Last Seen 70s/80s Movie

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by The_Return
Was it any good?

My bad man, I just found out that I posted my thoughts of it on a football forum. Now the question is, where the hell is the page I'd written about Jim Haslett and Sean Payton?



Superman Returns


Routh and Spacey did very well, but as a whole, I'd say the acting was just decent. Bosworth was a little bland, Posey was utterly annoying(she did have one or two funny lines..not clever funny, can someone actually be that stupid funny...and for the part she was playing...which was basically Miss. Teschmacher from the first two films...I guess she did ok but imo it was over done and made it more annoying than funny which I think it was meant to be.), everybody else was just on par, no more or less.

I thought the story was extremely well done. It had the proper length to thoroughly go through both the drama between Superman and Lois and the action of Luthor's plan coming together(which is very cleverly)and Superman's attempt to foil it.

So all around you've got a good story which plays out very well over the 3 hours(Which imo wasn't too long, if you wanna be technical, I guess they coulda shaved a minute or two off here and there but there's no entire scene or noticeable block of time they should've cut.), excellent directing and special effects. There's also something pretty interesting tossed into the well written script.

Overall could've been anywhere within a 8.5 and a perfect 10, but as I said before, the acting outside of Routh and Spacey is only decent, not bad by any means but only decent. So I'll put it just outside that realm with a...

8.4/10

[joshaube]

uperman Returns;
NOTE: I have not seen any of Christopher Reeves acting, nor did I watch Superman 1 or 2 prior to this film. I'm new to the whole thing, except the occasional Smallville (eek) episode here and there.

Oh, Brandon Routh... I'm glad they found you. I was curious at how he would do, being an unknown and only having smaller roles in the past. At first it was obvious his acting was a little shaky, during some lines I remembering feeling "Oh great...", but once the story kicked in that feeling began to fade. He does a superb job at acting as Clark Kent. His appearence, the awkward little things he does - quirky and funny, and his always-smiling, carefree nature. A good man for the job, I'd say.

Kevin Spacey did okay as Lex, nothing as superb as any other role he has done, and I felt his appearence didn't fit Lex's to a T like Brandon Routh's did to Clark. He looked too... kind. Not his expressions, but just the lines in his face. They weren't cold and stern enough. Hard to explain.

The rest of the cast did an equally good job and fit their characters well. (Seem Bryan Singer likes James Marsden) The only other stand-out performance I found was Tristan Lake Leabu - Louis' son. And that leads into a little disagreement I have with Roger Ebert. SPOILER (but not really...) - Tristan Lake Leabu plays Superman's son. Ebert said he was too timid, shy, and didn't do much. He wanted him to be like a Spy Kid. I think if that were to happen, I would have left. It would have just been so flat-out bad. Instead, I found the kid to act the part PERFECTLY. He's Superman's Son, Clark Kent's son. Both of these ego's are very modest, quiet, and not all up in your face and pretending to be overly clever. The kid's personlity suited Superman's son incredibly well. He helped when it was NEEDED, and was suprised by his own powers. He's just a kid, and also half-human. I'm sure he's not up to the level Clark is at the moment. He doesn't know what's going on himself, so why should he feel the need to be the missing piece in the puzzle and solve things himself when he barely understands who he is?

Okay, I lied. One other person, but this isn't so much "acting", but just who she is. PARKER POSEY IS MY HERO. I love all her roles, seriously, and she brought so much entertainment into this movie. How many one linears did she have? 3592?

"Weren't there two of those?"
*pans to dog eating a meaty bone*.

Oh god, I love her so much and I sound like a complete tard right now, but whatever. She brought most of the entertainment to the movie. Which brings up another point. Little splurts of actual HUMOUR here and there helped keep us entertained through some of the more tedious scenes throughout the two and a half hour runtime. And Parker was sort of the key of this.

On to the actual movie. The effects and set-pieces were incredible. Some certain scenes looked very green-screen (mainly near the ending with the plane rescue), but things such as the Daily Planet Globe rendered onto the top of the building looked very realistic.

The plot itself was average. I didn't think Lex's plan was all that great, and he (or his plans) were sort of not the main focus in the actual film. I felt it was more geared toward Superman and Lois's reunion - and that's the way it should have been. In fact, I would have enjoyed it just as much WITHOUT Lex. But without Lex, there would be no Parker and that just equals unfun all around.

Speaking of Lex's plan, he came off as a complete idiot. I thought he was super intelligent? I don't know, but some of his actions and dailogue seemed very, eugh. The only part of his I liked, and highlighted his character, was his very first scene with the dying woman. His plan to create a new world using the crystals was sort of silly too. It's all mountenous, harsh, and un-natured. Could anyone even live there? Doubtful.

