Posts by casualcobra5

SPOILER ALERT

Besides, if Lisa is just some Japanese doll, why the hell would she even need a Japanese dictionary to figure out what the word Anomalisa means?

SPOILER ALERT

If it’s actually true that the director intended for the whole story with Lisa to be just some byproduct of Michael’s episode while he was screwing a mechanical doll, then this movie loses massive points in my book.

If Lisa was just a figment of his sick imagination, then what's the point of the lecture scene where he sees her in the crowd along with everyone else? What's with the bar scene with his friend? Why even have the friend? Why the dream? What about that final scene with Lisa and the friend in the car? And why does the doll have a female voice at the end? If she "got under his skin" and ended up sounding like every other character in the film, why would the doll suddenly revert back to a female voice at the finish? If he had sex with the doll, that same doll should be talking like Tom Noonan.

Is it possible the similarities between the doll and Lisa are just the author's way of highlighting how special Lisa really is? Like how one specific Japanese sex toy stands out in a sea of dildos at a shop, Lisa stands out in Michael's world. I wouldn't take her "Japanese, obviously" line so literally (like "of course I'm a Japanese doll"); I think she just loves language because it's powerful and alluring (hence "obviously"). To be honest, I didn't even notice the scar on the doll.

I get that there are tons of parallels between Lisa and the doll, and it pisses me off if the creator intended to leave "enough clues for both interpretations so the viewer can decide," but my gut feeling after everything is still that the links between the doll and Lisa are just there to emphasize how unique Lisa is.

By the way, seeing semen leaking from the doll didn't shock me at all. The first scene we see after Michael buys the doll is him showering, with his clothes and shoes scattered all over the hotel room like he couldn't wait to strip down and go after the doll. It's not even a question of whether he slept with the doll; it feels more like he already did it before he ever heard Lisa's voice.

Just a quick heads-up that there are only two days left to enter the contest. Get moving. 🙂

Only five days left until the contest for a good review kicks off. I’m really hoping there are some actual cinephiles lurking on this forum who are hungry for a challenge. 🙂

rapidmason22 said:Are your FAK folks eligible too?

How many amateur reviews did you guys get over the last couple of years?

The FAK crowd isn't allowed to enter.

For the last two years of this contest for a good review, we ended up with about 40 entries each time.

Every year, to honor our late friend and one of FAK's most dedicated reviewers, Matthew Lovrić, we host our big contest for a good review. We’re calling on all readers to jump in and compete for some killer prizes. If you don't write professionally, this is your time to shine. You've got until the end of June to get your entries in.

>The Prizes:>>

>3rd Place>>

- the MovieManiac board game (it's a film trivia game), produced by FAK
- an 8GB flash drive loaded with movies
- two tickets to see a show at the EXIT Theater in Los Angeles (shows like nose, red or tomorrow, red or tomorrow (is) a new day)

>2nd Place>>

- the MovieManiac board game
- MovieManiac - Stanley Kubrick special edition 10 Disc box set>
- two tickets to EXIT (how to think I am gone?!)

>1st Place>>

- an annual pass for all movies at Cineplexx cinemas in the US
- a professional English translation and publication of your review on the Cinephilia & Beyond website
- Life Itself – the memoirs of Roger Ebert + Life Itself – that acclaimed film based on the book
- Awake in The dark – 40 years of Ebert's reviews, analysis, and interviews
- Making Movies – the legendary Sidney Lumet's fantastic book
- Sidney Lumet - ThemeBags – a custom film-themed tote bag of your choice
- the MovieManiac board game
- two tickets to EXIT (EXIT ( cowboy)

>More info on the prizes>>
>Rules and conditions for participation>>
>Official announcement>>

Anyone interested in this? Might actually dig these reviews too:

Australian feature film "below below", part 1
Australian feature film "below below", part 2

Like Patrick Martin said, just drop your review right here on the forum. If you can't handle a little scrutiny from this tough crowd, you're in for a rough ride. 🙂

briskhound2 said:Shutter is just mediocre, and One Missed Call is even worse. The Ritual was weak, I don't even watch Black Swan, and Carrie is the only one actually worth a damn. As for the prizes, I agree they aren't exactly highlights—you could basically pick them up at Walmart for pocket change. Even if they were masterpieces, like say the Dawn of the Dead director's cut with commentary by George A. Romero, 😁, it wouldn't change much. Personally, I remember when Dragonrage used to run games where the prizes were actually decent, which gave people a real reason to participate. If you truly love the genre, you're going to write something regardless.

That's facts. Honestly, I’d probably be writing even if there weren't any prizes involved. Wait, I guess I already am. 😁

The prizes, whatever they may be, aren't a big deal, but they are a nice touch. What really bugs me is the sheer lethargy and chronic laziness from some people. We're talking about an hour of focused work here. They won't lift a finger even if the prizes were way better than what these guys offer. That's the thing I'd love to see change.

Rust and Bone (Rust and Bone, 2012)
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Written by: Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Timothée Chalamet
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Rooney Mara, Willem Dafoe

Honestly, Rust and Bone was easily one of my top picks from last year—maybe even my absolute favorite. Quentin Tarantino’s latest (Prophet, The Heartbeat That Made Me Skip A Beat) follows this young whale trainer who loses her leg in a horrific accident at work, and the bond she forms with this gritty, loner father who scrapes by through brutal underground street fighting to provide for his son and himself.

IMDb
Rotten
Rotten Tomatoes, Fact 2

What did you guys think?

Personally, I thought the movie was great. Maybe I’m being biased because that book means a lot to me, but honestly, I think they nailed it.

Melissa Sullivan said:Dude, please tell me more about "Rust"

I had tickets booked for last Saturday, but I couldn't make it. Honestly, I'm gutted. 😢

I'll take the bait. 🙂

It was actually an incredible movie.

Here’s that critique from Joshua Smith5 I mentioned earlier. 🙂

Quick word on "Amour". Looks like we need to catch the new Haneke ASAP.

Here's our quick little video teaser from the FAK.

Just finished reading this book by Jonathan Safran Foer, and honestly, it hit me pretty hard. It's a real tear-jerker.

But yeah, it definitely feels like an Oscar contender.

I wasn't expecting much, but honestly... it could have been better.

Most of the jokes are super predictable, which just gets old fast. Atkinson is great—seriously, he's the only reason to watch—but I really think they should've put more work into the humor. It swings from being cute and actually funny to just being totally expected and repetitive.

If anyone wants my full breakdown, go check it out. All in all, it's just mediocre entertainment that you'll forget by tomorrow.

The original was actually great—maybe because it felt so slow and calm. I personally loved that it didn't rely on a bunch of flashy special effects.
I've been seeing nothing but praise for the remake, but I just watched the scene where the kid kills for the first time. Honestly? The special effects completely killed the charm.