John Wick (2008)
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Hollywood trailer
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Taken (2009)
in Movies ·
Richard Peterson6 said:Actually, they're filming this in those massive housing projects outside of Chicago..
Are you kidding me?
Check this out...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1247640/locations
But I get why people think that, since cities like Chicago are packed with those concrete high-rise blocks...
Free short film / Canon 5D Mark II video
in Movies ·
Patrick Collins18 said:A Canon EOS 5D Mark II officially runs a bit north of $6.00 at Best Buy.
The standard prime lens kit—24mm, 50mm, and 135mm—will run you about $12.
So you're looking at roughly $18 total if you want to nail shots that look like they're straight out of a movie. Free to desire 🙂
I want to... but my bank account says otherwise lol 🙂. Mind me asking what you guys are shooting with?
Free short film / Canon 5D Mark II video
in Movies ·
Lisa Morgan76 said:Man, this looks killer. Gonna go see what kind of damage this camera does to my wallet. 🙂
They’re saying it’s about $2,699, which is basically a month's rent in most US cities!
Free short film / Canon 5D Mark II video
in Movies ·
Brenda Lee50 said:Props to you guys! These shots... especially the night ones! They look incredible. Hope there's more coming!
I'm with him on this. Those night shots are killer... they're exactly how I picture the vibe for a project I'm planning to shoot. It's all set at night, and I really want to capture that specific NYC atmosphere—those bright lights against empty streets. This is spot on... Michael Mann👍🙂
What does a setup like this run you? I'm looking at picking up an HD digital camera and dropping about 10 $0.00 on it, so I'm wondering what you think works better... a dedicated camera like this or just a decent camera in that price range?
Appaloosa (2008)
in Movies ·
Frank Moore4 said:Solid movie, especially Aragorn.. I mean Viggo 😁, Ed Harris, and Jeremy Irons (and we gotta give a shoutout to Lars Mikkelsen too).
Viggo and Ed look seriously badass in those scenes, like they're shooting a Levi's ad. 😁
Honestly, Renée Zellweger was driving me nuts the whole time.
Looks like we're on the exact same page here lol😁😁
Benjamin Thompson66 said:Not another remake, man. That original Western from the 60s starring Marlon Brando was actually pretty good and trippy. Maybe this version works, but it feels so uninspired when Hollywood just keeps recycling old movies over and over.🙄
Even though the first post laid it all out... I'll just say NO.
EDIT. My bad... I forgot to mention in my first post that this is an adaptation of the Appaloosa novel from 2005(?) by Robert B. Parker. There's actually zero connection between this movie and the one from '66! From what I can tell, the plots aren't even similar... they just share a title, that's it...
The Spirit (2008)
in Movies ·
Raymond Cruz42 said:I had a gut feeling this one was going to be a dud—like a cheap knockoff of *The Crow* just showing up out of nowhere—but man, these reviews are hitting harder than I expected. We're looking at a 5.5/10 on IMDb and a pathetic 😲 15% 😲 over on Rotten Tomatoes
.
Has anyone actually sat through this thing? Is it really that much of a disaster???
Based on those clips I saw (check my posts above), the whole thing looked pretty lame and ridiculous to me... honestly, felt more like a joke than a movie.
Appaloosa (2008)
in Movies ·
I'll keep this one short and sweet... hopefully lol...
Appaloosa (2008) 4/5 - TRAILER
It's a solid, classic western that feels pretty similar to another recent great one, "open range." Don't expect any wild twists or crazy surprises here; the story stays pretty straightforward and traditional. At its core, it's about friendship and how a woman can shake things up between two guys. Plus, you've got your standard bad guy and the inevitable showdown. The pacing is laid-back—maybe even a little slow at times, but it doesn't drag too much. That said, the directing is top-notch... Harris really nailed his part, and the acting is great, especially the chemistry between Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Those two are fantastic whenever they're on screen together. There are some killer gunfights, a bit of humor, and I have to give props to the soundtrack—that mix of trumpet and acoustic guitar really sets the mood. My biggest gripes? It runs nearly two hours, which could've easily been trimmed by 20 minutes, and Renée Zellweger is just super irritating. Their "love story" also feels forced since it moves way too fast right at the start.
Overall though, it's another really strong modern entry in this "dying" genre.
