What's Your Top 5 All Time Favorite Movies ??

[JAWS]

still waiting to here about JAWS

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

JAWS? What's JAWS? I don't know what you're talking about.

Just watched Batman Returns. I really liked this one. Maybe even more than TDK, which is my favorite Nolan bat film.

Pfeiffer Catwoman hot hot hot.

 

[a-dev]

Keaton reminds me of Ian Somerhalder in that pic. The eyebrows.

But dude - you can't 'overact' as the Joker. Methinks you simply didn't like his 'happy' portrayal. Which I guess is fine.

 

[JAWS]

JAWS? What's JAWS? I don't know what you're talking about.

Just watched Batman Returns. I really liked this one. Maybe even more than TDK, which is my favorite Nolan bat film.

Pfeiffer Catwoman hot hot hot.

I watched JAWS.

I think you are worried to share your opinion because JAWS did not hit Number one on your list and you know that makes you less of a man

 

[DiFabio]

Just watched Batman Returns. I really liked this one. Maybe even more than TDK, which is my favorite Nolan bat film.

Pfeiffer Catwoman hot hot hot.

Says '89 Batman was painful to watch . . . yet loves Batman Returns and thinks it might be best Batman film yet.


Hnnnnnnnngggggggg.





I think Joker is better than the Penguin, by far. I also think Keaton is better as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the first one. He's too "lively" and unbeatable in the second. Catwoman is sexy though. That mistletoe scene where she's straddling Batman and ****ing licks him is great.

Still,

'89 > Returns

 

[Irvy]

Things change.

 

[V8_Club]

Aliens
Predator
Braveheart
Ninja Scroll
Gladiator

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

Keaton reminds me of Ian Somerhalder in that pic. The eyebrows.

But dude - you can't 'overact' as the Joker. Methinks you simply didn't like his 'happy' portrayal. Which I guess is fine.

I am telling you a-dev, he overacted.

I don't really care about Ledger's Joker either. He did a fantastic job and all, but superhero stuff has never been a big deal to me in general.

I liked the fact that Nicholson's portrayal was more comical and silly, I felt that was severely lacking from Ledger's portrayal. That being said, there was some definite overacting there.

There was some great stuff he did, like when he shows up at the restaurant with the music playing - that was great - but things like, after he'd deliver a line and they'd keep the camera on him so he could try to pull off some weird, quirky "woo hoo", or "hee hee"...that was just cringeworthy. If never felt natural. Way too exaggerated, like he was trying too hard. There was definitely more, but those were the worst bits of his acting for me.

I think you are worried to share your opinion because JAWS did not hit Number one on your list and you know that makes you less of a man

I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. I certainly didn't think it was bad or anything. Not great, but good. I think I need to watch it again to really form an opinion on it.

So that famous eerie scratching on the chalkboard to make everyone shut up originated in JAWS it seems. I had no idea.

Says '89 Batman was painful to watch . . . yet loves Batman Returns and thinks it might be best Batman film yet.


Hnnnnnnnngggggggg.





I think Joker is better than the Penguin, by far. I also think Keaton is better as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the first one. He's too "lively" and unbeatable in the second. Catwoman is sexy though. That mistletoe scene where she's straddling Batman and ****ing licks him is great.

Still,

'89 > Returns

Too unbeatable? He constantly got his ass kicked in the first one. I felt embarrassed to cheer for this guy who gets beat up by common criminals and street thugs. He gets shot like twenty times FFS. And he still takes quite a beating in Returns. Catwoman totally dominates him (hawt) even though he's supposed to be some expert martial artist or whatever.

As far as personality goes, he seemed almost completely devoid of emotion in the first one. I get that Batman's supposed to be dark and brooding, but I felt like I was watching a robot. Keaton's a good actor but I don't get the feeling that his heart was fully in the role in the first movie. He was just kinda there...delivering lines...as bland as possible.

I think Joker is naturally a better character than Penguin, which generally makes him more fun to watch, but I never felt that DeVito overacted as him, or gave a bad performance. He's certainly very melodramatic at times but it all felt genuine - not forced like a lot of Nicholson's acting did IMO.

But Prometheus is better than all of this batman crap, you nerd.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

MEH...

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

It's hilarious watching him try to turn his head fast because his whole body turns with it. He's such a goofball.

 

[a-dev]

I am telling you a-dev, he overacted.

I don't really care about Ledger's Joker either. He did a fantastic job and all, but superhero stuff has never been a big deal to me in general.

I liked the fact that Nicholson's portrayal was more comical and silly, I felt that was severely lacking from Ledger's portrayal. That being said, there was some definite overacting there.

There was some great stuff he did, like when he shows up at the restaurant with the music playing - that was great - but things like, after he'd deliver a line and they'd keep the camera on him so he could try to pull off some weird, quirky "woo hoo", or "hee hee"...that was just cringeworthy. If never felt natural. Way too exaggerated, like he was trying too hard. There was definitely more, but those were the worst bits of his acting for me.

I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. I certainly didn't think it was bad or anything. Not great, but good. I think I need to watch it again to really form an opinion on it.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

I'm not playing Burke image-quoting with you a-dev, find someone else.

 

[a-dev]

 

[JAWS]

Note: The following is JAWS' opinions about T2... In no way is JAWS trying to present this as fact.. Even though JAWS never lies, this is all based on his opinion.


Ok A-Dev... Just finished T2 and my opinion has not changed much I still find that T1 is light years beyond T2 as a story and as a film. One of my main reasons..... The Terminator has none... Not one.. Eye rolling moment. Dated effect aside (which both films suffer from) The original Terminator is a perfect thriller. Played straight and acted well. Our Hero's are people we care about and route for.

T2, for me anyways, has many goofy eye rolling moments. Humor that (at times) just does not work and an overacting Linda Hamilton and a beyond annoying Edward Furlong. But just annoying but poorly acted. Both of these things make him an unlikable hero IMO. I know he don't have a dad and was brought up like nobody can imagine but it's like Cameron went out of his way to make this kid a **** (like in the parking lot when the to guys came to his aid). It somewhat frustrating watching the film because there are times he is decent in it but there are more times he makes my skin crawl. Whether it be the way his character is written or how his performance is.

Not far behind him is Lind Hamilton who has some of the corniest lines in the whole series. I think I could handle them if she could deliver them better but it just comes across as overacting and false. The only reason I stay invested in her is because of my investment in her from the first film.

I also don't find much of the action all that exciting. Unlike the first film where there was always a threat you have a major action sequence in this film because our hero's have a Terminator on their side vs the cops.... We already know the cops don't stand a chance. So it sort of just feels like filler until the T1000 shows up.

I could go on about every line and scene that to me just does not work but I don't want to dump on the film because as a whole I still like it.

What I love about the film first and foremost is Arnold. I think he does a great job overall and other then his "I need a Vacation" line I think most of the humor based around him works. Throughout the film he plays the Terminator with just enough personality to make him more then just a robot but not too human.... He is great for most of the film until the "I know why you cry" ending which is just all sorts of bad IMO.

The T1000 is very cool. I love how Robert Patrick played him. He is no Arnold from the first Terminator but nor does he try to be and that works. The first 45 min of the film is the best. I like the first major chase scene in it and I love that here it is all these years later and I still think the T1000 is going to catch John Conner on his bike at the Mall parking lot lol The killing of John's foster family is classic also.

T2 also has one of my all time fav moments when Arnold gets out of the pick-up truck climbs up on the Rig and starts shooting the t1000 at point blank range and then forces the truck to flip... Great Stuff. I wish the film had a little more moments like that.

The Original Terminator is just a film that can't be made fun of IMO... Of course anyone could nit pick anything But I think the film still holds up very well today, despite it's financial limitations. The Humor (what little there is) comes naturally as opposed to one liners. The Action is still great. With all the money T2 had, IMO nothing compares in that film to the Tech Noir shoot out or the Cop station massacre. Add to the fact that Arnold was actually scary, the story was very original, the direction was great, the acting by the leads was very good, and that all the bit players were perfect (Lance Henriksen, Paul Winfield, **** Miller, Rick Rossovich - Yeah MATT!) and you have what is IMO a near perfect film.

