Movie Thread -- Happy Stuff (Non-Wizards)

[miller31time]

Just watched "Up". Pixar does it again.

I can say, with 100% certainty, that I have never been disappointed with one of their films. They're all great.

(And there is no shame in saying this, as a 21-year-old)

The character development, the imagination, the script, the voice acting, the music - it's all so perfectly done.

[TheSecretWeapon]

miller: I'm...umm...older than 21 and I've never been disappointed by a Pixar film. It's tough picking a favorite by Pixar. It's been "Finding Nemo," but "Up" is a strong contender. As was Wall-E.

"Cars" was the weakest of their offerings, in my opinion. But still good.

[miller31time]

miller: I'm...umm...older than 21 and I've never been disappointed by a Pixar film. It's tough picking a favorite by Pixar. It's been "Finding Nemo," but "Up" is a strong contender. As was Wall-E.

"Cars" was the weakest of their offerings, in my opinion. But still good.

Agreed wholeheartedly, though "The Incredibles" is up there as well.

I'd rank them in the following (at the moment)....

1. Finding Nemo (All of the things Pixar is known for, the imagination, animation, music, voice acting, etc - they're all on full display)

2. Wall-E (I have great respect and awe for a movie where the parts without dialogue are more entertaining than the parts with it, and it's not like the parts with dialogue are chopped liver)

3. Up (most emotional animated film I've ever seen...just great character development and symbolism)

4. The Incredibles (The most action-packed Pixar film, and I'm a sucker for action)

5. Toy Story (An outstanding concept brought to life in the best way possible)

6. Monsters, Inc. (Probably their most creative film with great voice-cast selection and animation for its time)

7. Ratatouille (I'm getting repetitive but a wonderful, uplifting story)

8. Toy Story 2 (Wasn't as good as the original, though some thing it was, but still one of the better sequels I've ever seen)

9. A Bug's Life (Their first film. Still a good story. Having a male lady bug was all I needed)

10. Cars (Probably the most kid-friendly of them all. And I don't particularly like NASCAR or anything associated with it. Yet it's still a very fun, if predictable movie, so credit has to be given)

And I already know the impending "You underrated Toy Story". I fully recognize most will have it higher, and it probably deserves to be so. I just didn't find it as entertaining as the films above it.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Here's my official ranking of Pixar movies:

1. Finding Nemo
2. Up
3. Wall-E
4. The Incredibles
5. Ratatouille
6. Toy Story
7. Toy Story 2
8. Monsters, Inc.
9. A Bug's Life
10. Cars

Finding Nemo is one of my favorite movies, period. Up is up there too.

[LyricalRico]

Sylvester Stallone broke his neck while filming a fight scene in his latest movie.

The veteran action hero had emergency surgery and a metal plate inserted in his neck following the accident on the set of The Expendables.

The 63-year-old actor was filming a fight with wrestling co-star Stone Cold Steve Austin, 45, in the upcoming movie, but it was so realistic that Stallone ended up with a hairline fracture in his neck.

<snip>

The plot of the film centres around a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.

The movie features a who's who of veteran action actors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, 62, Bruce Willis, 54, Dolph Lundgren, 52, Mickey Rourke, 57, Jet Li, 46, as well as relative youngster Jason Statham, 37.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... movie.html

Ahhh, nothing like old guys beating the crap out of each other.



And what's up with Van Damme and Segal not being a part of this? It's not like they're busy.

[lupin]

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.

What a compliment that you think me so young, CCJ. Ok, I didn't actually grow up seeing ST:TOS during its first run, but I saw it several times over in syndication well before ST:TNG came out. The movie completely messes with the original back story, and for any fan of the later stuff, pretty much annihilates each of those storylines as well. Like it never existed. And blowing up Vulcan with a mining ship? WTF, yo?

To each their own. As stand alone eye candy, it was an ok, mindless action flick. But it wasn't even that plausible in that sense, and certainly as quality Trek it really falls off the cliff.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Sylvester Stallone broke his neck while filming a fight scene in his latest movie.

The veteran action hero had emergency surgery and a metal plate inserted in his neck following the accident on the set of The Expendables.

The 63-year-old actor was filming a fight with wrestling co-star Stone Cold Steve Austin, 45, in the upcoming movie, but it was so realistic that Stallone ended up with a hairline fracture in his neck.

<snip>

The plot of the film centres around a team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.

The movie features a who's who of veteran action actors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, 62, Bruce Willis, 54, Dolph Lundgren, 52, Mickey Rourke, 57, Jet Li, 46, as well as relative youngster Jason Statham, 37.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... movie.html

Ahhh, nothing like old guys beating the crap out of each other.



And what's up with Van Damme and Segal not being a part of this? It's not like they're busy.

They might be busy making a very funny screenplay called "Van Damme vs. Seagal." Basically, the story is that Van Damme and Seagal are neighbors, and they're competitive with each other. Van Damme learns that Seagal is writing an autobiography (he learns this by sending a ninja to break into Seagal's home) and decides that he's going to publish his own autobiography first. Except that his English sucks and he has no writing skills. So he hires a writer.

It's a funny script.

[TheSecretWeapon]

What a compliment that you think me so young, CCJ. Ok, I didn't actually grow up seeing ST:TOS during its first run, but I saw it several times over in syndication well before ST:TNG came out. The movie completely messes with the original back story, and for any fan of the later stuff, pretty much annihilates each of those storylines as well. Like it never existed. And blowing up Vulcan with a mining ship? WTF, yo?

To each their own. As stand alone eye candy, it was an ok, mindless action flick. But it wasn't even that plausible in that sense, and certainly as quality Trek it really falls off the cliff.

Not to go 100% geek here, but the new Star Trek didn't annihilate any of the back stories, it created new ones inspired by the old. It's an alternate universe that's similar, but not identical to the Star Trek universe we've previously seen. The "old" universe still exists, but it's literally (in terms of story) in that other universe. The "new" universe was created when the Romulan mining ship and Spock came through the black hole created by the destruction of the Romulan sun.

But, as you say -- to each their own. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[LyricalRico]

The movie completely messes with the original back story, and for any fan of the later stuff, pretty much annihilates each of those storylines as well. Like it never existed.

That was actually my favorite part. As Kev said, the backstory technically "happens" in another reality, but the thought of these characters developing differently than the originals is very interesting.

I was initially afraid that they were just going to try to re-do the original movie but with better effects. But they've in effect created another franchise spin-off that they now have almost full poetic license to take in whatever direction they want. I'm excited to see where it's going to go.

[Hoopalotta]

I saw the ST:TOS-reboot flick twice, but on cruddy airplane 'emergency exit' TV's with people loitering around me trying to lift bags of peanuts from the galley.

I'd have to reserve judgment overall, though I thought there were a few too many 90210 looking people around. The Spock casting was great though; now that's a Spock (except that having watched him cut a lot of peoples heads open in the first season of 'Heroes', it was kind of weird seeing him in even a modestly romantic role)

The aesthetic treatment on the TOS era Fed gear was perfect; a spick and span reto flair with just the right touches of modern polish. Would I be asking too much for a shag rug on the bridge?

[LyricalRico]

Here's my official ranking of Pixar movies:

1. Finding Nemo
2. Up
3. Wall-E
4. The Incredibles
5. Ratatouille
6. Toy Story
7. Toy Story 2
8. Monsters, Inc.
9. A Bug's Life
10. Cars

Finding Nemo is one of my favorite movies, period. Up is up there too.

Still haven't seen Up but it's on my list now after hearing everyone's reviews. I also haven't seen Bug's Life or Cars. I may have seen Toy Story 2 but it's been so long that I can't remember. Saw the first one as a kid and really liked it.

The rest of those movies I've seen as an adult and I really liked Wall-E. That little guy was so cool. And the fact that there was hardly any converstation for almost the first half of the movie but it was still captivating was awesome. I might have to put that #1, with FInding Nemo and Monsters Inc tied for second.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Of the Pixar flicks, the Incredibles is my favorite by far.

I think the whole family working together thing grabbed me. The dad's a down and out superhero, wrongfully accused in a law suit. How cool an idea is that? The mom, well any time they write her in as a very cute white girl with long legs and a very shapely ghetto booty--that works for me. And she kicks ass and has hubby's back, too--what's not to like about that? The kids being superheroes as well, my kids liked. Outside the family the other characters worked for me. The kid Syndrome, who felt rejected by Mr. Incredible to the point he becomes a villain Nemesis, I bought that, too. Mr Incredibles best friend Freeze, voiced by Samuel Jackson was tight.

Loved the musical score. Loved the animation. You could say that about every Pixar movie pretty much.

The action kind of put in mind the old 007 movies. It was really good. No, great. I love that movie. I would have to still rate it my favorite.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

From the top-10 Pixars, Wall-E was alright. I enjoyed Ratatouille a lot. But the one movie that's also at TSWs bottom 10 was the one I pretty much slept through: Cars.

That one appeared to stink, but my kids didn't complain about it.

I just know I got a real good nap on that one.

[Hoopalotta]

Yeah, I'd probably go for 'The Incredibles' with my top slot as well, though I haven't seen Up yet.

[TheSecretWeapon]

CCJ: Have you seen "Finding Nemo"? Among the reasons it's one of my favorite movies is the strong father-son theme.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ: Have you seen "Finding Nemo"? Among the reasons it's one of my favorite movies is the strong father-son theme.

TSW, I'm trying to remember--the first time my wife was deployed I'd take the kids to movies and be so tired I'd sleep through a good bit of them. I think I saw it, but would have to ask the kids.

That one might have been a great movie but sheer exhaustion got me.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Check it out. I guarantee you'll love it.

[LyricalRico]

Yeah, the lesson in Nemo was great: The best thing that ever happened to Nemo was to get taken away from his overprotective father. Otherwise his life would have been ruined. It's a classic example that I plan to cite in my upcoming book "Parents Are Overrated".

[TheSecretWeapon]

Wait, you mean the overprotective father who crossed a thousand miles of ocean to save Nemo?

[lupin]

Not to go 100% geek here, but the new Star Trek didn't annihilate any of the back stories, it created new ones inspired by the old. It's an alternate universe that's similar, but not identical to the Star Trek universe we've previously seen. The "old" universe still exists, but it's literally (in terms of story) in that other universe. The "new" universe was created when the Romulan mining ship and Spock came through the black hole created by the destruction of the Romulan sun.

But, as you say -- to each their own. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next one.

By "annihilate" I meant they effectively destroyed it because once they've created this whole new 'universe' commercially, you'll very likely never see the 'old universe' again on the small or big screen.

I also thought the Enterprise was over-the-top silly in design. *shrug*

I guess I'm just bothered by the seemingly universal praise for a movie that is brainless eye candy at best.