NOW CLOSED ; List some movies you've watched recently. Theatre, rental, TV... and give a */10

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JamesV

Platinum Member
Jul 9, 2011
2,002
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Twixt 6/10

Not much left at the library I haven't seen, so I tried this one. Personally I can't stand when people use other characters or real life people in their stories... it's plain lazy, and often trite. One thing that made me laugh, is the banter between the characters, talking about not making a story too 'artsy' (paraphrasing), while this movie was exactly that.

All The Wilderness 4/10

The little kid from the 'The Road' is an angst ridden young teen, that happens to find others like him and they commiserate their lives together in a Matrix-like young-person scene. Boring, unbelievable, and just plain silly.

Once Upon a Time in America 6/10

Maybe if I saw it when it was released, I would have loved it, but I'm not a fan of movies where the timeline jumps around constantly, nor am I fan of Japanese-style acting with lots of focusing on the face of a character as we see the fake emotions playing across their faces. If this is a film that made Dineiro, no wonder I like none of his films.

The Gunman - Sean Penn - 1/10

A Bourne wannabe, this piece of trash should be burned and removed from human consciousness. No wonder Penn gets no jobs these days if this film is a showcase of his hidden (non-existent) talents.
 

Xonim

Golden Member
Jul 13, 2011
1,131
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Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 2 -- 4/10
Meh. Never read the books, but could see the very end coming from a mile away.
Though the part with the people outside the gates ... yeah I didn't see that coming.
I guess none of that is the writer/director's fault seeing as it's based on books. Anyway, that's not the point.

I'm conflicted on Jennifer Lawrence. On one hand, she could be / is a fantastic actress -- see: Silver Linings Playbook. On the other hand, there's this. It's cheesy and lame and IMO poorly acted ... or maybe that's the director's vision for her, I don't know. I'm fine with everyone else in this movie (yes, even with whatever Elizabeth Banks is), it's just Jennifer Lawrence that bothers me. It's some "Kristen Stewart in Twilight"-level stuff.

As for the rest of the movie, the action parts were entertaining enough, but I'll stop short of calling them good. Woody Harrelson is awesome as always, but he's got such a small role that it gets lost in the mess of the rest of it. I think the best part now is that it's over.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
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Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 2 -- 4/10
Meh. Never read the books, but could see the very end coming from a mile away.
Though the part with the people outside the gates ... yeah I didn't see that coming.
I guess none of that is the writer/director's fault seeing as it's based on books. Anyway, that's not the point.

I'm conflicted on Jennifer Lawrence. On one hand, she could be / is a fantastic actress -- see: Silver Linings Playbook. On the other hand, there's this. It's cheesy and lame and IMO poorly acted ... or maybe that's the director's vision for her, I don't know. I'm fine with everyone else in this movie (yes, even with whatever Elizabeth Banks is), it's just Jennifer Lawrence that bothers me. It's some "Kristen Stewart in Twilight"-level stuff.

As for the rest of the movie, the action parts were entertaining enough, but I'll stop short of calling them good. Woody Harrelson is awesome as always, but he's got such a small role that it gets lost in the mess of the rest of it. I think the best part now is that it's over.

Personally I think though you call out her role, the bigger issue is the hollywood trend to split a 3rd book into 2 movies...or 1 book into 3 movies..etc. While the first movie was decent, the 2nd ok (or maybe I liked it more, I can't remember), the 3rd was awful and boring and I don't expect the 4th to be any better.
 

motsm

Golden Member
Jan 20, 2010
1,822
2
76
Once Upon a Time in America 6/10

Maybe if I saw it when it was released, I would have loved it, but I'm not a fan of movies where the timeline jumps around constantly, nor am I fan of Japanese-style acting with lots of focusing on the face of a character as we see the fake emotions playing across their faces. If this is a film that made Dineiro, no wonder I like none of his films.
Never cared for Once Upon a Time in America either. The first 30 years or so of De Niro's career is full of great movies though, regardless of his choices more recently.
 

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,252
403
126
The Gunman - Sean Penn - 1/10

A Bourne wannabe, this piece of trash should be burned and removed from human consciousness. No wonder Penn gets no jobs these days if this film is a showcase of his hidden (non-existent) talents.
Care to elaborate? I didn't think it was anything special but I didn't think it was horrible.

