Last Movie You Watched

[DavidW]

Dave, I think the shaky cam needs to be buried in an unmarked grave.  I hate it and feel that it's time should be done (never should have caught on).  I never feel immersed with quick pans, zoom in, zoom out, and shake the camera all around.  You know even if you disliked Avatar, it didn't use that type of lazy, stupid camera shots, and if it helps move people past jerking the camera (because you know those special effects will be emulated for years to come) around like the camera man was a spastic monkey on crack, then thumbs up!

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I think the shaky cam needs to be buried in an unmarked grave.  I hate it and feel that it's time should be done (never should have caught on).  I never feel immersed with quick pans, zoom in, zoom out, and shake the camera all around.  You know even if you disliked Avatar, it didn't use that type of lazy, stupid camera shots, and if it helps move people past jerking the camera (because you know those special effects will be emulated for years to come) around like the camera man was a spastic monkey on crack, then thumbs up!

Good evening David - guess that you're agreeing w/ my feelings about this so-called 'modern' film making - I just cannot stand this approach - now, I'm an 'old guy' and love films from bygone days (30s, 40s, & 50s) - just glad that I own many of these older films on DVDs or burned DVDs. 

BTW, I enjoyed Avatar - Susan & I saw it in a 3-D theater and she was a fan to the END!  I was surprised - plan to do a Netflix rental for the den TV - won't be the same, but will definitely enjoy the pic more than the one mentioned above -    Dave

[DavidW]

Well I'm glad to see that I'm not alone here in liking Avatar!

[Brian]

Funny, Dave and Dave, I really hate the "queasy cam" movement - an especially bad example is the otherwise good movie Rachel Getting Married - makes me feel a little sick and it's hard to get what's going on. That said, I still loved Hurt Locker and didn't even remember that the film used that technique, except at the very beginning when the robot is driving down the street to defuse the bomb.

[MN Dave]

DAYBREAKERS

It actually wasn't too bad.

[DavidW]

Funny, Dave and Dave, I really hate the "queasy cam" movement - an especially bad example is the otherwise good movie Rachel Getting Married - makes me feel a little sick and it's hard to get what's going on. That said, I still loved Hurt Locker and didn't even remember that the film used that technique, except at the very beginning when the robot is driving down the street to defuse the bomb.

I think that the worst offender is Cloverfield, because even if it emulates someone holding a camera capturing it live... as Ebert (I think I recall it was him?) pointed out even an amateur could hold the camera steady most of the time.

But it's my fault for ranting about shakey cam, I think it's the fast zoom and pans that Dave is talking about.  Hurt Locker uses it alot, I identify that style very closely with Battlestar Galactica if you've seen that show.    I'm surprised to see Rachel Getting Married using shakey cam, it seems highly inappropriate movie.  Unless it's done in the faux documentary style... sigh...

[MN Dave]

Hurt Locker, The (2009) - Oscar for BEST PICTURE - Netflix rental; Susan (i.e. Harpo) walked out after 20 minutes; I'm ready to turn off this film @ one hour - guess that I had more hope?  This is an important topic - war in Iraq in 2004; the 'bomb team' defusing IEDs, but just boring for me; plus this modern 'movie making' of FAST scenes that completely lose an observer has become intolerable for me in the current film making 'paradigms' - I really DISLIKE this film making - well about to turn off the DVD - sorry!   

Damn. Thanks for that. I thought I was the only one.

[DavidW]

DAYBREAKERS

It actually wasn't too bad.

I loved it, great concept explored indepth.  It's what I am Legend should have been.  The ending isn't satisfying enough for me, but pretty darned cool.  It launched me into a vampire craze I watched

* The Horror of Dracula (Cushing, Lee)
* Blood+ the Last Vampire (anime Greg will be pleased)
* Ultraviolet (a British miniseries from the 90s)

And today I picked up True Blood Season 2!

