my new hobby is to write a review on netflix immediately after watching a movie. I'm not a good writer, I know that.

500 Days of Summer

You know, I guess I didn't get what the significance was of the whole 500 days thing. It took him 1 year and a half to meet Zooey, get with her, get over her and then meet the the chick from Friday Night Lights? There is something about Zooey Deschanel that bothers me a bit, she's very attractive , but I feel like she is trying too hard to appeal to the artsy-fartsy crowd and I don't like that about her. 500 Days of Summer, a film about a boy who seems like a big crybaby about women and he falls in love with a cool girl who doesn't want a relationship and doesn't believe in love, very cliche. They date without a label for a while and then one day she leaves and he's hurt over it. She suddenly gets married and the end. I liked the acting from the boy from 3rd Rock and the directing was pretty good for what it was. There was good chemistry between the actors, but something big felt missing from this love story that claims at the beginning that it's not a love story. 2.5 stars.

I liked 500 Days of Summer. I thought it was really funny. The Han Solo thing had me LOL'ing.

BTW, finally got around to watching Zombieland. Dig it. Also, a very funny movie.

ya, Zombieland was awesome!

The first 30 or so minutes introducing the characters and rules were classic. Loved stuff like the "double tap" in writing to point out the Woody Harrelson character using it.

Speaking of Woody Harrelson he has somewhat surprisingly turned into a damn good actor over the past 5 or so years.

Yeah. I especially loved the Cardio bit at the beginning, where he was running laps in the parking lot to outrun the zombies to get back into his car. Funny, funny stuff.

Been watching movies all weekend with the girlfriend.

Tin Man: Great wizard of Oz remake. She loved it.

Let the Right one In: Best vampire movie in a while. Loved that netflix streaming has the subtitled version to stream rather than the dub. GF said twilight ripped off alot from LTROI. Dunno.

Seven Pounds: I thought it was under rated. Much better than I thought it would be.

Dr. Horrible's sing along Blog: For what it is, its brilliant. Had to convince the gf to give it a try. She didnt like the ending tho.

I think your writing is fine, but I'd try to avoid spoilers (like the part about her getting married) if possible.

Writing about anything when you give a shit about how it reads is a good way to work on it.

This. I'm sort of obsessed with this, because I'm an English teacher. Study after study shows that people actually caring about what they're writing and how they present themselves in writing is the essential step to them becoming good writers. How many people do you know (hell... how many of you?) couldn't write worth a shit until you entered into your field of study or current job and then suddenly... you became a better writer? Until what you're writing is something you're invested in... it's hard to become a better writer. This is why teaching writing to teenagers is such a hard job. I have your kids that care... and then I have the majority of kids who don't care. Which is why so many teachers resort to "soft" writing (introspective personal narratives) in an effort to get the kids to write about something that matters to them. This often ends up in shitty writing because the kids don't care and the subject/topic assigned has no rigor. Writing pedagogy is a Catch-22.

Watched 'The Informant'

It wasn't quite as funny as i thought it would be, it caught my interest initially but then half way through i was wanting it to end. Worth a rent, if you like Damon.

Watched 'The boys are back',

pretty good flick, nothing ground breaking but a little sad, worth a rent. Clive Owen was pretty good in it.

Personally, I avoid plot summaries because they inherently contain spoilers.

I watched Hard Candy a few nights ago with Ellen Page....that's one twisted film. I vaguely knew what it was about going in, but still wasn't totally prepared. It's hard to give it a rating. I nearly turned the channel a couple of times, but felt compelled to see it through. I'd probably give it 6 stars out of 10. Kudos to the cast for tackling very difficult material, but not the kind of movie I want to see very often.

Bad Lieutenant 2: Wow kids, don't do drugs. Apparently they cause nonsensical reptile fantasy.

IGUANA CAM!

I actually laughed out loud after the fisrt minute or so of Iguana Vision (TM)

Just finished Brothers - I was impressed. I like those character dramas, though, and I enjoyed it. I think it works because of the performances by Portman, Gyllenhaal and Maguire. Without those three, I think it comes off as a soap opera, but on their shoulders it's quite good.

IMHO.

Portman was so hot.

Agree. The acting by the leads is pretty much what made it work well enough. The original was very similar but seemed to be without the heavy handed soapy shit that the remake was close to venturing into.

FYP.

John Woo's Red Cliff is kind of badass. I'd call it uneven and poorly paced but I enjoyed it anyway because I love the setting of Three Kingdoms-era China. Anyone who has played the video game franchises Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Dynasty Warriors will know the characters already.

