Film Thread

I actually own the first film on Triple Play as I saw it at my campus cinema and quite enjoyed it at the time. If I had to say why people like the film (series), I'd say the minions are a big part of the attraction, as well as Carell's performance, the interesting villain/hero dynamic and the fact it can be pretty funny at times. For what it does, though, I think Megamind is better.

Megamind is wayyy better! The jokes are of a higher caliber than Despicable Me, I think. The "science" is about on the same level, though. It's comic book-y and it's great, but I never liked the character of Gru and his daughters I found annoying. Plus, it was mushy.
Didn't like Despicable Me, y'all.

What didn't you like about Gru, Ziggy? Just curious. I can see how one would get annoyed with the kids but with how most kids are shown in these kind of movies, they could have been way, way worst. I didn't think it was mushy, it was pretty heartwarming though. I like how it focused a lot on heart instead of to much mindless action. Also, of higher caliber? It's been a while since I watched Megamind but I didn't think the jokes were that much higher.

I preferred Despicable Me, I'm not sure why people seem to like Megamind better. I thought that movie was over the top predictable and shallow, and I liked the humor in Despicable Me more.  

Jonny has it pretty much right. In my opinion I don't see the Minions as being the main attraction of the movie, or at least they shouldn't be - they are clearly popular with audiences but I think especially now with the sequel, they are becoming annoying the more they are pushed.

I think it's just that the Minions are the most recognizable part of the franchise, and they're playing them for all that they're worth.
Maybe I was doing it wrong when I watched it, but the themes of the movie involving the hero and the villain in Despicable Me were pretty faint for me. Which is interesting, because that same theme is one of the things I liked best about Megamind.

To be honest I don't remember a lot about Despicable Me except the general sense of dissatisfaction I felt with the characters. The plot was really interesting, though, and some of the animation was good, although the style sometimes screwed with my perspective a little bit.

Ziggles wrote:I think it's just that the Minions are the most recognizable part of the franchise, and they're playing them for all that they're worth.
Maybe I was doing it wrong when I watched it, but the themes of the movie involving the hero and the villain in Despicable Me were pretty faint for me. Which is interesting, because that same theme is one of the things I liked best about Megamind.

To be honest I don't remember a lot about Despicable Me except the general sense of dissatisfaction I felt with the characters. The plot was really interesting, though, and some of the animation was good, although the style sometimes screwed with my perspective a little bit.

You're right, usually the comedic relief sidekicks are giving the most spotlight - Look at Gir from Invader Zim. They are for sure cashing in on the minions popularity, I just hope the franchise dosen't become overly bloated with them (Though we are already getting a full 90 minute Minions movie so that might be to late).

Well I believe that might be because it was a much slower build up in Despicable Me than it was in Megamind. In Megamind everything forms so quickly it stays fresh in your mind, while in DM, it's strung out.

And fair enough, the characters are hit or miss, especially since the movie experiments with that quirky "different" factor, I think.

Does anyone have any old war movies to recommend?
I am watching The Story of G.I. Joe and it is really nice, it has Burgess Meredith in it and he's so cute; he's one of those old men who just looks so snuggly

If you can find a copy, the film version of Catch-22 is absolutely fantastic. It captures the tone of the novel in a way that really surprised me. I thought it would be really hard to make that transition, but they pulled it off anyway.

"That is our war, and we will carry it with us as we go from one battleground to another, until its all over. We will win. I hope we can rejoice in victory, but humbly, that all together we will try, try out of the memory of our anguish to reassemble our broken world into a pattern so firm and so fair that another great war can never be possible."

Wow, 1945, that's optimistic
Look at the direction America headed right after that
Jeepers, man

Cube of Reason wrote:If you can find a copy, the film version of Catch-22 is absolutely fantastic. It captures the tone of the novel in a way that really surprised me. I thought it would be really hard to make that transition, but they pulled it off anyway.

Yes I will do this thank you

Mmpth yeah, Burgess Meredith was a real doll in the Rocky movies. He was also really good in Of Mice and Men and he was in A walk in the sun (1945) and State of Grace (1990) and I remember really liking those movies too

Not sure what kind of war movies you like but below are some older ones I remember enjoying

Casablanca (1942) >Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications. This is my all time favorite movie so even though its heavily romance I'm posting it here

The Big Parade (1925) >The idle son of a rich businessman joins the army when the U.S.A. enters World War One. He is sent to France, where he becomes friends with two working-class soldiers.

The Caine Mutiny (1954) >When a US Naval captain shows instability that jeopardizes the ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny. They must decide if his decision was a criminal act or an act of courage during a time of war. Humphrey Bogart is in this one

All quiet on the western front (1930) > A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. This one felt very realistic to me.

