You are viewing an archived version of the site which is no longer maintained.
Go to the current live site or the Adventure Gamers forums
Adventure Gamers

Home Adventure Forums Misc. Chit Chat Recent movies seen


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 10-31-2005, 03:27 PM   #481
Elegantly copy+pasted
 
After a brisk nap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,773
Default

I think tone has everything to do with it. Noir is pessimistic, fatalistic. The characters are morally bankrupt, and any character who tries to take a stand for something is invariably defeated or forced to sacrifice what he most desires. Film noir traditionally goes with a specific visual style. One key marker of film noir is the femme fatale, an enigmatic and treacherous anti-heroine.

I'm sorry, but I've seen the film, and people who call it a noir are mistaken. It's no more film noir than The Big Lebowski is. Like Lebowski, it's certainly very aware of noir, and exists within the wider tradition of hardboiled detectives, which it spoofs as well as conforms to.
__________________
Please excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.
After a brisk nap is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 03:31 PM   #482
Epinionated.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,841
Default

Having studied Film Noir, have to chime in and say Snarky's right on the money in its definition. Haven't seen the film, but will definitely.

BTW you missed out the rain/water motif which a lot of noir carries, up to and including Chinatown.
__________________
Starter of Thread Must Die.
squarejawhero is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 03:37 PM   #483
Senior Member
 
Ninth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 6,409
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snarky
I just saw Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Ah, what a great movie!

It's one of those light-hearted, dark comedy type detective stories, like an Elmore Leonard novel (Get Shorty, etc.). Funny, violent, sexy, and deliciously R-rated. From the extremely stylish Bond-inspired title credits to the final gratuitous joke, this film is a great ride.

And it's so good to see Robert Downey Jr. working again. Such a great actor, such a wasted (*ahem*) talent usually.
Great movie, that.

Even greater, in my opinion, is Match Point, that i saw yesterday. I love Woody Allen, but this is one of his very best, and as a plus it's very different from everything else he's done.
__________________
...It's down there somewhere. Let me have another look.
Ninth is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 04:56 PM   #484
Senior Member
 
Reflection's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 517
Default

Batman Begins. Disappointed.

I might watch La Haine or Blade Runner next.
Reflection is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 09:45 PM   #485
|> Monster <|
 
DS15's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kinderheim 511
Posts: 26
Default

Everything Is Illuminated

I found it to be a beautiful, quirky, hilarious, moving motion picture. Thought provoking and heartfelt, I left the theater both entertained and emotionally drained.
DS15 is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 11:13 PM   #486
OB
 
Orange Brat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 662
Default

I'll put my faith in every other major film critic, the writer/director, and stars on whether it's a Noir or not. And, it is....I don't think everyone's wrong. I've read that one of the chapters is subtitled, "The Lady in the Lake" which is a famous Chandler story, they speak in stylized Noir manner, it's violent as hell, has a narrator, and is a hardboiled detective story. It definitely sounds like a comedy Noir and those are always more light in tone.

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/kisskissbangbang

Sorry to come off like a hardass on this particular issue, but I'm only going by the huge amount of text that has been written about it. Shane Black set out to write and direct a Neo Noir, and as I said it looks like that has what he did, although it may not necessarily conform to the usual standards. There are many different kinds of Noir..some barely conform to what you would normally look for.



Saw Saw II. Nice and bloody, and a better film than the first if that means anything with this sort of movie. I liked it and would recommend it to gore hounds.
__________________
The Disenfranchised™ - A Film Noir adventure series for the PC. Coming later.

Last edited by Orange Brat; 10-31-2005 at 11:19 PM.
Orange Brat is offline  
Old 10-31-2005, 11:27 PM   #487
Epinionated.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,841
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DS15
Everything Is Illuminated

I found it to be a beautiful, quirky, hilarious, moving motion picture. Thought provoking and heartfelt, I left the theater both entertained and emotionally drained.
Great! I look forward to seeing this. Thanks for posting a brief review.
__________________
Starter of Thread Must Die.

