The Cinema/Film/Movie discussion thread.

Quite possibly my favourite topics of discussion are music and films.

I am an absolute film fiend, and I would love to be able to discuss and review films that I've recently seen with you guys here. Equally so, I would love to hear about how you view the films I've seen, your opinions on other films and recommendations for other members.

Keep spoilers to a minimum if possible

For those interested, my favourite films I've ever seen are:

1. Trainspotting
2. Silence of the Lambs
3. Snatch
4. American Beauty
5. The Fly

Worst would be:

1. Epic movie....truly awful. Just not funny.


To start off, I'd like to review favourite film of all time:

Trainspotting

This film had me hooked very quickly. To sum it up, it's a film about heroin addicts in Scotland. Sounds bleak, but the whole story pans out like a rather morbid comedy. Up until the start of the second act, one might even think the film is actually a film praising heroin and substance abuse in general. However, after this point, it's clear that the film isn't in favour of addiction. The remainder of the film charts the decline and even redemption of the characters.

Particularly notable elements would include the refusal of the film-makers to pass judgement on most addicts and the soundtrack. The characters are, for the most part shown to be more like victims of their vices rather than evil, as would often be shown in American films on the same subject. The main exception would be the 'clean' Francis Begbie, who is instead addicted to violence. He is a menancing figure, and perhaps it is the fact that is just him, not substances, that causes his actions that makes him all the scarier.

Clever and witty, yet disturbing and saddening in equal measure, Trainspotting as a top notch film, and my favourite of all time.

So...discuss, review and share

Heth

P.S. I do intend to comment more here than I have been recently. Been busy to say the least, but I'd love to be able to post a review of each film I see from this point onwards. I currently have Red Dragon, Psycho and The Wrestler in my 'to-watch' pile of DVDs, so hopefully I'll get onto one of those soon.

I fully approve of this thread - just don't have much time to post on it this evening! I shall do so shortly though, and hope that others do too.

I hope this can become a very regular and useful thread, thanks

Might as well add another review whilst I'm at it.

A controversial one now, and one I think might be a hot topic for many on these boards, especially given conversations on iratA in the "National coming out day" thread.

This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated (2006)

A documentary by Kirby Dick, this feature length presentation breaks down the MPAA (The film ratings board in America) and evaluates the hidden agendas it may or may not have. Featuring interviews with key film directors whose works have been affected by arguably unfair rating by the board, it is an eye-opening film.

At the centre of the film is the quest to find out the identities of the previously anonymous board of film 'raters'. As it would turn out, their identities turn out to be very intrigued. Whilst the raters are supposed to be present on the board for no more than a few years, and have children between 5 and 17, many have served for nearly a decade and many have far older or even no children at all. Equally interesting is that there are two members of the clergy on the film appeal board.

An unfair bias? A poor system? Unfortunately, for all its intriguing discussions, the film itself is very clearly biased, and it would have been nice to have heard the other side of the argument a bit more. Even though I agree with the disapproval of the MPAA's system, a balanced argument would have been a great benefit.

Better moments that were evaluated were the altered ratings due to homosexual/lesbian or otherwise 'unusual' sex scenes. side by side comparisons of gay/lesbian sex scenes against equally intense, albeit lower rated, heterosexual scenes was very interesting. Similarly, minute details such as close-ups, sweat, length of scenes and other finer erotic details could make a film leap up the ratings. The level to which violence and sex were deemed 'unacceptable' to children was curious too, especially when violence would appear to be deemed allowed and acceptable far more than sex.

As a system designed to 'preserve' the integrity of film-makers, the MPAA comes out as a twisted system. Supposedly voluntary, the rating board can label a film NC-17 (highest rating, otherwise known as 'X') for minor (often questionable) details. Since promotors will often drop NC-17 films and refuse to advertise them, it hardly seems very optional at all.

Thought-provoking, if a little biased, "This Film is not Yet Rated" is a must-see for any open-minded regular film go-er. It's not really worth spending too much money on, but i found it on both youtube and in a local DVD store for only £2, so it's not too much of a stretch to acquire.

I hated the movie Eragon. Plot moved too quickly and its cheesyness was between a roquefort and a wendslydale(spelling?).

