OT: Movie rental suggestions

[Brando70]

It's a moot point, anyways, because "The Usual Suspects" is far superior to anything Tarantino ever has done!

I'll forgive your mistaken opinion about "Reservoir Dogs," but I cannot let this stand. "The Usual Suspects" is a gimmick picture, pure and simple. "Pulp Fiction" is one of the best movies of all time. Those harsh winters are clearly taking their toll on your critical capacities.

"The Usual Suspects" is the most overrated movie of all time. A movie built around a gimmick ending like Rob said, where the director sacrifices everything you've learned about the antagonist to pull off a cheap twist that makes no sense. A "classic" I hate even more than the almost equally execrable "Fight Club".

I liked "Reservoir Dogs" and "True Romance" a lot when I first saw them, but they didn't age well for me, especially after I saw the Hong King film "City on Fire" that Tarantino pretty much copied for "Reservoir Dogs." I think "True Romance" suffers from some bad acting by Slater and Arquette, although the supporting players are excellent.

"Pulp Fiction," on the other hand, is my favorite movie of all time and I think the greatest film of the last 20-30 years. Every time I see it I find something I missed or some new angle that keeps it fresh. Great acting, great story, great dialog, and a movie that respects the intelligence of the audience instead of feeling the need to spell everything out.

"Kill Bill" is my anti-Reservoir Dogs, a movie that I didn't like when I saw Vol. 1 but wound up appreciating a lot after seeing the second film. I still think Vol. 1 is too much of a mish-mash of styles, and I find the battle with the Crazy 88 tedious, but together they form a pretty epic film.

[pk500]

Yum is right. Damn right!

[pk500]

"Fight Club" is a purported classic? By whom?

[Brando70]

District 9 - Great first half, surprisingly sad, but devolves into a numbing shootout. I also think that even if aliens landed over Johannesburg, the matter wouldn't simply be left up to the South African government to do as it saw fit. But whatever.

Spot on, Slumber. Love the set up and then it's like they threw all the intelligence out the window halfway through the film. Plus the cuts are so excessive during the action scenes that it makes me slightly ill, similar to the car chase during the second Bourne movie.

[Brando70]

"Fight Club" is a purported classic? By whom?

It's a cult classic among the kiddies, both the book and the film. My wife runs into members of the Chuck Palahniuk cult all the time in her fiction workshops. They think it's "edgy."

[XXXIV]

"Pulp Fiction," on the other hand, is my favorite movie of all time and I think the greatest film of the last 20-30 years. Every time I see it I find something I missed or some new angle that keeps it fresh. Great acting, great story, great dialog, and a movie that respects the intelligence of the audience instead of feeling the need to spell everything out.

"Kill Bill" is my anti-Reservoir Dogs, a movie that I didn't like when I saw Vol. 1 but wound up appreciating a lot after seeing the second film. I still think Vol. 1 is too much of a mish-mash of styles, and I find the battle with the Crazy 88 tedious, but together they form a pretty epic film.

Now we are talking! I feel the same way about Pulp Fiction. It sucks me in every single time.

Pulp Fiction is #4 on my current all time list behind The Godfather, The Godfather II and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Kill Bill grew on me the same way.

[ScoopBrady]

Count me in as a huge Tarantino fan. Pulp Fiction is definitely in my list of top movies. I enjoyed Reservoir Dogs a lot and would disagree that it's only one-liners. I finally saw Inglorious Basterds last week and thought it was brilliant. I thought Kill Bill was average until I saw both volumes.

That being said, I totally understand how people don't like Tarantino. His films have a lot of substance but it's usually overshadowed by style. If you don't like his style you won't like his movies.

I also finally got a chance to see Hurt Locker and I liked it but wouldn't say it was incredible or anything. It could have been great if they had taken more time to flesh out Will's character. I know it was already over 2 hours but another 20 minutes developing more backstory would have gone a long way IMO.

I also wathced Anvil! The Story of Anvil a second time and loved it even more the second time.

