What films have you watched this week?

[bash]

Just seen Columbiana. Standard B movie level, action wise. With Luc Bessons involvement I think this would've been best served as a sequel to Leon tbh. Pretty average throughout with nothing note worthy other than the fact that nearly all the Columbians in it are represented as either killers or drug dealers or both. Hollywood stereotyping strikes again.

[importaku]

Just finished watching the shining, thats no sleep for me this evening. Good job im not at work for the next 3 weeks lol, xmas winter hols are perfect for horror. Time for Chakushin ari next

[Neon Ignition]

First up, not film related, but just had to vent how truly awful the X Factor Final was.

The Thing
I've seen the original but it was so long ago it's more of a vague memory so I was able to take this on its own terms and as such was pleasantly entertained. The ending makes completely no sense but its good to have this kind of horror back rather than another budget camcorder crapfest.

Puss in Boots
For me the Shrek series fell epically with the third entry and the fourth barely made it above the quality bar so wasn't expecting anything from this unnecessary spin off but in the end it turned out to be a great little film. Quite amusing, plenty action and fun.

[QualityChimp]

Oh man, has anybody else seen The Dilemma?

I gave up about half way through. It wasn't funny and it just descended into farce.

It's directed by Ron Howard. He's done some great films over the years and couldn't believe he'd done this pointless, boring and unfunny movie.

No wonder Fonzie stopped hanging out with him.

[prinnysquad]

Just finished watching the shining, thats no sleep for me this evening. Good job im not at work for the next 3 weeks lol, xmas winter hols are perfect for horror. Time for Chakushin ari next

The Shining has a great soundtrack, well suited to the mood. I remember as a kid, the 5th movement of Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz used to proper unsettle me. Some of the excerpts were also used in the Ladybird Horror Classics audio cassettes of The Mummy and Dr Jekyll, and used to put the otts up me.

[koopatroopa90]

I'm not really into horror but enjoyed The Shining. Can't remember it being that scary though!

[JazzFunk]

^it's not, really, though it's eerie. All that vast, lonely, empty space. When I'm working nights, it's *exactly* the same feeling.

Whenever I watch it, part of me thinks it would be pretty cool to spend my afterlife in a place as swish and art deco as The Overlook, and I'm kind of happy Jack ends up there (which sort of decreases the chill factor a tad).

[QualityChimp]

I was looking for one of Jazz Funk's suggestions on The Horror Channel and saw they were showing Maniac Cop. The listing said Bruce Campbell was in it, but I was surprised to see a cameo from Sam Raimi too!

It's one of those films that intrigued me as a kid, looking at the cover and wondering what horrors lay within - "You have the right to remain silent... forever!". Films like Terror Vision, R.O.T.O.R. and Chopping Mall had great and intriguing covers.

Naturally, it wasn't scary, but it was an interesting premise. I don't really think they did that much with it, though. Better than most slashers of that era though.

I also saw Thunderbirds Are Go, mainly because I thought my 6-month-old might like it, but it was far too slow moving to keep his attention. There's a sequence about 5 minutes long at the start where the Zero-X spaceship leaves the hangar. I love all that awesome model work, but I can imagine kids losing interest. There's a few other lingering model shots that probably go on too long.

There's a really random dream sequence where Alan Tracy goes on a date with Lady Penelope to space nightclub, The Swinging Star, where (puppet versions of) Cliff Richard Jr. and The Shadows play a song.

The First attempt to get Zero-X to Mars fails because The Hood snuck onboard and, whilst taking espionage photos, got his foot stuck in hydraulics. When they make a second attempt, they call in International Rescue to ensure security is tighter this time and they manage to catch The Hood impersonating one of the Zero-X crew.

The mission succeeds in reaching Mars, but spend most of their time there shooting one-eyed rock snakes and have to return early to the spaceship when the snakes start firing back. Shoot first and ask questions later, even on man's first visit to Mars, he manages to upset the natives.

My main beef with the movie is when International Rescue step in to rescue the Zero-X crew before it crashes, they get the crew to safety in an escape pod, but then Zero-X crashes into the town of Craigsville, Florida. We're told that the town is evacuated, but the town is totally destroyed in an awesomely indulgant sequence. I can't imagine the whole town was cleared, but the crash must have caused millions of dollars of damage and any research from Mars was destroyed along with the Zero-X. The film concludes with the Tracy brothers all congratulating each other for a job well done at the Swinging Star.

