What was the last REALLY good movie you saw?

[Flaxbee]

Sheesh, I just saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 on cable and it really kind of sucked. I think I probably sat through the first 20 minutes, and then just checked back every once in a while to see where the story was. Didn't much like POC 1, either, much as I love Johnny Depp.

All the flipping around/swashbuckling/blah blah blah. Booooring. Just like the Spiderman movies - all this hyped-up computer graphics special effects bullshit, it moves so fast I can't even be impressed and really adds so very little to any storyline.

So - anyone see a good movie recently? A recently made good movie? Like in the last 10 years?

I also recently saw Marie Antoinette -- interesting, but not riveting. The movie was watchable more for the lushness of the video/costumes/Versailles than the story. Also saw Saving Face - not a great movie, but interesting for the depiction of Chinese-Americans in modern New York.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. King Kong (2005)

really good.

:popcorn:

[Flaxbee]

6. really? I haven't seen it, just didn't appeal to me...

the special effects didn't detract?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. no, and it has a strong storyline

I especially liked Jack Black's character. :)

[some guy]

34. King Kong - blechh

There's a CGI dinosaur stampede that is cool for about ten seconds, but the scene lasts about an hour. :eyes:
There's a CGI dinosaur v Kong fight that is kind of neat for about fifteen seconds, but again, it lasts about an hour. :eyes:

They don't 'happen so fast you can't appreciate' them; but they do drag on long after you've fully appreciated them.

my opinion only. :)

[Flaxbee]

37. well - there is that, too - the dragging on of special

effects, like they feel they've gone to so much trouble working on all the CGI stuff they want to get as much mileage out of it as possible. And it is boooring.

Some of the fight scenes in movies, though, with all the super-duper heroes using their special powers - the shit moves way too fast, and often it's all dark and murky and my eyes just cross and I wait to see who's still standing at the end. Figure that's good enough for me.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

105. Damn good.

One of the best of this decade.

[charlie and algernon]

2. just saw Amadeus tonight

saw it once before when i was in grade school, but that was a long time ago. Was able to appreciate what a well done movie it really was for the first time tonight. F. Murray Abraham gives the performance of a lifetime.

Of recent movies, the last good one was The Last King of Scotland. Whitaker is chilling in his portrayal of Amin.

[Flaxbee]

4. yeah, I saw it when it was first released, too

and have seen it a few times since. truly a wonderful movie (Amadeus, that is).

Was thinking of renting The Last King of Scotland, I just need to be in the mood for something that intense. I have always liked Forest Whittaker, and have heard that the movie was riveting.

[charlie and algernon]

7. i bought last king before i saw it based on whittaker's reviews

needless to say, it lived up to expectations. definitely rent it.

[darkstar]

3. Children of Men, I suppose...

I really got into that one...some edge of your seat, tension-filled action/camera work...

[charlie and algernon]

5. apparently the final battle scene was done as one continuous shot

amazing

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. another really good one

the blood splashing on the camera was intense.

[KitchenWitch]

9. Mystic River

But that was not very uplifting.

[opiate69]

11. Babel..

Very good film..

[WCGreen]

12. Lately, I liked 16 blocks....

It was an overblown Bruce Willis movie but man he makes a great anti-hero and it was pretty good without getting too violent or too goary...

I also really liked the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice....

[Control-Z]

13. Babel

Without a doubt, the best movie I've seen in years.

[opiate69]

16. Yep..and an incredible performance by Rinko Kikuchi

She should have won an Oscar

[TOhioLiberal]

14. We watched...

...'Night at the Museum' this evening. It was very good.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. Dead Man Walking

I saw it for the first time earlier today, even though it's been out quite a few years now. Sean Penn is worth watching in anything he does.

By an odd, unplanned coincidence I saw another "execution" flick yesterday- I watched The Green Mile. Another great movie.

[LibDemAlways]

17. "Notes on a Scandal" was pretty good, but I remember when

a night out at the movies meant "The Graduate" or "Bonnie and Clude" or "Midnight Cowboy" or "The Godfather." I know there was a lot of crap then too, but it seems there's more now....and much of it takes the form of big overhyped messes like "Pirates II." It's like they aren't even trying to make a good movie, just an overblown one.

