Rate the last film you saw

[endabob1]

If Invictus doesn't get an Oscar for best movie and a Best Supporting award go to one of the bodyguards then there's no justice. Great movie, moving and great to watch.

I thought Morgan Freeman was excellent but I don't think it's best movie level.

[jebus]

just in from the Road

well worth a trip to the cinema for, excellently paced and acted movie that should see Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best Film, possibly Best Director too

[tetsujin1979]

Started working my way through the 50 films to see before you die

50. Badlands (1973) - Martin Sheen starts dating a much younger Sissy Spacek. When her father doesn't approve, Sheen kills him and the two of them go on the run. Mental film, but well worth watching if only to see Sheen channel James Dean.

49. Secrets and Lies (1996) - A black optometrist tracks down the woman who gave her up for adoption at birth, who is a white factory worker and meets her new family. Excellent film, but very grim

[weecountyman]

I thought Morgan Freeman was excellent but I don't think it's best movie level.

Probably I'm biased as it's a sports flick, agreed on Morgan Freeman, and possibly Matt Damon for Best Supporting Actor (didn't he get a Golden Globe nomination?) but the chief black bodyguard I thought was very good.

[bennocelt]

just in from the Road

well worth a trip to the cinema for, excellently paced and acted movie that should see Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best Film, possibly Best Director too

Just finished reading the book - wonder how the movie compares?
Have heard that the scene with the baby and the spit isnt in it!

[weecountyman]

Just finished reading the book - wonder how the movie compares?
Have heard that the scene with the baby and the spit isnt in it!

The whole film was pretty tame compared to the book, only hints at cannibalism etc. Interesting but the kind of movie that wins lots of awards but you only watch it the once.

[Monkfish]

The whole film was pretty tame compared to the book, only hints at cannibalism etc. .

No humans being kept as fresh food down in trap doors of barns then? :(

Seen its complicated last week, its not really, its just crap.......:)

[jebus]

The whole film was pretty tame compared to the book, only hints at cannibalism etc. Interesting but the kind of movie that wins lots of awards but you only watch it the once.

That's a bit unfair on it. We're left in little doubt in the movie that the bandits are cannibals, they tell you as much, show you the basement scene and also throw in them hunting down a woman and kid. True they leave out the spit scene but I read an interview with the director two weeks ago where he said he felt that scene (they did shoot it) broke up the flow of the film, that it works in the book but on screen it makes the entire movie seem to be about escaping these cannibals as it comes across as out and out horror, and that's not really what the book or movie is about

[Wangball]

That's a bit unfair on it. We're left in doubt in the movie that the bandits are cannibals, they tell you as much, show you the basement scene and also throw in them hunting down a woman and kid. True they leave out the spit scene but I read an interview with the director two weeks ago where he said he felt that scene (they did shoot it) broke up the flow of the film, that it works in the book but on screen it makes the entire movie seem to be about escaping these cannibals as it comes across as out and out horror, and that's not really what the book or movie is about

Good answer man, loved the book and loved the film

[ParkLife]

Good answer man, loved the book and loved the film

Agree with you..best film I've seen in a while. I'm pretty disappointed with this year's offerings so far, considering they normally bring out the best in Jan, in time for the Oscars.
For what it's worth....
Avatar....worth if for the effects, amazing, story not so good.
The Blind Side: Over rated, the main black guy just annoyed me.
The Propostion on Film4..Really enjoyed it, some great performances. Glad I caught it on TV.

[jebus]

I watched the first 30 mins of the Lovely Bones, I'm normally not one for balking at hard subjects but I turned it off as we were hitting the guy about kill the little girl

I hear that's the hardest of it and once you get past that it turns into quite a lovely movie so I must say hats off to the actor playing the child killer because he genuinely weirded me out to such an extent that I did turn it off

[thischarmingman]

Lads, can we make sure we spoiler please?

[danthesaint]

watched invictus last nite, well worth a watch.
morgan freeman is deadly in it, as he is in most of his films.

highly recommend it.

[Dunny]

The Hurricane - 8/10

Have seen it before but currently watching it on RTE2, Denzel is outstanding in it imo.

