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The Complete DIRECTOR CHECKLIST USER GUIDE - Page 2

post #31 of 71
9/13/09 at 8:56pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

It does seem the activity around the other parts of the forum has dried up quite a bit since the change.  That's a shame, seeing this place become a hollow shell of it's former self. 

I know that I'm spending less and less time here and more time on other forums.
 

The forum is doing very well, thank you. Some areas are quieter, and others that had been dead for a long time are suddenly active again. The new format may no longer suit the personal tastes of some long-time posters, but the overall numbers are up. So it must be working for a lot of people. (I know how much it pains the nay-sayers to hear that, but facts are stubborn things.)

Edited by Michael Reuben - 9/14/09 at 4:14pm
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post #32 of 71
9/14/09 at 3:30pm
The numbers are up eh, thats good to hear Michael. We may not like the current format but we're still proud members of the HTF, even if it does seem like we long-time posters are hanging out here out of pure habit and nostalgia more than anything else.
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post #33 of 71
9/14/09 at 4:23pm
Everything changes, Steve. I'm posting more at HTF than I have in years, but it's in a completely different format.
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post #34 of 71
9/15/09 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
Well I'm glad that everything is going well with "the numbers", even if I'm not seeing it in the areas I frequent.

BTW since you've made an appearance in the dungeon what's up with the sticky function?  I see several threads in the HD area are stickied, how about this one?

I'm going to eventually run out of PG-13 rated boob shots if I have to keep bumping this.  I might have to go R rated. 
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post #35 of 71
9/19/09 at 7:46am
Thread Starter 
I guess he just got too busy posting in those mysterious active areas to answer that burning question.    Oh well, what can you do.

Anyway.......


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post #36 of 71
9/24/09 at 2:30pm
Oh, here is this thread. I was looking for it...
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post #37 of 71
9/25/09 at 8:59am

If only there was some sort of function that could keep this thread at the top of the page!  When o when will HTML technology catch up to our desire to have useful threads "stuck" in one spot, or "stickied" if you will?

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post #38 of 71
9/26/09 at 7:01am
Thread Starter 
Ah, quit yer bitchin.  Can't you see that pop up ads are a more beneficial feature for us! 

Anyway if only Golf were this interesting I might actually watch it...............


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post #39 of 71
10/9/09 at 9:18pm

Bumping and adding a couple more:

William Lustig:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/293799/the-directors-checklist-the-films-of-william-lustig

 

Jerry Warren:

 

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/293800/the-directors-checklist-the-films-of-jerry-warren

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post #40 of 71
10/24/09 at 10:13pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

BTW since you've made an appearance in the dungeon what's up with the sticky function?  I see several threads in the HD area are stickied, how about this one?


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

I guess he just got too busy posting in those mysterious active areas to answer that burning question.    Oh well, what can you do.

 

You should have PM'd me. I don't visit here that often, but I could have fixed this for you a long time ago.

This thread now has its own permanent link at the top of the Polls forum. It will always be easy to find.

In the meantime, a little house-cleaning . . .
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post #41 of 71
10/25/09 at 7:53am
Thread Starter 
Bravo!  Excellent work Michael.......Especially love the large font.

FWIW I did send an alert to the mods (not to you specifically) months ago and it got ignored, I also posed a question about the sticky function in the Feedback Area, it also got ignored....you have to admit there's no way in telling what mods are in charge of what areas anymore.

I am a bit sad that you cleaned up my photo gallery of smut......... I was especially fond of the dancing nurse........maybe I could re-post 'em in the Horror challenge thread just to liven that crowd up ........then again maybe I should just behave myself.  Michael?  Michael?!   Shit, he left again like the wind.......
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post #42 of 71
10/25/09 at 1:11pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

Shit, he left again like the wind.......
 

I'm checking back, because I knew you'd say that.

I don't know what kind of "alert" you sent, but I never saw it. But I've been here now; so you know who to call. If it's something I can do, I'm happy to.

