discovers his clever plan to kill himself by noticing he has a calendar where he has written what he needs to do before he dies and then labels one   "the last day"  with  the remaining days of the month torn away.  She extracts a promise to not kill himself by threatening to burn the money to "pay her back"  he sold all of his possessions to obtain.

Why does he owe is mom Money? Well because he was a little sh*t in grade school. He picked on a deaf girl for talking funny- stole and broke  her hearing aids, and his mom had to pay for them.. Of course  he wasn't the only little sh*t. He had two guy friends, one of whom he routinely was bullying, and a "Mean Girl" friend who also had her enabling friend. When the news of the hearing aids reaches adult ears a senior school  administrator enters the class and asks the child responsible to own up.. no one does, so the teacher asks our main character to admit to it ( if he knew why did he do nothing to stop it? )  His friends testify against him , suggesting they were trying to stop it, instead of being willful participants.  As a result the main character is bullied  and shunned by the other students, and he decides he deserves it, and starts to withdraw from everyone.  ( Find a character who sounds cool yet?)

The deaf girl accepts the bullying for the most part, gives a little smile and vainly tries to still be friends with her bullies. She befriends on girl in the class who abandons her ( and leaves the school)  when she is similarly targeted.  Even after our main bully is outted, the deaf girl is cleaning slurs off of his desk before he sees them. His response? He blames her and starts slapping her around ( literally) for ruining his life.. which then gives us te ONLY satisfying moment in the film, where she kicks him off and pummels him yelling she is trying her best.  Soon after she leaves the school as well.

The flashback ends, and our bully is deliberately not interacting wit anyone and therefore has no friends. These grade school friends all go to different schools save one.  ( Te girl who enabled the mean girl)  He stops the bullying of some other person  and as a result gets a "friend" - who then encourages him to continue seeing the deaf girl - who then says she would like to  find the girl who abandoned her in grade school. He does so by asking the one girl still attending is school. As a result he make her a friend again, along with her boyfriend.  IN that same neighborhood he sees the mean girl, and she makes an overture to be friends wit him again. He is cold to her and rejects her but she is persistent and ends up attempting to bully the deaf girl again. She convinces him to go to an amusement park where she arranges for him to meet with his own enabler. He coldly rejects him as well.  This pisses mean girl off to te point where she takes the deaf girl aside, tells her she hates her for breaking up their friendships, and when she apologizes ( because she always tries to make nice with her tormentors)  Mean girl starts slapping her around ( again, literally)  The situation devolves from there - Mean girl tries to get the co-conspirators to admit their wrong doing in grade school. Her enabler denies it, and instead decides to make it well known in high school  that our bully was a little sh*t in grade school. Her boyfriend tells the bully he is a terrible person. The girl who abandoned the situation the first time, abandons it again, and again out "hero" feels isolated again, and the deaf girl who witnesses this massive blowup decides that mean girl is right and she is at fault... ::gaah::

The bully decides to try and make deaf girl happy and throws all of his effort into doing things every day with her.. and then , yes, She attempts suicide by jumping from a balcony. The bully saves her, but falls in the process, and ends up at deaths door in a hospital bed.  Mean girl comes to take care of  him, blames the deaf girl even more and ends up beating the crap out of her and breaking her arm. Deaf girl just feels more guilty till our main hero recovers and they forgive each other in what I am sure is supposed to be the big moment of the movie.  The group prepares to welcome him back to school, and he is back to thinking himself unworthy of friendship, so tries to reject their welcome and hides in a bathroom. But tey love him and get him out..   Then there is a final confrontation between mean girl and deaf girl,  were mean girl signs "stupid" wrong and gets corrected by deaf girl ( A Victory of standing yup to your bully!) who then storms off to get food.  Meanwhile  the bully realizes what he should have realized sometime between grade school and high school - everyone is a little sh*t as a kid, some people get better, and forgiveness is required, and suddenly he feels like he is worthy of being talked to again.  The end.
 ::doh::

Its so emotional and heartfelt.  Bah. Yes Little kids are sh*ts. Yes sometimes they get better, and sometimes they don't, but it happened in grade school . Get the f*ck over it.  If you met your grade school bully ( or the kid you bullied)   in High School - or later- would you really still find that crap relevant beyond perhaps an admission that someone was sorry and a promise that we aren't doing that again?


Meanwhile...

'Your name' is being released in Japan next week. available as a pre-order on Amazon and totally should have won best anime last year. I guarantee it will be the best body-swapping, time travel, romantic disaster movie you will ever see.  I fell petty damn sappy liking it so much.  Just a bit surprised how little I was emotionally involved in this  other one vs. 'your name'

 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on July 20, 2017, 08:39:24 PM
  We went to watch the Minions.

https://youtu.be/EKbWvGLC97Q
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 01, 2017, 10:30:33 PM
Okay so I got my imported  copy of "Your Name" late Friday night. It was released in Japan on Wednesday. My shipping cost? $8.
Amazon.co.jp estimated a delivery on Saturday or Sunday. I check out DHLs tracking and its scheduled for Friday. Cool I thought, but then it got caught up in the same sorting center in Japan the next day.. guess Saturday or Sunday will be it , right? Amazon.co.jp sends me a letter that via Google Translate is hilarious Eng-grish.  But basically it was "We so sorry, we will kill ourselves, but your package was delayed by a day, and we will give you refund"  - Ha. I was expecting a 2 week ship time. DHL had  it at my door 6:30 Friday night.  At 7:00  I am watching it.  First time seeing it with subtitles ( no dub on the import- and no date on a real American release either)   Friends who saw both subtitled and subbed versions in the theater said the subtitles were better, and they were right... but the differences were slight. But this film was as good again as the first time I saw it.

Still expensive, but they can be had from Amazon.com for $50 on pre-order (aug 4th)

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray/dp/B07258V1DG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501644109&sr=8-1&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray/dp/B07258V1DG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501644109&sr=8-1&keywords=your+name)

, or you can order direct from Japan for $35 + shipping = around $42-44 depending on the current exchange rate.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%90%9B%E3%81%AE%E5%90%8D%E3%81%AF-Blu-ray%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-%E3%82%A8%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3-%E6%97%A9%E6%9C%9F%E8%B3%BC%E5%85%A5%E7%89%B9%E5%85%B8-%E7%89%B9%E8%A3%BD%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AB%E3%83%A0%E3%81%97%E3%81%8A%E3%82%8A%E4%BB%98%E3%81%8D-%E7%A5%9E%E6%9C%A8%E9%9A%86%E4%B9%8B%E4%BB%8B/dp/B07258V1DG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1501644163&sr=8-5&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%90%9B%E3%81%AE%E5%90%8D%E3%81%AF-Blu-ray%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-%E3%82%A8%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3-%E6%97%A9%E6%9C%9F%E8%B3%BC%E5%85%A5%E7%89%B9%E5%85%B8-%E7%89%B9%E8%A3%BD%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E3%83%AB%E3%83%A0%E3%81%97%E3%81%8A%E3%82%8A%E4%BB%98%E3%81%8D-%E7%A5%9E%E6%9C%A8%E9%9A%86%E4%B9%8B%E4%BB%8B/dp/B07258V1DG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1501644163&sr=8-5&keywords=your+name)

Yes. I know. Its a lot for a single  film.  But there is a reason its the highest world-wide grossing Japanese made film ever.  As I said when I first encouraged everyone to see Voices from a Distant Star.. it was like watching Tarantino progress towards Pulp Fiction. This film is probably Mokoto Shinkai's  Opus. ( but I hope not. I hope there are more like this..)
I guarantee it will be  the best body swapping, time travel, romantic disaster movie you will ever see.

And if I am wrong and you hate it , PM me. I will buy your copy for what you paid + shipping + shipping to me.  I will have no problem finding people to gift it to  :)

Or you can wait an indeterminate amount of time till they release it in the States. The Japanese are too willing to pay high prices for DVD/Bluray so they delay US releases sometimes for years to prevent back importation at prices Americans will pay .. or wait even longer for someone to stream it. . or pirate it.. sadly I don't have a bluray ripper.. yet.




Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 01, 2017, 11:19:57 PM
When is that film gonna be released in the USA?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 02, 2017, 05:26:51 AM
There are at least a dozen rips in a.b.multimedia.anime.highspeed

Just sayin...

If I hate it, I will be looking for that refund.   ;D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 02, 2017, 06:26:15 AM
I did mention pirating as an option....
 
There is no American DVD/Bluray release date yet.  There is a tentative date on Amazon UK for October per-order. Real date hasn't been confirmed for the UK.
If they are smart, they would get it into stores by Christmas,  but its hard to say with these things.  If they were smart they would have put on more of a media blitz about the film like Disney did with Spirited Away--  instead of just e-mailing funimation account subscribers...  I am kinda thinking they aren't that smart.

The movie did well here -grossed over $5 million in 3 weeks in only 300 theaters nationwide.  But they didn't do the media push required to get Americans to go see it and then let a viral effect  drive the traffic ( as it did in Japan) . They got the hardcore  American Anime fans to show up, but not those who would seldom if ever go to see an Anime.  ( Hey I tried my best)  I like this movie far better than Spirited Away myself. I think it could have been much more successful here if more  in the  mainstream culture  had seen it
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 02, 2017, 08:44:51 PM
They all screw up when they take streaming options away from people based on where they are.  All my streaming options except Spotify told me to take a flying leap when I left America, hence a return to the old habits.

That movie has been out there since late 2016.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 03, 2017, 07:02:21 AM
Speaking of pirates...

http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/hbo-hack-thousands-of-documents-stolen-1202513573/ (http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/hbo-hack-thousands-of-documents-stolen-1202513573/)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 03, 2017, 08:53:26 AM
They all screw up when they take streaming options away from people based on where they are.  All my streaming options except Spotify told me to take a flying leap when I left America, hence a return to the old habits.

That movie has been out there since late 2016.

Yep. I know I can pretty much pirate anything I want, almost as soon as it is released, sometimes sooner. . However I tend NOT to unless things are not legally available (or likely to become legally available)  in a reasonable amount of time, or they simply want too much money for it. If I want more similar entertainment someday I need to pay the people who produce it so they will make more. I really don't have a problem paying for entertainment I enjoy..

"Your name" is an exception to my usual value rule.. $20 an hour is pretty steep.. Amazon.jp was running a sale on the Yamato 2199 set that brought the price DOWN  to $25 an hour from $40 and as much as I love that series, its not enough to get me to buy it. (now maybe if there was an english dub on it..) Generally for anime I want to be in at $10 an our or less range, and for regular US movies, $2-3

 Plus I find its often nice to just have professionally made versions vs Bootlegs I make myself.  (No, I still don't like the idea of just keeping a big harddrive with movies on it.. Unless perhaps I was running it in a RAID array or something and bought a dedicated PC for it-- Streaming works at my house , but not in HD ( I have a DSL line in a rural area and I am thankful streaming works as well as it does)


 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 03, 2017, 06:18:38 PM
Okie dokie.  I won't ask you to refund my purchase price.   ::thumbsup::

While America serves up another reboot, remake, or super hero borefest, Japan just turned out one of the most original stories I've watched in years.  Both me and the wife enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on August 03, 2017, 08:56:29 PM
I don't ever pirate anything. I'm perpetually on the receiving end of that ass-reaming, and it sucks. My music is stolen constantly and there's nothing I can do about it short of hiring a lawyer who could never possibly track down and sue all the thieves.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on August 03, 2017, 10:50:20 PM
Also not a pirater - when I think of the price for which I'd sell out my reputation or soul...pirating doesn't even make it onto the list.

My brother is constantly collecting bit torrents of movies, & thinking he's gaming the world. In the music world, I make kick-azz mixes that prompt the artists to reach out to me & offer their output for the trade-off of inclusion on my next mix.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 04, 2017, 06:53:14 AM
Arghhhh!

I haven't always been a pirate...

Do bootleg cassette tapes in Singapore back in the 80's constitute piracy?  Oops, well...those are long gone now...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 04, 2017, 09:04:56 AM
I don't ever pirate anything. I'm perpetually on the receiving end of that ass-reaming, and it sucks. My music is stolen constantly and there's nothing I can do about it short of hiring a lawyer who could never possibly track down and sue all the thieves.