"This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated" actually sounds quite interesting. After vacation time here I think I'll look for that online and watch it.

I'd definately suggest finding it!

I've heard Eragon was a bit rubbish, what's it actually about though?

Ok, it's time for another film review. Hmmm....what shall I pick today. How about something a bit unusual...a bit unknown.

Videodrome

"Long live the new flesh"

This 1983 film by Canadian director David Cronenburg is an odd case. Strangely compelling, yet utterly repulsive in every way, this is a complete love-it-or-hate it film.

Set in Toronto, sleazy TV executive Max Renn (James Woods on fine form) is looking for the latest (and dirtiest) new programming to air from his channel. Intentionally looking for something controversial, he stumbles across 'Videodrome', a mysterious program which essentially shows torture-porn.

What happens from here is difficult to describe in words, and even if I could, I don't want to try. An onslaught of strange body-bending events, body horror, mind control and violence ensues, with the plot contorting in every possible way to confuse the audience. The whole film is from the point of view of Max Renn, and after watching 'Videodrome' his mind becomes altered. Everything after this point is up for debate. Is it really happening? Is his mind exaggerating the events? Did anything even happen at all?

As a film, Videodrome is good. It's not brilliant, but it's good. Where is excels though, and why I love this film, is the social commentary and politics behind the message of the film. A critique of the increasing violence and sexualisation of TV and cinema, Videodrome actually features more of both of these than almost any other film prior to 1983. One could almost wonder if the videodrome that we are watching and the videodrome Max Renn is watching are the same thing. We are the voyeurs of the sex and violence, and perhaps videodrome is coming to get us too. It is even possible that some people may get the same twisted kick out of Videodrome that the film itself actually satires.

If anything, Videodrome has aged better than many 80's films. The satirical aspects dwelling upon sex and violence couldn't be more appropriate now in this age of the Saw films, Hostel and other torture-porn films. The world nowadays is filled with film-makers unintentionally imitating Max Renn's search for more disgusting stuff to shock their audiences with.

In short, Videodrome is probably more appropriate than ever, and when approached with an open mind, can be a truly mesmerising experience.

Heth (and of course other people) mike like this. Rotten Tomatoes has made a list of the 50 best horror movies of all time. While you may not directly agree on this, you might want to check it out to get to know a whole lot of movies you didn't know about.

I'm a nerd for films, and horror films are my main topic of interest. I have lots of books on the subject, and a large bank of some strange and rare films. I will have to give that list a read, cheers

EDIT:

Just read it, very interesting.

I can't agree with the list really, there were a lot of omissions of what I think are top horror films.

This is my main pick of great horror/scary films:

The Fly (1986)
Silence of the Lambs
The Thing (1982)
Alien
Misery
Videodrome
28 Days Later
Freaks
Seven
Blue Velvet
Halloween
Frankenstein (1931)
American Werewolf in London

Can't thing of many other major ones right now. I currently have Red Dragon, .REC and Psycho sat in my DVD collection waiting to be watched!

The Heth wrote:I'm a nerd for films, and horror films are my main topic of interest. I have lots of books on the subject, and a large bank of some strange and rare films. I will have to give that list a read, cheers

EDIT:

Just read it, very interesting.

I can't agree with the list really, there were a lot of omissions of what I think are top horror films.

This is my main pick of great horror/scary films:

The Fly (1986)
Silence of the Lambs
The Thing (1982)
Alien
Misery
Videodrome
28 Days Later
Freaks
Seven
Blue Velvet
Halloween
Frankenstein (1931)
American Werewolf in London

Can't thing of many other major ones right now. I currently have Red Dragon, .REC and Psycho sat in my DVD collection waiting to be watched!

You don't have to agree, really, I'd be surprised if you did actually. It's just a great source for movies you might not know about. (And yeah, I'm kind of a newbie to horror )

Don't worry, I'm a relative noobie to it, just when I did get into it, I went in full throttle very quickly. Those films I listed I only saw in the last year. I just became very interested after watching Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments video series.

I like the histories, the controversies and discussion of films, evne those I've never seen. I love to read books on film history and read about films in general. I always read the friday film reviews in the paper as well.

Even though I've not seen that many films, I do know a lot about films I've never seen as well.

