Yeah, I watched that with my girlfriend, and neither of us understood it the same way, definatly some strange story telling... But yeah, a nice film. 

question you on your take of the plot, but here is probably not the best place in the rare case someone else here wants to indulge in this piece of horror. 

The Devil's Backbone - I liked Del Toro's work in Blade II and bits of Hellboy so I thought I'd check out what's considered his best and personal favorite film.

Nice story but this is not a horror/thriller as it is marketed. The acting/directing and cinematography is first rate. The problem lies with the melding of the supernatural story to the more normal civil war story. It just doesnt click together as well as it should. Still, it's well worth checking out.


Thieves Highway - Quite classy film noir from Jules Dassin. The acting and story are first rate but it falters quite badly towards the end.


Nine Queens - Recently remade by Hollywood as 'Criminal', this recent Argentinian con film is quite enjoyable. The decent performances cover up some glaring holes in the plot which is also a bit too contrived to achieve its twist ending. It doesnt help that its made really obvious that there's a bigger con game at work than what's shown onscreen.


The Emperor and the Assassin - Another take on the tale told more recently in Hero, one thats meant to be more faithful. It features some excellent cinematography and impressive 'real' battle scenes along with some good acting at times. Unfortunately, the script is a terrible mess trying to cover way too much and rushing many key scenes. The all over the place approach is not aided by some clunky directing either. Still, it's very watchable despite all this due to the sheer presence of Gong Li and the actor that played the Emperor.


Belle de Jour - Interesting is probably the best way to describe this film. Too enigmatic in some parts, too obvious in others but it still has something that just draws you in. Will probably have to rewatch but even after first viewing, it's recommended.


Out of the Past - Double Indemnity and Maltese Falcon aside, this is the definitive film noir. Terrific dialogue and some very cool performances from Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Jane Greer. The cinematography is also extremely well done. 

But I've never thought the Maltese Falcon was really that good. Petrified Forest, now that is more like it in the classic Noir tradition. 

...understated, inventive magic. 

that was great stuff! 

It was at the Sundance a while ago and I always meant to see it but never did until now. I was expecting a social commentary and instead got 40% commentary and 60% love story. A fucked up love story, but one none the less. I would recommend it.

Also, if I were being hunted, I would probably go with some sort of semi-automatic sniper rifle hidden somewhere, a pump-action shotgun, an automatic handgun with extended magazine, and a small crowbar. 

Hooray, the nearby theatre is having it's own Pasolini festival at the end of june. showcasing all of his movies over a 2 week period (some are played multiple times) and finishing off with the appropriate 'Salo: 120 days of sodom'

bit of irony, Pasolini was murdered by a gay prostitute when that film was released. However the film, while I don't think I could honestly "recommend" someone watch it, I do think it should be seen. I guarantee it will be the hardest feature length film you will ever sit through. Half the theatre walked out during it, and these were people expecting the worst.

If you can bring a date. 

to see a repeat performance of the last time you ripped on Pasolini. It is mind boggling how often he comes up as a subject.

I guarantee it will be the hardest feature length film you will ever sit through.

Nah. The documentary made in the eighties on nuclear war with footage of test pigs squeeling and the aftermath of Hiroshima makes mere shit eating perversions look like mere shit eating perversions. 

No offence Headthump but I think you may have missed the point. The people who were being forced to eat the shit and bathe in it weren't actually "into" the practice. 

I would watch the nuclear war documentary, because i'm sure it will be thought-provoking and educational (being based on real-world events and all).

Salo is just fictional snuff showing a bunch of teenagers getting raped, mutilated and forced to eat their own poo. 

I'm pretty sure that that was the title. 

i saw that. 

just fictional snuff showing a bunch of teenagers getting raped, mutilated and forced to eat their own poo?

pfft, thats so ZZzzz
really, I thout there is more to 'Salo' 

The Killing - Fabulous film noir by Stanley Kubrick, I'm surprised that this doesnt get a mention amongst his best films. It's far better than his later work like The Shining and Full Metal Jacket. Spot on acting and very confident and assured direction.


