I think a great many people on this forum will appreciate Shoot 'Em Up, the film currently in theatres starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti.
It's got the right qualities: a hideously sleazy performance by Giamatti, a deliberately trite plot, numerous over-the-top gun battles and set pieces, gun gags, a largely pointless sex scene/gun battle with Monica Belluci, and a politically slanted message about gun control - only this time in favor of it (which comes across as a jab at 80s action movies political themes more than anything - it's too silly to be taken seriously).
I enjoyed it. I think many of you will too.
I tried to see this flick this past weekend but didn't get around to it. Looks like a lot of fun and reminds of Crank in some respects in terms of it's tone and style.
Any movie where Paul Giamatti plays the villain gets a big thumbs up from me.
I'll be seeing it hopefully this upcoming weekend.
I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.
Quote from: Mofo Rising on September 11, 2007, 11:30:40 PM
I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.
While I thought Ace of Spades worked, I thought some of the other music was awful (like in the opening scene). Ah well.
I'm dying to see this film. It looks like it's a John Woo film if John Woo were on a ton of drugs. My wife is sold on the film only because of Clive Owen being in it.
A shootout to Ace Of Spades? Kick Start My Heart was playing over the red-band trailer. Sounds like some great music there.
Quote from: Jim H on September 12, 2007, 11:19:53 AM
Quote from: Mofo Rising on September 11, 2007, 11:30:40 PM
I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.
While I thought Ace of Spades worked, I thought some of the other music was awful (like in the opening scene). Ah well.
Not a big Nirvana fan? It's funny, because that was the scene that convinced me that I was in good hands with this movie. As you say, ah well.
Actually after the fantastic opening, I thought the filmed slowed down for a while. Luckily it picked up again and went right back to ridiculous gunfights.
Also I saw it with a friend of mine who is very "conservative" (his description), and his comment after the movie was "I'm surprised Michael Moore didn't produce that movie." Which just goes to show any political message in the movie is ridiculous as well.
:smile:
The film hasn't gone on release in SA yet, but the posters are out: my favourite is the one that features Clive Owen and the "I'm a British nanny and I'm dangerous" payoff line. I will go see this on the strength of that poster alone. :teddyr:
I don't feel the need to see this in theaters, but may check the dvd out. Paul Giamatti is generally good in most of his movies.
I find it most interesting that Paul Giammati is going to be starring in the sequel to Bubba Ho-Tep even though Bruce Campbell isn't reprising the Elvis role due to creative differences with Don Coscarelli.
Quote from: Skaboi on September 12, 2007, 01:53:50 PM
I'm dying to see this film. It looks like it's a John Woo film if John Woo were on a ton of drugs. My wife is sold on the film only because of Clive Owen being in it.
A shootout to Ace Of Spades? Kick Start My Heart was playing over the red-band trailer. Sounds like some great music there.
It does have some John Woo references. The big one, of course, is a shootout with the lead character holding onto a baby. Don't expect the action scenes to be as masterfully shot, edited or choreographed though... Shoot 'Em Up's gunbattles are quite entertaining, but they're shot a little haphazardly at times and some of the editing is a little too scattered and quick. My biggest complaint is not enough establishing shots in some cases, and too many "close up of guy firing, cut to guy falling" type of things.
And no, it doesn't quite top some of the more crazy HK flicks. I.E., Pom Pom and Hot Hot. Or one sequence in Black Panther Warriors, where a guy shoots his own bullet at one point to change its course (no, it doesn't make any more sense in the movie itself). But it's up there.
Saw it with the fiancee today and we had a good time. She liked it moreso than I did, but my biggest problem was with the fact that 90% of Owen's lines are one-liners. I know it's intended to be so to keep up with the parody of action flicks, but it really wore on my patience after a while... now I know how my girlfriend feels spending every night with me. :tongueout:
Also, as Jim just mentioned, the editing could've used a definite spit and polish, but the soundtrack choices were great and the last 20 or so minutes of the movie redeemed my faith in the flick that had petered out around the 35 minute mark before bringing it back. Not a bad flick. Never thought I'd enjoy "Kick Start My Heart" in any context, so go figure! :teddyr:
OOOO OOOO!!! I wanna see this SOOO BAAAD!! It looks flippin HILARIOUS!! And CLIVE OWEN?! How can one pass THAT up?!
I heard that in one scene, Owen is delivering a baby in a car and.....get this, he SHOOTS THE AMBIBLICAL CORD OFF!! HAW HAW HAW HAW!!! What a KNEE SLAPPER!! :bouncegiggle:
It doesn't take place in a car, but the rest of the info is spot-on.
I, for one, thought it was fantastic (aside from the totally unecessary but blessedly brief Giamatti-groping-a-dead-woman scene). While this will be getting a larger review on my site proper, my initial opinions on it are here:
http://capsulereviews.blogspot.com/2007/09/shoot-em-up-2007-michael-davis.html
Kindest regards,
Kevin P.
http://www.wtf-film.com
Death by carrot!
Wow! I just watched this movie tonight! I wish I had caught it on the big screen. The action sequences are some of the best I've seen. It was one of those movies that met my expectations. It's a lot of fun. Not realistic but it never pretends to be.
It's a good movie to watch with a group of friends who want to laugh and turn their brains off. And you know what? Paul Giamatti manages to turn in a great performance as the villain in this one. (Not that I was really all that surprised since the guy is one of the best character actors working today). This director needs to be involved in the Max Payne movie!
Quentin Tarantino could (re)learn a thing or two about how to make a hard-boiled noir action film.
I need to run up to target or blockbuster and grab this up!
