Author Topic: The General Movie Thread (news, reviews, random thoughts etc.) (Read 270628 times)

Slack · « **Reply #160 on:** December 27, 2006, 05:38:09 PM »

Curse of the Golden Flower (Yesterday)
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chow, and some others

From what my mom tells me, it's a cross between an historical uprising in China during the Tang dynasty and a Russian play. Similar to another recent Chinese film, The Banquet, which was a cross between some historical stuff and Hamlet. Basically, there's semi-incestual relationships, scandal, plotting, and a lot of people dying. Everything about this film is about the spectacle of large scale, with legions of people doing things at once. Each actor does a very good job, with the stars putting out brilliant performances. Oh, and lots of martial arts guys flipping out and killing each other.

The setup sounds good, but the actual film left me disappointed. If you've seen any of this director's earlier works, you might feel the same way I did: That I'd seen all of this kind of thing before. That the story wasn't engaging, and the characters failed to connect with the audience. The large-scale spectacle seemed overused and tired by the end. I understand that part of the whole point of the movie was to show the ugliness inside the lovely exterior, but the combination of all these good things didn't add up to what it should've.

If you haven't seen any Zhang Yimou films, and are a fan of martial arts epics, you'll eat this up. If you do, watch Hero (starring Jet Li). While It doesn't have all the large-scale court spectacle, there's quite a bit of eye-popping in the numbers of soldiers. That said, in Hero, the story and the characters just work better at getting an emotional reaction. With Curse of the Golden Flower, I found myself without any kind of clear emotional reaction whatsoever.

Judging by Rotten Tomatoes, I'm not the only one who feels this way, and the critics are pretty evenly split in the like/don't like categories. This one was really hit-or-miss, but worth a viewing nonetheless. Regardless of what you think of this movie, you owe it to yourself to get acquainted with this director's earlier films as well.

Nobodylikeher · « **Reply #161 on:** December 27, 2006, 05:46:04 PM »

lol from singapore i just watch death note 2.. the show was great. totally different from the comic series.. L killed himself lol

Minoga · « **Reply #162 on:** December 28, 2006, 05:30:14 AM »

Dawn of the dead

maliciel · « **Reply #163 on:** December 28, 2006, 05:36:46 AM »

Quote from: Nobodylikeher;268531

spoiler snip

What the fuck, man.

Last show I watched was Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. Was on a Kevin Smith high for a bit.

I have lots of time nowadays, so I'm rewatching all the movies I have, heh. Maybe I'll even sit through the whole of 2001 again.

THUNDERDUCK · « **Reply #164 on:** December 28, 2006, 06:14:36 AM »

Uzumaki....Whoah.

SpiritDragon · « **Reply #165 on:** December 28, 2006, 09:20:55 AM »

Fatal Contact! That movie rocked!

Boshabab · « **Reply #166 on:** December 28, 2006, 10:51:15 AM »

the last movie I watched was Casino Royale, it was OK! not really James Bond style though who falls in love and get his ass kicked that much lol

Rina the Robot · « **Reply #167 on:** December 30, 2006, 04:14:04 AM »

The Dukes of Hazzard

Guchi_Jnr · « **Reply #168 on:** December 30, 2006, 04:45:55 AM »

Limit of Love : Umizaru [Umizaru 2]

Plot:
"Umizaru 2" is a straight forward hero story of a Japan Coast Guard rescue member. The hero, Daisuke Senzaki played by Hideaki Ito, is at the transition stage in his career as a rescue specialist stationed in Kagoshima, questioning his professional ability due to one recent unfortunate incident at an emergency situation. While his girlfriend, played by Ai Kato, is visiting him from Tokyo, a large ferry boat wrecked in Kagoshima bay, and Daisuke and the team go to rescue the passengers. The ship's damage turns out to be much more serious than was thought, and Daisuke and his buddy Yoshizaki, played by Ryuta Sato, get confined into the bottom of the sinking ship with two injured passengers. His will to save all of them, as well as his girlfriend's trust in him, is seriously tested.

chera · « **Reply #169 on:** December 30, 2006, 10:01:05 PM »

All in one movie filled day:

* Children of Men. Well done, although I wish it focused as much on the sci-fi element (the infertility plague and the girl) as much as the political stuff. The 1-take handheld scene towards the end was breathtaking.
* Apocalypto. This movie is wonderfully disgusting. Wonderful, because the 10 minutes where the characters enter the Mayan city has a visual richness as thick as a cup of spicy chocolate. Disgusting because the movie justifies the extermination of the Mayan civilization.
* Babel. My sister and I argued about this movie for hours - I loved it, my sister hated it. I loved it because of the Japanese arc and the amibition shown by the director. My sister hated it because all the characters were "dumb" and the Japanese arc was the "dumbest." My sister has no taste....
* Eragon. WORST. MOVIE. EVER! The first 2 minutes of this movie were the worst 2 minutes in a movie theater in my entire life. I closed my eyes and fell asleep. The last 45 minutes of this movie were the worst 45 minutes in a movie theater in my entire life. This movie sucks ass.
* Curse of the Golden Flower. Incredible movie, favorite movie of the day. Zhang Yimou is a madman director - he battle scenes make Peter Jackson's battle scenes look pacifist. And the acting was superb. The sets and costumes were incredible. And so much cleavage! The plot wasa a bit too intricate. I had to give this movie a major rethink after it was over, which made me want to see it again. Don't watch this on DVD! This movie was meant to be watched in a cinema - the biggest widest screen theater you can find. This movie is one of the best of the year. Zhang Yimou now has an arc of 4 great historical dramas: The Emperor and the Assasin (about the Chin emperor, with much epic battle but little colorful production), Hero (also about the Chin emperor, even more epic battle, and more color), and House of Flying Daggers (most colorful and artistic of them all). Together, these 4 are the equal of his earlier body more humane works.

Rina the Robot · « **Reply #170 on:** January 02, 2007, 01:55:57 AM »

Aeon Flux

NAzu · « **Reply #171 on:** January 06, 2007, 12:10:24 AM »

Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back. If I remember right this was the third time I watched it. Great as always

daigong · « **Reply #172 on:** January 06, 2007, 09:37:47 AM »

Bamboozled.

I saw some mirrors in what I'm trying to create. who is to judge? Who is to say what is right and what is wrong?

But damn whatta an ending. Love the guest appearances by Paul Mooney and Mos Def.

Crash

The description on the TV said the Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle one but it turned out to be the 1996 one starring JAmes Spader and Holly Hunt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_%281996_film%29

About couples getting horny over car accidents, damn

SomethingWild · « **Reply #173 on:** January 06, 2007, 02:12:22 PM »

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.. first time I saw it, I liked it

Youko · « **Reply #174 on:** January 07, 2007, 09:52:25 AM »

Hmm
In Theatres:
Black Christmas (remake 2006)
Worst frigging movie I've ever seen. Besides the crappy "horror" movie "Drive In." Don't waste your money.
On Tv:
The Shaggy Dog
I was watching bits and pieces while on the phone, it wasn't too bad.
On DVD:
Moulin Rouge.
Ahaha I love this movie. *loser*

liquidcell · « **Reply #175 on:** January 07, 2007, 06:15:00 PM »

Curse of the Golden Flower, best movie i ever watch in 2006

Since1983 · « **Reply #176 on:** January 09, 2007, 09:58:25 AM »

Casino Royale. I give it a 9/10. Long movie but kept you interested throughout. Lots of meaningful action and the direction of the story wasn't obvious.

Shoko · « **Reply #177 on:** January 09, 2007, 10:39:44 AM »

Watched the Harry Potter movies again. They're not THAT bad =/

Peacimowen · « **Reply #178 on:** January 10, 2007, 04:59:55 AM »

In theaters, Casino Royale. It was good.

On tv the other day, Surviving the Game. It was interesting. Homeless man gets hired to be 'guide' on a hunt in the middle of nowhere. What he doesn't realise until too late (although I had guessed quickly enough) is that HE is the prey they plan on hunting. I feel it was worth watching.

Kei · « **Reply #179 on:** January 11, 2007, 05:38:32 AM »

Apocalypto. It was one violent movie. I quite liked it.