h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, by that theory, two of the most stunning movies of the last year, 'Hero' and 'House of Flying Daggers' are clap-trap as well, which they clearly are not.

I'm afraid that any cinema outside of really boring stuff needs a bit of willing suspension iof disbelief. The giveaway with 'Hellboy' is that we know demons don't exist, so a little harsh to expect fight scenes to obey the laws of physics, methinks...

And..

I was introduced to the source material by Mike Mignola by a friend at university and Hellboy is supposed to be able to survive long falls and massive explosions, dust himself off and carry on fighting.

The film is a pretty faithful interpretation and elaboration on the ideas and keynote scenes from the first book.

As for first impressions, I was less enamoured with it at the cinema, but having re-watched it a few times since, it is a film that has grown on me. Not as good as X-men 2 perhaps but miles better than Daredevil.

Being miles better than Daredevil is not actually all that hard though is it?

Zantic

Daredevil was awful, but it got really good reviews.
Just goes to show
I just saw the trailer for the fantastic 4 movie and that looks pretty good.
DM

I don't remember seeing *any* good reviews for Daredevil. The only person I know who liked it was my ex-flatmate, which was enough to convince me it must be b*ll*cks.

Don't know where it was but I did see 'em. Electra looks rubbish too. Bullseye was the best bit about the film they should have made a spin-off about him.
Hellboy and Spiderman 2 were excellent and I'm now looking forward to Batman begins and Fantastic 4.
And of course the hitchhikers movie, which there is STILL no proper trailer for (anyone know why that could be, It's due in 5 months)
Also can't wait for Tim Burtons Charlie and the chocolate factory, hopefully Burton will be back to form after the dissapointing planet of the apes and Big fish.
As this is a 'What films have you seen recently?' thread though I'll shut up now.

DM

"Daredevil" is another film which was filleted by the studio and the incoming Directors Cut should be an improvement.

For the record, I quite liked bits of it (Colin Farrell's scenery chewing Bullseye killing an annoying old woman with a peanut, etc.), and Ben Affleck nailed the character on a couple of occasions.

I really want to see the Hellboy Director's Cut as I thought De Toro could take it darker still.

Del Toror is part of a dying breed - a director who works to a script and a shooting schedule and doesn't deviate much from it. The Directors Cut has about 6-7 minutes of extra footage, none odf which either makes the fuilm darker or really sheds much light on anything.

On the other hand, the *extras* on the directors cut triple dvd set make it indispensible for Hellboy fans.

I'd go along with that to an extent. The director's cut of Hellboy restores several excised scenes from the theatrical version but these are not typically stand-alone bits missing from the old print. (The one exception I can think of is the scene regarding the Tunguskan meteorite which was removed entirely.) Rather, they extend and elaborate on what is already in the movie and elevate several subplots that were dropped to preserve the running time. These include more on Sammael's re-births, Rasputin's eyes, Bruttenholm's illness and Liz's relationship with HB. I wouldn't say it doesn't shed light on anything, rather it makes the film more complex and the characters more rich, and that's no bad thing.

And yes the extras are wonderful. The third disk of the director's cut has a filmed cast commentary, however they are reveiwing only the theatrical release which is a small pity, still worthy buying however.



On another matter I went to go see House of Flying Daggers yesterday, not formed an opinion on that yet till I've watched the copy of Hero I picked up also while I was in the U.S.

Clive

Thanks "Shrillian....thinking she's redefined the word 'busy'" I will see Hero, I was also going to house of flying daggers, that looks good, any one else recomend it?

I quite liked Big Fish.

RF

Did you read the book before you saw the film?
'cause I think thats what ruined the film for me
DM

Reading the book first always ruins the fillum. I enjoyed Big Fish, but am planning to red the book as soon as I remember to steal it from Psychochiken.

I'm looking forward to charlie and the chocolate factory too. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. A match made in heaven (film-wise anyhow)

Another film I saw recently was Phantom of the Opera. I think they should have advertised it as a feature-length music video rather than a film - I wouldn't have been quite so dissapointed. It forced me to go out and buy the 1989/90 film with Charles Dance as the Phantom.

Zantic

No, I just saw the film.

RF

Anyone seen "Garden State"?

I thought it was f*cking brilliant.

I *hate* scrubs so had little expectation for the film but I must confess it is one of those few occasions where I have watched and film, then as soon as it finished watched it again. Pure class.

As for "Hellboy" I thought it was pretty good but not amazing better than most superhero fare. For my it set up a really good film if the same people make "Hellboy 2", but if they mess with the melon it will suck.

*deepbreath*

I find it hard to express in words exeptable to the bbc the depth of my anger at having paid money to sey "Daredevil". .

Despite every other film with Ben Afleck in going straight into my "Worst Films Ever List"tm (I have not seen "Good Will Hunting") I somehow thought it might be allright. It was without doubt one of the biggest piles of that it has ever been my mising fortune to sit ing through. <bleep. .

P.S. Did I mention Garden State is good?

On the Big Fish issue, I actually think that the book and film compliment one another. Definately see the film first though....

I recently saw The Station Agent, which was really nice although I'm not entirely sure why. I seem to be developing a love for movies in which nothing much happens but you feel good at the end. Am I getting old?

Anyone seen the new Clint Eastwood movie yet (Million Dollar Baby)?

RF

I wanna see 'garden state' I think scrubs is great.
different horses for different courses.
DM

Well I thought Garden State was fantastic....

Plus it had the lovely Ms Portman in which is great anyhow. But the film is ace.

Hey everyone Tim Burton has been busy I knew charlie and the chocolate factory was coming soon (looking forward to that) but I've just seen the trailer for 'The corpse bride' it's an animated film (similar style to nightmare before christmas)and thats got Johnny Depp in too.
The trailer is on the quicktime site don't know where else non-quicktimers could find it though.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/corpse_bride/
DM