The Redcafe Movie review thread

Wibble · 28th April 2007, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinc

American Beauty was unwatchable, but Little Miss Sunshine has the best script in recent years and a great ensemble cast.

`

I more or less agree. I didn't like LMS that much but compared to the dross that has been released recently is was at least watchable. I hated American Beauty.

Wibble · 28th April 2007, 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinc

It was a cheap Star Wars rippoff in a slightly different setting.

You can find parallels with all sorts of films. I just didn't think it was half as bad as many reviewers made it out to be. Not to mention that the demographic for this film was kids who seem to like it quite a bit with the exception of a few who don't think it did justice to the books.

cinc · 28th April 2007, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livvie

Went to see this in Bath last week.

Girl selling the tickets asked if we were on Orange - which I am - so she said we could do a BOGOF. I didn't know it applied to the evening as well.

I thought it was extremely well done.

From a shallow point of view, I didn't like Leonidas's beard, and I loathed David Wenham's narration.

Stelios stood out for me.

Best bit was when the Queen said to Theron "This won't be over quickly and you won't enjoy it."

You go girl.

Did Ephialates develop his hump? Otherwise, why wasn't he chucked over a cliff at birth?

The most stomach wrenching bit for me wasn't the violence but those diseased old men slavering over the oracle.

The funny thing is that we had to leave the cinema, because we couldn't stop laughing, because it seemed painfully outlandishly cheesy.

I watched it recently at home without drinks, and it was an enjoyable outlandishly cheesy B-movie, after all.

Wibble · 28th April 2007, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinc

I've thought it was a bit cheap, a wonderfully made movie with an abysmal script and a final turn so outrageously bad, that I was praying during the movie - please don't go there.

The supporting cast was great though.

5.5/10.

Agreed although I would have given it a slightly higher rating.

cinc · 28th April 2007, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wibble

You can find parallels with all sorts of films. I just didn't think it was half as bad as many reviewers made it out to be. Not to mention that the demographic for this film was kids who seem to like it quite a bit with the exception of a few who don't think it did justice to the books.

I see. The reviews here in Hungary were very much in favour of the movie, basically because it was filmed here.

Hell, they even gave a good review to I Spy(don't know if you remember that, Eddie Murphy-Owen Wilson)...

cinc · 28th April 2007, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wibble

Agreed although I would have given it a slightly higher rating.

You're probably right, it's easy to be carried away sometimes

olesmyhero · 28th April 2007, 06:46

Just got back from seeing Hot Fuzz. Fucking quality film.

Wibble · 28th April 2007, 07:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by cinc

I see. The reviews here in Hungary were very much in favour of the movie, basically because it was filmed here.

Hell, they even gave a good review to I Spy(don't know if you remember that, Eddie Murphy-Owen Wilson)...

All the ones I read here (admittedly only about 2) hated it. Which often happens when 50 year old arty pseuds review a film meant for 8 year olds.

I Spy was truly terrible.

Wibble · 28th April 2007, 07:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by olesmyhero

Just got back from seeing Hot Fuzz. Fucking quality film.

The reviews here are generally very good but most seem to think it is about 15/20 minutes too long.

Livvie · 28th April 2007, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plechazunga

Remember when Matt Damon's kid jumped into thepool and died? He appeared to have been electrocuted. How? Why? By who? Acidentally? On purpose? I don't know.

Later, George Clooney, wearing a fake beard, went to Beirut, where he met a man on a pier with an Arabic name who spoke with an American accent. They parted on good terms, whereupon the man had him kidnapped and pulled his fingernails out. Clooney was rescued from death by a Hizbollah cleric. Why did any of those things happen?

Meanwhile, an old man was intriguing with an Emir's son to gain the succession. (who the fuck was he? CIA? Big Oil? Assistant manager of Plymouth Argyle? All three? None?) He apparently succeeded. How? Why?

Then there was this lawyer, who was working for the government, but also for an oil company but also getting inside info off the company it was merging with, seemingly to use against both the other company and his own law firm. Didn't really get that bit, amazingly.

I was just told - like half an hour ago - to go and see this movie and that I would enjoy it.

If you didn't understand it, what chance have I got??

crappycraperson · 28th April 2007, 10:06

It's not that tough to understand, give it a watch.