The reality is that the old area assignments weren't hard-and-fast, and no one's even tried to reinstate them on the new platform. We respond to problems as we see them or hear about them.

As for where I've been hanging out, Christou knows. I now spend the bulk of my time at HTF reviewing discs.


Edited by Michael Reuben - 10/25/09 at 9:07pm
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post #43 of 71
10/25/09 at 5:15pm
Aah Michael pinned your thread up Jim, isn't that nice of him? Put his mod-like powers to good use for once eh. I am kidding Mike.

Michael's always busy writing reviews. I tried to get him to post in testy and he laughed saying writing reviews was far more satisfying than posting pictures of half naked women in the testing area.
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post #44 of 71
10/26/09 at 5:02am
Thread Starter 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Christou View Post

Michael's always busy writing reviews. I tried to get him to post in testy and he laughed saying writing reviews was far more satisfying than posting pictures of half naked women in the testing area.

Wha?!  Writing reviews more satisfying than ogling beautiful women?!  NEVER!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben View Post




I'm checking back, because I knew you'd say that.

I don't know what kind of "alert" you sent, but I never saw it. But I've been here now; so you know who to call. If it's something I can do, I'm happy to.

The reality is that the old area assignments weren't hard-and-fast, and no one's even tried to reinstate them on the new platform. We respond to problems as we see them or hear about them.

As for where I've been hanging out, Christou knows. I now spend the bulk of my time at HTF reviewing discs.
 

Disc reviews?  Technical?  Blu-ray?  You must have a thick skin.   I doubt I could put up with the screenshot analysts critiquing what I wrote.  I'd be tempted by the dark side to use my Mod powers for evil. 

As for movie reviews when it comes to films I haven't seen I'm a fan of short reviews, less chance for spoilers and the less I know about a film the better.  I just want a general feel of the film.  I take that same approach whenever the mood takes me to write a review.  Plus most of the movies I watch can pretty easily be summed up in one or two sentences.

I do enjoy reading lengthy reviews if I've already seen the film.  I do admire anyone that can write a prolific lengthy movie review with any amount of talent.  I'll have to check out some of your stuff in the near future.

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post #45 of 71
10/26/09 at 5:48am
Jim, whenever I attempt to write a reasonably lengthy review it ends up being about 3 or 4 lines long, "good film, go see it" is about as deep as my reviews get.

I too envy people who can write an epic thesis on the film they just saw, I start yawning as soon as I start describing the plot, give up and just type in "thrilling adventure" which is one hell of a shortcut and makes posts look neater too. Which is what happened last night when I typed a review for UP in the 2009 movie tracking thread, 5 lines was all I can muster mister.

Worth checking out Reuben's reviews they are extremely well done, he does take his time with them but the results are worth it.
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post #46 of 71
10/26/09 at 7:53am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post


Disc reviews?  Technical?  Blu-ray?  You must have a thick skin.   I doubt I could put up with the screenshot analysts critiquing what I wrote. 

 

Maybe I've just been lucky, but that hasn't been a big problem. It may have something to do with the obscurity of much of what I've reviewed. There aren't a lot of screenshot jockeys poring over Atom Egoyan films (Adoration is the one I just did) or obscure British imports (who's even heard of The Crew?).

And people can surprise you. The one time a notorious screenshot nitpicker cruised through one of my review threads was True Romance. I think I was the only web reviewer who thought the Blu-ray transfer was any good, but that's because I was also the only web reviewer who'd seen all the prior versions, back to and including the theatrical presentation. Mr. Screenshot (I'm not going to give him the free PR of naming him) condemned the transfer without (I think) ever reading my comments. Over the next few months, several HTF members revived the thread just to say that, as fans of the film, they'd taken a chance on the Blu-ray and agreed with my views on the transfer.

