Miscellaneous Movie Musings the Sequel

[Gemini Cricket]

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!
Good find!
Funny stuff.
:)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Here's his take on Auntie Mame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaLcNf4Cn4Y&feature=related)Ah, Auntie Mame. My most beloved and favorite movie ever! Now I'm all melty just thinking about it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

So for 90% of the movie, Disney's first black princess was neither black nor a princess.

Princess & the Frog was alright. The animation was lovely, the characters were eminently watchable and likable. And nothing was offensively dumb. But the whole package was just kinda blah. The plot was kinda half assed, they never explained the motivations well. Shadow Man's plan was very underpants gnome-ish. "Step 1, turn this guy into a frog and this guy into a fake prince. Step 2 ???. Step 3 Profit". Meanwhile, why exactly did she fall in love with the prince? He was sort of charistmatic and was gonna front her the restaurant money. Other than that, she never seemed all that impressed with him.

Music entirely unmemorable.

I did enjoy it. Not as much as Lilo & Stitch or Emperor's New Groove, but more than Hunchback or Pocahontas or Tarzan. I'd have to rewatch Hercules, which I do recall enjoying but don't remember very well to compare.

[katiesue]

The book it's based on is called "The Frog Prince" which makes a whole lot more sense. The title made no sense to me either after watching the movie. I did like it.

Hercules is still one of my favorites. And Mulan.

[innerSpaceman]

Wow, HATE Hercules. Will never re-watch it. Princess and the Frog was utterly forgettable, and have already forgotten it exists so I can't rewatch it.

Love Tarzan. One of the best ever. Pocahontas is great, with a few noticeable flaws. Hunchback is deeply flawed with a few elements of greatness. And I keep meaning to rewatch Emperor's New Groove because I just didn't get it, but am fairly convinced I missed something special.

[Alex]

I'd put Princess and the Frog down around Tarzan in terms of utter forgetfulness (and both have the trait of all the music in the movie sounding the same). Have never seen Hunchback, Hercules, or Pocahontas.

[JWBear]

We watched Grey Gardens with Jessica Tandy and Drew Barrymore last night. I have the urge to talk like Little Edie... "So I think this is the best report for today."

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Based on your current avatar, I had a feeling you'd seen Grey Gardens recently. ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I loved the characterization of Tiana and Ray specifically, though Tiana did get a bit repetitive after a while. Lotti was surprisingly likable even as she teetered near villain status. Voice, visual, fit with the era, etc, all pretty cool.

Everything else wasn't all that fantastic, but enjoyable. Visually, very nice, though quite a bit felt too derivative to me. I guess at this point they can't do much without it feeling like an echo of something else. I did love the feel of the era and the stylized parts were awesome. The shadow stuff was fun, scary without being too scary for kids.

SPOILERS AHEAD, it's an old movie and I'm too lazy for tags.

Some parts were downright muddy, swamp or not. Why does the prince not propose? Because she cares about her restaurant? Didn't he already say he wanted to make her dream come true? I didn't get that scene at all.

I have no idea what Tiana or anyone else would see in the prince. There wasn't nearly enough actual wooing. Half a dance, one sideways look, that's it? The mincing scene made him look pitiable, not lovable. Of course he was gorgeous in human form...

Why didn't Lotti just get her dad to bankroll Tiana's restaurant venture in the first place? She wouldn't even have to tell him what the cash was for. Hell, she could have at least given Tiana a better job. Huge plot hole. The more I think about it, it's almost as if the movie is pandering to all the spoiled rich kids that feed the studio cash by making a brat into a lovable good guy for very little reason. Again, I dug her character design and the voice was fantastic, but this is an especially tough sell, especially in light of my last gripe...

They completely ignored the original Brothers Grimm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frog_Prince_%28story%29) story. I would have been satisfied if the storybook within the movie were the actual story, but it wasn't, at all. In The Frog Prince she doesn't even have to kiss the frog, and while no one remembers that (including me, to be honest), there's the actual STORY to it, having to do with a spoiled brat learning to honor her promises.

Anyway, the more I pick at it the more I dislike it, though there really was some good stuff in there, like the voodoo swamp queen and Evangeline and the songs were fine if not very memorable (except for Almost There, I did think that was genuinely great).

[Ghoulish Delight]

IWhy does the prince not propose? Because she cares about her restaurant? Didn't he already say he wanted to make her dream come true? I didn't get that scene at all.

Because he learned that she needed the money by the next day. He had earlier said he'd marry her and work with her to save money, but since she needed the money immediately his only choice was to marry Lotti (thus getting instant access to money) and give it to Tiana.

[Alex]

I thought Iron Man 2 suffered a bit from what made Spider-Man 3 such an awful movie in that it tried to do way too much and was constantly distracting itself. Each of the three story lines were good on their own but when forced to compete for attention were given short shrift.

It delivers entertainment but for me did not rise above the middle of the pack for comic book movies. Though when I got home AMC was showing Superman Returns so I was immediately reminded that it could have been much worse (if they'd been showing Transformers I'd have been reminded of who truly abysmal it could get).

