Films

[longshot7]

saw Letters from Iwo Jima over the weekend. Wow, just a terrific film. Loads better than Flags of our Fathers. Basically a small group of Japanese soldiers are given this suicide mission to defend this tiny island against a zillion Americans, and told that they'll receive no air support, navy support, or reinforcements. Watanabe and the other lead (an unknown) are amazing. It's a little depressing as you realize almost every single character you've met will die, but as the story unfolds, I found myself getting so tense as to when and how. And for the first time, I rooted against the Americans. Definitely Best Picture material.

[Chisoxfn]

saw Letters from Iwo Jima over the weekend. Wow, just a terrific film. Loads better than Flags of our Fathers. Basically a small group of Japanese soldiers are given this suicide mission to defend this tiny island against a zillion Americans, and told that they'll receive no air support, navy support, or reinforcements. Watanabe and the other lead (an unknown) are amazing. It's a little depressing as you realize almost every single character you've met will die, but as the story unfolds, I found myself getting so tense as to when and how. And for the first time, I rooted against the Americans. Definitely Best Picture material.

Speaking of which, I watched Flags of our Fathers last night for the first time. I had high expectations for it and ended up being a little dissapointed. Overall it was a solid flick, just didn't meet my expectations.

 

I'll definitely want to check out the version from the Japanese perspective.

[WHarris1]

I don't really think I'm exaggerating when I say the Departed is one of the best movies I have ever seen...

[Kalapse]

I don't really think I'm exaggerating when I say the Departed is one of the best movies I have ever seen...

And I thought it was dissappointing, of course I recently saw Infernal Affairs which is basically just the japanese version and a much better movie all around.

[BobDylan]

And I thought it was dissappointing, of course I recently saw Infernal Affairs which is basically just the japanese version and a much better movie all around.

 

The Departed was a remake of Internal Affairs. It doesn't claim not to be. They even gave Siu Fai Mak a writing credit. I haven't seen it, but the trusty people at IMDB rate The Departed higher than Internal Affairs. I have a hard time imagining somebody who's only been directing film since 1998 can out-do Martin Scorsese; original, remake, whatever. I will reserve judgment until I see it, though.

 

I'm interested to know about the scene in The Departed when Nicholson's crew meets the Japanese mobsters. In Internal Affairs, was it just reverse--Japanese mobsters meeting with American mobsters? Did the Japanese mobsters rip American mobsters like Nicholson did?

[bmags]

i loved the departed, have to say though, the handjob for boston made me sick.

[Kalapse]

The Departed was a remake of Internal Affairs. It doesn't claim not to be. They even gave Siu Fai Mak a writing credit. I haven't seen it, but the trusty people at IMDB rate The Departed higher than Internal Affairs. I have a hard time imagining somebody who's only been directing film since 1998 can out-do Martin Scorsese; original, remake, whatever. I will reserve judgment until I see it, though.

 

I'm interested to know about the scene in The Departed when Nicholson's crew meets the Japanese mobsters. In Internal Affairs, was it just reverse--Japanese mobsters meeting with American mobsters? Did the Japanese mobsters rip American mobsters like Nicholson did?

I know they embrace the fact that it's a remake, I never hinted otherwise. The Departed is a pretty good movie, I enjoyed watching it and all I guess I was just expecting it to be a more enjoyable watch than Infernal Affairs. I mean Infernal Affairs is done entirely in Cantonese so your stuck reading subtitles throughout much of the action which gives the the Departed an immediate edge in that it's in english. Infernal Affairs also had advantage in that I saw it before watching the Departed so nothing in Scorsese's version really surprised me except maybe the ending which was changed for the American version.

 

As for the scene you mentioned. That particular bust was changed a bit, it was a drug deal not an exchange for microchips and the deal went down between the Japanese Mob boss Sam (Nicholson's character) and the Thai's. It was much more of a friendly Exchange than what we saw in the Departed. With the Thai boss bringing a cigar to Sam as a gift and joking around while the transaction went down elsewhere.

 

Anyway, The Departed in all was a pretty good movie I guess I was just disappointed that it wasn't any better than the original. I recommend you see Infernal Affairs, it's damn good.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Man, I hope '300' doesn't suck, because what I've seen looks amazing.

[DrunkBomber]

i was really dissapointed in the Departed. Di anyoone else notice that lack of attempt to set up the characters. We got no background on anyone. I also saw the Guardian recently and thought it was ok.

[LosMediasBlancas]

i was really dissapointed in the Departed. Di anyoone else notice that lack of attempt to set up the characters. We got no background on anyone. I also saw the Guardian recently and thought it was ok.

 

 

I fail to understand the hype over The Departed, but I'm in the very small minority on that one

[Buehrle>Wood]

300 will be teh bestest movie evar.

[Flash Tizzle]

i was really dissapointed in the Departed. Di anyoone else notice that lack of attempt to set up the characters. We got no background on anyone. I also saw the Guardian recently and thought it was ok.

As was I.

 

The entire idea of DiCaprio entering prison in order to have established street credibility never flew with me. Does anyone really want to to be a police officer to the extent that prison time is necessary? And then, upon entering the police force, risk your life to infiltrate an organized crime syndicate? Cmon, now. Someone would have to pay me millions to consider that.

