Serious Movie Discussion

[Bullitt68]

I just watched Death Sentence and I'm going to post my thoughts, but included in them are spoilers, so read at your own risk.

**************SPOILERS**************



















On the whole, the film was a little more realistic when you think about it, but at the same time, to appreciate that degree of realism, you need to suspend belief a little too much. I thought it was realistic the way Kevin Bacon didn't just all of a sudden turn on the Charles Bronson switch and start blowing people away. He killed one guy (the man who actually killed his kid) and then the gang retaliated. He's just a normal guy on the run from these thugs, and not until they bust in and attempt to kill them all (they only end up killing the wife. Bacon lives and so does his other kid, which is one of the parts where you need to suspend your belief) does he go on a rampage.

The problems I had with it, though, are, I guess, typical in this kind of film. Nevertheless, they were quite annoying.

1) The way the kid dies is him and Bacon are at a gas station and a group of masked guys bust in. They shoot the clerk and then one of the gang members needs to kill the kid as an initiation. He's got a machete and he slices the kid. Now why he didn't stab him is anybody's guess, but how the kid got to keep his head is beyond me, and what's more, the kid doesn't even die right away, and what's more, Bacon got him to the hospital before he bled out. It just reeked of s(c)ripted drama.

2) When Bacon goes to kill the guy who killed his kid, it's incredibly stupid. He goes armed with a knife, and when he corners the guy in the back of a shithole apartment, not only does he not have the knife out ready to go. . .he doesn't even pull it out. He just grabs the guy and starts bashing his head against a dumpster and they have to fight for a while, then Bacon loses the knife, then they start "grappling" (since this is a MMA forum, I have to put the word grappling in quotes since it's not the BJJ we know and love) and finally Bacon sticks him. Why didn't he just walk up and stab him?

3) In a chase through the city with the gang hot on Bacon's trail, there are as many missed shots as a typical Schwarzenegger scene. Also, despite the high-intensity chase and the shooting and the fighting, none of the gang members are even remotely out of breath, much less sweating, yet Kevin Bacon looked like he was going to keel over. Now I understand that a bunch of built thugs would logically be in better shape than an executive, but still. . .at least take a few deep breaths.

4) John Goodman was in it. Enough said.

5) Kevin Bacon had more fucking lives than a cat. Seriously: Seagal not getting killed in the beginning of Hard to Kill is an easier pill to swallow than some of the scenes in this movie.

On the whole, I'd probably give it a 5 or 6 out of 10, and while there are some things I appreciated in terms of bringing a healthy dose of reality to the film (the main point of note being when Bacon is loading up for the final showdown and he's reading the instructions on how to load his .357 Magnum, he's losing bullets, he can't finagle the shotgun, etc.) there was a little too much suspension of belief for my taste.

I'll take Judgment Night any day

Along with Death Sentence, I also got There Will Be Blood. I still can't believe I haven't seen the film, but I finally got it and I'll post about it once I watch it in the next couple of days.

[cheese7668]

Just reading through, Bullitt, you have a solid list. I'm a huge fan of 2001 (and Kubrick in general).

Have you seen Wall*E? IMO 2001 was a huge influence.

Also, was I the only one who didn't like the movie Crash? It was too in-your-face with its message.

[sodapopinski]

Originally Posted by Bullitt68

Anybody else have problems like this? People/films you know everybody else likes/respects and then you try to see what the fuss is about and you absolutely hate it?

I've grown bored of every Kubrick film I've watched, except for The Shining and Full ****l Jacket. The first half of FMJ is as good as a movie can get, IMO. However, I just can't get into Kubrick's stuff. Dr. Strangelove was ok, but not great.

On another note, I'm trying to watch Once Upon A Time In The West, but God, it is sooooooo slow. I've watched about 40 minutes of movie with about 2 minutes of material. I'll try to watch it to the end, but I don't know how much I'm going to like it. Also, I tried to watch Once Upon A Time In America, and I just didn't like it (although I must admit that I still have about 45 minutes of the movie left. Sergio Leone directed both films, and so far, I don't like either one of them (especially OUATIA). Don't get me wrong; Sergio has directed two of my favorite films - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, as well as For A Fistful Of Dollars.

[Bullitt68]

Originally Posted by cheese7668

Just reading through, Bullitt, you have a solid list. I'm a huge fan of 2001 (and Kubrick in general).

Have you seen Wall*E? IMO 2001 was a huge influence.

I probably won't see that until it's on HBO if I see it at all. I don't much care for animated films. However, I now have more incentive to see it just to see 2001's influence.

Originally Posted by cheese7668

Also, was I the only one who didn't like the movie Crash? It was too in-your-face with its message.

I think it sucked save for Matt Dillon.

Originally Posted by sodapopinski

I've grown bored of every Kubrick film I've watched, except for The Shining and Full ****l Jacket. The first half of FMJ is as good as a movie can get, IMO. However, I just can't get into Kubrick's stuff. Dr. Strangelove was ok, but not great.

Have you seen all of his films? Which ones have you tried to watch and not liked and why? As a huge Kubrick fan, I'm always curious to hear what people have to say, regardless of whether it's good or bad.

Originally Posted by sodapopinski

On another note, I'm trying to watch Once Upon A Time In The West, but God, it is sooooooo slow. I've watched about 40 minutes of movie with about 2 minutes of material. I'll try to watch it to the end, but I don't know how much I'm going to like it. Also, I tried to watch Once Upon A Time In America, and I just didn't like it (although I must admit that I still have about 45 minutes of the movie left. Sergio Leone directed both films, and so far, I don't like either one of them (especially OUATIA). Don't get me wrong; Sergio has directed two of my favorite films - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, as well as For A Fistful Of Dollars.

Wow. Two movies in my top ten. IMO, Once Upon a Time in the West is the best Western ever made. Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda were phenomenal, I loved Jason Robards as Cheyenne, the cinematography was staggering, and Morricone's score is one of the most beautiful scores ever made if not THE most beautiful.

As for Once Upon a Time in America: It's my favorite film of all time. I literally have nothing bad to say about a single second in the entire 3+ hours the film runs.

[sodapopinski]

As far as Kubrick goes, I've seen A Clockwork Orange and I hated it, same goes for 2001. I think 2001 was groundbreaking, but just because a movie is groundbreaking doesn't mean I'm going to like it. Dr. Strangelove wasn't bad, but wasn't a classic IMO. Full ****l Jacket - the movie should have stopped when R. Lee Ermey was shot. His performance, as well as D'Onofrio's performance, were two of the best that I've ever seen. The Shining was good, not great, but definitely worth watching. One thing I like about Kubrick is that he didn't need to switch the camera angle every second. I hate that about movies nowadays, and I feel like it is done to cover up shitty directing.

But I respect other people's opinions, even if they differ from mine. That's why movies are great - they are left up to interpretation.

Oh, another director to add to my hate list - Danny Boyle. I fucking hate his movies. They all start out good or with a good premise, then after awhile I get bored of the story, then the ending to his movies are always horse shit. The two that come to mind are 28 Days Later and Sunshine. Both movies started out with promise, and both of them sucked IMO.

[cheese7668]

Even if you're not into animated, if you like 2001 I would say its a must see. It does more than just throw out references. Its the most adult Pixar movie yet, and one of the better sci-fi movies I've seen in awhile.

[younggunz]

Originally Posted by HuntersCreed

I'm starting my Netflix account back now. It's that time. I need to see Orphanage. Guilermo Del Toro Exec Produces it. I've heard good things.

Good movie..

Feels like the Devils Backbone in tone (perhaps because of the Del Toro influence)

One of the better suspense movies I've seen in recent years..

[Bullitt68]

Originally Posted by sodapopinski

As far as Kubrick goes, I've seen A Clockwork Orange and I hated it, same goes for 2001. I think 2001 was groundbreaking, but just because a movie is groundbreaking doesn't mean I'm going to like it. Dr. Strangelove wasn't bad, but wasn't a classic IMO. Full ****l Jacket - the movie should have stopped when R. Lee Ermey was shot. His performance, as well as D'Onofrio's performance, were two of the best that I've ever seen. The Shining was good, not great, but definitely worth watching. One thing I like about Kubrick is that he didn't need to switch the camera angle every second. I hate that about movies nowadays, and I feel like it is done to cover up shitty directing.

But I respect other people's opinions, even if they differ from mine. That's why movies are great - they are left up to interpretation.

How about his other films?

Killer's Kiss
The Killing
Paths of Glory
Spartacus
Lolita
Barry Lyndon
Eyes Wide Shut

Have you seen those, and if so, what'd you think?

It's one thing to think Kubrick's overrated, but I'm surprised at how much you dislike him. Then again, I'm sure someone could read my post about John Ford and say the same thing

[younggunz]

Originally Posted by Bullitt68

I probably won't see that until it's on HBO if I see it at all. I don't much care for animated films. However, I now have more incentive to see it just to see 2001's influence.



I think it sucked save for Matt Dillon.



Have you seen all of his films? Which ones have you tried to watch and not liked and why? As a huge Kubrick fan, I'm always curious to hear what people have to say, regardless of whether it's good or bad.



Wow. Two movies in my top ten. IMO, Once Upon a Time in the West is the best Western ever made. Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda were phenomenal, I loved Jason Robards as Cheyenne, the cinematography was staggering, and Morricone's score is one of the most beautiful scores ever made if not THE most beautiful.

As for Once Upon a Time in America: It's my favorite film of all time. I literally have nothing bad to say about a single second in the entire 3+ hours the film runs.

Wall E is impeccably done. Pixar have a knack for sharp satire.

Wall E is pixars statement on the effects of automation on the human race, and the disconnect we are developing between the natural world and the human plight.

Deep and Dark for a family film..but it pulls it off.

Three films that are coming out as summer blockbusters deal with serious topics..

Wall E- over-reliance on automation, destruction of the natural world

HellBoy 2- is the human race worth saving, when they seem to have no respect for anything but themselves?

Dark Knight- post 9/11 fear mongering, anarchy, blowback...

[Bullitt68]

^^^^

Nice AV. I don't know about anybody else, but the news that there's going to be an Arrested Development movie is probably the most excited I've been about a film since Collateral.