Quote from: KYGOTC on January 05, 2008, 11:10:03 PM
I need to run up to target or blockbuster and grab this up!
Like I said don't go in expecting a deep story with strong characters. Just turn your brain off and enjoy. It's a lot of fun.
Quote from: Oldskool138 on January 05, 2008, 11:12:47 PM
Quote from: KYGOTC on January 05, 2008, 11:10:03 PM
I need to run up to target or blockbuster and grab this up!
Like I said don't go in expecting a deep story with strong characters. Just turn your brain off and enjoy. It's a lot of fun.
Oh, I know that! All I expect from it is silly nonsence ACTIONY goodness that will make me laugh my ass off!
ps-
Im diggin' your young ones avatar. :teddyr:
Quote from: KYGOTC on January 05, 2008, 11:15:16 PMOh, I know that! All I expect from it is silly nonsence ACTIONY goodness that will make me laugh my ass off!
I laughed my ass off during the whole movie. You won't be disappointed. :bouncegiggle:
Quote from: KYGOTC on January 05, 2008, 11:19:08 PM
ps-
Im diggin' your young ones avatar. :teddyr:
Thanks! "This calls for a special blend of psychology and extreme violence"! Vyvian is my hero!
Just rented this movie and it kicked ass, any movie that starts off with a dude getting killed with a carrot goes at the top of my "Kick ass movie" list. I haven't seen such a great over the top action flick in a while and this certinatly took the cake in just about every category, plus it has Monica Bellucci and I have a total thing for that women.
P.S. I am from now on walking around with a carrot in my pocket at all times.
I want to watch this but it just seems too similar to one of my favourites Children of Men ... and I think I'll end up disappointed :bluesad:
Nada, it's not similar to Children Of Men by any means. Children was a thoughtful drama while this film is just thoughtless fun.
I caught it about a month ago, a few weeks before the DVD release. I enjoyed the hell out of it. It's dumb, fast and actually contains a good bit of violence which is rare these days. It's not a watered down action film, and I applaud it for that. It also has it's tongue firmly in cheek and the humor is spot on. One liners, and sight gags galore. To be honest, it's the best gun porn since Hard Boiled.
I watched the film on a 22" HDTV and the film looked crisp even in standard definition. Once I upgrade to a larger HDTV and invest in some sort of HD DVD medium then this will be the first flick I pick up.
Plus, you can't beat gun battles set to the music of AC/DC, Wolfmother, Nirvana, and Motorhead. :hot:
Another reason this movie's so incredible: if WyreWizard ever watches, you just know it'll make his head explode. :wink:
Quote from: AnubisVonMojo on January 09, 2008, 10:29:23 AM
Another reason this movie's so incredible: if WyreWizard ever watches, you just know it'll make his head explode. :wink:
LMAO
Karma!
Quote from: Wicked Nick on January 06, 2008, 06:23:13 AM
plus it has Monica Bellucci and I have a total thing for that women.
You probably already know this, but if you like Bellucci, you NEED to pick up a copy of the unrated version of Malena.
God, I envy that young boy...
(those who've seen it know why)
:)
The only small gripe I had was with the decision to go with digital blood and gore effects in a lot of the movie instead of practical stuff. While it did go hand in hand with the almost video game feel of the movie at times, there were a couple of particular shots that I was astounded at how bad the digital blood work was.
But still, great movie nonetheless.
Quote from: Torgo on January 10, 2008, 11:01:32 PM
The only small gripe I had was with the decision to go with digital blood and gore effects in a lot of the movie instead of practical stuff. While it did go hand in hand with the almost video game feel of the movie at times, there were a couple of particular shots that I was astounded at how bad the digital blood work was.
But still, great movie nonetheless.
Yeah, digital blood really grinds my gears too, but at least there was a lot of squib work too. I think that when they could, they stuck with the squibs as much as a possible. I don't know if he was joking or not, but in the DVD's making of featurettes, there's a point when someone says that the squib budget alone was something like $7000.
Just saw this one tonight. From now on, i'm going to be extra cautious around people with carrots. BEST MOVIE OF 2008! :thumbup:
Not to sound like everyone else, but I just saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I loved it.
Paul Giamatti is enjoyable as hell, and the movie is as cartoonish as most thrillers should be.
I saw this one with a friend and we weren't expecting much but wow it really was just a fun movie. I like how he wasn't a typical action movie guy like he lived in a squat and was wanting for a bus in the beginning. He was just regular. They also did a good job of keeping he background secret. They never really told you why he was so damn good at shooting but dropped hints.
I bought this with some birthday cash, back in January, figured it was no big loss, if I didn't care for the film, because it wasn't my money being spent. :wink: I love it. Just a lot of action and fun...nothing to be taken seriously and as mentioned, a great soundtrack. :thumbup:
Quote from: HammerAmicusFanatic on May 28, 2008, 11:52:50 AM
I bought this with some birthday cash, back in January, figured it was no big loss, if I didn't care for the film, because it wasn't my money being spent. :wink: I love it. Just a lot of action and fun...nothing to be taken seriously and as mentioned, a great soundtrack. :thumbup:
an AWSOME soundtrack.
It should be punishable by law to not have Motley Crue play over the credits of a movie.
Quote from: HammerAmicusFanatic on May 28, 2008, 11:52:50 AM
I love it. Just a lot of action and fun...nothing to be taken seriously and as mentioned, a great soundtrack. :thumbup:
And Monica Bellucci...Hmmm....Monica Bellucci....What, Oh, excuse me, just lost in thought for a moment.
Fun movie, and not a bad way to kill two hours and a bag of popcorn.