David Wilcox encourages people  at his shows where he is selling CDs to go ahead and bootleg them. I think he really is humble enough that he is still just  jazzed people are listening to him.  The Grateful Dead also encouraged people to record their concerts, and that did not prevent them from becoming extremely successful, and may have contributed to their success. Most of their money came from tours anyway.
If someone pirates something you made, that means they liked it, and they think it has value.  Now if they are getting rich off of printing and selling your CDs en mass, then sure, time to lawyer up. But if someone is bootlegging your songs to his friends, that is free air time- free  advertising. That means more people at your shows, and more people perhaps buying a legit copy, or buying copies of the CDs they don't have,  because Yeah, I want more of this. And really, I understand wanting to make money if possible because its work, but is that really the only reason you are up there playing?

So Toddf, denied any legal way of seeing "Your Name", probably watched it illegally, and liked it. Maybe he will tell someone else who may have never heard of it, and they will buy a copy. Maybe when available, he will buy one because he liked it that much. Most of us know that if we want more material from an artist, we have to pay for it, and that is why people pay David Wilcox for multiple CDs even when he is selling them himself and   says they don't have to.

Sure Pirating is wrong and I seldom go there, but there always  is a potential shiny side for artists.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 04, 2017, 07:37:59 PM
Ironic, it's only music that wants to take my money.  Amazon, artist direct, Bandcamp, you name it. 

If my ability to download something I've legally purchased is taken away, such as what Amazon did with their digital MOVIE (not music) purchases, I'll find a way to get it back, anyway, such as with Game of Thrones.  I bought seasons 1-5, but only watched them through the Roku app, assuming I would just download them when I bugged out.  Amazon took that ability away.  Fine, I downloaded them through "alternative sources" and when season 6 came out, I skipped the middle man.  I feel no guilt.  Rinse and repeat for a season of 24 I bought through Apple, who thought best to take it away when I switched machines 3 times.

Older content, in which Hollywood thought to bribe politicians into voting to block the content from entering the public domain, I feel no guilt.

It's been proven that streaming lowers piracy.  The real world doesn't acknowledge national borders when it comes to watching content.  Refuse to sell me content, I'll find other ways of watching it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 05, 2017, 12:15:48 PM
I'm a bad person - I freely admit it.

(there, glad to get that out of the way)

I have three external hard drives that contain my movies (redundancy you know). (sidenote: I can fit all three drives into the box for a single 6-hour VHS videotape! The drives each hold approximately 1600 movies @ 70 minutes each equals 1866 hours of video).  While most represent titles I have purchased over the years, strictly speaking many are pirate copies. I don't peer them, I don't trade them, I watch them (instead of the boob-toob).

I actually started collecting rather innocently. Chronically crappy Internet manifested itself in jerky, jolty video streaming. It's one thing to bide ones time waiting for a page to load holding text and graphics, it's something else entirely to stutter your way through a video! I tended to favor wherever I could cache a video (so that I could view it without the constant interruptions) and soon discovered that I had procrastinated my way into a library of video moments that was interesting and useful to me.

The first move I collected was "Spirited Away" which was on Random's computer. I kept it because it reminds me of her.

I still buy movies (older stuff), mostly through the amazon (hate 'em!), and have found the local library surprisingly resourceful for video stuff (although the wretched masses tend to be brutal on DVDs).

As one of my lost cause buddies likes to say, "I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 12, 2017, 10:29:11 PM
https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Children-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B00ENNUC9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502593931&sr=8-1&keywords=wolf+children (https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Children-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B00ENNUC9Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502593931&sr=8-1&keywords=wolf+children)

Wolf Children.

Bought this a  while ago, but just hadn't pulled it off the shelf .. Kids read the Manga and seemed to be very Meh about watching it, and my daughter said it followed the Manga closely, but she enjoyed it more in movie form.  I would swear the setting is a shout out to "My Neighbor Totoro" and the film itself is a nice balance between Miyazaki/Ghibli style  and my man Makoto Shinkai.  It has moments that are as pretty as Shinkai, but the character animation is-- More informal?  Its not really a family friendly kids film   but   , but it  sort of, kinda, has more of that feel. I liked it more than any of the Ghibli films I have seen ( Miyazaki just likes to add.. well.. weird elements that distract from the story telling for me)   Wolf Children is about  werewolves, but  doesn't go anywhere near where an American Studio would take this film.  Its not  as an original story as "Your Name",  but I found it really enjoyable. Anyway ,  another one to check out  the next time you are disgusted with the crap hollywood is producing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 17, 2017, 09:27:32 AM

http://filmexodus.com/your-name-finally-coming-to-home-video-this-november/ (http://filmexodus.com/your-name-finally-coming-to-home-video-this-november/)


Okay Your Name has a North American BLu-ray/DVD Release date - November 7th... and the price is.... $35
SO to prevent backward importation, they made it the same price.  Yippee.  As the article says, its rare for a release to come out this soon after Japan.. so that is how they are solving it. Of course, at some point they will let the price drop, but it probably won't be soon.

  This edition  DOES include English DUB version as well as the Subs (https://twitter.com/FUNimation/status/896458534954696704 (https://twitter.com/FUNimation/status/896458534954696704)) -- And yes, I will probably pre-order another copy of the basic edition.  That way I can loan it to friends - most of whom won't watch subtitles..  and it has both DVD and Bluray formats. No word yet on if it has the English vs Japanese Songs. ( I vastly prefer the Japanese versions) -if not included I am totally happy I bought the Japanese edition.. through really I am happy anyway.. If I had gone to see it with the family a third time I would have paid $40 to see it again in a theater without thinking about it  had the opportunity come up
 
Anyway.. pre-order link is here:

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B074R4KSTM?SubscriptionId=AKIAJZQPQTRCUUNGYHKA&tag=dvdreleasedate-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B074R4KSTM (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B074R4KSTM?SubscriptionId=AKIAJZQPQTRCUUNGYHKA&tag=dvdreleasedate-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B074R4KSTM)

No word yet on (legal)  streaming availability but I am betting Amazon will make it rentable when possible.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on August 17, 2017, 09:30:45 PM
What is the over/under on the date Hollywood makes a dumbed down remake?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on August 23, 2017, 04:25:56 PM
Or you can buy Your Name direct from Funimation for $31 after shipping

https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/your-name-movie-combo-bld-00622/?source=igodigital (https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/your-name-movie-combo-bld-00622/?source=igodigital)


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 08, 2017, 01:20:11 PM
So...is this new Blade Runner flick coming out in October going to interest me or is it going to piss me off?   ::whatgives::

http://bladerunnermovie.com (http://bladerunnermovie.com)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on September 08, 2017, 06:46:58 PM
So...is this new Blade Runner flick coming out in October going to interest me or is it going to piss me off?   ::whatgives::

http://bladerunnermovie.com (http://bladerunnermovie.com)

The film makers have some bona fides in their filmography. The actors are good. The music in the trailer is right. Looks like they haven't completely abandoned the Blade Runner world, but have expanded it outside the perpetually dark and rainy city. The rest, we'll just have to wait and see.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on September 09, 2017, 10:55:42 AM
  In the end it will be a remake and disappointing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on September 10, 2017, 05:59:12 AM
Nothing can be better than a movie that turned me on to two B list actors, that I probably would have never become fans of.  Rutger Hauer and Brion James.  That is the mark of a good movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on October 05, 2017, 05:36:54 PM
And capitalism works , given massive sales of the Japanese release ( 200,000 in the first week)  US preorders for Your Name  have driven the price down to $25.
Currently ranked as #7 most popular pre-order  http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/top.php?show=preorders (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/top.php?show=preorders)
Yes. I still want everyone to watch this film.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on October 05, 2017, 10:33:34 PM
Quote
"Superheroes are constructs we create or embrace as a way to cope with feelings of powerlessness in a world where our phones give us godlike omniscience and moral centers are increasingly hard to find. - Abraham Riesman writing for Vulture
http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/the-tick-amazon-tvs-smartest-superhero-satire.html (http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/the-tick-amazon-tvs-smartest-superhero-satire.html)

Another thing worth watching is Amazon's original The Tick, with the original Creator Ben Edlund at the helm.  Even if you haven't ever been exposed to the Tick ( (The old Animation show  is HILARIOUS. The 2000 live action version, not so much )  You already know Ben. Ben wrote the song the  Hero of Canton. and most of the Jaynestown episode of Firefly. He also wrote the episode "Trash". He worked with Joss Whedon on Titan A.E, Angel and Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog ( Bad Horse and Moist were his ideas)

I liked the new reboot ( 6 episodes available now, 6 more in January) and its striking the right cord with me. The Tick is a big friendly, nigh indestructible,  Labrador of a guy and just as smart - but moral, loyal and very clear on  the distinction between good vs. evil. His vocabulary is awesome, but he has no clue how to use it and the mixed metaphors that  result will have you rolling ( Mano-a-Manomyth...)  Seriuously Ben can write this dialog in a way you never see it coming and its always funny.

 Arthur, his sidekick, is anything but super, but is needed as the brains of the outfit. The Criminals are outrageous, and if the first 6 episodes are any indication they are off to a strong start. 
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 06, 2017, 03:56:07 PM
Your Name  with English Dub releases tomorrow. Now $20 for the bluray on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B074R4KSTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510005143&sr=8-1&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B074R4KSTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510005143&sr=8-1&keywords=your+name)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 18, 2017, 10:10:56 PM
Funimation just paid for itself again.. They are "simul-dubbing" Space Battleship Yamato.. which means they are providing

1) every week for the nest 24 weeks a new Dubbed show to watch - no subtitles.
2) A legal way to watch Space Battle Ship Yamato in America

So far I think they are doing an excellent job. This is in my tp 3 all time favorite anime series. These aren't the exact voices I would have picked, but I'll get used to them eventually. This is the remake of Star Blazers which if you were a kid in the 70's and 80's you might remember watching before or after school.  There is a huge amount of CGI in this which makes it stunning, but they did a really good job of integrating the CGI with the animation so it isn't jarring or odd. Just a delight to watch.

https://www.funimation.com/shows/star-blazers/ (https://www.funimation.com/shows/star-blazers/)

You should be able to watch without paying as long as you sit through the commercials.. but I think they keep you a week behind.. Or they might tease you with the first 2-3 episodes for free and then  ask you to subscribe. Its $6 a month, but if you like anime and hate subtitles this is the place for you..

They have a bunch of newer  popular anime like Attack on Titan, Claymore, code Geass, erased, ergo proxy, fairy tail ( which I couldn't get into but others love), Ghost in the shell, My Hero Academia, Kings Game , Mush-shi, Noein, Noragami, One Piece, Psycho-pass, Steins;Gate , Gintama

and classics like  Mobile suit Gundam, Appleseed, bubblegum crisis, cowboy bebop

And those are just the ones that caught my eye browsing in the catalog.

Yeah I know. Cartoons.  Pretend you are watching some Disney thing..

A lot of them have very complicated and  intricate story lines. They are often telling a single story - over an arc of 13-26 episodes, and the stories are wonderfully cohesive, often getting better on a second viewing because of all of the foreshadowed crap you missed the first time -- because the stories are written and then made vs being written episode by episode like Hollywood likes to do
Some Anime is crap. Some is good. Some is really, really, "you can't seriously expect me to stop watching now, just one more episode" good.  Both Yamato and Steins;Gate are worth the price of admission here. ( though you can't binge watch Yamato till sometime next May)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on November 18, 2017, 10:18:01 PM
Oh and stranger things season 2 is out in case anyone missed it.  Different than season 1, but I still liked it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on November 19, 2017, 10:37:57 AM
Munched up all of Season Two already and it was good.

There are new episodes, and the last -- I think it's officially canceled now - of Longmire.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on November 19, 2017, 11:11:36 AM
Yay, love Longmire!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on November 28, 2017, 09:35:00 PM
Munched up all of Season Two already and it was good.

There are new episodes, and the last -- I think it's officially canceled now - of Longmire.

I finally got a chance to get caught up on Longmire. What a disappointment! I was left with the sense that they ran out of ideas or money....or something.

Oh well, at least they didn't have Walt come out as a phag...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on November 28, 2017, 11:26:56 PM
As I understand it, "they" ran out of the desire to keep the series going and the cancellation was known during the filming of the last ten episodes.  It was considered a series for "older people" anyway; very little sex, no gay, not that much di-VER-sity, ya know, all the stuff the young supposedly want to see and support.

I'm glad, at least, that they did some wrapping up before it went away.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 02, 2017, 04:33:37 PM
So my daughter read this book called "Wonder", about a boy with a deformed face, and the people in his life. She loved it to pieces, telling me all about it as she read. She kept saying she was bracing for the main character to die before the end, and she was almost giddy when he didn't.

