Miscellaneous Movie Musings the Sequel

[Alex]

No problem with your views. But I'm somewhat flipped.

The Hurt Locker, to me, is escapism while Slumdog Millioniare is a slog through forced thoughtfulness. Yes, there is horrible stuff in The Hurt Locker but is isn't about the war, about what horrible things people do, it is about what kind of person does what is shown. Whereas Slumdog Millionaire is, to me, hell bent on simultaneously making you feel awful about abject poverty and making you feel like it is ok because at least they have lottery odds of escaping it and doesn't love just make hell fun?

It's always interesting to see how different people react to the same thing. You find Slumdog uplifting. I find it depressing. And vice versa on Hurt Locker (well, I don't find it uplifting but I find it pleasantly interesting).

[Gemini Cricket]

Danny Boyle deserved an Oscar for Trainspotting. I love that film.

[Moonliner]

What the hell?

I've seen three of the best picture nominees. (Avatar, Bastards and District 9).

What is up with that? Are the Oscars trying to go main stream? Targeting a lower class of viewer?

Weird.

[Prudence]

After this weekend I will have seen six (already seen Hurt Locker, District 9, Up, and Up in the Air, Inglorious Basterds is next in the Netflix queue, and we're going to try to see Avatar this weekend.) That'll even make 4 of 5 director nods.

[Alex]

I've seen nine of the ten, the only one I've missed is An Education. All five for director. 3 of 5 for actor. 3 of 5 for actress. 1 of 5 for supporting actor. 3 of 5 for supporting actress. 8 of the 10 screenplay nominations.

Oddly, the nominee list (http://oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees) at Oscar.com seems to be broken, listing only the first four nominees in many categories (At first I thought they'd trimmed the acting noms to four and I hadn't heard).

[mousepod]

In the Best Picture noms, I've yet to see Precious, An Education and Blind Side.
The only one I want to see is An Education, though I guess I'll see the other two for cocktail party conversation.

Of the 19 movies nominated for the "big eight", I still have to see 11.

I'm most surprised that Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs didn't get a Best Animated nod. What is The Secret of Kells?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Seen 3.25 of the best pic noms, an uncharacteristicly large percentage for us. 2 of the directors, but only one of the nominated acting performances.

Now I'll have to keep an eye on iTunes for when they release the nominated shorts, since we are not likely to be able to attend the screening this year.

[Gemini Cricket]

Snark-ified reactions to Oscar:

Each year I get more "ho-hum" about the Academy Awards. More and more I go, 'Who the f cares about the Oscars?'

Sandra Bullock nominated for Best Actress. Bleh! Can't stand her. Same exact character each and every movie.

Also surprised about Cloudy not being nominated...

Still do not see what everyone sees in Inglorious Basterds. Cristoph Waltz was great in it, tho.

Nice that Up got a Best Pic nod. Disney must have a lot of pull with the Academy. Oh and look, the Oscars are on ABC... And wasn't Pixar the company Eisner wanted to cut loose? Snark diddy snark snark.

I thought District 9 should have had at least one nom for Sound.

[Stan4dSteph]

Oddly, the nominee list (http://oscar.go.com/nominations/nominees) at Oscar.com seems to be broken, listing only the first four nominees in many categories (At first I thought they'd trimmed the acting noms to four and I hadn't heard).Click on the "printable list" link at the top of the page for a simple text list.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Pru, I'm with you on escapism. I like fantasy, and that's one of the things I like in a movie. I'll take thoughtfulness and pondering, but I have to be in the mood for it.

I liked Slumdog, too.

[Gemini Cricket]

Ah, I was wondering about Ponyo and found that it was released in Japan in 2008.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What the hell?

I've seen three of the best picture nominees. (Avatar, Bastards and District 9).

What is up with that? Are the Oscars trying to go main stream? Targeting a lower class of viewer?

Weird.

Nice that Up got a Best Pic nod. Disney must have a lot of pull with the Academy. I chalk these observations up to the widening of the field to 10 noms.


Pru, I feel mostly the same. Dramas bum me out. Quite often we'll get something from Netflix that's a 3 hour drama and we'll never be in the mood for it. Meaning, I am never in the mood to be depressed about how people are f'n stupid or life is unfair.

That said, when I end up watching good drama I enjoy it a lot. I like when a movie makes me cry, to some degree, and I do think that these things need to be pondered. Dramas are healthy entrees and comedies are chocolate cake. I just want to eat cake all the time.

Slumdog was a smart film in that it had so many different things going on, making it heavy and light at the same time, which is the Bollywood style. I enjoyed it a lot, but I have to say that the heavy elements are going to prevent me from watching it again.

[Gemini Cricket]

I love escapism. But at the same time, seeing a realistic drama which gets an emotional response from me reminds me that I'm alive. I like both.

Slumdog was good. I wasn't really all that blown away by it. Loved his use of music, he's very good with that just like Tarantino. I loved the Bollywood dance number at the end...

[Alex]

Sandra Bullock nominated for Best Actress. Bleh! Can't stand her. Same exact character each and every movie.

Have you seen The Blind Side? I went simply because I knew it was going to get some nominations but I was very surprised, both by the movie as a whole and her performance in particular. I don't know if she was among the top five of the year but I know she was better than at least one of the other nominees (Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia; not that Streep was bad, just not particularly noteworthy)

Also surprised about Cloudy not being nominated...

Haven't seen Cloudy so can't comment, but The Princess and the Frog simply should not be on that list, at least while Ponyo is not.

[Alex]

Ah, I was wondering about Ponyo and found that it was released in Japan in 2008.

It was released in 2008, but it was qualified for this year's Oscars.

[Gemini Cricket]

It was released in 2008, but it was qualified for this year's Oscars.
Interesting.

I have not seen The Blind Side. I can barely stomach any movie she's in. But maybe I'll give it a shot.

[Gemini Cricket]

According to boxofficemojo.com, Avatar just beat out Titanic on the Domestic Box Office chart. It makes me wonder how well Dark Knight would have done if it were also in 3D and charged more for tickets.

Avatar: $601,141,551
Titanic: $600,788,188

[Gemini Cricket]

"Someone has beaten a giant."

[CoasterMatt]

In the last week, I've watched "Stepbrothers", "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory", "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" and "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" - nothing but fun stuff.

[Gemini Cricket]

In the last week, I've watched "Stepbrothers", "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory", "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" and "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" - nothing but fun stuff.
I love fun movies.
:)
I've decided (after going to a used bookstore that sells DVDs and buying Traffic, Private Ryan and Lifeboat) that I'll be buying more comedies and escapist flicks. I watched Clueless last night. I love that film. I think it's a sweet adaptation of Emma.

[wolfy999]

I just found "Clueless" last night in my car....It's the Wolfette's, but I'm sure she'll let me borrow.

[Gemini Cricket]

I just found "Clueless" last night in my car....It's the Wolfette's, but I'm sure she'll let me borrow.
It's a little dated now but it holds up. The script is hilarious. This movie got kinda lumped in with a lot of teen comedies that came out around it but it's a good one, more of a parody. Very quotable.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I walked out on Clueless in the theater. But I was in high school with a bunch of guys, so I was just kinda going with the crowd and hating it because I was supposed to. I finally sat down and watched it not long after and really really enjoyed it. It's one of Paul Rudd's best performances, imo.

[Alex]

I've kind of gone the opposite way. I really liked it the first time I saw it but then have less each time I've seen it (or more often just a part of it). I guess it is just a sign of how far I am from the teenaged girl I used to be.

And this is the true story of how I came to see it that first time. A friend in my dorm was thoroughly turned on by that Alicia Silverstone/Liv Tyler video they did for Aerosmith. So I ended up accompanying him and some other friends even though I'd never heard of her, seen the video, or had any interest in the movie. (Oh what a backward time that they could only tell me about the video and hope that it would come on MTV at some point when I was around.)

[Gemini Cricket]

I like Paul Rudd a lot. Yep, great in Clueless. I liked him in Object of My Affection also but maybe because the film hit more of a personal chord with me, I could personally identify with both the Rudd and Aniston characters at the same time. Not the best film, I guess, but it was ok.

There was also a shot of him in Romeo + Juliet that I loved. Just a cheesy reaction by his character Paris that makes me laugh.

[JWBear]

I liked him in Object of My Affection also but maybe because the film hit more of a personal chord with me, I could personally identify with both the Rudd and Aniston characters at the same time. Not the best film, I guess, but it was ok.

Read the book. It's much better, imo. (But aren't they always?)

[Gemini Cricket]

George Washington Slept Here is on this morning on TCM. I love this movie. It cracks me up. Too bad it's not available on DVD. I'd watch it over and over. I find it to be funnier than Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. It's interesting that there are a lot of similarities between the two movies.

[CoasterMatt]

I'm watching Planet of the Apes - it was originally released today in 1968.

[flippyshark]

Whenever I watch Planet of the Apes, I always feel compelled to watch my entire box-set of Apes movies over a few consecutive evenings. The first four all have enough good stuff going for them that I really enjoy re-watching them. The fifth (Battle for the POTA) is fairly skippable, but I slog through it anyway. I also have the TV series on DVD and I want to get the cartoon series as well. I'll never feel the need to rewatch Tim Burton's version again, though.

[Gemini Cricket]

Cover Girl

Wonderful, awesome cast. Movie is not so great. But it does break my heart to say so, I mean it does have Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers and Eve Arden in it. But still it's dull dull dull.

[Snowflake]

Cover Girl

Wonderful, awesome cast. Movie is not so great. But it does break my heart to say so, I mean it does have Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers and Eve Arden in it. But still it's dull dull dull.

I will watch Eve Arden in anything. She always brightens the picture with her ability to quip. Otherwise, I'd agree with you, Rita is gorgeous but the movie has no magic.

[Gemini Cricket]

I will watch Eve Arden in anything. She always brightens the picture with her ability to quip. Otherwise, I'd agree with you, Rita is gorgeous but the movie has no magic.
Same here. I love Eve Arden.
"I predict a hatchet murder before the night's over." ~ Stage Door

:)

[Not Afraid]

Have any of you young whippersnappers every seen the TV show Mzzz Arden was in called "The Mothers-In-Law" (co-starring Kaye Ballard)?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Spurred on by recent mention elsewhere we watched Sid & Nancy. God damn if Gary Oldman isn't the most versatile actor ever.

[Gemini Cricket]

Have any of you young whippersnappers every seen the TV show Mzzz Arden was in called "The Mothers-In-Law" (co-starring Kaye Ballard)?
No, but I've heard of Our Miss Brooks...

[Gn2Dlnd]

LOVED The Mothers-In-Law, co-starring Kaye Ballard!

But, I passed whipper-snapper some time ago.

[JWBear]

Have any of you young whippersnappers every seen the TV show Mzzz Arden was in called "The Mothers-In-Law" (co-starring Kaye Ballard)?

I remember that!

[wolfy999]

Me too!

[Strangler Lewis]

Big fan of "The Mothers-in-Law." I think it's terribly sad that Herbert Rudley outlived Deborah Walley.

In the early '80s, before the station went batsh*t crazy, KSFO used to air "Our Miss Brooks" and all sorts of great old-time radio shows. Also, Larry King in the middle of the night.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

As do I. I was rather fond of it as a kid.

[Snowflake]

Same here. I love Eve Arden.
"I predict a hatchet murder before the night's over." ~ Stage Door

:)

"Alligators have the right idea, they eat their young. - Mildred Pierce

[Snowflake]

Have any of you young whippersnappers every seen the TV show Mzzz Arden was in called "The Mothers-In-Law" (co-starring Kaye Ballard)?

Raises hand. I remember loving it.

[JWBear]

I love Mildred Pierce! Eve has some great lines. "When men get around me, they get allergic to wedding rings."

My favorite hedonistic quote comes from that movie (but it's not one of Eve's). "I loaf, in a decorative and highly charming manner..."

[Gemini Cricket]

New Toy Story 3 trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF59DBmYAq4)

"Nice ascot."
lol

I really want to see this one now.
:)

[Snowflake]

I love Mildred Pierce! Eve has some great lines. "When men get around me, they get allergic to wedding rings."

My favorite hedonistic quote comes from that movie (but it's not one of Eve's). "I loaf, in a decorative and highly charming manner..."

Zachary Scott was hot and had a way with dialogue, too. Mildred Pierce is a great movie, and not merely for Joan (who is too soapy for me, until she she slaps the vicious Veda). It's the satellites that surround her, the many parts that sum up this movie. Jack Carson is always wonderful, too and tosses off a few great lines.

Eve Arden flirting with the mousy accountant, bwahahaha, rowr.

[flippyshark]

By now, you may have run across the rumor thatUniversal is considering a remake of JAWS (http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35778/universal-thinking-3d-jaws-remake) in 3D, with Tracey Morgan in the role of Matt Hooper. That sounds absurd, and my gut feeling is that it's just as untrue as the direct-to-video JAWS 5 rumor of a couple of years ago.

That said, I really, really, really, really want them to do a spectacular shark movie in high quality 3D - not a lame ass comedy (so please, no Tracey Morgan - who is wearing thin with me, as is 30 Rock, sadly) - I want to see a balls-to-the-wall, scary as hell 3D shark movie. Sequel, remake, not part of the Jaws franchise at all, whatever - heck, I'm first in line to buy a ticket if they do Steve Alten's MEG. But please, not a comedy.

[CoasterMatt]

Jaws 3 was a fine piece of comedy :)

[Alex]

I've never cared for Tracey Morgan (even on 30 Rock) but I saw the red band trailer for his new movie with Bruce Willis and not only did it make the movie look more appealing (the green band trailer was awful) but actually made me like him a little bit more.

[flippyshark]

Jaws 3 was a fine piece of comedy :)

Jaws 3 puts me to sleep. Even the shark scenes move at a snail's pace. And the would-be 3D optical effects are just atrocious. Even the monumentally stupid Jaws: The Revenge has more entertainment value, even if only as WTF fodder.

There are plenty of cheap-ass shark movies to go around, and I watch most of 'em. They mostly rehash the basic plot of Jaws, or they follow the MEG formula. (There's a giant research facility - someone finds a megalodon tooth that isn't a fossil and hypothesizes about the presence of a surviving meg, invariably, this person brings up the coelecanth - 'We thought IT was extinct, but then we found one!" - someone mentions that sharks don't get cancer, so maybe they are the key to a cure - the meg attacks various big boats, submarines and, of course, the big high tech facility, hero fights shark in a mini-sub. I've seen this story many times now.) These elements are trotted out with clockwork predictability in most of the silly Scyfy (yeesh) Channel movies and direct to DVD extravaganzas.

As it happens, I am writing three (count 'em three) shark stories - none of them takes place at a small town beach resort or a high tech facility. I challenged myself to come up with at least three shark concepts that avoid the cliches. I'm thinking of vanity-publishing them if I get them done. (They take a backseat to the Christmas-themed piece I've been hacking away at for four years now.)

Ah, sharks.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've never cared for Tracey Morgan (even on 30 Rock) but I saw the red band trailer for his new movie with Bruce Willis and not only did it make the movie look more appealing (the green band trailer was awful) but actually made me like him a little bit more.
Dang, you're right. I've been really excited about this movie as I've been hearing Kevin Smith talk about it through its production, but was totally disappointed by the ads I've seen. Just watched the red band and yeah, much much better.

[flippyshark]

Oof! Put me down as having the opposite response to the red band Cop Out trailer. I'm pretty hot and cold with Kevin Smith, but one thing I just don't get (and I realize this makes me unhip) is his obsession with dick jokes. (And I realize that if I say anything further about that, I'll be setting up a dick joke.)

Between this and the red band trailer for Kick Ass (http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/12/kick-ass-red-band-hit-girl-trailer-1568027), it looks like children saying over-the-top obscenities and behaving violently is the edgy comedy-trope-du-jour. It's Paper Moon and Bad News Bears all over again, except much more harsh. (And in the case of Kick Ass, I have to admit, pretty damn funny.) Oh, I'm sounding like such an old man.

[Alex]

Have you noticed that they seem to be running away from the fact that Kevin Smith directed it? No mention at all in any of the advertising I've seen (though it may be in the small print).

[Morrigoon]

Just saw Tristan and Isolde. I wonder how I missed that the first go-round. Enjoyed it. Early-centuries British Isles love story with plenty of swordfighting. Very LOTR minus magic.

[Gemini Cricket]

Just saw Tristan and Isolde. I wonder how I missed that the first go-round. Enjoyed it. Early-centuries British Isles love story with plenty of swordfighting. Very LOTR minus magic.
I tried to sit through the opera of the same name. It was like 5 hours long. Couldn't do it. Had to leave.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Looks like regular advertising is really over now. It's all about the red band trailers.


Speaking of which, we watched Grandma's Boy at the behest of my brother, who claimed it was worth our time. Surprisingly, it was a rather enjoyable stoner/gamer film. If you like this sort of thing, I'd recommend it.

I remember seeing ads for this on TV rather briefly and being completely confused. They never showed the grandma in question and it was impossible to know what the film was about. I can't find the ads in question, and the trailer available online is red band, which I never saw at the time.

TV is useless in advertising these types of nasty films. Since I can't get enough crude humor I'll have to stick to red band.

[Alex]

Though for mediocre/bad R comedies it really does mean they can show all of the best jokes in the trailer.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ugh, can't believe I said "in question" twice in that post.

[Alex]

Your fired.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Your fired.It hurts me deeply to see this next to your name, for two reasons.

[CoasterMatt]

Wolfman has restored my faith in Universal Studios' ability to release a GREAT horror movie, I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Many moments that made people gasp or jump in their seats, great tension (and some killer gore to go with it).

[Morrigoon]

It hurts me deeply to see this next to your name, for two reasons.

Heheheheh....

[Prudence]

We've been trying our best to see Oscar-nominated films. Last week we saw Avatar and Ingorious Basterds. I am not a big Tarantino fan, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that particular film.

We're going to try to see Princess and the Frog tonight at DTD, and we have our Netflix-ed A Serious Man to watch.

That just leaves three for best picture. An Education I really want to see and it's playing in Manhattan Beach. The Blind Side I don't really have much interest in. And Precious I don't want to see, but feel like I should because if I do then we will have seen all the best director nominees.

Sigh.

[Alex]

Seeing Crazy Heart last night means I've now seen:

4 of 5 Best Actor. Jeff Bridges did not sway my personal vote for Clooney in Up in the Air. But I still expect Bridges will win.

4 of 5 Best Supporting Actor. Maggie Gyllenhaal is not in the running for me. I'd vote Mo'Nique.

3 of 5 Best Original Song. I didn't like the music in the Princess and the Frog so I'll throw my vote behind The Weary Heart.

[Alex]

It hurts me deeply to see this next to your name, for two reasons.

I'm dense. What are the two reasons?

[Ghoulish Delight]

The first would be yet another misuse of "your". I'm assuming the other is that she thought you were making a reference to The Apprentice. Cause Donald Trump invented the phrase "You're fired".

[Alex]

Ok, the first one was on purpose, but I wasn't thinking of The Apprentice when I said it.

[Strangler Lewis]

Given the changes and omissions, I think that the assumptions are one-and-done for Percy Jackson.

I thought Jeff Bridges was great. I tend to put George Clooney in the "always plays himself" category, which is not to say he doesn't have his appeal. In the category of doe-eyed alien-headed women, I'll take Vera Farmiga over Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[Prudence]

Finally saw Princess and the Frog. There were definitely things I liked. That bit of animation where she's singing about her restaurant with her mom was great. I actually liked that the soundtrack was more cohesive and less random song-like.

But where was the wooing? It's a princess movie. There was supposed to be wooing. It's like they spent so much time in animal story land that they forgot about the wooing. That might work for the Lion King, but this was a princess happily-ever-after movie and that requires wooing.

Woo woo!

(sorry - the drink was a little strong tonight.)

[Gemini Cricket]

I had a lot of computer work to do today as I make up hours at my old job. So, being the only one in the office, I decided to play Gone with the Wind on one of the computers near me just for noise. I noticed a couple of things that I find interesting:

Rhett proposes to Scarlett in the same room where her husband's funeral just occurred, possibly on the same day. That's so awful and in character for both of them. Love it.

The "David Copperfield" reading scene is one of my favorites. The editing in that scene is great for back then.

It totally makes sense why Rhett loves Bonnie so much. She's the one person in the movie (besides Belle) that loves him. And yet even that is in question as she's always talking about her pony and a doll in a couple of scenes.

Interesting that Scarlett and Ashley are caught together but only Scarlett gets blamed for what happened.

I seem to remember in the book that Scarlett gets married a day before Melanie... I could be wrong...

In the scene where Scarlett's sisters are picking cotton, Scarlett enters the shot and we hear "Too bad about that!" but her lips aren't moving.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm dense. What are the two reasons?

The first would be yet another misuse of "your". I'm assuming the other is that she thought you were making a reference to The Apprentice. Cause Donald Trump invented the phrase "You're fired".

Ok, the first one was on purpose, but I wasn't thinking of The Apprentice when I said it.Missed this exchange before.

Actually, reason one is the idea that Alex would fire me, and reason two is the misuse of "your" (which I knew was intentional on your part). Supposed to be funny, no salvaging that now.