Now it's time to catch up on Weeds and Dexter so now more movies for a while.

[pk500]

"Fight Club" is a purported classic? By whom?

It's a cult classic among the kiddies, both the book and the film. My wife runs into members of the Chuck Palahniuk cult all the time in her fiction workshops. They think it's "edgy."

Gotcha. I'm 44. Way past kiddie stage.

[Jackdog]

I just watched Brothers at War. I found it very interesting and moving.

Filmmaker Jake Rademacher takes an unconventional approach to family bonding when he travels to Iraq to embed in four combat units, hoping to gain a greater understanding of the war -- and of his two brothers who are serving there. Rademacher witnesses machine gun battles and perilous reconnaissance missions, but he also gets a closer look at the sacrifices his brothers have made -- and their undying commitment to winning the fight.

[RobVarak]

I also finally got a chance to see Hurt Locker and I liked it but wouldn't say it was incredible or anything. It could have been great if they had taken more time to flesh out Will's character. I know it was already over 2 hours but another 20 minutes developing more backstory would have gone a long way IMO.

Hurt Locker does take an interesting approach to telling the story. There is so little exposition that it can be a bit disorienting. OTOH, I think it's a bit brave to let a character drop in from the sky that way and let the audience learn about him just as the other characters in the story are doing the same. Doing so really puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the actor.

[greggsand]

Hurt Locker does take an interesting approach to telling the story. There is so little exposition that it can be a bit disorienting. OTOH, I think it's a bit brave to let a character drop in from the sky that way and let the audience learn about him just as the other characters in the story are doing the same. Doing so really puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the actor.

Totally agree. The whole time, I was thinking "I know where this new character is going to go", and then it never did. Not a lot of movies can pull that off & keep you interested the entire time. The entire film kept me off-balance.

I did watch (500) Days of Summer. I like it. It walked a line where one mistake and it could have turned into one of the worst movies of the year. The LA backdrop was great as well. It really showed the nicer side of downtown.

[sportdan30]

I don't have a movie suggestion, but I thought I would link an article about the declining health of Roger Ebert, one of the more well renound movie critics. It's well written and quite moving. I must be living in a bubble, because I had no idea he was even sick. Very sad, but a good read nonetheless.

http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310

[Teal]

Pulp Fiction is funny as hell. The only other Tarantino movie I genuinely like is Inglorious Basterds. Another funny, dark movie.

I tend to like Epics, like Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Kingdom of Heaven...that sort of thing, more than any other. But a good 'blow s*** up and smoke some cigarettes' John McClane type flick is good for the testosterone, too...

[pk500]

I don't have a movie suggestion, but I thought I would link an article about the declining health of Roger Ebert, one of the more well renound movie critics. It's well written and quite moving. I must be living in a bubble, because I had no idea he was even sick. Very sad, but a good read nonetheless.

http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310

Dude is tough as baked shoe leather. He has been subjected to multiple cancers and can't speak but continues to work and fight on.

I admire Ebert greatly.

[Brando70]

I don't have a movie suggestion, but I thought I would link an article about the declining health of Roger Ebert, one of the more well renound movie critics. It's well written and quite moving. I must be living in a bubble, because I had no idea he was even sick. Very sad, but a good read nonetheless.

http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310

Dude is tough as baked shoe leather. He has been subjected to multiple cancers and can't speak but continues to work and fight on.

I admire Ebert greatly.

Not only tough (who knew?) but incredibly well adjusted about his condition. It's not often that these kinds of profiles are genuinely inspiring.

[RobVarak]

I'm a huge admirer of his as well. I think he's been one of our finest writers, not just finest critics, for decades.

That said, he's also become more overtly [banned topic] in his current state. Despite the fact that he and I agree on virtually nothing when it comes to [banned topic], it's hugely entertaining and interesting to see him unbridled this way.

I strongly recommend reading his blog entry from a few weeks ago, where he talked at length about not being able to eat or drink. Great writing that was both poignant and life affirming without being the least bit trite.

