atom bomb?
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megoobee — 12 years ago(June 10, 2013 08:37 PM)
Cowboys and AliensThat movies was absolutely terrible. There is nothing redeeming that comes to mind about that movie.
Independence Day was a rehash of War of the Worlds (1953) complete with invincible shields and death by virus. While it was fun to watch, it was nothing special.
I don't know if you saw Battleship, if you didn't, I suggest you don't. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(June 11, 2013 09:47 PM)
Haha yeah ID was ok, but they are making 1, 2 and 3 of it AFAIK so that should be cool
I saw the new War of the Worlds, and it wasn't very good IMO.
I actually saw Battleship. Wanted to see the vfx in that movie and the water effects were nice. I was also researching about water with air for added realism, so that actually helped to see. But story, acting, etc was very bad. I liked the scene where he wanted to run the ship into the alien ship. That was cool.
Also the Day the Earth Stood Still, I thought that was interesting. Not great but that Gort character was very cool.
Which now also reminded me Knowing. I thought that was a great movie. I know some people didn't like it because of religious tones, but I found the story pretty dramatic. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(June 13, 2013 01:34 AM)
IMO, Knowing would have been better off as a thriller or horror movie. The first 3/4 of the movie was spooky as hell, it really played with your mind. The last quarter of the movie was a disappointment though. I found it impossible to believe that an alien intelligence, no matter how advance could predict all of those events. However, with the supernatural, such things would be plausible and would have fit the story better.
I thought the ending was hokey especially when the aliens reverted to their true appearance. For a few seconds, they looked like angels with wings when they were carrying the children away. And depositing the children alone one a new planet, one male, one female..I won't go there.
I think you can count me in as one of folks not appreciating the metaphysical overtone of the end. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(June 22, 2013 04:04 PM)
I see what you mean, you have a point. I didn't know how they knew all those events. The solar eclipse prediction is plausible but others are hard.
I wouldn't like it if it went supernatural in the end though. The very end showing the new planet wasn't very good, but near the end when everyone was on the street that was great. Classical music really enhanced it IMO. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(June 23, 2013 09:17 PM)
I think it is fair to say that Knowing had the potential of being an entertaining film. They did a good job building up the suspense and mystery but then fell flat on how to end the story.
They created questions and no answers with the ending. So the aliens followed the events of the Earth for 50 years up until the last day to pluck these particular children off - why? If they knew the world was coming to the end, wouldn't any set of children work?
Regarding the decision to only save children, did they pass judgement on the human race? If that's the case, why bother to intervene if they had such a low opinion of mankind?
If that was not the case, why didn't they try to round up educated people such as doctors, scientists, teachers, etc. who would be needed to help rebuild life somewhere else?
I didn't think anything of it until I starting analyzing it now. Now I have doubts that the aliens are as benign and benevolent as they seem. Children obviously can't care for themselves so the aliens will be raising and educating them. So what will become of them, hm? -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(June 30, 2013 02:56 PM)
Good points, I never thought about that. I guess like you said they didn't think it much further than that. I particularly like scenes that have commercial airlines. That shot was pretty good IMO.
I also don't like that main character woman Cage was trying to meet. IMO she is a very bad actress and very annoying in this movie, Troy and Xmen First Class. Not sure if you have seen them but all equally annoying character who thinks she knows it all.
I loved when Cage was talking to her on the phone near the end and she says the caves would be safer lol. Cage really showed her when he said the radiation will penetrate a kilometer into Earth's crust, yet she still doesn't listen. Smh. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(July 03, 2013 11:41 PM)
Yeah, she was pretty annoying towards the end. She sought Cage out (how she wound up at his front door without knowing his address is an obvious loop hole) after coming to terms that him knew what he was talking about. Then she loses all faith in him and runs off. Eh? Who was the mental giant who decided to do that? It's like they ran out of ideas and threw darts at a bunch of ideas.
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leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(July 04, 2013 04:53 PM)
Haha yes. But I like just like a lot of women, when you first meet her, she seemed really nice. She only got angry because of his intentions, fair enough. But then her crazy side was out of control.
I also liked the additions to the story about his wife, when he looks at the present while Beethoven was playing, was pretty dramatic.