You may have heard of the new movie. I took her to see it today, and I have to say it was perhaps the most beautiful, life-affirming movie I've ever seen - embodying kindness, sorrow, love, friendship, forgiveness, self-discovery, and many other positive aspects of the human experience - all in a simple story about a little boy and his friends and family.

No action; no death (not human anyway); no unnatural evil, or supernatural good, or heroism. Just a story everyone should see.

A few very small critiques...
~Having to suspend disbelief that Julia Roberts isn't a Leftist whore. She's a good enough actress that I got over it for a couple hours.
~The tiresome "strong matriarch/subservient husband" (well-played by Owen Wilson) is present, although Wilson's character does a good job making sure that we understand his subservience is a coping mechanism to help mama deal with the incredible burden of their circumstances.
~One precept of the movie is, "when given a choice between being right and being kind, choose being kind." I get the point - especially in the context of the movie - but real life deals plenty of circumstances when being right is a helluva lot more urgent than being kind.

Aside from those minor critiques, again, this is perhaps the most beautiful movie I've ever seen. Had me at the edge of tears throughout, until they were finally yanked out with much joy by the end.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 14, 2017, 07:52:13 AM
Oh, this could be good!

The 15:17 to Paris

http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood (http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood)

Could trigger snowflakes and muzzies...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 14, 2017, 09:13:34 AM
Oh, this could be good!

The 15:17 to Paris

http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood (http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood)

Could trigger snowflakes and muzzies...

I can't believe Eastwood has enough faith in his directing and/or the young heroes that he's willing to gamble on casting them as themselves. Crazy cool if it works.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 14, 2017, 02:57:16 PM
Oh, this could be good!

The 15:17 to Paris

http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood (http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood)

Could trigger snowflakes and muzzies...

I can't believe Eastwood has enough faith in his directing and/or the young heroes that he's willing to gamble on casting them as themselves. Crazy cool if it works.

I think his judgment is several magnitudes more sensible than say Michael Moore, Harvey Weinstein et al, so if I had to lay money down I'd lay it on 'working'.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 14, 2017, 03:20:08 PM
Oh, this could be good!

The 15:17 to Paris

http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood (http://collider.com/the-1517-to-paris-trailer-clint-eastwood)

Could trigger snowflakes and muzzies...

I can't believe Eastwood has enough faith in his directing and/or the young heroes that he's willing to gamble on casting them as themselves. Crazy cool if it works.

I think his judgment is several magnitudes more sensible than say Michael Moore, Harvey Weinstein et al, so if I had to lay money down I'd lay it on 'working'.

This will soar in the box office...especially in light of the crap that Hollywood's been churning out. Danger. Guts. Struggle. Victory.
 
Bingo!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on December 16, 2017, 04:53:31 PM
...
This will soar in the box office...especially in light of the crap that Hollywood's been churning out. Danger. Guts. Struggle. Victory.
 
Bingo!
You mean it will do better than Miss Sloane (2016)?
I can't wait for all the liberal butt hurt on this movie.
BTW I think Act of Valor cast real Navy SEALs.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on December 16, 2017, 10:58:34 PM

You mean it will do better than Miss Sloane (2016)?
I can't wait for all the liberal butt hurt on this movie.
BTW I think Act of Valor cast real Navy SEALs.

You could do worse than to mine this thread for things to watch. I prefer Anime myself.
But if you must watch recent American productions: The Ranch, The Tick, Stranger Things. The Man in the High Castle..

Others?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 17, 2017, 09:27:13 AM
We just finished up with "Longmire" last night. Unlike other recent series I've enjoyed, I'm really sad this one is over. There is a montage music scene at the end that I don't want to completely give away, but it shows Walt's daughter Cady with her new boyfriend Zack pounding in "Longmire For Sheriff - Honesty and Integrity" campaign signs into the ground. Eyes started leaking at that moment, I think because it really summed up the entire character of Walt Longmire in such a real way. He was a flawed character, but never a bad man. Even when it was the hard thing to do, he always had honesty and integrity as a core foundation, and even when it took time for him to work through things, you always knew as a viewer that honesty and integrity were gonna win with this guy before all was said and done.

The show managed to explore the shades of gray in real life, without making the character do outright evil things. That's a refreshing departure from how most "dark hero" stories go.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 17, 2017, 09:33:04 AM
...
This will soar in the box office...especially in light of the crap that Hollywood's been churning out. Danger. Guts. Struggle. Victory.
 
Bingo!
You mean it will do better than Miss Sloane (2016)?
I can't wait for all the liberal butt hurt on this movie.
BTW I think Act of Valor cast real Navy SEALs.

It definitely did. It payed off too - pretty good movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on December 17, 2017, 10:31:47 AM
We just finished up with "Longmire" last night. Unlike other recent series I've enjoyed, I'm really sad this one is over. There is a montage music scene at the end that I don't want to completely give away, but it shows Walt's daughter Cady with her new boyfriend Zack pounding in "Longmire For Sheriff - Honesty and Integrity" campaign signs into the ground. Eyes started leaking at that moment, I think because it really summed up the entire character of Walt Longmire in such a real way. He was a flawed character, but never a bad man. Even when it was the hard thing to do, he always had honesty and integrity as a core foundation, and even when it took time for him to work through things, you always knew as a viewer that honesty and integrity were gonna win with this guy before all was said and done.

The show managed to explore the shades of gray in real life, without making the character do outright evil things. That's a refreshing departure from how most "dark hero" stories go.

The funniest thing about Longmire was the murder that occurred each week. For such a quiet place, Absaroka County sure had more than its share of killings!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 17, 2017, 10:56:38 PM
We just finished up with "Longmire" last night. Unlike other recent series I've enjoyed, I'm really sad this one is over. There is a montage music scene at the end that I don't want to completely give away, but it shows Walt's daughter Cady with her new boyfriend Zack pounding in "Longmire For Sheriff - Honesty and Integrity" campaign signs into the ground. Eyes started leaking at that moment, I think because it really summed up the entire character of Walt Longmire in such a real way. He was a flawed character, but never a bad man. Even when it was the hard thing to do, he always had honesty and integrity as a core foundation, and even when it took time for him to work through things, you always knew as a viewer that honesty and integrity were gonna win with this guy before all was said and done.

The show managed to explore the shades of gray in real life, without making the character do outright evil things. That's a refreshing departure from how most "dark hero" stories go.

The funniest thing about Longmire was the murder that occurred each week. For such a quiet place, Absaroka County sure had more than its share of killings!

Indeed! Kinda like Perry Mason getting the real killer to confess on the witness stand every single episode!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 20, 2017, 05:07:04 PM
Coming soon . . . #Chappaquiddick / #ByeByeTeddy

 Chappaquiddick Trailer (http://people.com/movies/watch-ted-kennedys-life-get-derailed-in-exclusive-chappaquiddick-trailer/)

(https://apologeticsworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/chappaquiddick.png)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on December 20, 2017, 09:11:33 PM
40 years and one bloated corpse too late
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: rustybayonet on December 21, 2017, 07:41:11 AM
We just finished up with "Longmire" last night. Unlike other recent series I've enjoyed, I'm really sad this one is over. There is a montage music scene at the end that I don't want to completely give away, but it shows Walt's daughter Cady with her new boyfriend Zack pounding in "Longmire For Sheriff - Honesty and Integrity" campaign signs into the ground. Eyes started leaking at that moment, I think because it really summed up the entire character of Walt Longmire in such a real way. He was a flawed character, but never a bad man. Even when it was the hard thing to do, he always had honesty and integrity as a core foundation, and even when it took time for him to work through things, you always knew as a viewer that honesty and integrity were gonna win with this guy before all was said and done.

The show managed to explore the shades of gray in real life, without making the character do outright evil things. That's a refreshing departure from how most "dark hero" stories go.

The funniest thing about Longmire was the murder that occurred each week. For such a quiet place, Absaroka County sure had more than its share of killings!

Indeed! Kinda like Perry Mason getting the real killer to confess on the witness stand every single episode!
[/quote

Yep -- agree about Longmire.  Glad I have the first four years CD's and will finish getting the rest when available.  A series that I can re-watch and still enjoy.  Designated Survivor may turn out to be another one, to go along with 'Hell on Wheels' and 'Band of Brothers'
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 21, 2017, 07:54:48 AM
40 years and one bloated corpse too late

Damn, beat me to it!   ;D

(https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5648062fc7bd3eb0cd6245bba4715f3cac50245b1ab7cdf58b39d0136b408612.jpg)

H/T - WZ
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 24, 2017, 02:24:17 PM
The Darkest Hour meets the Dumbest People

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/23/22/478CD35B00000578-5208993-The_movie_is_already_out_in_the_US_and_will_be_released_in_Brita-a-3_1514067694870.jpg)

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/23/22/478CF48C00000578-5208993-The_secondhand_smoke_warning_above_which_features_in_the_film_cr-a-2_1514067694818.jpg)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5208993/Biopic-Churchill-carries-secondhand-smoke-warning.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5208993/Biopic-Churchill-carries-secondhand-smoke-warning.html)

 ::facepalm::

Caution: Stupid people are posting ridiculous warnings on a film, be prepared to point, mock and laugh uproariously!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 24, 2017, 03:09:12 PM
The Darkest Hour meets the Dumbest People

Caution: Stupid people are posting ridiculous warnings on a film, be prepared to point, mock and laugh uproariously!

Hillsdale's Imprimus just had a great feature on this: Three Lessons of Statesmanship (https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/three-lessons-statesmanship/) by college president Larry Arnn.

Quote
Churchill’s strategy in peace can be summarized with the word “economy.” There is much for the government to do. There can be a social safety net, but it should resemble private savings as much as possible and be run efficiently. There can be regulation of many kinds to protect people from infringement of private rights. But all this must be done cheaply, because money held in private hands is a public as well as a private good. If that principle is abandoned, the government grows unaccountable, and majorities will say as they say in America today that they are afraid of their government.

In war and peace, Churchill had a strategy for freedom. They were related. They both required an utter commitment to freedom. They both required recognition of the limits of politics and the limits of war. They both required the protection of the right of the people to control their government.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 25, 2017, 10:38:00 AM
Sadly, the Brits bought that guns vs butter nonsense and sacked Churchill after the war...and they haven't had much respite from a leftward lurch sans their "Reagan" (Thatcher)...and now they are deeper into the abyss and if we don't go full 180 degrees we're merely a bit behind them...

They just don't make leaders like those anymore...we don't make people wise enough to seek them out either...   ::unknowncomic::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on December 25, 2017, 01:45:30 PM


So, has anyone here seen the movie Darkest Hour?  Thoughts?

Years ago I watched a concert DVD which had Churchill woven into one song, Our Solemn Hour. I thought it was cool. I have watched my DVD countless times. It is an awesome concert. The lead singer, Sharon den Adel is actually sweet, and mother of three.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxb8FwhzK8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxb8FwhzK8)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on December 25, 2017, 11:11:24 PM
So, has anyone here seen the movie Darkest Hour?  Thoughts?

Not yet, but Gary Oldman is one of my faves. Never seen him in a role that did not make the film better than it would have been without him, and a few of his roles have been legendary. If you ever get a chance to see him in a foreign film called "The Backwoods", I highly recommend it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 26, 2017, 09:58:53 AM
IDP is correct, he made just about everything he was in better.  The first time he came on my radar was in his role as Zorg in The Fifth Element, he was quirky and twisted.  Then I realized he was in that complete dreck called Lost in Space but his role as Dr Smith was a good, the rest of the film pure vomit.  Then he fell off a while for me, saw some of the Potter flicks if they hit cable, meh, not my cup of tea.  Gordon in two Batman's was good, main protagonist in The Book of Eli was very good.  I liked his George Smiley role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy...he fit my image of John le Carre's character pretty solidly.  He seems to get better with age, so I am looking to maybe catch Darkest Hour this afternoon, or this weekend on matinee if I can't get in today.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 27, 2017, 07:25:57 AM
I saw The Darkest Hour yesterday, it is not an action movie, it follows Churchill from when he was offered the PM post as Germany was sweeping into Western Europe and through the opening of Operation Dynamo (the Dunkirk evacuation) when he gave his famous speech of "never surrender" in Parliament.  So it's a brief moment in time for Churchill, but it defines his wartime leadership that got England through The Blitz, the U-Boat terror and eventually victory with the Allies.  Oldman appears to have thrown himself into the role and I think he did a damn good job of it.  I typically go comatose during stuffy English dramas filled with endless dialogue (I call it the Masterpiece Theater Effect!) but in this case I found it interesting, probably because it is history and a character I admire.  My 2 bits FWIW.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 27, 2017, 07:46:55 AM
Also, in a bit of irony...at a time when another insufferable Hollywood flick cheerwhoring the Pravda on L Street (where they were for so long before getting new digs 2 blocks east in Franklin Square)...celebrating their publication of the illegally disclosed Pentagon Papers...another Graham blows his brains out...

http://www.showbiz411.com/2017/12/25/historys-tragic-repeat-washington-post-heir-bill-graham-suicide-54-years-after-publisher-father (http://www.showbiz411.com/2017/12/25/historys-tragic-repeat-washington-post-heir-bill-graham-suicide-54-years-after-publisher-father)

...yeah, boo hoo.

