Movie Review Thread

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)

* * * 1/2

The best of the recent crop of DC animated films so far. Unlike Justice League: The New Frontier, Public Enemies remains constant in both action and story, and is entertaining the whole way through.

The film begins with Lex Luthor being elected President of the United States and a chunk of Krypton hurtling towards Earth. Luthor enlists the help of a team of superheroes (Captain Atom, Power Girl, Black Lightning, Major Force & Katana) to work for him to protect America while he is in power, but also secretly enlists Metallo to get rid of Superman. Superman, who believes Luthor is up to no good, even though he is seemingly doing a good job at being President, visits Batman who is his best friend to discuss it further. After a set up to make Superman look evil, involving a massive fight between Metallo and Superman, Luthor puts a billion dollar bounty on Superman's head. Many villains come after Superman and Batman to get the bounty including Starfire, Nightshade, Bane, Silver Banshee, Solomon Grundy, Brimstone, Catman, Giganta and many more. Gorilla Grodd also attacks using his psionic power to manipulate various superheroes into getting Superman. After battling more people after the bounty (including an epic fight with Hawkman and Captain Marvel), the pair must stop the chunk of Krypton before it crashes into Earth by enlisting the help of Hiro Okamura AKA Toyman and Power Girl.

There were some top quality voice actors used, including the return of Kevin Conroy to the Batman character and Tim Daly to the Superman character. Other actors included John C. McGinley, Xander Berkeley and Clancy Brown. The film only went for 67 minutes, which was one disappointing factor. It was also strange to see profanities used and sexual references to Power Girl's breasts made as it was something not done in the 90s Batman and Superman cartoons. As much as seeing Superman and Batman work together was fun, it just doesn't compare to the Marvel character story lines. Still, recommended for any fans of DC, animated or superhero films.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

touche

Ponyo was adorable. The plot was a bit pushed out of the way for the cuteness factor, but awwwwwwwwwwwwww

Irreversible

a french film starring Monica Belluci. Was very well done, during the first 20 or so minutes its hard to watch as the camera is shaking and constantly moving like crazy, often whirling around the room in which the characters are. the scene in 'rectum' is very hard to follow due to this.

the later scene in the 'tunnel' or 'underpass' is truely horrific, possibly the most gruelling and disturbing scene in a movie i have seen to date. i thought the rape scene in American History X was bad, and then i saw Mysterious Skin and that scene is bad, but both dont come close to Irreversible. Another scene worth mentioning, The fire existinguisher scene is very graphic and brutal.

Alot of scenes are shot in one take, often proving for very long sequences, closer to the end of the film you start to notice this alot more,(on the train and in the house) but it usually works to good effect.

the concept is similar to that of Memento, starting at the end, and retracing. this is far more easier to follow thah that of Memento, but as it works well as new information is given to us as the movie draws to a close.

8/10

I'd say Irreversible > Memento in all areas apart from the mystery.

The Seamstress (2009)

* 1/2

Pretty terrible, run-of-the-mill horror film.

Away We Go (2009)

* *

An irritating romantic drama with annoying characters and an unbelievable storyline. The positive was the way it was filmed and the camera work.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

yeah, timbzy id agree, i enjoyed Irreversible alot more than Memento, for some reason, i hate Carrie-Ann Moss in that movie.

I didn't like her in that either, in fact there are very few films I like her in. I also love Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Carrie Ann Moss is just annoying.
I did like Memento though. The way the editing made you relate to what Guy Pierce's character was feeling was great.
I like the non-linear way Christopher Nolan chooses to edit a lot of his films - like The Prestige.
Even though it was a period piece it had a much more contemporary feel to it.

who doesnt love Monica Bellucci?

I don't really like Nolan. Memento is the exception.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

I liked Memento and The Prestige, but the Batman's are... watchable.
I find Paul Thomas Anderson interesting.

Of the Monica Bellucci films I have seen, this is my breakdown.

Shoot 'Em Up (2007) - * * * 1/2
N (Io e Napoleone) (2006) - * * *
Combien tu m'aimes? (2005) - * * 1/2
The Brothers Grimm (2005) - * *
Agents secrets (2004) - * * 1/2
The Passion of the Christ (2004) - * * *
The Matrix Revolutions (2003) - * 1/2
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) - * 1/2
Ricordati di me (2003) - * * *
Tears of the Sun (2003) - * * 1/2
Irréversible (2002) - * * * * 1/2
Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (2002) - * * *
Le pacte des loups (2001) - * * * 1/2
Malèna (2000) - * * * * 1/2
Under Suspicion (2000) - * * 1/2
A los que aman (1998) - * * * 1/2
L'ultimo capodanno (1998) - * * *
Come mi vuoi (1997) - * * *
Dobermann (1997) - * * *
L'appartement (1996) - * * * *
Joseph (1995) - * * *
Dracula (1992) - * * * 1/2