[jebus]

Just finished the Hurt Locker

Was a bit meh I thought, worth a watch but not at all worth the hype

[Magicme]

I watched the first 30 mins of the Lovely Bones, I'm normally not one for balking at hard subjects but I turned it off as we were hitting the guy about kill the little girl

I hear that's the hardest of it and once you get past that it turns into quite a lovely movie so I must say hats off to the actor playing the child killer because he genuinely weirded me out to such an extent that I did turn it off

One of the most heartbreaking but beautiful books I have ever read and have been waiting for the movie for 6 years now but am kinda dreading it too. I hope they have treated it well.


Am thinking of hitting the cinema tonight and wondring what to see. My options are Brothers, Its Complicated, Sherlock Holmes and Nine. Any suggestions? I am bringing a male friend so need to be sure its something he will enjoy too.

[thischarmingman]

One of the most heartbreaking but beautiful books I have ever read and have been waiting for the movie for 6 years now but am kinda dreading it too. I hope they have treated it well.


Am thinking of hitting the cinema tonight and wondring what to see. My options are Brothers, Its Complicated, Sherlock Holmes and Nine. Any suggestions? I am bringing a male friend so need to be sure its something he will enjoy too.

My girlfriend is not averse to the odd rom-com, but she didn't enjoy It's Complicated at all. She hated most of the characters in it. She also loves musicals and thought Nine was pants, with "one good song." Sherlock Holmes is great fun though, you should definately see it tonight- you won't regret it.

Haven't seen Brothers but hoping to during the week.

[Magicme]

Thanks Charming. Disappointed to hear that about Its complicated coz I loved Nancy Meyers other movie along the same lines "Something's gotta give".

Will leave it up to himself, if can pluck up the courage to ask him!!!

[jebus]

I've heard really good things about Sherlock Holmes, Brothers is meant to be very poor so I'd avoid that

[Magicme]

I've heard really good things about Sherlock Holmes, Brothers is meant to be very poor so I'd avoid that

Have heard mixed reviews on Brothers. Think Jonathon Ross liked it but said it was missing a bit of something. Gosh I really dont know.

[thischarmingman]

Have heard mixed reviews on Brothers. Think Jonathon Ross liked it but said it was missing a bit of something. Gosh I really dont know.

Best film reviewer on radio:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj

You can probably find his reviews of the films you were thinking of on Youtube also.

But go see Sherlock Holmes.

[Magicme]

Looks like its not happening now. :-( Guy I wanted to take is not able to go tonight and I am too busy during the week so mite be next weekend by the time I get near the cinema.

[Pauro 76]

Avatar - brilliant, a must-see if just for the 3D experience, 8.5/10.

But some corny lines in there, script wasn't the Mae West, but it's very rare you go to a film and end up cheering against the humans.

[elroy]

28 days later was on the film 4 sat night (which btw for a sat night in Jan, there was SFA on the tv). hadnt seen it before, decent show, definitely worth a look.

[thischarmingman]

...it's very rare you go to a film and end up cheering against the humans.

You obviously haven't seen Couples Retreat.

[thischarmingman]

Saw Avatar the other day and was pleasantly surprised. I'm a very fidgity person, who hates sitting in a cinema for long periods of time and thought I'd find a James Cameron 3 hour epic torture, so the best thing I can say about it is that the time flew. I don't think anyone expected the script to be any good; it was laughable at times, expecially the exposition in the first quarter- "In case you're forgetting Doctor, the reason we're here is..."

That said, the whole world of Pandora was wonderfully realised and totally immersive. I'm pretty sure it's not the savior of cinema, as I think the film would have looked equally impressive in 2D as it did in 3D, bar a few sporadic moments throught the film.

