Metropolis (1927)

This movie is a true classic silent film, just watch this clip - I can't believe the kind of ambience and atmosphere it generates.



I haven't seen it in a proper version yet but since this is supposedly from the dvd it looks good and the new soundtrack sounds awesome too.

What makes a great movie

I have finally determined exactly what makes a great movie.

Movies are made of very disparate elements. All of these elements are planned down to the last detail. Acting, set design, cinematography, editing, sound design, score, special effects, etc..

All of these elements have to come together as if totally seamless, all encompassing a unique vision. So they all must work, if one doesn't then the hole film just falls apart like a house of cards.

It's when you watch a movie and it flows so naturally as if there were no planning at all put into it, like it was some kind of act of God, then you know you have a great film.

Leon (The Professional) review

Plot 100%

Basically it's about 3 central characters, Leon who is hitman who lives alone. Mathilda, a 12 year old girl living in a horrible family situation and Stansfield who is a psychotic, corrupt DEA cop.The film centres on the relationship between Leon and Mathilda, after the latter's family gets killed by Stansfield and his cronies.The plot moves along beautifully, as it explores these characters. It is kind of a poetic film in many ways.

VFX 100%

This film just looks awesome despite being shot in 1993/4. Every print I have seen is crisp and clear looking. The visuals have realism to them, probably from being shot mostly at daytime, and it really gives a great sense of New York. The cinematography is flawless, every shot is perfect. Editing is great and perfectly paces the film.

SFX 100%

Eric Serra is an awesome composer and he can do it all - tense action music, emotional music, etc. It kind of has a french feel to it which makes it unique from other action scores.

Acting 100%

Jean Reno - a great actor, he really underplays the role which I liked.

Natalie Portman - really amazing how good she was considering she was only 12 years old.

Gary Oldman - holy...... greatest villain ever.

Violence

It has great action scenes that are just badass. No gore though for you gore-hounds.

Overall 100%

I can't find any flaws in this film. The director's cut is even better - the extended international version. I've seen this movie dozens I've times and it's great every time.

Btw, anybody who says this movie has anything to do with pedophilia is dumb and ignorant. *looks towards certain users of IMDB*

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) review

Plot 65%

A remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Basically the same, it just updates it a little. They added one subplot, and it's kind of pointless, and the resolution is a little cheesy.

VFX 75%

The nanobot swarm is the coolest effects sequence in the movie, but everything else is just the same old cgi stuff you've seen in countless other movies.Gort is cool, but when he arrives I wasn't thinking "f**king awesome, badass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", instead I was thinking "oh, there's Gort, nice cgi, hmmmmm".

SFX 50%

I can't even remember the musical score and the sound FX were nothing special. Average.

Acting 52%

The two leads are both popular and charismatic people, but they're are not as good acting-wise as the actors in the original movie. The little kid is annoying, he doesn't really have a purpose (just some plot device, but the payoff is a little cheesy like I said above). There are no real "characters" in this movie as the people are just there to move forward the plot, and that's it.

Violence 0%

I think it would be cooler if they made it R. Would have more impact.

Overall 50%

It's watchable, but average. You will only see it once.

The Good

*Klaatu mentions we are only one of a few planets in the Universe able to support life. I thought that was cool.

*The nanobots eating everything in their path was a cool sequence.

*Gort kept the same design as the original, but he was bigger and meaner.

*"Klaatu barada nikto" (though you only hear it briefly)

*John Cleese.

The Bad

*It was kind of boring.

*The original was better - it had a better script, better score, better pacing, etc.

*Original Gort seemed more badass to me, even for the 50s, he made a far more spectacular entrance (yes, cgi cannot equal good filmmaking).

*We never got to find out more about the aliens. That sucked. *Micheal Rennie pwns Keanu Reeves (Reeves just acts like a robot)*Why did we not see inside the spaceship? Even the original showed us that.*Plotholes - why do aliens need to kill humans, surely there must be a better solution? In the original, they wanted to kill us because we'd become a threat to galactic peace because we keep blowing the shit out of eachother (ie Cold War).I wouldn't waste your money at the cinema. Rent it on dvd, it's a pretty dull movie.

Full Metal Jacket review

Plot 85%

The plot at it's surface is about a bunch of recruits (in particular one named "Private Joker" played by Matthew Modine) as they go from basic training to armed combat in the USMC. The war they are fighting is the Vietnam War, and it is set in this time period.

It is divided into two parts, first it details how these men go through basic training and the second part is about their experiences in Vietnam.

The basic training follows the recruits are they disciplined and turned from ordinary civilians to potential killers by the rigorous routine and abuse by the Drill Sergeants. The Drill Seargant's job as he explains is weed out those who do not conform and to turn a bunch of men into "weapons of war".

The way he does is through beatings, harassment and psychological torture. For example, when "Private Pyle" sneaks in a jelly donut into his foot locker and it is discovered, he is not punished but instead the Drill Seargeant punishes the entire platoon. This ostrasizes him from the group in a kind of collective hatred directed towards him. This comes to a climax when the platoon organises amongst themselves to beat him with bars of soap while he sleeps, each taking turns to hit him (even Private Joker, his only friend up to that point). This is a reflection on society in my view, where those that don't conform are severely brutalised and punished by the system.

Pyle eventually becomes like the rest, beaten into submission and his individuality completely drained. He is now an empty shell, with the complete mindset of a soldier and a killer. Unfortunately he cannot come to terms with the change, and in the final scene of this first act, he kills the Drill Sergeant and himself, with Private Joker watching on in horror.

The second part goes to Vietnam, and is not as interesting (IMHO), though shows the hypocrisy of war quite well. The end scene is very revelatory for the main character, however.

VFX 80%

The camerawork is flawless as usual, with Kubrick's usual flair. The production does look extremely authentic from the boot camp to the section in Vietnam, though not as visually striking as some earlier films set in that time period, because of the choice to film in England instead of more authentic locations. Therefore, it is nowhere near as striking as such films like Apocalypse Now.

SFX

A great, moody and low-key soundtrack that gives an emotional catharsis for the viewer. The sound effects are also nicely done.

Acting 93%

Matthew Modine and Vincent D´Onofrio turn in good performances. But it's R Lee. Ermey who gives the greatest performance of his career. This is because he is not acting. He had trained as an actual Drill Instructor. And this makes the movie much more authentic and real.

Violence 95%

Very disturbing and graphic with people getting shot and a suicide scene that is incredibly bloody and realistic.

Overall 90%

Another brilliant movie by the late Stanley Kubrick. Anti-war to it's core, but without being preachy, what this does is show the reality of war, and the process of dehumanisation that goes with it.