Ruby Sparks

Wasn't expecting much from this initially but I ended up rather enjoying it. Charming cast (especially the title character) with good performances all around. Really surprised me

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so this being a "reinterpretation" of the original source material (a comic book) and not a "remake" of the damn near perfect Chan-wook Park film

although this is a very American film....it keeps some of the Asian style....style?

that is the problem here....there is no style....certainly not like the original....the violence and blood shed are turned up....and the ending is clear cut and almost happy.....the "twist" is blown even further than in the original

i will say that having not seen the original in a least a couple of years was helpful in actually enjoying this version....although i had the general story down this one was a bit different and so it produced a little bit of freshness....and again it follows the same format but not exactly the same story

the cast was splendid....except for the squid...who only makes a quick cameo and was a real let down

overall not that bad....but i would suggest watching all three in the "Revenge" trilogy over this very American version

edit

i will say this...i tricked my sister and her husband into going with me...just because i wanted to see their reactions....and they did not see the "twist" coming at all

also

I really did enjoy this version....it just did not have anywhere near the affect of the original....but that could be just because I knew the plot

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Bazaar movie -go figure with that title- but I liked it a lot.

Catching Fire

Yeah, it's about as mainstream as you can get, but it really was good. I think even if you didn't read the books you would enjoy it. Much better than the first movie.

Jack Reacher
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I was surprised by how much I liked Jack Reacher. I remember when it came out that people were giving it flack and I'm not really sure why. I do need to watch it again because I was tired when watching it and missed the ending but I loved everything about it that I saw. If you want an action movie I suggest throwing away preconceived notions about how awful this movie is and giving it a chance.


Flight
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It is kind of eerie that I watched Flight again Saturday night and then on Sunday morning a Metro North train derailed. One of the trains that I could have been on. It is the same line I take down to NYC. 4 people died and 60 or so were injured. Having watched Flight gives me a little insight into the whole investigation process with the NTSB. They have been called in to review the blackbox and find out what happened.


G.I. Joe Retaliation
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I loved this movie more than I probably should but it was just a great action movie with childhood nostalgia fueling my passion for it. I honestly can't wait until the 3rd movie comes out. I believe it is only going to be a trilogy but I'm fine with that. Snake Eyes was my favorite as a kid and he is still my favorite. He doesn't love a good ninja kicking ass and running alongside a mountain face.

Watched Alpha Papa last night. Piss funny in parts, Michael was fantastic.

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Some proper lols in this.

Am I the only one who thought Denzel Washington was playing a black Nazi when they first saw this pic?

Wait....that movie is not about the all black 1941 Luftwaffe strike force that took out the rebel forces on the island of Corsica?

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A FILM WITH ME IN IT (2008)
Irish black comedy with Dylan Moran, Mark Doherty, Keith Allen and David O' Doherty. Quite a farcical tale of two friends in the midst of an ongoing war with their landlord for unpaid rent, as well as problems in their personal lives, who experience a bizarre, far-fetched and completely unbelievable chain of events that leave them looking like murderers. It's farcical and silly, but also so dark and gruesome that it is almost difficult to find the humour in it. Interesting but ultimately average.

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DRINKING BUDDIES (2013)
Comedy about two friends who work together at an American craft brewery and what appears to be their unspoken attraction to one another, aswell as their relationships with their respective partners. It isn't a rom-com, it isnt a laugh out loud comedy, it's a decent enough watch but again ultimately average and forgettable.

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THE EXORCIST (1973)
I also recently decided to start re-watching films I have seen but not for a long time. Some of which I havent seen in so long that maybe my memory of them isnt great. I watched The Exorcist, and I know this often divides opinion, but I watched it for the first time since I was about 15 and maybe its just because I was young, or because it's rather old now, older than I am, but all I could think while watching it is that while it is creepy it isn't particularly scary, and I don't remember it being quite so....funny.

I didn't see The Exorcist until I was in my 20s and I have to say I completely hear where you're coming from about it being funny. Basically, for me, every possession scene was hilarious and the rest of the movie was boring.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. I'm not sure I would say it was boring but it was tense and creepy, and most of that comes from the non-possession scenes. The possession scenes however really did have me laughing out loud, so it kinda ruined any tension that had been built up.

Saving Privat Ryan. Totally my favorite military movie

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Took me a while to get around to watch it but this is a great movie. Highly recommend. Can't really describe it without ruining it, just go watch it if you haven't.

Love Coogan need this.

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One of the best gangster films I've seen in awhile, nothing especially new but hits all the right spots. With sharp objects.

