Three somewhat obscure movies, everyone should see

[JaiDee]

Same as you Hefe I could only check off 4 or 5 on that 'worst ever' list;  thankfully, I guess.

 

Agreed,  Face/Off was a colossal piece of shit, as was the John Woo film Broken Arrow; neither one made the list.  And the fact that Adam Sandler, who IMO has only made 1 or 2 even mildly-entertaining films, was only on the list twice is a huge mistake;  my list would have had 10 of his stink bombs. Hard to believe someone so enormously untalented as he is can be so obscenely wealthy.

 

  Agreed also; Titanic was crap. Not stinkeroo crap, but surely not as good as most people seem to think it was.

 

  As usual, movie-watching and movie-going is subjective, we all like certain things while disliking others, etc....but for the most part, bad is bad.

[pdogg]

 

  Agreed also; Titanic was crap. Not stinkeroo crap, but surely not as good as most people seem to think it was.

It's hard for a movie like Titanic not to be overated.

 

I liked it though; thought it was entertaining.

 

Btw, I don't think Tiatanic was on that list rather something like Raising The Titantic.

 

Re Sandler, agreed , never once made me laugh.

 

As far as bad movies, the litmus test for me is hoping the movie will end soon.

[JaiDee]

It's hard for a movie like Titanic not to be overated.

 

As far as bad movies, the litmus test for me is hoping the movie will end soon.

 

  Yeah, me too......although I remember when we used to actually have to go to a place called Blockbuster [remember that rip-off place?] and PAY for our movies; then it was not only wasting 2 hours on some shit movie, but also the time to go get it and the 2 or 3 bucks wasted to sit through some awful movie.

 

   I remember some Thai people I knew a decade ago going to see Titanic 3 or 4 times when it was re-released, they thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.....I saw it once, on some cable station late at night in the states, and said "ehhh."

[pacman]

And the fact that Adam Sandler, who IMO has only made 1 or 2 even mildly-entertaining films, was only on the list twice is a huge mistake;  my list would have had 10 of his stink bombs. Hard to believe someone so enormously untalented as he is can be so obscenely wealthy.

 

I am so over Adam Sandler's portrayal of himself as the idiot man-child. It got lame very quickly & I am also amazed that he could be invited back to make more of that shit. What would surprise me & might do his career a favour would be if he ever played a serious role where he wasn't trying to be a buffoon every 5 minutes. He may not be any good but he may just get some credibility for once in his life. I am always curious to see someone playing against type.

 

Agreed also; Titanic was crap. Not stinkeroo crap, but surely not as good as most people seem to think it was.

 

When it was released Titanic was the most expensive movie made up to that time. I remember the story going around that it would have been cheaper to raise the Titanic than recreate the sinking of it. When I went to see it I was expecting so much more than a silly love story. It was like an overblown episode of Love Boat with a whole heap of sentimentality & pathos at the end. It was amazing that Leo was allowed to drown. In the true spirit of these things he would have been rescued at the last minute.

 

It isn't included in the list of worst movies because it had redeeming moments. None more so than the dramatic sinking scenes which were very well done. IMO.

 

As usual, movie-watching and movie-going is subjective, we all like certain things while disliking others, etc....but for the most part, bad is bad.

 

Agree completely.I like to share my enthusiasm for a film I enjoyed but I gave up long ago trying to influence someone into seeing one of them. It is a guaranteed way of getting the opposite reaction to what you hoped for. No one wants to feel like they are being dictated to. I know well the smug satisfaction people get when they come back to rubbish a film you thought they may like. Some people have a deep seated need to criticise anything they haven't thought of first.

[seven]

 

 

The last film on my list is Nymphomaniac by Lars Von Trier

Watched that last weekend. Its good , but not as good as  Melancholia from 2011.

Interesting to hear your thoughts of it, and i agree about recommending it,  i couldn't do that , its too provoking.   A friend of mine told me when he saw it,  a woman in the theatre left after 1 hour crying. 

Von Trier is insane, but also brilliant, imo. Without spoiling it for people planning to see it, the end scene i will never ever forget.

Its now 10 days since i watched it, and not a day has gone by when i  haven't thought about it. To me thats a sign of a good movie.

[Hefe]

Using your criteria seven, I have to say that a film I saw a week ago has stayed with & haunted me & I recommend for those who like to "think" about what they saw for a while afterwards.

 

The film is Biutiful & it's a couple of years old. First time for me seeing it but I have mentioned 2 other movies by the same director in this thread, Inarittu, that also were deeply affecting: 21 Grams & Amores Perros.

 

It really is a tour de force for Javier Bardem who is in every frame & wears the weight of the world on his head it seems, he won best actor in Cannes & was nominated for best actor Oscar, a first for a spanish language film. He lost to Colin Firth. 

 

If you like movies like Last Tango in Paris or Fitzcarraldo I'm sure you would appreciate these 3 by Inarritu. It has some odd elements in it as well akin to magic realism. 

[pacman]

Using your criteria seven, I have to say that a film I saw a week ago has stayed with & haunted me & I recommend for those who like to "think" about what they saw for a while afterwards.

 

These are the recommendations I like. Thanks Hefe, another one to add to the list. 

 

Watched that last weekend. Its good , but not as good as  Melancholia from 2011.

Interesting to hear your thoughts of it, and i agree about recommending it,  i couldn't do that , its too provoking.   A friend of mine told me when he saw it,  a woman in the theatre left after 1 hour crying. 

Von Trier is insane, but also brilliant, imo. Without spoiling it for people planning to see it, the end scene i will never ever forget.

Its now 10 days since i watched it, and not a day has gone by when i  haven't thought about it. To me thats a sign of a good movie.

 

Thanks seven, if I had to guess someone saw it I would have thought of you. And thanks for mentioning Melancholia, I will keep an eye out for it. I have heard stories about Von Trier which didn't make me want to rush to see his films. Plus his effort at the Cannes Film Festival last year when he started to praise Hitler & raved on about Nazis, if that doesn't qualify him as mad, what does?

 

When I was talking to the theatre people after the film they said many people had left during the screenings. I don't know what they expected, it isn't as if there weren't warnings about the content. Though some scenes were pretty rough. There are things shown in this film I never thought I would see on screen & I don't think I ever will again.

 

And I agree with you about the ending. I wondered how he could neatly wrap it all up. After 4 hours I thought it would be a shame for it to just dwindle but it doesn't. I never saw the ending coming but it's a stroke of genius. I also have thought about the movie every day since I saw it, it took a week before I decided it was some kind of masterpiece. Others will disagree. 

 

WARNING: On a local movie review website there are a number of posted reviews by the public that rate the film 0/5 where the poster has condemned the film in the strongest possible language. I am quite sure they have been written by the "morally outraged" who probably walked out in the first hour. 

[JaiDee]

Found Biutiful on bit torrent but not the other 2......Melancholia and Nymphomaniac are on Youtube however, full versions.

[seven]

 

 

The film is Biutiful & it's a couple of years old

Javier Bardem 

I've seen it a couple of times, and of course its a very good movie. Bardem is as good as they get.

 Iñárritu is sailing up as one of my favorite directors. If you haven't seen Babel from 2006, please do.

I have recommended a few very dark and  grim movies now, so maybe we should throw in a comedy with Adam Sandler. 

[seven]

 I wondered how he could neatly wrap it all up. After 4 hours I thought it would be a shame for it to just dwindle but it doesn't. I never saw the ending coming but it's a stroke of genius.

It really is. As if the story wasn't sad enough, he gives us this....

[pacman]

I have recommended a few very dark and  grim movies now, so maybe we should throw in a comedy with Adam Sandler. 

 

So sarcastic of you seven. I would rather stick pins in my eyes than be made to watch a Sandler movie.

 

Dark & grim is fine if they are well done.

[JaiDee]

so maybe we should throw in a comedy with Adam Sandler. 

 

  Oxymoron?

[JaiDee]

Re-watched a great movie from 2007,  'Into the Wild' directed by Sean Penn, about the young kid from Virginia who gave the majority of his money to charity, burned the rest, and walked around America for 2 years.....before being found dead in the wilds of Alaska. Really good film, great acting and a haunting narration from his little sister [voiced by an actress] throughout.

 

   Based on the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer, about the short life of Chris McCandless.  Highly recommended.

[pdogg]

 

   Based on the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer, about the short life of Chris McCandless.  Highly recommended.

Just loaded it on my tablet a couple of days ago.

Will be the next book I'll read. Enjoyed his Everest book. Looking forward to it.

[dixon cox]

...Melancholia and Nymphomaniac

 

Both torrents available on TPB.

 

I just watched Melancholia... I gave it a chance, but I think I just wasted 2 hours of my life.

