Movies, Music, TV, Books, Pop Culture

by **swerb** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:36 am

I've had V For Vendetta and 2001: A Space Oddessy sitting on top my DVD player for weeks. Also just rented the DaVinci Code, will try and watch that this weekend. Eager to see that after reading the book.

I'm gonna get back into movie mode and update my Netflix queue. Anyone seen anything good lately worth renting?

by **Guest** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:31 pm

Inside Man with Denzel was pretty good
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle is a funny stoner flick.

by **swerb** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:48 am

Just updated my Netflix queue ...

Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version)
UR Independent Now

Saw
R Horror Now

Lucky Number Slevin
R Thrillers Now

Thank You for Smoking
R Comedy Now

The Hills Have Eyes
UR Horror Now

Cache
R Foreign Now

Saw 2
R Horror Now

In the Company of Men
R Independent Now

To Live and Die in L.A.
R Action & Adventure Now

Unforgiven
R Action & Adventure Now

In the Bedroom
R Independent Now

Gandhi
PG Drama Now

16 Blocks
PG-13 Action & Adventure Now

Damage
R Drama Now

The Sentinel
PG-13 Thrillers Now

The Aviator
PG-13 Drama Now

Mission: Impossible III
PG-13 Action & Adventure Now

Jarhead
R Drama Now

The Family Stone
PG-13 Romance Now

Baseball: Disc 1
NR Documentary Now

The Thing
R Sci-Fi & Fantasy Now

Happiness
NR Independent Now

The Princess Bride
PG Romance Now

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic
UR Comedy Now

The Amityville Horror

by **Guest** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:38 pm

All 3 Saw movies are excellent
Best horror movies in a long long time.

by **swerb** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:48 pm

All 3 Saw movies are excellent
Best horror movies in a long long time.

That's what I've heard. I'm gonna try and check out all three here in the next couple months.

by **consigliere** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:12 am

Yes, Saw is awesome. I'm a sucker for whacked out horror shit like that, rather than your typical slasher stuff. The twists in the Saw movies are awesome. Just saw Saw II last week, and am downloading III as I type this.

BTW, Dina Meyer is hot.

by **swerb** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:02 pm

Yes, Saw is awesome. I'm a sucker for whacked out horror shit like that, rather than your typical slasher stuff. The twists in the Saw movies are awesome.

Sweet. Looking forward to seeing it. There's very little common ground between my wife and I on films we both will watch, and horror flicks are one of the genres.

I like good movies, she likes terrible movies. Horror movies are rarely excellent, but usually enertaining at least.

by **StewieG** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:48 pm

The Saw series is, by far, the best horror series I have ever seen. I watched all 3 in the theatre. My personal favorite was Saw 2, but both the first one and the second one are very close, IMO. The third is a bit of a dropoff, I'd say, but it's still well done in it's own right. Once people watch all 3 I'd love to discuss why. Heh.

by **swerb** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:12 pm

***SPOILER ALERT***

Watched the first "Saw" last night. Holy shit. Great flick. Really cool concept/story. I about shit my pants at the end when all hell broke loose and the doc hacked his own foot off, and then the dead guy got up from the middle of the floor.

To me, movies like that are much scarier than your typical slasher horror film. I could only imagine seeing it in the theater, first ten rows.

Looking forward to seeing "Saw 2" soon. And thanks for the recomendations.

by **consigliere** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:15 pm

You got it Rich. That's my kind of horror flick....that shit scares the hell out of me a ton more than some hockey mask freak carrying a machete cutting up people. THe Saw stuff almost seems real/possible. Plus, it is the twists like that that I love. The ending in the first movie surprised the hell out of me.

by **StewieG** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 9:25 pm

I couldn't agree more with you guys. The thing that makes the Saw movies so scary, is they could actually happen. You'll never run into an immortal hockey player who's been dead at the bottom of the lake for 20 years and all the sudden wakes up and offing teens as they have premarital sex. But Jigsaw? You actually could cross paths with a guy like him.

Without giving up the ending, the second one has a pretty decent twist as well. But nothing compares to the first one. That was awesome.

by **consigliere** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:13 pm

I've only watched the first Saw once....I almost have to go back and watch it again to see if any hints are given to that ending.

I like the dark, whacked out stuff like this though. Seven was another movie that freaked the hell out of me, as well as Silence of the Lambs. That one Denzel movie where the guy went from body to body and hummed that one tune also was messed up too (can't recall the name and song at the moment).

by **Guest** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:07 am

Fallen
Great flick
Every movie Denzel is in is awesome

by **Naxos** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:05 am

"Accepted"

Rented this one last night and was pleasently surprised. Supposably made by the same guys who did the American Pie movies it was very funny.

