Yeah I always buy the "special" or "unrated" editions because I'm anal like that. I've got hours of special features to watch on all of my movies that I haven't begun to watch but given the time, I'd LOVE to. But there's movies that I was anticipating watching the special features and made time right away when I got the DVD (Scarface, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Sin City and when they come out Kill Bill Volume 1 Special Edition, Kill Bill Volume 2 Special Edition).

Samurai Assassign ** 1/2

Not the movie I thought it was gonna be. I was hoping for a "slash-em-up" samurai movie and this was more of a drama than an action/samurai movie. I was pretty bored throughout it but the first 10 and last 10 minutes were the best.

MR. & MRS. SMITH - **1/2 out of 5

Average movie that ends without an ending. Still, I've seen worse.

A History of violence
I had a lot of expectations from this movie, hence disappointed.
The good:

• Story is not predictable
• Acting from everyone is good

The bad ( SPOILERS):

• The movie spends a long time in convincing us that the protagonist is leading a "normal" happy life.
• The sub-plot of his son is entirely tangential. Doesn't add much to the main plot.
• The penultimate scene in philadelphia was more a comedy scene
• I can understand that Tom is stressed out and wants to have sex. But his wife, who has just found out that he is a total fraud is kissing him passsionately. i am referring to the scene on the stairway.

Syriana

The best movie among the recent ones. Don't miss this. I have only good things to say about this film. Sadly, my lack of knowledge in middle-east geography created some confusion for me. Otherwise, the attention to detail is outstanding. Amazing. The plot is also great. Some of you may not like the fact that CIA and some huge american corporations are shown in poor light. But there lies the tragedy of the entire movie. SPOILERS A brilliant CIA agent and a preogressive prince in middle-east are both victims to the corruption at all levels - in politics, CIA, Oil corporations and justice department. George Clooney and Matt Damon do a good job. The person who acts as the elder prince, the pakistani boy are also nice characters. We are also given a glimpse of how terrorism is bred in madrassas (the islamic schools).

ya SYRIANA was a pretty good movie svsg.

Now I'll try to defend A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and give my thoughts on the problems you had with the movie. Not that I think you are wrong, but again, sometimes we moviefans misinterpret something and instead we are led without help from our fellow colleagues.

*SPOILERS!!!*

*I believe honestly that the whole point of the son's story is raised by Cronenberg and his scriptwriter is one that relates to the film's probing about the very topic of violence in our society.

Notice how he was passive when the bully tried to pick a fight, and a reason to stomp him. He was able to defuse the situation.

Then once we learn the whole deal of Mr. Mortensen, notice how the son then beats the shit out of the bully later on. Cronenberg's question he raises is this: "Is violence a hereditary trait that we carry from generation to generation, or do we learn violence by example in society?"

The movie has no clear answer, but its up to the audience to answer it. Was that violent rage inside the son all along, or was he inspired by his father?

*As for the "convincing" aspect.....what if the protagonist tries to absolute convince himself most of all that his past never happened? Consider that whole sequence with him and his wife recreating their "non-existant" high school years with each other. It may seem like gentle foreplay between lovers, but is it simply Mortensen's attempt to mask who he once was?

Same as well, even if we both knew of sorts where the story was leading us, the fact that it convinced us means that as a film, it worked in totally persuading us that "Tom" is not "Joey".

*"I can understand that Tom is stressed out and wants to have sex. But his wife, who has just found out that he is a total fraud is kissing him passsionately. i am referring to the scene on the stairway."

A point that some folks have brought up, but one must consider that notice how even if Maria Bello knows that her love was indeed a fraud, they still care for each other, even if that passionate connection may never be renewed to the height that of which it was before the pivotal moment at the restaurant.

A critic pointed out that maybe the whole sex-starway sequence was only meant how instead of physically "fighting" each other over this, but instead that they only violently "loved". Of sorts breaking the tension between both.

*"The penultimate scene in philadelphia was more a comedy scene"

well, you got me there. The audience at my screening did laugh when Mr. Hurt friggin locked himself out of his own mansion, and then *boom*

-----------------------------------------------------------

Now Svsg, don't think that I'm attacking you. I'm simply giving some mental crumbs about the movie for you to chew and digest. k?

I just can't watch Clooney anymore...in anything. Childish, I know, but I've tried and I just can't stomach him (Tim Robbins either). Although I admit I enjoyed seeing Robbins' plight in War of the Worlds.

Why? Because you disagree with him?

Fuck, unlike those Liberal looneys in Hollywood, Clooney at least has balls man. As many movies he has done that made quite a ton of money, hes been behind projects that were major duds in theaters: SOLARIS, CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND(his directorial debut, which was quite nice), SYRIANA(which will not make a profit in American theaters, even if it is good), and even Clooney's TV remakes in FAIL SAFE are cool.

Did I forget that one he did that is getting major Oscar buzz?

Really snake, go ahead and listen to everything that the conservative media tells you to think. Clooney may be a liberal, but at least I respect him for his projects over the years. I mean, isn't that what its all about, respect?

I have no problem with liberal entertainers. Otherwise, I'd have to boycott Hollywood and never watch anything! I just think both guys are terrible actors. Clooney is a cardboard stand-up, even!

