At The Movies

[Beckers1]

Another feedback/suggestion thread. Here we post any movies we recently watched and would recommend, or criticize the ones we found were lackluster.

I gave the Hangover part 2 a whirl and I was kinda let down by it. Not to say it isn't funny, just didn't really do justice to the praise I heard about it

 

[Regal]

Coincidentally I recently saw Hangover III. While not as good as the first it was better than the second.

 

[FeatherDaemon1]

I highly recommend the new Star Trek Into Darkness. It was really impressive. I am a trekkie and I give my stamp of approval. I liked Cumberbatch in Sherlock. When the whole is it isn't Khan debate was floating around I wondered if he could pull off Khan. He did. Normally I hate reboots but this one great. So go check it out if you haven't already.

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

Speaking of Kahn, I'm developing a reel pet peeve for the youngins going around saying they think the older actor who played the original Kahn was a drama queen. It was the EIGHTIES PEOPLE! EVERYONE WAS A DRAMA QUEEN! AND WE LOVED IT ALL! (fumes) But yeah, Cumberbatch played a really sinister Kahn and the movie itself was a real non-stop keep you on the edge of your seat ride. Very worth seeing. I only wish I could have seen Sulu go at some Klingons with his retractable katana and ninja-slick moves. ^_^

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

As for movies I'd recommend, um, okay, here's a few:

Godzilla (1985): Yes the alterations by Universal are almost unforgivable but at least the Big G is how he's supposed to be (instead of being an egg laying, no-atomic breath breathing, iguana-wannabe wuss). A bit of a spoiler here, they end up being UNABLE TO KILL the G'ster and have to settle with imprisoning him in a volcano (the final scene of which is a bit of a tearjerker).

Ghostbusters: Ah, Bill Murry and Dan Akroyd still got it, even after 20+ years. This film NEVER GETS OLD.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The only TMNT film to get the dark gritty feel of the original comic series right. Just stay THE HELL AWAY from Secrets of the Ooze and for the love of GOD DON'T EVEN THINK OF SEEING TURTLES IN TIME! (ugh, the PAIN)

Jurassic Park: Spielberg's masterpiece...also, it has a MUTHERFUCKIN T-REX! Again, as with the Alien movie series (and so many others) stay AWAY from the sequels and you'll do just fine.

The Big Lebowski: Featuring the dude, the dudster, and the dudereno. Because he wants his rug back!

Alien and Aliens: Weaver wins these two hands DOWN! So long as you absolutely STAY AWAY from ANY OTHER FILM in the Aliens series (including Prometheus [YES I FUCKING WENT THERE THAT MOVIE WAS HORRIBLE] then you'll do fine with just these two.

Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day: Both are pretty damn awesome. The original Terminator is even better with the bonus scenes included that were originally cut out of the theater version.

The Highlander: When you've got Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert your already on a high. Now add sword fighting and a complete BAD ASS of a villain and you've got a MASTERPIECE!

Meet Joe Black: Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins literally take this film by storm! The acting is superb!

Batman: Jack Nicholson played a pretty good Joker (even if it can't compare with Heath Ledger's) but let's face it, it was a different era and a different time and Jack did his best and we all loved it. Just DON'T watch any other sequel after it (argh, Bat Credit Card makes Rox_My_Sox's BRAIN HEMORRHAGE!).

Batman: The Dark Night: Heath Ledger played his role out of the ballpark.

The Avengers: Best...super...hero...film...EVER!

Snatch: This film is just plain funny!

Skyfall: They took James Bond and made it a TRILLION TIMES BETTER!

The Amazing Spider-Man: A new spin on an old classic. This film was pretty damn good.

Big Trouble in Little China: YOUR BLACK MAGIC IS NO GOOD HERE! Heh, watch this, it's awesome! ^_^

Superman: Man of Steel: I saw this yesterday and it rocks! Watch it! You won't regret it!

Space Cowboys: Damn fine movie if I do say so myself.

