The Movie Thread

[prymetyme]

yeah I think so, she's choosing that one so im not to sure

[Sapphire]

I haven't seen the new one; I think the old one holds up though.

[Howard Zinn]

I saw "The Personal File of Anna Akhmatova" last night. Really excellent for anyone that is reading her poetry. It has some clips of her actually reading some, and then has some other younger voices to fill in on poems that she never recorded. The film gives a really good sense of the oppression she and some of her closest writer friends were feeling under Stalin.

[SirManchester]

My favorite horror flicks, by category:

Zombie: Night of the Living Dead (the original)
Slasher: Halloween
Religious: The Omen
Monster movie: Jaws
Sci Fi: Aliens
Normal people going nuts: The Shining, Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Hitchcock: The Birds
Just demented: The Audition (I can hardly watch this one)

Thank you so much for not mentioning anything recent. I can't remember when the last good horror movie came out, it's ridiculous. Saw wasn't scary, it was just cashing in on the "sick" factor as all horror movies do nowadays. It has one good scene in the entire movie and if you know anything about it, you'd realize the entire thing was written around it.
My personal fav is The Shining(the last great horror movie now that I think of it)

[Sapphire]

Thank you so much for not mentioning anything recent. I can't remember when the last good horror movie came out, it's ridiculous. Saw wasn't scary, it was just cashing in on the "sick" factor as all horror movies do nowadays. It has one good scene in the entire movie and if you know anything about it, you'd realize the entire thing was written around it.
My personal fav is The Shining(the last great horror movie now that I think of it)Well, The Audition was recent, but interestingly, it cashes in on the "sick" factor too. Hmmm. . .

[SirManchester]

Well, The Audition was recent, but interestingly, it cashes in on the "sick" factor too. Hmmm. . .

Yes it does, but its mostly psychological, for example, when the girl begins to cut the leg, the camera tilts up so we don't get to actually see it, same with the needle in the eyes, some scenes are more subtle than others, but I'd still like to think of it as more psychological. Plus, it goes further than just the "sick" moments, there's some interesting character development (not balanced very well with the rest of the film, but interesting enough not to just call it one of the sick movies)

[Sapphire]

Yes it does, but its mostly psychological, for example, when the girl begins to cut the leg, the camera tilts up so we don't get to actually see it, same with the needle in the eyes, some scenes are more subtle than others, but I'd still like to think of it as more psychological. Plus, it goes further than just the "sick" moments, there's some interesting character development (not balanced very well with the rest of the film, but interesting enough not to just call it one of the sick movies)Very true. I'm really interested in your point that the more recent horror films are going for that though. I wonder why that is.

I for one would LOVE to see a new, good zombie film (28 Days Later started out OK, but the second half was terrible).

[SirManchester]

Very true. I'm really interested in your point that the more recent horror films are going for that though. I wonder why that is.

I for one would LOVE to see a new, good zombie film (28 Days Later started out OK, but the second half was terrible).

I think it has to do with the audience, you can even notice it in music videos, the whole shaky camera, distored shots, angles, the ashy old film look. It's all coming from the texas chainsaw massacre however nowadays, more emphasis is put on the "sick" aspect of it, because most teenagers are dimwitted and not really interested in character development or a good build up, but rather formulaic shock plots and quick scares. I think "Scream" had a lot to do with it too, I'm a fan of the movie because it was a new way to take on the genre but it had a horrible effect on all horror movies to come.

And oh yea, I would also love to see another good zombie movie, that's probably my favorite horror subcategory. I watched Night of the Living Dead the other day actually, ********in awesome, no gore, very slowly paced, no extravagant special effects, but it worked so well.
I also thought 28 Days Later was magnificent, It escaped me when I was talking about the last great horror movie, I think that deserves a mention. Danny Boyle tried something completely different and enforced a more realistic outlook, It slowed down after the explosive beginning but it only centered itself more on its characters which made it so great.

[MtP07]

I saw Match Point tonight...it was pretty good. Scarlett Johannson is so ********ing hot...

[SirManchester]

I saw Match Point tonight...it was pretty good. Scarlett Johannson is so ********ing hot...

she wasn't the standout performance of the movie, hot - yes, good performance - yes.

[FIFARay007]

First off, I agree with the take on horror films as of late. I'm still convinced they haven't come out with a scary movie since Psycho, unless you count Glitter, but don't get me started on that.

Most movies from the early 80's on went more for the gore freakshow rather than the psychological thrillers before them. I remember my parents letting me watch the first 10 minutes of the Night of the Living Dead, when I was about 7 or 8. They said if I could watch the first 10 minutes, I could watch the rest of it. Well, let's say as soon as the zombie bashes that guy in the head and starts walking after the chick in the car, I was already booking my flight to anyplace far away from that tv. Of course now I appreciate those movies cuz they didn't resort to gore to scare the audience. Hitchcock said, "There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it." If only directors of this time and age could remember that, maybe they could actually make a scary movie.

Anyway, I watched "Big Fish" yet again the other night. LOVE that movie. Something about it makes me feel happy. Tim Burton is a genius as far as I'm concerned.

Popping in American History X now...

[prymetyme]

into the blue was the worst movie i have ever seen.I had to turn it off after a half hour. you'd think jessica alba would make up for it but she didnt. it was unfortunite.

[MtP07]

I saw "Walk the Line" last night...it was really good.

[prymetyme]

Im watching saw 2 tongiht. is it any good?

[Sapphire]

I saw "Walk the Line" last night...it was really good.Haven't seen it yet. I'm so happy about the movie though, cause it turned alot of people on to the raging-badass that is Johnny Cash. :p I don't have to see it to like it (although I will someday).

[SirManchester]

Im watching saw 2 tongiht. is it any good?

no.


on another note, I watched "House of Wax" last night in need of a few laughs.

[MtP07]

I've also seen "Shaun of the Dead" recently. It was surprisingly good and very funny.

[SirManchester]

I've also seen "Shaun of the Dead" recently. It was surprisingly good and very funny.

yep, now that's worth watching.

[Sapphire]

I've also seen "Shaun of the Dead" recently. It was surprisingly good and very funny.Except it loses it's edge at the end. Why is the "Night of the Living Dead" the only Zombie movie to have a decent ending. One of you film-makers has got to right this horrendous wrong -- Sir Manc?

[bigtoga]

Taking the wife to see 16-something tonight... what is it again? ** checking yahoo.com ** 16 Blocks...