The Movie Thread

[Insufficient Metal]

I love Stalker. It's gorgeously shot and wonderfully surreal. It's long and a bit difficult, like most Tarkovsky, but I found it far more engaging than, say, Andrei Rublev.

[Bedrockbrendan]

I just finished watching it. I agree. That and the whole "Olga is such a great tracker she can point out their tracks in the snow and at the dead elk" thing.

Agree with you there.

[JongWK]

Watched Almodovar's The Skin I Live In last Friday.

Batshit crazy, but the ending is a letdown... the director didn't have the guts to end it 5 minutes before, when it should clearly have done so (you'll know what I mean once you get to a certain scene). Still, worth watching if you like Almodovar and insane movies.

[David R]

Watched Almodovar's The Skin I Live In last Friday.

Batshit crazy, but the ending is a letdown... the director didn't have the guts to end it 5 minutes before, when it should clearly have done so (you'll know what I mean once you get to a certain scene). Still, worth watching if you like Almodovar and insane movies.

I've been waiting to catch this flick. Most of the people who have seen it, say the same thing as you.

Regards,
David R

[Imperator]

I've been waiting to catch this flick. Most of the people who have seen it, say the same thing as you.

Regards,
David R

I hate Spanish movies and Almodovar's more than any other. He has not made a good movie since the late 80s but gets tons of love from the hipsters here.

[Spinachcat]

In honor of Halloween, here's some horror flicks!

I saw Hatchet a few weeks ago. Its a low budget indie slasher that got lots of festival attention and the online reviews made it sound worth seeing. Unfortunately, Hatchet only "good" if you like really cheesy slasher flicks. If you have any interest in making your own horror flick, the DVD extras may be worth viewing because this semi-turd did clean up at festivals and get an international distribution deal.

More importantly, I saw Splinter which is also a low budget horror film, but its impressive. If you like early John Carpenter, I highly recommend it. Well acted, edited and directed with a very clear direct plot that holds the tension high.

Another really good horror flick is The Descent which is my vote for best "stuck in a bad place with bad things" movie since the original Alien. I originally saw this in the theater and screamed like a little girl twice. Its a good DVD rental as well.

If you prefer more cerebral and emotional spookiness, check out The Orphanage which my girlfriend really enjoyed and I found very watchable, but the pace was a bit slow and the ending didn't fully make sense to me.

[JongWK]

I hate Spanish movies and Almodovar's more than any other. He has not made a good movie since the late 80s but gets tons of love from the hipsters here.

Wait, we're hipsters now?

I haven't seen most of Almodovar's films. Just this one and Volver.

[Bedrockbrendan]

In honor of Halloween, here's some horror flicks!

I saw Hatchet a few weeks ago. Its a low budget indie slasher that got lots of festival attention and the online reviews made it sound worth seeing. Unfortunately, Hatchet only "good" if you like really cheesy slasher flicks. If you have any interest in making your own horror flick, the DVD extras may be worth viewing because this semi-turd did clean up at festivals and get an international distribution deal.

More importantly, I saw Splinter which is also a low budget horror film, but its impressive. If you like early John Carpenter, I highly recommend it. Well acted, edited and directed with a very clear direct plot that holds the tension high.

Another really good horror flick is The Descent which is my vote for best "stuck in a bad place with bad things" movie since the original Alien. I originally saw this in the theater and screamed like a little girl twice. Its a good DVD rental as well.

If you prefer more cerebral and emotional spookiness, check out The Orphanage which my girlfriend really enjoyed and I found very watchable, but the pace was a bit slow and the ending didn't fully make sense to me.

The Descent was great. October is a good month for movies. I like to start it off with Halloween and Rosemary's Baby. Most nights there is a horror movie on TV, so I usually watch whatever they are airing (as we no longer have any proper video stores around here and I don't want to give comcast any more money).

[danbuter]

I just watched Priest. It had some great ideas, but it never seemed to follow through on anything. The idea of humans living in hives and vampires in their own underground reservations was pretty cool. The controlling Church made me think of 40k.

I liked what there was, but the movie really needed to be 20 minutes longer (as is, it's only 1 hour 20 minutes long). It would be a fantastic rpg setting. Low level superheroes vs. vampires.

[David R]

I hate Spanish movies...

You've got your reasons, I suppose.

....and Almodovar's more than any other. He has not made a good movie since the late 80s but gets tons of love from the hipsters here.