An okay movie. One of the better ones this summer, and even further extending that. Not a favourite of mine by all means, but something you shouldn't be dissapointed in if you do go see it. It will win MTV awards next year... :p

[joshaube]

X-Men 3: The Last Stand;
Well, I thought the premise was pretty kickass. Plus the whole fact it related to our lives now as well - symbolically. Homosexuality mainly - since that's the biggest issue in our society currently (what with religious groups taking action, just watch the news - protesting at funerals, and spreading harsh rumours online). What if our government released a cure to this? There would be those against and those for it - and those indifferent, just like in this film. I was very dissapointed how they handle this material in the actual film, however. It seemed they didn't even want to touch on the deeper meaning, but rather focus on the action and Jean Grey. I don't know... I was expecting something very deep and intelligent related to this. Some big ol' metaphor. But there wasn't any, none at all... and that single fact let me down on the entire movie.

"They want to cure us, but I say... We are the cure!" was my favourite line of the film. Diversity, and the acceptance (gradual, or forced by the presence of different beings) is the cure to prejudice itself. The disease isn't the mutants, it's those who think mutants do not belong on the earth, and should be "cured". By getting rid of mutant powers, you are simply feeding the disease. I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say so I won't force-feed you any more explanation.

What pissed me off in this movie more then anything was Magneto and his fuckfuckfucklet team of shitfaced assholes. I don't know why it got me so damn angry, but it did. I can't stand people who fight for equality, but feel the need to fucking MAKE THEMSELVES STAND OUT.

"Where's your mark?"

Why the hell do you need a mark? If you want to be special, different, and stand out from the rest you deserve to be fucking punished like you are. People are fighting for equality, not superiority, and it's because of people/mutants like YOU that the whole thing is happened in the first place. Snotty ass bitches. Okay, I'm getting steamed just thinking of it and I appologize for all the language.

Magneto's pure idiotism, lack of understanding or listening, and direct actions without thought are purely selfish. "I did it for you Jean" is complete and utter shit. His whole character I would just like to rip from head to toe.

Now, I'm calmed down. You obviously get the point now. I extremely disliked the fact they didn't use the movie metaphorically, and I extremely dislike the characters in the film - mainly on Magneto's side. Oh, and to clear things up - the last point is not a negative rep against the film. It's a clear representation of how people TODAY act. So it's realistic, I'm just expressing my anger in a film-related manner toward people that actually act like that.

On to what I liked. The Jean Grey / Phoenix part was segments were pretty kickass. I've always wanted to see something just so crazy on film, and release all their power. I sometimes feel the need to play a game where I can just kick the shit out of monsters and go wild with combos. That's why I felt satisfied with these scenes. If that makes sense... probably not.

// SPOILED MILK
Oh, and what's with the insane amount of killings? Why kill off those characters? And have other characters loose their powers. I can see Rogue, but Magneto? I hope he commits suicide in the fourth film.
// EXPIRATION DATE

I don't think I need to rap anything up. These are opinions, not an actual review on the film. I don't really "review" things... just state what I thought about it and I don't have anything else to add.

Oh, 'cept this.
Ellen Paige = next big star.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by joshaube


The plot itself was average. I didn't think Lex's plan was all that great

Speaking of Lex's plan, he came off as a complete idiot. I thought he was super intelligent? I don't know, but some of his actions and dailogue seemed very, eugh. The only part of his I liked, and highlighted his character, was his very first scene with the dying woman. His plan to create a new world using the crystals was sort of silly too. It's all mountenous, harsh, and un-natured. Could anyone even live there? Doubtful.

You didn't think the kryptonite thing was clever?(which is mainly what I was referring to.)

As for the rest of his plan, you gotta remember it's a comic book movie and the main character's an alien flying around with bullets bouncing off his eyes. There's gonna be a few, if not a whole lot of silly things.

[joshaube]

Yeah, that part was pretty clever, but I didn't understand it fully. Kryptonite was put in the crystal, thus the newly created piece of earth had kryptonite in it. Superman couldn't, technically, come near it. THAT was clever. But Superman later lifted the entire plot of earth, straining - yes, but earlier he could barely lift his OWN body when the Kryptonite was stabbed in him.

You would think that an entire source of Kryptonite, and a small shard in your blood stream would have the same effect, right?

Hehe, and yeah, it's a comic book... but still... The whole eye-bullet thing was damn cool, however unrealistic that was.

[AUSTIN316426808]

Originally posted by joshaube
Yeah, that part was pretty clever, but I didn't understand it fully. Kryptonite was put in the crystal, thus the newly created piece of earth had kryptonite in it. Superman couldn't, technically, come near it. THAT was clever. But Superman later lifted the entire plot of earth, straining - yes, but earlier he could barely lift his OWN body when the Kryptonite was stabbed in him.

You would think that an entire source of Kryptonite, and a small shard in your blood stream would have the same effect, right?

Hehe, and yeah, it's a comic book... but still... The whole eye-bullet thing was damn cool, however unrealistic that was.

***Spoilers***


I see what you're saying now, I guess it was reaching a bit. Unless you look at it like this...he got under it going lord knows how fast and lifted up from the part which was primarily earth rather than the kryptonite concoction. The strain came from the kryptonite above.

That's exactly what I meant about the eye bullet thing, when you go to see a comic book movie you kinda have to throw 90+% of logic out the window and just have fun.

