Movie News, Reviews, & Reactions 2011

[Wolverine]

I spoke to a few female friends about the new Conan movie last night. There were so-so about the idea of a remake, but once we mentioned the titular star was a shirtless Momoa there were all VERY interested. I think the producers have made the right choice.

[Crafty_Pat]

Battle Los Angeles has... problems, but it's plenty fun.

I second that motion.

Interesting. I consider the movie nigh-flawless. Seriously, the only real issue I had...

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...was the idea that the aliens could have noticeably lowered ocean levels in one day.

Other than that, and my personal wish that the movie would have faded out just a few minutes earlier...

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...on the marines' silhouettes immediately after they took out the CIC ship...

...I have zero - read, ZERO - issues with this movie. One of my favorite cinema experiences in a very, very long time.

[MilitiaJim]

...I have zero - read, ZERO - issues with this movie. One of my favorite cinema experiences in a very, very long time.

Hmm.  I may need to look into this movie.  No review had anything nice to say about it, and I wasn't impressed by any trailers.  (I view the shaky-cam technique with Great Disfavor.)

[Crafty_Pat]

Tron: The Next Day - Flynn Lives Revealed

This was easily my favorite ARG to date. It featured a proper beginning, middle and end (and a finale that was well worth waiting for). It was pivotal to the story and yet didn't ruin the film if you missed it. It was engaging throughout and had interesting and well considered puzzles. And wow did it take real world events to the next level (that skydiving thing from the video actually happened, and it's just one of many similar events over two years leading up to Legacy's release - some of which I've talked about here on the boards, and a few of which I was fortunate enough to attend in person). Kudos to whomever was in charge of this campaign. It was mighty.

Oh, and I can't wait for the DVD easter egg. Check out the above-linked vid's notes for details - but not until you've seen the vid! Spoilers abound.

So... Very... Good...

P.S. If Legacy's sequel doesn't focus on Dillinger Jr. I'll eat my shorts*. You don't cast that actor in a role that lasts 2 minutes. You just don't.

* The "eating of shorts" is a hollow promise and will not be honored literally. Our client may substitute another activity of his choice should "Dillinger Jr." not become the focus of Tron: Legacy's sequel or any subsequent films in the franchise. Activities may include but are not limited to "eating of ice cream," "eating of doguhnuts," "eating of linguine capellini," or an activity unrelated to eating. This offer is available only in future and past moments with a passport stamped by a Gallifreyan or Yithian authority, and is restricted to states and territories where such ridiculously bombastic offers are allowed by law. No warranties or provisions are provided for those unfortunate viewers subjected to images of our client eating, or of our client in motion, at rest, or in atomically fuzzy states between. This legal footnote brought to you by Wasted Time, Inc. Please squander responsibly (tm).

[Mister Andersen]

What's the song they play with the B:LA trailers, that really distorted electronic one?

[Crafty_Pat]

What's the song they play with the B:LA trailers, that really distorted electronic one?

Johann Johannsson - Sun's Gone Dim

[Crafty_Pat]

...I have zero - read, ZERO - issues with this movie. One of my favorite cinema experiences in a very, very long time.

Hmm.  I may need to look into this movie.  No review had anything nice to say about it, and I wasn't impressed by any trailers.  (I view the shaky-cam technique with Great Disfavor.)

Shaky Cam is indeed present, though I had few if nay issues following the action. Did you see Black Hawk Down? This is essentially BHD with aliens.

[klofft]

...I have zero - read, ZERO - issues with this movie. One of my favorite cinema experiences in a very, very long time.

Hmm.  I may need to look into this movie.  No review had anything nice to say about it, and I wasn't impressed by any trailers.  (I view the shaky-cam technique with Great Disfavor.)

Shaky Cam is indeed present, though I had few if nay issues following the action. Did you see Black Hawk Down? This is essentially BHD with aliens.

That is a very cool-y intense description.  I am intrigued.  Fortunately, I'm super-easy to entertain. 

[MilitiaJim]

Shaky Cam is indeed present, though I had few if nay issues following the action. Did you see Black Hawk Down? This is essentially BHD with aliens.

So it's a story of good Joes getting -ed and set up for failure by high command?

I'm not calling that an endorsement, though YMMV.

[Crafty_Pat]

Shaky Cam is indeed present, though I had few if nay issues following the action. Did you see Black Hawk Down? This is essentially BHD with aliens.

So it's a story of good Joes getting -ed and set up for failure by high command?

Not exactly. Tonally it's like BHD. The story is somewhat different.

[RusVal]

Maybe I should be a bit more clear now that I have had time to digest the movie.

Shaky cam:

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While I normally don't have a problem with it, the fact that the camera couldn't stay steady during non-action scenes was a bit much.  I haven't seen BHD, so I don't know if its also like that in that movie, but this one could get a bit ridiculous at times.

That said, the action scenes themselves were very well executed.  According to the lead actor, the crew worked very hard to get the tactics and little details right, and the general consensus is that they succeeded.  If there was one scene I had a problem with, was (MAJOR

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)when the grenadier’s holding off some aliens breaching the police station.  What could have been a dramatic scene of one man holding off the alien horde, and it turned into Call of Duty: spam the n00b tube. 

Special effects: no need to spoiler, very good, designs of the aliens are interesting, atmosphere…er…very atmospheric.

Story:

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Basic, but passable.  The story’s not exactly Inception, and the characters are rather stock, but otherwise the tale is told rather well.  Really, you don’t go see this movie for a message, you go see it to watch Marines plant combat boots up ET’s slimy backside.

Like I said, has its problems, but it’s fun.  Go see it.

PS  Afterwards, I had a thought that it was a rather good portrayal of a Spycraft session.  It even has the player that rolled badly early on and had to roll a new character.

[Mister Andersen]

What's the song they play with the B:LA trailers, that really distorted electronic one?

Johann Johannsson - Sun's Gone Dim

Thanks. It's a damn haunting tune.

[Crafty_Pat]

What's the song they play with the B:LA trailers, that really distorted electronic one?

Johann Johannsson - Sun's Gone Dim

Thanks. It's a damn haunting tune.

It's le awesum, ain't it?

[tracker7]

Interesting. I consider the movie nigh-flawless. Seriously, the only real issue I had...

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...was the idea that the aliens could have noticeably lowered ocean levels in one day.

The explanation my buddy had for that wasn't that the ocean levels had actually dropped; CNN desperately needed a scientist to put on the air, so they borrowed one from Fox News.

[RusVal]

What's the song they play with the B:LA trailers, that really distorted electronic one?

Johann Johannsson - Sun's Gone Dim

Thanks. It's a damn haunting tune.

It's le awesum, ain't it?

Heck yeah, it's awsome.  In fact, I believe it wouldn't be too big a stretch to nominate the B:LA trailer as best of the year.