I. Robot.: Not at all faithful to Azimov's version but still, it's an entertaining movie to watch (Smith's dynamic with the lead actress was pretty good) and I felt that having an African American protagonist clash (and later befriend) with a robot (whose race are essentially slaves throughout two thirds of the movie) made for a nice dash of dramatic irony.

 

[Lee47]

@FeatherDaemon- And a bunch of people were insulted that Khan is now pale. Technobabble explanation- Starfleet Section 31 cosmetic surgery so he no longer LOOKED LIKE Khan Noonian Singh, which would have been a dead giveaway to anyone with a history degree (like the history specialist in the original series).
Non-technobabble explanation- get over yourselves.

@ Rox- great list! I will have to send some of my own when I have more time, I have to be up early for a root canal :cry

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

A great list Rox_My_Sox! I will have to send some of my own when I have more time.

Rarity: You must! You Must! YOU MUST! ^_~

I have to be up early for a root canal. :cry

Oh ye gods. The pain. Tell them to hit you with the good shit and LOTS OF IT. Your gonna NEED IT.

 

[MistressValerie1]

@Lee47: my root canal procedure was not painful, although I had some jaw swelling for a couple of days. Good luck!

 

[Lee47]

Oh ye gods. The pain...

@Lee47: my root canal procedure was not painful, although I had some jaw swelling for a couple of days. Good luck!

Thanks ladies- it wouldn't be quite so bad if 1) it wasn't the 3rd tooth THIS YEAR; 2) my dental coverage wasn't maxed out, so I'm paying out of pocket; and 3) it's wasn't even a proper root canal (which would totally remove the nerve, so no more pain); it was a "pulpotomy", where he went partway down the canals and removed the most traumatized nerve tissue, but left the roots, then filled over them with sedative filling and a protective cover- the hope being that it will be OK til January when my insurance will kick in again. Not sure it's going to work right now, 3 needles of Novocaine and everything EXCEPT the tooth got numb :scared! I can't tell right now (6 hours later) whether the tooth is still aching, or whether it's my TMJ from having been forced open for so long- but I'm hoping for the latter. Meanwhile- 800mg Motrin, here I come...

 

[Lee47]

Back to the subject of movies-

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?

JAWS: You're gonna need a bigger boat.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: Spielberg salutes the Greatest Generation, and does it in style.

CASABLANCA: Round up the usual suspects.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS: Who IS Kaizer Soze?

THE MALTESE FALCON: I like to listen to a man who likes to talk.

TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT: Bogie & Bacall's first time. Anybody got a match?

THE BIG SLEEP: Together again. She didn't have any problems he couldn't fix...

PULP FICTION: Let's quote Ezekiel 25:17, then do the Twist.

BLACK HAWK DOWN: Like watching the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan- for an hour and 40 minutes.

CRIMSON TIDE: Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, 1 submarine, and 24 nuclear missiles. Who can ask for more? Unless it's...

THE ROCK: Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, Ed Harris, a bunch of psycho Marines, and a ton of nerve gas on Alcatraz.

DIE HARD: the first is still the best. YIPPEE-KI-YAY!!!!

LETHAL WEAPON: Also should have stopped with just one. But that one is brilliant.

THE ROAD WARRIOR: The rare case of a sequel superior to the original film. Still the longest road chase scene on film (I think). "The last of the V-8 Interceptors! Piece of history." It's a real shame when Max rolls it down the hill....

THE FUGITIVE: Most chilling exchange- "I didn't kill my wife!" "I don't care!" Most heartwarming exchange- "I thought you didn't care..." (joking)"I don't. Don't tell anyone, OK?"

SERENITY: "Firefly" made it to the big screen- at least once... and keeps flying in our dreams....

IRON MAN: Robert Downey Jr. makes us believe that a spoiled billionaire playboy can find morality, while still remaining incredibly obnoxious (which is part of his charm)...

