What I just finished watching and what I thought about it (non-anime)

[valondar]

Babylon 5/Crusade/B5 Movies/Lost Tales (the whole damn B5 franchise):

When it's bad, it's bad. And it's bad often. It's bad for whole years. The writing can be painfully stitled; only a handful of the actors are good with any consistency. None of the CGI has aged well, most of the sets are subpar, and even the music can grate at times. The humour can be poor, the morals can be preachy, obnoxious and hectoring.

And yet, and yet, the series at least - if not the movies and failed spinoffs - is one of the best space opera programs out there. Well, if we're just counting three out of the five years it ran (seasons two through four), which I am. Simply because it was planned out in advance and has a plot arc that moves smoothly and satisfyingly, and anchored chiefly on Londo Mollari, the nobleman of a decaying empire who would like to see it return to glory - old, embittered in ways, but still rather sage and, for an alien with a ridiculous hairstyle, rather human. Peter Jurasik really sells this character as the protagonist by default of the show (stealing the title from the notional hero, the smiling human commander John Sheridan). Alien politics, wars, deaths, the relationships between the races new to the universe and those who have been there for centuries; Babylon 5 - for all its multiude of flaws, and there are as many as there are stars in the sky - is the best live-action space opera for painting a sense of a universe with its scope, depth breath and change.

It's tempting now to draw analogies to Legend of the Galactic Heroes, which also takes a while to get going and is at its best in the middle parts, has a similar political slant and emphasis on building an immersive universe. John Sheridan, like Yang Wenli, must deal with the problems inherent in a democracy, though Sheridan is a trifle more cocksure about his solutions and approaches then Yang ever is - and Londo's relationship with the Centauri Republic and his arc there is easy to relate to Reinhard von Lohengramm's, but it's a far more tragic and bitter rise that is also in some senses a fall.

The comparison falls short in that animation and format allow LOGH a freedom Babylon 5 could never have - LOGH goes all over the universe and is not 'set' at any given place, while Babylon 5, as far afield as it travels, is strongly anchored at the space station (and has a smaller cast). The influences are also markedly different: Babylon 5 is more like Lord of the Rings meets Lovecraft by way of Star Trek; a world of mythic and supernatural and cosmic entities; it treats even it's supposedly realistic - or rather human - political situations as stark black and white, good and evil affairs, while Legend of the Galactic Heroes is basically Romance of the Three Kingdoms in space: The elaborate and interwoven politicking of human beings is the only concern; there are no alien species or cosmic mysteries to unfurl, and you can't just dub the empire evil and the democrats good either.

But eh, not a series I'll quickly be returning to at any rate. Babylon 5's acting and visuals and some of the writing do suffer compared to, say, Firefly, Farscape and Battlestar Galactica, so I wouldn't necesarily crown it as the best live action space opera in town. Planning makes you notable, but it does not a masterpiece automatically bestow.

It ain't half-bad, though.

[pondertheworld]

The Silence of the Lambs

Somewhat disappointing compared to the book, although Sir Anthony Hopkin's performance as Hannibal the Cannibal himself was really creepy. Jodie Foster wasn't the best pick for Clarice Starling, in my honest opinion, but she really played the part well.

Overall, I give the film a eight out of a possible ten - I just expected more chills.

[Schizm]

The Men Who Stare at Goats

7/10

It was ok. Ewan McGregor and George Clooney did a good job imo. Unfortunately Kevin Spacey, one of my favorite actors, doesn't get much screen time. I think the story was quite interesting and liked that it never took itself too seriously. Some of the jokes also worked.
I didn't get everything and was confused at times, maybe because I haven't read the book yet. Also, the movie was pretty short.

Batman (1989)

9/10

It's fantastic. This is probably the 30th time I watched it and it's still as good as always. Burton's gothic style, the best Batman ever (sorry Bale), Jack Nicholson on a killing spree, my personal favorite depiction of Gotham City yet and "Bob".

Also, Nicholson talking to & laughing at a charred corpse still gives me the creeps.

[DisturbedMind]

Originally Posted by valondar

Babylon 5/Crusade/B5 Movies/Lost Tales (the whole damn B5 franchise):

When it's bad, it's bad. And it's bad often. It's bad for whole years. The writing can be painfully stitled; only a handful of the actors are good with any consistency. None of the CGI has aged well, most of the sets are subpar, and even the music can grate at times. The humour can be poor, the morals can be preachy, obnoxious and hectoring.

And yet, and yet, the series at least - if not the movies and failed spinoffs - is one of the best space opera programs out there. Well, if we're just counting three out of the five years it ran (seasons two through four), which I am. Simply because it was planned out in advance and has a plot arc that moves smoothly and satisfyingly, and anchored chiefly on Londo Mollari, the nobleman of a decaying empire who would like to see it return to glory - old, embittered in ways, but still rather sage and, for an alien with a ridiculous hairstyle, rather human. Peter Jurasik really sells this character as the protagonist by default of the show (stealing the title from the notional hero, the smiling human commander John Sheridan). Alien politics, wars, deaths, the relationships between the races new to the universe and those who have been there for centuries; Babylon 5 - for all its multiude of flaws, and there are as many as there are stars in the sky - is the best live-action space opera for painting a sense of a universe with its scope, depth breath and change.