 

Several other points:

 

-If Mark Walhberg isn't in another film ever again I'll be happy

-It was never explained what the contents of the brown envelope were

-How didn't DiCaprio identify Damon anytime from the theater to the alley?

-The ending. Ridiculous, really. I'm not sure exactly how much was taken from Internal Affairs, but it felt jumbled up. Like someone thought, "well, I don't know how we're going to end this, but let's have A shoot B, A shoot C and D shoot A. Then after that, E shots D."

-Damon's ability to locate keys while typing into his phone which rests in his pocket.

-FBI's camera position in the wearhouse just happened to have a blindspot where the exchage happened.

-Why wasn't it explained the connection Damon had with the golden dome atop the church? I figure it's supposed to signify his guilt, but I don't know for sure.

-It should have been known from the minute DiCaprio failed to provide his personal information he was the rat.

-Tell me that picture the therapist had of her childhood didn't look incredibly bad.

-Van Morrison singing Comfortably Numb. Why God?

 

Perhaps I'm being too critical, but being a Scorcese film I expected more from him. It was still a good movie; just not on the level of Goodfellas or Casino. One of the brightest spots of the film is DiCaprio's acting. He has to be considered one of the best actors within my generation.

Edited February 19, 2007 by Flash Tizzle

[bmags]

As was I.

 

The entire idea of DiCaprio entering prison in order to have established street credibility never flew with me. Does anyone really want to to be a police officer to the extent that prison time is necessary? And then, upon entering the police force, risk your life to infiltrate an organized crime syndicate? Cmon, now. Someone would have to pay me millions to consider that.

 

Several other points:

 

-If Mark Walhberg isn't in another film ever again I'll be happy

-It was never explained what the contents of the brown envelope were

-How didn't DiCaprio identify Damon anytime from the theater to the alley?

-The ending. Ridiculous, really. I'm not sure exactly how much was taken from Internal Affairs, but it felt jumbled up. Like someone thought, "well, I don't know how we're going to end this, but let's have A shoot B, A shoot C and D shoot A. Then after that, E shots D."

-Damon's ability to locate keys while typing into his phone which rests in his pocket.

-FBI's camera position in the wearhouse just happened to have a blindspot where the exchage happened.

-Why wasn't it explained the connection Damon had with the golden dome atop the church? I figure it's supposed to signify his guilt, but I don't know for sure.

-It should have been known from the minute DiCaprio failed to provide his personal information he was the rat.

-Tell me that picture the therapist had of her childhood didn't look incredibly bad.

-Van Morrison singing Comfortably Numb. Why God?

 

Perhaps I'm being too critical, but being a Scorcese film I expected more from him. It was still a good movie; just not on the level of Goodfellas or Casino. One of the brightest spots of the film is DiCaprio's acting. He has to be considered one of the best actors within my generation.

 

I'll go by points. One - DiCaprio was obviously messed up and at first the thought of taking on a new identity seemed to please him, while he justified it as doing some good. Clearly people do offer to go undercover in major mob families, i don't know how this is different from donnie brasco.

 

-i loved mark wahlberg, he did the best with what his character was, the epitomy of what everyone from boston thinks they are, tough, witty and awful accents. But he just comes off looking like a prick,, like they do.

-brown envelope...i'm sure it was just proof of his identity and proof of damon's guilt. It didn't really need to be discussed as he got back to her before two weeks.

-for serious? damon wearing a baseball cap and big coat, and never turns around, and whats more is dicaprio has no idea what this inside rat looks like, as opposed to damon knowing what the crew looks like.

-i liked the ending, dicaprio clearly being the protagonist and everyone rooting for him to get out of this clean and to take damon down, and to lead everyone into thinking he's in control, only to have the self-serving players in damon take everyone down, and seemingly get away with it, only to have him punished as well. It didn't glorify anyone, just hell out and out and the most complete form of closure. I liked it quite a bit. No real different from reservoir dogs ending.

-This doesn't bother me at all, because one time my phone screen broke and i was able to text by memory.

-this part confused me. I think it just eccentuated the f***up of the camera guy, who clearly left a large blindspot, or was insinuating that nicholson knew of the raid already and the camera set up.

-I'm not sure explaining it was necessary, directors that go out of their way to explain symbolism end up looking like tony scott.

-Dicaprio did give his information. He only did not stay and wait with the rest of them.

-It did look bad.

-I don't know i f'n hate pink floyd.

[Flash Tizzle]

I'll go by points. One - DiCaprio was obviously messed up and at first the thought of taking on a new identity seemed to please him, while he justified it as doing some good. Clearly people do offer to go undercover in major mob families, i don't know how this is different from donnie brasco.

 

It's not the idea of DiCaprio going under cover, but having to sit through prison for several months as a precursor.

 

-for serious? damon wearing a baseball cap and big coat, and never turns around, and whats more is dicaprio has no idea what this inside rat looks like, as opposed to damon knowing what the crew looks like.

I thought DiCaprio had a decent look when Damon began to turn his head sideways, which forced him to hide alongside a store.