THOR: I am jealous of Chris Hemsworth. There, I said it. No man should look that good. But damn, he can act, and the character arc he plays in this film is even farther-reaching than Tony Stark's, and he pulls it off. Plus, Natalie Portman is gorgeous in any galaxy.

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT: I know, I know, you hated it. But I thought it was brilliant and I don't let a Halloween go by without watching it again. The most unique and convincing horror film of all time, precisely because you DON'T get to see the monster.

That's all for now.... more to come...

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

DIE HARD: the first is still the best. YIPPEE-KI-YAY!!!!

(elevator door opens)..."Your guy's DEAD and now I have a MACHINE GUN. Ho! Ho! Ho!"

I nearly hit the floor I laughed so hard when I saw that.

 

[Lee47]

More titles that came to me while vacationing in Pennsylvania-

WITNESS (I was in Amish country)

DANCES WITH WOLVES (and at Gettysburg)

HENRY V (Kenneth Branagh version)

HAMLET (Mel Gibson version- great duel scene)

A FISH NAMED WANDA, starring the curvaceous Jamie Lee Curtis

TRADING PLACES, ditto

and, I suppose, TRUE LIES even though it's not really very good; but Jamie Lee does a GREAT striptease number for a husband character that does not remotely deserve her

THE LORD OF THE RINGS which I once watched in an exhausting 14-hour marathon....

THE BOURNE TRILOGY

THE BOURNE LEGACY in which Jeremy Renner does a decent job taking up the secret agent mantle

DOGMA because religion is even funnier when you're an atheist

BIG TROUBLE, starring Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Jeanneane Garofola (sp?), the ever-hilarious Patrick Warburton, Jason Lee, & Tom Sizemore to name only a few- which released straight to DVD because it had the misfortune to be scheduled for theaters in Nov 2001, with a plot that revolved around a nuclear warhead being smuggled into the United States (and being mistaken repeatedly for a garbage disposal). If it had been a drama, like an episode of 24; no problem. It was a comedy. The studio decided people weren't ready to laugh about nukes so soon after 9/11. Which is a pity, because almost nobody has heard of it TO THIS DAY, and it is HILARIOUS! The only Tim Allen vehicle that I can actually watch. Martha Stewart has a cameo that lays me on the floor every time. AROUGOLA!!!

GROSS POINTE BLANK- a comedy about a hit man. Seriously.

DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID- Steve Martin is in every film noir ever made. Don't say "Cleaning woman".

THE PRINCESS BRIDE- Inconceivably funny.

MONTY PYTHON AND- The Holy Grail, The Life of Brian, the Meaning of Life. Any or all. I guess I'm in a funny mood tonight. "Oh Lord, Ooh, you are so big..."

MEN IN BLACK or did Rox My Sox already mention that one? They should have stopped at #1, AGAIN- Hollywood and their sequels.....

Except for ALIEN and ALIENS, where they should have stopped at 2. That was the right number for that particular series.

But there can never be enough Star Trek, probably. KHAAAANNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE LOSERS- another one that almost nobody has ever heard of, despite Chris Evans (pre-Captain America) and Zoe Saldana (pre-Star Trek) being in it. Like the "A-Team" movie, except it was good. And this one should have had a sequel, but never will...... dammit!!

ZOMBIELAND- the Zombie Apocalypse was never funnier. And Woody Harrelson is a complete badass. Who knew?

And now off to bed again..... good night all.

 

[Lee47]

I forgot to mention- THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. So many hilarious lines- perhaps my favorite (lovable pervert that I am) was the late Michael Clark Duncan to Amanda Peet- "Ain't nothin' finer than a fine-looking naked woman with a gun."

 

[Beckers1]

I forgot to mention- THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. So many hilarious lines- perhaps my favorite (lovable pervert that I am) was the late Michael Clark Duncan to Amanda Peet- "Ain't nothin' finer than a fine-looking naked woman with a gun."

I love The Whole Nine Yards, but that's probably bias on my part due to it having Matthew Perry who I shall forever love

 

[Lee47]

Since this thread started with a Star Trek reference, I think I'll place this comment here rather than revive an old thread....

