[Mr. Retro]

Since I just spent 24 hours driving from Ottawa to Daytona Beach, I got to watch a lot of movies to keep myself from killing my family brutally with a plastic spoon. The three movies I watched (that I actually enjoyed) were Robocop 1 & 2, Ed Wood, and, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Robocop was pretty cheesy, I got to admit, but I think that was what made it good. There were a few scenes where I wanted to throw up, though (Heeeeelp me! Heeelp me! He says as his skin melts off). I think the underlying cyberpunk idea was actually really cool, and the whole concept of doing what you're supposed to do and doing what you feel is right coming into conflict was done in a really interesting way. Omni Consumer Products wasn't evil, but it wasn't good either, and you could see them in either light depending on your views. That's what made casting them as one of the villains in the second movie so good. You really got to see the two-faced nature of business as they tried to buy Detroit and turn it into a capitalist paradise. I'd give the first movie a 7/10, and the second an 8/10, since the second just seemed a bit more refined.

Ed Wood was just hilarious, depicting one of Hollywood's worst directors at his best. It really makes a strong point that you can do what you love, and still suck horrifically at it. As a writer and future audio show owner (look for it around Christmas time), I take that concept to heart. There was a scene where I actually felt like crying, where Bela Lugosi had overdosed on Morphine and had called Ed over to help him. I don't know why I felt like that, but it just struck the sad nerve. I'd give Ed Wood a 9/10.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is gritty, no doubt about it, but that's what gives it the charm it has. Based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name, it follows the adventures of Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr. Gonzo, both of whom are thinly veiled expies of Thompson himself and his real life friend Oscar Acosta. The trippy scenes are just perfectly done, and the reactions from the characters are just perfectly done. The monologue at the beginning suits just right, givin you a full idea of the character of Duke. 10/10

Discuss?

[KennEH!]

I really need to watch Robocop again, it has been so long since I've seen it. Haven't watched the other two, but from what you said I need to.

[Kvitne]

I know I said I was a film buff, but I haven't really watched any of these movies... So I'll talk about some movies that I've seen recently that I think people should give a viewing. I'm staying away from the big blockbusters though, as most people know about those.

The most recent film that I've seen is Everything Is Illuminated. In it, Elijah Wood plays a man named Jonathan who has a very interesting pastime: He is a collector. As he goes through life he collects things along the way that remind him of his experiences. In the film, Jonathan travels to the Ukraine to find out about his grandparent's past, as they were both Jews during World War II. It's a beautiful look at life and what things mean to different people. I highly recommend it. 9/10

Another movie that I recently watched is The Brothers Bloom. In it, Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo play the Bloom brothers, Bloom and Stephen. They are the best con men in the world. Along with their partner, Bang Bang, they con millionaires out of their money using complex tales of intrigue. Their last con involves a millionaire heiress who has an odd streak. They concoct a plot that takes them around the world, but trouble follows them along the way, as Bloom falls in love with the heiress. This film examines the tribulations involved with living a scripted life, where everything happens because someone plans it that way. Bloom in particular hates the life he leads, and the fact that Stephen can control what happens as easy as writing a script. 9/10

That's all I really feel like writing for now. You should all really see these two films, as they're really incredible. I'll probably write about some other movies later.

[Rugdog]

I was just watching ALIENS. It was great. I haven't watched it in a long time I actually forgot most of the movie. I especially liked how the aliens were actually intelligent.. not just animals. If you haven't seen this movie you are not a fan of movies.

[Muzzy Roberto]

Whatever you do, Retro, don't watch Robocop 3. Just don't do it.

And i used to love Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, back when I did acid on a fairly regular basis, but then EVERYONE wanted to watch that movie when they tripped. Played out.

[Season-Shifter]

Muzzy Roberto, on 03 November 2009 - 07:08 PM, said:

Whatever you do, Retro, don't watch Robocop 3. Just don't do it.

I wish I'd heard that a few years ago...

[Sway]

For some reason I can't bring myself to go into the thematic elements of Robocop at the moment (it's a lot smarter than people give it credit for, and a great criticism of modern, money-driven society and ever-increasing privatization of industry), but even without all that, the movie just works. Stylistically, it is completely consistent. The smallest bits of dialogue are done extremely well. The overall story is supremely interesting. There were a lot of films made during the 80s that cast giant corporations and businessmen as arch-villians, but most of them were pretty bad. Robocop is one of the few that succeed, with Paul Verhoeven's trademark use of dark satire and over-the-top violence working to great effect in setting this film apart from the rest. Robocop is a futuristic western, and it rules.

I will comment on others later.

[Muzzy Roberto]

I remember the first time I saw Robocop. I watched it again immediatly after and counted how many times the F-Bomb was dropped. I was 7. And, for the LONGEST time, I had a TV airing of Robocop on tape (Where they edit it for content... back when they did that for television...)And watched the hell out of it. To this day, everytime I hear cursing in that movie, I'm still like 'whoa!'.
and there's a 25th Anniversary edition out there, that's even bloodier.

however, RoboCop 2 is vastly superior, not only because it has the better killer robot, but a killer robot that runs on DRUGS. And that's just all sorts of awesome.

Speaking of awesome and westerns, Sway, ever seen 'Shane'?

[Mr. Retro]

Well, back to Robocop. Why exactly shouldn't I watch numero 3?

[Muzzy Roberto]

It's PG-13. Nuff said.

But seriously, it's very, very tame compared to the other 2. It's more like a 90 minute live-action commercial to sell toys. All the heart and soul has been sucked out, and its just incredibly cheezy. it'll kill all respect you had for the first two, then you will probably end up trying to purge the movie from your mind by drinking some sort of drain cleaner.

[Sway]

Different director that didn't understand what Verhoeven was saying with the first two, studio cash-in and nothing more, even a different actor playing RoboCop.

[Scourgekito the hedgehog]

My Dad used to have those movies...before my uncle 'borrowed' them. I haven't seen the first or second one in so long I actually forgot it existed. I never watched the third though.I do remember that they were pretty awesome in their day.

[Muzzy Roberto]

Sway, on 09 November 2009 - 06:34 AM, said:

Different director that didn't understand what Verhoeven was saying with the first two, studio cash-in and nothing more, even a different actor playing RoboCop.

Wait, I though Verhoeven didn't direct the second one.

[Sway]

Sorry, that was clumsily written. The second one maintained the dark humor and sociopolitical aspects, while the third one totally veers off the track.

[Mr. Retro]

Ah, I see. Well, I just downloaded Titan AE, one of my other favourite movies. Since I haven't seen it in a while, I'll tell you guys what I think of it once I'm finished watching it again.

[KennEH!]

Totally forgot about Titan AE, that was a movie that really surprised me. Not many that I know of watched it though.

[Scourgekito the hedgehog]

That was a good movie, to bad I've only watched it once.