Movies - both new and old

The Common Room Film, Television, Music & Books
#4141

I’m not a ranking type of person. I think both Iron Man and The Avengers are spectacular films, in very different levels, so I would be very hard to make one top the other.

Iron Man 2 and 3 rank way lower. 3 is a better overall film than 2, but 2 was much more faithful to the essence of the original, so it’s also hard to pull a favourite out of one of them.

I just know that 3 had so much potential, and it was wasted in a film full of holes and offensive twists. Maybe if I had’t had such high expectations, I wouldn’t feel so disappointed. But that said, I didn’t feel good coming out of the theater. And it wasn’t only because of the Mandarin thing you mention.

#4142

Jack Reacher: This film is great! I liked the story, score and many other things about this film. 7/10.

#4143

I agree with you. I don’t know if great, but definitely above average.

A lot better than I expected from the trailers, which seemed like a completely different film.

#4144

SoA: Being not familiar with the comics, I had no connection or biasness to the honesty of the films’ interpretation. So I didn’t like Iron Man 2’s slow pacing and laboured introspection, and I immensely enjoyed the Mandarin thing in Iron Man 3.

But I feel where you’re coming from. The movie Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, for example, deviated from the first three books, which it was based on. They combined different characters, introduced new ones and reworked entire plots. While I was miffed with the retooling (especially making [spoil]Metalbeak an entirely different villain, with Kludd becoming the next Metalbeak, unlike the books which had Kludd being Metalbeak to begin with[/spoil]), I sorta understood that this was what they had to do to compress the movie within 2 hours.

I suppose for Iron Man 3’s great reveal, there was no reason to do the twist. I did admire the Black and his writers’ courage, though. By squandering that opportunity, they’ve basically destroyed one aspect of the film canon of the Marvel universe ([spoil]unless they reveal that Guy Pearce’s character somehow survived the explosion and becomes the real Mandarin, as referenced in his quote “I am the real Mandarin!”[/spoil]).

And, of course, the holes like [spoil]how did the Mark 42’s body parts arrive so soon after the hand did (unless it was time-compression editing, like how Batman managed to escape the Batpod before the nuke in The Dark Knight Rises) or how did the fake Mandarin execute the CEO live with a green screen[/spoil].

Overall, it felt more fun and breezy than the second, but it pales in comparison to the first. Avengers still remains the best overall for me.

…

Jack Reacher was a great flick. A bit old-school, in a way, without cars exploding in somersaults or ridiculous shootouts where the heroes absorb bullets like sponges. Every camera movement, stunt and character nuance felt as cool and calculated as Tom Cruise’s hero. It plays almost like a standard police-procedural episode, except on a larger scale and with more famous leads. I caught a late screening of it after work and I stayed awake the whole time. I probably won’t feel like seeing it again, but I think, despite all the fan whining about Cruise being “too short” to play the character, he did a pretty good job.

…

As I’ve hinted in other posts, I will be attending a preview screening tomorrow (and meeting up with another reviewer I know who writes for a film magazine I admire).

Here’s a clue to what movie it is: I hope to boldly go where no man has gone before. :mrgreen:

#4145

Indeed, And the fact that The Mandarin was one of the most hyped aspects of the film makes it even more offensive, it’s like if at the end of " Return of the jedi" [spoil]Darth vader takes off his mask to reveal Ronald Mcdonald under it[/spoil], Yes it’s a big twist, yes nobody saw it coming, but it isn’t satisfactory either.