I don't think the homeless citizens of Craigsville would be so swift to praise them as they trawl through the wreckage of their destroyed homes, desparately searching to recover something of value, personal items and possibly the bodies of people who didn't know about the evacuation notice...

...Have I thought a bit too much about a film about puppets?

[Pikate]

First up, not film related, but just had to vent how truly awful the X Factor Final was.

What did you expect? I only paid attention to the bits with Coldplay and Michael Buble. Probably wouldn't have even tuned in if they weren't on.

Puss in Boots
For me the Shrek series fell epically with the third entry and the fourth barely made it above the quality bar so wasn't expecting anything from this unnecessary spin off but in the end it turned out to be a great little film. Quite amusing, plenty action and fun.

That's good news I love the first two Shreks, the fourth was good, I barely remember the third :S But I love Puss I'll add it to my "Must See" list now haha

...Have I thought a bit too much about a film about puppets?

*That isn't "A Muppet Christmas Carol"

[dvdx2]

watched rise of the planet of the apes - really enjoyed it, bar the dreadful acting by the main lead (the young scientist) and his vet girlfriend; although the fact she was incredibly tasty, made up for it a bit

[PaTaito]

Bought the Stanley Kubrick collection on bluray last week and after years of meaning to see it, i finally got round to watching Barry Lyndon last night.

What a film.....so typical kubrick, and a reminder of the depthless talent the man had. The poncy, whimsical nature(certainly of the second half) reminded me of parts of clockwork orange, and given the setting of this film it just worked so well. I found it well paced, if a tad long by todays standards, and funny to the point of almost making me spit my coffee a few times(the face off late on springs to mind).

You have to love the acting style in kubrick movies.....its so deliberately quirky and, for want of a better word...exaggerated.

Amazing stuff.

[bash]

Just seen the prequel to The Thing. I felt like breaking the fricking disc in half, such a ****, terrible terrible idea for a film. **** acting, **** story really REALLY **** CGI/SFX.

->Open Spoiler<-

And then they force the whole linkage to the original during the fricking credits.

I want to hunt down Carpenter, pack him up with a flame thrower and some grenades and then we go find the stupid mutha fukkers responsible for this piss poor attempt of a franchise start up and burn them alive! And whilst they're cooking, I'll say "Burn in Hell" in Norweigen too!

->Open Spoiler<-

Also why do writers insist on having blobby, jelly or insect type aliens who are apparently able to contruct and fly ships and technology far far superior to our own

[Escape-To-88]

QUOTE: The ending makes completely no sense

Carpenter wanted it deliberately ambiguous. There is another ending to an older US TV version which sees the dog escaping, indicating that The Thing has escaped into the general populos. Carpenter disliked this though, ironically this is of course how the new one climaxes, although not escaping into the world at large.

[Finsbury Girl]

Hanna - loved it. Only gripe (and QC and Shinobi will hopefully back me up) some of the hand 2 hand looked very fake. HOWEVER. loved seeing a bit of eskrima/kali in a mainstream movie and there was one bit with Hanna using a knife that was bad ass to the extreme and looked exactly like some of the **** I learnt so mega kudos in that respect. Love the BANA as a fellow Aussie - big up to you Sir. But the young Irish lass who played Hanna - wow what a great performance. Cate looks crap as a ginger.

Bloody good movie.

[JazzFunk]

Watched one of Tom Cruise's early films, Taps, earlier. Saw this advertised loads on videos in the early 80s, first time I've ever watched it (it's doing the rounds on TCM right now).

It's all about these kiddie/teenage army cadets who find out their academy is gonna be closed down to make way for real estate, so they basically hole themselves up with food n' weapons and a siege quickly transpires between them and the *actual* army.

Not a bad film, pretty long and pretty slow to begin with, but interesting to see the Cruiser as the 'baddie' in this, plus Sean Penn playing against type as a non-fiery, 'thinking man' type of character. Giancarlo 'Gustavo Fring' Esposito from Breaking Bad also has a prominent role, it's very weird seeing him so young!

Not bad. Debating whether to watch the infamous 'video nasty', Fight For Your Life, tonite....it's supposed to be a pretty decent exploitation flick...