Movie Reviews

[lowellahoward]

I finally got to see 'Dreamgirls' this past weekend in a state-of-the-art AMC theater.

Was an excellent movie over-all. It was at least 80% music.... so there is obviously a lot of that. I now understand what all the hoopla is all about.

I can understand how Jennifer Hudson is nominated for an Academy Award. She steals the whole film; she is nothing short of amazing.

Well I already liked Beyonce Knowles but seeing her here 'up close and personal' you just have to LOVE her. She is one gorgeous gal. A good actress and a mighty good singer (as we already knew).

It is a Motown like story and the 'Dreamgirls' are a takeoff of the Supremes. However, from what I know about the Supremes tells me this is a totally fictional story.

If you like the old Motown sound; if you like Beyonce's sound, if you just like good musical films in general, this film is a MUST SEE!

It has been nominated for 8 Academy Awards, won 3 Golden Globes, and won a couple of screen actors' guild awards. It will most likely be the biggest winning film at the academy awards.

[Sally77]

Sounds good Lowell! We are talking about going to see Night at the Museum this weekend..

[bettyboopfan]

My parents went and saw Dream Girls a couple of weekends ago. They said it was excellent!!

I would love to give a movie review but I haven't been to see a movie in 8 years...lol...I am waaaaaay behind!

BTW: Excellent thread, Lowell!

[shauvaun]

Well I have not seen Dream Girls yet but i have heard such great things about the movie. But i also heard some negative things about certain individuals. Jennifer hudson, jaime fox etc. But i have to go see it so i can see what all the gab is about.

But i have a movie review for DEJAVU, with denzel washington. He plays some roles in these movies. This was an excellent movie for those into the future technology and privacy issues and in itself the deja vu. Once i seen that movie i was like wow and thinking about how many dejavus i had but not to the extinct like denzel. I dont want to give it all away for those who have not seen it. But for those who have please tell me what you think.

[lowellahoward]

Well I have not seen Dream Girls yet but i have heard such great things about the movie. But i also heard some negative things about certain individuals. Jennifer hudson, jaime fox etc. But i have to go see it so i can see what all the gab is about.

But i have a movie review for DEJAVU, with denzel washington. He plays some roles in these movies. This was an excellent movie for those into the future technology and privacy issues and in itself the deja vu. Once i seen that movie i was like wow and thinking about how many dejavus i had but not to the extinct like denzel. I dont want to give it all away for those who have not seen it. But for those who have please tell me what you think.

I did not see Dejavu, but the critics did not think this was a particularly well done movie.

[shauvaun]

i think it was, and again i think it depends on the type of movie you like to take interest in it you know. I could watch a movie and it could have been the greatest movie in the world, but if itd not what i usually care to see, then it just becomes my opinion.

[Bikerbettyboop]

I'd like to see Dream Girls... I like Jennifer Hudson!

[lowellahoward]

Dreamgirls made me finally realize I MUST get a Beyonce CD to add to my huge collection.
Theresa, you should go see it. I KNOW you'll love it.

[Bikerbettyboop]

I've seen the reviews and it looks wonderful.... I will probably wait for the dvd release!!

[lowellahoward]

I've seen the reviews and it looks wonderful.... I will probably wait for the dvd release!!

You will lose a lot of the impact in the DVD which will probably have highly compressed Dolby 5.1 sound (a disaster). A state-of-the art, or close to it, theater is the way to see this one.

[Bikerbettyboop]

It's just not very convenient for us to go to the movie theaters.... there's nothing close to us... so we just wait for the DVD and yes, we probably do lose some of the integrity but that's ok with us... we're old and don't mind that much cause we don't know what we've misssed! LOL!

[lowellahoward]

This movie which was an Oscar Best Picture nominee is directed
by Clint Eastwood. I have come to the conclusion that any picture directed by him will be nothing less than serious and first rate.

The movie is about the WW2 battle of Iwo Jima as told from the Japanese side. The language is Japanese with large English subtitles.

This is one of the very finest films I have seen in recent years. And those of you who would watch movies only on DVDs, you are missing the enormous feelings and impact of a film like this. And, that would be a real waste.

Lowell

[bboop480]

Been Awhile Since Ive Seen A Movie At A Theatre...

[Bikerbettyboop]

We were just talking about going to the movie theater to see Wild Hogs... will let you know if we do.

[mgchan]

Unfortunately not everyone has the time see a movie in a theater or want to. Since we have a decent home theater setup, we prefer watching movies at home. No rowdy audience, no sticky floors and no tall audience members sitting in front of us! ;)

[livingbooper]

Unfortunately not everyone has the time see a movie in a theater or want to. Since we have a decent home theater setup, we prefer watching movies at home. No rowdy audience, no sticky floors and no tall audience members sitting in front of us! ;)

I hear you on THAT!

I have a flat screen with HD, a surround sound system with a big woofer, and a very comfy sofa to view it from. I also have a habit of scanning back to review things that I think I may have missed! (My boyfriend hates that! LOL!)

I do think I may want to see the Iwo Jima movie by Clint Eastwood. I have to agree with Lowell, if Clint has made it the movie has to be excellent.

[Sally77]

Has anyone seen Pans Labyrinth? We're going to see it Friday

[Bikerbettyboop]

Yep.. that's Don and I.. we prefer to watch movies in the comfort of our own home. We have surround sound and comfortable chairs and a big screen. Plus the snacks are less expensive at our house than at the movie theater!! LOL!

[lowellahoward]

Yep.. that's Don and I.. we prefer to watch movies in the comfort of our own home. We have surround sound and comfortable chairs and a big screen. Plus the snacks are less expensive at our house than at the movie theater!! LOL!

I can't question how people like to watch their movies. I can only offer my opinion that no home system can replace the impact of a state-of-the art theater of a well done movie. And if you have ever compared the Dolby 5.1 with the non compressed full PCM 5.1 original sound on a state of the art system (I was at a demo by the Dolby Company itself) you would realize how much is destroyed by the compression used by Dolby for DVDs. That is why I am hoping people will accept the new HD mediums Blu-Ray Disc or at least HD DVD . Both allow for High Definition sound with no loss from compression. I realize tht most people don't care (that IS the big problem)

[mgchan]

I agree with what you're saying about PCM 5.1 vs. Dolby 5.1 and certainly no average home theater can recreate the acoustical dynamics of a theater. However, if one can't make it to the theater often, one has to settle for the next best thing, your own home theater setup. A decent setup is pretty convincing and as long as you're immersed in the movie you're watching, it's doing it's job.

Even if PCM 5.1 becomes the standard for a home theater, most speakers cannot reproduce the full audio range. Only a small percentage of home theater owners, who are audiophile enthusiasts, have the speakers and amplifiers to reproduce the full audio range with the lowest harmonic distortion.

[lowellahoward]

I agree with what you're saying about PCM 5.1 vs. Dolby 5.1 and certainly no average home theater can recreate the acoustical dynamics of a theater. However, if one can't make it to the theater often, one has to settle for the next best thing, your own home theater setup. A decent setup is pretty convincing and as long as you're immersed in the movie you're watching, it's doing it's job.

Even if PCM 5.1 becomes the standard for a home theater, most speakers cannot reproduce the full audio range. Only a small percentage of home theater owners, who are audiophile enthusiasts, have the speakers and amplifiers to reproduce the full audio range with the lowest harmonic distortion.

Well, I AM an audiophile! And the sound tracks of the HD disks is lossless PCM similar to what now exists on DVD-Audios. Both Dolby and DTS developed the lossless systems. As an audiophile I was a little disappointed that the standards picked by SONY for Blu-ray did not include SACD which I personally prefer to any PCM approach. However, both lossless methods are quite a bit better and more natural than the 'CD' as are the present DVD-A and SACD. And yes, they should always aim high and not cater to the average person's system... that is how things improve in the future (even for the average person).

[livingbooper]

Well, I am picky about which movie I see in the threatre. It is so costly to go to the cinema these days. The movie has to be one that I REALLY REALLY want to see.

[mgchan]

At one time Dolby Surround was the norm for theaters. At some point PCM 5.1 will be the norm for home theaters. Remember when progressive scan DVD players and video line-doublers were available for consumers with deep pockets?

The defining moment over theater for me, was after months of work turning my familiy room into a home theater, I'd played my DTS version of Saving Private Ryan. The explosions on the beach literally shook us off of our couch! The experience was so immersive, that you felt like you were on the beach and my heart was pumping from the adrenaline. The bullets whizzing by made you want to duck. At that point I was sold that a home theater can be equal to or better than being in a theater.

[lowellahoward]

Dolby Surround is still used on less than state-of-the art movies and theaters.
For home use on DVD-Videos DTS 5.1 is superior to Dolby 5.1 because it uses less compression and has fewer losses.
Dolby 5.1 is the standard for HD television. It was picked NOT because of good quality (It HAS those large losses), but because it requires less information which allowed it to fit in the limited bandwidth. As an engineer and someone who strives for things to be better I personally look at it that now we are stuck with an inferior system as a standard. BTW when the standards were picked fot the TV system the engineers did consider the much better DTS 5.1 but couldn't fit it in the bandwidth.

[livingbooper]

At one time Dolby Surround was the norm for theaters. At some point PCM 5.1 will be the norm for home theaters. Remember when progressive scan DVD players and video line-doublers were available for consumers with deep pockets?

The defining moment over theater for me, was after months of work turning my familiy room into a home theater, I'd played my DTS version of Saving Private Ryan. The explosions on the beach literally shook us off of our couch! The experience was so immersive, that you felt like you were on the beach and my heart was pumping from the adrenaline. The bullets whizzing by made you want to duck. At that point I was sold that a home theater can be equal to or better than being in a theater.

I'm just curious, MGCHAN, in making your familyroom into a home theatre, did you put in home theatre seating? I sell a number of different styles and I'm just curious as a furniture salesperson.... Many people who own large homes out here are creating theatre rooms with theater seating as well as big screens and surround sound. I don't mean to pry.. just curious....

[bboop480]

Well, I am picky about which movie I see in the threatre. It is so costly to go to the cinema these days. The movie has to be one that I REALLY REALLY want to see.
AGREEING WITH YA THERE!!!

[mgchan]

That's the one thing I did not do, was putting in theater style seats. My wife would've definitely killed me if I'd tossed out the leather sectional! ;)

[Bikerbettyboop]

That's the one thing I did not do, was putting in theater style seats. My wife would've definitely killed me if I'd tossed out the leather sectional! ;)


LOL Michael... I would've done the same to Don !!

He has speakers all over our family room (and through out our house and outside on our decks too) being in a band, he's really into "SOUND" and he knows about distortion, etc. But he likes sound and lots of it at high volumes!! LOL!!

We've watched some movies that have actually "rocked me in my seat" too because of the explosion of sound... but though it's not the same as actually being in a theatre, it's the next best thing for us.

We have 4 swivel rocker chairs in our family room with ottomans that rock back and forth too.

[shauvaun]

We were just talking about going to the movie theater to see Wild Hogs... will let you know if we do.

Me and my husband are wanting to see that movie to we are going as soon as it comes out and i think it come s out this weekend.

[Bikerbettyboop]

We decided to stay home and play some music instead.

[Sally77]

We were gonna go see Pans labyrinth Friday night, but it was only showing at 10 pm.. too late for us old girls..lol So we went to see The Number 23 instead. It was pretty good

[Bikerbettyboop]

That Number 23 movie looks like it could be pretty intense and an unusual role for Jim Carey. So you liked it?

[Sally77]

Ya it was pretty good. I liked it. Some of it was intense.

[Bikerbettyboop]

Some parts of it do look intense from what I could see on the previews... I'm not into that scarey stuff... I'd have nightmares for weeks if I saw it... oh and another strange thing.. my birthday is on the 23rd!!

[Sally77]

ha ha really? too funny.. This month is your birthday? It wasnt really scarey, scarey, ya know. Kinda like a mystery thriller. I dont want to say too much incase any one wants to see it

[Bikerbettyboop]

My birthday is in June ... 23rd.... Sometimes the mystery thrillers are more "frightening" than the scarey movies.... I remember some of the Hitchcock movies used the scare the crap out of me! LOL!!

[Sally77]

Oh ya, now i remember, your birthday... lol I dont think Hitchcock movies really scare me, but i've only seen a couple. I love the Birds and Psycho I think...

[Bikerbettyboop]

Both those movies sure scared me... I hated birds for years after seeing that darned movie! LOL!!! Now that I'm a wee bit older and wiser, I realize that the birds aren't all that scarey but at the time I was scared crapless!

[livingbooper]

Both those movies sure scared me... I hated birds for years after seeing that darned movie! LOL!!! Now that I'm a wee bit older and wiser, I realize that the birds aren't all that scarey but at the time I was scared crapless!
When I saw The Birds as a child for the first time I was very scared. I had a pile of stuffed animals on my bed and I clung to them all night! I still had nightmares. To this day whenever I see a bunch of crows sitting on a telephone wire I get sort of an unsettleed feeling....

Alfred Hitchcock was The Master, that's for sure! I bought a couple of his collections on DVD and it is very interesting to watch the bonus material. I don't think that any other movie producer can top Alfred Hitchcock for suspense thrillers. He was a genius!

[Bikerbettyboop]

I know what you mean LB about crows and ravens... there was 3 sitting on the high line wires by my house yesterday and I told Don that I wondered if they were planning their attack.. "on us" ... he laughed at me! But I always tell my dog to go after them if I see them sitting on the ground! LOL!!

I think the guy who wrote "Jaws" came from the same genre as Hitchcock... and the movie version was pretty scarey... I have never been back in the ocean swimming since I saw that movie!! LOL!

[Sally77]

Jaws didnt really scare me either.. Now the original Shining was scarey I think...

[Bikerbettyboop]

OH yeah.. I forgot about Shining.. you're right it was scarey... but all kinds of stuff scares me... remember Jason? When he jumped up and scared Jamie Lee Curtis, I screamed and jumped 10 feet in the air!!!!!!!!

[Sally77]

Nope, not Jason.. Michael. Halloween. One of my faves. I dont like the newer horror movies. They're just not the same

[livingbooper]

Jaws didnt really scare me either.. Now the original Shining was scarey I think...
Yes... THAT movie was real scary! And I agree that the older horror movies are much better than the newer ones. The older movies relyed on suspense and filmcraft to keep you on the edge of your seat.. and the acting had to be very good. Nowadays they show you too much (instead of letting your imagination take hold) and they rely way too much on special effects and computer graphics. It's rare to find any good acting in these newer movies.
I am getting tired of all the computer graphics. I can spot many of them immediately now.

[Neckless]

The older movies relyed on suspense and filmcraft to keep you on the edge of your seat.. and the acting had to be very good.
...is right!
Gone are those days!

My only question is WHY?
(since I'm a horror fan)

[lowellahoward]

Marsha and I saw 'Hairspray' yesterday. The music from it is totally infectious. And, it is almost 100% music. It is a 'GO SEE'!

[livingbooper]

Thanks for the tip Lowell! I'll put that one in my Blockbuster queue when it comes out on DVD.

[lowellahoward]

Thanks for the tip Lowell! I'll put that one in my Blockbuster queue when it comes out on DVD.

If you happen to remember that TV show that only lasted a couple of seasons 'American Dreams' which starred (amongst others)..... well the music is from the same era (early 60's) and the movie does have Brittney Snow as a star too.

[Bikerbettyboop]

From what I could see Hairspray looks really funny! It's funny to see John Travolta playing a woman... is it as funny as Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams and Sally Field???

[lowellahoward]

From what I could see Hairspray looks really funny! It's funny to see John Travolta playing a woman... is it as funny as Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams and Sally Field???

It is very different. This one is ALL great invigorating early 60's type music.

[Bikerbettyboop]

I know it has a lot of music and dancing in it but I just wondered if it's as funny comedy wise?

[lowellahoward]

I know it has a lot of music and dancing in it but I just wondered if it's as funny comedy wise?

It isn't really a comedy. It is a musical and John T. plays a regular part even with that padding. It is a great musical......and era (early 60's.... John F. Kennedy) movie.

[Bikerbettyboop]

Well a couple of the preview scenes that I've seen look funny to me.... cause I think John looks funny as a woman... maybe I have a different sense of humor?

[lowellahoward]

Well a couple of the preview scenes that I've seen look funny to me.... cause I think John looks funny as a woman... maybe I have a different sense of humor?

Yes he does look amusing and the movie is light....... but it is a MUSICAL! and set a record as the best openning for a musical movie ever! It is more enjoyable (my opinion) than Dreamgirls.

[Bikerbettyboop]

I know I'd like all the music in it for sure!! Thanks for the great review!!

Well I have to go ... I've just been told that the orders are ready to take to the post office... so I'm shutting down my computer and calling it an early day.. I'm really beat... so I'll talk to you later... Love and hugs!! BBB

[Candlesnboop]

From what I could see Hairspray looks really funny! It's funny to see John Travolta playing a woman... is it as funny as Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams and Sally Field???

I dunno but I am willing to give it a try!!

Anyone seen Transformers or Harry Potter 5??

I saw both.. an imoho transformers was so much better!:D

[lowellahoward]

I dunno but I am willing to give it a try!!

Anyone seen Transformers or Harry Potter 5??

I saw both.. an imoho transformers was so much better!:D

I repeat .... while it is light it is not a comedy. It is a great light MUSICAL!

[Candlesnboop]

I repeat .... while it is light it is not a comedy. It is a great light MUSICAL!

Hey I liked grease.. I think it has the same beat to it!:D Not the same plot ya know that same light mood ya know:D

[lowellahoward]

Hey I liked grease.. I think it has the same beat to it!:D Not the same plot ya know that same light mood ya know:D

An excellent comparison. Grease is also a light Musical in exactly the same way (And not a comedy!).

[Bikerbettyboop]

I loved Grease!! It was filmed at my old high school!! Can you believe it? It was great!!! I like everything John Travolta stars in!! Did you see him in Pulp Fiction???????? Or Face Off? Both were gooood movies!

[lowellahoward]

I loved Grease!! It was filmed at my old high school!! Can you believe it? It was great!!! I like everything John Travolta stars in!! Did you see him in Pulp Fiction???????? Or Face Off? Both were gooood movies!

Yes, I like John Travolta too. I saw Face Off. I don't think I saw Pulp Fiction. I have seen him in several movies.
Grease was fabulous because Olivia Newton-John was also fabulous in it. If you liked Grease (you did) then you'll most likely like Hairspray.
BTW Did you like the 'Saturday Night Fever'....? Another fabulous musical.

[Bikerbettyboop]

Yes, I also liked Saturday Night Fever... back then I thought John Travolta was the hottest dancer around! He sure was good looking!!