By the way, I have a feeling some of you that disliked Fight Club might like the novel more. If you're interested here's a link. Scroll down to "Differences." I for one loved the novel and found certain things to be better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight_Club_ ( film)#Differences_between_novel_and_film

NOTE: Get rid of the space between "film" and the first of it's parenthesis and the space between the "_" and that same parenthesis. The coding on the board won't allow me to post the link.

* * *
3 Stars

Main Cast: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, and Geoffery Rush

Summary: During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.

Review: I dont really have the time to post a full review for this film, but I'd like to get myself caught up for 2005. I saw this about a week ago, and basically just had nothing but negative feelings for it. The film had that sort of washed out color filter over the whole thing like some other movies that have recently come out, and that kind of diverted my attention.

The plot, as well, is fairly muddled and incoherent at times. An endless amount of contract killings (which I wasnt opposed to), mixed in with debate about Middle Eastern territorial rights and whatnot (which I was opposed to). I know this view probably makes me out to be another dumb american film watcher, just interested in the action, but hey, there it is. The hits themselves were shot well, but with a fairly predictable, kind of cute-sy Speilbergian touch here and there, which was annoying.

Any hopes I had of gaining respect for Speilberg with this film were dashed. Dissappointing.

Direction – 18/20
Acting – 17/20
Story – 12/15
Rewatchability – 9/15
Music – 8/10
Depth – 10/10
Cinematography – 3/5
Supporting Cast – 4/5
TOTAL = 71%

71% = 3/5 Stars

Best Quote: "Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values."

Judgment Night **

A pretty decent suspense thriller about four pals on their way to a boxing match, but get stuck in heavy traffic. To get to the event on time they take the first exit they find to find another way to the event. As they are driving around lost in gang-land they get stuck and witness a brutal murder. The killer wants no witnesses and tries to kill them too. I had only watched about the first 30 minutes of this and had enjoyed it, however after watching all of it I realized it was nothing special other than the cast. The cast consists of Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven and Denis Leary. I was always disappointed with Denis Leary's career as I felt he could have had the caliber of Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin ** 1/2

I couldn't agree more with Don Vercetti's review of this film. "The first half is great, hilarious, and at times even feels character-study-ish. The second half gets rocky between genuine laughs and cliche, and finishes off with an annoying ending that'll leave you with Deja Vu." I bought the unrated version on DVD and was pleasently surprised to find that this is the one and only unrated edition that made the movie better. Most of the unrated editions that I have just have more nudity or F bombs but the extra 17 minutes I really think added to the film. However, this is not better than The Wedding Crashers.

I watched The Hours. Loved Nicole Kidman. But I've to say that this movies messes with your view on life deeply.

Made myself finally to finish Annie Hall. Keaton is nice...

King Kong
Peter Jackson 2005 New Zealand/US (1st time; big screen)
A filmmaker and his cast and crew are caught on Skull Island, where a giant gorilla falls in love with the leading actress. They capture him and take him back to New York to cash in.
The kind of remake nobody seems to be making--a passionate homage and aesthetic transcendence of the original; it is also an exhilirating piece of filmmaking, and a convincing portrayal of the both the human condition and artistic principle.

Crash
David Cronenberg 1996 US/Canada (1st time)
A married couple become involved with a group of people with an overwhelming fetish for car crashes.
This is a film which is, at times, impossible to take seriously, despite its intentions; an almost surreal sense of desire and obsession underline this disturbing essay on eroticism and its close relationship with death.

Aguirre, Wrath of God

Amazing depiction of human insanity. Simply breathtaking. So real that it feels like a documentary. This may very well be the best movie I have ever seen.

KING KONG - **/5

You know, I want to really understand what the hell is going on. People I trust yabber about the greatness of Peter Jackson's new movie, yet after seeing it last week, the only question that I keep asking is this:

Did I see another movie? Did PJ deliver me a bad mediocre blockbuster action movie just to piss me off, or is many folks still on the sauce with the holidays and all? This is isn't the pure entertainment that I've heard many quite tag this picture with, nor is it "moving" in any form of beastiality that people keep saying.

Fact is, this isn't FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING or TWO TOWERS. No, this is RETURN OF THE KING. What that means is that despite quite an expensive budget and more CGI shots for techno-nerds to wank off on than your usual picture...you don't give a fuck about it. In fact, the only sure stunning sequence of any worthy that took my breath away was the finale, with the massive New York City under the brief rule of one giant monkey.

There is no organic naturality in either the narrative nor the tale. Fact is for one thing, its a bad sign when the lead and some fire scared-retarded have a believable if not overly built-up relationship in Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD. Its not THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, but I buy that dual partnership. However, Jackson and his women should have gone back to square with the screenplay in that whole subplot about the young fucking sailor and his unlikely-in-1930s-America black friend.

In fact, that is the best example of why this movie fails. Jackson wants us to expect these two as friends and we are supposed to feel bad when one becomes bug lunch, but me and my filmfan comrades, we didn't feel any care for it, nor the unfortunately emotional-manipulated character role for Jack Black, or better yet the abortive love story between the talented Adrien Brody and Ms. Watts. All good actors stuck with crap material to work with.

I expect a few, specifically ONE person in general that I know of, to call me an elitist prick or/and a grouch that needs a damn nap. You know what? I don't care. Go ahead and believe in the fantasy that this is actually a really "good" movie. While you're at it, go ahead and believe such things as the Trilateral Commission, the Philadephia Experiment, Roswell, Big Foot, and other fun "serious" conspiracies.

