synechdoche, new york (2008) 4/5 a true leap into the deep end, something like a slightly more comprehensible 'inland empire.' who knows what it adds up to, if anything, but i had a lot of fun watching it.

what have you done to solange? (1972) i'd definitely rank this as one of the better giallo films i've watched to date. it's actually fairly coherent story wise, which is not generally the case with that genre. it's still ridiculous at times, of course, but you can more or less trace what's happening from beginning to end, and it's hugely enjoyable as a film experience: very nice morricone score, good but not excessive gore, cute girls galore & a steady pace.

resurrect dead: the myster of the toynbee tiles (2011) 3/5 "A man tries to piece together cryptic messages left on tiles on streets across the U.S. and South America." it's a curious, bizarre little story, and this documentary is fun to watch, but it's ultimately very frustrating in that we never really get the answer we want. or at least i didn't.
i'm glad i watched it, but i was left wanting much, much more.

damosuzuki said:

annihilation 3.5/5 there's been a great deal of talk over how this film is heavily influenced by tarkovsky's stalker, and that's definitely there, but i think there's a heavy dose of solaris in here as well, in how it addresses individuality, what constitutes a person, etc...
i'm a bit on the fence on it currently. i liked it quite a bit, & think it's the kind of bizarre, leap into the unknown movie we need to see in theatres more often, but i also found it a bit too glossy & slick in its look, not weird & psychedelic enough.
and if i'm being honest, i thought the cast was far too good looking. the guys in stalker weren't pretty.

i'm a little puzzled by some of the discussion of the imagery in this film, by those who say they're disturbed by it, because i didn't find it to be unsettling in the least. i found the look of this film disappointingly similar to most blockbusters. i've even heard people describe elements of it as body horror. there was nothing in this that approached anything like videodrome for example, something that could have provoked a gut-level revulsion. it all had this sheen of digital prettiness that i found a bit underwhelming.

not to sound too negative, because i'm generally positive on this, & absolutely think it ought to be seen, but i think it's much less than what it could have been. it ought to have been much uglier, more tactile.

[Edited 2/26/18 18:00pm]

more centipede/cowbell!

Ace said:

214 said:

I did not get the joke about Dylan.

Ruffalo's character is telling her that there's little authentic about him (that his persona is calculated).

Then I get it right, just wanted to be sure.

damosuzuki said:

i'm one of those people that absolutely loves sing street. it's definitely one of my favourite movies of the century to date. i saw that begin again popped up on netflix. never seen it, but i will definitely give it a watch fairly soon. i saw once years ago, and thought it was fine but didn't love it. i think that's part of the reason why sing street was such a wonderful surprise for me. that film just hit me right in the feels in a way once never got close to.

there have been a few great little additions to netflix recently: beach rats, princess cyd, good time - some of the best of 2017 imo.

Sing Stree is a very nice film and quite enjoyable, but you've gone a little too far callin it one of the best films of all time.

214 said:

damosuzuki said:

i'm one of those people that absolutely loves sing street. it's definitely one of my favourite movies of the century to date. i saw that begin again popped up on netflix. never seen it, but i will definitely give it a watch fairly soon. i saw once years ago, and thought it was fine but didn't love it. i think that's part of the reason why sing street was such a wonderful surprise for me. that film just hit me right in the feels in a way once never got close to.

there have been a few great little additions to netflix recently: beach rats, princess cyd, good time - some of the best of 2017 imo.

Sing Stree is a very nice film and quite enjoyable, but you've gone a little too far callin it one of the best films of all time.

i'd never claim it's one of the best films of all time!

i think there's a distinction to be made between greatest and favourite. there are plenty of undeniably 'great' films that mean nothing to me personally. and there are plenty of films that i personally love that are almost certainly not great on some formal level, but have had an impact on me for some unknowable, intangible reason.

my favourite all-time film is beyond the valley of the dolls, but i promise i'm not outraged that it's not on the sight and sound top 250.

[Edited 2/26/18 19:24pm]

damosuzuki said:

i saw that begin again popped up on netflix. never seen it, but i will definitely give it a watch fairly soon.

Curious to hear your thoughts!

i saw once years ago, and thought it was fine but didn't love it.

Same.

damosuzuki said:

synechdoche, new york (2008) 4/5 a true leap into the deep end, something like a slightly more comprehensible 'inland empire.' who knows what it adds up to, if anything, but i had a lot of fun watching it.

