The "last movie I saw" thread

[PaloAltoCougar]

Anna Karenina isn't as good as I had hoped. It's a very stylized, gimmicky presentation that takes place on a stage that frequently opens up to the great outdoors, apparently to hammer home the idea that high society in Tsarist Russia was shallow and fake.

Still, it was a mighty effort, and at times the visuals are breathtaking. Keira Knightley is a babe and yet didn't do much for me as Anna. And Vronsky is played by a guy who constantly reminded me of a young Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. How Anna could have fallen for that guy remains a mystery.

Levin's great epiphany was puzzlingly brief, but the ultimate outcome with Kitty was satisfying--she was the real babe of the story.

As is so often the case, worth seeing but not worth going to see.

[BoylenOver]

"Wreck-it Ralph"

I enjoyed it. Great voice cast. And the short before the film, "Paperman", was brilliant. As with "Wall-E" and others, I love that Disney/Pixar has the courage to make these things that convey so much without a word of dialogue.

[Ygoat]

M. In. L

[UtahDan]

Anna Karenina isn't as good as I had hoped. It's a very stylized, gimmicky presentation that takes place on a stage that frequently opens up to the great outdoors, apparently to hammer home the idea that high society in Tsarist Russia was shallow and fake.

Still, it was a mighty effort, and at times the visuals are breathtaking. Keira Knightley is a babe and yet didn't do much for me as Anna. And Vronsky is played by a guy who constantly reminded me of a young Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. How Anna could have fallen for that guy remains a mystery.

Levin's great epiphany was puzzlingly brief, but the ultimate outcome with Kitty was satisfying--she was the real babe of the story.

As is so often the case, worth seeing but not worth going to see.

That's disappointing. I've really been looking forward to it. Probably take your advice and catch it at home.

EDIT: Vronsky is the kid who played Kick-Ass. O.o

[PaloAltoCougar]

That's disappointing. I've really been looking forward to it. Probably take your advice and catch it at home.

EDIT: Vronsky is the kid who played Kick-Ass. O.o

Wow, I hadn't made that connection, perhaps because of the awful rug atop his head (I really liked Kick-Ass). The more I've thought about AK, the more I thought it was worth seeing just for the unusual approach taken by the director, but I was still disappointed. But the fact that I still think about it is more than can be said for most movies.

[Jeff Lebowski]

War Horse. Why, oh why did I not listen to the warnings? What a dreadful movie.

[creekster]

That's disappointing. I've really been looking forward to it. Probably take your advice and catch it at home.

EDIT: Vronsky is the kid who played Kick-Ass. O.o

No, you should see it on a big screen. The sets and costumes are lush and detailed and the directorial style is, IMO, best appreciated on a big screen.

I thought the director's approach was interesting. My problem is that this is one of my all time favorite books and he just did not quite get it done for me. Anna in particular looks wrong and just doesn't hit the right notes. Vronsky also didn't quite get it right, IMO. Their love was all chemistry and madness but it was also about choice and consequence, especiall for Anna. I don't think the movie quite pulls this off. OTOH, I thought the rest of the cast was pretty good. On balance I thought it was a solid B effort. And I do suggest a big screen viewing.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I think the gibbon and I are pretty much on the same page with respect to Anna Karenina. The visuals really are spectacular at times and the film is almost always interesting, even when the presentation becomes a bit too contrived. I'm still trying grappling with the idea of Kick Ass Vronsky.

The book is better.

[SeattleUte]

No, you should see it on a big screen. The sets and costumes are lush and detailed and the directorial style is, IMO, best appreciated on a big screen.

I thought the director's approach was interesting. My problem is that this is one of my all time favorite books and he just did not quite get it done for me. Anna in particular looks wrong and just doesn't hit the right notes. Vronsky also didn't quite get it right, IMO. Their love was all chemistry and madness but it was also about choice and consequence, especiall for Anna. I don't think the movie quite pulls this off. OTOH, I thought the rest of the cast was pretty good. On balance I thought it was a solid B effort. And I do suggest a big screen viewing.

This is almost exactly what the New York Times said.

[CardiacCoug]

Anna Karenina isn't as good as I had hoped. It's a very stylized, gimmicky presentation that takes place on a stage that frequently opens up to the great outdoors, apparently to hammer home the idea that high society in Tsarist Russia was shallow and fake.

Still, it was a mighty effort, and at times the visuals are breathtaking. Keira Knightley is a babe and yet didn't do much for me as Anna. And Vronsky is played by a guy who constantly reminded me of a young Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein. How Anna could have fallen for that guy remains a mystery.

Levin's great epiphany was puzzlingly brief, but the ultimate outcome with Kitty was satisfying--she was the real babe of the story.

As is so often the case, worth seeing but not worth going to see.

We need CUF's Levin to comment on this movie if he's still reading.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I can't wait to see Django Unchained. Christoph Waltz and Walter Goggins? Awesome.

[old_gregg]

I can't wait to see Django Unchained. Christoph Waltz and Walter Goggins? Awesome.

while my wife and the rest of my family are watching les mis on christmas day, i'll be watching jamie foxx kicking some ass.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I can't wait to see Django Unchained. Christoph Waltz and Walter Goggins? Awesome.

Yes indeed.

[CardiacCoug]

The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Good flick, especially for people who were in high school in the late 80s and early 90s -- reminded me of those good old days.

Kind of funny the kids know all this obscure music but are searching for months to figure out the song they heard in the truck was Heroes by David Bowie.

[FMCoug]

Just saw Wreck It Ralph. Cute show.