What was the last movie you watched?

[Quirk]

Just finished Resurrection. Ugh. Joss, I am disappoint. There is just too much stupid to list here.

[Malt]

I LOVE Alien.

Anyways... (Amelie) I'm starting to wonder if I am actually in the process of becoming completely dead inside, because not only did I not care for Frozen like I stated before, but after Amelie last night I came away feeling completely unimpressed... I mean, visually it's beautiful, just like any of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films, but the story just didn't grab me at all.

Don't get me wrong, it was entertaining, but like I've said before I like good movies to be more than entertainment... I related to the main character at first, I think the first 20-30 minutes are pretty strong, but in my opinion it just sort of devolves into a cliche love story cartoon. By the end of it, it just felt like 'I watched that whole movie just to see this girl hook up with this guy, who she barely even knows anything about..? And now I'm supposed to assume they're going to live happily ever after? And what is this film saying? That all you need in life is a boyfriend or girlfriend and then you'll be happy forever?' Ok so that's a bit of over-simplification, but that's how it came off to me...

I really wanted to like it, but about 30 minutes into the movie you know exactly where it's going, and you're just watching the events that lead to what you know is the inevitable end to the story, and for me when it finally got there I just felt dis-satisfied. Not just because I felt like it was un-interesting, but also because it seemed altogether very unrealistic... Also, did I mention, she barely knew the guy, like at all... Yeah... It's still a movie that's pretty to look at though.

I think ultimately my disappointment with it lies with the conflict resolution. It was just handled in a very fairy tale way in my opinion. I think if it had gotten darker and more serious I might've liked it more, but as it is, it just seems more like a fairy tale. This movie is VERY French btw, so I suppose this 'love conquers all' theme is a bit more palpable for French audiences...

Maybe this movie really is amazing and like I said I'm just completely dead inside, or maybe people got distracted by the beautiful cinematography and just swallowed up the rest of the film, hook line and sinker... Or maybe there's something I am completely missing. I don't know, like I said I wanted to enjoy it but I just didn't... I do think it's technically better than Delicatessen however I remember enjoying that one quite a bit despite it's inherent cheesiness...

Oh well.

Edit: Even if you take out the 'love-story' element and just look at it as a story of a person taking steps to improve their life and themselves as a person, I still think it comes off as fairy tale-ish and not entirely interesting or moving... Just my opinion...
I do think the director's commentary track is more interesting though, and has more to offer and learn from than the film itself... In my opinion.

[ScottotD]

I definitely prefer the feel of this movie to Aliens

 

[Quirk]

Question for those who have seen Alien 3: does it include one android whose guts get exposed and a person saying "kill me" like the other three films? Those seem to be the two things the sequels felt were the most important elements in the franchise.

[RoninFox]

I can't remember a "kill me" moment, but it does have an inside-outish android.

[mrbasehart]

One thing that always bothered me about Alien - well, perhaps bother is too strong - but at the end, when Ripley takes off her uniform - her panties are really small.  It seems weird that someone who basically works as a spacetrucker is sporting a near-thong under her jumpsuit.  Especially the kind of character Ripley is.

[Quirk]

I agree. It wasn't even really a revealing style of underwear... they were just several sizes too small for her.

[Edward J Grug III]

I agree. It wasn't even really a revealing style of underwear... they were just several sizes too small for her.

There is an underpants shortage in the future. You have to take what you can get.

[Darth Geek]

I agree. It wasn't even really a revealing style of underwear... they were just several sizes too small for her.

There is an underpants shortage in the future. You have to take what you can get.

Yeah, once those Underpants Gnomes corporatized there was no stopping them.

[Edward J Grug III]

Monthly round uppp:

King of Kong Island - A stinker of a movie with a pretty good riff. Points deducted because Ian often mumbled the end of his lines, especially early into the riff. Still enjoyed it though.

A Man Escaped - Follows a French resistance fighter who is trying to escape from prison. (Based on a true story) Incredibly tense film! Does so much while being so understated. Really loved this a lot!

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues - Moves much quicker than the first, and ties into the first movie a lot too. Not quite as interesting as the first though. But he's such a cool, fun character - a great sequel. Just 23 more to go...
   
Austenland - Hated it. Stunk on ice. Some good people in a lazily written film. Turns out it was adapted by Stephanie Myers, so I shouldn't be surprised. Plus (vague spoiler) it contains a sexual assault attempt a) Brushed off as nothing and b) Later used as revenge (and then brushed off again as nothing) HATED it.

Golden Marie (AKA Casque D'or) - A love triangle between a couple of criminals and a prostitute. Beautifully made, shot, acted film - Not quite amazing, but really good.
   
Miracle in Milan - This is a truly bizarre film about a baby that an old woman finds in a cauliflower patch. She dies while he is very young and he goes to an orphanage. When he grows up, they release him and he befriends a bunch of homeless people, and inspires them to work together and build a shanty town. Really fun film with a lot of odd turns.

The Tarnished Angels - The first Douglas Sirk film I've ever seen (people are always going on about him on a Criterion Collection forum I'm on). Follows a traveling stunt-pilot, his wife, mechanic and the son who may be the offpring of the pilot or the mechanic, and a journalist who befriends them. What a fantastic film, very tense drama.

A Letter to Three Wives - A group of four women are friends, and when the women were due to meet on a boat for a picnic with a bunch of children, a letter from one of them is delivered to the other three, announcing she is running off with one of their husbands, but not which. The film then tells the story of each of their married lives, while they worry about which it will be. Great premise, and quite well executed. I felt it went slightly too long, though I might have just been too tired when I watched it.

Nashville - I really enjoyed this meandering film, though I expect it improves with more watches.

The Earrings of Madame de... - One of my new favourite films in the Criterion Collection. People complain about this transfer - Luckily for us, our unsophisticated eyes thought it looked great.

Pale Flower - Very cool Japanese new wave/noir-ish film. Liked it a lot!

The Great Muppet Caper - My second favourite Muppet movie, after The Muppet Movie. My son really enjoyed it too.
   
Thor: The Dark World - People seem to like this better than the first? This is probably my second least favourite of the Marvel Universe movies. (After Captain America: The First Avenger, which I still liked OK) I think it was just a little bit sloppy? There was just a little too much thrown in... I dunno. I'm still impressed they can make Thor movies tolerable at all.

The Treasure of the Amazon - Pretty good riff. Not a classic, but fun.

[Malt]

I never finished a Zatoichi movie, but I totally agree that he's a cool fun character.

[Pak-Man]

Just saw the new Captain America sequel. Darn good time. Lots of twists and turns and everyone's betraying everyone else and you don't know who to trust. :^)

[Sideswipe]

Yeah, I watched Captain America 2:  Red White and Bloogaloo!  It was pretty great, better that most of the Marvel sequels.  If not the best.

[Edward J Grug III]

Captain America the First Avenger was my least favourite of the Marvel Universe movies, I think Winter Soldier might be my favourite!

[Darth Geek]

So far the only ones I think are weak are Thor 2 and Iron Man 3. But I still enjoyed them when I saw them, just don't feel the need to own them or revisit them. I was disappointed when I heard Captain America 2 wasn't going to even partially take place in WWII. But I am seeing it tonight with a friend, and have high hopes based on all the reviews.