I thought Source Code was amazing. And only 90 mins long. Rare for good scifi to be so brief. Very well done. I avoided talking about it because of the movie draft, I've watched so many films and just kept my mouth shut lately. But I really, really liked this and the director's other work.
For this type of movie I'm not sure what you'd expect. Did you like Groundhog Day? In either event what I really liked was the story was short and sweet at roughly 90 minutes so its not like they wasted too much time on the time travel mechanic which gives the viewer a lot to think about after the flick is over. So many people have different interpretations of what's actually going on within the Source Code and how the mechanics of it work that it is a fun movie to discuss afterwards.I saw it in theaters and was extremely let down.
I think the problem for me wasthat it felt like the same scene over and over again. It just got kind of repetitive. I liked Vantage Point from a few years back, but that was a bit different because it was different points of view. The other issue I had with Source Code (and this might have more to do with my own personal expectations than the actual plot) but I really thought the way they caught the bomber was so anti-climatic. However, in retrospect the movie is MORE about who he is and why he's in the Source Code than the actual "Who's bombing the train?"
Saw "Drive" yesterday - I never saw a preview but my dad wanted to check it out so I went with him. I had no idea what the movie was about (other than it was some guy who stunt drives for movies during the day and robberies at night) so I went in with no real expectations.
I think they should have called it "Long Pauses in Conversations" instead. There really is very little actual driving in it for a movie called "Drive" - maybe 3 or so actual scenes where he is doing more than just tootling around town. Most of the movie is dedicated to his relationship with a neighbor and her boyfriend and son.
But the movie was shot in a way that they wanted long pauses and meaningful looks from the protagonist (and only him - the rest of the folks talk normally when he isn't in a scene) - literally everything he says and responses to him take 5+ seconds to come out.
"Do you want a glass of water?"
5+ second pause
"Thanks"
5+ second pause
"You are welcome"
They stretched the movie 20 minutes with these pauses I think. My goodness man, it shouldn't take 20+seconds to accept a glass of water! Get a move on!
The fighting scenes are a bit over-the-top bloody for no apparent reason. Ron Pearlman's character apparently needs to throw in the f-bomb every 3 words according to his contract for no good reason either. Just some strange directing choices that leave you shaking your head.
It was apparently going for an indie/noir feel to it and it accomplishes that, I think. I was disappointed in it overall.
None of which is terribly surprising if you've seen any of the director's earlier films (Bronson and Valhalla Rising, for instance), but it's definitely not how the movie is being marketed. Overall falls into that strange category of interest for me in which I want to see it because I think Refn is an interesting director, but I'm not expecting much from it because I remain unconvinced he's actually a good director. I'm far from shocked to hear that it may not live up to the insane buzz it's getting, though.
I suppose I should mention this just because I don't think people really know (based on box office results):
Saw Drive Angry last week, And it was a hoot. The trailers were confusing and I don't think anybody knew what it was about when it hit theaters, but what that movie is is 100% another Tarentiono/Rodriguez over the top hilarious grindhouse movie. I actually think it is better at being all those things than anything either of the those two directors has done since the 90s. If Tarentino/Rodriguez stuff is your thing (not normally mine actually), you should definitely give it a look.
I picked that up along with Hanna Friday. Perhaps forgetting with football and network tv season beginning and Star Wars and Thor out next week that I have less time for movies. I hope I get to one of them!
Final Destination 5. In 3D. The 3D work here was fantastic and the deaths were some of the best I remember from the series, though it has been a few years since I've seen one and I didn't see the 4th film. The end twist is satisfying even if it probably doesn't fit in and the montage of past films deaths converted to 3D is also pretty cool. But really, if you have access to 3D this is worth it just for the bridge sequence. One of the better 3D applications I have seen for sure, and for this caliber of picture its amazing.