I want to try something different here and bear with me lets see if it works. I want everyone to submit a movie review for the forum of a movie they've seen that they think other people should watch.
I want to know director and actors...what about the film struck you...and why you think others should watch it.

I like to stockpile ideas for when I get enough cash up to watch movies but I like more than just the movie title and "its good..you should see" cause well..thats just not enough to peak my interest. Its not hard to get the information about directors and actors if you aren't sure..just look it up on yahoo or something quick and cut n paste.

Just in case a movie you have a review for already has a seperate thread going go ahead and use it as a reply to this one. I hope that many of you come through for me!

Lets keep this strictly for reviews for conveniance sake, if you want to comment about certain directors or such make a new thread, find an old one, or go to pm. Thanks!

I'll go first, I guess...

BATTLE ROYALE

Country: Japan

Year: 2000

Director: Kinji Fukasaku

Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara (Shuya)
Aki Maeda (Noriko)
Taro Yamamoto (Kawada)
Kou Shibusaki (Mitsuko)
"Beat" Takeshi Kitano (Kitano)


Concept : Sometime after the turn of the milennium, things go all to hell in Japan. To show how far it is willing to go to curb the disobedience and disrespect of the youth, the Japanese government makes the spectacularly bad decision to pass the BR Act. Under the BR Act, each year a 9th grade class is taken to a deserted island, given weapons, and told that the last one alive gets to go home again. If there is more than one alive after three days, everyone is killed.

Enter Nanahara Shuya and his class, on a field trip marking the end of their compulsory education...

The Scene: The opening scene contains the single most disturbing shot I've ever seen. Reporters nearly riot to cover the return of the (presumably last year's) victor, a girl, smeared in blood and clutching a bloody teddy bear. That smile will stay with me for years...

The Quote: "If you hate someone, you take the consequences"

The Good: Knowing the plot, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a speculative action movie of the highest order. It's not. A highly intelligent storyline and great actors in addition to a distubing plot idea (best tagline in movie history; Could you kill your best friend?) combines to make my favorite movie ever (I actually wore out the first tape I had...). I was still finding new details the tenth time I saw it.

Most of the actors actually are fifteen or sixteen, and the few who are not look the age (as opposed to thirty-year-olds playing college students...). Takeshi Kitano, especially, plays his part frighteningly good.

There are quite a few Classical pieces you might never listen to the same way again, though.

Finally, a film where someone says "I can only tell you when the time comes" and has a GOOD REASON to say that (they know has a good reason to keep him alive...).

The Bad: The movie is in Japanese, and the subtitling occasionally reads somewhat silly, but at least it always conveys the meaning in what's said. The subtitles occasionally goes by at a fantastical pace, so a slow reader might have a problem here and there.

A few actions are a bit difficult to understand if you aren't familiar with Japanese culture. No biggie, though.

The movie occasionally gets a bit melodramatic. Few people are as regulary melodramatic as fifteen-year-olds, though, so that kind of works out.

It's not to everyone's taste. Most people agree it's really, really good, but it's definitely not for everyone.

The Rundown: I cannot praise this movie enough. If you get the chance, you *have* to see this one. Preferably more than once.




Just to be nice, a few helpful hints

- Using a persons first name is a big deal in Japan, reserved for family and very close friends.

- Scarring someone's face is a lethal insult.

- Apparently, you use a person's name a lot more in Japan, rather than "you". It took a while before I understood a certain point where someone breaks off in the middle of a sentence to ask a person's name. It really made no sense in English.

Leon: The Professional

Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, with Luc Besson as the director.

The movie deals mainly with Jean Reno's character, Leon, dealing with Natalie Portman's character, Mathilda. They end up coming together when "Crooked" cops kill Mathilda's family, and she, having been out shopping, comes back and walks to Leon's door, and asks him to let her in. Being that he's a cold blooded killer, this gives him some problems. After they wind up being together, the whole story is just about them, and how they slowly grow to like each other more. At the end, the movie has some more violence, some of the best in any action movie in my opinion.

