Avatar 3D - Visuals are nice overall, although the live action stuff looks pants in 3d, the depth of field is not right at all and is pretty distracting. But the fully cgi 3d stuff is definitely impressive, the highlight being the dragon flying sequence midway through.

But the scripting, especially the dialogue, is downright atrocious. Think first half of Titanic but delivered by worst actors.

5.5-6/10 

delivered by w�rst actors. 

Why did I even bother watching one of the new Scrubs episodes? Now I have to watch them all. They are super super super crap. Save yourself the pain. 

I have exactly the same problem.

And yeh, they're so bad it makes my eyes bleed... 

They're ok. I mean it really isn't the same show, but you know, they try.







Ah yeah it's pretty awful. :( 

was it ever good (ducks for cover)? 

I had the off chance to view this movie over the Christmas holiday and liked it. While it is not the most compelling story, it is visually interesting and imaginative. Found out later the same day that Tim Robbins (who starred in it) and Susan Sarandon split. I need to remind myself give her a call ;-) 

I've worked out why there wasn't a prison series in The Wire.

Watch Oz, it's very, very good. Not as good as The Wire, but pretty close (and a remarkable number of the same actors). About halfway through series 2 atm and absolutely loving it. I fully reccommend. 

Also, Lost fans can have good fun people spotting while watching it. Michael in a wheelchair with dreads being my favourite ;) 

I intend to eventually catch up on. 

but having finally caught up with most of 2009's releases (that I wanted to see), I was ready to declare that there was no legitimately great film from last year.

But then I saw Up last night, and it was exhilarating. The best Pixar have done since Toy Story 2 and also the best film of the year. 

Not least with District 9 + Slumdog Millionare + Watchmen...

Although a brief round-up of 2009 would be entertaining. 

I like all those a lot but wouldnt count them as all time great films, Up easily makes the cut though.

My rough top 10 for the year (Slumdog is 2008) would be something like:

Up
Public Enemies
Flame and Citron
In the Loop
Three Monkeys
The Hurt Locker
Watchmen
District 9
Star Trek
A Serious Man

There's a few more that I want to see that could easily displace at least the last one (Where the Wild Things Are, Up in the Air, The Road). 

IMO Slumdog is all time great but okay 2008. Watchmen I think is a bit too specialist, I thought it was great but I can see how some people wouldn't. District 9 I stand by ;).

Give us some predictions for 2010 word. 

...rewind to 2006, selecta...

My Top Pick For 2006

#1784 posted by nitin [124.191.216.47] on 2007/02/14 22:30:05
would be The Prestige, marginally ahead of Inside Man, Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men.


Well, we agree that The Prestige is bloody good then :). I FINALLY got around to seeing it the other day, and it was a mighty classy film with a particularly good escalation of intensity. I do think it's value (and 2006 positioning ahead/behind Pan's Labyrinth) depends quite a bit on whether one has read the book (it's Christopher Priest's classy tale, BTW): If one HAS read the book then it's a good film, if one HASN'T read the book then it's a great film, as it does rely on the classy tale (which isn't that much diluted AFAIK, and I forgot one of the twists anyway).

All good stuff. 

but with adaptations I dont try to take the book into account. Case in point is LOTR, great great books, not as great films in comparison but easily great films in their own right.

As for 2010, I'm tipping Inception to rock since Christopher Nolan's record speaks for itself (Memento, Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Prestige and Insomnia).

And Shutter Island could also be cool if Scorsese is in the right frame of mind. 

Inglorious Basterds, that was a good movie IMO. Better than Star Trek. Which I liked too, but not as much :D 

yeah Nolan is amazing - have you seen his first film "Following"? It's really good, shot for $3,000, and it really displays the sort of template for his "smart guys plotting against each other" type of script.

I can hardly wait to see him do something resembling the scifi of 10 years ago with Inception. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSyQ3K0xnYg

I concur. 

What's so damn good about slumdog? I'd much rather place it in most over rated movie instead of any kind of best of. 

Slumdog is excellent but I wouldnt call it a great film personally.

Tronyn, been trying to get my hands on a decent dvd of Following for a while now. I think one's due out this year sometime so will keep hoping.

As for IB, my comments are above, but basically good movie hampered by poor pacing and a shit ending. 

anyone seen the french horror film Maryrs? If so, thoughts?

I initially thought it was very good for the first 2/3 but then bit off more than it could chew. But it has stuck in my head for two weeks now and that doesnt happen all that often. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY

Just read the book, didn't like the writing style BUT it's still a very good book, captivating, grim, and gripping. The film looks rather good and mostly looks very true to the book and atmosphere EXCEPT for hyping up the human conflict in it. I reckon it will be a good un.

On the polar opposite end of the scale, Slumdog, well it was stylish, well filmed, great soundtrack, good blend of Asian / Western styles, some good little touches throughout, and overall just really entertaining. 

his last film, The Proposition, was very nice. Looking forward to it. 

Over rated. I pretty much agree with you regarding the last third of the movie - some great parts up until then, but the end was pretty goofy - Then again, I don't like it when Horror movies get too ambitious - they always seem pedantic when that happens.

When it comes to french horror, I definitely prefer Inside.

PS - boo slumdog. seriously.