Avatar = cinematography excellence.
Then skip Dodsworth...The Third Man...Citizen Kane...and every other film with an actual script, actual direction and cinematography, and actual acting!
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Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?
- Thread starter Huntn
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Then skip Dodsworth...The Third Man...Citizen Kane...and every other film with an actual script, actual direction and cinematography, and actual acting!
Then skip Dodsworth...The Third Man...Citizen Kane...and every other film with an actual script, actual direction and cinematography, and actual acting!
Why skip them? It's not an either/or proposition.
My emphasis was cinematography: the art or science of motion-picture photography, but I also include "direction" to include how scenes are mapped. Imo, Cameron is among the best of movie story tellers, and he has superb talent for direction and cinematography, in general (Aliens, Titanic, The Abyss) and specifically his work with the virtual camera in Avatar is creative and top notch in the annals of movie making.But I acknowledge the other aspects of film making that you mentioned. I was not trying to say that Avatar equals Citizen Kane as far as being an overall great movie. But enjoying Cameron's work does not preclude the ability to enjoy great classic films.
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While it's not exactly Citizen Kane or a big-budget blockbuster like Avatar, I watched a film called Frequencies last night and found it very enjoyable, largely because of its unconventional nature. The film was apparently released originally under the title OXV: The Manual in 2013, but is showing in a few theatres and festivals this year (but its also available on Amazon as a download or rental.)
The IMDB entry for Frequencies says the film was "billed as the world's first Scientific-Philosophical romance" since much of the storyline focuses around ideas/questions regarding fate and free will. Although it's a science fiction film, there's extremely little CGI in it -- the film is more of an idea-oriented science fiction film.
The IMDB entry for Frequencies says the film was "billed as the world's first Scientific-Philosophical romance" since much of the storyline focuses around ideas/questions regarding fate and free will. Although it's a science fiction film, there's extremely little CGI in it -- the film is more of an idea-oriented science fiction film.
X-Men: DoFP SPOILERS (not specific spoilers really, but don't read further if you don't want to know)
Like you, I was not a fan of The Avengers. I think we have similar opinions about most movies.
But I have to say, I enjoyed X-Men: Days of Future Past. I'm a big X-Men fan, so I went in with high hopes. This movie was not without its faults, but it righted a lot of wrongs from the previous movies in the series, in my opinion (and seemingly ignored the horrible X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie as if it never happened). The visuals were pretty neat, and it actually handled time-travel continuity well, and in a way that makes sense. That said, Wolverine's role, while integral, was underwhelming (as were Storm, Bishop, and future Magneto). In my mind, I'd probably rank it near the top below X2 and in line with First Class.
Oh, and there is no point in watching this movie in 3D. Aside from a couple flying shards of glass and water droplets scenes, I couldn't even recognize any 3D effects.
A discussion a few weeks ago had revealed the regrettable fact that an Italian friend and colleague (the same friend who had strongly recommended 'The Great Beauty' to me, a few months ago) had never yet seen the movie 'The Life Of Brian'.
Circumstances had dictated that an opportunity did not present itself until tonight, when we agreed to watch it together. Thus, armed with wine, olives, cheeses, and 'Monty Python: The Life Of Brian', I revisited an absolute classic in the company of my Italian friend & colleague and two British colleagues. Such movies are best viewed with congenial company…...
This is a movie which repays repeated and serious viewing. It is still hilarious, scatological, sharply observed, irreverent and a deeply intelligent and thoughtful movie. And the satirical evisceration of parties divided by ludicrously microscopic political divisions and of organised religion in general, and the founding myths of Christianity in particular, remain as relevant, and as insightful as ever.
I hadn't realised that the movie is as visually accomplished as it is, as it features brilliant visual gags accompanying a knowing and intelligent script which interrogates philosophical delusions with a pitiless eye for the truth.
Still brilliant and a wonderfully witty, highly original and completely inventive piece of cinematic craft. And still an utter masterpiece after more than a quarter of a century.
Circumstances had dictated that an opportunity did not present itself until tonight, when we agreed to watch it together. Thus, armed with wine, olives, cheeses, and 'Monty Python: The Life Of Brian', I revisited an absolute classic in the company of my Italian friend & colleague and two British colleagues. Such movies are best viewed with congenial company…...
This is a movie which repays repeated and serious viewing. It is still hilarious, scatological, sharply observed, irreverent and a deeply intelligent and thoughtful movie. And the satirical evisceration of parties divided by ludicrously microscopic political divisions and of organised religion in general, and the founding myths of Christianity in particular, remain as relevant, and as insightful as ever.
I hadn't realised that the movie is as visually accomplished as it is, as it features brilliant visual gags accompanying a knowing and intelligent script which interrogates philosophical delusions with a pitiless eye for the truth.
Still brilliant and a wonderfully witty, highly original and completely inventive piece of cinematic craft. And still an utter masterpiece after more than a quarter of a century.
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X-Men: DoFP SPOILERS (not specific spoilers really, but don't read further if you don't want to know)
Like you, I was not a fan of The Avengers. I think we have similar opinions about most movies.
In my mind, I'd probably rank it near the top below X2 and in line with First Class.
Oh, and there is no point in watching this movie in 3D. Aside from a couple flying shards of glass and water droplets scenes, I couldn't even recognize any 3D effects.
I loved this movie. However, MORE ANNA PAQUIN
Three Days To Kill is a fantastic movie, i thought it was a perfect blend of action, comedy and touchy feely stuff.
"The Muppets" is on ABC Family. Dang, all they have to do is sing "The Rainbow Connection" and it gets me. What a fantastic piece.
Not as good as "Silence Of The Lambs", IMO...but fun anyway and I enjoyed it.
I'm not sure why you didn't like it as much. There is a sequence where Dr. Lecter writes Clarice a letter. He uses ink and a fountain pen and seals the envelope with that fancy wax. I figure that would be your favorite scene!
I just finished watching The Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug. Although it doesn't drag its feet quite as much as the first one, it still felt overly long. And I do wish they had kept the costumes for the Orcs rather than making them completely CGI. Other than these two points, though, it was decent movie.
I'm not sure why you didn't like it as much. There is a sequence where Dr. Lecter writes Clarice a letter. He uses ink and a fountain pen and seals the envelope with that fancy wax. I figure that would be your favorite scene!
Good scene...there are other scene's I liked better, but I won't mention them and spoil it for others.
Seriously....I thought the script was better in the first film...also thought Jodie Foster did a better job with the character than Julianne Moore.
I think Julianne does a fine job in her own right. She plays a more matured Agent Starling, more confident and seasoned character. Though, I do wonder why Jodi Foster never reprised the role.
Thank you for this.
One of my favourite scenes. Absolutely brilliant and just hilarious(especially if you actually studied Latin at school, which I did.)
I seem to recall reading that Jodie Foster had been approached to reprise the role, and, initially, was open to this idea, but didn't much care for the direction the character had been made to take in the sequel, viewing it as weakening the character, and so, declined the role.
However, I agree with Shrink; I would have liked to have seen Jodie Foster reprise that role, but, to be honest, I also share her misgivings about the direction Clarice Starling's character took in the sequel.
I am not sure that this is the character developmental arc I would have considered for Clarice Starling; it strikes me as not entirely consistent with the character of the strong but vulnerable person we knew from 'Silence of the Lambs'.
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Difference of opinion makes the world go around. Glad you liked it.
For me it was depressing, slow, poorly acted and scripted. Okay at best. I kept looking at my phone for the time, when I do that, it's a bad sign.----------
X-Men: DoFP SPOILERS (not specific spoilers really, but don't read further if you don't want to know)
Like you, I was not a fan of The Avengers. I think we have similar opinions about most movies.
In my mind, I'd probably rank it near the top below X2 and in line with First Class.
Oh, and there is no point in watching this movie in 3D. Aside from a couple flying shards of glass and water droplets scenes, I couldn't even recognize any 3D effects.
I'm glad you liked it too. It just hit me every shade of wrong and I am X fan myself. I wanted to like it and I wanted to see a lot more with Bishop, Blink and Warpath - they were fun (partially because they were new characters and not the same Charles/Erik/Raven/Logan thing yet again.) I must agree about the underwhelming performances and I'd add Lawrence to that list. She was not good.
I prefer First Class. It really got the era down worked in alternate history much, much better and had a sharper script and direction.
Sorry if I sound crankier than usual... it' s not either of you. (So want Iceman's powers right now.)
No Time For Sergeants- big hit in the 50s, Broadway play, then movie, first half amusing, last half silly. Andy Griffith plays a Gomer Pyle type character in the USAF.
AoP13 was awesome! Love the gritty, relentless atmosphere. That scene with the girl:
Soundtrack is legendary of course.
X-Men, I'll pass then.
Got my Romero's Martin copy today - yay!