And boo on this cheerwhore-fest of a film!

Yes, the brave Pravda on L Street published purloined government papers and the idiot Supreme's codified their right to print anything without consequence, which has led us to this point in time when dreck and outright lies can be peddled against non-Progs to try, convict and destroy them publically and the truth gets trampled into the dirt!  Where is the media's praise of the brave WikiLeaks releases?  Oops, that makes Progs look like the shatsacks they are, can't have that!

I hope everybody in that flick or watching that dreck drops dead where they stand!  They might as well be holding a rally for Satan!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 29, 2017, 07:24:21 AM
More on the presstitute self-love flick...the second item in the article...

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-lies-of-the-crown-and-the-post-1514505833 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-lies-of-the-crown-and-the-post-1514505833)

...I take historical inaccuracies personally...they are at their essence "lies"!

And the lies of that movie combined with the over-the-top self-gratification makes it an easy addition to my BANNED! list.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on February 01, 2018, 11:41:13 AM
No More excuses.
"Your Name" available to stream on Amazon for $6.

Subtitled ( better)
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Original-Japanese-Version/dp/B078SKBMCR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-3&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Original-Japanese-Version/dp/B078SKBMCR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-3&keywords=your+name)

Or Dubbed  ( okay)
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Makoto-Shinkai/dp/B078SNJK8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-2&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Makoto-Shinkai/dp/B078SNJK8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-2&keywords=your+name)

And yes those Damn Hollywood A-holes are planning a live action version directed by J.J. Abrams

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/02/jj-abrams-your-name-remake-fuels-fears-of-hollywood-whitewash (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/02/jj-abrams-your-name-remake-fuels-fears-of-hollywood-whitewash)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 17, 2018, 05:17:03 PM
Looks like Denis Villeneuve (the director of "Prisoners" and "Blade Runner 2049") is going to take a crack at "Dune". I absolutely love both those movies. Both are very smart movies that tell layered stories that require thought and understanding - my favorite kind of film. Herbert's "Dune" books are definitely that - on steroids - and that aspect was missing from David Lynch's 80s version of the story. I love Lynch's version for other reasons - some of them purely nostalgic - so I'm pretty excited to see how this gets treated by Villeneuve.

https://www.avclub.com/shots-fired-denis-villeneuve-says-his-dune-will-be-st-1822251306 (https://www.avclub.com/shots-fired-denis-villeneuve-says-his-dune-will-be-st-1822251306)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 18, 2018, 01:09:16 PM
The Lynch version stayed pretty close to the Herbert tome, but it only told the story of the first book in the series and is kind of campy in parts, overall though I don't mind it, it was a decent effort, but like many in the genre if people didn't read the book they wouldn't know WTF was going on.  It isn't easy material to bring to the big screen...Herbert literally created an entire new human universe and cast of characters and such a novel timeline and unique power groups that to do it justice there has to be discussion of that genesis into the year 10,191 and should go at least as far as the 4th book (The God Emperor) or even Chapterhouse if they want to close the circle from the Butlerian Jihad.  The SciFi series doing the first three books was decent, there were things I liked about it and things I did not, but is was decent overall.  The sheer depth and volume of the books is such that over-ambitious efforts like Jodowowsky's 10 hour epic running way over and straining relationships killed it (the storyboards from that effort are interesting as heck though!) while others never got off the ground because of previous failures.  I would like to see justice done on the silver screen one day, but one book doesn't cut it, so a series has to be entered into and seriously pursued or what's the point?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on February 18, 2018, 09:22:40 PM
Been waiting for this since, like . . .forevuh . . .!

(https://static-ptl-eu.gcdn.co/dcont/fb/image/schwarzpanzer_58_black_edition_-_standard.png)
Black Panzer
(https://apologeticsworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/black-panther-icon.png)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 19, 2018, 08:13:30 AM
That's...spooky!

Don't forget to sign up new recruits!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on March 03, 2018, 09:32:45 AM

So, has anyone here seen the movie Darkest Hour?  Thoughts?


I very much enjoyed it (watched it last night on DVD) - even the imagined underground scene.
When the French president calls Churchill “delusional”, it made me think of the relentless attacks upon Donald Trump. Though no Churchill, Trump’s persistence & punching back through a virtual wall of hatred & criticism (by an enemy no less dangerous than the Nazis) is inspiring.

I think it portrays an imperfect man, with an irascible temperament & several bad habits, who is able to lead despite himself and his enemies. A man who casts a great vision & then leads others towards its achievement.

It embodies the spirit of men who fight on despite desperate odds & who never give up. Such men are raised up for "such a time as this", throughout history - and their courage, in spite of their fears, can give us all a reason to fight on.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 05, 2018, 07:55:44 AM
And Churchill was a Francophile up until they became defeatist...he even had a sink a few of their ships so the cheese-eating surrender monkey's would give them to Hitler.  I hear Hollywood Feminazi's are all a twatter over Oldman winning Best Actor...very upset vagina's didn't sweep the top awards.  Yeah, I feel their pain...but am not moved one millimeter...

 ::mooning::

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 05, 2018, 12:35:54 PM
Once again Leftist lie like their hero Satan...after word being passed to "tone down" the political asshattery...

https://www.weaselzippers.us/377097-jimmy-kimmels-divisive-politically-charged-oscars-could-be-least-watched-in-history/ (https://www.weaselzippers.us/377097-jimmy-kimmels-divisive-politically-charged-oscars-could-be-least-watched-in-history/)

...if that is "toning it down" then Leftists are not just deaf to real American's...but just plain deaf period!

Just as well...maybe they won't hear the angry mobs hunting them down...   ;D

https://www.weaselzippers.us/377116-kobe-bryant-winning-an-oscar-proves-hollywood-is-full-of-hypocrites/ (https://www.weaselzippers.us/377116-kobe-bryant-winning-an-oscar-proves-hollywood-is-full-of-hypocrites/)

Yeah, when Kobe was cheating on his idiot wife...and the raping included the back-ddor variety...

But there pissed at something Oldman was alleged to have done...everybody on this planet knows what Kobe did, these sick Hollywood hypocrites don't give a flip ab out that though...Kobe gets the free minority pass card...

Live to rape another day!  Damn, ain't swell being colored?!  You can rape asses and have yours kissed!!!

A WZer nails ii!  Out with that stuffy dated old statue, bring in the new bling!

(https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/fd9c406d2e5add66cb0f9f76b24cb647513261d22a5c00ba21dc2a8c1ea4e041.jpg)

Perfect fit!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 18, 2018, 12:41:37 PM
http://www.showbiz411.com/2018/03/17/black-panther-holds-off-tomb-raider-wrinkle-first-film-since-avatar-to-score-5th-week-to-at-number-1 (http://www.showbiz411.com/2018/03/17/black-panther-holds-off-tomb-raider-wrinkle-first-film-since-avatar-to-score-5th-week-to-at-number-1)

Not going to see it, really don't care to see a flick based solely upon a fake African country of unsurpassed wealth and wisdom...a massive stretch to ones intelligence to say the least...it is basically a temporary ego-boost for a bunch of people who are perpetually unhappy anyway...so...

(https://images3.imgbox.com/55/e5/CJ8mwxpm_o.jpg)

But I cannot see that movie title and not link it to this true story...

(https://images2.imgbox.com/86/bb/40bB7Wio_o.jpg)

 ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 18, 2018, 01:00:13 PM
http://www.showbiz411.com/2018/03/17/black-panther-holds-off-tomb-raider-wrinkle-first-film-since-avatar-to-score-5th-week-to-at-number-1 (http://www.showbiz411.com/2018/03/17/black-panther-holds-off-tomb-raider-wrinkle-first-film-since-avatar-to-score-5th-week-to-at-number-1)

Not going to see it, really don't care to see a flick based solely upon a fake African country of unsurpassed wealth and wisdom...a massive stretch to ones intelligence to say the least...it is basically a temporary ego-boost for a bunch of people who are perpetually unhappy anyway...so...

(https://images3.imgbox.com/55/e5/CJ8mwxpm_o.jpg)

But I cannot see that movie title and not link it to this true story...

(https://images2.imgbox.com/86/bb/40bB7Wio_o.jpg)

 ::laughonfloor::

 Agree!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on May 09, 2018, 07:48:42 PM

Space Battleship Yamato Part 1  ( under its American Moniker)  is  up for pre order
https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/star-blazers-space-battleship-yamato-2199-part-one-combo-bld-00734/ (https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/star-blazers-space-battleship-yamato-2199-part-one-combo-bld-00734/)

You can also head over to Funimation.com and for $6 a month, binge watch the full first series ( they have begun airing the sequel as of today)
https://www.funimation.com/shows/star-blazers/ (https://www.funimation.com/shows/star-blazers/)


Also now playing

Steins;Gate 0  - A quasi sequel to the original series
https://www.funimation.com/shows/steinsgate/ (https://www.funimation.com/shows/steinsgate/)

 And Legend of the Galactic Heroes

https://www.funimation.com/shows/legend-of-the-galactic-heroes-die-neue-these/ (https://www.funimation.com/shows/legend-of-the-galactic-heroes-die-neue-these/)

A reboot of the 90s classic often hailed as the best space opera ever.

and a reminder "Your Name" is available to stream on Amazon

Subtitled ( better)
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Original-Japanese-Version/dp/B078SKBMCR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-3&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Original-Japanese-Version/dp/B078SKBMCR/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-3&keywords=your+name)

Or Dubbed  ( okay)
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Makoto-Shinkai/dp/B078SNJK8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-2&keywords=your+name (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Name-Makoto-Shinkai/dp/B078SNJK8G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517506664&sr=8-2&keywords=your+name)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Weisshaupt on June 01, 2018, 12:41:59 PM
Okay - Show of hands - ow many of you listened to me and watched Your Name?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ze62AL9r0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ze62AL9r0)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 01, 2018, 02:48:45 PM
I didn't.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 01, 2018, 06:16:53 PM
I didn't.

I did not. I put it on my list. I may wait until it is free on Amazon Prime, if ever.

Made me think of Admiral: Roaring Currents 2014, not anime, a kick butt Koran naval battle movie. Not free on Amazon Prime either.  The CGI are often like a video game, if you want to be picky, still a great movie IMO. #1 in Korea that year.
Admiral: Roaring Currents 2014
Subtitles and Closed Captions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChKlHb5hU48 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChKlHb5hU48)

Also, just an anime music video. It is the gateway drug from ACOC that got me ulimately hooked on trance music. Long story.  Every Time We Touch, by Cascada. There are countless anime versions.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0FU4N9eHfw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0FU4N9eHfw)





Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 03, 2018, 05:26:50 PM

I rented the DVD Unlocked (2017)  Noomi Rapace. I thought it was very good but some critics panned it. It is a thriller with lots of plot twists.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 25, 2018, 11:08:40 AM
If you think Christian movies kind of suck (I don't, but I acknowledge they're never all that great) think that no more.

I Can Only Imagine

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450186/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450186/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

Me, my wife, even passed it around at Church (they all have Chinese pirate boxes, even the deacons of the church pirate their entertainment  ::hysterical:: ) and we all agree.  Top notch entertainment, even if you didn't know of Mercy Me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on June 25, 2018, 11:50:34 AM
If you think Christian movies kind of suck (I don't, but I acknowledge they're never all that great) think that no more.

I Can Only Imagine

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450186/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450186/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

Me, my wife, even passed it around at Church (they all have Chinese pirate boxes, even the deacons of the church pirate their entertainment  ::hysterical:: ) and we all agree.  Top notch entertainment, even if you didn't know of Mercy Me.