As for the post-credits nugget I'm guessing that only 20% of the people there had even the faintest idea of what they were seeing (it's a set up for the Avengers movie), I know I had to explain it to Lani.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Enjoyed Iron Man 2 alot - entertaining but I agree somewhat with Alex. Its nowhere near as bad as Spider-Man 3 but I think they spent a bit too much setting up future storylines. SPM3 just tried to cram to much in with the storyline contained in that individual film.

[Gemini Cricket]

We watched Grey Gardens with Jessica Tandy and Drew Barrymore last night. I have the urge to talk like Little Edie... "So I think this is the best report for today."
"Mother Darling."

Did they really dig up the corpse of Jessica Tandy for that movie? Uh, gross! Those bastard producers...
;) lol :D

Jessica Lange, love.

I loved Grey Gardens the movie and the doco. Little Edie rules.

[Moonliner]

As for the post-credits nugget I'm guessing that only 20% of the people there had even the faintest idea of what they were seeing (it's a set up for the Avengers movie), I know I had to explain it to Lani.

Avengers? I thought it was for Thor. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/)


Both the Moonielings missed the other reference: They had no idea what the "thing" they used to level out the minicollider was.

How the hell did that wind up in his shop anyway?

And as for the Shield Ninja Girl, is she her own comic/movie? Should I have heard of her or is she new to this telling?

[Alex]

I didn't know they had a Thor movie coming so I didn't get it completely (though I knew what it was I was seeing), but I just assume all of these movies are just to set up Avengers one way or another.

I didn't get the Captain America reference at all, but then I'm not a reader of any comic books.

[Moonliner]

Thor - 2011 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/)

Director: Kenneth Branagh - Interesting.
Natalie Portman
Anthony Hopkins
Rene Russo


Ok, I'm intrigued by this one.

[Moonliner]

I didn't know they had a Thor movie coming so I didn't get it completely (though I knew what it was I was seeing), but I just assume all of these movies are just to set up Avengers one way or another.

I didn't get the Captain America reference at all, but then I'm not a reader of any comic books.

I never got into comics much either, I think we had a discussion here some time back about how they were making individual films for each of the Avengers before making the Avengers movie.

[Gemini Cricket]

I like Kenneth Branagh as an actor but the films he directed are hot and cold to me. Loved Henry V, Dead Again and Hamlet... but the rest... not so much...

[JWBear]

"Mother Darling."

Did they really dig up the corpse of Jessica Tandy for that movie? Uh, gross! Those bastard producers...
;) lol :D

Jessica Lange, love.

I loved Grey Gardens the movie and the doco. Little Edie rules.

Oops... I typed the wrong Jessica!

[Gemini Cricket]

Oops... I typed the wrong Jessica!
I was just kidding, too. It made me laugh because I started envisioning a 'Weekend at Bernies' meets 'Driving Miss Daisy' meets 'Grey Gardens' movie.
:D

JW, did you see the original doco? It's rather good. I bought it long ago when my Barnes & Noble location had all Criterion DVDs on sale.

[JWBear]

JW, did you see the original doco? It's rather good.

We watched last year sometime.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is a phenomenal movie. Man it's good to see Gilliam return to form. He's still on about the same stuff; good and evil, the power of the narrative, the contentious line between entertainment and enlightenment, and the loss of childhood innocence (the last theme magnified here owing no doubt to the fact that this was a daddy-daughter production).

Like all Gilliam films, it once again suffers from a lack of cohesion in production value. I still adore his sense of style, but without fail he seems to over estimate his abilities to fully integrate the full variety of visual effects he tries to use. It's not that any one particular element is bad, but there are just a few points here and there that feel out of place and less polished/skillfully executed, setting them apart from an otherwise visually stunning experience.

Fortunately, like Time Bandits and Brazil and Munchausen, as long as you're on board the overall visual package and the strength of the narrative, those fleeting moments of chintz are easy to forgive.

And, to fulfill the unwritten contractual obligation entered into by anyone giving their opinion of this movie, I must of course make mention of one particular member of the cast....Verne Troyer is a horrible actor.

[mousepod]

And, to fulfill the unwritten contractual obligation entered into by anyone giving their opinion of this movie, I must of course make mention of one particular member of the cast....Verne Troyer is a horrible actor.

But it's a small role.

[Moonliner]

But it's a small role.

There are no small roles, only small actors.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

But it's a small role.Funny quip, but if only it were a small role! I felt so bad for Christopher Plummer.

It was so fun going on a Gilliam adventure again.
I'm still amazed that filling Heath Ledger's role took 3 of the hottest Hollywood heartthrobs. EVERY movie should have at least 3 incredibly suave, good-looking men. ;) I'm no Colin Farrell fan, but I guess there was something for everyone. Jude Law was practically unrecognizable - I thought he took the role of "being Ledger" quite seriously. Good on him.

[Not Afraid]

Having found our lost Netflix DVDs, we returned them and got 2 new ones! (What a concept!) We actually watched these 2 - An Education and A Serious Man.

Neither one blew my socks off, but I really enjoyed An Education. I LOVED the main character - she was a fantastic balance of smart, yet naive teen. Well played!