[Eurobabe]

18. The Good Shepherd

I thought that was a movie you'd have to watch twice to understand everything. Quite riveting.

[baldguy]

109. Seconded

CIA guys were (are?) batshit insane.

[VenusRising]

19. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I've been watching a lot of movies on this site though. It doesn't matter if they are great or not, because I don't have to rent them.

http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/4

[Lindsey]

20. I saw Fracture last weekend...

and it was excellent.

[Flaxbee]

23. yes, I'm going to keep my eyes open for it on DVD ... I think it'd

be watchable just for Anthony Hopkins -- even though he has made a few stinkers, he's mesmerizing on screen. Sounded also like a good story.

[Blue_Tires]

21. I liked "Layer Cake"...just saw it last week

[Flaxbee]

22. yes, I agree -- Layer Cake was definitely good

very watchable. And when the characters get beaten on, it looks like it hurts, unlike your average Bruce Willis or other movie. Same with Ronin, a movie I also liked a lot -- the characters weren't impervious to pain, accidents, and stupidity. Much more 'real'.

[Forkboy]

69. I liked Layer Cake a lot.Check out Danial Craig's other flicks,especially Enduring Love.

It's a good one too.

[Flaxbee]

97. I first saw him in a Mystery! adaptation of a Minette Walters book,

The Ice House, and thought he was great and memorable. Then I saw Infamous after Casino Royale and couldn't believe Craig did both Perry Smith and Bond so well - he's very versatile. I'll check out Enduring Love. Thanks.

[EstimatedProphet]

24. The Departed

But it was a tough one to watch, for reasons that would be a spoiler.

[Va Lefty]

102. My pick too...

I love gangster flix!!

[leftofthedial]

25. Pan's Labyrinth

[bikebloke]

28. Saw it last night.

I was leary due to having fantasy effects and a kid as a lead. But it was very good.

[deucemagnet]

73. Seconded.

Damned near perfect! :thumbsup:

[wildhorses]

26. alpha dog pretty much flipped my shit --

justin timberlake :wow: who knew:shrug:

[AlCzervik]

99. excellent, i rented that Saturday night and i haven't watched it yet, looking forward

to it.

[cwydro]

27. The Queen

great flick.

[stuntcat]

79. Yah that one.

And Hot Fuzz too.

(my favorite movies are zombie movies so my opinion might not count as much as some people's)

[Paladin]

29. "V For Vendetta" On HBO Last Night

Godalmighty, what a great flick. And what an absolute bitch slap to the Bush admisistration---even though it all takes place in London. Absolutely riveting......

[nedbal]

Seconded.

[nedbal]

82. Seconded.

[hellbound-liberal]

30. Million Dollar Baby is the first that comes to mind

Though King of Scotland was pretty good last year.

[VespertineIconoclast]

31. Some foreign movies: Turtles Can Fly; The Memory of a Killer; The Child; Osama ...more films below

Three of the four above are really good dramas. The Memory of a Killer was more of a crime/thriller/drama movie.

Some English movies: Slither; The Squid and the Whale; The Mudge Boy

...I could list forever.... But, you seem to be a cable watcher like myself and I watched all the above on cable.

POTC series has probably been one of the most uninteresting series that I have ever watched. If I had paid to see any of them, I would have asked for a refund.

[Flaxbee]

42. Jeff Daniels' character was such an asshole in The Squid and

the Whale. Good movie, good acting to make me despise someone so much.

I'll look for a few of those foreign films. Eight Women (Fanny Ardant, Catherine Deneuve) is pretty funny, in a weird way, and The Hairdresser's Husband (also French) was very good, though ultimately a bummer at the end - why do French movies so often end tragically?

[VespertineIconoclast]

54. Yes, his character was.

He's actually one of the reasons I like the movie because his character did some pretty foul things in the name of "advising" his son. I tend to like movies with unforgettable characters, intense stories, or both.

I hadn't seen the movies that you mentioned, but I will keep an eye out for them. Thanks.

