TV/Movies Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

I can only watch old black and white films in the morning or the afternoon.  They put me to sleep at night.  I think it's an old man thing.

[Ideologue]

Oblivion (2013).  If it weren't based on the true events of Tom Cruise's life, I'd call it the most derivative good movie I think I've ever seen.

Indeed, almost nothing is not either an homage or lift from another science fiction film--to the extent I half expected Morgan Freeman, when he showed up, to possess psychic powers and worship the bomb.  There's also a direct and almost actionable theft from a very recent movie, but I won't name it because to do so would be to spoil Oblivion.

And as I said, Oblivion is a good movie.  It's throwback science fiction with modern special effects, and a reasonably affecting emotional arc to it that I found moving.

As for problems stemming from the film itself, Olga Kurlyenko is almost but not quite wasted.  I think she gets to act in two scenes.  It's a Goddamned shame, because the last time I saw her, as the not-Bond Girl in what might be my favorite Bond film, the devastatingly underappreciated Quantum of Solace, she was a bit of a revelation.  She does not have much to do here.  What she does have to do--make you believe she loves Tom Cruise--she does well, and occasionally extremely well.  She made me believe I wish she loved me, that's for sure.  Andrea Riseborough is not wasted, though, I'll give them that.  And there is one unbelievably sexy and well-made scene featuring her.

Nonetheless, Kleves may be a closeted homosexual.

On a minor note, I almost let it get to me when they uncorked their first scientific blooper about thirty seconds in, as Cruise explains via narration how his job is to oversee the fusion plants that draw hydrogen from Earth's oceans to transport fusion energy to... Titan.  OK.  I also question why [spoiler]pseudo-Galactus at the end there needed to steal Earth's hydrogen, when Jupiter and Saturn have about ten thousand times more hydrogen, more easily extracted, between them, and when she had to begin with the energy required to GRAVITATIONALLY UNBIND THE FUCKING MOON.[/spoiler]

Anyway, it's a beautiful film, and though many of the twists are obvious if you're a genre fan, they remain well-executed and occasionally quite affecting.  Seeing Oblivion for the first time is much like seeing a great movie for the second time.

B+

[mongers]

Would like to see a decent film tonight, don't seem to be able to find one.   

You ever see Margin Call?  Nifty, nifty movie with a great cast.

No I'll check it out.

As it was, I ended up watching the rest of 'The Hobbit' - marginally OK.

[Kleves]

Nonetheless, Kleves may be a closeted homosexual.

Dude, its the red hair + the accent. Yum.

[Ideologue]

Nonetheless, Kleves may be a closeted homosexual.

Dude, its the red hair + the accent. Yum.

What about her feet, Martinus?



No, she's a lovely woman.  Kurylenko's body is more my type and, well, brunette.

I also need to see Malick's new joint with her in it, To The Wonder.  'Course, I've still got to see Tree of Life.

[Neil]

Wait, Ide is calling someone ELSE a closeted homosexual?  Ide, the guy who likes his women to look like young boys?

[Ideologue]

Women with eating disorders do not look like young boys.  That's a myth.

[Eddie Teach]

Nonetheless, Kleves may be a closeted homosexual.

Dude, its the red hair + the accent. Yum.

She had black hair in all the pics I saw.

[Berkut]

  I also question why [spoiler]pseudo-Galactus at the end there needed to steal Earth's hydrogen, when Jupiter and Saturn have about ten thousand times more hydrogen, more easily extracted, between them, and when she had to begin with the energy required to GRAVITATIONALLY UNBIND THE FUCKING MOON.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]What makes you think they want to steal Earth's hydrogen? I think they did a good job of simply leaving the REAL reasons the Tetians are doing what they are doing unknown. We have no idea why they want to do whatever it is they are doing, and that is best, because then we can't pick it apart. The reason given to the remaining humans for why they are doing it is obviously bullshit, but that is ok - it only has to be kind of plausible to them.[/spoiler]

[Ideologue]

Hm.  Fair enough.  They stated it as fact, but I guess it need not have been, you're right.

Oh, one thing I wanted to say about Oblivion:

[spoiler]I think that the ending could have been cut to be far more powerful than it was, don't you?  It didn't need that narration, it didn't need any lines.  Just show, as Cruise and Freeman's character are dying--which was a nice enough twist--Tom Cruise 52 shows up at the cabin.  Then credits.  It felt like a pulled punch for the benefit of people who would've said "whut?" and it was unnecessary and undermining. [/spoiler]

[Berkut]

Agreed. It was a little anti-climatic.

[Josquius]

Vikings- OK, that's too much, Uppsala as a Tibetan monestary in the mountains.

[jimmy olsen]

Don't be raciss.  He's either under "C" or "E" in the Rolodex. 


Anyway, best trailer released for "Man of Steel" yet--

http://youtu.be/T6DJcgm3wNY

Wow, looks way better than the earlier one I saw.

[garbon]

We're getting a Sin City 2?

[viper37]

Vikings- OK, that's too much, Uppsala as a Tibetan monestary in the mountains.

It kinda looks similar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_at_Uppsala