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Post by Travis on Jul 3, 2008 13:08:30 GMT -1
You should see how they're ordered and categorised on my shelves! ;D No no no that's bad. You should go for the chaos theory of film watching. You go to look for one thing but ultimately come across something else you would rather watch. Isn't that how you ended up viewing 'Soul Plane' though? ;D
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Post by Mrs H on Jul 3, 2008 13:33:03 GMT -1
No no no that's bad. You should go for the chaos theory of film watching. You go to look for one thing but ultimately come across something else you would rather watch. Isn't that how you ended up viewing 'Soul Plane' though? ;D No that was because my former husband had shocking taste in films!
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Post by Travis on Jul 3, 2008 13:35:31 GMT -1
Isn't that how you ended up viewing 'Soul Plane' though? ;D No that was because my former husband had shocking taste in films! I prefer to go with the method that's stood the test of time. Buy a film, put it on the shelf, and then when it's advertised as being on the tv, decide that you fancy seeing it and watch it then! ;D
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Post by Mrs H on Jul 3, 2008 13:43:12 GMT -1
No that was because my former husband had shocking taste in films! I prefer to go with the method that's stood the test of time. Buy a film, put it on the shelf, and then when it's advertised as being on the tv, decide that you fancy seeing it and watch it then! ;D Doesn't that defeat the purpose?
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Post by Travis on Jul 3, 2008 13:48:59 GMT -1
I prefer to go with the method that's stood the test of time. Buy a film, put it on the shelf, and then when it's advertised as being on the tv, decide that you fancy seeing it and watch it then! ;D Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Yup, kinda! ;D I often end up watching some of the stuff I've recently chatted about too. On a night when I've nothing to do though I'll choose a film carefully that I haven't seen in a while, scan the shelves and the boxes......only takes about half an hour! ;D
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Post by Travis on Jul 4, 2008 13:58:51 GMT -1
Yey I've seen a foreign film that Trav hasn't! ;D I circled that damn thing in the twatting TV guide on Saturday too! I'll put it in my 'high priority' category, you're not holding this over me for long! ;D It's in the post! ;D
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Post by Travis on Jul 6, 2008 9:12:26 GMT -1
AMELIEWhile the makers of some critically acclaimed films like to assault you with the positive reviews and awards they've received, the DVD cover of Amelie carries only one quote, it is taken from Total Film magazine and merely says "Quite simply it's perfect. Film of the year"......enough said really. As the title suggests the film is the story of Amelie Poulain, a slightly naive, but positively minded girl who works as a waitress at the Two Windmills Cafe in Montmartre. Raised by fairly distant parents and home educated, Amelie has a love of people but lacks social confidence. When by chance she discovers a small box of treasures in her bathroom, Amelie resolves to return it to its owner and become a natural do-gooder, enriching the lives of those around her. Her father, neighbours and work colleagues are among those who benefit from Amelie's work, but when a chance encounter with a stranger in the railway station leaves her completely smitten, it's time for her friends to help Amelie capture the man of her dreams. Amelie is just a wonderful film on every level, but without Audrey Tautou it's debatable whether it could've succeeded; it's just impossible to think of anybody else in that role, the charm, warmth, cheek, naivety and positivity she brings to the performance - if Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly character has become one of US cinema's most iconic females, then Amelie Poulain is surely the French equivalent. As a romantic comedy the film is a total success, and as a love letter to Paris it simply cannot be bettered; the familiar warm reds, golden yellows and greens dominate Jean-Pierre Jeunet's unmistakable sepia tinted palette and make the city look the most beautiful on the planet. Little touches like the animated pictures on the bedroom wall and the sub-plot about the traveling gnome merely add to the charm of a film that remains life-affirming in the extreme. I think I've been in love with Audrey Tautou ever since. 10/10
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Post by Travis on Jul 6, 2008 9:41:42 GMT -1
Efter brylluppet - After the WeddingWatched this Danish film on BBC 4 last night and was hooked. Jacob (Mads Mikkelson - the baddie in Casino Royale) is a Danish man working in an orphanage in Bombay but there isn't enough funding to keep it open and the children face being back on the streets. Jacob receives an invitation from a rich Danish donor, Jorgen, to come back to Denmark and discuss possible funding. The trip back throws Jacob back into his past and he's embroiled in a dying man's wish. Jacob is invited to the wedding of the donor's daughter. It transpires that the the donor's wife, Helene, is Jacob ex lover and the girl getting married is his daughter. The story becomes twisted as we find out Jorgen is dying and he is trying to buy Jacob to look after his family when he is gone. I found this story very moving and Mads Mikkelson plays the tortured character beautifully. The only down point for me was Jorgen who overacted a little too much for my liking. I would really recommend this film to anyone (plus listening to Danish for a long time sounds like people talking backwards) 9.5/10 Okay, seen it and agree that it was excellent, though maybe an 8 or 9 for me. I know what you mean about the character of Jorgen, and I think he stood out all the more as all the other characters were fairly understated personalities. That said, I thought it served the story well that he was arrogant, and at times an utter pig of a man, they would after all, seem likely traits for someone so successful. More pointedly though, had Jorgen not been the way he was then I think the final half hour of the film wouldn't have carried quite the same emotional impact. The scene when he first confessed and exposed his vulnerablility to Jacob was extremely powerful, as was the moment that his daughter Anna confronted him at the board meeting. I thought that the writers got it absolutely right with the ending too, with Pramod telling Joseph that wants to stay in India.