Haven't seen this, but I'm of two minds about Kaufman.

On the one hand, he's certainly been innovative. But - on the other - he can be a little clever-clever for me.

I recently watched Eternal Sunshine for the first time (I'd been avoiding it - partially because I long ago lost interest in "romantic" movies). And, I must say, I don't know what all the hype was about. Some impressive technical things, but it left me cold.

My fave Kaufman is Adaptation. I'm not down with the romantic-love-is-everything thing, but I love the balls of him writing about his attempt to adapt an actual book and making himself the lead character.

I find Cage's performance(s) caricatured, though.

214 said:

Ace said:

Ruffalo's character is telling her that there's little authentic about him (that his persona is calculated).

Then I get it right, just wanted to be sure.

damosuzuki said:

there are plenty of undeniably 'great' films that mean nothing to me personally. and there are plenty of films that i personally love that are almost certainly not great on some formal level, but have had an impact on me

Ace said:

damosuzuki said:

synechdoche, new york (2008) 4/5 a true leap into the deep end, something like a slightly more comprehensible 'inland empire.' who knows what it adds up to, if anything, but i had a lot of fun watching it.

Haven't seen this, but I'm of two minds about Kaufman.

On the one hand, he's certainly been innovative. But - on the other - he can be a little clever-clever for me.

I recently watched Eternal Sunshine for the first time (I'd been avoiding it - partially because I long ago lost interest in "romantic" movies). And, I must say, I don't know what all the hype was about. Some impressive technical things, but it left me cold.

My fave Kaufman is Adaptation. I'm not down with the romantic-love-is-everything thing, but I love the balls of him writing about his attempt to adapt an actual book and making himself the lead character.

I find Cage's performance(s) caricatured, though.

have you seen 'anomalisa'? i, too, have always found kaufman a little too clever for clever's sake; but 'anomalisa' really focuses his talents in service of the story. it's a gem.

peedub said:

Ace said:

Haven't seen this, but I'm of two minds about Kaufman.

On the one hand, he's certainly been innovative. But - on the other - he can be a little clever-clever for me.

I recently watched Eternal Sunshine for the first time (I'd been avoiding it - partially because I long ago lost interest in "romantic" movies). And, I must say, I don't know what all the hype was about. Some impressive technical things, but it left me cold.

My fave Kaufman is Adaptation. I'm not down with the romantic-love-is-everything thing, but I love the balls of him writing about his attempt to adapt an actual book and making himself the lead character.

I find Cage's performance(s) caricatured, though.

have you seen 'anomalisa'? i, too, have always found kaufman a little too clever for clever's sake; but 'anomalisa' really focuses his talents in service of the story. it's a gem.

Thanks, peedub. I wanted to see that when it came out, but my interest waned. I have a hard time watching animation.

Ace said:

peedub said:

have you seen 'anomalisa'? i, too, have always found kaufman a little too clever for clever's sake; but 'anomalisa' really focuses his talents in service of the story. it's a gem.

Thanks, peedub. I wanted to see that when it came out, but my interest waned. I have a hard time watching animation.

i think i heard or read somewhere that there is a radio play of the script that was produced concurrently with the movie...the voicing is absolutely integral to the story, so maybe problem solved...

peedub said:

Ace said:

Thanks, peedub. I wanted to see that when it came out, but my interest waned. I have a hard time watching animation.

i think i heard or read somewhere that there is a radio play of the script that was produced concurrently with the movie...the voicing is absolutely integral to the story, so maybe problem solved...

Thanks, again! I'd probably be more likely to just watch the movie.

Ace said:

New to Netflix (at least up here in ). I saw this in the theatre when it came out:

I know there are some fans here of Once and Sing Street. Personally (although there were things I liked about it), I didn't really care for the latter. And while Once is more "real", I enjoyed this one far more.

First of all, the music's by Gregg Alexander...

RODEOSCHRO SAID:

New Radicals Gregg Alexander?!? Hell to the YEAH! I'll watch that movie; I'll buy that soundtrack; I'll play those songs at the next open mic. And I haven't even heard them yet!

RodeoSchro said:

Ace said:

New to Netflix (at least up here in ). I saw this in the theatre when it came out:

I know there are some fans here of Once and Sing Street. Personally (although there were things I liked about it), I didn't really care for the latter. And while Once is more "real", I enjoyed this one far more.

