The "What Film(s) Did You Watch Today" Thread

[Zack Malibu 0]

Drive

 

 

My grade: A

 

Stars:Mark Dacascos, Kadeem Hardison, Brittany Murphy, and a slew of bad guys who exist to get their asses kicked.

 

A longtime favorite of mine, I recently got around to watching the DVD (which I just bought after over a year of being outbid for the previous, out of print DVD release on Ebay). Drive may seem like your typical "buddy cop/clashing personalities/kick some ass shoot 'em up chop-sockey flick...but it's not. The martial arts are flawless and fascinating. The banter between Dacascos' Toby Wong and Kadeem Hardison's Malik Brody is funny. Murphy plays her typical loopy self to a T, and also serves as a psuedo love-interest since she's digging Malik (though he's trying to get back with his wife in a minor plot point).

 

Anyhow, we screened this this past week at my coffee shop hangout, since the owner keeps a DVD player there solely for the purpose of me bringing in DVD's to watch. We usually get a good amount of customers sticking around, as well as my usual entourage, so I figured why not show off one of my favorite movies, right? Well, everyone loved it (dead serious, this movie got applause from random coffee shop customers, and more than a few "Holy Shit!"'s). Now, I must preach to TSM about how good it is. I won't go into great detail since I feel that this is one DTV movie worth getting, so here's a plot overview.

 

Toby Wong is on the run from an EVIL~! corperation hellbent on making the perfect killing machine. The only problem is that Toby doesn't want any part of it, and in fact wants the technology implanted in his chest taken out. Another company in LA agrees to do this...and give him $5 million for his trouble. The EVIL~! corporation has dispatched a slew of henchmen led by Southern hothead Vic Madison on Wong's trail, and right off the bat we get a fight scene on a California dock. Wong escapes certain doom and the fight carries over to a bar that was open early so that Malik had a place to pen his "hit song". Wong comes in, bad guys come in, and much more fighting ensues. In order to get out of the jam once the cops come, Wong takes Malik hostage and forces him to drive him to LA. Reluctantly (as reluctant as one can be when a semi-automatic weapon is pointed at you), Malik agrees. Needless to say, LA does not come easy for these two, as roadblocks, crooked cops, the aforementioned henchmen, and a run-in with a ditzy hotel manager keep this movie flowing. The fight scene at the end, which takes place in a NASA-themed bar, features dirt bike riding goons, Madison pulling a whip on Malik (which leads to the classic line "Don't you EVER pull a whip on a black man!" as Malik is fighting back), and Wong's showdown with the new TurboDrive model. It is a thing of beauty. Dacascos has long been my favorite martial arts star (ever since Only The Strong), and Hardison is funny and totally leaves the Dwayne Wayne character in A Different World (pun intended). Give it a rental, or buy it on the cheap at Circuit City (where I found mine for $9.99) or BestBuy.com (where it's $12.99 plus free shipping).

 

Rant over.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

It's one of those rare direct-to-cable gems.

 

And yes, the final fight scene between Toby and the advanced model is a thing of beauty.

 

BTW, too bad I don't live in your area. I'd def try to make it down for your movie nights.

[Mole 0]

Finding Nemo - A+

 

One of the few movies that gets an A+ from me.

[Garth 0]

28 Days Later - Excellent movie, all the good things i'd heard about this film are deserved. 9/10

[Youth N Asia 0]

The Prophecy 2: Ashtown

 

9 out of 10

 

Walken just owns his role! And while I'm not into religion, I like stuff like this with good vs evil and whatnot. Better than the first (although shorter), although direct to video. And it had a bit part from TV superstar DANNY STRONG!

 

Eddie Murphy: Delirious

 

10 out of 10

 

Best standup routine EVER! Aunt Bunny, Uncle Gus, dad drunk and kicking the dog, homosexual Mr T, bear and rabbit. The whole thing is a classic. Although a tad outdated it makes me laugh my ass off every time.

[BlackFlagg 0]

A Few Good Men - 9/10

[BlackFlagg 0]

Black Sunday - 7.5/10

[Mrnoitaull 0]

Just got finished watching "Italian Job" On Demand.

 

Three things made it worth watching again:

 

Seth Green

 

Ed Norton

 

Ukrainians

 

8.5/10

[BlackFlagg 0]

The Maltese Falcon - 8/10

[Youth N Asia 0]

Black Hawk Down

 

9 out of 10

 

One of the most intense movies I have ever seen. When the thing was over it took me a few minutes to settle myself down. Hell of a movie.

[BlackFlagg 0]

AvP - 7/10

[Mole 0]

T3 - B-

[Guest Bitterness the Star]

Black Hawk Down

 

9 out of 10

 

One of the most intense movies I have ever seen. When the thing was over it took me a few minutes to settle myself down. Hell of a movie.

I must need to watch it again.

 

A great war film, not sugar-coating anything, but it didn't excite me as much as it probably should've and would with another viewing.

 

Today:

 

 

Almost a ***** action film, but Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock force me to deduct a 1/4* each just for them being there.

[BlackFlagg 0]

Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 9.5/10

[The Mandarin 0]

Good to see more people are watching Black Hawk Down. I plan to watch it for a sixth or seventh time shortly.

 

Today:

 

Heat (third viewing)- A+

 

Best movie cast I've ever seen. You can't go wrong with Pacino, De Niro, Kilmer, Tom f'n Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Jon Voight, William Fichtner, freakin' Hank Azaria, Danny Trejo, Jeremy "John Cusack's buddy" Piven, and Mason and President Palmer from 24.

 

Best cast, best gun battle, best ending to a movie I've ever seen. Top 10.

[Mole 0]

The Rock - C

 

I remember liking this movie a lot more when I was younger. Now I notice the directing of Mr. Bay and I don't like it. He builds each scene up too much and he does it the same way for every movie. I felt like I was watching Armageddon, but not.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

Freaky Friday (2003) - 8.0/10

 

I was surprised at how much I liked this movie.

[Mole 0]

Freaky Friday - B

 

I am a big fan of this film but it doesn't get a higher rating because it's a remake and it is a "Disney movie."

 

Curtis does an amazing job though.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

The Perfect Score (2004) - 5.0 / 10

[Mole 0]

Hellboy - B-

[Guest Bitterness the Star]

 

Such fucking awesomeness.

 

*****

[Mole 0]

The Big Green - D+

[Mole 0]

Gangs of New York - B+

 

God damn, Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing.

[Anorak 0]

The Tenant - 6/10

 

VERY weird Polanski film from 1976. Not totally sure if this was intended as part black comedy and part pychological thriller/horror or what but I was never convinced or ultimately won over by any of it. Polanski played the lead role himself and there's odd flashes of brilliance in the creepier scenes which are the best in the film and make you wonder if it would have worked better as more of a straight-faced chiller (well, a Polanski one anyway). Impossible not to compare to Repulsion in some aspects but not in the same league really. The print shown at the cinema was ok considering the state some of some of less often screened old films. Possibly worth checking out if you're curious or into the man's work but its not a film i'll rush to see again.

[Mole 0]

Camp Nowhere - D+

 

I loved this movie as a kid, but bah Gawd, there are so many plotholes.

[Mole 0]

Groundhog Day - A-

[Youth N Asia 0]

Signs

 

8.5 out of 10

 

I know a lot of people poo poo on the ending, but even with that the whole buildup is fantastic

[Mole 0]

13 Going on 30 - C+

 

I have no idea why I rented this movie, since I HATE romantic comedies. Garner is just so damn hot.

[Mrnoitaull 0]

Blade 2 .. eh 7.5/10

[BlackFlagg 0]

Zombi 2 - 7.5/10