Basic - worth a blind buy?

[Dehrian]

Is it worth picking up?

[Willh51]

I would have to say rent it, as I just did. It's a good, entertaining, 90 minutes of film, but it's not one I personally would watch again. It was just a good movie to watch on a summer night. The dvd is also pretty lame, only a pair of featurettes.

[mlemmond]

I say yeah, but I really liked this movie and picked up my copy today.

[Marq]

No. If you ever have to ask "Is this worth a blind buy", rent the damn thing first and find out if your like it. If you're going to see a movie "blind", do it in the theatre if at all possible. Save the "blind buys" for films you're extremely confident will suit your tastes and thereby wouldn't need coaxing or convincing from others.

[Donkey]

No, this movie is not worth buying blind. I highly suggest you see it first and then make youre decision. I will buy this used for like $9 in time.

[Dehrian]

If you ever have to ask "Is this worth a blind buy", rent the damn thing first and find out if your like it.

I don't rent. Ever. Either I buy it blind or I don't see it at all. That's why I'm asking.

[Darksim]

Originally posted by Dehrian
I don't rent. Ever. Either I buy it blind or I don't see it at all. That's why I'm asking.

AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER!! I hate it how people get all mean and shit when a "blind buy" topic comes up. I'm just like Dehrian. I don't ever rent. I only buy blind. I never have time or money to rent. So please, from now on, let's be nice to people who start "blind' topics. Because of right now, I wanted to start a "fear and loathing blind buy" topic, but am too afraid of the flaming responses I'll get...

I haven't seen Basic. I missed it at the theatres. I heard it had incredible performances, but the plot was full of holes and didn't hold up well.

[DVD-NUTTA]

Thank god someone else buys blind.I live in the U:K and many of the films you guys are waiting for on DVD havent even been released theatrically here yet.As you see i have no choice.

[boddah]

Originally posted by Darksim
Because of right now, I wanted to start a "fear and loathing blind buy" topic, but am too afraid of the flaming responses I'll get...

You should definitely buy the Fear & Loathing Criterion, blind or not! It's an awesome set, and the commentaries are among the best I've ever heard.

i watched it yesterday from netflix. thought it was not very good. kept my attention through most of the film i'll give it that, but in the end it felt like a really bad ripoff of "Rashomon" with...john travolta as... john travolta. and i won't post any spoilers but the ending is a rediculous and just a big cheat on the audience.

[Version]

The movie is a lot of fun and it keeps you interested up to the end but after you feel like they cheated to get there.

A good mystery thriller has to have some clues as to what really happened so that
1. you can try to figure it out for yourself (successfully or not)
2. it makes sense looking back after the film
this one does neither.

I would suggest a rental. Or in your case maybe a pass.

[Marq]

Originally posted by Darksim
AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER!! I hate it how people get all mean and shit when a "blind buy" topic comes up.
....So please, from now on, let's be nice to people who start "blind' topics.

My opinion was asked, and I provided it.
I simply feel that one should be confident in their purchases and thus would be best in either seeing a movie they're interested in "blind" during its theatrical run (and would thereby know immediately if they like the movie enough to later own it) or rent the movie if your not confident enough in knowing if you'll like it.
Shit, I hardly rent myself. Maybe once every 2 months or so. While I may recommend it, I hardly feel a need to even do that.
The Internet has TREMENDOUS resources of information on all films which tell me what a movie is about and/or critiques it, thereby providing me information to base a decision I may have to buy a film I hadn't yet seen.
I blind buy a lot, but its usually films I'm confident that I'll like - often based on director preferences, style preferences, critical accolades, etc - but if I'm so wishy-washy that I have no idea whether it would be a film I'd like and want to own, I might as well see it first I guess.
For example, I have no idea if I'll like "Phone Booth". It didn't intrigue me enough to see it theatrically and I'm not sure I'd want to own it based on the fact that I usually dislike Joel Schumaker movies. However, I've read some pretty good reviews and it would appear to have a unique story and setting, so I'm not sure. Ultimately, I'll rent it someday as I've not been convinced its worth owning and rewatching but it could be worth an entertaining single viewing.

It's just an opinion.

[deltau922]

So what you're asking is if it's worth seeing even once?

[JTrotter]

I'm glad someone posted this topic b/c I was actually going to put it up as a reccommendation. I saw this in March in the theater b/c I lost the coin toss (I wanted to see THE CORE). Anyway, I wasn't expecting much but I thought this movie rocked. Travolta's best performance since PULP and Samuel L. was also great. A real rug puller, it had me guessing until the end. I picked it up yesterday at CC for $15.99. Can't wait to pop it in later in the week. Definitely worth a look. Much better than TEARS OF THE SUN or any of the recent military thrillers I have seen.

