Recently watched movies!

[The Shadow]

[lhb412]

[lhb412]

Our Relations

This is a fantastic Laurel and Hardy feature! I hadn't heard much about this one, not ranked among their classics, but I think it should be. The boys play (as usual) 'Stan and Ollie,' but also their own long-lost identical twins... who are also best friends. Yup, this film has two sets of Laurel and Hardy! Naturally, the main thrust of the film is an increasingly chaotic series of misunderstandings when the two sets of twins are confused for one another.

[Dr Kain]

A Million Ways to Die in the West - If you have seen the trailers, you have pretty much seen this movie. Nevertheless, it was funny even though every great joke is followed up by a bad joke. It was worth the $6 a ticket we paid but not much more than that. If you have an interest in it, go see it. If you don't, don't even bother. Oh, there is a scene after the credits. Overall, I give it a 5/10. It isn't a great movie, but it is certainly no where near the worst thing to come out this year.

[XvGojira]

[MekaGojira3k]

I saw a Million ways as well. It was alright, not as fun as Ted though.

[Dr Kain]

Double Indemnity - This is one of the movies I was given for my birthday today and man, this movie was excellent. The story was incredible, the characters and acting were fantastic, and the use of shadows was down right amazing. I loved how the story progressed and Key's speech about the different types of suicides in the world was nothing short of brilliant. I'm giving this movie a 9/10 which is strange because I was not expecting to like it better than Touch of Evil.

[lhb412]

^ From Double Indemnity to The Apartment to Some Like it Hot to Stalag 17 to Sunset Boulevard... Billy Wilder is just an awesome, awesome director.

[Dr Kain]

Rififi - This was a very interesting and unique movie. I cannot say it is one I'll rewatch often, but the scene when they were breaking into the jewelry store was well done. I loved how there was no dialog throughout the entire thing. I do feel the movie dragged out a little bit longer than it needed to be, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I give it a 7/10.

[Destroysall]

Was going to see GODZILLA last week with a few friends, but we missed the showing and ended up seeing A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST and I have to say, I love Seth McFarlane. The guy is a genius and his work is always entertaining. I loved this movie and the raunchiness it provides. It was almost like watching a live action Family Guy movie, I loved it!

4 out of 5 for me.

[lhb412]

Fantastic Dinosaurs of the Movies

First of all: whoever put this on Youtube, thank you.

When I was very, very young and had the original King Kong and a few Godzilla films under belt I saw this video tape for sale at Toys R Us. I had to have it. It's cover was a bunch of monsters (mainly dinosaurs) from old movie posters and publicity stills spliced together in this enormous collage of monsters. My Mom bought the tape. It was a cheap-o, public domain release from Goodtimes Video, but it was cheap and public domain in a way that did not disappoint: starting with a short prologue about how dinosaurs have captured the public imagination, the rest of this feature-length compilation is just movie trailers. Tons and tons of trailers. Trailers for films I wouldn't see for years, and some I still haven't seen. It's not just dino's. Any giant monster is included. Tons of Harryhausen films, several Godzillas (including my intro to the hyperbolic KOTM trailer), Rodan, King Kong, Gorgo, Reptilicus, Tarantula, The Giant Claw, and dozens more. This was invaluable to me as a kid, because it clued me in on an entire body of giant monsters films and told me what was out there.

[MekaGojira3k]

[jellydonut25]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail - I love the crap out of this movie. So many jokes I'd forgotten as it's been years since I've last watched it. I think my favorite at the moment is when Bedevere asks, "How do you know so much about swallows?" and Arthur says, "Well, you have to know these things when you're a king."

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale - This is a really fun little film. It differs quite significantly from what I thought it would be given the two short films that preceded it, and I might like to see a full-fledged film in that vein (capturing and training wild Santas) some day, but this is fun on its own merits.

[MekaGojira3k]

Rare Exports was different, but I still loved it. I need to actually buy it at some point.

[lhb412]

After the Thin Man

First sequel, almost as good, maybe the funniest entry. That's all.

[Dr Kain]

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels - Well this was a very interesting and unique movie. It was funny and well done. Highly enjoyable. 7/10 stars.

[Destroysall]

[XvGojira]

Went on a double feature with my GF and saw Godzilla for a third time and X-Men: Timey-Whimey.

I still prefer First Class more, but this was one well made movie. I love how well done the rebooting was and how makes it so that they can continue with the First Class group with out having to be as careful about previous movies. And aside from the sentinels, they got the 70's look down perfectly.

But I still wish they did more with other mutants. Quicksilver was surprisingly awesome but still felt like he could have done more, I completely forgot about the mutants from the Vientnam segment (including Toad who got a character poster but never said a word in the movie) until just now, and the future mutants weren't explored enough. But then again, why bother giving time and effort to characters who probably won't exist in future movies.

[lhb412]

[Destroysall]

[Dr Kain]

I like Ghost in the Shell, but I feel it (and Innocence) get way too philosophical for its own good. There are parts of the movie that just don't make a damn bit of sense, especially in Innocence.

Stand Alone Complex, on the other hand, is hands down one of the greatest anime series ever.

I have no interest in Cliche The Movie, I mean Maleficient. They are taking a character that is considered to be Disney's greatest villain ever and turned her into some boring tragic sympathetic character because heaven forbid people are just born evil these days. Next thing we know, there will be a movie on Jafar's childhood or what made the Shadow Man get into voodoo.

[Destroysall]

[klen7]

[lhb412]

I got a hankering for some anime recently.

Akira

Amazing to look at, incredible action, great score, and it remembers to keep all the sci-fi gobbledygook anchored in a real humanity. Even though it's an incredibly realized sci-fi/alternate history environment the thing that struck me most was how I could identify with pretty much all the characters. In the end, it's really a story about friendship.

[Psycho Soldier]

I watched that one pretty recently, too. Some of the characterization leaves me a bit cold (I think Tetsuo goes power-mad just a tad too quickly), and I was somewhat confused by the political shenanigans until I looked at the special features, but it's definitely a great movie.

Last night, I watched the third of the Berserk movies. I knew from the anime series and TV Tropes spoilers what was going to happen, but once Femto shows up... damn. Gut-wrenching stuff anyway. I'm at least glad to say that the movie has a somewhat better ending than the show did. Still nothing cheerful at all, but there is the promise of more movies.