Last Film You Watched? (use spoiler tags in this topic)

Originally Posted by rugbyp45

Watched 3 movies a couple nights ago -

ATM - 7.5/10
Alice Eve. Need I say more? It's an entertaining thriller about three people stuck in an ATM with a psycho killer who's taken them hostage. Did I mention that Josh from Drake and Josh is also in it?


THE SNOWTOWN MURDERS - 9.5/10
Seriously this is one of the best thrillers I've seen. The depiction of the psychotic leader as well as the kids he recruits under him is completely eerie, especially since it's based on the real murders in Australia. Definitely see this. You won't regret it.


THE MOTH DIARIES - 8.5/10
From the director of American Psycho, Mary Harron, I was stoked to see this, especially since it's based on the best-selling book. Loved the metaphors and the horror aspects of it. Plus sapphic references? Dig it.

ATM sounds a bit daft, they surely only have automatic doors on walk in ones? Also, even if some key is required to get in, the glass isn't gonna be bullet proof, so not the best place for a hostage situation, unlike a bank. Still i am intrigued though at how they've worked it.

Snowtown sounds excellent though so I'll certainly be taking your recommendation there, thanks.

Originally Posted by VolcomMartin

Titanic, re-watch. It's still an enjoyable film. Mhm.

In 3D?

Originally Posted by Pelicula

And the on the violence, The Hunger Games is written for a target audience of teenagers/young teens, it's silly to go for Battle Royale type violence since it would get an 18, so pretty pointless going for graphic violence when it's made in mind for a teen audience. It was originally going to get a 15 rating by the BBFC, but the studio wanted to cut bits out to make it a lower rating so they could get more children in to see it.

Yeah this is what's got me swithering whether to see it in cinemas or wait til Blu-ray when I first read about the movie I was real excited, but after the cuts/target audience issues I'm thinking I'll hate it, having read the book. I like the brutality of Battle Royale.

Finally, apologies for all the posts one after another but I've been on holiday so have a lot of catching up to do. Here's what I watched:

Rise Of The Footsoldier (2007) - Ultra-violent true story of Carlton Leach, former football casual and nightclub bouncer who climbs up the London underworld. It is what it is: mostly cockneys going around punching folk saying "you facking c***s". Better than Green Street though. 6

X Men: First Class (2011) - Second viewing of this and it's a great re-boot. Well cast and great effects. A great origin story. First class. 8

True Grit (2010) - Excellent remake by the Coens. I liked the way the story progressed and the acting was good. Only thing I wasn't keen on was why was almost every word pronounced fully, ie no shortenings, everything was "I will not" or "that is". Just didn't get why this was done. 8

Puss 'n' Boots (2011) - Rip-roaring adventure from Dreamworks, same stable as Megamind and Monsters vs Aliens. I'm not an avid watcher of kids animations, but I look forward to more from this excellent studio in the future. 7

[VolcomMartin]

Originally Posted by Gort

In 3D?

No, 2D. An old DVD copy I've had for years. Actually, I've never watched a 3D film, yet. Eh, I'm not too excited about 3D.

[Hubbs]

The Scorpion King (2002)

So oddly enough this character was actually loosely based on a real Egyptian leader which does make things a little more interesting, not a franchise saver by any means but its cool to read up on it. This spin off is set 5000 years before the events of 'The Mummy' which does seem rather a long time to me.

Great title, slightly dull execution, we all knew what to expect here, Johnson running around half naked killing endless enemies with no apparent fighting skills. I will be completely truthful here and say this film isn't too bad, if you squint at it its almost pretty good, the fights are solid along with the stunts, cast does the job for the type of film this is and more importantly it actually looks good without any silly cgi to spoil the broth.

If you took out the historical setting you could quite easily say this was a sequel/prequel to the 'Conan' franchise really, its your basic swords n sorcery fantasy just without any monsters, its better than the recent official Conan effort. So yeah...this is not too bad, Kelly Hu looks lovely and Johnson is clearly learning the ropes showing promise.



The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior (2008)

Right now this is a prequel to the first Scorpion King film showing 'Mathayus' as a young lad and up n coming warrior. The lead for this film is a guy called Michael Copon and to be honest he does actually look like a young Johnson, credit where credits due the guy does pull off a reasonable young Johnson.

The same cannot be said for the dreadful Couture who can't act to save his life, the guy is a meat head and should only be used for fight sequences with his stature, why anyone would wanna use him for a speaking role is beyond me. The rest of the cast aren't too bad with a sexy young female, an intellectual Greek poet, a Chinese acrobat and a few mercs, quite a cute little band in a 'D&D' or 'LOTR' type way.