Admittedly, I don't like any actor -- rightwing or left -- that believes just because he/she can memorize a few lines that he/she is THE authority on politics, social ills, motherhood, fatherhood, or whatever else out there. When I pay a plumber to fix my toliet, I don't want to hear his views on things...just fix the toliet. When I want entertainment, just ACT. Just my personal preference.

RRA, first of all thanks for responding. No I don't think you are attacking me, on the contrary I like discussing movies with people.
I too wondered if the director was trying to explore the heredity factor, or what is popularly called nature vs nurture topic. But IMO that is a topic worthy of a whole new movie. It seems like somewhat of a half-hearted attempt, because the main plot itself was exploring another major theme on violence - whether one can totally move on from their past. I would think that any sub-plot should complement the main plot or main character. If it is an independent sub-plot, it should be explored in depth and possibly give some resolution to the audience on-screen or off-screen.
On the convincing part, I had more problem with the screen time devoted for this rather than the convincing aspect per se. I am no director, but I think a montage sequence of 1 minute after the first 10 minutes of exposition would have done the trick -- He goes to his coffee shop, comes back, has dinner with his family, etc etc. I don't really know how long it was before the first murder, but it seemed like a really long time.
It was better than the average movie, I however felt something is missing, I can't pin point. Maybe the way the conflict was resolved - he goes to his old mob, finishes off everyone in sight, comes home and finds his family accepting him quickly(though it had to start with his daughter). Maybe I was expecting more drama, maybe I would have felt better if the conflict was not resolved at all.I don't know

Sanke did you like Tim Robbins in The Mystic River? I liked his role better than that of Sean Penn.

Robbins is what I call a so-so actor, little better than Georgie boy. Ok, ok, I can TOLERATE Robbins in some movies, but Clooney -- politics aside -- blows, imho. Mystic River was fair, but I think due more to Eastwood's direction than either Penn or Robbins.

Well, they do ACT. Why can't they voice their opinions?


As for me, they can have their opinions. I'm a fan of alot of liberal entertainers, for me, they can voice their opinion on things, I don't look into their personal beliefs to see if I can like them or not.

They can. But if you listen to 'em carefully and to their idolizers, you'd think they're experts or something. THAT'S wherein lies my problem with 'em. Like I said, just because you can memorize a few lines doesn't make you some kind of authority on everything. You can judge by their personal lives that they're hardly the brightest bulbs in the chandelier.

Conversation

Directed by Coppola, starring Gene Hackman and John cazale. The amazing fact about the movie is that it was made in 1974. The theme explored by Coppola, as he himself narrates in the special features of the dvd, is great for its time. It is about a surveilance expert who evesdrops(sp?) on people for money. He is not supposed to get involved in the lives of people he spies on, but in a particular case, he does get involved and there begins his downfall. Excellent acting and direction. It is a character study, like taxi driver, of a wierd person. But this time, he is less colorful and mostly silent, only paranoid about his privacy. Coppola shows he can make a good small movie, a departure from his other grand projects like Godfather and Apocalypse now.

Gladiator (first viewing)

****
9/10

I loved this movie. Definitely one of my top 10 favorites of all time.

Russell Crowe was fantastic, but I thought Joaquin Phoenix just stole the show.

Glad you liked The Conversation. It's probably his most off-beat film, and one of his masterworks.

The Conversation is an extremely underrated film by Coppola. A great character study that could not have been possible without Gene Hackman's brilliant performance. It's definitely his best.

Francis Ford Coppola's best?

sure!

I absolutely agree! Which scene did you like the best, DVC?

SPOILER

Mine is the bit where Maximus reavels his real identity to Commodus in the arena.....WOW!! I feel CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE at the mere thought of that scene!!!

I am liking the new avatar.

Road Trip (2000, Phillips) No Stars

Story about a guy who makes a tape with another girl and has to go on a road trip to retrieve the tape before his girlfriend gets it.

Generic garbage "road trip" movie. Funny in some parts, but nothing we really haven't seen before. Wooden acting, and just some dumb crap.

****SPOILERS****
[removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus]

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

[Commodus trembles in disbelief]
Just for you, Lavinia!

Spoilers

I always loved the scene right before Commodus kills his father going over the list his father gave him. I always feel so bad for him "You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues. Wisdom, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. As I read the list I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues, father. Ambition, that can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. Resourcefulness. Courage. Perhaps not on the battlefield but there are many forms of courage. Devotion, to my family, to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then, it was as if you didn't want me for your son."

Or the final sword fight between Commodus and Maximus (sword, sword, give me a sword!)

End of Spoilers

xXx, a lovely remembrance of that scene, but can you recite it verbally, like me? :p

I'm in two camps: the one that says Gladiator among favourites lists; and the other which says The Conversation is Coppola's best film.

Arguably.

I like gladiator for its fight scenes in the big arena, especially with tiger. But I didn't care much for the story. That is generally the case when the villian is a good-for-nothing guy and the main actor is full of great virtues, that he has to triumph at the end.

And regarding Conversation, even though I enjoyed it thoroughly, Coppola's other films like Apocalypse Now and Godfather affect me personally, especially Aplocalypse Now. Though I can empathise with the character in conversation, I cannot relate to him. Just a subtle difference.

Gene Hackman's best performance.

That's my favorite scene as well.

I am liking the new avatar. [/b][/quote]:D