Movie Rant

[Canucklehead]

I'm writing this rant because the past 50+ movies I've watched over the past couple years have made me lose hope. Is it just me or are movies becoming less and less enjoyable? It just seems that I am feeling unsatisfied with nearly every movie lately(about 15 in a row now). Are they running out of ideas? Either it's too predictable, misses it's mark (comedies not being funny, horror not being scary etc) or just leaves me banging my head against a table saying "What the hell was that!?".

I'm not a picky person. I'll watch any genre that has a decent story. My favorite movies are Shawshank Redemption, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Spider-Man 2, The Count of Monte Christo and Wonderboys. I even enjoyed Napoleon Dynomite and Kung Pow if you can believe it.

Yet nothing lately is even coming close to the feeling I got from previous years.

Enoyable:
Clerks II (I was surprised how much I liked it)
Click (see above)
The Rocket (Excellent movie)


What the Hell was That?:
The Darkness (Honestly, what the hell was that!?)
The Wicker Man (see above)
Hard Candy (see above)
Alexander (see above)
Troy (see above)
Date Movie (...painful)
Stuck on You (ugh)
House of the Dead (hit my head on the table to make sure I wasn't dreaming)
Black Dahlia (Josh H. looks 12)
The Dukes Of Hazzard (imbreading is against the law)

And many more then I can think of right now... Many of those were seen in a row along with:


Zzzzzz movies:
Van Helsing
FF
Underworld Evolution
Constantine
Superman Returns
The Brothers Grimm
After the Sunset
The Big Bounce (actually fell asleep)
War of the Worlds
The Grudge
Exorcist: The Beginning
White Noise


Great cast... bout it:
Ocean's Eleven & Twelve


Why do women just randomly sing and dance?:
Practical Magic
Little Black Book


From the looks of the recent previews, nothing good is out on the horizon. Honestly, how many "Failed coach takes no good football team but wins the championship", "I quit dancing but am now at a new school so I need to dance and win a contest to show how cool I am", "Horror but not scary, we'll just throw something together but flash millisecond ghostly images every so often to make up for it" or "White Female Teacher in Black School" movies do we really need!?

So as you can see, I need help! Is it just me? I lived in BC for a year without a TV so I missed many previews. What are some movies you've enjoyed with great stories? I don't care who's in it! Just needs a good story! I'm desperate! (I just rented The Illusionist. Fingers crossed)

Thanks, needed to get that out. Couldn't sleep. Rant over! 8)

[syvalois]

What about V for Vendetta? personnally, I liked that one. I also really like animated movies like the Incredibles, cars, Madagascar, etc.

And maybe you are doing a overdose of "american movies' and need to see something else. What about a brit movie? The last James Bond maybe? I really like the humour in many british movies like Billy Elliot and I can't remember the name of the movie, but it talked about a pakistanise familly living in england.

Personnally, I really like the homemade cinema from the last couple of years : les invasions barbares, La grande séduction, Maman last call, Maurice Richard, C.R.A.Z.Y. and many mores.

And if you like the count of Monte Cristo, I think you are talking about the american movie, you should watch the french miniserie with Gérard Depardieu and Jean Rochefort.

[Canucklehead]

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions! I will have to check them all out. I am a fan of Brit humour aswell but haven't seen any in some time. Have you seen Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels by Guy Pierce? I will check out Billy Elliot.I lost interest with Bond during the Pierce Brosnan movies but will check out the new one.

Maurice Richard has become one of my favorite movies of all time. I've never heard of the Count mini series with Gérard Depardieu. Maybe I can Download it. I try not to download movies but it seems the ones I pay for are never good, but the ones I download for free are great.

Ah well, again thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully 2007 will bring me more luck with movies. Happy New Year!

[Ottawa Renegade]

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions! I will have to check them all out. I am a fan of Brit humour aswell but haven't seen any in some time. Have you seen Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels by Guy Pierce? I will check out Billy Elliot.I lost interest with Bond during the Pierce Brosnan movies but will check out the new one.

Maurice Richard has become one of my favorite movies of all time. I've never heard of the Count mini series with Gérard Depardieu. Maybe I can Download it. I try not to download movies but it seems the ones I pay for are never good, but the ones I download for free are great.

Ah well, again thanks for the suggestions. Hopefully 2007 will bring me more luck with movies. Happy New Year!

If you enjoyed LS&2SB, maybe you'd enjoy Snatch?

Count is fantastic. Totally overlooked movie.

