The Film Lovers Thread!

[yogini108]

I watched Dear Frankie and A Clockwork Orange , both for the first time this past weekend.
Dear Frankie I loved, very sweet and some funny moments with a deeper message.
Clockwork orange was definitely interesting and because of all the 'hype' im glad i saw it, but man it was straaaange! I liked watching the character development of Alex but most of those hooligan scenes i could seriously do without

I feel kind of a little bit silly posting my thoughts because they're pretty simple. I dont like to speak about movies in the way others do in here, you guys are all so fimmakerish! I guess im intimidated

 

[bleuFunk]

Don't be intimidated! I feel the same way sometimes, but even the little i gleen from here is valuable.

I agree with you about A Clockwork Orange - it was very strange and surrealistic, and definitely intentionally so. I have the book, but i haven't had the courage to read it yet.

 

[Whitelinen]

I can't stand Lynch, whom I find obtuse and overly weird for the sake of being weird, but I do appreciate Jarmusch. I find that their approches are totaly different. Lynch seems to think about a concept he wants to treat than dip it in his brand of symbolism while Jarmusch just looks at life and situations from a slightly removed and totaly different angle then infuses his stories with a sort of offbeat, 60s jazz rythm that speaks to my new wave fan sensibilities.

I wasn't thinking about Jarmusch and Lynch having anything in common, I was just comparing them because I cannot undestand Jarmusch, but I can understand Lynch.

I like Lynch's films for being "weird". Not sure if they are weird just because of being weird, but because he wants to make them hard to understand, so people have to put thought in them. But what attracts me to his films is the feeling they have...I don't know how to express this, but the feelings and the "electricity" his characters and certain scenes have is amazing. They are some of the most honest films while being odd and difficult.

My original question was: why do you LIKE Jarmusch, not what Jarmusch IS.

And Clockwork Orange is a great film. I like the cinematography in it.

 

[Fuuma]

I wasn't thinking about Jarmusch and Lynch having anything in common, I was just comparing them because I cannot undestand Jarmusch, but I can understand Lynch.

I like Lynch's films for being "weird". Not sure if they are weird just because of being weird, but because he wants to make them hard to understand, so people have to put thought in them. But what attracts me to his films is the feeling they have...I don't know how to express this, but the feelings and the "electricity" his characters and certain scenes have is amazing. They are some of the most honest films while being odd and difficult.

My original question was: why do you LIKE Jarmusch, not what Jarmusch IS.

And Clockwork Orange is a great film. I like the cinematography in it.

Sorry, I guess I answered the wrong question. I did tell you why I liked Jarmusch though, which basically boils down to shared interests and an appreciation of the off-beat vision he brings to common situations

 

[lmelanie]

I'm such a huge fan of Joseph Gordon Levitt...I saw Mysterious Skin about a year ago and I was completely blown away..Has anyone here seen it?

Then I recently saw the film Brick, and was again so amazed at his character choices..

I think he is going to be one of the future great actors in Hollywood..

any thoughts?

 

[incogneato]

^ I adore Joseph gordon-levitt, he is amazing, I think he will be big in the future as well!

Mysterious skin was incredible, It was difficult to watch in some scenes, but Joe gave a great performance.

Brick was awsome as well. The first time I watched it, I didn't get it and thought it was stupid with the way they talked. After rewatching it, and actually paying attention, I was amazed. Along with mysterious skin, its definetaly another of my favorite movies.

 

[Fuuma]

I'll be watching Tony Takitani soon, anybody seen it?

 

[visconti]

^

No, but it looks interesting. I'll try to rent it in the next week or two.

I noticed that my library had the recently released Swedish silents from Mauritz Stiller, so those are on queue for the weekend. Erotikon is supposedly an influence on Lubitsch and Sir Arne's Treasure is one of the earliest (1919) films shot on location. There's another one from 1924 with Garbo, but it was checked out, so I got the newly restored Amarcord. It was my first exposure to Fellini and I haven't seen it since. I haven't been as receptive to his films recently, so I'm curious to see how I like it.

 

[Whitelinen]

What has been the best film released this year to you?

 

[Fuuma]

^

No, but it looks interesting. I'll try to rent it in the next week or two.

I noticed that my library had the recently released Swedish silents from Mauritz Stiller, so those are on queue for the weekend. Erotikon is supposedly an influence on Lubitsch and Sir Arne's Treasure is one of the earliest (1919) films shot on location. There's another one from 1924 with Garbo, but it was checked out, so I got the newly restored Amarcord. It was my first exposure to Fellini and I haven't seen it since. I haven't been as receptive to his films recently, so I'm curious to see how I like it.

Seems like your library has a very interesting selection.

 

[Erin]

How I feel out of my leauge visiting this thread! I have to IMDB nearly every movie.

 

[ChrissyM]

giving this thread a little bump...

does anyone have any opinions on 2046? i loved in the mood for love and 2046 just arrived in the mail today from netflix.

no spoilers please if anyone chooses to reply!

 

[TheKiwi]

I figured this was probably the best place to ask this... Are there other Film Production majors here like me? I can't believe I'm visiting this thread for the first time! I just don't think I ever saw it before.

Anyone have any film recommendations for documentaries? I am really into them lately (I can't wait for "Jesus Camp" and "The Bridge").

 

[xtine888]

giving this thread a little bump...

does anyone have any opinions on 2046? i loved in the mood for love and 2046 just arrived in the mail today from netflix.

no spoilers please if anyone chooses to reply!

I actually didn't like 2046 too much (but I did love "In The Mood For Love"), but I know many people who do. I have to say, though, in the technical aspects, it is masterful. The film LOOKS beautiful. Acting was wonderful, too (I Tony Leung; he's a terrific actor).

Story is kind of flimsy, imo, and too pretentious. But it's obvious that WKW is in love with images more so than the story, because there are lots of lingering (and kind of useless, imo) shots on the women in this film...who are all beautiful. Especially Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi. But ultimately, I thought it was a pretty disappointing movie, especially in comparison to his earlier works.

I'd love to hear what you thought of the movie after you watch it.

 

[TheR]

just finished watching scarface for the first time,not as good as i thought it would be.

 

[ChrissyM]

I actually didn't like 2046 too much (but I did love "In The Mood For Love"), but I know many people who do. I have to say, though, in the technical aspects, it is masterful. The film LOOKS beautiful. Acting was wonderful, too (I Tony Leung; he's a terrific actor).

Story is kind of flimsy, imo, and too pretentious. But it's obvious that WKW is in love with images more so than the story, because there are lots of lingering (and kind of useless, imo) shots on the women in this film...who are all beautiful. Especially Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi. But ultimately, I thought it was a pretty disappointing movie, especially in comparison to his earlier works.

I'd love to hear what you thought of the movie after you watch it.

thanks so much for your opinion.. i haven't had the chance to watch it yet but will try within the next couple days

i feel as though i may have heard comments along the same lines as yours--i took an asian cinema course in college last year and I believe I overheard my professor mentioning something like that to another student who asked her about 2046 after we watched a couple of wong kar wai films

maybe it will help that i won't be watching with really high expectations

 

[Fuuma]

I’m shamelessly recycling some comments I posted on another board earlier this week:

My recent viewings (+-50 films in October-November) can, for the most part, be grouped in two rough categories:

• Recent Asian (HK, Korea, Japan) blockbusters/commercial releases
• Classic American film noirs (mainly 40s-60s with some modern movies thrown in)

I’ll post some short comments on movies that warrant them. These are not reviews, if you want to read that just go to imdb.com, lovehkfilms.com, allmovie.com or rottentomatoes.com

Takeshis/Kitano/2005
I finally saw Kitano’s latest release and must say I was sorely disappointed. This is probably his weakest release to date (I’ve seen everything he’s done at least once except getting any). Here’s why:

• It doesn’t stand on it’s own as it’s too self-referential: While I’m big on auteur theory and believe cinema is infinitely more rewarding when you follow particular creators who’s work you respect, connect with and find thematic bridges from one movie to the next this one is simply unintelligible to someone who is not familiar with Kitano’s canon. Thematic connection and recurring obsessions (i.e. the beach in Kitano’s movies) is one thing but self-referential laziness is something else entirely
• It’s self-indulgent and an exercise in ego stroking: Kitano’s movies are almost always about the giant presence of Kitano the movie persona, his almost autistic attitude and suppressed violence. Takeshis goes one step further and refers to Kitano the entertainer and real-life person. Instead of being an embodiment of hidden urges and social malaise, placing a mirror in front of the audience and making them take a long hard look at themselves he preens in front of the aforementioned mirror, like Tom Cruise on any of his mediocre screen appearances.
• His treatment of violence is not consistent with his usual approach: Aside from Zatoichi which was a brilliant homage to traditional chambara series, violence and especially gunfights in Kitano movies is static, sad and rather anaesthetic. He really has the ability to take all the excitement and the “action” aspect out of the equation, letting you see what is really going on: pointless, nonsensical death and killing. This goes out of the window in Takeshis with a beautiful beach scene gun fight. It’s not interesting action, it’s barely comedy and you’re left with an empty scene with no apparent meaning.
• The dreamlike logic of the movie could be interesting as it allows Kitano to present individual vignettes that really show the strength of his background as a stand up comic. Sadly since these scenes are basically showcases for a particular performer and barely sustain or advance the plot; they don’t gel with the overall story or lack of thereof.

In other word watch it if you’re big on Kitano and are interested in seeing all his movies otherwise stay away as it’s simply not very good.

 

[Fuuma]

Puzzle/Kim Tae-Kyeong/Korea/2006

A heist mystery strongly inspired by the usual suspects (mysterious X behind a convoluted plot that is only revealed gradually, mostly through flashbacks) and reservoir dogs (heist went wrong and black Armani clad characters are stuck in an abandoned warehouse trying to understand what happened and who double-crossed them). It is quite derivative and the ending leaves something to be desired but this is nonetheless an engrossing watch. I tend to favour crime movies as they rely on plot and characterization to drive the story and this one is no exception. Definitely a recommended watch as it’s a good example of quality Korean popular cinema.

 

[Fuuma]

Hoop dreams/USA/James/1994

Fascinating documentary where we follow through three years of high school two young black boys from Chicago’s poorer neighbourhood who get to attend a private high school famous for it’s basketball team, seen as a gateway to famous colleges and eventually the NBA. This isn’t about sports though (would be a yawn fest) but their trials and tribulations and the enormous pressure to perform that is trust upon them at such a young age.

D.O.A./USA/Maté/1950

A man stumbles into a police station to report a murder; his own. If that’s not enough to pique your interest then I wonder what would work. Don’t read additional reviews, this one is enough and leaves you in the dark on crucial plot points.

A bittersweet life/Korea/Kim Ji-Woon/2005

Desensitised, efficient up and coming mob enforcer/club manager finds redemption in the love he has for a woman. He will eventually have to choose between her and his mob bosses-How original!! Kim Ji-Woon is a talented director and this tried and true formula, while lacking in originality, is an interesting vehicle for his stylistic flourishes and skewed vision. The finale is especially enlightening, illuminating the main protagonist in a new light. It is also worth noting how pig-headed and uncompromising most of the characters are, stupidly letting minor situations snowball until they gather enough momentum to become extremely destructive.

Laura/USA/Preminger/1944

NYC socialite Laura is murdered at her posh Manhattan apartment, typical hard-boiled cop handles the investigation but who’s responsible for the murder and more importantly is the cop falling for the dead girl? Supporting roles are great with a young Vincent Price playing a kind of high society playboy/gigolo and Clifton Webb in a memorable turn as bitchy dandy star journalist Waldo Lydecker.

 

[Zen]

I saw the new James Bond film yesterday. I really liked it. I'm not a huge fan
of action films yet alone James Bond films. I really liked Daniel Craig as the
new Bond.