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Reviews
The Avengers (2012)
greatest fight scenes ever--true joy
OK, if you don't get it yet, Josh BY GOSH has totally hooked us up! From the very beginning, this film grabs your attention and never lets go. Gods(?) from other dimensions aggravate the wildest earthling freaks available... luckily amazingly powerful lads and some just good human's with weapon's (Widow and Hawkeye). Hulk rules as usual. Thor vs iron man--very cool throw in cap--nice. Thor vs Hulk (greatest fight EVER). Cap vs loki, hulk saving iron man Black widow vs Hawkeye (sexy) Hulk chasing Widow... Thor's spiral to earth. Hulk abusing puny god. All iron man sequences when downy didn't talk... The new bruce banner is the BEST.
PURE FAN BOY JOY! stanleerules, fnord
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Nolan's going for lazy melodrama
Just saw the movie this afternoon and liked it... except for the melodramatic dialog and overly self referential SERIOUSNESS. I did like how they worked Cat Woman and Robin in without being obvious... Love me some Bane! He talks like Napoleon Dynamite on steroids! I Do Love his message, though. Can't really dig his means, but... But, sadly DC fails to equal the drama of Thor vs Iron Man much less Thor vs Hulk. Marvel's World is full of Characters of Action. Nolan's comic book world is, in the end, a mask filled melodrama of "serious intent." Whereas Spidy, Avengers, et al.. MARVEL is pure comic book FanBoy magic; Badass fights between Truly awe inspiring CHARACTERS. stanleerulesout
Srpski film (2010)
masterly done shocker
A couple of weeks ago, I watched A Serbian Film in its uncut glory. It is art in my opinion. The direction and acting never pulled me out of the difficult (horrific/emotionaly-wise) narrative. The production values of the film are wonderful. The characters are engaging. The film displays a new, alien, fascinating world.
Like others, I was hesitant to experience the movie because of its disgusting content-- despite being a horror fan. Let me assure the viewer that the director's sensibilities never cause one to bail out on the picture because of stupid torture scenes or gratuitous gore, etc. It is psychological horror, that affects us through the main character, that disturbs beyond simple visceral stimuli.
Watch it. FNORD!
Messiah of Evil (1974)
somekindoffreakyweirdmasterpiece
For true horror fans this is an absolute gem. Despite all its glaring faults or because of them?, this sometimes abstract and always unpredictable movie is endlessly entertaining. Imagine if David Lynch would have grown up a hippie. He might make this film as a young acid head in California circa '73 (you know, in an alternate reality). Okay, got my Lynch reference in there... Oh, yeah, this movie is a real piece of work: the music is worth the time in itself-- through a huge spectrum, my friends. The sets (Artist's Home Studio, a Ralph's, etc) are used to creative ends. There are some good suspenseful set ups, like the unsuspecting movie goer picking the wrong theater. The Horror here is in the drab normals sucking the soul out of our "cool" protagonists; or, is it? Oh the glory of the fantastical explanation (that goes all Western, don't you know?) at the end. Yep, I can't believe it took me so long to come aboard, somekindoffreakyweirdmasterpiece
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)
Best New Orleans Movie Ever
Some reviews here are enthusiastically negative while others (like humble me) "get it" and love Herzog's film. Cage's performance is brilliant and every other actor seems to step up their game while interacting with him. He never steals scenes even though his character is the focus; instead, every other character comes alive through Herzog's direction.
I'm from Louisiana and have lived over six years (maybe 7, it's hard to remember in the city that time forgot) in New Orleans before and after the storm. Herzog's New Orleans is literally the best representation of the city I've ever seen on film. It's authenticity is underscored by the director's choice to not have actors fake an affected New Orleans accent. Instead, the character's have speech rhythms that reflect the feel of sound of the people who live in the city; a diverse bunch as reflected in the film. There is also the bonus that the character's act like people who live in New Orleans. Lastly, it must be noted that the city is a character in and of itself thanks to Herzog, and he captures the spirit and vibe of a the very strange environment. If the hallucinations seemed out of place, you've never lived in New Orleans.
Body Double (1984)
Why all the hate for DePalma?