I just heard about this UK reality series (soon to be a US series, it's been picked up by CBS):

Hunted - 7.5/10

It's about 14 different people who must evade the authorities for 28 days. The authorities use CCTV footage, sift through the contestants' emails and other digital trails, conduct in-person interviews of people related to them... everything that a real investigation of a fugitive would involve, more or less.

I've watched an episode and a half so far and it's pretty decent. Nothing spectacular, but it's enough to keep my interest and make me want to keep watching to see what happens. It's also the type of show, similar to Naked and Afraid, where you tend to put yourself in their shoes and think about how you'd do it differently, or the same.

Full episodes are available on YouTube, at least the first season anyway. Just search for "Hunted UK series."
 

Xonim

Golden Member
Jul 13, 2011
1,131
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Personally I think though you call out her role, the bigger issue is the hollywood trend to split a 3rd book into 2 movies...or 1 book into 3 movies..etc. While the first movie was decent, the 2nd ok (or maybe I liked it more, I can't remember), the 3rd was awful and boring and I don't expect the 4th to be any better.

My first instinct was to agree with you, but upon thinking about it, I'm not sure that I do -- though my sample size is small. I've heard The Hobbit movies would be better as one film instead of 3, but I haven't seen them yet so I can't confirm. However, splitting the last book into two worked wonderfully for Harry Potter. The last 2 movies were probably my favorites of the series.

As for the Hunger Games, I don't think my problem with it was the pacing (and by extension, the split into 2 movies). Looking back, I don't feel there was anything that was woefully unnecessary to the story being told ... beyond the first book/movie, it just wasn't a very good story. If I were to try and say "well remove this and shorten that" to get the ending content to fit into a 2 hour movie, I wouldn't know where to start.
 

A Casual Fitz

Diamond Member
May 16, 2005
4,649
1,018
136
My first instinct was to agree with you, but upon thinking about it, I'm not sure that I do -- though my sample size is small. I've heard The Hobbit movies would be better as one film instead of 3, but I haven't seen them yet so I can't confirm. However, splitting the last book into two worked wonderfully for Harry Potter. The last 2 movies were probably my favorites of the series.

As for the Hunger Games, I don't think my problem with it was the pacing (and by extension, the split into 2 movies). Looking back, I don't feel there was anything that was woefully unnecessary to the story being told ... beyond the first book/movie, it just wasn't a very good story. If I were to try and say "well remove this and shorten that" to get the ending content to fit into a 2 hour movie, I wouldn't know where to start.

The Hobbit movies are prime examples of bloating a short book for the sake of making money. They wanted to cash in on the success of the LOTR movies and a trilogy was a great way to do it.
 

Xonim

Golden Member
Jul 13, 2011
1,131
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The Hobbit movies are prime examples of bloating a short book for the sake of making money. They wanted to cash in on the success of the LOTR movies and a trilogy was a great way to do it.

Yeah that's what I figured, and it's part of the reason I haven't actually watched them yet. Watching the LotR universe is probably best left with the extended editions of Fellowship/Two Towers/Return of the King.

I only know of 1 person that has seen all 3 of the Hobbit movies. Everyone else I've talked to stopped watching after the first one, saying it was WAY too long for what it was.
 

A Casual Fitz

Diamond Member
May 16, 2005
4,649
1,018
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Yeah that's what I figured, and it's part of the reason I haven't actually watched them yet. Watching the LotR universe is probably best left with the extended editions of Fellowship/Two Towers/Return of the King.

I only know of 1 person that has seen all 3 of the Hobbit movies. Everyone else I've talked to stopped watching after the first one, saying it was WAY too long for what it was.

I watch all of the LOTR extended editions roughly once a year or so and still love them. I most likely won't watch The Hobbit movies again unless a friend convinces me to.
 

AznAnarchy99

Lifer
Dec 6, 2004
14,695
117
106
Yeah that's what I figured, and it's part of the reason I haven't actually watched them yet. Watching the LotR universe is probably best left with the extended editions of Fellowship/Two Towers/Return of the King.

I only know of 1 person that has seen all 3 of the Hobbit movies. Everyone else I've talked to stopped watching after the first one, saying it was WAY too long for what it was.