[bif]

32. The Station Agent

Fantastic movie. Highly recommended

[Flaxbee]

43. yes! that's what I'm talking about -- I really enjoyed The Station

Agent, will probably buy it one of these days.

[bif]

45. The Easter Bunny brought it for my wife!

We've watched it a couple times. It's great every time! I loved "Little Miss Sunshine" too.

[bertha katzenengel]

33. BREACH. Chris Cooper's finest hour on film. n/t

[Flaxbee]

40. I loooooove Chris Cooper --

first 'noticed' him in Adaptation (really quite good, too) and then rewatched Seabiscuit, another movie I loved.

I guess I like movies with story and good dialogue; I am so damn sick of special effects and stupid testosterone-fueled 'action' movies or truly vapid 'chick' flicks (like "The Holiday" - jesus that was awful, even though Jack Black is usually fun to watch).

[CBHagman]

63. Then you're going to have to see...

...Chris Cooper in Matewan, Lone Star, and Silver City -- all John Sayles movies, all very watchable (and memorable), and all politically provocative.

On edit: See the note about Cooper's political views.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cooper_(actor)

[Flaxbee]

96. I remember reading about Silver City in an article on Cooper,

and just forgot about it. I go on movie-watching binges, then long dry spells, then binge again -- one reason why I don't do Netflix b/c my movie habits are erratic. I'll have to go to the movie store with it in mind and Lone Star and Matewan in mind.

[GalleryGod]

85. Wasn't he Fab, Bertha!

This movie beat Damon's Good Shepherd, byt three ways to Cleveland.

Cooper was GR8T

[bertha katzenengel]

92. Indeed he was.

LOVE him

:hi:

[some guy]

35. films I liked

more or less recently, in no real order

Under The Tuscan Sun
Freedom Writers
Little Children, was good in a kind of fucked up way.
Lucky # Slevin

[Forkboy]

71. Lucky # Slevin was cool.

Mainly because I like anything with Ben Kingsley in it.

[usaftmo]

36. Euro Trip n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

38. The Last King of Scotland

Excellent flick :thumbsup:

[Wetzelbill]

39. I might have to go with that one too

That was probably the last good one I watched. That and "The Queen."

[Flaxbee]

41. Anyone here see "Volver"? I've rented it for later today...

Almodovar is usually pretty good....

[BarenakedLady]

44. Amelie

I think I fell for her...(Audrey Tautou)



:loveya:

[Paladin]

46. Have You Seen Her In "A Very Long Engagement"?

Brilliant movie, I think you'll enjoy it....

[Flaxbee]

52. Dirty Pretty Things -- she was very good in that, too...

also had Chiwetel Ejiofor in it -- both were great to watch.

[VespertineIconoclast]

56. Sergi Lopez was great in that movie as well.

He does the perfect villain in Dirty Pretty Things and Pan's Labyrinth.

[BarenakedLady]

64. Thanks for the tip

I'll look for it.

:)

[Paladin]

77. It's Really Great

Part war epic, part love story, part detective yarn. Drop-dead gorgeous French country scenery. Look for Jody Foster in an uncredited role, speaking absolutely flawless French. And have some Kleenex handy for the outstanding ending.......

[Adsos Letter]

47. "Flags of our Fathers" The storyline was different than I was

expecting; it was better.

[RevolutionaryActs]

48. Children of Men.

We got the DVD a couple weeks ago, amazing film. Really well put together. Loved it.

[AlCzervik]

49. Blood Diamond, Last King of Scotland, Notes on a scandal and The little Foxes.

[Inchworm]

50. Office Space - but I think it was the company

that made it really good.

;)

[Elidor]

51. Fie on Pirates

I'd much rather watch Master & Commander. That was a surprisingly good movie. I even found myself liking Russel Crowe, which is nothing short of amazing given what a tremendous ass he is.

[Rob H.]

53. Brick

It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a high-school student trying to found out why the girl he loved was murdered and who did it. Think of a film noir high-school drama written in the style of Dashiell Hammett to get an idea of what it's like. It's hard to describe, even, but believe it or not, it works.

