Christian Sanchez44 said:You probably were right there at the SCU during the ZFF. You likely saw the whole scene unfold just before they screened that Korean movie.
And then you have the nerve to talk about mocking Japanese culture... give me a break...🙄
I honestly don't get why everyone keeps shoving that Identity movie to the top of the charts. For me, it was easily one of the worst things I’ve sat through all year, if not the absolute bottom of the barrel.
I haven't gone out of my way to see a ton of new stuff lately, but based on what I actually managed to watch, my personal rankings look more like this: 1 Kill Bill 2 Adaptation 3 Lost in Translation 4 Superbad
Just throwing some more names into the mix... Clint Eastwood is easily the toughest when he's playing Dirty Harry. Then you've got Bruce Willis holding it down in Die Hard and Armageddon. And Billy Bob Thornton in Once Upon a Time in America—he’s not your typical hero, but the guy is incredible.
Now, let's talk about some of the leading ladies for a second... Jane Fonda in Barbarella.😁 Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element and Resident Evil.
And, obviously, the legend Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.😉
Clint Eastwood definitely... he might not be your typical Boy Scout, but he’s a hero through and through. From those gritty spaghetti westerns to the grit of Dirty Harry, then moving into stuff like Bridges of Madison County and even playing an astronaut in a geriatric ward, 😁 🙏 Who knows how many times he’s actually saved a President's skin!!!
The power cut out about 10 minutes before the end of the screening 😲
Anyway, I finally checked out the Japanese original today and, honestly, I think the American version hits harder... the atmosphere is moodier, the score is better... the Japanese one feels almost completely devoid of music
Maybe someone from a place like New York City who actually lives that lifestyle should just step up and tear my whole argument apart or cook me alive 😉 Hey hollowseal33, you got any experience with this stuff? You’re probably the closest one to me here
Honestly, I think Massive Attack is one of the best bands out there right now, though seeing them play at an outdoor festival in San Francisco this past summer was a total letdown; they were just mediocre Does anyone know if they’ll be touring through New York City anytime soon, and does anyone happen to have any of their albums lying around? I’m also curious to hear what you guys generally think of them.
Noah Murphy46 said:I think I already made my stance clear on this movie—it was absolute garbage. It’s actually kind of shocking how bad it turned out.
So what exactly is bothering you about it? You didn't really give any reasons, so walk me through your logic... I've mentioned before that this isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially if you're coming at it with a massive chip on your shoulder regarding American cinema.
Watched it. I’m actually a huge fan of the movie; it’s got that slow, cool vibe where everything just flows naturally. I read somewhere that Sophia spent about eighteen months waiting for Murray to sign on for the role... honestly, it makes sense, because without him, the whole thing would be half as good.
I don't think the film is making fun of the Japanese way of life; if anything, it feels like it's showing it through our own lens. The fact that you found certain parts funny—and I did too—suggests the issue might just be us. Or maybe there isn't even an issue, and it's just such a massive cultural gap that your first instinct was just to laugh. It reminds me of that time during a screening of that South Korean indie flick, *How to Breathe*, when the producer started speaking and part of the audience just lost it. My initial thought was, "What idiots, not everyone needs to speak perfect English," but I have to admit, once the translator stepped in, I found myself laughing along too. That’s why that disconnect felt even sharper—and arguably funnier—for the audience in the movie, since they had just experienced that exact same awkwardness moments before.
Anyway, if you're looking for mindless action, this isn't for you, but anyone who actually appreciates a well-made film is going to love it.
If you really need to wreck a car, you might as well blast some Chemical Brothers or Basement Jaxx... maybe even Armand Van Helden. There's this one track involving a saw or something about cutting wood—I can't recall the name right now—but it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes you want to veer straight off the road immediately. For a chill cruise, say heading down toward Miami or maybe somewhere on the coast during the summer, I'd probably throw on some Breakbot, St Germain, or Koop... If it starts raining, maybe some Radiohead or something similar (though preferably nothing too depressing, otherwise I might end up having suicidal thoughts and driving off the road again, oops*)
*It's not that I've actually flown off the road yet, it's just that "flying off the road" seems to be a recurring theme in everything I write.
Yeah... I can't believe nobody’s brought up Tamara Obrovac yet. Honestly, what she does with her voice is just unreal. It also made me think of that woman who sings with Quartet Sensitive—she has an absolutely killer voice.
As for the talent back home: Barbra Streisand Valerija (who really knows how to belt out the blues 😁 ) Doris Day (she’s basically family to me—my grandmother and her old girlfriends were actually close friends 😁 😁 😁 ) and that woman who used to sing in Nola—she had such an incredible voice, and if I had to guess, she probably still does ... Moving on to international artists: right now I'm thinking of Erykah Badu CeeLo Green Norah Jones Skin Rusty Springfield Aretha Franklin India (not the country, obviously, but India who sang for Mondo Grosso and Maw) Roisin Murphy (from Moloko) and Kylie has a great voice (like on "Where the Wild Roses Grow"), even if she's a bit much for my taste ...those are just the names currently floating through my head
Honestly, those idiots in the States were already drawing comparisons to Pulp Fiction; they just can't help themselves when it comes to making those kinds of analogies, can they?
For what it's worth, I thought the movie was absolute perfection. Once the credits roll, you're just left sitting there with a head full of dark thoughts and a lingering sense of paranoia.
I’m just browsing through the threads and realized nobody has brought up Reservoir Dogs yet. Sure, it’s a bit older now (back in 2001), but it deserves a spot here since it’s honestly better than most of the movies mentioned on this board. Reservoir Dogs is easily one of the best films coming out of Mexico lately, and definitely one of the finest non-American productions we've seen in years. The plot is split into three different stories: First, there's an older teenager living in the inner city who's obsessed with his brother's wife and makes ends meet by taking his dog to fight. The second story follows a businessman and his supermodel mistress. Then there's the third story about a total washout—a hitman who used to be a revolutionary leader years ago, but after the movement fell apart, he's just been scraping by on contract killings to support a daughter he stays hidden from. All these threads collide during a car accident involving the teenager and the model; she ends up permanently disabled, and the hitman, who happened to be nearby watching a different victim, saves the kid's dog from the wreckage before disappearing. Basically, it's a damn good, gut-wrenching movie. People constantly compare it to Pulp Fiction or Magnolia because of how the separate storylines weave together, but other than that, they don't really have anything else in common. Anyone else seen it? What are your thoughts?
Christian Sanchez44 said:the soundtrack is a disaster; it’s just sitting in a corner gathering dust. Sure, it works fine enough as background noise for the movie, but as a standalone piece? It’s honestly mind-numbingly boring. [/B]
I can't say I agree with that. even without actually sitting down to watch the film, I still think that soundtrack is one of the best out there, both as its own album and as a score. if I'm wrong, feel free to check out those lists of the best picks by IMF analysts over on Rolling Stone.