DaniManson
http://www.flixster.com/user/danimanson
| Name | Daniel Mason |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| I'm From | Carlisle |
| Member For | 534 days |
| Last Login | Fri. Jul 25 |
| Profile Views | 151 |
| Age | 22 |
| MCT Score |
| Movie: | Perfection can be found in many films, to single one out is daft. |
|---|---|
| Actor: | Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Paddy Considine, Ed Norton, Gael Garcia Bernal, Gary Oldman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Al Pacino |
| Director: | Richard Linklater, Danny Boyle, Shane Meadows, Coen Brothers, Ken Loach, Hayao Miyazaki, Stanley Kubrick |
| Quote: | We want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now! |
| I live for film! Full fucking stop. |
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Daniel's Recent Reviews
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Vantage Point
PG-13
A reasonably entertaining film that has an interesting idea behind it, but it has so many many flaws and a narrative that to be honest is so quick and snappy that you really couldn't give a shit who dies. However its reasonably executed the acting is average (mainly due to the script) but the film as whole does not outstay its welcome, one for a mindless night in.
The Dark Knight
PG-13
There are films that define era's in film making; mention gangster movies The Godfather is the first on the list, same case with Vietnam movies; Apocalypse Now always is first on that list. These films also defined generations and are generally regarded as the best films of that time and have lived on through the years to influence a new generation. The Dark Knight is the absolute defining comic book adaptation...ever. Anything before it was a good attempt to bring these characters to life and in some cases they worked, but not as deeply and effectively as TDK. The marvel films only scratch the surface of their characters, TDK reveals the characters souls and forms them into the perfect representation of their comic book selves. Not only that, it truly encapsulates our times (our morals our fears our hopes) and brings to the fore the most eye opening heart stopping drama I have ever seen in any modern day film.
Some recent fare like There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men are great films because of the reality of the situation, the searing realism in character and the masterfulness of directors at their peak. The Dark Knight brings true realism from its comic book roots, it places its characters in a familiar environment and with such stupendous detail the actors and director make them bone chillingly believable. There is never a faltering moment where you don't believe in the characters motives which makes it scarier when they start threatening people and deep down you don't know what they might do.
TDK does more than recent fare because it rattles the cage of modern cinema with the realisation that the comic book movie is not just a money making cgi action fest, that true cinematic art can be achieved when the material is treated correctly. It shatters the cliches that have dogged many films before it and the atmosphere created is one of true sustained menace and unpredictable chaos.
All parties involved in this film deserve praise but especially Heath Ledger for his infallible portrayal of the Joker and Aaron Eckharts supreme turn as Harvey Dent, two characters I have never feared more in any film...ever! Christopher Nolan is a true cinematic legend who stands up there with the best of these times and has created a truly indelible film that definitively marks how a blockbuster SHOULD be made!
There Will Be Blood
R
With all the hype surrounding this movie I was crossing my fingers that I would not be let down by the huge anticipation I had in seeing this. I am here today to tell you that There Will Be Blood is one of the finest films I've seen in a long time. Daniel Day Lewis totally becomes his part Daniel Plainview and has a supporting cast that do well to stand up to his amazing character. I was enthralled by the amazing vision and pure seething drama this film had, the set pieces were superb and the soundtrack brought an immense chill down my spine, utterly brilliant! PT Anderson has produced his finest work here, an outstanding film and a much deserved award for Daniel Day Lewis; God amongst actors!... In fact after seeing it again on dvd I can officially say this is one of THE finest films ever made! A true modern classic.
Stranger Than Fiction
PG-13
Finally got round to seeing this and I have to say I was thoroughly entertained. The cast really carry this film, everyone except for Queen Latifah is perfectly cast. I hate Will Ferrell comedies but he was great in this, his character was a joy to watch.
I loved the idea of the story and the way the character went about dealing with his problem was brilliant. A brilliant script that gave the film true conviction but also a few laughs.
The only point it begins to drop off is at the end as just like Emma Thompsons character the writers seemed to start to get wary about the end. Although the message is quite poiniant I felt it was a bit of soggy finale.
Wanted
R
After getting over my initial thrill of seeing this film and actually remembering what I saw the premise however daft (but so was Shoot 'Em Up) had some outstanding moments of both acting and action, but fell into as many traps as other action films before it. McAvoy is entertaining as his character and its great to see him change throughout the film. The rest are also great however Morgan Freeman CANNOT swear lol.
The special effects especially in the case of some killer gun toting action scenes are phenomenal, and the story however engaging because of the sheer coolness of a Fraternity Of Assasins (I mean god how cool is that) pangs of stupidity when you find they live their lives by some daft thread weaving loom of fate!
Most of the twist are completely obvious and hold no punches and the seriousness of this film sways a lot, it doesn't know whether to be all out Shoot Em Up or The Matrix which is why I felt although this is the best action film I have seen in the cinema this year it is just Michael Bay for grown ups.
The Incredible Hulk
PG-13
Now this is a little more like it. Although Ang Lee's attempt had ambition and good style it didn't fullfil what fans were after out of Hulk. Letterier was the perfect choice as he delivers exciting action sequences that, although paling in comparison to the almost real CGI in Transformers, has buckets of anger and HULK SMASH to keep a fan like myself entertained. There are lots more nods to the comic and TV Show and the acting talent on display strengthens the rather simple plot. Tim Roth gets a firm nod from me just for being so damn fun to watch, Norton is also on top form and really flexes some actong muscle. An altogether very entertaining film that despite its obvious low substance moments does well to rival Iron Man.
Daniel's Favorite Movies
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(30) | Create a MovieBoard
1.
Donnie Darko
R
A film you can watch over and over again and find something new each time, the story is quite simply out of this world, the soundtracks awesome too.
2.
There Will Be Blood
R
With all the hype surrounding this movie I was crossing my fingers that I would not be let down by the huge anticipation I had in seeing this. I am here today to tell you that There Will Be Blood is one of the finest films I've seen in a long time. Daniel Day Lewis totally becomes his part Daniel Plainview and has a supporting cast that do well to stand up to his amazing character. I was enthralled by the amazing vision and pure seething drama this film had, the set pieces were superb and the soundtrack brought an immense chill down my spine, utterly brilliant! PT Anderson has produced his finest work here, an outstanding film and a much deserved award for Daniel Day Lewis; God amongst actors!... In fact after seeing it again on dvd I can officially say this is one of THE finest films ever made! A true modern classic.
3.
Withnail and I
R
most quotable movie ever, sooo funny, absolute classic, we want the finest wines available to humanity, we want them here and we want them now
4.
Sunshine
R
I have not had a movie going experience like this in years, I was blown away, literally I was glued to this throughout. Utterly outstanding movie making, danny boyle is a god! I defy anyone to dislike this film!
5.
High Fidelity
R
Soooo good, one film I could watch over and over again and not get bored, great story, great cast, and a soundtrack to die for. This film makes me all warm inside lol!
6.
Brick
R
Superb teenage detective story with a smart screenplay and some cinematography to die for, this movie will have you guessing all the way, Joseph Gorden-Levitt is excellent in this. One of those 'I wanna watch it again' movies!
Daniel's Movie Scrapbook
Daniel's Talk
View All (274)
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I recommend you see...
Wizard Of Gore
by Quintoposted 22 hours ago -
I recommend you see...
Penelope
by QuintoThe fairy-tale angle of the film is pretty cute and entertaining, though the romantic one is certainly uneven. Still, Christina Ricci looks very adorable. I just kept wanting to have eskimo make-out sessions with her. I also really liked the wardrobe and the production.
This isn't an intense, life-changing film - but to everybody who has ever been in love with Christina Ricci, this is the cutest she's ever looked.
posted 2 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Bank Job
by QuintoJason Statham steps back from his usual ass-kicking, car-chasing, explosions-surviving persona and lets a good, solid story deliver the thrills and suspense that keeps you glued to the screen.
To every Jason Statham hater, trust me, this is different.
posted 4 days ago -
I recommend you see...
21
by QuintoEverything looks shiny and brand-new; the cast is dynamic and easy to look at, but the fun comes and goes way too fast and the story doesn't really grab you until the last half hour of it's two-hour running time. Also, the two asian supporting characters were more interesting than its leads and they didn't get enough screen time.
The trailers are more fun and have a better story than the final product.
posted 4 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Dark Knight
by RickHoly fucking shit, this was the greatest 152 minutes of my life. It's an insanely epic masterpiece and I loved every fucking minute of it. It's the greatest and most perfect comic book movie to ever be made and it makes any others obsolete. I got all I hoped for and more. Not many comic book movies have exceeded my expectations but this has. Christopher Nolan is a GOD. Yes, I'm a psychotic, obsessive fanboy and I don't care what any of you pretentious, pedantic film snobs think. This is my favorite movie.
Dude, Heath Ledger is a fucking force of nature and he's truly terrifying as all hell. I just love all the character's little nuances. He totally obliterates Jack's Joker in every single way. He makes Jack look like a child. He fucking owns this movie. He has indelibly left his mark on comic and cinema fans forever. If he doesn't get an Oscar, you can bet your ass I'll be boycotting. Believe it.
The rest of the cast is fantastic, as well. Bale's the fucking man. He always brings a stellar performance. His Bruce Wayne is perfect and his Batman kicks ass. Aaron Eckhart is a treat as Harvey Dent and his Two-Face is disgustingly good. Gary Oldman is a fucking badass. He was born to play Gordon. Michael Caine is charmingly splendid, as always. Maggie Gyllenhaal does a really good job too. She actually brings some credibility and respectability to the role, unlike the generic Katie Holmes.
The atmosphere of this movie is amazingly surreal, it feels like a living, breathing comic book and the action is fucking balls to wall insane. The ending is bleak as hell but it's awesome. I wonder how Nolan and Co. are going to top this, it seems like an impossible feat. If they even come close to the sheer awesomeness of this I'll eat my shoe. Oh, and did I mention it's awesome?
Fuck Superman. Fuck Spider-Man. Batman is the shit.SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted 7 days ago -
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I recommend you see...
Breakin' 2 - Electric Boogaloo
by QuintoI have to be the proudest owner of this sequel, the one destined to rule them all. Everything horrible that ever came out of the 1980's was super glued into the most generic of stories with performances that would make Pia Zadora look like an Academy Award darling. Still, you can't help but love all the cheese.
Hey, at least it's better than Lambada and Roller Boogie!
posted 8 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Spirit of the Beehive (El Espíritu de la colmena)
by QuintoThis film will be in my head for days and days after seeing it. Simple and slow, but deeply moving and captivating.
Hey, you should really see this!
posted 8 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Sleepaway Camp
by QuintoOkay, I just can't stop watching this film. This is better than so many other slasher films and it has it's reasons:
1.- Obviously, the ending. But not only the shocking resolution, but the last shot of the film is one of the creepiest I have ever seen.
2.- The killer doesn't conform with slicing and dicing, but rather looks for other ways to end the victim's lives. So creative, in fact, that only one death has something of blood in it.
4.- Talking of deaths, the curling iron.
5.- Judy, the megabitch in this film. She's so deliciously evil, she could face any Heather and win.
6.- Aunth Martha. I don't know what her deal is or how her brain functions, but she's awesome and thanks to her, there's a Sleepaway Camp.A lesser known 80's slasher film that definitely owes it to the Friday the 13th series, except it's better.