Also the part about determinism vs non-determinism was interesting. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(July 06, 2013 09:14 PM)
I think we've beat "Knowing" to death, time to move on to another subject. A new alien attack movie entitled "Pacific Rim" is being released next week. Not sure if you've caught the trailers and previews but from what I've seen so far, it looks like a video game. Seriously, giant robots controlled by guys jumping around inside like they're playing Wii. If and when we get to the level of technology capable of building giant bipedal weaponized robots, I'm fairly sure they will be computer controlled. At least it appears that the aliens are not immune to Earth's weapons like in Skyline but the CGI battle scenes seems to be along the lines of "Transformers."
Not sure if I want to pay $12 bucks to see it, if it flops, it'll be on DVD by the end of the year. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(July 07, 2013 07:59 AM)
I didn't see the trailers because people were saying it shows too much. I feel like it's gonna be better than Battleship but maybe along the lines of Transformers like you said.
ILM does it really good, so it will be good to watch I think. I am still waiting Iron Man 3 to hit blu-rays though. I hear it's very good and even though I am not a comic book guy, I really liked Iron Man series. I am glad they are spending a lot of time and money for this universe, like Thor, Capt America, Iron Man, Avengers, etc. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(July 11, 2013 08:16 PM)
I think you might be right, I've seen at least 3 trailers and they might be showing way too much. That's one of the reasons why I don't have high expectations, why do they need to promote it so much?
I found Inglourious Basterds really disappointing movie because they showed all most all of the scenes involving the Basterds during the previews. That and the fact we were led to believe that the film was going to revolve around the Basterds when in fact, they were only a side story.
Back on the subject of Sci-Fi, one of my all time favorites of the genre is ALIENS. It has truly stood the test of time, released in 1986 and still enjoyable 27 years later. Sure the special effects is primitive compared to movies now but ALIENS didn't depend on them for wow factor. The scene with Ripley and Newt having a serious discussion and Hudson and Burke carrying on simultaneously in the background after their drop ship crashed is pure genius. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(July 18, 2013 09:22 PM)
I am still looking forward to Pacific Rim, just to see the vfx and what not.
IB wasn't very good. I liked Django though.
Actually I am not sure what it is but I don't like Aliens. Maybe it's because I remember seeing them as a kid and don't remember too much except the gory, "disgusting" alien scenes. I don't like insect like beings shown in detail though. For example Starship Troopers don't do that.
I had the same feeling with Total Recall because of gory scenes. But after seeing it again when I was grown up, I thought it was actually good. In fact the Mutant song played an important role for me to get into 3d animation.
Even though I work in vfx, I don't think vfx alone can make a movie but rather as a multiplier. So if the film is good, it can make it great, etc IMO. Case in point Final Fantasy [2001] where they focused so much on looks but nothing else. Even games from 6-7 years ago look better than it. So what else does it have now if not looks, nothing. Very bad movie IMO.
On the same point Terminator 2 still looks very good, and I don't know any other movie that could pack so much action and still have great story. I have the Skynet/Sunshine Edition that I want to see. Especially if you think about that they shot those extra scenes more than 20 years ago. So there is no way to go back and get more footage but see what they shot. It amazes me so much. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(July 22, 2013 12:26 AM)
Funny you mention that you are a fan of Terminator 1 and 2 and not so much of Aliens. All 3 of those movies were directed by James Cameron who in my opinion has made some of the best action movies ever, past or present. Now that it's confirmed that he is directing Terminator 5, it will be interesting to see if he will be able to breath some new life into the the franchise.
I was indifferent towards "Total Recall." It's not one of Arnold's best work in my opinion and he didn't really seem to fit the role.
In regards to "Starship Troopers", those of us who are fans of Robert Heinlein's book had a hard time accepting the movie. Other than the war with the bugs, there was nothing in common with the two stories. In the book, the Troopers wore powered battle armor which made them stronger and faster than regular soldiers. As a science fiction aficionado, I would have loved seeing the battle armor in action (something like what the Master Chief wears in Halo but without the need for biological enhancements)
You are right CGI though. As much as Avatar wowed me with the eye candy, the story was fairly blah and predictable. Speaking of predictable, does Michele Rodriguez play any other roles except the tough female? (I digress) -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(July 25, 2013 07:49 PM)
James Cameron is definitely a great director. I didn't know he is directing T5. I will look forward to that. 3 & 4 is a joke IMO. 1 is ok but 2 is brilliant.
