Movie Critics Thread

[SkyWarp91]

21 Jump Street (2012)

Perhaps the best comedy I've seen this year, or in a while I've seen in cinemas. Perhaps best move of the year? Or of this decade? Far stretch I know but I'm in the moment of just viewing it and it's good to see a feel-good movie that isn't patronising in a day and age where everything just seems so bloody over-serious and depressingly cynical. Even though it's a re-imagining it's self aware and is subtle at it which I admired very much.

Clever, hilarious and down-to-earth.

A whopping good 5/5 from me. Though there are some small things to nit-pick here and there, I can forgive them as the quality of the script and directing is awe-inspiring.

[Gutsman Heavy]

Hugo

Thanks to wonky release dates I saw this on blu-ray during the australian cinematic run (love when that happens, I bought up on BD while it was in cinemas )
I honestly can't believe the effing artist won best picture over this film. It starts as a kiddie mystery but blooms into a celebration of cinema history, marvellous stuff! However I can understand the surprise change would be off putting to some people (the trailers paint this as a kiddy adventure film but it doesn't stay that way.)

Must view film.
*****

[Doubledealer]

The Raid: Redemption (2012) 5/5

Most entertaining martial arts movie I've seen since Tom Yum Goong, it's an absolute cult classic in the making. It doesn't waste any time getting into the action, the premise is great, the bad guys are fascinating (especially love the little right-hand man of the boss, he's the new Bolo except, well, tiny!). I just can't say enough good things about this film, it's quite simply epic!

The Hunger Games (2012) 1/5

Felt like several episodes of a low budget, poorly made American TV show ripoff of Battle Royale thrown together to make it movie length. It doesn't help that it easily has some of the worst art direction I've ever seen in a movie and a director whose idea of good action is to rapidly move the camera from side to side so the viewer has no idea what's actually happening. He makes Michael Bay's action look like an attempt at still life. I have to imagine the books are better than this tripe.

[SkyWarp91]

The Raid: Redemption (2012) 5/5

Most entertaining martial arts movie I've seen since Tom Yum Goong, it's an absolute cult classic in the making. It doesn't waste any time getting into the action, the premise is great, the bad guys are fascinating (especially love the little right-hand man of the boss, he's the new Bolo except, well, tiny!). I just can't say enough good things about this film, it's quite simply epic!

The Hunger Games (2012) 1/5

Felt like several episodes of a low budget, poorly made American TV show ripoff of Battle Royale thrown together to make it movie length. It doesn't help that it easily has some of the worst art direction I've ever seen in a movie and a director whose idea of good action is to rapidly move the camera from side to side so the viewer has no idea what's actually happening. He makes Michael Bay's action look like an attempt at still life. I have to imagine the books are better than this tripe.

I so badly want to see the Raid too, but unfortunately the only cinema down here in SA screens it when I'm VERY likely to be working :-/

[Bartrim]

The Raid: Redemption (2012) 5/5

Most entertaining martial arts movie I've seen since Tom Yum Goong, it's an absolute cult classic in the making. It doesn't waste any time getting into the action, the premise is great, the bad guys are fascinating (especially love the little right-hand man of the boss, he's the new Bolo except, well, tiny!). I just can't say enough good things about this film, it's quite simply epic!

The Hunger Games (2012) 1/5

Felt like several episodes of a low budget, poorly made American TV show ripoff of Battle Royale thrown together to make it movie length. It doesn't help that it easily has some of the worst art direction I've ever seen in a movie and a director whose idea of good action is to rapidly move the camera from side to side so the viewer has no idea what's actually happening. He makes Michael Bay's action look like an attempt at still life. I have to imagine the books are better than this tripe.

Oh I am hanging to see The Raid. This has made me want to see it anymore. Interesting opinion of The Hunger Games. Your the first person I've heard give a negative review of the film... I still want to see it, to see what the hype is about and I just hope I don't make the same mistake I did with Twilight

[Hursticon]

Watched 'The Hunter' last night; a flick about an American scientist/hunter tasked by a research group to travel to Tasmania and acquire physical biological specimens of the labelled (And fabled) extinct Tasmanian Tiger, as it is believed to secrete a toxin that paralyses it's prey and said research group wants to map and patent the DNA of the Thylacine.

The hunter tasked with this mission is played by Willem Dafoe, also staring Sam Neil and is a Screen Australia film; An excellent movie with a great story (Of which I've avoided mentioning most of ) with superb performances by the cast and stunning visuals of an otherwise disregarded landmass - You'll end up feeling sad for the nigh-mythical beast and will have your position on it's current state of existence questioned.

I highly recommend it to anyone who likes actual good Aussie movies, Mysteries & Zoology/Palaeontology.

[Sky Shadow]

makes Michael Bay's action look like an attempt at still life.

You should offer them that line for the sequel's movie poster. :P

[Doubledealer]

You should offer them that line for the sequel's movie poster. :P

Haha, I would lol heartily if they used it. My favourite so far this year is "...plenty to scream about" EMPIRE on the cover of the The Thing 2012 dvd cover. Had a good old chortle over that one.

[gantz]

The Raid: Redemption (2012) 5/5

Most entertaining martial arts movie I've seen since Tom Yum Goong, it's an absolute cult classic in the making. It doesn't waste any time getting into the action, the premise is great, the bad guys are fascinating (especially love the little right-hand man of the boss, he's the new Bolo except, well, tiny!). I just can't say enough good things about this film, it's quite simply epic!

The Hunger Games (2012) 1/5

Felt like several episodes of a low budget, poorly made American TV show ripoff of Battle Royale thrown together to make it movie length. It doesn't help that it easily has some of the worst art direction I've ever seen in a movie and a director whose idea of good action is to rapidly move the camera from side to side so the viewer has no idea what's actually happening. He makes Michael Bay's action look like an attempt at still life. I have to imagine the books are better than this tripe.

Ooo I love the irrelevant comparisons between The Hunger Games and the totally over-hyped Battle Royale.

Yes, they both include children killing eachother - that's about where it ends.

But honestly It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in literature or history to grasp that both works have their roots in long-standing traditions of science fiction, social satire and mythology, and that both endeavor to be simultaneously contemporary and ancient, The Running Man anyone?

And what about Orwells '1984' ?

[SkyWarp91]

I've read 1984 but can you shed light on how it's relevant to BR or HG or RM?

As for Running Man I thought that was a hilarious movie, what with the spandex-tight clad 80' clothing and the funny villains