Movies/Films/TV - Opinions

[Xtro]

Irréversible (2002) French film with Vincent Cassel

Just the sound and camera moves will make you puke. 

Well worth a watch! 

[winkywanky]

Irréversible (2002) French film with Vincent Cassel

Just the sound and camera moves will make you puke. 

Well worth a watch!

Are you bulimic? 

[PatMacGroin]

Irréversible (2002) French film with Vincent Cassel

Just the sound and camera moves will make you puke. 

Well worth a watch!

If French films are also up for consideration La Haine (1995) also with Vincent Cassel.

I'd almost forgotten all about it, but during the late 90's I used to tell the ladies it was my favourite film. I thought it gave me an air of sophistication, despite it being a film about gangs and rioting in Paris. 

It was actually an excellent film, think I might have to watch it again, see if stands the test of time.

[Xtro]

If French films are also up for consideration La Haine (1995) also with Vincent Cassel.

I'd almost forgotten all about it, but during the late 90's I used to tell the ladies it was my favourite film. I thought it gave me an air of sophistication, despite it being a film about gangs and rioting in Paris. 

It was actually an excellent film, think I might have to watch it again, see if stands the test of time.

Love the mirror scene. Where's the reflection of the camera?
External Link/Members Only

[sadolddeejay]

With regards to Rachael's ability to conceive, I didn't have a problem with that. Obviously many stories require, as Samuel Taylor Coleridge put it, "willing suspension of disbelief", but I don't think a particularly large amount of that is required here, for the following reasons:

The original film established that Rachael was a special prototype. She was a replica of Eldon Tyrell's deceased and beloved niece, implanted with the niece's memories. As a prototype, she was likely given a longer lifespan than four years. The only way that a bladerunner (or presumably anyone like a doctor) can tell a human from a replicant is to administer a psychological test and observe the reaction of the iris. This means that replicants are physically indistinguishable from humans. Otherwise it would be possible to simply acquire a skin or similar DNA sample instead to distinguish human from replicant. If it's possible to replicate a human down to that microscopic level, then it's possible to create working reproductive organs. Rachael, as a prototype, had these.

[martini2429]

Last night I was lucky enough to watch the delightfully funny film - Guns Akimbo, starring Harry Potter himself - Daniel Radcliffe, by the end I was wondering why he would sign up to such a crap film, but he probably needed the money, I really wanted to turn it off but ended up watching it all just to see how it played out

I was trying to liken it to other films in this Genre, Death Race ish, but with a bit of driving and mostly on foot killing

Radcliffe plays a nerd who pisses off the organiser of an Online Live Action killing game, he ends up with 2 guns bolted to his hands and the order to kill the Top Killer - Nix or be killed by her. the rest I leave to you to decided

By the end I was laughing so much I forgot how crap it was, enjoy 

 

[winkywanky]

I hardly think Radcliffe needed the money, it was made (or at least released in) in 2019.

I saw him interviewed about his part in the film, he said the reason he took part in it was he agreed with the social comment the film was making. He didn't do his career any great favours in making it, and I think he would have known that.

[Moby Dick]

Did anyone watch Contagion (2011) last night on ITV2 starring Matt Damon and Jude Law?
Surprised it was on.
Should have been broadcast weeks ago on all channels, but I think we would be queuing up for guns rather than bog rolls
Not funny, too much like every day life for me.

[mr.bluesky]

Did anyone watch Contagion (2011) last night on ITV2 starring Matt Damon and Jude Law?
Surprised it was on.
Should have been broadcast weeks ago on all channels, but I think we would be queuing up for guns rather than bog rolls
Not funny, too much like every day life for me.

Saw it advertised in the paper but didn't watch it. I'm surprised they went ahead and showed it. Does anyone remember a tv series shown on sky not so long ago called "The Last Ship" also about a virus that killed 80% of the worlds population. The following season was about a virus that wiped out most of the worlds crops  Needless to say the yanks saved the world. As is the norm nowdays a couple of episodes involved a rogue submarine manned by an evil British captain.

[Chorley]

If you fancy a war film  then the Russian made "Come and See", which is set at the time of the Nazi occupation of Beylorussia, might be worth a watch? 

Be warned, it is not some glossy America! Fuckyeah! Hollywood crap, with a nice happy ending. Quite the opposite in fact.

Its possibly the bleakest and most relentlessly grim film you'll ever watch,  and shows the full horror, carnage and nihilism of war without flinching.

You'll probably need to stream some kitten videos on YouTube for a week afterwards though. 

