"Which HDnet Movies movies have you seen? Would you like to post your review of them?

[TheTimm]

Return To The Blue Lagoon - 3 stars: Okay, okay -- it's not good. It might even be considered bad. But dang it, I like it. Is it just seeing Milla Jovovich run around a deserted island half-naked? Well, yes....yes, it is. One of these days maybe I'll get stranded on an island with a supermodel, right? Right? No? Oh, well ... then I guess I'll just watch this every so often, and dream.

 

[Sean Mota]

Raging Bull 3.5 stars a boxing classic. This has been rated the best boxing movie of all time. A B&W film with a story telling of a boxer ups and down in the world he lives in.

 

[TheTimm]

Cobra - 3 stars: If this movie was any worse or had one more cliche it would be considered satire. I of course love it. Forget about Rambo and Rocky -- Sly shoulda made a million sequels to this! Crime IS a disease, and yes, Cobra is indeed the cure. Love it. It actually looked decent (especially the creatively shot opening scenes of the motorcycle) and sounded nice and surroundy. Oh, and Brigitte Nielson is all big and hot and stuff. Yum.

 

[TheTimm]

Raging Bull - 3.5 stars: I didn't love the movie really -- but DeNiro is a G\god. Watching him transform his body was amazing. And by the end of this movie I hated Jake LaMotta -- I mean yelling-at-the-TV-for-Pesci's-character-to-kick-the-crap-out-his-stupid-old-lard-butt-brother hated. This was just a jackass through and through -- and this is the impression I get from a movie based on the story as written by him! I thought they actually overdid the boxing scenes a bit, but I guess they do that in all movies to dumb it down for the people who don't know boxing at all. I mean it's just not like that. But I thought the movie looked darned good, especially the beautiful opening shots of DeNiro bouncing around the ring in slow motion, framed by the ropes with the occasional flashbulb going off. Great start.

 

[TheTimm]

Heavy Metal - 2.5 stars: Rock and roll animated T&A babes. Actually, it sounds cooler than it is. Maybe I'm getting old. Don't get me wrong, it is cool -- but it seems to me to be a R-rated movie with a target audience that's too young to see it. It's pretty much pure fantasy that I would think would only really appeal to young teenage boys. I enjoyed it, but can't imagine ever wanting to watch it again. I guess I've reached a point where real, flawed women are much more appealing to me than perfect fantasy ones. And the stories just pretty much seemed like afterthoughts. The 5.1 was nice though.

 

[TheTimm]

An American Rhapsody - 4 stars: So good. How can it not be?-- it has Scarlett Johansson. Basically, you get the Cold War-era Hungary and a family that makes a break for the US, leaving a baby behind. Ugh. Lots of problems and quesions and issues -- none with perfect solutions and answers. Really gets you thinking, and in this case that turns out to be a good thing. Oh, and did I mention it has Scarlett Johansson?

 

[Sean Mota]

Random Hearts 1.0 awful movie with an awful plot and awful acting. Enough said. I skipped most of it after the first 30 minutes but basically is trying to be a romantic drama about two people who lost their couple in an airplane accident. The deceased were having an affair unknown to the survivor couple. The survivor couple get united by this tragedy and by (I guess) Random Hearts have an affair of their own. Anyway, you can see the end of this movie after the first 30 minutes.

 

[TheTimm]

The Outsiders - 4.5 stars: No, this movie probably isn't really deserving of four+ stars. I don't care. I'm giving 'em anyway. I love this movie. Have since I was a kid, probably because I loved the book by SE Hinton so much when I was in elementary school. I think the movie is pretty good even if you haven't read the book, but I don't know for sure -- I find it absolutely impossible to separate the two in my mind and I'm sure my childhood love/obsession with all things SE Hinton (especially The Outsiders) slants my opinion. The cast is pretty cool -- all the cheeseball early 80's male stars are there -- C.Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and a great turn by Matt Dillon. But what I noticed most this time around was the lovely young Diane Lane. It's been a while since I've seen this movie, and while I've adored Miss Lane each time, this is the first time I was struck by the similarities between her (in this movie) and today's Julia Stiles. Anyway, I love this movie. But I have no idea if anyone else will.

 

[TheTimm]

The Crying Game - 4 stars: Fascinating movie. A well-acted story/relationship that keeps me wondering where it's going next. And surprisingly good surround sound too.

 

[long_time_DNC]

Simone - 3 stars. Pacino does a fairly decent job in this dark comedy, particularly in the last half hour. The idea is pretty original and plays out well, but it's Pacino that makes the whole thing work. Rachael Roberts (as Simone) certainly doesn't hurt the film either.

There's not much activity in the sound stage, consequently, the surrounds don't get much use, but as a critical look at the nature of celebrity, Hollywood and pop culture in-general, the sound isn't as important as what's being said.

 

[TheTimm]

The Blue Lagoon - 3.5 stars: I never get sick of seeing this movie. Most of it is just the excuse it gives me to imagine myself growing up on a deserted island with Brooke Shields. But it really is a sweet story.

 

[Sean Mota]

Farenheit 451 4.0 stars. I am biased with this movie since I can't get enough of it. Just the idea behind the story makes you think. One thing worth mention and have seen many commenting about the flat screen in the living room but what I haven't mentioned before is the MOOV-HD or LAB-HD channel on the screen. This picture has some nice ideas.

 

[Sean Mota]

Retroactive 3.0 stars good action movie with good actors and a good story.

 

[TheTimm]

Hackers - 3 stars: Oh, this is cheesy, trying so hard to be ultra-cool and high tech. I don't care -- I like it anyway. Angelina Jolie has never looked better, and the soundtrack is all thumpy and surroundy. The whole thing sure is cheesy, but in a fun way.

 

[dantheman77]

I would recomend MIDNIGHT RUN. Staring Robert ( I call him Bobby) De Niro and Charles Grodin; Bounty hunter De Niro, has to catch Grodin a accountant who stole from the mob, then went on the lamb. After catching him in New York he has to take Grodin back to LA before his bond expires. Along the way halirty ensuses (?SP)as the mob, the FBI and a rival bounty hunter all want Grodin too> De Niro is great as he ALMOST always is, but Grodin steals the movie with his deadpan delivery. As you can tell im not Roger Ebbert, but if you wtach this movie, me thinks you will enjoy. FUNNY!!! Also to Sean and Mr Timm, only 3.5 strars for Raging Bull???? Wow, on your scale of 1 to 5 stars, I would give it 6! Thanks, the balcony is closed (btw) MIDNIGHT RUN air next on Friday. April 21 8pm eastern. For other times, check your local listings!

 

[TheTimm]

As you can tell im not Roger Ebbert, but if you wtach this movie, me thinks you will enjoy. FUNNY!!! Also to Sean and Mr Timm, only 3.5 strars for Raging Bull???? Wow, on your scale of 1 to 5 stars, I would give it 6! Thanks, the balcony is closed (btw)

Good stuff, dan (Mr. man?)! Thanks for the review. Don't worry about not being Mr. Ebert -- none of us are! Heck, as you pointed out, I score Raging Bull about even with The Blue Lagoon, so I don't think anyone's gonna accuse me of knowing what the hell I'm talking about!

But I for one don't really care what Ebert thinks -- I'm more interested in what real people think. Hope you'll review more movies as you watch 'em!

Oh -- and I've seen Midnight Run and I agree that it's a good one. But I'll wait to "review" it until I get a chance to see it on HDNet Movies -- sometimes movies aren't as good as I remember from way back when (but frequently that doesn't stop me from still diggin' em. Go figure).

 

[long_time_DNC]

Excalibur - 4 stars. This is probably the most interesting and best looking telling of the "Arthurian tale" ever put to film. Merlin was done with just enough humor to make the character genuinely likeable and intriguing.

If only the DVD looked half as good as HDNet's video last night!

 

[TheTimm]

The Virgin Suicides - 2.5 stars: I think the thing I like most about this movie is the title. Great title. And it's a good movie, but something's missing. I don't know what, but it just seems like this is a really good story with some really good actors but it just doesn't seem to grab me like I would expect it to. One thing worth noting -- I think they do a pretty job of representing Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

 

[TheTimm]

I've reviewed this one before, back when it was shown on Voom:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=98912&postcount=57

Pretty much still feel the same way about it so I'll just paste the old review here. Seems just as good on HDNet Movies. Still a lot of fun.

Oh, God! - 4 stars : Was surprised by how good it looked and sounded, considering it's from 1977. The movie itself is a classic idea done very well. I thought Paul Sorvino was excellent in his role as a reverend. And Teri Garr was just gorgeous way back when.

 

[TheTimm]

Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai - 2.5 stars: Forest Whittaker as a hit-man/samurai-enthusiast. Not a perfect movie by any stretch, but fun enough. Some of those mafia type guys were pretty funny -- the dude rapping along with Public Enemy was priceless.