 

-Dicaprio did give his information. He only did not stay and wait with the rest of them.

 

His reluctance to first provide the information, then soon after leave is what I was referring to. I dont' know why I wrote he failed to provide his information, as it would have made the entire chase sequence useless.

 

I'm not sure explaining it was necessary, directors that go out of their way to explain symbolism end up looking like tony scott.

I agree about not having to explain every detail within a film, or rather, having everything represent something other than itself. David Lynch's films can be absurd at times with this idea.

 

For me, Damon staring at the dome made it appear as if he had a connection with it. Whether something happened there, or he just felt emotionally attached. I don't believe it was the same church he was an alter boy for....

[Kyyle23]

HBO has been running "Stay" with Ryan Gosling, Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts recently, and I sat down and watched it the other day. I was pretty impressed, it is quite a confusing storyline and it really doesnt make any sense until the end, and it holds a really dark aura about it throughout the movie. Ryan Gosling has the "screwed up in the head college kid" act down perfectly now, I have seen him play the same character in a few different roles, but he does it quite well. I recommend checking this one out

[bmags]

For me, Damon staring at the dome made it appear as if he had a connection with it. Whether something happened there, or he just felt emotionally attached. I don't believe it was the same church he was an alter boy for....

 

y'know maybe this was just one of those "showing off the city" dealies. Like i said, the handjob over boston made me sick. I hate that town.

[Milkman delivers]

It's not the idea of DiCaprio going under cover, but having to sit through prison for several months as a precursor.

I thought DiCaprio had a decent look when Damon began to turn his head sideways, which forced him to hide alongside a store.

His reluctance to first provide the information, then soon after leave is what I was referring to. I dont' know why I wrote he failed to provide his information, as it would have made the entire chase sequence useless.

I agree about not having to explain every detail within a film, or rather, having everything represent something other than itself. David Lynch's films can be absurd at times with this idea.

 

For me, Damon staring at the dome made it appear as if he had a connection with it. Whether something happened there, or he just felt emotionally attached. I don't believe it was the same church he was an alter boy for....

 

I'm pretty sure it was the state building, and I think they even mentioned that Damon aspired to become a politician or something like that.

 

Plus, the Van Morrison version of that song is awesome.

[LosMediasBlancas]

HBO has been running "Stay" with Ryan Gosling, Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts recently, and I sat down and watched it the other day. I was pretty impressed, it is quite a confusing storyline and it really doesnt make any sense until the end, and it holds a really dark aura about it throughout the movie. Ryan Gosling has the "screwed up in the head college kid" act down perfectly now, I have seen him play the same character in a few different roles, but he does it quite well. I recommend checking this one out

 

 

I fell asleep during that movie, not because it sux, but because I was exhausted. I keep meaning to get back to it.

[Soxy]

I went and saw Music and Lyrics with a couple of girlfriends over the weekend. Very different from the Oscar stuff we've been seeing lately. It was your typical Romantic comedy, the writing was somewhat zippier than most, and there were a couple of good one liners in there.

 

Drew Barrymore annoyed me. But I've always had a thing for Hugh Grant, and I don't mind any movie that I can watch him in for an hour and a half. Also, I love those 80s music and how hilariously awful their music videos were, so that also made it fun to watch.

 

As far as RomComs go, probably middle to slightly above average.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Has Hugh Grant ever played an American in a film?

[Soxy]

Has Hugh Grant ever played an American in a film?

Not in any movie I've ever seen. I scanned his IMDB page, but none of the random one's I've never seen looked like he played an American.

[Kid Gleason]

Why are we asking if he has ever played an American?

 

I like Hugh, always have.

 

I used ti like Barrymore. Now I pretty much can't stand her. But...as much as I hate to say it...I kind of want to see that movie. I can wait until DVD though.

[shipps]

Why are we asking if he has ever played an American?

 

I like Hugh, always have.

 

I used ti like Barrymore. Now I pretty much can't stand her. But...as much as I hate to say it...I kind of want to see that movie. I can wait until DVD though.

Speaking of Barrymore,I have watched Fever Pitch three times this week and dont feel at all guilty.

[Soxy]

I saw Half Nelson last night. It was a very Indie movie and definitely had that Indie vibe to it. The movie was uneven, I thought. The acting was good, Ryan Nelson deserved that Oscar nomination, and I thought the girl that played Drey was also really good. The major problem I had with the film was that it just couldn't keep my attention. I felt like the acting was too good for the direction they received and the way the film was cut and, basically, the way the story was told.

 

The movie was also a lot funnier than I expected (more funny in a Welcome to the Dollhouse way, than anything else). Not a bad rental movie, but I'm glad I didn't pay full movie price for it.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Why are we asking if he has ever played an American?

 

I like Hugh, always have.

 

I used ti like Barrymore. Now I pretty much can't stand her. But...as much as I hate to say it...I kind of want to see that movie. I can wait until DVD though.

 

 

It is just an observation about Grant, that's all. To me, he seems like the same guy in every film, kinda typecast.

 

Has anyone seen that documentary about a guy trying to get a date with Drew Barrymore?