RoxMySox- remember in my Star Trek thread, you mentioned (at least, I think it was you that mentioned) that Federation ships don't seem to have shields anymore in the JJ Abrams-verse?

I just re-watched 2009's STAR TREK and it is verified that the Enterprise does have shields. When the Narada hits her the first time, Sulu reports that the single hit knocked shields down to 34% (I think that was the exact quote) and they couldn't "take another hit like that". So shields exist, they just aren't 100% impenetrable- and as I write this it occurs that in TNG series and movies, Data, LaForge, et. al, were always reporting (whenever they were hit by the Borg or whoever) that shields were down by such-and-such percent and they had damage to deck whatever or some system or another was offline.

So, shields were apparently never 100% efficient and there was always some damage that leaked through. It's just unfortunate for our team that in the last 2 movies we have not seen any Starfleet vessel in anything even close to a fair fight. In 2009, we saw the Kelvin and then the Enterprise facing a Romulan planet-cracker mining ship from 300 years in the future firing cluster-torpedo devices that were originally designed to take apart entire worlds piece by piece (!!!!); and this year we saw the Enterprise versus a Section 31 Dreadnought 3 times her size and 4 times her firepower, with more advanced armaments and which took the advantage of firing first.

I'd like to see Enterprise face off against a 3-ship of Klingon D-7s, which historically are only about 2/3 as powerful as a Federation starship and thus travel in packs. With Kirk and Spock's superior tactics and strategy to offset the advantage of numbers, that should be a fair fight at last.

Beckers- PLEASE tell me how you post images and video in this forum? I'm dying to know!

 

[Beckers1]

Beckers- PLEASE tell me how you post images and video in this forum? I'm dying to know!

Well if you're using quick reply function it won't come up, but if you go to the post reply button there should be a buttion called Manage Attachments, where you can upload anything from pictures to videos

 

[Lee47]

OK, here's a test picture upload. Limited success! I'm not sure why it came out as a thumbnail, but it's better than nothing! Now I can show off my FIREFLY prop collection on the Browncoats thread I started! Thanks Beckers!

 

[Bator]

I love The Whole Nine Yards, but that's probably bias on my part due to it having Matthew Perry who I shall forever love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1U4CsaTbEY This has to make this list.

 

[Beckers1]

Ohhh Donnie Darko is a real good one, and Lee47 it only appears as a thumbnail so it doesn't stretch the screen. If you click on the picture it opens it up for full view

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

RoxMySox- remember in my Star Trek thread, you mentioned (at least, I think it was you that mentioned) that Federation ships don't seem to have shields anymore in the JJ Abrams-verse?

I just re-watched 2009's STAR TREK and it is verified that the Enterprise does have shields. When the Narada hits her the first time, Sulu reports that the single hit knocked shields down to 34% (I think that was the exact quote) and they couldn't "take another hit like that". So shields exist, they just aren't 100% impenetrable- and as I write this it occurs that in TNG series and movies, Data, LaForge, et. al, were always reporting (whenever they were hit by the Borg or whoever) that shields were down by such-and-such percent and they had damage to deck whatever or some system or another was offline.

So, shields were apparently never 100% efficient and there was always some damage that leaked through. It's just unfortunate for our team that in the last 2 movies we have not seen any Starfleet vessel in anything even close to a fair fight. In 2009, we saw the Kelvin and then the Enterprise facing a Romulan planet-cracker mining ship from 300 years in the future firing cluster-torpedo devices that were originally designed to take apart entire worlds piece by piece (!!!!); and this year we saw the Enterprise versus a Section 31 Dreadnought 3 times her size and 4 times her firepower, with more advanced armaments and which took the advantage of firing first.