A Serious Man, while I didn't hate it, I is probably my least favorite Cohen Bros film yet. I had more appreciation for it after watching the extras, including and interview with the Brothers Cohen. I found myself getting repeatedly disgusted at the lead character for his passivity.


I wonder how long this round of movie watching will go? When our new BluRay player arrives, will it change? What happens when we get the monitor cord to hook up the mac to the new office TV? Will I never leave the house? It's a frightening thought.

[flippyshark]

I assume the protagonist of A Serious Man is passive as a result of this being a take on the book of Job, a fact that I'm glad I know going in, as that movie just arrived in my mailbox.

Oh, I REALLY liked the main character in An Education.

I may have been expecting too much of The Hurt Locker, but it only seemed pretty good to me. And shaky. I had to watch on the small screen.

[Strangler Lewis]

"Letters to Juliet" was fun if predictable. It was basically "French Kiss," with the twist that the presumptive romantic was the neglectful fiancee while the presumptive stiff was the European savior.

[Not Afraid]

I assume the protagonist of A Serious Man is passive as a result of this being a take on the book of Job, a fact that I'm glad I know going in, as that movie just arrived in my mailbox.

Job needs to grow some balls. ;)

[innerSpaceman]

Gemini Cricket, I'm so sorry that your husband's new movie is getting the worst reviews of, well, of the weekend that also saw Sex and the City 2 released. Wow, two awful films about the middle east. Hmmm.


I would normally see for myself before exclaiming how terrible a film is, but have you seen the reviews for these two movies? I'm gonna save myself the trouble, though I'll likely Netflix both at some point (they should be on DVD in a month or so, right?)

[Alex]

My review of Prince of Persia: Ugh (http://www.mouseplanet.com/9270/Prince_of_Persia_The_Sands_of_Time).

[innerSpaceman]

Hahaha, great final line in that review, Alex. I'm pretty sure I enjoyed that quip more than I would the actual film that inspired it.

[JWBear]

We just got back from Prince of Persia. Thoroughly enjoyable romp! Although, I may need to go see it again. I think I missed significant portions of dialogue. Mr Gyllenhaal was rather... um... distracting...

[Ghoulish Delight]

The Drawn Together Movie is even better than I'd hoped it would be. The opening had me skeptical but they delivered.

[Alex]

Because of my weekend plans fell apart it ended up being a weekend of movies:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - The first half was actually a fair amount of fun but then it devolved into boring excess and I didn't care by the time it was over.

Hai kikku gâru! - Aka High Kick Girl!. It is a thing that confuses me that the Japanese so generally suck at martial arts movies. Who'd think it would be hard for them to compete with Thailand. And this one is bad, not only because it lacks in much in the way of good choreography (and no story) but because almost every single sequence is repeated in slow motion. The movie was listed at about 75 minutes. Take out the slowmo repeats and it was probably only 17.

À bout de souffle (aka Breathless) - 50th anniversary. I watch it because it is one of those films you're supposed to acknowledge is brilliant to show off how smart you are. I don't really see it, but I like to think I'm smart so I'll pretend it is brilliant.

Shrek Forever After - Surprisingly dark movie with horrible messages. It goes all It's a Wonderful Life and shows what would have happened if Shrek had never rescued Fiona. One big flaw in that plan: the alternative seems better for both of them.

Desk Set - Love computer movies from that brief window when computers existed but the word "computer" hadn't yet quite moved from being a reference to people to being a reference to machines (in common parlance). Katharine Hepburn is the hyper efficient librarian and Spencer Tracy is inventing AI that would still stress Google's plain language search algorithms. Fluffy fluff but actually unintentionally raised some real questions about the future of librarianship that are still settling out.

Trouble Along the Way - John Wayne in a role that involves neither horses nor military uniforms. He never shoots anybody and I'm pretty sure he didn't even punch anybody. Plus he has to engage in witty fast paced dialog with Donna Reed and handled it pretty well. It is good to know that the eternal debate about why it is wrong to pay college football players was already going in 1953. Also, little Sherry Jackson (11 and tomboyish in this movie grew up to be hot (http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/uploads/ChrisHutton/2010-01-14_095330_TOS_Sherry_Jackson.jpg) in a Star Wars extra sort of way.

The Stranger - Orson Welles really was a genius. A wasted genius for the most part, but genius nonetheless.

Paper Heart - I shouldn't have liked this fake documentary but I did. It didn't really have a good way to end but everything up to that was pleasant.

Which Way Is Up? - Twice in this movie Richard Pryor is about to rape somebody. That's just the first sign of how unfunny the movie is.

Serpico - Serpico comes off as a little too angelic, but maybe that's how the real Serpico really was.

Klute - Yawn! I love Donald Sutherland, but that was painfully boring.

[Alex]

To think that my 11-year-old self could only have dreamed of one day having the opportunity of watching The Karate Kid (starring a black Ralph Macchio and Chinese Pat Morita doing kung fu) and The A-Team as a double feature in the movie theater.