T2 just has too many problems for me.

It is not the sequel / Remake that I use to think of it as. Though it has some lifted moments that Cameron wanted to redo it seems. The film has it's own ideas and it's own identity. FOR ME, I just don't get, and never will it seems, how people heap the praise on this film. Like I said I always found this one to be the most overrated of the series while the other two that follow were underrated... NOT BETTER mind you. They just seem to be given a lot of grief that T2 seems to get a pass for.

Personally for me... Cameron Peaked with The Terminator and ALIENS and has never gotten close to achieving that kind of greatness again.

Of course none of this matters as far as my opinion of the film goes. I am in no way saying fans of this film are wrong for loving this film. Just adding my thoughts since the discussion of the film got me in the mood to watch it.

T3 is next... Perhaps I will see this time what all the hate is about... I know last time I watched it seemed more flawed... But I always enjoy the action and I happen to love how the TX is played.

Anyways A-Dev I hope this did not come across as dumping on your film.. Feel free to think I am just as crazy for not loving this film as I feel you are for loving it

 

[JAWS]

I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. I certainly didn't think it was bad or anything. Not great, but good. I think I need to watch it again to really form an opinion on it.

So that famous eerie scratching on the chalkboard to make everyone shut up originated in JAWS it seems. I had no idea.

It's all about the characters my friend. They are all perfectly realized characters (including the Shark)

 

[DiFabio]

I could make fun of T1.

Sarah Connor and most of her scenes are corny as ****, "guard it for me, big buns"? Yeah, that's not eye roll inducing, horrible. Arnold in his punk get up and fruity hair cut in the beginning of the film looks goofy. He never looks "scary" until the eye brows are burned off, the hair is spiked and his arm and eye gets messed up. The homless vagrant is pretty silly, I've quoted his silliness a bunch of times. Michael Beihn is beyond over the top at times, especially when he has to talk during the action.

T1 has nothing we can make fun of? Ginger and Matt, nuff said.

 

[Khev]

Cameron Peaked with The Terminator and ALIENS and has never gotten close to achieving that kind of greatness again.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

What about Avatar? I thought that was his best movie yet!

 

[a-dev]

Thanks for that JAWS. That was a juicy post, demanding a response. Kinda under pressure here though as I really should be going to bed but I know that trying to type a reply in work tomorrow would be an intensely frustrating experience.

Well. No eye-rolling moments in T1? I dunno about that. It's hard for me to be objective about it because I don't just love T2, I also love T1. I don't even argue that T2 is better than T1. I argue against T1 elitism which comes across as dismissive of T2 and in some people's cases to the point that they rule T2 out of canon


T1 has lines like ''I came across time for you Sarah. I love you, I always have'' and ''In the few hours we had together, we loved a lifetime's worth''. How are these less cheesy than any of Sarah's lines in T2? If only Lar'ja had never seen these films before, he'd be able to tell us what we should cringe at but don't because of our nostalgia goggles

Speaking of Sarah's lines in T2 - much of what I'm guessing are considered the cheesier lines such as ''if a machine, a Terminator, can learn the value of human life maybe we can too'', those are narration. They're not gonna be casual, colloquial lines with no oomph of any kind. Perhaps they shouldn't have had Sarah narrating? But why not? It takes up where T1 left off with her making that tape for John. Furthermore if that line's offence is what it says about the T-800 - the T-800 didn't learn the value of human life. That was just Sarah projecting humanity onto a machine that was only reacting to various things it had observed and obeyed but felt nothing about. Hence T-800's own line ''I know now why you cry, but its something I can never do''. But it was permissible for sentimental Sarah to say this. Granted, perhaps Cameron could have dropped that final piece of narration altogether, was it strictly necessary given what had just gone before....maybe not. I'm trying to imagine the film jumping right into the credits after T-800's thumbsup hand disappears and you see Sarah comforting John. Maybe that could have been done.