Turns out, the screenshot guys are like a lot of vocal minorities. Once they move on, you start to hear from the much larger group of reasonable people who were being drowned out by the volume.

I agree with you about plot spoilers. My first question when I set out to describe a film is, how can I convey an accurate sense of it without ruining the experience? Sometimes that results in a short review (like the one I just posted: Orphan), but sometimes people need more (as with True Romance). The reader is always his own best editor. Just skip down to the audio and video sections.

As for ogling beautiful women, why do you think I ask my wife to edit every review before it's posted?
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post #47 of 71
10/27/09 at 4:37am
Thread Starter 


Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben View Post


Maybe I've just been lucky, but that hasn't been a big problem. It may have something to do with the obscurity of much of what I've reviewed. There aren't a lot of screenshot jockeys poring over Atom Egoyan films (Adoration is the one I just did) or obscure British imports (who's even heard of The Crew?).

And people can surprise you. The one time a notorious screenshot nitpicker cruised through one of my review threads was True Romance. I think I was the only web reviewer who thought the Blu-ray transfer was any good, but that's because I was also the only web reviewer who'd seen all the prior versions, back to and including the theatrical presentation. Mr. Screenshot (I'm not going to give him the free PR of naming him) condemned the transfer without (I think) ever reading my comments. Over the next few months, several HTF members revived the thread just to say that, as fans of the film, they'd taken a chance on the Blu-ray and agreed with my views on the transfer.

Turns out, the screenshot guys are like a lot of vocal minorities. Once they move on, you start to hear from the much larger group of reasonable people who were being drowned out by the volume.

I agree with you about plot spoilers. My first question when I set out to describe a film is, how can I convey an accurate sense of it without ruining the experience? Sometimes that results in a short review (like the one I just posted: Orphan), but sometimes people need more (as with True Romance). The reader is always his own best editor. Just skip down to the audio and video sections.

As for ogling beautiful women, why do you think I ask my wife to edit every review before it's posted?


 


Slick moves Michael.  Whenever I'm caught ogling my wife, she'll either roll her eyes or she'll toss her hair back in that sexy way of hers, laughs then gives me the old "yeah right".  WENCH!  

Hey, I've heard of The Crew, I enjoy obscure British Gangster flics.

and I do remember reading your True Romance review which was a very good read BTW so I know exactly who you're talking about.  That guy is always good for a few unintentional laughs.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Christou View Post

Jim, whenever I attempt to write a reasonably lengthy review it ends up being about 3 or 4 lines long, "good film, go see it" is about as deep as my reviews get.

I too envy people who can write an epic thesis on the film they just saw, I start yawning as soon as I start describing the plot, give up and just type in "thrilling adventure" which is one hell of a shortcut and makes posts look neater too. Which is what happened last night when I typed a review for UP in the 2009 movie tracking thread, 5 lines was all I can muster mister.
 

Yeah I agree Steve.  Especially with new films.  By the time I've seen it there's nothing I have to add that has been stated over and over again in those review threads already so I don't even bother even if I feel the urge to write about it.

I remember a few years ago doing that Track the films thread, writing a review for every film you watch....... man that was tedious.  All I can muster up anymore is once a year for that Horror challenge.  I'm even getting bored with that already.  Plus there's only so much I can stomach reading when it comes to torture porn, teen-slashers, The Munsters or flippin Buffy the vampire Slayer [NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!] 

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post #48 of 71
10/27/09 at 5:10am
Hoho when it comes to horror films I prefer the old classics, todays horror films are just too samey, variations on the same theme over and over again. Sandra occasionally drags me out the house kicking and screaming to go and see some new horror thats turned up in our local multiplex, she'll watch most of it thru her fingers while the only consolation I get is the leading lady walking around in her knickers, if I'm lucky, or the victim is running around starkers as in the remake of My Bloody Valentine, the highlight of the film IMO. Otherwise boredom sets in.