Of course this isn't a masterpiece, but it is a well constructed thriller. I find it funny that the negative reviews all seem to have figured out the mystery early. Thou protested too much; I don't buy into their "it's too dated" smack. The time and place of this Hollywood is imaginative and really cool. If one needs historical verisimilitude, watch documentaries. This is a fun ride with all the obsessions of DePalma's work (and Hitch, and Powell's Peeping Tom); voyeurism, etc. The fun is in the details and the affect of scenes, not their logic. Since when does an effective thriller need hard cold logic? I've just watched it again on cable and all the haters are just people looking to hate. DePalma's films are always better than the average B-movie, even when they're B-movies. Also, he can shoot; visually always a master.
eXistenZ (1999)
David cro beats most crap
I continue to watch this film whenever it appears through the direct TV. As usual, d.c. does a great job mixing philosophy and action until your not too sure which is witch. Highly recommended for people with brains. The actors are all first rate (as opposed to his earlier works). D.C. somehow makes you feel like you are really in a computer game, while pulling you out? and back in? Is life merely a game and we merelyactors on a stage? Philosophically dense and yet quick moving action. Maybe even stupid gamers will get it.
It doesn't matter, though, to d.c. He won't dumb it down, and that what makes it worth multiple viewings. I must insist that anyone who hasn't seen it yet ignore the short attention span idiotic negative reviews. Comparing this to the Matrix is like comparing Apocalypse Now to Rambo. Even if you're not a fan of Cronenburg's old films or his new more mainstream pictures, this a film worth watching and thinking about later. It's so good one can't hope to get all its strange glory until perhaps the third or fourth viewing. How many films can anyone say that about? See it; infect others.
Wild at Heart (1990)
genius or bulls**t?
Watch it and decide for yourself! I remember when this film was first released and a french exchange student at the college I attended (big film fan like me) had seen it before I got the chance. We were having a cocktail at a club and I asked him what he thought of it. In his broken, but somehow beautiful English he responded, "Maybe genius or maybe bulls**t." I've seen it over a half dozen times and I'm still not sure.
It's probably my least favorite movie by Mr. Lynch (excluding Dune which I don't count). I think that's because it's too straight forward and is a very faithful adaptation of Gifford's novel. It isn't pure Lynch. I don't really care about Sailor and Lula like Mr. Lynch's other films' leads: they're just too stupid. Lula is particularly annoying.
So why the high ranking? Because Mr. Lynch still makes one hell of a movie filled with unforgettable scenes and characters. Wild at Heart has an intense visceral charge from beginning to end. There are moments that I will never forget:
Bobby Peru making Lula beg for it; and every other second he's on screen. Dafoe absolutely explodes in this role. Marietta Fortune's face painted with lipstick, doing the wicked witch. Girl in Accident worried about her purse. Uncle Dell: "Making his LUNCH!" Johnnie Faraggut's gosh darn school boy infatuation with the wicked witch. 00 Spool: "My dog barks some. Mentally you picture my dog, but I have not told you the type of dog which I have. Perhaps you even picture Toto, from The Wizard of Oz."
All great, which makes the movie great, just not quite as good as Mr. Lynch's true masterpieces. The film is a tour de force: technically, perhaps his most brilliant. No one can shoot and edit like Mr. Lynch. Terrific sound and music. It's still great fun after repeated viewings.
Blue Velvet (1986)
didn't any one else laugh?
Contains Spoilers! I've seen this film at least 7 times and recently on IFC or Sundance (they are right next to each other on my boob tube channels). Depending on one's mood, I can accept many different reactions. BUT, if one can't see the humor in the presentation of this story, one is missing the point.
It starts at the beginning. Lumberton is introduced as the perfect, small town tongue-in-cheek as possible, ending in the old man's stroke which concludes with the phallic hose shooting upward to be drank by the dog! If you're not hip to the satirical quality of what's to come, I can't blame Mr. Lynch. I'll not belabor the point, as the rest of the film from character dynamics, (Very Good and Innocent versus Very Bad and Violent) to it's plot (Hardy Boy goes X-Rated) speaks for itself. This is one hilarious movie! Yet, Mr. Lynch, doesn't fall in love with one theme. The film IS disturbing, especially the love affair between Jeffrey and Dorothy and its violent sexuality. Again, though, this is introduced at its beginning as a type of game when she makes him strip with the knife after taking Frank's abuse. A sick game, surely, which tears up the very innocent Jeffrey's moral compass.
As soon as Frank takes Jeffrey and Dorothy on the "Joy Ride," the film takes off again to amazing effect. Frank and his crew are so over the top evil! It again, takes the form of an intense satire. Somehow, through Mr. Lynch's artistry we never quit caring about Jeffrey and Dorothy, though. The movie walks the thin line as most of Mr. Lynch's films do; am I horrified, or amused? Let's just say both, though on repeated viewings the hysterical laughter takes precedence. He continually sets us up for the the Big Kicker (like the Candy Colored Clown They Call The Sand Man). Wow, who else is capable of this? The short answer is: no one. As for anyone that thinks the ending might be contrived... Check Out That Robin! A wonderful last joke, set up again brilliantly my a true master of cinema. Lumberton rules.