It's tempting now to draw analogies to Legend of the Galactic Heroes, which also takes a while to get going and is at its best in the middle parts, has a similar political slant and emphasis on building an immersive universe. John Sheridan, like Yang Wenli, must deal with the problems inherent in a democracy, though Sheridan is a trifle more cocksure about his solutions and approaches then Yang ever is - and Londo's relationship with the Centauri Republic and his arc there is easy to relate to Reinhard von Lohengramm's, but it's a far more tragic and bitter rise that is also in some senses a fall.

The comparison falls short in that animation and format allow LOGH a freedom Babylon 5 could never have - LOGH goes all over the universe and is not 'set' at any given place, while Babylon 5, as far afield as it travels, is strongly anchored at the space station (and has a smaller cast). The influences are also markedly different: Babylon 5 is more like Lord of the Rings meets Lovecraft by way of Star Trek; a world of mythic and supernatural and cosmic entities; it treats even it's supposedly realistic - or rather human - political situations as stark black and white, good and evil affairs, while Legend of the Galactic Heroes is basically Romance of the Three Kingdoms in space: The elaborate and interwoven politicking of human beings is the only concern; there are no alien species or cosmic mysteries to unfurl, and you can't just dub the empire evil and the democrats good either.

But eh, not a series I'll quickly be returning to at any rate. Babylon 5's acting and visuals and some of the writing do suffer compared to, say, Firefly, Farscape and Battlestar Galactica, so I wouldn't necesarily crown it as the best live action space opera in town. Planning makes you notable, but it does not a masterpiece automatically bestow.

It ain't half-bad, though.

Tried watching this about a year ago. I tortured myself through 4 episodes and gave up, but you say it gets better during season 2... how much better?

[Funkgun]

Originally Posted by Th3GodfatherL

Watched a few movies finally.

Shutter Island

If you are a fan of mystery and suspense please do yourself a favor and watch this movie. Because it has plenty of both. I'd watch anything with Scorsese in the header, but throw in Dicaprio and you have me hooked. Well it didn't disappoint; the movie grabbed me from the very start and never let go. Leo is superb in his role. Oscar worthy all the way.

9.5/10

Sex Drive

A few? jez that is most of what is out. lol

Originally Posted by Omurqi

Shutter Island

A good suspenseful, psychological thriller. Was fun going to this with 3 other psychology students, seeing it took place in a psychiatric clinic / prison (even if it doesn't go --much-- into details). As yipes said, it grabs you from start to finish, although I must say it had a small low for me during the middle.

Rating: 8.5/10

that is two positive for Shutter. i am planning to see it after watching Ghost Writer.

[valondar]

Originally Posted by DisturbedMind

Tried watching this about a year ago. I tortured myself through 4 episodes and gave up, but you say it gets better during season 2... how much better?

A lot better. And yeah, the first four episodes are very subpar, "Infected" in particular is just downright awful. Basically, stick around until "Signs and Portents" in the first season - if you don't at least like that episode, the show ain't for you.

[Panta]

Originally Posted by Funkgun

A few? jez that is most of what is out. lol

That's nothing compared to what me and my flat-mates get through in a week. We sat and watched the entire Lethal Weapon franchise in one night. Followed by four movies the next.

At the moment, I'm watching Hachiko: A Dog's Story. Heard good reviews and I like moving dramas every now and then. I'll write what I think when I'm done.

EDIT: So Hachiko is a salute to the eponymous dog of early 20th century Japan.
It follows the story of a stray Akita dog found by a man at the train station, identified only by a collar pendant bearing the Japanese symbol of 'hachi' (eight, in Japanese - a number synonymous with good luck). Initially the man does what any responsible person does: try to locate the owner. As it becomes clear the owner will not show up the man decides to keep the dog (at first to much objection by his wife) and give it a home.
I won't spoil more but any that know the true story of Hachiko will be familiar with how the movie goes; strong and emotional, a dog that resembled all the traits of loyalty. Even for those who know of the real Hachiko will be touched by the events of this movie, providing you're a dog lover :P

Rating: 8/10

[Cicada]

I have Hachiko Monogatari, but haven't watched it yet. It seemed an odd choice to remake, especially for an American studio. Apparently the real dog probably kept returning because people fed it. Also, did you know that the original Shibuya Hachiko statue was melted for scrap metal during WWII.

[Omurqi]

Alice in Wonderland
Funny, visually pleasing and what I expected from it. The IMAX wasn't as "mind-blowing" as I expected it to be though. Sure, the 3d is nice to look at, but I don't think it was utilized to its full potential here.

Rating: 7.5/10

[SeiyaManG]

Originally Posted by Funkgun

A few? jez that is most of what is out. lol

Yea, haha, I knocked a few good one's out in a couple days.

Originally Posted by Omurqi

Alice in Wonderland
Funny, visually pleasing and what I expected from it. The IMAX wasn't as "mind-blowing" as I expected it to be though. Sure, the 3d is nice to look at, but I don't think it was utilized to its full potential here.

Rating: 7.5/10

Pretty much my feelings too.