palavore
Full Member
I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold posts.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Posts: 298
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Post by palavore on Jan 8, 2010 15:51:54 GMT -5
I agree about Avatar being like Dances with Wolves in Space, though obviously James Cameron is well aware of that - Wes Studi, who plays the Na'vi chief, is a Cherokee actor who was in both Dances with Wolves and Last of the Mohicans. You know your Cherokee actors also--or your six degrees of Kevin Bacon! I was only making an intuitive connection. In my opinion the Asian film industry gave birth to the greatest movies of the decade : Infernal Affairs trilogy, Taeguki, Memories of Murder, The Taste of Tea, Millenium Mambo, Crouching Tiger, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and... Spring, In the Mood for Love, Aniki, My Brother, My Bitter Sweet Life, Old Boy (the finale left me asphyxiated!) The drama, the lyricism, the frenectic action, they're all represented with an authorial vision and poignant mastery.. And it's not Western mainstream production that will change a thing about it, Eastern filmmakers internalized that cinema is not a simple form of entertainment, it's the 7th Art. And what is art ultimate goal ? Intense emotions, that's what these films offer. *Nods head in agreement* Since you're flying to Brasil. What do you think of their films? Love your greatest movies of the decade list, BTW.
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Post by Ganbare! on Jan 8, 2010 16:58:34 GMT -5
That was not really a list, it's only the first titles I thought of, the Asian production especially Korean has plethor of great movies. I don't know that much about the film industry in Brazil, so far I've only seen 4 movies: La Cidade de Deus/Homens ( the favela shooting scene wow, teens with small calibers waging an assymetric war against the police forces equipped with armored shields while Rocket is stuck in the crossfire), Bus 174 and Carandiru.
Their production lays a heavy emphasis on gang and action flicks (somewhat like HK), it's far from the variety of Mexican cinema in the same region for example. Brazil is much more interesting in other spheres (carnival, beach/sports culture, architecture... as far as I'm concerned)
Anyways there many superior alternatives to Hellawood, Europe have many prolific studios and authors as well etc..
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palavore
Full Member
I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold posts.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Posts: 298
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Post by palavore on Jan 9, 2010 17:04:08 GMT -5
Their production lays a heavy emphasis on gang and action flicks (somewhat like HK), it's far from the variety of Mexican cinema in the same region for example. Brazil is much more interesting in other spheres (carnival, beach/sports culture, architecture... as far as I'm concerned) Anyways there many superior alternatives to Hellawood, Europe have many prolific studios and authors as well etc.. So you were just praising Asian cinema to get back at Hellawood. And here I thought we shared an honest appreciation. The best thing I've seen out of Europe recently was the Russian film, 12. I'm still waiting for the next gem to come out of the Czech Republic. Anywho, I've seen enough Brazilian films to say they've as much variety as any other country, as much as Mexico. By themselves, they've already added more variety to the world of cinema than most other countries. If you like to see a film without gang violence--though this is more the setting of the film than the plot--I recently saw House of Sand.
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Post by Ganbare! on Jan 11, 2010 15:40:46 GMT -5
My post might have been too fiery nevertheless I just can't bear the lack of recognition of Asian films because of Hollywood unfair supremacy. The golden era is past them but the audience still consider other countries' releases not to be a worthy alternative at best niche violent, kitsch or intellectual titles... Mainstreamers often have had bad tastes in the past but look at the current state of music, indie and alt acts are regarded as trendy by the wider audience when they were considered terrible back in the early 00's when teen pop and new metal were topping the charts, so why wouldn't it be the same for motion pictures?
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Post by Ganbare! on Jan 17, 2010 11:21:53 GMT -5
La Grande Vadrouille aka Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!
9/10
The epitome of the 60's French comedy movies, laughs from start to end, de Funès acting all intractable is priceless.
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Post by Ganbare! on Jan 17, 2010 18:48:57 GMT -5
Infernal Affairs
I suppose most of you saw the film.
For those who have not, the pitch is just genius, set in the never-ending war between the police and the triads of Hong Kong, two moles try to unmask one another.
I found the score alternating from epic classical tones to more ambient electronica sounds to fit the images brilliantly.
10/10
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palavore
Full Member
I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold posts.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Posts: 298
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Post by palavore on Feb 12, 2010 13:08:27 GMT -5
^I gave Internal Affairs at 8/10. Mostly because it was a Hong Kong film. Crime dramas and thrillers are a constant staple of the movie industry. The plots, while interesting, are microscopic and realism suffers a bit.
Travellers and Magicians 9.5/10
This film caught be by surprise! Bhutan is beautiful country and the characters here are stunning in their quaint personalities. I took away half a point because it ended like a cliff hanger.
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Post by One Eye on Feb 13, 2010 10:19:52 GMT -5
Revolutionary Road 9/10
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maow
Full Member
Posts: 363
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Post by maow on Feb 22, 2010 4:44:21 GMT -5
The Wolfman 7/10 A big disappointment
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Post by betahat on Feb 22, 2010 4:52:03 GMT -5
Saw "A Serious Man" yesterday bringing me up to 6/10 Best Picture nominees at the Oscars this year. I liked it quite a bit - though it wasn't as disturbing as No Country for Old Men and had some pretty funny scenes, it does have the same flavor (leaving a lot unresolved, leaving a lot of the action off screen and letting you the viewer draw your own conclusions and interpretations instead of hitting you over the head with a particular message). I would give it an 8.5/10.
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Post by xandra on Feb 23, 2010 1:35:19 GMT -5
Just watched Whip It. It was a fun movie and really, watching roller derby is entertaining any way you cut it. Didn't hurt that the cast was pretty amazing. 8/10
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Magic
New Member
HOPE!
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Post by Magic on Feb 28, 2010 19:25:43 GMT -5
I just saw the Korean movie "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" and it preserves the Asian action comedy movies crazy sense of humour a la Crazy Kung Fu tradition that makes them so appealing. Special mention to the introductive train scene. I will not spoil it ! 8.75/10.
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maow
Full Member
Posts: 363
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Post by maow on Mar 1, 2010 0:07:20 GMT -5
The Hurt Locker 9.5/10 One of the best films I've seen in a while. The tension in some of the scenes is almost unbearable.
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Post by betahat on Mar 5, 2010 16:15:50 GMT -5
^Agree 100% about the Hurt Locker, my pick for best picture this year. It's surprising when you consider how terrible Katheryn Bigelow's last movie was (the forgettable K-19 Widdowmaker with Liam Neeson, Harrison Ford, and my brother as a Russian sailor extra since the movie was largely filmed in Halifax).
I just saw Up, I give it an 8/10. I would give it more but the damn thing made me bawl my freaking eyes out and I'm taking a point off from dehydration. How can you make a kids movie like that? I did like the reference to Fenton's though - a little local East Bay flavor from the Pixar people in Emeryville.
So I've seen 7/10 best picture nominees. An education comes out later this month on DVD, not sure about Precious (another tear-jerker) and the Blind Side seems like maybe the worst movie to make the top ten list (but still probably decent).
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palavore
Full Member
I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold posts.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Posts: 298
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Post by palavore on Mar 16, 2010 5:06:32 GMT -5
11/10 If you haven't seen this movie, you're behind the times. (A shallow film review involving a meaningless rating system that appeals to your inadequacy for the purpose of preempting your criticism of what truly is a worthless cinematic repetition. ) Introduction of character suffering from the most topical disability of the present year. Said retard is now under your custody.
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