Suprisingly (to me anyway) The Kung Fu Kid (as it is titled in Japan and China) has a fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes and The A-Team is above 50%. I think I know what my belated birthday present to my 11-year-old self will be.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It really is insulting that they called it The Karate Kid in America. We are not that stupid. Karate is from Japan.

[JWBear]

We just watched City Beneath the Sea (Bill had never seen it). Gotta love cheesy nostalgia.

[Alex]

It really is insulting that they called it The Karate Kid in America. We are not that stupid. Karate is from Japan.

Just got back. It is an entirely satisfactory remake. I didn't think it could work but it does.

In the movie it very clearly makes the point that kung fu is not karate. I can kind of see the choices they had to make in that while kung fu is the martial art involved, it is very much a remake and not a sequel or a spin off or inspired by the original and using the same title makes that point. But yeah, I'd have preferred a different title. But fortunately, the title is pretty much the only insulting thing about the movie.

[BarTopDancer]

Really enjoyed The A-Team and judging by the laughter throughout and applause at the end we weren't the only ones.

It was more how they become The A-Team and less solider of fortune client of the week and a great tribute to the original series.

[Betty]

Just started watching the series Mad Men on DVD. I love this show! It's got the swank and nostalgia with all the reality thrown in there too to show the not quite so pretty things that also went on (that we seem to forget sometimes when we look back.)

Brian of Mark and Brian (on the radio) has mentioned this series over and over. Now I'm totally hooked!

Could they possibly smoke more? LOL - even in dish gloves with one hand doing the dishes for goodness sake!

[3894]

À bout de souffle (aka Breathless) - 50th anniversary. I watch it because it is one of those films you're supposed to acknowledge is brilliant to show off how smart you are. I don't really see it, but I like to think I'm smart so I'll pretend it is brilliant.


Quel sacrilège, Alexandre. Next you'll be saying you don't worship the genius that is Jerry Lewis.

[Alex]

I quite enjoy some of Jerry Lewis's movies.

As for Breathless, I'm not saying it was a bad movie, it isn't. I just don't quite get what was so brilliant about it but that may just be because I've not got the proper sense of the world into which it was released. Also, as one reflection I read recently said "it doesn't hurt that it has to two of the sexiest people ever on screen" and for neither one do I find that to be the case.

[3894]

As for Breathless, I'm not saying it was a bad movie, it isn't. I just don't quite get what was so brilliant about it but that may just be because I've not got the proper sense of the world into which it was released. Also, as one reflection I read recently said "it doesn't hurt that it has to two of the sexiest people ever on screen" and for neither one do I find that to be the case.

Did you happen to catch the NY Times piece about this very thing a few weeks ago? (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/movies/23scott.html).

“Breathless” was there first. Which is to say that it was already late. Seen from its most unflattering angle, it is a thin and derivative film noir. A generic tough guy steals a car, shoots a policeman, sweet-talks a series of women, hobnobs with his underworld pals and tries to stay a step ahead of the dogged detectives on his trail. His poses and attitudes seem borrowed, arising less from any social or psychological condition or biographical facts than from a desire to be as cool as the guys in the movies.

The wonder is that he surpasses them, and that “Breathless,” quoting from so many other movies (and shuffling together cultural references that include Faulkner, Jean Renoir, Mozart and Bach as well as Hollywood movies), still feels entirely original. It still, that is, has the power to defy conventional expectations about what a movie should be while providing an utterly captivating moviegoing experience. A coherent plot, strong and credible emotions and motivations, convincing performances, visual continuity — all of these things are missing from “Breathless,” disregarded with a cavalier insouciance that feels like liberation. You are free, in other words, to revel in the beauty of Paris and Jean Seberg, the exquisite sangfroid of Jean-Paul Belmondo, and the restless velocity of Mr. Godard’s shooting style. And style, for those 90 minutes, is — to phrase it in the absolute, hyperbolic terms Mr. Godard has always favored — everything.

[Alex]

Yes, and I can accept that it was original, just not that this means it was brilliant. Being first is noteworthy but it isn't necessarily best.

Essentially, I guess I disagree with:

It still, that is, has the power to defy conventional expectations about what a movie should be while providing an utterly captivating moviegoing experience.It was a fine movie, completely watchable and entertaining. I've found the discussion of its cultural significance quite compelling and I don't disagree with any of that. I just didn't find it, when taken completely on its own as a movie, an exceptional thing.

It may have been original, but for me it no longer feels original.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Maybe I'm late to the party, but there's a documentary about Winnebago Man (http://winnebagoman.com/).
Language makes this NSFW.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Really enjoyed The A-Team and judging by the laughter throughout and applause at the end we weren't the only ones.

It was more how they become The A-Team and less solider of fortune client of the week and a great tribute to the original series.

Cool! I like that idea!

We just saw "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs" - cute! Neil Patrick Harris as Steve the monkey- brilliant!!! :)

[Alex]

The A-Team is seriously flawed but in the end I was mostly won over. It had the right tone and just went to the ridiculous with no sense of shame. Decent actors helped.

[BarTopDancer]

Well, they do specialize in the ridiculous.

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards buying it. The DVD will probably be cheaper than going to see it in the theater again too.