[flippyshark]

Just got back from Shutter Island, and while it's not top shelf Scorsese, (I spent an awful lot of time looking at the directorial flourishes rather than getting absorbed by the narrative), it's moody, intriguingly convoluted, and I thought Leo DiCaprio did a fine job in it.

I don't think it will have much repeat value for me, though. It's a two and a half hour journey that doesn't end up being terribly credible. And I'm not sure everything adds up, or is even meant to. But, eerie fun.

random observation - Within the first few seconds of the film, I recognized Gyorgi Ligeti's composition "Lontano," which was also featured heavily in The Shining. Also, a very early shot of a car driving along a road shot from above at a very wide angle felt to me like a deliberate tribute to that same film.

[Gemini Cricket]

:D

[flippyshark]

I couldn't agree more about how annoying the DVD viewing experience can be. (Disney is the worst in this regard.)

On the other hand, the handful of pirated things I may have accidentally encountered have been of such crappy quality, it certainly didn't matter that I was able to play them right away. Camcordered in a movie theater equals unwatchable for me - I can wait.

On quite another hand, rentals through iTunes store or free from netflix are unhindered by all that crap, look terrific projected on my wall, and cost very little to nothing. That's pretty much my favorite means of movie-watching these days.

[katiesue]

I love watching the previews - it makes Maddie nuts.

[flippyshark]

I love watching the previews - it makes Maddie nuts.

On occasion, a disc will have previews that are interesting to watch at the time of release, but if you take the DVD for a spin a few years later, those tired old trailers make the entire disc seem dated and disposable, with their "Now In Theaters" tags and their non-skippable promos for other movies "Now In Stores Everywhere." (Again, worst offender, definitely Disney.)

Then there is the whole matter of menu screen spoilers. (Okay, let's start up Planet of the Apes. Hey, what's that statue doing there?!)

[MouseWife]

It would be nice if the dvd/blu-ray were intelligent enough to have some sort of 'seal' that were broken after the first viewing. That way, subsequent viewings would not force us to view things we don't want to.

'Shutter Island'. I loved it. I tried to pay close attention to everything. I've never read the book. Only had seen the previews for ever and had been dying to see it.

I think it was long at times, but, I would like to see it again to see things from the perspective of knowing how it ended.

Purchasing movies. I don't know why but today I bought 'Night at the Museum 2'. I enjoyed the first one and it was only $12.99 for a blu-ray/dvd/digital copy combo. I really like these type of movie combos because when we travel {oh, please let us travel again some day, damn economy!!!} we carry a portable dvd player. Sucks if every movie is blu-ray.

Someone today said to me they didn't like the editing of 'Shutter Island'. He had to rush off before he could explain. What do you think? I mean, how do we know? ha ha We didn't see all of the takes? What did he mean???

[flippyshark]

My feeling about the ending of Shutter Island

I couldn't buy the ultimate explanation. An elaborate hoax put on by the entire staff and many of the patients, just to get some poor dude to drop his protective psychological block? The level of contrivance was so high, I actually left the film confused as to whether that was supposed to be reality, or just Leo's character cracking up - or indeed, a counter-mind fvck to justify keeping him there. Looking back, I guess I was really supposed to buy that an asylum for the criminally insane allowed one of their patients to wander around free and pretend to investigate a fake disappearance, but I'm still resisting that idea for some reason.

Also, it occurred to me that if I had read the novel

I would have figured out a major plot point very early, because I am usually good at spotting anagrams, and I've already encountered novels and stories where a second identity is hidden in plain sight by an anagram name. Not having it written out in front of me in the movie, I didn't think about it - but I did laugh when Kingsley whipped the cover off of the chart with the names spelled out on it. It just looked silly, like a moment that should have been in a Saturday Night Live skit.

So, ultimately, the plot didn't work for me, and it might be my own fault, but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and the usual formidable Scorsese filmmaking. I was never bored.

[MouseWife]

Okay, let's hope I am doing this right or I will delete it immediately! I think if we watch the movie again, knowing the end, we'll understand more. I don't see how they got him onto the boat, that wasn't clear. But, the armed guards upon arrival, made sense after. The one patient whispering 'Shhhh' made a lot of sense...it was a secret. The good doctor did say that as opposed to the lobotomies he tried to work with the patients. I didn't like how it ended because I wanted to KNOW for certain what the hell happened and what was going to happen for sure.

After the movie, my husband and I felt trippy. We didn't say anything right away to one another. Went to the bathroom, talked with some friends, walked out to the car, started to drive away. Then in our discussion he was saying {and his face looked worried} that he was looking at himself in the mirror at the bathroom and he felt...he felt...and I did a 'booga booga' in his face 'Weird???' I said. LOL No we aren't crazy. :evil:

The movie was a fun ride. I love Leo. :0)

[MouseWife]

Oh yes, even if some parts seemed slow to me {maybe it is me that is slow...hmmmm} it was always interesting. I didn't want to miss a thing!!

Glad, too, I didn't read the book. May want to now, but not sure.

Those books, like I see at Target, they have pictures from the movie on the cover. Are they real novels or just the movie in a book? I don't care for that. I want the real thing. What the movie was modeled after. Is it a different story?

I've seen them a lot, like, the movie he did with Kate Winslet? But, I don't want to read the movie again. I want the real story!!

[flippyshark]

Though the trade paperback has a movie photo on its cover, it's a real novel written by Dennis Lehane a few years ago. (He was also listed as associate producer on the movie, so I figure it has his blessing to some extent.)

I confess that I skimmed the last chapters a bit, and

noticed the same anagram chart seen in the movie

so it looks like the book probably has the same denouement as the movie.

[MouseWife]

Thanks for that, maybe now I'll read the books.

Oh, okay. Ooo. I'm so afraid to say anything.

You know,since the movie, I've been biting my tongue and avoiding the subject as much as possible. My 3 kids haven't seen it. ARGH

So, nice we could share what we have. Whew. A little steam released....

[wolfy999]

Maybe the whole movie was just a dream.......

[MouseWife]

ha ha

[innerSpaceman]

After the movie, my husband and I felt trippy. ... Then in our discussion he was saying {and his face looked worried} that he was looking at himself in the mirror at the bathroom and he felt...he felt...and I did a 'booga booga' in his face 'Weird???' I said. LOL No we aren't crazy. :evil:

Ok, this is worth breaking my hiatus over - because your story reminded me of something about my Shutter Island experience I totally forgot about.

We've been going to the theater where we saw it for years. It's the relatively new Pacific in now-hip downtown Culver City. They string rope and stanchions across the wide lobby to take your ticket before you hit the snack bar area. But this time, they moved that way back to the narrow bottleneck between the snack bar and the auditoriums. Makes much more sense, and we told the ticket takers so, and they remarked on the positive change.


After the film, we come out to find the ticket taker position back where it always has been, and all the mile-wide ropes and stanchions in place. We asked why they had moved it back when the new location made so much sense, and they looked at us like we were insane.

We felt so frelling weird and gaslighted for a few moments - then went outside the theater and fell down laughing.

:D
:snap: :snap:




But, like flippy, i didn't buy it at all. There's no way the staff, the doctors, the patients, the guards and the nazis were all in on it, and let crazy Leo have run of the place. Nope - did not fly. And kinda ruined, for me, a movie I liked.


But I totally don't put it past the theater staff to have messed with our minds for fun and sport. :eek:


:iSm: (just to see if my icon is still here)

[Stan4dSteph]

So I should avoid this thread if I haven't seen every movie ever made? Oh well, don't need to see Shutter Island now then I guess. Saves me wasting time and money.

[Deebs]

I realize after watching The Darjeeling Limited that I really don't like Owen Wilson. But I really do like Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman.

[MouseWife]

iSm, that's too funny! Yep, I don't know how they did it exactly but my head was definitely messed with. Not a hard task but my husband usually isn't taken in by anything.

Oh, but I see what Steph means, perhaps, without being the red pen police, you could put that part about the movie into a spoiler tag? :D

Inywho...what's the next movie coming out? I just saw they are re-releasing 'Alice In Wonderland' on DVD...hmm...forgot to see if it was on Blu-ray. Does it matter? Isn't it the newer animation where it makes a difference?

[SacTown Chronic]

:iSm:

Hello, friend.

[Snowflake]

Oh Boy! At last! Tomorrow night I get to see the UCLA/BFI restoration of The Red Shoes on the big screen (The Castro). I'm so excited! Orgy of technicolor!

Also, in Palo Alto at The Stanford they are having a 100th birthday retrospective of Akira Kurosawa. I just got the schedule and have already missed Seven Samurai and Rashomon (dammit). Thank goodness TCM is also running a ton of Kurosawa films this month. Yay!

[MouseWife]

That sounds so exciting, Snowflake!! Enjoy!

[CoasterMatt]

I watched 'The Crazies' tonight, while Rose watched Bon Jovi- I had fun; there were only 3 people, including myself in the theater.

[innerSpaceman]

Heheh, I watched a movie called C.R.A.Z.Y. a couple of nights ago. Cute French Canadian film about a harried family with five sons, and the one who grows up eccentric and fabulous and gay.


* * * * * * *


In theaters now: Go see The Ghost Writer. Don't be put off by Polanski's recent press. It's a much better Hitchcock movie than Shutter Island. Loved it.

[flippyshark]

In theaters now: Go see The Ghost Writer. Don't be put off by Polanski's recent press. It's a much better Hitchcock movie than Shutter Island. Loved it.

I wish I could, but Orlando is too much of a backwater to have it yet. I think it opens wide in a few weeks, and I'm planning on seeing it.

[cirquelover]

Where's Alex? I was looking for the Alice review this morning and Alex isn't here!

[CoasterMatt]

One thing I have to mention here, The Crazies may just be a remake of a movie that doesn't really hold up too great, but using the Johnny Cash version of "We'll Meet Again" for the opening sequence made me smile.

The car wash scene gave me nightmares- I used to get really freaked out at a local car wash when I was a little kid.

[Prudence]

Alice was boring.

There was a super great opportunity for plot twistiness, but they decided to go with conventional instead. Snoozefest.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Alice was boring.

There was a super great opportunity for plot twistiness, but they decided to go with conventional instead. Snoozefest.Damnit. :(

[CoasterMatt]

Yesterday, I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Battle Beyond The Stars, and Rock And Roll High School.

Today I've watched Scanners, and now I'm watching the Star Wars Trilogy.

[flippyshark]

Hey, I just watched Scanners last night. I've always really enjoyed it, but, like many others, I have to acknowledge that the lead performance by Stephen Lack is distractingly odd. I try to make allowances for the fact that he is playing a very psychically broken person, but really, his line readings are just so robotic and non-credible. Mind you, with time, this has become one of the movies charms, not any longer a demerit. And I just can't get enough of Michael Ironside in his leering, evil prime!

