List the films you've seen at the cinema: 2012
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Reno
The In Kraut
Why isn't anybody going to see or even talking about The Cabin in the Woods ? It's probably the best reviewed American horror film in a decade (92% on Rottentomatoes), has great Internets buzz, is genuinely surprising, tremendous fun, really smart and made for geeks (of which I thought there were some here).
Plenty of people here went to see The Hunger Games. This film deals with similar themes (about spectatorship, bread and games and the exploitation of violence) and then runs rings around the bland teen blockbuster with monsters, gore, tits, great gags and some genuinely good ideas.
There even were a few people who went to see the crummy run-of-the-mill horror flick ATM on the last page or two, so why not this ?
Plenty of people here went to see The Hunger Games. This film deals with similar themes (about spectatorship, bread and games and the exploitation of violence) and then runs rings around the bland teen blockbuster with monsters, gore, tits, great gags and some genuinely good ideas.
There even were a few people who went to see the crummy run-of-the-mill horror flick ATM on the last page or two, so why not this ?
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
i saw the trailer and now i don't want to see it anymore 
Reno
The In Kraut
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
there are what appear to be HUGE GREAT BIG SPOILERS in it.
i'm not that precious about spoilers usually, but this trailer pissed me off massively.
i'm not that precious about spoilers usually, but this trailer pissed me off massively.
Reno
The In Kraut
One of the most interesting things The Cabin in the Woods does is that it puts its biggest plot twist up front. There aren't any really big spoilers in the trailer, it mostly gives away stuff you are in on within five minutes. Then it goes to places that you could never predict from seeing the trailer. It also doesn't give away any of its best jokes, like many trailers do. The pleasure of the film is to be aware of its rules and then watch the pieces slowly click into place till you find out the reason for it all.
One warning (and not really a spoiler, but spoilered for the mega-spoiler allergic like firky):
The film probably works best if you love and know horror films. It's primarely a film about ideas (or at least a world based on ideas about horror films) and you have to be willing to go with it and suspend your disbelief. It deals with genre deconstruction and audience pleasure in watching violence as much as Haneke's Funny Games does, but it does so with affection and humor instead of wagging its finger at you. It's surprisingly experimental and out there for a Hollywood film, which will put off audiences who expect something more conventional but which also assures it future cult movie status.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
"Welcome" was a good film as well. More Loach than Powell. The other way around to Le Havre. Unfortunately for some reason it didnt do well here at cinemas. It also shows the plight of the Kurdish people.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I agree with your comments in the spoiler. Thought I would give it a go after reading for first comments on it. Yes I was glad I saw it. Thanks for that. The poster for it looked like just any other recent tired generic US horror movie. The Far East ones are so much better.
It is difficult to talk about without spoiling it as it does go places I didnt predict. Some of the jokes are very funny.
It is both a good old fashioned slasher movie and a film about voyeurism. It manages to be both an intellectual film and entertaining.
It slightly reminded me of the Truman Show but for horror. Or rather peoples liking for watching extreme(sexualised) violence.
It was saying that if our unpleasant desires are not meet in fantasy the whole edifice of civilization could crumble. Its no surprise the secret laboratory is underground in the dark. Like a cinema or our unconscious desires.
So its about voyeurism but also a defence of extreme cinema.
Reno
The In Kraut
There has been some Interwebs bouhaha when people didn't even want the premise of The Cabin in the Woods spoiled or thought that something major had been revealed. I wouldn't have been that interested had it just been another slasher film and I was intrigued by the other elements in the trailer. Film discussion on the Internet has developed some very rigid rules. On one hand people are massively spoiler alergic and on the other hand they can't get enough of this endless publicity drip feed, like with the Prometheus campaign.
baldrick
hmmmmm
love that film.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I sometimes read reviews after ive seen a film due to plot spoilers.
