OK...I'm going to rent a movie tonight

[Stuckinthebush]

I haven't been to the movie theater in a long time so I have missed a lot of good and bad movies.

What should I rent?

[theorist]

1. I can recommend a few foreign films:

(These aren't exactly "new", but I've seen them recently.)

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Simon the Magician
The Battle of Algiers
City of Lost Children

edit: fixed subject line.

[Stuckinthebush]

3. Hmmmm....

That is an idea.

Which one of the four is the best?

[Speck Tater]

7. City of Lost Children

Every frame of that movie could be printed and hung on the wall as art. It's beautiful, but very dark.

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Dark as in death dark

or dark as in psychologically dark?

[Speck Tater]

15. Dark as in

low key imagery. Night-time scenes, strange, ominous evildoers lurking in the shadows. Spooky, not horrific. No blood and guts, but plenty of strange goings-on.

Movie is in French with English subtitles. Some really wacky characters. A VERY unusual movie, but I liked it very much.

See http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/city/ for more details

--edit to add quote----
"The City of Lost Children" delves deep into the subconscious realm of children's imaginations, and -- most importantly -- their dreams. "The City of Lost Children" harks back to traditional fairy tales, staying true to those traditions by delving into wild, sometimes dark and scary, flights of fancy...some of which speak to adults as much as, if not more than, children.

[theorist]

14. The best one? Hmmm....

"Simon the Magician" is my favorite of the bunch. It's about a magi from Hungary (I think) who goes to Paris for a job. Many great scenes based on miscommunication, and a realistic love story is in there too. (I might just watch this one tonight, now that I've thought of it.)

"The Battle of Algiers" is a classic based on the Algerian insurgency after years of French occupation.

"The City of Lost Children" will probably be the easiest one to find at a video store. One of the previous posters pretty much summed up the greatness of this one. Be warned, though, it is very dark.

"He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" stars that Tautou actress from "Amelie". It's one of those "things are not as they seem" films. Don't let the cover fool you. It's not a romantic comedy.

"Breathless" is a great one, if you're into film noir. Simply beautiful (as far as B-movies go).

[Richardo]

2. Seen 'Triplets of Belleville'?

That's a very good one.

That and 'Lost in Translation' are the two 'recent' movies I've rented lately. Liked both.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Lost in Translation sounds familiar

What is it about?

[Richardo]

10. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansen meet in Tokyo

VERY low key, but good.

[Speck Tater]

11. Lost in Translation

isn't really about anything. A business man in Japan meets a younger married woman. A few slice-of-life encounters follow. Interesting, well done, touching and engaging in it's own unusual way. But not a strong "story" movie. I liked it just the same.

[AlCzervik]

6. I loved The triplets!!! My daughter i watched it this summer

and enjoyed every moment of it.

[Speck Tater]

4. Dodgeball for just plain stupid fun. (nt)

[dhinojosa]

8. I like the way you think.

[Beaverhausen]

12. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Station Agent

if you haven't seen either of these go get them NOW!!!

[Stuckinthebush]

13. That's an endorsement!

I'll see if I can find them

[A-Schwarzenegger]

20. A second for "Station Agent" (lovely, funny)

Spotless Mind, eh...

[FrankBooth]

23. I second that!

I just watched it, amazing!

[illini]

16. "The House of Sand and Fog" Just watch it. Unless your depressed.

NT

[Speck Tater]

17. Second the motion.

House of Sand and Fog is very good IF and ONLY if you are not in a depressed frame of mind.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

18. The Mother (Brit), plus ...

Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine (Iranian)
In This World (Brit dir, filmed in Near East)
Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring (Korean)
Kitchen Stories (Swedish)
Rhythm Thief (US)
Elling (Norwegian)

[Speck Tater]

19. Oh yeah. "Adaptation" is a good one too. (nt)

[CJCRANE]

21. Adaptation very good...

Got a bit of everything, a little bit intellectual, a bit of action, sort of anti- and pro-hollywood movies at the same time, and slightly unpredictable, which is always good in a movie if you just want to get drawn in.

[tigereye]

22. Shaun of the Dead was very funny

I don't usually like horror movies, but this one was funny, satiric and sort of poignant, if you don't mind a little over the top gore in a witty British context. I think it just came out on DVD.