[winkywanky]

Hope this helps: External Link/Members Only 

[cotton]

If French films are also up for consideration La Haine (1995) also with Vincent Cassel.

I'd almost forgotten all about it, but during the late 90's I used to tell the ladies it was my favourite film. I thought it gave me an air of sophistication, despite it being a film about gangs and rioting in Paris. 

It was actually an excellent film, think I might have to watch it again, see if stands the test of time.

Yeh good film.
Id recommend The Vanishing 1988 directed by Spoorloos. better than the american remake imho.

[ulstersubbie]

Speaking of French cinema, check out "La Ceremonie", directed by Claude Chabrol. It stars Isabelle Hupert, the outstanding French actress of her generation.

[martini2429]

Saw it advertised in the paper but didn't watch it. I'm surprised they went ahead and showed it. Does anyone remember a tv series shown on sky not so long ago called "The Last Ship" also about a virus that killed 80% of the worlds population. The following season was about a virus that wiped out most of the worlds crops  Needless to say the yanks saved the world. As is the norm nowdays a couple of episodes involved a rogue submarine manned by an evil British captain.

Yea, I saw it, actually enjoyed it

 

[Xtro]

If you fancy a war film  then the Russian made "Come and See", which is set at the time of the Nazi occupation of Beylorussia, might be worth a watch? 

Be warned, it is not some glossy America! Fuckyeah! Hollywood crap, with a nice happy ending. Quite the opposite in fact.

Its possibly the bleakest and most relentlessly grim film you'll ever watch,  and shows the full horror, carnage and nihilism of war without flinching.

You'll probably need to stream some kitten videos on YouTube for a week afterwards though. 

You surprise me Chorley.... Recommending something that doesn't have a happy ending!      

Hope this helps: External Link/Members Only 

That might explain why you've been visiting a lot of TS's lately if that's the effect you have on pussy!   

[winkywanky]

 

[Ali Katt]

If French films are also up for consideration La Haine (1995) also with Vincent Cassel.

I'd almost forgotten all about it, but during the late 90's I used to tell the ladies it was my favourite film. I thought it gave me an air of sophistication, despite it being a film about gangs and rioting in Paris. 

It was actually an excellent film, think I might have to watch it again, see if stands the test of time.

If I was a lady I would be impressed if you said you liked the films of Louis Malle. La Haine is the choice of many critics, but like Parisian tourism claptrap like Amelie, it is both vacuous and up its own arse.

Irréversible (2002) French film with Vincent Cassel

Just the sound and camera moves will make you puke. 

Well worth a watch!

His Two earlier films I stand alone and Carne are much better.

[Xtro]

His Two earlier films I stand alone and Carne are much better.

I thought you meant Vincent Cassel but notice the same director for these films.   

A bit of trivia whist researching -
Carne (1991) is a 40-minute short film, and I Stand Alone (1998) aka Seul Contre Tous (1998) is a sequel to Carne. The Butcher from those 2 movies appears in one scene in Irreversible (2002), but other than that, Irreversible has nothing to do with the other 2 movies.

[PatMacGroin]

Love the mirror scene. Where's the reflection of the camera?
External Link/Members Only

I probably wasn't even aware of that bit of cinematic trickery when I watched it. I'm not used to seeing camera's in real life, so I wouldn't have been wondering why it wasn't visible. Thanks for pointing it out, I can now appreciate extra effort that went into filming that scene. 

[PatMacGroin]

If I was a lady I would be impressed if you said you liked the films of Louis Malle. La Haine is the choice of many critics, but like Parisian tourism claptrap like Amelie, it is both vacuous and up its own arse.
His Two earlier films I stand alone and Carne are much better.

Never heard of him before, but I'll look into his work.

Sorry you didn't enjoy La Haine, but the world would probably be a dull old place if everyone liked the same things.

[winkywanky]

I probably wasn't even aware of that bit of cinematic trickery when I watched it. I'm not used to seeing camera's in real life, so I wouldn't have been wondering why it wasn't visible. Thanks for pointing it out, I can now appreciate extra effort that went into filming that scene. 

I've had a good look at that.

I believe it may not actually be a mirror. Check out the guy carefully, and look at the timing of the guy with his back to camera and his 'reflection'. I suspect the guy with back to camera is a double, apeing the movements of the guy facing camera. I think you can see slight discrepancies in the sync of their movements.

It then becomes a relatively simple issue of arranging props either side of the 'mirror' to look like mirror images.

There was a Marx Bros skit based on this. Very funny. Obviously this isn't a comedy though!