[MN Dave]

I loved it, great concept explored indepth.  It's what I am Legend should have been.  The ending isn't satisfying enough for me, but pretty darned cool.  It launched me into a vampire craze I watched

* The Horror of Dracula (Cushing, Lee)
* Blood+ the Last Vampire (anime Greg will be pleased)
* Ultraviolet (a British miniseries from the 90s)

And today I picked up True Blood Season 2!

My wife picked up TB Season 2 today as well. Should be some fun viewing.

[DavidW]

My wife picked up TB Season 2 today as well. Should be some fun viewing.

Yeah I've been looking forward to it for a year!  Ever since I saw season 1 I wanted more.  It's funny that is one of my favorite tv shows, yet it's on a channel that I don't get.

[MN Dave]

Same here, my friend. Sons of Anarchy is good too if you haven't seen it.

[DavidW]

Okey doke I've added it to my queue. 

Oh yeah thread duty:
House of the Devil-- wouldn't have watched it were it not for it being a Kermode dvd pick.  Excellent, slow build up of suspense much more masterful than the torture porn of late.

Iron Man 2-- this movie has alot of dead weight in the form of a bunch of extra characters that do nothing.  And all of that Shield subplot to advertise a movie that won't show for two years annoys me.  Still love the main characters, and it was good enough.

[SonicMan46]

Damn. Thanks for that. I thought I was the only one.

Hey Dave - I guess that there are a LOT more people out there getting 'fed up' w/ this 'schizophrenic yo-yo film making'  - thanks for the support! 

Now, a 'new' movie that both Susan & I just loved, i.e. Babies - filming children born on different continents from their pre-birth to their 2nd year of life or so - just an absolute joy to watch; of course at one of our small independent theaters downtown (not going to hit the major chains).  I must admit that being a parent likely greatly enhances this film - brought back so many memories of our son in those first couple of years, i.e. discovering his feet, his penis, crawling, and then trying to stand up and walk!  This is a definite MUST if you've had kids, and might be an incentive to have a few if not - 

[Bulldog]

Yeah I've been looking forward to it for a year!  Ever since I saw season 1 I wanted more. 

After seeing True Blood season 1, my wife and I wanted less of it.   

[MN Dave]

After seeing True Blood season 1, my wife and I wanted less of it.   

It took you a whole season to figure that out? 

[Bulldog]

It took you a whole season to figure that out? 

Watched it on Netflix - just took three or four days.

[SonicMan46]

Tonight, a Netflix rental that we both sat through and enjoyed!   

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - a 'stop action' animation (a la King Kong, Ray Harryhausen, et al) based on the book by Roald Dahl (just a few of many made into movies - Charlie & the C. Factory & Maltida) w/ great voices (George Clooney & Meryl Streep speaking the main leads, but so many other great voices); sound track a joy w/ mixture of 'old movie & TV' type themes - a scene w/ a piano solo (Night & Day) that I told Susan was Art Tatum, the end credits proved me correct - may be certainly another look & possibly a purchase?

Now, is this worth a watch - DEFINITELY! Amazon reviews 4+/5* HERE; on Rotten Tomatoes, a 93% rating HERE; and a 8.0/10 rating on the IMDB HERE - 

[DarkAngel]

8th Season Finale and last 2 hour episode of TV show 24......

Monday night was perhaps the best show I have ever seen on network TV, conclusion of TV series 24
This was as good as the best stand alone feature spy thriller movies like Bourne Ultimatum, Mission Impossible etc

I have first 7 seasons on DVD and now await release of season 8......how will this show ever be replaced?
DVD is the only way to watch this as the storyline is nonstop wild ride and requires close attention, no commercials allow 60 minute show to be viewed in 42 minutes with no distractions

[Brian]

I'm surprised to see Rachel Getting Married using shakey cam, it seems highly inappropriate movie.

It was inappropriate, but the director evidently wanted the whole thing to feel like "home movies."

[DavidW]

It was inappropriate, but the director evidently wanted the whole thing to feel like "home movies."

Ah jeez I'm tired of that style.  I think I'll give that movie a pass.