| 10 MAR 2011 at 1:23pm |
pirateIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 5
Joined: 10 MAR 2011
Status : Online | Two days ago I watched the movie "Tron: Legacy" I didn't like the story too much, sometimes it was fun, that the director tried obviously to remind the original film from the eighties but because of this fact, the action got a little boring from time to time.... but I loved the graphics!!! really amazing!
|
| 11 MAR 2011 at 2:35am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | I've watched Inception 11 times and I'm not finished yet. Yeah, I know, I know...there's something wrong with me. Well, there are lots of things wrong with me, but let's just get on with things.
I think Inception is a wonderful movie. It's quite nuanced and, at times, ambiguous. Some things aren't spelled out and others can have more than one interpretation. Every time I've watched it, I've gained new insight and noticed little things I'd previously missed.
Some scenes require the viewer to fill in the blanks -- to "take a leap of faith" you might say, which is a recurring theme in the movie. One example concerns Cobb and Saito. Spoiler AlertHow do they leave Limbo and end up back on the plane? Well, the presumption is that Saito kills Cobb with Cobb's gun and then kills himself. Before Cobb arrives in Limbo, Saito apparently thinks Limbo is the real world. His brain has "turned to scrambled egg" as Eames so eloquently puts it. Cobb says he's come to remind Saito of something Saito once knew: that the world he's in *isn't* real. Then Cobb asks Saito to come back with him so they can again be young men together. Saito reaches for the gun and the movie cuts to both of them waking up on the plane.
I don't know that Inception can be fully understood after seeing it only once. Maybe I'm dense, but it took three viewings for me to even begin to appreciate its wonderful complexity. I told someone who hadn't see it and was thinking of buying the DVD to be sure to do the following while watching:
(1) Keep your brain turned all the way up
(2) Keep your attention riveted to the screen and CON-CEN-TRATE (let your mind wander and you may become lost in confusion...)
(3) Don't talk
(4) Don't blink
(5) Don't move
(6) Try not to breathe...okay, just kidding about that one
(7) Watch the movie at least twice; 3 or more times is even better
There's an amazing amount of discussion, speculation and debate about this movie in various online forums by folks who both love and hate it. Article-length, in-depth analyses have also been written. It's been fascinating to discover what other people think.
One major point of conjecture is the ending. Spoiler AlertWhat happens to the top? After it starts to wobble, the movie cuts to black. Does the top recover and keep spinning, or does it fall over? Is Cobb still dreaming, or is he back in the real world? This is left for the viewer to decide. Either way, it doesn't seem to matter to Cobb. He runs to see his kids while the top is still spinning.
I agree that there are elements of the movie that are reminiscent of The Matrix. It also reminds me of Brainstorm, Dark City and Flatliners. But to me, Inception is a great deal more than that.
I could go on and on about this stuff, but I'll stop here. Ordinarily, I wouldn't work so hard to fully appreciate a movie, but I think Inception is worth it. I find it absolutely fascinating.
BTW, I've heard it said that Ellen Page is all wrong for the part of Ariadne. I think she's a brilliant choice. I don't know about anyone else, but when I think of someone who's able to build dream architecture as skillfully and pick things up as quickly as she does, the last thing I'll imagine is someone who looks like a little kid. I love unexpected things like that.
|
| 18 MAR 2011 at 10:36am |
vagabondIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 17
Joined: 18 MAR 2011
Status : Online | I would love to go see Tron: Legacy, just for old times' sake. I remember watching the prequel a lot when I was a kid. When I saw some ads for the sequel, several scenes that must have been dormant somewhere in my brain forever started popping up. I remember the characters wearing these crazy helments and suits lined with some kind of light that looked just awesome. They've recreated those, I believe. Ever have that nostalgic/déjá-vu feeling? It's quite funny ^^.
I love Inception. I've watched it 3 times and there is something new to discover every single time. Great movie.
|
| 18 MAR 2011 at 6:37pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1458
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | I enjoyed Tron Legacy. The visuals were quite good and it's a movie that one would use to show off Blu Ray imo. Just very clean/sleek visuals throughout the entire movie made it a joy to watch.
The storyline was about average, but like the first Tron it was never big on story to begin with, more about the action/surviving.
|
| 22 MAR 2011 at 10:47am |
vagabondIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 17
Joined: 18 MAR 2011
Status : Online | Is anyone going to see Sucker Punch? I did not like 300 or Watchmen (which are also Zack Snyder movies), but then I guess one has to get into the visuals more than into the plot. And seeing that the story is pretty crazy already might help to suspend one's disbelief and just enjoy it :. Obviously, this is geared more toward a male audience. But really, do they have to omit the skirts completely, now? I don't like the fact that these young girls are running around just in their undies and fishnet stockings... very degrading.
Also, I cannot believe that Jenna Malone really said "This is intricate on so many levels" about it in an interview, haha. Girl, please get a reality check. It's not about the plot at all here.
So? Anyone have an opinion on Sucker Punch?
|
| 22 MAR 2011 at 1:58pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Argh, I've had such a busy 3 weeks behind me that I've fallen behind with my cinema schedule again, and fear I might have missed Black Swan. That's how far behind I am.
I did manage to watch 2 charming oldies on DVD, though. Dr Zhivago and Inkheart. I never watched Inkheart before, because I'm a bit tired of "kid's" movies, and thought it would just be another same old same old. So, going in with no expectations, I was very pleasantly surprised.
The film was "book-ish" enough to make my toes curl, and mind you it didn't just focus on books, but old books... oooh, enough to make the antiquarian in me squeal with pleasure.
It had just the right amount of action, and even a bit of a philisophic slant. What a pleasure to watch - 5 stars in my book.
I'm glad I got hold of Dr Zhivago. I've always been curious about it. It's been a while since I've watched anything about the Russian revolution, and was thinking I should get hold of the movie called "Reds." The movie (Dr Zhivago) has aged extremely well, I thought.
I thought it was quite a poignant look at the background and naivete of most of the instigators of the Russian revolution. One wonders how they would have acted, could they have acted with the advantage of 100 years of hindsight.
I wasn't too nuts about the 'love story' aspect - I couldn't see what was so wonderful or special about Lara, but I found the rest of the personal stories, especially the story and motivations of some of the side characters such as Strelnikov, very interesting.
In fact, I think I've been motivated to read up a bit more now about the Russian revolution and the different factions that played a role.
Phew, but those people suffered! WW1 was bad enough in nice weather conditions, but those Russian winters look extremely harrowing!!
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
| 23 MAR 2011 at 3:26pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | Karla, even though I'm in minority thinking Inception was a terribly bland and boring movie, I read an interesting theory regarding the ending:
Spoiler Alert"So, you know how everyone thinks that the Top is his totem, but in the beginning he mentions that it’s actually Mal’s? Well, you see, if it’s not his totem, then it’s not going to properly work for him. Cobb’s totem is his wedding ring. Whenever he’s dreaming, he has a wedding ring on because, as he says, in his dreams, they’re still together. In reality, he’s not wearing a ring. During the last scene of the movie? He’s not wearing a ring. BAM, REALITY."
Re: Sucker Punch; I'm going to see it because I love Emily Browning. But I don't expect anything but nice visuals. I liked 300 for the same reason (and the countless THIS IS SPARTA!!! jokes).
|
| 23 MAR 2011 at 4:01pm |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | Thanks, Dona. I've read a lot of debate concerning that issue. Others have put forth the theory
Spoiler Alertthat the entire movie is Cobb's dream. There are at least two lines of dialog that could be seen as backing this up: Miles telling Cobb to "Come back to reality" and Mal (whom, BTW, I found sort of irritating), in response to Cobb's asking why he isn't able to control things if they're in his dream, saying, "Because you don't know you're dreaming." This can imply that dreams have become his reality, and rather than being the world's most skilled extractor, he's just a screwed up mush-brain.
Whatever the case, Inception can really mess with my head if I think about it long enough. Also, at least from what I've seen, you're not really in the minority for not liking it. A lot of people think it stinks. In fact, after I saw it the first time I just sat there and said: WTF was that?
|
| 27 MAR 2011 at 10:17am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | I haven't seen Black Swan yet but I may get the DVD, which is being released 29 March.
I rarely buy a DVD sight unseen, but I've been a fan of Natalie Portman ever since I saw her in 1994's Leon/The Professional. She was only 12 years old at the time.
Anyway, as I was reading Black Swan reviews and hunting down trailers and clips, I stumbled across some articles claiming that either Natalie had done most of the dancing or practically none any of it. (Flashdance, anyone?)
One of the articles included a link to a special effects video that shows a real ballerina's head being replaced by Natalie's. The dancer, Sarah Lane, claims that Natalie did only 5% of the full-body shots.
This doesn't make any difference to me one way or other, although I do find it interesting. The head replacement is done so seamlessly that I never would have guessed it wasn't Natalie's body. Visual effects are so sophisticated these days that it's often difficult to tell what's real and what isn't.
|
| 27 MAR 2011 at 2:11pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Wow, thanks for adding those extra ideas re the ending of Inception, guys! Makes me want to buy the vid so I can analyse the darn thing in detail!
Regarding Black Swan, I think I'll just rent the vid for starters. Much cheaper than buying it.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
| 27 MAR 2011 at 5:57pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | That special effects video is amazing, Karla! It cleared up some things I wasn't sure of, actually, haha.
The whole deal with Sarah Lane is... unfortunate. She claims she did not get enough credit, but then again, her contract never said she's not allowed to speak about how much work she's done and I don't understand why she decided to speak up AFTER the Oscars. Whoever believes Natalie did most of full-body scenes needs a reality check, it's impossible to become a professional ballerina in a year, no matter how hard you work on it. It's true movie gained popularity because they said Natalie transformed herself into a dancer, but they've always been very open about how much dancing she did.
That said, the movie was brilliant and she definitely deserved that Oscar.
|
| 28 MAR 2011 at 3:30am |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1458
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Donna (27 MAR 2011 5:57pm)
That special effects video is amazing, Karla! It cleared up some things I wasn't sure of, actually, haha.
The whole deal with Sarah Lane is... unfortunate. She claims she did not get enough credit, but then again, her contract never said she's not allowed to speak about how much work she's done and I don't understand why she decided to speak up AFTER the Oscars. Whoever believes Natalie did most of full-body scenes needs a reality check, it's impossible to become a professional ballerina in a year, no matter how hard you work on it. It's true movie gained popularity because they said Natalie transformed herself into a dancer, but they've always been very open about how much dancing she did.
That said, the movie was brilliant and she definitely deserved that Oscar.
Well Natalie has been in Ballet for a long time, prior to the movie. Working for a year in prep for the role but before then she wasn't "new" to ballet.
She admitted she had a body double before the movie was out, even said the complicated things she just couldn't do for her skill lv.
It seems to me however that the movie studio is the one that is trying to say Natalie did most of the dancing in the movie, as it is somethingi that people who didn't know assume and it sells the film.
To me Natalie deserved the Oscar, her performance, evne while put onto the body doubles face, is what got her the oscar, it wasn't the dancing.
I'm not saying it wasn't good in that aspect, it worked fine for the movie, but it wasn't the thing that got her the Oscar.
|
| 28 MAR 2011 at 10:20pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | Natalie had two body doubles, actually, but I have no idea who the other one is. It's true that Natalie had ballet training before, but I figured it's something she'd done in the past. You still cannot become a professional unless you train each and every day. That said, they're probably just trying to boost DVD sales by making people talk about the movie again.
So, I just watched Sucker Punch. It would've been better if it were 30 minutes shorter and less repetitive - action scenes make very little sense and are mostly disconnected. I guess it's okay if you simply want to see an action-packed movie with pretty effects. I'd also like to mention that the amount of Spoiler Alertimplied rape made me very, very uncomfortable :/ Not going to see it again.
|
| 30 MAR 2011 at 1:40am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | I decided to rent Black Swan today and I've just seen it for the first time. Wow. It wasn't an easy movie to watch, and it really wore me out. IOW, I loved it.
Now that I've seen the whole movie I can tell that some of the dancing is way too complex for Natalie Portman to have done it. I believe she did quite a bit of the dancing, though. If she went en pointe it couldn't have been for very long -- maybe a few seconds -- but there are more relative close-ups than full body shots in the movie. As far as I'm concerned, Natalie nailed all of 'em. And it took a lot of hard work on her part to be able to do so.
Black Swan isn't about the ballet, anyway. It's about Spoiler Alerta ballerina who's losing her mind. The dancing is secondary.
What bothers me most about the dance controversy is that someone's got to be lying about it. I think this could actually detract from the film. People could start paying more attention to who might really be dancing, the visual effects and where they might be noticeable, and less to the film's overall merit.
As I've said previously, it really doesn't matter to me who did what dancing. I really enjoyed Black Swan and I think Natalie Portman's performance is a real tour de force. I wouldn't have cared if she had done *none* of the dancing, and I wish that Sarah Lane, Benjamin Millepied and whoever else is flapping his/her jaws about it would just shut up.
Okay, now... In an ever-so-slightly related matter but different movie, I understand that in Inception, Spoiler AlertJoseph Gordon-Levitt did the weightless/revolving corridor/wire work himself. No stunt doubles, no CGI.
|
| 30 MAR 2011 at 2:14am |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | I completely agree with you. The movie isn't about dancing at all and it touched me on a very personal level. I was shaking for hours after I'd seen it for the first time and that happens, well, never. I'm glad I got to see it before the hype and drama. It has good chances of becoming a classic.
It's sweet when actors do their own stunts I watched a short 'behind the scenes' of Sucker Punch and those girls really trained for their roles. Too bad the movie came out the way it did.
|
| 30 MAR 2011 at 11:24am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | How worthwile is it to see The King's Speech on the big screen? And Red Riding Hood?
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
| 30 MAR 2011 at 11:15pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5536
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (30 MAR 2011 11:23am)
How worthwile is it to see The King's Speech on the big screen? And Red Riding Hood?
I loved The King's Speech, but I wouldn't say that seeing it in a theater adds much to that sort of film compared to say, an action film. It's still well worth seeing in a theater if you get the chance, if not, a DVD rental later on should still be about as enjoyable as a theater viewing. In any case I consider it a must see film, however you choose to see it.
|
| 4 APR 2011 at 5:23pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Andromus (30 MAR 2011 11:15pm)
Originally Posted By placeholder (30 MAR 2011 11:23am)
How worthwile is it to see The King's Speech on the big screen? And Red Riding Hood?
I loved The King's Speech, but I wouldn't say that seeing it in a theater adds much to that sort of film compared to say, an action film. It's still well worth seeing in a theater if you get the chance, if not, a DVD rental later on should still be about as enjoyable as a theater viewing. In any case I consider it a must see film, however you choose to see it.
Wow, thanks for the advice, Andromus - saw it and loved it too. In spite of the few historical inaccuracies/liberties, it gave me new respect for the pressures that modern royalty must bring with it, but especially what poor Bertie must have felt, being British and basically helpless and especially during wartime.
It also brought with it the sense of isolation that Royalty of that period must have felt.. I've never been a fan of princess Diana and her bad behaviour and indiscretions, but at least she socked that British stiff upper lip that must have been so emotionally stifling a good one.
..and wasn't the sweet old Queen Mother nicely portrayed by Bonham Carter? I thought so.
PS. If you want to see a nice feel-good movie, rent yourself "Scent of a Woman". The ending might have been slightly unrealistically up-beat, but it still is a moving film that touches on some interesting ethical issues.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
| 9 APR 2011 at 9:29pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Has anyone here watched The 4400? I don't want to start watching something that will ultimately prove to be a disappointment.
I watched season one of Dollhouse recently, and absolutely loved the show until I got to the dystopian future scenario, and then the whole thing just fell flat for me.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
| 9 APR 2011 at 10:34pm |
sg7Sorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 213
Joined: 8 JUN 2004
Location: UK
Status : Offline | Hi
Having just watched all 4 seasons of the 4400 on DVD ,I'd say go for it
season 1 is the scene setter , at the end we discover what the 4400 actually are , I won't spoil it , but I didn't see it coming .
I think it got better from there , and the rotter's cancelled it mid story at end of season 4
Dollhouse don't worry get season 2 the last episode of season 1 was made I suspect because Joss thought It would be cancelled and wanted to show what would happen if the Dollhouse was allowed to exist , Season 2 carries on in 'our' time , with the
Spoiler Alertdolls turning on the dollhouse
Playing ME3-Citadel ,TOMB raider ,Skyrim Dragonborn
Waiting fot journey down episode 2 ,Dragon AGE 3
|
| 9 APR 2011 at 11:10pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1458
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (9 APR 2011 9:28pm)
Has anyone here watched The 4400? I don't want to start watching something that will ultimately prove to be a disappointment.
I watched season one of Dollhouse recently, and absolutely loved the show until I got to the dystopian future scenario, and then the whole thing just fell flat for me.
The 4400 I thought was mostly good, it has a GREAT premise and setup.
It was also great seeing the guy from The Rocketeer in it.
However it falls into one of those shows that gets canned before it can fully tell the story (A la Firefly, Carnival, Deadwood, etc).
It's a good show to watch, but you're not going to get a real ending or anything. You'll get some answers and things on the way, but a lot of things will be left unanswered because it got canceled.
|
| 10 APR 2011 at 4:23am |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5536
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (4 APR 2011 5:22pm)
Wow, thanks for the advice, Andromus - saw it and loved it too. In spite of the few historical inaccuracies/liberties, it gave me new respect for the pressures that modern royalty must bring with it, but especially what poor Bertie must have felt, being British and basically helpless and especially during wartime.
Glad you liked it! Yes, they really made you feel for Bertie as his troubles increased.
..and wasn't the sweet old Queen Mother nicely portrayed by Bonham Carter? I thought so.
Indeed. I was pleasantly surprised. Not the sort of role I traditionally associate with her, but she did a fine job.
|
| 11 APR 2011 at 4:49am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2588
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | When I first saw Black Swan I thought I spied a very quick cut of Odile's face in the dance scene at the club. It was only there for a split second.
I now have the DVD, so I decided to go through the club scene frame-by-frame to determine whether or not I'd really seen what I thought I'd seen. Well, I'll tell you what: that sequence, which must use hundreds of shots, is full of creepy images.
I made screen caps of a whole bunch of 'em, then narrowed it down to 14. Many of the rejects show distorted views of Nina, Lily and assorted other people. I believe there are also a few showing Nina and Lily on the nookie express, but they turned out too blurry for me to be certain.
Below are descriptions of the 14 pictures I kept. If anyone is interested, they're posted here. They're in the same order as they appear in the sequence.
1. Nina, with Odette in the background
2. Rothbart
3. Nina and Rothbart
4. I bunch of...eyeballs? Not sure who the person is...
5. Odile (this is the one I mentioned having seen initially)
6. Multiple Ninas wearing almost the same expression as Odile
7. Nina and Lily against the wallpaper from Nina's bedroom
8. Two Ninas
9. Odile again, on the right
10. Full moon from backdrop of Nina's first actual performance as Odette; to the right is Nina with a very elongated neck.
11. Another two Ninas
12. A pair of red eyes (at bottom)
13. Nina, with a grotesque face in the background (Lily's, perhaps?)
14. A screen full of hands
|
| 11 APR 2011 at 8:12am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | /me cannot wait to get her hands on Black Swan to see what it is that Karla is talking about...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
|