[VespertineIconoclast]

55. Absolutely! It's clever how they meld noir into the high school setting.

I liked the bits of humor they interspersed within the story.

[MissHoneychurch]

57. Stranger than fiction

wonderful movie. Funny and intelligent

with

Emma Thompson
Dustin Hoffmann
Will Ferrell
Maggie Gyllenhaal

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/

[Flaxbee]

98. yes, absolutely. bertha k. just mentioned it in a

separate thread and I can't believe I'd forgotten to list it. Really enjoyed it.

[ElizabethDC]

58. Marie Antoinette and Thank You for Smoking

Those are my two most recent faves.

[GoneOffShore]

59. Notes On a Scandal

Judy Dench was phenomenal.

And anytime Bill Nighy is on screen is a treat.

Can't wait for Ratatouille - The rat in Paris who wants to be a chef. Guest vocal appearences by Ferran Adria, Guy Savoy, Jamie Oliver, Gualtiero Marchesi, and Cyril Lignac (All culinary stars).

No, I don't own stock in Disney.

[bicentennial_baby]

60. No way!

OMG! I have to see that! :bounce:

[GoneOffShore]

91. It's coming out on 29 June

I WILL be at the theatre!!

:bounce:

And so will Mrs GoS. I'm thinking about getting together a party of local eGulleteers to go with us and then do drinks or a meal afterward. French, of course.

You can see the trailer here - http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ratatouille/

[Pale Blue Dot]

66. I was going to say "Notes On a Scandal", too.

Great movie. Dench and Blanchett were incredible.

[Pale Blue Dot]

67. Shortbus

I loved, loved, loved this movie. It's not for everyone - and you'll know within the first 2 minutes if it's for you - but a wonderful, original, subversive, human film.

Did I mention that I loved it?

[Flaxbee]

100. I really like Bill Nighy - pretty much the only entertaining part of

Pirates 2 was seeing him as Davy Jones. You can STILL tell it's him - the eyes and voice - even with the tentacles all over his face.

[idgiehkt]

61. one of those Matt Damon movies

where he's some kind of android/spy or whatever with all the identities.

Bourne Identity, got it.

[cedahlia]

62. Good question. I really enjoyed "Tristan and Isolde"

It was one of the best love stories I've seen in a while. And the acting, script, costumes, etc. were all excellent. It's actually the first movie I've wanted to buy since Brokeback Mountain. If you like period pieces, dramas, love stories, etc., then I would definitely recommend this one. Oh, and for you non-romantic types who are thinking "chick flick!", it does have some really good, non-cheesy medieval action, too! (It's got something for everyone!) :-)

:thumbsup:

[Awsi Dooger]

65. I thought Zodiac was good

I never go to movies anymore but that one attracted me a few weeks ago when I saw it listed at a dollar theater in Waikiki Beach while I was on vacation.

For a two and a half hour movie that really kept my attention and got more interesting as it went on. In particular, I thought Mark Ruffalo was superb as investigator Dave Toschi.

[DeepBlueC]

68. Everything Is Illuminated

From a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer that I would never in a gazillion years imagine being adapted for film. But it was and I saw it on The Movie Channel sometime in the past year and I was totally impressed.

[Orsino]

70. The Illusionist. n/t

[Dervill Crow]

108. I liked that, too.

Also The Prestige, which was similar . . . but not.

[Forkboy]

72. I just watched Shaolin Soccer this morning,and laughed my ass off throughout.

Stephen Chow is a great director (almost wasted in comedies).Kung Fu Hustle was just as funny."Buddha's Fist" is a move I want to learn!

I also just watched Smokin' Aces,which was over the top,silly,violent...and a hell of a lot of fun.The Tremor Brothers alone would have made for a good flick,but to add Ray Liotta and Andy Garcia,and a fricken great cameo by Justin Bateman of all people,made it a very enjoyable,if far fetched,movie.