One of my all-time fly-on-the-wall wishes would've been to be at the Billy Goat in the 70's-80's when Ebert and Mike Royko (my all-time favorite writer of prose) were holding court.

[TheCentralScrutinizer]

District 9 - Great first half, surprisingly sad, but devolves into a numbing shootout. I also think that even if aliens landed over Johannesburg, the matter wouldn't simply be left up to the South African government to do as it saw fit. But whatever.

Spot on, Slumber. Love the set up and then it's like they threw all the intelligence out the window halfway through the film. Plus the cuts are so excessive during the action scenes that it makes me slightly ill, similar to the car chase during the second Bourne movie.

But kudos to the fillmmakers for throwing soemthing truly original into the action scenes - someone getting shot with a projectile pig!

[RobVarak]

I was just filling in a ballot for a charity Oscar pool, so this is on my mind. Of the Best Picture nominees I've seen Blind Side, Up, Inglourious Basterds, Hurt Locker and Avatar.

I'm not sure what will win, but Basterds is the best of that bunch by a mile in my estimation. I loved Hurt Locker, enjoyed Blind Side and Up and tolerated Avatar...but Basterds was the only one of that bunch to really make me want to watch it again as soon as the credits rolled.

[LAking]

I was just filling in a ballot for a charity Oscar pool, so this is on my mind. Of the Best Picture nominees I've seen Blind Side, Up, Inglourious Basterds, Hurt Locker and Avatar.

I'm not sure what will win, but Basterds is the best of that bunch by a mile in my estimation. I loved Hurt Locker, enjoyed Blind Side and Up and tolerated Avatar...but Basterds was the only one of that bunch to really make me want to watch it again as soon as the credits rolled.

I've seen Hurt Locker, Basterds, Up, Precious, Up in the Air, District 9 and Avatar. I'd say Hurt Locker is the best of that bunch with Up in the Air a close second. I still really want to see a Serious Man and An Education. I love the Coen brothers and A Serious Man is t the top of my netflix queue if only it wasn't a "very long wait."

[GameSeven]

I don't have a movie suggestion, but I thought I would link an article about the declining health of Roger Ebert, one of the more well renound movie critics.

Thanks for the link. That was an incredibly moving and well written piece. I recalled Ebert's first bout with cancer but was unaware of what transpired since.

I've read his critiques for years and his voice has rang loud and clear in every one. So iconic and so talented, I am sorry to read of his declining health but inspired by his incredible fortitude.

[WillHunting]

In case anyone who has not watched (500) Days of Summer, please go rent it now. It is a romantic comedy from a guy's perspective, and really strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschannel. I am sure a few of you can relate to JGL's character.

Also, Moon is really cool too. I have not watched a lot of Sam Rockwell but he is really amazing in this movie.

Btw, Ebert is really inspiring.

[sportdan30]

Really looking forward to 500 Days of Summer. I'm hoping I can find a blu-ray rental.

[Brando70]

In case anyone who has not watched (500) Days of Summer, please go rent it now. It is a romantic comedy from a guy's perspective, and really strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschannel. I am sure a few of you can relate to JGL's character.

I really liked it. Clever structure and it was romantic without being sappy and annoying. Great "get out of a romantic comedy free" card to play. Plus the Hall&Oates bit was hysterical.

[greggsand]

I don't have a movie suggestion, but I thought I would link an article about the declining health of Roger Ebert, one of the more well renound movie critics. It's well written and quite moving. I must be living in a bubble, because I had no idea he was even sick. Very sad, but a good read nonetheless.

http://www.esquire.com/features/roger-ebert-0310

Dude is tough as baked shoe leather. He has been subjected to multiple cancers and can't speak but continues to work and fight on.

I admire Ebert greatly.

I LOVE Ebert. Loved Siskel. As a kid, I saw their show on PBS (even remember that they reviewed "Blow Out"), and thought 'what a kick ass job'. Have watched ever since (and still read ebert). Cool dude.

[JackB1]

It is a romantic comedy from a guy's perspective......

Is that even possible?