Are you well? It sounds like you may be bedridden with all this marathon watching. If so, please get well. If not, um, keep enjoying!

[CoasterMatt]

I've got a bit of a cold, but nothing too serious (yet). I'm just stuck at home with the animals while my wife is in Vegas.

[innerSpaceman]

Here's a second "meh" on the new Alice in Wonderland. Some really marvelous elements that didn't quite gel for me - in a re-telling that features all the familiar settings and characters, but with a rather conventional story grafted on.

Yet, as might be expected, the picture looks awesometastical. And I enjoyed almost all the performances -- with the notable exception of Johnny Depp - whom i HAteD as the Mad Hatter. And hated the role this story saddled him with.

I loved Bonham Carter as the Red Queen. Quispin Glover was also rad, as was Anne Hathaway. The girl who plays Alice was terrific, as were Tweedle-Dee and Dum.

Good Cheshire Cat, too, but he suffered - as did many of the "beloved" characters - from being too straightforwardly benevolent to our heroine. In fact, all the usual suspects just sort of banded together as the Alice Team of cuddly, helpful friends who remember her fondly from .... from the earlier Disney movie, I guess. A little too neat and sweet. And the standardly heroic storyline lacked the oddball charm of the original tale - that was nonetheless mimicked too faithfully.


Sigh, I don't think there's ever been a completely satisfactory version of Alice in Wonderland on screen. This one comes as close as many. But not close enough for me. I'm glad I saw it, but I never need to see it again.

[Prudence]

Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended result, but then again, I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's a comedy?

[BarTopDancer]

My friend and I loved Alice. We may go see it again in 3-D.

It was beautiful and a fun adventure. Mia Wasikowska held her own against the big-names. I love what Depp did with the Mad Hatter - tragic, creepy and, well mad.

[Melonballer]

My all time favorite Mad Hatter is Steve Buscemi. "I'm so mad I wash my hands a 100 times a day, because they smell like my mother!"

[flippyshark]

Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't the intended result, but then again, I haven't seen the original. Maybe it's a comedy?

"Release the Kraken!" is indeed about the only memorable line from the first movie, which isn't really a comedy, but is about as cheesy as it can be. I've always found that the original CotT disappoints. It's pretty slow, and even the Ray Harryhausen creature sequences are pacey and sluggish, especially compared to the swashbuckling likes of Jason and the Argonauts or The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Those are kind of clunky as well, but whenever a cyclops or a skeleton shows up, it's wildly kinetic and exciting. Titans was the most expensive movie Harryhausen got to make, but his hands seem curiously tied, as if perhaps he was rushed once he got around to his animating table.

On the other hand, this is one of those PG rated movies that had some rather welcome nudity for a teen in the pre-internet days. I remember insisting on watching it every time it appeared on HBO just so I could see Andromeda's lovely bare behind as she stepped out of her pre-sacrificial bath. (Yes, you got to see her crack just before she was offered to the Kraken. Heh)

[Kevy Baby]

I enjoyed Alice. It wasn't great, but good. And this is not a movie to bring small children to.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

How could Alice be bad?? Did it follow Tim Burton's Secret Formula (http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1929453)? ;)Ooh! Forgot about the Clash of the Titans preview where I busted out in a giant belly laugh at the "Release the Kraken!" line.


I've always found that the original CotT disappoints.The original is a family fav of mine. My brothers and I said "Release the Kraken!" constantly. I have no perspective on it but I still think it's the best Harryhausen. Jason and his Argonauts be damned. :p I'm kind of excited about this remake though I figure once the reviews come out I'll probably lose interest. It happens to me every time with these action epics.

[Strangler Lewis]

Hey, I just watched Scanners last night. I've always really enjoyed it, but, like many others, I have to acknowledge that the lead performance by Stephen Lack is distractingly odd. I try to make allowances for the fact that he is playing a very psychically broken person, but really, his line readings are just so robotic and non-credible. Mind you, with time, this has become one of the movies charms, not any longer a demerit. And I just can't get enough of Michael Ironside in his leering, evil prime!

Are you well? It sounds like you may be bedridden with all this marathon watching. If so, please get well. If not, um, keep enjoying!

I remember attributing his line readings to bad acting. Of course, perhaps he was really going for a kind of Paradise Lost thing where the good guy is boring, and the bad guy is attractive. But my bet's on bad acting.

Alice was boring.

Then it is faithful to the book.

[BarTopDancer]

How could Alice be bad?? Did it follow Tim Burton's Secret Formula (http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1929453)? ;)

Hehe. That was great!

[innerSpaceman]

BwaHahaha. Exactly.

I've a friend who doesn't want to see it, but wants to see the good parts. It occurred to me a nicely edited half-hour would be great ... so I'll try to do that when the DVD comes out ... in what? 3 weeks is it?


Better yet, a really creative edit of the 25 or so film versions of Alice in Wonderland could yield a version that captures the dreamlike ever-changing oddness of the text. That could be an awesome project.


Anyway, I had to watch the '51 Disney version last night to get the taste out of my eyes. That's hardly a flawless version either, but I really needed it. The Burton version is, imo, seriously disappointing and so wrong in overall tone that I cannot recommend it - despite, as i said, some fantastic elements and performances.

[Not Afraid]

We watched Milo and Otis last night. Neither of us had seen it before. We were both traumatized (but it did NOT help my desire for an orange kitten one bit).

[flippyshark]

Well, if it's any help, the net consensus seems to be that probably no animals were harmed in the making of Milo and Otis.

[CoasterMatt]

I just finished watching "Rollercoaster" again. I still love this movie, it's so much fun (and sad at the same time) to see some of my favorite coasters 30+ years ago. I love the Lalo Schifrin score, too.

[innerSpaceman]

Milo and Otis is rad. I wanna see it again. Can't believe Lisa's only seeing it now for the first time. The movie that put Pugs on the map!



******

BTW, the 3-D in Alice in Wonderland is lame. I found out today the movie was filmed in 2-D and converted to 3-D, and it looks it. Everything has that flat, cut-out, old multi-plane camera look. And the handful of 3-D "tricks" they did were straight out of 1950's 3-D movie schtick. Embarassing.

So, if you're gonna see it, see the 2-D version.

[lashbear]

I just finished watching "Rollercoaster" again. I still love this movie, it's so much fun (and sad at the same time) to see some of my favorite coasters 30+ years ago. I love the Lalo Schifrin score, too.
First Movie I ever got on DVD !! and also the reason I bought my first ever VHS !

...and we loved Alice - especially the 3D. They didn't resort to the usual cheap tricks and any "protrusions" out of the fourth wall were justified. It made it a lot easier to get immersed in the ambiance and settings. We'd recommend it to anyone. We woldn't recommend it to small children as a lot of characters seem to have a penchant for poking others in the eye with things.

[flippyshark]

The Rollercoaster score is available for purchase in iTunes. I had the soundtrack album when I was a kid, and I was very happy to get this again about a year ago. There is a tremendous variety of styles that Schifrin got to write in, as he had to provide both the dramatic score and the "source" music in the various theme parks portrayed in the film.

As for the movie, I have a great deal of affection for it, but it's a textbook case of anti-climax.

[Not Afraid]

Milo and Otis is rad. I wanna see it again. Can't believe Lisa's only seeing it now for the first time. The movie that put Pugs on the map!


Neither of us have seen Men in Black either.

[ToriBear]

Neither of us have seen Men in Black either.

:eek:

[MouseWife]

Forgive me, but, I haven't seen Milo & Otis in many years. My older kids watched it quite a few times {on VHS}.

I can't remember...why was it painful? Because they were lost?They did make it home, right??? I can't remember!!

Did Thurston and Kimchi watch it, too?

Do dogs snack while watching t.v?

[MouseWife]

Neither of us have seen Men in Black either.

ha ha I always think of you guys when I see it.

[Not Afraid]

Forgive me, but, I haven't seen Milo & Otis in many years. My older kids watched it quite a few times {on VHS}.

I can't remember...why was it painful? Because they were lost?They did make it home, right??? I can't remember!!

Did Thurston and Kimchi watch it, too?

Do dogs snack while watching t.v?

The list of horrors that happened to BOTH Milo and Otis was HUGE! Pugs don't swim very well, yet Otis was thrown into the ocean and a river, was supposed to fend for himself for a year, hand a run-in with a bear who grabbed him and was stuck in the snow for a LONG time. Otis was left to travel downstream in a little box, went over a falls, had run-ins with birds of prey, a bear and a fox, and he was obviously not a well taken care of cat in the films because his ears were FILTHY and looked infected.

Thurston watched almost the entire film with a lot of interest. He seemed as horrified as I was at the things happening to the poor pug and kitty.

[wendybeth]

I love Milo and Otis. Yes, it is fraught with peril, and the poor things look pretty disheveled for most of the film, but it's the ultimate animal buddy flick. Tori and I used to watch it all the time when she was little. :)

[Moonliner]

The Razzie nominations (http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/01/razzie.award.nominations/index.html?hpt=Sbin) are out for this year. Transformers and Land of the Lost are up for top honors.

It looks like Sandra Bullock could be up for a Worst Actress Razzie and Best Actress Oscar this year (different movies). I wonder if that's ever happened before. Not that she stands a chance of winning both. It's sure to be Mega Fox's year at the Razzies.

Well damn. I'm glad I'm not a betting man. Congrats on your double win Sandra.

[BarTopDancer]

Note to self. NEVER watch Milo and Otis. EVER.

Please tell me it has a happy ending.

[JWBear]

Note to self. NEVER watch Milo and Otis. EVER.

Please tell me it has a happy ending.

It was his sled.

[Kevy Baby]

BTW, the 3-D in Alice in Wonderland is lame. I found out today the movie was filmed in 2-D and converted to 3-D, and it looks it. Everything has that flat, cut-out, old multi-plane camera look. And the handful of 3-D "tricks" they did were straight out of 1950's 3-D movie schtick. Embarassing.

So, if you're gonna see it, see the 2-D version....and we loved Alice - especially the 3D. They didn't resort to the usual cheap tricks and any "protrusions" out of the fourth wall were justified. It made it a lot easier to get immersed in the ambiance and settings. We'd recommend it to anyone. We wouldn't recommend it to small children as a lot of characters seem to have a penchant for poking others in the eye with things.I am more with Bear on this one. I didn't love it - just liked, but it was entertaining.

After talking with several people this weekend about Alive, the responses seem to be divided thusly: people who pay more attention to the fine details of the story; how it does (or doesn't) follow the original story; how well the story and plot line were developed; etc., then those people didn't like it. For those of who enjoy an entertaining movie, can be amused by good visuals and a story that isn't full of ugly holes, we liked it.