I haven't seen The Crew, it's on my to watch list, there's a new Britflick out now called Dead Man Running I want to see too. No it's not a zombie film.
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post #49 of 71
10/28/09 at 2:44pm
I took issue with some of the directorial and stylistic choices in The Crew, but it's well worth seeing, if only for the lead performance by Scot Williams. And I'm willing to bet Steve will enjoy Coredelia Bugeja as his wife, Debs, who was a last-minute replacement and is thrillingly credible. Also beautiful. Did I mention that she . . . ? Sorry, no spoilers allowed.
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post #50 of 71
10/28/09 at 3:37pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Reuben View Post

I'm willing to bet Steve will enjoy Coredelia Bugeja as his wife, Debs, who was a last-minute replacement and is thrillingly credible. Also beautiful. Did I mention that she . . . ?

...takes her top off? ...turns out to be a man? ...doesn't really exist? ...secretly works for the bad guys? ...is a part-time stripper? ...kills her lovers with an ice pick? ...has an evil twin sister? ...once dated Charlie Sheen? ...was beautiful when she died... 100 years ago!"

Any of the above Michael? I'll be watching The Crew at the weekend when some friends pop round. The last British gangster film we enjoyed was RockNrolla so hopefully this one delivers the goods too.

Sandra and I will be watching The Orphan tomorrow night, people have been recommending it.

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post #51 of 71
10/29/09 at 4:18am
Thread Starter 
hohohodedo

Thankfully Michael restrained himself there with the spoiler for The Crew.  Talking about spoiler-free reviews.....I just got done looking at the Blu-ray review of Heat by Robert Harris which consisted of "see it" ............  A Few Words About is spot on ......Bless him 

I've got Orphan coming in the mail........don't know when I'll get it.  Also have Transformers 2: Judgment Day or some-such laying around here somewhere which I plan on watching in the next couple of days.


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post #52 of 71
10/29/09 at 7:03am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Christou View Post


...takes her top off? ...turns out to be a man? ...doesn't really exist? ...secretly works for the bad guys? ...is a part-time stripper? ...kills her lovers with an ice pick? ...has an evil twin sister? ...once dated Charlie Sheen? ...was beautiful when she died... 100 years ago!"


 

One of the above, plus one you didn't mention. It's a fookin' gangster film! (Sorry, I can't spell Liverpuddlian.)


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

Also have Transformers 2: Judgment Day or some-such laying around here somewhere which I plan on watching in the next couple of days.

 

My recommendation is to approach it as a comedy with special effects. I had a great time that way, but (full disclosure) I'm a complete sucker for Julie White, who plays Sam's mother and is one of the funniest women on the New York stage. (Quiet, Steve. I know what you think of the theater, but you don't know the theater.) And at the point where Sam gets seduced by . . . well, you'll see -- anyway, I was on the floor, because it was like the film was already parodying itself. And it just kept getting sillier (in a good way).
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post #53 of 71
10/29/09 at 7:33am
Fookin' 'ell Michael, you sounded just like Colin Farrell then, seen In Bruges? Of course you have. Luverly film, deserved more Oscar recognition.

Theater? Well I know you dress up in top hat, coat and tails, um white scarf? silver tipped cane?

Last time I went to the theater was 30 friggin' years ago! Dracula, starring George Chakiris (yep a Greek Dracula) and Roy Dotrice as Van Helsing. London's West End, I can't remember if I wore a white scarf... I do remember enjoying it, the place was packed, they had rats on wires on the stage and people would scream whenever one went zooming across (I'm assuming they were rats on wires, it was an old theater). Sadly I haven't been to the theater since, though I was tempted to go and see Spamalot.

Jim, like Michael said if you treat Transformers 2 as a comedy with robots you'll enjoy it more, I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it, even during the serious parts. And having John Turturro return was an added bonus, loved him in the first film.
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post #54 of 71
10/29/09 at 7:58am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Christou View Post

Fookin' 'ell Michael, you sounded just like Colin Farrell then, seen In Bruges? Of course you have. Luverly film, deserved more Oscar recognition.