Fact is, I watched Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS over the holiday break, a nice movie that I always dug. I mean, a pleasing sort-of creative monster/ghost comedy/thriller picture where a pre-Milk Shaker Michael J. Fox and his ghost spirit pals have to fight the Grim Reaper. Jeffrey Combs delivers quite stunning work as the fucked-up David Lynch-like joke character of the FBI Agent, and hell you see a ghost hump a mummy. Fact is, I missed it when Jackson had fun with his films, and he shared it with the rest of us.

Last Days - (Gus Van Sant;2005;USA)
The last days of a burnt-out rock musician.
The best film of 2005 and one of the best to come out of the last several years. Gus Van Sant direction is mesmerizing, making the audience seem like they're simply spying on a life, especially with it's distant shots and tracking shots. At times the film feels like a modern revival of Romanticism, especially with it's nature theme, which adds to the beautiful cinematography. Michael Pitt's performance is very good, working mostly through body language and mumbling. Like Elephant Van Sant uses off-beat sound mixes to establish a very disturbing mood in some moments, while using other music to amplify moods wonderfully. The best scene is of course the "Death to Birth" scene, which is a very good song from Pitt. Unfortunately, it’s a very misunderstood film this year. One of the most haunting portraits of loneliness and mental isolation in cinema.

The Wedding Crashers ** 1/2

Wow, I was very displeaed with this the 2nd time around. It wasn't as funny as it was the first time (naturally) but I enjoyed it more than on a comedy level. The Owen Wilson/Rachel McAdams relationship seemed more serious and I enjoyed it. I still feel that this is a better movie than The 40-Year-Old Virgin though

Ronnie, did you like the special effects of King Kong?

Aww, how unfortunate that you didn't enjoy the movie :p I will continue to believe that it's a "good" movie and you can continue to believe it's a "bad" movie....elitist pr*ck

I may be a prick, and you know what Irishman? I can't hate you. Fact is, slamming you is like attacking a Special Education kid who can't count very well. I would just feel ashamed of doing it to such a person as yourself.

Oh and svsg, the FX is cool...but without a story that makes me care, its all just pretty computer drawings, nothing more. Still, worthy work from WETA.

Even I didn't care for the story, actually it is pretty unconvicing as a story. Weak premise and lot of plot holes. But special effects are just outstanding. Maybe because I saw Narnia and KingKong in a few days gap. The dinosaur stampede, the fight between kingkong and dinosaur and Kong on the tower, OMG, absolutely brilliant. I was feeling the fear of heights, from the camera angles used for the tower scene. You are right, once another movie with better special effects comes, I won't care for this. But since 2005 is over, I can safely conclude that nothing can beat it in 2005. I am hoping for a special effects oscar for this.

Well that's so "sweet" of you. New Year's resolution to leave me alone? I think not, probably just too much "sauce" over the holidays and no snappy comeback

I hate to see people arguing like this. Especially 2 guys on here that I like and whose posts I enjoy reading.

Kiss and make up you two.

Good to see you back, Ronald, you elitist fuckface wanker prickhead splatterbox Scarface-loving hippy.

eXistenZ
David Cronenberg 1997 Canada/GB/France (1st time)
A games designer escapes an assassin at her new testing convention, and acquaints a friendly PR trainee who has never played any of her games before.
A clever, highly enjoyable Chinese box affair--the actual narrative arc is a predictable one, though getting there is another matter.

Spider
David Cronenberg 2002 Canada/GB (1st time)
A mentally disturbed man arrives at a half-way house, and is left free to roam the local streets, where he pieces together his childhood memories.
The kind of underwhelming film one watches, admires for what it is, and then rediscovers years later as a true masterpiece; it's a well-crafted film which almost implodes upon itself with, like its main character, nowhere to go--and indeed it goes nowhere.

Mick

I'm all for that. We did and look what's happened with that. If ronnie wants to stop this great, if not that's fine too.

Both of you have to stop it. Plain and simple.

Well I'm going to. I'm tired of always coming on this board and getting crap from ronnie. My New Year's resolution is to just ignore him

Six days into the year and you've failed already. Never mind. Mine was to ignore myself, and I've failed that too.

There's always next year.

No I made a "late" resolution starting last night

Huayang Nianhua (In the Mood For Love)
Wong Kar-wai 2000 Hong Kong (2nd time)
In 1960s Hong Kong, two lonely neighbours realise their respective partners are having an affair with one another, and slowly begin to fall for each other themselves…
A visual triumph that seems more in love with cinema and its language than the relationship it depicts. Inspiring to look at, and with a strong sense of regretful nostalgia to its tone.

The Game ***
Directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. Very entertaining movie, always kept me at the edge of my seat. But I had to leave my brain aside to believe in some of the plot

Wolf Creek ***

I had been wanting to see this for a few weeks and my friends and I were trying to see Hostel instead but we missed the last show and saw this. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a lot of High Tension. The filming of this movie is almost like a documentary in that the audience feels like they are there with the characters. Might be a movie to wait for the DVD

Watched LA Confidential.
Spacey did a good job.
Surprisingly Basinger is very unimpressing.

I felt the same way. Pearce and Russel did a good job too IMO

I felt the same way. Pearce and Russel did a good job too IMO [/b][/quote]Yes, they too!