This is NOT meant as a slam against those who like the details I mention in the first group; it is simply an observation on two groups of movie goers. I personally don't see that many movies (I don't think I had been in a movie theater for about a year), so maybe my simpler mind is just more easily amused.

Congrats on your double win Sandra.Loved her acceptance speech at the Razzies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYced7GB8k). I like Sandra Bullock - she doesn't take herself too seriously.

[innerSpaceman]

If they didn't go in nearly strict order from place-to-place following the (Disney version of) Alice in Wonderland, I wouldn't have minded so much that they imposed a completely different and stupidly vapid story upon it. Want original story? Then don't copy the layout of the original tale so slavishly.

Of course, that the story chosen was so cut-and-dried, and no one but the Red Queen even for a moment tried to mess with Alice's head, left the proceedings feeling NOTHING like any presentation that should dare to call itself "Alice in Wonderland."

The characters and settings don't make the tale what it is, especially if half those characters are nothing like their literary counterparts. (The settings were well done, and half the characters were indeed like their literary counterparts. Forgot to mention that the Caterpillar fvcked with Alice's head quite properly. Good on him.) :D

[flippyshark]

I'm glad I read enough here that I went into Alice with adjusted expectations. I had a pretty good time while watching it, but now, just a couple of hours later, I can only remember things about it that I didn't like.

It really did feel more like a Narnia story with a Lewis Carroll visual overlay. (And could the Dormouse character have been any more of a distaff Reepicheep?)

How did anyone think that the Mad Hatter's little dance was a good idea? (Especially unfortunate for its musical accompaniment. Yuck.)

I'm giving it a pass here, because they made the Red Queen's giant head part of the story, but I do not want to see any more digitally inflated head characters at the movies ever again. (Same goes for digitally embiggened eyes.)

But, I didn't hate it.

[bewitched]

We saw it in IMAX 3D and I have to say that I really liked it; but I wasn't expecting it to be a true "Alice in Wonderland". I knew it was based more on Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky".

That said, I too found the Mad Hatter's dance entirely out of place.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Sigh. I may never get to watch another "gritty" movie again. Because apparently these days "gritty" is synonymous with "shaky". :(

Got 24 minutes into Hurt Locker before having to stop. Took some dramamine and we're going to try again in an hour. Perhaps I'll be able to at least watch enough chunks to get through it eventually.

[mousepod]

Sigh. I may never get to watch another "gritty" movie again. Because apparently these days "gritty" is synonymous with "shaky". :(

Got 24 minutes into Hurt Locker before having to stop. Took some dramamine and we're going to try again in an hour. Perhaps I'll be able to at least watch enough chunks to get through it eventually.

That's about as far as Heather got. Shakycam is not her friend.

(And if you don't make it through the flick, rent The Messenger instead. A much better movie about the current war. No shakycam. And it takes place in New Jersey.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Made it to the 90 minute point last night. Less than an hour left, I think I can make it through tonight. I hope so, because I've enjoyed it so far.

[Gemini Cricket]

You know, I'd like to take this moment in the MMMtS thread to state officially that I hate the new environment friendly packaging of DVDs. Basically, it's a regular plastic DVD box with the recycling logo cut out of it leaving the box flimsy and not so easy to close and also seems to make it cave in on itself.

I'm not a big recycler. Never was. I do it because it's PC. But I'm not convinced that recycling is all that. I mean, in Hawai'i, the recycling apparently goes to the same place the rest of the trash does: to the dump. Which means that the landfill that's being created will have huge pockets of plastic and cardboard and tree cuttings instead of having it spaced evenly across the landfill which I'm thinking will cause the mountain created to be less stable. That's my own cockamamie reasoning and not based on any sort of fact. Not only that but products made with recycled material are more expensive. If they are reusing materials that already exist, then why is it more expensive? Anyway, I could go on for days and I only mean it halfheartedly and most likely am railing against it because people are so adamant about recycling in that if you don't do it you are some sort of demon spawn pirate terrorist.

That being said, I reiterate: I hate the new DVD boxes.

:p

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Are you serious that the recycling goes to "the dump"? I'm assuming there's a recycling handling facility at the same place as the trash handling (er, dump).

Trash facilities now have ways of sorting garbage to get some more recyclables out. Supposedly it's pretty widespread technology now.

[CoasterMatt]

I just watched "Dead Hooker In A Trunk". It was kind of like a home made horror movie version of Pulp Fiction. Not everybody's cup of tea.

Here's the trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAEN43OHZc)

[Gemini Cricket]

Are you serious that the recycling goes to "the dump"? I'm assuming there's a recycling handling facility at the same place as the trash handling (er, dump).

Trash facilities now have ways of sorting garbage to get some more recyclables out. Supposedly it's pretty widespread technology now.
Apparently, there's no budget to do the recycling thing currently. So it all goes to the dump.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Finished Hurt Locker.

I thought it was pretty great. Powerful and effective. It's strongest point was that it didn't dramatize the experience more than it needed to. It didn't force a complex story arc on the situation, it just presented the raw experience, as plainly as possible while still making a watchable movie with characters you invest in. That also bled into it's weakest point, which was the lack of satisfaction at the end. Which surely was part of its point, but I felt it ended flat. But that aside, it's a great film. I can't quibble with its best pic win. I enjoyed Inglorious more...but that's no knock on Hurt, you're not supposed to "enjoy" it.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Coraline was interesting.

[flippyshark]

Inglorious was certainly the most intoxicating movie experience I had this year, and the one I find myself thinking about most often. I've got Hurt Locker wending its way toward me, and I'm looking forward to it, even though I know it won't be "fun."

Already, I can barely remember Alice, which I saw just yesterday.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hurt Locker wasn't as grisly as I thought it would be. There was only one scene which made me wince. The happenings were messed up, to be sure, but not gory. Made for a very watchable war film (shaky cam aside). Very good film.

[Snowflake]

I'm glad I read enough here that I went into Alice with adjusted expectations. I had a pretty good time while watching it, but now, just a couple of hours later, I can only remember things about it that I didn't like.

It really did feel more like a Narnia story with a Lewis Carroll visual overlay. (And could the Dormouse character have been any more of a distaff Reepicheep?)

How did anyone think that the Mad Hatter's little dance was a good idea? (Especially unfortunate for its musical accompaniment. Yuck.)

I'm giving it a pass here, because they made the Red Queen's giant head part of the story, but I do not want to see any more digitally inflated head characters at the movies ever again. (Same goes for digitally embiggened eyes.)

But, I didn't hate it.

I'm pretty square with Flippyshark. Having read the comments online, I just went in to the theater and put on the 3D glasses and said okay let's watch it. I enjoyed myself and really felt Helena Bonham Carter walked away with the film. The Mad Hatter dance was truly awful and should have been jettisoned.

I came away feeling like I enjoyed it, but I really did feel they made this Narnia in Wonderland and I was half expecting Alice to be crowned in the end.

I do not feel I wasted my time, I had fun and enjoyed the film. The hand pulled ramen afterward was splendid.

[Prudence]

Forget the Mad Hatter's dance - what about the creepy romance angle?

Never mind the Lion or Tin Man, she'll miss the Scarecrow most of all.

[flippyshark]

Forget the Mad Hatter's dance - what about the creepy romance angle?

Never mind the Lion or Tin Man, she'll miss the Scarecrow most of all.

I guess I didn't perceive that as a romance at all - more of a "you remind me of my father" bond.

[MouseWife]

ha ha I thought you meant romance between the Queen and the tall skinny Crispen Glover.

[MouseWife]

I love Milo and Otis. Yes, it is fraught with peril, and the poor things look pretty disheveled for most of the film, but it's the ultimate animal buddy flick. Tori and I used to watch it all the time when she was little. :)

Not Afraid and wendybeth;

Oh yes, a lot of peril!! And, having been a while, I didn't remember until your brought it up. I guess I only saw the animal buddy element of it. Also, I've never had a pug. Poor Thurston! To see a pug be put through the ringer!

Now I'm wondering how much of it I actually watched. I am remembering a shack in a very pretty wooded area? Aye carumba. Slip goes the tranny in my brain........

[Ghoulish Delight]

I guess I didn't perceive that as a romance at all - more of a "you remind me of my father" bond.
Daddy issues in a Burton film? You don't say!

[Snowflake]

Forget the Mad Hatter's dance - what about the creepy romance angle?

Never mind the Lion or Tin Man, she'll miss the Scarecrow most of all.

I did not get that at all, more Peter Pan-like to me.

[Alex]

A lot of people did see it. I've seen several reviews that commented on the ickiness in the seeming undercurrent of potential romance between Alice and the Mad Hatter.

I was mildly positive on the movie. Plenty of good stuff and nearly as much awful stuff.

[Prudence]

I don't see a daddy-figure being worried about Alice being the "proper" size.

[Ghoulish Delight]

We had a really great day yesterday and between laundry, dishes, feedings, vacuuming, yard work, cleaning bunny cages, and playtime, we somehow managed to watch two movies.

Polyester. That's the first John Waters movie I've actually seen. I've long guessed I'd like his movies, just never got around to watching any. It's amazing just how familiar that suburban world is to me. I mean, my family and childhood were not even remotely as dysfunctional as all that, but the suburban trappings it's set in are straight out of my childhood (my parents HAD that couch!). Plus it helped to think of the characters as embodiments of the worst-possible-caricatures of each other that they all imagine. So the bimbo daughter and delinquent son were depictions of what an over-protective mother imagines happens when they're out of sight. And a ludicrously nosy mom who can literally sniff secrets out is how an angsty teen imagines their mom when they've been caught. I think he nailed that.

The second movie was Metoroporisu (Metropolis), the anime version, loosely based on the german silent film of the same name. Loooooosely. Based on in the same way the series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water is "based" on 20,000 leagues in that it has an eccentric guy named Nemo with a submarine, this is "based" on Metropolis in that there are underground workers and a girl who doesn't realize she's a robot.

But that's not to take away from it. I actually rather like the Japanese tendency to pick the bare essentials from an old story like that and splice it into the usual nuclear-arms-race context that you can't blame Japan for obsessing over. I didn't care for the character animation design in Metropolis so much, and it's not the most well constructed film ever, but the setting is gorgeous and the story is fairly compelling. It was worth it just for the scene where the robots come to put out the factory fire.

[flippyshark]

I love both of those, GD. And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. (Especially after reading some of his more adult manga, as well as his epic biography of the Buddha.) Really, the entire anime/manga industry owes it all to Tezuka. (So do the creators of The Lion King, but that's another story.)

I'm glad you enjoyed Polyester, and I think you've nailed its basic appeal. did you have Odorama cards to scratch and sniff? Did you listen to the commentary? John Waters' commentary tracks are amazing, often funnier than the films themselves.

Now, are you ready for Waters' earlier, cruder and more openly sadistic films? (Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living) I find those hard to sit through, but still kind of fascinating at the same time. And they all have interesting/hilarious commentary tracks on their DVD releases. Go on, rent Pink Flamingos. I double dog dare ya!

[Ghoulish Delight]

I love both of those, GD. And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. (Especially after reading some of his more adult manga, as well as his epic biography of the Buddha.)
Yeah, I know it's the style. And it grew on my as the movie went on, and in other films I think it's great. But for some whatever reason I thought it hurt this film, dumbed it down a little.

Really, the entire anime/manga industry owes it all to Tezuka. (So do the creators of The Lion King, but that's another story.)And Wall-E. Holy crap did Wall-E lift stuff straight from this film or what?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

And as to the character design, it's based on a manga by Osamu Tezuka (creator of AstroBoy), whose style I used to find overly cutesy and mock-Disneyesque, but it's grown on me. Ah, ok. I thought it was purely an attempt to use 1930's comics and animation elements (pie eyes) to echo the 1930's style architecture etc. To that end, if they had taken it to the nth degree and had the characters look like Steamboat Willie but in color, it might have been awesome.

Otherwise, it was beautiful.

[flippyshark]

The original Tezuka Metropolis manga was published in 1949, and the 2001 animated film retains its character designs, but they decided to render the environment digitally (and as pointed out, quite beautifully). The resulting contrast in detail and dimensionality is indeed striking, maybe even jarring, but unique.

[Snowflake]

This is just 27 different kinds of wrong.....

HBO remake with Kate Winslet as Mildred, Guy Pearce as Monte

EW report is here (http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/03/12/mildred-pierce-guy-pearce-kate-winslet/)

5 hour mini-series? Jeebus the nice tight 111 minutes does quite nicely.

They going to cast Ann Blyth as Mrs. Biederhoffer?

[flippyshark]

Are you sure it isn't a remake of Mildred Fierce (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP_UtPcjvp4)?

[ToriBear]

Well, my parents and I all went to see Alice In Wonderland today, and I loved it. The 3-D was alright, not really all that great like Avatar. But, overall I'm madly in love with it. And I quite enjoyed the Mad Hatter's dance, I giggled throughout the whole thing.

Forget the Mad Hatter's dance - what about the creepy romance angle?

That may be because they were planning to do it like that in the first place but then backed out of the idea and went with this. I (you may call me weird) do like the idea of Alice and the Mad Hatter like that, they do seem to fit together quite well. Then again, that's just what I think. I like weird couples. :D

[cirquelover]

The boy and I went to Diary of a Wimpy Kid yesterday. I think they did a good job keeping it close to the books. I'm so glad I'm not in Junior High anymore!

[Gemini Cricket]

How to Train Your Dragon

Loved it!

I highly recommend it.


It's sort of a expanded version of The Reluctant Dragon. It's wonderful.

[flippyshark]

I noticed that the front cover of USA Today last week touted How To Train Your Dragon as a new Pixar film. Oops.

[innerSpaceman]

Bwahaha, though reports are it's Dreamworks' most Pixarian to date.


As I was telling the cricket in another venue, the advertising campaign for this movie was so intrusive on my life (printed ON the table surfaces at the place I routinely eat lunch) that I refuse to pay money to see it. Essentially, the advertising did exactly the opposite of what was intended.


I suppose they'll get a stipend when I rent the DVD, but I'll live with that.


Time has it as a mash-up of Beowulf and E.T. - in 3-D.

[Gemini Cricket]

It is, in fact, very Pixarian. Someone at Dreamworks went to storytelling class. The movie made me quite curious about the books. I got to say, the illustrations in the books made me laugh a lot.

What's great is that the movie is surprisingly touching. I teared up in a couple of places.

And something that I think may be overlooked as well is the great score the film has. I found it to be quite wonderful.

:)

[Not Afraid]

May 28th. Micmacs. (http://thefilmstage.com/2010/03/30/u-s-trailer-for-jean-pierre-jeunets-micmacs-2/) Jeunet always makes me happy.

[Strangler Lewis]

I enjoyed it very much.

If it was Pixar-like, there would have been gratuitous scenes of zany animated peril for its own sake.

[Alex]

As opposed to a scene of falling through the air only to prevent complete splattering upon the ocean by a bit of last second daring do?

I enjoyed it a fair amount too.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Saw Alice in 3D last night. Liked a lot of the 3D, though they seem to have a fixation with the "in-your-face!!!!" thing. I like it better when it's just part of the overall scenery.

I was bored and annoyed by the White Queen. Bring back the Red queen- she was far more interesting.

Overall I liked it; there were enough elements of the book that it was right and good, and they built on that.

[Strangler Lewis]

As opposed to a scene of falling through the air only to prevent complete splattering upon the ocean by a bit of last second daring do?

That wasn't zany. Or herky jerky, in the worst Pixar tradition.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

May 28th. Micmacs. (http://thefilmstage.com/2010/03/30/u-s-trailer-for-jean-pierre-jeunets-micmacs-2/) Jeunet always makes me happy.SQUEE!!! :D

[innerSpaceman]

Trailer looks awesome. That wasn't even on my radar, and now I'm definitely going to see it.

Film advertising does sometimes work.



In other news, I just learned that Clash of the Titans features post-production 3-D conversion, like Alice - and was not filmed in 3-D like Avatar.

So it's the old-fashioned 2-D for me. Cheaper ticket prices, too.

[Alex]

That wasn't zany. Or herky jerky, in the worst Pixar tradition.

Can you give me a Pixar example to help define what you mean? I'm also thinking of the danger and silliness in the training ring but aren't sure of your definition.

[Strangler Lewis]

Like Justice Stewart, I know it when I see it.

Every back and forth, zig-zagging Rube Goldbergian threat-a-second chase scene in the Toy Story movies. The same in Ratatouille. The same in Cars. They all feel like filler rather than something supported by the plot. None of them are funny. Finding Nemo and Up were fairly tame in this regard, although I did think the final battle on and around the villain's airship was forced.

[innerSpaceman]

Ratatouille, really? The only action I can think of is the chase through Paris for the genetic evidence letter that ownership of the restaurant hinged on. Not supported by the plot? Huh?


Ok, to each, I suppose.

[Morrigoon]

Last night I streamed an interesting documentary called "Into the arms of strangers: Stories from the Kindertransport." I'd consider it worth a watch. It was about Jewish children shipped out of Austria by their parents when Hitler first came to power there, and their experience both of being sent off, and what happened after that.

Anyway, it's on Netflix.

[Strangler Lewis]

Last night I streamed an interesting documentary called "Into the arms of strangers: Stories from the Kindertransport." I'd consider it worth a watch. It was about Jewish children shipped out of Austria by their parents when Hitler first came to power there, and their experience both of being sent off, and what happened after that.

Anyway, it's on Netflix.

My father and his older brother came to America as kids in 1935 and 1936 as part of this:

One Thousand Children (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Thousand_Children).

Basically the same story. Different destination. No Oscar.

[Strangler Lewis]

Ratatouille, really? The only action I can think of is the chase through Paris for the genetic evidence letter that ownership of the restaurant hinged on. Not supported by the plot? Huh?


Ok, to each, I suppose.

I believe there were a number of hyperkinetic "Kill the rat" chases that pretty much put me to sleep.

[innerSpaceman]

I am compelled to respond. Other than the chase through Paris (which was not a Kill the Rat chase), there was only one - in the kitchen, when the rat first arrived. Again, the central-to-the-plot situation of a rat in a restaurant kitchen sort of calls for a scattering hide-a-run.

Sorry you did not like Ratatouille, it's one of Pixar's best. Stick to Dreamworks. :p

[Strangler Lewis]

I liked Ratatouille a great deal. Not as much as many people. I don't care if the rats got run through the dishwasher; they were still rats in a kitchen. Also, Linguini was an unlikable sh*t-for-brains. But it had heart. And some uninvolving chase scenes.

As for sticking to Dreamworks, maybe they haven't done something as good as "Up," but they also haven't done anything as dreadful and evil as "Cars."

[Alex]

Shark Tale?

[innerSpaceman]

Exactly. Though I could also peg the Shrek sequels as inferior to Cars.



And I'm no Cars fan.

[flippyshark]

I'll be seeing Dragon tonight, at the Drive-In (yay!).

Shark Tale made me gnash my teeth and roll my eyes. I thought Kung-Fu Panda was terrific fun, and a real high point for Dreamworks.

I'd be interested to hear more from those whohated Cars, just out of curiosity. I liked it but did not love it. I've had mixed positive reactions to a lot of Pixar films of late, with minor reservations about the last several. But Ratatouille is the only one I currently feel like I'm going to want to see again.

[Snowflake]

I loved Shrek II. Jennifer Saunders and Antonio Banderas. :snap:

[Strangler Lewis]

Remember, I said that "Cars" wasn't just inferior, it was cynical and evil. They could have changed the movie William Hurt was talking about in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" to "Cars" with no loss of dramatic impact.

[innerSpaceman]

I didn't hate Cars. It was just too formulaic, I felt as if I'd seen it a dozen times. But, it was sweet and I enjoyed watching it. I saw it again on DVD, and feel no need to ever see it again. It is possibly the only Pixar film I do not own in my home library.


That said, I'm thrilled they're making rides and attractions based on it, to be installed in a new land at that better-looking, but still completely crappy park next to Disneyland. Sometimes the worst movies make the best spin-off entertainments. Case in point: The Lion King was a thousand times better as a parade than a movie, and ten times better as a stage show than a movie. The original movie was its worst incarnation. (Yes, I know, big hit film. It sucked.)

[Mousey Girl]

The Boy wants to see Clash of the Titans. I was never able to sit through the first one. I may just have to take him to see this one.

[JWBear]

I loved the original Clash. Too bad that it looks like Sam Worthington won't be showing as much skin throughout the movie as Harry Hamlin did in the original.

[Mousey Girl]

His other fixation is seeing the new Tron, when it comes out. He gave me the money he earned at The Old People's to buy him the original.

He is a self proclaimed nerd/geek and darn proud of it.

[Not Afraid]

His other fixation is seeing the new Tron, when it comes out. He gave me the money he earned at The Old People's to buy him the original.

He is a self proclaimed nerd/geek and darn proud of it.


There is a FANTASTIC Hidden Mickey in Tron. Tell him to keep an eye out for it and wee if he spots it. Hint: it is not the usual simple 3 circle shape - it's more defined.

[JWBear]

I just made it through the first 20 minutes of Planet 51. That's as far as I got. Blech.

[Alex]

...and wee if he spots it.

