hmm, I actually like Charade, and would say it's better than To Catch A Theif, which has the same sort of thiller/comedy hybrid. I admit that there are a few exchanges between Grant and Hepburn that seem forced or badly written, but overall I liked it. Especially for some of the amusing supporting characters, like Walter Matthau and Jacques Marin.

I guess I agree with you in that it's not as good as Hitchcock's best, like Rear Window, but that's a pure thriller and so it's going to be more thrilling. 

I was thinking more North by Northwest than Rear Window.

Also, I actually preferred To Catch a Thief. I just found the writing funnier although admittedly Charade's much better in the thriller department. Overall, I liked Charade too. 

My first real taste of european cinema apart from the recent bunch of popular french films and Run Lola Run.

It was certainly very different and the first half was definitely quite excellent. But after halfway, the story just seems to plod along and the characters lost my empathy. The music was great as was the direction but IMHO the script was sevrely lacking in the second half. 

I've just finished watching the new film by Wong Kar Wai and I would add this film to my list now. Brilliant combination of visuals and music to create a mysterious and enchanting mood. It has its flaws as the script looks as if it was unfinished but the direction and acting are great. 

Nitin, there was no script... Or rather, there was, but WKW is always changing stuff at the last minute, or just improvising completely, which explains why the flow can seem a bit strange at times in his films. 

yeah I realise that but in comparison, ITMFL still seemed more cohesive and felt like a script. But I still liked 2046 a lot. 

Too bad Netflix doesn't seem to have it. 

Netflix have many asian films at all?? 

well I dont think there's been a US theatrical release yet, so there wont be a R1 DVD for a while. I imported mined from Asia. 

Yeah! They have Jackie Chan's Shanghai Noon!

But seriously, they have more anime series than I care to watch. Perhaps a better example is that they have Vampire Hunter D, but not Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

I was actually a little surprised they didn't have 2046 since you all seem to think it was good, but since nitin says there hasn't been an R1 release, that would explain it.

Furthermore, I'm a bit disappointed they don't have the movie Stalker based on the Strugatskys' novel. That's a movie I definitely want to see, but I'm not sure I want to spend $45 and buy it from Amazon. 

I'm sure there are plenty of very good asian films they don't have. =)
Do they even have In the Mood for Love, and did you see it? 

Yes, they have it. No, I have not seen it. 

If you had the sligthest interest in seeing 2046, just get ITMFL for now instead, its really the same kind of film (except better in my opinion)...
Oh, and if you don't like ITMFL, chances are you won't like 2046 either. 

there's nothing wrong with Shanghai Noon... I find it very entertaining and enjoyable. The sequel is even better. Can't wait for Ong Bak to come out on DVD. And it's rumored Tony Jaa and Jackie Chan are gonna do a movie together - spooge. 

Playtime - Not hilarious, but always amusing french film. The extended restuarant sequence is very well handled. But the most striking aspect has to be the extremelly well composed shots, the use of space is the best I've seen since I viewed Kurosawa's Ran. 

Looks nice with one or two nice fights, like the bamboo forest scene, but the screenplay is an utter mess. The story and characters are not good enough to merit the ponderous visual style. 

Strugatskys' novel

Read it, by any chance? 

No, I haven't. I might be able to find it at the uni library. Maybe I'll look for it. 

Definitely recommend it. Part of the enjoyment comes from the fact that nobody knows what has happened exactly, they just see the results. Light reading, unlike some Russian works.

And there's supposedly an RPG coming out, based on the book. 

Well isn't the game Stalker based on that book a bit? 

I read it. It's great. Once I started to read it I couldn't get out of it.

Chapter 3 was the most awesome, especialy the scene where they treat zombie-father as a real man.

I haven't seen the movie, but it's old and I'm not sure that it is good. I think reading the book is much more intertaining. 

saw this ingmar bergman film last night and was completely blown away by it. It's about as structurally perfect as a film could be and when you combine that with the excellent performances and the extremely understated yet very compelling tone, it's hard not to be impressed. 

hmm, I'm no horror buff but this french film is one of the most stylish, taut and efficient horror/slasher movies that I have come across. Its shot extremely well, acted quite well, and is reasonably intelligently plotted.

BUT, it has one of the most ridiculous third acts ever. If it finished up 15 mins before its actual running time, the paragraph above would be all that you would need to say. But the 'twist' is so bullshit that it completely degrades the quality of what preceded it. This is a perfect example of how an otherwise fine film completely implodes due to a badly written ending. 

M Hulot's Holiday - Not a fan of slapstick but after enjoying Playtime, I thought I should give the other Tati films a go. Didnt do much to change my opinion of slapstick, though it's a pleasant time passer. The score is outstanding though. 

http://www.bereitsgesehen.de/doombild.jpg

Where's the chunky green armor?!