I watched 3 good movies over the last few days (on DVD of course). Each of these movies were unique in their sense of nitty-gritty.
Little Miss Sunshine
Refreshing, an OSCAR nominated movie that depicts a dysfunctional family travelling across America for their youngest daughter to compete in a beauty pageant. Audaciously sarcastic yet profoundly human. No wonder this movie was loved at Sundance. To sum it up, it’s like National Lampoon Vacation, with a whole lotta soul. 8/10
Apocalypto
A movie overwhelmed with violence that has left me cringing throughout its 2-hour showing. Unrelenting violence. Disturbing images. First, he crucified Jesus, now this. Mel Gibson has made a film of blunt and brutal proportions. I couldn’t stop watching it, but be warned, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. 8/10
Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood. Produced by Spielberg. Legendary. It’s a chronicle of the battle of Iwo Jima, and the flag raisers. It’s based on a true story. But it’s not like we haven’t seen this kind of movie before. Its all about hero worship and the American propaganda. Kinda frustrated with Eastwood, hopefully his next, Letters From Iwo Jima (Japanese side of the story) doesn’t disappoint. 6/10
A Year Ago
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February 5th, 2007 at 8:52am
Watched them all over the weekend.
I agree with all your ratings… but knowing Hollywood.. Flags of Our Fathers might still score a few big ones.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:07am
Jemima Flags of Our Fathers apparently isn’t nominated. Letters From Iwo Jima is, so I need to get my hands on that movie. And Brad Pitt’s Babel too.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:45am
ooohhh… i’m thinking of watching little miss sunshine too, but havent the time to go visit my usual dvd supplier yet
February 5th, 2007 at 9:45am
Thanks for the clarification, Dan..
Yes, I must try & get those movies, too.
Have a great week, friend.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:57am
Glad you enjoyed Apocalypto. Am looking forward to Little Miss Sunshine. And you need to get your hands on Pan’s Labyrinth.. would love to hear your take on that movie.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:28am
Larawannabe It’s a great film, I for one, enjoyed it, for its originality.
Jemima I wanna get my hands on “Sideways” too. Heard it’s good.
Izad I shall try to get my hands on “Pan’s Labyrinth” as well, hopefully it’s available when I run amok at my favorite DVD haunt in Digital Mall, Sect 14. :=D
February 5th, 2007 at 10:45am
Watched a little bit of Mel’s new movie outside a DVD shop. Interesting… Remind me of Last of Mohican. But a way violent one.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:48am
I watched Little Miss Sunshine - loved it, a well made, honest movie.
If you liked it, you’ll like SIDEWAYS. Also get a hold of THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, starring Aaron Eckhart (sp). THE GOOD SHEPHERD is a bore, in spite of its stellar cast.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:56am
Yay for Apocalypto! I loved it. Gory but GOOD> I’m going to watch Little Miss Sunshine next.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:44pm
Robert It’s way violent than Mohicans. The most violent movie I’ve ever watched, apart from Itchy & Scratchy show.
Keropok A honest movie indeed. I will try to get my hands on “SIDEWAYS”. Watched “THANK YOU FOR SMOKING”, found it so so. “THE GOOD SHEPHERD”, almost bought it til I saw Matt Damon. Even Angelina Jolie and Deniro couldn’t convince me otherwise!
Sha Let me have your thoughts once you’re done watching it.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:13pm
You know one movie I love watching over and over again: MIDNIGHT RUN. Robert de Niro (my all time fav actor) and Charles Grodin make it one of the best buddy-movies ever… if you consider it a buddy movie in a strange kinda way
Good support from Dennis Farina too. Hilarious!
I got a proper DVD of it… not that ASTRO version with substituted dialogue.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:43pm
Keropok I just caught the last minute of it on HBO last night. Shall try to get my hands on the movie. I’m a huge Deniro fan. Thanks for the heads up amigo!
February 5th, 2007 at 3:00pm
You will love it. One of the best comedies of the 80s, perhaps of all time… I laugh so hard each time I watch it, I almost cry.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:42pm
yo..SIDEWAYS kinda tries too hard. the storyline’s kinda boring even though it had some depth…some…
February 5th, 2007 at 9:28pm
Keropok I’m definitely getting it then. Where do you go to buy old-school flicks?
tihtahpah I’ll give that a watch anyway.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:03am
Apocalypto certainly will be on my must-watch list after your review that it has a lot of violent and disturbing scenes. At one point, I was so engrossed watching video footages at one website where they have all kinds of killings like those terrorists chopping someone’s head with a blunt knife.
Talking about war films, i am certainly very very interested.
About the flags of our fathers the movie, i find it kinda messed up because maybe I read the book and we all know that movie always differ from the book because of the time constraint. Even Lord of The Rings trilogy were not spared. I now realize that it is better to watch the movie first before reading the book but that will make you lose interest to read the book if you already know the story. So watch or read.
Letters From Iwo Jima is a MUST to complement the Yankees’ side of the story. Isn’t it sad to see that only the Americans are the only one who are making a lot of good war films based on their wartime adventures. I would like to see some good ones from the Germans and Japanese about their campaign in WWII. For the Eastern front, we’ve already watched Enemy at the Gates (Jude Law) and that one was also a nice film.
I think why is that there haven’t any good movies about Germans or Japanese campaign is because they lost the war. Maybe it is a crime or taboo to talk about the war in these countries. I dont know coz I never been there. I think there’s one film in German… Der Untergang (The Downfall) should be worth watching though I’m hoping I can get a copy of it in VCD/DVD. I tried to torrent it but to no avail. 1% downloaded in 5 weeks (everynite for 4 hours time). I gave up.
I can only assume it up why the Germans and Japs are not making WWII war films. It will spark criticism etc over everywhere in the whole world. Logic, right?! Especially at times where they are trying very hard to repair there relationship with China. The rape of Nanking?!
February 6th, 2007 at 7:31am
Another nice one to watch would be Rocky Balboa
February 6th, 2007 at 7:39am
endroo G If you like disturbing scenes, then you will like Apocalypto. I’ve never been a buff of disturbing images and I hate receiving forwarded e-mails of violent acts. I find it utterly inhumane to be sharing it, though your point would be so that everyone will know. But I feel there are better ways to this than to forward disgusting stuff. As far as war film goes, the movie industry has certainly been saturated with shoddy war flicks as of late, for me, nothing really stood out in the last 10 years.
Moses Francis I did, and reviewed it in early January. Rocky Balboa is a must!
February 6th, 2007 at 8:52am
someone ought to make a movie about the war in Iraq. anyone watch Jarhead….now..that’s an American perspective about what a waste of time war was…………very Michael Moore
February 6th, 2007 at 8:54am
“I did, and reviewed it in early January. Rocky Balboa is a must!”
dang..i missed that review..lol
Yeap it’s a great movie..i mean a 61 yr old man with muscles…respect
February 6th, 2007 at 8:56am
endroo: in truth…i think watching documentaries about WWII is better. You tend to be wary of the genuinity of the facts in movies..so, and sometimes it’s all glammed and glorified to suit audience, compromising sometimes the real grit of war. There’s actually pretty good documentaries about Hitler some time ago in Discovery Channel, anyone saw that movie that Robert Carlyle was Hitler…lame-o
February 6th, 2007 at 9:00am
tihtahpah I watched Jarhead, and wasted my time.
I agree with you on AMERICAN war movies, everything’s glorified and dramatized. How “true” are true stories? I think it’s just an American propaganda to get the world to like ‘em. Blech.
Moses Francis Arguably the best Rocky, for me. Very human.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:10am
I usually get them from my usual ’supplier’ at TTDI. Got ‘coffee bean’ card even. The guys there have very good quality DVDs, good range, and a no-questions-asked return policy.
And they got my number to call when new movies reach them too
Let me know the next time you’re there. I’ll direct you.