Maybe we could consolidate this talk into one thread?

I saw District 9 this summer and really liked it. Can't believe they made it for as little as they did. The special effects put things like Transformers to shame.

Just saw Inglorious Basterds which was flawed but still good.
The trailers for Basterds included two promising movies:

Shutter Island: Scorcese's next flick. Leonardo DiCaprio (of course) is investigating some mysterious doings in what looks like a 1940's madhouse by posing as an inmate. Ben Kingsley is the heavy.

The Wolfman: Surprised how good this looked. Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Elrond and Emily Blunt. Looking forward to this one.

Only other movie I'm waiting for this year is The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winner. The book is among my favorites of all time. Stuff that affects your perspective on life. I don't say that lightly.
Should prove hard to film and interesting to watch, one way or another.

Not yet. I echo your sentiment on District 9, though. I DESPERATELY want a copy of "Moon" a limited release film that came out this summer, directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie's son).

I saw Twilight: New Moon. For a teen girl's fantasy/monster chic flick it was fun to watch. No profanity, no sex scenes (though palpable attractions, obviously) with some good Special Effect fight scenes.

Personal Criticism of Twilight: New Moon
As I said  - fun to watch, though what Stephanie Myers has done to the vampire lore is romanticize them to the point of rational irresistability. Sunlight doesn't burn - just makes you glimmer like a diamond? I think I got some make-up to cover that. And our heroine is the ONLY one who's mind/heart cannot be read - ah, the girl's fantasy to be the inscrutable object of every man/superman/monster's desire. [Watch how many times Bella (Ital. for 'beautiful') is rescued, chased, embraced, respected, sympathized with, protected, desired by ANY man who comes in contact with her.

She breaks rules constantly yet is never slapped down or punished for doing so in a meaningful way. She is too attractive to be punished, too beautiful to be disregarded. Like Ferris Bueller, she leads a charmed life beyond all reason - but where Ferris Bueller's Day Off was played for comedic effect, this is played straight for a supernatural romance.

Most unbelievable line in the entire movie: it is Bella's birthday and when her dad brings her presents in bed, she says "I said I didn't want any presents!"

If she were a surrogate 'house mom' caring for younger siblings, I could see that. She's such a 'others first' person, she'd be ashamed they used their limited resources on her.

Miss Narcissist 'my love outstrips all reason so I must get suicidal to view my Beloved' doesn't strike me as a 'no presents, please' person. But maybe the writer is correct and I am wrong - perhaps any focus given by other mortals she does not romantically love (i.e. mom, dad, friends) will make her feel guilty about the fact that she thinks of no one but herself and her desires.

Still, I enjoyed this movie because it invited me to remember my first love and its all-consuming selfishness when I was 17. For that - thanks, Bella!

Movies I think I'll see soon enough: Astro Boy.


peace
justice

Saw The Road and liked it. They did a good, honest job with some challenging source material.

I don't know if I can recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the book.
But I can recommend the book to everyone.

Doctor Foom wrote on Nov 20^th, 2009 at 5:40pm:


I saw Men Who Stare at Goats.  It is a good movie. I lol at several points.  2 1/2 stars out of 4 is where I would place it.

Anyone see A Serious Man?   It left the theaters too quick for me.

John wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2009 at 8:13pm:


I missed it too. I like the Coen brothers and will probably catch it on DVD.
I didn't like the Holmes trailer.
The Wolfman trailer was pretty perfect.

My copy of The Road (book) arrived this week.  But it's behind the remaining 4 books in The Vampire Earth series by EE Knight.

Saw Cameron's Avatar in 3-D and it was great fun. Amazing visuals. Needs to be seen on a big screen.

Anyone else see it yet?

Hammer wrote on Dec 21^st, 2009 at 7:13pm:


I know! At one point I turned to my wife and said, "Everything we've been looking at for the last 30 minutes is computer generated."

Fels like the beginning of a new format, like seeing the first talkie or the first color movie. I'll go again over the holidays.

So, who's seen it? And, in your opinion, is it any good?

Finally saw Avatar, and it was amazing.  Truly one of those movies that needs to be seen on the big screen (3-D too, if you can!).

While I'm sure a few of these will probably suck, I'll at least check a couple of them out.

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00029862.html

Yeah, Avatar plot was derivative. Still a great experience, tho. Guess the importance of story is overrated! 

I haven't seen Holmes yet because I didn't like the trailer. But a friend whose opinion I respect loved it.
The movie, not the trailer.

Wolfman and Shutter Island this month.

So Wolfman wasn't great. With that cast and subject matter, I expected something like Silence of the Lambs.
Some interesting twists though.

Shutter Island was great! If you like film noir, Scorcese or Hitchcock, this'll be right up your alley.

Next up: Kick Ass!!

Anyone see Burton's Alice?

I know it's cleaning up at the box office but I haven't seen it yet.

Went to see Percy Jackson with my older boys (5&7) this weekend. It was alright. They loved it (the 5 year old got spooked a couple of times, but was over all pretty happy).

It's on par with harry potter 2 or 3 in scary factor and the story is pretty predictable, but was fun for the kids.

Thanks, Hammer.

I haven't seen Percy Jackson. I never got into the Potter movies.