jeremyd99's User Profile

Boonmee on 1/27/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Awesome Top Ten. I have yet to see Make Way for Tomorrow, but I've heard great things about it.

Seb on 1/30/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Thanks for the friend request. it's nice to see that someone appreciates my taste in movies. You've only ranked 38 movies so far but it's obvious that you have great taste.

Seb on 1/31/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Did you say you have a channel? What's it called?

Seb on 2/1/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Wow, you've really thought this through. I've only seen it the one time. I found it to be a lot like the tree of life. Yeah, I didn't understand it all but I loved the experience.

Seb on 2/1/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

You should keep adding movies to your list man, because if you've seen all of these great movies, you must've seen a lot of other stuff haha

Seb on 2/2/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, but being young I'm reluctant to watch work that's really old. Fanny and Alexander is berg man isn't it? Stupid excuse, I know. My mums favourite director is igmar berg man. She used to make films about twenty years ago, she won the young filmmakers award but she has only made shorts

Cleckley on 4/4/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

It's all good! It's all good!

I see you've only ranked 45 movies. Are you relatively new to the world of cinema (understandable if you're only 12) or have simply not updated your list?

It is mildly curious that you aren't quite so partial to my Top 10. Not that I consider my tastes to be either important or universal, but these are virtually all movies that appeal to a wide cross-section of cinephiles. It's always enjoyable to listen to a completely alien perspective, so which one's have you seen and, in particular, what makes you dislike them?

My stance is this: Once you know why you are watching movies, you know which movie is good and which movie is bad. The only thing that matters is how I feel about a movie, not how the critics view it, not how the masses view it. I watch movies for exclusively for enjoyment and time-killing. When I was 12 I watched movies not just for enjoyment, but for getting my analytical juices flowing, and to stimulate myself intellectually. I was more concerned with proving my smarts than with direct, overt enjoyment. I guess most people sort of grow out of that need to prove themselves, so as I aged, the intellectual worth, or the so-called 'artistic value', of a movie just stopped being important. If a movie is not fun (on whatever level), it's not good.

So, this is the reason I avoid Terrence Mallick. I find his work too boring to merit any attention. Unfortunately, I also think he's a 'pseudo-intellectual'. I don't mind people wrapping their movies in intellectualism and high-art, but I don't like when it's just a bunch of ramblings and wind that claim to be smart, without actually being smart. The best example might be Joker's boat experiment in TDK. It presented in such a way that it seemed like a great metaphor or analysis for humanity and decision-making, but IMO it's actually quite tacky and empty.

Anyway, that's just me. My profile pic is the deliciously sexy Jessica Alba btw. I was gonna change it, but I think I'll stick with it for a while since you gave it a good review. Holler back if you wanna discuss further!

Seb on 4/5/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, tree of life gets a bad rap. But so did 2001: a space odyssey, and look at what people think of it now. The tree of life will only grow in stature from here on in. Once people start to understand it's beauty, it will be held as high as 2001, if not more

Seb on 4/5/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

And yeah, if you see snippets of shawshank it may look corny. It's story isn't incredibly original, but that's not what makes it so great. There is a sense of wonderment and magic whenever I watch shawshank. It's very easy to get swept up in and it is immensely rewatchable. It has sentiment, yes, but it is completely earned and never feels cloying. Watch it and you won't be sorry.

Cleckley on 4/5/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Do you define "favourite" as something other than (or more than) "entertaining"? I personally try to avoid getting swept away in these haughty definitions and questions... What is art? Or what is high art? Or what is legitimate art? It's all bullshit. I'm just looking for a good time.

Office Space is not just about the humour. Don't get me wrong, it's a damn funny film and quite poignantly satirical, but beyond the superficial layers, Office Space is about a philosophy that some people will just click with. I was about your age when I first saw it so obviously I didn't relate to it through experience, but I did in principle. How much you enjoy it will largely hinge on your view of daily life, restrictions an the burdens of work/structure.

Yeah, I grew up on Alfred Hitchcock and I thought of him as a master craftsman back then. I still enjoy his films, but he mean less to me now.

I'm not a fan of Pan's Labyrinth. people say that it has a visceral appeal to it, but it does nothing for me.

I do have a YouTube account, but I only sign in when I have to (usually when some over-sensitive ass-hat has flagged something because it offends his back-water moral sensibilities).

Cleckley on 4/6/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

No, I don't mind bizarre movies at all, I endorse them wholeheartedly. I'm a fan of uber-violent Japanese horror movies and a lot of my favourites contain gratuitous amounts of weird imagery. I just felt Pan's Labyrinth was a lot more bland than its top layers suggest.

But, yes, it is all a matter of opinion and I don't believe in separating "best" from "favourite" as many others insist on. We're on the same wavelength in that regard, at least.

