Not signed in (Sign In)

Culturegasm: At the Movies - The Last September to Black November

Bottom of Page

21 to 40 of 253

  1. <
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. ...
  11. 13
  12. >
    •  
      CommentAuthorOsmosis
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2012
     (10823.1)
    The last movie I (re)watched was Richard Ayoade's Submarine. It's a great debut for a director, and I think the main character is actually a much more subtle performance than he's usually given credit for. I was watching with a couple of friends, and it might have been because of that that I found there to be more laughs than I remembered. Some of the pompous Tateisms are so spot-on they're painful.

    Next watch I have planned is Shadow Dancer.
  2.  (10823.2)
    I watched Soulboy, about a young man discovering Northern Soul in the 1970s. The setting was excellent, the music and dancing pitched exactly right, but the story was dire. Less Quadraphenia than a rejected Glee episode.
  3.  (10823.3)
    I had a few spare hours so I went to see the next thing on at the cinema: Total Recall.

    Utter tripe.
    So much so that I went on a bit of a rant about it over at the blog.
    Suffice it to say that I ended up finding it partly funny but mostly "Why?"

    I guess I was hoping for a bubble-gum sort of affair with just enough in the film to pull me in and keep my mildly amused for a bit. How wrong I was.

    I imagine you'll all have the smarts to stay away from it.
    •  
      CommentAuthorOsmosis
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2012
     (10823.4)
    The new Judge Dredd film: it's out on Friday. Will it be any good?
  5.  (10823.5)
    The impression I get from the critics is that it's going to suffer from comparisons with The Raid, which is a bit of shame as they've both been developed individually. As I haven't seen the Raid yet i'm hoping I can give Dredd a fair go.
  6.  (10823.6)
    Well, the original Dredd creator likes it, at least, according to this.

    "Music is on the button. SFX are excellent. Filming is impressive. I’ve not seen a modern 3-D movie before but I like it. I found myself reaching out trying to touch things that were dancing before my eyes. Karl is a great Dredd and Olivia gets Anderson completely. This is Dredd as it should be done – true to character, visceral, unrelentingly violent (but not off-puttingly so). It will open, I believe, sometime in September. No doubt you’ll let me know what you think when you’ve seen it, but this has my recommendation."
  7.  (10823.7)
    I saw "Lawless" over the weekend. I'm a big fan of "The Proposition", so the fact that it was the same writer and director trumped the fact that Shia LaDouche was in it and I enjoyed it.
    •  
      CommentAuthorCat Vincent
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2012 edited
     (10823.8)
    Samsara: basically, if you like the 'qatsi's and Baraka, you'll love it. Baraka is stll my favorite of the genre by a long chalk - I think its (for want of a better word) plot has more of a clear line. Also, the middle of Samsara gets very damn preachy indeed. Still, a complete treat for the eyes and ears.
  9.  (10823.9)
    Seen within the past week:

    The Bullet Vanishes--Lau Ching Wan as an eccentric detective investigating murders at a munitions factory in 1930s China. The film's fun and gripping up until they get to the explanation portion, then you wind up feeling as if the theater should have issued you scorecards before the film started. Lau's performance makes the whole thing watchable, though.

    Tears of Gaza--Regardless of how you feel about the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians, this film argues the simple point that launching missiles and phosphorous bombs into a densely populated area will destroy the lives of those who manage to survive. This film's made really remarkable by the use of smuggled film and cell phone footage shot within Gaza during the late 2008 and early 2009 IDF attack on the Gaza Strip.

    Compliance--One of the most important American films of the year. It's a grueling portrait of how American business culture's current emphasis on obeying authority can lead to spectacularly horrifying results. Making the experience especially creepy is learning that the film was based on an actual incident.
    •  
      CommentAuthorOsmosis
    • CommentTimeSep 5th 2012
     (10823.10)
    In slightly Around the Net territory, I loved this video Jason Kottke linked yesterday:

    Kubrick one-point perspective
  11.  (10823.11)
    Osmosis:

    Wow! Kubric is one of my all time favourite directors and there's always been something, um, "threateningly solid" in the way he films some scenes - now I realized what gave that impression for me.
  12.  (10823.12)
    @Miranda's Eyes: They all seem intriguing. Hopefully Tears of Gaza is on dvd so I can request it at the library.
    • CommentAuthorOddcult
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2012
     (10823.13)
    Dredd is fucking brilliant.