I never actually read movie books, so I don't know the differences. I also like it though because if you don't know the books then it feels brand new to me since I never even heard the story.
Michele Rodriguez is always the same
Avatar wasn't good either. I am looking forward Elysium though. Btw Neill Blomkamp is also a VFX artist. I don't know other directors who are, and IMO this gives him an edge especially in effects heavy sci-fi films. He is a genius. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(July 28, 2013 03:07 PM)
T3 was terrible because they made all sorts of changes to details that altered the continuity from T1 and T2. It was as if the T3 team decided to rewrite the background to suit their version. In a franchise that involves a story arc, you can't change important details such as John Connor's age, historic reference points, naming nomenclature of the Terminators, etc.
While on the subject of Terminators, T-X was supposed to be the most advanced Terminator - Wrong, T-1000 was much more advanced. T-X was merely liquid metal over a solid frame. T-1000 could completely liquify which enable it to change its shape to suit any situation.
The T-X was fragile to say the least. The antiquated T-101 in the first movie was struck by a by a semi-truck at full speed on the freeway. It emerged from under the truck and commandeered the vehicle. That truck, including its load of gas was blown up later with the T-101 inside. The T-101 picked itself up (sans artificial flesh) and continued the chase with a broken leg. The T-1000 was completely flash frozen by nitrogen and blown into million of pieces - It reassembled itself later and continued the fight.
In comparison, the T-X was a mangled wreck after being hit by a helicopter piloted by the T-850. At that point, it was barely able to crawl and was easily defeated by the T-850.
T-Salvation. What a crock. John wasn't doing much rebel leading, some other yoyos were making the decisions. And Christian Bale as John Connor?
Don't even get me started on the Marcus character.
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leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(August 07, 2013 05:44 PM)
Which one is T-X? If it's the one in T4, I don't know why they claimed it to be better. T1000 was amazing, nearly invincible I think from what I have seen in the movie. So many great scenes in T2, that just watching those you pretty much watch half of the movie.
T3 woman terminator was rubbish. T4 had very bad story, not sure how they allowed it to happen. I also don't like that Marcus guy as an actor.
Wonder how T5 will be like. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(August 08, 2013 10:45 PM)
The female Terminator was called the "T-X". The T3 production people redid the model numbers, for what reason I have no idea.
The only things known at this point about T5 is Cameron and Schwarzenegger have signed on. As much as I want Arnold to reprise the role of a Terminator, logically, I know it will be a hard sell. T3 Arnold was pushing it, he's even older now. The years as Governor have taken a heavy toll on him and so has the public scandal.
"The Geriatric Terminator", coming soon to a theater near you. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(August 12, 2013 02:40 AM)
Yes he is very old, and the CG Arnold was very obvious in T4. I would still love to see it but who knows how it will be
What about the new Robocop? I am glad now they don't have to use stopmotion which should make it more realistic for the other robots IMO but not sure if their new design is good or the story. The original is definitely a classic movie. -
megoobee — 12 years ago(August 13, 2013 10:20 PM)
I'm not so sure about the remake of Robocop. Peter Weller actually looked like a man in a machine's body. The stills I've see of the new Robocop just looks like a guy in a plastic/rubber suit (ala Michael Keaton as Batman). Zero improvement.
I agree, Robocop 1987 is a classic. If you only update the bi-pedal droids to modern CGI, the movie would entertain a whole new generation of audiences. But sigh, we get a guy in a plastic/rubber suit. I'll probably pass. -
leonthecleaner-1 — 12 years ago(August 16, 2013 03:33 PM)
lol I will still watch it but I agree. They can never avoid screwing the essence of the original like it has to be done.
If it was me, I would just update the effects but I would probably redesign the enemy robots. Robocop should only be tweaked very slightly if necessary, not redesigned.
I think the new directors always want to make a name for themselves by totally changing everything.
Not sure if you have seen Dredd, but that was a joke. Very bad effects, acting, cinematography, story, dialogues, everything.