In the superhero field, have you seen Batman Begins?

I do though feel that movie quality has gone down a great deal in recent years. That said, I think that it's normal to feel that way as you get older (and I'm not taking a shot, I have no idea how old you are :wink: ) because the more movies you see, the harder it will be for you to find something that feels fresh.

My wife and I just watched Sin City. While I didn't think it was fantastic overall, I at least appreciated that it was so different visually.

[Mokole]

How about Arsenic and Old Lace, one of my all-time favorites?

Generally, yes, I've found movies to be pretty bad lately. Ice Age and both Shreks were good movies but my kids saw a lot and hated most of them, like the Chicken Little flic, Madagascar, ugh. The kids liked Narnia a lot, though. Watched it about 4 times now.

I haven't seen a good adult movie in a while. I am a Star Trek fan and last one of that series I liked was the Borg one (and yes, the even numbered movies are better).

[Ottawa Renegade]

I haven't seen a good adult movie in a while.

Jenna Jameson is still reliable, I hear. :wink:

[Canucklehead]

I haven't seen a good adult movie in a while.

Jenna Jameson is still reliable, I hear. :wink:

Haha I was thinking the exact same thing.

I was also a fan of The Next Gen, with First Contact being the last good one. I hear the newest one in the works is a Prequel. Enterprise didn't work, hard to see this one do the trick.

What type of movie is Arsenic and Old Lace? Never heard of it, but it intrigues me.

[Mokole]

It's a light (or dark) comedy starring Cary Grant and a few other stars. He's a guy who writes a gossip column about why not to get married, and as the movie starts he's sneaking off to get married. He lives with his insane aunts (who murder hobos) and insane uncle (who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt, Panama era). Also appearing is Grant's insane brother, played by Raymond Massey but he's made to look like Boris Karloff; Massey is a seriel killer who has a doctor 'apprentice', Peter Lorrie. Quite funny, especially when Massey arrives.

I hope I spelt all the names right.

[syvalois]

Have you seen Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels by Guy Pierce?

Maybe, I don't remember well. I may have seen it. I know I've seen snatch. But I think I'm mixing up the 2 movies in some part.


Maurice Richard has become one of my favorite movies of all time.

That movie will always have a special place in my heart. It was my chritsmas gift to my father, but he died 3 months ago. Maurice Richard was his hero and I know he would have liked the movie. And in many ways, I saw my father in Richard.


I've never heard of the Count mini series with Gérard Depardieu. Maybe I can Download it. I try not to download movies but it seems the ones I pay for are never good, but the ones I download for free are great.

Maybe if you really like it, you will want to by the miniserie later. I mean, the movie was good considering how many things they had to put in 2 or 3 hours, but it's not as good as the miniserie. Just because they have more time to develop everything and Depardieu is so good in Dantès and Rochefort as Mondego.

Another kind of movie I like lately are the movies like Fearless, grounching tiger, something dragon(Tigre et Dragon in french), and also this funny, not at all serious movie called kung fu husle.

[Le Messor]

Sylvie, in English it's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Hidden.


Honestly, how many "Failed coach takes no good football team but wins the championship", "I quit dancing but am now at a new school so I need to dance and win a contest to show how cool I am", movies do we really need!?

http://le-messor.livejournal.com/24362.html

Have you seen The Prestige?
Who else do I like?
It's hard to recommend things for you, since we've clearly got different tastes--you've disliked movies I've liked, and enjoyed ones I wouldn't touch with a ten-metre cattle prod.

I think there's a lot of good stuff in the current crop; but that's just me.

- Le Messor
"Ceci n'est pas une 'quote'. (This is not a quote.)"
- after Rene Magritte

[Snowsquatch]

Troy - I liked it. I plan on watching it again.

FF - I liked it. Ben Grimm's story was weak, otherwise it's ok. Better than X3, that's for sure.

Constantine - so/so on this one. I don't remember much.

Superman Returns - I liked it, but too long. Just needed more editing.

War of the Worlds - I liked it, but I didn't see the original so I can't compare.

Exorcist: The Beginning - this is a toughie. Both versions of "The Beginning" are flawed, but they have great moments, too. If you're an Exorcist fan, I'd recommend it, but not for casual moviegoers.

Ocean's Eleven & Twelve - I enjoyed them both, but wouldn't bother to see them again.

On the whole, I don't have much interest in romantic comedies or horror flicks anymore, so I don't know if they're getting better or worse.

