Saturday, December 26, 2009

MOVIE NIGHT: District 9, Thirst, & Inglourious Basterds


District 9 (2009) - So glad I made it to the theater to see this one, but that's not to say it isn't good at home. The second time around was still a blast. The plot is set at a blinding pace, the cinéma vérité style is executed perfectly, and the effects are superb. I can't get enough of watching the alien weaponry instantly destroy the target--love the flying chunks of human flesh and blood smacking the camera lens!

Thirst (2009) - This, too, was a re-watch, and it was much better the second time around. I must have been in a bad mood, maybe stressed, when I wrote my initial review. It's a shame to read it now, but it's how I felt at the time. This second time, however, I was enthralled with the movie. Chan-wook Park takes the vampire genre and the biblical theme of original sin, works his superb direction, and delivers another thrilling adventure. Though I still agree that nothing will top Oldboy, Thirst's charm illuminated during my second viewing.

Inglourious Basterds (2009) - Oh boy. This could get me banned from the movie blogosphere altogether, but I have to say it. As much as I've toyed with the idea of pretending to love it, I hated Inglourious Basterds. I loved, loved, loved Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, and (especially) Pulp Fiction, to name a few, but my love for Tarantino began to taper with Death Proof. Coincidentally, I hated this one and Death Proof for the same reasons: too much pointless dialogue, minuscule wit, and one-hundred-percent predictability. Once the movie finally ended (in the exact manner everyone watching expected it to end), I said the same thing I said after Death Proof: "I could never make it through that again." It was made out to be thrilling and hilarious. It failed on both counts, though it had its charming moments few and far between. So far, I am the only one giving the movie a panned review, but I can't find "it" in Inglourious Basterds.

4 comments:

  1. you aren't alone. I thought i'd never see a Tarantino film i didn't like, but i just did. after the first 15 min, i just sat and twittled my thumbs waiting for something to happen. I should have taken a nap.

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  2. Lucas - Safety in numbers! It feels good to not be alone in this! Yours is a good explanation. Just sitting there...waiting...waiting...something will happen...nope...nothing...waiting...bored...tired...

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  3. Glad you felt differently about Thirst. It's not just a throwaway vampire movie but how absolute power corrupts absolutely (well that's what I wrote in my review.

    One of the best movies of 2009 for sure.

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  4. Jaded - Yeah, not sure what was wrong with me the first time I saw it. Thirst is great! I'm going to check out your review...

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