While I agree that the 2nd movie did have the word "shields" used by the enterprise crew, the visual effect is NOT AT ALL like any of the previous movies or series. The first batch of Star Wars movies (mostly the later ones featuring Shatner and such) featured the shields as a bubble-like field of energy that stopped any incoming force (to an extent) and while they could be worn done it was plainly shown (especially in the Next Generation movies) that barely ANYTHING got though UNTIL the shields were OVERWHELMED and had to power down. Now, granted, if you had the "energy frequency" of the shields that the vessel was using I believe you can in fact bypass the shields completely. Most of the time however, very little got through (when the shields where up and took a hit at most we saw some sparks on the controls and the bridge shaking). My main beef with the new Star Trek movies is that the shields BARELY SEEM to have ANY STOPPING POWER WHATSOEVER! Now granted, as you said above, the Enterprise was up against a 25th century Romulan mining vessel (in the first movie) as well as a Section 31-class Dreadnaught (in the second movie) but even then it's hard to imagine the shields being THAT ineffective! The Enterprise is supposed to be the flagship of the fleet and thus the PINNACLE of Starfleet's current level of technological achievement and it's simply hard to imagine that even a ship with 3 times the firepower could simply BYPASS the shields by as much as 80 percent! I will give you this hun, your argument carries weight, a heck of alot of it. I'm just a stubborn fangirl I suppose. ^_~

 

[Lee47]

That's OK, I luv fangirls . Plus you gave me another new line of argument- "Classic" Trek (Kirk era) never showed the "globey shield" effect either, TV or film, maybe it's an invention that's not due until the 23rd century?

But seriously, I guess we just have to live with every new generation making certain artistic choices and that's that. I love the new Enterprise, but I don't care much for the "look" of hyperspace travel; love the new/old uniforms but don't like the brewery/engine room so much; etc.

 

[Lee47]

Looking Forward to Fall

Only 2 titles that I am really looking forward to for this fall, that I absolutely MUST see in the theaters (everything else can be rented on DVD);

THOR; DARK WORLD because Chris Hemsworth is the finest superhero actor I'll see this year other than Robert Downey Jr. (and I already got to see him this summer), plus which the ethereally lovely Natalie Portman is back and there's a chance I'll get to see her in a Goddess' dress (YAY!!)

ENDER'S GAME which I've read at least once a year since 1985 and which has never failed to move me to tears at least 4 times; I really, really hope that Hollywood has managed to do justice to this great Sci-Fi novel of children at war (also, Harrison Ford as COL Graff; how could I miss that?)

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

"Classic" Trek (Kirk era) never showed the "globey shield" effect either, TV or film, maybe it's an invention that's not due until the 23rd century?

Yes and no hun. The first series never showed any starship combat effects (other than the bridge being rocketed back and forth and the Enterprise firing it's phasers or photon torpedoes). Now, in the REVISED BLU-RAY EDITION of the first series, the Enterprise is CLEARLY SHOWN to have the forcefield-like shields.

I believe however that until the Kirk-era film "The Undiscovered Country" the forcefield-like shields did not appear (I actually believe that film was the first time we saw the Enterprise's shields actually stopping another starship's attacks).

Now, granted, I understand why the two most recent movies wanted to make the shields basically ineffective. In short, it added suspense and drama to the films. I guess I'm just wishing for some form of consistency but then again, I have to remember this is the movie industry and every Star Trek film has been slightly inconsistent (in a few minor ways) from the rest.

Take the scene in "The Undiscovered Country" where we see Spock's female Vulcan successor vaporizing a kitchen pot (and thus leaving only the uncooked turkey that was in it standing). Why in the name of HOLY HELL was there a KITCHEN onboard the Enterprise much less people COOKING A TURKEY? I seem to recall the Enterprise having FOOD PROCESSORS in the original series.

 

[Lee47]

Yes and no hun. The first series never showed any starship combat effects (other than the bridge being rocketed back and forth and the Enterprise firing it's phasers or photon torpedoes).

Upon FURTHER further reflection I realize you are completely right. I bow to you as the Goddess of Trekdom. I am not worthy and you have my complete and utter devotion, worship, and luv. :wub That ain't easy to achieve given that I'm an atheist; then again, I'm a lot happier with a deity I can interweb chat with.