I can't make any generalization about the state of movies today. If anything, I'd say the type of movies I like to see are getting better. Batman Begins was far above the other Batman movies. The Pixar movies are consistently high quality.

I saw Apocalypto last week; I loved it. Of course, I tend to love any historical/action movie. The Four Feathers and Tristan and Isolde both leap to mind.

[Canucklehead]

It's hard to recommend things for you, since we've clearly got different tastes--you've disliked movies I've liked, and enjoyed ones I wouldn't touch with a ten-metre cattle prod.

Yeah, I have unique tastes I guess. I love comedies the most. I tried Talladega Nights last night, got bored and turned it off. I don't see the appeal of Nascar so that probably didn't help. I will try the Prestige and the Illusionist before giving up on American movies until Spider-Man 3 comes out.

So many movies these days are spending all of their money on special effects or big name stars while not paying enough attention to the story itself. "Troy" is the best example. Based on one of the greatest stories in history, excellent special effects starring Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana. So much potential yet, to me, a terrible movie.

I love dramatic redemption movies and stupid comedies with some wit:

Shawshank Redemption
Count of Monte Christo
The Rocket (Maurice Richard)
Apollo 13
Silence of the Lambs
Red Dragon
American History X
Blow
Cider House Rules
Wonder Boys
Wag the Dog
The Fifth Element
Shaun of the Dead
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Monte Python
Dumb and Dumber
Nothing to Lose
Team American
The 40 Year old Virgin
Office Space
Napoleon Dynomite
Evil Dead Trilogy

Many more I can't think of now. 8)

I think I've been seeing too many stupid comedies lately and not enough intelligent movies. Any recommendations?

[Le Messor]

I think I've been seeing too many stupid comedies lately and not enough intelligent movies. Any recommendations?

Watch what you enjoy, who cares how smart it is / isn't? 8)

Judging by your list, you might like The Big Lebowski. I say that never having watched it meself.
The World's Fastest Indian, maybe? Bend It Like Beckham (which is, I think, that British comedy somebody mentioned about a Pakistani family.)

It's an older movie, but 'Stand By Me' came from the same book of short stories as 'Shawshank Redemption'. Okay, it's completely different, but I really love it.

Maybe the 'The Commitments' trilogy? (There's three movies, not really a trilogy, but by the same people, similar in tone.)

That's all I can think of for you right now.

- Le Messor
"Changing culture is like moving a cemetery; you don't get much help from the residents."
- Anonymous

[Canucklehead]

I think I've been seeing too many stupid comedies lately and not enough intelligent movies. Any recommendations?

Watch what you enjoy, who cares how smart it is / isn't? 8)

Judging by your list, you might like The Big Lebowski. I say that never having watched it meself.
The World's Fastest Indian, maybe? Bend It Like Beckham (which is, I think, that British comedy somebody mentioned about a Pakistani family.)

It's an older movie, but 'Stand By Me' came from the same book of short stories as 'Shawshank Redemption'. Okay, it's completely different, but I really love it.

Maybe the 'The Commitments' trilogy? (There's three movies, not really a trilogy, but by the same people, similar in tone.)

That's all I can think of for you right now.

- Le Messor
"Changing culture is like moving a cemetery; you don't get much help from the residents."
- Anonymous

Hey thank you sir. Yes, Stand by Me is classic. Bend It Like Beckham was my ex's favorite movie, so I never really watched it for that reason. It's been long enough so I can try that now. Never heard of The World's Fastest Indian or The Commitments. I will definitely add them to the list.

As for the intelligence factor, I find my tastes have gotten a little "dumbed down" while I was living in Vancouver. My room mate, who owned our only tv, would play nothing but Harold and Kumar, Jay and Silent Boband Family Guy all day long. Though I actually started to enjoy them, I miss my lesser known, yet critically acclaimed movies. Those you sometimes have to hunt for behind the rack displaying 100 copies of "Dukes of Hazzard" (ugh..).

8)

[syvalois]

Bend It Like Beckham (which is, I think, that British comedy somebody mentioned about a Pakistani family.)

It was not Bend it like Beckham. I just found the title and it's East is East (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166175/)[/quote]

[Effexxor]

I *loved* Talladega Nights. I absolutely died watching it. When you're from Nebraska, You get raped in the face with Nascar, and to see someone just go 'Why does anyone like this crap? It's dumb!' was phenomenal. That, and Will Ferrel is hysterical.

