Rate The Last Movie You Saw - 2

[GLASSJAW]

star wars: new hope: 10/10. my fav of the series

star wars: empire strikes back: 9/10, first 40 minutes are almost tiring in how EVERYTHING goes wrong constantly, but really makes up for it with the drama in the middle

star wars: return of the jedi: 8.5/10, has probably aged the worst of the bunch in an odd way. IMO it has pacing issues on Endor, stuff just takes too long to happen. han has stupid one liners got a bit annoying at times. anyway, major emotional pay off in the end. luke vs. vader is so brief, yet so good.

is there a better character arc in movie history than Luke Skywalker's? it's so simple, yet so effective. but of course i say that as somebody who watched this stuff 100x as a child, so nostalgia plays a major part in my appreciation -- since i cannot seem to enjoy any sci fi/action movie anymore

Edited November 3, 2015 by GLASSJAW

[The Bookie]

Last House on the Left 7/10

Wes Craven's first. Not at all what I expected. It's like a fuzzed out post-hippie bad acid trip, soft core porn turned torture porn turned Home Alone style revenge flick (with a pointless keystone cops comedic sideplot). Weird stuff. Killer soundtrack.

[GLASSJAW]

Last House on the Left 7/10

Wes Craven's first. Not at all what I expected. It's like a fuzzed out post-hippie bad acid trip, soft core porn turned torture porn turned Home Alone style revenge flick (with a pointless keystone cops comedic sideplot). Weird stuff. Killer soundtrack.

I wanna check this out.

I forgot that I watched the documentary put on by IFC called "American Nightmare" which was pretty good. It's a handful of directors (Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, John Landis, George Romero, etc.) discussing the cultural events/climate in the 70s that influenced their early films. The doc is short (60-ish mins), and sorta descends into just praise-praise-praise at the end, but well worth a watch for anyone who is interested in this stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5v03a_zCSM

Edited November 3, 2015 by GLASSJAW

[The Bookie]

I wanna check this out.

I forgot that I watched the documentary put on by IFC called "American Nightmare" which was pretty good. It's a handful of directors (Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, John Landis, George Romero, etc.) discussing the cultural events/climate in the 70s that influenced their early films. The doc is short (60-ish mins), and sorta descends into just praise-praise-praise at the end, but well worth a watch for anyone who is interested in this stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5v03a_zCSM

I should warn you then - there's a pretty uncomfortable rape scene. I was ready for it from reading reviews, and I'd say it wasn't as graphically bad as I'd been led to believe, but, still, I don't think you'd see a scene like that in a similar movie these days. I think part of why it's hard to watch is it involves two really hot girls and there's a bit of a disconnect knowing you shouldn't find it attractive, but .... well, I did anyways, just being honest.

Still worth watching though imo. It's a really strange movie and I can't think of any comparables - it's almost like a b-movie/exploitation version of Deliverance in some ways. Interestingly enough (I just had to look this up) they came out exactly one month apart in 1972.

I'll watch that directors thing later ... I've got another old Romero film on my list that I'm slowly watching this month.

[Down by the River]

I should warn you then - there's a pretty uncomfortable rape scene. I was ready for it from reading reviews, and I'd say it wasn't as graphically bad as I'd been led to believe, but, still, I don't think you'd see a scene like that in a similar movie these days. I think part of why it's hard to watch is it involves two really hot girls and there's a bit of a disconnect knowing you shouldn't find it attractive, but .... well, I did anyways, just being honest.

Still worth watching though imo. It's a really strange movie and I can't think of any comparables - it's almost like a b-movie/exploitation version of Deliverance in some ways. Interestingly enough (I just had to look this up) they came out exactly one month apart in 1972.

I'll watch that directors thing later ... I've got another old Romero film on my list that I'm slowly watching this month.

So there is theory and research that looks at the equivalent of penile plethysmography for women (penile plethysmograph measures erections, and in women the same idea measures conductance within the vaginal wall. This research has shown that nearly any objective can promote conductance for women, with the theory being that it was an evolutionary defence mechanism (rape was so common, and the physical consequences of rape for women were higher without conductance, so conductance was essentially helping prevent women from being more seriously injured during rape, even when they didn't consent, were still in pain, were not sexually aroused in other ways, etc.).

