[xtremethunder]

My favorite movie list would be endless being a movie buff. Recently enjoyed movies
Law Abiding Citizen- excellent screenplay but the end was quite abrupt.
Three Warlords : Nice one from Jet li not sure it released in India as it was a Chinese movie.

Will post more in the coming days

[Delta Wing]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

These two (D-9 & Blade runner) may be well praised movies but somehow I was not able to appreciate them that much.

Blade runner is the best portrayal of a sci-fi story as told in letter by the original author and that's why, where it failed to impress the box office at release, it got a cult status over the years. It's a movie based on 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' story by Philip K Dick (who has the disinction of max sci-fi movies, three, based on his works).

Oh by the way both of them are by Clint Eastwood, this guy seems to have amazing talent at directing movies. I just watched quite a few movies directed by him recently (Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima, Flags of our fathers) and I must say he is really really good.

You might like the 'Unforgiven' and 'the Battle of Iwo Jima' too, also by Eastwood.

Originally Posted by vasudeva

Avatar got totally shafted with only 3 technical awards. Read somewhere some day back that Avatar lost out because many of the people who vote saw it and did not like what it implied (actors out of a job). If it progresses like that, all you would need are visual expert specialists.

Disclaimer: Following is entirely IMO only. The academy is biased against technical side a little. The human angled artist against the technically gifted artist pitted against each other, the oscar outcome is fairly straight to guess. Sometimes the oscars make an irony out of oscars. The works of John Hughes being revered at the awards ceremony were especially notable since the guy had made so many 'influencing' films and not one ever nominated but last night he gets truckloads of exposure. Ain't that funny now?
James Cameron probably doesn't need an oscar to prove his worth with all time greats like the Terminator-1 and 2, Titanic and Avatar. Except Titanic (flooded, LoL, with sllloooww human sentiment and drama), none of his works were recognised for the quality. T-2 outguns both the subsequent films even today.
Another case in point is Matrix, which was judged only on technical aspects. Imagine a super boring movie like 'Iris' being revved at by critics. The mindset of those not technically oriented towards entertainment is also different. You'd also note that movies which strongly depicts american problems effectively (with americans being the good people) would fare better than the likes of Avatar (which questions the expansionist greed of one advanced race against another).

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by Delta Wing

Imagine a super boring movie like 'Iris' being revved at by critics. The mindset of those not technically oriented towards entertainment is also different. You'd also note that movies which strongly depicts american problems effectively (with americans being the good people) would fare better than the likes of Avatar (which questions the expansionist greed of one advanced race against another).

1. Considering that we are discussing art and opinions about it are subjective, I would not consider Iris to be super boring. definitely slow but engaging. Iris did get 1 major Oscar (best actor) but was not nominated for best pic (won by a Beautiful Mind) or direction (also Bea. Mind).
2. Regarding american values, The Hurt Locker could not be seriously considered extolling American values. The track record on this is mixed to form a definitive opinion either way (consider The Blind Side but also movies like Bowling for Columbine, All the President's Men, Syriana, Milk). Sean Penn is hardly known for extolling American values, but he just has to appear in a movie to get a nomination or a win.

On a side note, many would have noticed the diff between the Oscars and the FF (so close in telecast timing). FF on Sony had 5 mins of programming for every 10 mins of commercial breaks. In Oscars, it was perhaps 12-14 mins of programming with 3-4 mins of break. Could be rating, but had read a long time back that perhaps Star is governed by the laws of Hong Kong which prohibited (at that time) more than 15 mins of commercials for 1 hr of programming. Does that hold now. More relevant: any such laws in India. Have hardly watched Sony in a decade precisely because of their leading position in the duration of commercial breaks.

[Technocrat]

James Cameron probably doesn't need an oscar to prove his worth with all time greats like the Terminator-1 and 2, Titanic and Avatar.

You forgot to include two other great films by him The Abyss & Aliens

[AbdulRahmanM]

watched The Mask after a long time, Jim Carrey at his best. I wish there was a proper fitting sequel to this movie. The ones which came were utterly bad.

[vamsi.kona]

Watched "Wolfman" yesterday. Should say the film started convincingly and lost track midway. Nothing great nor bad.

[SumitBahl]

Watched "KNOW1NG" yesterday, starring Nicholas Cage.
Started off nicely, but the story did not have enough juice to grip you.
Some of the special effects seemed too much computerized.

Mediocre performances by everyone. Acting of Nicholas Cage is so much contrast from the last movie I saw (Lord of War). He was so much better in that movie.

Would rate it 2/5.

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by vkochar

The OSCARS are simply the best. Watched the Filmfare Awards also last night which I enjoyed BUT comparing it with the Oscars I would not even rate it as 1% it.

The lame jokes and even SRK & SAK were pathetic compared to Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin.