--JTrotter

[snipsnapsappy]

Remember, those of us with significant others or families, would rather spend $15 on a dvd then $20 -40 bucks on a theatrical showing. Some movies, I often say, wait for the dvd. And I never rent because the Wherehouse near me went out of business because a Best Buy opened up next door. Their rentals were only $1 a night for as many nights as one wants. Hollywood is $4 for 5 nights, why would I want the movie for that long, I watch it that night. I only need one night. Even worse, Blockbuster is almost $4 for 2 nights on new releases. I prefer buying for my collection, and if the movie really stinks, then I sell on half.com for more than I paid for at Best Buy. Blind Buying is an art that can be very successful.

So I champion all Blind Buyers!

Don't most people buy CDs blind, anyway?

[ElCuCuy2000]

Originally posted by JTrotter
Much better than TEARS OF THE SUN or any of the recent military thrillers I have seen. --JTrotter

Oh please.."Basic" was so predictable and the ending was a big ripoff! The acting in this movie was horrible..I just watched it this evening and there is no way that this movie is better than "Tears Of The Sun". Bruce Willis plays a bad-ass more convincing than anything Travolta even tries to play. The way "Basic" ended made me feel extremely violated

[Darthnick37]

I really liked it, and I agree that it was much better than (Bored to) Tears of the Sun. If you like Travolta or Sam Jackson you should give it a shot.

[JTrotter]

I thought TEARS OF THE SUN was easily one of the most boring movies I have seen this year in theaters. There wasn't even any action. But hey, to each his own.

--JTrotter

[asphodel5]

Originally posted by Darksim
Because of right now, I wanted to start a "fear and loathing blind buy" topic, but am too afraid of the flaming responses I'll get...

It looks like you have a short memory:

"Fear and Loathing" re-release from Criterion!

Originally posted by Darksim on 7- Febuary 2003
I havent seen it either. Is this a movie that I would like? I didnt like Brazil one bit, just to letcha know. Does this mean I'll hate Fear and Loathing too?

Originally posted by asphodel5
Darksim:
No, I don't think you need to be drunk or high to enjoy it. It is pretty overwhelming the first time around. The narrative is kind of loose and some of the backround from the book isn't focused on. Here's the general idea of it. Hunter S. Thompson is a journalist and Oscar Zeta Acosta is a civil rights lawyer. The main characters (Raul Duke and Gonzo) are exagerations of these two men. They go on a trip to Las Vegas to cover a race and to "find the American Dream". They get sucked into the depravity and madness of Vegas and their drug binge. It's not really so much about drugs as it is about the confusion of the time and place(1971). If you didn't like Brazil, you should think about what it was about it that turned you off. If it was the visuals or the confusion of the plot, you might not enjoy Fear and Loathing. If you didn't like the humor or the dream sequences, you may still like Fear and Loathing. It has dark humor, but there is a lot more physical comedy. It isn't realistic, but it doesn't involve all of the fantasy/futuristic elements of Brazil. I hope that helps. Don't forget that there is an earlier disc that should be available to rent. That's probably your safest bet because this film can really polarize people.

Originally posted by Darksim
Don't get me wrong, I have a good taste in movies, I just thought Brazil was unwatchable. The dark humor and visual style didnt bother me at all.. i disliked it because it was extremely boring, had a thin plot, and felt so pointless I had to struggle to finish the movie. I had to take a break from the movie three times to finish it. I don't see why people like this movie, it's a disorganized, pointless flick that leaves a strange after-taste in your mouth.

Originally posted by asphodel5
Darksim:

I hope that my explanation didn't make you feel like you have to like Brazil or you have bad taste. If you read it that way, I certainly didn't mean it. As a matter of fact, one of my friends (who has good taste in film) HATES Brazil. Anyway, Fear and Loathing might seem pointless too you because I think that its plot is looser than Brazil. I like the humor in F & L better because I'm not as keen on British humor. I just noticed that an essay in the insert describes it as a Fellini Cheech and Chong movie. That's certainly one way of looking at it. In your case, if you are still interested in seeing it, I would go the rental route. Its really one of those films that everyone reacts differently to. I've known people who normally only watch the blockbusters that loved it and people who see everything that shows up at the art house who have hated it. I've seen the reverse happen too.

Originally posted by 3DMan
Well, Darksim, Fear and Loathing has even LESS plot and narrative. I probably wouldn't recommend it to you. It's sort of like The Big Lebowski. People either love it or hate it. You either "get" it or don't. And no one can give any reasons as to why you "should" like it. You just have to enjoy the ride in these movies(or "trip").

etc. Maybe you won't have to start a whole new thread


Back on topic, I haven't seen Basic, so I can't comment. I know that I would not buy it without renting it because it looked cliched. Since I don't know your taste, my advice probably wouldn't be useful anyway.

