What movies have you seen recently?

[Blzer]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

The Conspiracy. I don't know what to think of this movie. Very strange but makes you think.

But it's making you think, so do it!!!

[dickey1331]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

The ABCs of Death. Some of them were really strange. Others were good.

[DJ]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Gone Girl
I had not read the book (my wife had), so i had no real idea what to expect. The surprises/twists ranged from overtly obvious to downright shocking. The last 5 minutes really caught me off guard ... in a good way.

Like most films that go past the 2-hour mark there were parts where things dragged, but overall, I certainly enjoyed the film.

[SPTO]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Bite the Bullet (1975)

Think Cannonball Run on horses and as a drama rather than a comedy.

That's essentially what this movie boils down to as various people join up for a 700 mile endurance race for 2000 bucks in the early 20th century. The movie's two topped billed stars were Gene Hackman and James Coburn as former Rough Riders and friends who are in the race along with a bunch of other folks who are clear Western archetypal characters. The movie clearly tried to celebrate the history of Westerns in its own way rather than trying to re-invent the genre.

Hackman and Coburn were clearly aping Redford and Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. There are whole scenes between the two that are parallels to the earlier film including the ending which is an homage at best and a blatant ripoff at worst. That being said, Hackman and Coburn did have genuinely good chemistry together so you can overlook those similarities.

Unfortunately, they can only do so much. There are a lot of very good scenes in this movie but the overall whole left a bit to be desired. There's even a twist to the story that isn't very surprising if you pay attention and the resolution of that twist is handled so quickly and easily that the seriousness of it is completely undercut. That being said, there are great scenes in this movie. A younger Candice Bergen is a participant in the race trying to win the money to get her husband out of jail and she's actually pretty damn sexy as a tomboy here. She has a good rapore with the other characters especially Hackman. There's a great scene where they're out in the middle of the desert at the watering hole and they talk about Hackman's ex wife. Hackman does a brilliant job with his soliloquy to Bergen. In fact, it's this kind of acting that is the center of most of the real good scenes with the best being Ben Johnson as the old cowboy wanting to make it big as he tells his life story to Hackman just before he dies.

So despite a lot of very good scenes the film is undercut by so many riding scenes. There's only so much one can take of seeing sweaty people on horseback and seeing great cinematography and hearing very good music. The biggest sin is one turgid segment in the desert which was done in slow motion. That part really took me out of the movie and it does NOT work well at all.

In the end, this could've been a bit better if writer/director Richard Brooks had tightened up his script a little, added a little more action and probably shortened the running time. This could've been a 3 1/2 star movie but instead is 2 1/2 stars to me.

[dickey1331]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Contracted. It was a decent movie. Kinda weird watching it with Ebola going around even though it doesn't really compare to the movie.

[daflyboys]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Contracted. It was a decent movie. Kinda weird watching it with Ebola going around even though it doesn't really compare to the movie.

I haven't seen one biohazard movie where I walked away and said, "hmm, I'm glad I watched that!" So depressing.

[aukevin]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Gone Girl
I had not read the book (my wife had), so i had no real idea what to expect. The surprises/twists ranged from overtly obvious to downright shocking. The last 5 minutes really caught me off guard ... in a good way.

Like most films that go past the 2-hour mark there were parts where things dragged, but overall, I certainly enjoyed the film.

I watched that this weekend too. Having not read the book I was intrigued all the way through.

[daflyboys]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Rudderless.

One of the best dramadies I've seen in quite a while. With Macy's hand in it, it's no surprise.

I couldn't figure out who the kid (Anton Yelchin) was for a little while, but was pleasantly surprised.

[mkharsh33]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

"The Judge"

One of THE best movies I've seen in a long time. The dialogue between Downey, Jr and Duvall is just amazing. Great storyline. The family dynamics in this movie are very touching - so real and raw. Downey, Jr's attitude about life is spot on. Plenty of humor mixed into the sober reality the movie presents.

It's one of those movies that I could go back and watch it a couple / three more times and feel I would still walk out impressed.

I won't say more as it would give too much away - but one second it will make you laugh, and yet around the corner it will touch you with the sense of sadness. Duvall's performance is award-worthy...

[mkharsh33]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Gone Girl
I had not read the book (my wife had), so i had no real idea what to expect. The surprises/twists ranged from overtly obvious to downright shocking. The last 5 minutes really caught me off guard ... in a good way.

Like most films that go past the 2-hour mark there were parts where things dragged, but overall, I certainly enjoyed the film.

My wife and I saw this opening weekend. I had a "meh" type of reaction. I'm one of only a few people on the planet who had never even heard of the book. I guess you either love it or hate it - personally, I don't care if I ever see it again. Just so much of it seem displaced for me - and I also felt there were a few instances that just made the movie lack credibility & belief.

Spoiler

For instance: the scene at the end following the murder of her ex-boyfriend. The FBI (I believe) is asking her but 5 questions - nothing pressing, and just found her to be entirely believable and just let her walk out of the hospital. Also, the ending sucked (in my opinion). I felt cheated. The movie kinda promotes the idea that no one can be trusted. Maybe some enjoyed this, but I didn't. Just seemed like some parts dragged, giving them too much attention. Then when the movie should have slowed down & provided some depth, it just moved right along. I honestly felt like I was watching someone trying to recreate a modern day "Basic Instinct"...and yet did a lousy job of doing so.

[DJ]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

My wife and I saw this opening weekend. I had a "meh" type of reaction. I'm one of only a few people on the planet who had never even heard of the book. I guess you either love it or hate it - personally, I don't care if I ever see it again. Just so much of it seem displaced for me - and I also felt there were a few instances that just made the movie lack credibility & belief.

Spoiler

For instance: the scene at the end following the murder of her ex-boyfriend. The FBI (I believe) is asking her but 5 questions - nothing pressing, and just found her to be entirely believable and just let her walk out of the hospital. Also, the ending sucked (in my opinion). I felt cheated. The movie kinda promotes the idea that no one can be trusted. Maybe some enjoyed this, but I didn't. Just seemed like some parts dragged, giving them too much attention. Then when the movie should have slowed down & provided some depth, it just moved right along. I honestly felt like I was watching someone trying to recreate a modern day "Basic Instinct"...and yet did a lousy job of doing so.

Yeah, I highly doubt I watch it again. I agree with you on the spoilers and made a mention of that to my wife; I believe that is explained in more detail in the book. I grasped the premise of her "out-smarting" the FBI, but they certainly could've played that out a little more convincingly.

[aukevin]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

My wife and I saw this opening weekend. I had a "meh" type of reaction. I'm one of only a few people on the planet who had never even heard of the book. I guess you either love it or hate it - personally, I don't care if I ever see it again. Just so much of it seem displaced for me - and I also felt there were a few instances that just made the movie lack credibility & belief.

Spoiler

For instance: the scene at the end following the murder of her ex-boyfriend. The FBI (I believe) is asking her but 5 questions - nothing pressing, and just found her to be entirely believable and just let her walk out of the hospital. Also, the ending sucked (in my opinion). I felt cheated. The movie kinda promotes the idea that no one can be trusted. Maybe some enjoyed this, but I didn't. Just seemed like some parts dragged, giving them too much attention. Then when the movie should have slowed down & provided some depth, it just moved right along. I honestly felt like I was watching someone trying to recreate a modern day "Basic Instinct"...and yet did a lousy job of doing so.

The part in your spoiler was the only part of the movie that I had a problem with.

Spoiler

My biggest problem with that scene after she returns is where is the huge wound that spilled all the blood in her kitchen? Why didnt' they ask that? I know she was gone a month, but a wound that would have left that much blood would still be healing or a have a scar or something! A hammer to the cheekbone wouldn't suffice.

[mkharsh33]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

The part in your spoiler was the only part of the movie that I had a problem with.

Spoiler

My biggest problem with that scene after she returns is where is the huge wound that spilled all the blood in her kitchen? Why didnt' they ask that? I know she was gone a month, but a wound that would have left that much blood would still be healing or a have a scar or something! A hammer to the cheekbone wouldn't suffice.

I looked over at my wife and asked: Do they not have showers in that hospital??

[KG]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

The Equalizer

Not sure if I should use spoilers so I'll just do it so I don't ruin it for anyone else. Good movie with some good fighting scenes but...

Spoiler

I don't know if I can stomach Denzel being a 1-man wrecking crew anymore. It's hard enough for me to accept Liam in that kind of role. Denzel basically took out an entire network including a Russian oligarch in his mansion in Russia. My boy Roman Abramovich would never have let this go down, lol.

Also, I'm a big fan of nature documentaries. Just watched "Predators at War" from National Geographic. Basically the story about lions, hyenas, wild dogs, and a leopard all occupying the same territory in some game reserve in South Africa. It's not for the faint of heart as it's pretty graphic but it's one of the better documentaries I've seen. The cameraman gets really close to the action and comes from a long-line of game wardens. His grandfather actually killed a male lion with his a small knife:

http://kimwolhuter.com/?page_id=112

[daflyboys]

Re: What movies have you seen recently?

Re-watched the Fright Night remake (2011). I'm really not into the horror genre at all, but this was pretty well done. I guess I got intrigued after looking up the cast of Rudderless and seeing that it was Yelchin who played the teenager. Didn't remember that.

Then attempted to watch FN2 for the first time. What a let down.... couldn't make it past 25 mins and even that was too much.

Speaking of the Fright Night young love couple: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=124161