There are still some reasonably high production values here as the film just about looks OK, there is a battle against a Minotaur which could have been worse but has some good editing and a foray into the underworld which has some nice visuals. The finale is rather flat and does have a nasty cgi scorpion to deal with but overall I have seen much worse (this chapter is a bit more mythological), it still could have been much better of course, dealing with a young Scorpion King is good material to be mined but we have what we have.



The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (2012)

I don't get Ron Perlman I really don't, the guy is a pretty big Hollywood star yet he still takes jobs like this! I know he does act in allot of cheap sci-fi/fantasy and some of it can be good cult stuff but surely he could see how bad this was gonna be.

So this is now the sequel to the first film as we follow an older 'Mathayus' as events lead up towards what would happen before 'The Mummy 2'. Usual appearance for the film of course but its notably cheaper looking with lots of really bad background extras hehe if you watch the battles (of which there are many) most of them haven't a clue what they are doing.

The plot is all jumbled up and dull, its all about over throwing this king or that king and getting another for assistance or whatever...I dunno really, I wasn't sure who is wanting what but all you need to know is everything looks cheap, even the fights don't look convincing.

I just find it hard to believe they even got the well spoken Billy Zane and Temuera Morrison in this! Morrison does actually look the part with his shaven head and Zane as always injects some humour into the proceedings which is probably the best thing in the film, the Scorpion King is played by some guy I have never heard of.

Its all terrible, pretty wooden, obvious shell sets, a big fat oaf sidekick character because its funny when he burps apparently and some dubious Mortal Kombat style magical characters at the end, I was not amused.

[Pelicula]

ATM sounds a bit daft, they surely only have automatic doors on walk in ones? Also, even if some key is required to get in, the glass isn't gonna be bullet proof, so not the best place for a hostage situation, unlike a bank. Still i am intrigued though at how they've worked it.

It's not getting very good reviews, and lots of plot holes apparently, why the idiots did this and that and so on.

[Hubbs]

Yakuza Weapon (JAP, 2011)

Talk about frenzy, this film is completely screwball crazy with guns and explosions on top! quite literately a frenetic manga adaptation which is balls to the wall with massive fights, lopped off body parts and fountains of blood.

Its Japanese and you do expect this but even this is insane, the plot isn't too complex and basically revolves around a Yakuza assassin getting vengeance against the killing of his gang boss father. There is double cross in there too but this film is really all about the crazy ass effects and shock value gore, the cost doesn't look too high as much of the effects on show are your basic techniques which range from looking effective to down right silly but this isn't really suppose to be more than a fun low budget B-movie.

Add in some outrageous cgi when 'Shozo' gets his arm replaced with a mini-gun and his knee turned into a rocket launcher (yep you read correctly) and you get some really quite daft looking results but with much carnage at the expense of the never ending henchmen.

The only cast member I know of is good old Tak Sakaguchi and here he plays the main role, it suits him well and he looks good with his little porkpie type hat on. The whole film swings from slick and cool to down right ludicrous and will only appeal to people who like this type of Japanese ultra violent comicbook films. Personally I think the original manga comic probably works better, I haven't read or seen it but clearly its something that's hard to translate to film (bit Like 'Tank Girl').

[jonnyhiboy!]

Originally Posted by Gort

Yeah this is what's got me swithering whether to see it in cinemas or wait til Blu-ray when I first read about the movie I was real excited, but after the cuts/target audience issues I'm thinking I'll hate it, having read the book. I like the brutality of Battle Royale.

The way you are talking just there makes it seem as if you'll have the same opinion on the film as me. I thought it was good, but a 'good' film with an abundance of problems. Battle Royale makes it feel more frantic, more real somehow - far better. The Hunger Games is far too tame and even looks toned down for a 'Twilight-esque' audience. THG is not a bad film, it just could have been so much better. If i read the book like yourself, i could only imagine my issues would be increased.

[jonnyhiboy!]

Originally Posted by Pelicula

They didn't direct V For Vendetta, writers adapting someone elses work. Yes they can tackle action but more was needed in John Carter than just action and my point was going by their track record, they wouldn't be any better a choice.

Yes the action in Matrix 2 and 3 was good, but everything else was not. As for Speed Racer, urgh.

I think it would have been very likely still a dud and in the same situation it's in if they had directed it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there a connection between V For Vendetta and Watchmen? I'm sure I read it somewhere. Oh and I'm nearing the end of Repo Men an it is utter crap.