I thought Portman was a bad choice, I honestly do think she is just too hot for that role. She's a great actress and she did a good job, but they should have made her look more like a home wife or found a home wife looking girl. It bothered me for some strange reason, but I really liked it nevertheless. The first time I ever saw Tobey Maguire act

What makes you think home wives (which I assume means the same thing as "housewife" so correct me if I'm wrong) can't be hot?

Hot Tub Time Machine was badass!

they aren't going to be that hot, she played a military house wife who is alone trying to raise kids and working hard at it. But yet she had time to get her hair done everyday and wear makeup. I don't buy it.

Run, Fat Boy, Run -- This film had played various times on television but I intentionally skipped over it as it didn't have much appeal, especially being directed by David Schwimmer and classified as the cliché romance/comedy. It featured a redeeming quality, however, and that being Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead fame. Pegg plays an ordinary guy (a bit chubby, has bad habits, occasionally impersonates Julia Roberts in The Runaway Bride by ditching his fiancee on their wedding day. You know, the usual.) and, per stereotypical Hollywood love story, does wacky things to prove to his love interest that he has "changed."

It's quite predictable and okay for a few sporadic laughs.

Defendor -- This may be favorite Woody Harrelson film next to After the Sunset and Zombieland. I really don't understand why it's listed under the comedy genre, though. Sure, it's comedic in some aspects, but the story is quite "dark" as it progresses. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

lol, i know some hot military houswives that are as good looking if not better than her. It can happen....

How to Train Your Dragon holds up on the third viewing.

Sherlock Holmes (thus far, as I had to pause it after I was too tired to complete) has superb acting and a below average storyline. I still can't grasp Holmes as a fighter/explosions expert.

Zombieland was great, IMO.

FWIW, I would strongly suggest that if you are fans of Super Troopers and you have a Blu Ray player that you buy the Blu Ray version. It is loaded with extra features, including a drinking game

ROFL

I just watched Antichrist.... what a ****ed up film.

that movie paranormal activity was pretty intense, I got a kick out of it.

Extract was very good. Starts out a bit slow, but it hits home with (I'm sure) a lot of men out there...

I've heard bits and pieces.

I can only assume it's not as ****ed up as Irreversible.

The two scenes in Irreversible stick with me a lot longer than anything in Antichrist, but Antichrist as a whole is more messed up.

Speaking of ****ed up. And you really do have to watch about halfway through the trailer to appreciate just how screwed up this movie concept is. Yuck.

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I watched 2012 last night. It was horrible. Don't waste your time.

Just watched The Blind Side. It was enjoyable enough. The film is narratively structured in too "Hollywood" of a way for the film to be anything other than average. No way did Sandra Bullock deserve an Oscar for her performance.

The neatest part of the film was the dedication to time-appropriate authenticity. Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban, Lou Holtz, Tommy Tuberville and Huston Nutt were all representing the universities they were coaching when Oher was in high school. Fulmer and Saban were naturals on-camera, too.

Hold on. Did everyone already know about the Human Centipede? Because if it wasn't already well-publicized, and it didn't even get a reply/comment... WTF?

I watched the preview and read the wiki page. It's gross.

The demented doctor in Human Centipede has apparently never learned that most golden of rules: you never go ass to mouth.

It was solid, more like a sunday night movie on abc crap

Same here.

Just watched "Moon" again and still was still just as good.

Even if you didn't think "Moon" was outstanding what score was better last year?

Still a bit disturbed. And looked into the process...ugh.

I just noticed that Moon is on Netflix Instant Queue, for anyone that hasn't watched it yet.

I watched Coco avant Chanel with the wife last night, starring Audrey Tautou. First movie of her's I've seen that I didn't enjoy. It was marginally interesting, but I didn't connect with any of the characters and subsequently just didn't give a shit about any of it. It actually seemed like they weren't too interested in making you care about the characters.

yep...noticed it as well. Ill have to try and check it out this weekend.

I really wish Netflix would make more "new releases" available for instant viewing.

Coraline was fun. I don't think I'd want to watch it again, though.

I've said it a dozen times, but Moon rocked. Awesome flick.

When I first saw there was a Nick Cage version of the Bad Lieutenant I thought it was a terrble idea, but now I kind of want to see it.

Warner Herzog is the director. That should be enough to warrant a rental.

That's why I had a change of mind.

I've never seen the original with Harvey Keitel. It's on the Movies I Should Have Seen By Now list.

Repost x12

Black Dynamite was pretty damn funny. If this is any indication, Michael Jai White should be involved in more movies than just the Direct to DVD action-ers he's been cranking out since Spawn. He co-wrote too, I highly recommend it.

