what is the last, best, and greatest and film?

[Rebel40000]

I agree, early Tim Burton films are great. I haven't really watched much of his newer stuff, so I can't comment. I think the most "recent" film I saw by him was Corpse Bride, and that wasn't too bad.

[Radical Hair]

Without thinking about it too much-

Iron Giant. A thousand freaking times Iron Giant. I can never get sick of that movie. Even after all these years and all the times I've seen it, the ending still gets to me.

They really didn't make it a 'kids' movie. It a great story for anyone.

...And, you know, freaking Vin Diesel voiced the giant! That was just an awesome choice in voice actors!

[AllenSmithee]

Oh smokes, Raison, I didn't notice you said Twilight Samurai. I still haven't seen it (I really want to) and I heard it's like a superior version of The Hidden Blade, which is a great movie!

[Raison D'etritus]

I saw the Hidden Blade like a year ago, but I don't really remember it well enough for a comparison. If you like samurai dramas that touch on the more human side of samurai, though, I think you'll really like it, as it was a pretty touching piece.
It wasn't one I'd watch repeatedly (like some of Kurasawa's), but it was a good film which really touched on some of the dualities samurai faced, such as the duty to one's family opposed to the more evident duty of their position.

I'll also recommend Hara Kiri, as it was also a drama without too much action, which painted a more human picture of samurai, and how their code basically screwed up their families. (and it had a pretty squemish scene where a ronin was forced to commit seppuku with a dull bamboo tanto. Still kinda bothers me to think about it)

[AllenSmithee]

Hmm that sounds great. I've always loved the older Japanese cultures, like Sengoku and Bakumatsu and whatnot, and jidaigeki (right?) are a very cool type of movie to watch.

Although, I'll admit, my favourite Kurosawa film I've seen is definitely Ikiru. Yes, I'd place it above Seven Samurai, believe it or not. I just thought it was much more human, and focused.

[Raison D'etritus]

I've actually not yet seen Ikiru.
Because you have such excellent tastes, I shall now have to rent it!



Oh, and if you're in the mood for a more action oriented one (like Yojimbo) I also recommend Sword of the Beast. It's been a while, but I remember liking it!
And of course, Sword of Doom, which I believe I already mentioned, gets a dozen recommendations, even though it ends on a cliffhanger (MID FIGHT!) and was never concluded.

[AllenSmithee]

Ouch, that's a harsh way to end a movie! But also sort of awesome...

I'll have to check those out, are they readily available from NTSU/C distributors? Actually, it doesn't really matter, since my DVD player is region free, but I'd rather not pay exorbitant import fees.

[Raison D'etritus]

If you like Sword of Doom, you can see the ending (kind of) by watching the trilogy made 10 years prior (oddly in color, while SoD is not) called Daibosatsu Toge.
SoD was a remake, which just didn't get finished. Daibosatsu Toge has some differences, and I liked that I got to see how things unfolded past that fight, but Sword of Doom was BY FAR the better movie. Better directing, acting, choreagraphy, sets, basically, everything! It's such a damn shame the trilogy wasn't completed, because the one that was is a pale shadow in comparison.

[Rebel40000]

Well, I just finished watching the Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland, and since I mentioned a few days ago that I haven't seen a recent Burton film, I thought I'd post it here.

A friend actually let me borrow the film by chance, insisting that I watch it. The film itself was... okay. While nothing is wrong from what I saw, I can't help but feel that it was missing a certain something from making it better.