Appaloosa (2008) 4/5 - TRAILER
It's a solid, classic western that feels pretty similar to another recent great one, "open range." Don't expect any wild twists or crazy surprises here; the story stays pretty straightforward and traditional. At its core, it's about friendship and how a woman can shake things up between two guys. Plus, you've got your standard bad guy and the inevitable showdown. The pacing is laid-back—maybe even a little slow at times, but it doesn't drag too much. That said, the directing is top-notch... Harris really nailed his part, and the acting is great, especially the chemistry between Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Those two are fantastic whenever they're on screen together. There are some killer gunfights, a bit of humor, and I have to give props to the soundtrack—that mix of trumpet and acoustic guitar really sets the mood. My biggest gripes? It runs nearly two hours, which could've easily been trimmed by 20 minutes, and Renée Zellweger is just super irritating. Their "love story" also feels forced since it moves way too fast right at the start.
Overall though, it's another really strong modern entry in this "dying" genre.
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
rustycrane23 said:It’s all a wash—just a quick sprint to the local torrent site and then you've got your movie.
Honestly, it wouldn't hurt... the movie deserves a decent viewing...👍
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
...
The supporting cast is mostly made up of American actors I don't really recognize, but they’re all solid, even pretty funny—especially Karo Belkhadr, who plays one of the kidnappers. He seems like a huge Van Damme fan, which honestly drives a lot of the comedy. But obviously, this is Van Damme's show, and he absolutely crushed it, much to everyone's surprise. I have to highlight that famous monologue; it's just one continuous seven-minute shot. The emotional range he shows there is insane—shifting from calm to sadness, crying, then laughing—and it feels totally real. Honestly, I was nearly in tears watching it. I can't tell if that's just because I'm a fan or if the scene is genuinely that heavy. Some people felt the monologue was a bit too much because it stands out so much from the rest of the movie, signaling it's more than just a standard flick. To me, though, it felt like a deep dive into the hero's head during a crisis—just a guy re-evaluating his entire life. You know how they say when people hit a breaking point, they suddenly look back at every mistake they've ever made? That was basically this scene. Aside from that moment, plenty of people have praised his performance, with some even whispering about Oscar buzz. Whether that's realistic is another story. It's a great role, but calling it Oscar material might be pushing it. Let's stay grounded. Plus, we're talking about Van Damme, the "washed-up" action star people thought had already checked out (LOL). Like the old saying goes, "one swallow doesn't make a summer," but this definitely proves you can pull off anything if you put your mind to it. As for the downsides? I don't know. Maybe the fact that the director cut about 40 minutes of footage intended for a director's cut, or maybe the pacing drags in spots (though I didn't mind). Or maybe I just missed something.
All in all, Van Damme proved he can carry a real movie and act whenever the script actually demands it. Whether he keeps going this route remains to be seen. I honestly hope that once he finishes UniSol 3—which he's stuck doing because of some legal mess and potential lawsuits—he leaves these cheesy action flicks behind for good. He’s clearly serious about his pivot, especially since he turned down Sylvester Stallone's offer to join him, Statham, and Jel Li- in the upcoming 2010 spectacle The Expendables. Instead of Van Damme, they went with Dolph Lundgren, another 80s action icon whose career has been a bit of a roller coaster, so good luck to him too. As for "JCVD"... highly recommended. One of the best films of the year, and I'm not just saying that as a fan.
The supporting cast is mostly made up of American actors I don't really recognize, but they’re all solid, even pretty funny—especially Karo Belkhadr, who plays one of the kidnappers. He seems like a huge Van Damme fan, which honestly drives a lot of the comedy. But obviously, this is Van Damme's show, and he absolutely crushed it, much to everyone's surprise. I have to highlight that famous monologue; it's just one continuous seven-minute shot. The emotional range he shows there is insane—shifting from calm to sadness, crying, then laughing—and it feels totally real. Honestly, I was nearly in tears watching it. I can't tell if that's just because I'm a fan or if the scene is genuinely that heavy. Some people felt the monologue was a bit too much because it stands out so much from the rest of the movie, signaling it's more than just a standard flick. To me, though, it felt like a deep dive into the hero's head during a crisis—just a guy re-evaluating his entire life. You know how they say when people hit a breaking point, they suddenly look back at every mistake they've ever made? That was basically this scene. Aside from that moment, plenty of people have praised his performance, with some even whispering about Oscar buzz. Whether that's realistic is another story. It's a great role, but calling it Oscar material might be pushing it. Let's stay grounded. Plus, we're talking about Van Damme, the "washed-up" action star people thought had already checked out (LOL). Like the old saying goes, "one swallow doesn't make a summer," but this definitely proves you can pull off anything if you put your mind to it. As for the downsides? I don't know. Maybe the fact that the director cut about 40 minutes of footage intended for a director's cut, or maybe the pacing drags in spots (though I didn't mind). Or maybe I just missed something.
All in all, Van Damme proved he can carry a real movie and act whenever the script actually demands it. Whether he keeps going this route remains to be seen. I honestly hope that once he finishes UniSol 3—which he's stuck doing because of some legal mess and potential lawsuits—he leaves these cheesy action flicks behind for good. He’s clearly serious about his pivot, especially since he turned down Sylvester Stallone's offer to join him, Statham, and Jel Li- in the upcoming 2010 spectacle The Expendables. Instead of Van Damme, they went with Dolph Lundgren, another 80s action icon whose career has been a bit of a roller coaster, so good luck to him too. As for "JCVD"... highly recommended. One of the best films of the year, and I'm not just saying that as a fan.
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
JCVD (2008) 4.5/5 - TRAILER
Look, I’ll just come out with it right away because I know some of you probably already get it... I’m a total Van Damme fan. I grew up on his movies, loved them as a kid, and honestly, I haven't outgrown them one bit—just like the "Goonies," "Conan," "Flash Gordon," and all those other flicks from my childhood. I've always felt he was underrated, both as an action icon and an actor, especially compared to the big names everyone hypes up like Stallone, Willis, or Schwarzenegger. In my book, his movie quality held its own against theirs, and he definitely had more acting ambition (and looked better than most, excluding Stallone). This movie proves it, too; it won over the critics and even a good chunk of the general public who usually can't stand him. I'll try to keep this objective, but don't blame me if I get a little carried away.
Basically, the film blurs the lines between reality and fiction. It uses this half-comedic, half-serious, almost "documentary" style to show the highs and lows of a washed-up action star's life—specifically Jean-Claude Van Damme. It touches on his rise and fall, the baggage he carries (drugs, legal battles over kids, terrible roles, and bad movies), most of which were his own fault. Then there's this fictional setup where he's a celebrity suspected of a bank robbery, leading to a hostage situation that isn't what it seems. The movie is packed with quality, from the technical side to the direction and acting. To me, it feels like a mix of Tarantino and the French New Wave, with a heavy dose of "Being John Malkovich" and "Dog Day Afternoon." If I'm wrong, correct me, but I think "JCVD" pulls from multiple styles—the editing, the cinematography, the framing, and the non-linear storytelling that shows different perspectives, which is classic Tarantino. Even the music choice fits perfectly.
The film kicks off with a long action sequence shot in one continuous take lasting about three and a half minutes, set to that great "Hard Times" track by Baby Huey. One thing to note: during that sequence, some of the villains Van Damme is tossing around are speaking American. At one point, you can actually hear a famous line from his old movie "Lionheart" — "First I'm gonna beat you, then I'm gonna screw you" LOL, a great little Easter egg that only real fans will catch. But moving on. That opening is exciting, funny, and a bit trashy all at once. It's the perfect way to show how tough and thankless it is to be a faded B-movie action star in an industry where everything is mass-produced just to make a quick buck. Don't let the action fool you, though; this isn't just another mindless shoot like his 80s and 90s stuff. Most of the action you see here isn't even the point of the movie.
"JCVD" is really a commentary on Van Damme's career and the entire action genre from the 80s and 90s. It name-drops pretty much every star from that era... Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Seagal, Chuck Norris, even Rutger Hauer. It even brings up John Woo, one of the absolute masters of the genre behind cult classics like "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer." It highlights how Van Damme’s persistence helped break into a Hollywood that barely knew who Woo was back then, even though the director was a massive star overseas. One of the characters even points this out. He says,"Man would probably still be throwing clay pigeons in Hong Kong if it wasn't for Van Damme". Would he? Who knows, but honestly, it doesn't even matter.
The movie shows just how much Van Damme hates his own career—the flicks he’s made and the mess he’s in now, basically "stuck" filming cheap action movies produced in Eastern Europe. He actually makes fun of himself for it. After Seagal snatched a role from him just because he trimmed his goatee, Van Damme took a gig in some low-budget trash without even reading the script, simply because he needed the cash. As funny as that sounds, it’s pretty close to the truth. It’s no secret that Van Damme hasn't been happy with his filmography; very few projects ever met his standards, which is likely why he decided to shake things up and try to hit the reset button on his career.