Last edited by squarejawhero; 11-01-2005 at 01:18 AM.
squarejawhero is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 01:18 AM   #488
Epinionated.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,841
Default

Mira's going to castrate me for this, but I really enjoyed The Twins Effect last night. Then again, I've got a thing for any film that stars Charlene Choi being spanked with a pole.

...

Anyhow, it's kind of like a lighthearted Blade with good effects. Really must see the sequel now! And House Of Fury!

Ok, ok, any film starring the Twins.

Here's a review with an awesome quote -

http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/twins_effect.htm

Quote:
But it's the second conflict which should get everybody's blood boiling. That's right: the Twins must take on each other! Midway through the film, there's a battle royale between Gypsy and Helen over—get this—a teddy bear! The girls go wushu wacko on each other and unleash a flurry of wire-enhanced moves and gravity-defying acrobatics. They also pause to pout, mug, and taunt each other with funny faces. To some people, this display of cute ass-kicking would probably be the cinematic equivalent of armageddon, but there's also something amusing and even winning about the whole thing. Say what you will about the Twins' talent, but they've got something—call it cuddly charisma or sweet screen presence—that makes them wholly watchable. It's like witnessing a blowout battle between Hello Kitty and Kerokeropi. Sure, it's silly and totally preposterous, but it's just so damn cute. No matter who wins, you'd like to give them both a hug.
__________________
Starter of Thread Must Die.
squarejawhero is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 01:24 AM   #489
Living with my love
 
Tobbe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,453
Send a message via MSN to Tobbe
Default

Saw The Bourne Supremacy yesterday, I enjoyed it, would have liked to see anyone else playing Matt Damon´s role though..I was a little confused, haven´t watched The Bourne Identity..
__________________
''My names George. It means... Well, its just a name''
George Stobbart-Broken Sword
Tobbe is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 01:29 AM   #490
Epinionated.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 5,841
Default

That kind of should've set warning bells ticking from the start, then.

Watch the first THEN the second. It's the only way to know who's who and what's going on. It's not very forgiving as a standalone.

And damn you for saying MD didn't work in the movie! Well, you didn't get the character setup of the first film to get you into his mindset, I guess. Go see! Or buy! It's going to be cheap!
__________________
Starter of Thread Must Die.
squarejawhero is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 01:32 AM   #491
Living with my love
 
Tobbe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,453
Send a message via MSN to Tobbe
Default

Yep, you´re right..I have to get the first movie, my friend quickly briefed me what happened in the first movie, so it helped a little..Usually I like movies staring Matt Damon, but I don´t know, he didn´t work for me in this movie..


Quote:
Originally Posted by squarejawhero
That kind of should've set warning bells ticking from the start, then.

Watch the first THEN the second. It's the only way to know who's who and what's going on. It's not very forgiving as a standalone.

And damn you for saying MD didn't work in the movie! Well, you didn't get the character setup of the first film to get you into his mindset, I guess. Go see! Or buy! It's going to be cheap!
__________________
''My names George. It means... Well, its just a name''
George Stobbart-Broken Sword
Tobbe is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 06:47 AM   #492
Elegantly copy+pasted
 
After a brisk nap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,773
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orange Brat
I'll put my faith in every other major film critic, the writer/director, and stars on whether it's a Noir or not. And, it is....I don't think everyone's wrong. I've read that one of the chapters is subtitled, "The Lady in the Lake" which is a famous Chandler story, they speak in stylized Noir manner, it's violent as hell, has a narrator, and is a hardboiled detective story. It definitely sounds like a comedy Noir and those are always more light in tone.

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/kisskissbangbang

Sorry to come off like a hardass on this particular issue, but I'm only going by the huge amount of text that has been written about it. Shane Black set out to write and direct a Neo Noir, and as I said it looks like that has what he did, although it may not necessarily conform to the usual standards. There are many different kinds of Noir..some barely conform to what you would normally look for.
And I stand by my point that to be noir, a film has to have a dark tone. It's there in the name of the genre. Comedies playing with the conventions of film noir may or may not themselves be noir, depending on the film.

