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Stephen (210 KP) rated XX (2017) in Movies

Mar 17, 2019 (Updated Mar 17, 2019)  
XX (2017)
XX (2017)
2017 | Horror
XX is actually an anthology of 4 short films, all of which were directed by women.

Overall, the film is superbly directed and the acting is top notch too (the ever wonderful Melanie Lynskey delivers an outstanding performance in particular), but a couple of little niggles slightly lower my overall score.

First film, ‘The Box,’ is the best of them all - creepy and mysterious throughout, with all the elements needed for a thorough horror experience.

Next up is ‘The Birthday Party’ in which, as previously stated, Melanie Lynskey gives an amazing performance. I wouldn’t class this as a horror, more of a very dark comedy, but it’s still a superb piece of work.

‘Don’t Fall’ is where things begin to wane a little - it’s still a really good piece of work, just a little too short to make much of an impact.

Finally, ‘Her Only Living Son’ just doesn’t quite match the quality of the first three films. The storyline is good, but does get a bit confusing, and the acting is great too, but something just doesn’t sit right and I felt disappointed with this one.

Between each short film are sections which make up another little tale, but I found these a bit pointless and just seemed to pad out the overall running time.

All in all, XX is definitely worth a watch, it’s certainly had a lot of thought and effort go into the making of it, and I’d like to see more work by the very talented directors involved here.
  
Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies That Changed History!
Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies That Changed History!
Joe Bob Briggs | 2003 | Film & TV, Horror
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Profoundly Interesting
Joe Bob Brigg certainly knows his stuff. He delivers an intelligent and fascinating view on the films covered here. Especially interesting was the chapter concerning Kroger Babb, a name I wasn't familiar with until now. Joe covers the films Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1919), Mom And Dad (1947), Creature Front The Black Lagoon (1954), And God Created Woman (1956), Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Blood Feast (1963), The Wild Bunch (1969), Shaft (1971), Deep Throat (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Isla, She-Wolf of the SS (1974), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Drunken Master (1978), Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Crash (1996). Although it is a very good read my only gripes are that the essays on some films are way too short and the summary pages after each chapter "For Further Disturbance" are basically an edited rehash of the previous pages. Also no matter how I try to look at it, Shaft (as good a film as it is) really doesn't fall under the 'profoundly disturbing' category. Nevertheless it's a good read and has some nice double page poster art for each film. A nice book to have but nonetheless not that essential
  
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Dean (6925 KP) rated Memento (2000) in Movies

May 7, 2017  
Memento (2000)
Memento (2000)
2000 | Mystery, Thriller
Amazing concept (2 more)
Great cast
Easter egg on the DVD
Outstanding film
I love this film! One you can rewatch over and over again, yet never tire of it. The film is shown in flash backs, each scene showing what happened just before the last section. The main character has short term memory loss which plays well with how the film is viewed. It has a gripping story and plenty of twists. One of the most original films ever! If you have the DVD there is an Easter egg to watch it in the correct chronological order of events, brilliant!
  
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Ruben Ostlund recommended Playtime (1967) in Movies (curated)

 
Playtime (1967)
Playtime (1967)
1967 | Classics, Comedy

"This film is the most ambitious failure. I love Tati as an actor, and I love the way the scenes are made; they’re so intelligent and funny, and the timing is fantastic in each and every moment. It has a Chaplin-like precision. But it’s also a black hole that sucks energy from the audience. I also really love his short films, like the one where he’s teaching actors how to walk into a wall properly. For me, Tati took acting to a level comparable to sports. His performances are very direct, and you can see his skill as an actor."

Source
  
The Horse's Mouth (1958)
The Horse's Mouth (1958)
1958 | Classics, Comedy
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"This is not only one of the funniest films ever made, but, as one who has spent time with a number of painters, I could see that it was really about painters and painting. And it was responsible for my first film—a short that ran for almost a year at the Paris Theater in New York. Of course, I’ll always love it. One of the lines I love is when the helper lady asks how you can tell when a picture is finished, and the painter hero looks at her quizzically and says, “You just know.” For me, that was movies."

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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
1981 | Action, Adventure
There is literally nothing I could say that hasn't already been said about Raiders of the Lost Ark, so in short...

Although films such as Star Wars and Jaws had come before, the first Indiana Jones adventure truly set the blueprint for blockbuster cinema. It scared me as a kid, delighted me as I grew a little older, and still rips all these years later. Its influence can be seen in all avenues of popular culture since, and I will never, NEVER forget how Paul Freeman didn't even flinch a millimeter when a fly crawled into his mouth mid line. Cold. As. Ice.