I just caught up on a lot of films in one shot cause I am on vacation. My biggest disappointment was Skyfall from last summer which I finally saw. After all of the praise and brouhaha and people raving about how good this James Bond movie was, I was so let down. It was one of the worst films I have ever seen. The finale was just idiotic.

Fast Six, good god this was bad. I know these are just silly popcorn flicks but c'mon. On a good note, The Rock is awesome. He lit up every scene he was in. The blond guy, what's his name is such a terrible actor.

Man of Steel, I can see why some wouldn't like it, kinda dour and humorless, but it is by far the least ridiculous of all the Superman movies. Best Superman bod by far.

Hesher, the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Natelie Portman movie. Cute, I liked it a lot, reminded me of Lake Tahoe, which I liked a lot too.

Iron Man 3. It was enjoyable, but not memorable.

The Avengers, It was enjoyable but not memorable. I cannot remember much about it to tell you the truth other than things zoom around. Oh one thing, Black Widow is very very memorable.

After Earth, meh, Will Smith's son should not think of getting into acting as a full time adult profession.

Safety Not Guaranteed, cute movie, have a girl crush on Aubry Plaza now.

World War Z (2013)

Exceeded expectations; thrilling and action packed without being over-the-top. Sequel potential even without Pitt is strong based on the story.

-1/2

Lady Jane (1986) 3/5 It was nice seeing a period movie that wasn't overly modernized even though they fictionalized the romance part, at least it didn't sacrafice the history behind it. Made my heart hurt though.

Les quatre cents coups / The 400 Blows (1959) - Intensely touching story of a misunderstood young adolescent who left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.



I bought the Criterion blu-ray at a half-price sale expecting to sell it after viewing to get my money back, but I liked it so much that I decided to keep it. Wonderful French new wave set in the streets of late 50s Paris--it makes a great companion piece to Godard's Breathless. 1/2

Septien (2011)

Quirky, raw, often disturbing movie. Perhaps the most unsettling opening credits I have ever seen.

The Hobbit-An Unexpected Journey 3.5/5 Revisited, since I never got back to it while it was at the theater. It was better this time around since I could ignore the gross troll and goblin stuff that upset my stomach very badly while watching it on a gigantic screen, and wasn't comparing how they cgi'd everyone who aged over the last 10 years, having it scaled down I could pay more attention to the storyline. I wasn't emotionally overcome the same way I got watching Fellowship, but I still felt involved and connected to the characters.

Death Watch (1980)
"La mort en direct" (original title)




And a chilling precursor to the horrible reality shows we're choked on now. What a prediction...


With Romy Schneider, Harvey Keitel, Harry Dean Stanton & Max von Sydow. Never heard of this sci-fi movie and glad I found it.

[Edited 7/2/13 21:33pm]

We watched "21 Jump Street" last night.

It was funnier than I thought it would be. Loved the suprise guest star cameo!

The Bling Ring (2013) - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

I only saw it for Sofia Coppola and Emma Watson. I might have liked it more if the whole Hollywood celebrity scene wasn't such a turnoff for me. Overall, it felt empty. 1/2

sexton said:

The Bling Ring (2013) - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

I only saw it for Sofia Coppola and Emma Watson. I might have liked it more if the whole Hollywood celebrity scene wasn't such a turnoff for me. Overall, it felt empty. 1/2

There was a great segment on this on Dateline NBC last week. The girl that had her own reality show (forgot her name) and her mother say she never stole anything and was set up. Part of their proof was the fact the cop that arrested her played himself in the movie, making him look like a famehound.

But at the same time, she says getting arrested for this, and then re-arrested when she broke probation, was the best thing to ever happen to her, as it sent her to re-hab where she finally got clean.

Interesting story.

RodeoSchro said:

sexton said:

The Bling Ring (2013) - Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities' whereabouts in order to rob their homes.

I only saw it for Sofia Coppola and Emma Watson. I might have liked it more if the whole Hollywood celebrity scene wasn't such a turnoff for me. Overall, it felt empty. 1/2

There was a great segment on this on Dateline NBC last week. The girl that had her own reality show (forgot her name) and her mother say she never stole anything and was set up. Part of their proof was the fact the cop that arrested her played himself in the movie, making him look like a famehound.