Though , thinking about it, a decent film or play should be able to be seen even if one knows the story. If that was not the case how could a Hitchcock film be seen more than once? Plenty of twists and turns in his films but can be seen more than once.
Though , thinking about it, a decent film or play should be able to be seen even if one knows the story. If that was not the case how could a Hitchcock film be seen more than once? Plenty of twists and turns in his films but can be seen more than once.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I went to the Argentinian film festival yesterday. I went to see "Ausente" (absent). Only managed to see half of it as fire alarm went off in Ritzy. They insisted fire brigade had to come. Got refund but wont be able to see the other half of it as its only on once.
What I did see of it was very good. Its the story of a teenage schoolkid who is mysteriously trying to get into the life of a schoolteacher. It does not explicitly explain what is going on. Covers dodgy territory as instead of an older man manipulating a youngish boy its the other way around.
The boy reminded me of the kids in "Funny Games" ( the original Austrian version). Its a psychological nightmare.
I was more than annoyed not to have seen all of it. The alarm went off in the bar upstairs. Probably just someone having a smoke. Why they had to close the cinema completely for the night I dont know.
What I did see of it was very good. Its the story of a teenage schoolkid who is mysteriously trying to get into the life of a schoolteacher. It does not explicitly explain what is going on. Covers dodgy territory as instead of an older man manipulating a youngish boy its the other way around.
The boy reminded me of the kids in "Funny Games" ( the original Austrian version). Its a psychological nightmare.
I was more than annoyed not to have seen all of it. The alarm went off in the bar upstairs. Probably just someone having a smoke. Why they had to close the cinema completely for the night I dont know.
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Saw it last night, good film! This is the type of stuff I'd like to see more of at the flicks!
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
"El Asaltante" Argentinian film from 2007. Saw at Argentinian film festival in London today.
English title calls it "The Mugger". But this is not accurate as the old man played by Arturo Goetz is doing hold ups of schools cash not mugging people on the street.
This is Roger Corman style low budget film making at its best. Its lean and not over long. The camera follows "El Asaltante" ( u never know his real name) as he does his hold ups. Apparently based on true story.
Arturo is outstanding as the robber. You are never told why he is doing this. Is it the money? Is the little downtrodden man suddenly getting powerful when he is holding people up?
There is an increasing edge of desperation building up during the film. Maybe its connected to the bad economic times Argentina went through in early 2000. Robbing is a sideline for this old guy to keep his head above water.
No one in the film is particularly nice. The streets feel hostile. He is always looking over his shoulder. We see the streets through his eyes.
English title calls it "The Mugger". But this is not accurate as the old man played by Arturo Goetz is doing hold ups of schools cash not mugging people on the street.
This is Roger Corman style low budget film making at its best. Its lean and not over long. The camera follows "El Asaltante" ( u never know his real name) as he does his hold ups. Apparently based on true story.
Arturo is outstanding as the robber. You are never told why he is doing this. Is it the money? Is the little downtrodden man suddenly getting powerful when he is holding people up?
There is an increasing edge of desperation building up during the film. Maybe its connected to the bad economic times Argentina went through in early 2000. Robbing is a sideline for this old guy to keep his head above water.
No one in the film is particularly nice. The streets feel hostile. He is always looking over his shoulder. We see the streets through his eyes.
DarthSydodyas
rusting
It was excellent. I'll be getting that on blu-ray.Saw it last night, good film! This is the type of stuff I'd like to see more of at the flicks!
gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
Saw Le Havre finally and really enjoyed it. Gramsci puts it well in his post. It is quite a beautiful film!