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Dogtooth (Kynodontas) - 2009



This is one of the most unsettling and darkest films I've ever seen, and it makes me feel ashamed and perverse to admit how much I loved it. I suppose it's a satire but it's more of a social commentary... but at the same time it might just be pretentious balls, I'm not really sure. I don't want to describe the plot because I think this is one of those films you need to go into not knowing at all what to expect. Like I said, I seriously loved it and will probably purchase it for my collection, but I don't know what that says about me as a person.

I was wondering when I was going to see this review. I've been meaning to watch it and considering how much we loved Holy Motors I don't think you should feel shamed for liking challenging cinema. I still need to watch Dogtooth though. I've been procrastinating on it for two years.

i watched homefront in theaters. it has jason statham as the main guy whos a pretty good action guy in my opinion. james franco is a bad guy and acts really well. umm theres a lot of action in it and its pretty good. worth my time

I had to put my review of this. Steph, thanks for watching this which motivated me to watch it...

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Dogtooth

Holy sh*t!

This is probably one of the strangest and most disturbing films I’ve ever seen. I mean, I’ve seen some pretty far out horror films and I’m a huge fan of Michael Haneke but this was just bizarre and crudely funny in a way. I’m not quite sure what is wrong with my taste in film to where I liked a film like this so much. The funny thing is, I don’t think I can watch it again. It was such an uncomfortable watch but like a car accident, just damn near impossible to turn away from.

Lanthimos directs a completely unflinching tale of family conditioning at its most nightmarish. I really shouldn’t go into the plot of the film too much because it’s really something you need to experience for yourself but the story revolves around a family of five and the way the parents raise their children. Let me just say that these parents make the Lohans and kiddie pageant people look like saints. It’s not even like they are cruel or abusive…well, okay, I have no idea what they are. All I know is that it’s so uncomfortable to watch that I just know it’s evil.

The film holds nothing back. Just when you think they are going to cut the movie goes from PG-13 to OH GOD NO in seconds. I’ve never really seen something like that. It just makes me believe that Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac is most likely going to make people explode. I can see a little old lady walk into that thing and just come out crying, wishing somebody would turn back time to wear they weren’t allowed to show people kissing on television.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of meaning behind Dogtooth. Obviously conditioning is a main theme and focal point. I mean they didn’t have to show this but they actually had worked dog trainers into the story just to drive that theme home. Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” also popped into my mind a few times as if you watch the film you can plainly see draws cues from the old man. AHHH I WANT TO SAY THINGS BUT I CAN’T.

Just watch the film. By yourself. This isn’t a date movie. Put the kids to bed. Prepare your mind for “WHAT!?” type ideas. Just watch it. It’s fantastic.

4.5/5

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YESSSSS perfectly put! I'm glad you enjoyed it (at least as much as someone can enjoy something like this) and I'm not alone in my ****ed up taste in films. Good call on the Plato reference, that's spot on I think.

Also, I'm so glad that gif exists :laughing:

i put this (Dogtooth) up in my netflix and very much look forward to seeing it....it gets compared to the film style of Todd Solondz (Happiness and Palindromes are two of the best comedies ever made)who has never disappointed me...looking forward to having my morals challenged :)

on the polar opposite side of things....i caught this yesterday
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Frozen

so as some of you know...i am an absolute sucker for a Disney flick....i go in expected to be manipulated and they almost always deliver....

this one was no excepting....fun characters....an interesting take on the evil queen....true love, and true tragedy...mixed with typical...somewhat bad Disney songs....and breathe taking animation (a good one in 3d)

almost dare i say a bit flirty....but within reason

as usual...not nearly as good as they are making it out to be.....but worth seeing if you can dig a good sappy Disney style musical

SOOOOOOO looking forward to the movie this summer about my absolute villain ever....Maleficent looks amazing :)

Hell yes, if you liked Happiness this is right up your alley. I'm so glad I'm not alone :laughing:

I really didn't understand that movie. I mean, I got it, but I just didn't get it. I'm honestly surprised I still like Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

The first time I watched it I got the feeling it pushed the boundaries just for the sake of pushing the boundaries, but the next couple of times I watched it I enjoyed it for how bizarre and all over the place it is. I don't hold it in high regards as a piece of art or anything, but I am continually impressed in its ability to make me uncomfortable.

i honestly think that Solondz hit the nail right on the head with the concept of Happiness

have you two seen the sequel? Life During Wartime...picks up right when the dad is released from prison and has all of the same characters played by different actors/actresses

if you have not seen Palindromes i highly suggest it....but again be prepared for something that is in no way shape or form up anybody's alley....during the course of the film the characters are re-casted often...and like Happiness he has a way of forcing you to laugh while be faced with the darkest spirits in humanity

also Dark Horse....which is an absolute mind fuck of a film....wait did i say fuck...i meant rape.....i want to re-watch it but i'm afraid it will make more sense than it already does