As for her actual dialogue within the film, probably the standout piece is when she's lecturing Dyson - ''you think you're so creative, you don't know what its like to actually create a life, to feel it growing inside you'' - but Cameron was aware of how this line would come across and even has John interject with a rolleyes. This is simply how he deliberately wrote Sarah, and I'm not sure its inconsistent with T1 really. She doesn't completely become a hard@$$ ******, she carries forward female sentiments and so on.

The action is great. Does it seem more staged, contrived and showy? Yes. But the key thing is the hero is now a Terminator. He can do things and take risks that Kyle Reese wouldn't have been able to do. So it's not implausible in that way that the action gets bigger. He can speed his bike right up the inside of a truck that threatens to crush him into the wall. His machine brain can judge the relative speeds and know that he'll make it through etc etc. Is there less excitement because we know he's a machine and will come through alive? Why should there be less excitement? The hero character will always survive, human or not, as per the conventions of fiction. At least till the very end. You're supposed to just enjoy watching it happen.

That kinda brings me to another point - T2 as a blockbuster. Yes it is one, much moreso than T1. Many T1 advocates boast this as a victory in itself for T1, that T1's limited budget and constraints innately make it a superior film because....isn't that hip or something. Ehhh, I don't see why that ought to be so. It is the case with the Star Wars prequels when compared with the originals but that's because the SW prequels have sweet **** all else to redeem them pardon my language. They are crap films in almost every respect. Their higher production values just aren't enough and their portrayal of Anakin Skywalker, the main character, is just woeful. They utterly fail to convey what is supposed to be the 'tragic' turn to the dark side of said main character. Cameron knew what he was making with T2 and he achieved his goal spectacularly. Can that be denied? No. Even today it holds up as a blockbuster as much as T1 holds up as a lower budget horror/sci-fi. Why should T2 upping the ante be a bad thing where it apparently isn't a bad thing for Aliens? Why should there be any real problem with it as long as, just like Aliens, storywise and characterwise its pretty consistent with the original film? Aliens expands on the creature and the character of Ripley. T2 takes Sarah and the T-800 into new territory and it does so plausibly. Even Dr Silberman gets a great expanded role.


Some people just don't like Arnold playing the good guy, fine, but that doesn't mean it wasn't done well. You can simply have a preference for what you want to see. Arnold as villain Terminator - watch T1. Arnold as reprogrammed Terminator - watch T2.

All the one-liners - true T2 started it (which T3 unfortunately felt the need to continue and so will T5 most likely) but as I've always said T2 has a plausible reason to have the T-800 coming out with this stuff. He's under the instruction of a 10 year old boy.
T-800 not killing? - happenstance that he didn't kill anyone up until he was about to kill the jocks. It can be rationalised. The fact that its not what one might have preferred is incidental to the fact that there is nothing wrong or contradictory in how it plays out. You can still prefer T1 for its killing but it is not grounds for dismissing T2 as part of the canon or anything. (not saying you're doing that JAWS but other people do) Khev did have an interesting point about how Cameron could have made T2 more edgy if in fact the T-800 DID kill people at the bar only to subsequently be ordered not to do it anymore. Maybe, but - I guess this goes without saying - that it didn't play like this doesn't bother me in the slightest. Cameron didn't want to blur the good guy/bad guy lines to that extent. He was making a summer blockbuster sequel, capitalising on Arnold's by then major star power. The movie had 2 major gimmicks - Arnold's Terminator playing the hero role and Robert Patricks T-1000 and all the amazing new special effects that character brought (much as the T-800 effects were new back in '84). Plus the T-1000, as the villain, killed plenty of people in violent ways. Lucas done ****ed up in a big way. Cameron didn't. He made exactly what he wanted to make and audiences responded exactly how he wanted them to respond. T1 and T2 are both excellent at what they are. There is no 'best' really. There is ''I prefer''.


Anyway, tis late. Actually its early.