[Snowflake]

Has anyone seen anything of Chomet's L'Illusionniste? Here's a youtube video for a Russian trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AvTLaWWu0).


Roger Ebert wrote about it here (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100514/JOURNAL/100519981/-1/COMMENTARY). In response, Jacques Tati's Grandson sent Ebert this letter (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100602/LETTERS/100609998) and the producers responded here (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100608/LETTERS/100609982/-1/letters).

Here's another youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Vbru4psfVbA&feature=related) with an interview with Chomet and some gorgeous animation.

It looks LOVELY and I want to see it.

[mousepod]

I could have posted this in youtubery. It's NSFW, but just because of language (but you can't watch it with the sound off). I had my headphones plugged into my computer as I watched this, trying to pretend to work. I laughed out loud and blew my cover. Good luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6He6oxKMdV8

[Gemini Cricket]

Bill Goodykoontz (http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/movies/articles/2010/06/23/20100623grown-ups.html) on the movie Grown Ups:
It's like The Big Chill made by morons.lol!
:D

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Tiffany and Debbie Gibson to co-star in Syfy original movie Mega Python vs. Gatoroid (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ieb17ddd24af6bab65579b8befb6798ce)

[Ghoulish Delight]

In honor of its 30th anniversary, a quiz about Airplane! (http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=1008&p=1)

I got a somewhat shameful 6/11 :(

[SzczerbiakManiac]

In honor of its 30th anniversary, a quiz about Airplane! (http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php#quizDesc)All I get is "No quiz or category ID passed" :(

[Ghoulish Delight]

d'oh...one second.

ETA: ok, link fixed

[Snowflake]

Try this linkage for the Airplane quiz (http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=1008)

[JWBear]

8 out of 11

[Cadaverous Pallor]

10 out of 11! :D

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Shenanigans!
9 out of 11
I missed #2 because they didn' get a name right. It's Macho Grande, not Rio Grande. I figured I'd miss #5.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Shenanigans!
9 out of 11
I missed #2 because they didn' get a name right. It's Macho Grande, not Rio Grande. I figured I'd miss #5.
Macho Grande isn't the right answer anyway.

[Alex]

I got five out of 11 and I've never seen the movie in its entirety.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Macho Grande isn't the right answer anyway.I know, but since Rio Grande isn't the right answer either, I chose it and got the question wrong.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Whaaaaaa? So you're calling shenanigans because you chose the answer that you knew was wrong, and therefor got the question wrong?

[Capt Jack]

9 of 11.

missed: macho/rio (wft ever), jive translation

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I know, but since Rio Grande isn't the right answer either, I chose it and got the question wrong.

Whaaaaaa? So you're calling shenanigans because you chose the answer that you knew was wrong, and therefor got the question wrong?I think SM was confused - most of the questions were "which of these is incorrect", but that one wasn't one of those questions.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I saw two answers that I was certain did contribute to his drinking problem, so those were dismissed.

Of the remaining two options, one I was not certain of and the other—the "Rio" Grande answer—looked wrong because of the incorrect name. Some quiz authors will craft similar sounding answers in an effort to trick the test-taker. This was only the second question, so I had no way of knowing how tough the composers were going to make this quiz. Since I was iffy about the other, I chose the Rio Grande response because I knew at least part of that answer was wrong.

Had they correctly identified it as Macho Grande, I would have known that was indeed a factor which contributed to his drinking problem and the other response—the one I was not sure about—would have been left as the only possibility and I would have gotten that question right.

Ergo, the misidentifying of the location name directly contributed to my getting that question wrong, hence my call of "shenanigans".

I'm not mad, I'm not going to lose any sleep over this, and my shenanigans comment was meant to be taken lightly. Next time I'll try to communicate that more clearly.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I knew you weren't mad and weren't serious about the shenanigans, I just couldn't figure out why you purposely chose an answer you knew to be wrong. Now I see that you read the question wrong. It wasn't a "which one didn't contribute to his drinking problem?" It was, "Which one did he say 'as much as anything else' contributed to his drinking problem?"

[Gemini Cricket]

8 out of 10.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I saw two answers that I was certain did contribute to his drinking problem, so those were dismissed.Yeah, you're still confused. You're supposed to pick the correct answer. Plus, you're supposed to pick what he specifically said "as much as anything else" contributed to his drinking problem.

I dug up the script (http://www.awesomefilm.com/script/airplane.txt).

Striker : A lot of people made plans before the war . . .like George Zip. It was at that moment that I
first realized Elaine had doubts about our
relationship. And that as much as anything else
led to my drinking problem ( He pours his drink
on himself.)
So that was the correct answer, Elaine's doubts.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

<heavy sigh>
must learn how to read....

[Ghoulish Delight]

<heavy sigh>
must learn how to read....
I have a light pamphlet you can start with...

[Gemini Cricket]

Excuse me, Ghoulish Delight, I speak SzczerbiakManiacese.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

You're telling me there was never a thread on Alice?? MMM thread, we have a love/hate relationship for sure. :p I'll go back and read your posts in a minute.

SPOILERS, of course, it's an old film already, and I'm not using tags.



I loved the whole beginning and a good third of the Wonderland part, but then it lost me. The affronts piled up and the comparisons to Harry Potter and LoTR piled up and the seriousness piled up and the fun leaked out the bottom.

Quick rants:

Mad Hatter as love interest, Scottish warrior? No thanks.

Story entirely too straightforward and fate-laden. I know Carroll included fated requirements of Alice but nothing as huge as this. I think they were going for the storybook fate concept, as in Humpty Dumpty having to fall off the wall, etc, but it just didn't read that way. The desperation of the characters was depressing and the demands of Alice didn't feel like destiny. I got extra mad when the White Queen said it was "her choice", riiight.

Hard to understand even harder to remember names made up for the characters, as well as similarly lame place names - wtf?

Recharacterization of White Queen and especially the Dormouse as Reepicheep, wtf?

Effects made me feel like I could see the green screen, though that may be the actress' fault.

I swear, I was totally on board for the longest time but it totally lost me.

Ok, yeah, enough.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm torn.

On the one hand, there were major flaws. The fact that it was a linear narrative was a major negative, and on top of that the narrative itself was not good. Heavy handed, self important, and generally uninteresting.

That said, I thought there were genuinely good things about this movie, things that made me like it more than any Burton movie in a long long time. While the specific tale that was told I could do without, I liked a lot of the underlying structure it happened in. I was surprised at how on board I was with delving into the Hatter's madness, and with the geo-political bent on Wonderland. There were moments in there, like when the Hatter saw the nose fall off and noticed everyone else's fakery, that were really really good. Unfortunately, it all got taken too far, too ham-fisted, too grandiose.

Where this movie succeeded, it succeeded because it was ambitious. Unlike most of Burton's recent crap, he seemed to be TRYING to add something new. Hatter as leader of underground rebellion was far more of a creative leap than anything in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. The result was flawed, and the bulk of the plot was largely not ambitious. But anything truly ambitious is bound to be flawed as the idea is to reach beyond what is obvious.

That's not to say I thought it was a good movie. It's flaws were many, and unforgivable. I had forgotten about the talk of the dance at the end. Holy crap, atrocious. Just to name the worst.

So sadly, even Burton's best effort in over a decade...is still a pretty big disappointment, with some vague glimmers of good.

[Snowflake]

Netflix is bringing me two movies I've never seen. Easy Rider and The Blue Max.

[JWBear]

We just saw Despicable Me. Cute.

Seeing it in a theater with 20 million screaming kids? Not so cute.

[Strangler Lewis]

We just saw Despicable Me. Cute.

Seeing it in a theater with 20 million screaming kids? Not so cute.

By the same token, pity all the little kids who try to enjoy a pleasant Halloween in the Castro and wind up rolling their eyes endlessly at all the public displays of adult sexuality.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

That was a curious transition....

[Alex]

Saw Cyrus yesterday. I put it in the category of "great acting in support of a movie that has no particular reason to exist."

In a way it reminds me of the play Tony and Tina's Wedding. I feel that play perfectly captures the experience of attending the wedding of people you barely know and being assigned seating with people you don't know at all and who aren't interesting in meeting you.

So it accomplished that beautifully. I just can't understand why anybody would want to accomplish that.

Same with Cyrus. It is a well performed situation drama that stays squarely within the scope of reality and avoids any excess at all. And at the end I was stuck with a feeling of "yeah...I don't care."

[Gemini Cricket]

I had no idea there was a movie adaptation of "Tony & Tina's Wedding". Interesting. Manoa Valley Theatre is doing that one for their end of the season show. Hmmm....

[Alex]

Sorry, didn't mean there was a movie version of the play. I was just using the play as an example of something that realistically puts you in the middle of something that you can't understand wanting to be in the middle of.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sorry, didn't mean there was a movie version of the play. I was just using the play as an example of something that realistically puts you in the middle of something that you can't understand wanting to be in the middle of.
My bad. I didn't read your post right. I did some research and found it on imdb. Apparently, it's really awful.

[Alex]

Has anybody done any Salt and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory mashups? Because I really have spend most of the marketing onslaught thinking to myself it would be good if the answer to "Who is Salt?" is "Veruca Salt, all growed up."

She even looks just like Angelina Jolie:

(pic related, it's Anjelina Jolie dressed up in a "Growed Up Veruca Salt" outfit)
http://moviemikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/juliedawncole.jpg

[3894]

"Bride Wars" with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson is a lot funnier than you'd think.

[Alex]

Saw two quality movies this weekend.

Inception - It starts slow and I'll be able to understand why some people really won't like it, but it worked for me. Perhaps the most successful filming of a Philip K. Dick novel to date except that it isn't based on a Philip K. Dick novel. It hangs together rather well with complex levels and doesn't feel the need to explain every little detail (though it does need to set things up with is why it started slow). Good performances but not particularly deep characters.

Winter Bones - The other end of the Hollywood magic spectrum. A small movie with great performances. A mob movie in the Ozarks. I strongly recommend you go out and see this one because it is one of those small distribution movies you'll otherwise forget to ever watch otherwise.