I have an intense love for Mel Brooks, same as pretty much everyone. 'The Producers' is absolutely awesome, you'll be singing the damned songs for the rest of your life though. And of course anything Kevin Smith. I love the man. Dogma is fantastic.

For drama movies... Lets see here. 'Rudy' is always good for a football movie. I have big tough male friends who will BAWL when they watch this movie. It's fantastic to watch. 'LOTR' is of course always good. Oh, and 'A Knights Tale' always suprises me when I like it. I'm such a huge stickler for historical accuracy, but with that one they just throw any attempt to be accurate out the window and yet I love the movie.

Oh, and 'Wet Hot American Summer' (NOT an 'adult movie' I swear) is quite possibly the best movie ever. It takes all of those cliches and just gives them a big kiss and a bullet through their heads. And the cast is incredible

[Barnacle13]

Most of the movies I watch are kiddie flicks. My kids are finally getting to the age where some of the movies interest me. Narnia and LOTR I enjoyed. Eragon had zero redeeming qualities. The book wasn't what I'd call great fiction, but the movie just blew. My 10 year old left the theater saying, "That sucked!" I've seen all of the animated stuff over the past 10 years. Only Shrek I & II come to mind as those I enjoyed. I think somewhere along the line I got Disney poisoning, because I used to love Alladin and The Little Mermaid. Now almost anything Disney puts out is the same to me. Chicken Little blew chunks! I spent New Year's Eve watching comedies. Guess I needed a laugh after a less than stellar 2006. Anyway Talladega Nights was ammusing, but American Pie: the Naked Mile had me rolling. Didn't hurt that they actually ran a naked mile. I also love sophmoric jokes about farts, sex, and drinking. Sue me I'm a guy! So to sum up here. Don't watch any of the crap I've seen the past year. Hold out for Spidey 3. Sandman and the symbiote should both translate well to the silver screen and big budget special effects. Hopefully the story will as well.

[Canucklehead]

Hold out for Spidey 3. Sandman and the symbiote should both translate well to the silver screen and big budget special effects. Hopefully the story will as well.

Definitely. Thanks for all the advice! I have been avoiding the Disney movies aswell. Aladin is my favorite animated flick but the past few years, bleh.

I just saw Borat and nearly peed myself. Finally a comedy that was as good as advertised!

Sorry to hear 2006 was the pits for ya, same for me. If Karma exists, I will win the lottery this year. Hope you do aswell 8)

[syvalois]

I just saw "Un dimanche Ã* Kigali". This site (http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/data/production/prod_4570.asp?lang=en&) tell it better than me what the movie is all about

It's not the best movie I've ever seen, I found it good. It's one of those movies that is not easy to see, but you got to. Like Munich was hard to watch, but very well done.

[SephirothsKiller]

Go Watch Pan's Labyrinth right now. (If you can stand graphic violence.) It is an AMAZING film.

[Canucklehead]

Go Watch Pan's Labyrinth right now. (If you can stand graphic violence.) It is an AMAZING film.

I'm po' so I tried to download it. Ended up being a virus. lol that'll teach me.

[Mokole]

We rented 'Click', hated it from the start, one of the worst films I've ever seen. As the movie is finally dragging us to death I remark to the wife about how I 'taught' my older brother to like/appreciate "Mars Attacks". Next off we turn the tv, and what's on? Mars Attacks. So we saw a good movie after all.

[Obsidian3d]

I've never seen Click, but I distinctly remember thinking Mars Attacks! was awful. It's been a long time since, but it might have to be a whole different movie for me to appreciate it. ;)

Pan's Labyrinth is on the to-watch list for this weekend!

[Canucklehead]

Pan's Labyrinth = Brilliant.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the Beginning... utter, utter crap. I officially now refuse to spend another dime on Hollywood until they can make something worth my money.

I never got Mars Attacks. I remember watching it years ago thinking "Um, ok this is full of the most famous people they could find to play an entire town. There's Mike J Fox pretending to be a report. There's Jack Nicholson pretending to be the president. Then they all die. Is this suposed to be a comedy or something? Oh and the aliens are allergic to music. Brilliant."

[Legerd]

I never got Mars Attacks. I remember watching it years ago thinking "Um, ok this is full of the most famous people they could find to play an entire town. There's Mike J Fox pretending to be a report. There's Jack Nicholson pretending to be the president. Then they all die. Is this suposed to be a comedy or something? Oh and the aliens are allergic to music. Brilliant."

It's supposed to be a spoof of all the old 50's alien invasion movies. They took all the stereotyped characters and had fun killing them off. In the end the world is saved, because of the Martians' inability to handle the yodelling of a C&W singer. It is a funny movie, I guess it's just not for everyone.

[Le Messor]

I never got Mars Attacks.
It's supposed to be a spoof of all the old 50's alien invasion movies. They took all the stereotyped characters and had fun killing them off. In the end the world is saved, because of the Martians' inability to handle the yodelling of a C&W singer. It is a funny movie, I guess it's just not for everyone.

I got it, I just didn't like it. Too... grungy? It's part of my Tim Burton: Love him or Hate him thing. (I tend to either love his movies or hate them, there's few which make me go 'meh'.)

There's always Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Not only killed by a song they couldn't stand, but in the final one is wearing EAR MUFFS!!! Then the guy shows it the sheet music. :)

- Le Messor
"That's really giving it the sheets."

[Canucklehead]

ugh my fiancée rented a movie called "The Fountain" this weekend. I'd never heard of it. When that happens, 9/10 it's a film that didn't last long enough in theatres for me to catch the ads. We were at her parents in the boonies so no internet for me to read a review first.

I was correct in my suspicion. What a peice of feces. I was ready to turn it off after 10mins. It actually started to focus and come together in the middle section and I admitted to myself that I was too quick to judge it.... but the last 1/2 hour really killed any momentum it gained and was possibly one of the most rediculous things I've seen in a long time. Wow. I think it drained a good year of life out of me from my frustration with it's rediculousness.

Just warning anyone who sees it on the shelf and is curious. Rent at your own risk....

[Dfense75]

Obviously Im a big Comic book fan. I have been since a wee lad a Fantastic Four Fan. I have until the other day managed to avoid the FF movie. My girlfriend in an attempt to watch something I might enjoy rented the FF movie. It was on her dollar and a suprise on her part so I couldnt say no. OMG!! what a piece of dung. Why WHY!!?? does hollywood feel the need to take creative liberties? WTF!? was up with the origin? Is it so hard to leave great stories intact? No matter what anyone thought of Sin City. That movie proved you can do a comic movie excactly as it was and have it work. I have become so disappointed with the comic to movie tranlastions I have all but given up. The best "comic" movie I have seen as of the past couple of years have been the Ultimate Avengers animated movies. They where alot of fun and I really enjoyed them. IMO I think the best forum for comic movies is to become animated features. Spiderman 1 and 2 where ok, Batman Begins was pretty good. Sin City was an almost perfect translation, and 300 ROCKED!!. However...all 3 X-Men movies where trash, Spiderman 3 was laughable, Superman Returns BUAHAHAHAHAHAH!!, I have yet to see Ghost Rider but thats next on my list. I honestly think animated is the way to go. You dont have to hold back for special effects and casting is not an issue. Speaking of casting...as hot as Hollie Barrey (I guaranteed I mispelled that) is WTF!?! was she doing playing Storm? THE WORST MOVIE LINE EVER!! Was in X-Men 1. Storm to Toad..."Do you know what happens to a toad when its struck by lighting?...The same thing that happens to everything else". Um?!? How does a line that lame get written, acted out, not edited out, and actually put into a feature film? After seing X-Men 1 and 2, and than Superman returns. I can officially say Bryan Singer sucks. Anywho my rant has gone on far to long. Thats my 2 cents and Ill see you at the movies.

[Mokole]

I went to see Mars Attacks with my brother years ago. He had already seen it and hated it (thought it would be like Independence Day), but I wanted to go so he tagged along. I figured it would be campy, funny, a lot 50s-ish with comic-book storytelling. He wondered why I thought it would be light and campy and listened. He came out really liking the movie, learning that sometimes, what you expect matters.

[Canucklehead]

I went to see Mars Attacks with my brother years ago. He had already seen it and hated it (thought it would be like Independence Day), but I wanted to go so he tagged along. I figured it would be campy, funny, a lot 50s-ish with comic-book storytelling. He wondered why I thought it would be light and campy and listened. He came out really liking the movie, learning that sometimes, what you expect matters.

100% agree. I thought that the Fountain movie would be an action packed hunt for the fountain of youth. It starred Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. It ended up being a very ambitious, over-the-top symbolic/artsy movie which took me right out of the story in the first 5 mins. I wasn't expecting it at all and it soured my taste right from the start. I don't think I would have been as disappointed if I knew what I was getting into but it still wasn't a good movie haha.