First of all, the music's by Gregg Alexander...

RODEOSCHRO SAID:

New Radicals Gregg Alexander?!? Hell to the YEAH! I'll watch that movie; I'll buy that soundtrack; I'll play those songs at the next open mic. And I haven't even heard them yet!

One and the same! The music is great (IMHO). Would be very curious to hear your thoughts on it (and the movie as a whole), my friend!

Ace said:

RodeoSchro said:

I know there are some fans here of Once and Sing Street. Personally (although there were things I liked about it), I didn't really care for the latter. And while Once is more "real", I enjoyed this one far more.

First of all, the music's by Gregg Alexander...

RODEOSCHRO SAID:

New Radicals Gregg Alexander?!? Hell to the YEAH! I'll watch that movie; I'll buy that soundtrack; I'll play those songs at the next open mic. And I haven't even heard them yet!

One and the same! The music is great (IMHO). Would be very curious to hear your thoughts on it (and the movie as a whole), my friend!

I searched "Begin Again soundtrack" on YouTube and I am listening to the Top Playlist Result now! Here are my reviews:

1. Volvo music from opening ad - Not much into one-note droning. Hopefully the music will improve in the next track
2. Lost Stars - Awesome! By the way, I'm not watching the videos; I'm only listening to the music. Old School is the best school. BTW, this is the Kiera Knightley version. I had to add "kiera Knightly version" on account of I didn't know there were other versions
3. Lost Stars - Adam Levine acoustic short version. Also awesome! A good song is a good song is a good song
4. More versions of Lost Stars - I skipped them. Don't hate me
5. Yelp! commercial - Honestly, not the strongest song on the soundtrack
6. Tell Me If You Wanna Go Home - I do not! I wanna hear more music from this great soundtrack! This song is wonderful. Ace is spot-on right about how good at pop Gregg Alexander is. And I heard him in the background singing "BAABYYY"!
7. Volvo Commercial #2 - It only had music for the last 3 seconds but at least there were 2 chords. i suspect Gregg Alexander wrote this while thinking about something else
8. Like a Fool - Mmmm, not my kind of weepy-eyed white girl song. Fortunately, it's short
9. A Step You Can't Take Back - Mmmm, but this is the good kind of "Mmmm". As in "Mmmm donuts" or "Mmmm good song". Did Keira Knightley really do all this singing? It's pretty good
10. Coming Up Roses - This one didn't grab me as much as the others have, but it's still better than anything from Volvo or Yelp
11. Many, many versions of Lost Stars - I may be at the end now. Actually, I am. did I miss anything?

RodeoSchro said:

Ace said:

One and the same! The music is great (IMHO). Would be very curious to hear your thoughts on it (and the movie as a whole), my friend!

I searched "Begin Again soundtrack" on YouTube and I am listening to the Top Playlist Result now! Here are my reviews:

1. Volvo music from opening ad - Not much into one-note droning. Hopefully the music will improve in the next track

4. More versions of Lost Stars - I skipped them. Don't hate me

The best one (IMHO) is the one that was released as a single (the one that's simply credited as "Lost Stars - Adam Levine"). You get the full-on Alexander arrangement thing in that one. Gorgeous.

8. Like a Fool - Mmmm, not my kind of weepy-eyed white girl song. Fortunately, it's short

One of the few not written by Alexander. Agree.

9. A Step You Can't Take Back - Mmmm, but this is the good kind of "Mmmm". As in "Mmmm donuts" or "Mmmm good song". Did Keira Knightley really do all this singing? It's pretty good

They gave her vocal lessons.

10. Coming Up Roses - This one didn't grab as much as the others

Alexander didn't write on this one, either. It kind of grew on me, though.

11. Many, many versions of Lost Stars

did I miss anything?

Good hooks in "No One Else Like You" and "A Higher Place"!

P.S. How do you activate this for your profile, again?:

[green "online" thingy that shows up beside your avvie was supposed to show up here]

[Edited 2/27/18 11:27am]

Ace said:

P.S. How do you activate this for your profile, again?:

[green "online" thingy that shows up beside your avvie was supposed to show up here]

[Edited 2/27/18 11:27am]

The only thing I saw that may work is My Org > Privacy > Hide my status from others in "who's online" areas? ("lurk mode") > NO (See if yours is set to "YES")

Try that and see if it helps.