 

Funny you should say that. According to Scot Williams on The Crew's commentary track, the old Liverpool accent was heavily Irish, but the current one is different. My ear is just good enough to hear the difference, but I couldn't tell you what it is. And yes, In Bruges was great. I was glad that the writer's wing of the Academy gave Martin McDonagh's script a nomination, because the sheer craftsmanship of the writing got overlooked in the flash of the performances and the direction. When you look at it closely, it's solidly constructed, which is a big reason why it works so well. His plays are the same way. Like Hitchcock, McDonagh believes that if you want to get a reaction from an audience, you must give them information -- clearly, without ambiguity. He's just brilliant at finding unexpected ways of doing it. (Look at the whole dwarf plotline in In Bruges. It doesn't seem to relate to anything, and then . . . bam!)


Quote:

 Theater? Well I know you dress up in top hat, coat and tails, um white scarf? silver tipped cane?
 

In the new family-friendly NYC? We're lucky if the tourists wear long pants. (I kid you not.) Besides, a lot of what I see is off-Broadway. Once you get below 14th St., standard attire is jeans, leather jacket, monochromatic shirt -- dark grey or black preferred.
 
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post #55 of 71
10/30/09 at 7:05am
Thread Starter 
So it's like a F/X Comedy ala Ghostbusters/Gremlins except................[GRABS MICHAEL'S TOP HAT] with Giant Robots?! ........hmmmm.

I'll have to read that review........ after I've seen it that is. 

I glanced quickly at Steve's review of Orphan, which was thankfully spoiler-free .....you need to post that review in the Horror thread.  Steve?!  STEVE?!





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post #56 of 71
10/30/09 at 10:05am
Horror thread? HORROR thread?? Are you insane Jim? I wouldn't be caught dead there, or even undead for that matter. You are talking about the scary challenge thread right? It finishes tomorrow doesn't it? Okaay I did post a few times in there but soon lost interest when I noticed people were spending their entire day watching horror films that weren't even listed at the IMDB. I realised my mistake and sneaked out the back way, I don't think anyone noticed.

You'll enjoy Orphan, near the end of the film the dad discovers three sixes tattoo'd on the little girls head and he... oh jeez what have I done? Sorry! [sobs]
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post #57 of 71
10/30/09 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
DAMMIT STEVE! ........thanks a lot..........Was that before or after her head rotates 360 degrees and she projectile vomits pea soup on an old priest?   Today's horror films are so unoriginal aren't they? 

Yep, that Horror challenge thread is painfully dull this year, more than usual I'm afraid.........not a very fun crowd, way too serious for me....

Maybe I'll finish it off by reviewing some fluffy old Musicals and crusty John Wayne westerns, I doubt anyone in there would notice anyway.......






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post #58 of 71
10/30/09 at 11:22am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post


Maybe I'll finish it off by reviewing some fluffy old Musicals and crusty John Wayne westerns, I doubt anyone in there would notice anyway.......


 

You really wanna be brave? Try Easy Virtue, which I reviewed and got zero comments on, even though it stars Jessica Biel and is pretty damn funny. It's sort of a musical. Sort of.
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post #59 of 71
10/30/09 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
Never heard of it Michael......A comedy chick flic?  Pretty good?  I'll have to remember grab that one next time we're in the video store and my wife gets dangerously too close to picking up a Matthew McConaughey film.... Nooooooooooooooo!

Don't feel bad though.....it's not the number of comments but viewings........I guess.
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post #60 of 71
10/30/09 at 1:46pm
If you're Blu-ray-capable, try to get it on Blu, because it's gorgeous to look at (and not just because of Biel, though her outfits are great).

Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth kept turning it down, because they both felt like: We've done these period pieces before; why do another one? The director and producers managed to persuade them that, no, no, this is different -- and it is!
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