I’m just really sad that we will never see a decent [spoil]live action adaptation of the mandarin[/spoil] :frowning:

Hi, please avoid giving away spoilers indirectly. Thanks! - Edited by TDIT

#4146

I’m just expecting (with a very weak basis, other than sheer hope) that they reveal that there[spoil]was a real Mandarin, and that Trevor was just a double. He said he had facial surgery, after all. Why change a person that is to play an entirely fabricated character if not to resemble somebody else?[/spoil] I know, there’s an alternative answer to that question, but don’t shatter my hopes :unamused:

#4147

[quote=“Spirit of Adventure”]
I’m just expecting ([spoil]with a very weak basis, other than sheer hope) that they reveal that there[spoil]was a real Mandarin, and that Trevor was just a double.[/spoil]

[quote]
Even if that happened, I liked Ben kingsley’s Mandarin, [spoil]why did they have to make him an actor? :angry:[/spoil]

Also it’s just me or Marvel villians don’t hold a candle to the ones from the Dark Knight trilogy?

#4148

Yes, the villains are quite generic. THIS one could have been the one.

But well, even if there’s [spoil]a real Mandarin like I’m saying, he could also be Ben Kingsley. And that’s why Trevor’s face was operated.[/spoil]

#4149

While that would be awesome, Iron man 3 was the last film of the saga , and even if they did probably Tony Stark would wake up at the end to realize that all the events of the Marvel cinematic universe were a dream because LOL PLOTWIST

It’s such a shame that the Iron Man saga had to end with this movie…

#4150

Well, there’s no actual confirmation that this will be the last film, and lately they’ve pretty much implied that this won’t be the case. They even finished this film in James Bond style, with a “Tony Stark will return” title card.

And if so, there are still more Marvel films set in this universe where the characters might reappear.

#4151

I’m not surprised at the disappointment of Iron Man 3’s plot twist. I hated the first two and felt they didn’t capture the feel of the comic book character (like most Marvel and Superhero films).

#4152

I’m a comic book fan, so I understand what you feel.

But at least, the first one was a great instance of filmmaking. This one had the potential, but besides the adaptation troubles, the film itself also felt kind of lazy.

#4153

Just finished Mozart and the Whale. I was a bit disappointed by the use of stereotypes, but with any type of mental/emotional condition I guess they’re bound to make the characters “poster children”. Donald seems very realistic and even quite relatable to me. However, Isabelle. Ugh. What a spoiled brat! I hated her. I’d like 2 meet an Asperger’s patient who acts like her and beat them up. She was a terrible and two faced person. Anyway, I thought it was okay. However the end made me angry, because he deserves better. But I guess they had no choice since the hussy is based on a real person. I would give the movie a C-, based on boring, stereotyping, and Isabelle.

#4154

Pain & Gain Overall I thought it was terrible. But the first thirty minutes was pretty fun to watch. I enjoyed Rocks character until he fell off the wagon. Before that I thought his character made for some fun conflict to watch.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane This was so much fun to watch! The only thing I didn’t like was the stupidity of the people around them.

Mud Put me to sleep. I don’t mind a slow movie, as long as I find the characters interesting. I rarely have the time to see movies these days, and I was mad that I chose this movie out of four other movies I wanted to see.

#4155

One of my favorites!

#4156

I saw The Art of Getting By. I hated it. But being severely biased, I have no idea if it was really good or bad. I wanted to pimp slap Emma Roberts’character the entire movie. I don’t plan on seeing it again.

#4157

One Hour Photo I really enjoyed this movie. I’ve wanted to see this movie since the beginning of this year, and it did not let me down. Robin Williams character was one of the most creepiest characters I have ever seen in a movie.

I realized something interesting after watching this movie. I’m not a fan of Robin Williams, Jack Black, Will Ferrell, or Jim Carey. But every movie I’ve seen them in, and enjoyed, were their dramatic roles. I loved Robin in Dead Poets Society and One Hour Photo, Jim in Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and The Truman Show, Will in Stranger Than Fiction, and Jack in Bernie. I’ve seen all of these actors in comedies and I didn’t like them. Well their live action stuff. I enjoyed their animated work.

#4158

I saw Peter Pan (Disney version) for the first time this weekend! :smiley:

#4159

^Ooh, nice! :smiley: I’ve been wanting to rewatch that along with a lot of other 50s Disney movies lately…

#4160

I don’t remember Peter Pan very well. I would like to watch it.