Tough call re: 2011's best. There wasn't a whole lot that resonated with me, but I guess Young Adult and Girl Walks Into A Bar stand out. They have their weaknesses though.

Cleckley on 4/6/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, I'm not sure if you'd really like either of them all that much. I liked Midnight in Paris quite a bit, even though Woody Allen was making a bit of a hackneyed point. None of the others appeal to me enough for me to see them, though I might give Hugo a crack.

Cleckley on 4/7/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Oh man, don't get me started on The Academy. They consistently fuck things up, and seem to have a purposely narrow view of film-making. I'll stop myself short before I start ranting.

Yeah, Girl Walks Into A Bar war released specifically for YouTube. It's like a sister movie to a couple of films by the same director (and cast) called Women in Trouble and Elektra Luxx. Anyway, I wouldn't have thought you'd enjoy any of them, most people don't. All of the are seedy, unusual, artificial-dialogue-driven movies.

Cleckley on 4/7/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I thought TWBB was an amazing film the first time I viewed it. Most of that's down to Plainview/Day Lewis, but I enjoyed the commentary too. I expect that the film will hold less of my attention now, given its meandering pace.

Cleckley on 4/8/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Again, been a while since I've seen it, but yeah, I dig 2001. Kubrick is a master.

JRyneChattanooga on 4/16/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

What did you think about Spirited Away?

MysticSpoon on 5/15/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Hey, no problem and thanks a lot. And although you have a pretty small list, you sure have seen a lot of (considered) 'classics'.

Cleckley on 5/15/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Enjoyable film, though I don't celebrate the movie for its technical accomplishments the way others do.

Cleckley on 6/26/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, I've seen a few decent flicks this year. The Raid, IMO, is a truly stunning work of Martial Arts and Action directing. Excellent, excellent film, that sits inside my Top 100, justifiably so.

The Avengers I saw on release. It too sits inside my Top 100 and I would vehemently defend it as on of the greatest blockbusters of recent times. It's not without flaws, but it remains a masterful work of entertainment, flaws, warts and all.

Other than that, '21 Jump Street' was worth a few chuckles and 'I Am Bruce Lee' is a likable, if typical, tribute to the Little Dragon. Justice League: Doom works decently enough as an animation, and it's pretty much catered for Bat fans.

I could go deep and wax analytical about these movies if you wish, but somehow I suspect that they aren't entirely representative of your tastes. =)

I'll check out your review sometime today/tomorrow.

Cleckley on 6/27/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I couldn't locate a single atom's worth of interest in my mind for neither The Hunger Games nor Dark Shadows. The Hunger Games seems like a tween Battle Royale rip-off starring one of the more annoying actresses of this generation. I'm also kinda sick of the Burton-Depp coupling.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Ghost Rider though. Nic Cage makes some seriously idiotic movies and they tend to be hilarious. Entertainment value doesn't need to be intentional to bring joy. Sometimes the most retarded films are the most enjoyable.

I've read your review of MK; can't say that it inspires me. Not that it's a bad review or anything, it's just that that tween love bollocks with a side of quirkiness is pretty much anathema to me. I hate that romantic garbage when it's made without superficial charm and cockiness.

What did you dislike about The Avengers?

Cleckley on 6/28/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Interesting. I have three things to offer after reading you last comment.

Firstly, why does a movie need to have "meaning"? And what of movies that have some sort of "meaning", but are fundamentally boring? From my perspective, life itself largely works without meaning, but even if I was searching for some profound sense of reason and cause, movies would not be where I would start.

Secondly, is it wrong for other people to rate a movie like Avengers as their favourite film (or the best film)? just because it has no meaning? Should other people's feelings about a film effect your own feelings about the film? Personally, I dislike occasions when movies that try to have some sort of profound subtext, but are really pretty unimportant or plain dumb. The Dark Knight (a wonderfully enjoyable movie) suffers from moments where it claims to be intelligent or meaningful, but is actually pretty vacant and silly.

Thirdly, if Ghost Rider II makes you laugh, should it be at the bottom of your list? It sounds like you actually enjoyed the movie. Maybe you enjoyed it for all the wrong reasons, but you did nevertheless find pleasure in it. Isn't that the whole purpose of of watching movies? Fun?

Anyway, these questions aren't meant to convince you that there is some correct point of view when analysing movies/art/life, just throwing them out there to promote self-awareness and all.

Oh yeah, lastly, The Raid is a movie utterly without meaning. All it has is ass-kicking. Just a heads up.

Cleckley on 6/28/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I've seen Plan 9 from Outer Space. It's funny in parts, but not nearly as side-splitting as Troll 2, The Room or 2 Fast, 2 Furious. I think those are the better 'So bad it's good' movies.

