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Capone digs Tom Cruise in uniform and Bryan Singer's ride of the VALKYRIE!!!
Hey folks. Capone in Chicago here.
This is apparently the year we find out that not all Germans were bad when Adolf Hitler was in charge. Earlier this year, we had the ill-conceived THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS; this week we have two films, THE READER with Kate Winslet and Bryan Singer's VALKYRIE, which might be the most bold and well executed of the bunch. In some parts in the country, a fourth film called GOOD (starring Viggo Mortensen), which also fits this mold, opens next week. Told in a largely straight-forward manner without too much flash or trumped-up drama, VALKYRIE documents the final and nearly successful attempt on Hitler's life by his own officers.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation of the film was just how many co-conspirators there were in this plot, and Singer (working from a script co-written by his USUSAL SUSPECTS scribe Chris McQuarrie along with Nathan Alexander) does a remarkably adept job laying out the scope and the pieces of this conspiracy so that it is understandable both as a plan and an ideal. I suppose his mission was to explain the difference between a good Nazi and a good German, and while I'm not sure most Americans will quite care about that distinction, it still warms the heart a little that so many men and women on Hitler's side of the war were trying to kill him. Singer's most astonishing achievement with VALKYRIE is that he manages to build a great deal of tension with a story whose ending is already known. Still, there are about 20-30 minutes where he deliberately constructs his film to allow for the fantasy that the bomb that went off at Hitler's Wolf's Lair actually got the job done.
Far too much attention has been paid to accents in this film, and please allow me to put an end to it. Singer and his cast--made up of American, British and German actors--made the decision that every actor would speak with their own accent rather than have everybody adopt some sort of movie version of a German accent. Was this decision made to save Cruise from some embarrassment because his attempts at a German accent were atrocious? I have no idea. But it's a device that I think works. Rather than have VALKYRIE become a battle of accents, Singer allows his actors to focus on, gee, acting. I'm still haunted by Kevin Costner's ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES and his career-killing British accent. Anyone who goes to theatre a lot knows that this "no accent" decision is a pretty common choice on the stage, and if you continue to allow yourself to get hung up on this point, then I'm guessing you weren't a big Cruise fan before you ever heard of this project. Why don't you see the film and then judge whether the accent choices bother you.
As for Cruise, he does a workman's job of not trying to stand out among this extraordinary cast, which includes Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Kenneth Brannagh, Carice von Houten, Thomas Kretschmann and Terrence Stamp. Cruise's Col. Claus von Stauffenberg is not meant to be an extraordinary man. He's a frustrated soldier who has been badly wounded at war (he lost an eye, one hand, and part of the other) who has seen too many needless deaths in campaign after hopeless campaign that he believes were more an extension of his leader's pride and ego than any real belief that these conflicts could be won. He sees that the end is near and would rather kill Hitler, take over the government, and negotiate with the Allies before any more deaths of good German people occur. Singer spends a great deal of time dealing not just with plotting, but with motive. It seems almost unnecessary to an extent to paint Von Stauffenberg as so overtly heroic--he's trying to kill Hitler; we're already on his side--but I understand he wants us to see this man as something more than power hungry (I can't say the same thing for all of his co-conspirators).
Singer wisely concentrates on showing us to how frustratingly close these people came to achieving their mission. Small, unexpected (and necessary) changes in the plan kept Hitler alive, and you can't help but play out how different the world would be if they had succeeded. One of the most fascinating aspects to Operation Valkyrie is how many passive conspirators were involved, people who were made aware that something was up and basically waited to see how the cards fell to decide whose side they were on. It was also more than a little shocking to see how completely the mission leaders actually did take over the government before it was discovered that Hitler was not dead, and how quickly their plan crumbled when it was revealed he had survived.
VALKYRIE focuses on solid, clear storytelling without losing itself in its complicated, layered plot. The result is a unique kind of thriller propelled by great acting and clear direction. One almost sees a bit of that legendary German efficiency at work here. Give this one a shot; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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..First!!!
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Whatever happened to Kelly Gillis or whatever her name was.
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...what the fuck do kids outside of Germany learn in school about WWII? Why do so many people need a Tom Cruise-movie to learn that not every German was evil and some of the good guys were even wearing a uniform?
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Yes man and 7even Pounds will kill Valkyrie. Lets be real here.
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The only reason worth seeing this, reviews so far have done a good job keeping his appearance a secret.
