Capo,

I remember when that movie was out. I thought it would be dumb, so I never saw it. Hmmm. I'll have to take a look since you remcommend it.

Gina,

I can't say I have seen a lot of Johnny Depp, since Jump Street. I think Donny Brasco was the first movie I had seen with him.

One movie (a tv movie I think?)that I liked was Nick of Time. Do you remember that one?

Also, he was great in Edward Scissorhands, and Gilbert Grape.

I happened to be in L.A. when they were filming Ed Wood (not a successful movie I know), but watched from across the street as they were filming a scene. The portion of the street was blocked off, and they kept shooting over and over again, a scene of him boarding a bus. I watched for about an hour, and then left. I don't know how much longer they were there to film what seemed to be a "simple" scene. I guess we can't imagine what goes into filming a movie.

TIS

Depp is IMO, the best actor of today's generation. He has a high range, and even in his lesser movies, he still offers a good performance. Secret Window was a good film, but no more. The ending was obviously an overused one, but Depp's performance and the interesting approach on the ending made it good.

The Trouble With Harry - (Hitchcock;1955;USA) - ***
A good black comedy from Hitchcock, although I feel it's a little overrated, as it's became slow and dull in many points of the film. The acting is average, although I liked the cast.

I've always wanted to see him in Jump Street. I recognize the title Nick of Time, but I don't think I'd ever seen it. That's awesome that you get to see stuff like that, though!

Since we're talking about Johnny Depp...

I just bought Blow from Wal-Mart for $14. I'd seen it once before, and I loved it. I saw it at Wal-Mart today, and seeing it was on sale, I bought it. I love this film. Depp put in an excellent performance as George Jung. Depp can play so many parts. I must agree with DV that Johnny Depp is probably the greatest actor of the current generation of actors. He can't be touched.

I saw The Passion of the Christ for the first time today. I thought it was really well done, and I'm shocked it wasn't nominated for any major oscars.

I think that Tom Hanks is the best actor of this generation.

Freddie C, glad to hear that you liked The Passion of the Christ. I watched Ray earlier this morning and it was good. I didn't think it was great, but Jamie Foxx did do another great job! I just wasn't a huge fan from the excessive amount of flashbacks, and I had no idea that Ray was a heroin addict. Definitely worth seeing if it interests you. Right now I'm about to sit down with 1 of my best friends to watch Infernal Affairs which Marty is remaking right now with Leo, Matt Damon and Marky Mark!

There's so many Depp movies I'd still like to see, and I guess I'll add Blow to the list.

I still want to see him in Finding Neverland, and I'm anxious to see what he's like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Freddie, I like Tom Hanks just as much as Depp, so I can see where you're coming from. Oh, I'll refrain from starting a whole new discussion about all of his movies I've enjoyed! Y'all can start one, though.

Watched Infernal Affairs just now. It wasn't what I was expecting but it was a good movie. I thought it would be a kung fu/martial arts movie, but it was really a drama/suspense movie. A good flick with a pretty cool ending. I'm looking forward to Marty's version

Why?

Mick

Why what? Why was it a good flick or why am I looking forward to Marty's version?

Obviously to the latter, considering many have low expectations remaking an entire trilogy.

Well I just love Marty's work and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with it plus the cast that he's going to have.

If he was remaking a turkey, fair enough,. But why direct the remake of a film you've already seen and like? The general consensus is that Infernal Affairs is one of the better films to come out of the Asian New Wave; so why remake it? Other than money, seriously, why remake it? Can't people see the original?

Mick

Honestly I don't know the answer to your question Mick, but I do agree with it. Why do filmmakers insist on remaking movies that were already done well the first time. What else is there that can be done? If it's not broke, don't fix it. So I don't really know why, but I will watch it.

Ratcatcher: Scottland 1999 Dir: Lynne Ramsay

A Very good subtle, yet quiet, film. The vision the film presented and its deep message are one I was feeling fortunate to have seen. Lynne does an amazing storytelling job here and gets quite surprising performances from all her actors. I liked this film a lot and recommend it to all fans of foreign film.

The Doc

P.S. I am in a Foreign Film Criticism class and will be posting all the films I see here. More on Ratcatcher later, anybody else here see it?

