EnMasse

leftcoastguy · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: Seen any good flics recently?

Or any other type of entertainment?

This past weekend I went to see a superb film - "Freedom Writers". Has anyone else seen this flic? Anyway I recommend it.
_________________
Thinking is so overrated. Smile

Norse of 60 · Kokanee Kid Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 3711

TS. · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:43 am Post subject:

I saw Children of Men recently. Excellent movie.
_________________
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

unionist · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

elmateo · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:53 am Post subject:

and after you see it you can contribute to our spoiler allowed discussion Wink

hint hint!

JPG · Pro-choice freedom-monger Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 2569

Does anyone know if Bobby has opened in Canada yet?
_________________
We are the youth, we'll take your fascism away...

F. · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 2578

voice of the damned · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject:

What happened with Terry Gilliam's Tideland? I'm an on again/off again fan of Gilliam's, some of his stuff is a bit too visually and thematically extravagant for my minimalist tastes, but I was looking forward to that one.

I heard something about not being able to find a distributor? When I was in Edmonton last month, I heard something about it playing at Metro Cinema, which is run a small film society who don't even have their own theatre. I was kind of surprised.

elmateo · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:05 pm Post subject:

I don't think they were having much success in the theatres. It is being released to DVD rather soon (Feb 27th).

Tideland would be an interesting comparison to Pan's Labyrinth. The movies use children's fantasies in similar ways in somewhat similar contexts.

Gilliam has always been even further on the edge of his imagination though. And this doesn't always work out for him very well. Though I heard they are trying to put funding back together for Don Quixote...

voice of the damned · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject:

elmateo · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject:

He has a tendancy to be boom or bust I think. And his 'special status' really is as a cult film director more than anything... so I think that makes him a risk for big distribution companies who aren't after long term markets.

It was being distributed by ThinkFilms which doesn't really do major releases, only to independent movie theatres it seems.

I think the movie was a love-hate in all the reviews as well, which probably meant the theatre owners who like Gilliam got it, those that don't didn't.

F. · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 2578

Suaros · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:01 am Post subject:

Although it was out a while ago, I suggest picking up The Prestige on DVD when it comes out in February. It was a great movie. BTW has anyone seen Babel? thoughts of it? I heard it was pretty stupid.

sparqui · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:33 am Post subject:

I saw Children of Men this past weekend and really enjoyed it. Enough so that I want to read the novel it was based on by PD James.

I get the impression that Babel may have been over-ambitious but I still want to see it. I also want to see lots of the other Oscar nominees. Seems like some darker and thought-provoking films are up for the awards.
_________________
“If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a tractor.”

-- Gilles Duceppe

thwap · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:32 am Post subject:

I saw "Children of Men" last night.
A good movie. I'm glad that I wasn't stoned. It would've been a downer.

AS YOU WERE!!!

elmateo · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:23 am Post subject:

I just saw Pan's Labyrinth. I thought it was very good. Though again what is with the direct depiction of violence in films?

A very powerful film, and contrary to Mel Gibson's use of violence, you come out feeling conscientiously disgusted by humanity (rather than at Mel Gibson's portrayal of Christ).

Change · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 859

Blood Diamonds!
_________________
What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you men.

beluga2 · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:

I saw Children of Men last night, and was very impressed. Funny -- from the trailer I thought it looked pretty dumb, but it was damn-near flawlessly executed.

The cinematography was simply amazing. I didn't realize it until afterwards, but I'm pretty sure the staggering battle scene at the end was done in one continuous shot, probably about fifteen shell-shocking minutes long. I'm gonna have to see it again to make sure.

unionist · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

thwap · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject:

We watched 24-hour Party People.

Fun movie. Steve Coogan (the actor who played Tristram Shandy) [also a good movie] is in it.

He plays Tony Wilson, ... Manchester dude who created "Factory Records" and recorded acts like "Joy Division" (who weren't nazis apparently) and "The Happy Mondays."

