More Movie reviews

[mf_luder_xf]

Ok, what is the deal with The Golden Compass? Libraries are banning it (the book), previews are everywhere, IMDB has gone crazy! I've never seen the site change like that for any movie. I'm dling it now, but seriously. What gives?

A Beautiful Mind: What can I say? While I was disappointed there was less math in it than I expected (he might not be the father of game theory, but he contributed greatly to it and economics), in the end it makes sense. not many people want to watch movies about mathematicians. They want movies about people. And that's definitely what they gave us. While it's not entirely correct (for example, he and his wife were actually divorced for a great length of time), it brings his struggles into focus and was beautiful storytelling. I don't like Russell Crowe, but he's perfect in this movie. By the end I was bawling, not really because it was sad, but because it was so beautiful. Great movie. HIGHLY recommended.

Eastern Promises: It didn't turn out the way I expected from various previews, but it was an excellent movie. A little gorier than I usually like, but not overly (as in, there wasn't more blood than necessary for storytelling). It was in-your-face Russian mafia and brilliantly done. I loved how it all played out, and that a hunch I had at the beginning was correct. Also, not only is Viggo HOTTER THAN HELL (tattoos, completely ripped), but his acting is spot on in this movie. I love him.

Michael Clayton: This movie gets one big YAWN from me. Seriously. I haven't made it through the thing in one shot, yet. I've fallen asleep every time. Normally, movies like this, I like them. North Country? Fucking loved it. I even liked The INsider and I don't like Russell Crowe. Ok, Erin Brockovich not so much. But I've watched a lot of documentaries on this kind of thing and I've never been so bored. Clooney, good acting and all, and the top partner makes some interesting comments in his seeming madness but in general, don't bother.

The Bee Movie: Cute and silly. The best part? Ken being jealous of the bee. LOL I've seen both better and funnier animated films, but it wasn't bad.

The Man From Earth: This is a philosophical gem! It's one of those dialouge based movies so if you're looking for action, not so much. But if you want a somewhat sweet movie that'll get your mind spinning, this is it. Well done, well acted. The best part? "I'm leery of labs. Afraid I might go in and stay for a thousand years whilst cigarette-smoking men try to figure me out." Bwah! And all the more genius because at least two of the actors were in The X-Files.

The Mist: OMG, you know a movie is bad if it's classified under horror and I'm LAUGHING. Seriously, one of the worst plots ever. Or it just played out badly. Like the kid? Whoever the little boy was should never have been cast. He was awful. I couldn't stop cringing whenever he opened his mouth. Also, spiders? And maybe it's just because I am so used to Stargate and XF where science is everything and/or solves the problem, but literally, we get a two sentence explanation of what happened. LAME. The military men were lame and utterly useless. Crazy religious lady? The sad thing is in the end she was one of the best parts. There were a few things I liked. One, that the lead man and woman were both married and did not get together. Two, the ending. While I saw it coming about ten minutes before it happened (I kept yelling, wait, you moron!), the fact that it did end the way it did instead of copping out was brilliant. So...it sucked until the end. But seriously. So bad it was funny.

Don't forget to check out my own version of Netflix. I'm giving you utnil right before I go on vacation to let me know if you want a movie (which means they'll get uploaded right before Christmas).

Comments

[lorelei633.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about The Golden Compass but I happened to read an article on cnn.com yesterday about how there's a firestorm of criticism, alleging that the film is intending to turn children against religion, Catholicism in particular. I believe there was some mention of the author of the book having made statements critical of religion. I haven't seen the film so I don't know one way or the other, but that seems to be the gist of all this kerfuffle.

[mf_luder_xf]

Yeah, I guess the author's an atheist. Umm, big deal. Have the authors in the world are.

I'm going to have to read the book, because the movie wouldn't have even made me think of religion.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

It sounds like more of the Harry Potter is satanic non-sense. This should help explain things.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-golden-compass-author,1,886999.story

I skimmed through more of the Google News Page and it sounds like there's widely divergent opinions on the source material. The author is an atheist. I haven't read the book, but the Catholic Bishops make it sound anti-Catholic, but they gave the film which doesn't follow it exactly, rave reviews.

[mf_luder_xf]

That article was very interesting, thank you. It certainly explains the controversy. But still, it seems to be such a BIG DEAL, you know? Strange. Well, I finished dling it, i'll watch tonight.

Oh, church. ♥ lol

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

People way overblowing things as usual. Let me know how it is.

Church--PPPTH. ;-)

[mf_luder_xf]

Hmm, somehow the book must make the "theocracy" more stated because just watching this movie, without knowing the religious controversy, it merely seems like any typical fantasy/sci-fi dictator.

And the movie? NBD. Seriously, I wasn't all that impressed.

[siberian-skys.livejournal.com]

I got the impression from that article that the book is indeed more overt.