I just got done watching my first anime and I really enjoyed it. It's entitled Samurai Champloo Volume 01 and it's about 2 sword fighters named Mugen and Jin and a ditzy waitress named Fuu. Mugen's a buck wild warrior - violent, thoughtless and womanizing. Jin is a vagrant ronin - mysterious, traditional, well-mannered and very strong as well. I only popped this in yesterday at my friend's house b/c it was lying around and I watched about half of the first episode and I liked it so I deciced to barrow it. I watched the first 2 episodes last night before I went to bed and I finished the other 2 just now. It sucks b/c the 4th episode ends with "To Be Continued..." and I have to wait until March 29 to watch Volume 02. But overall a good anime if anyone was interested.

PS-Anybody have a good anime recommendations?

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a reeeeeeeally good anime that comes on late nights on Cartoon Network, during [adult swim]. If you're getting into anime, you should definitely check it out.

I12 maybe you can try also with Akira, Metropolis, spirited away and the whole ghost in the shell series. I´m not a big fan of anime, but I really liked all that movies.

The Day of the Jackal - (Zinnemann;1973;UK/France) - ***1/2
A truly great film. Unlike it's remake with Bruce Willis, it shows realism. The Jackal doesn't get a huge gatling gun to kill his target, he gets a simple, light weapon, which shows a higher professionalism. Zinnemann's real masterwork is "High Noon" but he does great hear with his directorial skills. A film that captures your interest in a headlock.
among top 100

What are these about? I know 1 of my friend's has a BUNCH of anime DVD's, but they're mostly Vampire anime's and from what I saw I didn't like them, but I'd be willing to try them out again. Also thanks for the heads up you guys! Anybody like Cowboy Bebop? The guy who I barrowed Samurai Champloo from loves Cowboy even more.

PS-Has anyone else seen Samurai Champloo or am I the only one?

I was planning on watching O Brother Where Art Thou tonight but I just couldn't get into it. I only watched the first 20 minutes and turned it off and watched the first 2 episodes from The Family Guy Season 1 instead. I've heard it was a good movie but I've never believed it and from what I saw it was stupid.

As anybody seen "Stand by me" about a group of lads who go on a wild adventure and come across a dead body.Very good film,also good sound track

I love that movie. It was based on a short story by Stephen King. The "vomit" scene was one of the funniest bits I've ever seen in a movie!

I just watched "21 grams". Quite a tough movie, but I liked it, especially the acting. I already knew Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro to be very good actors, while Naomi Watts is quite a discover for me (I did not like her so much in The ring nor in Mullholland Drive, did not like those movies either).

I saw 21 Grams in the theater only b/c my ma wanted to see it, but I'm glad I went with her b/c I thought it was a great movie with great performances. I really wanted Naomi to win an Oscar for it, but unfortunately she didn't. I've been waiting for the Special Edition DVD to come out and it hasn't thus far (it's almost been a year since it was originally released)

Foreign? Nonesense! :p

A great film indeed. Bleak, powerful mixture of The 400 Blows and Kes; not easy to watch by any means, but it's a worthy debut from the director. A commendable throwback to the British New Wave of the 60s. Loach, Reisz, Schlesinger et al.

February's film-viewing started for me tonight:
Northen Soul * (1st Time)
2004, Meadows, GB
The failed attempt of a wanabe wrestler who wants to make it big.
Unpretentious short shot on Digital Video, done in the director's usual manner.

Mick

Paid in full good film about three friends in
the drug game in harlem not a coby of scarface
7/10

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a good movie with some great fighting scenes towards the end of the movie. However, I don't believe it was better than Hero or House of Flying Daggers. I at least didn't fall asleep this time watching it, but I did find it slow and boring in some parts. Also, if anyone has seen it, please drop me a private message b/c I have a question about the movie that I'm hoping someone has the answer to. I would ask it here, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has yet to see the film.

I had heard from 2 fellow classmates that Primal Fear was a really good movie and I didn't really believe them. First of all I'm not a Richard Gere fan but he did do a great job in this movie, I love Edward Norton and I've gotta thing for Laura Linney. The end of the movie was sweet but not as surprising b/c I kind of saw it coming, but still a very good movie. If anyone has seen it, check it out sometime.

Hondo - (Farrow;1953;USA) - **
A mainstream western strictly for fans of Wayne and Bond. I enjoyed it a lot but then again, I love westerns.