[PatMacGroin]

I've had a good look at that.

I believe it may not actually be a mirror. Check out the guy carefully, and look at the timing of the guy with his back to camera and his 'reflection'. I suspect the guy with back to camera is a double, apeing the movements of the guy facing camera. I think you can see slight discrepancies in the sync of their movements.

It then becomes a relatively simple issue of arranging props either side of the 'mirror' to look like mirror images.

There was a Marx Bros skit based on this. Very funny. Obviously this isn't a comedy though!

Yes, I realised that after watching the clip. No mirror, and a body double with his back to us. 

I didn't think anything of it when I originally saw the film. Just like I probably wouldn't have noticed that 1917 is edited to look like one long continuous camera shot, if people hadn't mentioned it to me before I saw it. Clever camera work is not something I'm paying attention to when I watch most films.

[winkywanky]

Yes, I realised that after watching the clip. No mirror, and a body double with his back to us. 

I didn't think anything of it when I originally saw the film. Just like I probably wouldn't have noticed that 1917 is edited to look like one long continuous camera shot, if people hadn't mentioned it to me before I saw it. Clever camera work is not something I'm paying attention to when I watch most films.

Clever camerwork is only clever if you don't notice it, but do notice the impact on the viewing experience. ie it should almost be subliminal to the viewer.

If it's too clever for its own good it can be very distracting.

[PatMacGroin]

Clever camerwork is only clever if you don't notice it, but do notice the impact on the viewing experience. ie it should almost be subliminal to the viewer.

If it's too clever for its own good it can be very distracting.

I have a few friends that consider themselves aficionado's of cinema. They love pointing out scenes that use difficult to achieve camera work. Or scenes that have been framed to depict some sort of thematic element, like hope or despair.

Means nothing to me. That's probably why films like the Lighthouse just go completely over my head. Critically praised, but leaving me with a heavily jarring, dazed and confused feeling.

[Xtro]

I probably wasn't even aware of that bit of cinematic trickery when I watched it. I'm not used to seeing camera's in real life, so I wouldn't have been wondering why it wasn't visible. Thanks for pointing it out, I can now appreciate extra effort that went into filming that scene. 

What about this clip? Contact - External Link/Members Only

Work that one out winky.   

[winkywanky]

Blimey! 

I was just gonna say how impressive was the tracking shot from when she broke away from her dad, all the way up the stairs, and then there was the mirror business!

One thing to consider is that this is from 1997, no fancy CGI available.

All I can think of is that as she 'approaches the mirror' she's merely approaching camera. Then at the edit there's a dissolve to an actual (separate) shot of the mirror, with a hand coming across to open it.

Just at the end of the dissolve there's a clever wipe as she opens the door to reveal the inside.

Something like that?

And there was me, being impressed simply by the Steadicam shot up the stairs  .

[winkywanky]

I have a few friends that consider themselves aficionado's of cinema. They love pointing out scenes that use difficult to achieve camera work. Or scenes that have been framed to depict some sort of thematic element, like hope or despair.

Means nothing to me. That's probably why films like the Lighthouse just go completely over my head. Critically praised, but leaving me with a heavily jarring, dazed and confused feeling.

I wouldn't worry, you can watch Toy Story three times and still not 'get' all the clever bits.

And that's for kids  .

[DrConners]

Means nothing to me. That's probably why films like the Lighthouse just go completely over my head. Critically praised, but leaving me with a heavily jarring, dazed and confused feeling.

Ah, I'm really sorry if you gave that a watch after I shared my opinion Pat - Interesting to hear others views though 

I have a few friends that consider themselves aficionado's of cinema. They love pointing out scenes that use difficult to achieve camera work. Or scenes that have been framed to depict some sort of thematic element, like hope or despair.

I'm far from an aficionado, other than the fact I'm a film fan, actually I'll normally watch something if I fancy the lead actress 

So this next one won't be for you "Climax" (2018) - Directed by Gaspar Noé, I didn't realise he also directed "Irréversible", mentioned above (but I really didn't like that, although it's well made, it's awful, empty & that rape scene was unwatchable).

You mentioned the 'camerawork' aspect to a film and that's definitely the case here.

