I think I watched this when I was too young. Seared into my mind forwever are some of the horrifying and gross scenes. But it's good, if dark . . . and a study in moral contrasts.
Format just frustrates the kaiju/godzilla fan in me. Many of us like smart people dealing with the situation. Story could be redeemed with a sequel, but this was just frustrating. Blair Witch and supernatural type stuff is a better concept for finding tapes etc.
Michael Douglas does some of the best "determined," "pissed-off" and rage. Wonderfully done scenes with just him. Psych tests, first key scene, etc. . .
The Iron Lady deserves so much more. This is a movie about dementia and loss of a loved one - in that regard it's touching. Margaret Thatcher's economic policies, her principles, her instincts, her management of various situations in economics and foreign policy are all missed.
The person who wrote this story did not understand Newfoundland anywhere near as much as she though she did. An unsound theory or two hinted-at in the film. Moore's attempt at an NL dialect = terrible. Glenn, Postlewaithe, Dench and Spacey all excellent.
This is Norm's good movie. "Screwed" is the not so good one. Plenty of funny bits from one of the funniest guys ever, supplemented with Lang, Warden and even Rickles! Often underrated.
It's hard to explain Wayne's World and its popularity at the time. I think most of the people who love it still today were younger than the main SNL audience back then and have fond memories of it. There are some timeless funny scenes though - Alice Cooper, martial arts dub etc.
Oddly-timed Mel Brooks take on Star Wars was one of my favourites growing up. And while there's a lot of cheese, some of the funniest scenes in movie history are buried in this film. "This is now now," "Turn the movie back on," "Comb the desert," "ship is too big" "Good is dumb"
Yet another great concept over-stylized and under-written. Theron is impressive in the action scenes, but there is too much poise/choreography in how Aeon and friends fight and flee. It felt like a yoga/ballet class for people on speed. Even as done - decent action.
The super 8 films are some of the more disturbing things you'll see in horror films - even today. But when they switch off, there is no realism in the characters, no logic, and hardly any sympathy possible for Hawke's character. Also a few potential scares were missed.
A great addition to an extraordinary series. I do slightly prefer the eerie cold dark terror in Scott's entries in the series. . . .but this one is still excellent.
This movie gets 25 points for a small handful of genuinely funny scenes. The rest of the film is a hellish sequence of unlikely and ultra-awkward moments mostly resulting from the torturous and unbearable extended family and their interactions.
So far ahead of its time. Impressive film adaptation of the book, though perhaps stripped too bare in terms of dialogue and pacing. Still, iconic and memorable.
Can't help but compare this to Mission To Mars.
Pros - Great survival story, also a great cast, cool escape contingencies. Good effects.
Cons - overstretched with 4 legged robot stalker, the romance needlessly slows things down, best characters aren't well used.
Again, excellent concept. Better executed than the first, but should have gotten a lot more into back story and context. Not every film has be devoid of details.
Great concept. Great Kaiju. Excellent sequel potential. Disappointed to learn Idris Elba actually sounds like that. Writing needed a little work. And don't bother with serious relationship plots in kaiju film - just give us smart and sensible people trying to save the world.
Superwins on effects, makeup & cinematography. Challenge of films that touch on realities of present spaceflight: more amazing detail=scrutiny of probabilities/realism. Mediocre writing. Watch "Mission to Mars" to see hardest scene here better written. Still, a great movie.
Inspirational, interesting, and fairly well-acted. We need more films about somewhat more realistic 21st-century space travel in the Solar System. From Space Odyssey to Event Horizon to The Mars Mission films - they're actually \great sci fi. Only loses points b/c of the ending.
Excellent idea. But clearly a screenwriter or two had to turn it into a mushy emotional retrospective jellyfish of a film. . . not nearly enough time spent on the other crew members, way way way too much time spent flashing all over this guy's douchebag thoughts and memories.
Glad they did this film. A showdown involving these particular bad guys was guaranteed to be impressive - and it was. Now if only they would close by return and do a feature film featuring "Q"!
