84 replies to this topic

[HildebrandRarity]

Near Masterpiece:

Quantum Of Solace...What can you say? It's the best paced James Bond movie of all time which goes the anti~dumbed-downed route and gets better with every viewing. Makes the majority of other Bonds and most other action movies look padestrian/glacial and, at times, even silly.



Very Good Movie Which Could Have Been A Masterpiece If Edited Tighter:

The Dark Knight...What can you say that a 70 page thread on a Bond site hasn't already said.



A Great Movie Of The Animated Variety:

Kung-Fu Panda...Funny, moving and fun for the whole family



A Dissapointment:

Burn After Reading...A curious movie with a lot of supposed talent that didn't deliver.



A Waste Of My Two Hours But Not Necessarily A Waste:

Into The Wild...Some find it a lot better than others. An acquired taste. A downer. Not my cuppa tea but dearly loved by some people who are very close to my heart.


Most Gut-Bursting Laughs, Even Of The Stupid Variety:

Bedtime Stories...At times genuinely funny, at times plain dumb funny, never dull.



Have Yet To See But Not Dying To Get Around To It:


Diving Bell And The Buttefly
Tropic Thunder
Wanted

[Loomis]

I didn't get to the cinema that often this year but when I did I saw the following, and I've ranked them in order of goodness...

(Good)
1 - Eden Lake
The one truly great new film I saw this year. It's about a couple terrorized by young thugs near a lake and is A LOT better than it sounds. I was gripped from start to finish.

I've heard EDEN LAKE is excellent. Will have to check it out.

A Dissapointment:

Burn After Reading...A curious movie with a lot of supposed talent that didn't deliver.

That's the Coens for you. I find they make far more misses than hits (artistic, I mean, not commercial), and even their supposed masterworks like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN tend to leave me cold. Mind you, I am obsessed with THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

[Johnboy007]

The Great
Quantum of Solace: I don't know what else to say about this one. I saw it three times and loved it.
The Dark Knight: Too long, but fun.

The Good/Fair
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: Hilarious.
Cloverfield: Clever, but occasionally stupid.
Iron Man: Also too long, but a lot of fun.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: I don't hate it as much as most people. Will catch it on DVD soon and see how it holds up.

The Terrible
21: If they had cut out about an hour of this movie it would be fine. I don't like Jim Sturgess.
Eagle Eye: Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.
AvP Requiem: This one at least has some cheesy appeal to it.

Movies I haven't seen that I plan on seeing:
Rambo: I have never seen a Rambo movie before, so I'll get to them someday
Wall-E: Everyone seems to enjoy it.

Movies I haven't seen that I might see someday:
No Country for Old Men
Tropic Thunder
Hancock
W

Movies that I haven't seen and do not plan on ever seeing:
Mamma Mia!: I hate ABBA, and I think two hours of lousy cover versions might be the most torturous experience imaginable.
Frost/Nixon: Is there any point to this movie? That, and Richard Nixon sounds like Sean Connery in the commercials. "When the preshident doesh it, itsch not illegal!"
Pineapple Express: Looks stupid
Seven Pounds: I saw this trailer several times and can't figure out what the heck it's about. The bad reviews don't help either.
Valkyrie: No to Tom Cruise. No to film about story I've read about endlessly.
Twilight: Clearly not part of their target audience.

[Harmsway]

A Dissapointment:

Burn After Reading...A curious movie with a lot of supposed talent that didn't deliver.

That's the Coens for you. I find they make far more misses than hits (artistic, I mean, not commercial), and even their supposed masterworks like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN tend to leave me cold. Mind you, I am obsessed with THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

I love the Coens when they're "on." My favorite of their flicks is the oft-forgotten BLOOD SIMPLE.

Anyway, I still can't wait to check out BURN AFTER READING. I've heard opinions all over the map on this one (a lot of people feel that it's a huge misfire after the Coen's so-called "triumph" in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN), but this quirky comedy sounds like my cup of tea.

[[dark]]

A Dissapointment:

Burn After Reading...A curious movie with a lot of supposed talent that didn't deliver.

That's the Coens for you. I find they make far more misses than hits (artistic, I mean, not commercial), and even their supposed masterworks like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN tend to leave me cold. Mind you, I am obsessed with THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

I love the Coens when they're "on." My favorite of their flicks is the oft-forgotten BLOOD SIMPLE.