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Post by Travis on Jul 6, 2008 19:29:01 GMT -1
THE THREE COLOURS TRILOGYDeemed by many critics as one of modern cinema's finest achievements, the 'Three Colours' trilogy is a collection of films that were directed and co-written by Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski. The films took their names from the colours of the French flag and each was loosely based around one of the three political ideals of the French Republic: liberty, equality and fraternity, albeit the themes are often quite ambiguous within the work.
Made and released all in the space of 18 months the films have become celebrated on many levels. On an aesthetic level each film has their own distinct feel and colour scheme according the title. The lead female roles are played by three of the most attractive and revered French actresses of their generation, each of whom turn in brilliant performances. Add Kieslowki's direction which has been held up as representing something of a masterclass and the memorable musical scores that underline the works, and you have yourself a true benchmark of European cinema....THREE COLOURS BLUEThe opening act of the trilogy is about dealing with loss and the process of moving on while dealing with the often painful legacies left by those departed. Juliette Binoche plays Julie, a woman who loses both her husband and her 5 year old daughter when the family car careers into a tree. Still bed-stricken she has to watch the funeral on television - her husband was a famous composer - and after being unable to go through with an overdose she resolves to try and move on by detaching herself from everything in her past. Having left instructions to sell the family home and broken off relations with Olivier, a man who'd long since hankered after her, she moves to an apartment in the hope of starting a new life. Escaping the past is harder than she anticipated though as Olivier tracks her down and begins work on her late husband's symphony while attempting to win her affections once and for all. When a secret lover also emerges on the scene, one who's pregnant with her late husband's child, Julie must deal with the past once and for all and make important decisions about the future. Juliette Binoche is absolutely fantastic, she appears in and dominates almost every scene, her portrayal of grief in turns both understated and devastating. The strength and resolve and empathy she displays in the latter stages is equally convincing. Complementing her performance is a very good supporting cast, an array of very different and compelling characters. The best looking film of the trilogy and featuring the outstanding performance, Three Colours Blue is my personal favourite. 10/10 ______________________________ THREE COLOURS WHITEKarol is a Polish hairdresser, he lives in France but is facing a divorce from his wife Dominique (Julie Delpy) on the grounds of his impotence. Humiliated and destitute he longs to return to his homeland and following a chance meeting with fellow compatriot Mikolaj, he's able to make it back to Warsaw, smuggled back in suitcase. Upon his return Karol balances cutting hair at his old salon with employment under a local mobster, his desire to make as much money as possible. When Karol manages to pull a scam over his bosses he's able to make a fortune from land sales and sets up his own export operation. Quickly he makes a success of things and plots revenge on Dominique by luring her to Warsaw under false pretences and framing her for his murder......but is that what he really wants? The least lauded and the drabbest looking of the trilogy, there is still much to recommend the film as Karol's rise and Dominique's fall brings the relationship full circle. Karol gets everything he could've possibly wanted, though ultimately does love prove to be stronger than hate on both sides? The fact that Julie Delpy doesn't feature more prominently the only real shame of the piece. 7/10 ______________________________ THREE COLOURS REDCommonly perceived as the best film of the trilogy, Three Colours Red centres on the relationship between Valentine, a part-time model and student, and a retired judge. The pair are brought together when Valentine runs over the judge's dog, and at first Valentine is repulsed; she finds that he spends his days listening in on neighbours private phone calls. However, the pair begin to find common ground and soon a strong relationship strikes up. Other relationships are studied on the periphery of the story and as time passes the interlinked nature of the associations reveal themselves to the audience, the weather girl on the phone, the law student across the road, everyone has a connection. When the film climaxes these notions are taken to the next level as the the reasons for the choices behind the subjects of each film are revealed. A very 'talky' film that requires some patience, but eventually perseverance pays off. Not as good as the opening film of the trilogy for me, but I seem to be in the minority here. 8/10
