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Posted: |
Jul 30, 2013 - 8:23 PM
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By: |
DeputyRiley
(Member)
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Angels and Demons (2009) -- 9/10
Great movie! Better than The Da Vinci Code, but quite different. Once again Hans Zimmer's music is sublime, albeit edgier this time around. Ewan McGregor was a revelation and gave the best performance I've ever seen him give. He was just outstanding. This movie had a few genuine shocks (the assassin's death and the revelation of the true culprit) and was quite exciting, intense, and at times surprisingly violent. The scene with Langdon and the guard trapped in the Archives with the red glow and the fiery shootout with the assassin in the church were awesome setpieces. I thought the conspiratorial aspect was better handled in this film than in The Da Vinci Code but ultimately Angels and Demons had the lesser emotional payoff. Solid film nevertheless.
The character of Robert Langdon in these films is kind of amusing, really, especially as played by such high-caliber Tom Hanks. In both movies, most of the time all he does is explain things. And explain, and explain, and explain. It must be difficult as an actor to come up with fresh ways of explaining history and meanings to characters/audiences. I could have used more development with Langdon's character. Don't know if the books provide this. There was a scene where Langdon looks at his Mickey Mouse watch and the lady asks him about it and he just says "it's a long story." And that's that. Could have been an interesting idiosyncrasy or anecdote but it was too throwaway. Small matter though. Hanks did a great job with the character as much as he could.
But seriously, though...enough with the pre-credits logos! Zimmer's music played over each and every one and his music was saying things and enunciating and evoking but when it's paired with company logos it is quite silly; they simply don't match up and it is very strange.
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Posted: |
Jul 31, 2013 - 7:28 AM
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By: |
TominAtl
(Member)
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Angels and Demons (2009) -- 9/10
Great movie! Better than The Da Vinci Code, but quite different. Once again Hans Zimmer's music is sublime, albeit edgier this time around. Ewan McGregor was a revelation and gave the best performance I've ever seen him give. He was just outstanding. This movie had a few genuine shocks (the assassin's death and the revelation of the true culprit) and was quite exciting, intense, and at times surprisingly violent. The scene with Langdon and the guard trapped in the Archives with the red glow and the fiery shootout with the assassin in the church were awesome setpieces. I thought the conspiratorial aspect was better handled in this film than in The Da Vinci Code but ultimately Angels and Demons had the lesser emotional payoff. Solid film nevertheless.
The character of Robert Langdon in these films is kind of amusing, really, especially as played by such high-caliber Tom Hanks. In both movies, most of the time all he does is explain things. And explain, and explain, and explain. It must be difficult as an actor to come up with fresh ways of explaining history and meanings to characters/audiences. I could have used more development with Langdon's character. Don't know if the books provide this. There was a scene where Langdon looks at his Mickey Mouse watch and the lady asks him about it and he just says "it's a long story." And that's that. Could have been an interesting idiosyncrasy or anecdote but it was too throwaway. Small matter though. Hanks did a great job with the character as much as he could.
But seriously, though...enough with the pre-credits logos! Zimmer's music played over each and every one and his music was saying things and enunciating and evoking but when it's paired with company logos it is quite silly; they simply don't match up and it is very strange.
Well, it certainly was a big improvement over painfully dull The Davinci Code and this film had me until the climax where it jumped the shark so to speak. But the final reveal was a bit of a surprise. Not bad.
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(revisit)
Juno (2007) -- 9.5/10
my goodness did i hate this movie. i really disliked how odd and eccentric the character and her dialogue were and its something Diablo Cody hasn't ever been able to shake (like her teenagers in THE UNITED STATES OF TARA which include a 14 year old who dresses like he lives in the 50s complete with monogrammed PJs) and while it works in QT and Kevin Smith movies in which I am not force to care about the main lead, here it felt so damn forced and fake.
loved the use of SONIC YOUTH's cover of SUPERSTAR though.
BROKEN CITY 6.5/10
A solid detective yarn with a great cast and its saving grace is also its undoing...its grounded in a very real NYC but as such doesn't really have huge twist or turns because life isn't really that way...still enjoyed the hell of out it.
JACK REACHER 6/10
Mild SPOILERS
A solid action film but sadly too stupid even though it thinks its smart and clever, for example the movie does indeed show some intelligence in adding humor and wit to a lot of situations like Reacher being a loner and thus buying clothes at the Salvation Army and washing them daily, his constant self awareness and the realities of things like how he needs a ride or a phone to contact people, I also enjoyed a tense scene where one of the villains talks to a victim and how it throws one off but then...the film is also incredibly cliched and stupid.
