lol I actually haven't seen it, so I'll have to give it a try . I think that's a fair characterization, but I think that comes with the type of films that Gibson has been featured in. I also think that Clooney is more talented actor: his performances in Up in the Air and that corporate attorney film that I cannot name off the top of my head showed more nuanced acting skill than I've ever seen from Gibson. I'm not sure exactly what in your hot take is supposed to preclude the opinion that direction of the film was more artful or that the final product was more gripping than some of his other, comparatively sterile and un-moving, films like The Departed. And I also have no idea how you think Scorsese's take "didn't really add anything," when it doubled the moral scope of the film, introduced at least two (wife and daughter) unique perspectives, and introduced a subplot of the family's adversity and coming back together in response to Cady, instead of having it be a boring family monolith being preyed on by some senselessly evil guy. Also, I always liked Robert Mitchum, and everyone likes Gregory Peck, so that's not a knock on the original, but big studio films during that age were certainly constrained in substance. Cape Fear is one of my favorite films of that era, and Scorcese's remake is one of the very few remakes of classic films that I felt gave a fresh, independently satisfying take.
Apocalypto is one of the few movies that seem to successfully put you in a different time and place, and it has the long chase scene - with cars. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has a great horseback chase scene. I like Apocalypto, and I've been looking for a cheap DVD for a couple of months. The Passion of the Christ had an enormous focus on suffering, and with Gibson's Roman Catholic affinities it should have had trouble with modern Protestant audiences but it worked. I know lots of people who it touched in ways that they hadn't contemplated before. Personally, I prefer Jesus of Nazareth.
To me certain big concept movies should be winners - such as the Titantic sinking, King Arthur, Robin Hood, the Alamo (though that failed twice), etc. For the Titanic they had a tremendous set and hitting the iceberg couldn't happen soon enough for me. From that point on it was good. Leonardo and the chick were horrifically cheesy. The scene with her at the bow of the ship was embarrassing. I couldn't believe the positive buzz that it had.
I agree on The Departed. Its first acts was masterful and it was on pace to be one of Marty's best features, but it went off the rails and ended up being almost a poor man's Cohen Bros film. Godfather 2 was brilliant in tying a sequel and prequel into one film. Michael Corelone transition from the straight edge brother who had his father's highest of hopes to stone cold Don of Don's was beautifully told. The quiet demeanor as he navigated Roths treachery, while dealing with complete betrayal of blood family and his OC families closest remaining friend was great. Not to mention the rise of the family with Vito's story through the quagmire that was early century NY. Two Don's, carving their legacy with that stoic and reserved, yet brilliant and ruthless mindset. Amazing movie. Also, thought @Trotsky would give it bonus points for referencing the communist rebels victory over the bought and paid for Batista regime. My picks are: Carlitos Way True Grit Scarface Shakespeare in Love Chicago (albeit the genre doesn't resonate with me)
I had no trouble getting through it, but the last third was silly trash. Would have been a damn good movie if it had ended at the 70% mark. Inglourious Basterds is a significantly better film as a whole, but the whole fantasy world Jewish revenge thing was kind of weird.
The Exorcist is way overrated. I actually prefer The Exorcist 3. Oh, and the Tubular Bells theme doesn't fit the movie at all, and I like Mike Oldfield.
Artistry is too subjective. One man's trash is another's treasure. Sometimes directors get too cutesy with artistry and it just detracts from a film instead. Not everything needs some sort of flair. Many movies are better off as straight forward punches to the mouth. Yes, it added stuff, but it also had things that I liked more in the original, so overall it didn't really add anything for me. How did it double the moral scope? It passed the buck on some of Cady's immorality to Bowden. And, I don't care as much for the remake Bowden. It adds a sense that maybe he deserves some of it, which in turn detracts a bit from Cady. Bowden is a nice, polite guy in the original. It's more about how much can this nice, calm man take before he pushes back. I find that more interesting, though the movie would have been better served if Bowden ended up killing Cady in the end. What was unique about them? I don't really remember the wife's perspective nor really care. The family would have a 'coming back together' moment regardless if they were a dysfunctional family or not. Senselessly evil guy? LOL, the De Niro version is an over-the-top comic book character. You can beat the shit out of him with steel pipes, you can set his head on fire, and you can bash him in the face with a rock, but none of that matters, he keeps coming at you like he's the Terminator. Some problems remakes/sequels make is that they take ideas from the original and then run them into the ground. It seems like Scorsese was so concerned with making it different that he ran some of the ideas into the ground. Did I need an over-the-top, constantly in your face, cheerleader of a villain? No, I prefer the more subtle approach of the original. It seems like some of the stuff Scorsese added was just there to manipulate the audience. The original pushed the boundaries for its time. As for the remake, I'm not saying it's not worthy. It is a worthy remake, but I prefer pretty much all of Scorsese's other work to it.
I love classics. This one put me to sleep. I also realized I hate Korean movies. Train to Busan is the exception. But The Host, Snowpiercer, Old Boy.....just can’t take the over the top buffoonery.
I feel like the Cape Fear remake blows the original completely out of the water, it's better in every way possible except I do prefer Mitchum's performance as Cady over Deniro's. For me the most overrated is the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, so bland and generic and gay. I think those hobbits be hunching each other.
i believe i have only ever bailed on 2 movies i had every intention of watching completely. this one and that one with jason bateman and the annoying fat woman
The Godfather part 2 is a movie I've grown to slightly dislike, I'd still say it's a very good movie but nowhere near as good as part 1, the Deniro part of the movie is fantastic but the Pacino side of the story has not aged well at all, all those court scenes are so hokey and poorly done and the story is disjointed and poorly paced.