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Post by Travis on Jul 17, 2008 13:25:44 GMT -1
NOBODY KNOWSKeiko is a single mother, she has 4 children - all to different fathers - and is having problems finding an apartment. When the film starts Keiko has just found a place, albeit by deception. She greets her landlords accompanied by her eldest son, 12 year old Akira, and leads them into believing that those two alone will be living there, her three youngest arrive at the apartment shortly later......packed in her suitcases! The opening scenes set the tone; only Akira is allowed to leave the house for the fear that Keiko's secret would be exposed and with his three siblings denied the opportunity to go to school they find themselves in complete social isolation. Matters really come to a head though shortly after when Keiko leaves Akira a note and some money, charging him with looking after the others while she is away with her boyfriend, and although she returns after a month she is quickly gone again, and this time permanently. The film is essentially Akira's story, how a 12 year old valiantly tried to keep together his family while coping with all the responsibilities of running a household. As the money starts to run out, mistakes are made and as the situation becomes ever more desperate, Akira is forced to use his ingenuity in every way possible, but as each day passes the odds mount ever more against him, and ultimately tragedy strikes. Shot almost in the style of a docufilm, 'Nobody Knows' inspires initial emotions of anger and outrage, then huge admiration, heart break, bitter sadness and mercifully in the closing moments just a flicker of hope. 9/10
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Post by Travis on Jul 18, 2008 13:17:44 GMT -1
FITZCARRALDOWerner Herzog is one of cinema's most compelling characters and the story of the filming 'Fitzcarraldo' is a quite extraordinary tale. During the production of the piece Herzog pointed a gun at and threatened to kill leading man and long time muse Klaus Kinski, crew members worked in appalling conditions and in the shadow of a conflict between the studio and irate tribes, and then there was a small matter of dragging a steamboat up an over a mountain! After learning of the history of Fitzcarraldo I found the film itself to be a little bit of a disappointment. It tells the story of a hugely passionate opera fan who dreams of building his own opera house in the Peruvian jungle. However in order to do so Fitzcarraldo (Klaus Kinski) needs to make his fortune, and the way he chooses to do so is by buying up a seemingly inaccessible tract of land and exploiting it for it's rubber. For 'Fitzcarraldo' impossible is not recognisable concept and he sets about accessing the land by boat.....via a mountain! As a character study of a driven, passionate and hopelessly ambitious-cum-deluded individual it works very well as Klaus Kinski brings the same brooding, crazed intensity to the screen as he did to the set. Some other aspects also work very well, particularly the way the scenes are played out with the tribes people, the uncertainty and fear amongst the crew as they speculate as to how they are being regarded is tangible. The conclusion to the tale also provides for a satisfying finale as Fitzcarraldo's indomitable spirit lives on despite his ordeal. That said the film did drag somewhat for me, at 150 minutes I thought it outstayed its welcome by a good half hour. While some scenes were terrific, there were often long stretches between where little of consequence happened. Herzog does appear to be a fairly ponderous film maker and many admire that in him, I on the other hand just grew a little impatient. 6/10 PS. Even if you are not interested in the film it's worth just trying to catch 15 minutes or so of it just to hear the dialogue track. The film isn't dubbed but the audio is significantly out of synch with the lip movements of the actors, and for some reason, every German in it sounds like a porn star! ;D
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Post by Travis on Jul 20, 2008 15:41:39 GMT -1