posted 9 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Sweet Smell of Success
by xGaryThis pitch black hearted noir was something of a flop on its release, and it's not difficult to see why. Not through lack of quality, but rather the fact that its unrelenting cynicism and bleak outlook is certainly not for the faint hearted. Tony Curtis turns in easily his best performance as Sidney Falco, an obsequious press agent who is perfectly willing to sell his soul to get on top, and Burt Lancaster is similarly superb, brilliantly cast against type as a cold-hearted tyrant (even describing an attack on his character as an attack on his country, the cry of despots throughout the ages) who controls all around him through contemptible manipulation. The core of the film is the creepily ambiguous relationship between he and his sister; at one point he refers to her "apron strings", an allusion to motherhood, but he also keeps a portrait on his desk as one would a spouse or lover... It is unusual in that instead of fists and bullets, all the damage is done through words and insinuations; the razor sharp dialogue is amongst the best ever written for the screen, and the magnificent photography represents the city streets as blackly as the protagonists' hearts. The package is completed by a soundtrack of fantastic contemporary jazz and the overall result is one of the pinnacles of film noir.
"It's a new wrinkle, to tell the truth... I never thought I'd make a killing on some guy's 'integrity'."
posted 13 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Capricorn One
by xGaryJames Brolin heads a team of astronauts who're pulled from their capsule seconds before the launch and told they must help fake a Mars landing in order to save the space program. Meanwhile Elliot Gould is a reporter whose friend that works in the Houston command centre tells him of a discrepancy in the telemetry. This friend promptly vanishes and he finds someone else living in his apartment, so he sets about discovering the truth. This hugely entertaining conspiracy theory thriller from Peter Hyams delivers an interesting premise told with boy's own panache. Elliot Gould does what he does best as the smart mouthed reporter and gets all the best lines in some witty quickfire banter with his editor and love interest, and the action is provided in the astronaut's escape from the NASA compound. Hyams makes great use of the desert locations and there's an exciting finale in the form of an aerial chase through it's canyons between two black ops helicopters (cleverly given a kind of faceless, malevolent personality through formation flying) and a barnstorming crop duster played by Telly "Kojak" Savalas. Occasionally a little far fetched, but it's funny, intriguing and exciting, and great fun.
A great 70s thriller that's been earmarked for a remake due for release in 2010.
posted 23 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Repo! The Genetic Opera!
by QuintoAnthony Stewart Head singing again! The second trailer just came out and I can't stop playing it!
I don't know how to upload videos, so here's the link. Check it out.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n_yhYFZ4wtE&watch_responseposted 28 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Being There
by QuintoI was only first interested in this film because of a reference on Arrested Development's "The Ocean Walker" episode, but was not surprised to find a very funny and very, very lovely story. This will always be my favorite Peter Sellers performance ever.
Hey, you should really see this!
posted 29 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Die Fälscher (The Counterfeiters) (The Counterfeiter)
by QuintoA very interesting film, though I wish some characters would've had more presence in the story and background. Still, remains an engaging story worth watching.
Hey, you should really see this!
posted 33 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Kung Fu Panda
by QuintoDecent action/fight sequences, solid animation, more laughs than I expected (even for being dubbed by Omar Chaparro in Spanish) and I like the way they made some of the clichés work. In the very end, though, I couldn't have cared less about anything in the film.
Hey, at least it has to be better than The Love Guru!
posted 34 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Iron Man
by JohnGo on imdb.com and you may read a review that says that Iron Man is unlikely to meet the box office standards of Spider Man 3. You know what though? Who gives a f*ck about that. If the most entertaining and interesting comic book film since Batman Begins has to live up to standards set up by SM3 there's a serious problem in the world. Simply Iron Man has almost everything you can ask for in a summer popcorn flick. Smart, funny and always engaging. (What do you expect when you have the help of a cast like this and 2 of the writers of Children of Men doing re writes?)
The best part of this film has to be Robert Downey Jr. he IS Tony Stark. Downey gives Iron Man the proper mixture of humor and maturity needed for the role and with his first major mainstream movie knocks it out of the park and finally becomes the mega star an actor of his talent deserves to be. Helping out is a never hotter Gwyneth Paltrow who works with Downey Jr. wonderfully and clearly has much more fun with her role then other actresses in these roles (cough Katie Homes cough) Also doing great work is Terrence Howard (Even if we don't get to see him as War Machine yet.) and Jeff Bridges perfectly over the top as the main villain. So what if director Jon Favreau isn't the best action director. He knows how to create a compelling characters and a great story and is clearly having as much fun with Iron Man as everyone else. (Something you can't say about Michael Bay.) His actions scenes will become stronger with time.
So don't pay attention about Iron Man not topping SM3 in it's opening weekend (I predict the film will end up being a bigger hit either way.) Buy your ticket, enjoy your popcorn and celebrate the beginning of a promising franchise of films and the summer season of 2008 officially beginning.Most of you have probably heard about Jon Favreau not being signed up for IM2 and may be replaced with a new filmmaker. E-mail Marvel at mvl@jcir.com to let the b*stards know that we want Jon back.
posted 39 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Happening
by QuintoSo, M. Night Shyamalan has said that he wanted this film to feel like an old B-Movie, and he did achieved it - the only problem is that it has got to be inspired by some boring, lame B-Movie that lays forgotten in the gap between those that actually entertain and those that are worthy of MST3K. Sure, there's some campyness to laugh at (personal favorite, Zooey Deschanel's reaction to when someone asks her if she likes Hot-Dogs), but they are few, far between and too intentional to actually work. Also, what the fuck was the R-rating about? There's hardly any gore in it.
Hey, you should really see this!
posted 40 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Brazil
by xGaryTerry Gilliam's bizarre and unique vision of an unspecified time in the 20th century stars Johnathon Pryce as a mid level bureaucrat haunted by dreams of a beautiful woman. When an administrative error results in the arrest and death of an innocent man, he actually meets her and takes on the fascistic establishment (in which bureaucracy has literally gone mad) to "save" her from them. This is surely the film that Terry Gilliam was born to make; it's so uniquely "his" that no-one else could possibly have made it. In fact it's so out of the box that the studio only released it under extreme duress. The production design of retro-styled technology combined with war-time era fashions and propaganda is fantastic and is a clear influence on Dark City which itself is often cited as the template for The Matrix. Many of the images seen here are hilarious and bizarre in an extremely similar way to Gilliam's own animations in the Monty Python TV series, and it visually references everything from Battleship Potemkin to The Empire Strikes Back. The criticism that it's a little self-indulgent and a case of style over substance can be leveled at it, but it's style is brilliant and it's perfectly intertwined with social satire and a lot of very funny Pythonesque humour. Add a fantastic supporting cast including Ian Holm, Ian Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Bob Hoskins and Robert DeNiro as a guerilla heating engineer and you have a film like no other.
A real oddity, so it won't be to everyone's taste but it's 100% Gilliam!
posted 42 days ago -
I recommend you see...
The Hidden Fortress
by xGaryA pair of bickering escaped slaves stumble upon the mountain hideout of a defeated general and his princess who are being hunted by the occupying army. They decide to join forces (with the added incentive of a horde of royal gold) to reach friendly territory. Widely acknowledged as the inspiration for Star Wars, it has also influenced a huge number of other stories including TV show Monkey, Hero and everything in between. The imagery is as gorgeous as you'd expect from Kurosawa, the characters brilliantly written and the performances all perfect, from Toshiro Mifune's commanding general, to the striking Misa Uehara as the noble but fiery princess. The two greedy and bad tempered slaves provide the comic relief, and it has everything you could possibly want from an adventure; laughs, action, excitement and heroism. Yet another masterpiece from a true genius.
Yet another brilliant samurai film from the master.
posted 46 days ago -
I recommend you see...
Closing the Ring
by LisaVery touching film that exceeded my expectations. I wasn't quite sure about Mischa Barton as I don't believe she is a very good actress at all but even she did a fairly good job. Christopher Plummer and Shirley MacLaine were both really great, both giving powerful performances. I liked Neve Campbell's short but sweet role as well, although the differences between her accent and the other actors made me laugh a little. Sad story but I felt it just lacked something which is why I couldn't give it any more stars. I just seemed to be missing something. Still, it was worth watching, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance film.
Hey, you should really see this!
posted 46 days ago
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