Folks who remember the Cochrane from the old series might have been a little bugged to see a new actor and treatment of that era. But the whole movie was well-done and classy.
I remember how excited I was when I heard this was coming out. The perfect transition. I only wish McCoy could have been in this one. I particularly love the entire concept of the "Nexus" - and how it manifests for different characters.
Best of the series. The stakes at their highest, the characters at their most seasoned, the settings at their most extreme. Excellent from start to finish.
Trekkies tend to dislike this one - and the stakes aren't nearly as great as they usually are for the universe, but I still really like it. Kirk, McCoy and Spock interact so well and we learn so much more about them.
Dated for sure, and preachy perhaps, but hilarious. Though I'll never understand why every Star Trek crew that ever visits earth of the past has so much G.D. trouble understanding that they need money and they have the wherewithal to make large quantities of things they can sell
"Vulcan mysticism," Sarek, Bones, and Spock all get better treatment and development in this movie than they do in the first two films. I know I'm in the minority, but I almost like this one better than the 2nd one.
The iconic film of the entire film series with the old cast. I've seen it dozens of times. It's the little touches- the terrifying fauna of Seti Alpha 5, the Kobayashi Maru, the spiteful pledges and rants of Khan. . .
"Less is more" is not a concept accepted by whoever edited this movie. Protracted scenes probably in part done to give Trek-starved trekkies great scenes to drink-in. The central idea and threat in the film is still great. Old cast does a good job too.
Pros - Khan was interesting, Weller was good, action was great.
Cons - Ridiculous use of "Old Spock," several holes (ie - why is ship underwater in the pre-title scene, how many effing 'flagships' does starfleet have?), slightly convoluted plot.
All that said, it's a good film.
Undersells the role of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and his team, but still tells an important story. Moreover, it reminds us of a regime and a country that remains very much unfree and terrifyingly controlled.
Predicted this long before it was made.
Dark, long, slender, sullen, curly = everything Tim Burton ever did with anything.
It was interesting the first time, with Beetlejuice. . .
A great rebuttal of Moore's documentary, actually using a lot of the very same people Moore misrepresented in his documentary -- as well as a host of Democrats who further skewer his assumptions. The amount of hard evidence that Moore twisted or misrepresented is shocking.
An important documentary that shows the folly of governments of all stripes for engaging in destructive deficit financing all for the pursuit of the keynsian political high . . . it could easily lead to a crisis from which governments will not be able to recover . . .
Requires one to switch sides periodically depending on the thesis point one is on. Argues in the alternative. Betrays a limited understanding of Christian history & scripture history. Changes bogeymen at several points. Might be great to re-affirm those who buy the thesis anyway.
Not as comfortably outrageous as the first. Just sick in spots. . . and I'd like to see if these guys can actually have a proper drunk followed by a proper hangover . . . apparently for some reason, drugs have to be involved. . . Still, pretty good sequel!
There are some funny and great moments in this movie. But there isn't really any hangover per se. There is also no excuse for having Copper and Helms become backseat passengers for the whole thing while the guys who did best in focus groups dominate the film. Worst of the series.
Almost as good as its prequel, Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy. . . The dialogue -- particularly between Smiley and Esterhase . . and Smiley and Connie . . . some of the best. . .
One point lower than the 1979 original because they cut it to 2 hours . . . but Oldman is amazing in this. . . and the cast is almost as good as the original. This is the way you make a real spy movie.
You will never see a more realistic treatment of intelligence and espionage. It's a brilliant story, with a brilliant cast and it has been given the time that the story deserves and needs. One of the greatest of all times.
It's now a classic. Stands up to the test of time. Some great lines. Ramis and Akroyd wrote well and Hudson and Murray were just as good on the screen.
The Dude Abides. . . as does every character in this rich and wonderful adventure. From Sam Elliot's cowboy to Jesus Quintana to Jackie Treehorn . . . Superb.
