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kal
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:24 am Post subject: |
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Wow, that's quick. I guess they need as much revenue in the pipe these days as Wall Street does. Anyone, I can be happy.
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kal
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MYoung
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
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Location: Madison, WI
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't much care for it, but lots of people liked it and it did pretty good with critics. I will say that I thought Tom Cruise's cameo was pretty funny.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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I thought the same thing about You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Trailers seemed so-so and I questioned my wife for buying the BD. Yet, it turned out to be funny. I've watched it twice so far.
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emdawgz1
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| WanMan wrote: | | I thought the same thing about You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Trailers seemed so-so and I questioned my wife for buying the BD. Yet, it turned out to be funny. I've watched it twice so far. |
Sandler is the second least funny person on the planet, just behind Sara Silverman(IMHO)
The previews of that movie look like he's trying to come out of the closet.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Again, I did not find the trailer funny at all. Once I started watching the movie, it was amusing. And the led bird is hot!
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kal
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kal
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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It's another reference title:
 Tropic Thunder (DreamWorks) Video: 4.5/5 Audio: 4.5/5
| Quote: | The Movie Itself: 4/5
Anyone who hasn’t seen a trailer for writer/director/actor Ben Stiller’s ‘Tropic Thunder’ has either been stranded on a mysterious island eluding smoke monsters or living in a high-altitude Tibetan monastery abstaining from technology altogether. Scratch that… even reclusive Tibetan monks have probably seen Robert Downey Jr. spout the words, “What do you mean, you people?” Unfortunately for some, watching the film’s trailer is akin to watching the entire film -- it gives away the best gags and outlines nearly every aspect of the plot. Fortunately for most, even when the best laughs have already been had and the story becomes distractingly predictable, ‘Tropic Thunder’ still has plenty to offer fans of comedy, satire, and war flicks in general.
Miraculously combining an outrageous farce, a Hollywood satire, and a genre spoof into one cohesive film, ‘Tropic Thunder’ tells the tongue-in-cheek tale of three arrogant and unbalanced actors – action superstar Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), low-brow funnyman Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and five-time Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus (the similarly gifted Robert Downey Jr.) -- co-starring in a sprawling Vietnam War epic. Problem is, Speedman is a pompous failure trying to rejuvenate his career, Portnoy is a heroin-addicted attention junkie who has a hard time being taken seriously, and Lazarus is a mentally unstable method actor who undergoes a controversial pigmentation procedure to prepare for his role as an African American.
After the production begins to spiral out of control and a hip-hop lovin’ studio executive named Les Grossman (Tom Cruise) demands results, consultant John Tayback (Nick Nolte), a Vietnam veteran on whose memoirs the film is based, convinces squirrely first-time director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) to take his cast into the jungle, set-up hidden cameras, and shoot the pampered Hollywood elites performing “in the sh*t.” However, when this guerilla-style shoot goes terribly wrong, the actors are left unsure of what’s real and what’s simply an illusion. Struggling with their identities, fighting to overcome their pasts, and working to make the best war film of all time, Speedman, Portnoy, and Lazarus have to choose between death and action.
For those of you hoping ’Tropic Thunder’ will be a laugh-out-loud juggernaut that will leave you in stitches, you may want to realign your expectations. Sure, there are plenty of gut-busters to be had, but the real source of the film’s comedy comes in the form of grin-inducing wit from the expressions, line delivery, and various interactions of the cast members. As it stands, even the story’s ever-shifting tone, pacing, and atmosphere helps Stiller keep things fresh and entertaining. While the writer/director pulls heavily from both his Zoolander and Focker personas to create Speedman, his actors are continually challenged to parody their own pursuits and respective talents. Black gets a chance to explore the depths of a sad-clown, Cruise (in one of the standout performance of the film) jumps into the shoes of the very executives who seem intent to crucify him in the real world, and Nolte plays the frazzled fraud some have painted him to be. Stiller even includes a hilarious series of industry-skewering cameos from the likes of Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Bateman, Sean Penn, and SNL’s Bill Hader (among many others).