I had a little bit of a problem with all the mystical 'Mother Nature' stuff in that that the film appeared to be based on 'science' and then there was suddenly some apparently supernatural happenings, and I wanted some of the secondary characters to be more developed but to be honest they're minor concerns compared to the vast spectacle unfolding on the screen. It's no 'Best Picture' but it was far better than I thought it would be, and thoroughly entertaining. 4/5

Also saw Up in the Air (4/5) and The Road (5/5) on Saturday, although perhaps in the wrong order as we left the cinema contemplating the grim destruction of the earth, rather than laughing at George Clooney. Up in the Air was genuinely funny and had plenty of laugh out loud moments. The first two thirds in particular are terrific although it's let down a bit when the character softens a bit towards the end (I don't think that's giving too much away). Everyone says it's a great Clooney performance, and while it is a good performance, it's not exactly a massive leap for him to smile charmingly and look suave in a suit. That said, he does have surprisingly good comic timing. Vera Farmiga is brilliant, and reminded me a bit of Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey. It's not quite the film the critics are making it out to be, but it's very worthwhile two hours.

You will laugh a lot at Up in the Air, unlike The Road, where the funniest part of the evening is saying to the hapless cinema attendant, "Can I have one for The Road, please?" This will be the most entertaining part of your night so make sure you savour it. In fairness, it's a masterful work and a rewarding one. I thought the cannibalism was pretty explicit throughout with the basement scene mentioned above being absolutely terrifying. In fact, the whole film was terrifying, and suffused with a real sense of dread and foreboding. That said, I havent read the book and maybe cannibalism plays a bigger role in it but I found it a really strong piece of work and the best film I've seen so far this year.

[John83]

I can't entirely agree with your praise for The Road. The ending is a cop out: a sappy, happy, Hollywood ending in a dying, post-apocalypic wasteland. For most of the film, it's genuinely brilliant, the best film I'd seen since A Serious Man (which sounds like faint praise unless you know how highly I regard that), but it's really let down by a spineless piece of writing from an author I'd every reason to expect more from.

By the way, if you liked the film, I hear the book is also great, though I haven't gotten around to it yet myself.

[Razors left peg]

Read the book of the Road the other day so looking forward to the film, but my god it was depressing

[thischarmingman]

I can't entirely agree with your praise for The Road. The ending is a cop out: a sappy, happy, Hollywood ending in a dying, post-apocalypic wasteland. For most of the film, it's genuinely brilliant, the best film I'd seen since A Serious Man (which sounds like faint praise unless you know how highly I regard that), but it's really let down by a spineless piece of writing from an author I'd every reason to expect more from.

By the way, if you liked the film, I hear the book is also great, though I haven't gotten around to it yet myself.

Haven't read the book although I have heard that it's a very faithful adaption.

I can understand the criticism at the end of the film- in fact, my girlfriend felt it was a cop-out as well. I though the last scene would be the boy walking off into the darkness of this dying wasteland by himself. However, it's pretty obvious the little guy wouldn't be in much of a position to fend for himself having been looked after so much by his father so an ending like that would have suggested (to me anyway) that he would have eventually been killed.

The part with the children and the dog did jar a bit, and when I think back on it I do have conflicting emotions about the ending. If he'd just walked off with man and the film had ended I'm not sure how I'd have felt. I think I would have left thoroughly depressed and cynical, rather than uplifted that the pure love of the father had contributed to saving the child's life. And I felt that the boy's hope had to be rewarded in some way- in the bunker full of food they found, if the father had listened to the boy and waited to find out who was with the dog they heard, he might not have died and they would have found the family.

Plus I think I was relieved at the ending after the unremitting gloom of the preceding hour and a half!

By the way, I think I might be the only person who saw 'A Serious Man' and didn't love it. I found it a bit boring, and a bit baffling. I accept it's possible I need to watch it again as I appear to in the minority.

[tetsujin1979]

Watched Aquirre, the Wrath of God last night as part of the 50 films to see before you die

It's about a group of conquistadors who trek along the Amazon in search of El Dorado, and are killed off by the natives, lack of proper food and clean water.

The lead soldier slowly goes insane, declares himself the Wrath of God and convinces the group they will found a new kingdom built on the wealth to be found in El Dorado, and will conquer Mexico and eventually Spain.

It's shot almost documentary style, very close up to the group as they move along the river on a makeshift raft that that they keep adding to.

[Aberdonian Stu]

I saw Aguirre last year. It's good but bonkers.