Anyway, I still can't wait to check out BURN AFTER READING. I've heard opinions all over the map on this one (a lot of people feel that it's a huge misfire after the Coen's so-called "triumph" in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN), but this quirky comedy sounds like my cup of tea.

For what it's worth, put me in the "misfire" camp as well. There was potential, but - criminally for a comedy - it just wasn't funny. It was all a bit overplayed.

[Harmsway]

For what it's worth, put me in the "misfire" camp as well. There was potential, but it just wasn't funny. It was all a bit overplayed.

Well, we'll see.

I thought NO COUNTRY more than a bit overrated, and was hoping that BURN AFTER READING would be the Coens returning to what they do best (namely, absurd, bizarre comedy). Maybe it's something of a misfire - and the Coens have had their share - but I still can't wait to find out how it shapes up.

[[dark]]

For what it's worth, put me in the "misfire" camp as well. There was potential, but it just wasn't funny. It was all a bit overplayed.

Well, we'll see.

I thought NO COUNTRY more than a bit overrated, and was hoping that BURN AFTER READING would be the Coens returning to what they do best (namely, absurd, bizarre comedy). Maybe it's something of a misfire - and the Coens have had their share - but I still can't wait to find out how it shapes up.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

[HildebrandRarity]

A Dissapointment:

Burn After Reading...A curious movie with a lot of supposed talent that didn't deliver.

That's the Coens for you. I find they make far more misses than hits (artistic, I mean, not commercial), and even their supposed masterworks like NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN tend to leave me cold. Mind you, I am obsessed with THE BIG LEBOWSKI.

I love the Coens when they're "on." My favorite of their flicks is the oft-forgotten BLOOD SIMPLE.

Anyway, I still can't wait to check out BURN AFTER READING.

You've been waiting quite a long time my friend...the movie was out three or so months ago and wasn't very successful. Isn't it out on dvd yet?

By the way, Pitt's character - a dumb as a brick but 'enthusiastic' personal trainer for a gym - is hilarious.

[Harmsway]

You've been waiting quite a long time my friend...the movie was out three or so months ago and wasn't very successful. Isn't it out on dvd yet?

It just came out on DVD.

By the way, Pitt's character - a dumb as a brick but 'enthusiastic' personal trainer for a gym - is hilarious.

So I hear.

[HildebrandRarity]

By the way, Pitt's character - a dumb as a brick but 'enthusiastic' personal trainer for a gym - is hilarious.

So I hear.

...although I could never tell whether the hilarity genuinely stemmed from the character as written or the fact that a celebrity with such a huge persona was playing the role.

[AgentBentley]

My three favorites:
La Mome (Edith Piaf story)
Atonement
The Bank Job

Really Enjoyable:
Cloverfield
The Other Boleyn Girl
Wanted
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
QoS

OK, I guess:
Vantage Point
Burn After Reading

Disappointments:
Eagle Eye
Bangkok Dangerous
Righteous Kill

[DR76]

This is not permanent. But so far, these are my ten favorite movies of 2008:

1. "Speed Racer"

2. "Changeling"

3. "Iron Man"

4. "Valkyrie"

5. "Quantum of Solace"

6. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

7. "Tropic Thunder"

8. "Frost/Nixon"

9. "Vantage Point"

10."The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"



My least favorites:

1. "Burn After Reading"

2. "Twilight"

3. "Shoot Em' Up"

4. "X-Files: I Want to Believe"

Edited by DR76, 01 January 2009 - 06:42 AM.

[dodge]

THE GREAT
DARK KNIGHT
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

THE NEAR GREAT
TROPIC THUNDER
IRON MAN
ROCKY BALBOA

THE VERY GOOD
THE BANK JOB
CHANGELING
WANTED
RAMBO

THE ROTTEN
QUANTUM OF SOLACE
INDIANA JONES...
BANGKOK DANGEROUS

THE REEKING
QUANTUM OF SOLACE

HAVEN'T SEEN YET BUT WANT TO:
THE WRESTLER
VALKYRIE

[Tarl_Cabot]

No love for Quantum Of Solace Dodge? Comon, it's not on par with that crappy Indiana Jones movie.