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

I liked Punch-Drunk Love, Boogie Nights and Sydney (and the original short Cigarettes & Coffee). Magnolia was okay, but pretty fluffy and There Will Be Blood was a massive snore-fest.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Has anyone here seen La Haine. It is quite possibly the best French movie I've ever seen

Mah boi, Vincent Cassel. Agreed it is among my favourite French films. Some others from the past 20 years that are among favourites are Léon, Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Irréversible and Un long dimanche de fiançailles.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Leon wasnt as good as i had heard or thought, Irreversible is my top french film

Leon is in my top 20 films list. Amazing film.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

what are your favourite movies, out of general interest.
you seem to watch alot, and have a good general knowledge of the aspects of film.

Damn you... ! You totally killed it with Amelie, I was forced to sit through it in French class in order to do a film review. In comparison to La Haine, I'd say the downfall of Vinz, Hubert and the inevitable reality of Sayid in the banlieue is SO MUCH BETTER.

I know it's considered gold in global film but I simply can't relate to it. The plot is too "contemporary". I could write a huge essay as to why I hate it and an even biger one as to why I would rather watch 2 girls 1 cup on repeat for 1.5 hours rather than Amilie.

In saying that, I respect that you like that film.

I'd also say Les Quatre Cents Coups by Francois truffaut is good because it opened up cinema, in that it was actually filmed in the reality it is set in, unlike John Wayne westerns that were being churned out of simulated Hollywood studios daily.
However, the ending sucked. But that's pretty much what french cinema is "you watch the start and the middle but imagine the end". As seen in La Haine with Hubert and the Community Cop. I'd say Hubert pulled the trigger. But it's open for interpretation.

Just for a lol, have you seen Les Onze Commandements. That's funny !

Goodnight, you reminded me that I have to study French in the morning. Nice chatting tho. For once we aren't having a pointless argument.

I don't actually have a written out list, so off the top of my head, if I did; Waking Life, Cidade de Deus, Blue Velvet, Brick, Lost Highway, Thumbsucker, Mononoke-hime, Annie Hall, Being John Malkovich, Synecdoche, New York, Mysterious Skin, Igby Goes Down, Before Sunset & Before Sunrise, LA Confidential, Mulholland Drive, Elephant, Lost In Translation, Jacob's Ladder, Basquiat, Gummo, Dazed and Confused, La Haine, My Own Private Idaho, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Manic, Leon, The Usual Suspects, Bully, Bang Bang You're Dead, HYPE, Southland Tales, Speak, Little Children, Into The Wild, Dedication, Wristcutters: A Love Story, Wendy and Lucy and Into the Wild would be on it. I suck at remembering older films that I loved because I mostly remember through cast and can never remember old names.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

I agree. Leon was terribly overrated, especially since it was made in 1994 when all it was is a film that made popular once again the most overused b-film plot of 'Guy in dangerous job looks after kid and learns a valuable life lesson/makes the ultimate sacrifice for them'. They've been making that film since the 30's, it's just not many of the kids had the same appeal as Natalie Portman.

That Timbzy mentioned great French films and forgot The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a travesty. If I didn't fall in love with Amelie every time I watch the film TDBatB would be my favourite.

Amelie (the character) is so cute

I remember liking the film, although all I remember is when the guy shocks himself and the scream he makes. Hilarious.

The scene most people tell me they remember is the one where Amelie wonders how many people are having orgasms at that exact second, and then we see all the couples together. Probably because most of my friends were young when I introduced them to it.

I didn't forget it, it just doesn't fall into my top 5 French film of the past 20 years.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

I don't know Cara, I want to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. Bit of harmless fun and Isla Fisher is way hot. The International was crap though. The only scene I found entertaining was the shoot out in the art gallery.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

confessions of a shopaholic is an okay, fun movie.

i'd give it * * * just because it's harmless fun with isla fisher. =P

Bram Stoker's Dracula.

This movie sucks! The novel was brilliant because everything revolved around the fact that Dracula was a mostly unseen, heartless monster. Not only does the film take a different approach, it takes it to the extreme. The Dracula in this film not only cries three times (once crying purple tears, for some unexplained reason), but has several scenes where he takes Mina Murray on dates! The story focuses on the love affair between Dracula and Mina, who resembles his wife who died 4 centuries before the film takes place (mostly because both characters are played by Winona Ryder). It is offencive garbage, and should be avoided.