I liked it...I thought Nic Cage did a hell of a job in it too for what it's worth. Definitely plays a dark character with a troubled past. One of his better movies in a while in my opinion. It's a bit of a trip though this movie (iguanas and such...you'll see what I mean). So just know that going into it and you should enjoy it, as I did.

The Princess and The Frog is visually stunning but the plot lacks a certain tension to propel it forward.

very, very ****ed up...

Very ****ed up film is one thing... but was it a very good ****ed up film? That is the important question here? That's got William Dafoe in it correct? I think I recall hearing about it a while back. Don't know much about it though other than that.

I can't answer that question, if it was good or not. Disturbing, for sure.

Willem Dafoe is in it, and his performance is quite good.

I thought it was just sort of blah......

Hmmmm.....might have to give it a gander and see what I think.

Pirate Radio - meh.....5/10 Boring. Upon further research I see this film was recut after a poor UK showing, and it still sucks.

Just watched Avatar for the first time. Looks great on my TV and Blu-Ray, but man... WTF was the hype with this film? Predictable to every detail. Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but holy ****! Totally lacking.

I liked it, but I'm glad I only spent $20 on the Blu-Ray and not $50 at the theater to see it.

Good movie you've never heard of.... "I Sell the Dead"

See it, one way or another.

Wow,I absolutely disagree,this one's going into my collection but then again I'm a music fanatic and thought that even though it was loosely based on a true story it was something completely new and refreshing.The soundtrack was great as well.

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Ninja was a pretty fun kick ass movie. It had ninja's doing ninja shit and I thought it was pretty good! Don't expect any Oscar performances and you should enjoy it

You didnt see it in 3D. You missed out. You suck. :)

So I hear. WTF is the big ass deal with 3D, anyway? Those glasses give me a headache after like 10 minutes of sitting with my eyes crossed.

For all those who are into a deeper depth of film discussion and enjoy straying from the mainstream and box office hits (although that's certainly welcomed, too), I urge you to follow a new blog that features some of the most intelligent folks writing about movies I have yet encountered: http://idfilm.blogspot.com/

You can also check out their new discussion board: http://idfilm.proboards.com/index.cgi

I have been chatting with some of these guys for several years now, and they have taught me a good deal about art, criticism, and many other topics. If that's something you are interested in, dive in!

Agreed I loved it as well. I found the movie to be quite fun and the music was great as well. I happened to see a DVD screener of the UK version about 2 or 3 months perhaps before it was released in theatres here in the US and before it was recut. At the time I saw it, it was called "The Boat That Rocked" then they indeed switched to "Pirate Radio". So I don't know if I'd like the recut version more than the uncut version.


Agreed. This one suprised me a bit. Way better than I expected!

Just finished watching redcliff part 2, Im still amazed by it all.

I actually forgive John Woo for making Windtalkers after this movie

This movie is amazing. i picked part I up at blockbuster and watched it at work. I had part 2 but realized I had to watch it on blu ray. This is the best movie in Ive seen in years, just oozes with epicness. I dont want to give anything away, but its a must watch

I just watched the U.S. theatrical cut on Blu-ray two weeks ago. This week I have the extended international version (split across 2 Blu-rays) coming in.

Anyone who has played a Dynasty Warriors or Romance of the Three Kingdoms game has to watch Red Cliff. Its totally a movie about (and setting up/contextualizing) the Battle of Chi Bi.

Just watched last night "The Lovely Bones", this may not be for everyone. I immediately thought of Donnie Darko, it had the same style, sounds, erie effects, you name it, it was there. If you liked Donnie Darko and have a great sound system, then rent this film.

TLB is a murder mystery but without the who dunit, what it has is great visual and audio effects and a superb job by Stanley Tucci as the killer, not something I'm giving away. The victim in the movie provides the voice over and tells you from the beginning what happens to herself.

You may of seen Stanley as Meryl Streep's assistant in The Devil Wear Prada or as her husband in Julie and Julian, but you might not even recognize him in this one and he was nominated for best supporting actor. The film was directed by Peter Jackson. I've never seen any of the Lord of the Rings but did enjoy King Kong and District 9, so you can be aware that he doesn't just tell a story simply.

BTW, great older film I saw for the second time the other night. "Requeim for a Dream" from 2000 on HDNET. What really caught me this time was the soundtrack, yes it's great and really fits the story but it also reminded me a lot of the soundtrack that won an oscar a couple of years ago. I think it was the rap movie with Terrance Howard, I believe they stole their music from the Requiem soundtrack.

Clint Mansell is an amazing composer. Requiem is awesome but I think The Fountain goes above and beyond it.

And I have issues with TLB but not for what you're thinking. In fact, maybe I should write up my thoughts at some point.

:spock: