General Movie Thread

[crumbum]

Midnight showing of 'Paranormal Activity' on Saturday. For me it lived up to the hype; it scared the bejeezus out of me and the whole crowd was genuinely into it (real fear, none of the usual midnight movie hooting/ironic screams). It is so simple and stripped down it almost feels more like a piece of conceptual art at times, and so obvious in a sense you wonder how no one has done this before. I predict this thing will rake it in on word of mouth.

I feel like I'm really alone here feeling disappointed with Paranormal Activity. I'd say it was entertaining enough, but it just wasn't scary and we'll all end up forgetting it. The first-person digital camera scary movies just don't do anything for me.

Yeah, I had these same sort of discussions with friends when Blair Witch came out. It seems that this type of film really either pushes your buttons or it doesn't. I suppose to an extent it just depends on what you bring to it as far as your own fears and anxieties. The meat of this movie is all in the scenes where the couple is asleep -- a genius idea because for me it goes directly to that childhood experience of being alone in the bedroom at night staring at the darkened doorway, waiting for something to pop out. I could hardly look at the screen during most of those parts. But I'll admit the rest of the movie is really just filler around them.

[dave from knoxville]

If you liked him as Buddy Holly, you will LOVE him as.....AMELIA

[buffcoat]

If you liked him as Buddy Holly, you will LOVE him as.....AMELIA

Ouch.  But I'm getting a little tired of her.*
















*Despite the fact that I have never seen a Hilary Swank movie.

[Chris L]

*Despite the fact that I have never seen a Hilary Swank movie.

This is her, I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T2S8GHzxqc

[buffcoat]

She frightened me in the picture thread, but now I understand the breasts.

[ChrisRawk]

I watched 'Anvil! The Story of Anvil' the other day.  If you've ever been a frustrated musician, as I have, it will strike a deep chord. 

[kittykittymeowmixhead]

Anvil is on our 'to be watched soon' list.

I'm on an Audrey Hepburn kick. I watched 'Charade' and 'How to Steal a Million' Now I'm on to 'Two for the Road.'   

[dave from knoxville]

Last night I saw "Dreams with Sharp Teeth", a documentary about Harlan Ellison, a writer who was very important to me from ages 17-25 or so. As expected, he's sort of a prick, but a frequently insightful one.

[fletcher munson]

I watched 'Anvil! The Story of Anvil' the other day.  If you've ever been a frustrated musician, as I have, it will strike a deep chord. 

Been meaning to watch this.  Thanks for the reminder.

[Gilly]

Anvil was pretty good. The trailers made it out to be something like American Movie but it was just kind of depressing without the funny. But still good.

Somebody mentioned Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs- I got the chance to see it in Imax 3D and that was the best theater experience I've ever had. 3D has sure come a long way and it's way more than a gimmick, it's a whole new way to watch movies. I will definitely be seeing The Christmas Carol in Imax 3D.

[Bryan]

I will definitely be seeing The Christmas Carol in Imax 3D.

I dunno about that one. From the team that brought you Polar Express? I didn't see it in 3D, but I did see it, and it was loooong and boring.

[jbissell]

Somebody mentioned Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs- I got the chance to see it in Imax 3D and that was the best theater experience I've ever had. 3D has sure come a long way and it's way more than a gimmick, it's a whole new way to watch movies.

In the right hands 3D can be great (Coraline), but most of the time it's totally unnecessary.  I saw the Toy Story 3D double feature and it added absolutely nothing to the first one.  The second one was a little better, mostly because you could really see the advancement in the animation but still wasn't really worth the extra cost.

[Gilly]

It's a totally different ballgame when the movie is made for 3D. Go see Cloudy W/ a Chance of Meatballs in Imax 3D and you'll have a different opinion of 3D movies- The whole movie is literally right in front of your face.

[jbissell]

It's a totally different ballgame when the movie is made for 3D. Go see Cloudy W/ a Chance of Meatballs in Imax 3D and you'll have a different opinion of 3D movies- The whole movie is literally right in front of your face.

I'm sure that's the case, the reason I appreciated it with Coraline was exactly for that reason - it was used to add to the atmosphere of the film, not just for pointing things at the audience, which is how the majority of 3D films still approach things.  I have found that 3D tends to have a negative effect on the color of the film.  Up wasn't nearly as pretty looking in 3D.

[ChrisRawk]

Yeah, Anvil is a little on the depressing side.  It's like if Spinal Tap was remade into an indie drama.  There's even a 'Robb Reiner'!