Seen any good films lately? [2]

The episodes are on youtube- here is episode 4- Alan A Dale-

Well you could still be thinking of the same episode as I am, but the Witch of Elsdon is actually split into parts 1 and 2 for the first two episodes on my disc.
That is to say, The Witch of Elsdon is the opening story.

I'm not sure if I want to watch more without my family. If they're interested enough I may as well make it a social thing! That is neat though, that they have it up on Youtube.
How is that legal anyway? Oh well.

Robin Hood and the Sorceror should be the opening two parter- thats where you meet all the characters and possessed Little John.

Then it should be Witch, Knight, Alan a dale, and Kings Fool for series 1

Hm..
Oh yeah ok, thanks!

So at the end of season (or series) two the actor for Robin is replaced?

Forest Shepherd wrote:I mean, cmon. That's sickening and stupid as heck. The science-fiction elements, used as they are mostly to underline the cruelty of the capital are nothing more than disturbing. They aren't interesting elements of this created universe, they are just more ways in which children and adults can gruesomely, and pointlessly, kill each other.

Agreed.  I was really hoping when watching Catching Fire to get some interesting worldbuilding that would add some depth to the setting, now that they weren't confined to the arena for most of the movie.  But despite an impressive array of performances, I don't think the movies are really able to outgrow their allegory.  The Capital doesn't feel like a real society, it's just Hollywood with bloodsport and a few futuristic elements thrown in for the sake of the "message".  The books at least tried to explore things a little deeper, like with the mute slaves, though they still run into the problem that a society based entirely on mustache-twirling villainy doesn't come across as very plausible.

I did actually enjoy the second movie though, despite all the complaining I'm doing. I think it's because THG has come closer to greatness than any other YA adaptation since Harry Potter that it's shortcomings bug me so much. It'll be interesting to see how (and how much) it's remembered in 5-10 years time.

Forest Shepherd wrote:

halfwise wrote:Strangely, the only thing I've seen that comes close to it is the American comedy TV show "My Name is Earl".  Another celebration of quirkiness and good intentions.  Not quite as even in quality since they had to pump one out a week, but roughly half the episodes are a joy.

For all my love of Coen brothers films, I've never seen Blood Simple.  Time to load it up.

Ok, now hold on a minute!
There are plenty of good-hearted quirky films out there that are far superior to My Name is Earl, (which is a TV show, yes I know.)
I mean c'mon! Amelie and a so-so tv show about trailer-people? Where does that comparison come from!

Name another film about someone setting about a program of doing good things as the major plot element (I note you didn't actually name one).  Lot's of quirkiness out there, yes.  Lots of lovable characters out there, yes.  But no systematic program of doing good in which nearly every weirdo is lovingly celebrated.  In that, Amelie and My Name is Earl are unique.  At least in my memory.

Just watched Predator again, still a great film.

I thought it was Arnie's best ? mainly cos he didnt need to act or speak TO much   I really like Pedator. The follow up was a sack of cack !

For Arnie movies I'm fond of True Lies.

If only his agent had had the courage to cast him as more villains! He was magnificent in Terminator I, and that menace shaded his next few roles. It gave him a depth, of power that was dangerous and neither good nor evil. Then came Kindergarten Cop and all was lost.  

your right Dave ! Arnie would have been quite good at playing a villain, I forgot how scarey he was as the 'bad robot' in Terminator   He was better suited at that. but, it all got slushy, he was given 'feelings', Cameron tried to  make him humanish & to appeal to the audience & thats when I lost interest. Twins & Jingle All The Way were dire also !

chris63 wrote:Just watched Predator again, still a great film.

I saw it for the first time this year. I loved the primeval feel of the wide-angle shots towards the end, when Ahnuld is trying to attract the attention of the predator. Real nice cinematography.

halfwise wrote:For Arnie movies I'm fond of True Lies.

yeah I still enjoy that film too.   

I saw Predators a while back. Given Predator is to this point the only Predator film that is any good I did not have high expectations, especially not after the truly awful Predator v Aliens films.
But this wasn't actually too bad. OK not a lot actually happens and it sags a bit in the middle, but its got a nice premise, some decent performances and I liked the small hints and pointers we get to a wider Predator society and customs without them resorting to a lot of exposition.

Not a must see, but you could do worse.

I was going to put up the trailer but it gives way too much away- avoid!

I saw Predators in theatres, not long after I'd seen the original Predator, and I enjoyed it.  Adrien Brody was surprisingly effective as an action hero.  But what happened to Laurence Fishburne? He really let himself go.

You might be surprised by how effective the Brodester can be!

I thought predators was OK. The more I have watched it though the more I think it is a bit poor. Only watch it once.

Lancebloke wrote:I thought predators was OK. The more I have watched it though the more I think it is a bit poor. Only watch it once.

It's probably a good thing I haven't seen it since it was in theatres, then.

Also, it was probably helped by me seeing it less than a week after I had watched The Last Airbender, which came out around the same time.

Anyone seen 'The Room'? This review sums it up


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsgIq7cxhJk



I can't work out if it's a tragic comedy, a work of art, or ninety minutes of torture...

Wiseau claims that it was intended as a comedy, but everyone else involved in the production agrees that it was just a staggeringly incompetent attempt at a drama.  It's terrible either way.

It's down there with Birdemic below the bottom-most barrel of cinema.

Well apparently Hollywood feels differently!

The guy who plays Mark wrote a book about the film, James Franco is attached to direct (and possibly star) in a film about the making of it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disaster_Artist:_My_Life_Inside_the_Room

    

Hollywood feels exactly the same. The appeal of the film is that it's about the incredibly inept production of an incredibly inept film. A movie about making a movie. Hollywood loves that kind of thing. It's like affirmation that what they do is interesting.

Everyone likes to navel gaze occasionally, even Hollywood.

I have fluff in my navel

Forest Shepherd wrote:Hollywood feels exactly the same. The appeal of the film is that it's about the incredibly inept production of an incredibly inept film. A movie about making a movie. Hollywood loves that kind of thing. It's like affirmation that what they do is interesting.

I'm fairly sure that this is the only reason why Argo won Best Picture two years ago. Beyond the "Hollywood matters!" theme, that film was so mediocre it wasn't even funny. Really, you can't hatewatch it in a "so bad it's good" way. It's just disappointingly conventional, unambitious, and mildly dumb.