Our church hosted it on the Friday just before Father's Day (with a popcorn machine in the lobby!) - I hadn't seen it - but all 4 of us went & enjoyed it. It sparked memories as I had a similar father growing up (severe alcoholic) & @ 19 I literally fought & beat him for control of the house - which in a twisted way led to an understanding between us & a "better" relationship. He died @ 48 years old - also from cancer.

Needless to say, I shed a tear or 2 watching the movie - mini catharsis - but good stuff!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 25, 2018, 07:35:35 PM
I hadn't seen Dennis Quaid in a long time but what a performance.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on June 26, 2018, 07:31:06 AM
We’ll definitely be on the lookout for that one.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 31, 2018, 11:22:59 AM
This will be an easy one to boycott...

(https://images3.imgbox.com/79/2e/GbapQUrP_o.jpg)

Ameriphobic Hollywood cuts US flag and communion out of their "First Man" flick, sanitizing America and Jesus Christ from actual history.

http://www.theamericanmirror.com/canadian-first-man-actor-defends-omitting-american-flag-planting-on-moon-achievement-transcended-countries-and-borders/ (http://www.theamericanmirror.com/canadian-first-man-actor-defends-omitting-american-flag-planting-on-moon-achievement-transcended-countries-and-borders/)

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/08/movie-first-man-on-moon-landing-omits-us-flag-and-fact-that-buzz-aldrin-took-communion-before-exiting-lunar-module/ (https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/08/movie-first-man-on-moon-landing-omits-us-flag-and-fact-that-buzz-aldrin-took-communion-before-exiting-lunar-module/)

The battle rages on...and Hollywood favors the Devil and his world.

(https://images3.imgbox.com/5f/f6/AiScUgDq_o.jpg)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 08, 2018, 12:51:38 PM
Heh!  Suck it Ameriphobes!

(https://images2.imgbox.com/de/92/PgBcafSy_o.png)

(https://images2.imgbox.com/f9/ae/V7iFOu6C_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on October 25, 2018, 08:17:58 AM
Technically not a movie but just started watching Last Man Standing on Hulu.

Holy shizzle is this show funny.  It's basically just Home Improvement with new trappings.  And despite the word of mouth, it's not very political.  Mostly man vs women stuff.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 14, 2018, 08:17:26 PM
It didn’t get “rave” reviews - but I just finished watching Denzel’s ‘Equalizer II’ . . .

. . .  I wept, openly, @ the end.

😄

...a beautiful, elegant ending (one can only imagine Mueller, Comey, McCabe & Strzok buying it in such stylized fashion).
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on December 14, 2018, 09:28:40 PM
Oh no, is that a spoiler?!  I've been waiting to see it!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 14, 2018, 10:43:19 PM
No. Not a spoiler - just Denzel doing what he does best - equalizing . . .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 15, 2018, 09:53:41 AM
It didn’t get “rave” reviews - but I just finished watching Denzel’s ‘Equalizer II’ . . .

. . .  I wept, openly, @ the end.

😄

...a beautiful, elegant ending (one can only imagine Mueller, Comey, McCabe & Strzok buying it in such stylized fashion).

Yeah...it's the little personal touches that make it satisfying.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 16, 2018, 08:17:44 PM
It didn’t get “rave” reviews - but I just finished watching Denzel’s ‘Equalizer II’ . . .

. . .  I wept, openly, @ the end.

😄

...a beautiful, elegant ending (one can only imagine Mueller, Comey, McCabe & Strzok buying it in such stylized fashion).

Yeah...it's the little personal touches that make it satisfying.


Rewatching it this evening - note that, in the black drug-dealer’s lair, the table is rife with red Solo cups . . .

. . .  Hoping against hope that “Ballsey” Ford doesn’t get triggered by that particular scene . . .
😂🤣🤪😆
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 17, 2018, 08:05:29 AM
It didn’t get “rave” reviews - but I just finished watching Denzel’s ‘Equalizer II’ . . .

. . .  I wept, openly, @ the end.

😄

...a beautiful, elegant ending (one can only imagine Mueller, Comey, McCabe & Strzok buying it in such stylized fashion).

Yeah...it's the little personal touches that make it satisfying.


Rewatching it this evening - note that, in the black drug-dealer’s lair, the table is rife with red Solo cups . . .

. . .  Hoping against hope that “Ballsey” Ford doesn’t get triggered by that particular scene . . .
😂🤣🤪😆

Heh.

I like telling former allies they crossed the line and will be destroyed..."...my only regret is I can only kill you once"...

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on April 07, 2019, 12:50:48 PM
"There have been films that treated Nazi doctors conducting evil experiments in concentration camps more sympathetically," said Frank Scheck in The Hollywood Reporter.

https://news.yahoo.com/us-anti-abortion-film-surprise-box-office-success-010603753.html

Ah ha!  Thanks for clarifying that!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on April 07, 2019, 04:44:58 PM
The success of ‘Unplanned’ is heartening - despite being denied (due to lobbying via PP) access to any advertising. It’s getting bashed by the usual suspects - but is exposing PP - which is a great thing.

PP is (not surprisingly) going to begin shooting their celluloid repose to ‘Unplanned’ - the PP flick is tentatively entitled ‘Unhinged’ 🤣
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on April 07, 2019, 05:59:05 PM
  Tonight   The Mule    ::danceban::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 31, 2019, 07:01:27 AM
Last Blood

Yes, seriously.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rambo-v-last-blood-trailer-sylvester-stallone-faces-his-past-watch-1214376 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rambo-v-last-blood-trailer-sylvester-stallone-faces-his-past-watch-1214376)

Who's to say there won't be a Last Blood - Back in the Shyt, Last Blood - Blood Reign or Last Blood - To the Last Drop?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on May 31, 2019, 12:01:46 PM
Last Blood

Yes, seriously.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rambo-v-last-blood-trailer-sylvester-stallone-faces-his-past-watch-1214376 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rambo-v-last-blood-trailer-sylvester-stallone-faces-his-past-watch-1214376)

Who's to say there won't be a Last Blood - Back in the Shyt, Last Blood - Blood Reign or Last Blood - To the Last Drop?

I really enjoyed his last Rambo movie “Rambo”. It rang all the right bells for me... Naive do-gooders trying to save the 3rd world without weapons end up relying on the only thing that has EVER defeated evil: rough men with weapons.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on June 02, 2019, 06:54:49 PM
Just saw John Wick 3. Not as good as the first 2, IMO - but very enjoyable (if Wick's your thing - the stylized violence is almost as groundbreaking as The Matrix's 'bullet-time' cinematography) - more development of the Continental & Wick's past - I'll buy it when the DVD is released.

My favorite is part 2 - I love the scene(s) where he suits/weapons up in Italy.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 03, 2019, 07:00:44 AM
I'd like to shop at that store.   :D
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 15, 2019, 07:57:45 AM
Toxic failure...

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/07/14/toxic-masculinity-comedy-stuber-dies-at-box-office/ (https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/07/14/toxic-masculinity-comedy-stuber-dies-at-box-office/)

...yeah...how unexpected, eh?

 ::laughonfloor::

 ::smallestviolin::

 ::mooning::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 26, 2019, 03:00:30 PM
(https://cdn1.thr.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/landscape_928x523/2019/07/image2-h_2019.jpg)

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tarantino-billboards-hijacked-la-slam-epstein-polanski-pedowood-12272 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tarantino-billboards-hijacked-la-slam-epstein-polanski-pedowood-12272)

Sabo nails 'em again.   ::thumbsup::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on August 02, 2019, 08:50:37 PM
Watching 'Alita: Battle Angel' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alita:_Battle_Angel)

Didn't get great reviews - but I like it . . . & that's all that effing matters.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on August 02, 2019, 09:43:54 PM
Watching 'Alita: Battle Angel' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alita:_Battle_Angel)

Didn't get great reviews - but I like it . . . & that's all that effing matters.

I wasn't paying close attention - I thought it said, "Attila: Battle Angel" LoL
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 04, 2019, 11:33:07 AM
Watching 'Alita: Battle Angel' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alita:_Battle_Angel)

Didn't get great reviews - but I like it . . . & that's all that effing matters.

Sucky ending working too hard for that sequel...otherwise it wasn't bad...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 29, 2019, 10:53:45 AM
I'm sure these will flop...but as we get closer to election day this kind of fictitious dreck will increase exponentially...

https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/08/28/donald-trump-mentor-roy-cohn-gets-2-documentaries-this-fall-one-from-granddaughter-of-convicted-spies-he-sent-to-electric-chair (https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/08/28/donald-trump-mentor-roy-cohn-gets-2-documentaries-this-fall-one-from-granddaughter-of-convicted-spies-he-sent-to-electric-chair)

PS-Cohn is still right, McCarthy is still right...and it's not just the Rosenberg's that should be tried, convicted and executed!  Far too many escaped, bred and continue to inflict their treason every second!!!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on September 26, 2019, 07:58:02 PM
Watching for the 2nd time: Shadow (Chinese w/English subtitles, directed by Zhang Yimou) - set in 250 A.D. - a General employs an exact double of himself, to tip the odds with the enemy as well as his king.

(https://teamlegionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/shadow.png)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on September 26, 2019, 08:59:29 PM
I'm sure these will flop...but as we get closer to election day this kind of fictitious dreck will increase exponentially...

https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/08/28/donald-trump-mentor-roy-cohn-gets-2-documentaries-this-fall-one-from-granddaughter-of-convicted-spies-he-sent-to-electric-chair (https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/08/28/donald-trump-mentor-roy-cohn-gets-2-documentaries-this-fall-one-from-granddaughter-of-convicted-spies-he-sent-to-electric-chair)

PS-Cohn is still right, McCarthy is still right...and it's not just the Rosenberg's that should be tried, convicted and executed!  Far too many escaped, bred and continue to inflict their treason every second!!!

There were about 4 different spies at Los Alamos, all unkown to each other. Different handlers. Theodore Hall got off scot free.

 Ivy Meeropol. Grand daughter of the Rosenbergs. The Meeropols adopted the Rosenberg kids after they were orphaned by old sparky. They went to school in Madison WI, maybe lived there. I feel sorry for the kids.  They finally realized their parents, especially their dad, was a commie spy. If they had confessed they would have been spared the death penalty.  The party wanted them dead as martyrs. The USSR awarded them secret medals that became public after the USSR collapsed.

I was cleaning out my  dad's books and came across a book written by the Meeropol kids back when they thought their parents were innocent. The mom had minor involvement but was involved.

Nobody should talk about McCarthy without reading Blacklisted by History. I did the audiobook version.
Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies Paperback – November 24, 2009
by M. Stanton Evans

I read a book last year about the people who tracked down the Rosenbergs. I had no idea it was so hard.

In the Enemy's House: The Secret Saga of the FBI Agent and the Code Breaker Who Caught the Russian Spies Hardcover – February 20, 2018 Howard Blum.

He also wrote the last good night. A very fun read about a US born spy who helped the allies in WWII. She was MN born and a very naughty girl. Great spy, cheating wife, romantic lover, rotten mother.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on September 26, 2019, 09:04:57 PM
This is really good. Only 7 min long. 
This guy is fun to watch. Educational and entertaining.
How China controls what Hollywood makes. "Soft Power."
Certain actors cannot be shown in China. E.g. Richard Gere because he talks about Tibet. 
https://youtu.be/USqdlC5i5yo

5 Hollywood movies infiltrated by China.
https://youtu.be/D26lc7aNjEg

Also
https://youtu.be/9BLX9RCKUMU
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on September 27, 2019, 05:32:33 AM
We'll see, Pablo.  It seems to me that Chinese movies used to be a lot better than they are, today.  Nothing interests me much, anymore.  No problem finding Korean and Japanese movies and shows to watch but not China.  Maybe it's just me.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 27, 2019, 07:51:19 AM
This is really good. Only 7 min long. 
This guy is fun to watch. Educational and entertaining.
How China controls what Hollywood makes. "Soft Power."
Certain actors cannot be shown in China. E.g. Richard Gere because he talks about Tibet. 
https://youtu.be/USqdlC5i5yo

5 Hollywood movies infiltrated by China.
https://youtu.be/D26lc7aNjEg

Also
https://youtu.be/9BLX9RCKUMU

Bias really is not that hard to see for normal's...it sticks out like high-contrast black on white or vice-versa.