But at the same time, she says getting arrested for this, and then re-arrested when she broke probation, was the best thing to ever happen to her, as it sent her to re-hab where she finally got clean.

Interesting story.

I didn't know all that, but it fits with how the film ended.

La battaglia di Algeri / The Battle of Algiers (1966) - An account of the bloodiest revolution in modern history.



It was pure coincidence that I watched this during the independence day holiday here in the U.S. Very well done. 1/2

the best exotic marigold hotel

completely charming

MoBetterBliss said:

the best exotic marigold hotel

completely charming

I posted about that on another rating thread here. I adored that movie. It was wonderful and made me cry. Judi Dench is awesome!

[Edited 7/5/13 12:37pm]

Modern Times (1936) - The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.



I never thought Charlie Chaplin would appeal to me, but this movie is great. I love that there is some sound incorporated here and there in what was Chaplin's last 'silent' film. 1/2

morningsong said:

[img:$uid]http://i267.pho.../img:$uid]The Lone Ranger. 3.5/5 I thought it was a lot of fun.

The movie is what I thought it would be, mindless entertainment and it was fun. I think a sequel would be better. We will probably get more jokes.

Just think PiratesOTC movie set in the Wild Wild West.

Man of Steel 3/5 stars.

sexton said:

kewlschool said:

African Queen – 3.5/5

Double Indemnity – 4

Enter the Void – 3.5

morningsong said:

sexton said:

Modern Times (1936) - The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

I never thought Charlie Chaplin would appeal to me, but this movie is great. I love that there is some sound incorporated here and there in what was Chaplin's last 'silent' film. 1/2

Love, love, love Charlie Chaplin.

The Great Dictator is available on blu-ray too so I will rent that one next. Hopefully City Lights will get a North American blu-ray release soon since I've read it's considered his masterpiece.

Gone With The Wind (1939) - A manipulative Southern belle carries on a turbulent affair with a blockade runner during the American Civil War.

I admire the spectacle that this movie is, although some parts have not aged so well.

morningsong said:

sexton said:

Modern Times (1936) - The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.



I never thought Charlie Chaplin would appeal to me, but this movie is great. I love that there is some sound incorporated here and there in what was Chaplin's last 'silent' film. 1/2

Love, love, love Charlie Chaplin.

Thought you might like this then...

Charlie Chaplin in 1916...age 27

Carmen and Geoffrey (2010)

A documentary on the marriage and careers of legendary dancer Carmen De Lavallade and renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. They performed with legends Alvin Ailey and Josephine Baker, among others, and are still going strong. I simply didn't realize the breadth of Holder's talents, and this doc brings his full story to the forefront. I was glad to learn about De Lavallade's career, a stunning and talented 70something, and her colleagues as well.

Stoker(2013)-From the Korean Director of Oldboy. I really enjoyed Oldboy and I enjoyed this as well. Very stylishy photographed.

**** stars

The Godfather (1972) - The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

It was my first time seeing this. I can see why it appears in many movie critics' all-time lists.

sexton said:

The Godfather (1972) - The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

It was my first time seeing this. I can see why it appears in many movie critics' all-time lists.

I finally watched it for the first time about a month ago and I fully agree. Great movie.

CarrieMpls said:

sexton said:

The Godfather (1972) - The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

It was my first time seeing this. I can see why it appears in many movie critics' all-time lists.

I finally watched it for the first time about a month ago and I fully agree. Great movie.

It was my first time seeing Gone With The Wind above also. I wasn't as impressed with that one. I'm slowly working my way through the Sight & Sound top 250: http://prince.org/msg/100/385209

sexton said:

CarrieMpls said:

I finally watched it for the first time about a month ago and I fully agree. Great movie.

It was my first time seeing Gone With The Wind above also. I wasn't as impressed with that one. I'm slowly working my way through the Sight & Sound top 250: http://prince.org/msg/100/385209

I saw Gone With the Wind when I was a teenager, probably when it first came out on video, whenever that was. I don't remember feeling particularly moved by it.

I'll have to check out the list. My bf and I tend to have very different taste in movies but will both watch old classics so if we want to watch something together we end up watching stuff like The Godfather, Serpico, that kinda thing.

Maybe it's just Al Pacino we both like.