Rashomon ***

This was the film that truly turned me into a Kurosawa fan. I love the constant camera movement and the fact that most of this movie is visual (not a lot of dialogue is spoken).

I need to get my hands on some Kurosawa so bad.

You should. My 2 personal favorites are Rashomon and Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood ***

My 2nd favorte Kurosawa film and a wonderful Japanese version of MacBeth. Rent these 2 movies whenever you are allowed the chance MistaMista

Irish, that's the second reference you've made praising Shakespeare this week (the other was to say his Romeo and Juliet was better than Tristan and Isolde). I had no idea you'd studied him. What's your favourite play?

I'd say either MacBeth, Romeo & Juliet or Othello. What's yours?

Tamara * 1/2

Supposedly this was made from the creator of Final Destination. It looks like he missed with this one. Pretty lame story and ending. Not really a "horror" flick as I would put it. It felt like too many other horror films just crammed together as one

United 93
2006; Greengrass

Spread the news, United 93 is a truly revolutionary film. Upon first impressions, this stands as one of the most powerful, tasteful, and interesting films released in the past decade, and its dedication to accuracy is impressive. As the first film about one of the biggest tragedies this country has ever faced, United 93 passes the respectability test with flying colors. Add in the fact that the events of that fateful day occurred less than five years ago, and one must consider writer/director Greengrass's accomplishment a truly remarkable one.

A director faces a difficult situation when his film is being blasted and criticized before it is even released. As the pioneer in what will surely become a sub-category unto itself in the disaster films genre, Greengrass took careful precaution in crafting the first 9/11 film, and his dedication seems to have paid off.

I call this film revolutionary because it is the closest I've ever seen a film walk the line between documentaries and feature films. The result is an fascinating experiment in a new approach to making movies. The events are shown, they are not dramatized, they are not romanticized, or sensationalized, they are simply portrayed, as accurately possible. The hijackers and the hijacked are on equal footing in the sympathy department. I found myself almost pitying the terrorists as they were overcome with their religious fanaticism which led to them being essentially forced into a suicide mission in the name of their god. Greengrass has made the first film in which both sides are presented and the director is truly able to succeed in not taking sides. His genius in this department is beautifully portrayed in one of the final scenes in the film where both the hijackers and their captives pray on opposite ends of aircraft. The juxtaposition of these images provides an interesting insight into exactly what this film really sought to accomplish.

Greengrass's camerawork, while relying on the hand-held effect a little too much at times, ultimately assists in portraying the frantic and panicked nature of all the characters depicted, as well as setting the tone for the entire fateful day itself. And the director's choice of music also suits the piece beautifully. Opting for a simple, minimalist orchestral score that plays throughout only a small portion of the film seems to have been just the right amount to accent but not drown out the story.

Another aspect of the film which I really admired, whether intentional or not, was its casting. I literally only recognized one face in the entire cast, and even then I couldn't name him or place where I had seen him. (It ultimately turned out to be John Rothman who I knew from Dinner Rush). The fact that the cast consisted almost exclusively of unknowns only added to the feel of realism throughout the film. Add in the fact that several real life people involved in the events of 9/11 played themselves, and also that the actors chosen to play the major figures in the passenger resistance movement looked remarkably like their real-life counterparts, and the viewers truly felt as if they were there.

Another fascinating choice by Greengrass was to not take advantage of his post-knowledge of the events. Throughout the entire film, characters can be seen making false assumptions and relaying information to one another that was eventually proved to be incorrect. This, again, adds to the realism and sense of panicked confusion being portrayed in the film, and I really respected the fact that Greengrass took the time to include this.

One other difficult choice made by Greengrass was exactly how to go about showing the plane's final moments. It can be tough for a director when the audience already knows how the story will end, but Greengrass does it in a unique and truly emotional way that really tugs at your heart strings without being overdramatic.