[DVD-NUTTA]

Ive just ordered Basic in dts should receive it monday .I'll let you know how it looks and sounds then..

[Soggy Bagel's Revenge!]

If I ever bought something like "Basic" blind, I'd really have to kick my own ass. Just think , $15-30 (or however much they're taking from you) -- there's quite a bit one could do with that money. Here's just one suggestion of a movie that will hold your attention for the duration of the film, and is actually quite suspenseful. There are many others like it out there. So, unless you have a DVD collection with at least 20,000 titles and just about every good movie you could possibly buy, and you absolutely have nothing better to spend your money on than an overcomplicated piece of shit like "Basic", I'd say no, it's not a good "blind buy".

And hey, just to let all you "blind buyers" know, there are such things as film reviews, and they exist for purposes like these. Just think -- you could read an elequently worded article with a fairly in-depth outline of the film's strengths and weaknesses, as well as descriptions of the tone and style of the film, and be able to decide for yourself wether you will enjoy the film or not. Many people read reviews wimply to know wether the film is "good" or "bad". A great film review should proovide enough information so that you, the reader, know wether you'd enjoy it or not, regardless of wether the critic enjoyed it. Film reviews are great, and they're freely available. Try to use them rather than starting a "blind buy" thread for every DVD you purchase. Maybe instead of simply posting a "blind buy" thread, you could just read reviews, and after you've bought the disc and viewed it, then maybe you could come back and engage in some discussion around the film.

Arigato,
Brook

[JTrotter]

If I ever bought something like "Basic" blind, I'd really have to kick my own ass. Just think , $15-30 (or however much they're taking from you) -- there's quite a bit one could do with that money. Here's just one suggestion of a movie that will hold your attention for the duration of the film, and is actually quite suspenseful. There are many others like it out there. So, unless you have a DVD collection with at least 20,000 titles and just about every good movie you could possibly buy, and you absolutely have nothing better to spend your money on than an overcomplicated piece of shit like "Basic", I'd say no, it's not a good "blind buy".

And hey, just to let all you "blind buyers" know, there are such things as film reviews, and they exist for purposes like these. Just think -- you could read an elequently worded article with a fairly in-depth outline of the film's strengths and weaknesses, as well as descriptions of the tone and style of the film, and be able to decide for yourself wether you will enjoy the film or not. Many people read reviews wimply to know wether the film is "good" or "bad". A great film review should proovide enough information so that you, the reader, know wether you'd enjoy it or not, regardless of wether the critic enjoyed it. Film reviews are great, and they're freely available. Try to use them rather than starting a "blind buy" thread for every DVD you purchase. Maybe instead of simply posting a "blind buy" thread, you could just read reviews, and after you've bought the disc and viewed it, then maybe you could come back and engage in some discussion around the film.

Arigato,
Brook

I don't understand why it is a big deal at all to anyone if someone asks whether they should buy something blind. If you don't like the topic, then don't click on the thread. After posting on here for a few years, I trust most of the posters opinions who have nothing invested in the movie over some critics--and I review movies as my professional job. Plus I thought DEAD RINGERS was boring. Again, to each his own. My rule is: "don't like the topic, don't click on it."

--JTrotter

[DVD-NUTTA]

Could'nt agree with you more JTROTTER it seems to me that some people herejust seem to wanna flame people.My motto is if you aint got something nice to say then dont say anything at all.People have different tastes and some peple should apreciate this and not run them or their opinions down.There my rant over..

[Al Pacino]

I also have to agree with JTrotter, If U don't like the topic then dont come in it. And plus I like these topics Cause I never rent movies either, I either Buy Or never see it.

And I just bought Basic Blind cause my dad said he loved it and I watched it yesterday and I thought it was amazing. I also agree that it was better than Tears of the Sun as well.

[Darksim]

Originally posted by asphodel5
It looks like you have a short memory...


Maybe you won't have to start a whole new thread

Thanks, asphodel...shit, I don't even remember that thread. I must have been drunk or high! They say drugs cuase memory loss....

Edit:I've decided to give it a blind buy. I was a miss on Brazil, but I love any movie, pointless or not, that has to do with drugs. Because I find the material very funny. The people here on the 'file, and numerous reviews, have convinced me to pick up the Criterion. I'm sure I'll like it. If not, oh well. I'll keep it for collecting reasons.

[deltau922]

I blind rented it yesterday. It was OK, not terrible. If your only options are buying it blind or never seeing it because you don't rent, I would suggest never seeing it.

[DVD-NUTTA]

I thought the soundtrack was phenomenal until i heard it in glorious dts wow !!!!!!! fooking marvelous especially the beginning with the hurricane.Thank god for REGION 3.

[wadew]

This movie totally lost me. ANyone want to explain it or does it just not make sense? And if it was just a confusing mess of a movie, how did the studio allow this to happen? wo