*shrug* Some of my online Spanish cinephile friends says that Almodovar's recent work has been rejected by hipsters who accuse him of going "Hollywood" or rather chasing the approval of the international arthouse crowd. I just judge a director (from anywhere) by his or her work.

Regards,
David R

[Imperator]

You've got your reasons, I suppose.

I understand that is hard to see it as most movies never get exposure outside. But I hate failing industries that thrive with public money, and 99% of the movies made here are commercial failures that make money to the producers thanks to public help.

Here in Spain most movies are shitty movies about the fucking Civil War or shitty movies about young teens fucking each other senseless on drugs, or stupid tits and ass movies. You can thank our fascist national-catholic dictators for that.

*shrug* Some of my online Spanish cinephile friends says that Almodovar's recent work has been rejected by hipsters who accuse him of going "Hollywood" or rather chasing the approval of the international arthouse crowd. I just judge a director (from anywhere) by his or her work.

If you enjoy them, I'm happy for you

[Melan]

I understand that is hard to see it as most movies never get exposure outside. But I hate failing industries that thrive with public money, and 99% of the movies made here are commercial failures that make money to the producers thanks to public help.

If it makes it easier, this also decribes much of the Hungarian movie industry to a T: enormous amounts of taxpayer money going into vaguely depressing "art" productions which pull 5-800 people, and their creators considering this a feature, because they are moderately successful on the festival circuit and making movies for the peasants isn't comme il faut anyway. Seriously, a movie that is a dismal commercial failure is basically the only kind that matters in professional circles - as a friend of mine who is trying to become a screenwriter says, contraselection has been going on so long that the movie types can't even see the merits of a wide-appeal production, since they weren't greenlighted by the various committees, and outsiders, obviously, don't care anymore.

Except, like with a lot of other things, the money has run out, and the govt. has appointed Andy Vajna, a Hollywood emigrée who has had a long history with blockbusters like Rambo to oversee national film production and find out where to find a more sane middle ground between low-grade schlock and Artaud: Le Malaise. The torrent of hysteria, moaning about "commercialising art" in the feuilletons, accusations of ffffascism and running to various and sundry German newspapers which are always happy to print stories about barbaric fffffascist easterners was something to be seen -- and from where I stand, very much worth it. :pundit:

[David R]

I understand that is hard to see it as most movies never get exposure outside. But I hate failing industries that thrive with public money, and 99% of the movies made here are commercial failures that make money to the producers thanks to public help.

I generally reject the use of public funds for the movie industry for the reason you cite and in the context of my country because it is a means to further the ruling regime's propaganda.

Here in Spain most movies are shitty movies about the fucking Civil War or shitty movies about young teens fucking each other senseless on drugs, or stupid tits and ass movies. You can thank our fascist national-catholic dictators for that.

I dunno'. I tend to stay away from that stuff which includes a whole range of horror films (my time is limited) but I do like (together with Almodovar) Alejandro Amenábar's work (I just got Angora), Julio Médem and recently Álex de la Iglesia to name a few. I don't know if this is still a trend but I do think Spanish companies dabbling in English language films is a good idea. I've seen some films which I really enjoyed.

Regards,
David R

[boulet]

I'm not going to dis Ramon's analysis of Spanish movie industry. I'm sure he's seen many more bad examples than we have and is entitled to his view. But there's been some good stuff here and there. On top of my head I'd mention Accion Mutante and Intacto.

[The Butcher]

Watched Almodovar's The Skin I Live In last Friday.

Batshit crazy, but the ending is a letdown... the director didn't have the guts to end it 5 minutes before, when it should clearly have done so (you'll know what I mean once you get to a certain scene). Still, worth watching if you like Almodovar and insane movies.

This is the first Almodóvar movie that's piqued my interest since... forever, actually. Your comment about the ending makes me wary, though, because "movie about plastic reconstructive surgery featuring famous Hollywood male lead, with batshit crazy script and frustrating ending" reminds me of Vanilla Sky. And I fucking hate Vanilla Sky.

I'm still curious, though; maybe I'll check it out this weekend. It's been a while since I've been to the movies, I've even managed to miss the new Conan movie (I'm 99% sure it's no big deal, though), so it should be no big deal to persuade the missus to skip the trashy-looking faux-clockworkpunk new Three Musketeers 3D thing.