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I will pirate this at some point. Scientology will get no money from me.
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understatemtn of the century
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Wasn't the whole joke in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" that he didn't? Or was it that he tried and failed, kind of like Halle Berry in the first X-Men, where the accent showed up about twice, then vanished?
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son's Greetings!!!
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and he feels fabulous
So everythings just fabulous -
I'll see this but I don't know when or where...I'm not a fan of "Scientology", but I'm not a conspiracy nut ether (maybe "nut" is too extreme). Merry XMass :)
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Thank you for this review.
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I don't remember Kevin Costner using an accent, other than one scene where he said something with an english accent, and Marian giggled. I think that was mostly just to acknowledge that he wasn't speaking with an accent. I haven't seen it since it came out, so I could be wrong, but that's how I remember it.
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Tom Cruise's presence in this film was almost enough to discourage me completely........but the other negative reviews just cinched it........AICN lost its credibility with me after all of its positive reviews for Quantum of Solace.
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Did we see the same movie? I wasn't gong to go, but some dumbass freund of mine wanted to go and said he'd pay the way, so at least I don't have to feel like a wasted money. Only precious time. Cruise was so outclassed and miscast in this thing it's laughable! How the fuck much were you paid to give this thing a good review? I never suspected you of this kind of thing before, but now I gotta wonder...
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I'm happy with the no accent decision. We shouldn't be so precious about these details especially when a story of this magnitude resonates across the planet. That's what we should concentrate on. BTW, I just heard that the judge ruled in favour of Fox over the Watchmen infringement suit. This could sting.
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..but the fact that we know how this turns out kills this for me/ I just don't give a fuck, really.
And what is everyone's beef with Scientology. To my knowledge, they don't kidnap people and force them to join. And the quaint notion that Xenu's origins and philosophies are somehow wacky, while virgin birthed baby Jesus and the imminent debut os the anit-Jeebus makes good sense is as ignorant as it is sad. -
and forces them to join. You obviously have no clue about cults or Scientology. Have no beef with Cruise or his nutiness. Have enjoyed a few of his flicks. This one doesn't appeal to me. The man is nuts but does entertain.
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does he say this once? at least once?
im still looking forward to this film. -
As a 'Britisher' as some talk backers would put it, if I speak to an American they would notice my accent, and I would notice theirs. If I speak to a fellow Englishman, we wouldn't notice accents at all.So why care about accents in this movie? I care about the story, script and performances. Tom Cruise and co playing their character with a German accent would be laughable and derisory to the movie. I mean come on, what do you guys expect, 'Allo Allo'?
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I am still pissed off that Bryan Singer turned Superman into a Fagget. He was not pissed off that Lois kept his son a secret and only thought about her spoiled brat self and at the end of the movie he let the bitch keep his son.
For those who don't know, Bryan Singer is gay. There is nothing wrong with that.
But, at the same time just because you like to suck Dick does not mean that you should make Superman a cock sucker.
Also, X-2 sucked asshole. I have thousands of comics and I am a real comic book fan. X-2 had great drama but, I went to go see Superheros fight Super-villains like in the comics and there was barely any of that. It was mostly Superheroes fighting regular humans just like that shit fest called Superman Returns.
Go fuck yourself Bryan Singer.
Oh, but, at least The Usual Suspects was a good movie and his last good one.
I am glad they are not giving this dipshit the sequel because if they did Superman would lift two huge rocks instead of one.
Richard Donner is a bad ass Director and he was right about sticking to his mythology since, you cannot reboot Superman. THERE IS NOTHING MORE HIGH TECH THAN A SHIP MADE OUT OF CRYSTAL. So, anything anyone would come up with would be a step back in technology. At the same time Bryan Singer should stop being such a pussy and made Superman Returns more action packed and made Lois Lane sexy like that chick on Smallville. Instead he made Lois Lane into a selfish little bitch.
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I thought it was pretty good, it's worth seeing. The lack of accents didn't bother me.
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I am sorry Capone but the fact remains that a great actor can immerse himself into a role and take on that character.. the fact still remains that I doubt Tom Cruise is really portraying the character in the film; instead I think he is being simply Tom Cruise. I think he has amazing ability but he is limited to the kind of roles he can take on. I think had Singer chosen one of the dozens upon dozens of excellent British or German actors that we would be treating this movie completely differently.. The accents are part of the character.. they are a part of the film and to omit them and say that they were solely concentrating on the "acting" is very lazy and sloppy.
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...but ended up finding it really interesting... so many little indecisive moments... so many missed chances for people to take a stand... it was a real solid film.
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... i forgot the only thing that matters is "singer turned superman into a fag" and tom cruise is a scientologist
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.. the characters would speak english with a german accent? they're not speaking english in the context of the story... they're speaking german
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No need to be a dick and a snob at the same time, buddy.
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VALKYRIE followed by THE SPIRIT. I can't wait to get skulled fucked by these shitfests.
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did Cruise try and 'cure' Singer of his homosexuality on set?
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Dec 25, 2008 10:43:40 PM CST
People whop seem to be obsessed with gays in hollywood are proba
by spectrebeeyatch
Looking at you Smokefilledtavern. People who go out of there way to bitch about movies because gay guys are involved are in the closet and too scared to come out. That comment made that Singer "Made Superman into a faggot" Um how so? He stopped an airplane from crashing and lifted a continent into space. If anything he proved superman is pretty bad ass and that you are a faggot. Because can you lift a continent into space? No? Well you're a faggot then. Oh anyway the movie looks good. It seems the only complaint i read on these TB is that Singer is gay and there are no accents. Neither of those things bother me so I'm checking this out.
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I truly hope so. Some of the idiocy on this particular Talkback is depressing beyond belief.
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Powers.
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The movie managed to get my blood racing too, they came SO DAMN CLOSE. But in the end, the movie just isn't really something I'll be thinking about a year from now. It'll slip out of my brain pretty quickly. So, while it's a pretty good movie...it just fails to break through and floor me. But still worth seeing...it's just not mindblowing.
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tom cruise does NOT kill hitler.
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I didn't use the word faggot or talk about Singer, that was the poster above me. I just said Cruise was gay...he just hasn't come out yet.
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Even though you know how it ends, there are still some suspenseful moments.
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Actors faking german accents would not make the movie anymore realistic since they wouldn't be speaking English in the first place. I haven't seen it yet, but actors using their native accents will not make or break a film for me. However, actors FAKING german accents sure could.
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It could happen.
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It could happen.
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Leave Superman alone!!!!!!!!!!! seriously. You fucked it up. don't touch it or a rich fan boy may end up ordering a hit on you! (there may be some fanboys assassins?) Please, for love of all thing good and worthy, do not touch superman again!!!!!
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If your answer is no, shut the fuck up about the accents.
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pretty poor reviews everywhere else..Capone is fast becoming my benchmark of lover of shit..meaning i know to never bother seeing it
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Perhaps Scientology is sinister, but the references made here are all about Xenu, not he fact that it is a 'dangerous' religion. Yes, we get it: Cruise is a Scientologist, and the tenets of the faith are just SO karazay! Many just throw that out there like it's STILL relevant, timely or even amusing. I wish those same people would throw in a paragraph about airline food and then their posts would KILL!
As for anyone that gets owned by Scientology is likely a sucker, so waste no tears. They were gonna get fleeced eventually, and Xenu just got to them first. Jeebus and Mohamed and the rest can get the next one, as they are born every minute, or so I have heard. -
Dec 26, 2008 8:18:37 AM CST
Thanks Capone. Sounds good. Also, the TB's should be shut down
by dr sauch
A bunch of foam spitting fat asses in here. Bunch of slack jawed faggots.
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Actually if this movie was made with German actors, speaking German, with English subtitles I would be first in line to see the flick... The problem is that Singer took a very German tale of heroism and Americanized it. By not having the actors stay true to the characters he basically showed he really didn't care about the story or the meaning behind what these men did. It all comes down to what would bring the audience into the cinema... a German film with English subtitles wouldn't fly to an American audience.. oh no.. because we're too f'n arrogant. If thats how they made this movie I guarantee every Jewish society would crucify the film as a nazi sympathizing flick and not the honest to God true story that it is. Fuck Singer, Fuck Cruise... they both just don't get how much they suck with this one.
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I got to see a sneek preview of this at my friends (who's a GM at a major theater chain) theater, and it was just simply a terrible movie!
The thing that bothers me about the accent is that there are british guys with british accents playing GERMAN men along side AMERICAN Actors with American accents! I mean come on atleast have the british guys use their American accents, and keep it one tone if thats what your going for.
Either way that was a minor problem I had with this movie.
My main problem was the pace of the movie! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!
But then again all of Singers movies are rather boring.
This man can't direct a good movie anymore. -
Singer leave that alone, and walk away fast! Not slow! FAST!!!! Superman you ruined it, and now it will be some time before we get a real SUPERMAN movie.
Sadly it looks like the WB won't be using Tom Welling which is the actor you should have picked for your movie but instead you picked some fag cus he sucked you off in a gay Halloween party! You sick twit you should have listened to the fans, and picked Welling, and given this generation it's SUPERMAN on the big screen.
Instead we got a re hash of Chris Reeves SUPERMAN but without Chris or Superman! Instead we got some lame duck named BJ (Yea we know what that stands for! Thats how he got the role.) NEXT time listen to the fans Bryan, and stop thinking with captain winky! Oh, and if you dare try to make another SINGERMAN movie I also hope some fanboy out there has an Oswald like Sniper riffle, and your home address. P2Rock Good post. -
Never attempted the accent in Robin Hood. He couldn't do it. That was the problem. His lack of an accent was so distracting that it pulled everyone out of the movie. I have not seen Valkyrie yet, so I do not know if the case is true here, but I do know that putting a flat American accent on a charachter that everyone thinks should be talking a different way can be distracting. You stop seeing the character and the actor comes raging off the screen. "Look at me! Classic stunt catsing! I'm so big I don't need to use an accent to disappear into the character! I'm (insert popular actor's name here) and I'm the guy you really came to see!"
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Then I might see it.
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..whats the point of this movie?
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But clearly he was shown through the eyes of a man who is always looking down at his package. The relationship between supes and lois was so non existent and yet supes and jimmy had a better relationship on screen than the two supposed lovers. Superman was turned into a sort of boyish love fantasy on screen. Of course thats what a gay guy would make of Superman but hardly what most guys in the world can relate too.
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...that's the long and short of what brings down this movie. And I'm not a Cruise hater...he just didn't really pull this role off. The story is pretty engaging though. I suggest you guys save a few bucks and get it on Netflix in a couple of months.
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Wow, you guys sure got some sticks up your asses. This is the first time I've ever enjoyed Tom Cruise in anything. I think he's actually trying to not stand out, and he succeeds. I get the sense he and Singer really cared about von Stauffenberg and his story, and really put the effort in to tell it.
As to the accents, well, shit. A bunch of English-speaking actors effecting German accents would be more authentic... how? -
is scary, yet, hilarious. Funny in that it just shows, again, how many fucking idiots post here, I mean, do you jackasses know how poorly you represent yourself? . . .and scary in that the dimwits who post such nonsense are most likely free to roam the streets. Good lord. What a bunch of fucking losers.
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Oh, and PS, you guys love to complain about the overuse of CGI, yet these guys actually go to the trouble of dragging out old WW2 planes to fly around and I hear nary a peep. I fucking near shit my pants when those things showed up. You can be cynical little misanthropes all you want, but at least stay consistent about what you're going to bitch about, and give props where they're due.
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This movie sucked harder than a Bryan Singer casting call.
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What's weird is she looks EXACTLY like Eddie Van Halen, ugly snout and all.
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...but had hoped it would be better. Knowing that Hitler wasn't killed wasn't a problem. Check out a movie called The Eagle Has landed. Now that was a great movie. Of course John Sturges(The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape) directedand he knows his way around a men on a mission movie. In that one the Nazi's have a plot to kill Churchill. Now knowing that Churchill wasn't killed didn't matter one bit. He still brought off the suspense and even made you root for the nazis. Michael Caine starred and while Cruise can't begin to touch Caine's talent, still Caine's german accent left a lot to be desired. Didn't matter though, still loved it.
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What are you talking about? Costner didn't do an accent for Robin Hood. But I'd agree that it's best not to try one and risk failing ... look at K19 with Harrison Ford ... what a disaster. Why can't people learn from THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER ... Connery was a Scottish Soviet Officer and it worked just fine.
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There isn't enough money in the world, or at least not enough that anyone would actually be willing to pay me, for me to watch that Robin Hood movie again, but yeah, I do vividly remember Costner's accent, or weak attempt thereof, in that movie. The thing is, it's there in certain scenes but not in others. I'm guessing he tried the accent early in filming and then either gave up or his dialogue coach quit in disgust. Either way, it's ridiculously bad.
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was very, very good.
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Just got out of the film and I loved it. So surprised after hearing all of the negative press. I think its a testament to Singer that I knew how the film would end but the suspense never faultered. Go check it out, guys! Don't let the reviews fool you!