Rather than believe that so many critics are outright mistaken, I choose to think that they are using "noir" in an inexact manner, as shorthand for the kind of hardboiled detective story with confusing plots that the movie references. I note that a knowledgeable reviewer like Roger Ebert avoids the term. I would also like to point out that Raymond Chandler didn't always write noir, nor do the fictional pulp novels that figure in the film appear to be in a noir style.

It's difficult to argue exactly why Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang isn't noir without using spoilers from the film. However, its attitude is almost the complete opposite of that genre. On the other hand, given your arguments for why it does belong there, it sounds like you're using the term in a very loose, you might say superficial, sense anyway. This site, which I believe was referenced by someone else recently, is a pretty good introduction to the essence of noir.
__________________
Please excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.
After a brisk nap is offline  
Old 11-01-2005, 07:04 AM   #493
Chris Barraclough
 
seebaruk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: London
Posts: 2,437
Default

Haven't been to the cinema for a while, but been on a Danny Devito DVD watching mission for some random mission. Saw Twins, Ruthless People and Screwed in the past week. Damn he's a funny random little man.
seebaruk is offline  
Old 11-03-2005, 05:25 PM   #494
Pink fluffy Xmas bunny
 
Manhunter71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lancaster, England
Posts: 1,591
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by seebaruk
The first one was decent, but heard the second was one of those rare sequels that takes the ideas of the first and improves on them while removing a lot of the flaws. Must see it, need to feed gorehound inside me! Got Wolf Creek to watch next.
The thing is, I normally stay away from sequels - especially horror sequels, because they are usually nothing more than a re-hash of the original; but after the very (unusually) positive reviews of Saw 2 I might actually give it a try!
Saw had some very sick moments as I discovered to my misfortune whilst eating my dinner

If the sequel is anywhere near as good then I will make sure that I don't watch it at meal times
__________________
We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English! And the English are best at everything!
Manhunter71 is offline  
Old 11-04-2005, 12:38 AM   #495
Chris Barraclough
 
seebaruk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: London
Posts: 2,437
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manhunter71
If the sequel is anywhere near as good then I will make sure that I don't watch it at meal times
Think that's a good plan! If I see it I'll stick a post here to say if it's any good.

Saw Hitchhikers Guide last night, didn't think much of it although turning that book into a 2 hour film was a pretty ambitious project. I still prefer the TV series.
__________________
Games and Tech journo, and broke-arse author of Bat Boy (UK Authors Prize 2010 Winner), Crack (Page Turner Prize 2011 shortlisted) and Dead Dogs (nominated for the Dylan Thomas Sony Reader Award).

Check out www.chrisbarraclough.co.uk for promotions and giveaways. Twitter: Seebaruk
seebaruk is offline  
Old 11-04-2005, 12:56 AM   #496
Huz
Kersal Massive
 
Huz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,430
Send a message via MSN to Huz
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by seebaruk
Think that's a good plan! If I see it I'll stick a post here to say if it's any good.
Saw 2 gets the official Huzbo seal of approval, anyway. Although I think I've already said that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by seebaruk
Saw Hitchhikers Guide last night, didn't think much of it although turning that book into a 2 hour film was a pretty ambitious project. I still prefer the TV series.
I felt exactly the same way - right down to preferring the TV series! If nothing else, the film made me watch it again.

I think perhaps it was because I'm a relatively big Hitchhiker's fan that I didn't like the film much. Some of the jokes were truncated for no reason and that really stuck in my throat. Like you I think it was massively ambitious for them to try to turn Hitchhiker's into a 2-hour film, especially because, for many of the jokes to work, they require the sort of lengthy exposition that is just not possible in a movie.

Also, the Trillian love story subplot gubbins.

(The one part that made me laugh out loud was the new bit at the party,
Spoiler:
"I said all the people here are idiots!". I think you could call that observational comedy. )


I did derive geeky pleasure from spotting the references to the original TV series and radio show, though. Did you spot the original Marvin robot? The original Arthur Dent? Ace.
Huz is offline  
Old 11-15-2005, 01:42 PM   #497
Psychonaut
 
Lucien21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 5,114
Default

Just been to see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Goddamn FUNNIEST film i've seen all year.