So many mush-headed low-info sapplings just take it as gospel...the most glaring to me was JFK...Oliver Stone's brain-vomit was seen by many urchins as pure truth...and of course AlGore's Earth in the Lurch fantasy...

 ::unknowncomic::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on September 27, 2019, 07:53:04 AM
We'll see, Pablo.  It seems to me that Chinese movies used to be a lot better than they are, today.  Nothing interests me much, anymore.  No problem finding Korean and Japanese movies and shows to watch but not China.  Maybe it's just me.

I liked these...

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjdiYTBiMDUtNTg0Yy00N2NhLWIxZmEtMTEwNDNlYzRkMGY3L2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_UY268_CR15,0,182,268_AL_.jpg)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286112/ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286112/)

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZDNjNGI3NjUtMWU2OC00ZWQ5LWIxMDYtZjllZDdhZDE1NWQ0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjgyNjk3MzE@._V1_UY268_CR5,0,182,268_AL_.jpg)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/ (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on September 28, 2019, 08:45:03 PM
Isn't there a recent Chinese SciFi movie that is good? I cannot remember the name.
 BTW most CCP control over movies shows up in what is NOT allowed. That is hard to spot.

I used to love movies. They suck so bad now. I went with my some to some Avengers movie, for his birthday.
It was so awful. I cannot find one to watch now even for free at a theater.

The last movie I saw in a theater other than that was Norman with Richard Gere. I loved it but I love him. Artsy people liked the movie.  Not for everyone. Some TV shows are much better than movies now. I loved The Americans, The Good Wife, Breaking Bad, many others.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 29, 2019, 11:11:13 PM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 30, 2019, 12:18:45 PM
Does he cry in it?  Seems like that man-child is always crying...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on December 30, 2019, 03:41:23 PM
Does he cry in it?  Seems like that man-child is always crying...

He actually does shed a solitary tear (like that old Injun' ad) - near the end of the movie.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 01, 2020, 11:18:32 PM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Where did you view it? Where can we find it? Is it streaming?

I have not seen a good Sci Fi film for a long time. I saw Moon a while back which was good but creepy.

Predestination was based on a Heinlein piece and was good but it took me three watchings to figure it out.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 02, 2020, 06:42:07 AM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Where did you view it? Where can we find it? Is it streaming?

I have not seen a good Sci Fi film for a long time. I saw Moon a while back which was good but creepy.

Predestination was based on a Heinlein piece and was good but it took me three watchings to figure it out.

I'm sure it's streaming somewhere (Red Box?); I bought the DVD @ Wal-Mart  ;) .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 02, 2020, 07:40:31 AM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Where did you view it? Where can we find it? Is it streaming?

I have not seen a good Sci Fi film for a long time. I saw Moon a while back which was good but creepy.

Predestination was based on a Heinlein piece and was good but it took me three watchings to figure it out.

I'm sure it's streaming somewhere (Red Box?); I bought the DVD @ Wal-Mart  ;) .

I saw it offered through Fandango (Hulu) for rental or purchase.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 02, 2020, 06:57:36 PM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Where did you view it? Where can we find it? Is it streaming?

I have not seen a good Sci Fi film for a long time. I saw Moon a while back which was good but creepy.

Predestination was based on a Heinlein piece and was good but it took me three watchings to figure it out.

I'm sure it's streaming somewhere (Red Box?); I bought the DVD @ Wal-Mart  ;) .

I saw it offered through Fandango (Hulu) for rental or purchase.


Where I live Ramsey County library has lots of DVDs spread over lots of libraries.
You can go on line, fine a movie there, and request it be sent to your local library then pick it up. I just did that for Ad Astra.

Ad Astra must be real good.  There are 14 copies and the queue is around 140 requests. 

St. Paul is within Ramsey County but the St. Paul system of libraries DVD collection really sucks.

I rarely buy a DVD anymore but recall picking up a $5 DVD years ago at Walmart, Freeway, with Reese Witherspoon. A real find IMO.  It has a cult following. They let a young Reese Witherspoon off her leash. So many quotes.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 02, 2020, 09:36:48 PM

I rarely buy a DVD anymore . . .

I almost never go to the theatre (probably will for Bond in April & Wick 4 in 2021) -- but buy DVDs & BluRay for movies I like (then watch them multiple times). That's how I de-stress -- predominantly with movies that see the hero win and/or evil enemy get theirs in the end.

Currently in queue: Cinderella Man, Braveheart* (prob. 20th viewing), The Book of Eli, Inception, The Revenant, Last of the Mohicans, Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy & 300.

(* I could watch the homo getting thrown out of the window . . .forever)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on January 03, 2020, 04:32:48 AM
We pick up movies from the discount bin at Walmart and have gotten quite a few favorites there to do with just as you do.  Thanks for the reminder about The Book of Eli - have to put that on the list.

Anyone remember a movie called "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 03, 2020, 06:56:27 AM
The Book of Eli is quite good, a very underrated film IMO.

I'll wager the last flick I saw Hanks in was Saving Private Ryan...and before that The Burbs...not familiar with Terminal.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on January 03, 2020, 07:11:44 AM
The Book of Eli is quite good, a very underrated film IMO.

I'll wager the last flick I saw Hanks in was Saving Private Ryan...and before that The Burbs...not familiar with Terminal.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)

"An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there."

Spielberg directed.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 03, 2020, 07:14:50 AM

I rarely buy a DVD anymore . . .

I almost never go to the theatre (probably will for Bond in April & Wick 4 in 2021) -- but buy DVDs & BluRay for movies I like (then watch them multiple times). That's how I de-stress -- predominantly with movies that see the hero win and/or evil enemy get theirs in the end.

Currently in queue: Cinderella Man, Braveheart* (prob. 20th viewing), The Book of Eli, Inception, The Revenant, Last of the Mohicans, Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy & 300.

(* I could watch the homo getting thrown out of the window . . .forever)
.

I almost never go to the theater. The most recent movie I went to willingly was Norman (Richard Gere). NOT for everyone. I am a huge Richard Gere fan. I have seen him in Breathless countless times.

I have too many DVDs from over the years. I used to love movies, then, IMO, they turned to crap. If not at the  library (one block walk for me) then if not streaming for no added cost (I pay for Amazon Prime) I buy them cheap on Amazon, often used.

I will put Inception on my list. I may watch Tinker Tailor again.

One favorite rewatched revenge movie for me is The Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson. The bad guys get what they deserve. One  POS MA senator  looks and acts like John Kerry. I have seen it over 10 times. Mel Gibson solves and avenges a death.

The good guy beats the bad guy in Criminal with Keven Kostner and Gal Gadot and Tommy Lee Jones. Kevin Kostner is mentally defective kinda so it touched my heart as well. I have rewatched that movie many times.

My favorite movie of all time is Reds with Warren Beatty. It is NOT pro communist if you listen to the dialogue carefully and to the end. 2001, Excalibur, and The Fighter are also in my top four.

I like revenge movies like The edge of Darkness. I cannot figure out a pattern to the movies like. Maybe good dialogue helps. Visual movies like Wind (about sailing) or Days of Heaven I like. I have watched Wind maybe 20 times.

Other rewatched movies. Deception (Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor), Freeway (Reese Witherspoon), Margin Call (fantastic  cast and everything else). I loved In a World but do not know why.

A good spy movie is A Most Wanted Man with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Margin Call is a great movie IMO. Well crafted.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on January 03, 2020, 05:55:24 PM
The Book of Eli is quite good, a very underrated film IMO.

I'll wager the last flick I saw Hanks in was Saving Private Ryan...and before that The Burbs...not familiar with Terminal.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0)

"An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there."

Spielberg directed.


  Cute movie but predictable .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on January 03, 2020, 05:57:49 PM
  Book of Eli is a good movie. I still watch To kill a Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia then most John Wayne movies The Quiet Man one of my Faves.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 03, 2020, 07:09:34 PM
  Book of Eli is a good movie. I still watch To kill a Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia then most John Wayne movies The Quiet Man one of my Faves.

I used to watch The Quiet Man every St. Paddys day, along with corned beef and cabbage.
So many great lines. "Just a good stretch of the legs"  "A stick to beat the lovely lady with"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on January 03, 2020, 07:46:16 PM
  Book of Eli is a good movie. I still watch To kill a Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia then most John Wayne movies The Quiet Man one of my Faves.

I used to watch The Quiet Man every St. Paddys day, along with corned beef and cabbage.
So many great lines. "Just a good stretch of the legs"  "A stick to beat the lovely lady with"

 A man would have to be a sprinter to catch his wife in that bed.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 04, 2020, 10:32:59 PM
So I just finished viewing 'Inception'  - for the 4th-5th time & then switched to the DVD's "Special Features" section -- something I had never done for this flick.

They have a feature that describes the building of a set of Penrose Stairs/Steps & the computer models required to do so. It's described as "almost impossible" to achieve a real life model  -- but through cinematography -- & angles of viewing -- close enough to fool the viewer.

And therein lies the secret to the hoax of computer modeling & the Climate Change hoax. They're building computer models to describe the "impossible" - a systematic series of models that show what's NOT happening @ all -  but through deceptive angles & perspectives . . .

. . . seems to happening.

Hollywood tactics applied to a real life political agenda.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 09, 2020, 02:02:48 PM
Ad Astra, with Brad Pitt - introspective space flick - on my 3rd viewing.
Where did you view it? Where can we find it? Is it streaming?

I have not seen a good Sci Fi film for a long time. I saw Moon a while back which was good but creepy.

Predestination was based on a Heinlein piece and was good but it took me three watchings to figure it out.

I'm sure it's streaming somewhere (Red Box?); I bought the DVD @ Wal-Mart  ;) .

I saw it offered through Fandango (Hulu) for rental or purchase.

I rented Ad Astra from Redbox. It was good.
Another movie I rewatch is Gone, with Amanda Seyfried.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on January 10, 2020, 06:52:14 AM
So I just finished viewing 'Inception'  - for the 4th-5th time & then switched to the DVD's "Special Features" section -- something I had never done for this flick.

They have a feature that describes the building of a set of Penrose Stairs/Steps & the computer models required to do so. It's described as "almost impossible" to achieve a real life model  -- but through cinematography -- & angles of viewing -- close enough to fool the viewer.

And therein lies the secret to the hoax of computer modeling & the Climate Change hoax. They're building computer models to describe the "impossible" - a systematic series of models that show what's NOT happening @ all -  but through deceptive angles & perspectives . . .

. . . seems to happening.

Hollywood tactics applied to a real life political agenda.

The idjits took down the chicken-little signs at Glacier National Park...even idjits know some sh*t is total sh*t...they just can't go full-woke and realize the whole show is sh*t.  And some must be so damn disappointed the glaciers didn't die and they have to keep working at the park and deal with streams of visitors witnessing the undying glacier.

 ::laughonfloor::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 16, 2020, 11:36:28 AM

I watched Joker on DVD from Redbox.
It was dark. Very dark. Well done IMO.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on January 16, 2020, 11:52:46 AM
In my opinion, the best film-making happening today is television. Feature films have become unimaginative, stale, totally derivative, repetitive. Worst of all, so many filmmakers have lost the ability or desire to develop a character, and that’s one of the primary things that interests me about any fictional entertainment. My suspension of disbelief needs to care one way or the other about who I’m watching, or I don’t enjoy watching.

The long-format, multi-episode nature of television is simply a superior format for character development.

If you like action/intrigue thrillers in the mold of “24” or the “Bourne” films, I highly recommend “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” on Amazon Prime, and “Bodyguard” on Netflix.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on January 16, 2020, 01:18:24 PM
In that vein, I'd recommend "Goliath" w/Billy Bob Thornton (either Netflix or Amazon; I can't remember which).
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 16, 2020, 02:12:06 PM
 I agree about TV vs movies today. I used to hate TV and loved movies. My favorite movies were Reds (Warren Beatty), Excalibur, 2001, The Fighter. The only TV shows I liked were The Rockford Files and Wiseguy.  I still like Wiseguy, currently on Amazon Prime I believe. Good recent movies are rare. I liked Norman (Richard Gere) but it is not for everyone. Joker was well done. Ruby Sparks was clever. The Edge of Darkness was awesome.

I like visual movies, epics, and good writing.

Someone got me watching TV in recent years, Breaking Bad. My favorite TV shows in recent years are The Americans, The Good Wife, Goliath, Ozark was OK, Justified. Dirty John was good. Unbelievable was good. The Night Of.

