Bargain Theater, I'm sure.

ESCAPE FROM L.A. (1996) - ***

Enjoyable full-blown cartoonish B-action movie in John Carpenter's sequel to his cult favorite ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK from way back in 1981.

Full kudos to my favorite part of the movie, in Cliff Robertson playing the quite insane Evangelical American dictatorial President. For in this and others, the film gives people of both spectrums to enjoy. There is the allusions of the religious right making America into a theocratical totaltarian regime, which the Left will enjoy, and right-wingers are sure to dig "Snake" Plissken once again be a total bastard, and kick ass across the futuristic island-prison of Los Angeles.

Besides, I dare you fuckers to say no to a movie with Steve Buscemi AND Bruce Campbell.

May I ask how the ticket was only 50 cents!? [/b][/quote]Colleges often show movies shortly after they've been released in theaters for cheap prices for students. Although I happen to know svsg isnt in college, so . . ..

May I ask how the ticket was only 50 cents!? [/b][/quote]Colleges often show movies shortly after they've been released in theaters for cheap prices for students. Although I happen to know svsg isnt in college, so . . .. [/b][/quote]It is called "dollar theater" here. Here is the link . On Tuesday evenings, the ticket costs exactly 50 cents. On other days it is $1.5. Usually when the movies reach the dollar theater, it is a few months old. This is the rate irrespective of whether one is a student or not. In a few other theaters, students get a discount of one dollar from the actual rate of $9 or so, if we show our ID.

Oh ok. We used to have a dollar theater here in Austin but it got closed down years ago

Leon The Professional ***

Much better after a second viewing. I think Gary Oldman is one of the greatest actors alive today, I just love his work so much. Jean Reno was very enjoyable as well but 13-year-old Natalie Portman stole the show

Saw **
A violent thriller with most of the scenes shot in a single room. Somehow, the premise of the movie that the victims of a serial killer are given a limited time to escape their carefully planned death, is very interesting. But when the movie ends, I don't feel so thrilled as I was when the movie began.

Brick
Rian Johnson 2005 US (1st time; big screen)
A teenager in a world full of hardboiled slang infiltrates a drug ring to find out who killed his ex-girlfriend.
Is this as original as has been suggested? Perhaps, but it has all the markings of a directorial debut even so: energetic, confident, ambitious, and full of wasted potential. Its rejuvination of noir in a fresh mise-en-scene makes for an erratically thrilling film, full of interesting names but ultimately cardboard characters; it is as stylish as it is emotionally empty--a success, perhaps, were it not for its attempt at some deeper core, wrapped too heavily in its own street jargon to be appreciated.

I'm glad you liked it. Surprisingly, me and Capo are the only ones on the film board who loved it.

Mulholland Dr.
2001; Lynch

(my 1st David Lynch film)

I came out of this film feeling raped. Mentally raped. The film just fucks with your head so much, and fucks with nearly everything you think you know about how a movie should go. Lynch seems to have made just the right mixture of a fairly conventional film with quirky elements (the 1st half), and a complete mind-fuck of a film with no real clear narrative that just sends its viewers down a pitch black rollercoaster tunnel of confusion and pleasure (the 2nd half).

I really liked the movie, but I didn't get it. After reading the imdb trivia, supposedly there is actually something to get, which astounds me, so I'm eagerly looking forward to a rewatch, although I feel like I might ultimately like the film more not completely understanding it. In the end, I kind of saw the whole thing as a big metaphor for the emotional processes of relationships, the mental feelings, but played out in physical form.

4.5/5 Stars

I'm glad you liked it. Surprisingly, me and Capo are the only ones on the film board who loved it. [/b][/quote]No, suspect_5 loves it too but doesn't voice it. I did enjoy it and down the road I'll buy it. But it's not in the "cult classics" for me as The Big Lebowski, The Usual Suspects, The Boondock Saints, etc

Like many films of it's type, Mulholland Dr. has one main version 90% of people online accept as what happens, and several alternate interpretations. I find it to be an excellent piece of filmmaking Full of Haunting moments, as well as some funny ones.

Even if Lynch suddenly published a solution to Mulholland Dr., and claimed that is what was intended, what it meant, I'd be reluctant to read it. There is no concrete meaning in any film, even the most lucid ones. On my second viewing of Mulholland Dr., as far as narrative goes, I was none the wiser as to what it meant, but I understood it far more; that is, my connection was far deeper, my appreciation more profound, than the first viewing. And I can't wait to see it again.

For now, this is my brief résumé of the film, if it helps:
It is best to approach this film as an unfathomable nightmare, and let it unfold itself; for, in true Lynch style, the meaning here is not an obvious one, presented as a character-switching Chinese-box-like succession of dark and disturbing fantasies. It registers on the unconscious and lingers on the mind like the most haunting of dreams.

By the way, Mista, check out Lost Highway (1996) next.

I read this one. Is that close to the widely accpeted theory you speak of?

And thanks for the recommendation Capo, I'll see what I can find.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (1974) - ***

Pleasing all-star murder mystery from the 1970s from master director Sidney Lumet.

I just saw The Da Vinci Code... it was pretty good.. but OH SO long. Definately felt like it was dragged out a bit.

That is a very enjoyable movie. I love Sean Connery

Da Vinci Code **
I saw this today. I haven't read the book and I am still not very clear about certain details. Overall, interesting movie, but nothing mind-blowing. Certainly I expected more from the movie going by the trailer, so it leaves me a little dis-satisfied.