There's not much plot, the film takes place during Winter 1996 within a single building, and features a large cast portraying a French dance troupe throwing an after-party after a rehearsal; however, the celebrations take a darker turn when everyone becomes increasingly agitated and confused. (thankyou wikipedia)

Basically their punch gets spiked by weapons grade LSD by one of them, you don't know who but it has a final reveal, the film decends in a drug fuelled night of hell & touches on themes on sex, violence, accidental murder, poor childcare (to say the least) & some attempted incest get's thrown in for good measure 

I got to the end (I watched it all) & thought - Fuck, thank god that's over - But I enjoyed it as the original attempt at an immersive experience without taking weapons grade LSD that I think it was meant to be.

Banging 90's soundtrack - Plus "Sofia Boutella" - I think she's lovely.

But I did try to warn you 

[DrConners]

"Ford v Ferrari" (2019) - Or "Le Mans '66"

I thought this was going to a fucking dreadful bore - It's not, it's brilliant IMO.

As much as it is about the cars, the story is about the guys that put them together & had to improve them to enable Ford to, well beat Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966.

Not a big Mr Potato Head fan (Matt Damon) - Both him & Christian Bale are both very good.

It's long, I watched it all the way through & thorougly enjoyed it.

I actually felt the same about "Rush" 2013 but haven't watched it recently - Thought it would be crap, but again very good.

 

[Xtro]

Source Code - External Link/Members Only

Inception - External Link/Members Only

The Illusionist - External Link/Members Only

[County Militia]

I don't watch many movies these days or TV for that matter as they are a major time sink however a few of my favorites are hands down:

The Patriot
The Matrix (first one only, others were not as good in my opinion)
The Revenant
The wolf of wall Street
Fury

Most movies starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and Mel Gibson are a must watch, I've never been disappointed with any of these quality actors. 

[Spunky34]

Blimey! 

I was just gonna say how impressive was the tracking shot from when she broke away from her dad, all the way up the stairs, and then there was the mirror business!

One thing to consider is that this is from 1997, no fancy CGI available.

All I can think of is that as she 'approaches the mirror' she's merely approaching camera. Then at the edit there's a dissolve to an actual (separate) shot of the mirror, with a hand coming across to open it.

Just at the end of the dissolve there's a clever wipe as she opens the door to reveal the inside.

Something like that?

And there was me, being impressed simply by the Steadicam shot up the stairs  .

Don’t know if it would be significant, but the whole tracking shot up the stairs (even when she’s running up the stairs before she turns the corner and runs straight to the mirror) is reversed from when she goes down the stairs (when she walks down the stairs, the trail of popcorn leads off to the left, in the shot running up the stairs looking down the popcorn leads to the right).

[Chorley]

Pretty much any film directed by John Carpenter.
Halloween, Escape from New York, Assault on Precinct 13, The Thing. So many classics

[Kool Keef]

Watched a British comedy the other night, Mindhorn, about a washed up, bitter TV actor who gets involved in the hunt for a real life murderer to boost his dead career.
Wasn't expecting much but it was good, some funny scenes & I enjoyed it, I was a bit pissed so that probably helped lol, it's in the Alan Partridge mould & Coogan has a small part in it.

[winkywanky]

Don’t know if it would be significant, but the whole tracking shot up the stairs (even when she’s running up the stairs before she turns the corner and runs straight to the mirror) is reversed from when she goes down the stairs (when she walks down the stairs, the trail of popcorn leads off to the left, in the shot running up the stairs looking down the popcorn leads to the right).

You're quite right, the frame is reversed as if the run back up the stairs were seen via a mirror (the staircase wall is on the right on the way down, on the left on the way up). Well noticed! (I hadn't).

But that would have easily been done at the edit to fit in with the illusion of the up-shot being seen via the mirror. They've literally flipped the frame left/right across a vertical axis (easy to do optically or digitally). They certainly put a lot of thought into it!

I'm just wondering on the significance of the toothpaste splashes on the mirror coming into focus as she approaches it, but by now my brain is exploding! 

I can't be sure in any of this by the way, it's a nice little problem to try and think through  .

[Xtro]

Marx Bros - External Link/Members Only

[Spunky34]

You're quite right, the frame is reversed as if the run back up the stairs were seen via a mirror (the staircase wall is on the right on the way down, on the left on the way up). Well noticed! (I hadn't).

But that would have easily been done at the edit to fit in with the illusion of the up-shot being seen via the mirror. They've literally flipped the frame left/right across a vertical axis (easy to do optically or digitally). They certainly put a lot of thought into it!

I'm just wondering on the significance of the toothpaste splashes on the mirror coming into focus as she approaches it, but by now my brain is exploding! 

I can't be sure in any of this by the way, it's a nice little problem to try and think through  .

Apparently, it’s explained here:

External Link/Members Only

[winkywanky]

Marx Bros - External Link/Members Only

Several cuts in that, if they were really clever they'd have done it in one take  .

