TV/Movies Megathread

[Savonarola]

14 Blades (2010)

Set at the end of the Ming period (beginning of the 17th century) this film deals with an attempt at a rebellion and the emperor's secret police; the ruthless Jinwei.  The story takes a back seat to the kung fu (watcha!) and the Wuxia; both of which are excellent.

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)

Stephen Chow brings his broad humor to the Chinese classic "Journey to the West."  Unfortunately he keeps a good deal of the novels Buddhist/Taoist philosophy; so the film is uneven.  The comedy scenes are genuinely funny; the scenes that convey philosophy, not so much.  It's worthwhile; but both "Shaolin Soccer" and "Kung Fu Hustle" are better.

[Admiral Yi]

Did you think Shaolin Soccer was good, or just better than shit?  I gave up on it about 30 minutes in.  Somewhere around the rock and roll monks scene.

[Ed Anger]

I dislike chinamen movies

[garbon]

Galaxy Quest

Always fun.

[The Brain]

Galaxy Quest

Always fun.

[celedhring]

Did you think Shaolin Soccer was good, or just better than shit?  I gave up on it about 30 minutes in.  Somewhere around the rock and roll monks scene.

Only better than shit, imho. It was amusing for a while but it got old pretty quick.

I have yet to find a wuxia film that I really love, though.

[celedhring]

Also, anyone can recommend me a few good recent horror films now that Halloween's around the corner? I find most of the recent strain of horror films (Insidious, Paranormal Activity, and the likes) to be quite shit, but I haven't seen The Conjuring.

[Syt]

You being Spanish I presume you've watched [REC] already?

[celedhring]

You being Spanish I presume you've watched [REC] already?

Indeed. I work for the producers of those films, actually 

I just hate "boo!" horror films. I prefer creepy stuff, like Let the right one in. That was the last horror film I absolutely loved (both the yank and Swedish versions). Cabin in the woods was also damn great, but I consider it a comedy/spoof.

[Syt]

I don't watch horror movies as much as I used to, but I guess this list might get you started: http://www.ondvdreleases.com/best-horror-movies/

[Admiral Yi]

You said new, but have you seen Jacob's Ladder?

Probably the second creepiest movie I've seen, after The Exorcist.

[celedhring]

You said new, but have you seen Jacob's Ladder?

Probably the second creepiest movie I've seen, after The Exorcist.

Yes I have, and I loved it indeed.

[Syt]

Confession time: I've never watched Poltergeist in its entirety. When I was 9 or so it was on late night TV and I tried watching it form my bed, but I kept switching to another channel, because it was too scary for me. 

Of recent movies I liked Dead Snow, though a friend enlightened me that it's technically not a zombie movie, but about Wiedergänger, Draugr or Gjenganger..

[frunk]

Did you think Shaolin Soccer was good, or just better than shit?  I gave up on it about 30 minutes in.  Somewhere around the rock and roll monks scene.

Shaolin Soccer is alright, Kung Fu Hustle (by the same guy) is waaaaaay better.

[Josquius]

One thing I didn't fully understand though... is that in the following resurrection he tries to do it all on his own, without risking Blunt. But won't she die at the beach then?

Yeah, that was a head scratcher for me too.

Oh, and I agree about Gleeson looking like a bum. Personally I also thought [spoiler]the whole "I'm going to take this high ranked official that's also a pretty public face, summarily strip him of his rank and send him to the front because he annoyed me, and nobody will really find out" at the beginning was a bit forced and implausible, but I rolled with it. They could just have made him regular joe that's drafted into the army right before the attack on France.[/spoiler]

Basically agree, but I think it helped more than hurt that [spoiler]Cruise starts out as an unsympathetic character getting his just desserts, and a coward to boot.  Not sure I can think of a more logically consistent plot mechanism for achieving those.[/spoiler]

I didn't really see that. I just saw it as a poor guy helping the war in his own little way being screwed over for no reason. That the general would actively sabotage one of his units like that....

And yes. The tacked on happy ending sucked. They should have stuck to the original ending from the novel....but would probably have had to change a few things to get there.