Related to your comment, there is also the idea that rape was used as a way to help with population growth (a truly horrible thing to say/promote...I'm just explaining what has been said). So,your reaction to that scene may be evolutionarily 'normative' because you needed to be aroused in such circumstances to help stimulate population growth...or you just found the two women hot... or you're a sexual sadist.

What a terrible way to spend five minutes of procrastination.  

 

[BoKnows]

John Carpenters Halloween

9/10

[g_bassi13]

star wars: new hope: 10/10. my fav of the series

star wars: empire strikes back: 9/10, first 40 minutes are almost tiring in how EVERYTHING goes wrong constantly, but really makes up for it with the drama in the middle

star wars: return of the jedi: 8.5/10, has probably aged the worst of the bunch in an odd way. IMO it has pacing issues on Endor, stuff just takes too long to happen. han has stupid one liners got a bit annoying at times. anyway, major emotional pay off in the end. luke vs. vader is so brief, yet so good.

is there a better character arc in movie history than Luke Skywalker's? it's so simple, yet so effective. but of course i say that as somebody who watched this stuff 100x as a child, so nostalgia plays a major part in my appreciation -- since i cannot seem to enjoy any sci fi/action movie anymore

This is quite literally the same assessment I'd give the series.

I think the awesomeness of New Hope get's overshadowed by the Empire Strikes Back, which people tend to have overwhelmingly listed as their favourite. I think the there's a sense of epicness and adventure in New Hope which isn't quite matched again in the trilogy.

[GLASSJAW]

This is quite literally the same assessment I'd give the series.

I think the awesomeness of New Hope get's overshadowed by the Empire Strikes Back, which people tend to have overwhelmingly listed as their favourite. I think the there's a sense of epicness and adventure in New Hope which isn't quite matched again in the trilogy.

Yeah, Empire has always been like the de facto #1 of the series judging by every conversation I've ever had. And I really get it, it's a really good movie - just too noisy for me at times, whereas New Hope is just so rich in character.

That said, Yoda sure is great. That line in Empire where he gets the X Wing out of the swamp and Luke says "I can't believe it!" - Yoda responds with "That is why you fail" is probably my favourite little exchange in the series

[The Bookie]

So there is theory and research that looks at the equivalent of penile plethysmography for women (penile plethysmograph measures erections, and in women the same idea measures conductance within the vaginal wall. This research has shown that nearly any objective can promote conductance for women, with the theory being that it was an evolutionary defence mechanism (rape was so common, and the physical consequences of rape for women were higher without conductance, so conductance was essentially helping prevent women from being more seriously injured during rape, even when they didn't consent, were still in pain, were not sexually aroused in other ways, etc.).

Related to your comment, there is also the idea that rape was used as a way to help with population growth (a truly horrible thing to say/promote...I'm just explaining what has been said). So,your reaction to that scene may be evolutionarily 'normative' because you needed to be aroused in such circumstances to help stimulate population growth...or you just found the two women hot... or you're a sexual sadist.

What a terrible way to spend five minutes of procrastination.  

 

No I find all that pretty interesting, thanks for taking five. I doubt I'm a sadist, or at least I've never felt any inclination that way - I once dated a girl who was into a bit of bdsm stuff, it was awkward.

I should maybe explain specifically what happens in the scene - I'll put it under spoilers, both cause GJ's apparently gonna watch it, and I'm not sure how appropriate it is for the boards.

basically the two girls are being held at knifepoint, and they're forced to strip down and make out ... the actual rape isn't shown, more implied ... also the entire scene takes place outdoors in daylight with gentle folk music playing overtop .... like I said, strange movie with a bunch of soft core porn tendencies

[GLASSJAW]

So there is theory and research that looks at the equivalent of penile plethysmography for women (penile plethysmograph measures erections, and in women the same idea measures conductance within the vaginal wall. This research has shown that nearly any objective can promote conductance for women, with the theory being that it was an evolutionary defence mechanism (rape was so common, and the physical consequences of rape for women were higher without conductance, so conductance was essentially helping prevent women from being more seriously injured during rape, even when they didn't consent, were still in pain, were not sexually aroused in other ways, etc.).

Related to your comment, there is also the idea that rape was used as a way to help with population growth (a truly horrible thing to say/promote...I'm just explaining what has been said). So,your reaction to that scene may be evolutionarily 'normative' because you needed to be aroused in such circumstances to help stimulate population growth...or you just found the two women hot... or you're a sexual sadist.

What a terrible way to spend five minutes of procrastination.  