Joe Carnahan directed and also did Blood,Guts,Bullets and Octane,which was good,and Narc with Liotta,which was phenomenal.Liotta's character in Narc is the first movie role that I actually felt intimidated by.He was quite convincing as a heavy. :)

[KT2000]

74. Bent and.........

movie adaption of a play about the Nazi campaign against homosexuals.
Clive Owen and a French-Canadian actor starred in this English production.

Still love the Director's Cut of King Arthur - yeah for idealism! (Only the Director's Cut - the released version is too chopped up to make sense of a very complex story)

[GRLMGC]

75. Hot Fuzz

That movie is freaking hilarious!

[Forkboy]

86. I can't wait to see that one.

Shaun of the Dead was awesome.Way better than I expected,and now that I know how good the guys who made it are it makes Hot Fuzz look even cooler.Glad to hear it was so funny!

[Beausoir]

94. Absolutely. A riot of a movie. n/t

[Rob H.]

101. "By the power of Greyskull!"

How could I have forgotten Hot Fuzz?!

Excellent movie--I went to see it with my parents and my dad has already said he's buying it when it comes out on DVD and he almost never does that.

___

Danny Butterman: So what made you want to become a policeman?
Nicholas Angel: Officer.
Danny Butterman: What made you want to become a policeman officer?

___

Nicholas: All right, what about this guy? Ask yourself, why has he got his hat pulled down like that?
Danny: He's fuck-ugly.
Nicholas: Or, he doesn't want you to see his face.
Danny: Yeah, it's 'cause he's fuck-ugly.

___

Danny: Where's the trolley boy?
Nicholas: In the freezer.
Danny: Did you say "cool off?"
Nicholas: No I didn't say anything...
Danny: Shame.
Nicholas: Well, there was the part that you missed where I distracted him with the cuddle monkey then i said "play times over" and I hit him in the head with the peace lily.
Danny: You're off the fuckin' chain!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

76. Thank You For Smoking.

[AlCzervik]

111. i loved that book, i was laughing my ass off reading that, i haven't enjoyed

a book that much since "America the book" from The Daily show. I haven't seen the movie yet but i plan on renting next weekend.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

112. Haven't read the book, but the movie's great.

I was surprised that William F. Buckley's kid write the book, though.

[AlCzervik]

113. if you ever get a chance you may want to give it a look, i swear i had to go

in another room because i was laughing so much. Chris Buckley, funny guy----who'da thunk it?

[crim son]

78. I watched "Crash" again this afternoon, with my daughter.

I know a lot of people didn't like it, but I think it's excellent.

[Skittles]

80. Children of Men

yup

[Joe Fields]

81. The Great Train Robbery....I don't get out much...

[Forkboy]

87. That's a good one though.

Worse things to watch when you're stuck at home.

[Joe Fields]

95. Sorry, man. that was a joke, alluding to how old I am..

not trying to jerk anyone's chain...

[Forkboy]

104. Ahhhhhh...well,there's two versions...,1903 and 1979

So you're either as old as dirt or younger than me. ;)

Good joke though...you got me,and that's not always easy to do!

[blogslut]

83. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

I always meant to see it but only recently watched it - on DVD. Damn. Hedwig rocks.

[GalleryGod]

84. E-Z: "The Queen"

Mirren & Sheen were fabulous.

Just met Sheen last week on Broadway.
Call me..."Stage Door Johnny"

[youthere]

106. We just rented that last night...outstanding!

[kwassa]

88. finally saw "Brokeback Mountain" on cable

I just had no interest when it first came out.

I watched it because there was nothing else on the other night, and it was very, very good.

[lost-in-nj]

89. Finding Neverland

with Johnnie Depp and Kate Winslet...




lost

[bigwillq]

90. Notes on a Scandal

a few weeks ago.

[raccoon]

93. "The Queen" was pretty good. But not great.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks they don't make good movies any more.

Reckon Bollywood makes good movies? I've never seen any.

[Mad_Dem_X]

103. Brokeback Mountain. n/t

[grace0418]

107. We rented I Heart Huckabees expecting not to like it because it got bad reviews.

Loved it. I wouldn't necessarily put it in my top ten of all time but I really enjoyed it.

[AnnieBW]

110. 300

Hands down. Before that, Serenity.