The Movie Thread

[danbuter]

Just  watched Paranormal Activity. Loved it! For a low budget movie, they did a great job building atmosphere and the few special effects used worked very well.

If I was still 12, I'd be having nightmares after seeing it.

[Werekoala]

Watched Season of the Witch last night - not bad until it turned into "ZOMG t3e debbil" at the end. Oh, and spoliers.

Personally, I'd really have preferred the movie keep up the pretense that the girl might not actually have been a witch (and from the previews I saw when it came out, that's was more the impression I got) instead of devolving into rote hack-n-slash.

[Bedrockbrendan]

Just  watched Paranormal Activity. Loved it! For a low budget movie, they did a great job building atmosphere and the few special effects used worked very well.

If I was still 12, I'd be having nightmares after seeing it.

I liked that one too.

[3rik]

Just  watched Paranormal Activity. Loved it! For a low budget movie, they did a great job building atmosphere and the few special effects used worked very well.

If I was still 12, I'd be having nightmares after seeing it.

I liked that one too.

I found Paranormal Activity utterly boring and unconvincing. Admittedly, that was after my gf's family going on and on about how awesome and scary it was and how we really should check it out. Fortunately we didn't waste any money seeing it in a cinema.

[Bedrockbrendan]

I found Paranormal Activity utterly boring and unconvincing. Admittedly, that was after my gf's family going on and on about how awesome and scary it was and how we really should check it out. Fortunately we didn't waste any money seeing it in a cinema.

I enjoyed it. It was kind of nice seeing a slow-paced horror movie when so many of them are sleek and quick paced. Certainly not my favorite Horror film of 2009 ( I know it was released a couple years earlier but I didn't see till wide release). I have to give that year to Orphan (which was cheezy but a pleasant surpise as evil kid movies go)--sure lots will disagree.

[IceBlinkLuck]

Watched TrollHunter on netflix streaming last night. Normally I'm indifferent to the 'shot with shakey video cams oh my god this must be really happening' style of movie-making, but this was a fun movie and certainly a great jumping off point for a game.

Intacto has been in my to watch list for a couple of days. Just havent' had the chance to watch it.

[StormBringer]

Thor was really good, as well, though I don't think Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman had any chemistry at all. It felt like Natalie just mailed this in.

Are you fucking kidding me?  I would watch two hours of Natalie Portman eating breakfast and reading the paper.  

Just  watched Paranormal Activity. Loved it! For a low budget movie, they did a great job building atmosphere and the few special effects used worked very well.

If I was still 12, I'd be having nightmares after seeing it.

Hells yeah, the way they had that low rumbling start up a few seconds before stuff started happening was genius.

[kryyst]

Watched TrollHunter on netflix streaming last night. Normally I'm indifferent to the 'shot with shakey video cams oh my god this must be really happening' style of movie-making, but this was a fun movie and certainly a great jumping off point for a game.

Intacto has been in my to watch list for a couple of days. Just havent' had the chance to watch it.

I thought the movie wasted a little bit of time getting started.  But once it did I enjoyed it.   In many ways it felt more authentic then some of the 'reality' shows that essentially try and do the same thing.

[Spinachcat]

But I hate failing industries that thrive with public money,

In the USA, we call those "banks".

I believe that having a "National Endowment of the Arts" (or whatever its called in other nations) is important to ensure that some non-commercial projects have a chance to get made. But certainly, the primary film industry should be able to stand on its own merits in the marketplace.

I imagine the "brain drain" is also a big problem. Any director who wants to go big time has to come to Hollywood and bow at the altar of the standard American blockbuster formula. Its rare for a talented director to say no to Hollywood and develop their craft in their native country.

[David R]

Any director who wants to go big time has to come to Hollywood and bow at the altar of the standard American blockbuster formula. Its rare for a talented director to say no to Hollywood and develop their craft in their native country.

Not exactly. A couple of examples. The Indian film industry has no use for Hollywood. In fact Hollywood came to them. The Korean film industry is pretty vibrant, even more so now because of the huge appetite for Korean fare in the South East Asian market esp when it comes to TV serials. I think if a director wants to make it big in the "West" he or she has to go the Hollywood route (eventually) but there's always the arthouse route (which is where "craft" comes in) which seems to garner as much attention if not the moolah (even though sometimes it may).

Regards,
David R

[danbuter]

I watched The Shining again last night. Still my favorite horror movie of all time. Jack's slow descent into madness is great, and the poor kid's random encounters with ghosts were freaky. Shelley Duvall's trying to deal with everything makes me feel bad for her. She ends up being stronger and more resourceful than she appears at first glance.

I love how the old black cook also has the shining and comes to save the day, but gets an ax in his chest before he even knows what's really going on. Talk about smashing expectations of the viewer! Kubrick handled it amazingly well. Scatman Crothers was very likable and I always want him to succeed, even though I know what's coming.

The scenes where Jack talks to the bartender and the previous caretaker are also really creepy. And the final shot of the 1921 photo is a perfect ending. Final Photo

[David R]

I rewatched Christopher Nolan's Following with a friend who "just didn't get" the whole madlovefanlove the director receives. Although I do find him interesting at times, I think this debut, really shows his talents right of the bat. It may seem gimmicky filming in black and white but it does give the whole city a sinister vibe and the concept of time [place] (a reccuring Nolan theme) does seem out of synch. Neo-noir at it's best.

Regards,
David R

[Imperator]

In the USA, we call those "banks".

Exactly the same here, mate.

I believe that having a "National Endowment of the Arts" (or whatever its called in other nations) is important to ensure that some non-commercial projects have a chance to get made. But certainly, the primary film industry should be able to stand on its own merits in the marketplace.

That is my point. It's OK with me if there's some public budget to support artists that are starting their careers and need some help. But you cannot have an entire industry based on getting public money.

I rewatched Christopher Nolan's Following with a friend who "just didn't get" the whole madlovefanlove the director receives. Although I do find him interesting at times, I think this debut, really shows his talents right of the bat. It may seem gimmicky filming in black and white but it does give the whole city a sinister vibe and the concept of time [place] (a reccuring Nolan theme) does seem out of synch. Neo-noir at it's best.

Regards,
David R

Duly noted.

[Werekoala]

Yesterday - watched The Eagle (good-ish Roman-era Britain action) and Horrible Bosses (fucking hilarious). Not a bad day.

[Bedrockbrendan]

Yesterday - watched The Eagle (good-ish Roman-era Britain action) and Horrible Bosses (fucking hilarious). Not a bad day.

Horrible Bosses was great. We watched that the other week and had a blast. Great performances by Aniston, Spacey and Ferrell. Ferrell's character (and appearance) was hysterical.