I'm stoked for Now You See Me simply because I'm a sucker for movies with "magicians" like The Prestige or The Illusionist. Whether or not it will actually be good or not remains to be seen, but I will certainly go see it.

As for The Great Gatsby, I think DiCaprio and Toby were excellent choices for their respective roles and the cinematography was well done. However, and this goes without saying (or it should), one must read the book first to truly appreciate anything at all about the movie. When I heard a couple gasp loudly and a chick go 'OMG' at the ending of the movie I had to repress my urge to turn around and slap them.

 

I really should read that book again before I see the movie. I read the book 10 years ago in school in the middle of reading a lot of other books. Since my teacher was big on symbolism(which I always thought was half made up bullshit fabricated by readers) I never really got into it.

Don't get me wrong, there are clear cases of symbolism in a lot of classic books, but when you start looking for symbolism in every sentence, you stop enjoying any book.

But yeah, I barely remember the book at all.

Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies stuck with me longer.

 

I liked the movie, though the ending felt a bit meh. Benedict Cumberbatch was such a BAMF, though. Cheered for him all through the movie.

 

Now You See Me is pretty fun; it's basically a magician heist movie. The ending (no spoilers) is a bit weak, but in general it's good.

 

Everyone else has been saying it was good despite itself, but I trust your reviews normally so will acquire in a few weeks and see! Riddick... man. Love the character, hated the second movie, this one just looks like a reboot.

Quote failed, was responding to SC's original quote about St.

 

Saw Gatsby last week, I enjoyed it quite a bit. If you're looking for a refresher on the book, here's a pretty good one. Link

I just saw Drive a little while ago, so I'm actually looking forward to seeing Only God Forgives.

 

Gatsby was... I dunno. If you didn't really like the book you're sure as shit not going to like it in movie form. The constant symbolism and stiff dialogue was ripped right from the text.

DiCaprio's Orson Welles impression was pretty entertaining though.

Edit: Just saw Star Trek. It was, in a word, awesome.

Spoiler

"KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!"

 

Saw Gatsby tonight, quite enjoyed it - although I say that as someone who read the book about ten years ago, and it didn't make that much of an impression on me, so I can't really comment on it from that perspective. DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan were great; Maguire wasn't bad, but he always seems like he's about to cry to me. In everything I've seen him in. So maybe that that judgement with a pinch of salt. It all looked stunning as well.

It was very much style over substance though; didn't really invested in it, for the most part, and some of Luhrman's stylistic tics were quite intrusive. On the other hand, from what I recall of the book the style/substance thing is sort of the point, so it can maybe get a pass on that score.

Basically, good but not great.

 

Finally watched Star Trek: Into the darkness.
It's a great popcorn flick. It's a bad Star Trek movie.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to World's End. Looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun.

edit: is there a Star Trek thread somewhere? I can't find it anywhere.

 

Since there is no 'Upcoming 2015' thread, I might as well put this here.
PS3T posted an article regarding the Assassin's Creed film scheduled for 2015. I think that, doubts aside, it should be interesting and entertaining.

 

For some reason you all who have not enjoyed ST: Into Darkness fail to remember that basically every other Star Trek movie was shit. Abram's follow-up improved on his first attempt, that's something no other Star Trek director can say.

And Chris Pine reflects exactly what the movie-going audience wanted to see in an updated Kirk. His range is as good, if not greater than William Shatner when he began as Kirk.

Now, to discuss the actual movie, instead of some bullshit idea of philosophy behind, allegories, or any other shit that is peripheral to my enjoyment of Star Trek (Aliens, spaceships, and gasp! action):
I found myself laughing at points in the movie that weren't meant to be funny because they touched on odes to old Star Trek moments, because they reversed roles in such hilarious ways and because the cast all does a great job of further making the characters their own while not diminishing the previous actors in the slightest.

This movie was exactly what I expected from a Star Trek reboot: an entertaining action flic that had constant random moments of joy in seeing and hearing these lines, moments and character interactions that were all dedicated to fans of the series that flowed well enough that if you weren't a fan of the original series or movies you'd be okay missing.

Honestly Silens, I will probably never read your reviews again. You talk down to your audience with such a level of disdain when your opinion comes forth that, both times I've read any of your reviews, I literally stopped halfway through because you were simply too irritating to read. I finished both reviews at a later date. And I was still dissatisfied with your entire tone. Sadly, in the other review of your's I read I actually agreed with your arguments. And it made me want to re-view the movie with a different eye because my opinion by extension now sounded pompous and arrogant to me. This isn't a criticism of your dislike of Star Trek, or the bullshit reasons as to why. Just of your writing and attitude in general when giving your opinion. It fits DLP. But not a site in which you're attempting to give reviews, fair or otherwise.


So should I go see magicians rob banks, Marky Mark bulk up, fast cars and faster women, or save my 10 bucks and wait for the blue rays? I only have one day a week to even have a chance at the cinema right now and I'm trying to make use of that time as best I can. Now be mindful: I enjoy mindless, simple action. I'm ok with that in a film. Any simple movie-goer have a recommendation?

EDIT: I'm against seeing Gatsby. I'm very much a book over movie snob and it's one of my favorite books. Only Jurassic Park and Princess Bride have satisfied me in these regards and I've yet to read a review of Gatsby that said it improved upon the book.

 

Didn't read the review, but read the rebuttal where he compared Star Trek to The Avengers and said the latter was better because it's plot was more sound (less plotholey). The Avengers was probably the worst movie I've seen in a long time. Not only was the plot retarded, the characters worthless, and the entire thing a terrible bore, but it was so riddled with plotholes it makes me cringe just thinking about it. I think this review pretty much sums up my thoughts on the avengers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDajL441mZc

 

I had the same reaction regarding the new Star Trek movie that many others did: it was a good action flick, an entertaining sci-fi film, but it wasn't what I was hoping for in a Star Trek movie. Also, Joschneide, I happen to disagree with you; I don't think practically every other Star Trek movie has been shit. A decent amount have been, but a decent amount have been good. I also fail to see how this matters at all in relation to whether or not I think Into Darkness was a good Star Trek movie or not.

Overall, it was worth watching, and when they inevitably make a third I'll watch that one too. I also hope they create an entirely original plot for the next movie, because I feel like that'll help me evaluate the movie more on its own merits instead of just thinking, "Oh, cool, another scene from WoK. That's... nice."

 

When I read such opinions I'm seriously wondering what did people like you actually expect?

To me the TNG Star Trek movies felt like overlong TV productions where I could only name the 8th "First Contact" as satisfying and that not for its true film quality but because of a surreal fun factor. 9 was a snooze fest and 10, I've already forgotten.

My old Star Trek favorite Star Trek 6 has aged really badly. 4 had the entertaining feeling of 8 but it was a TV film which aged too. What's really left there which truly qualifies? 1 was boring, 2 and 3 were quality work in the context of age. 5 sucked and 7 was a sentimental good bye.

I've had a run through the old TV series over the last 12 months(Enterprise,DS9 and Voyager) and there was so much shit in these shows, especially Voyager but DS9 also had its shares of downers I couldn't remember back then. I can only guess the good times we had watching these shows while growing up heavily influenced our memories for sentimental reasons.

My impression of the reboot in 2009 was that they did the most important thing right. Choosing the right actors which fit into the archetype characters of the old show. The plot of the film wasn't really thrilling but in the first film the focus is always on introducing the actors and that worked satisfying.

Into Darkness took one of the great DS9 story lines with Section 31, had ambivalent villains, great direction for an action film and had some moments which gave homage to the old film material. What's there not to enjoy?

I'm truly thinking these new films will age far more gracefully than all previous movies because the production is just so much more advanced.

P.S. I'm really glad Adams killed all the utopia and moral shit TNG/Voyager tried to shove down our throats.

 

Daedros, Samkar kinda hit the nail on the head with everything ST there. But my point in referencing the previous mistakes is Star Trek movies are known for random aberrations in storytelling, characters or some other mysterious flaw. Expecting Abrams to do it so much better than his predecessors while still maintaining a homage to them is a kind of obscene expectation.

Seems to me most who disliked Into Darkness expected WAY too much from it.

Anyone see our magical bank thieves in action yet? I may find time Sunday and I'm considering seeing that.

 

I saw Ocean's Magical 11 -- it was fun, although logic wasn't exactly there. I also just was at a preview screening of This is the End, and it was gory, ballsy, and hilarious. Definitely a must see.

 

Watch it and pay attention. Don't try to over analyze like a standard mystery and expect just about anything.

There's magic, yet it's not really magic.

I wasn't disappointed by it and really enjoyed the thing. One of the better movies released recently.

 

I saw Now You See Me and I liked it. I predicted the final reveal pretty early in the movie, but I had fun watching it to see if I was right about it.

 

So, I saw This Is The End last night, and I don't think I'm going to review it - why is that?

Well, it's a good comedy, and as any reviewer would say, good comedies are the hardest thing to say something about at length, particularly if you want to avoid spoiling all of the best jokes. And This Is The End is pretty damn funny - between the parodies, the in-jokes surrounding celebrity culture, and the jaw-droppingly hilarious cameos, it made me laugh my ass off. Props go to Jonah Hill and Danny McBride, for Michael Cera playing hilariously against type, and while Emma Watson didn't have a lot of screen time, the time she did have was fantastic. I wouldn't call it a great movie, per se - there are pacing problems around the middle that are pretty hard to ignore, the direction is absolutely nothing to write home about, some of the jokes do go on a bit long, and parts of the film don't quite earn their attempted emotional sincerity - I still enjoyed the hell out of it. But then again, any movie that ends the way this one does is going to get my unqualified recommendation.

Going to see either Man Of Steel or Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring this afternoon, will probably have reviews shortly afterwards.

 

Sequel to 300 trailer was with Man of Steel. Looked visually stunning, of course