What's The Latest Film You Have Seen?

YorkeDaddy · 01-21-2014, 09:43 AM

A little late, but I went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last week

I was a little disappointed because most of the truly poignant scenes were in the trailer, but it was a beautifully shot film and Stiller acted it well. It dragged at points and they should've focused on Wiig's character a bit more I think...if they had done more to characterize her as an amazing woman worth changing your life for maybe the movie would've seemed even more emotional to me but it's probably just a 7.5 or 8 out of 10 from me.

**Exo** · 01-21-2014, 01:08 PM

Akira

Up until now my experience with Japanese anime has only consisted of a few films and every Miyazaki film ever made. I’ve never really been into the fantasy element that accompanies such anime shows as “Full Metal Alchemist, “Bleach”, and “Dragon Ball Z”. I’ve read about “Akira” in articles detailing the history of sci-fi and have read on multiple accounts that it is the best anime film ever made. When I was browsing Amazon a week ago I noticed that “Akira” has recently been released on blu ray and I decided I could afford to spend a moderate amount of money on a blind buy. I’m glad I did. What I ended up witnessing is in fact the greatest anime film I have ever seen and one of the finest animated films of all time regardless of country of origin. I only thing is that I don’t really understand what the hell I just watched.

The film is set in 2019, thirty years after World War Three. Tokyo was devastated but has only recently rebuilt its city center. The setting in the city is one of light dystopian future. While there aren’t raving lunatics trolling the streets, there are street gangs and more specifically, street bike gangs. This is where were find our main characters. The gang is run by Kaneda, a member who may be in possession of the coolest bike in the city. Along with him, Tetsuo, Yamagata, and a few others attend their run down high school during the day and prowl the streets at night invading bars and looking for fights. During one of these street fights the gang runs into demonstrators fighting the government over the use of human experimentation and general imperialism. Tetsuo, trying to create an identity for himself, takes Kaneda’s bike and runs into a local gang. Tetsuo is saved by a mysterious boy who comes into contact with Tetsuo, possibly transferring over some kinetic energy to him. Tetsuo is then taken by the government after they learn he has come into contact with the boy.

Got it? It may seem complex as hell, mostly cause it is, but the overall plot of the film is laid out pretty well during the film. What follows next cannot be explained in detail because it was that fun to watch it all unravel. I can say that it was an animated experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The film goes down a rabbit hole into psychotic masterpiece and never looks back. The cover of the box claims that without this film there could never be a Matrix. I happen to agree. The concept of perceived reality is questioned about twenty times throughout the duration of the film but also keeps the entertainment factor high with excellent violence and breathtaking hand drawn animation. The colors, which are important considering most of the film takes place at night, are vibrant and unrelenting. It;s a gorgeous film rendered perfectly on this new blu ray disc.

If you’re a fan of anime I’m sure you’ve already seen this film but if you’re into science fiction or animated films at all I suggest giving this a watch, hell maybe two viewings would do it. It’s a fever dream of a film that I can’t begin to comprehend but will certainly try over many more viewings.

5/5

LoathsomePete · 01-21-2014, 01:18 PM

I saw Akira for the first time a few years ago and it really was one of those movies that I was really happy I saw and could see its influence in other media I had seen earlier. Animation is a little dated compared to more modern anime, but is still beautiful, especially the bike tail light streams.

Definitely one of those landmark films that if you consider yourself a cinephile is something you need to see.

djchameleon · 01-21-2014, 03:07 PM

Akira is definitely an anime classic. I still have it on VHS from high school when I used to collect Anime classics.

If you want to keep delving into some of the other classics you might want to check out Ghost in the Shell the original movie not the newer version just yet. Fist of the Northstar and Ninja Scroll.

LoathsomePete · 01-21-2014, 03:48 PM

Ninja Scroll is fucking insane.

Engine · 01-21-2014, 05:04 PM

I think Exo forgot to mention Akira's release date: 1988

I bought this Tetsuo action figure over a decade ago when the film was already an old cult classic.

**Exo** · 01-21-2014, 09:10 PM

In a World...

I’m a huge voice over nerd. I’ve been watching and enjoying cartoons since I was a kid and at 24 years old, I am probably watch just as much. For the last couple years I’ve been into knowing who does each voice and being the owner of a serviceable voice of my own, have thought about entering the business one day. This is probably the one thing about me that not a lot of people know. I practice impressions in my car and am always goofing around with different voices around friends. I am a nerd. I’m totally aware of this. However, it certainly is a good way to have fun and make a living. For this reason I sought out Lake Bell’s film about the daughter of a voice over legend who is trying to break into the industry as a woman. While I enjoyed some parts of the film, overall it kind of fell a little flat in some areas.

Having an interest in the subject of the film, I really did connect with Carol, played as quirky as possible by the films director, Lake Bell. I think that may be the best word to describe the film. Quirky. Most of the time I’m okay with something being overly quirky but when I’m starting to get very bored multiple times during a relatively short film, something just isn’t quite right. It might just be an old fashioned case of not having any likable characters as pretty much everybody was either horrible, stupid, or incredibly awkward. The only person who had me laughing the entire time was the character played by Rob Corddry whose humor stuck out in a film that had very little of it. There were plenty of situations where I thought I should laugh but just really couldn’t find myself genuinely finding the material funny. Comedy films have never really been a huge favorite of mine but I expected more from a cast like this one.

I didn’t hate the film though. Like I said there were definitely some moments that shined through the disappointment and I’d actually like to see what Lake Bell does next. The film was a semi-hit at Sundance so I assume she’ll be back behind the camera again but I’m going to chalk this one as a miss.

2.5/5

bob. · 01-23-2014, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engine

I think Exo forgot to mention Akira's release date: 1988

I bought this Tetsuo action figure over a decade ago when the film was already an old cult classic.

i still have mine too

...along with all the Eva's

i first saw Akria in 1990 in the theater....my mom had to buy the ticket because i was under 17

still is in my opinion one of the greatest animated films ever

Ghost in the Shell falls in close

as for Ninja Scroll....well i once had a cat named Jubei

Exo....nice review of The Act of Killing....the film was phenomenal

The Batlord · 01-23-2014, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Ninja Scroll is fucking insane.

Meh. It's fun the first time you watch it, but after that it's just sort of an action film. When I was a teen I thought it was cool but these days I'm rather neutral. Exo definitely needs to see Ghost In the Shell though.

bob. · 01-23-2014, 12:16 PM

i third that

it's very existential and thought provoking....and it has naked chicks with guns

01-21-2014, 01:08 PM	#13772 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	Akira Up until now my experience with Japanese anime has only consisted of a few films and every Miyazaki film ever made. I’ve never really been into the fantasy element that accompanies such anime shows as “Full Metal Alchemist, “Bleach”, and “Dragon Ball Z”. I’ve read about “Akira” in articles detailing the history of sci-fi and have read on multiple accounts that it is the best anime film ever made. When I was browsing Amazon a week ago I noticed that “Akira” has recently been released on blu ray and I decided I could afford to spend a moderate amount of money on a blind buy. I’m glad I did. What I ended up witnessing is in fact the greatest anime film I have ever seen and one of the finest animated films of all time regardless of country of origin. I only thing is that I don’t really understand what the hell I just watched. The film is set in 2019, thirty years after World War Three. Tokyo was devastated but has only recently rebuilt its city center. The setting in the city is one of light dystopian future. While there aren’t raving lunatics trolling the streets, there are street gangs and more specifically, street bike gangs. This is where were find our main characters. The gang is run by Kaneda, a member who may be in possession of the coolest bike in the city. Along with him, Tetsuo, Yamagata, and a few others attend their run down high school during the day and prowl the streets at night invading bars and looking for fights. During one of these street fights the gang runs into demonstrators fighting the government over the use of human experimentation and general imperialism. Tetsuo, trying to create an identity for himself, takes Kaneda’s bike and runs into a local gang. Tetsuo is saved by a mysterious boy who comes into contact with Tetsuo, possibly transferring over some kinetic energy to him. Tetsuo is then taken by the government after they learn he has come into contact with the boy. Got it? It may seem complex as hell, mostly cause it is, but the overall plot of the film is laid out pretty well during the film. What follows next cannot be explained in detail because it was that fun to watch it all unravel. I can say that it was an animated experience unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The film goes down a rabbit hole into psychotic masterpiece and never looks back. The cover of the box claims that without this film there could never be a Matrix. I happen to agree. The concept of perceived reality is questioned about twenty times throughout the duration of the film but also keeps the entertainment factor high with excellent violence and breathtaking hand drawn animation. The colors, which are important considering most of the film takes place at night, are vibrant and unrelenting. It;s a gorgeous film rendered perfectly on this new blu ray disc. If you’re a fan of anime I’m sure you’ve already seen this film but if you’re into science fiction or animated films at all I suggest giving this a watch, hell maybe two viewings would do it. It’s a fever dream of a film that I can’t begin to comprehend but will certainly try over many more viewings. 5/5 __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

01-21-2014, 01:18 PM	#13773 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I saw Akira for the first time a few years ago and it really was one of those movies that I was really happy I saw and could see its influence in other media I had seen earlier. Animation is a little dated compared to more modern anime, but is still beautiful, especially the bike tail light streams. Definitely one of those landmark films that if you consider yourself a cinephile is something you need to see. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

01-21-2014, 03:48 PM	#13775 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Ninja Scroll is fucking insane. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

01-21-2014, 05:04 PM	#13776 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	I think Exo forgot to mention Akira's release date: 1988 I bought this Tetsuo action figure over a decade ago when the film was already an old cult classic. __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.

01-21-2014, 09:10 PM	#13777 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	In a World... I’m a huge voice over nerd. I’ve been watching and enjoying cartoons since I was a kid and at 24 years old, I am probably watch just as much. For the last couple years I’ve been into knowing who does each voice and being the owner of a serviceable voice of my own, have thought about entering the business one day. This is probably the one thing about me that not a lot of people know. I practice impressions in my car and am always goofing around with different voices around friends. I am a nerd. I’m totally aware of this. However, it certainly is a good way to have fun and make a living. For this reason I sought out Lake Bell’s film about the daughter of a voice over legend who is trying to break into the industry as a woman. While I enjoyed some parts of the film, overall it kind of fell a little flat in some areas. Having an interest in the subject of the film, I really did connect with Carol, played as quirky as possible by the films director, Lake Bell. I think that may be the best word to describe the film. Quirky. Most of the time I’m okay with something being overly quirky but when I’m starting to get very bored multiple times during a relatively short film, something just isn’t quite right. It might just be an old fashioned case of not having any likable characters as pretty much everybody was either horrible, stupid, or incredibly awkward. The only person who had me laughing the entire time was the character played by Rob Corddry whose humor stuck out in a film that had very little of it. There were plenty of situations where I thought I should laugh but just really couldn’t find myself genuinely finding the material funny. Comedy films have never really been a huge favorite of mine but I expected more from a cast like this one. I didn’t hate the film though. Like I said there were definitely some moments that shined through the disappointment and I’d actually like to see what Lake Bell does next. The film was a semi-hit at Sundance so I assume she’ll be back behind the camera again but I’m going to chalk this one as a miss. 2.5/5 __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

01-23-2014, 12:16 PM	#13780 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	i third that it's very existential and thought provoking....and it has naked chicks with guns __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.