The What's Good at the Cinema Thread

Apologies if there is something like this hidden in the depths. I thought it would be good to have a thread where people can discuss the films they have seen recently at the cinema.

It would be good to get responses and recommendations/things you are looking forward to etc.

Obviously some films are going to require their own thread (Quantum of Solace/Dark Knight etc), but this could still be a fairly useful thread.


I have seen a couple of new ones this week - Burn After Reading and Eagle Eye.

Burn After Reading is not you're average comedy. After the seriousness (and brilliance) of No Country for Old Men, I think it was clear the Coen's wanted a change of pace. People who know them will know they have a very specific sense of humour. This isnt laugh-a-minute and is actually quite dark in some places, but at times it is pure brilliance. The acting quality speaks for itself (Clooney, Pitt, Malkovich, McDormand) and it is clear everyone involved had a lot of fun making this film. Pitt in particular is hilarious!

What I liked particularly about the film is that it is quite light. The lack of substance isnt a problem at all and it works well as just a daft story. The ending is simple but brilliant and demonstrates this perfectly.

I dont think it will be to everyones taste, but I personally love a good black comedy. If I could use one word to describe it it would be 'Random'. But well worth a watch.



Eagle Eye I suppose depends a lot on whether you like Shia LeBeouf. The premise of cyber terrorism is also going to be a bit far-fetched for some, but the film makes up for this in other areas. I really liked it. I dont think there has been much buzz about the film in general but it is a serious big-budget action movie (also produced by Spielberg so it's no joke). There are some huge set-pieces so is a must see if that is your cup of tea.

Without doubt you can afford to switch your brain off in this, but I liked how it felt quite fresh despite being a familiar genre.


So there you go a couple of solid films well worth watching.

I never really got No Country For Old Men, I was waiting for something to happen :s

Went to see Ricky Gervais new film Ghost Town last Saturday eve and found it very enjoyable and quite funny.

Gervais pulled off the Rom Com role very well I thought :up:

max payne sucks

anyone seen body of lies (the obama story) ;)

Tropic Thunder a few weeks back was cool. Just waiting for 007 now :D

Don't forget American posters that us poor English peoples don't get films until a fairly long time after you get to see them :( :down:

I'd read some weak reviews about Tropic Thunder but I really liked it. I suppose you could say it was a tad thin on laughs but when the jokes came they were right on my wavelength. Robert Downey Jr was ridiculously funny. That has to be one of the greatest comedy roles in years. Enjoyed the Tom Cruise cameo too!

So anyone seen Quantum of Solace yet?

I liked it a lot - very intense film. Craig is great once again. If you haven't seen Casino Royale then you are going to be fairly lost because it is a straight up sequel.

Yeah I took the boy to see it this afternoon and we really enjoyed it, though having said that, its not as good as CR because CR was a totally new Bond experience and QoS is CR part 2 and they're sticking to the same bone crunching action, fist fights and dizzying editing that worked so well and that was so new in CR.

The aeroplane sequence was totally superfluous, but the film is well worth a look.

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Originally Posted by fousto

max payne sucks

anyone seen body of lies (the obama story) ;)

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Yes, and I did not like the movie.

It was staggered, slow and confusing at times.
The plot, if you can call it that, was continually butchered throughout the entirety of the flick. :mad: Can't believe I paid $10.50 for such garbage.

Oh yeah! Quantum of Solace is out next week.

I'm going to watch the movie with a date.

If you fancy a good animated film, madagascar 2 is well worth watching, although i wouldnt say its better than the first one. The Penguins are comedy genius :D

I tend to go to the cinema very reguarly but ive been so packed with work lately, i've had no time :(

I shall come back around christmas time to this thread when ive spent all my spare time in the cinema :p :

Gomorra is boooooring.

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Originally Posted by Donney

Gomorra is boooooring.

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I'm actually reading the book atm, I was planning on going to see the film later, you don't recommend it then? :p :

I don't know about the book, probably that's a good one, but the movie is slow, full of arty shots (lots of out of focus takes...), I like stories that aren't apparently connected and finally they are but there's no real explanation in the movie about how or why they are related, other than they are all mafia people....

I didn't like it, but on the other hand it has recently won 8 awards at the European Film Awards, so I may be completely wrong

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4652175.shtml

I hope some people on here went to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I probably enjoyed this more then Bond

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Originally Posted by Simmi

I hope some people on here went to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I probably enjoyed this more then Bond

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Once Borsnan is no longer playing sequels of Bond, it turns me out of interest. I will consider more film you recommended, please let us know the synopsis. :)

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Originally Posted by leopardsleeping

Once Borsnan is no longer playing sequels of Bond, it turns me out of interest.

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Really?!!! You prefer Die Another Day or The World Is Not Enough to Casio Royale??

Did anyone see that 1930s period comedy about a female racing driver that was out lately? It had "virtue" in the title and starred Jessica Biel. I didn't get round to seeing it, but I'd like to. It's a Noel Coward adaptation and sounded quite funny.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

I hope some people on here went to see Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I probably enjoyed this more then Bond

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why was this a cert 18? was there any good nookie in it?

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Originally Posted by jim mcglinchey

why was this a cert 18? was there any good nookie in it?

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:rotflmao:

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Originally Posted by Mr Jan Yeo

Really?!!! You prefer Die Another Day or The World Is Not Enough to Casio Royale??

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wait a moment Mr Yeo...



I think I prefer Ivana Milicevic...

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Originally Posted by jim mcglinchey

why was this a cert 18? was there any good nookie in it?

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No I wouldn't class it as good in that sense. There are plenty of movies I'd recommend above this one if 'nookie' is what you are looking for!

It's just a very rude/crude comedy but there is a really sincere centre to it which I suppose puts it in the rom-com category. But just with loads of f**king in it.

Elizabeth Banks (I am a huge fan) holds her own with the real pornstars and Seth Rogen is funny again despite always playing the same person.

Check it out when it comes out on DVD.

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Originally Posted by Simmi

and Seth Rogen is funny again despite always playing the same person.

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Maybe he figured it worked fine with Sean Connery :)

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Originally Posted by Simmi

No I wouldn't class it as good in that sense. There are plenty of movies I'd recommend above this one if 'nookie' is what you are looking for!

It's just a very rude/crude comedy but there is a really sincere centre to it which I suppose puts it in the rom-com category. But just with loads of f**king in it.

Elizabeth Banks (I am a huge fan) holds her own with the real pornstars and Seth Rogen is funny again despite always playing the same person.

Check it out when it comes out on DVD.

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Great movie, saw it last week.

Hancock and there's that new movie bolt

Gran Torino. I said it on another thread and I will say it again. It is one of Clint Eastwood's best pictures. Walt Kowalkski is a new widower who doesn't get his kids, the younger generation or the urban decay around him and he certaintly doesn't want anything to do with the "slopes" (as he calls them) next door in his neighbourhood of Highland Park Michigan (part of Detroit). He has his flag out front, his neat yard and neat house and his life in order. He is a tough, bigoted (of sorts) gun toting cranky old man who is lost after a life time of working thinking that was the American way. His family doesn't understand him and maybe that is just as well as they come off shallow and pre occupied with the less important task of that next Big screen and getting goodies for the kids.

It all goes sideways though when Walt starts helping people. The neighbours turn out to be more complicated and not what he thought. The son is a lost kid trying to avoid the gang of Hmong (hill people from Vietnam) "homeboys" that cruise the streets with an UZI or two in their laps as they drive around in their Honda. Walt is drawn in also by the wise@ss daughter who cuts through Walt's hard shell and draws him in. Before you know it, Walt is a neighbourhood watch crusader of sorts. It isn't what you think and you just have to watch. I wont say much more than that.

It shows I guess a lot of things but what hit me was the role model relationship that the character Walt Kowalski has with the Hmongs next door and how he try's to make them more "American" while learning they are what America is supposed to be.

Best movie I have seen in the last year, and yes, that includes Quantum of Solace. (good but not great. The fast cut editing pioneered in the Bourne Movies is getting old fast).