That may be the oddest parenting advice I've ever seen.

[innerSpaceman]

Clash of the Titans was a surprisingly perfect Easter romp of a movie. It struck a better tone than the original, imo. Corny, but not overwhelmingly so.

The 2-D version was fine. I've heard the most craptacular stuff about the tacked-on 3-D version.


Oh, and I really enjoyed the tribute to the original movie.


No, not the shot of the mechanical owl. The tribute to Harryhausen's stop motion work. The lead actor, Sam Worthington. Perfect as an inanimate object somehow made to move and speak.


Really, he was the weak link. Zero charisma. Actually, I think he had negative charisma. He's like a void in an otherwise fun film, with fun performances. (Loved seeing Mad Mikkelsen again - whom some of you might remember as the baddie from Casino Royale).

I liked Sam in Avatar and even in Terminator 4. I think he should stick to character roles, though. He was a pathetic leading man in an otherwise enjoyable movie.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The 2-D version was fine. I've heard the most craptacular stuff about the tacked-on 3-D version.

I have heard the same, convincingly enough to choose the 2D if we get a chance to see it.

Meanwhile, we watched Ponyo last week. What an absolutely charming film. Not my favorite Miyazaki, it felt a little lacking in depth, but even a so-so Miyazaki movie is just chalk full of wonder and beauty.

[Alex]

Saw Girl with the Dragon Tattoo yesterday, literally 2 hours after finishing the book.

It is odd to watch a movie with the source material so completely fresh in my mind. It really highlights the process of adaptation and the logic behind the decisions that must be made.

I'm pretty tepid on the book. It starts out really bad but improves as it goes. The movie is better, the decisions they had to make eliminated a lot of the crawl. I think it is a shame they shifted some of the smarts from one character to another (in the book they're both pretty smart) but overall pretty successful.

If you see it, be warned that the first 30-40 minutes is pretty talky which will emphasize the fact that you're reading the movie (eventually I get into a groove where I don't even notice any more but early on it's a bit more of an issue). Unfortunately, they didn't pay attention to the scene behind the subtitles and there are a few spots where it is difficult to read the all white text over a very light background.

[Nephythys]

How to Train Your Dragon was WONDERFUL. Loved it-and though it is no bad thing Toothless is definately the dragon form of Stitch.

[Snowflake]

I watched Bullitt for the first time this past weekend. Don't know how I've never managed to see this before now. Only seen clips of the car chase.

Loved it. Steve McQueen was cool. So is Robert Vaugnn. I loved seeing old San Francisco, a lot has changed since they were filming. I hated seeing the BofA building being built, I hate that damn building.

[innerSpaceman]

Dunno why I was reading movie reviews of Clash of the Titans, but the New York Post had a great line about how "The Kraken looks like an octopus with the head of a very pissed-off turtle."

Somewhere the balrog is laughing its ass off.

:D

[Ghoulish Delight]

I watched Bullitt for the first time this past weekend. Don't know how I've never managed to see this before now. Only seen clips of the car chase.

Loved it. Steve McQueen was cool. So is Robert Vaugnn. I loved seeing old San Francisco, a lot has changed since they were filming. I hated seeing the BofA building being built, I hate that damn building.
Couldn't stay awake through Bullitt. Even knowing full well it would be a 70s movie, with a 70s movie pace, I was unprepared for its soporific power. And I love The Conversation so it's not like I can't hang with a slower paced flick.

[katiesue]

I need to watch Bullitt. Everyone would ask me if my Dad was Steve. Yea not so much.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Added another Oscar nom to our list last night, A Serious Man. Boy howdy was that a Jewy movie. It also happens to be a meticulously crafted movie. All about pace and space. Really loved it. I liked it better than Hurt Locker, would have a hard time picking between it and Inglorious for my best picture vote.

My favorite part:
During the scene where he was putting his brother in the canoe to Canada, I turned to CP and said, "I know it's the midwest, but still, Jews don't own hip-waders." And sure enough, it was a dream :)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm so curious what non-Jews thought of A Serious Man. I can't imagine watching it without all the back story my heritage provides.

At the very least, if you're Jewish, it's a must-see. It's an amazing period piece, too. Among the best the Coen brothers have done.

[Alex]

I found it boring, if well made. Obviously I can't say how much I wasn't getting but I don't think I was completely in the dark.

But I did leave the movie thinking "Good, god is going to kill them all as punishment for being dull and, worse, wallowing in their dullness."

[innerSpaceman]

Absolutely a toss-up between Serious Man and Inglourious Basterds here, too. I would have thought you had to be jewish to enjoy the former, because I've seen a few goys have the same reaction as Alex - - i.e, boring. But other goys I know have loved it.

Apparently, it's not a matter of goy or jew, but rather a matter of good taste. :p

[Prudence]

It took us three nights to get through A Serious Man. It was boring. The protagonist just sat around letting crap happen to him. He annoyed me, him and his boring life and brattish children and delusional wife.

And I have excellent taste. Perhaps it is that notch above "good" that allowed me to discern the borning-ness. :p

[innerSpaceman]

Pfft, goy. :p

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oh, very much so.

[Alex]

I'm willing to admit that maybe there are levels of Jewishness that are sufficiently transparent to me that I can't see the wonders of it. But then if the Coen Brothers made such a movie they can't be too bothered with a significant part of the audience doesn't care.

If that's the case then it is just like my complaints about the last two LOTR movies and several of the Harry Potter movies. They aren't all that good unless you've read the book.

[innerSpaceman]

Actually, I didn't read the book, and still liked the movie enough - to actually be interested in the book.

No, A Serious Man is not based on a novel. It's based on a book. The Book of Job.

Finding that out after the fact made the movie even more fascinating to me. But yeah, if I'd known that going in, I would have been in the proper frame of mind even sooner - and not have found the story or characters in any way odd or annoying, since they were basically reenacting or riffing on an ancient parable.


I think critics' problems are with the Bible, not the Coen Brothers. :)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

And I have excellent taste.

Not if you thought it was boring!

To me, it was a perfect film. My favorite of the year next to Up. And I'm as goyish as they come.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not if you thought it was boring!

To me, it was a perfect film. My favorite of the year next to Up. And I'm as goyish as they come.
But you're Catholic. That's practically Jewish.

[Alex]

Any chance the world will end before June 4 so that when we all go before god for judgment, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaPXJiN_C6E) won't be held against us?

[Gemini Cricket]

Any chance the world will end before June 4 so that when we all go before god for judgment, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaPXJiN_C6E) won't be held against us?
Owen Wilson, George Lopez and Fergie. Hmm. I smell Oscar!

[Morrigoon]

Any chance the world will end before June 4 so that when we all go before god for judgment, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaPXJiN_C6E) won't be held against us?
Who are you and what have you done with Alex?

ETA: Ugh, they took something that could have been good, and turned it into a talking dog flick. Maybe we were better off BEFORE computer animation/effects.

[Alex]

Kick Ass was...well, just ok. The main story involving Kick Ass is really rather boring and way too long. It would have been a better movie if they just cut everything and put out a 20 minute movie that was just the Hit Girl/Big Daddy storyline.

[innerSpaceman]

One man's opinion. Another's is KICK ASS IS RAD

The third act dragged a bit because they did not bring anything new to the game, but that's true of most comedies. That they kept adding to the mix through the 2nd act is par for the course, and all I will expect of a comedy film.

And that this was. I laughed my ass off. It's Kill Bill for Kids (though with an R rating, kids will have to wait for the DVD).

The scenes with Nicolas Cage and little Chloe Moretz are pure gold. She's beyond radical as Hit Girl. Nick Cage hasn't been this good in forever, and he's hysterical as Big Daddy.

Red Mist also a riot. The Kick Ass character and storyline were the lesser moments - - but I like the twist on this type of story (and I can't say too much more of that without spoilorz ... don't want to get into that yet ... EVERYONE GO SEE THIS MOVIE THIS WEEKEND - and then we'll talk about it).



8 Stars. Laugh Riot. Takes No Prisoners. Kicks Some Serious Ass.

:snap: :snap: :snap:

[Ghoulish Delight]

Continuing our unprecedented Oscar nom coverage, Up in the Air.

I really admire a film that can use the single most obvious bit of symbolism ("baggage") with so much subtlety and nuance. Reitman pulled it off by, I felt, borrowing heavily from the vernacular of the stage. The dialog, the prop symbolism, set pieces like his apartment just dripping with analogy. It felt very much like a filmed stage play, and I mean that in the very best way.

Until the last half hour I was thinking, "It's Lost in Translation minus the bleak."

I had considered the possibility that they'd go the route of her having a family, but I thought they had passed the point where the reveal would have happened.

I wouldn't have voted for it for best pic, but it's yet another one that I think deserved the nomination and would have been a deserving winner. Don't know if it's due to the expanded nominee list or what, but there seem to be a lot of those this year.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Up in the Air demonstrates my favorite kind of drama - funny, clever, well-paced, and with a different sort of backdrop. Having a romance without the "romance" is nice.

And, George Clooney, damn, he just gets hotter and hotter.

[Alex]

Like Cary Grant and tuxedos, George Clooney was specially created by god to wear suits. Any time he spends not wearing a suit is like spitting in god's eye.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Like Cary Grant and tuxedos, George Clooney was specially created by god to wear suits. Any time he spends not wearing a suit is like spitting in god's eye.In parts of the film he's wearing a suit but sans tie, which is my favorite look.

[Strangler Lewis]

I have mixed feelings about the "man in his suit takes his ease" look. I don't think it's classy to not be able to wait to rip off that tie. The look is really only a good look if it's understood that it's driven by practicality, i.e., that one has not had a chance to go home and change or, as in Clooney's case, that one has packed lightly. I doubt Cary Grant was ever shown going to an event in a suit but without a properly knotted tie.

[Gemini Cricket]

The African Queen is on DVD. Yay! Got it the other day with a giftcard from my b-day! I love this movie. So glad it's finally on DVD.
:)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hah, with Dr. Parnassus under his belt, it seems like Gilliam has found the fortitude to tempt fate once again (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1318517/)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I saw Clash of the Titans in 3D last night. My expectations were low and it didn't disappoint. But Sam Worthington in a tunic made everything okay. :evil:

Some gripes: There are no titans in this film (nor the 1981 original, IIRC). I realize "titan" nowadays just refers to something big/powerful, but when you're dealing with ancient Greek myths, it means something very specific.
Why did they blatantly point out they only had one coin for Charon the Boatman and then totally gloss over how they escaped the Undeworld?
Wow the 3D sucked. It looked like a bunch of 2D cutouts meandering about on a 3D plane. So painfully obviously a rushed job. I've seen 3D conversions done well and this was not one of those instances.I want a suit of armor just like the one Zeus wore.