 

Down by the River using polysyllabic words to endorse rape. First hate speech against the Chinese, and now this... 

How low will our friend DbtR go before the week is through?

[Down by the River]

Down by the River using polysyllabic words to endorse rape. First hate speech against the Chinese, and now this... 

How low will our friend DbtR go before the week is through?

Racism, sexism... I figure anti-Semitism is the next logical step... maybe tomorrow I'll have a look through your reviews of Woody Allen films and find something to pick apart. 

... but seriously, if anyone is interested in the topic of sexual arousal, look up Meredith Chivers work. I'll stop now. I think I'll watch some Star Wars. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBQaLuqwtl8

Edited November 4, 2015 by Down by the River

[GLASSJAW]

Racism, sexism... I figure anti-Semitism is the next logical step... maybe tomorrow I'll have a look through your reviews of Woody Allen films and find something to pick apart. 

I'd like to see you try. Does this look like the face of someone who could be mocked?

[The Bookie]

Martin - - 6.5/10

Another strange one from the 70s - George Romero's entry to the vampire genre. Character story/psychological horror I guess. You never really know if Martin is actually a vampire or .... is it all in his head? Who can say! The vampirical scenes were pretty dull, except for one weird sequence that felt like it wandered in from a different movie, where he gets caught up in a shootout between cops and a random street gang. I liked the abstract b&w cuts and the conversations he has with the radio dj the best.

[Down by the River]

Sideways: 7/10

Liked the idea behind the movie, but I felt like the movie was trying to get me to sympathize with Paul Giamatti's character, and I found him to be rather un-likeable. Maybe if he was a different person before his divorce I would have some empathy for him, but there was no indication in the film that that was the case. He seemed lazy, selfish, and easily irritable. 

[Spoderman]

 

December is looking even better now.

Edit: might be limited in December, but it's close enough

Edited November 5, 2015 by Spoderman

[Pears]

Finally starting to get caught up on movies:

San Andreas: 6.5/10 (extra bonus point to the daughter)

Avengers Age of Ultron: 8/10

Southpaw: 9/10

 

Southpaw was incredible. But Interstellar is still just a little bit better imo. 

[thejazz97]

I'd rate the last movie I saw, but the first rule is not to talk about it.

[LuckyLuciano]

Finally starting to get caught up on movies:

San Andreas: 6.5/10 (extra bonus point to the daughter)

Avengers Age of Ultron: 8/10

Southpaw: 9/10

 

Southpaw was incredible. But Interstellar is still just a little bit better imo. 

Huge boxing and Jake Gylennhal fan..but I thought south paw was horrendously bad. Throughout the movie I recall thinking that Eminem would have been better suited for that role. Later to find out it was tailored for him but he had passed it up for some reason.

Watching Forest Whitaker trying to teach him work on the shoulder roll while training was pretty funny too (trying to emulate Floyd Mayweathers style, yet fighting like Balboa in the ring). 

I am looking forward to CREED though.  

 

[Monty]

Huge boxing and Jake Gylennhal fan..but I thought south paw was horrendously bad. Throughout the movie I recall thinking that Eminem would have been better suited for that role. Later to find out it was tailored for him but he had passed it up for some reason.

Watching Forest Whitaker trying to teach him work on the shoulder roll while training was pretty funny too (trying to emulate Floyd Mayweathers style, yet fighting like Balboa in the ring). 

I am looking forward to CREED though.  

 

Southpaw was terrible. Really, really terrible.

[The Bookie]

Finally burned out on horror. Doing an extended marathon like that was fun though, it had a cumulative effect; no one movie was actually very scary, but the combined effect of immersing myself in all that tension got to me.

Anyhow: to the mountains!

Meru - 8/10
I'm a sucker for climbing docs. This wasn't as good as my favourite (Touching the Void) but still had interesting character drama, the redemption arc, and (obv) beautiful to look at. Jon Krakauer sort-of narrates. I really liked how they didn't just hit you with the three climber's backstories right at the start, but instead wove it into the story.

Everest - 6/10
Based on the true story, the deadliest day in the history of Everest in 96. Well-made movie, crazy story, can't complain in any way, but it doesn't do anything special as an adventure/disaster flick. I read Krakauer's Into Thin Air years ago and I think it works better in book form. Once the storm actually hits and everyone's stumbling around in snowsuits and goggles, I had no idea who was who or where they were. But, also beautiful film just to look at. Decent acting.