What movie did you just watch, and how was it?

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Reply # 944284 2-Dec-2013 18:20

ditto on elysium.

it didn't even look that good.

Lizard1977

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Reply # 949396 11-Dec-2013 14:21

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Hunger Games - Catching Fire - 8.5/10

I have read all the Hunger Games books (several times - loved them). For those that haven't read the books, or seen the first film, here's a quick synopsis with minimal spoilage. The setting is a post-apocalyptic dystopian future where the country of Panem is divided into the Capitol and 12 districts following a revolution. The Capitol "won", and keeps the populous meek and controlled by requiring each district to "reap" a male and female "tribute" child, who will be trained and thrown into an arena where they fight to the death for the honour of being declared victor, and receiving wealth and luxury for the rest of their lives. These Hunger Games are filmed and pitched as entertainment (principally for the Capitol) and as an implicit warning to the 12 districts about the power of the Capitol in supressing the initial rebellion. The story is told from the point of view of Katniss, a strong-willed, capable young woman, who volunteers at the reaping to save her younger sister from being selected for the Hunger Games.

I enjoyed the first film, though it was slightly ruined for me because I re-read the book just before seeing the film, and I spent most of the time spotting everything they missed or did differently to how I remembered it. This time around, I deliberately didn't re-read the book, and enjoyed it a lot more as a result.

The film doesn't coddle the viewer, and instead of wasting time reminding everyone what happened in the first film, it just picks up where it left off. The first part of the film focusses on how Katniss is dealing with the aftermath of the Hunger Games, and the consequences of her actions. The film explores more of the emerging resentment and rebellion that is hinted at in the first film. The one thing I didn't like is that the big reveal at the end isn't well foreshadowed, and for those who haven't read the books, it won't mean a whole lot (or, at least, the significance will probably be lost). What I really liked, though, is the way the film engages the themes of authoritarian control by fear, and revolution. It's often portrayed as a Twilight-esque love triangle, but the film does right by the books, and doesn't overemphasise that angle, preferring instead to give the limelight to the delicate balance of power and the struggle for control.

Jennifer Lawrence does really well (again), and the supporting cast are great as well. Donald Sutherland as President Snow manages just the right amount of menace and malevolence, and Woody Harrelson does a good job of Haymitch again. I thought Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket managed more with her character than in the first film, which was good to see. Phillip Seymour Hoffman does a great turn as Gamesmaster Plutarch Heavensbee, and in stark contract to Senneca Crane from the first film is unadorned in the Capitol fashions. This deliberately sets his character apart from all the rest, and he plays the role masterfully.

josephhinvest

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Reply # 949414 11-Dec-2013 14:51

I thought. Elysium was awesome, and have this afternoon received my preordered bluray of it.
Different strokes eh. I'll agree that Jodie Foster is a bit average, but otherwise it is just what I like. (Damon, Copley, Blomkamp). I think if you liked District 9 you'll enjoy it.
I thought the scenes of earth from space and of the habitat were brilliant.

Cheers,
Joseph

Jaxson

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Reply # 949452 11-Dec-2013 15:44

Random thought of the day, but I find it really weird how they review bluray and DVD home type releases of movies so thuroughly. Like really surely that's a straight copy and paste from the original movie review?

We're really talking special extra content, transfer quality etc only surely. Most additional scenes were left behind for a good reason, though i guess you do get a review of the movie minus the pre release hype.

I watched that latest (well on Bluray) Jason Statham 'Hummingbird' movie recently and that's a slow paced art house take with a bit of fighting in the middle. Weird frankly. 4/10
You don't get to sell it to me with him being an ex military guy going to make it all right, and then make me watch hours of him courting a nun.

And then 'Pacific Rim', which I thought was that Hugh Jackman one Real Steel but it wasn't. It was kinda ok if you didn't think, like at all. 5/10

And that White House gets taken over movie, 'Olympus Has Fallen' (which looks exactly like White House Down?!) I'd give that a 6/10 also.

Funny how Civic have dropped the Video from their branding now by the way...

Sorry, I don't get to the movies any more, so these are all recent release Blurays from $4 day. Hey, that's today by the way, cool.

ilovemusic

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Reply # 950491 11-Dec-2013 16:51

i quite liked hummingbird, not your usual jason statham actioner, but only in hummingbird guise.

i also saw the film as 'redemption' and this was one of those awful releases where it was reframed form 2.40:1 to 1.78:1.

yuk.

for some reason pacific rim makes me want to seekout atlantic rim, i find it hard to believe it can be any worse.

i think i've seen olympus has fallen, or maybe i saw white house down ?
had to wiki it but i saw the former with that gerald butler guy.

most films these days are so generic and totally forgettable, especially anything that jj abrams has touched.