Speaking of American Pie there was a preview for a new direct to DVD one called "The Naked Mile".

The last one that was out "Band Camp" surprised the heck out of me for how funny it was for a direct to DVD movie.

by **swerb** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:49 am

I've got The Sentinel, Lucky Number Slevin, and Saw 2 headed to me next via Netflix.

by **mswerb** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 1:46 am

I just saw Elf for the first time, very funny. My 3 year old daughter can't get enough. Also rented Cars, after about 20 minutes had to stop it. Click is up next, should be good. Not too many Adam Sandler flicks flop.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:40 am

I'm still waiting to see Cars
Click is pretty darn good, just like all his other movies(except Little Nicky)

by **Guest** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:23 am

Just subscribed to Netflix, and we just got done watching the first movie we got from there...which was "Cars".

Very cute movie. Lots of laughs, and a lot of fun even though we don't have any young kids watching it with us.

Just joined Netflix myself, and have Click and Thank You For Smoking still to watch on my first three.

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I just finally watched "Hotel Rwanda", having Tivo'd it from HBO/Showtime (can't remember which).

Incredible movie...and after seeing it, Don Cheadle definitely deserved Best Actor over Jamie Foxx from Ray.

by **yogi** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:09 am

Just started watching Das Boot last night. (it usually takes me 2 or 3 nights to watch a movie, by the time I get upstairs to watch after putting kids to bed, its already late)

Also got X-Men 3 in the mail. That one I'll watch with the kids.

by **swerb** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:10 pm

Next 4 flicks in my Netflix queue .... fired up to see all of them.

World Trade Center
Saw 2
Lost In Paradise
Thank You For Smoking

by **StewieG** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:40 am

If you liked Saw, you'll like Saw 2. Thank You For Smoking is pretty good too. Haven't seen the other two.

by **Guest** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:36 am

Just watched Cars last night
Very dissapointing
Not very funny to me
Nowhere near as good as Toy Story and Finding Nemo
C-

by **consigliere** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:24 am

Is World Trade Center out on DVD? Or, are you pre-ordering this title?

by **swerb** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:06 am

It was weird ... it's release wasn't mentioned in Mitch's "Crystal Ball". Just happened to be browsing through the "releasing this week" titles on Netflix. Added to and moved it to the top of my queue. Alegedly it will be here today, even though it hasn't even been moved to the "new releases" page yet.

While I'm here, The Sentinel sucked. Mitch's review from 2-3 months back was spot on.

by **consigliere** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:33 am

Ah, I see. I was wondering about WTC, and I really want to see it.

by **Guest** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:09 pm

Swerb wrote:It was weird ... it's release wasn't mentioned in Mitch's "Crystal Ball".

While I'm here, The Sentinel sucked. Mitch's review from 2-3 months back was spot on.

That's because you were looking at the wrong date...WTC was mentioned in my article on Dec. 8th, as it came out on the 12th.

Speaking of Netflix....

Joined a few weeks ago, and I have a hell of a queue built up...but so far my picks have sucked.

Cars was OK...amusing to watch, but not quite up there with the first Shrek or the Incredibles.

Other than that? Yech. Mission Impossible 3 blew chunks. Everything that was great about Daniel Craig and Casino Royale were exactly the things that were wrong with TomKat and M:I:III. You'll probably see more comments when I come out with my Top Ten/Bottom Five list of the year.

Even worse than MI3 was "Click". I have no friggin' idea why I rented this thinking it would be anything other than the same tripe juvenile crap from Adam Sandler. Boring, boring, boring...and that's even with Kate Beckinsale looking totally hot as always.

Last night Clarissa and I finally got around to watching "The Break Up". At least that one didn't suck, but it's not that good either. It only gets point from me for at least having the good taste to avoid a sappy, unrealistic ending.

Next in Queue: "Chronicles of Narnia", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and my wife insisted upon "The Lake House" (gulp).

by **jfiling** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:39 pm

It's not all that new, but I just watched "Being John Malkovich" for the first time last night and was blown away by how good it was. Charlie Kaufman is a great screenwriter from the two movies I've seen of his ("Malkovich" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"), and I'm looking forward to seeing "Adaptation." next.

by **swerb** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:43 pm

I've got to rewatch Being John Malkovich. Seen it once, when it first came out. I've never seen "Adaptation" either. Its like 6 or 7 in my Netflix queue. Its been stuck in that spot for a while .... seems like I keep moving movies ahead of it for some reason.

by **StewieG** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:41 pm

I enjoyed Chronicles of Narnia. It was for the most part as I remembered the story from when I was a kid. I'm sure there were some things that were different, but I couldn't remember them.