I'm a big fan of the LOTR movies but I can't get past the first Hobbit movie without falling asleep. Tried 3-4 times.
 

cbrunny

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2007
6,791
406
126
Vacation: 7.5/10 - thoroughly enjoyed this comedy. But it is nothing super special. Would watch again.

No Escape: 8/10 - Tense. Owen Wilson doesn't suck. Well worth $6. Basically doesn't let up for the entire movie once things get going. More than a few "HOOLY S***" moments. Would watch again.

Wild Tales: 7/10 - A Netflix movie, of sorts. Argentinian with English subtitles. This is six short stories of revenge. Very funny, very good. If you are looking for something unique and original, I highly recommend this in a totally not-hipster way. Not sarcasm.
 

palmfire

Member
Dec 8, 2015
30
1
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www.apluselectronics.biz
Just finished watching The Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 2 it was ok but I don't understand why Prim would die in the end. Wasn't also this started to protect Prim from dying in the first place? Anyway, my vote 7/10
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Just finished watching The Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 2 it was ok but I don't understand why Prim would die in the end. Wasn't also this started to protect Prim from dying in the first place? Anyway, my vote 7/10
Haven't seen it. I was going to decide based on the rating you gave it but by the time I got there I no longer need to see it. Thanks!
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,574
9,956
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No Escape: 8/10 - Tense. Owen Wilson doesn't suck. Well worth $6. Basically doesn't let up for the entire movie once things get going. More than a few "HOOLY S***" moments. Would watch again.

Where do you live such that movie admission is $6, even matinees?
 

Xonim

Golden Member
Jul 13, 2011
1,131
0
0
Where do you live such that movie admission is $6, even matinees?

The trick is to find independent theaters. I live in the Minneapolis/St Paul area, and the theater near my old place had $5 matinees on weekends and $5 all day Monday-Thursday.

Their equipment and seating wasn't exactly the quality / size of the big expensive theaters around here, but it was adequate considering what they charge.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,574
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Some areas have theaters that show older released movies cheaper. No Escape came out in August so that's probably the case.

Ahh, yeah. I haven't lived near one of those for quite some time. Way, way, way back in the day (mid seventies), the Fox Venice in Venice, CA was the absolute shiznit. 99 cent double features.

It was a particularly huge old palace, and they'd taken out the first 7-8 rows (plenty left) so you could bring blankets and pillows and camp out while you watched.

They also let you wander in and out with your ticket, so you could go across the street, get good, cheap Mexican food, or burgers and such, and freely bring it back in with you.

There was a certain herb scent in the air as well. ;)

Where I live now, the old local theaters in the towns have all become either subscription art film houses, which is not bad for variety's sake, or music and live theater venues, also not bad.

Just nothing left for the po' folk, is all.
 

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,782
2,284
126
Bone Tomahawk - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2494362/reference

my opinion throughout watching this film, was of a really good film with tons of defects. did not care for the gore at all, was done too seriously while the rest was not in horror style; much like a good western ruined by the occasional dismembering. while the visuals were great, and the dialogue ok, and the acting fairly good, the fact that the film incoherently jumps between styles severely put me off. kept thinking "tarantino would have done this so much better".

sorry but 6/10

also watched again

Charlie Wilson's War - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/reference

what a great film. what a perfect script. 9/10

and

Lord Of War - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399295/reference

actually, so-so performance by Cage. but outstanding script and great direction.

8/10
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,014
3,179
136
Lord of War is awesome. That's one movie I can watch whenever I see it on TV, or when I'm on Netflix and nothing else looks good, and I still enjoy it.
Love that movie. It's one of the few I've seen more than once.

Charlie Wilson's war is also really good.
 

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2012
8,173
524
126
Black Jesus (Adult Swim), Season 2 - 8/10

I think this show is one of the best comedies going today. Season 2 was a little aimless, but still side-splitting funny. If there was a theme, it was "Pops wants us to go legit. Make paper without doing all that janky shit". The gang tries to go straight. Or, as straight as a bunch of unemployed folks living in Compton might manage.

Some great comedic performances. Slink Johnson as the 6'9" weed smoking, robe and sandal clad Jesus, Charlie Murphy as the vindictive apartment manager Vic, and John Witherspoon as Lloyd, the neighborhood bum.
 
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