Reply With QuoteI think that pretty much sums it up, Thirith. There could have been a lot more done with the premise than actually ended up being addressed on-screen.
It was a decent date movie, but not fantastic.
From the trailers, Surrogates looks a lot like one of those films with a cool premise that starts well but is then used for tired, generic action sequences.Originally Posted by Matthew
Was it a good date movie, though? (Or did you go and see it with your daughter/niece/godchild?)
I think that pretty much sums it up, Thirith. There could have been a lot more done with the premise than actually ended up being addressed on-screen.
It was a decent date movie, but not fantastic.
Surrogates had a great idea but it was used for a rubbish plot. It's crap, and believe me I wanted to like it.
Seems there are a fair few "avatar" films kicking about atm. Surrogates, Gamer and obviously Avatar.
This.
I rewatched Jaws recently. God, whatever happened to the Spielberg who did that movie and Raiders of the Lost Ark? I'd love to see that guy making more films, not tired old Steven who's still got the technical skills but his films nowadays simply lack the energy and sense of fun IMO.
What, you don't think that Crystal Skull was a hilarious and brilliant glimpse into the gleeful past?
(sarcasm present)
About Surrogates, saw it yesterday - cool concept, and quite well executed in all, but it does bring in some really tired cliches and the plot tends to go off on one. The ending in particular fists itself, essentially glorifying an act of mass subversion of personal freedom despite the movie having failed to supply a truly sound justification for it, and instead relying on the audience to mindlessly swallow the old anti-techno bullshit hook, line, and sinker. I wouldn't call it altogether crap, I found it an interesting enough watch and don't regret the cinema ticket, but I am genuinely disappointed by the plot and its more outstanding HURR DURR moments. I did expect a lot better, though in retrospect I guess I should've seen it coming.
And Gamer. I saw it two nights ago. Now, Gamer is a poor movie. It really is. But, it's high points are absolutely superb. I'm referring in particular to the Second Life satire, which is simply delicious. Otherwise, while the core concept - people playing other people - is solid, fresh and really worth exploring further, in my opinion, everything that comes on top of that is either poor or piss poor. The plot they develop is poorly structured, inconsistent and often illogical, the characters are stereotypical and underdeveloped, and, for a movie based on videogames, it's woefully tame in its action sequences. Surprisingly or not, it really didn't strike me as really trying to go apeshit and vilify games or gamers, unless you wanna count Second Life, and I'm guessing most of us don't.
You know, it's quite amazing, but Gamer really is a bad movie that I can recommend. I'm not unhappy with having seen it at the cinema, but you may want to play it safe and wait until you can rent it. I think it's worth a shot not because it's so bad it's good, not the case, but because despite being overall bad, I found bunch of individual moments to be either good or entertaining enough to make up for it.
I finished watching the Stargate Universe pilot. I wasn't too impressed with the first half, but then it showed promise near the end. I've just got a few complaints/things I felt I should point out. Note the spoiler tags.
First of all, it just seems like the young Lieutenant is a mixture of personalities. Maybe he's realistic in that sense, but one moment he's the compassionate one, then he's the anxious asshole soldier, then he's the patient leader... it just all seemed to conflict so much, like they couldn't decide what his personality should be.
Second, why did the Senator have to sacrifice himself? To close the door, the Scottish smart-man pushed a single button. Why didn't they use one of those remote ball things to bump into the button to close the door? That seemed like an obvious solution to me.
On that note, the brilliant people on the show seemed a bit slow to me. That is, yeah, they knew it all (as long as "it all" wasn't specified), but they weren't too clever outside of fulfilling the smart guy role. For instance, taking forever to realize that the remote cameras were for scouting other planets.
I just hope that the show's creators can be extra-creative, because, considering they are many GALAXIES away, there should be NOTHING, and I mean absolutely NOTHING that resembles human familiarity in any way. That is, no recognizable plants, animals, and absolutely NO humanoids, or if there are, then not just humans with pointy ears. They had an excuse as to why people they met in SG-1 were humans, and why the planets looked so similar to Earth, but that's not at all valid several galaxies away, particularly when they're at a place that the Ancients never reached.
Thoughts?
Thoughts? It's far too early to tell. None of the characters have found their feet yet and it's not clear how even the "Scottish smart-man" (i.e. Robert Carlyle) will develop in the role.
For the situation you refer to: Yes, using a kino would have been an obvious solution - but so would other options (sealing the hole in other ways, closing other bulkheads).