 

It would have made an ok 10 minute short. 

[seven]

 to watch a Sandler movie.

 

 

 

  Oxymoron?

 I actually like Sandler.

 

  'Into the Wild' directed by Sean Penn,

 Great movie!

 

I just watched Melancholia... I gave it a chance, but I think I just wasted 2 hours of my life.

 

It would have made an ok 10 minute short. 

Its not for everyone, i realize that. If theres ever a valid argument  certain movies should be viewed in big screen theaters , this is it.  A TV or a laptop just won't do the 10 mins prologue  justice.

[pacman]

I just watched Melancholia... I gave it a chance, but I think I just wasted 2 hours of my life.

 

 

I have heard stories about Von Trier which didn't make me want to rush to see his films. 

 

Dixon, I commend you for giving it a chance. Most people don't have the patience. I think Nymphomaniac is the first film I've seen by Lars Von Triier. I say I think because a film I looked at on TV may have been his, I wasn't moved enough to bother to check. And I only watched a part of it.

 

But I have been watching a lot of film & I knew it was inevitable I would put myself to the test & go see something of his one day. I read a lot of negative reviews about Nympho before I dived in. 4 hours! Fuck, what was I thinking? But if you never go you'll never know & I did enjoy the experience. But it is  a very different enjoyment than one gets from watching the latest Batman flick.

 

There was a film by Von Trier out a few years ago where the sets were imaginary. Rooms were marked off by chalk lines drawn on the floor & you had to imagine someone was walking out a doorway when they are in full view all the time. That really intrigued me & I thought about going to see it. After all, if creativity isn't rewarded where does the next break through come from. Or something like that. I knew of Von Triers reputation as an auteur & of his fan base of cool artiste types. I wanted some of that to rub off so I could drop something clever into future conversations with any arty chicks I might meet. Not very useful down Soi Six I know.

 

Before I got to see it, it was reviewed on TV. The first guy raved on about how daring the concept was. To call a film brave is usually a polite way of saying it stinks but good on him for trying. Anyway he kept going on about it to the point where I was ready to sign up. Then the second guy had a say. I can't recall his words exactly but if I can paraphrase them he basically called it the greatest pile of shit he had ever sat through, that it insulted his intelligence & he sat there praying for his eyeballs to fall out.

 

That was for a film by Lars Von Trier. He's obviously an acquired taste. I can't comment on Melancholia but knowing what I know now I am wary but I wouldn't be deterred. I certainly won't be looking to praise it through some perverse intellectual snobbery, I still know crap when I see it. I mulled over Nympho for days before concluding it was better than good. But I was expecting someone to post they had seen it & hated it or that I was crazy to like it. I will not recommend it, not because I fear a negative backlash but because my film preferences are so different to most people I know. 

 

If liking a film by a director considered crazy makes me crazy by default, so be it.

[seven]

Dixon, I commend you for giving it a chance. Most people don't have the patience.  But if you never go you'll never know & I did enjoy the experience. But it is  a very different enjoyment than one gets from watching the latest Batman flick.

 

I agree, Good DC gave it a go at least. 

I try to watch all kinds of movies, but the selection Thai theaters offer is for me worthless. You think Nympho will play in Thailand?

 

There was a film by Von Trier out a few years ago where the sets were imaginary.

 

Dogville.

 

 

 my film preferences are so different to most people I know. 

 

If liking a film by a director considered crazy makes me crazy by default, so be it.

I very much enjoy your posts on this film thread, paccers.

[pacman]

I try to watch all kinds of movies, but the selection Thai theaters offer is for me worthless. You think Nympho will play in Thailand?

 

Not a chance! The selections available in Thai cinemas represent exactly what I don't like to watch. If it's the latest Hollywood brain-dead mega-flick, it will be showing everywhere. Something by Pedro Almodovar or Lars Von Trier or Paolo Sorrentino, no way.

 

Surely there's an arthouse cinema in Bangkok catering for expats. 

 

I doubt Nymphomaniac would get general release in the US. It's as graphic as most porn movies, way beyond an R18 rating.

 

Dogville.

 

Oh OK. Dogville starred Nicole Kidman, it won a few awards. I think I would like to see that. Now.

 

I very much enjoy your posts on this film thread, paccers.

 

Cheers. I guess my +1 is coming....     

