Movie Discussion Thread

[vidae]

I am in love with Jennifer Lawrence, so I want to see SLP pretty bad.. and you see it without me McGee. Real cool bro, real cool.

[Vikes99ej]

Going to see Lincoln on Sunday, super pumped.

[hobbes2053]

Based on his prior roles, Jack Black was surprisingly good in Bernie.

[josh07039]

Originally Posted by SuperMcGee

Silver Linings Playbook was fantastic. So much I'd like to say about it, but for now I'll just say that Bradley Cooper somehow portrayed one of the most likable characters of the past couple years, which I am very glad to see. Awesome job.

I found the movie likeable and i enjoyed it, but Im not sure why people are saying its a great film or the best movie of the year. I don't know if I'm missing something, but the whole movie felt like a well mad,darker romantic comedy, but not a great film. Im just curious what made the movie great to you? Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence both are good and Deniro is fine, but I just didn't see greatness in the film overall.

[KCJ58]

Zero Dark Thirty was terrible

Who are all these people saying this movie is good?

Major dissapointment, but ill give it another watch sometime in the future to see if im wrong, but after 1st impression not thrilled, for the plot what it was the exacusion was terrible the main character seemed more of a damsel in distress more than anything.

[Damix]

Finally saw Cloud Atlas. Thought it was excellent. I typically don't like any time a movie goes over 2 hours, but this kept me interested the whole time.

[Vikes99ej]

Lincoln was beautiful. Tommy Lee Jones should win Supporting Actor.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

Lincoln was beautiful. Tommy Lee Jones should win Supporting Actor.

Tommy Lee Jones was not as good as every other actor nominated as Best Supporting Actor so I disagree.

Interesting that you describe Lincoln as beautiful. To me Life of Pi or Cloud Atlas are beautiful films, Lincoln was popcorn history.

[Cigaro]

Originally Posted by josh07039

I found the movie likeable and i enjoyed it, but Im not sure why people are saying its a great film or the best movie of the year. I don't know if I'm missing something, but the whole movie felt like a well mad,darker romantic comedy, but not a great film. Im just curious what made the movie great to you? Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence both are good and Deniro is fine, but I just didn't see greatness in the film overall.

I share the same general opinion. It got a bit cliche towards the end. Quality, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it spectacular.

[jrdrylie]

Just got home from watching Les Miserables. Probably one of the least enjoyable movies I've ever seen. Sure, the acting was good, but the movie itself wasn't for me. And I have no problem with musicals. I've seen Godspell, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and a few other musicals and loved them. I think it's the fact that the sing THE ENTIRE TIME. I know it's a musical, but you don't have to sing mundane conversations. Les Miserables has surpassed Rent as my least favorite legitimate movie (crap like Jack & Jill and low budget horror movies don't count).

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

Just got home from watching Les Miserables. Probably one of the least enjoyable movies I've ever seen. Sure, the acting was good, but the movie itself wasn't for me. And I have no problem with musicals. I've seen Godspell, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and a few other musicals and loved them. I think it's the fact that the sing THE ENTIRE TIME. I know it's a musical, but you don't have to sing mundane conversations. Les Miserables has surpassed Rent as my least favorite legitimate movie (crap like Jack & Jill and low budget horror movies don't count).

I will once again offer a contrarian opinion and say I actually really enjoyed Les Mis. I do like musicals though have not liked quite a few film adaptations. I thought Les Mis was really well done.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gonzo

I will once again offer a contrarian opinion and say I actually really enjoyed Les Mis. I do like musicals though have not liked quite a few film adaptations. I thought Les Mis was really well done.

Yeah, I'm sure for people who like the musical Les Mis, it was good. And I'll say I enjoyed the parts with the revolution guys. But the plot just isn't for me. Like the inspector ...

Does he have nothing going on in his life? He spends a decade pursuing a guy who broke parole. He doesn't worry about murderers or the impending revolution. No, catching this single parole violator is so important. And when Jean Valjean shows him mercy he kills himself? It seems like they want to make this plot historically accurate but I just can't imagine anyone acting like that. And I know it's not the filmmaker's fault, this is based on a book. I just don't like the plot.

[SuperMcGee]

I'm sort of in the middle. I agree with all of the points jr is making, but my overall opinion of the film is slightly more favorable.

As for the inspector:

*splat*

I couldn't help but chuckle at that sound effect

[Dr. Gonzo]

Recently watched West of Memphis and read the book Life After Death by Damien Echolls. What a travesty. **** Arkansas and everyone who puts politically aspirations before justice and the good of people. It really is sickening how awful the human race can be (and awful how often I read about the south being involved).

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gonzo

Recently watched West of Memphis and read the book Life After Death by Damien Echolls. What a travesty. **** Arkansas and everyone who puts politically aspirations before justice and the good of people. It really is sickening how awful the human race can be (and awful how often I read about the south being involved).

I haven't seen that particular film, but I know the case and I've seen other films about it. I won't say anything other than... meh

Also, when is Great Gatsby coming out? In the previews tonight, it said Christmas but I was pretty sure it was May 10th.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

I haven't seen that particular film, but I know the case and I've seen other films about it. I won't say anything other than... meh

Also, when is Great Gatsby coming out? In the previews tonight, it said Christmas but I was pretty sure it was May 10th.