If you're looking for a pure action movie, this is not it, but in the end this is a very characterization heavy movie, as well as a highly engaging romp through the world of professional killing. If you're an emotional person, this is a very good movie for you...

Panic Room

Year: 2002

Director: God, aka: David Fincher

Cast:

Jodie Foster - Meg Altman
Kristen Stewart - Sarah Altman
Forest Whitaker - Burnham
Dwight Yoakam - Raoul
Jared Leto - Junior

Basic Plot:

Three intruders break into the newly-purchased Altman home. Their invasion leads to Meg and her daughter Sarah seeking refuge in the "Panic Room", the very place that holds the item the three are searching for.

Opinion:

I fucking loved this movie. The cinematography, the acting, the dialogue, all of it appealed to me. One scene in particular, which takes place during the final minutes, stands out above the rest. A "simple" scene of papers tumbling in the wind. Such .. finality, trivializing the extreme brutality of the effort involved. Just ..amazing.

Watch the damned flick.

Film: Say Anything

Directed and Written by Cameron Crowe

Starred: John Cusack, Ione Skye, and John Mahoney



This movie is quite simply, one of the truest depictions of love. From its early idealistic imagery of a relationship of a father and daughter to its depressing melancholic painting of a too true to fail relationship, it captures the depths of emotions in all facets of humanity. Cusack plays a lovable average man (as he does in so many of his films) that shoots for a goddess, Ione Skye. Their relationship is consummated by a night of lovemaking at beach while the song "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel dominates the mood. This song dominates another important scene as Cusack plays it loud outside of her window after he is rejected by her and her father. However, as always, love cannot be undermined by the workings of a hypocritical lying father, and the two soon rejoin after she learns the truth about her father. Say Anything is not only the title of the film, it is the basis of the two relationships.

However, it also goes beyond just that simple emotion. Cusack's character finds love with someone who seems so above him, this helps to remind us that love isn't constrained to those who are alike, but sometimes those differences between us inspire love as well. It is important when viewing the film to take notice of a particular dinner scene in which Ione Skye's childhood flight on an airplane is told. It is an interesting comparison to the last scene of the movie. Say Anything. At some point, the flight has to go forward, and there is no turning around. Say Anything. Trust has to be established to move further into relationships. Say Anything. From this movie's own tagline, "To know Lloyd Dabler is to love him." To watch Say Anything is to love it. It's perfect blend of humor, loss, betrayal, and love constitute a work of popular art at its finest.

"Brotherhood Of The Wolf originally posted by Lovelovecraftian~tentacle, 02-03-02

what do you want in a movie? you say you want:
horror. action. martial arts. romance. politics. mysticism. Gorgeous cinematography. all wrapped up in french with subtitles.

then go see BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF.

based in small part on a true story about a supposed "beast" roaming the French countryside that went about killing many during the 17th century, this movie takes that portion of an idea and expands on it. perhaps a bit too much. my only real complaint with the film is its length. it is around 2 and a half hours long and unfortunately feels like it by the end. it could have been edited just a bit and made leaner and swifter. but i still enjoyed it. just dont take it too seriously and you may have some fun watching it."

"Death To Smoochy; originally posted by lovecraftian~tentacle, 04-01-02

this movie about rival kiddie show hosts and their behind the scenes dealings was quite hit and miss with me. its been a while since danny devito directed a dark comedy like this and i was really looking forward to his return to form. there are some laughs but much of it falls flat. it just wasnt as biting or as satiric as it could have been.

robin williams is his manic self which was fine. i liked ed norton in his role. i think he is a versatile actor and he does a good job as a goody two shoes character who just WONT sell out. catherine keener doesnt fare as well. she was used better in BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. same with john stewart. kind of wasted.

the movie was stylistic, which is good, but it came off as somewhat jumbled and over stuffed at times.

i would have to say that this is more of a rental."

style over substance. i can and sometimes DO flip flop about this kind O' ting. there are some films that i can watch just for the sheer joy of the vision involved. THE CELL comes to mind. gorgeous, brilliant visuals. but the rest of it.....eh.