A young director and one of the writers, Mabrouk El Mechri, did a Lionheart job here. By managing to pull the best out of Van Damme—that raw acting talent that’s been buried for years—he crafted a film that's entertaining, sad, nostalgic, and genuinely smart. The great (and occasionally long) shots, expressive camera angles, washed-out cinematography, the color palette, and an incredible soundtrack are all tools he uses to bring his vision to life. It’s worth noting the director isn't some huge Van Damme fan; he only saw a couple of his old movies growing up, so this isn't some "fan tribute" to a fallen star like some might think. The direction is also super sharp, using a sort of Tarantino-style approach to the storytelling that works for a few reasons. First, it keeps the director from showing all his cards upfront; he toys with the audience and the direction of the plot, even if we don't necessarily buy everything we see. Second, it breaks up any potential monotony that would have come from a strictly linear story. What I mean is, the director pulls us away from the hostage situation at the bank—which can get a bit slow—to give us glimpses through flashbacks into the lead character's life, showing us problems that make the bank heist look minor by comparison.
I already mentioned the music, but it bears repeating. Not just the song choices that fit perfectly, but the instrumental score by Gast Waltzing, which sounds like something Lalo Schifrin would compose. All of it builds an amazing atmosphere. The songs used, specifically "Hard Times" by Baby Huey at the start and "Modern Love"—originally by David Bowie, but covered by Maria Mazziotti at the end—feel like they're narrating the actor's life story. "Having hard time in this crazy times" says one, while the other goes "Its not really work, Its just the power to charm, Im still standing in the wind, But I never wave bye bye...But I try, I try". It's not just Van Damme's career that mirrors those lyrics; sometimes it feels like us, too.
To Be Continued...
Look, I’ll just come out with it right away because I know some of you probably already get it... I’m a total Van Damme fan. I grew up on his movies, loved them as a kid, and honestly, I haven't outgrown them one bit—just like the "Goonies," "Conan," "Flash Gordon," and all those other flicks from my childhood. I've always felt he was underrated, both as an action icon and an actor, especially compared to the big names everyone hypes up like Stallone, Willis, or Schwarzenegger. In my book, his movie quality held its own against theirs, and he definitely had more acting ambition (and looked better than most, excluding Stallone). This movie proves it, too; it won over the critics and even a good chunk of the general public who usually can't stand him. I'll try to keep this objective, but don't blame me if I get a little carried away.
Basically, the film blurs the lines between reality and fiction. It uses this half-comedic, half-serious, almost "documentary" style to show the highs and lows of a washed-up action star's life—specifically Jean-Claude Van Damme. It touches on his rise and fall, the baggage he carries (drugs, legal battles over kids, terrible roles, and bad movies), most of which were his own fault. Then there's this fictional setup where he's a celebrity suspected of a bank robbery, leading to a hostage situation that isn't what it seems. The movie is packed with quality, from the technical side to the direction and acting. To me, it feels like a mix of Tarantino and the French New Wave, with a heavy dose of "Being John Malkovich" and "Dog Day Afternoon." If I'm wrong, correct me, but I think "JCVD" pulls from multiple styles—the editing, the cinematography, the framing, and the non-linear storytelling that shows different perspectives, which is classic Tarantino. Even the music choice fits perfectly.
The film kicks off with a long action sequence shot in one continuous take lasting about three and a half minutes, set to that great "Hard Times" track by Baby Huey. One thing to note: during that sequence, some of the villains Van Damme is tossing around are speaking American. At one point, you can actually hear a famous line from his old movie "Lionheart" — "First I'm gonna beat you, then I'm gonna screw you" LOL, a great little Easter egg that only real fans will catch. But moving on. That opening is exciting, funny, and a bit trashy all at once. It's the perfect way to show how tough and thankless it is to be a faded B-movie action star in an industry where everything is mass-produced just to make a quick buck. Don't let the action fool you, though; this isn't just another mindless shoot like his 80s and 90s stuff. Most of the action you see here isn't even the point of the movie.