It's not a total scream. It's pretty ugly and dark in places, but there's lots of humour too.

ronb · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

I loved 24 Hour Party People a great movie - Michael Winterbottom is really an interesting filmmaker. Loved the bit with Howard deVoto in the washroom.

In a similar vein, It's All Gone Pete Tong was a highly enjoyable true story about club culture by the Canadian feller who made Fubar. Highly recommended.

Admiral Awesome · still stirring, not shaken Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1030

snowman · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 324

"Letters from Iwo Jima" last weekend. Eastwood made a human story in a war setting, rather than a "war movie". Captured every loss of live (human and otherwise) exactly as it should be done.

And Ken Watanabe is just freaking awesome.

skeptikool · *BANNED* Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Posts: 1758

It's on disc and in color. The 1974 performance of Cyrano de Bergerac with Peter Donat and Marsha Mason in the lead roles. Theirs and the whole caste - what an incredible performance.

You may need to have the Kleenex ready at the end.

Chester · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject:

speaking of decaprio, again (and damon, and nicholson), i saw The Departed on the plane to ottawa this week. it was a good hollywood/scorsese viiolence flick. unfortunately i had to watch it over two flights and the first flight ended just before the ending which i hadn't really anticipated. but when i picked it up on the second flight well, it lost a bit of the shock value.

was Tideland the gilliam flick they shot in Regina or has that one yet to come out?

i read Miriam Toews' a boy of good breeding this week. a good book and i think it would make an excellent movie.

elmateo · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:20 am Post subject:

Rufus Polson · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:16 am Post subject:

Amy Grace · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

I saw Pan's Labyrinth last night, and I quite liked it. I didn't know what it would be about; the element of surprise is always neat, tho it wasn't a children's movie like I thought it'd be. I spent a lot of time huddled with my face under my hoodie and my arm grabbing my buddy's arm (especially with the rabbit-hunting scene).

As we were leaving the theatre, two young men behind us had a conversation that ended something like this:
Guy one: "So much violence! All those Germans shooting at each other and stuff."
Guy two: "Yeah, a lot of violence. They were Italians tho, not Germans."
It was very hard not to correct them or laugh really hard, but I managed to. Well, I didn't laugh until they were out of earshot.

I found the large insect to be really annoying, that was my only beef with the show.

leftcoastguy · Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject:

Has anyone seen

March of the Penguins

I'd be interested in your opinions about it.
_________________
Thinking is so overrated. Smile

Tehanu · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:16 am Post subject:

sparqui · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:18 am Post subject:

It is a beautiful film. I think it was Morgan Freeman who did the narration.
_________________
“If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a tractor.”

-- Gilles Duceppe

al-Qa'bong · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:39 am Post subject:

Not that this is a good film, but I saw a bit of "American Psycho" on TV recently. I had seen parts of it before.

I don't get it.

Can anyone explain what the picture's supposed to be about?
_________________
"The purpose of government is to protect the weak from the powerful" Hammurabi

"We can't all be Sam the Sham; some of us have to be Pharoahs" Larry, brother of Darrel, and his other brother Daryl

Jacob Two-Two · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:02 am Post subject:

Well, it's an adaptation of a popular novel, which I haven't read but heard was crappy. It was a bestseller however, so hence, a movie version.

But I liked the movie. It's meant to show the sickness of a predatory psychopath as a natural extension of American ideology in the 80's. It doesn't entirely succeed in this, and some of it is just ugly and unnecessary, or pointless, but Christian Bale carries the movie with his charisma so its shortcomings aren't significant. Funny, intense film.

elmateo · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:51 am Post subject:

Amy Grace · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:12 am Post subject:

I actually didn't mind the transition between insect and fairy, what irritated me about the insect (not the fairy, tho) was the loud fake-sounding clicks and such.

leftcoastguy · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:06 am Post subject:

So I have now watched "March of the Penguins". What an incredible film! I cannot recommend it enough as it is truly an amazin' documentary. The photographers did an absolutely superb job under what must have been very trying circumstances. But nowhere near as difficult as what these Emperor Penguins endure. Nature is captured in one of its finest moments here.
_________________
Thinking is so overrated. Smile

DTA · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

March of the Penguins was an awsome show.

