Seen any good films lately? [2]

The first half is indeed awesome, and when I watched it in the theatre I was sure this was going to be one of my all-time favourite movies. But then the second half doesn't live up to the first at all, and it drags out more than RotK. I quite like how RotK drags out, but Django felt way too long.

I wonder how much of it due to the change in editor (due to Sally Menke's unfortunate passing).  Perhaps Tarantino did not have as many advising voices to curb some of his more self-indulgent tendencies.  The horse ride to Candyland taking up half an hour of screen time was pretty ridiculous.

I still think Jamie Foxx was a poor substitute for Will Smith at his best, and Tarantino's cameo did my nut in, can't stand the bloke's mannersims 'nervous nerd' even if I like most of his movies.

I generally like Long films if they needed to be long, Django with it's simple plot didn't. Dicaprio was great though.

Samuel L. Jackson's performance in Django is probably the best one he has given in over a decade. I thought he was fantastic. DiCaprio was definitely great too, as was Waltz, though I don't think he was quite as good as he was in Inglourious Basterds. I thought Jamie Foxx gave a good performance, but I too wonder what Will Smith would have done. Although the Tarantino casting what-if I resent the most is Adam Sandler as the Bear Jew in IB. That could have been the stuff of legend.

Somehow I can't quite see Will Smith in Django. Well, ok maybe. He may have done as well as Foxx but I can't see him being better. Loved Sam Jackson - took me a while to recognize him...I'm glad he got to stretch his wings and show his amazing range. He's been far too typecast.

I should add that the opening scene was one of the great character entries in cinema. Waltz seems perfect in any role. So long as someone stands around with a rubber bat to curb his more violent fits, Tarantino can write scripts of genius.

Iron Man 3

I enjoyed watching IM3 but it was definitely flawed so I can't entirely disagree.  Spoilery thoughts...

Spoiler:

fuck i read the spoiler because i thought i had seen it...

Haha, really? Or did you just want to use that Benedict GIF?

is Inception any good, it looks interesting, cant believe I missed it at the cinema. Has anyone seen Elysium yet?

I loved Inception when it first came out but I'm not sure how well it's aged since I haven't seen it three years. I would really like to, though, since it's sustained a fair bit of backlash since it's initially quite positive reception.

I still haven't seen Elysium, unfortunately.

I saw a trailer and the special effects look amazingly weird maybe it will come on the telly.

Hey! Just realized, where's your tales from campus thread? We wanna know what it's like going back.  

(I went back in my late 30's, but that's old stories now. And I don't think I'm as wacked as you. Want some fresh stuff).

headless chicken at the mo, I think it rolled off after it exploded from Too Much Intel. sorry old chap, ask me in a week.
the Halls are great though, nice grub, and most importantly theres a Starbucks 5 minutes away.  

oh just saw that   waddya mean I am more wacked than you? is that Americaun for loony?

btw I have only needed to shout at two people in the two days I have been here, thats pretty lightweight, I must be mellowing with age.

Mrs Figg wrote:I saw a trailer and the special effects look amazingly weird maybe it will come on the telly.

Yeah, I was really impressed by the special effects too. Unfortunately Christopher Nolan has never been a very good director of action, though I thought Inception was at least better than The Dark Knight Rises in that regard. (Actually, it was better than The Dark Knight Rises in just about every regard, but that's a rant for another post. ) I'd definitely recommend watching it, the film is convoluted but not necessarily in a bad way, unlike a lot of other recent blockbusters. It's certainly an experience.

Iron Man 3 for me can be summed up by the two words my friend said as we left the cinema: 'Lumpy Dump' (i.e overlong overblown pile of shite) didn't enjoy it at all.

My fave Nolan film is The Prestige (heck it is one of my fave films anyway), but I have liked all his films thus far, though I agree his directorial style is a tad bland and cold (he seems as if he is trying to do an impression of Kubrick at times), and his action sequences though very actiony just feel a little flat and manufactured.

DKR I enjoyed but it defintely felt like a contractual obligation not a film he really wanted to make. And Bane is no Joker.

Mrs Figg wrote:
the Halls are great though, nice grub, and most importantly theres a Starbucks 5 minutes away.  

Wow, that counts for a lot.  Don't think you get that very often here, I mean the nice grub. On the other hand Starbucks pop up like dandelions.

Mrs Figg wrote:
oh just saw that   waddya mean I am more wacked than you? is that Americaun for loony?

Um.... ... it just means you'll have a more interesting perspective than I'm probably capable of.

I still haven't seen The Prestige, but I definitely want to. My favorite Nolan films of the ones I have seen is undoubtedly Memento. That's a really great film, and I think people who deride the reverse-chronology as a gimmick are missing the point. TDKR was a disappointment in just about every way, though still a decent, well-made film. Except for the action sequences.

The prestige was quite good, though of course I was kinda bothered by the pseudo physics as deux ex machina at the end.

There was another magician movie that came out at the same time, what was it?

Ah, the Illusionist. Not quite as showy, but more true to reality. I need to watch it again, it doesn't have the shock value of the Prestige to help you remember it.

"is Inception any good" - Figg

Yes I've watched it a few times and still like it a lot (I watch all the films I like several times for some reason). Highly recommended

halfwise wrote:Ah, the Illusionist.  Not quite as showy, but more true to reality.  I need to watch it again, it doesn't have the shock value of the Prestige to help you remember it.

I have seen The Illusionist a couple times, it's quite good. Paul Giamatti is great in it.

Is there anything Paul Giamatti is not great in? He's one of the few demonstrations that talent can count more than looks in Hollywood.

''Um....Embarassed ... it just means you'll have a more interesting perspective than I'm probably capable of'' Halfy


well played.