 

I am happy that there's someone who agrees with my sentiments. It's quite odd that those of us who like these movies are having most of the say. On film threads elsewhere I am sure we would be the pilloried minority. 

[JaiDee]

Not a chance! The selections available in Thai cinemas represent exactly what I don't like to watch. If it's the latest Hollywood brain-dead mega-flick, it will be showing everywhere.

 

 

   Heh, I said this once about not having any interest in seeing the latest Iron Man creation [part 6? 7?  does it matter??] and you said I wasn't open-minded!  Great to see you finally saying that most of what Hollyweird produces - and lets face it, they love turning out those brain-dead mega-flicks -  is pure crap, something I know I don't have to waste 2 or 3 hours of my time on.

 

Went to see a few movies with Thai ladyboys 9 or 10 years ago.....learned my lesson quickly.  They like sci-fi or futuristic garbage with lots of loud sounds and flashing lights and super-human nonsense; I don't.  I don't go to the cinema in Thailand anymore; anything they are showing, which is rarely any good, I can certainly wait the 2 or 3  months until a good version comes to bit torrent.

[pacman]

   Heh, I said this once about not having any interest in seeing the latest Iron Man creation [part 6? 7?  does it matter??] and you said I wasn't open-minded!  Great to see you finally saying that most of what Hollyweird produces - and lets face it, they love turning out those brain-dead mega-flicks -  is pure crap, something I know I don't have to waste 2 or 3 hours of my time on.

 

I don't recall the specific reference but I'm sure you're right, that I did suggest keeping an open mind. While I continue to be amazed at how Hollywood can spend so much on such poor results, I never lose hope that they do produce something worthwhile occasionally. If I hated all mega-flicks per se I would have avoided The Return of the Dark Knight that returned the Batman series to something worth watching. Or the revamp of the Bond franchise once they picked an actor who brought the necessary gravitas to the role.

 

I'm sorry if it came across rude, not my intention at all. It was just a reminder that an orchard can bloom from a  sewerage pond. 

 

I have a suggestion for any Hollywood folks who may be reading. Get Lars Von Trier to direct the next Superman or Batman or Ironman or Spiderman movie. Give him free reign to do whatever he thinks fit. Whatever he comes up with won't be boring. Imagine Superman getting a blow job from a transgendered super villain. The villain is about to detonate a nuke in NYC when Superman flops his dick out which proves irresistible. He is the man of steel after all. As Superman comes he blows the suckers head off. Super powered ejaculate right through the back of the skull.

 

OK, they won't be shooting that scene any time soon but who knows? Maybe in 20 years time things will have progressed to that point. I hope I get a writers credit...         

[dixon cox]

Dixon, I commend you for giving it a chance. Most people don't have the patience. I think Nymphomaniac is the first film I've seen by Lars Von Triier. I say I think because a film I looked at on TV may have been his, I wasn't moved enough to bother to check. And I only watched a part of it.

 

I didn't hate Melancholia, it just seemed to drag along at a painfully slow pace. After seeing it I spent almost as long as the movie itself reading the reviews and discussions on IMDB. I really enjoy reading those. Many posters harped on about depression and that you have to live depression to understand this movie etc., judging by their usernames they appeared to be mostly female. Not sure why females feel men don't have an understanding of depression or perhaps they truly are the weaker species (another reason to steer toward ladyboys).

 

I won't make any further observations as I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but it wouldn't put me off watching Nymphomaniac though, which I have already downloaded (I & II). I just need to set aside a good chunk of time and be in the right mood for it, but that goes for anything that long.

 

I too very much enjoy your film recommendations pacman. Not everything works for me but for those that do there's a possibility I'd have missed out completely if you hadn't suggested it.

 

I often let movie suggestions simmer for weeks or months after downloading them so that I've almost forgotten about them before viewing them. The Stoning of Soraya M. is one I thank you for, even though I didn't like it, if that makes sense.

[JaiDee]

I don't recall the specific reference but I'm sure you're right, that I did suggest keeping an open mind.

 

I'm sorry if it came across rude, not my intention at all. It was just a reminder that an orchard can bloom from a  sewerage pond. 

 

  No, wasn't rude at all, and I could probably find the exact quote if I wanted to go back through all these pages 'cause it was in this thread,  but I don't want to bother.  Something about me automatically ruling out all sci-fi flicks and you saying I should be more open-minded.  Fact is I am past the half-century mark now and I already KNOW what type of films I am  going to like, and can usually tell just based on the reviews or TV commercials if I am going to like it or not. Iron Man 7? The Avengers? Captain America?   Whichever Batman remake they have made since the only one I ever liked, the 60's TV show?  Not going to see any of them or even waste 2 hours on them with a free torrent download, I already know they aren't my cup of tea.