I just watched the Protector. It was not too bad, actually interesting. I wonder if there are really people like that who "protect" elephants in that way?

The Kung Fu effects were pretty good and sort of reminded me of the old Bruce Lee movies where he beats up 5oo guys throughout the movie.

I would say 8/10.

The Protector (Ton yum goong)

Hephaestion · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

March of the Penguins??? But, but... we're not even halfway through *February* yet!!!
_________________
"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin

leftcoastguy · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:39 am Post subject:

Heph

Good one! Pat on the head

Cheers,
_________________
Thinking is so overrated. Smile

JPG · Pro-choice freedom-monger Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 2569

I saw Smokin' Aces. It's damn good if you like seeing everyone in a movie die (or if you just like seeing Ben Affleck die). I highly reccomend it if you're not offended by shoot-em-ups.

I also saw Because I Told You So. My girlfriend wanted to go. I was trying to slit my wrists with the admission ticket.
_________________
We are the youth, we'll take your fascism away...

leftcoastguy · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:46 am Post subject:

Anybody seen it? Gonna see it?

Black Snake Moan

Link

Things I Learned Watching Black Snake Moan
_________________
Thinking is so overrated. Smile

thwap · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:

We went n saw "Zodiac" and it was good. Horrible crimes and clues that lead nowhere, ... great 70's era feel to it as well.
_________________
Man! I hate them fancy-lads!

Admiral Awesome · still stirring, not shaken Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1030

300 was entertaining. It included all the important things for a movie to have, partial nudity, blood, gore, nearly constant fighting and corny one liners. It was supposed to be based on Frank Miller's adaptation of the battle of Thermopylae, so if you've seen Sin City, then you'll sort of know what your in for. Although its a little more photo realistic than Sin City is.

Diane Demorney · Bazinga! Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 4746 Location: Calgary

Today, on a completely hedonistic splurge:
1. Idiocracy. It lived up to its name. I am officially rilly rilly dumb now. Only bonus: Luke Wilson: was a co-star in one of my favourite X-files episode "Bad Blood". :::sigh::: he is gorgeous.
2. SNAKES ON A PLANE!. To complete the lowering of my intelligence. Still.... "I AM SICK OF THESE MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERFUCKING PLANE!" ranks as the best lines in a movie. I plan to adopt it as my trademark exclamation, to be used in most situations.
3. The Last King of Scotland. Excellent. All around excellent. One of those movies you need to see again to get the full flavour. Forest was well rewarded with the Oscar.
4. The Queen. I really wanted to hate this movie. I don't. The actors were spot on. The only part I didn't like was it made me kinda like Tony Blair. A must see for anyone who enjoys good acting and a well written story.
_________________
Scissors cuts paper. Paper covers rock. Rock crushes lizard. Lizard poisons Spock. Spock smashes scissors. Scissors decapitates lizard. Lizard eats paper. Paper disproves Spock. Spock vaporizes rock. And as it always has, rock crushes scissors.

thwap · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah! He was the small-town sherriff who happened to be a vampire right?

I hardly saw any "X-Files" but for some reason i saw that one and i know exactly what you're talking about.
_________________
Man! I hate them fancy-lads!

Hephaestion · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject:

"300" didn't get a very good review from the movie dude that CBC Radio has on Friday afternoons out of Vancouver. He said it was bretty much a low-rent, brainless "swords 'n sandals" gore-fest that would appeal to young men wrapped up in the myth of machismo.

Sounds skippable.

Diane Demorney · Bazinga! Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 4746 Location: Calgary

elmateo · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

Tehanu · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject:

Amy Grace · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: