[Movie] Movies/Shows you have seen recently?

Eraserhead. My brain feels both tremendously full and empty at the same time.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Just watched Total Recall 2012. It's not a terrible action film but it is really, really hard to take it seriously when there are so many gaping holes in both the plot and setting. There's been a chemical war at the end of the 21st century leaving only Britain and Australia habitable. It also seems to have had the effect of giving everyone in both countries American accents, making the British authorities rename the motorways as interstates and replacing the London Underground with the New York Subway system. There's a shot of Big Ben underneath the stacked up vertical city so you know it's London, although someone moved the river Thames but then once they travel outside the "Safe zone", there's a shot of the BT tower so you know we're still in London yet this London is all single level. So after a chemical war that wiped out most of the planet, there were enough resources and people left in half of London to build structures into the sky, invent anti-gravity motors and dig a fuck off great tunnel through the middle of the planet so you can reach Australia in 17 minutes?

I know it's only a film but if you're going to use real world locations, make them make sense and if you're going to pander to an American audience, set your film in America.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

BBC3 are currently broadcasting a documentary called Don't Call Me Crazy. It follows the inpatient lives of teenagers in an adolescent psychiatric unit in Manchester. As a programme it's pretty great. Insights into inpatient life and the struggles of different mental illnesses are complimented by interviews with staff and families, which gives a well-rounded overall picture and it even manages to show the darker aspects of psych unit life without spiralling into sensationalism. There have only been two episodes so far, covering patients with anorexia, depression, OCD and suspected psychosis. It is very true to form, and I'd recommend it. I think it's great to see an effort to openly talk about mental health in such a way, so non-sufferers can gain empathy and start seeing the people behind the diagnoses.

I also watched Life of Pi last night. Firstly, I wish I'd seen it in the cinema because of how visually stunning it's meant to be. Secondly, fucking hell Rafe Spall. He had a great accent and all but there were a few little mannerisms of his from Pete vs. Life I kept picking up on that kept on ruining the illusion.

As for actual content:

I'd not read the book, and having seen trailers thought it was just some hedonistically pretty little story about a kid on a boat with a tiger, who presumably ended up best buddies on a cut and paste adventure. So yeah, I did not see that coming. I don't know how well it would hold up now the cat's out of the bag, so to speak...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Saw The World's End this week. Overall, nothing was ever going to top Shaun of the Dead, if anything I'd say it was on par with Hot Fuzz. Worth a watch, but fizzles towards the end. Much darker feel to it in places. My judgement is a bit clouded because I felt quite a personal resonance with parts of it, and I'd need to watch it again to get a proper sense of it.

Been watching Luther as well, it's excellent. Of all the cop dramas we've watched lately, I've enjoyed this one the most (but then Idris Elba stars so not surprising). Gets a little cliché in places but it doesn't ruin it. Great soundtrack as well.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Orange Wednesdays means I can actually afford the cinema

Pacific Rim - incongruent, inexplicable back and forth, confusingly insincere bonding and plot holes aside, watching giant mechs smashing the shit out of bloody great big monsters is entertaining. Didn't really expect much more tbh.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - I am so, so happy. What with it being a while since Partridge appeared on any sort of screen and the number of disappointing revivals popping up of late I was worried Alpha Papa would turn out the same. But it's great and true to form, such a relief!

The Returned - Super spooky French show about dead people coming back to life without knowing they have died. Really interesting to watch this stuff unfold and intertwine, some unexpected repercussions. We're 7 or 8 episodes in.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Finally got around to watching Paranorman the other night. What a wonderful movie. The only criticism i have is that i felt like the talking to ghosts thing was under used by the end, but seriously, everything else was fantastic. The final confrontation was simply breath taking. Would recommend to everyone.

FELIPE NO

Just finished Orange is the New Black and talked about it in my journal. Awesome Netflix produced show that it already signed on for its second season next year. Rich, white girl ends up in a women's prison. Great supporting cast. I can't emphasize that enough. I highly recommend.

Starting House of Cards, mostly because I was so impressed with Orange. Wow, House is Cards is awesome, too. For some reason, I thought it was about gambling, but I'm glad I knew little to nothing about the show going into it. Fantastic drama with Kevin Spacey. I was bothered at first because they break the fourth wall often but I can also see how it's part of the show's style.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Bernard Black

Saw The World's End this week. Overall, nothing was ever going to top Shaun of the Dead, if anything I'd say it was on par with Hot Fuzz. Worth a watch, but fizzles towards the end. Much darker feel to it in places. My judgement is a bit clouded because I felt quite a personal resonance with parts of it, and I'd need to watch it again to get a proper sense of it.

I can't wait to see this. I watched Spaced earlier this summer on Netflix and it was one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. It seems dated on the surface, but the cast works perfectly together and it's so...positive. Throw in classic moments like the performance art show, the paintball game, invisible guns and the rave, and it's up there among my favorite shows now.

I started watching Orange is the New Black and breezed through most of it in the last two days. I gave up after the first 10 minutes a while ago, but for some reason it clicked this time. It's funny, but it's also pretty cliche in that everyone seems to be fundamentally good and just a victim of circumstance.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by nabhan

I can't wait to see this. I watched Spaced earlier this summer on Netflix and it was one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. It seems dated on the surface, but the cast works perfectly together and it's so...positive. Throw in classic moments like the performance art show, the paintball game, invisible guns and the rave, and it's up there among my favorite shows now.

<3<3<3<3<3<3

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I've always had a sort of facination with movies that manage to tell a story with absolutely no dialogue. With this in mind, I had come across this fantastic movie (at least I thought it was fantastic) on Netflix called "The Illusionist". Not to be confused with the one where Jessica Biel was involved, rather this movie was an animated indie film that told the story of a struggling magician who ends up befriending a girl who uninvitingly tags along with him on his journey. It was interesting to say the least. Another movie along these lines that I say was a worth while experience was "The Triplets of Bellville". Again, animated indie film with no dialogue. As for a third flick I watched recently, I had just finished "Gaslight" starring Ingrid Bergman last nite. It's an old black and white movie that caught my eye simply for due to the fact that Ingrid Bergman was casted. Anything that she's in is simply superb in my books.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I just watched The Hobbit. It was alright, funnier and less "epic" than LOTR and either they spent less on the cgi or I'm getting better at spotting it because lots of bits suffered from being obviously computer graphics. Probably won't bother seeing the next two at the cinema and I'm not convinced the book really needed to be chopped into three films.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Just watched The Girl Next Door, the 2007 film about two girls getting tortured by their aunt. It's an awful, awful film and why I watched to the end I will never know. Shit script, hammy acting, terrible editing and badly shot. If you want to watch a film about girls getting tortured (And who wouldn't?) do yourself a favour and watch either Martyrs or Mum and Dad.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by SSK_Riders45

I've always had a sort of facination with movies that manage to tell a story with absolutely no dialogue. With this in mind, I had come across this fantastic movie (at least I thought it was fantastic) on Netflix called "The Illusionist". Not to be confused with the one where Jessica Biel was involved, rather this movie was an animated indie film that told the story of a struggling magician who ends up befriending a girl who uninvitingly tags along with him on his journey. It was interesting to say the least. Another movie along these lines that I say was a worth while experience was "The Triplets of Bellville". Again, animated indie film with no dialogue.

Both films were directed by Sylvain Chomet, in case you didn't spot it.

The Illusionist is based on an unfilmed (not sure if also unfinished) script from Jacques Tati. The main character looks and moves like him too.

If you like dialogueless animations, you should check out some of the student works from the gobelins animation school. They have some amazing short animations:

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

Not dialogueless, but easily my favourite

YouTube Video

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

My film session this weekend finished up with Ghost Rider - Spirit of Vengance. It's an ok film as so many Nick Cage films are but the film completely lost me when the whole premis of Ghost Rider, the fact that he turns back into a normal guy in sunlight, was completely ignored with no explanation or reason. If he can be Ghost Rider during the day then he's basically Superman, invulnerable and super-hard and Superman is the most boring character in the history of comics.

FELIPE NO

Saw World War Z. Despite it's corny title, I actually liked the movie. Though it does have fairly common elements of a zombie aftermath movie, I like that the movie stayed away from the usual shots of zombies running after a gun-toting protagonist. The movie had a nice balance of tense scenes and at the same time good story progression. Keeping the history of Brad Pitt's character also helped the viewer focus more on the whole story instead of the character's individual issues. Overall, it's an enjoying movie with a great take on the zombie virus genre.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I watched Blue Is The Warmest Color a few nights ago. Damn. I can't get it out of my head. There's way too much controversy about the sex scenes. Yes, they're long and graphic, but it's not shock porn or anything and doesn't feel out of place. I thought it was a really raw and honest coming of age/first love movie, and didn't want it to end.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Some of you already seen this post on my facebook, but I just got done watching Grabbers on Netflix Instant and its great monster movie. :3

Quote:

Residents of an Irish island must get very drunk to survive attack by alien monsters who can't tolerate a high blood alcohol level in their victims.

Who wouldn't want to watch it after reading that lol. It was unexpectedly enjoyable watch. :3

How ya doing, buddy?

Nabhan, I'm going to watch that French movie now. The plot description is really interesting and I can't say no to sex controversy.

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I'd be curious to hear what you think. I don't know anyone who's seen it - I went alone because it's a tough sell to go "Hey bro wanna go watch this subtitled 3-hour lesbian coming of age movie?". The IFC in New York drew some flack/support because they said they weren't going to card teenagers even though it's an NC-17 movie.

Even without the lesbian factor, I still think it's an incredible film. La Vie D'Adele: Chapitres 1 et 2 (the French title) is probably a better fit than Blue is the Warmest Color.

How ya doing, buddy?

Nabhan, are you still in NYC?

I'll let you know what I think after I watch it. Will post my thoughts here.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Today we watched Thor 2 or whatever the official subtitle is. It was a suitably enjoyable, mindless Marvel flick falling neatly onto the conveyor belt behind all the other Avenger films. I think they're doing a decent job with these although they need to try to limit themselves to one interpretation of how the universe works. Every time they delve further into Norse mythology they make Thor a far more important hero than any of the others in the recent franchise which is fine because the Thor films have certainly been better than the Captain America film and probably the Iron Man advert breaks films. The traditional Stan Lee appearance in this one was funny and the Captain America cameo was pretty amusing too and actually the film is pretty light-hearted. Worth watching although don't go for the story, obviously.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Fluffykitten McGrundlepuss

Thor films... better than... Iron Man advert breaks films.

Nigga I will fight you.

FELIPE NO

Well of course you like Iron Man, he is the only black Avenger.

How ya doing, buddy?

Watched The Usual Suspects last night. I liked it. Shyma-llama wishes he could write twists like that. Good movie, I find it was pretty smart.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Watched the recent remake of Evil Dead. It was a'ight but unsurprisingly not as good as any of the original three.

There's nowhere I can't reach.