Salvation · 28th April 2007, 11:16

Syriana was so slow a race between a snail and a turtle would've made quicker viewing

Plechazunga · 30th April 2007, 00:41

The Aristocrats

Documentary about a joke comedians tell each other. Each has their own way of telling it, usually as depraved and disgusting as possible.

In the film, they all talk about the joke, tell the joke, laugh at the joke.

Bit boring really...it's not even that good a joke.

Wibble · 30th April 2007, 01:29

I saw The Queen last night and Catch A Fire this weekend. Reviews to follow.

Plechazunga · 30th April 2007, 22:37

You can see him again on Wednesday night, up front for Chelsea

Salvation · 30th April 2007, 22:40

Tuesday, Plek. We play on Wednesday

McCool · 30th April 2007, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plechazunga

The Aristocrats

Documentary about a joke comedians tell each other. Each has their own way of telling it, usually as depraved and disgusting as possible.

In the film, they all talk about the joke, tell the joke, laugh at the joke.

Bit boring really...it's not even that good a joke.

The Aristocats... now there's a good film!

sidsutton · 30th April 2007, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plechazunga

The Aristocrats

Documentary about a joke comedians tell each other. Each has their own way of telling it, usually as depraved and disgusting as possible.

In the film, they all talk about the joke, tell the joke, laugh at the joke.

Bit boring really...it's not even that good a joke.

Saw a few minutes of it. All seemed a bit pointless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livvie

I was just told - like half an hour ago - to go and see this movie and that I would enjoy it.

If you didn't understand it, what chance have I got??

None.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crappycraperson

It's not that tough to understand, give it a watch.

Yes it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wibble

I saw The Queen last night and Catch A Fire this weekend. Reviews to follow.

I rented The Queen too. Along with The Prestige.

sidsutton · 1st May 2007, 02:56

Er..thought the Queen was ok, maybe 6½ out of 10. It was interesting to see how something like that may go down behind the scenes but ultimately it was just spaculation.

Mirren is very good, not amazing. Don`t remember her Maj having norks like that. She reminded me of Martina Navratilova at 70, sometimes, with those huge glasses. Campbell and Phillip were made to look complete nobs at every occasion so they got something right. Didn`t like how the Queen Mum was something of a joke figure. She was one step from appearing in Are YOu Being Served. The Tony Blair character, I kept expecting to burst into full on Rik Mayall and his Alan B`Stard character such was their physical resemblance.

Overall OK.

Gazza · 1st May 2007, 03:18

I saw Blades of Glory last week... tired, predictable mesh of Zoolander and every movie Will Ferrell has ever done. I laughed a bit to be fair, so if you like Will Ferrell you probably will too, and it's better than the pile of shit that was Talladega Nights, for a start.

On Saturday I saw Hot Fuzz... it's a slow burner but the second hour was absolutely hilarious. Some great laughs in it, I would definitely recommend it.

Wibble · 1st May 2007, 03:28

The Queen

Not an easy film to make given the subject matter. Everyone has an opinion so it will be hard to please everyone, or indeed anyone totally.

First the criticisms. Firstly I thought that the decision to keep William and harry out of the film to such an extent was a bit of a cop out, possibly in an attempt to keep the Royals onside as much as possible. Not that they needed major dramatic parts in the film but given that they were actually at Balmoral at the time I'm sure they were more involved. Such omissions gave it a stage play feel at times. Secondly I though that while the film managed not to be too opinionated it did seem to be very kind to Charles. If a true account of the events then at the very least he is a sniveling little boy who can't say no to Mummy and he was shown as some sort of subversive "hero" within the household and the only one vaguely in touch with the British people. You could also perhaps quibble that many of the secondary Royals were shallow caricatures but without making it a boring 4hr epic I'm not sure how this might have been achieved while telling the story. I don't think that any of the members of the Royals have much to complain about here.

The only other criticism is that the film will probably not connect as well with the overseas market due to the filmmakers choice of time line. Diana's death was an important and in some ways pivotal event for the British Royals but far more so for Brits themselves. More of a minor quibble than anything else I guess and I liked the film the way it was.

Now the good stuff. Mirren was simply superb. Despite not exactly being the spitting image of The Queen you were never watching Helen Mirren act, you were watching the real thing. She captured the essence of HRH to a T. One of the most deserved Oscars in years.