Wedding Crashers

Oh how I love Vince Vaughn. And Will Ferrells cameo was just immense. I need to rewatch this movie over and over and over.

BLOW OUT (1981) - ****

Brian DePalma's ultimate "Hitchcock-esque thriller", this time a film harkoning back to the sense of regret and possible, if dashed, redemption in the protagonist from VERTIGO and the voyeurism which accidently leads into a discovery of murder, like REAR WINDOW.

If anything, the ending is one that its a piss-punch to the gut, then a double whammy with the aftermath, to which one will never forget this film.

Reportedly cited by Tarantino as among his favorite films, as well as his citation for Travolta's best acting work, and really hes got a point.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) - ****

John Milius was sort of the lesser-known member of the 70's generation, known primarily as a reliable, if eccentric in many eyes, screenwriter with only a few directing credits on his resume after earning an Oscar screenplay nod for APOCALYPSE NOW.

A western American consevative gun nut for sure, but unlike many of his brothers that would later mutate into what some might call the Bush Republicans, Milius shared his own philosophy in his works, which range from men having to be, well, men and the science itself of being a warrior....without Milius having to go one-note nor rather mediocre-ass shit, since he knows to actually make for fleshful characters, even in the wildest of stories.

Take easily his most successful picture as a writer/director in CONAN THE BARBARIAN. At first glance, a very silly and possibly gay trash comic book adventure flick, with a pre-TERMINATOR Arnold Schwarzenegger displaying his "guns" to the world. Actually, that is a wrong assesment, and in fact, more relates to the pretty awful Milius-less CONAN THE DESTROYER.

Instead, Milius' CONAN THE BARBARIAN is really a taunt and ambitious attempt at creating a legendary myth, of a man named Conan(Arnold Schwarzenegger), who will be King at his own hand, who as a boy, his village was burned down, his parents murdered, and sold into slavery at the hands of Thulsa Doom(James Earl Jones). Later we see how the weakling boy is transformed into a muscle freak when hes forced to move a wheel of a grain-grater, then a few years go by as he becomes a valuable pit fighter, learning to be perhaps the best fighter in the known world. Released from slavery, we see him in a brilliant sequence where he accidently falls upon the tomb of an Atlantean King, and which basically in metaphorically grant Conan his royal destiny....along with a great sword.

Then he goes for revenge against Thulsa Doom, now the leader of a ever-growing snake magic cult, and we will see how Conan the myth would begin and soon he will become King....but that is another story.

Perhaps why the movie works as well is because Milius had Arnold barely a few lines, which at the time was brilliant, since it forced the Austrian Oak to use his huge bodily frame and presence to the task to selling the idea of this mythical warrior. Another is Art Director Rob Cobb's super amazing production design which sells the idea of a comic book-like setting in terms of outstanding visuals and locations.

However, perhaps the most important is Basil Ponderous, the composer who would make for easily one of my Top 10 favorite film soundtracks of all time, and has been used as temp music for Universal movies since 1982. Hell, I noticed its use in early trailers for GLADIATOR back in 2000.

Reportedly, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer were inspired in part by the movie, at least in terms of the myth being set up of how the hero gets his weapons, skills, etc., for their successful BATMAN BEGINS.

DiVinci Code-***1/2 sart of out 4 It was okay but it kept draging on. The book was better but still worth paying $8.25 for.

sorry guys, but CODE looks generic ass. Besides,its Opie.

Some Like it Hot
1959; Wilder

Well, beginning my foray into classic cinema, I started with this film. This film had great chemistry between Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Marilyn Monroe. Lemmon was especially great, I'm eager to see him in some dramatic work because I thought he showed real talent in this comedic piece. I was actually very pleased with the camera work in this one. While Wilder chose to just use one long take sometimes for conversation pieces, which I didn't like, the camerawork ultimately was a strong point of the film.

Really good supporting cast as well with George Raft, Joe E. Brown, and a 3rd act cameo by Nehemiah Persoff. Ultimately a very good film, maybe not as funny as advertised, but still well put together.

4/5 Stars

Some Like It Hot was my first taste of Wilder; I'd rank it as one of the most colourful black-and-white films ever made.

Now that's good writing. Well put Capo.

Munich (2005) I thought it was to the point, violent and well done.

High Fidelity - (Stephen Frears;2000;UK/USA)
A record store owner reevaluates past relationships after his current one fails.
Unlike most Romantic Comedies, we forget that this film is one. It doesn't use the formula we see at least twice a year. Instead we are treated with characters that feel real. Cusack's character while being the hero of the film is not striped of negative qualities and a sense of selfishness to satisfy the audiences. And it feels real without the expense of losing the comedy. The soundtrack is one of the main highlights and should make any music buff happy, as well as the dialogue throughout the film.

Ronnie, that was a nice review. I saw this movie looong ago and don't remember much. I will try to re-watch it soon.

I surprisingly enjoyed this movie a lot too. I'm gonna get the Collector's Edition DVD when it comes out in July

DREAMSCAPE (1985) - **1/2

Enjoyable if average "B" flick about a psychic(Dennis Quaid) who is recruited by a governmental center(Max Von Sydow) to enter and "solve" people's nightmares. However, the shit hits the fan when the U.S. President has nightmares about a nuclear holocaust and plans for bilateral disarmament, of which his top advisor(Christopher Fucking Plummer) will not let happen.