rate the last movie you saw

[mkaroly]

TRON LEGACY: 8/10. I have never seen the original, so I saw this movie lacking an appropriate foundation. Musically I was reminded of Vangelis' score for BLADE RUNNER but without the techno aspects. Unfortunately, the theater I was in had something weird going on with the speakers; the bass was up and made the sound static-y at times, and that coupled with how high the music was dialed up sometimes muffled what the characters were saying, so I was kind of lost...like what was so great about his discovery of isometric algorithms and how could that discovery change everything? So that was a negative but not the movie's fault. Cora was freaking hot...lol...I thought the effects were pretty cool, though Jeff Bridges' digital face seemed a little odd in some sequences. The real Jeff Bridges reminded me a bit of Obi-Wan Kenobi...lol...anyway, I was entertained and really liked the ending, which was the strongest part of the movie IMO. Definitely worth going to see in the theaters (with a good surround sound system that isn't on the fritz). Much better than I expected.

[Monterey Jack]

Tron: Legacy: 5/10



Nice to see Bruce Broughton's name on a theatrically-released movie for the first time since...1998?!

[Paul MacLean]

I FINALLY watched The Bourne Identity tonight. Excellent story, well-cast, well-acted -- really unassailable in every way...

Except for the noisy, themeless, unmusical score. While the film was so good it transcended the score's considerable shortcomings, I occasionally found myself thinking "Who composed this crap?" Moreover I kept thinking how much more effective (and emotional) this film would have been with a John Barry or Jerry Goldsmith score (both of whom were still working at the time).

John Powell's music epitomises everything I hate about film music these days -- the paucity of melody, the pop techno influence and it's overall emotional sterility. Who would have thought when this score was written that in eight years almost every score would be just like it!

[Monterey Jack]

John Powell's music epitomises everything I hate about film music these days -- the paucity of melody, the pop techno influence and it's overall emotional sterility.

Usually, Powell is the one Zimmer acolyte whose work does have a great deal of melody to it, but agree his Bourne scores are nothing special.

[AndyDursin]

John Powell's music epitomises everything I hate about film music these days -- the paucity of melody, the pop techno influence and it's overall emotional sterility. Who would have thought when this score was written that in eight years almost every score would be just like it!

I totally agree with Paul, I don't like his Bourne scores -- but in general, like MJ said, he's far above Zimmer and the other clones in terms of writing melody. Typically his scores typically actually have a theme in there.

Glad you finally saw the movie Paul! I actually like the third movie as much. The second film -- not on the level of the other two.

[Paul MacLean]

One other thing -- I finally got Netflix streaming, and Bourne was the first movie I watched.

The quality was terrible -- blocky bitmapping and compression all over the place, and it looked like it was transfered at 20 frames per second (if not less)! I've seen better quality on Youtube!

[Eric Paddon]

Murder On The Orient Express (2010). 6 of 10.
-I was always surprised that it took this long for there to be a Suchet version of what is unquestionably the most famous of Poirot stories. It seems evident that the 1974 version cast too much of a shadow for so long to make them think of tackling it. And now that they have, the results are quite unexpected to say the least. The mystery is sad to say, mostly sapped out of this version, which I suppose can be blamed on the too short running time. Or it could be blamed on the fact that the producers went in knowing just how familiar the tale is to Christie buffs that they decided it required a new approach. And that new approach is a surprising amount of religious and philosophical discussion that I have to admit is quite unexpected for any film made nowadays (at least when it's done from the perspective of a mostly positive view of religious doctrine). A lot of Christie purists I can see were quite upset by this, though I think they protest too much on the matter of Poirot shown to be a somewhat devout Catholic (believing somehow that anyone who is a detective is somehow too "logical" to be a main of faith). But while I certainly have no qualm with this part of Poirot's character I regret the loss of atmosphere I associate with the story so much. That's why the production ultimately gets a much lower score compared to the 74 version (ironically, Suchet can be heard in a more traditional telling of the tale, albeit one with a surprise twist at the end, in the PC game version of the story).

[AndyDursin]

I have never seen the original, so I saw this movie lacking an appropriate foundation.

It's a definite sequel to the original movie in every way. I was surprised how much it was as well -- the story really makes sense only if you've seen the first film.

[AndyDursin]

One other thing -- I finally got Netflix streaming, and Bourne was the first movie I watched.

The quality was terrible -- blocky bitmapping and compression all over the place, and it looked like it was transfered at 20 frames per second (if not less)! I've seen better quality on Youtube!

That's weird, I've never watched anything on Netflix that was that bad.

[Eric Paddon]

Murder On The Orient Express (1974). 7.5 of 10

The superior production of any, but I find myself less impressed by Finney's Poirot. There's also a very big flaw in the casting of Richard Widmark as the murder victim because in all his scenes before he gets killed exhibits none of the oily menace that hints at his past. As a consequence, we lose a VERY important element of the story in which Poirot turns down Ratchett's offer of money to protect him because as Poirot says in the novel, "You will forgive me for being personal, but.....I do not like your face, Mr. Ratchett." It shows Poirot developing a sixth sense ahead of time that this is someone who ultimately met his just reward. Without that element, and that line, it makes Poirot too much the eccentric instead of the brilliant detective.

This is also the only movie of Sidney Lumet's I've seen where he cared enough to have a score!

[Paul MacLean]

I suppose this doesn't really count, but I went to see Narnia today. I pay for my ticket -- and am handed a pair of 3-D glasses.

There was no mention on the marquee about Narnia being exhibited in 3-D at this theatre. The marquee did say Tron Legacy was in 3-D, but no mention of Narnia.

So I asked for my money back and left.

[AndyDursin]

I suppose this doesn't really count, but I went to see Narnia today. I pay for my ticket -- and am handed a pair of 3-D glasses.

There was no mention on the marquee about Narnia being exhibited in 3-D at this theatre. The marquee did say Tron Legacy was in 3-D, but no mention of Narnia.

So I asked for my money back and left.

Should have gone to see Tron instead. At least the 3-D didn't give me a headache!

[Paul MacLean]

Should have gone to see Tron instead. At least the 3-D didn't give me a headache!

I just can't deal with 3-D at all.

Why don't they spend money on new scripts instead of 3-D remakes.

[AndyDursin]

Should have gone to see Tron instead. At least the 3-D didn't give me a headache!

I just can't deal with 3-D at all.

Why don't they spend money on new scripts instead of 3-D remakes.

At least TRON was a sequel, all the way, and not just a "reimagining" or "remake." I think the 3-D in the movie wasn't headache-inducing because the whole movie was in the dark (or the "grid" as they call it). I could've lived without it, but it wasn't as bad as AVATAR.

Alas, we all know the 3-D is just a fad designed to drive up ticket prices. Judging from the reaction audiences are having to these films recently you wonder if they're finally "getting it."

[Paul MacLean]

I started watching Devil In A Blue Dress on Netflix...and then turned it off after 30 seconds. Abominable 4:3 transfer, interlaced and full of "jaggies" and compression. It opened with the "Starz" logo so it was obviously an old made-for-cable transfer.

So far I'm pretty disappointed with the quality of movies on Netflix.