[joshaube]

^ True, never thought of the fact he lifted the earth beneath it. :)

---

American Dreamz;
Now this is a film that I really wasn't expecting much from, but in the end (and what an end), I was pleasently suprised. I didn't hear too much about this other then a few trailers before it's release, and the reviews were sort of just static - neither good nor bad. It was advertised as a comedy, with an ounce of truth, and that's just what you get. Only a whole lot more then just an ounce.

It's not FUNNY per-say, but interesting. It mocks our lives today, well - Americans' lives. Their government, entertainment, and people. The president doesn't speak his own mind, he has someone to put words in his mouth. American Dreamz, America's favourite show, only wants oddities, and interesting people. They could care less for the talent. Their host is an obnoxious man who cares for nothing, not even himself in some cases. The people - contestants - manipulative, greedy, liars and only genuine in one case.

Not even the characters in the film take the events all that serious. In what would be a news-worthy, shocking event to us, becomes just a ploy to get votes. Just something that "gaurentees a win". They could care less for what just happened, as long as it eventually results in something positive for themselves. Funny, some might think, but I find it quite sad - because there is truth in that.

It's sort of a character film. We have the host, who doesn't appreciate kindness because he feels he has to be equally kind around it - and he doesn't want to change. We have a contestant who doubts she will be a star, but dumps her life behind her footsteps because she think's she's too good for it in the end. We have the boyfriend who only wants to be with a girl, and when she dumps him changes his entire life for just another chance. And only to be used in the end as a voting ploy.

There's a lot more in the film, and yes some of it is funny, but you have to ask yourself why you're laughing. Look deep in to it, and you'll see what your laughing at is all around you. And is technically not very humerous at all. It's funny how mood can change something so threatful into an innocent joke, or a tragic event in to a second of reflection only to carry on with another season of a hit TV series.

As I mentioned before, the strongest point in the film is the ending. Not so much the final scene, but the "end" - when you see the film, or if you have, you know what I'm referring to. I won't spoil it. I was hoping it would happen, and often films shy away from that and wrap things up happily. But not this one, it went all out, with lights ablaze, and then satircally ended with a "happy ever after" that only manages to reflect it's pain into something we can smile about.

It reminds me of the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover", and also the fact that perhaps us as an audience are a little too de-sensitized now a' days.

I'd reccomend it. Not for everyone, but certainly enjoyable if you can look in to and see what I did. Whether that's there or not is really ultimately up to the specific viewer.

[slasherman]

Originally posted by joshaube
^ True, never thought of the fact he lifted the earth beneath it. :)

---

American Dreamz;
Now this is a film that I really wasn't expecting much from, but in the end (and what an end), I was pleasently suprised. I didn't hear too much about this other then a few trailers before it's release, and the reviews were sort of just static - neither good nor bad. It was advertised as a comedy, with an ounce of truth, and that's just what you get. Only a whole lot more then just an ounce.

It's not FUNNY per-say, but interesting. It mocks our lives today, well - Americans' lives. Their government, entertainment, and people. The president doesn't speak his own mind, he has someone to put words in his mouth. American Dreamz, America's favourite show, only wants oddities, and interesting people. They could care less for the talent. Their host is an obnoxious man who cares for nothing, not even himself in some cases. The people - contestants - manipulative, greedy, liars and only genuine in one case.

Not even the characters in the film take the events all that serious. In what would be a news-worthy, shocking event to us, becomes just a ploy to get votes. Just something that "gaurentees a win". They could care less for what just happened, as long as it eventually results in something positive for themselves. Funny, some might think, but I find it quite sad - because there is truth in that.

It's sort of a character film. We have the host, who doesn't appreciate kindness because he feels he has to be equally kind around it - and he doesn't want to change. We have a contestant who doubts she will be a star, but dumps her life behind her footsteps because she think's she's too good for it in the end. We have the boyfriend who only wants to be with a girl, and when she dumps him changes his entire life for just another chance. And only to be used in the end as a voting ploy.

There's a lot more in the film, and yes some of it is funny, but you have to ask yourself why you're laughing. Look deep in to it, and you'll see what your laughing at is all around you. And is technically not very humerous at all. It's funny how mood can change something so threatful into an innocent joke, or a tragic event in to a second of reflection only to carry on with another season of a hit TV series.

As I mentioned before, the strongest point in the film is the ending. Not so much the final scene, but the "end" - when you see the film, or if you have, you know what I'm referring to. I won't spoil it. I was hoping it would happen, and often films shy away from that and wrap things up happily. But not this one, it went all out, with lights ablaze, and then satircally ended with a "happy ever after" that only manages to reflect it's pain into something we can smile about.

It reminds me of the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover", and also the fact that perhaps us as an audience are a little too de-sensitized now a' days.

I'd reccomend it. Not for everyone, but certainly enjoyable if you can look in to and see what I did. Whether that's there or not is really ultimately up to the specific viewer.

..shorter posts please

[joshaube]

Is there technically a limit? You don't have to read it, of course. I usually sum things up in the ending paragraph.

[urgeok]

Running Scared ..

heard good things but this was better than expected .. really enjoyed it.

loved the end titles too ... just more icing on an already rich cake .. i love films that go the extra mile .. when they didnt have to.