THE RULES OF ATTRACTION may be one of these times when i find the style a wee bit better than the actual meat itself. but not by much. hmmm...i am having a hard time making up my mind over this one. i mean.....i really didnt care for it all that much. it isnt terrible. it isnt terribly good either. the movie strikes me as a bloated college comedy romp. albeit much darker in tone. but with a semblance of style. kind of like RISKY BUSINESS. if you break down that lil' tommy cruise vehicle to its bare essence..there isnt much to it other than the sexcapades of a student. but the way it was directed and put together makes it rise above that to a certain extent. barely.

this is a cynical film about debauchery drugs and drink. its despicable characters doing despicable things to one another. i have nothing against that. bring it on i say. but.....*sigh*..i just dont know. i didnt give a damn about any of the characters. scratch that. i did about one. a periphreal character. so i dont know if that counts. i kind of get the feeling that james "the beak" van derbeek from DAWSON'S CREEK and jessica biel from 7TH HEAVEN might have done this kind of film to get some street cred. to break away from the goodie goodie characters they play on tv. i could be wrong about that. i probably am.

roger avary is the director. he helped write PULP FICTION and directed another film called KILLING ZOE. i didnt care for that one either. he does a few neat tricks here. running things backwards. a cool split screen sequence. fast forwrding etc etc. but that doesnt help when the movie just seems souless. there was nothing to connect to. for me atleast. i did laugh a couple of times i will admit. it is darkly humorous.

ugh. enough. i have rambled on too much. kind of like the movie itself.

Title: Bully
Director: Larry Clark(Kids)
Cast: Nick Stahl, Bijou Phillips, Brad Renfro, Rachel Miner
Rating: R and also an unrated version

Based on a true story, the rather controversial film is about a group of aimless teens that do nothing but screw and do drugs. Marty(Brad Renfro) is getting tired of Bobby's(Nick Stahl) cruel ways and constant abuse. Marty's girlfriend(Rachel Miner) is also. They plot together with some willing and unwilling participants in the murder of Bobby. With a no-holds-barred view towards teenage sex, this movie pulls no punches when it comes to nudity, but it isn't gratuitous.

I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

(originally posted by Anninn)
Ginger Snaps is an independent movie directed by John Fawcett and staring Kathrine Isabelle, Emily Perkins, and the yummy Kris Lemche.

Here we get an original plot within a horror movie based on werewolves. I really enjoy movies that present a different view, a new angle to look at the old fashioned frights.
The movie is based on a sixteen year old girl who has never had her period, Ginger, and her sister, Bridgette. They are both misfits in their community, indulging themselves in the macabre.
One night while out working on their school project something terrible happens and a horrible creature that has been running around mutilating the neighborhood dogs
attacks Ginger. Suddenly, she begins to change, she slowly morphs into a sex-crazed adolescent, with a penchant for barking dogs, on the verge of womanhood and everyone notices the changes. Including her sister. Bridgette is
hell-bent on finding a way to stop the changes within Ginger. She has a feeling they are more serious than just 'becoming a woman'. "They don't call it the 'Curse' for
nothin."

I definitely recommend this movie. The script alone is fantastic and the actors are very skilled. The music is haunting and beautiful and the film work is poetic. Kathrine Isabelle is a breathing work of art and I think I already spoke up for Kris.

(origally posted by anninn)
The Dark Crystal is a phenomenal movie filmed entirely with puppets and directed by Jim Henson himself, produced by Gary Hurtz of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back fame.

It's a beautiful fantasy involving the timeless struggle between good and evil. I think this is one of the movies that helped me develop my unhealthy obsession with fairies
that is apparently genetic. Do not be frightened away by the puppets they are brilliantly created and beautifully designed by my favorite Fairy artist Brian Froud.

The plot involves a gelfling named Jen, the last of his race, who must restore the dark crystal that was a source of balance and truth in the universe back to its original state before the three suns converge, if the crystal is not healed then the darkness will reign forever.
His adventure takes you through beautiful scenery and imaginative creatures. The Dark Crystal was made for children but is enjoyed by adults every where and is a recommended view all around.