RUN LOLA RUNManni is in deep trouble, he works for a local gangster and he's just left 100,000 marks of their money on a subway train. Panic stricken he calls his girlfriend Lola, begging her for help - he's due to to make the drop in 20 minutes and if he doesn't he's a good as dead. With the clock ticking and Manni threatening to rob the local supermarket, Lola faces a race against the clock to save the day. Run Lola Run is based on a simple and yet ingenious premise, that a difference of mere seconds can have huge effects upon people's fate. Lola embarks upon three seperate journeys, on each occasion taking exactly the same route to the bank where her father works, all in the hope of getting the money she so desperately needs. Minor, seemingly non-descript events impact upon how quickly she makes her way across town, and although the differences in the journey times are extremely marginal they make all the difference to the outcome; between life, death, imprisonment, wealth and happiness. The film is brilliantly shot and with Lola constantly running to the accompaniment of a techo soundtrack it makes for a pulsating experience. The script may not be absolutely outstanding and the repetition may not appeal to all, but the dazzling visuals and a striking and charismatic performance by a red-haired Franka Potente transcend any weaknesses for me. A bit like watching an episode of 'Treasure Hunt' whilst on an acid trip. 8/10
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Post by CHOPPER READ on Jul 20, 2008 16:01:54 GMT -1
I dare not post a still from the last film i watched. ;D
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Post by Travis on Aug 5, 2008 11:19:00 GMT -1
SOPHIE SCHOLLBased entirely on true events, interview manuscripts and eye witness accounts, Sophie Scholl is the story of the final few days of a 21 year old girl's life. Along with her brother, Sophie Scholl worked secretly for the 'White Rose Movement', an anti-Nazi propaganda group which concerned itself with distributing literature calling for the end of the war, and alleging Hitler's culpability for the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers while highlighting the maltreatment of ethnic groups and the ill and disabled. When the pair a caught distributing leaflets at the university in Munich they're imprisoned, interrogated and ultimately sentenced to death. The film's focus concerns itself to the events leading up to the arrest and Sophie's short spell in custody before her death, and is essentially an intense character study. The arrests are quickly dealt with inside the first quarter of the film leaving the remainder of the film to showcase initially Sophie's incredible spirit and resolve in the face of interrogation, refusing as she did to implicate any other group members, and ultimately her utter devotion to her ideology of peace and conciliation. Although a war film that is heavily dialogue driven doesn't sound appealing, the words are the greatest strength of this piece. The arguments between Sophie and her Nazi interrogators, and the conviction and belief in which her replies are made make for an absolutely compelling experience. It's interesting that along with 'Downfall', 'Sophie Scholl' is probably the best World War II of the last 10 years, and both are German. 9/10
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Post by ovechkin8 on Aug 12, 2008 11:56:47 GMT -1
KING LEAR/Korol LirThe scene where the mythical King Lear decides on splitting the nation into three amongst his daughters; the evil Goneril & Regan and the pure Cordelia, setting into motion a series of tragedies & horrors. Just looking at the men behind this the ultimate adaptation of Shakespeares bleak masterpiece of the foibles of power & corruption makes one swoon. Pasternak wrote the screenplay, the great composer Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich wrote the haunting score & Jonas Gritsius filmed the magic, albeit in black & white. The play is refined & streamlined by the deft pen of Pasternak into a series of set pieces & montages . The script carries the weight of feeling of emotion to a tee already helped by the fact that WS genius pervades it in his detailed examination of the human condition & the examination of greed. GK a man proscribed to an extent under Stalin & fully aware of the dark horrors of the time manages to infect the films scenes of battle & deprivation amongst Lears bewildered subjects as the nation implodes perfectly. It is equal to the scenes of famine & rapine in the Seventh Seal. Each actor brings out the nuances of the protagonists. Yuri Jarvet is the ultimate Lear & Oleg Dal his faithful fool the man who finally pricks his conscience as to what he has done. The film is also superior to the efforts of Brook & Olivier as Larry himself acknowledged by not feeling stagebound in the slightest. Each scene is faithful to WS vision & those where Lear & Gloucester have been turned out & engage in a monologue with the Fool are harrowing. And they are surpassed by the denouement when Lear realises he is the ultimate despot & tyrant , having created a situation when the people are destitute & harassed whilst embracing the dead Cordelia (murdered on the orders of Edmund) & receiving no salvation ,no pity & dying broken hearted moments later. Filmed in the then republic of Lithuania with its bleak lowlands & aided as in Bondarchuks case with Waterloo by an army of extras the battle scenes & those of the villages & fortresses magnificently convey a truly cinematic vision. Anyone in politics should be forced to watch this film and its commentary on climbing the greasy pole. Its a real pity Russian cinema has been neglected because there are a fair few gems to behold after the era of Eisenstein. For any foreign film lover & Shakespearian this is an essential purchase. 10/10
