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19 February 2009

This is a movie I liked recently. This is a movie I did not like recently. [More:]

Liked: Stepbrothers. It's not Anchorman, but it provided many hearty LOLs. Will Ferrell is so perfect in this character, it's kind of scary. It's almost the same kind of cluelessness as his character in Elf, except not as well-meaning. One of the few movies I've ever really wanted to own. Not for those who aren't totally into infantile humour.

Did not like: Zack and Miri Make a Porno. 100% predictable (predictably predictable, even), occasionally boring. Tries to be moving, but mostly fails. I LOLed only a couple of times. There is quite a bit of obviously improvised dialogue that falls completely flat -- almost embarrassingly so. Wasn't too fond of the unnecessary LOLGHEY jokes that Seth Rogan always seems to slip in there. Overall, boo.
Liked: The Wrestler. Wonderful acting. Perfect story about humans. Loved it. Loved. I'm still thinking about it.

Disliked: Pink Panther II. This movie is very weak, but I knew it would be. I can't say that I hated it because my expectations were low.
posted by LoriFLA 19 February | 13:11
Liked: 3:10 to Yuma. Beautiful looking film and Russell Crowe fits his role so well.

didn't like: Goodbye Lenin! Meh. Friends recommended it, so I guess my expectations were too high.
posted by gaspode 19 February | 13:22
Liked: Sword of the Stranger.
Beautifully rendered anime, with a generic, but still moving, plot.
Worth seeing for the pretty pics.

Didn't Like: Viridiana. 1960's Spanish movie that makes fun of the Catholic church by showcasing the naivety of a wanna-be nun. It did this mostly by demonizing the homeless folks that she took in after inheriting a mansion from her uncle. Played way too much on ridiculous stereotypes.
posted by sakura 19 February | 13:36
Liked; Frost/Nixon. This movie punched a lot of my buttons (politics, US history, TV news) so I expected to like it, but wow, I loved it.

Disliked: Pineapple Express. WTF was that? Bad acting, unfunny humor, no story.... bleah.
posted by BoringPostcards 19 February | 13:36
Liked: Jerry Maguire. I know this is an old film, and I've already seen it in the theaters, but just saw it again recently and it's even better now. Cameron Crowe is the shit.

Didn't Like: Arsenic and Old Lace, with Cary Grant. Can't believe it, but it squicked me out and Cary Grant seemed buffoonish. Double bummer for this being a Frank Capra film, who I think is the finest director ever.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 19 February | 13:37
Cary Grant seemed buffoonish

It's slapstick.
posted by mudpuppie 19 February | 13:49
BP - I saw Frost/Nixon in the theater (same actors) and it was great.
posted by gaspode 19 February | 13:56
I get your complaint, LT --- Grant's mugging like crazy and pulling vaudeville-style faces. I do love it, in part because it pushes him so far outside his usual range of charm and style all the way to looneytown, but I can see why you might be put off by it. (I dislike the actress playing his love interest; she's so shrill and deadfaced.)

Doubt is a movie I liked. It felt like a real actor's movie: not much happens, but the performances are so nuanced and shifting.

Love, Actually is a movie I did not like. I saw it when it first came out on DVD, wanted to like it, did not. Recently I thought "I must have been in a rotten mood!" so I watched it again. Do. Not Like. It just makes me cross.
posted by Elsa 19 February | 14:32
loiseau: I couldn't agree more on both fronts...I really really really laughed at Stepbrothers, although I did think it went on a little long. Man, did I laugh though. And yeah, I'm starting to wonder if Seth is a two or three trick pony. Zack and Miri was LOUSY I thought. Now, to do as instructed:

Liked: Seraphim Falls - Not the all time GREATEST Western or anything, but I really liked Pierce Brosnan. Liam Neeson was also great. It's a really spartan film, with little dialog, and GREAT looking. Shot beautifully.

Disliked: also Pineapple Express - That was just dumb, and really didn't generate a chuckle out of me. I didn't HATE it, it just...was bleh.
posted by richat 19 February | 14:44
Liked: Spooling through Tekwar and Oz series; TV as it may be.

Disliked: Brokeback Mountain: Disgusting behaviour to engage in in front of ones spouse. Poor parenting. Alsos: How could that one guy make so much money; and never send a cent home to help impoverished farmer/rancher parents? Kudos for the acting per se; but I feel it was another ill Hollywood portrayal of sexuality mixed in with a face slap to the traditional farm/ranch lifestyle. Which puts veggies and meats on the table; but hey; Hollywood. Cocaine and drugs = good. Food on table and real jobs = Bad, pithy, pedestrian. A film I felt compelled to watch due to ?being educated? yet regret watching.
posted by buzzman 19 February | 14:50
I liked Pineapple Express, but then again a lot of the humor involved stoner movie cliches that were twisted around in unexpected ways. I can see how, if I hadn't recognized the references, I'd think the movie was stupid and sort of plotless.
posted by muddgirl 19 February | 15:00
God I hated Zach and Miri Make a Porno. I've been on the Kevin Smith wagon for a while, even though Dogma almost made me get off, but now I'm really through.

Liked: surprisingly Pineapple Express, also Frost/Nixon, This is England and The Edge of Heaven.

Unsure: Waltz with Bashir. I'm leaning toward liking it, but I'm not 100% sure.
posted by mullacc 19 February | 15:22
The best thing about Pineapple Express is that James Franco played that goofball stoner role and in the same year played the super serious lover in Milk. Dude's got range. And he's a great teacher.
posted by mullacc 19 February | 15:26
I'll go along with 3:10 to Yuma.

Liked: On the Waterfront, which I rewatched recently; Slumdog Millionaire; MST3K's Werewolf episode (OK not a movie but I got it via Netflix); Citizen X; The Lives of Others; Cinema Paradiso; Burn After Reading.

Disliked: Righteous Kill (if you're gonna put Pacino and DeNiro in a film, give them more to say that f*ck, ok?, and the story was completely predictable); Journey to the Center of the Earth (just stupid); The Perfect Man (in spite of the presence of Heather Locklear).

S'ok: Hancock (psst: not a comedy, in spite of the marketing); Ghost Town (mmmm...Tia); Keeping Mum; The Guardian.
posted by trinity8-director 19 February | 15:27
I also liked Pineapple Express and thought James Franco's performance and character was great. Speaking of, it kind of reminds me of another character I liked a lot in a silly movie: Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie was forgettable, but Brand's character was fresh. Sure, he was a womanizer but he was one kind, laid back dude.
posted by LoriFLA 19 February | 15:36
I haven't actually disliked any movies recently. I liked The Wrestler and The Constant Gardener, which I got on Netflix and absolutely blew me away. I was disappointed by The Witnesses which we rented a few weeks ago, but I didn't exactly dislike it - I just thought it tried to hard to throw a mismash of film techniques into a movie that should have been told plainly.
posted by muddgirl 19 February | 15:45
Liked: The Wackness (oddly sweet), Tropic Thunder, Wall-E, Man on Wire, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (tremendous), In Bruges (amazing), Kings and Queen (favorite movie in a long time)
Meh: Manda Bala (not terribly subtle), War, Inc. (forgettable)
Disliked: Peaceful Warrior (dumb), Wanted (unnecessary)
posted by msali 19 February | 15:49
You know how I know that you're gay?
posted by Deathalicious 19 February | 15:51
How?
posted by mudpuppie 19 February | 16:05
Liked: Dark City, Elizabeth: the Golden Age
Disliked: The X Files: I Want to Believe Yeah, sucked. Boo.
posted by mygothlaundry 19 February | 16:21
At this point I'm convinced that Chris Carter didn't actually have anything to do with the first couple of seasons of the X-Files. Or just fried his brain at some point mid-series.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs 19 February | 16:44
I loved Coraline but the 3D occasionally distracted me out of the zone. The other mother was perfect. I may buy the DVD if it is flat screen and I rarely buy DVDs when they first come out. I wait for a used copy or a bargain bin.

I haven't seen enough movies over the last few years to see one I disliked. I was a bit disappointed by Tim Burton's Willy Wonka but I still liked it overall.

The last Harry Potter movie was ok, but the books from that point on were deteriorating to begin with.
posted by Ardiril 19 February | 17:02
I can't believe I forgot Coraline Just saw it Sunday and it's AMAZING.
posted by BoringPostcards 19 February | 17:07
trinity8-director: Werewolf? I dunno, you had him last.
posted by smich 19 February | 17:08
I liked the Animatrix collection.
posted by buzzman 19 February | 17:53
Puppanoodles - sure it's slapstick, but watching Cary Grant do slapstick is like watching James Lipton from Inside the Actor's Studio smile - you know he can, it's within him to do so, but it still creeps you the hell out.

And Elsa - no way! Priscilla Lane's hotter than twelve mixer trucks of Georgia asphalt.
posted by Lipstick Thespian 19 February | 19:00
Liked Superbad
Disliked Mr. Woodcock
posted by plinth 19 February | 19:38
I liked Pineapple Express okay--I mean, I didn't expect it to change my life or anything. It's good for what it is, y'know?

Liked: The Wrestler, Synecdoche, New York
Disliked: Religulous

I'm not much of a movie disliker, though--I don't watch a lot of 'em, and I usually have a good idea what I'm getting into.
posted by box 19 February | 20:03
Liked: Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Javier is HAWT.

Disliked: He's Just Not That Into You. I was just not that into the movie. Not a single likable character.

Mere coincidence that Scarlett Johannson was in both movies and played basically the same character.
posted by heyallie 19 February | 20:06
I forgot this one: Black Snake Moan. I super-loved it the first time, but the second time through, I spotted some really bad writing, and the third time, I realized the script was redolent of a rather fresh turd (to quote Pete Townshend). This attests to the superior acting abilities of Samuel Jackson and Christina Ricci.