DarthKermit

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Reply # 950627 11-Dec-2013 20:17

ilovemusic: most films these days are so generic and totally forgettable, especially anything that jj abrams has touched.

I certainly felt that way about that latest star trek film this year. It did nothing for me. I wonder how the three Star Wars films that JJ is directing will fare? Remember too that Lucas sold his soul to Disney.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

driller2000

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Reply # 950669 11-Dec-2013 21:40

always find rating movies and then comparing them to others ratings an entirely pointless task as it is completely subjective

that said i find some peoples scoring/comments interesting in so far as comments like ok "if you didn't think" when describing something like pacifc rim

i watched it expecting huge robots fighting massive monsters - sfx popcorn escapism - funnily enough i got exactly what i expected - so it's 8/10 from me

if i went in expecting anything else - well that would be foolish surely?

anyhoo....

JayADee

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Reply # 951549 13-Dec-2013 12:23

I'm not usually a hulking robots vs monsters kind of person but I liked Pacific Rim well enough. Just saw Gravity and was surprised to enjoy it too.

Behodar

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Reply # 952385 14-Dec-2013 23:23

I just got back from the new Hobbit. It was fun enough; I think I liked it a little more than the first one although I don't want to get into specifics at this early point in case I accidentally spoil it!

This is the first movie that I've seen in 3D (or digital at all for that matter); it was great to not have tracking lines on the screen etc. The 3D seemed a bit gimmicky; a lot of the movie was "flat" which meant that when a specific 3D effect came along it almost looked out-of-place. I didn't have any issues with headaches or poor framerate; I think this was at the usual 24 fps and it looked just as smooth as a 2D movie.

networkn

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Reply # 952389 15-Dec-2013 00:03

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Hobbit 3D HFR - 8.5/10. Amazing, the scale etc was quite spectacular, and I don't think I've seen a better dragon ever. I liked it story wise better than the first though I do feel often, that I don't have a grip on the characters names. HFR wasn't that noticeable to me. Peter Jackson is a superstar for the way he puts these together and Weta must be the best in the business.

I did have issues with 3D text not appearing in singular, I could see the shadow to the left, anyone else notice it?

Behodar

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Reply # 952391 15-Dec-2013 00:05

Do you mean the subtitles? They looked fine to me and as far as I noticed I could see them with both eyes.

itxtme

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Reply # 952433 15-Dec-2013 09:18

The fighter, $2.99 on Amazon instant video. I agree with what rotten has rated it

Critics: 91%
Audience liked it: 89%

It was damn good 9/10

MikeB4

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Reply # 952442 15-Dec-2013 09:50

The movie about Steve Jobs with Ashton Kutcher, I was expecting it to be bad, it was surprisingly good and I enjoyed it.

Mike
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itxtme

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Reply # 952486 15-Dec-2013 11:04

KiwiNZ: The movie about Steve Jobs with Ashton Kutcher, I was expecting it to be bad, it was surprisingly good and I enjoyed it.

Have you read the biography? It is ten times better than the movie. If I hadnt read the book I would have enjoyed the movie more. The problem with it is the movie has too much to get through so glosses over a lot of the detail in his life. Example no mention of Pixar in the movie.

Handsomedan

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Reply # 952951 16-Dec-2013 10:54

I've recently watched a few DVD's and iTunes releases...

Pacific Rim: As others have said - if you are expecting massive robots fighting huge mosters in the ocean...this is a solid movie.
If you're expecting something more intellectual - you didn't read the package.
7.5/10

The Wolverine: I may have to watch this again to fully appreciate it. I think I enjoyed it...but I am not convinced that I loved it. I think the problem is, I really wanted to.
5.5/10

Glenn The Flying Robot: Despite it's title and the lead character being a flying robot, this is not a children's movie. Rather it's quite grown up and really surprisingly good.
It came across as a French film done in the States, but that didn't take anything away from the movie itself.
I'd give it a solid 7/10

Sound City: The Dave Grohl documentary on the legendary Sound City recording studio in Van Nuys, LA.
Gritty, filled with great music and some interesting side-stories.
Personally as a rock fan and a music buff, I loved this doco. 10/10.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.

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