(originally posted by Anninn)
I was up late one night and there was nothing on, sleep was evading me for hours so I clicked on channel 999 and rented '13 Ghosts' on IControl. Its directed by Steve Beck and stars Tony Shalhoub, Matthew Lillard (Scream), Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) and Embeth Davidtz.

I had wanted to see this movie until my sister told me it wasn't that good, however she is very critical of most movies with FX because thats what she does for a living.There was a great concept behind this movie that was rather enjoyable. A family inherits an amazing house from an eccentric uncle. The walls are made of glass and have Latin carved beautifully into the thick shatterproof mineral. However there seems to be an inherent evil in the house that they now have to stop or die trying.

Somehow this movie wasn't as good as it could have been, perhaps because the ghosts were a bit too silly looking, or perhaps because Matthew Lillard did a good job hamming it up in parts of the movie but not in others. I'm torn between the good concept and the overall outcome of the movie. Some shots were beautifully filmed and I definitely loved the house however I'm left with an itching that it could have been far grander a spectacle.

I suggest if you are interested at all in haunting or ghost stories, rent this movie as cheaply as possible and decide for yourself.

Run Lola Run

Actors: I could go grab the case but it's a german indie film and they aren't well known at all.

Plot: Lola receives a call from her boyfriend who is running drugs into germany from somewhere that isn't germany. He's at a payphone downtown and whining quite profusely. Seems he was on a subway train, some cops boarded and he decided to go. But he left the bag with the 100,000 marks in it on the train. A hobo picks it up (important later). Anyway, he decides he's gonna go rob this very up-class supermarket dealy, she tells him not to, he says he's gonna in at 12 unless she's there. She has 20 minutes.

So off she runs to somehow get 100 grand before Whiney goes and robs the place. Now, I'm not gonna give away anything in the movie but it's essentially three different takes.

In the first one she doesn't get the money and is late....they rob the store together, run out and get shot by the police. Then it starts over, shows it if she was a second late, how everything changed a little, etc....

It's a really cool movie if you can find it, it's kinda hard to get into, the voice acting over the german dub is sub-perfect and it's a hard find, but it's very cool, very innovative and in general fun.

Moral: According to me and Shotdownstar: Green pants make you run fast.

Ah a cool idea for a thred !

movie rateings from cool ppl ( er the odd sorta blokes who come to DF lol)

One of self's favorite movies

A 5 on the IVD chart of 1( waste of film couldnt finish watching it it was so bad ! to a 5 ( have to watch it everytime I see it on er the addictive movie that draws you in so you see it or parts of it OVER AND OVER !

Is The Adventures Of Barron Munchausen (sp?)
Driector :Terry Gilion
Err actors Eric Idel ,hehe Robin Williams yet he dont even get a credit ??, some famous chick and a slew of faces you will know ..

Its the classic amazing hero and his band of unusualy talented companions agains the wold ,er the Turks etc. pulling off the impossible and unbelivablein the world before the age of reason !

A MUST SEE !!!

Hell the movie has its own RPG !!!

It was nine pm on tuesday and my fiance and I were supposed to go see a movie at Alamo Drafthouse however we changed our plans and rented "Happenstance". The movie is a french suptitled movie directed by Laurent Firode and the main actress was Audrey Tautou. If that name sounds familiar thats because its the main actress from "Amelie" Though the gorgeous woman has been in many other english movies she is always her best in her native french.

The movie follows six individuals and their connection by fate. The whole premise of the movie is that anything you do can affect the outcome of other individuals no matter how small, stupid, ludicrous and pointless they may seem.

Relationships makeup and breakup throughout this movie simply because the liar kept on lying, the husband cheated, the storeclerk got fired and the old couple did not reunite.

If this review seems kind off odd and inconspicuous it is because you simply must see if for yourself. Just take my fiance for example....he seemed rather sad and annoyed when we rented it and was telling ME to hush throughout the actual movie...(so I'd had some wine...what the hell) its a fun movie and shows the fun of the French. If you like it...wonderful if you don't....see it drunk.