[MouseWife]

Loved Inception. It did start a bit slow, but, yes, it did set the groundwork.

Oooo, down the road it will be nice to discuss this movie. No spoilers now, though.

[CoasterMatt]

Of course, the porn version will be "Conception"

[MouseWife]

ha ha

[Ghoulish Delight]

Things you never considered from Back to the Future (http://www.cracked.com/video_18203_why-back-to-future-secretly-horrifying.html)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Avatar and Aliens are the same movie (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/aliens_avatar)

[innerSpaceman]

Loved Inception. Really capped a Bonita Effect weekend with some wonderful concepts and inspired great conversation afterwards, and contemplation that continues through today.

[MouseWife]

Yes! Long after the movie ended I would pop down to my sons room 'And what do you think about this....'

Great movie.

I finally saw Avatar. Nu uh. Not the same movie. I can't watch a lot of the scenes in Alien.

[Alex]

I'm trying to figure out this line from an early review (http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135915) of The Expendables:

They are, however, “getting too old for this ****”. Clive James once described Arnie as looking like “a condom filled with walnuts” — now it’s the other way round.

The only way I can figure to read that is as saying that Arnie now looks like a walnut filled with condoms, which I think would just look like a walnut. In other words, rhetorical nonsense. Is there another way of interpreting that line I'm missing?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ummmm....now Arnie thinks Clive James looks like a condom filled with walnuts?

[Strangler Lewis]

We just saw Despicable Me. Cute.

Seeing it in a theater with 20 million screaming kids? Not so cute.

Having now seen the movie, I know why the kids were screaming.

[Not Afraid]

Not a movie, but we were feeling like slugs last night and streamed the first 2 episodes of The Tudors. I'm liking it and wish I had more time to be a slug!

[Melonballer]

Just watched the trailer for Sucker Punch.

If the movie is just 2 hours of Burlesque Ninja Commandos vs Dragons, Cyborgs Nazis and Samurai with gatling guns, it will probably still be the funnest thing I have seen in a while.

Sucker Punch (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/suckerpunch/)

[Alex]

Those who've seen Inception might find this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVkQ0C4qDvM) interesting (it's about the music and score).

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, that was cool. LSPE tweeted it yesterday.

I saw Inception again over the weekend, only to discover I didn't really miss anything the first time - even though I thought I had. I still like it a whole lot, though I never really connect with the characters on an emotional level (I think it's going to be a cold day in hell when Leo DiCaprio sells me on a performance).

That connection is not a necessary thing for me to like the film, though it's a component of most other films I like. This one's just so wonderful in so many ways. Oh, and even after seeing it a second time, and though many people beg to differ ...

I'm convinced there's not a single moment of non-dream in the entire film. It doesn't matter whether the spinning totem falls or not after the cut-to-black at the end of the film; it's shown falling a couple of other times in what I believe are dream sequences.

Most of the "real world" stuff has the same crazy physical logic of the dreams. And at least one important plot point only makes sense if everything's a dream, i.e., why Cobb can't see his kids - which is his entire motivation and drives him to extremes. I note it doesn't drive him to buy two tickets for them to come to Paris, which would be perfectly reasonable in the real world if this was his real problem. It's only in dreams that obstacles have only one solution that makes no real sense.

Anyway, I prefer that interpretation to giant, gaping plot hole in a film that took 10 years to make. So I'm sticking with it.


[MODERATOR NOTE]: You may rejoin this discussion, already in progress, in The "Inception" Thread (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?t=10683)

[mousepod]

All of this talk about Inception has prompted me to pull out a Videodrome and Existenz. Anyone wanna watch em with me (sometime before Sunday night)?

[innerSpaceman]

Hahah, um, what's Existenz?

[CoasterMatt]

I wanna watch Videodrome!

[mousepod]

Existenz trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAdbdUt_h9M&feature=related) (a little spoilery)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hahah, um, what's Existenz?
Why it's a male enhancement pill invented by Nietzsche of course.

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, I stopped the Existenz trailer half-way thru, once i determined that I REALLY WANNA SEE IT.





when?

[mousepod]

Have to check with Mrs. Mousepod, but I'm thinking Friday evening (not too late).

[flippyshark]

Videodrome and Existenz make a great thematic double feature, and by now, I can't help thinking in this age of Tweeting and Facebooking that Cronenberg could make a trilogy of it. (Just the name Facebook seems to invite a gory Cronenbergian visual pun.)

[mousepod]

It's on. Existenz. Friday evening. 7-ish. We'll have popcorn and soda. Please RSVP - seating is limited.

[innerSpaceman]

Can I rsvp tomorrow? I wants to be there, but I have to move some things around.

[mousepod]

Can I rsvp tomorrow? I wants to be there, but I have to move some things around.

Of course. I just want to get an idea of how many (or few) people to expect.

[innerSpaceman]

Um, I don't want you to go to any bother if it's just going to be me. I can always Netflix it.

[mousepod]

no bother. We're gonna watch 'em no matter what. not expecting a big crowd, but it'll be fun. (did you listen to that song yet?)

