OT: Movie rental suggestions

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:58 pm

I agree about Michael Clayton. There is one scene near the end of the movie where Clooney's character says to the Sydney Pollack character something about how some of the people and companies they are representing have 'done some bad things' and Pollack looks at him incredulously and says something along the lines of "Why the hell do you think they are paying us all this money to represent them?" It just seemed like a pretty naive thing for a fixer for a big law firm to say or think.

It is a plot that has been done to death and done better - "The Verdict" for example.

I have not seen "Into the Wild" but I read the book a few years back. It is a sad story that brings to mind the fact that not everyone that can't find their place in life goes off to find themselves and comes back with a lot of stories and a new world view.

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:26 pm

fanatic wrote:
greggsand wrote:I had major issues with Into the Wild, esp the lead character. I found it interesting, but not enjoyable in the least. I guess it depends on whether you believe he was enlightened or mentally ill.

Spoilers for those that haven't seen Into the Wild...

I don't think that he found many answers until the very end of the movie. All of the experiences and conversations (i.e. with the hippie woman about her lost son or the old guy and his life) led him to his realization that being in isolation wasn't the way to go. I'm not sure where you got mentally ill from though - he was certainly not big on social conventions, but I think that's the whole point...that maybe we are all the ones with the problem.

Anyways, I really identified with him.

After seeing the movie, I did some research of my own. SPOILER ALERT...

According to a guy who did a documentary on this "case," there was no evidence of poisoning from plants or anything else. It appears that he just starved to death. They also found a map in his backpack, also his wallet with id (which in the movie they showed him destroying them) and $300. Based on what they found on him, and where he was, he should have been able to get out of there. There was also a note on the outside of the bus asking for help (which of course they didn't have in the movie either) So, as for his mental state, who knows?

Sorry for the threadjack...now back to the movies!

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:37 pm

grtwhtsk wrote:
fanatic wrote:
greggsand wrote:I had major issues with Into the Wild, esp the lead character. I found it interesting, but not enjoyable in the least. I guess it depends on whether you believe he was enlightened or mentally ill.

Spoilers for those that haven't seen Into the Wild...

I don't think that he found many answers until the very end of the movie. All of the experiences and conversations (i.e. with the hippie woman about her lost son or the old guy and his life) led him to his realization that being in isolation wasn't the way to go. I'm not sure where you got mentally ill from though - he was certainly not big on social conventions, but I think that's the whole point...that maybe we are all the ones with the problem.

Anyways, I really identified with him.
After seeing the movie, I did some research of my own. SPOILER ALERT...

According to a guy who did a documentary on this "case," there was no evidence of poisoning from plants or anything else. It appears that he just starved to death. They also found a map in his backpack, also his wallet with id (which in the movie they showed him destroying them) and $300. Based on what they found on him, and where he was, he should have been able to get out of there. There was also a note on the outside of the bus asking for help (which of course they didn't have in the movie either) So, as for his mental state, who knows?

Sorry for the threadjack...now back to the movies!

Interesting find.

I wondered how true the story really was. Had a feeling they altered it quite a bit. I like the movie character better!

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:43 pm

Fanatic, and anyone else interested, here's a link to what I mentioned in my last post: http://www.terraincognitafilms.com/cw-sub/debunked.htm

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:42 pm

Rented Gone Baby Gone and I was impressed. Much better than Mystic River, which followed the similar themes. Casey Affleck was really good.

Also saw 3:10 to Yuma, which was a solid B. Nothing earth-shattering but well-made and well-acted.

I've been spending most of my movie-watching time with Battlestar Galactica. What an amazing show, I can't believe I missed it. I'm almost through Season 1 and haven't been this impressed with a show since I first saw Lost. The War on Terror parallels are both fair and emotional, as I think it manages to address important issues without always taking a clear side.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:47 pm

Brando70 wrote: I've been spending most of my movie-watching time with Battlestar Galactica. What an amazing show, I can't believe I missed it. I'm almost through Season 1 and haven't been this impressed with a show since I first saw Lost. The War on Terror parallels are both fair and emotional, as I think it manages to address important issues without always taking a clear side.

I -and a few others- pushed it heavily here for a while. Great show. I think sci-fi (both the genre and the channel) scares people off.

The final season starts next week.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:48 pm

fanatic wrote:
greggsand wrote:I had major issues with Into the Wild, esp the lead character. I found it interesting, but not enjoyable in the least. I guess it depends on whether you believe he was enlightened or mentally ill.

Spoilers for those that haven't seen Into the Wild...

I'm not sure where you got mentally ill from though - he was certainly not big on social conventions, but I think that's the whole point...that maybe we are all the ones with the problem.

Anyways, I really identified with him.

More spoilers....

Chris Mccandless showed many of the classic signs of Schizophrenia, esp from a kid who grew-up with parental trauma (father abusing his mother). Everything destroying all identification, giving himself a new name "alexander supertramp", isolating himself from others, unable to maintain relationships, etc... The movie glorifies much of this as being "enlightened".

IMO, he was an ass for 2 reasons:

1.his sister loved him, yet he cut-off all communication with her. You could make a case for his dysfunctional parents, but what did she ever do? The movie portrays her as the one person he actually cares about.

2.He disrespected nature (AKA pulled a "Grizzly Man"). He thought he could survive in Alaska with nothing more than a book. For someone that the movie/book portrays as being "in-tune" with the world, he had no respect for nature. A lot of Alaskans, despise him(and people like him) when they do this kind of thing(google it). The Grizzly Man was suspect-mentally ill as well.

Anywhoo, the movie is def thought provoking. good stuff.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:33 pm

Can I take this from a different tack? At a local theater here, I just saw A Shot in the Dark, which is my favorite of all the Couseau movies. It was just as funny as it ever was, and a thrill to share it in a crowded room with some friends who had never seen it. The theater, the Film Forum, is having an outstanding series of United Artist movies, it being that studio's 90th anniversary.

Maybe there are some titles here that would make for good movie rentals for you lot that don't have the chance to see them in a crowded theater. There are a bunch on this list that are among my favorite films, some I know are great but haven't yet seen, and some I've barely heard of that may be very good:

http://www.filmforum.org/films/unitedartists.html

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:36 am

Clicked that link Zeppo and its full of some great stuff...

Besides the ones I have seen over and over like Raging Bull, the Good the Bad and the Ugly, The Great Escape, the Magnificent seven..

There are some movies that I had forgotten about like Paths of Glory..Which is just brilliant...Im not usually big on anti war movies as they tend to get overly preachy but Kubrick is pure genius. This one just sucks you in.

Speaking of Kubrick...Everyone should see Dr Stranglove, Clokwork Orange, 2001 and Full Metal jacket.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:00 pm

Put Gone Baby Gone at the top of my queue. Thanks for the recommendation Brando.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:19 pm

I just received the first disc of Arrested Development in the mail from Blockbuster last night. It's one of the few TV series that I would buy on DVD. Each time I watch an episode I catch another reference or line that I missed the last time. 99% of comedy series aren't this clever.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:56 pm

Zeppo wrote:Can I take this from a different tack? At a local theater here, I just saw A Shot in the Dark, which is my favorite of all the Couseau movies.

I love the scenes when he fights with Kato...

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:16 am

Sunshine

Danny Boyle's latest film. Science Fiction with a touch of horror. Incredibly tense moments throughout. For those of you with Blu-Ray, it's one of the best discs I've watched so far. Great PQ and awesome sound. I recently bought a new audio receiver/speakers and this movie is a great showcase of lossless audio.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:36 pm

I just watched Once last night. While it was a bit slow moving, the story was enjoyable as well as believeable (based off a true story?), and the acting was very good. The music grew on me throughout the film, and by the end I was quite moved by the melodies and the lyrics. A friend of mine said the two musicians in the film are touring now in the U.S. I'd love to watch them play.

Definitely recommended.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:06 pm

Netflix on 360 has piqued my interest in some foreign imports and my wife and I quite enjoyed He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not starring Audrey Tautou of Amelie. Worth a look if you don't mind subtitles.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:46 pm

Speaking of French films, if any of you hasn't seen Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne), you would probably enjoy it. It's an excellent thriller from an American novel based in California that was restaged into France for the movie. It's really, really good and one of my favorite movies from last year. Very cinematic, until near the end where you get the inevitable 'tie it all up' long dialogue scene. But it's really good.

Also I've heard good things about the weird Swedish vampire movie called Let the Right One In, but I haven't seen it yet. It's on my queue at the Netflix in the BD format.

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:58 pm

Zeppo wrote:Speaking of French films, if any of you hasn't seen Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne), you would probably enjoy it. It's an excellent thriller from an American novel based in California that was restaged into France for the movie. It's really, really good and one of my favorite movies from last year. Very cinematic, until near the end where you get the inevitable 'tie it all up' long dialogue scene. But it's really good.

Also I've heard good things about the weird Swedish vampire movie called Let the Right One In, but I haven't seen it yet. It's on my queue at the Netflix in the BD format.

Both of those are available for instant view on Netflix. Will have to add these to my list. The latter has already caught my eye as my wife has become something of a fan of vampire fiction. Thanks for the suggestions.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:48 pm

Zeppo wrote:Speaking of French films, if any of you hasn't seen Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne), you would probably enjoy it. It's an excellent thriller from an American novel based in California that was restaged into France for the movie. It's really, really good and one of my favorite movies from last year. Very cinematic, until near the end where you get the inevitable 'tie it all up' long dialogue scene. But it's really good.

Also I've heard good things about the weird Swedish vampire movie called Let the Right One In, but I haven't seen it yet. It's on my queue at the Netflix in the BD format.

I saw that on the person a couple of years ago. The female lead was the female assassin in Munich, the one who tries to seduce them before they kill her, quite a body.

I'm not a big fan of vampire movies but yeah that one has gotten good reviews and the first season of True Blood should be out by now on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Does Netflix let you ship to a different address than your billing address? Like maybe out of state even?

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:26 am

I ppv'd Gran Torino this weekend. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't seen it yet.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:36 am

I finally watched The Wrestler on Bluray this weekend... that hardcore match was tough to watch. Marisa Tomei... yow.

Party like a fireman!

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:08 am

Slumberland wrote: Marisa Tomei... yow.

They needed to have Jason Alexander do a cameo as an unruly customer at her strip club.

"How many times do I have to tell you, George? NO TOUCHING!"

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:17 am

lexbur wrote:
Slumberland wrote: Marisa Tomei... yow.

They needed to have Jason Alexander do a cameo as an unruly customer at her strip club.

"How many times do I have to tell you, George? NO TOUCHING!"

The Wrestler was phenomenal.

He's Just Not That Into You - Well, I just wasn't that into this movie. Great cast of characters, but not strong enough characters imo.

The Reader - What a moving story line, but quite depressing.

Has anyone seen Taken?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:46 am

sportdan30 wrote:[Has anyone seen Taken?

Just superb acting by Liam. An eye opener if you have kids, definitely give it a try.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:01 pm

Finally got to watch Slumdog Millionaire. What a great flick!
Vey clever story and superb pacing.

Next up.....The Wrestler!

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:07 pm

I find myself saying 'Computer G, lock it in' all the time.

I love Bollywood.