[Hitch]

Rotten and reeking? I could smell your disdain from the top of the thread!

[Scrambled Eggs]

I think Burn After Reading might be one of those Coen bros films that improves with each viewing and becomes better regarded as time goes on.

I think thats how it was with Lebowski - don't think that did much at the cinema (am I right?) but over the years its become a true cult.

I enjoyed it more than any other film I saw at the cinema this year, certainly made me laugh more than any other.

[tdalton]

After viewing Tropic Thunder last night, I have to amend my list to include that film.


Top 10:

• Into the Wild
• Quantum of Solace
• Tropic Thunder
• Wanted
• Rambo

For Tropic Thunder, not only should it have two Best Supporting Actor nominees (Downey Jr. and Cruise), but Tom Cruise should win the award. Even in a very limited role, it's one of his best performances (if not his absolute best), and it's one of the funniest performances I've seen in a while, rivaled only by Downey Jr.'s performance in the same film.

Edited by tdalton, 28 December 2008 - 10:01 PM.

[Harmsway]

For Tropic Thunder, not only should it have two Best Supporting Actor nominees (Downey Jr. and Cruise), but Tom Cruise should win the award.

Cruise was funny, but he was hardly superior to Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT. Most of the hilarity of Cruise's performance in TROPIC THUNDER didn't come from some great display of skill on his part. It just came from the fact that he was playing against type.

[tdalton]

For Tropic Thunder, not only should it have two Best Supporting Actor nominees (Downey Jr. and Cruise), but Tom Cruise should win the award.

Cruise was funny, but he was hardly superior to Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT. Most of the hilarity of Cruise's performance in TROPIC THUNDER didn't come from some great display of skill on his part. It just came from the fact that he was playing against type.

I thought that he was brilliant in the role. Playing against type successfully does require a great deal of skill, which Cruise demonstrated quite well in Tropic Thunder, and for me, it's the best supporting performance of any of the major contenders for the award that I've seen this year.

[Harmsway]

Playing against type successfully does require a great deal of skill

Sometimes. It depends on what role you're playing. I'd argue that for Cruise to do what he did in TROPIC THUNDER doesn't demonstrate any great change for the guy beyond aesthetics.

[tdalton]

Playing against type successfully does require a great deal of skill

Sometimes. It depends on what role you're playing. I'd argue that for Cruise to do what he did in TROPIC THUNDER doesn't demonstrate any great change for the guy beyond aesthetics.

I disagree. When thinking about what the character actually is, which is a caricature, it's a character that is very simple on paper and doesn't really, at least on its own, grab the attention of the viewer whenever the character is on screen. I think that Tom Cruise brings that to the role, elevating a role that otherwise really isn't all that spectacular, and would have been played far less successfully by a large number of other actors.

[Harmsway]

I disagree. When thinking about what the character actually is, which is a caricature, it's a character that is very simple on paper and doesn't really, at least on its own, grab the attention of the viewer whenever the character is on screen. I think that Tom Cruise brings that to the role, elevating a role that otherwise really isn't all that spectacular, and would have been played far less successfully by a large number of other actors.

Well, yes the role isn't much on paper. And yes, there are countless actors who wouldn't have made it that memorable, which makes Tom Cruise an inspired choice.

But I'm arguing that the only reason it is particularly memorable is not because of the nuances of Tom Cruise's performance, but the whole, "Whoa, that's Tom Cruise?!" factor. In his performance, he's not doing anything extraordinary, but the match-up is so bizarre that it can't help but be hilarious and engaging.

[tdalton]

But I'm arguing that the only reason it is particularly memorable is not because of the nuances of Tom Cruise, but the whole, "Whoa, that's Tom Cruise?!" factor. In his performance, he's not doing anything extraordinary, but the match-up is so bizarre that it can't help but be hilarious and engaging.

I don't think that the same thing could be said if they had used other actors in a "stunt cast" of the role. Just because they got a big name actor doesn't mean that just the presence of the big name actor makes the role what it is. For me, Tom Cruise's performance is what makes the role, rather than the presence of Tom Cruise being what makes the role. Sure, it's not a "serious" performance in the way that those of Ralph Fiennes, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Heath Ledger's performances are, but it doesn't, at least for me, diminish the quality of it.

[Professor Pi]

I don't even think I saw 10 movies this year, but here's what I did see:

#1 The Dark Knight - Great in the theater, on IMAX, and at home.

#2 Quantum of Solace

#3 Iron Man

#4 Rambo - (but at home on Bluray, not in the theater)

#5 Indiana Jones 4 - More of a Raiders sequel. Is it worse than Temple of Doom?

#6 Kung Fu Panda - (I know it's better, but I fall asleep during family films!)

#7 Get Smart - Disappointing, preferred 80's Maxwell Smart movie The Nude Bomb.

#8 Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D - (Really wanted those 2 hours back)

[MrKidd]

The Big Ones
TDK - except for Heath Ledger's Joker - overlong and over praised
Iron Man - sorry, meh
Indiana Jones - seriously? V average
QoS - enjoyed it more the second viewing - enjoyed to an extent but disappointed overall

The Best Ones
Milk - Sean Penn will be nominated
The Counterfeiters - really good and moving
Mongol - great spectacle
Tell No One - please see this is you haven't - its great
Burn After Reading - I loved this one - was in hysterics in the theater. Don't understand the lack of love.

The Good Ones
Kung Fu Panda - great animation and funny
The Happening - so appalling its really fun
The other Boleyn Girl - Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johanssen - cooorrrr!
Rambo - violent. Very very violent. And pointless.
Madagascar 2 - I likey a lot. Laugh much. Funny penguins.

The OK ones
Tropic Thunder - should have been funnier
Cloverfield - and you thought the editing in QoS was bad??!!!
Mamma Mia - love the songs - really, I listen to them in the gym!!!
Incredible Hulk - enjoyable even if pretty crummy

Oh Lord!
Eagle eye - what were they thinking?

Edited by MrKidd, 29 December 2008 - 04:40 AM.

[mrsbonds_ppk]

I haven't visited the movie theater often this year. I'll try to list all the movies I've seen from this year and what I thought. Let's see..

Iron Man - Good comic book film. It was way better than I thought it would be and I had a bunch of fun watching it.

The Dark Knight - Ledger's performance was great and I liked the story. Good story and good entertainment make for a great film.

The Day the Earth Stood Still - I saw this in the cinema Friday and it did not do it for me. The story was weak and held little weight the way I thought the original film did. Two different messages in the two different films but the 2008 version left it all very incomplete and light. Good popcorn film with great visuals but nothing lasting as far as story goes. But I thought the actors were great with what they had to work with. Keanu Reeves' Klaatu was intense, robotic, ect..everything this character was supposed to be in this film version and he had some really good scenes..say what you want about this actor I like him and he was good in this.

Wanted - Smart, entertaining action film that's all I can really say about it. I've only seen it once.

Rambo - I'm a big Sylvester Stallone fan and it was great seeing him back in this role again. I liked the movie a lot. Sure it was gory violent and whatever but I really did enjoy it and how it turned out. Not a bad film by a long shot. Go Sly!

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - It's nowhere near as good/great as the first 3(..oh yeah even Temple of Doom which I enjoy A LOT..but Raiders is my fave.),but it was entertaining and fun imo. I understand the disappointment it was for some of you (even me a bit) who have been Indy fans forever and it didn't meet your expectations but I don't think it deserves all this hate. If you don't like it that's fine but I did and I'm really SICK of all the this movie is getting. Get Over It!! And Harrison Ford was the best thing about this damn movie if you ask me. Seeing him in that Fedora again after all these years was something great to me..so I don't get all the hate he's receiving either with comments like someone posted here about him needing plastic surgery..WTF? So yeah I had problems with this film myself but I don't think it was that dang bad. Bring on Indy 5 please!

Street Kings - Ok this Keanu Reeves film came out in April this year and while it was the same old cop film..in the genre of Training Day I really enjoyed this. Hey it was better than the Day the Earth Stood Still story wise..wow.

Quantum of Solace - I enjoyed it but wasn't really impressed. The End.

Cloverfield - Interesting and intriguing.

Eagle Eye - I like Shia LaBeouf I will admit. Good popcorn movie nothing else. Somewhat interesting but not great.