I would argue that 3 men imprisoned and tortured for 18 years with one almost being executed all for a crime they didn't commit warrants more than a meh response. As awful as that is though I think that fact that the person who murdered three children (evidence strongly points to the stepfather of one of the kids who was not even interviewed after the murder) is still free and will likely never see jail time is the worst part of the whole ordeal.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gonzo

I would argue that 3 men imprisoned and tortured for 18 years with one almost being executed all for a crime they didn't commit warrants more than a meh response. As awful as that is though I think that fact that the person who murdered three children (evidence strongly points to the stepfather of one of the kids who was not even interviewed after the murder) is still free and will likely never see jail time is the worst part of the whole ordeal.

I won't get into a discussion about the crime for fear of infractions, but a film produced by one of convicted killers based on a book by one of the convicted killers probably isn't the most unbiased indicator of guilt and reason to criticize the human race and the entire southern USA.

[Cigaro]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

Yeah, I'm sure for people who like the musical Les Mis, it was good. And I'll say I enjoyed the parts with the revolution guys. But the plot just isn't for me. Like the inspector ...

Does he have nothing going on in his life? He spends a decade pursuing a guy who broke parole. He doesn't worry about murderers or the impending revolution. No, catching this single parole violator is so important. And when Jean Valjean shows him mercy he kills himself? It seems like they want to make this plot historically accurate but I just can't imagine anyone acting like that. And I know it's not the filmmaker's fault, this is based on a book. I just don't like the plot.

I thought it was made pretty obvious that Javert had many other things going on his life. For instance, he only finds out about Valjean because he was posted to the city that he had become mayor of, and until he saw Valjean lift the cart, he made no mention of Valjean. He wasn't pursuing him, he simply stumbled upon him. We see Javert patrolling the docks when he tries to arrest Fantine before Valjean interferes. We see him patrolling a square when an incident involving Valjean breaks out. We see him command the guards during the Revolution and try to infiltrate the rebels, completely separate of his pursuit of Valjean. Although Valjean is involved in these events, he was not the reason Javert was involved in them. Valjean is very important to Javert because he personally released him, and Javert believes in an iron strict enforcement of the law. But Javert clearly has other concerns, they simply aren't of great concern to Valjean's story, and thus time is not wasted depicting them.

As for his suicide, Javert is basically a 1800's French version of Judge Dredd. He believes only in the law and its strict enforcement, and so when he can no longer bring himself to enforce it, he views it as a blight and sin upon himself, and thus can no longer live with himself.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

I won't get into a discussion about the crime for fear of infractions, but a film produced by one of convicted killers based on a book by one of the convicted killers probably isn't the most unbiased indicator of guilt and reason to criticize the human race and the entire southern USA.

You are right about there being bias. There always is. Take a lot at the evidence though. There is nothing linking any of the three to the murders besides an admission of guilt by one of them wrought with inconsistencies and force fed to him by the police. He also happens to be borderline ******** and gave the statement under duress. The three have alibis for that night and not one piece of forensic evidence links any of them to the crime. They were convicted based on the prosecution playing on the fears of the jury. The jury was told the children were raped and tortured and it was part of a satanic ritual. Evidence shows all of the marks that the jury pointed to as being signs that the three tortured the children were in fact bite marks from animals. The three also happened to have incompetent lawyers who barely even attempted to defend them. I could go on.

I am not criticizing all of the south at all nor will I get into my feelings about the death penalty. Just look at how the case ended, the state allowed them to plead an Alford guilty which meant they plead guilty but retain their innocence. Of course it also means they can't sue. The only other option for them would have been to spend other few years behind bars as the state drew the case out as long as possible. What happened was an atrocity.

I just don't understand how you can look at the case and think justice has been served. I am sure if it was you jailed for 18 years and accused of murdering three children while the murderer walked free you would not be saying meh. Not a personal attack against you at all nor do I think I am breaking rules because I am not getting into any politics or religion (though both played a major part in the case). I just feel like stuff like this needs to be known otherwise there will be people who continue to abuse the law for their own gain.

[Xiomera]

Watched the first 90 minutes of Lincoln online tonight — Not overly impressed. This cannot win Best Picture.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Watched the first 90 minutes of Lincoln online tonight — Not overly impressed. This cannot win Best Picture.

That's what I'm saying! I still don't understand the praise it gets. Bland movie with good acting.

[Ness]

I'm pulling for Zero Dark Thirty or Lincoln to get Best Picture. Both of those films were fantastic.

[Dr. Gonzo]

I just realized I have now seen every Best Picture nom save for Amour which I stopped watching after 40 mins so I will rank them top to bottom save for Amour.

1. Django Unchained
2. Life of Pi
3. Argo
4. Silver Linings Playbook
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild
6. Zero Dark Thirty
7. Les Miserables
8. Lincoln

Still not sure why they didn't nominate a tenth film when there were many worthy films.

[CashmoneyDrew]

Well, I liked Zero Dark Thirty.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by vidae

I am in love with Jennifer Lawrence

Who isn't?