    This was a small film, more like the very best version of a tv series pilot ever, but with 3D that was actually used well. Mostly to make violence look awesome. The violence is utterly gratuitous and will make you grin like a loon.

    It played Dredd straight and not as a fascist satire, but that was touched on when Anderson challenged Dredd over a judgement. She was really well realised too, and the way her psychic powers were handled was plausible and not just used as a deus ex device. A bit that seems misogynist gets utterly turned around in an instant using them. She's a great counterpoint to Dredd and she earns his respect by sticking to her job and not giving a fuck about what he thinks of he once she's flunked as a rookie. But it's clear that's exactly what he wants to see and what in his eyes constitutes what makes a good Judge.

    It was an utterly solid introduction to what Dredd is all about, which did a lot with what it had and as a result didn't overreach and never looked or felt stupid.

    Where it really, really, really fucking works is in nailing the beats. Some awesome, perfectly timed and delivered dialogue and great moments elevate this above what's a pretty basic plot.

    Don't go into this expecting a sci-fi epic. It's not that film. It's tight and visceral and punchy.

    Also: FUCKING CHOPPER! YES!

    Now, go and fucking pay to see this, so that there's a money for a next time, because when Stallone couldn't even do I AM THE LAW without sounding like a twat, I really can't wait to hear Urban deliver FIST OF DREDD.
  14.  (10823.14)
    @ Oddcult - god dammit, I was going to see it anyway, but now you have me excited.
    • CommentAuthorFlabyo
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2012
     (10823.15)
    Totally agree with Oddcult here, watched this this afternoon and I loved it.

    It's not the best film I've ever seen, for sure. But it just *feels* right in all the ways the Stallone one didn't. I like the costume and set choices, it doesn't go down the full on 'wacky future' vibe of the comics, and perhaps some people will feel it's a bit too 'recent', but it lets them concentrate on a good plot and set up without having to blow silly money making everything CG.

    It earns its 18 rating though for sure, really works the 3D for once rather than just being gimmicky with it. If you have vertigo there's at least one scene in here you probably won't like...

    The people that made this clearly *get* what Dredd is, go see! GO!
    • CommentAuthorOddcult
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2012
     (10823.16)
    2000AD was twelve years ago, don't forget, and that was Dredd's future. People are still driving Volkswagen vans, so this could well have been a post WWIII now.
    • CommentAuthorFlabyo
    • CommentTimeSep 7th 2012
     (10823.17)
    Oh I'm not saying it's wrong, I think it works just fine, but you know how 'purists' can be...
  18.  (10823.18)
    really enjoyed dredd 3d, yeah it has similarities with 'the raid', but i found both to be very enjoyable watches, my dredd knowledge is not what it perhaps should be, one story i loved from 2000ad gets a graffiti reference ( my inner geek was giggling ), but back on topic, well made, visually interesting with great action and a pace that ticks along and doesn't over explain itself or rely on improbable shit ( under mind control but i managed to include a failsafe) to reach a satisfying conclusion.

    go see it people, for fun, enjoyment and a great movie that hasn't been overhyped for 9 months
    •  
      CommentAuthorOsmosis
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2012
     (10823.19)
    Holy cremola you guys. Dredd has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
    •  
      CommentAuthornelzbub
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2012
     (10823.20)
    Drokk...
    Dredd doesn't get a release date here in Holland until 11th October, can't remember being this excited about a movie for a long time.
    Almost tempted to fly back to the island to catch it sooner and without the annoying subtitles fucking up the 3D effects.

21 to 40 of 253

  1. <
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. ...
  11. 13
  12. >