Todd Solondz is a directer i hold in regard along with the likes of Casper Noe.....quite a bit under Lars von Trier...who i feel is the greatest director alive and does not use the concept of shock to manipulate.....the other two do....but i feel it's quite effective and always thought provoking

i'll be watching Dogtooth tomorrow night and cannot wait :)

Any of you Solondz geeks seen Fear, Anxiety, and Depression? It stars himself and is pretty much a straight Woody Allen rip. But back in the days of Welcome to the Dollhouse, it was the only other thing I had to turn to. This was before he went full dark, of course. I need to catch up. Storytelling was his last that I watched.

My latest is the ill-conceived but interesting, CBGB. It's pretty bad yet pretty fun for someone who wishes he could have been there (me).

Among other things, I am peeved that Rupert Grint played Cheetah Chrome. There's just no reason for it. I'm happy that the kid's parents' agent got him rich off the Potter dollars but he's still not a great actor and he has a long way to go before he'll look like anything but whiny Ron Weasley. And putting him onscreen with Alan Rickman only turns Rickman back into Severus Snape. It was a bad casting idea, any actor could have played the part. There are a whole lot of other bad things about CBGB too, but I still enjoyed watching it.

Rupert Grint? How is it possible to be so British?

Dogtooth

i would literally bash out my dogtooth right now for a chance to sit down with you two over a couple of drinks to discuss this film

there isn't much to add to Exoskeletal's review without giving away more than i already have.....so i'll just say that personally i'd go 5/5

and that personally....i'll re-watch this several times

thank you soooooooooooooooo much Junkyard Donner for bringing up this film....i probably would have missed out on this one if you hadn't :)

also i highly suggest that both of you check out a 2002 French film called Carnage....Dogtooth brought back feelings i had while watching this one in the theater

Carnages (2002) - IMDb
^i could not find the preview on youtube but it is on the IMDB page....trust me....i think you'll both love this film

I'm on a rush of 80s Emilio Estevez films which range from horrible to cult classic.

Maximum Overdrive
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It's hard to imagine that this thing was actually made but Stephen King has admitted that he was coked out of his mind when he directed it, and is so embarrassed that he hasn't directed a film since. This one would be hilarious if it wasn't so boring.


That Was Then This Is Now
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This is an adaptation of the book by S.E. Hinton (which is good).
His dad was so famous that they let Emilio write the screenplay and star in this piece of shit. This movie is beyond terrible. Don't watch it.


Repo Man
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The king of crazy 80s comedies. This is the best film that features Mr. Estevez.


The Breakfast Club
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Awesome


Judgement Night
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Okay so this is early 90s, not 80s but it still seems to count.
Emilio's dead eyes and expressionless face are made up for by Cuba Gooding Jr.'s CRAZY EYES throughout most of the film. Pretty bad but a fun watch

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I missed out on this sequel because it went straight to dvd. This movie was so faithful to the first movie that it begins right on the same scene of the first movie.

I watched it on Syfy but I need to re-watch it on dvd to see the parts that they cut out. I'm pretty sure that I missed out on some boobage and some more violent shots.

It was co-written by Steve Niles so I shouldn't be surprised by how faithful it was. He is pretty much a distant relative of mines.

Latest FULL movie I watched was Scarface. I had to show a friend who has never seen the movie. I was so disappointed lol.

YESYESYES BOB! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Having beers and discussing this film would be ideal, it's not one you can keep to yourself.

I had no idea there was a sequel to Happiness - nor have I seen any of the other titles you mentioned. I know how I'm spending my Sunday. :)

EDIT: Also, **** yeah, Repo Man!

Beers and Dogtooth discussion would get weird/amazing.

Aye. One of my all-time favorite movies.

I do all my best thinking on the bus, that's how come I don't drive.

Prince Avalanche

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Made in the spirit of the light-hearted indie film. Not at all life-changing but definitely a good time for people who appreciate a movie that fully immerses the viewer in a simple story told well. Time, place, subtle acting, and an atmospheric soundtrack are what's important. People who will like this know what I'm talking about.

I enjoyed it a lot.

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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

keeping with what seems to be a tradition...i took my nephews to see this yesterday and......

ok...let me first say that i read the book a year ago before the first flick came out and this film is waaaaaaaay off from the book...more so than the first one was

that being said

this is actually a good thing....although the film dragged a few times and honestly felt like it was 4 hours and 40 versus 2 hours for me there is only one reason to see this movie



and he is in it for a solid 40+ minutes and he is incredible!