The Longest Day (1962) >The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.

Schindler's List (1993) >In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

The Pianist (2002) >A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.

>Casablanca
Heh
Youuu

I will watch those yes thank you hey**

LOL** No problem
Just remembered some more hey

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) >The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.

We Were Soldiers (2002) >The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it.

Platoon (1986) >A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.

Das Boot (1981) >The claustrophobic world of a WWII German U-boat. This one was terrifying for me in ways I can't really describe, it just felt to real

Also it's a television mini-series and I can't remember if you mentioned seeing it or not but Band of Brothers is one of the best war stories I've seen. >The story of Easy Company of the US Army 101st Airborne division and their mission in WWII Europe from Operation Overlord through V-J Day.


I really dig movies that show the enemies POV, it makes me curious in how we interpret their side of the war.

I've not seen most of these films but have many books lying around about the various subject matters (some of the films are adapted).
I don't think I enjoy war movies? I watched Saving Private Ryan when I was itty-bitty and it scared the crap out of me, I don't think I ever looked back.

Black Hawk Down isn't an old war movie, but it is definitely one of my favorites. It's about an American operation in Mogadishu that was supposed to be just a quick mission involving the capturing of two lieutenants of a Somali warlord, but then got complicated into a 19 hour long battle starting with the shooting down of the titular Black Hawk.

Hollyღ wrote:We Were Soldiers (2002) >The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it.

And this one. Very much this one.

Pacific Rim is the best action movie of this year. It's directed by Guillermo del Toro, the creator of Pan's Labyrinth. His monsters are the most beautiful and terrifying of recent history. This is his tribute to the classic monster-of-the-week style Godzilla flicks. To fight these giant creatures emerging from the sea, humanity creates giant Gundam-esque robots piloted by two people at a time. The fight scenes are just as awesome as they sound, it's like if Michael Bay had removed the shakeycam, panned back so you could see what was happening, and made one of them organic in Transformers. On top of all this, there is an actual plot to the film and the characters feel genuine and human, adjectives that could never Michael Bay's characters.

Are you going to go see it now? Yes you are. Go see it in 3D, it gives a perfect sense of scale to these ten story robots and monsters.

The At The Mountains Of Madness adaptation GdT was going to do is still looking dead gughhghghuguughghgh
Every time he's brought up I die a little thinking about how the studios are cockblocking him

It's an absolute shame, because if anyone can properly adapt Lovecraft it's del Toro.

Blog to see pacific rim now! Ill let you guys know what I think when I am done

BYE SAM HAVE FUN

I just went and saw pacific rim and I have to say it is pretty freaking awesome!

I went in wanting to see a giant mech vs godzilla from space movie and that is exactly what the movie is and it is pretty incredible.

Most of the story is told in narration and there isn't some "hero's journey" or any other formula to follow. No giant plot twist, no anti hero angst, no personal dilemmas, ect. ect. Much of the characters are established and the whole movie is just stupid fun and action packed full of monsters vs mechs.

I would recommend going and seeing this movie. It won't disappoint.

Okay I don't think I gave the movie good enough credit with that so here is another attempt.


GIANT MONSTERS FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION
GIANT ROBOTS PILOTED BY PEOPLE
GIANT MECHS PUNCHING SAID MONSTERS

IN

THE

FACE


GO SEE THAT MOVIE

Samiam wrote:Okay I don't think I gave the movie good enough credit with that so here is another attempt.


GIANT MONSTERS FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION
GIANT ROBOTS PILOTED BY PEOPLE
GIANT MECHS PUNCHING SAID MONSTERS

IN

THE

FACE


GO SEE THAT MOVIE

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

IM SUPER EXCITED SAM
YOU HAVE GOTTEN ME SO EXCITED I AM SQUIRMING IN MY SEAT
BUT I AM TIRED SO IT'S A LAZY WOBBLY EXCITED
I AM LAZILY WOBBLING IN MY SEAT

Icriex the Hyperbolic wrote:

Samiam wrote:Okay I don't think I gave the movie good enough credit with that so here is another attempt.


GIANT MONSTERS FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION
GIANT ROBOTS PILOTED BY PEOPLE
GIANT MECHS PUNCHING SAID MONSTERS

IN

THE

FACE


GO SEE THAT MOVIE

Neon Genesis Evangelion?

That's what I thought when I saw the trailers/reviews too. Unexplained monsters showing up, story begins after years of war and destruction, one of the characters is the only one who can pilot a specific mech,... The mechs even sort of look like EVAs.

So it's true then! One of my friends told me that Pacific Rim is pretty much, "An extended 3D episode of the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers on some very expensive acid." Ass soon as I heard that I wanted to go see it.

...I wish I had some money...

Seriously it is a cartoon made real