 

 Ditto for "Don't mess with the Zohan" or Grown Ups part-whatever-they-are-on-now, or any other so-called "comedy" which people seem to think are funny but I never do.  And that includes those first 2 Hangover movies, which I thought sucked ass and I only watched the 2nd one because it was filmed in Thailand.  4 wasted hours between those 2 pieces of garbage.

 

 

  Works both ways, of course. A lot of the stuff I like many people would think is absolute crap;  my favorite genres are spy and war movies, or historical non-fiction.....try taking a Thai Ladyboy to see Lincoln or Argo when there is some movie with lots of explosions and super heroes flying around the screen at the same theater;  not happening.   So I just don't go to the theaters with them anymore, simple.

[pacman]

 

I didn't hate Melancholia, it just seemed to drag along at a painfully slow pace. 

 

At four hours long, Nymphomaniac isn't exactly fast. It does have the feel of a beautifully crafted film though, something Von Trier is known for. And a spoiler alert - it does wander off-topic at some point but it all makes sense in the end. I look forward to your opinion if you can be so kind to post one.

 

I too very much enjoy your film recommendations pacman. Not everything works for me but for those that do there's a possibility I'd have missed out completely if you hadn't suggested it.

 

I often let movie suggestions simmer for weeks or months after downloading them so that I've almost forgotten about them before viewing them. The Stoning of Soraya M. is one I thank you for, even though I didn't like it, if that makes sense.

 

Thank you Dixon, it's gratifying to know I haven't posted in vain.

 

As for Soraya M, how can any sane person like it? The scene where the father tells his son to cast the first stone at his mother is completely visceral. Hollywood can only dream of making something so emotionally draining. And I don't mind saying I wept at the horror of the whole thing.

[pacman]

 Something about me automatically ruling out all sci-fi flicks and you saying I should be more open-minded.  

 

I already know they aren't my cup of tea.

 

Oh yes, that's right. I remember I posted how good Gravity is & you said you would consider it but you didn't like Sci-Fi. I was fine with that but when you next posted you couldn't watch a Sandra Bullock film I thought "what has that to do with it?"

 

But no one can be made to like something & it only serves to alienate a film further if you felt obliged to watch something against your wishes. Which you wouldn't do so the point is mute. 

 

I am older than you & I refuse to give up hope that Hollywood one day will *get it* & the accountants will be overridden by creative people & some good original stuff will start to appear. It's a forlorn hope but stranger things have happened. If the Iranians can make enjoyable movies on a shoestring, why can't the big guns do likewise? They've done it before.

 

 Ditto for "Don't mess with the Zohan" or Grown Ups part-whatever-they-are-on-now, or any other so-called "comedy" which people seem to think are funny but I never do.  And that includes those first 2 Hangover movies, which I thought sucked ass and I only watched the 2nd one because it was filmed in Thailand.  4 wasted hours between those 2 pieces of garbage.

 

I did the same, went to see Hangover II because it was set in Thailand with ladyboys. Beyond terrible. Yet Azza posted how much he liked it. I sometimes feel like a square peg trying to live in a round hole world. 

 

However - if Hangover IV came out tomorrow & was declared a work of art, I would put myself through it all again. One will never know if one never goes.

 

  Works both ways, of course. A lot of the stuff I like many people would think is absolute crap;  my favorite genres are spy and war movies, or historical non-fiction.....try taking a Thai Ladyboy to see Lincoln or Argo when there is some movie with lots of explosions and super heroes flying around the screen at the same theater;  not happening.   So I just don't go to the theaters with them anymore, simple.

 

We can't expect farm girls with almost no education to appreciate anything more. Making them sit through an art film would be akin to taking them to the opera. My own path to redemption didn't happen suddenly. Though having a series of girl friends who took me to symphonies, ballet, etc was the start of it.

 

What's this I see? You like historical non-fiction? You would like the stories of British Monarchy, they rank up there with the best tales of the last 1000 years. And we have excellent accounts of what happened that have survived the centuries. Pick any period & take a look, it's more bizarre than any fiction & we are still living with the consequences of much of their actions.