[winkywanky]

Apparently, it’s explained here:

External Link/Members Only

I'm not familar with the technical language they're using but I think it backs up what I thought?

And apparently there was some CGI after all?

Sounds like the Art Director fucked up a bit too, forcing a re-shoot of part of it  .

[ulstersubbie]

Considering what is happening at the moment, an almost forgotten film from 1971 "The Andromeda Strain". Somewhat dated but still worth a watch.

[Ali Katt]

I thought you meant Vincent Cassel but notice the same director for these films.   

A bit of trivia whist researching -
Carne (1991) is a 40-minute short film, and I Stand Alone (1998) aka Seul Contre Tous (1998) is a sequel to Carne. The Butcher from those 2 movies appears in one scene in Irreversible (2002), but other than that, Irreversible has nothing to do with the other 2 movies.

I think the butcher is the guy who half smiles at the end of irreversible after the really violent scene.

[Ali Katt]

Never heard of him before, but I'll look into his work.

Sorry you didn't enjoy La Haine, but the world would probably be a dull old place if everyone liked the same things.

My reply was a bit rude sorry about that. To put it in context I watched La Haine with a friend not long after it was first released on DVD and there was a lot of hype surrounding it with it making top films of the 90s lists etc even then (early 2000s). He liked it a bit more than I did, it was his DVD, but I think we both found it underwhelming. I think had there not been any press coverage I wouldn't have wrote it off so quickly. I was also buying a lot of films on VHS and DVD and in terms of French films Im thought Man Bites Dog, The Big Blue and Betty Blue were all better.

[freeze44]

Watched a British comedy the other night, Mindhorn, about a washed up, bitter TV actor who gets involved in the hunt for a real life murderer to boost his dead career.
Wasn't expecting much but it was good, some funny scenes & I enjoyed it, I was a bit pissed so that probably helped lol, it's in the Alan Partridge mould & Coogan has a small part in it.

Sounds good KK like Alan type stuff!

Defo not a comedy but a film I watched a while age that really got to me was The Railway Man with Colin Firth about an amazing man called Eric Lomax who loved railways but was a POW in Japan and how he survived, how his life got fucked up by that and then meets the cruel guard later on in life! Hankey at the ready!!

[Chorley]

My reply was a bit rude sorry about that. To put it in context I watched La Haine with a friend not long after it was first released on DVD and there was a lot of hype surrounding it with it making top films of the 90s lists etc even then (early 2000s). He liked it a bit more than I did, it was his DVD, but I think we both found it underwhelming. I think had there not been any press coverage I wouldn't have wrote it off so quickly. I was also buying a lot of films on VHS and DVD and in terms of French films Im thought Man Bites Dog, The Big Blue and Betty Blue were all better.

My favourite French film is Nakita. Very stylish and dynamic.

[winkywanky]

Sounds good KK like Alan type stuff!

Defo not a comedy but a film I watched a while age that really got to me was The Railway Man with Colin Firth about an amazing man called Eric Lomax who loved railways but was a POW in Japan and how he survived, how his life got fucked up by that and then meets the cruel guard later on in life! Hankey at the ready!!

The film is very good, I also have the book of the same name, written by Lomax. The dignified restraint he writes with is pretty amazing considering what happened to him and his mates.

[Ali Katt]

My favourite French film is Nakita. Very stylish and dynamic.

I need to see Nikita again. I saw it late on Channel 4 I think nearly 20 years ago.

[freeze44]

The film is very good, I also have the book of the same name, written by Lomax. The dignified restraint he writes with is pretty amazing considering what happened to him and his mates.

cheers ww like to read that. If ever need a reminder of what people like him went through, it really brings it home. Don't know if could forgive like he did but what an inspiration!

[Kool Keef]

Sounds good KK like Alan type stuff!

Defo not a comedy but a film I watched a while age that really got to me was The Railway Man with Colin Firth about an amazing man called Eric Lomax who loved railways but was a POW in Japan and how he survived, how his life got fucked up by that and then meets the cruel guard later on in life! Hankey at the ready!!

I'll have a look out for it mate 

[Xtro]

Has anyone seen the French film Martyrs (2008)? External Link/Members Only

[toon972]

Just watched Resistance, a film about the French Resistance in Lyon saving many Jewish children by taking them over the Alps and into Switzerland. The main saviour was a mime actor who eventually received le Legion d Honneur. His name Marcel Marceau, I had no idea about this. Well worth watching.