[bennocelt]

Watched Aquirre, the Wrath of God last night as part of the 50 films to see before you die

It's about a group of conquistadors who trek along the Amazon in search of El Dorado, and are killed off by the natives, lack of proper food and clean water.

The lead soldier slowly goes insane, declares himself the Wrath of God and convinces the group they will found a new kingdom built on the wealth to be found in El Dorado, and will conquer Mexico and eventually Spain.

It's shot almost documentary style, very close up to the group as they move along the river on a makeshift raft that that they keep adding to.

Keep the reports coming Tets, :)
Im going to do this top 50 thing myself after a while

[don ramo]

i looked at that top 50, its not that inpressive, they say it made that you get films off the beaten track i beg to differ,

1 Apocalypse Now
2 The Apartment
3 City of God
4 Chinatown
5 Sexy Beast
6 2001: A Space Odyssey
7 North by Northwest
8 A Bout de Souffle
9 Donnie Darko
10 Manhattan
11 Alien
12 Lost in Translation
13 The Shawshank Redemption
14 Lagaan: Once Upon A Time in India
15 Pulp Fiction
16 Touch of Evil
17 Walkabout
18 Black Narcissus
19 Boyz n the Hood
20 The Player
21 Come and See
22 Heavenly Creatures
23 A Night at the Opera
24 Erin Brockovich
25 Trainspotting
26 The Breakfast Club
27 Hero
28 Fanny and Alexander
29 Pink Flamingos
30 All About Eve
31 Scarface
32 Terminator 2
33 Three Colours: Blue
34 The Royal Tenen-baums
35 The Ladykillers (which one)
36 Fight Club
37 The Searchers
38 Mulholland Drive
39 The Ipcress File
40 The King of Comedy
41 Manhunter
42 Dawn of the Dead
43 Princess Mononoke
44 Raising Arizona
45 Cabaret
46 This Sporting Life
47 Brazil
48 Aguirre: The Wrath of God
49 Secrets and Lies
50 Badlands.

ive put films that are well know by 99% of people in bold, and underlined ones that would probably be known by 70%,

at the same time i havent seen the majority of these films, but at the same time this list was put together when film4 was going free to air and all these films were gonna be on it over the coming months,

it would make for an interesting experiment to have multiple universaties around the world that study film making make up a proper list, this list was probably made up of 5-6 critics from one country, the film world is so much bigger,

[don ramo]

seem the informant the other night, weird film and a bit all over the place, i was a bit dissapointed with matt damon on this one,

a generous 3/5

[tetsujin1979]

i looked at that top 50, its not that inpressive, they say it made that you get films off the beaten track i beg to differ,

<list snipped out>

ive put films that are well know by 99% of people in bold, and underlined ones that would probably be known by 70%,

at the same time i havent seen the majority of these films, but at the same time this list was put together when film4 was going free to air and all these films were gonna be on it over the coming months,

it would make for an interesting experiment to have multiple universaties around the world that study film making make up a proper list, this list was probably made up of 5-6 critics from one country, the film world is so much bigger,
the list, with release dates, is here: http://www.film4.com/features/article/film4s-50-films-to-see-before-you-die
The Ladykillers is the original, 1955 version

From the wiki entry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Films_To_See_Before_You_Die

It consisted of a list of 50 films compiled by film critics, experts and personalitiesalso

Each film was "chosen as a paragon of a particular genre or style".So it's not necessarily the top 50 films ever, more the top 50 examples of different styles of filmmaking

Next up is Brazil, which has been on my "yeah, I'll see that at some point" list for ages now

[John83]

Next up is Brazil, which has been on my "yeah, I'll see that at some point" list for ages now
It's an old favourite of mine. Not laugh-a-minute stuff, more of a black farce - the ******* child of 1984 and Dr Strangelove, with a little (okay, a lot) of English comedy's traditional hatred of bureaucracy thrown into the mix, all the while pretending to be a love story.

[Magicme]

Only seen 13 of those movies so have a long way to go.

[the 12 th man]

Bit dissapointed also with The Hurt Locker,same scene over and over again:(

[tiktok]

Had a bit of a catch up on some DVDs I wanted to see over the weekend.