I have watched the movie now at least 8 times, studying how Jackson and Ricci pulled this one off. They use every part of their bodies including their knees and feet to give those scenes the credibility and conviction lacking from the script.

The stunning soundtrack also covers a lot, similar to deodorizing cat litter.
posted by Ardiril 19 February | 20:47
Liked: Shine a Light (Mick still has the body of a 22 year old), Milk, Marley and Me (I know it sucked, but I lost a yellow lab in the divorce and cried like a baby at this movie).

Did not like: Pineapple Express (maybe because I was sober when I watched it...maybe would have liked it back in the old days), Breakfast at Tiffany's (turned it off halfway through...I know, I know, it's a classic, but it left me cold).
posted by Twiggy 19 February | 20:50
Loved: Lives of Others

Liked: Stardust, Dark Knight, Wall-E, Juno

Did not like: Hancock, Superbad

Hated: Highlander Source (why, Lord, why?)
posted by NucleophilicAttack 19 February | 22:48
Liked: I Am Legend (I bought into it very easily and love Will Smith with a respectful-type love) and Black Snake Moan (which Ardiril, I watched 3x on a rental and I know what you mean, and I will have to own it one day and make people watch it with me and see what they think. Maybe we could throw a party.)

Did Not Like: Slumdog Millionaire. Although I far from hated it.

What is the Pineapple Express of which many of you speak? This was not on my admittedly limited radar. Sounds like I'll skip it.
posted by rainbaby 19 February | 23:23
Liked: Waltz with Bashir Please go see this if it is out near you! It was very interesting and affecting. I cried and I am not a crier.

Disliked: The Reader The less said about this the better. It was a terrible adaptation of a rather good book.
posted by rmless2 19 February | 23:27
Liked: Coraline (may be a bit "duh" given my predisposition towards Gaiman)- beautiful animation, clever bits throughout despite the few anti-feminist bobbles.

Did Not Like: Mongol - rather poor storytelling and not exactly a compelling story in the end.
posted by oreonax 20 February | 02:10
Oh, I *loved* Pineapple Express... I saw it in the theatre and wanted to go see it again the very next day. (I didn't, though -- going to the theatre is such a production.)

I think, like Muddgirl said, it's the twist on stoner humour... but also the use of action-movie tropes played out by total stoner losers that is so hilarious to me. I still giggle thinking about scenes from it... even just the name "snicklefritz", the crappy pot Franco sold to jerks who don't know better, still makes me snicker.

But the movie *definitely* won't appeal to people who aren't/haven't been into pot, because they wouldn't necessarily know that different kinds of pot even have names, y'know? Or wouldn't really understand how someone could get lost in, like, 50 feet of woods when you're really, really high.

Seeing as I've positively reviewed Step Brothers and Pineapple Express you can tell my taste runs rather highbrow.

Also: I totally believe both Seth Rogen and Scarlett Johannsson are one-trick ponies. Very different tricks, but nonetheless.
posted by loiseau 20 February | 04:07
Liked: Saw Gran Torino yesterday. Loved it. Eastwood is amazing. Hilarious, moving, wonderful.
Also Liked: Slumdog MIllionaire. It had it's faults, but I'm happy to forgive them all.

Did Not Like: I had to think a bit to come up with something recent. A few weeks ago there was some late night movie on called Papparazzi, which was an enormous steaming pile of horse manure produced by Mel Gisbson that does nothing but indicate that Mel is a very bitter, mentally unstable individual.
Batman Begins was on TV a few months ago. I hated it.
posted by goshling 20 February | 05:39
Liked: Napoleon Dynamite. Finally saw it, and there was nothing not to like. Quirky and witty, but mildly so, undemanding, sweet, and fun. Also: He's Just Not That Into You, though far too long and with far too little character development, had some nice moments and good lines.

Did Not Like: Slumdog Millionare. Expected to like this so so much based on reviews; was disappointed that gripping realistic portrayal of striving from the slum into the new economiy was marred by an increasingly cartoonish plot arc that devolved into CSI and then into Disney Princess. The love affair between Kipp and LaFawnduh in Napoleon Dynamite was far nicer to watch than the spurious, imagined one between Latika and her howling, befuddled Prince.
posted by Miko 20 February | 22:15
: I totally believe both Seth Rogen and Scarlett Johannsson are one-trick ponies.

I kind of agree, but as I commented after He's Just Not That Into You, Scarlett Johansson never gets to act. In movie after movie she's the sensuous little dangerous wildcard with the romantic dreams who screws up her relationships and then needs 'time to find herself'. It's a fine part...once or twice. I'd like to see her in some different kind of part, where she's, you know, maybe actually already found herself and has some agency and focus. But maybe you're right, and she's a one trick pony, and this is the trick.
posted by Miko 20 February | 22:20
I have tingly arms and legs and my right eye lid is twitching || Alice is getting spayed today.

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