What Movie Did You Just See?

[capt. scotty]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

I like but dont love Evil Dead 1 & 2...Army of Darkness on the other hand is awesome.

[Jaimoe]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

Dude, THEY ARE B-MOVIES!!!

In fact, they are some of the most influential B-movies of the last 40 years. Evil Dead was made on a shoe-string budget by post-high school friends (the Raimi brothers and Bruce Campbell). Evil Dead II is an Evil Dead rewrite of sorts, but more of a horror-comedy (and a masterpiece of the genre). The only film that wasn't done on a small budget was Army of Darkness. I highly recommend you reading Bruce Campbell's great autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It's an often fascinating read (and funny), especially the sections regarding the making of the first ED flick along with the difficulties that Raimi and Campbell experienced while trying to get the film made (BTW, the Cohen brothers edited Evil Dead and most Cohen brothers films have cameos by Bruce).

[wolof7]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

Dude, THEY ARE B-MOVIES!!!

In fact, they are some of the most influential B-movies of the last 40 years. Evil Dead was made on a shoe-string budget by post-high school friends (the Raimi brothers and Bruce Campbell). Evil Dead II is an Evil Dead rewrite of sorts, but more of a horror-comedy (and a masterpiece of the genre). The only film that wasn't done on a small budget was Army of Darkness. I highly recommend you reading Bruce Campbell's great autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It's an often fascinating read (and funny), especially the sections regarding the making of the first ED flick along with the difficulties that Raimi and Campbell experienced while trying to get the film made (BTW, the Cohen brothers edited Evil Dead and most Cohen brothers films have cameos by Bruce).

I am with you Jaimoe, Evil Dead 2 is my most coveted dvd. It is definitely a masterpiece. And that autobiography (kiss 2 finger fade) magnifique. When it came out I was working at an indie bookstore in Worcester, MA (contending with all the Clark U hipsters) and Bruce came for a book signing and I was in charge of getting him water and taking him to and from the signing table! Too bad I had not seen the movies until after meeting him. Still psyched because he was an awesome guy!

[Jaimoe]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

Dude, THEY ARE B-MOVIES!!!

In fact, they are some of the most influential B-movies of the last 40 years. Evil Dead was made on a shoe-string budget by post-high school friends (the Raimi brothers and Bruce Campbell). Evil Dead II is an Evil Dead rewrite of sorts, but more of a horror-comedy (and a masterpiece of the genre). The only film that wasn't done on a small budget was Army of Darkness. I highly recommend you reading Bruce Campbell's great autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It's an often fascinating read (and funny), especially the sections regarding the making of the first ED flick along with the difficulties that Raimi and Campbell experienced while trying to get the film made (BTW, the Cohen brothers edited Evil Dead and most Cohen brothers films have cameos by Bruce).

I am with you Jaimoe, Evil Dead 2 is my most coveted dvd. It is definitely a masterpiece. And that autobiography (kiss 2 finger fade) magnifique. When it came out I was working at an indie bookstore in Worcester, MA (contending with all the Clark U hipsters) and Bruce came for a book signing and I was in charge of getting him water and taking him to and from the signing table! Too bad I had not seen the movies until after meeting him. Still psyched because he was an awesome guy!

I got into a small disagreement with Bruce during his first If Chins Could Kill book-signing tour. I was convinced I first saw Evil Dead on beta video in 1982, but he said, "impossible; it came out on video in '83". I said: "and I thought it was in '82". We bandied back-and-forth a bit. I also told him that I thought way back then that the "guy with the eyebrows in Evil Dead (Ash) would be famous". He said: "The eyebrow guy eh? Interesting..."

Well, he won the disagreement since he'd know the film's release date, obviously? Anyway, I've met Bruce three times and was lucky to be at the second-ever world premiere of Bubba Ho-Tep at the Toronto International Film Festival (I couldn't get tickets for the afternoon premiere).

[wolof7]

Anyway, I've met Bruce three times and was lucky to be at the second-ever world premiere of Bubba Ho-Tep at the Toronto International Film Festival (I couldn't get tickets for the afternoon premiere).

Awesome!

[Jaimoe]

Anyway, I've met Bruce three times and was lucky to be at the second-ever world premiere of Bubba Ho-Tep at the Toronto International Film Festival (I couldn't get tickets for the afternoon premiere).

Awesome!

Are you a fan of his TV series, Burn Notice? It's great!

[wolof7]

Anyway, I've met Bruce three times and was lucky to be at the second-ever world premiere of Bubba Ho-Tep at the Toronto International Film Festival (I couldn't get tickets for the afternoon premiere).

Awesome!

Are you a fan of his TV series, Burn Notice? It's great!

I have not got into it yet. It seems right up my alley, my brother has the first 2 seasons on DVD, I will have to borrow them from him when I visit NYC next week when I'm chosen to see the jacket! ;)

[ManNamedTruth]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

Dude, THEY ARE B-MOVIES!!!