I was very skeptical of Bryan Cox as the voice of Aslan, but he did a really good job...though it didn't really sound all that much like him.

by **mswerb** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:48 pm

The Boondock Saints. Great flick. It is on TV right now, much better on DVD.

by **swerb** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:06 am

Up next for me ....

Saw 2
Adaptation
Oldboy
Thank You For Smoking

by **jfiling** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:48 am

While I'm giving recommendations, I have one that is definitely a love it or hate it film. "Donnie Darko" (I prefer The Director's Cut) is one of my favorites, and the IMDB folks pretty much agree (it's currently #103), although a good number of people just despise it.

by **Guest** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:25 am

Just saw 'The Illusionist' last night.

Great film. The exact polar opposite of 'The Prestige' in almost every way...kept you totally guessing up until the end.

Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti were brilliant.

by **docstank** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:03 pm

Mitch I have a small problem with your review of Prestige. I went back and read it because I did not understand how you disliked the movie so much. In your review you said:
Sure, Angier is sympathetic for awhile as he mourns his wife, but given how quickly he falls in the bed of Olivia (Johansson) and how callously he discards her; you question how much capacity for emotion the man really has.
Spoiler Alert*******
If you consider the premise of the movie, two people sharing one life in total devotion to their craft, the fact that only of them is in love with the dead wife, and one has found his love in Olivia, the appearance that he discards the dead wife is completely false. That brother never loved this women. Remember how she said somedays she believes him, others she doesn't, when he says he loves her, it is because one of them never did.
stank

by **yogi** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:31 pm

"Das Boot" was a very good movie.

When you think about it, there were dozens of good to great WWII movies.

Also watched "Stalag 17" recently with Bill Holden. Another good one.

These came on the heels of watching, "Downfall", a Swerb recommended flick about Hitler's last days.

Other recently watched DVDs.

Blade - the Harrison Ford flick. I thought was ok, but I was expecting more because of all the good things I read.

The League of Extrodinary Men - I liked this movie, maybe because I didn't expect much. Kind of fun for me like "Van Helsing". Better than Fantastic 4 though.

Posiden - why did they make this remake?

X-Men Last Stand - another comic strip movie. I like the series and watching it with my boys. It wasn't great, but its fun.

by **mswerb** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:00 pm

Finally saw Beauty And The Beast with my 3 year old daughter, great family flick.

by **Guest** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:29 pm

docstank wrote:Mitch I have a small problem with your review of Prestige. I went back and read it because I did not understand how you disliked the movie so much. In your review you said:
Sure, Angier is sympathetic for awhile as he mourns his wife, but given how quickly he falls in the bed of Olivia (Johansson) and how callously he discards her; you question how much capacity for emotion the man really has.

Sorry, doc...been tied up trying to get back into the swing of things after a mini-vacation.

Actually, my comments about them not wanting Scarlett Johansson is the least of my real complaints about the movie...just a sarcastic dig and a shout-out to Swerb as he happens to think Scarlett is the most gorgeous woman on the face of this earth.

And I don't really disagree with him.

It is quite understandable in the context of the movie why they behaved towards her as they did. But as I said in the review, they had ZERO chemistry. And they seemed a lot more devoted to destroying each other than in perfecting their craft. Not that there is anything wrong with a movie about two less than perfect people going after each other...see "Changing Lanes" for one of the best of that ilk.

That Samuel L. Jackson/Ben Afleck movie worked because the audience could both find empathy and disgust in both of the men. Didn't happen in "The Prestige". Bale's character wasn't the least bit sympathetic...maybe that could be explained by the twist at the end, but I didn't buy it. And Jackman just did a piss poor job of acting, quickly evaporating any sympathy you might have had for him after the loss of his wife.

Mostly, I completely, absolutely, 100% despised the ending. It was cheap, sloppy, and through off the continuity of the entire film by bringing a twilight zone type twist into a Victorian mystery.

The great thing about "The Illusionist" is that you are wondering right from the very beginning if there might be supernatural forces at work...which leads to a much more satisfying end. In "The Prestige", they spend the entire movie "behind the scenes", showing HOW tricks were done...up until the final Sci-Fi bit.

As always, people will always disagree, as all things are a matter of taste. Swerb couldn't disagree more with my positive opinion of "The Da Vinci Code", and you couldn't pay me enough to watch one of his favorite movies..."Old School".

Hell...I totally trashed "Babel", and it's favored along with "The Departed" to win Best Picture.

by **yogi** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:29 am

Watched "Invincible" with my wife and 10 year old. Very enjoyable movie for all. Sort of like a NFL "Rudy".

Good movie to watch with the kids.