As I am SURE you know, DO NOT DELETE YOUR AVATAR! It looks like when one gets deleted, it gets deleted for good!

Ace said:

RodeoSchro said:

did I miss anything?

Good hooks in "No One Else Like You" and "A Higher Place"!

Both sound a whole bunch like New Radicals songs. Levine really is a good singer.

I like "A Higher Place" very much. Quintessential New Radicals!

RodeoSchro said:

Ace said:

P.S. How do you activate this for your profile, again?:

[green "online" thingy that shows up beside your avvie was supposed to show up here]

[Edited 2/27/18 11:27am]

The only thing I saw that may work is My Org > Privacy > Hide my status from others in "who's online" areas? ("lurk mode") > NO (See if yours is set to "YES")

Try that and see if it helps.

As I am SURE you know, DO NOT DELETE YOUR AVATAR! It looks like when one gets deleted, it gets deleted for good!

Is it showing for me now (3:47pm Eastern)? Not showin' up on my end.

RodeoSchro said:

Ace said:

Both sound a whole bunch like New Radicals songs. Levine really is a good singer.

I like "A Higher Place" very much. Quintessential New Radicals!

Ace said:

RodeoSchro said:

The only thing I saw that may work is My Org > Privacy > Hide my status from others in "who's online" areas? ("lurk mode") > NO (See if yours is set to "YES")

Try that and see if it helps.

As I am SURE you know, DO NOT DELETE YOUR AVATAR! It looks like when one gets deleted, it gets deleted for good!

Is it showing for me now (3:47pm Eastern)? Not showin' up on my end.

I don't see the Online Now button on you, either.

I guess ask the question in the Site Discussion forum. Maybe one of the mods knows.

RodeoSchro said:

Ace said:

Is it showing for me now (3:47pm Eastern)? Not showin' up on my end.

I don't see the Online Now button on you, either.

I guess ask the question in the Site Discussion forum. Maybe one of the mods knows.

Yeah; you right. Thanks, man!

JerseyKRS said:

Paul Blart 2.



There wasn't enough Segway, so I'm going to give it 2 out of 5.

Jersey?

The Godfather (1972)

The Gold Standard.



The Godfather, Part II (1974)

The best film ever made.

namepeace said:

The Godfather (1972)

The Gold Standard.



The Godfather, Part II (1974)

The best film ever made.

I've got to watch Part II some time. I saw Part I a few years back and it didn't really do much for me. I understand that the movie is 40 years old, and that I've watched 1,000 Mafia movies since then.

But I dug "Goodfellas" so hopefully I'll dig Part II.

Ace said:

RodeoSchro said:

I know there are some fans here of Once and Sing Street. Personally (although there were things I liked about it), I didn't really care for the latter. And while Once is more "real", I enjoyed this one far more.

First of all, the music's by Gregg Alexander...

RODEOSCHRO SAID:

New Radicals Gregg Alexander?!? Hell to the YEAH! I'll watch that movie; I'll buy that soundtrack; I'll play those songs at the next open mic. And I haven't even heard them yet!

One and the same! The music is great (IMHO). Would be very curious to hear your thoughts on it (and the movie as a whole), my friend!

movie is kind of sappy....but im with everyone on Greegg alexander music

RodeoSchro said:

namepeace said:

The Godfather (1972)

The Gold Standard.



The Godfather, Part II (1974)

The best film ever made.

I've got to watch Part II some time. I saw Part I a few years back and it didn't really do much for me. I understand that the movie is 40 years old, and that I've watched 1,000 Mafia movies since then.

But I dug "Goodfellas" so hopefully I'll dig Part II.

All a matter of taste, true. Goodfellas is the best mob movie ever made. The first two Godfather films are only mob movies in the literal sense.

damosuzuki said:

214 said:

Sing Stree is a very nice film and quite enjoyable, but you've gone a little too far callin it one of the best films of all time.

i'd never claim it's one of the best films of all time!

i think there's a distinction to be made between greatest and favourite. there are plenty of undeniably 'great' films that mean nothing to me personally. and there are plenty of films that i personally love that are almost certainly not great on some formal level, but have had an impact on me for some unknowable, intangible reason.

my favourite all-time film is beyond the valley of the dolls, but i promise i'm not outraged that it's not on the sight and sound top 250.

[Edited 2/26/18 19:24pm]

You did claim that: