"V" Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Having missed it on TV, I've just started watching the DVDs of the first series* of the BBC drama Life on Mars. Very impressed so far. The premise is that a cop on the trail of a killer in 2006 is involved in a car accident and 'wakes up' in 1973 to find out that he is still a cop who has just transferred to a new station** They handle the cross-cultural confusion well - imagine a modern cop used to computers, forensic back up and the whole gamut of CSI support and modern sensibilities having to adapt to a more brutal, politically incorrect world where cops rely on their gut and their fists and "the fingerprint lab will be back to us in a fortnight." Complications abound - the serial killer he was tracking in 2006 seems to have struck in 1973 for the first time and the protagonist realises that he can maybe stop the guy before he gets going. Also he keeps hearing sound bleeding through from what appears to be a hospital room, leading him to wonder whether this is all just a coma-dream. The premise, written down, looks a bit hokey I know, but the quality of acting and the attention to detail are brilliant so far. Think of Gil Grissom dropped into an episode of Kojak or Starsky and Hutch (but then imagine it done much much better than you're imagining). __ *season ** precinct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzMike Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Back in the day' date=' Big Trouble in Little China was the movie. It's hard to see what was so innovative about it now; we have dead easy access to Hong Kong action films, Hong Kong action choreographers are working in Hollywood, and the standard level of Action in films has gone up. Still, I was blown away by Big Trouble when I first saw it in 1986, and I still get a kick out of it today. Great movie to serve as the basis of a campaign as well.[/quote'] I think that what really holds Big Trouble together is Kurt Russell as Jack Burton. Almost the perfect everyman hero IMHO. Without his perfomance the movie would probably have only been so-so. In fact Kurt Russell has been in a number of films that I've enjoyed despite their flaws - Escape from New York, Overboard, Tombstone - and now he's in half of Grindhouse which I also want to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Princess Mononoke - Japanese anime. Holy smokes' date=' go rent this now. Might feel kinda left winger for you die-hard rightsters, but still a monumental achievement in animation. Six outa five stars.[/quote'] Now go rent Spirited Away, it's even better. Batman Begins - pretty good, much better plotted, acted and directed than any of the the other Bat-sequels. This is as good as the first Batman movie, if not better. Four outa five stars.. Actually... I think this is better than the first Batman movie. Big Trouble in Little China - funny and weird action flick. Not great but was probably pretty good for it's time. Wire work pre-sequels current wire-work in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and other big buget Hong Kong action movies. (Note: BTLC is not big budget.) Three outa five stars. Big Trouble was the movie that introduced me to the wild world of HK cinema (indirectly). it might just be John Carpenter's best all-around movie. Jack Barton in Big Trouble in Little China. Barton? Barton? It's Jack Burton! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thag13 Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I just picked up a copy of BIG Trouble in the Cheap DVD bin at Walmart. Kinda took me by surprise it was there. I got to see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang the other night with my son. A Noir detective story set in LA with Robert Downery JR and Val Kilmer. The story is that a down on his luck theif and a gay "PI for the starts' join forces to rescue a missing daugher of a High profile movie star. Great Scenes, some great lines and nice acting make this movie a must see. Its on HBO right now. Been Following ROME for the second season. Too bad HBO and BBC decided not to do a third season. I hope the ratings will allow a Movie lenght finale for the series. I dont think every thing can get wrapped up next week. I have been catching up on Season 2 of Masters of Horror. Its been uneven this year ,but "screwFly solution" and the one by John Carptender were well worth watching. Scrubs has had a banner year. 24 is holding my interest. BSG is getting whiney, but I still go out of my way to watch it every week. Dresden Files is decent. I love the lead actor. Prison Break is winding down and I dont plan on watching it any more. NCIS and the CSI are ok, but I usually watch them on ON DEMAND in a three or four hour marathon on rainy days or laundry day. I did watch the Law and Order shows, but have not bothered too much this year. I need to read more books looking at this list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSword Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Crossroads with Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca, from 1986. Story of the an old blues man, Willie Brown (Joe Seneca) who sold his soul to the devil for musical fame. Eugene 'Lightning Kid' Marton (Ralph Macchio) is a classical guitarist who yearns to be a bluesman. He breaks Wille Brown from a prison old folks home and heads to Mississippi. The story is fairly straightforward, but the best part of the movie is the soundtrack and the conitunuous exploration of blues music throughout the movie. The finale is a guitar showdown of Steve Vai vs. Steve Vai. (for the showdown of Eugene vs Jack Butler as the Devil's guitarist, Vai plays both sides of the duel). Ry Cooder plays the slide guitar parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Confoundo Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Prison Break is winding down and I dont plan on watching it any more. This is the kind of show that should have been a mini-series, or done in the British TV fashion of a limited run. There's just nowhere else for this show to go... I have no idea how they'll manage to pull off a third season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I'll admit I liked the new Bond and the way the show went. I don't think it will last though. I am sure someone with just have to "improve" the next one. Yeah, that's my biggest fear. Yep, they did a great "reboot" of the thing, now let's see the next one have just as much character development and reliance on the actor rather than the gadgets. . . . Or, knowing Hollywood, they'll totally miss the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? ". . . The Chinese have a lotta Hells . . ." :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I think that what really holds Big Trouble together is Kurt Russell as Jack Burton. Almost the perfect everyman hero IMHO. Without his perfomance the movie would probably have only been so-so. Absolutely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? . . . Or, knowing Hollywood, they'll totally miss the point. Tisk tisk You disappoint me, oh feathered one of the sharp pointy beak..... To miss the point they have to realize there even is a point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? So, I picked up the Extended Director's Final Cut of Alexander cheap, on the recommendation of a friend who said this version was much better than the theatrical release, and in the hope that it would give me ideas for my fantasy campaign. My oh my, this is really, really bad. Terrible acting choices. Alexander as vague, drifting stoner Scotsman? Or whatever the hell that accent was? Terrible dialog. Every character introduced by name and mini bio in dialog during what is meant as normal conversation. Very, very stupid pre battle speech. Why can't a pre-battle speech in a Hollywood film be made without twelve or more references to "freedom"? These are classical era Greek Macedonians who came to Asia for loot and glory; they live under a hereditary absolute monarchy most notable for its practice of intra-family assassination. They don't give a rat's ass for freedom. Their pre battle speech should be something like "Kill the smeggers, boys! They're fat goat f*****g bastards every one, so kill 'em dead and each of you'll have more wine and slave girls than you can handle! MACEDONIA!" Instead, we get "Blah blah Freedom", all in a here and gone again semi-Scottish accent. It's just sad. On the other hand, the set design and costuming are nice. If I do watch the rest, maybe I'll turn off the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Tisk tisk You disappoint me, oh feathered one of the sharp pointy beak..... To miss the point they have to realize there even is a point Oh, right. Forgot. Silly me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Silly owel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? last few things I saw Revolver. The ending on this just does not make sense at all. The Manchurian Candidate (2005). The original is much better. Denzel is always watchable and Meryl Streep has fun as the evil mother but the original had real enemies in the Commies. 4 episodes of the Naked Pilgrim. Brian Sewell art critic of the Evening Standard set off to go from Paris to Compostella di Santiago in Spain on the Pilgrim trail. Brian talks like he has a plum in his mouth and waxes efulgantly on art and architecture as he visits various churches and cathedrals on the way South. Last stop in France is Loudres which was very commercialised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Jake 2.0 is having a marathon today, I've been recording it, and turning it on everyonce in awhile. It was a good series that died too soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spence Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Criminal Minds. It was a great program its first season and I think it could still keep it up. But they are starting to move from the concept and associated character development, to character "over development by use of tired cliché" problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliceTheOwl Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Josh and I watched The Machinist last night. I'm rather surprised to find I didn't have weird dreams after watching that movie. I liked it, but it was weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Major weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemming Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Just saw the tail end of Transporter 2. Ok, that was a funny fight scene in the garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Rose Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I just finished up a couple of movies this weekened. First off; Battle Royale. I'm not sure how many people have even heard of this movie, but I totally reccomend it. Good luck finding it. (Youtube has it in parts) I also watched Casino Royale. I loved it. Despite how different the new bond is, I really liked him. Grand. Then the new Rocky. Wasn't bad, but yeah. Check it out. Also watched the Cowboy Bebop movie. So i veg'd all weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I just finished up a couple of movies this weekened. First off; Battle Royale. I'm not sure how many people have even heard of this movie, but I totally reccomend it. Good luck finding it. (Youtube has it in parts) i didn't like this one, myself. The manga was much better. As for myself, I just watched Memphis Belle. I also bought a copy of The Host from the foreign (i.e. Asian) DVD stand at the local mall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Rose Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Yes, the Manga was better, but not many people are willing to go out and read (let alone find and buy) it. But overall, not a bad movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OddHat Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I liked Battle Royal. Kitano Takeshi is always a treat to watch, and the kid actors did a pretty good job considering that all of them were pretty close to the ages they portrayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susano Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? I liked Battle Royal. Kitano Takeshi is always a treat to watch' date=' and the kid actors did a pretty good job considering that all of them were pretty close to the ages they portrayed.[/quote'] And it has the girl who played Gogo in Kill Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Re: What Have You Watched Recently? Letters From Iwo Jima. A beautiful movie; no glorification, no whitewash, just what was, and men dying for what they did and did not believe in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.