Sideways - Quite an enjoyable film with some very funny moments counterbalanced with strong characters and situations. Only thing holding it back from greatness is an overlong running time, 20 mins shorter would have been perfect for the story at work here.


Days of Being Wild - I've been trying to get a hold of wong kar wai's earlier films after liking his last 2 films a lot. This is considered his best early period film but I really cant see why. The screenplay is very weak, even for his standards, and the mood the he so heavily relies on just does not come across here. Very disappointing. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - It's too stagey with too many rough spots and a weak ending to be entitled great, but when it fires, it does so on all cylinders. There's enough brilliant acting and moments in this film to overcome the shortcomings.


Night and The City - A little weak at the start and an even weaker end but the rest is very very good. Another very solid film noir by Jules Dassin. 

...did you happen to catch the Kubrick festival and associated doco's on SBS recently? I think I preferred the doco's in the end (The Killing was featured highly in one). Kubrick rules, but in short doses with long gaps in between. 

I really liked Sideways too. Adult comedies of the Wes Anderson vain are more likely to get me in the theaters than any other genre.

Giamati's (spelling correct?)acting was a first rate job. So good in fact, he took a character I would probably loathe in real life (wine sniffer who steals from his mother) and he makes the character very sympathetic.

I saw Life Aquatic last week, but was too drunk to remember anything but a vague feeling that it was all an homage to Fellini (The camera followed Bill Murray, who played a fustrated genius while nutso-quirkos aggraviated the hell out of him, kind of like 9&1/2 or Fellini's Poe short). 

didnt see the kubrick festival since I own or have seen most the stuff anyway (with the exception of spartacus, lolita and eyes wide shut). I did see the doco though, interesting but not as good as scorscese's doco shown recently.

Headthump,

yeah he was a prick done really well wasnt he? Same for his friend, I thought. I havent seen Fellini's stuff yet, although I have 8 1/2, amarcord, la dolce vita and la strada lying around.

Too much to see, not enough time now that there's full time work :( 

Yeah, but i think the best comedies often involve characters that are simultaneously sympathetic and detestable. This way you want them to succeed, but you can also laugh at their misfortune. John Cleese in Fawlty Towers is a great example of this.

Nitin: The Killing is one of my favorites from Kubrick. It feels so modern in the storytelling, editing, etc. that it obviously was the ancestor of may more recent crime movies. 

yeah but Sidewyas worked as a dram too, it wasnt an all out comedy, therefore needing the character to be more sympathetic than detestable.

And yeah, first thing that popped into my head after seeing the killing was Reservoir Dogs. 

"There is no possibility of of release here, no chance of escape. This place will be your holding pen till your death, because death is the only way out of here. You are condemned - either accept it, or die."

"Welcome to Central Industrial, part of Correctional Services ever-expanding network of new-generation facilities, dedicated to the goal of humane containment."

Both on seperate and equally PHAT drum'n'bass tracks - they might belong to some right shite films tho =/.

There's another one I wanted ided but I forget... 

second one's from :

Ghosts...of the Civil Dead 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095217/ 

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=10032

Vin Diesel will star as Agent 47 in 20th Century Fox's upcoming adaptation of Hitman, the best-selling video game franchise from Eidos and developer IO Interactive.

Diesel also will serve as executive producer. Charles Gordon and Adrian Askarieh are producing through their respective companies, Daybreak Productions and Prime Universe Productions. Daniel Alter will co-produce.

The game's story centers on an international assassin known as Agent 47 who works for a mysterious organization dubbed the Agency. The first three games in the franchise have sold more than 10 million units. Eidos plans to release another sequel, "Hitman: Blood Money," this fall.

"'Hitman' is a project that by the virtue of its DNA can and will reach far beyond its already substantial core audience," Askarieh said. "The canvas on which this adventure takes place is something that movie audiences have embraced for the last 40 years. We obviously are delighted to have Vin Diesel on board, too -- he and Agent 47 are a match made in heaven (HELL)."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! That baby-faced bulky fuck is NOT 47! Fuckdammit.

***** video game movies.