I think the moment when James Woods' stomach and a video tape share the same area is one of the most bizarre moments in film, and made a big impression on a youthful Forg! Oh, and the gun, of course.

I am shocked that Night of the Living Dead and (both versions of) Dawn of the Dead have not been mentioned on that list. Romero's work is a bit hit and miss, but his NotD and DotD really stand out.

Obviously, Carpenter's The Thing is a classic, and one I much preferred to the original. I know they are working on a new version, but although filming has started more than once, it could be either a prequel or a remake. While on Carpenter, I have a soft spot for The Fog. Yes, it has dated badly, yes the remake was terrible, but the 1970's version has a compelling plot and some nifty ideas.

Trivial note: Did you know that the mask worn by the character Michael Myers in the Halloween films (not remakes) is actually a Star Trek Captain Kirk mask sprayed silver?

/\I was attempting to watch Dawn of the Dead for the first time last night. Unfortunately, due to University work constraints, I never actually finished it, so it would be a bit premature to list it. I have yet to see any of Night of the Living Dead.

And yes, i did know of that nugget on Michael Myers.

Whilst a remake, JC's The Thing was, if anything, more like the original book (called Who Goes There).

I must agree that scene in videodrome was so powerful! It took me by complete surprise. It's particularly bad when the tape in question becomes more flesh-like. A very scary example of 'does-this-remind-you-of-anything'.

Hmmm.. I have yet to see The Thing and The Fly, I think I might do so in the next few days actually. Starting of with The Thing. I like sci-fi horror the most, because you'll never know what the monster is going to look like, and how it is going to be creepy. Like in Alien: It's invincible,

Zombie apocalypse movies have never interested me much, but 28 Days Later is on my 'to watch-list'. Mostly because of the soundtrack.

Have I already said I LOVE soundtrack music? I often catch myself on overrating a movie because of a soundtrack.

I do love a good soundtrack as well. I reckon you'd love the soundtrack to Videodrome and The Fly...both done by Howard Shore.

I would also advise The Usual Suspects: clever plot, beautiful music and a twist you simply won't expect - and one that I don't believe is as simple as most think!

/\ i have heard it's a great film, but have not seen it myself.

So what are you Crevice regulars' favourite films of all time?

Right-ho, time for another review I think.

But what to pick? I most recently watched Peter Jackson's horror-comedy Braindead (Dead Alive for US viewers). However, I have reviewed a lot of horror recently, so perhaps I'll review something a little different.

The Wrestler

This film was very moving. I need to say that first of all. I never thought I'd feel so much for a character who's a Wrestler. I've never watched proper show-Wrestling, but this film was fantastic. To sum it up in a few words, it's about an old Wrestler, past his prime with one heart bypass behind him, who's trying to recover his life and get built up again for a new fight. We follow Randy "The Ram" for the whole film, and it's a tearful journey. If you can imagine being ill, old, and unable to do the one thing you had left to live for, and you get an idea. The character of Randy is played fantastically by Mickey Rourke. He's a flawed man, but you still sympathise with him.

The characters are great, the cinematography is as I would expect from the director of Requiem for a Dream, and I definately recommend it. Just get those tissues ready!

I have recently seen Jackass 3D.

If endless scenes of repetitave nut-shots appeal to you, then Jackass 3D is for you. Viewers indulge in over 2 hours of slapstick humour that at times is hilarious, but may leave you regretting eating before you came in. Skits such as 'Sweatsuit Cocktail' and 'The Volcano' will leave the viewer slightly nausiated and feeling even worse when the see various cameramen puking too. However, scenes such as 'Duck Hunting' and 'Jet Engine' remind you of why you came to see the movie in the first place. At least one scene is guanrenteed to leave you in stiches.

It will be hard to get the line 'Hi im Johnny Knoxville' out of your system immediatly afterwards, but the sheer funniness of people hurting themselves in riduculous ways will pay off.

Somehow I am not surprised in the least at your choice for 'excellence in film'.

I presume when you say "guanrenteed to leave you in stiches" you are refering to the lobotomy? Did you end up with a lot of scaring from that procedure?




We don't often go to see movie's at a cinema here, we'll usually wait and buy what we want later on BluRay. The last movies we watched on BluRay were Toy Story 3 (cute), and "Chico Xavier", a Brazilian film based on the life of the famous Spiriualist...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVjR8nbWEWw

It's sub-titled in English and might well be Brazil's entry for Best Foreign Film at next year's Oscars.

/\ Speaking of Brazilian films, I watched City of God the day before yesterday. Phew, that was one hard-hitting and intense film. I have not been so shocked, yet in so much awe of a film in a long time. It had fun moments as well, but it was a thoroughly dramatic film that definately shoots well up into my top 20 (maybe even top 10) instantly.

I won't lie, without subtitles, that Chico Xavier trailer doesn't make sense to me, I have no idea what it's about. Care to summarise the plot?

Chico Xavier as a young man lost his mother and was farmed out by his father to live with some relatives. But his mother supposedly appeared to him all the time. As he grew older he claimed to be able to hear and view 'spirits', needless to say which caused him a great deal of grief when young but which gradually turned to fame as he grew older. His greatest talent as a medium was in 'automatic-writing' where he went into a trance and just wrote what came to him, usually messages to people's loved ones.

While it's the largest Catholic country in the world, Brazil also has many Spiritist, people who, for the most part, adhere to the writings of Alan Kardec, a Frenchman from about 150 years ago. There's over 5 million hardcore followers here, about ten million more who follow to lesser degrees, and millions more around the world. It's not a religion, per se, most Spiritist's consider themselves Christians.

Anyways, Chico Xavier became very famous. He wrote 412 books, but remained a very humble man, never taking any money for his books nor for his sessions, never claimed his gifts were his alone, never claimed to perform miracles, cure people nor able to converse with spirits unless they so choose. He died in 2002 at the age of 92. A very humble man who also freely admitted to being vain when he decided to start wearing a toupee late in life!

The film is mainly about his life. A secondary story is about a couple who's son was shot and killed by a friend. They are breaking apart, blame the friend and his parents and even each other. The wife tries contacting Chico, but her husband wants nothing to do with him, in fact he'd love to show him as a charlatan. He runs into Chico at a television studio where Chico gives him a letter from their son. It not only absolves the friend for his death, but also has a message from his grandfather for his father. Not only do they accept the message as real, but they testify as to it being real in the murder case against the friend who shot their son. It was in fact accepted by the court (true story) and the friend was found not guilty of murder.

You don't have to accept any of the spiritual aspects of the film to appreciate the actual movie. It's really well done.


Have you ever seen "Central Station" (Central do Brasil)? Another Brazilian film from 1998, it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Fernanda Montenegro was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for both the Golden Globes and the Oscars, Walter Salles, the director, won the Golden Bear in Belin, Fernanda won for Best Actress. She's a wonderful actress and someone that I have had the pleasure to meet here.

Sounds like quite a biopic. It sounds like the kind of thing that would win awards, provided it's done well.

Not everyone one made it out of there alive Wagi...

Heth, in response to your earlier question, Eragon is the first of a series of books about a boy and his dragon, entrusted with freeing his homeland from the rule of a vast and powerful empire. They are fantastically written and a great read.
Eragon the film was made by people had never read the book and generally lobotomised the entire story.

Jeremy wrote:Heth, in response to your earlier question, Eragon is the first of a series of books about a boy and his dragon, entrusted with freeing his homeland from the rule of a vast and powerful empire. They are fantastically written and a great read.
Eragon the film was made by people had never read the book and generally lobotomised the entire story.

Yeah, i heard it was, in short, poo.

Soooooo, 2010 is gone. 2011 is here, what films are you guys really looking forward to this year?

For me, it's Black Swan. Wow, it just looks amazing. Already a converted Aronofsky fan after the Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan just looks even better than either of those (yes, I'm aware it was released in the US in 2010, but it's not out here in the Uk yet).

It looks quite good, not much about the trailer really caught my interest specifically though.

2010 was something of a slow year for films, and so far 2011 looks similar. Sequels, the occasional surprisingly good film (Due Date, for example), and something with Vince Vaughan in that looks much like every other film with Vince Vaughan in.

Jeremy wrote:and something with Vince Vaughan in that looks much like every other film with Vince Vaughan in.

Hey, do you remember that film he was in where he didn't smile very much and he barely acted?

2010 had some really good films, just not enough of the Inception and Toy Story 3 quality.