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Topic:
At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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BigBossNass1138
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
1/17 6:53pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Really enjoyed Cloverfield a great deal. I never got swept up in the hype that's been doing the rounds of the Webotubes. Instead I just caught the trailer, heard what the deal with it was, and liked what I saw. Consequently, unlike some online commentators who were left disappointed due to expectations that were too high or just plain incorrect, I went into the cinema and saw exactly what I expected to see: Godzilla meets the Blair Witch Project, and a damn fine job they did of that little combination too. Unlike the suffering previous posters, I suffered no nausea from the shaky camera. The shaky, incredibly amateur camerawork was critical to what was so great about the movie: it's found footage (literally, it begins with a US military seal and the note that it's classified footage recovered from the disaster zone), it's taken by people frenzied with fear and in the midst of something horrific. So the shaky-cam is not a bad thing by any means, but if you are the kind of person who gets nauseous from that kind of thing, definitely don't see it on the IMAX screen.
Choices are made by some of the characters that when heard about out of context sound stupid. In the film though, while they are still foolish choices, they make sense and you can easily understand why the choices are made and the motivations for them.
Completely agree. I'd read some reviews criticising characters for doing stupid or nonsensical things, but was very pleased to find that in context they made perfect sense for traumatised people in that particular situation. There was one thing that I thought stretched credibility a bit far, but Magnus gave me another point of view on it, which in hindsight does make a lot of sense.
As for companion pieces, absolutely. My understanding is that despite the complete lack of exposition or resolution in the film regarding the monster and its nature and origin (which I think it a good thing, and something pulled off really well), a lot of time and thought was put in by the production team. A spinoff/quasi-sequel movie telling the same story from a different PoV would be good, but I think I'd actually prefer a companion book, like, I dunno, "The Cloverfield Files." Declassified military reports and stuff, lots of in-universe content that digs into the backstory and indeed what happens after the tape ends.
So yeah: unless you can't stand shaky camera work or have a serious aversion to ambiguity and things being left deliberately unresolved, definitely go see Cloverfield. Solid stuff.
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"A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of." -Burt Bacharach http://steamcommunity.com/id/mrneutron http://twitter.com/timbo1138 (Yes, I'm trying it again...)
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BigBossNass1138
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
1/18 9:12pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Here's a link to a great and really kind of thought-provoking review of Cloverfield, where the reviewer basically refutes all of the various common criticisms that people have been throwing around about the film, and indeed cites those very things as the exact reasons he liked it as much as he did. I basically agree with him. It seems to be a film people either love or hate (or are at least somewhat disdainful of, accusing it of having less substance than I think it actually does). Either way, interesting read.
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"A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of." -Burt Bacharach http://steamcommunity.com/id/mrneutron http://twitter.com/timbo1138 (Yes, I'm trying it again...)
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NeecH
Registered:
Feb '03
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Date Posted:
1/22 3:05am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Sweeney Todd
My first outing to the theatres in 2008 and I think I may have just seen one of the best movies that the entire year will have to offer.
I'm not going to bother writing a 10 paragraph review for the film that no one's going to bother reading... that's just not my thing. I'll keep it quick, to the point and spoiler free which is what all reviews should be;
It's a Tim Burton movie! You're going to see a lot of Tim Burton-type stuff in this movie. If you enjoy Tim Burton movies (Planet of the Apes doesn't count), then you're going to enjoy this one.
It's a musical! There's barely a spoken word in this movie, most of the dialogue is sung... and it's sung well! The music is great, tells the story well and sometimes, even provides a good chuckle.
It's gory as hell! Not a movie for kids! Expect Sleepy Hollow style blood but with a more violent, hard edge to it.
It has Borat! A little distracting but he's meant to be when you first see him.
End of review - Go see this movie!
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Everybody is entitled to my opinion! http://apneicmonkey.deviantart.com/ - New Stuff!
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Kahlan72
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/22 4:28am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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I think I'd love to see Sweeney Todd, but just not a movie I'll be able to sit through due the gore and stuff. I know that's half the point of the movie..ah well.
Juno
I really wanted to see this film and it was pretty much what I hoped it would be. Spectacular writing and lead character. Reminding me much of another film I can't remember the title of. Scarlett Johanssen was in it as a youngster, and goth freaky girl as lead..ah crap..ghost something maybe. Oh what a good review this is SO FAR! 
good writing. good characters. More than one layer characters. was cool to like Jason Bateman's character in the middle and not like him at the end. Same with Jennifer Garner but reversed. Would be so nice to have been a 16 year old with Juno's confidence in herself.
I laughed aloud enough times to call it a good comedy for me. Cringed a couple and felt glad to be following this girl around for an hour and a half or so.
It's a shame Michael Sera doesn't need a stumt double, because he reminds me so much of our Sambo.
Lovely story, funny and touching and quirky. And just the right combination of each.
8.5/10
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Angel is lame
His hair sticks straight up
And he's bloody stupid
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casual-jedi
Registered:
May '02
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Date Posted:
1/22 5:56am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
- Date Edited:
1/22 6:01am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
casual-jedi
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You were onto a definate winner with Juno, Kahlan. 
My two word review of the movie would be... Utterly Charming.
Though for a lengthier summary, I would begin with a categorical statement of fact... That, if this film fails to charm you over by the time the credits roll.. You may indeed be missing the little thing that goes thump-a-pump, right there in the middle o'yer chest. Juno is one of those filmic rarities that highlights the incredible emotional yield of the celluloid medium. Beneath the sardonic wit of Juno's dialogue, and the complexities of it's beautifully crafted characters, lies the film's beating heart. A tender heart that, at the same time is also the dramatic equivalent of TNT.
From within such a poignant core, Juno resonates a stoic sense of a wonderfully 'smart-arsed' defiance, in the face of some rather messed-up circumstances... And Juno could easily have been that bleak, heavy movie(which was indeed what I was dreading going into it). Yet by the time the fetchingly quirky theme song played again at the end of the movie, I found myself positively uplifted. In a partially conflicted, definately amused, and totally entralled fashion. Which speaks volumes of the film's ability to connect.. make one invest, and ultimately care. On that note, it comes time for me to put on my gay cowboy hat, and simply say... Do Yourself A Favour! And invest some of your precious time on Juno.. it's wizard, it's golden.
10/10
PS- ...And there's no dragons, I swear! 
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BigBossNass1138
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
1/22 12:22pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Yeah, Juno was absolutely wonderful. Ellen Page is really going to go places, she was brilliant. The whole cast was fantastic, but she obviously was the one to really stand out. I think both she and the film as a whole will be robbed if they don't pick up Oscar nominations.
As for Michael Cerra, Kahlan, I don't know about a stunt double, but I think he needs to worry about being typecast. The three things I've seen him in (Arrested Development, a Veronica Mars episode and this) he's been playing the exact same character.
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"A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of." -Burt Bacharach http://steamcommunity.com/id/mrneutron http://twitter.com/timbo1138 (Yes, I'm trying it again...)
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Magnus_Darcrider
Registered:
Nov '05
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Date Posted:
1/22 1:20pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
- Date Edited:
1/22 1:21pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Magnus_Darcrider
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The film is great, but I gotta say I'm shocked, it did pick up Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Screenplay nods. Its not one of those films that feels like it should have "To the Academy, for your consideration" in brackets at the bottom of the screen.
The only thing I can add is that I loved Juno's parents (equal parts understanding and disappointed) and the adoptive parents (completely misread them, but great performances). However, while all the teenagers' dialogue was great, it felt a bit hyper-real. Or, I'm just getting old. Still, naturalistic dialogue is hard to do, but it just felt jarring.
Anyway, highly recommended. Though you've all seen it by now surely?
Be seeing you,
Magnus Darcrider
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Killin’ ‘em all and takin’ their stuff since 1987. Pugnantes Malos, No Hos Pugnetis http://steamcommunity.com/id/darcrider
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BigBossNass1138
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
1/22 2:13pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Yeah, I just saw the Oscar list about half an hour after I posted that. Fantastic stuff, Juno definitely deserves the nominations.
As for the dialogue, especially the titular character's, no, I don't find it to be quote-unquote "realistic" but it was hilarious and idiosyncratic, which was obviously the point. Juno's characterisation really came out in the way she talked. "Nah, they won't be worried. I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other crazy shenanigans could I get up to?"
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"A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of." -Burt Bacharach http://steamcommunity.com/id/mrneutron http://twitter.com/timbo1138 (Yes, I'm trying it again...)
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morgan-aleghieri
Title: Queen of redundant updates
(event manager)
Registered:
Mar '06
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Date Posted:
1/27 12:21am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Just went to see Sweeny Todd, and I thought it was prett damn terrific. So Mr Depp can sing, and he does it well. I'll do a better review when I get to a terminal that doesn't require blood sacrifices to operate, but I will at least say that as good as it is, for those who might not enjoy graphic throat slitting imagery it might be best to wait untilthe dvd release.
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morgan-aleghieri
Title: Queen of redundant updates
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Registered:
Mar '06
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Date Posted:
1/27 7:59am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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Alright, Sweeney Todd. Neech pretty much summed it up before, although I didn't notice Borat's presence as Borat until later reflection. But then I don't give a damn about Borat, so that might be it.
Sweeney Todd ended up being a lot better than I expected it to be. There was something about the trailer that just didn't inspire me. The movie was dark, and the designs were gorgeous - the music and singing especially made me want to weep openly at points - the human voice is a powerful instrument indeed. The voice cast in this was quite excellent and feels like a fitting precursor to Repo: The genetic Opera, another gore-filled music extravaganza in a similar vein but possibly an even more awesome voice cast (and of course, I wish that would be released already also).
The film is of course a very Tim Burton film. Actually now I think of it, the Sweeney Todd character design looks awfully like something I scribbled into the back of an art book years ago. Ominous.
As said, the film is gory. There is a musical number where Mr Todd spends the entireity of it lulling in customers to rather graphically slit their throats to go in Mrs Lovett's pies. There are some great moments of really black humour, where (for example) Mr Todd and Mrs Lovett are discussing the idea of actually putting people in the pies.
I for one can't wait to get a hold of the soundtrack, and of course the DVD. Ruddy brilliant.
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"L'il Rorscach’s Journal, March 21: Fwuffy bunny squeezed out candy wainbows on sidewalk. This city fears me, for I have seen its twue face."
"My heart has joined the Thousand, for my friend stopped running today."
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kahli
Title: QLD FF Banner Mistress
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/28 5:46am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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sweeney todd = ok.
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NeecH
Registered:
Feb '03
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Date Posted:
1/28 5:56am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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kahli posted:
sweeney todd = ok.
Blasphemy!
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Everybody is entitled to my opinion! http://apneicmonkey.deviantart.com/ - New Stuff!
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kahli
Title: QLD FF Banner Mistress
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/28 6:13am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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But it DID sound like captn Jack sings south pacific. Maybe pirates of penzance...
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kahli
Title: QLD FF Banner Mistress
Registered:
Dec '00
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Date Posted:
1/29 3:20am
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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cloverfield = tense
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HappyBob
Registered:
Mar '02
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Date Posted:
2/6 2:49pm
Subject:
RE: At The Movies - Reviews & Critical Musings
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In the motion picture fillum "Shoot 'Em Up", Clive Owen:
-Delivers a baby in the middle of a gunfight.
-Fires bullets with his bare hands.
-Kills not one, but two men with a carrot.
In conclusion, you should see the motion picture fillum "Shoot 'Em Up".
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