I loved 24 long ago and the Bourne Series. I did not like Jack Ryan, especially the ending in VE. Columbiana is like a female Bourne movie. Very stylized.

I loved seeing Jonathan Banks in Breaking Bad. He was in Wiseguy. Wiseguy had great character development. I loved the garment trade arc with Jerry Lewis and Ron Silver, also the Mel Profit arc with Kevin Spacey. Sen Thompson played a white supremacist huckster in one arc.

on edit
I also liked Body Guard.
For humor, I liked White Gold and Catastrophe, both British.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 17, 2020, 09:23:04 PM

Mind hunter was a good series.
Age of Adeline was a very good movie IMO. Like a fairy tale.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on January 18, 2020, 08:23:15 AM
There's no movie today as good as The Wire, which I'm in the middle of.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 27, 2020, 03:37:38 PM
I rewatched Die Hard.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: rustybayonet on January 28, 2020, 07:32:57 AM
A few days ago watched "Walking Out" --then the series "Making a Murderer"[My son lives where is on going documentary takes place in Wisconsin].
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 29, 2020, 08:55:00 PM
Rockford Files and Wiseguy are both on Amazon Prime now. I loved them both.
I watched some Rockford Files episodes.

I watched Wild with Reese Witherspoon. I have been watching lots of backpacking videos for some reason.

Here is one backpacking video.
https://youtu.be/FSy60coG1-U
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on March 28, 2020, 09:20:50 AM
Loaded up with some I haven't seen in a bit.

(https://teamlegionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/movies.png)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 28, 2020, 10:34:21 AM
  I have 66 movies on Tivo.  Not what I want to do but it is what it is.    ::outrage::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on March 28, 2020, 12:42:45 PM
  I have 66 movies on Tivo.  Not what I want to do but it is what it is.    ::outrage::

My company runs on a completely digital platform. Using our App, a PC/iPad, and/or cell + Zoom (for all meetings & seminars) - we can connect to virtually everyone -- and we're UP 15% for the last 2 months (Feb + March). Despite that - there's a whole 'nother side of stress & busy-ness - "running" from  digital meeting to meeting.

That + home "projects" (today we're moving some shelving around to better accommodate business tools & then, food storage) are keeping me busy along with food & supply acquisition.

But . . . after dinner, it'll be a glass (or so) of Shiraz & a movie or 2 from my collection, a fraction of which I posted above -- need to unplug & watch bad guys get blasted!!

Edit: interestingly - I have not moved to digital movie watching -- prefer it on Blu-Ray or DVD (probably because it can take me 2, sometimes 3 evenings to complete watching one movie -- I've always been more audio, than visually driven & listen to a lot of music).
But I'm considering Netflix or You.Tube . . . maybe  . . .
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 28, 2020, 04:54:10 PM
  I'm looking at hulu.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on March 28, 2020, 05:39:28 PM
I have been watching broadcast TV more than usual. Moviestvnetwork is movies!.
The Sci Fi movie eXistenZ has been on. It is a very imaginative movie. Great cast.
Face in the Crowd, The Valachi Papers have been on. Gun Crazy (the original) is on some.

Charge TV has mostly cheesy movies but some OK. watchcharge.com Gang Related was OK.
Comet comettv.com lists mostly cheesy sci fi movies. Good on rare occasion.

The Edge of Darkness (Mel Gibson) is my most rewatched movie.
The Angel on netflix is a good true spy movie. It is in english but the arabic  parts are subtitled.

What to watch?  Age of Adeline is a nice movie.












Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 29, 2020, 09:56:41 AM
  I'm looking at hulu.

That's what I have, and with upgraded modem no more hiccups in the streaming.  I had Blue, added Orange but the latter has the ESPN channels that with most things postponed it is a digital desert now (and damn I was looking forward to baseball).  But you can rent flicks through Fandango (last one I saw was Ford vs Ferrari) and you can also buy if you want.  You can get other free stuff like Pluto, YouTube (some things like movies and shows are a buy/rent deal though some free content with ads is available) and you can add different news channels from around the nation/world.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 29, 2020, 04:48:02 PM
  I'm looking at hulu.

That's what I have, and with upgraded modem no more hiccups in the streaming.  I had Blue, added Orange but the latter has the ESPN channels that with most things postponed it is a digital desert now (and damn I was looking forward to baseball).  But you can rent flicks through Fandango (last one I saw was Ford vs Ferrari) and you can also buy if you want.  You can get other free stuff like Pluto, YouTube (some things like movies and shows are a buy/rent deal though some free content with ads is available) and you can add different news channels from around the nation/world.

 When I'm ready we'll talk  ok.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on March 30, 2020, 07:54:58 AM
  I'm looking at hulu.

That's what I have, and with upgraded modem no more hiccups in the streaming.  I had Blue, added Orange but the latter has the ESPN channels that with most things postponed it is a digital desert now (and damn I was looking forward to baseball).  But you can rent flicks through Fandango (last one I saw was Ford vs Ferrari) and you can also buy if you want.  You can get other free stuff like Pluto, YouTube (some things like movies and shows are a buy/rent deal though some free content with ads is available) and you can add different news channels from around the nation/world.

 When I'm ready we'll talk  ok.

Youbetchya.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on March 30, 2020, 04:37:16 PM
   ::curtsy4::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on March 31, 2020, 05:49:50 AM
Funny, you wouldn't think going from the Twin Cities to Cedar Rapids I'd get worse internet, but I went from 40mb Centurylink (with streaming hic-ups) to 80mb Centurlink with perfect streaming.  Go figure.

 ::whatgives::

Just finished The Wire, now starting Carnivale.  It's really giving me a Twin Peaks vibe, including having the midget from Twin Peaks as part of the cast.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on July 02, 2020, 06:05:47 PM


I binge watched Babylon Berlin on Netflix. Three seasons so far.
It is set in late 1920s Berlin. Historically there was a lot of debauchery there, live sex shows, homosexuality, and this is shown in part but they do not dwell on it.  Also extreme poverty, political violence. Brown shirts and commies and military and police. I loved the mini series. It is watchable in German or English audio  with or without subtitles.

It is fiction but the background is pretty accurate. The two main characters are interesting. The woman, Charlotte is captivating. She is only 5 foot 3 inches but has presence.


https://youtu.be/uekZpkYf7-E

https://youtu.be/aj1WTiCoJ2k



 

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 12, 2020, 08:43:39 AM
This is pretty impressive...as a self-taught nunchuck user and manufacturer as a lad of 11...they are not the easiest things to effectively manage and I accumulated the scars to prove it...this kid has this sequence down pretty dang good -

https://twitter.com/i/status/1291771764792385536    H/T-TLR/CT

Well done, Little Dragon!

 ::thumbsup::

They are for the young and the still flexible!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on August 12, 2020, 10:30:09 AM
that took months to perfect and did you see the arms on that kid?   Good work!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on August 12, 2020, 10:58:02 AM
Hopefully he sticks with it, adds a little stick work...he could be the next big thing in martial arts.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on August 12, 2020, 09:13:14 PM

That was awesome.
The last movie I saw in a theater was Norman. I loved it but I love Richard Gere. It is an artsy movie, not for everyone.

I used to love movies but they suck now. TV is much better. I even watch reality TV now. Yukon Gold, Shipping Wars, all better than movies.

Any good movie recommendations?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on January 09, 2021, 08:45:00 PM

I have been watching movies on youtube lately. Free with ads.

Most recently Two Moon Junction. Some think it is almost porn but I disagree. I think it is very classy and captures part of the south and is almost X rated. I have rewatched it several times. Many women liked it. Total nudity.

https://youtu.be/5aYSjvJAkOE
TWO MOON JUNCTION (1988)

I watched another movie on youtube last night. It was OK. I liked it. Gritty. Different.
The World Made Straight
https://youtu.be/JM7AVlI2Qeo

I watched a strange movie. Very intense with clever writing.Black Butterfly.
The reviews on youtube are very positive. Rotten Tomatoes were luke warm on the movie

https://youtu.be/-_VUHxa7nwg

I saw this movie before but could not remember many plot details or how it ends. I recommend this. There are a lot of movies on youtube now, free with ads. Unlocked.
https://youtu.be/rsPjZcic51M
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 10, 2021, 09:18:08 AM
Thanks patentlymn - more stuff to watch!
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on January 10, 2021, 09:29:05 AM
There are tons of services serving up ad supported content, now.  I recently watched a movie on Tubi that was unavailable anywhere else.  And only one ad every ten minutes or so, so not bad in that regard. 

https://www.justwatch.com/us (https://www.justwatch.com/us)

A great website for looking up a movie, and seeing who is streaming it.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: John Florida on January 10, 2021, 06:18:38 PM
  Doc Martin   Is a hoot

   https://youtu.be/L80DzW1TC2w

  Grimm

   like catnip for the wife

https://youtu.be/kbQkR8Ztsjg
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on January 10, 2021, 08:20:05 PM
Watching this (one of my Christmas presents) - a long time fave (had it on VHS, just bought it on DVD).
Anthony Hopkins in Shakespeare's tragedy, Titus: deception, deceit, conspiracy, rape, murder & all around foul play (just like D.C.) . . . but with a hell of an ending.

(https://teamlegionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/titus.png)

Next up: Ralph Fiennes & Gerard Butler in Shakespeare's Coriolanus.

(https://teamlegionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/coriolanus.png)

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Alphabet Soup on January 10, 2021, 09:44:03 PM
  Doc Martin   Is a hoot

   https://youtu.be/L80DzW1TC2w

  Grimm

   like catnip for the wife

https://youtu.be/kbQkR8Ztsjg

I confess that I thoroughly enjoyed Grimm. Sorry to see it end.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on February 15, 2021, 12:55:24 PM
Anyone see 'Tenet' - very disjointed/confusing (but good, IMO) flick about time inversion, & past-present-future?

I immediately found myself liking the lead actor, John David Washington -- then looked him up to discover he's Denzel's (whom I like a lot) son.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/L3pk_TBkihU (https://youtu.be/L3pk_TBkihU)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on February 15, 2021, 01:43:27 PM
I watched and liked The Dig on netflix.

I watched a movie, The Dig, on Netflix. About some archaeology find in England right before the war. I liked it.

The series The sinner on netflix is a good weird detective series. Some woman goes nuts and stabs a guy on a beach for no reason. Some cop tries to figure out why. I am in the first season. The woman was raised heby a religious nut mother and has a cool, raunchy, ill, younger sister. Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman. The story line changes each season?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on February 15, 2021, 02:19:58 PM
If you like the gangster genre and great acting, plot, writing, and characters, I’d recommend “Peaky Blinders” on Netflix. The name alone put me off for a while... I didn’t consider it because the name didn’t give me a clue what it’s about. My son recommended it, and we binged 5 seasons in about three weeks.

It’s the story of a family of Irish gypsy gangsters. At the outset, the young Shelby brothers have just returned from World War 1, and are carrying on the family business in Birmingham England. The main character Tommy Shelby (Played brilliantly by Cillian Murphy) is a decorated war hero, whose ambition and recklessness lead the family into danger, and to wealth and power. It’s set against the backdrop of a lower-class industrial town with Irish, Chinese, Jewish, and Italian gangs all vying for influence and control, as England goes through it’s pre-WWII political turmoil. Socialists and fascists warring for political control, and the gangs getting swept up in the power struggle is an interesting subplot. And some of the most brilliant moments are between Murphy and Sam Neill, who plays an inspector sent by the younger Churchill to investigate the disappearance of some military weapons. Also notable is Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Alfie Solomons, the leader of the Jewish gang.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on February 15, 2021, 02:54:00 PM
Ahh those Irish rascals.. 

I watched something yesterday on SciFy of all places...called Everly with Selma Hayek...a prisoner of a Asian gang boss who pinched their loot and had to fight off killers by the score, very bloody...couldn't look away...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on February 15, 2021, 10:06:17 PM

I binge watched season 2 of the sinner. i was emotionally drained by the end. Very well done.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on February 18, 2021, 07:55:06 PM
If you like the gangster genre and great acting, plot, writing, and characters, I’d recommend “Peaky Blinders” on Netflix. The name alone put me off for a while... I didn’t consider it because the name didn’t give me a clue what it’s about. My son recommended it, and we binged 5 seasons in about three weeks.