"JCVD" is really a commentary on Van Damme's career and the entire action genre from the 80s and 90s. It name-drops pretty much every star from that era... Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Seagal, Chuck Norris, even Rutger Hauer. It even brings up John Woo, one of the absolute masters of the genre behind cult classics like "Hard Boiled" and "The Killer." It highlights how Van Damme’s persistence helped break into a Hollywood that barely knew who Woo was back then, even though the director was a massive star overseas. One of the characters even points this out. He says,"Man would probably still be throwing clay pigeons in Hong Kong if it wasn't for Van Damme". Would he? Who knows, but honestly, it doesn't even matter.
The movie shows just how much Van Damme hates his own career—the flicks he’s made and the mess he’s in now, basically "stuck" filming cheap action movies produced in Eastern Europe. He actually makes fun of himself for it. After Seagal snatched a role from him just because he trimmed his goatee, Van Damme took a gig in some low-budget trash without even reading the script, simply because he needed the cash. As funny as that sounds, it’s pretty close to the truth. It’s no secret that Van Damme hasn't been happy with his filmography; very few projects ever met his standards, which is likely why he decided to shake things up and try to hit the reset button on his career.
A young director and one of the writers, Mabrouk El Mechri, did a Lionheart job here. By managing to pull the best out of Van Damme—that raw acting talent that’s been buried for years—he crafted a film that's entertaining, sad, nostalgic, and genuinely smart. The great (and occasionally long) shots, expressive camera angles, washed-out cinematography, the color palette, and an incredible soundtrack are all tools he uses to bring his vision to life. It’s worth noting the director isn't some huge Van Damme fan; he only saw a couple of his old movies growing up, so this isn't some "fan tribute" to a fallen star like some might think. The direction is also super sharp, using a sort of Tarantino-style approach to the storytelling that works for a few reasons. First, it keeps the director from showing all his cards upfront; he toys with the audience and the direction of the plot, even if we don't necessarily buy everything we see. Second, it breaks up any potential monotony that would have come from a strictly linear story. What I mean is, the director pulls us away from the hostage situation at the bank—which can get a bit slow—to give us glimpses through flashbacks into the lead character's life, showing us problems that make the bank heist look minor by comparison.
I already mentioned the music, but it bears repeating. Not just the song choices that fit perfectly, but the instrumental score by Gast Waltzing, which sounds like something Lalo Schifrin would compose. All of it builds an amazing atmosphere. The songs used, specifically "Hard Times" by Baby Huey at the start and "Modern Love"—originally by David Bowie, but covered by Maria Mazziotti at the end—feel like they're narrating the actor's life story. "Having hard time in this crazy times" says one, while the other goes "Its not really work, Its just the power to charm, Im still standing in the wind, But I never wave bye bye...But I try, I try". It's not just Van Damme's career that mirrors those lyrics; sometimes it feels like us, too.
To Be Continued...
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
David Price5 said:Absolute masterpiece 🙏 .That sequence involving the manager, the cab driver, and the courtroom features one of the greatest monologues ever written, not to mention that opening scene... by the way, the opening scene features some real local characters :-)... "First I'm going to beat you, then I'm going to screw you"... if my memory serves me right, he actually used that line in one of his older movies before.
Yeah... I heard that too haha... just hadn't written my own take yet, so I didn't bring it up...😁
Joseph Flores35 said:Everyone keeps saying the amateur scene is super active, but I can't even find an assistant director, let alone a cameraman or a grip.... and I've got the script, the location, and all the gear ready to go!
Am I just looking in the wrong places or what?
Clearly... just like that AI bot said... you gotta actually get out there and network with people who actually do this stuff.👍
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
Charles Smith4 said:The song is titled 'Modern Love' and is originally by David Bowie.
But in the trailer, it's performed by Maria Mazziotti.👍
Thanks👍 👍 👍
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
Could use a little help here if anyone’s around...
Does anybody happen to know the name of the song in this trailer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KhoYqywgoU
It kicks in right around the 30-second mark.
Does anybody happen to know the name of the song in this trailer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KhoYqywgoU
It kicks in right around the 30-second mark.
John Wick (2008)
in Movies ·
Finally...Official site is actually live... if anyone gives a damn about movie updates, stills, or highlight clips... go check it out...👍
J.C.V.D. (2008)
in Movies ·
goldenhound32 said:It was more about the late Heath Ledger as Joker than it was about Nolan. Or perhaps just because they have a thing for Batman.
Could be that too...👍
Everyone?! Hmmm... I'm not so sure about that...🤷