The film wasn't quite as good partly because it was dealing with events so important to people in Britain. Reality had to, by necessity, drive the plot in a way that wasn't quite as interesting as a fiction might have been. That said it was a valiant attempt to fairly represent all involved in the momentous events surrounding Diana's death and one of the few films that has engaged me from beginning to end for some time. The disconnection of the Royals was captured perfectly as was Blair's role in helping to make it less of a mess. If you haven't seen it I would do so ASAP.

Film: 8/10
Helen Mirren: 9.5/10

Plechazunga · 1st May 2007, 10:29

So to sum up, you liked St. Mirren but felt they didn't do the Motherwell?

Wibble · 1st May 2007, 11:37

Exactly. She was perfectly cast as the Queen Of The South who made a complete Falkirk of the whole thing until the best PM in Livingstone memory saved them.

I'm very very sorry.

I'd get my coat but I suspect you have already made off with it.

Plechazunga · 1st May 2007, 11:40

Melbourne Red · 1st May 2007, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plechazunga

The Aristocrats

Documentary about a joke comedians tell each other. Each has their own way of telling it, usually as depraved and disgusting as possible.

In the film, they all talk about the joke, tell the joke, laugh at the joke.

Bit boring really...it's not even that good a joke.

It's a great joke, the first time I saw South Park's version I pissed myself. Literally.

It stopped being funny after watching the doco though. Who the fuck makes a feature length doco involving 500 re-tellings of one joke?

noodlehair · 3rd May 2007, 21:48

Serenity

A bunch of hillbillies in a spaceship do battle with Patrice Evra in a bid to avoid, er, doing battle with Patrice Evra. Meanwhile some other mob go about eating everyone.
Yes, it's that stupid

6/10

Spammy · 3rd May 2007, 21:56

Serenity is Buffy in space.

noodlehair · 3rd May 2007, 22:01

Spoonatov · 4th May 2007, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by noodlehair

Serenity

A bunch of hillbillies in a spaceship do battle with Patrice Evra in a bid to avoid, er, doing battle with Patrice Evra. Meanwhile some other mob go about eating everyone.
Yes, it's that stupid

6/10

I thought it was awful too. Looked like a TVM.

28th April 2007, 06:46	#727 (permalink)
olesmyhero has a lazy eye...japs eye Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 4000+ miles west of old trafford Posts: 12,271	Just got back from seeing Hot Fuzz. Fucking quality film.

28th April 2007, 10:06	#731 (permalink)
crappycraperson "Resident cricket authority" Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: <Insert something funny here> Posts: 11,494	It's not that tough to understand, give it a watch.

28th April 2007, 11:16	#732 (permalink)
Salvation Damnation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fictional seduction on a black snow sky Posts: 5,983	Syriana was so slow a race between a snail and a turtle would've made quicker viewing

30th April 2007, 00:41	#733 (permalink)
Plechazunga Phones, soup, paint and chairs are troubling. Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the principality is chief executive of David evroshampiona Gil. Posts: 49,810	The Aristocrats Documentary about a joke comedians tell each other. Each has their own way of telling it, usually as depraved and disgusting as possible. In the film, they all talk about the joke, tell the joke, laugh at the joke. Bit boring really...it's not even that good a joke.

30th April 2007, 01:29	#734 (permalink)
Wibble Teeth like a reindeer. Hung like a horse. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ingadus Speramus Posts: 35,664	I saw The Queen last night and Catch A Fire this weekend. Reviews to follow.

30th April 2007, 22:37	#735 (permalink)
Plechazunga Phones, soup, paint and chairs are troubling. Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the principality is chief executive of David evroshampiona Gil. Posts: 49,810	You can see him again on Wednesday night, up front for Chelsea

30th April 2007, 22:40	#736 (permalink)
Salvation Damnation Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fictional seduction on a black snow sky Posts: 5,983	Tuesday, Plek. We play on Wednesday

1st May 2007, 02:56	#739 (permalink)
sidsutton First Team Sub Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,449	Er..thought the Queen was ok, maybe 6½ out of 10. It was interesting to see how something like that may go down behind the scenes but ultimately it was just spaculation. Mirren is very good, not amazing. Don`t remember her Maj having norks like that. She reminded me of Martina Navratilova at 70, sometimes, with those huge glasses. Campbell and Phillip were made to look complete nobs at every occasion so they got something right. Didn`t like how the Queen Mum was something of a joke figure. She was one step from appearing in Are YOu Being Served. The Tony Blair character, I kept expecting to burst into full on Rik Mayall and his Alan B`Stard character such was their physical resemblance. Overall OK.