It’s the story of a family of Irish gypsy gangsters. At the outset, the young Shelby brothers have just returned from World War 1, and are carrying on the family business in Birmingham England. The main character Tommy Shelby (Played brilliantly by Cillian Murphy) is a decorated war hero, whose ambition and recklessness lead the family into danger, and to wealth and power. It’s set against the backdrop of a lower-class industrial town with Irish, Chinese, Jewish, and Italian gangs all vying for influence and control, as England goes through it’s pre-WWII political turmoil. Socialists and fascists warring for political control, and the gangs getting swept up in the power struggle is an interesting subplot. And some of the most brilliant moments are between Murphy and Sam Neill, who plays an inspector sent by the younger Churchill to investigate the disappearance of some military weapons. Also notable is Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Alfie Solomons, the leader of the Jewish gang.

WOW.I only tried this because of your recommendation.  i did not like it much at first. It really grew on me. That characters you mentioned above are very well done.
I have binge watched most of season 4 by now. I did not recognize Tom Hardy. The women with dark features are quite striking.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on May 31, 2022, 02:59:54 PM
https://slaynews.com/news/unapologetically-pro-america-kayleigh-mcenany-reviews-new-top-gun-movie-shows-what-unfathomable-bravery-and-incomparable-talent-our-military-has/

Is there a pool for when the accusations of perpetuating white supremacy and crap get hurled at it?   ::whatgives::
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 18, 2022, 09:48:47 AM
https://slaynews.com/news/unapologetically-pro-america-kayleigh-mcenany-reviews-new-top-gun-movie-shows-what-unfathomable-bravery-and-incomparable-talent-our-military-has/

Is there a pool for when the accusations of perpetuating white supremacy and crap get hurled at it?   ::whatgives::

I like the pro American part but I got sick of Tom Cruise long ago.I used to love watching movies. Now they almost all suck.
The last movie I saw in the theater was Norman. Loved it. Love Richard Gere.
Some TV is great now. I am re-watching The Americans on Amazon Prime.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 18, 2022, 09:53:34 AM
I would not have seen the movie anyway.
Lightyear.
https://voxday.net/2022/06/18/even-worse-than-expected/
Even Worse Than Expected

The Devil Mouse is putting its literally satanic agenda on public display in Lightyear.
Quote
    You weren’t planning to see it anyway and you are right to avoid it.

    This film is a Pedomouse spectacular. Lightyear is a product of Reimagine Tomorrow. The lesbian kiss was the least of it.

    The entire film is centered around the lesbian relationship. In fact the lesbians get pregnant. So, forget about awkward questions from your seven year old about two women in love. Pedomouse wants you to have discussions about how two women can get each other knocked up. That is the family conversation Disney/Pixar is pushing with Lightyear.

    Then there are the values this film is pushing like a bulldozer:

    “Let’s just say that Lightyear does not deal in subtle messages. Instead, it has a mission to convince you that meritocracy is bad, masculinity and instinctual decisions are wrong, and we all need to accept each other as we are with all of our flaws rather than to see the potential in each person. It dives into those themes with the nuance of a caffeinated kid with a baseball bat swinging for a pinata.

It’s so awful, and so converged, and so likely to lose vast quantities of money, that Dark Herald actually suggests it might be a harbinger of the Devil Mouse’s exit from the movie business.

https://arkhavencomics.com/2022/06/17/its-worse-than-i-thought-lightyear/
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f5/15/10/f51510ca25b8dbd3936826bc16191db2.jpg

https://arkhavencomics.com/2022/04/09/chapeks-hostage-video/
NEW: Disney CEO Bob Chapek grovels, apologizes, and pledges to "be a better ally for the LGBTQ+ community." He delegated the company's moral authority to the "LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council" and now those internal activists have taken him as an ideological hostage. pic.twitter.com/efOSOmb47a
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) April 7, 2022
https://arkhavencomics.com/2022/06/13/the-dark-herald-was-right-naturally/
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 18, 2022, 11:46:52 AM
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10298810/ratings/?ref_=tt_ov_rt (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10298810/ratings/?ref_=tt_ov_rt)

Pretty brutal ratings for that steaming pile.

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 18, 2022, 01:27:44 PM
Rotten tomatoes gave it good rating for critics and audience. I find that disturbing.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lightyear (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lightyear)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 19, 2022, 09:53:45 AM
IMDB (the popcorn bag icon I believe) is way better and pointing to things I may like than rottentomatoes!  That the latter finds cultural Marxist/woke BS enjoyable is not surprising...those folks have severe mental illness and/or are possessed by demons...

I stumbled across something called The Old Man on FX...beats DemonMouse crap IMO...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on June 19, 2022, 10:50:13 AM
IMDB (the popcorn bag icon I believe) is way better and pointing to things I may like than rottentomatoes!  That the latter finds cultural Marxist/woke BS enjoyable is not surprising...those folks have severe mental illness and/or are possessed by demons...

I stumbled across something called The Old Man on FX...beats DemonMouse crap IMO...

I often notice a huge gap between the critics and audience ratings on rotten tomatoes.
The last movie I saw in the theater was Norman with Richard Gere. I loved it but I love him.
It is an arty movie so not for everyone and best seen in a theater or setting where your attention is fixed on the screen.

I will have to find The Old Man. I only get Amazon Prime right now.


Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: ToddF on June 19, 2022, 12:19:00 PM
Plus with IMDB, you can look at the top 1000 voters.  That is usually closer to the mark because of 10 star and 1 star spammers.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 19, 2022, 05:02:00 PM
Quote
... something called The Old Man on FX...

This? (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2182115/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 20, 2022, 08:35:41 AM
Quote
... something called The Old Man on FX...

This? (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2182115/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)

No, this - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pandora on June 20, 2022, 08:39:20 AM
Quote
... something called The Old Man on FX...

This? (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2182115/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)

No, this - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5645432/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

Okay, thank you.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on June 23, 2023, 10:39:49 PM
John Wick IV . . .

"Yeah!"

(https://i.etsystatic.com/34853406/r/il/e731a3/4809681245/il_794xN.4809681245_g8q2.jpg)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on June 27, 2023, 08:25:32 AM
"Family"
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 18, 2023, 09:27:19 AM
I haven't seen it yet, my sister has...

(https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1704,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/143/065/315/original/91dbacd9206176d0.jpg)H/T-CTH

...it is a fact that Trump almost shut down all trafficking...and then the floodgates opened again with His Fraudulency!

Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on July 20, 2023, 08:51:48 PM
I haven't seen it yet, my sister has...

(https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1704,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/143/065/315/original/91dbacd9206176d0.jpg)H/T-CTH

...it is a fact that Trump almost shut down all trafficking...and then the floodgates opened again with His Fraudulency!

Wife & I are seeing it on 7/28 -- local church with BIG balls @ an invite-only showing (75 guests so far)

(bringing a Byrna (https://nakestores.com/products/byrna-le-pepper-pistol-kit-law-enforcement-grade-non-lethal-defense) tear-gas launcher . . . just in case the pronoun crowd shows up in the parking lot)
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on July 21, 2023, 07:32:23 PM
I saw a long interview of thee real guy with John Harbinger(?)
really good.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on July 21, 2023, 07:38:56 PM

The pedos do not like it. Much of the MSM says it is a QAnon conspiracy theory.

https://t.me/ZradaXXII/23280 (https://t.me/ZradaXXII/23280)


🔥 The kidnapping of Ukrainian children in the EU has reached shocking proportions.

?? May 2023. In Poznan, a 52-year-old Ukrainian refugee was arrested, who is accused of selling children to pedophiles (https://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/7,36001,29821391,dzieci-bite-i-sprzedawane-pedofilom-wysluchalismy-wstrzasajacych.html (https://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/7,36001,29821391,dzieci-bite-i-sprzedawane-pedofilom-wysluchalismy-wstrzasajacych.html))  . She came from the Dnepropetrovsk region last year. The woman raised foster children - 10 children aged from four to 16 years. The woman sold children to pedophiles in Ukraine and Poland. It is noted that when clients mocked them, the Ukrainian woman stood nearby and watched the time allotted for this (the session lasted 20 minutes each).

?? An orphanage with 85 children was sold from the territory of Ukraine to Spain (https://t.me/AleksandrSemchenko/18984 (https://t.me/AleksandrSemchenko/18984))  . Children were taken to the EU from Mariupol at the beginning of the NWO and disappeared. Spanish newspapers tried that with the kids - they could not.

?? 500 children from the territory of Donbass, controlled by Kiev, were taken to Poland and Israel by some little-known organization "Ukraine without orphans" (https://youtu.be/2qbO8NQXweo (https://youtu.be/2qbO8NQXweo))  . A Western religious organization, called "neo-Pentecostals," also hunted at the beginning of the NWO.

?? In Netherlands, 170 Ukrainian teenagers were reported (https://www.dutchnews.nl/2022/05/refugee-agencies-sound-alarm-about-ukrainian-teens-in-nl-without-parents/ (https://www.dutchnews.nl/2022/05/refugee-agencies-sound-alarm-about-ukrainian-teens-in-nl-without-parents/))  missing.

?? 30 or 40 pupils from another Ukrainian orphanage were supposed to go to Spain from Madrid to the Canary Islands, but disappeared (https://news2.ru/story/642648/ (https://news2.ru/story/642648/))  without a trace on the way.

?? 159 orphans were evacuated from the south of Ukraine to Turkey, but their trace was lost (https://t.me/vislobokova/6075 (https://t.me/vislobokova/6075)) . They were placed in a hotel in Antalya, ostensibly for security reasons. The further fate of the children is unknown.

?? 43 children from Ukraine was detained (https://www.mk.ru/social/2022/07/26/v-litve-ukrainu-zapodozrili-v-torgovle-detmisirotami.html (https://www.mk.ru/social/2022/07/26/v-litve-ukrainu-zapodozrili-v-torgovle-detmisirotami.html))  in Lithuania. Babies from the private orphanage "Perlynka" were allegedly taken to other countries for "adoption", but the teachers were suspected of human trafficking.

?? A month ago, the Ukrayinska Pravda, citing the Ukrainian Ombudsman for Children's Rights, wrote (https://t.me/UkrPravdaMainNews/61728 (https://t.me/UkrPravdaMainNews/61728))  about 240 cases of children being taken away from refugees in the EU countries due to incorrectly executed documents. Social services seized children from refugee families "because of differences in legislation."
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on July 24, 2023, 09:04:51 AM
Taking flak?  On target.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Pablo de Fleurs on July 28, 2023, 10:01:35 PM
Just getting back home from the movie. Unfortunately, there were ZERO agitators on site to warrant a Byrna kinetic strike.

A powerful film that scratches the surface of the hideous world of trafficking, murder & other evil practices by the very people & organizations that pulled the film from theatres.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: IronDioPriest on July 29, 2023, 07:19:54 AM
I saw a long interview of thee real guy with John Harbinger(?)
really good.
Jonathan Cahn?
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on July 30, 2023, 08:51:39 AM
I saw a long interview of thee real guy with John Harbinger(?)
really good.
Jonathan Cahn?

https://youtu.be/9hmIw8ygwlE
 Confronting A Secret Agent On Modern Day Sl*very | Tim Ballard
The Jordan Harbinger Show
153K subscribers
97,246 views  Jul 2, 2020  The Jordan Harbinger Show - Podcast Full Episodes
We need to warn you guys up front: this will not be easy listening. The content in this episode contains information about topics that some audiences might find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, we’re joined by former Homeland Security agent, Operation Underground Railroad founder, and Slave Stealers: True Accounts of Slave Rescues — Then and Now author Tim Ballard to talk about why sl*very isn’t just a dark chapter from humanity’s less enlightened past, but one that’s still being writ large today. Again, this one’s heavier fare than most episodes of this podcast, but it sheds light on an exploitative industry that thrives in the shadows unbeknownst to most and it deserves our attention now more than ever.
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: Libertas on December 15, 2023, 09:21:23 AM
Kinda makes you wonder what Hollywood is prepping people for...

https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1735041021254234376

...I'd like to know what kind of American these folks are championing...
Title: Re: Trap's Movie Thread
Post by: patentlymn on December 15, 2023, 10:46:29 AM
That looks good. I just remembered an old Gregory Peck movie and ordered a used DVD. Tuesday Weld is a real heartbreaker.
She was around 26 when this movie was made. Looks younger. She was in Dobbie Gillis also.

SPOILERALERT
https://youtu.be/4uhv3uR6ZYc


Dobie Gillis
https://youtu.be/4dF3VUFDmiU