But it’s Robert Downey Jr’s turn as a fumbling Oscar-winner lost in himself that proves the best addition to the film. While the rest of the cast keeps things light by turning a rather sharp spotlight on their own exploits and weaknesses, the would-be Iron Man earns the most laughs, the most sympathy, and takes the time to create the most believable loser of the bunch. From his early appearance in a mock-trailer with Tobey Maguire to his race-bending trifecta near the end of the film, Downey Jr. is in full control of his repertoire, crafting a unique character the likes of which has never been seen. Without him, the movie would be a mediocre heap of one-liners and slapstick action. With him, the film is transformed into a classic, layering truth on top of humor to produce a surreal and witty farce that boasts some truly memorable scenes.
Problems? Sure. The in-fighting amongst the actors wears out its welcome, Black’s role doesn’t effectively peel back the skin of similar comedians, Coogan is disappointingly underused, and a few cameos feel stilted and awkward (Tyra Banks and Lance Bass?). Still, each is a minor detriment that only prevents ‘Tropic Thunder’ from reaching the subtle heights of comedic satires like ‘Wag the Dog’ or ‘State and Main.’ Ultimately, ‘Tropic Thunder’ is a thoroughly entertaining, occasionally riotous comedy that accomplishes most of what it sets out to do.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture 4.5/5
’Tropic Thunder’ arrives on Blu-ray in a gorgeous 1080p/AVC-encoded wonder that showcases the benefits of high definition from beginning to end. Colors are lush, vibrant, and stable contrast is bright and lively, black levels are incredibly deep, and skintones are convincing and natural. As it stands, comparisons to the film’s concurrently released standard DVD reveal a significant upgrade in image clarity and fine detail, resulting in a remarkably improved picture. Clothing and fabric textures are crisp, tiny smoke tendrils wisp toward the sky, and weathered patches of skin, hair, and wrinkles are flawless. Furthermore, the transfer doesn’t suffer from artifacting, banding, source noise, or edge enhancement. There is a light grain present overtop of the image, but it never becomes a distraction and only serves to increase the filmic qualities of the transfer.
If I have any gripe it’s that contrast comes on a bit strong, resulting in overblown whites, oppressive shadows, and somewhat limited delineation. I think it reflects Stiller’s directorial intention, but it seems to be more of an issue than I remember it being when I saw the film in theaters. Ah well, it’s a small nitpick. Paramount has really stepped up to the plate since they made the switch to Blu-ray earlier this year and ‘Tropic Thunder’ solidifies their reputation as one of the most reliable high-def studios in the industry.
The Audio: Rating the Sound 4.5/5
’Tropic Thunder’ definitely won’t win any points for subtlety, but its full-throttle Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track will certainly turn heads and wake up any unfortunate soul in your home who’s trying to sleep. Dialogue is clean and distinct, perfectly prioritized amidst the most frenzied firefights and explosions, and nicely distributed throughout the soundfield. Rear speaker support is impressive as well, hurling splintered wood, debris, and ricocheting bullets across the battlefield that quickly sets up shop in your home theater. Ambience is consistent and strong, immersion is a cinch, and most of the effects sound eerily realistic. Better still, the LFE channel makes its presence known, delivering earthy, resonant low-end pulses that add weight to the on-screen chaos, heft to the choppers and soldiers who populate Stiller’s opus, and life to the various songs and music that litter the film. It’s also worth noting that every element of the soundscape is clean, polished, and well defined. Pans are smooth and transparent, and directionality is extremely precise (particularly during the action that erupts in the third act).
Don’t get me wrong, ‘Tropic Thunder’s original sound design isn’t the sort of mix anyone will call a nuanced award winner, but this thoroughly amazing and arguably reference quality TrueHD track will thrill and wow fans of the film. |
Kal
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emdawgz1
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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You can also get Heathers.
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emdawgz1
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| WanMan wrote: | | You can also get Heathers. |
Heathers isnt a bad flick.... why i need it on B/R?????
Its better than "Jawbreaker", and that poc "Mean Girls"
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Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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The reason for this is simple. The adoption rate of blu-ray is pathetic. All titles make the most money when they are first released. Lucas, Disney, et al stand to make more money if they release these movies when more players are out there and more people will buy them. I don't see that happening soon.
Basically, players need to be cheap enough and a "killer app" title needs to come out to drive people to purchase BD players. The Matrix on DVD was probably responsible for more DVD player sales than anything else. The quality improvement over VHS was staggering. People do not perceive enough of a quality difference between BD and DVD on their 50" plasma yet to really dive in.
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Dave
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| emdawgz1 wrote: | | Sandler is the second least funny person on the planet, just behind Sara Silverman(IMHO) |
I wouldn't go THAT far. Sandler is funny in a few movies. Billy Madison is good and Wedding Singer is one of my all-time favorite funny movies. He definitely rubs people the wrong way, though - I'll give you that. My dad is of the same opinion as you, John.
While I don't dislike him and enjoy some of his comedy, I actually like him better in dramas. Have you seen Punch-Drunk Love or Reign Over Me? Both pretty good and interesting films where Sandler isn't doing his same old funny "shtick". "Click" was pretty decent, too.
I'm in COMPLETE agreement on Sara Silverman, though. NOT funny... at all. The only person I dislike more than her and perhaps is my least favorite of all actors is Ben Stiller. I REALLY don't like to see films with him in it. I didn't like Meet the Parents like most people did, and I barely laughed all the way through "Something about Mary". I just don't find him funny because I can't stop thinking about how he just comes off like a pompous ass all the time.
Isn't it funny how people's personalities color your perceptions of them - even when they're in character?
SC
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Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | The only person I dislike more than her and perhaps is my least favorite of all actors is Ben Stiller. I REALLY don't like to see films with him in it. I didn't like Meet the Parents like most people did, and I barely laughed all the way through "Something about Mary". I just don't find him funny because I can't stop thinking about how he just comes off like a pompous ass all the time.
Isn't it funny how people's personalities color your perceptions of them - even when they're in character?
SC |
Oh come on. No love for Mystery Men? That is an under appreciated film. I'm not sure if people don't "get it" or don't "want it", but I like that one.
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Dave
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:01 am Post subject: |
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Amazingly, I haven't seen it. When it came out, I saw that Ben Stiller was in it, the trailer made it look pretty iffy, so I skipped it. If you REALLY think it's worth watching, I'll tolerate Stiller and give it a whirl. I'll have to watch it alone, though. My wife doesn't like Stiller, comic book scifi, or that style of humor - so I'm pretty sure it's a non-starter for her.
SC
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emdawgz1
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | [
I'm in COMPLETE agreement on Sara Silverman, though. NOT funny... at all. The only person I dislike more than her and perhaps is my least favorite of all actors is Ben Stiller. I REALLY don't like to see films with him in it. I didn't like Meet the Parents like most people did, and I barely laughed all the way through "Something about Mary". I just don't find him funny because I can't stop thinking about how he just comes off like a pompous ass all the time.
Isn't it funny how people's personalities color your perceptions of them - even when they're in character?
SC |
Shameful admission alert!!!!!
zoolander......... god help me but ........ i like it........
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kal
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| Person99 wrote: | | Oh come on. No love for Mystery Men? That is an under appreciated film. I'm not sure if people don't "get it" or don't "want it", but I like that one. |
That is a funny one I have to admit, even though I'm not what I'd consider a comic book/superhero geek I appreciated the humor.
Another one along the same "spoof" type lines that's worth seeing is Galaxy Quest.
Kal
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| emdawgz1 wrote: | | zoolander......... god help me but ........ i like it........ |
I think its the only movie Owen is portrayed like himself.  Besides, it has Mrs. Stiller in it.
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Person99
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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| kal wrote: | Another one along the same "spoof" type lines that's worth seeing is Galaxy Quest.
Kal |
It is close. Not quite the same style of parody, but close. But yeah, I have Galaxy Quest on D-Theater and I watch it with friends about once per year.
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Dave
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