District 9: Pleasantly surprised, had heard good things and it was entertaining enough [7/10]
The Hurt Locker: Kept my attention, but didn't live up to what I'd hoped/heard [5/10]
The Wrestler: Really liked it, would recommend it [8/10]

Sherlock Holmes: Great fun, highly entertaining, Jude Law didn't even bother me all that much, docking a couple of points because for soome reason I kept remembering 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' which I'd hoped to permanently block out[8/10]

I've zero intention of seeing The Road anytime soon, one of the better books I've read but it stayed with me for a long long time, I've no desire to put new images next to the ones stuck in my head.

Still stand by my assertion that Jimmy Cameron's Pocahontas in Space was terrible.

[Neish]

Just watched "Joyeux Noel" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424205. About the unoffical christmas truce between German, Scottish and French soldiers in 1914. Very good film and really enjoyed it. 8/10

[Longfordian]

Yeah as said above, Sherlock Holmes is an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours. Good light hearted fun. Worth going to see.

[jebus]

Can't understand the criticism for the ending of the Road, here's my thoughts

Maybe you needed to read the book, though I thought the film gets it across just as well, but the Earth is finished. There is no cure on the way, people won't survive past a couple of decades at tops, the entire planet is doomed. So the kid meeting the family at the end isn't entirely a cop out because a) he's a dead man walking anyway and b) the message of the story is to hold on to your humanity through trying times. The kid does this, as does the man, so do the family I presume, so the ending is a way of rewarding that faith, even if it is just fleeting. Personally I think an ending with the boy walking into the darkness would have been doom and gloom overload and wouldn't have left the viewer/reader satisfied. There needed to be a pay off for putting up the opresiveness throughout

[John83]

It's probably just a subtle thing jebus, but
it doesn't feel like a fleeting reward. It feels like an ''everything's going to be okay'' kind of thing, particularly with the little hints that nature isn't finished (the beetle was one, and I can't recall the other - something in the narration? I'm told it's hinted at in the closing lines of the book too.).

I'm just sick of that in film - even I Am Legend was completely rewritten so that, as Tom Hanks said, even the last man on earth gets a happy ending in Hollywood.

[ParkLife]

Have to agree with Jebus on this, I think I would have slit my wrists if they had of went with the original ending...There's only so much desolation/depression I can take..Brilliant movie by the way.

[Kingdom]

Have to agree with the lads, Law Abiding Citizen is a cracking film. Some real different twists and story line.
It all got a bit too far fetched in the end but still 9 out of 10.

The part with the Judge on the phone made me literally jump along with most others in the room. :p

Yeah, that scene with the Judge is one of those moments alright.

Really enjoyed the film, if it did get a bit out of hand in the end. Would have liked to see Foxx die too.

[briancool21]

Saw Fourth Kind and Paranormal Activity recently although Fourth kind was better (mostly because i prefer the idea of alians better to ghosts) they were both mediocre movies 2.5/5 for both paranormal activity was particulary rubbish

[the 12 th man]

I went to Avatar and after they hype was expecting to be dissapointed but I have to say I thought it was brilliant:),as somebody else said here a cinematic experience.Sure it has holes but overall thoroughly entertaining.

[briancool21]

I second that avatar was excellent have to say. in 3d especially

[weecountyman]

Re-watched, after 3 years, the first Bourne (Identity) and remembered why the series is so good. Franke Potente is sexily semi-wooden in the lead female and I kind of felt bad for Chris Cooper in the end.

Also caught the movie "Admiral" on dvd. It's the true story of Admiral Kolchak who was a hero of Tsarist Russia then fought against the Soviets. A little stilted in parts but the special effects are good and that it's based on facts is both scary and engaging. Only with subtitles though.

[Mad Moose]

5 minutes of heaven. Starring James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson.

Absolutely incredible performance from James Nesbitt in this. Liam Neeson comes into to his own later in the film as his character reveals himself.

Nesbitt who plays the character Joe returns some 30/40 years later to meet Allistar (I think) played by Neeson,the man who killed his brother in front of the young Joe on behalf of the UVF. Both men are brought together for a TV programme covering the proposed reconciliation.

A very moving and emotional drama. Still available on BBC iPlayer.