The Incredible Hulk - Good at the time but kinda forgettable. Maybe I liked it when I saw it but I don't know they just can't seem to get The Hulk right on film.


2008 movie roundup


My favorite movie of the year is
Iron Man

Disappointments of the Year..even though I was somewhat entertained
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Indiana Jones 4 But I said what I thought above.
Quantum of Solace

Best Movie of the Year
I have no idea...The Dark Knight..hmm maybe.

Movie of the year
Prom Night. This was absolute garbage. And don't get me wrong I wasn't expecting it to be good.


So that's it from me..for now I guess. Can't remember everything I've scene right now. My very incomplete 2008 film thoughts.

[dodge]

But I'm arguing that the only reason it is particularly memorable is not because of the nuances of Tom Cruise, but the whole, "Whoa, that's Tom Cruise?!" factor. In his performance, he's not doing anything extraordinary, but the match-up is so bizarre that it can't help but be hilarious and engaging.

I don't think that the same thing could be said if they had used other actors in a "stunt cast" of the role. Just because they got a big name actor doesn't mean that just the presence of the big name actor makes the role what it is. For me, Tom Cruise's performance is what makes the role, rather than the presence of Tom Cruise being what makes the role. Sure, it's not a "serious" performance in the way that those of Ralph Fiennes, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Heath Ledger's performances are, but it doesn't, at least for me, diminish the quality of it.

Well said, and I hope your post puts this to bed now: Cruise IS doing something extraordinary in disappearing so completely into character. I agree with you that it's not "serious" in the same sense as the more obvious Oscar-bait roles you mention. But did he act his heart out without showing that he did? Damned straight. And I'd bet that a few old Cruise bashers are whistling the same song: "I will follow him!"

Rotten and reeking? I could smell your disdain from the top of the thread!

Dr Freud must've been trip-slippin' away deep in the back of my brain. I'll let the error stand, though because the mere thought of QoS is painful beyond mention.

[Harmsway]

Well said, and I hope your post puts this to bed now: Cruise IS doing something extraordinary in disappearing so completely into character.

But I don't think he really disappears. Sure, he's not really visible under that make-up, but it's still very much Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise.

[tdalton]

Well said, and I hope your post puts this to bed now: Cruise IS doing something extraordinary in disappearing so completely into character.

But I don't think he really disappears. Sure, he's not really visible under that make-up, but it's still very much Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise.

I don't really agree. We're so used to seeing Tom Cruise playing "Mr. Nice Guy" or something along those lines, that him doing something like this really shows his range as an actor. I didn't see anything in this performance that I would call "Vintage Tom Cruise" from the standpoint that I've seen something like this from him before. In a film that makes its living almost solely on the presence of high-profile cameos (Matthew McConaughy, amongst others), most of which pull the viewer out of the film to some degree because every time they're on screen one says "Look, it's Matthew McConaughy or Nick Nolte", I didn't find myself doing that with Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise completely immersed himself in the character of Les Grossman, but since this is a comedy, neither Cruise or Downey Jr. will ultimately get the recognition that they deserve for their fine performances in this film because comedic performances are never looked on as being "real" performances, even when they are amongst the best performances of the year, which the performances of Cruise and Downey Jr. are.

[Vauxhall]

My list is based upon those movies with 2008 release dates in the UK, so there are a few which don’t qualify on the lists of others. I guess it balances out when we don’t get most of this year’s main Oscar contenders until early 2009 though. My top fifteen is as follows:

• THE DARK KNIGHT
• SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
• WALL·E
• JUNO
• THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
• GONE BABY GONE
• THERE WILL BE BLOOD
• QUANTUM OF SOLACE
• TROPIC THUNDER
• IN BRUGES
• NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
• BURN AFTER READING
• THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS
• W.
• FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL

This year was also marked with a great many disappointments for me too, with IRON MAN being the lead contender in that particular category.

I guess it’s important to note that most of my most anticipated movies of the year are not released until 2009 in the UK. It seems that there are a great number of fantastic movies to look forward to in the next couple of months: AUSTRALIA, FROST/NIXON, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, DEFIANCE, CHE, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, THE WRESTLER, plus I really need to check out I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG once it’s available to rent. I’m sure many of those will certainly crack into my list upon further consideration.