1st May 2007, 03:18	#740 (permalink)
Gazza Magic Carpet Pilot Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: "The great thing about United, as a result of Matt Busby, is that they have a philosophy of a club that is very discernable. You know what Manchester United stand for." Posts: 25,110	I saw Blades of Glory last week... tired, predictable mesh of Zoolander and every movie Will Ferrell has ever done. I laughed a bit to be fair, so if you like Will Ferrell you probably will too, and it's better than the pile of shit that was Talladega Nights, for a start. On Saturday I saw Hot Fuzz... it's a slow burner but the second hour was absolutely hilarious. Some great laughs in it, I would definitely recommend it.

1st May 2007, 03:28	#741 (permalink)
Wibble Teeth like a reindeer. Hung like a horse. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ingadus Speramus Posts: 35,664	The Queen Not an easy film to make given the subject matter. Everyone has an opinion so it will be hard to please everyone, or indeed anyone totally. First the criticisms. Firstly I thought that the decision to keep William and harry out of the film to such an extent was a bit of a cop out, possibly in an attempt to keep the Royals onside as much as possible. Not that they needed major dramatic parts in the film but given that they were actually at Balmoral at the time I'm sure they were more involved. Such omissions gave it a stage play feel at times. Secondly I though that while the film managed not to be too opinionated it did seem to be very kind to Charles. If a true account of the events then at the very least he is a sniveling little boy who can't say no to Mummy and he was shown as some sort of subversive "hero" within the household and the only one vaguely in touch with the British people. You could also perhaps quibble that many of the secondary Royals were shallow caricatures but without making it a boring 4hr epic I'm not sure how this might have been achieved while telling the story. I don't think that any of the members of the Royals have much to complain about here. The only other criticism is that the film will probably not connect as well with the overseas market due to the filmmakers choice of time line. Diana's death was an important and in some ways pivotal event for the British Royals but far more so for Brits themselves. More of a minor quibble than anything else I guess and I liked the film the way it was. Now the good stuff. Mirren was simply superb. Despite not exactly being the spitting image of The Queen you were never watching Helen Mirren act, you were watching the real thing. She captured the essence of HRH to a T. One of the most deserved Oscars in years. The film wasn't quite as good partly because it was dealing with events so important to people in Britain. Reality had to, by necessity, drive the plot in a way that wasn't quite as interesting as a fiction might have been. That said it was a valiant attempt to fairly represent all involved in the momentous events surrounding Diana's death and one of the few films that has engaged me from beginning to end for some time. The disconnection of the Royals was captured perfectly as was Blair's role in helping to make it less of a mess. If you haven't seen it I would do so ASAP. Film: 8/10 Helen Mirren: 9.5/10

1st May 2007, 10:29	#742 (permalink)
Plechazunga Phones, soup, paint and chairs are troubling. Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the principality is chief executive of David evroshampiona Gil. Posts: 49,810	So to sum up, you liked St. Mirren but felt they didn't do the Motherwell?

1st May 2007, 11:37	#743 (permalink)
Wibble Teeth like a reindeer. Hung like a horse. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ingadus Speramus Posts: 35,664	Exactly. She was perfectly cast as the Queen Of The South who made a complete Falkirk of the whole thing until the best PM in Livingstone memory saved them. I'm very very sorry. I'd get my coat but I suspect you have already made off with it.

1st May 2007, 11:40	#744 (permalink)
Plechazunga Phones, soup, paint and chairs are troubling. Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the principality is chief executive of David evroshampiona Gil. Posts: 49,810

3rd May 2007, 21:48	#746 (permalink)
noodlehair Sacked Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes. Posts: 32,000	Serenity A bunch of hillbillies in a spaceship do battle with Patrice Evra in a bid to avoid, er, doing battle with Patrice Evra. Meanwhile some other mob go about eating everyone. Yes, it's that stupid 6/10

3rd May 2007, 21:56	#747 (permalink)
Spammy IQ of 18.5 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I'm going to make this pencil...disappear... Posts: 12,690	Serenity is Buffy in space.

3rd May 2007, 22:01	#748 (permalink)
noodlehair Sacked Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes. Posts: 32,000