My side hurts.

It's a comedy homage to Raymond Chandler (Even the chapter titles are Chandler novels).

Ok so the plot is a bit thin and occassionally it tries too hard to be a parody, but the dialogue is sharp and witty and sometimes laugh out loud hilarious.

I loved the narrator interaction with the "audience" ,breaking the 4th wall.

"Don't worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I'm not going to end this 17 times"

Robert Downey jnr has never been better and Val Kilmer is funny.


A movie with style and jokes.
__________________
I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!
Lucien21 is offline  
Old 11-15-2005, 04:15 PM   #498
Mostly absent
 
Mattsius's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Turku, Finland
Posts: 2,532
Default

Well, if the last couple of months count as recently, here's a list:

• Meet the Fockers
• The Incredibles
• The Bourne Supremacy
• Team America: World Police
• Shark Tale
• Sideways
• Cold Mountain
• Around the World in 80 Days
• Taking Lives
• Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (well, this really isn't a movie, but still)
• Ocean’s Twelve
• The Forgotten
• The Manchurian Candidate
• Constantine
• Finding Neverland
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Ray
• Man on Fire
• Cellular
• Closer
• Catwoman
• After the Sunset
• Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
• XXX: The Next Level
• Hitch
• Resident Evil: Apocalypse
• Alone in the Dark
• The Jacket
• Garfield
• Stage Beauty
• The Princess Diaries
• The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
• Framom Främsta Linjen
• The Chronicles of Riddick
• Van Helsing
• Madagascar
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Out of these I thought Sideways and Ray overall were the best movies, although Hitch definitely had it's moments also.

I had a really hard time finding anything good in some of these, so if you like good movies IMHO you should avoid the following: Constantine, Catwoman, XXX: The Next Level, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Alone in the Dark, Garfield, The Princess Diaries, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and The Chronicles of Riddick.

But hey, that's just my opinion.
Mattsius is offline  
Old 11-16-2005, 08:10 AM   #499
Chris Barraclough
 
seebaruk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: London
Posts: 2,437
Default

Wow, that's a lot of films! Were Cellular and The Jacket any good? Their trailers looked decent but I saw some stinky reviews of them.
__________________
Games and Tech journo, and broke-arse author of Bat Boy (UK Authors Prize 2010 Winner), Crack (Page Turner Prize 2011 shortlisted) and Dead Dogs (nominated for the Dylan Thomas Sony Reader Award).

Check out www.chrisbarraclough.co.uk for promotions and giveaways. Twitter: Seebaruk
seebaruk is offline  
Old 11-16-2005, 08:40 AM   #500
Mostly absent
 
Mattsius's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Turku, Finland
Posts: 2,532
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by seebaruk
Wow, that's a lot of films! Were Cellular and The Jacket any good? Their trailers looked decent but I saw some stinky reviews of them.
I liked Cellular a lot actually, which was quite surprising to me since when I started out watching I was sure it would be an extremely long Nokia commercial disguised as a B-class movie. But then again I'm a Nokia fan. If you like Motorola more you'd better skip this one, since there's a lot of Nokia stuff in this movie. And with a lot I mean craploads! But as I said, I liked it a lot and I if you don't expect any miracles you will too.

As for The Jacket I'm extremely divided. On the one hand Adrien Brody showed once again that he's a very talented actor, Keira Knightley in my opinion does her best job ever (that's not to say that it's very good though), the amazing camera work and the complexity of the plot. On the other hand there are some serious plot holes and you might end up a bit, in lack of a better word, stunned at the end of the movie, not really knowing if you just saw a severely flawed movie or a masterpiece.
But personally I would recommend you to watch it, if just for the experience. The movie is quite unique. You don't see this every day.

Hope I was at least of some help.
Mattsius is offline  
 



Thread Tools

 


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.