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, I was warned about the 3-D, so stayed away from that ... and lo and behold, really enjoyed Clash of the (non) Titans. Sam Worthington was the weak link for me. Pretty guy, but he had as much charisma as a toilet paper roll in this particular role.



So ... um, no one wants to talk about Kick-Ass?????

[Gemini Cricket]

So ... um, no one wants to talk about Kick-Ass?????
Didn't see it.
Haven't been to the movies in awhile.

[Alex]

I'll talk about it. My opinion of it has degraded in the days since I saw it. The way it is dishonest with its own premise annoys me more as I think about it more.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Dying to see Kick-Ass. I think we'll be on top of new DVD releases via Netflix from now on.

Another example - we just added Dr. Parnassus, which is available in a week! w00t!!

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Saw a research screening of "Dinner for Schmucks" last night. Paul Rudd plays the same guy he always does but was happy to see Steve Correll break out of his typical "office" guy. Movie was funny but you see the end coming miles away.

Tonight - Clash of the Titans. Entertaining but can't stand Sam Worthington. The "Crackin" looked like Godzilla from the last film. Entertaining is about all I can give it.

Looking forward to Kick-Ass - saw the end which, sad, is not as violent as the Graphic Novel was.

[innerSpaceman]

Alex, I'm not sure what you mean about Kick-Ass being "dishonest with its premise." If you'd care to elaborate, I'd like to consider it.


But I give lots of leeway to a comedy to be internally inconsistent. I didn't notice anything of the sort, but maybe it's because I was laughing too hard.

[mousepod]

I loved Kick-Ass, but there are several places in the movie (particularly those places where the film differed from the comic book) where it does cheat its own premise.

Two things that spring to mind:
- If the idea of the movie is that these are real people, the whole "flying jetpack" with machine guns - while satisfying - isn't really fitting with the movies realism.

- In the comic, when they kill Big Daddy (they just shoot him in the head), it's revealed that the whole police back-story is made up, and he's just a wannabe geek. Much more powerful, in my opinion, because it turned the 'supercop' cliche on its head, instead of playing out the established trope.

I still loved the movie, though.

[Alex]

I'm going to start a thread so we don't have to talk in spoilers.

[innerSpaceman]

I saw the weirdest movie over the weekend. Not a current release, but I rented it at some recommendation I now forget.

Hunger - about the IRA prison protests and hunger strikes in the 1980's. But told in a bizarro style with the strangest structure.

In case you're interested - and it is an interesting movie - I'll spoilerize the rest ... but it was so odd, I feel compelled to write about it.

There's no dialogue for first half-hour of the film. It follows a grim prison officer through his daily routine at home and at work. The other officers are all chipper and talkative, and our guy is standoffish and quiet. We don't really learn anything about the prison through this, just that our guy is kinda bummed and downtrodden.

Then we are introduced to an IRA member just being admitted to the prison. It's here we start to learn of the barbaric conditions. Basically, the IRA inmates' political status has been revoked, and they are to be treated as every other convict. But having been allowed to wear their own clothes up till now, they refuse to wear prison uniforms. So, they are kept naked and are allowed just a blanket. (The background information is not relayed - - there's very little dialogue in this section of the movie either, so you either piece it together or, as in my case, research the background information for yourself).

Then this inmate is placed in a dungeon-like cell, already occupied by a guy who looks like he's been unattended for years. There are two ratty mattresses on the floor, and that's it. There's no other furniture and no toilet. Feces is smeared all over the walls, and urine just runs out under the solid dungeon cell doors to the corridor, where it is swept away in the morning.

Once a month, the guards pull the naked prisoners out of their cells to cut off their hermit hair and beards, and dunk them in a bath. This is done without the prisoners' cooperation, so it is very violent and graphic. On other occasions, the guards simply round up the prisoners to beat the crap out of them with batons and the boot.

This is all relayed with very little dialogue and with plenty of lengthy shots of oddball stuff like the pee sweeping and our inmate toying with a fly. He and his cellmate do the only talking in the film so far, and they are the only characters. The prison officer from the start of the film has disappeared completely from the narrative. But through the beatings and such, we begin to get the sense that one of the more rebellious prisoners, Bobby Sands, is becoming yet another character in the film. He is featured in a scene where his parents come to visit. He puts up a brave front, but has clearly been beat up. Then the prison officer from the start of the movie reappears during a brutal beating scene - after nearly an hour of absence - and we start to follow him for a bit.

But why? Perhaps he's going to get fed up with his complicity and turn states evidence or something. But no. He goes to visit his senile mother in a nursing home and is killed by an IRA hitman while in his mother's arms - the gunshot splattering blood and brains all over his mum, who seems oblivious to her son's murder.

Then we cut to a visit by an Irish priest to the prisoner Bobbie Sands. It is not explained why they are allowed to be alone in a room with no supervision. This is perhaps the oddest section of the film, a dialogue scene between the two men. It's a static two-shot of them at a table across from each other, with both their faces in shadow. You can't see either of them, and the shot doesn't move - so the dialogue is everything. Sands explains about his plan for the hunger strike protests - and this still shot goes on for over 20 minutes! Then it finally goes in a little tighter to the characters in a more standard back-and forth for the conclusion of the scene, another 10 minutes or so of dialogue in what has been, till now, basically a silent movie.

Even with all that talking, you don't find out much about the back-story or motivations. I had to supplement the film with some internet research to find out what the hell was going on.

And then there's no talking for the rest of the film, as it follows Sands on his hunger strike as he withers away and dies. You never see the two prisoners again who were supposedly the film's characters. Just gone from the movie. The prison officer also gone, but at least we saw him be killed. The other two prisoners are just never seen again, and with no explanation.

The scenes of Sands hunger strike are mesmerizing. There was a 10-week break in the production while actor lost like 60 pounds and went from this rather buff muscle dude to an Auschwitz impersonator. This segment of the film is really evocative and stylistic - but in a more "traditional" way than much of the rest of the movie. And the film ends with his death.


The film is striking for its uncompromising look at life in the prison. The disgusting and brutal conditions and the harrowing hunger strike are presented in a graphic style I think unparalled in prison movies. But, for me, that was all overshadowed by the bizarre structure that I'm pretty sure is unique among films I've seen.

The film I find it had most in common with, oddly enough, is 2001: A Space Odyssey - which also was a silent movie for its first and last half hours, was sparse on dialogue in between, and introduced and discarded a series of dry characters.


Hunger was directed by a guy with the unfortunate name of Steve McQueen - a big black bloke, completely his namesake in the movie biz. It's worth a viewing if you like oddball movies and want a peak into a fascinating piece of modern history - - that you'll want to google afterwards to find out what you were watching.

[Snowflake]

Double bill last night thanks to TCM, Singin in the Rain and Sunset Blvd. Always delightful, for entirely different reasons.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Role Models, with Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott. Directed by David Wain and features a handful of the usual The State alums and friends. Also features the McLovin kid before he was famous. Smart, funny, everything done right, and just weird enough. Recommended rental!

[Gemini Cricket]

Role Models, with Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott. Directed by David Wain and features all the usual The State alums. Also features the McLovin kid before he was famous. Smart, funny, everything done right, and just weird enough. Recommended rental!
I really liked that film. I love Rudd! Scott is easy on the eyes.

I have a stack of DVDs that I have purchased over the months, years that I have not watched yet. I should get to that someday. I mean, at least 20-30. I always end up watching the classic stuff that I know while I write, surf the net or play video games.

[Strangler Lewis]

And the house is now filled with a new generation's joyful chants of ni, shrubbery and French taunting.

[Gemini Cricket]

And the house is now filled with a new generation's joyful chants of ni, shrubbery and French taunting.
Yeah, I'm sad that MPATHG was in the big box o' DVDs that was lost in the mail from Boston to Hawaii. Sucks!

[Alex]

I was just ok with Role Models but completely won over by the final battle.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I was just happy to see a comedy that wasn't populated by people so dumb they wouldn't be able to function more than a week in the real world.

[scaeagles]

I look forward to Iron Man II so that I may enjoy viewing Scarlett Johansen. Posters of her in that get up....blink. Wow. Who the hell cares if the movie is good or not, I'll be happy to pay the ticket price.

[innerSpaceman]

I think Kick-Ass ruined Iron Man 2 for me.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Also features the McLovin kid before he was famous.

A few years after he was famous, actually - we did the Superbad website just as he was breaking out, and a couple of years later they asked us to pitch on Role Models (though we did not get it.)

[LSPoorEeyorick]

And I think the Variety review ruined Iron Man II for me.

[flippyshark]

Ruined it by giving something away? Or by indicating the presence of a plot point or other element that you know you will hate?

[innerSpaceman]

I haven't checked, but word is that reviews of IM2 have been scathing.


So ... bad reviews, SEQUEL, and 2 weeks 2 late after Kick-Ass rewrote the game for me ... and that's three strikes. Sorry, Stark. You're out.

[Alex]

I haven't yet heard a positive review of Iron Man II from anybody who's seen it. But I'll probably see it anyway.

Don't see how Kick-Ass rewrote the game since by the end of the movie it simply did the exact same thing as all the other superhero movies.

[scaeagles]

I will quote myself because all of you are MISSING THE POINT ON THIS MOVIE! New emphasis added in bold.

I look forward to Iron Man II so that I may enjoy viewing Scarlett Johansen. Posters of her in that get up....blink. Wow. Who the hell cares if the movie is good or not, I'll be happy to pay the ticket price.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I will quote myself because all of you are MISSING THE POINT ON THIS MOVIE! New emphasis added in bold.
I'll save you the trouble.

Pics (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=scarlett+joahnsson&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___US375&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=vi&start=0)

Vidoes (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=scarlett%20joahnsson&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___US375&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbs=vid:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=iv)

That'll be $11.50

[scaeagles]

Well, of course, but the whole red head black leather thing in the iron man 2 posters....gonna have to see the movie for that.

[flippyshark]

I'm right there with you, Leo.

[CoasterMatt]

Nightmare On Elm Street was a big steamin' pile of crap.

The movie's less than 2 hours long, and it FELT like over 3 hours.

Freddy looks like Sackboy from Little Big Planet, and just wasn't very scary.

Add this to my list of reasons to kick Michael Bay squarely in the nuts when I meet him (I might have to put on the ole steel toes)...

[Snowflake]

Hilarious and spot on commentary on youtube.

Steve Hayes is the Tired Old Queen at the Movies and he is fabulous!

Here's his take on Auntie Mame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaLcNf4Cn4Y&feature=related)

Lifeboat (http://www.youtube.com/user/STEVEHAYESTOQ#p/a/u/0/rgo-qGmULzQ) is hilarious, great impressions of Hitch and Tallulah.

I love this guy!