Cleckley on 7/1/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Depends on your interpretation of the term 'B-Movie'. I guess there's a lot of cross-over with either 'Low-Budget', 'Indie', 'Camp', 'Ironically Cool', 'Cult' and 'So-Bad-It's-Good'. I'll throw in a bit of everything and you can research them before you check 'em out. A lot of these will be filled with violence and sex. I don't know how you are about that stuff; it was all good when I was a kid. Some of these are genuinely brilliant, while others are unintentionally good.

Big Trouble in Little China, Tremors, Troll 2, Street Fighter The Movie, The Warriors, Return of the Living Dead, Heathers, The Room, Showgirls, Flash Gordon, Clerks, Mallrats, Story of Ricky, Crippled Avengers, Commando, Hausu, Mortal Kombat.

Oh, check out a Japanese movie called Battlefield Baseball. Seriously, check that one out, it's genius.

Cleckley on 7/14/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Great film. Try Falling Down or The Machinist.

Seb on 7/22/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Was moonrise kingdom good?

Cleckley on 9/14/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Really? OK, so I can accept people saying that Lost in Translation is their favourite film. I can also accept a young teenager saying his fav film Citizen Kane or The Godfather or Deliverance or Cannibal Holocaust or Antichrist or Pretty Woman even... but someone your age saying that LiT is your favourite film (or even one of them) is incredibly unusual, and leaves me pretty fucking incredulous. I don't necessarily think one needs to be able to relate to a film to be able to enjoy it, but LiT is pretty much all about empathy, and existential angst, feelings of directionless loneliness and all those things you really shouldn't be able to relate to. I don't get it man. What is it you love so much about the film?

Cleckley on 9/17/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I'll get to you analysis of Lost in Translation when I have a bit more disposable time. There are things I agree with you about.

As for Star Wars. Eeh. It's a tough call. People do enjoy it, and it is justifiably beloved, but much of that justification is nostalgia. I would tell a new viewer that it is silly and playful and light-hearted, but fun in its own frivolous way. For now I will say that it is good, but I myself have been meaning to rewatch the trilogy, but simply haven't out of concern for my fond memories.

Cleckley on 9/21/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Hey, I'm well aware that souls in the urbanised world of the 21st Century are more lost than not. I get that. That feeling usually doesn't present itself until later in life, simply because the very young haven't had a chance to become inured to all those beautiful distractions.

The nuances of the film aren't lost on me, but I found the presentation to be a little too slow-moving. Also, given that I am not, categorically NOT, a romantic I find the idea of Bob and Charlotte grasping meaning in one another a little hard to swallow. With stereotypical romances, that apparent sappiness is usually polished and coated in sharp-tongued dialogue, so those movies (the first half of those movies, at east) tend to seem less sappy than LiT, which I remember coming across as too serious. Romances in general just don't work for me.

I will have to watch the movie again though, in response to what you've said.

Boonmee on 10/13/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Very good. It's a slow build of a movie but it is definitely worth the watch. I think it was sadly misunderstood upon release, so I disagree with the critical consensus, but, yes, I recommend it.

Seb on 10/14/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

have you seen The Master yet?

Cleckley on 10/28/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

People do classify Predator as a horror and it does feature an alien that I guess is a "monster". Personally, I think it's an atmospherics 'Action' film with elements of horror. Great film either way.

Horror Comedy: Zombieland, Scream, Tucker & Dale vs Evil, Arachnophobia. Cabin in the Woods is a decent recent Horror. Also the B movies that I recommended before (Return of the Living Dead, Battlefield Baseball and Tremors). Piranha 3D is also good for ridiculous sexploitation, absurdity and sleaze.

Atmospheric Horror: Alien, The Omen, The Thing, The Mist, Psycho, 28 Days Later, The Fly, The Shining, Eden Lake, Night of the Living Dead, Audition.

Torture Porn: Saw, Imprint, Tokyo Gore Police (not great, but quite unique), Ichi The Killer.

Surreal Horror: Suspiria, Eraserhead, Tetsuo.

I think you'll like the 'Atmospheric Horror' set the best.

Seb on 11/9/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

i just saw the master, it was unbelievable. unlike anything ive ever seen. see it asap, easily the best film ive seen this year

Seb on 12/31/2012 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

look at this article comparing The Master and 2001:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-kaplan/beyond-category-2001-and-_b_2337733.html

Boonmee on 2/2/2013 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I can't speak for other people, but I like it so much because of Tarantino's fresh dialogue and direction as well as the non-linear presentation of the narrative. I don't think it's trying to say anything in particular. Like most Tarantino films, it is playing off familiar genre tropes and styles while remaining innovative and thoroughly postmodern.

randysandwich on 2/9/2013 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Thanks for the add, it looks like your tastes are a bit more classical than mine, but a good list none the less

JRM on 2/11/2013 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Man, your top 10 makes mine look like Hollywood fluff, lol. It's clear to me you love film and have likely seen many movies, so why have you ranked so few films? Are you only ranking movies you love?

Seb on 2/11/2013 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Why havent u ranked The Master yet?

Boonmee on 2/11/2013 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, I saw that. It's great news!

Boonmee on Apr 22 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Disappointing. I'm a big Malick fan, and To the Wonder was the first film of his that I didn't love- or even like that much. It is entirely too self-indulgent, repetitive and downright silly at times. There's a good movie in there, but Malick gets too hung up on certain things and it results in a movie that feels like a big mess.

Seb on Apr 23 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

have u heard of a movie called Russian Ark? apparently the entire film is one long shot (95 minutes). it looks great.

Boonmee on Apr 23 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I've only seen 2 films so far (To the Wonder being one of them) and I think The Place Beyond the Pines is the better of the two- although I only give it a B-.

Boonmee on Apr 23 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Yeah, sure. I'm looking forward to both of those films too.

Seb on Apr 24 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

yeah, i saw that

Boonmee on Apr 28 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I think this review is better than your last one. The structuring is a little better, and while I still think it needs some work, the writing is a little more fluid. However, I can't quite get over the number of generalizations made throughout. There's a lot of "this was good"/"this was not good" but not much in the way of genuine analysis. My recommendation would be to dive deeper into the intentions of the film and maybe note certain techniques, motifs or stylistic choices used by the director. I'd also spend less time talking about each individual actor (I think the first paragraph could have been summarized in one or two sentences).
I'll be happy to read your next review if you choose to send it my way.

Boonmee on Apr 30 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Ok, but I doubt it will be anytime soon. I'm swamped with work and by the time it's all finished Mud will be gone from my local art house.

Caesar on May 1 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Upstream Color is a bit frustrating, actually. The story is really vague and light on exposition, so it's all-but-impossible to fully know what is going on. It's a movie for those with a taste for the peculiar, I'd say.

Seb on May 2 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

it was really powerful. been thinking about it quite a bit.

Mud doesnt have a release date in my country yet, so i dont know.

btw, i saw Spring Breakers tonight - another film worth checking out. certain lines, music and scenes keep playing in my head

both Spring Breakers and The Hunt have staying power

Seb on May 3 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

yeah, sure

JRM on May 4 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Your 13, but your film taste is much more mature than my own. Who introduced you to film in this way?

Seb on May 4 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

good list. some surprises in there. Blue Jasmine at no. 2 and Rush at no.7. those two arent really on my radar.

Seb on May 4 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I liked Pines, but i had a lot of problems with it. ive elaborated on this on Boonmee's profile

Boonmee on May 4 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

It's a really good list. I'm looking forward to many of those films myself. Nice inclusion of Leviathan and the Malick films, too.

Seb on May 6 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (1 like)

another good review! your writing has continued to improve. haven't seen iron man 3 yet, but ill get to it!

Seb on May 6 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

here are links to my Spring Breakers and The Hunt reviews.
im given a 200 word limit, so the structure feels somewhat jarring at points. hope you enjoy it anyway.

fyi, they havent been published yet, but ive copied them onto this movie reviewing website

http://letterboxd.com/seb23/film/spring-breakers/1/
http://letterboxd.com/seb23/film/the-hunt-2012/1/

Seb on May 7 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Haha thanks. Yeah, I usually don't like Franco, but he's awesome in this. I will be doing one for the great gatsby, but I'm not listed to review Pines. I've seen it, but I think someone else is reviewing it

Boonmee on May 10 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Sorry it took awhile to respond.
Your reviews are getting better. This one was better than your writeup for Mud, as it is more varied in its analysis. However, I still think your commentary needs to be a bit smoother. While you touch upon everything that needs to be mentioned, much of the review still comes off as listing points. I would elaborate a little more. Good job, though.

Boonmee on May 13 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

It depends on how you classify these things. If you go by first release, then it would be 2012, but if you go by US release dates, I guess it would be considered 2013 (even though it hasn't released here yet).

Boonmee on May 14 Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

I'd put it in 2013, as I go with US release dates and the film didn't open in the US in 2012.

Caesar Yesterday Reply  ·  Like  ·  (0 likes)

Regarding why I liked Star Trek Into Darkness, I thought it was a worthy extension of the 2009 film (a film I loved). I liked the characters, the set pieces, the cinematography and the action scenes. True, the story was clunkier than the previous film, but I didn't anticipate it to be better anyway.