We have a great fight scene that is sadly followed by a Looney Tunes cartoon when two thugs try to attack Reacher and end up hitting themselves and each other with their weapons and destroying a room all while missing Reacher, we have a horrible meeting the bad guy in the shadows scene [complete with smoke and eerie music!] and then the female lead needing to be captured for the finale so she is told to be cautions only to leave her job all alone and then the hearing approaching footsteps only to run into someone scene plays out.
Shame but then again, I didn't like Mr. McQuarry THE USUAL SUSPECTS because I don't find whats so damn clever about a criminal who DOESN'T have to talk to the cops LIE to a damn cop.
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Kick-ass (2010) - 9/10
(revisiting this one)
Watched it again recently to share it with my fiance who hadn't seen it before. I asked him if he was going to see Kick-Ass 2 and he said "What is that? There was a Kick-Ass 1?" And of course I had to show him the fun of the film. He zoned out at some slower parts but in the end exclaimed "This is better than Scott Pilgrim Vs the World" which is good enough for me.
I enjoyed it while revisiting it even though I will admit now that there were some slower parts that probably could have done without. It is solid action fun even if the John Murphy cues that return are a bit overbearing.
Sirusjr did you get engaged? Used to hear boyfriend now we hear fiancé? None of my business, of course but if so congratulations!!! 
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PERSON OF INTEREST Season 1 -- 8.5 / 10
A former CIA officer and a reclusive billionaire prevent crimes before they happen thanks to a machine that anticipates threats thanks to a machine that was create to stop terriorist threats.
To say more would be a disservice to the show there in lies the greatness of it...its a constant mystery much like LOST but unlike that show or even BURN NOTICE [which it shares similarities with], this show lends itself to having more then just a new crime to prevent each week.
Both the leads have secrets and past lives which we learn little by little during the first half of the series plus same of the secondary principles who are too fleshed out but then the series has another "threat" that spans through the episodes of the first half and then really takes off in the rest and finale. It was great how rewarding the constant attention the makers give the series by bring up old faces from previous episodes and even linking a few tricks learned along the way all while still juggling the threat of the week.
Jim Caviezel does great work and I hope this show helps him clear himself of being more then just Jesus and Michael Emmerson once again plays a man with a secret past but thanks to the writing and a few episodes he gets to show of multiple sides of his humanity and does damn good with the humor thrown at him.
Over all a lot of fun with plenty of action and mystery to keep one intrigued.
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Lucio fulci's Zombie flesh eaters, recorded off horror channel.
For horror gore 9 /10. As a film, probably a 5. Great score though.
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(revisit)
The Faculty (1998) -- 9.5/10
Love this film!
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Posted: |
Aug 8, 2013 - 8:21 AM
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By: |
jackfu
(Member)
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The Blue Max - 8. I’ve seen lots of criticism for Peppard’s acting, but I think he did very well. Stachel was supposed to be aloof, fatalistic, ambitious, bitter and selfish and I think Peppard came across that way. He was also supposed to be 19 (in the novel), which might have been a weak point in the film in that those characteristics may seem childish in a man well into his thirties. Basically he’s not intended to be a likeable character, which creates a hard-sell from the get go. And let’s face it – as Americans we were the good guys; even 50 years after WWI, many of us were uncomfortable with a film made from “the other guys’” perspective (somewhat). When it premiered I was 10 and I was disappointed that most of the planes used were not the original fighters, but they did a good job of making use of what they had available and it doesn’t bother me now. And the dogfights and flying scenes IMO have never been surpassed and are far superior than those in Flyboys. It does share the flaws of many British or American-made war movies of the day of using non-Germans to play the main roles of Germans, but since so few Americans would have been familiar with German actors, I imagine the filmmakers deemed it necessary for mass English-speaking audience appeal. Of course, Goldsmith’s score was top-notch!
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But for all his inadequacies he at least provides some slick, colorful big-screen action bolstered by a solid Silvestri score. I had some hopes for the sequel -- I was hoping that Chu, of the Step Up series, would choreograph interesting action scenes -- but alas that film was simply dreadful. Absolutely lifeless, with poorly blocked action, poorly drawn characters, a poor score from Jackman. Just a misfire all around. Definitely in the running for the year's worst list. 
