Movies you have seen lately

[Sqoon]

Rushmore - This movie is okay, but it feels like a less refined version of Royal Tennenbaums... well, that's what it is, I guess. A good movie, good performance by Bill Murray, but nothing I would ever see again. And I dont know about you guys, but I thought the girl that played Margaret Yang was pretty cute. Rating: ** 1/2

This has been one of my favorite movies ever since it was released in theatres. It's so energetic and happily adrift I can't help but get sentimental over it. If Rushmore is unrefined, then Tenenbaums is over-refined; I don't like the everything-centered! camera shots or the peachy-keen set designs (the movie looks like a nostalgia GAP or IKEA commercial) or the one-note characters. I didn't like it much the first time I saw Rushmore, and if you have the time, I'd fully reccommend another viewing.

Below - Good submarine psychological horror movie. It uses a lot of typical tricks (eerie voices, shadows), but since it completely takes place in an unusual environment, I guess that makes it all right... (B)

Bullets Over Broadway - The most conventional Woody Allen movie I've seen yet. A movie almost devoid of one-liners means more jokes naturally extending from the plot. Hey, just as long as I'm entertained. (B+)

The French Connection - Bad ass flick. I love the handheld camerawork and it feels like Friedkin and Co. actually tried to keep it under control, unlike the ultra-jittery "Look! We're using a handheld camera! American New Wave represent!" of our times. And the boffo chase scene is pure gold. (A)

The Hours - Horrid. Once you get past the shallow ambivlance of the plot, you're left with unrealistic characters and some of the worst performances I've ever seen considered for an Oscar. An obnoxious, obtrusive music score peels away at every scene it plays in, telling you to look for the non-existent deeper meaning. (C-)

Manhattan Murder Mystery - Best Woody Allen movie ever. One of the best movies I've ever seen actually. Hilarious one-liners, a few sight gags, and a clever plot that isn't just there to wax his ego. I love it. (A+)

Monsieur Verdoux - A not-so-hot Chaplin movie. Interesting for its time, but its lack of subtlety and the 'humane' final speech is better done in The Great Dictator. Has its moments. (B-)

Some Like It Hot - #1 on AFI Top 100 funny movies. It is pretty damn funny and Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon are fantastic, but I can't say it beats any Marx Brothers films pound for pound. Hell, it doesn't even top Dumb & Dumber. (B)

Stolen Kisses - Truffaut's best movie and the best romantic comedy ever made. Clumsy detective work has never seemed so touching. (A)

Zelig - Best mockumentary ever made (yes, a lot of bests this time around). (A-)

Zoolander - Still sucks, even with more friends and alcohol. (D)

[Diff-chan]

I just had the pleasure of seeing Zhang Yimou's "Raise the Red Lantern"... there are very few movies in which I can watch and say that I was privileged to get the opportunity to see them, and this is one of them (another that immediately comes to mind is Kurosawa's "Ran").

This film is amazing. Its absolutely brilliant, from the pace, to the tone, to the cinematography, to the beauty of each and every scene, to the way the story unfolds. The story is multilayered, grand and intimitate at the same time, and manages to be immediately accessible and ocean-deep at the same time. Everyong is excellent in their roles, Gong Li especially, who might I add is stunningly beautiful.

I know for a fact that some of you will not like it, as its a drama through and through - as a drama, though, I haven't seen one this good since Howard's End. It truly is magnificant - please see it if you get the chance. This film has seriously been #1 on my "want to watch" list for the past year, and it was worth it in the end.

Too bad the only DVD out there is a smutty HK region-0 disc. Rating: **** obviously

[Lordmrw]

Saw Phone Booth yesterday, amazing, amazing movie. At first I thought the idea of a man stuck in a phone booth for an hour+ would be incredibly stupid, but I'll be god damned if I wasn't completely enthralled throughout the whole thing. Joel Schumacher has redeemed himself for the colossal fuck-up that was Batman and Robin.

[Freeter]

The Core - think of Deep Impact and Armageddon fused together and you've got this. Decent, but not quite as exciting as it could've been(Jerry Bruckheimer should've done this one, it probably would've turned out better).

[Ichabod]

diffusionx: Have you seen any other Zhang Yimou films? My favorites are Not One Less & To Live. And despite what anyone says, Hero really is a great movie despite the cut running time making it feel slightly rushed. The 2-hour director's cut is due out soon, though

[Diff-chan]

No Ichabod, I have not seen them, and going through eDonkey means at least a good fucking week of waiting to get them (there's a lot of good shit on that network, its just so slow). Hopefully one day... while Im not challenging your opinion, I dont see how either of those can be better than Raise the Red Lantern.

[Rick]

The Core - Ridiculous. But worth the money, if only for the bird scene at the beginning, I almost pissed myself laughing so hard.

[Diff-chan]

Yi Yi - This is a thoughtful and sweet family-oriented movie. I really liked it. The movie centers on a single family and the problems they go through... each member of the family is going through something, and it tries to give ample time to all of them... this is accomplished, mostly. The movie is three hours long, but it's very captivating and many of the tales are engrossing.

Yi yi is a mature, thoughtful movie... it lacks the emotional ka-plow of movies like Magnolia or American Beauty. It's sad, engrossing, but it doesn't really have the emotional or spiritual firepower to make it a classic. However, I give it a lot of credit, because it feels real, which neither of the aforementioned films do... there's very little poetic license at work. All of the things that happen in the movie not only can happen to many families, but do. The fact that Yi yi accomplishes this is a very good thing. Rating: *** 1/2

[Megatron]

The Tuxedo
Star Wars Episode 2
Ace Ventura: Pet detective
Aliens

[Despair]

Public Enemy - Excellent Korean crime drama. It tells a story of two characters: one is bad cop, who steals, lies, takes bribes and beats up the suspects. Another is a banker, who is a cold blooded killer who would kill his parents for money. When they meet on the night of the crime, cop gets slashed by the killers blade, and it changes his life and attitude forever. Great direction and style, interesting characters, some nice fight scenes, few bits of humor thrown in as well. Also very gory. One of the better Korean films I seen lately.