For me, they don't have to go out of their way to make everything different. As long as they make it interesting, put thought into the plot and don't treat the viewer like an idiot then I'll watch.
Thanks for your thoughts about Gamer, Ostriig. I suspect that my cousin will drag me out to see that fairly shortly, so at least I know it'll be tolerable!
No worries! Just don't set your bar to high and be prepared to snooze during the last half hour, and you should be fine.
Anyone else watching Dexter Season 4? I'm really enjoying it thusfar.
Oh, and last night's Fringe/Flash Forward episodes were both very strong. I'm slowly coming around to FF.
What the shit its started already?
Ja, FF is a must look for me now. Saw 10 minutes of Ep1 and it looked like it had promise.
Surrogates. Keep the idea, get P.K.Dick (yes I KNOW!) or J.G.Ballard to do the script. These guys take a concept and get to the frikking meat and bones of it. Need more sci-fi like this. I submit Androids and, ahem allow me to splurg before I type this, The Drowned World as evidence. If idiots didn't get their hands on good ideas and screw them up sci-fi might actually not be considered so geeky because lets face it its the ideas, the concepts that sci-fi fans like, but (as with everything) its only some that appreciate the deeper and more subtle aspects of it (Stargate's popularity as a case in point against sensible appreciation).
Just got to the first (only i guess) season finale of Jericho
IF YOU DON'T USE THE GODDAMN TANK I WILL KICK YOU ALL IN THE BALLS
There's a 2nd season, though that seems to be the end of it sadly.
Second season of Jericho is far different than the first, though, unfortunately, as it was a temporary resurrection after near-cancellation, only to be canceled for good.
I saw the third episode (that is, first non-pilot episode) of SG-U. I appreciate the serial nature (as I'm a big fan of Lost, Babylon 5, and other similar long, ever-building sci-fi series). I still feel that the Lieutenant's personality is a bit all over the place, only compounded by his new revelation of having been given to the church to raise, yet having no problem with casual sex in the pilot, nor any other indication that he had any religious affiliations in the least. I'm quickly liking the Scottish character, though, who has already shown himself to be complicated in that one cannot be sure if he's trustworthy or not--is he doing things his way and covering them up with lies, or is he just a very suspicious-acting anti-hero of sorts? Whatever the case may be, I'm already fascinated to see how he will turn out. Excellent work on his character, for what it's worth.
Just watched Session 9 after trying to get hold of it for 5 years. (Blame the Cradle.)
David Caruso says the F word and it's all downhill from there. I don't quite know what I was expecting, but what it might've been lacking in a few areas, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. Good movie, I liked it.
That film is done by the same guy who did The Machinist and he's certainly got knack for creating an eiree atmosphere. His latest (well, 2008) film Transsiberian looks like a might be one that delivers on the characters/plot as well as the atmosphere. I haven't been able to track it down yet though, but you might want to check it out.
Heh, you know, I tried to get hold of The Machinist for 5 years too. I guess this guy's films are just plain impossible to find sometimes.
Just watched the pilot episode of Life on Mars (BBC version). My mini-review is here, but basically, while it had some issues, it was promising and I will definitely continue watching the series.
Other than that, haven't seen much - I tend to watch movies with people and haven't found any movie-watching buddies here. I imagine I'll get over this and just start solituding the library viewing rooms soon enough (as Goldsmiths has a nice DVD selection, include a number of films I've been wanting to see for a while, like Pierrepoint and Burn After Reading).
Life on Mars is worth sticking with. With only 16 episodes in total across two series it won't take too long to get through if you've got them on a DVD set or similar.
Just one comment on your review - The programme is set in Manchester not London. The follow-up series "Ashes to Ashes" is set in London and carries forward several of the original cast.
So that's the 4th episode of Flash Forward seen.
And it's still only just about there.
The idea is so much better than the program but the program does just enough to grab the attention.
Too contrived though. And trying too hard.
I'll still keep trying, hoping against hope it fulfils its promise.
Dexter, The Wire, Lost, it certainly aint,
Don't bother. Its overhyped.
Watched both seasons (nearly) of Flight of the Conchords. Season 2 is probably funnier jokes-wise, although Season 1 has more songs (some of which don't hit the mark).
Recently I saw The Hangover which felt pretty damn slow for a short movie and average for a comedy, the only real exception being that Zach Gaflianaksiassiis should be in a lot of movies as the random crazy dude.
Season 1's songs were from their original stage repertoire/shows that they spent the previous how-ever-many years writing. That explains a few things right there.
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