Movie Thread -- Happy Stuff (Non-Wizards)

[lupin]

so, anyone seen Avatar yet? any thoughts?

[nate33]

Dexter is the best show on TV right now. I'm a bit behind this season so don't tell me anymore. (I just finished Episode 7. Thank goodness for BitTorrent.)

Do you mean of all shows that are not completed/cancelled/on hiatus or do you mean that is on this television season (so excluding summer shows and shows starting midseason)? Because if you mean the former, I'd take MAD MEN, BREAKING BAD, LOST, and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (the only one on right now) over DEXTER every day of the week and with no absolutely hesitation. Especially if you're just comparing the most recent seasons of everything.

I think all of these have more to say, have better scripts to bring out those ideas, and are, in general, better acted. And aside from maybe BREAKING BAD (although that has its fair share of great visual moments, too) are all more beautifully shot and directed.

And to be perfectly honest, DOLLHOUSE has been killing it since the end of last season, and if we're comparing just DEXTER Season 4 and DOLLHOUSE Season 2, I'd pick DOLLHOUSE.

And then if we're just talking favorite shows overall, not just dramas, I'd go with PARKS AND RECREATION over DEXTER, too.

It's not that I don't love DEXTER, it's just that there are so many great shows on TV right now.

NOTE: I still haven't seen the season finale of Dexter yet.

I don't really watch a lot of TV so you can take my opinions with a grain of salt. I've never seen Mad Men, Breaking Bad or Friday Night Lights.

Lost is no where near as good as it used to be, and it pales in comparison to Dexter IMO. At this point, I just want them to explain everything. I no longer even care about the characters anymore. They all annoy me except Jin.

I watched the first 8 or so episodes of Dollhouse and I hated it. I respect Joss Whedon so I really tried to endure the boredom in the hopes that it would pick up, but the show never seemed to go anywhere. I finally gave up. I'll have to take your word for it that it improved in the second season. It would have to have gotten A LOT better for me to rank it anywhere near a show like Dexter, or even Lost.

I'm disappointed that they canceled the Sarah Conner Chronicles. That show seemed to get better each week. I enjoyed the first few weeks of V and think it'll get better over time. My favorite comedy these days is The Big Bang Theory. I also really enjoy Chuck.

[wermolwermol777]

Saw "Moon" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/) last week. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised - I had numerous people recommend it and usually movies like that don't live up to the hype - but I did like Moon a lot. Has anyone else seen it?

[Zerocious]

Saw "Moon" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/) last week. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised - I had numerous people recommend it and usually movies like that don't live up to the hype - but I did like Moon a lot. Has anyone else seen it?

started it, but lost power 3 minutes into it. will see it soon. can't wait to see it

saw hurt locker >> great movie, lacks a good story

ponyo on the cliff by the sea >> animated kids movie, love the artistic expressions

saw the reader >> great inside story on holocaust surroundings

4 Christmases >> not as funny as expected

julie julia >> streep is exceptional, but poorly executed stature increase for streep. could have done with the childs call of disapproval

inglorious bastards >> would see again. friggen aussie ss cop is amazing actor. long scenes draw you in

drag me to hell >> the suck

twilight >> i'm a fan now, just finished the book too.

up > ok for me

zombieland >> a must see, funniest zombie flick since shaun of the dead

surrogates >> bla, cool special effects. i'robot was better

pelham >> soso, action flick on subway

transformers fallen >> nice effects and FOX!

proposal >> hilarious

did i miss anything. seen a few more, dont recall of the top of my head.

will give some more in depth thoughts if desired...

going to see avatar 3d soon too

[lupin]

OK, I saw Avatar. It was pretty good. Sucks you in so you don't really notice the time going by. The animation is excellent, but its not like it really looks real (didn't see it in 3D), so I'm not sure what the hype is all about. Reminds me of Star Wars in the way that it becomes pretty clear who the Good Guys and the Bad Guys are - not a lot of nuance. And the dialog is kinda cheesy. But still, very fun to watch.

Also saw Moon a few weeks ago. It was pretty good for such a small film. I thought it would be a little more twisted like Solaris, but the plot was much more straightforward. Still, a good watch for sci-fi fans. No explosions! Yay!

A thought on Ponyo: extremely well animated as usual by Mr Miyazaki; however, this one is his most kiddy-oriented movie that I've seen. Does not have the same broad appeal of Totoro or Kiki's. Also, the voice work wasn't as good as some of the other English dubs.

[dnk]

I don't really watch a lot of TV so you can take my opinions with a grain of salt. I've never seen Mad Men, Breaking Bad or Friday Night Lights.

What are you favorite shows of all time? If you ever have free time to catch up on a show, make it MAD MEN. It's just incredible, incredible television.

Lost is no where near as good as it used to be, and it pales in comparison to Dexter IMO. At this point, I just want them to explain everything. I no longer even care about the characters anymore. They all annoy me except Jin.

What seasons did you like of LOST? Season Four might have been my favorite season, maybe even more so than the first. The fifth had its moments for sure, too. I see DEXTER as having a much more steeper fall from its first two seasons than LOST ever did. And well besides the third season, I didn't think of LOST as having too much of a dropoff in general, though.

The thing I love about LOST isn't necessarily how awesome the mythology is (although I do find it pretty awesome), but since they built up the characters pretty well (IMO), the larger themes and mythology resonate more strongly. So if you don't like the characters that might be it. I like the characters, I'm interested in the mythology, and I like thinking about the points it makes about free will, etc. And for me, LOST does a great job of balancing those things out and making them all connect.

Personally, I don't mind the questions. They tell good stories in the meantime. I'm sure the important stuff will be explained. And personally I'd be fine with a lot of stuff going unexplained that I suspect a lot of people would have problems with. I don't need to know exactly WHY the island has its magical properties. Some things you just accept in science fiction. Would you rather have the Force be something awesome and mysterious or have it explained as resulting from "midichlorians" in the bloodstream?

I watched the first 8 or so episodes of Dollhouse and I hated it. I respect Joss Whedon so I really tried to endure the boredom in the hopes that it would pick up, but the show never seemed to go anywhere. I finally gave up. I'll have to take your word for it that it improved in the second season. It would have to have gotten A LOT better for me to rank it anywhere near a show like Dexter, or even Lost.

Yeah, beginning with Episode 6 DOLLHOUSE started to get in much more of a groove as it began having less standalone procedural episodes and developed the characters and mythology. I'd say the end of Season One had at least two great episodes ("Man on the Street" (that sixth episode) and "Epitaph One" (the unaired season finale)) and the rest were all significantly better than the first five. Season Two has had two episodes that were just slightly better than those really mediocre first five episodes, but the rest have all been pretty good.

People complaining about the show essentially having a new main character every episode and arguing that that makes it have no main protagonist can't say the same anymore. And with the characters having been better developed and the writers finding their feet, that wit and humor you expect from a Whedon production shines through a lot more often. And since "Epitaph One," we've known where it's all leading: a really interesting dystopian future.

I'm disappointed that they canceled the Sarah Conner Chronicles. That show seemed to get better each week. I enjoyed the first few weeks of V and think it'll get better over time. My favorite comedy these days is The Big Bang Theory. I also really enjoy Chuck.
I did not enjoy V very much. I watched the first three and read and heard that the last one wasn't much better, so I'm just going to pass for now. Let me know how the rest of the first season turns out and maybe I'll give it another shot in the summer. And I do plan on watching CHUCK sometime within the next year or so.

Saw "Moon" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/) last week. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised - I had numerous people recommend it and usually movies like that don't live up to the hype - but I did like Moon a lot. Has anyone else seen it?

Yup, saw it over the summer. A pretty good movie. Sam Rockwell was great.

[Zerocious]

Just went and saw avatar last night. let me tell you something..

i was not so interested in seeing it, it being all cgi and stuff but i went with a buddy of mine who wanted to see it. (i smuggled a dozen wings and a bottle coke into the theater!)

we ended up seeing the 3d version..

it.....was....awesome!!!!!!!!!

i have seen movies, lots of movies, a lot of them. and this by far has been the best movie theater experience ever.

the real D 3d made this movie so intense it was unreal. everything was totally realistic. the depth perception was unbelievable. 2.5 hrs later you wish it wasn't over yet.

although i am not a fan of 'creature' movies, this one is amazing. i truly highly recommend seeing it as long as you see it in the real d 3d. without it your just watching a half decent semi-animated action flick. i cannot tell you enough how amazing the 3d made it.

you wont be disappointed by watching this movie and experience the 3d. you'll rave about it!

[W. Unseld]

I heard Avatar's 3d is like being surrounded/immersed in the movie as opposed to having the occasional object come out at you. What was your take Zerocious?

CCJ, would the average wife who can tolerate sports appreciate "The Blind Side"?

[barelyawake]

Ok, wow.

Rare is it when I walk away from a flick totally freaked out. "Antichrist" with William Defoe is perhaps the most disturbing flick in cinematic history. Demented beyond all imagining.

When I say not for the squeamish, I mean it in spades.

[Zerocious]

I heard Avatar's 3d is like being surrounded/immersed in the movie as opposed to having the occasional object come out at you. What was your take Zerocious?

It's unlike anything i have ever seen or could imagine for that matter. i had seen a lot of (long) trailers, but they fade tremendously in comparison to seeing it in real 3d. absolutely phenomenal. you will find your self leaning left and right in your chair trying to get out of the way of things coming at you you (the audience) clearly were a major thought in making this movie. you are a part of it. many times you find yourself asking 'is this/ can this be true? (referring to technology not avatarism) and if not, why not? go check it out!

Ok, wow.

Rare is it when I walk away from a flick totally freaked out. "Antichrist" with William Defoe is perhaps the most disturbing flick in cinematic history. Demented beyond all imagining.

When I say not for the squeamish, I mean it in spades.

cant wait to see it

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I heard Avatar's 3d is like being surrounded/immersed in the movie as opposed to having the occasional object come out at you. What was your take Zerocious?

CCJ, would the average wife who can tolerate sports appreciate "The Blind Side"?

Yes!

It's not a jock movie at all. It's all about relationships. The football parts are near the end and not what the movie's about.

W. Unseld, it's about one woman's overriding maternal instincts and her ability to bring a whole lot of people together to support a young man who had every thing in life against him. It touches on race, class, faith, poverty, drugs, child abandonment, sexism, innuendo, recruiting, ncaa hypocrisy, loyalty--and what's so great about it is that at the very end of the movie you see how real the movie is. The movie never gets preachy and it doesn't drag. It's very well acted (except for the NCAA coaches ) and realistic, too.

Take the wife. She will like it on at least some level. My wife's not into sports at all, but she enjoyed the movie.

[Zerocious]

Saw "Moon" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/) last week. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised - I had numerous people recommend it and usually movies like that don't live up to the hype - but I did like Moon a lot. Has anyone else seen it?

loved it!

Ok, wow.

Rare is it when I walk away from a flick totally freaked out. "Antichrist" with William Defoe is perhaps the most disturbing flick in cinematic history. Demented beyond all imagining.

When I say not for the squeamish, I mean it in spades.

+1 on the wow. i will never see scissors the same again, or deer, or stone sharpening wheels, or firewood

[closg00]

I saw Avatar on 3D IMAX last night - WOW!! If you haven't seen-it, see in 3D IMAX, it's worth-it.

[Hoopalotta]

I just got back from Avatar in 3D at this very second, and yes, WOW!!!

[Zerocious]

the imax 3d here is a joke. the screen is not noticibly bigger than the regular theater. i'd have to go downtown to the science museum for the real imax and pay an extra $5-10 premium

[Ruzious]

A thought on Ponyo: extremely well animated as usual by Mr Miyazaki; however, this one is his most kiddy-oriented movie that I've seen. Does not have the same broad appeal of Totoro or Kiki's. Also, the voice work wasn't as good as some of the other English dubs.

I saw Totoro somewhat buzzed and half asleep on New Year's morning - way cool - and wayyyyyy bizarre. I also saw Up on New Years. It was typically great Pixar animation, and it surprised me by being somewhat dark - yet still funny. Very nostalgic - hearing Ed Asner sound like Spencer Tracy.

[TheSecretWeapon]

I read more movie scripts lately than I actually see -- especially in theaters. My most recent watchings:

- Night at the Museum 2 -- sucked

- Star Trek (reboot) -- excellent movie; nearly every scene was exciting and imaginative; loved the look

- Up -- a great film. The guys at Pixar continue to produce terrific film after terrific film. The opening sequence is as beautiful and touching a depiction of a marriage as I've seen in the movies, and then they top the emotional beats later on in the script. If it wasn't an animated film, I think it'd be nominated for best picture.

Among the better screenplay reads lately:

- Hurt Locker -- first-rate script, though it was more spectacle and mood than story. Still good, though.

- Buried -- this one hasn't been filmed yet, and it could be terrific or wretched depending on how it's done. The basic story is this: an American truck driver in Iraq gets kidnapped and buried alive by terrorists demanding ransom. The entire story happens inside the coffin. The truck driver has nothing in there but the few items the terrorists put in there with him (a half-charged cell phone, a lighter, a flask of whiskey, a pocket knife, and a glow stick). The writer does an astonishing job of building tension and suspense even though the story happens entirely inside the coffin.

[lupin]

Up was very good, and that opening bit was very powerful stuff.

I disagree on Star Trek. I think they totally destroyed the Star Trek Universe, and I am surprised that the movie received so much praise from alleged Trekkies/ers. Plus, it was kind of stupid.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

lupin, I agree with TSW that Star Trek was excellent. I loved everything about the movie. I'll bet you didn't grow up watching the original Star Trek (or reruns) of the 60s. If you did, this tied that together from the cast being assembled and did it using today's special effects. If you grew up watching Next Generation or some of the later spinoffs, that's the only way I could see somebody not totally enjoying Star Trek. I was actually surprised how good that movie was--I went in expecting more of the same sci fi but that blew me away. Uhura digging Spock over Kirk. Spock's parents. Capt Kirk's dad and his youth. I'd see that one again.

TSW, also loved Up and I totally agree on the marriage scene. Great touch, no dialogue but just showing the timeline of events.

Most recently, however, I took my teenage son's advice to see Sherlock Holmes. Did not like it at all. Got up and walked out as soon as the villian turned all demonic. Downey Jr. was a little too over-the-top for me. Just looked high the whole film. I also had trouble following the dialog. Bad flick.

[Zerocious]

lupin, I agree with TSW that Star Trek was excellent. I loved everything about the movie. I'll bet you didn't grow up watching the original Star Trek (or reruns) of the 60s. If you did, this tied that together from the cast being assembled and did it using today's special effects. If you grew up watching Next Generation or some of the later spinoffs, that's the only way I could see somebody not totally enjoying Star Trek. I was actually surprised how good that movie was--I went in expecting more of the same sci fi but that blew me away. Uhura digging Spock over Kirk. Spock's parents. Capt Kirk's dad and his youth. I'd see that one again.

TSW, also loved Up and I totally agree on the marriage scene. Great touch, no dialogue but just showing the timeline of events.

Most recently, however, I took my teenage son's advice to see Sherlock Holmes. Did not like it at all. Got up and walked out as soon as the villian turned all demonic. Downey Jr. was a little too over-the-top for me. Just looked high the whole film. I also had trouble following the dialog. Bad flick.

pretty much par for his imdb. ever seen Hugo pool? << i recommend it! allisa milano and jr.

i will still see sherlock, i like stupid stuff like that.

i agree with those that agree upon agreeing with the agreement that star trek was GOOD! i never really got into the star trek series, and was very skeptical about the movie. i could not see how i would be interested at all. But, when i saw it just recently, i was actually blown away. and not just because simon pegg was in it, i liked the story and the spock kirk saga. i hope they make a few more! these i'd actually see!!