The characters are terrible. Mina is a boorish tramp, Keanu Reeves as an Englishman was a bad idea, but for some reason he decided to act in this film when he actually had a chance to play the wooden, disturbed Harker. Hopkins as Van Helsing presents a character whose nose you want to break after every line of dialogue, and the other supporting characters are mere vagaries.

Most of the effects in this film are overlays which inspire laughter. Dracula's eyes in the sky, cheap shadow effects and worst of all the fucking Werewolf that rapes Lucy are moments that will either leave you laughing or, as I was doing, slapping your head in frustration.

Ninety minutes into the film Van Helsing announces 'Vampires do exist'. This is after we've seen Dracula climbing castle battlements, women flying, Dracula fucking Lucy as a werewolf, a giant green bat and Lucy rise from the grave.

Give me a fucking break.

Book of Blood (2008)

* 1/2

Moments of originality were shattered by a mostly dull, predictable and choppy horror film that relies too heavily on shock scares with loud noises or people jumping out suddenly. Avoid.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

* * * 1/2

Brilliant soundtrack from RZA. Great direction. Well-written dialogue and characters. Average plot. Forest Whitaker and the soundtrack were the definite highlights.

Star Trek (2009)

* * 1/2

Run of the mill sci-fi/action. Provided entertainment, but overall, pretty forgettable. I liked a few of the cast members (Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Winona Ryder and John Cho), but their characters were all very surface, and while they did the best with what they were given, there was nothing special about their roles apart from Yelchin's accent and some funny moments he was involved in. I really dislike Chris Pine too, which didn't help things, they should have gone with their other choice for Kirk; Mike Vogel. Eric Bana is a bit the same, but was better than having the other choice for Nero; Russell Crowe. The story was very simple and the way it was filmed made it feel very small. I've never really liked Star Trek, too much surface and sci-fi babble to really get into. This film didn't help things.

The Thaw (2009)

* *

Pretty much a movie length mix between Cabin Fever and X-Files episode 'Ice'. A group of scientists find a woolly mammoth in a melting polar ice cap which is infested with a parasite that lays eggs in it's hosts and gradually kills them. There are some that want to get out of there before they become hosts and some that want the place quarantined. Follows on from there with minimal scares, mostly average acting and unrealistic situations. Nowhere near as good as Cabin Fever or 'Ice'. Stars Martha MacIsaac, Aaron Ashmore, Kyle Schmid (Henry Fitzroy from Blood Ties) and a mostly absent Val Kilmer.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Confessions of a Shopaholic seems like it will be a My Best Friend's Wedding kind of love for me. Awesome chic comedy with some romance. Keen to see. I didn't like The Gift though, although I love Giovanni Ribisi, one of my favourite actors.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Haha I used to do this all the time on the old forum.

Gardener of Eden (2007) - * * * 1/2
The Dead Girl (2006) - * * * 1/2
10th & Wolf (2006) - * * *
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) - * * *
Cold Mountain (2003) - * * *
I Love Your Work (2003) - * * * * *
Lost in Translation (2003) - * * * * *
Basic (2003) - * * 1/2
Masked and Anonymous (2003) - * * *
Heaven (2002) - * * *
The Gift (2000) - * * 1/2
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) - * * *
Boiler Room (2000) - * * *
The Virgin Suicides (1999) - * * * * *
The Mod Squad (1999) - * * *
Saving Private Ryan (1998) - * * * *
Some Girl (1998) - * * *
Scotch and Milk (1998) - * * * 1/2
Lost Highway (1997) - * * * * *
SubUrbia (1996) - * * * *
That Thing You Do! (1996) - * * * 1/2
"The X Files" - D.P.O. (1995) - * * * * 1/2

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'

Tormented (2009)

* * *

Nice little horror flick. Nothing terribly original, but the way it was filmed, the way it was all put together, was entertaining and fun.

Trick 'r Treat (2008)

* * * *

This was supposed to be released 2 years ago, but kept getting pushed back until finally being released straight to dvd this month. The movie followed four interconnected stories that all have a message to follow the traditions of Halloween or die. It is colourful, scary and has a similar feel to it as Idle Hands, with less stoney comedy. It stars Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker & Leslie Bibb and is something I recommend to fans of horror films.

patches wrote:

Timbzy wrote:

I work in a hospital and every time I walk the halls, I imagine my exit strategy for if a zombie outbreak occurs. Because we all know the hospital will be one of the first/hardest hit for a zombie attack.

this = why timbzy is the love of my life.

Courtwhip wrote:

You can be my 'Captian Love'