2081 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

As for SWEENEY TODD, I thought it was awful and couldn't stand more than a few minutes.

I remember. As far as I recall, you got up to Helena Bonham Carter's first appearance as Mrs. Lovett and shut the thing off.

Yes, I was rather generous to SWEENEY TODD. Too generous. Luckily, good sense prevailed and I switched it off before it could wreak any more havoc.

I have no time for MAMMA MIA. Clips of that film, and my general loathing of all things ABBA, have scared me away forever.

Believe me, no one loathes ABBA more than I do. However, MAMMA MIA! is still an enjoyable romp. It does not pretend to be anything other than good old-fashioned brain-in-neutral fun. It's the new LOVE ACTUALLY - crack cocaine to us Brits. And Bond fans would do well to check it out for Brosnan's game performance.

[Harmsway]

Yes, I was rather generous to SWEENEY TODD. Too generous. Luckily, good sense prevailed and I switched it off before it could wreak any more havoc.

Generous to SWEENEY TODD? My good sir, you weren't nearly generous enough. If I can make it all the way through the insufferable BABEL, at least you could have made it about halfway into SWEENEY TODD.

However, MAMMA MIA! is still an enjoyable romp. It does not pretend to be anything other than good old-fashioned brain-in-neutral fun. It's the new LOVE ACTUALLY - crack cocaine to us Brits. And Bond fans would do well to check it out for Brosnan's game performance.

I've seen a lot of footage (10-15 minutes worth), and all of it struck me as just awful. Ugly, awkwardly staged, and with music that is inherently grating. And then when Brosnan opened his mouth, all I could say was, "Who's strangling the cat?"

So, despite your endorsement, I think I'll keep away. If I'm in the mood for such lightweight, musical fare, there's always HAIRSPRAY.

[bondrules]

Ledger Wins Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award
December 6, 2008


The late Heath Ledger was awarded one of his country's most prestigious film awards on Saturday for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, reports Reuters.

Ledger, 28, who died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in his New York apartment 11 months ago, was posthumously awarded the AFI (Australian Film Institute) international award for best actor.

Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theater rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute to the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 2005's Brokeback Mountain.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said his sister Kate, fighting back tears as she accepted the award alongside Ledger's parents.

"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter (Matilda) who we will cherish forever."

The AFI, celebrating its 50th-annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, describing him as "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man."

"He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," an AFI tribute said.

In related news, a scooper at Ain't It Cool News attended a Blu-ray Disc release event with director Christopher Nolan. Here's a bit on the possible third film:

If he made a third film, it would be for no reason but the continuation of story. He is currently looking into where the story would go and if it needs to go there. He maintained that it's very hard to make a movie of this scale (and specified he wasn't asking for our sympathy, drawing a laugh from the crowd) - it's two hard years and you gotta love it. One of his biggest fears is getting halfway through making a film and realizing it's unnecessary and he doesn't want to make it anymore. If there is a third story that needs to be told, there will be a third film, but nothing is set in stone or a given.

Nolan, Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart talked about the film's Oscar chances on Wednesday which you can read about here.

Also, in addition to My-DarkKnight.com, Warner Home Video has launched game site TheDarkKnightPuzzle.com.

LINKS
http://www.superhero...ews.php?id=7883
http://www.google.co...cB-d7QD94S20SG0
http://www.thedarkknightpuzzle.com/
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39348

[Se7en]

Ledger Wins Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award
December 6, 2008


The late Heath Ledger was awarded one of his country's most prestigious film awards on Saturday for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, reports Reuters.

Ledger, 28, who died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in his New York apartment 11 months ago, was posthumously awarded the AFI (Australian Film Institute) international award for best actor.

Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theater rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute to the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 2005's Brokeback Mountain.

"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said his sister Kate, fighting back tears as she accepted the award alongside Ledger's parents.

"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter (Matilda) who we will cherish forever."

The AFI, celebrating its 50th-annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, describing him as "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man."

"He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," an AFI tribute said.

In related news, a scooper at Ain't It Cool News attended a Blu-ray Disc release event with director Christopher Nolan. Here's a bit on the possible third film:

If he made a third film, it would be for no reason but the continuation of story. He is currently looking into where the story would go and if it needs to go there. He maintained that it's very hard to make a movie of this scale (and specified he wasn't asking for our sympathy, drawing a laugh from the crowd) - it's two hard years and you gotta love it. One of his biggest fears is getting halfway through making a film and realizing it's unnecessary and he doesn't want to make it anymore. If there is a third story that needs to be told, there will be a third film, but nothing is set in stone or a given.

Nolan, Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart talked about the film's Oscar chances on Wednesday which you can read about here.

Also, in addition to My-DarkKnight.com, Warner Home Video has launched game site TheDarkKnightPuzzle.com.

LINKS
http://www.superhero...ews.php?id=7883
http://www.google.co...cB-d7QD94S20SG0
http://www.thedarkknightpuzzle.com/
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39348

So glad he won that. He definitely deserves it to say the least.

[DamnCoffee]

That's very nice to hear. Ledger truly deserves it.

[sharpshooter]

Something from the film I never noticed - Joker stabs Gambol's thugs who are standing over him when he's playing dead. It's cut incredibly quick, but it's there. Check it out when you get the DVD. Joker just got more grisly.

And, I simply have to share this with everyone. I love this image, and here it is in wallpaper format.

Attached Files

•  TDKwallpaper.jpg   739.82KB   23 downloads

[Loomis]

I'm unhappy to hear that the DVD release's video isn't quite up to snuff (something a lot of reviews have commented on). Makes me wish I had Blu-Ray.

I've just seen THE DARK KNIGHT on DVD, and it's an almost painfully, pitifully underwhelming experience on the small screen. As expected, naturally, but the DVD transfer is very lacklustre.

Now, I admit that I don't have Blu-ray or a particularly amazing TV, and I imagine that if I had those things my home viewing experience of TDK would be a heck of a lot more impressive, but then again I do have DVD and a reasonably large widescreen TV (not hi-def or anything, but not The Television From Hell™ either), so I did expect rather better.

I'd say that unless you have a truly first-rate "home cinema" setup, TDK should actually be avoided on DVD. It's not meant to be seen this way and really suffers. I was really looking forward to this DVD, but it's turned out to be my most disappointing DVD experience ever.

[Harmsway]

Interesting, Loomis. The transfer is that bad, or is it just the nature of the transition to moderately good home theater that really does the damage?

I'm curious because many DVD reviews - including ones that have commented about the issues with the transfer - have been pretty positive about the film's success on home theater.

[Loomis]

Well, I guess the deciding factor is the television. My DVD of BATMAN BEGINS looks pretty awful on my TV, but I did once see it (and it would have been the same "standard" DVD, not Blu-ray) on a truly amazing top-of-the-range, cutting-edge TV, and it looked absolutely incredible. A film I'd always felt had muddy colours and next to no visual "wow" factor all of a sudden turned out to be an eyepopping affair after all.

Still, I do own DVDs that look an awful lot better on my set than BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT (dark indeed, on this transfer), notably CASINO ROYALE and the Bond UEs. M:I-2 and TERMINATOR 2 also look astounding, for some reason, with acres of amazing, pin-sharp detail and bright, vibrant colours.

As for whether the transfer of THE DARK KNIGHT on standard DVD is truly substandard.... well, I'm not technically qualified to judge, really. Someone here like stamper would be able to talk far more authoritatively. All I can say is that it didn't exactly rock my world, to say the least.

But maybe it's also a question of the film. THE DARK KNIGHT is truly one of those films that works best on the cinema screen (and even then an IMAX showing is the way to go - or so I'm told). Failing that, it would seem that the only way to go is a truly first-rate "home cinema" setup, with Blu-ray, a 40+" TV screen and all the trimmings.

How to put it? Watching THE DARK KNIGHT even on DVD and in letterbox format on a widescreen TV seemed like watching 2001 on pan-and-scan VHS on an old-fashioned TV.

Anyway, Harms, haven't you bought THE DARK KNIGHT on DVD yet?

[Harmsway]

Well, I guess the deciding factor is the television. My DVD of BATMAN BEGINS looks pretty awful on my TV, but I did once see it (and it would have been the same "standard" DVD, not Blu-ray) on a truly amazing top-of-the-range, cutting-edge TV, and it looked absolutely incredible. A film I'd always felt had muddy colours and next to no visual "wow" factor all of a sudden turned out to be an eyepopping affair after all.

Still, I do own DVDs that look an awful lot better on my set than BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT (dark indeed, on this transfer), notably CASINO ROYALE and the Bond UEs.

As for whether the transfer of THE DARK KNIGHT on standard DVD is truly substandard.... well, I'm not technically qualified to judge, really. Someone here like stamper would be able to talk far more authoritatively. All I can say is that it didn't exactly rock my world, to say the least.

Gotcha.

Anyway, Harms, haven't you bought THE DARK KNIGHT on DVD yet?

No, I haven't purchased it yet. In fact, I won't have in my possession until after December 25. I did, however, recently watch a friend's bootleg copy.

[Matt_13]

http://www.collegehu...m/video:1884973

This gave me a good laugh.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

http://www.collegehu...m/video:1884973

This gave me a good laugh.

[[dark]]

ComingSoon.net reports that the Academy has overturned their decision to exclude The Dark Knight's score from Oscar contention.

Anyone else expecting nominations in pretty much every major category? Best film, director, actor(?), supporting actor, music, sound, special effects, make-up, costumes... damn, this film had it all!

[Loomis]

Nah, man. It doesn't deserve anything except a nomination for Ledger.

Good film, but let's not get too carried away, eh?

[killkenny kid]

Oh baby, after reading todays headlines. I guess Nolan pick the right city, to past as Gotham.