Better than last Superman reboot. Still suffering with the problems of writing about someone who's invincible. More sci-fi-ish at the beginning of this one, and while still insufficient made a better attempt than most of the superman films to do backstory. dumb venues for fights.
Bond's family album or scrapbook. It mostly "feels" right and drips with all the best sensory things about Bond. It's not the best of Craig's and some rather convoluted schemes in there, but it was a phenomenal movie.
There's a certain quality that comes with a Craig Bond film, and it's there. But this doesn't make up for nonsensical plots based on obscure water distribution conspiracy theories. It's one of the worst bond films. But as I said about Moonraker and others - still watchable.
Best of the Craig series to date and one of the best overall. The return to the basics (and beyond the basics). The dark serious and grown-up films and Craig's stoic portrayal are great. Eva Green should also definitely be in top 5 Bond women of all time.
It was about time Bond went to Iceland, but it's dumb to have him surfboard over the worst CG I've ever seen in such a film. Props for plot with North Korea and props for Rosamund Pike.
My favourite of the Brosnan films. The pipeline plot was one of the more accurate and realistic-feeling of the series. I liked the increased role for "M," Bobby Carlyle, Sophie Marceau, and the general feel of the film.
Interesting having the dude from the Infiniti commercials of the time as the bad guy. Judy teams up with Geoffrey again. The 3 legged martial arts and chasing was a little desperate, but otherwise an ok entry in the series.
Sigh of relief when this came out. Brosnan bridges the gap between dark serious bond of today and the comic booky guys of the 60s through 80s. Name's a little throwbacky, but it is the Bond series . . . Joe Don Baker is great.
I found myself cheering for MI 6 as they tried to reign-in Bond in this one. Don't like the "going rogue" cliche - or the 80s/90s drug movie cliche . . if you're going there, you better have Chuck Norris in tow . . . Did like the serious characters and treatment of the situation.
A fun game to play is to choose your favourite pieces of this film versus its 1983 WB Remake "Never Say Never Again."
Villain: NSNA's Largo (Brandauer)
MI 6 Crew:
TB Lady: NSNA's Pacetti (Basinger)
Combat: TBl (but too much underwater)
Bad Lady: TB - (Paluzzi)
:-)
First 2 thirds save this from last third - which was just plain sad and crazy. Entertaining, but obvious failed attempt to piggyback on another market at the time.
Walken as Zorin. Enough said really. Saves the movie from squeely leading lady. Ladies all had the wrong roles here. Last Crusade's Alison Doody had a bit part in the film as "Jenny Flex" but would have been far more interesting as leading lady or main lady villain or both.
Unfortunate title, and some return to comic book extremes. . . but was among my favourites years ago. Debut of Robert Brown as "M" - he's been among the best to play the part. Veejay Armitrage's character was kinda fun too.
Best bond film to feature Moore. One of the best ever. Amazing leading lady in Carole Bouquet. Finally back down to earth, yet exciting and with some cold war intrigue. Only drawback was the figure skater character and the "Identigram"; Just not on. Agean setting worked well.
Introduced Jane Seymour! Some funny and some questionable scenes that are very dated and somewhat reminiscent of "blaxploitation" shows. Some cheezy but hilarious villains and deaths. So begins the kookier less serious & more comic bookish Moore years . . .
Very entertaining and perhaps way more funny than intended. Refreshingly odd villains, good classic theme, good chases, interesting venue for showdown. . .
Lazenby's ok as Bond, but they mess with too many pieces of an established series and for no good reason. Great soundtrack. Some good scenes in Switzerland.
One of the best Gadgets of the 60s . . . "Little Nellie." Bond beating around Japan was exotic for its day. Space element was fantastical, and perhaps the best glimpse we get of SPECTRE at its apparent resources/logistical zenith.
A fun game to play is to choose your favourite pieces of this film versus its 1983 WB Remake "Never Say Never Again."
