All Consuming : petabyte

A true classic. (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:51:52 GMT

Thorough, engrossing mystery-crime love story from the master, I hadn’t expected to like the restored version of Vertigo, but here we are, and I’m a verified fan. Stewart and Nowak, and Hitchcock are as relevant today, possibly even more so than the dozens of thin-plot, weak-story, awful-direction thrillers that have clogged cinemas in the last 50+ years.

Consumed "Vertigo (Collector's Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:51:52 GMT

Vertigo (Collector's Edition)

WORTH IT!

A story about "Repulsion - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:38:44 GMT

Repulsion - Criterion Collection

Polanski’s work has a certain ….charm to it. Repulsion, Criterion Collection is certainly worth one’s careful study if one’s an aspiring director or even lighting technician – but as a regular moviegoer one might fall prey to an undeniable urge to nap. Deneuve in her early twenties is gorgeous, but in Repulsion she’s (intentionally?) flat and weird. But still, gorgeous.

Consumed "Repulsion - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:38:44 GMT

Repulsion - Criterion Collection

Consumed "The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:49:51 GMT

The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition)

by Noah Baumbach

A story about "The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:49:51 GMT

The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition)

by Noah Baumbach

Disturbing, effective drama about a family finally, finally coming apart after years of lies. Who’s to blame? Some parts of The Squid and The Whale chilled me. Seeing parts of Brooklyn where I used to live there warmed me a little bit, but then it was back to the fighting, neurosis, disintegration. Something else I’d like to say, though this is hardly the place for it.

Consumed "In Bruges"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:57:45 GMT

In Bruges

by Martin McDonagh

WORTH IT!

A story about "In Bruges"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:57:45 GMT

In Bruges

by Martin McDonagh

The only movie where That Drunk Guy, whatsis name, manages to be watchable, endearing even. A pretty good dark comedy about two hitmen sent on assignment to Bruges, but while they await orders they’re to explore the fairyland-like environs. What a premise for a movie! Excellent pacing saves this flick from the bin, not to mention full marks from the back-from-the-dead evil wizard that wants to off Harry Potter (cast here as the hitmen’s boss) and an extra special mention to the pint-sized party dude. Boy, does he know how to party – steals the show he does. Go rent or own In Bruges, you’ll be lending it to your best mate and not getting it back any time soon.

Consumed "The Vanishing - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:48:49 GMT

The Vanishing - Criterion Collection

by George Sluizer

WORTH IT!

A story about "The Vanishing - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:45:25 GMT

The Vanishing - Criterion Collection

by George Sluizer

Surprisingly good oldie referenced by at least half a dozen (the ones I spotted) more recent, better publicised movies. It must be that good, yes? 7/10 thriller, but fares better as an intellectual exercise, a twisted what-if. Spoorloos was a random selection of available flicks at a site that offers a wide variety – I’m glad I snagged it, and of course the Criterion Collection version is your best bet.

http://alsolikelife.com/shooting/2007/12/936-spoorloos-the-vanishing-1988-george-sluizer/

Consumed "The Bride of Frankenstein"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:07:23 GMT

The Bride of Frankenstein

by James Whale

A story about "The Bride of Frankenstein"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:04:54 GMT

The Bride of Frankenstein

by James Whale

I first saw this when I was very, very young. Tonight after several false starts I was able to finish this great classic. Horror? Well thematically yes: Artificial life, science fiction gone wrong, grave robbing, mob mentality vs strange-looking individuals? Said individual has a penchant for using brute strength and violence against smaller, normal lifeforms? Check, check and check. Er, fiddling blind hermit in the middle of nowhere befriending the monster? Check!

Personally, The Bride of Frankenstein for this reviewer fares better as dark comedy. Minnie (the housekeeper) and her over-the-top reaction to just about everything, the mad, bad, crazy-eyed Dr Pretorius – an archetypal Mad Scientist if ever there was one. The “on-call” mob of villagers ready to burn and slice and pitchfork anything their dandy Burgomaster asks them to. The tortured soul Baron von Frankenstein loathe to traffic in evil Science but just as quickly acquiescing to Mad Scientist after (insert plot hole here)? Who’s on for a laugh or two. I know I am.

Load up on popcorn, candy and drinks before screening this well-worn classic, because folks, either you’ll really love it or just as equally hate it. Eh, but that’s classics for ya.

Consumed "White Christmas"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:35:52 GMT

White Christmas

by Michael Curtiz

A story about "Fast & Furious (2009) (Ws Dub Sub Ac3 Dol)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:22:40 GMT

Fast & Furious (2009) (Ws Dub Sub Ac3 Dol)

by Justin Lin

The Movie That Would Not Die! ...is back. And that’s pretty much it. Weak plot characteristic of the franchise, less cars, same tired stunts seems like. The first F&F was pretty decent, but everything else after is F&F lite.

Consumed "Fast & Furious (2009) (Ws Dub Sub Ac3 Dol)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:22:40 GMT

Fast & Furious (2009) (Ws Dub Sub Ac3 Dol)

by Justin Lin

Consumed "Public Enemies (Two-Disc Special Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:48:17 GMT

Public Enemies (Two-Disc Special Edition)

by Michael Mann

NOT WORTH IT!

Consumed "Terminator Salvation (Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:41:09 GMT

Terminator Salvation (Widescreen Edition)

by McG

Consumed "Harry Brown"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:52:14 GMT

Harry Brown

by Daniel Barber

WORTH IT!

This isn't Northern Ireland.

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:50:25 GMT

Harry Brown

by Daniel Barber

Powerful drama depicting present-day drugs and guns menace in Some Place, GB, but this can happen (and is happening) right around your corner: The scene in the marijuana plant where Harry’s dealing with the two weirdos made my skin crawl like never before. Yt will respectfully abstain from making the usual snarkcasm and instead tell you how much he admires old Michael here. A fervent fan of the Harry Palmer flicks and pretty much everything MC’s worked on, sure, even the corny comedy ones. Superb acting, pacing, and a panic-attack and wretched sobbing -inducing plot. Harry Brown is very highly recommended.

Consumed "Before the Fall"

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:45:03 GMT

Before the Fall

WORTH IT!

The first rule of space travel is...

nobody@allconsuming.net (petabyte) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:31:54 GMT

Pandorum

by Christian Alvart

Glossy but unsubstantial sequel-ready space scifi looks, sounds, feels familiar because it IS familiar. Imagine The Descent in space with bits of Alien, Event Horizon, 9, I, Robot, the first Matrix and a handful of other suspenseful scifi (and non-scifi) flicks – Fight Club too? Oh yeah, it’s there – from the past decade or so, tossed in with bits of thriller, gore and whatever’s left from the idea jar. The same jar of predigested, re-run of a re-run crap that B-movies and STV (straight to video) flicks are drawn from.

Acting is a little stiff, but that’s perfectly understandable, see, when you’ve been in hypersleep for so long and the ship is all dark and there are …things scuttling around you. You’d be scared too, fumbling about, a little weak, etc. Where else have I seen this before? Bet you anything the medical wiki entry on Hypersleep Attenuation (just one of the names it might be called in the distant future) will be 20-some pages long.

Except of course, in this movie it’s called Pandorum. Best seen on the big screen, but in the second run theaters please, with lots of stale popcorn on the sticky floor, teenagers making out all around you, science fiction true believers yelling “That’s impossible!”. Or maybe you’ll opt for Moon – another recent scifi offering that’s 8/10 where this one’s a mere 2.