In fact of late I have noticed that the Filmfare awards sets are looking so cheap and I could see the chairs in the awards which looked like the ones used in weddings !!

That is so true - even while watching the FF awards I was shocked at the kind of garish sets and those laser lights coming on every time there was a dance show..uff. Cheap sets, cheaper set of jokes and lame anchoring - that's what FF was all about this year and I feel it's only going to get worse.

As for the chairs, Varun, that could be because not one YRF movie has succeeded lately

And worse than the show itself was the editing - cuts, cuts and more cuts. I have a strong feeling that not all the performances were shot during the show - half were filmed much before and added to the TV reel (Katrina's one specially)

Shahid's performance I liked

[harry10]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

That is so true - even while watching the FF awards I was shocked at the kind of garish sets and those laser lights coming on every time there was a dance show..uff. Cheap sets, cheaper set of jokes and lame anchoring - that's what FF was all about this year and I feel it's only going to get worse.

As for the chairs, Varun, that could be because not one YRF movie has succeeded lately

And worse than the show itself was the editing - cuts, cuts and more cuts. I have a strong feeling that not all the performances were shot during the show - half were filmed much before and added to the TV reel (Katrina's one specially)

Shahid's performance I liked

+1 to everything you said.
Saw oscars as a repeat and they had so much class. Steve martin delivered some very good punches without insulting the fraternity.
FF awards are going down the hill and those laser lights were such a put off.
Katrina's performance was so pathetic any street dancer can do a much better act.

[vinaydas]

the indian award shows are a joke compared to the oscars.
when ever i think of an oscar i think class,perfection and pure cinema.
and indian film awards all i can think about is salman khan dancing around and rubbing a towel in between his legs.
Even the national award is nowadays a joke with the likes of priyanka chopra and saif ali getting awards.

[kaushik_s]

Originally Posted by Delta Wing

Blade runner is the best portrayal of a sci-fi story as told in letter by the original author and that's why, where it failed to impress the box office at release, it got a cult status over the years. It's a movie based on 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' story by Philip K Dick (who has the disinction of max sci-fi movies, three, based on his works).

Hmmmm probably for Sci-fi my mindset is set to more of tightly paced, thriller/adventure kind of movies. Not the ones which tries to send out some message (like D-9 is about sending message/or put a similarity about oppression/apartheid etc). For the message part I like to watch hard hitting realistic movies. But that's just me, nothings probably wrong with the movies.

Originally Posted by Delta Wing

You might like the 'Unforgiven' and 'the Battle of Iwo Jima' too, also by Eastwood.

Watched Unforgiven some time back, loved it very much.
It's not Battle of Iwo Jima but Letter from Iwo Jima, I've mentioned that in post.

[harry10]

Red Dragon-
From IMDB- FBI Agent Will Graham has been called out of early retirement to catch a serial killer, known by authorities as "The Tooth Fairy". He asks for the help of his arch-nemesis, Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter, so that he can be able to catch "The Tooth Fairy" and bring him to justice. The only problem is that "The Tooth Fairy" is getting inside information about Graham and his family from none other than Dr. Lecter.

People who had seen Silence of the lambs and Hannibal will love this one. In fact i liked it better than Hannibal.

Rating -4.5/5

Lord of war-
From Imdb- This film charts the rise and fall of Yuri Orlov, from his early days in the early 1980s in Little Odessa, selling guns to mobsters in his local neighbourhood, through to his ascension through the decade of excess and indulgence into the early 90s, where he forms a business partnership with an African warlord and his psychotic son. The film also charts his relationship through the years with his younger brother, his marriage to a famous model, his relentless pursuit by a determined federal agent and his inner demons that sway between his drive for success and the immorality of what he does.

"Guns don't kill people. People kill people."
This is so true.
Cage has given such a terrific performance in this film. Must watch.

Rating- 4.5/5

[maddy42]

The oscars made me watch Hurt Locker

Well as all know its about a bomb diffuser working in Iraq and how he works slight recklessly. This movie has a lot to show about team dynamics and how every member of teams have to begin to work differently at times.

Shooting style is kinda documentarish many times but it catches the raw emotion pretty well and it shows you to the extent the terrorists can go to get their job done. Its easy for someone like me sitting in the drawing room and criticising the Army for the job they do in attacking countries but it is another thing to see whats going on in such situations.

Kudos to the actor as his performance is mind blowing. His supporting crew has done a nice role. Hope this world stays in peace as the war will make all people blind.

Rating 3.5/5 A must watch

[nick17s]

Yesterday "Mirrors" & "Shutter" (hindi movie "click" is a remake of shutter) back to back (both are hollywood horror)....

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by nick17s

Yesterday "Mirrors" & "Shutter" (hindi movie "click" is a remake of shutter) back to back (both are hollywood horror)....

That's fine, but where is the review ?