Villain: NSNA's Largo (Brandauer)
MI 6 Crew: TB
Lady: NSNA's Pacetti (Basinger)
Combat: TBl (but too much underwater)
Bad Lady: TB - (Paluzzi)
:-)
For some reason, this film became the icon of Bond from the 1960s. I think it's just the unforgettable imagery an the bank heist LCD plot. Some catchy lines. Here we also meet the first in a frustrating line of different actors to play Leiter. Still, a classic in its own right.
The best Connery bond film and perhaps the very best of them all. A touch of everything, even the Soviets play a believable part. Kronstein, Klebb and Grant are all electrifying bad guys. The plot centres on something that's actually realistic. Good fight scenes. Good settings.
The first and a classic Bond film. It begins to introduce us to the world of SPECTRE, but in a way that's the one thing I lament with these bond films - they shy away from the Cold War. I think I know why they do - the Cold war was hot in those days! Certainly a good one.
Loved this film. There is so much potential for sequels that was never reached. The sets are almost gothic. The evidence that builds of what happened is chilling. The cast is good. It really sparks the imagination . . . what would happen to such a ship - where does it go etc
The fatal flaw of most such films is the attempt to drag along the story of the wife & kids though the GD Zombie Apocalypse. There was some of that here, but it was balanced-out with some neat battle scenes and important plot/backstory.
If you're not into sci fi/Jules Verne/films about the north, don't bother, but I love all those things and I think it was the most unique Disney film of the 1970s.
A type of humour that the Wayans Brothers only capture in about 1 out of 5 films and even then only partially. Hilarious - laughed out loud start to finish the first time I saw this movie.
Klein's treatment of almost every subject requires one to first subscribe to her strongly biased politics. It's a film meant to make people of a certain view feel good about themselves. Meanwhile, she misleads the audience, especially in her description of Milton Friedman.
Corporations are a form of business association. I find films that attempt to vilify concepts or certain structures have a very high standard of proof to meet; Most fail. Those who made this film could have saved everyone time with one sentence: bad actions should be punished.
Arwen and the absense of the Scouring of the Shire aside, this film delivered as the ever-loving lulu of all climax battles/resolutions/etc. Some hate "multiple endings." I don't mind that as much as omit of little details of backstory from earlier books/films ie Tom Bombadil.
It's a dark days feel in this particular book and in this particular film. The tiny flaws do reveal a little - overmention of Arwen (lady demographic appeaser), gushy Hobbits (not gruff enough in delivery of certain lines), too much counting of slain - accurate but not for film.
After watching "Jurassic Park" in '93/'94, I knew they could finally do justice to the Trilogy. As a longtime fan of the books, I went into the film looking for flaws. The only ones I found were small and superficial. Wish they had done 3 films per book. Middle Earth deserves it.
Crackerjack cold war 80s-era film. One of the greatest casts ever assembled - Connery, Baldwin, Ackland, Neil, Jones, Currie, Guttman etc. Brilliant adaptation of a brilliant book. Suspense and action are well balanced. Great lines and scenes.
This film hits on some of the "organized" anarchy that Occupy didn't want folks to see - it raises important unanswered questions. It is disturbing to see how the worst criminal acts can be committed and justice obstructed. The maker's leanings are cleart. Slightly repetitive.
Actually does expose huge weaknesses in Spurlock's logic and evidence. Spurlock's caloric math failed, he refused to share his food logs when this was made. Hate or love McDonalds (see Jim Gaffigan's bit), the better part of the film is 2nd half. Much more honest too.
Science controversies surrounding it aside, Gore makes his points and his accompanying documentation makes this something far different than a Michael Moore driveby sliming. Whatever your beliefs on the subjects covered, Gore certainly provides the touchstone for his orthodoxy.
Misleading nonsense start to finish. Watch the critical response "Farenhype 9/11." It features prominent Democrats of the era who debunk almost all of Moore's fantastical half-claims. They've also been repeatedly debunked by others too.
5 points for at least claiming to care about some serious health issues. But dishonest (he won't share his food logs), spurious, and misleading. A masturbatory film for vegetarians that wouldn't convince anyone anywhere to change a single thing. McD's didn't make me fat. I did.
Once you start splicing clips and film so much that you can watch Heston's tie change colour, you've left the world of being a remotely fair empiricism-based film-maker. The film did have some funny scenes - most of which didn't prove much of anything.
As is the case with several of Moore's films, obviously misleading, relying on accomplices like the Cuban government to portray what is largely fiction. I did get a giggle at his description of situations in Canada. . . .Not really much of a documentary.
Skaarsgaard is the perfect Merrin. I could watch a dozen more films taking us through Merrin's adventures. Pre-title sequence is chilling. Prop attention to detail is superb. Like many movies I watch, I find the ending slightly wanting. But still amazing prequel.
Dourif deserved an oscar for his part in this one. Scott was great. The plot was great. Great dream/trance sequences. Love the dialogue throughout. And yes, it's scary.
A moon-cast shadow of the original. The ideas that they tried to convey were ok. . . but the execution was terrible. The ending was not good. If you cut out the overuse of kooky hypnotism, the protracted insect scenes, and focus on the pre-title & Africa sequences, it's passable.
Certainly one of the scariest films of all time. Blatty wrote it in a timeless way. To this day it remains disturbing and touches the marrow. For a treat, watch the 25th anniv. featurette. Exorcism is rarely properly treated in films outside the series started with this film.
A smart film covering a disturbing idea. . . one perfectly described by actor Freddie Jones in a scene where he plays a scientist at "The Shop" - a well known facility from several Stephen King books . . .
Beautiful concept. Makes you wish Bruce Dern had been in so many more films in the intervening years. Effects needed some work, but not bad for its time.
As close to the book as you'll find. Its attention to detail in the "wildfire" lab is excellent- and ahead of its time when you consider when this was released. For a sci fi and Critchton junky, this is the pure stuff. A great "smart people trying to save the world" film.
The film is fun. There are some absolutely once in a lifetime cool scenes. But there's a danger of misinterpreting this for something remotely approximating history. Yes, such people exist. QT does better revealing seedly unknown extremes. Nazis are a well known evil extreme.
In the running for the worst film I have ever seen. A true crime against writing and science fiction in particular. As I suggested to friends that we see the film in cinema, I actually offered to pay their tickets for subjecting them to such a melodramatic perverted junkfilm.
Clever overlay onto era and props. "Boo" for adjusting everything else to fit the 1990s except age of the main characters. Sure, there's a history of baiting audiences with sex and younger characters. But 1990s R & J would be in their 30s. Folks died in their 40s & 50s back then.
One of the greatest films of all time. Cinematography that lets the landscape and the era be the true main character. Dialogue is rare but well-written. Geer, Redford = excellent. ". .story doesn't always go the way you had in mind . . Jerimiah's Story was that kind."
These are my favourite sorts of King stories. Reminds me of firestarter and Langoliers (only better and less cheezy ending). Great cast - especially Andre Braugher and Toby Jones.
A decent reboot - certainly better than the crimes against cinema produced in the 1990s (half marks for the 1st one). But they should have given Gary Oldman a bigger part in this film. Plot could have been a little better too. Cheap movie to make. No lights on during filming. . .
I actually prefer Heston's "Omega Man" for plot, even if execution is poor. This film delivers a lot that folks who like films about post-apocalyptic and survivalist would like. But the flashbacks are largely wasted - too much time on his family not enough on virus backstory.
This reboot was surprisingly good. Ship is apparently off scale for no particularly well-explained reason. Actors do as good as can be expected for playing those characters, but I still miss D. Kelley.
Possibly the best of the series (I know, I know Raiders fans - sheesh don't kill me). I especially enjoyed the return of Denholm Elliot playing Dr. Marcus Brodie.
A great performance by Hopkins and Baldwin. Wish they had done more with some of the side characters. One of them is needlessly thrown-away a little too early. They also don't use LQ Jones, who plays the owner of the lodge in the film. All in all a great film. 1 of my favourites.