In fact, they are some of the most influential B-movies of the last 40 years. Evil Dead was made on a shoe-string budget by post-high school friends (the Raimi brothers and Bruce Campbell). Evil Dead II is an Evil Dead rewrite of sorts, but more of a horror-comedy (and a masterpiece of the genre). The only film that wasn't done on a small budget was Army of Darkness. I highly recommend you reading Bruce Campbell's great autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It's an often fascinating read (and funny), especially the sections regarding the making of the first ED flick along with the difficulties that Raimi and Campbell experienced while trying to get the film made (BTW, the Cohen brothers edited Evil Dead and most Cohen brothers films have cameos by Bruce).

I don't feel "masterpiece" should be used to describe a B movie.

[Jaimoe]

I borrowed The Evil Dead trilogy from a friend. I think they're overrated, felt like B movies to me. Bad acting and silly 3 stooges bits. I still prefer classic and foreign horror.

Dude, THEY ARE B-MOVIES!!!

In fact, they are some of the most influential B-movies of the last 40 years. Evil Dead was made on a shoe-string budget by post-high school friends (the Raimi brothers and Bruce Campbell). Evil Dead II is an Evil Dead rewrite of sorts, but more of a horror-comedy (and a masterpiece of the genre). The only film that wasn't done on a small budget was Army of Darkness. I highly recommend you reading Bruce Campbell's great autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It's an often fascinating read (and funny), especially the sections regarding the making of the first ED flick along with the difficulties that Raimi and Campbell experienced while trying to get the film made (BTW, the Cohen brothers edited Evil Dead and most Cohen brothers films have cameos by Bruce).

I don't feel "masterpiece" should be used to describe a B movie.

Evil Dead II transcends its B label and is a horror-comedy masterpiece.

[Jaimoe]

Toy Story 3 on Blu-ray: Great film! I think it is the best of the trilogy; it's kind of sad and emotional, but still funny. I could care less about the 3D aspect (I didn't think I missed anything watching it in 2D; I'm not a fan of 3D anyway). However, I don't think this deserved a Best Picture Oscar nom.

[capt. scotty]

Toy Story 3 on Blu-ray: Great film! I think it is the best of the trilogy; it's kind of sad and emotional, but still funny. I could care less about the 3D aspect (I didn't think I missed anything watching it in 2D; I'm not a fan of 3D anyway). However, I don't think this deserved a Best Picture Oscar nom.

Im still partial to the 1st one, but 3 was much better than 2. Its certainly the most emotional of the bunch, and I think thats a big reason why it got nominated. I saw it in 3D, and while it was noticeable and added to it to the keen eye, its not like it was Avatar in 3D.

[johnnYYac]

A Serious Man- Coen bros. low key black comedy.  Great to see the guy from Boardwalk Empire (Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays Arnold Rothstein) in a very different role.  I liked it but it was uneven and ended abruptly, leaving me wanting.

Crazy Heart- awesome!  Jeff Bridges blew me away.  Maggie Gyllenhaal usually revs my engine, though I found her a bit annoying.  Guess  I can't blame her character's choice, but SPOILER ALERT I didn't think Bad was at fault for her son's disappearance.  Yeah, he shouldn't have brought him into a bar, but what the @%#$ was the little @$#% doing walking off like that?

[Ruckus]

Saw the collection of Oscar nominated animated shorts this past weekend.  We just find these so enjoyable that it has become an annual event for the lady friend and I.  Overall, the pieces weren't as captivating as last year's selections but two stood out.  A French bit narrating a trip to Madacascar and I think an American piece about "The Thing," a general critique of the loss of imagination in our everyday lives.  I do hope the latter wins but the former was beautiful as well.

Also watched Man on Wire, the documentary of Phillipe Petit, the high wire walker, and what it took for him and his team to finally attain his dream of walking between the twin towers.  While Petit's personality can be overwhelming and grating, any well told story of a driven individual accomplishing something so insane is captivating.   I hope they do one about 'Spiderman,' the Frenchman that climbs skyscrapers with no gear at all.  I love that guy!

[johnnYYac]

"Insane" and "captivating" are excellent adjectives for Man on a Wire, Ruckus. 

Watched "The Town" last night, co-written by, directed by, and starring B. Affleck.  It was good, but hardly broke new ground.  Kinda "The Departed" meets "Ocean's Eleven". 

I do like the nuns w/guns look, though.

[e_wind]

The Town was okay, easy enough to watch, but its no departed

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

The Mechanic - 6/10 - I couldn't stop laughing at things that would happen in this movie.  it was beyond cliche action but if Statham is going to keep making movies like this he might turn into the next action star.   It's really bad, but kinda good.

[TEO]

the yin/yang guru of bad/good movie reviews

[wolof7]

The Mechanic - 6/10 - I couldn't stop laughing at things that would happen in this movie.  it was beyond cliche action but if Statham is going to keep making movies like this he might turn into the next action star.   It's really bad, but kinda good.

Agreed!

[Jaimoe]

Winter's Bone: Great film with top-notch performances. Quiet with gloom/doom-in-the-air atmosphere. It's a film you probably need to watch twice because the ending leaves you re-thinking some of the earlier plot clues. However, this is not a postcard for rural Missouri, although I think in some ways it accurately reflects a certain unsavoury rural sub-culture that exists in many US states and Canadian provinces.

[johnnYYac]

The Town was okay, easy enough to watch, but its no departed

Agreed.  It gave us another glimpse into Affleck's film-making talents, but it was hardly original.  He ain't no Scorcesse, tho.