What movies have you seen recently?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Alien

Spoiler

I knew I was going to love this just by the opening titles. Anyway, I've only seen this once or twice before, but I loved the whole thing. Everything is awesome. The set-design and costumes were like a grittier, working class continuation of Kubrick's 2001, with the wide-open, sterile white rooms playing a perfect contrast to the confined, greasy, black and grey shadowed corridors and bays. Of course the Alien itself is built to be something that is more presence than actual screen-time and that presence lends itself to a palpable tension in the atmosphere of the movie that permeates into the interactions of the crew. Scott took what is at the core of every great horror film and shot it into space - a ever-looming threat combined with a dynamic destruction of human interactions and relations in crisis. Motivations were apparent and clear and the driving force behind the troubles between the members of the crew. Even Ripley had her own motivations and while she is still very much the hero, she is a flawed hero.

Enough rambling, just an amazing film from start to finish. I admired everything going on.

Aliens

Spoiler

If Scott painted Ridley as a survivor, James Cameron turns her into the Rambo of sci-fi. I watched the special edition cut which was rougly 2.5 hours and it went by like a blast. The pacing was great and the action sequences let you root for the underdog and pull for them even if you knew at the back of your mind that they were ****ed. Paul Reiser is in a film and doesn't get in the way of being Paul Reiser, but it's nice that this gave me what I would think everybody wants to see: a justifiably horrible death for Paul Riser. I could understand if people picked Aliens over Alien as their favorite of the two because it is ridiculously BIG and is quite a ride for 2.5 hours. It is nearly as good as Alien for completely opposite reasons and I find that amazing itself.

Bourne Ultimatum

Spoiler

This is my least favorite of the three and it has less to do with Paul Greengrass' action style than with the general feel of the film. The tone felt different compared to Supremacy and Identity. Bourne wasn't so much as a human super soldier, but instead a freaking God of Soldiers. Seriously, he just felt entirely overpowered in this film compared to the others. It is a fun ride and it's nice to see him in (generally) full control over the whole movie, but the difference in tone really stuck out to me. The "backstory" with Nicki left me cold as it was simply used as an after-thought of a plot device to get her to help Bourne. The action sequences were nice, though choppy as hell. I actually preferred the first sequence to the others because it was fresh and with the actual pace of the action being relatively slow, I didn't mind the quick-cuts.

Still, the pacing in this was probably the best of the three. I didn't find Vosen or Ezra to be nearly as compelling as Abbot and Conklin from the previous two films, but Pam Landy really stepped up in this I thought. Honesty, she is quite a surprise of a character in Supremacy and Ultimatum and is a good source of a character, even if she seems to be manipulated into action.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fresh Tendrils

Alien Spoiler I knew I was going to love this just by the opening titles. Anyway, I've only seen this once or twice before, but I loved the whole thing. Everything is awesome. The set-design and costumes were like a grittier, working class continuation of Kubrick's 2001, with the wide-open, sterile white rooms playing a perfect contrast to the confined, greasy, black and grey shadowed corridors and bays. Of course the Alien itself is built to be something that is more presence than actual screen-time and that presence lends itself to a palpable tension in the atmosphere of the movie that permeates into the interactions of the crew. Scott took what is at the core of every great horror film and shot it into space - a ever-looming threat combined with a dynamic destruction of human interactions and relations in crisis. Motivations were apparent and clear and the driving force behind the troubles between the members of the crew. Even Ripley had her own motivations and while she is still very much the hero, she is a flawed hero. Enough rambling, just an amazing film from start to finish. I admired everything going on. Aliens Spoiler If Scott painted Ridley as a survivor, James Cameron turns her into the Rambo of sci-fi. I watched the special edition cut which was rougly 2.5 hours and it went by like a blast. The pacing was great and the action sequences let you root for the underdog and pull for them even if you knew at the back of your mind that they were ****ed. Paul Reiser is in a film and doesn't get in the way of being Paul Reiser, but it's nice that this gave me what I would think everybody wants to see: a justifiably horrible death for Paul Riser. I could understand if people picked Aliens over Alien as their favorite of the two because it is ridiculously BIG and is quite a ride for 2.5 hours. It is nearly as good as Alien for completely opposite reasons and I find that amazing itself. Bourne Ultimatum Spoiler This is my least favorite of the three and it has less to do with Paul Greengrass' action style than with the general feel of the film. The tone felt different compared to Supremacy and Identity. Bourne wasn't so much as a human super soldier, but instead a freaking God of Soldiers. Seriously, he just felt entirely overpowered in this film compared to the others. It is a fun ride and it's nice to see him in (generally) full control over the whole movie, but the difference in tone really stuck out to me. The "backstory" with Nicki left me cold as it was simply used as an after-thought of a plot device to get her to help Bourne. The action sequences were nice, though choppy as hell. I actually preferred the first sequence to the others because it was fresh and with the actual pace of the action being relatively slow, I didn't mind the quick-cuts. Still, the pacing in this was probably the best of the three. I didn't find Vosen or Ezra to be nearly as compelling as Abbot and Conklin from the previous two films, but Pam Landy really stepped up in this I thought. Honesty, she is quite a surprise of a character in Supremacy and Ultimatum and is a good source of a character, even if she seems to be manipulated into action.

Those are some nice breakdowns of the films. I have to agree with you on the Bourne flick. I enjoy the trilogy, but the third is easily my least favorite movie (not saying it's bad, just not at the level of the first two).

[daflyboys]

You're definitely spot on with the Alien movie breakdowns. The third was quite odd, but I recall seeing the first in a theatre and it plays well on the big screen which seemed to heighten the intensity. Any time a director can get his cast to have the average, normal looking interplay during "down" times, it always solidifies a realism in the flick for me. Regarding Aliens, I didn't get that feel as much and what actually significantly separates it from the first is:

Spoiler

The Marines. Especially Bill Paxton's overdramatized and traumatized pvt. who lent himself to quotes we took outside the movie at the time when we were in a situation where we were screwed ("we're grated cheese, man!!")..... he was a little much. As was the androgynous Hispanic mini-Arnold chick. These 2 characters alone removed the appeal. But you're right about Rieser.... really did not think that would be his role considering his resume, but he did pretty well with what he had.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Quote: Originally Posted by daflyboys

You're definitely spot on with the Alien movie breakdowns. The third was quite odd, but I recall seeing the first in a theatre and it plays well on the big screen which seemed to heighten the intensity. Any time a director can get his cast to have the average, normal looking interplay during "down" times, it always solidifies a realism in the flick for me. Regarding Aliens, I didn't get that feel as much and what actually significantly separates it from the first is: Spoiler The Marines. Especially Bill Paxton's overdramatized and traumatized pvt. who lent himself to quotes we took outside the movie at the time when we were in a situation where we were screwed ("we're grated cheese, man!!")..... he was a little much. As was the androgynous Hispanic mini-Arnold chick. These 2 characters alone removed the appeal. But you're right about Rieser.... really did not think that would be his role considering his resume, but he did pretty well with what he had.

Ha, yeah. I didn't even know Paul was in Aliens until his name flashed up on the credits and I rolled my eyes. Its amazing that he was actually likable the first act of the film considering its ****ing Paul Reiser.

I'm with you on the Marines, but I think that is just something James Cameron does. Even the Sarge is the patented cigar chomping friendly, badass leader. As soon as he put in the cigar I busted out laughing, but its like a personal signal from Cameron that says, "There are 8-10 Marines here and they're all cliches." Watch Avatar and the army guys are written the same.

[daflyboys]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fresh Tendrils

Ha, yeah. I didn't even know Paul was in Aliens until his name flashed up on the credits and I rolled my eyes. Its amazing that he was actually likable the first act of the film considering its ****ing Paul Reiser. I'm with you on the Marines, but I think that is just something James Cameron does. Even the Sarge is the patented cigar chomping friendly, badass leader. As soon as he put in the cigar I busted out laughing, but its like a personal signal from Cameron that says, "There are 8-10 Marines here and they're all cliches." Watch Avatar and the army guys are written the same.

If you wanna see Reiser in a great role (and just a great movie with tons of recognizeable stars in their early years), check out DINER if you haven't already. Just not enough of his character in that, though. I think I'll be watching this again over the holidays.

[CMH]

Cherry (2010)

The story wasn't bad for the typical coming-of-age plot, but it was too melodramatic for my taste.

It got to that point where I sat back and said: "This is too much." It felt like everything wrong in the world happened to the trio in this film.

[DJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by daflyboys

If you wanna see Reiser in a great role (and just a great movie with tons of recognizeable stars in their early years), check out DINER if you haven't already. Just not enough of his character in that, though. I think I'll be watching this again over the holidays.

I just added this to my queue on Netflix after seeing it was added to Instant Stream. I've heard good things about this movie, so looking forward to watching.

[daflyboys]

Quote: Originally Posted by DJ

I just added this to my queue on Netflix after seeing it was added to Instant Stream. I've heard good things about this movie, so looking forward to watching.

You'll walk away wishing it was twice as long.