[Loomis]

What do you mean?

[Vauxhall]

What do you mean?

I guess he may be referring to this story.

[[dark]]

Nah, man. It doesn't deserve anything except a nomination for Ledger.

Good film, but let's not get too carried away, eh?

But Austin Powers In Goldmember should have swept the floor in 2002?

[Loomis]

Well, Verne Troyer shoulda gotten Best Supporting Actor, making him the only Oscar winner in history to be dwarfed by his own statuette.

Sorry. Tasteless, I know. But then what do you expect from the Loom-meister other than poor taste? *Cracks open Stallone DVD box set*

[killkenny kid]

What do you mean?

I guess he may be referring to this story.

Thats the one, indeed.

[Harmsway]

It doesn't deserve anything except a nomination for Ledger.

Or does it? Let's face it, 2008 hasn't exactly been a stellar year for cinema, so I think it actually stands to get some nominations given its context. And, heck, at the very least it's a more worthy Best Picture nomination than, say, CRASH or THE DEPARTED or MICHAEL CLAYTON.

[Judo chop]

it's a more worthy Best Picture nomination than, say, CRASH

Despite feeling like there are many flaws in TDK, I'd have to agree. CRASH is a rather hokey film whose rightful place is to serve as racism education in high school and college classrooms rather than as some grand artistic statement that it only pretends to be.

or THE DEPARTED

<big ol' raspberry> CERTAINLY agree. A touch better directed than DONNIE BRASCO (but minus any great performances).

or MICHAEL CLAYTON

Can't comment.

And QOS is better than all of them. IMO.

Go Bond!

[Loomis]

And, heck, at the very least it's a more worthy Best Picture nomination than, say, CRASH or THE DEPARTED or MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Well, you're certainly right about that. I'd also say it trumps MILLION DOLLAR BABY and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, but then I've hated most of the recent Best Picture winners.

[[dark]]

Come to think of it, I'll be rather peeved if Batman doesn't score at least a Best Picture nomination. I'm guilty of having not seen any of the other Best Picture potentials and I'm aware of the Academy's prejudice against flicks such as these, but The Dark Knight is one of the most all-round solid movies I've seen in a long, long time. Performances, special effects, music, casting, direction, cinematography... all are virtually flawless. If ever there was a time for the Academy to buck the trend and give recognition to a mainstream pic, this is it.

(As an aside, I was thinking the other day of how I'd compare the Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace - Batman Begins/The Dark Knight duos. While Casino Royale trumps Batman Begins and The Dark Knight easily ranks above Quantum of Solace, I realised I may well rank The Dark Knight above Casino Royale - a film I adore. Objectively, I think it's a superior picture.)

[Harmsway]

There's some news on the awards front pertaining to THE DARK KNIGHT.

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association is one of those groups that always establishes Oscar buzz when they name their selections (and a group that, IMO, is worth watching - they get things more "right," IMO, than the Oscars, and sometimes make some very surprising choices). Well, they have have announced their picks.

Best Film? Well, it's a real shocker: WALL-E. For a group that has previously selected a lot of smaller, artier films for this category, this is a bold selection that nobody was anticipating. The runner-up? THE DARK KNIGHT.

For Best Director, Danny Boyle too it for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. But again, DARK KNIGHT was the runner-up, with Christopher Nolan landing behind Boyle.

And naturally, Heath Ledger took Best Supporting Actor.

So, it seems that THE DARK KNIGHT is definitely a strong contender in the awards race this year. (And, apparently, so is WALL-E. )

[SolidWaffle]

I don't think TDK deserves any Best Picture Nomination. I do think Ledger should get a nomination at least, and some of the tech categories, but not best picture.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Just got my copy of TDK...I went cheap and got the special feature-less version, although I really do enjoy them on the Batman Begins dvd. It's a great movie but it aint Quantum of Solace!

[Tarl_Cabot]

If he made a third film, it would be for no reason but the continuation of story. He is currently looking into where the story would go and if it needs to go there. He maintained that it's very hard to make a movie of this scale (and specified he wasn't asking for our sympathy, drawing a laugh from the crowd) - it's two hard years and you gotta love it. One of his biggest fears is getting halfway through making a film and realizing it's unnecessary and he doesn't want to make it anymore. If there is a third story that needs to be told, there will be a third film, but nothing is set in stone or a given.

Translation: he's currently in heavy negotiations for the third film, for which he's sure to get the biggest director's paycheck of all time - the only question is just how much $$$$ will be flowing to his account.

Yeah, he has a hand that James Cameron didn't have after Titanic.He's slow playing it...wisely. I just hope he doesn't cast Johnny Depp as the Riddler(Casey Affleck).

[Matt_13]

Sprung for the single disc widescreen version. It gets the job done.

[Tarl_Cabot]

My thoughts exactly although it's annoying they won't include the full bounty for $14.99. I mean, they did make $530M(d)!