Take the scene in "The Undiscovered Country" where we see Spock's female Vulcan successor vaporizing a kitchen pot (and thus leaving only the uncooked turkey that was in it standing). Why in the name of HOLY HELL was there a KITCHEN onboard the Enterprise much less people COOKING A TURKEY? I seem to recall the Enterprise having FOOD PROCESSORS in the original series.

If there had not been a turkey in a kitchen, she could not have done the demonstration so dramatically. This is a Trek Tautology. Starfleet Architects very carefully design their ships for just such an emergency.

I thought that a better question was- WHY in HOLY HELL did they have a set of PHASERS in a cabinet in the KITCHEN? I own guns, but I don't keep one above the microwave! Did a starship, at some point, get taken over by Orion pirates after being invaded through the galley- the one weak spot in the ship's security? Or are the phasers just to keep the chef on his toes? ("This turkey is DRY!!! AGAIN!!! NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!" *ZAP*)

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

Upon FURTHER further reflection I realize you are completely right. I bow to you as the Goddess of Trekdom. I am not worthy and you have my complete and utter devotion, worship, and luv. That ain't easy to achieve given that I'm an atheist; then again, I'm a lot happier with a deity I can interweb chat with.

ROFLOL, your worshiping me as the goddess of Trekdom and I'm not even a Trekkie. Still, I think you'd be better off going with another deity. Take the Flying Spaghetti Monster for instance (DO NOT DOUBT HIS NOODLEYNESS!) ^_~

But we're getting off topic. ON TO THE MOVIES!

THOR: THE DARK WORLD looks interesting. It looks like we'll finally see Asgard's full relationship with Earth (aka Midgard) and the rest of the Universe. Also, is it just me or did I see Sif shoot a jealous glance at Thor's human girlfriend during the trailer? Also, anytime we get to see Loki's actor on the big screen is a good day indeed. ^_^

ENDER'S GAME looks good but I'm wondering if their gonna go with the big shocking reveal that was in the book or are they merely going to focus on Ford's character and his relationship with Ender and the rest of the children? Of course, I find the idea of human beings being genetically bred to be solders abhorrent and horrific but that's what this book (and supposedly this movie) focuses on.

Also, here's two I also enjoyed:

THE LONE RANGER: This was funny...hilarious even...and I'll sum up why with one actor's name: JOHNNY DEPP! Depp makes this movie. The movie focuses primarily around Tonto and his relationship with the Lone Ranger during their beginnings. Now, most old schoolers will be disappointed by this movie (as the Lone Ranger starts out a naive bumbling fool instead of instantly being a hero to begin with) but then again, we're all fools when we enter this world and each of us needs time and lessons to grow. The movie doesn't focus on the Ranger being badass and kicking butt and taking names, it focuses on the Lone Ranger befriending Tonto (and visa versa) and their relationship as friends and on how the Ranger eventually BECOMES the hero he was destined to be. Along the way Depp provides the humor and the Ranger provides the foil and the heroism that just wants to make you smile.

PACIFIC RIM: Yes I know this movie was a huge let down to ALOT of people but keep in mind, this was a MONSTER MASH movie. We're not here to get to know the humans (hero, villain, scientist, etc etc). No, we're here to see some GIANT F'ING ROBOTS LAY THE SMACK DOWN ON SOME GIANT F'ING MONSTERS! Sadly, the movie tries to mix it up. It doesn't go totally one way or the other. We don't focus primarily on the Robot/Monster conflicts but we also don't focus on the heroic humans. Instead, we get a movie were we get half of each and this movie may have put most poorly done monster mash movies to shame it doesn't stand up to any of ToHo's recent Godzilla films. I will say however it does outdo Emmerich's Iguanasaurus movie but then again, that's not a high bar to hurdle over. So, go see it but know it's gonna be okay and decent at best but certainly not WOW OMG!