Nearly everything about this film was perfectly in accordance to what Greengrass sought to achieve. Thought-provoking, deeply emotional, realistic. I truly do not feel as though a better film could've been made about this subject matter.

5/5 Stars

You should watch Gus Van Sant's Last Days, Elephant, and Gerry.

All three feel like real life captured on film.

You should watch Gus Van Sant's Last Days, Elephant, and Gerry.

All three feel like real life captured on film. [/quote]Didn't you say Cassavetes' films were like that too?

Yes, in fact even more then Van Sant's films. A Woman Under the Influence is one of the ten best ever, IMO.

Mista, Aguirre, Wrath of God is another film that feels a lot like a documentary. I highly recommend it.

Irish, I am not a Shakespearean yet; I've only studied "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", "Hamlet" and "King Lear" only briefly. "Hamlet" is by far my favourite.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm eager to see all of your comparisons. Any of you plan on seeing United 93?

Saw it this afternoon..... I agree wholeheartedly with your review... it was powerful, intense, emotional.... all around awesome..

the last 15 minutes were some of the most intense, powerful scenes I have ever seen in anything..

I'm not interested.

I actually find Van Sant's films antithetical to documentaries. They're very cinematic, I feel.

I'd recommend, instead, though by no means more, Ken Loach's films. Start off with Kes (1969).

I can't wait to see it. Gonna try Tuesday or sometime this week

The New World *

A terribly, slow and boring movie about John Smith and Pocahontas. I thought this was more of a "settlers" movie as opposed to a love story

If you went to an American high school, you'd realize that Elephant is about as real as a film could get.

Malice
Average crime drama featuring Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman. Watch it only for a couple of scenes with Nicole Kidman naked. Otherwise nothing worthwhile.

If you went to an American high school, you'd realize that Elephant is about as real as a film could get. [/b][/quote]I realise it's a fairly accurate depiction; does that make it documentary-like? Maybe, I don't know.

The New World was the best film of 2005. I cannot wait to see it again.

Tonight im going to watch "the birds" is it good? Anybody?

Yes. Some excellent editing/special effects as well.

I liked "The Birds", one of my favorite Hitchcock films. The fact that I have this "unexplainable" fear whenever a bird flies low, overhead (I tend to squeal and duck ), makes it even creepier to me.

Good movie


TIS

Thanks so is it a creepy film!

Well, I thought it was kind of creepy yea! I'm guessing you know the premise of the story? If I remember correctly, most of the birds were mechanical, with some real birds thrown in the mix. If the idea of thousands of birds coming after you is scary, then yea, you'll get a chill.

TIS

If Only **

A semi-decent Jennifer Love Hewitt movie. As weird as that sounds, it wasn't THAT bad. The first tolerable movie of hers since 2001's Heartbreakers

I watched it it freaked me out how when the people were in there homes they could here them outside. They were after the love-birds werent they? The ending was pretty weird i thought i didnt think it was going to end just there!!

DeNiro's Sister,

You'll find most of Hitchcock's films have strange endings. My parents never liked most of his endings,but for the most part, I found them kind of neat.

Also, I don't remember specifically if he was in The Birds, but Hitchcock would always appear, ever so briefly in most all of his films. It was always fun spotting him, as he had such an unmistakenable look/presence.

TIS

FYI, Although I'm guessing she made a few more movies, Tippi Hedron, who plays the female lead, never quite made it to star status. Today, she's very active in the "Animal's Rights" field.

Now unless I'm mistaken, Tippi Hedron's daughter is Melanie Griffin, but I won't swear to it.

"Tippi" was discovered by Hitchcock after he saw her in some cosmetics commercial, and proceeded to craft her to be his new "blonde" female lead like Grace Kelly. They would work together on THE BIRDS and MARNIE before their professional relationship ended.

The Family Stone ** 1/2

An enjoyable movie with a very good cast but for some reason, they worked in a tragedy into this comedy that I don't think should have belonged. It was kind of a downer towards the end