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what I hate about these forums. Does anyone really think this is a real person? Hmmm. I'm thinking either Studio PLANT, Boyfreind of the Star, or Director, PLANT or a scientology PLANT. I love how there isn't one mention as to why - just some lame reference to "suspense". Gimme a break. And of course we get the obligatory..."go check it out guys!! Don't let the reviews fool you!" Uhm, no one is fooled by you...
What? U people cant think up better crap than this?
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... that's the only way to explain us liking this blatant gay scientologist propaganda from the world's gayest director/actor team. gay gay gay...
at least there are a few of us in this utterly juvenile talkback who actually saw the movie..
oh and this film's transition from german with english subtitles to straight english audio was handled in a very similar way to hunt for red october.. it wasn't quite as smooth, but it got the job done nicely. -
Were you referring to me? I went and saw it yesterday and I liked it, I didn't know I had to give reasons why. But if you want them, the acting was good, especially Bill Nighy. Tom Cruise was fine, I think John Hamm might have been a better choice, but then the movie probably wouldn't have been made without Cruise starring. Even knowing that they ultimately failed in their mission, it was still suspensful, and knowing they were doomed gave it sort of looming dread. I don't know how accurate the movie is, but I found the details of their plan to be intriguing, and makes me want to read more about the actual events.
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to do his trademark smacking fists together to emphasize character transition . . . since Stauffenberg had lost a hand in combat.
But I'm betting TC came through. He's a (storm) trouper. -
It was great.. a real adult movie. My dad and I both loved it. It's a really lush re-enactment. If you enjoy history, have some intelligence and an attention span that doesn't require more than a couple explosions in your movie, this is a very entertaining film. I think they made a lot of good creative choices. Valkyrie ought to get nominations for art direction, musical score, and editing.
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It was refreshing to see an adult, big budget movie. We all liked it except it felt a bit mechanical. Not enough character development for me. Probably could have benefited from more first act scenes where Stauffenberg decides to risk everything by plotting a coup. Anyway, good movie worth my time.
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Since Singer is gay than he does not know what most straight men want in women. Having a flat chested bitch playing Lois Lane in Superman Returns was a bad idea.
The problem with the character of Lois is that if she is played by the wrong actor and Directed by the wrong Director than she can come off like a bitch.
My would cast someone who is really nice in real life and has a sexy body to play Lois.
Check out Jennifer Love Hewitt in recent photos. She is still really young (a decade younger than Nicole Kidman).
http://celebritybustout.blogspot.com/ -
http://celebritybustout.blogspot.com/
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Here is the correct address for recent photos of her
celebritybustout.blogspot.com
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Damn you, Mastidon. You fuckin prick.
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Jackoff! Maybe I'm at fucking work right now, was on a break and wanted to write a simple little note on the movie. Plant THIS (inserts ass in face) you idiot. Go troll somewhere else.
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Liked it. People getting their panties in a bunch over the accents are fucking ignorant. Good review btw.
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I thought it was weird they were NOT speaking with an accent.
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Is awesome. And it does have Mutant vs. Mutant fights - the Wolverine and Lady D fight is brilliant.
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NOt bad. The production design and sets were fantastic. The actors all did fine work (yes, even Cruise). The movie had some intense moments but there is very little replay value. It's a good "1 time" movie but since there is no action to speak of, once you see the story unfold, there's no reason to revisit the film (unless you are obsessed with German uniforms or vintage furniture). The indoor swimming pool with the giant tile swastica was a nice touch. I say it's a detailed history lesson that cost 100 million. I knew a lot about this failed coup but still learned a shitload of little details with this film.
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Regional, Tri-State area critics noted this snoozefest was "nearly as funny as 'Springtime for Hitler'--except the Mel Brooks film wielded more authentic accents and was less pretentious." My succinct review: Boring.
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It's an HBO film starring Branagh and it deals with the plan to exterminate the Jews. Well shot movie that basically takes place at a dinner table. There are actually a couple actors from Valkyrie in it. It's very entertaining for what amounts to a 90 minute meeting of German Officers. Branagh has way more screen time in Conspiracy.
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..to someone who has already seen and liked the film?
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But for one or two movies, the guys consistently delivers. He"s also likeable on screen, or at least I think he is. Fuck what he does on Oprah and the like - it's TV for retards watched by retards, so what does it fucking matter?
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