In keeping up watching the top 100 AFI films, saw "Double Indemnity" with Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwick and Edward G. Robinson the other night and it is worthy of its #38 ranking. Very good old time suspense flick. Directed by Billy Wilder. His first famous one. Highly Recommended. I think it just came out on DVD, all cleaned up with extras!

by **swerb** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:24 pm

Next 10 up for me in da queue, CANNOT WAIT to see The Departed and Flags of our Fathers ...

The Departed
Flags of Our Fathers
Saw 3
Miami Vice
Clerks 2
Donnie Darko
Green Street Hooligans
King of New York: SE (Widescreen)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Glory Road

by **wmurphyhh** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:04 pm

Swerb, you won't be disappointed in The Departed. Definitely one to purchase. Saw it in the theater and will buy the DVD just to listen again to the quick comments by Baldwin.

Interesting note about the casting...DiNero was scheduled to fill the role that Sheen ended up playing. Scorese said that the movie would have been focused more on Nicholson and DiNero insteat of the the way it went.

I'll be interested to hear your comments on it.

by **Guest** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 9:42 pm

Miami Vice is horrible
I was pumped to see it and it was a waste
Very Very slow

by **swerb** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:01 pm

3-4 different people whose opinions I respect told me they liked Miami Vice, and were suprised that they did. Thats the only reason I queued it.

by **Guest** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:10 am

Miami Vice was OK...pretty decent in several spots.

Great action flick...paper thin script. I'll actually watch it again off from Netflix.

by **swerb** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:14 pm

Yog, forgot about "Invincible". That's another one I want to see. Also, I forgot about "The Illusionist". Added that one to the queue as well.

The Guardian, The Prestige ... also added those two, but lower, based off the lackluster reviews I've read.

by **yogi** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:02 pm

Got "Pride & Prejudice" from Intelliflix on Saturday for the wife.

Couldn't stand watching the Grammy's after "The Police" so I watched the movie.

Wasn't bad at all. Was this supposed to be a "chick" movie? I figured the story was by Jane Austin and it followed "Sense & Sensibility".

The girl that starred in "Pirates" was in it and she looked very good in it. She can also act.

Is "Sense & Sensibility" worth watching?

by **swerb** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:10 pm

Reconoitered my Netflix top Ten in my queue ... alot of good new stuff on DVD. Also, I finally made the move and upgraded from the 2 DVD at a time to the 3 DVD at a time plan. $17.99 instead of $14.99 a month, but it should eliminate days like today when I sent both out and gotta wait 2-3 days for another.

1. Babel
2. Little Miss Sunshine
3. Green Street Houligans
4. The llusionist
5. The Prestige (Im a glutton Mitch)
6. Donnie Darko
7. Saw III
8. Clerks II
9. Invincible
10. Miami Vice

Some movies simply cannot make it in the top five of my queue. Im fanatical about reordering it, and updating it each time I get the list of new releases in The Crystal Ball each Fri.

by **yogi** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:37 pm

Just saw 'The Illusionist' last night.

Great film. The exact polar opposite of 'The Prestige' in almost every way...kept you totally guessing up until the end.

Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti were brilliant.

I too enjoyed the movie. But nothing was a surprise to me, didn't stop me from enjoying it though. Is it up for any awards?

Note: need to watch more Edward Norton films.

I've got "The Libertine" with Johnny Depp coming in.

Saw a Depp movie onTV the other night, "The Ninth Gate" Depp was good, and the story was interesting but the ending was disappointing.

Also saw another older movie, "The Lost Weekend" with Ray Milland. Brilliant! Milland's best role!
Mitchwould love to hear your thoughts on this one.

by **swerb** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:50 pm

Watched the first 45 min or so of The Illusionist last night before falling asleep. Had me intrigued, good start, can't wait to finish watching it. And yes, Edward Norton is very good.

Also rewatched a couple classics this weekend. "Wall Street" and "The Raging Bull". Forgot just how good these films were, especially The Raging Bull.

Im in the process of redoing my Top 150, and it will climb.

Yog, anytime you want to put together a Top 50 or Top 100 ... I'll run it front page.

by **furls** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:16 pm

Illusionist is somewhat predictable, but still good. Pay attention and you'll stay ahead of the movie.

by **Guest** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:33 pm

Finally got around this week in catching two movies I should have seen a long time ago (which I've been told numerous times by several of you).

Cinderella Man was actually very, very good. My bad for dissing it just because of the Max Baer thing. They did show the human side of him at the end, and in looking at the reports about him, it was pretty accurate in regards to how THE PRESS portrayed him.

Russell Crowe continues to impress.

The other? Swerb's recommedation about the German language film "Downfall".

Incredible, incredible movie. Went immediately to #5 on my 2004 list.

1. Sideways
2. Closer
3. Million Dollar Baby
4. Hotel Rwanda
5. Downfall

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