I won't rush out to the theater then. Thanks for the heads-up. I haven't been to the theater in almost a year and I really don't miss it all that much. Most things get released on DVD really quickly. I was thinking that I might go to see this, but I think I'd rather go see Grace Is Gone or PS I Love You. I hate that The Accidental Husband doesn't come out until March. Everything that I think will get be back in a theater either turns out to be meh, or never gets here. No wonder I just almost completely rent these days.

[griva-x.livejournal.com]

R Crowe had to walk away with an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind. I love the actor and even though Gladiator is one of my fav movies ever, RC HAD to get an Oscar a year later, that is for A Bautiful Mind. I remember I was crying at some point too.

Eastern Promises: it was a movie I laughed through all the time. Because it's a parody. It's riddled with cliches about Russians. VCassel doesn't look an OUNCE a Russian. VM is ok though, and I agree, he's kinda hot (even though I'm not his fan). But I still can't wrap my mind why D Cronenberg had to make this movie. And the ending...isn't it ridiculous and completely unbelievable?

Ok, Im a Russian and that's why I see it from the "inside". But seriously...it's more a joke than a movie.

[mf_luder_xf]

Yes, he did deserve the Oscar for the movie. Like I said, he was amazing in it.

Cassel...I don't know, he made me think of drunken floppy-haired Krycek. LOL Not a fan of VM, really? Why is that?

The ending appears off the cuff as unbelievable, but then you look at various mafias, especially Italian and you see how they go out of their way to protect family and innocent children. Italians because they're mostly Catholic see the children as innocent until a certain age because they haven't been corrupted yet, no matter what they were born into. I also tend to think that Viggo's character...it was a job. And killing the kid wasn't his job. I would have expected him to tell them to leave London, but whatever.

But not really accurate, huh? The Russian they spoke, was that correctly done?

[griva-x.livejournal.com]

I mean I'm not a squeeing fan of VM. You know, there are some people who...deify him. He's just...ok. He was good in The History of Violence (shot by same director, by the way). He was ok in EP too, But VC...he's just SO not-Ruusian looking. It's same as if AJolie played a Russian emperatress. :)

I was wathing the movie in dubbed Russian, so I can't judge to what extent they used Russian. But all those cliched attributes that stroke my eyes were the singers in the restaurant who seem to sing always the same song, the "borsch" soup... The moment that nearly killed me was when VM shagged that Ukranian prostitute and left her a small icon with the cash. I mean...it COULD look touching to a foreigner, but for me...it's excessive stress on religion that is not quite what Russian are. One thing IS true: a car is a thing of status for Russians and people of influence prefer to drive smthg big, black, and SHINY. :)

Anyway, it's hard to explain. The movie was not awful, just...funny for me to watch. But I guess if Russian made a movie about...baseball, they'd have filmed some thing Americans would make fun of too.

The fight in the bath was cool. I mean - I admire that VM does not shy away from baring it all.

And last but not least: I'm not an expert on Russian mafia, that's why I can't be an expert. Orthodoxal religion differs drastically from Catholicism (and if honestly, I quite...despise Orthodox). But I think that the ending was a bit...rushed. Same as Kirill going all touchy-feely on VM. That was the moment I really believed he WAS gay.

[mf_luder_xf]

Oh, I see. Is History of violence good? I was interested, but didn't know if it would be a bit too...gory.

Oh cliches always abound in movies. Like any movie in Italy features the singing canal men. There's just always singing. I happen to love that, though.

I wasn't exactly sure what the deal with icon was. Like was it supposed to turn her life around? Offer her hope? It did seem touching, but ultimately pointless.

Cars, really? Interesting.

Yeah, whoa to VM. I was like, holy shit. it was really well done.

As to your last point...I thought that he was. The way he was constantly on top of Nikolai, the way he insisted that he had to fuck someone right then and watched--and his eyes weren't on the girl. And then we know that VC's character started to rape Tatiana, but couldn't finish. And then there's that comment his father makes about London with it's fags making him what he is. I thought all the actions were a repressed homosexual trying to live up to his father through other actions. Huh. maybe I was wrong.

So, can you recommend good Russian movies? Ones that portray Russia the way you see it? I'd love to know.

[griva-x.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I certainly COULD rec you some Russian movies. But if you tell me what are available to you there, in the States. Because what's the point to rec smthg you'd probably never have a chance to watch?

[mf_luder_xf]

Hey, that's what the internet's for!! I am a very resourceful girl at times. ;-)

[lostandalone22.livejournal.com]

I liked "A Beautiful Mind," and I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if there was too much math in it. My brain just doesn't work with math.

[mf_luder_xf]

Yeah, I understand. I might not "understand" the math per se (had there been more), but I am a geek and I love to watch other people about geek about things I only wish I could do.