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Post by Travis on Aug 20, 2008 11:37:42 GMT -1
FUNNY GAMESDisturbed by the growing trend of on-screen violence, Michael Haneke decided to voice his concerns......by releasing an immensely brutal film of his own. The logic may sound a little twisted by 'Funny Games' quite brilliantly articulates his worries, causing the audience to question why exactly they enjoy watching such a spectacle, ultimately causing them to draw some uneasy conclusions. 'Funny Games' is the tale of Anna and Georg, a German couple who go to spend a vacation at their lakeside home. Shortly after their arrival, two young men - seemingly friendly strangers - call around and enquire if they can borrow some eggs. Events soon turn after the strangers engineer the situation so as to cause conflict, and when Georg makes a stand he's assaulted and the strangers quickly reveal their intentions; to toy with and eventually kill the couple and their young son. Although no violence takes place on screen - that would undermine Haneke's stance - the story is filmed in a 'matter of fact' style, with no use of music or clever editing, almost as if it was shot as a home video which makes viewing all the more uncomfortable. Furthermore, the protagonists break away from the situation at times to talk to the camera, making the viewer complicit in their work, implying that they are carrying out these horrendous acts as much for our titillation as their own. A very important, thought provoking and fine film, but not one to enjoy. 8/10 ____________________________________________ WHO KILLED BAMBISomething strange is afoot in the hospital where Isabelle is a student nurse; when patients are anesthetized they're either not losing consciousness or waking early in theatre. Everyone is at a loss to explain it, that is apart from Isabelle. Having met the young Dr. Phillip - he treats her for the dizzy spells she's suffering, and gives her the moniker 'Bambi' on account of her being unsteady on her feet - she later notices him suspiciously gaining access to the medicine cabinets. Intrigued, Isabelle spies on him,and finds that he's stealing anesthetic to use on young female patients, allowing him to molest them. Having discovered the appalling secret Isabelle tries desperately to inform her superiors, but when Dr. Phillip finds out she faces a fight to stay alive. Dealing with very grim subject matter, 'Who Killed Bambi' is quite appropriately a very creepy feeling film. The lighting and the cold and characterless appearance of the modern hospital environment work well to that ends, and with slight elements of David Lynch, 'Who Killed Bambi' is a pretty good, if weird, watch. 7/10
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Post by Mrs H on Aug 20, 2008 11:45:30 GMT -1
Wasn't Funny Games recently remade for America with Liv Tyler or did I just dream it??
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Post by Travis on Aug 20, 2008 11:49:36 GMT -1
Wasn't Funny Games recently remade for America with Liv Tyler or did I just dream it?? It has, and it was released on DVD a few weeks ago. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the couple though. I love Liv Tyler, but I'm not entirely sure she'd be up to such a role. ;D
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Post by Mrs H on Aug 20, 2008 11:51:05 GMT -1
Wasn't Funny Games recently remade for America with Liv Tyler or did I just dream it?? It has, and it was released on DVD a few weeks ago. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the couple though. I love Liv Tyler, but I'm not entirely sure she'd be up to such a role. ;D I was getting confused because Liv Tyler has done one that's about to be released called The Strangers which is fairly similar from what I gather.
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Post by Travis on Aug 20, 2008 11:54:33 GMT -1
It has, and it was released on DVD a few weeks ago. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the couple though. I love Liv Tyler, but I'm not entirely sure she'd be up to such a role. ;D I was getting confused because Liv Tyler has done one that's about to be released called The Strangers which is fairly similar from what I gather. One line plot synopsis from the IMDb for 'The Strangers'..... "A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants."Well there's certainly a similarity there! ;D
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