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Whedon double bill today, Cabin in the Woods and Avengers Assemble. Both highly entertaining, Cabin probably the more interesting, a decent breath of life for a tired genre. Avengers is pretty much standard superhero fare, but delivered at such a pace and with more than enough wit to make it all good
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
"Breathing (Atmen)"
Austrian film about a young man in prison who must hold down a job to get parole. He winds up working in a mortuary. This film let u know bit by bit the background and reasons why this young man is in prison. Its filmed in the , what I know call, Austrian style , long straight on shots and a lot of lighting. Acting based on a more realistic way that people behave in real life. Ultimately this is a humane and life affirming film. A change from recent Austrian films. First film by Markovics who also wrote the script. Well worth seeing imo
Austrian film about a young man in prison who must hold down a job to get parole. He winds up working in a mortuary. This film let u know bit by bit the background and reasons why this young man is in prison. Its filmed in the , what I know call, Austrian style , long straight on shots and a lot of lighting. Acting based on a more realistic way that people behave in real life. Ultimately this is a humane and life affirming film. A change from recent Austrian films. First film by Markovics who also wrote the script. Well worth seeing imo
.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
"Back to Stay" "Abrir puertas y ventanas"
I saw this film at the Argentinian film festival in London at the Ritzy. It follows three sisters who live in the same house that belonged to there grandmother. She has recently died and they are coming to terms with this change to there lives. Its a film you gradually get into as you get to know the different sisters and there dawning realisation that there lives are going to change forever. Its a gentle slow ( but not boring) film. Its beautifully shot in the old rambling house of there grandmother.
I saw this film at the Argentinian film festival in London at the Ritzy. It follows three sisters who live in the same house that belonged to there grandmother. She has recently died and they are coming to terms with this change to there lives. Its a film you gradually get into as you get to know the different sisters and there dawning realisation that there lives are going to change forever. Its a gentle slow ( but not boring) film. Its beautifully shot in the old rambling house of there grandmother.
blossie33
trailer trash
I saw the Being Elmo documentary film on Friday - about the guy who is the puppeteer behind the Emlo character from Sessame Street. He also worked on the Labyrinth film.
Really enjoyed it, he came across as being a really nice guy and it was interesting to see how the puppets are made etc.
I didn't know that the guy who originally designed most of the puppets for Jim Henson's name was Kermit!
Really enjoyed it, he came across as being a really nice guy and it was interesting to see how the puppets are made etc.
I didn't know that the guy who originally designed most of the puppets for Jim Henson's name was Kermit!
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
I saw Pasolini's The Gospel According To St Matthew at St Nicholas Church in Deptford as part of the New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival.
It was a suitable venue to watch it in, if a little uncomfortable (even though I brought a cushion), esp considering the length of the film. I was entranced though. It was very moving and absolutely stunning visually, esp the frequent panning across people's extraordinary faces. Pasolini very much emphasises Jesus as a revolutionary, something that seems a bit hackneyed now but can't have been at the time. At the same time, there's nothing here for the church to take issue with.
The music is amazing and quite varied - lots of Bach and Mozart, but also frequent instants of Odetta singing a spiritual and this beautiful piece of music from the Congo:
It was a suitable venue to watch it in, if a little uncomfortable (even though I brought a cushion), esp considering the length of the film. I was entranced though. It was very moving and absolutely stunning visually, esp the frequent panning across people's extraordinary faces. Pasolini very much emphasises Jesus as a revolutionary, something that seems a bit hackneyed now but can't have been at the time. At the same time, there's nothing here for the church to take issue with.
The music is amazing and quite varied - lots of Bach and Mozart, but also frequent instants of Odetta singing a spiritual and this beautiful piece of music from the Congo:
JimW
支那暗杀团
Just watched this having seen the shorter TV films he made at the same time; superb bit of work, honest and ho I wish more documentaries would be.
ETA: oops, not at cinema though; leaped into search results without checking
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
One of my favourite films- I can watch more than once. Yes the faces are amazing. He used a lot of non actors who were real farm workers in the film.
I would not say that portraying Jesus as a revolutionary is hackneyed. Its an aspect of the New rather than the Old Testament that periodically surfaces. As it did in Middle Ages with millennialism and during the English Civil War. And also more recently the radical Catholic priests in South America.
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