[innerSpaceman]

No, I can't listen at work. I'd be SO busted. When I get home.


If I'm coming lone guy tomorrow night, what should I bring?

[mousepod]

No, I can't listen at work. I'd be SO busted. When I get home.


If I'm coming lone guy tomorrow night, what should I bring?

Gold. When the apocalypse comes, it's the only currency that'll still be good.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The score for Tron Legacy, by Daft Punk, has been leaked (http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Daft-Punk-s-Tron-Legacy-Score-Leaked-Online-19901.html)

LOVE what I'm hearing. No idea if that reflects on the quality of the film at all, but at the very least I'm interested in the soundtrack.

[Alex]

I'm kind of getting excited. But I also really don't care for the CGI youthification of Jeff Bridges. It'll probably work since it is a complete fantasy world and so looking artificial isn't necessarily a problem.

But I still think it looks awful.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Now I want to see it just for the soundtrack.

[cirquelover]

I know Seven Pounds was thoroughly reviled last year but for me it was one of the best movies of 2008. But I recognize I'm almost completely alone in that.

A big difference seems to be that a lot of people who hated it thought the movie was presenting Will Smith as noble whereas I thought it was presenting derangement taken to logical excess. Plus I thought Rosario Dawson was very good in it.

I have it in my Netflix que, someday I'll get to it.

I finally watched Seven Pounds last night! After searching here, I see that Alex and I were the only ones who enjoyed it. I concur with your assessment that it was derangement taken to the logical excess. Thank you Alex for always helping me translate what my brain is thinking. That must be why I always love your movie critiques!

I thought it was funny,touching, sad,intriguing and a well put together emotional roller coaster ride.

I already erased it from my que because i don't think Gary would like it or that the kid would understand it but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

[innerSpaceman]

Hey mousepod, is seating still limited? :p

[Prudence]

I wanna know when Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is screening at Casa Chihuahua. :P

[Cynthia]

Oh crapus! I just read this, we would have loved to come!
errr:mad:

[mousepod]

The planned eXistenZ/Videodrome double feature instead became an eXistenZ/Polanski's 'The Tenant' double feature. It was a splendid evening, enhanced by the Voodoo Donuts Heather brought back from her day trip to Portland.

There'll be another movie night very soon.

(Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was just announced for a blu ray release. Should we wait?)

[innerSpaceman]

Yes, absolutely. It will seem more like some minor-key event.



I was really sleepy during The Tenant, but - as promised - it was really fuctup.

[flippyshark]

(Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was just announced for a blu ray release. Should we wait?)

My most recent copy of this is the widescreen laserdisc. I see that a recent special edition DVD also has a widescreen option (this movie was pan n' scan only on DVD for a long time), but mostly uninspired extras. Will the Blu-ray have anything new content-wise?

I'm kind of a sucker for these overlong expensive roadshow musicals. CCBB is leisurely, to say the least, but it's beautiful to look at, and there's a decent chance I'll snag the Blu-ray myself. Heck, I'd pick up remastered Blu-rays of Dr. Doolittle, Paint Your Wagon, Song of Norway and Lost Horizon if they showed up. It would be a marathon of pity, but I'd enjoy it.

[innerSpaceman]

My last copy of CCBB is also the laserdisc. I might pick up the blu-ray, but watch it only once! If mousepod has a viewing, I think I'll content myself with that.

LOVE THIS MOVIE. I really dig the songs and the camp and everything about it. But, ya know, it's not a very good film. And I have the urge to watch it only once every five years, and feel the need to fulfill the urge only once every ten.

[Prudence]

Then I think we should have a screening of The Great Race in the meantime. I'll bring pie.

[Ghoulish Delight]

We watched Observe and Report.

Meh. Seth Rogen gave a good performance, but the movie failed to sell me. There was a total disconnect between its earnestness and its absurdity. And the overall tone and delivery came off way too flat for the ridiculousness of the content. It needed to either give in to the absurd, or dwell in the dark humor, can't decide which I'd have preferred, but I do know that the middle ground it occupied did not work for me.

[JWBear]

Then I think we should have a screening of The Great Race in the meantime. I'll bring pie.

Oooo!!!!! Love that movie!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Push the button, Max! Maaaaaaaax!

[Alex]

Enjoyed The Kids are All Right quite a bit.

[wendybeth]

Enjoyed The Kids are All Right quite a bit.

We wanted to see that last week, but it's already out of the theaters here. :(

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Watched HEAT for the first time. Was really nice remembering how good De Niro can be, and how on his game Michael Mann can be.

[Prudence]

Salt was predictably lame. Fortunately we used gift passes to see it so I don't feel too bad about it. Action was ok, but Salt doesn't really seem to care about her husband, so her motivations are a mystery. Also, ending went too far into improbability for me.

[Alex]

Would you be willing to expand more on Salt not caring about her husband?

Since how much she cared for him was the driving force behind what she did through the whole movie in not killing the Russian president, killing all the other spies, and then preventing the missiles from being launched.

She didn't react visibly when he was killed, but that was because she couldn't since killing him in front of her was a test of her loyalty.

[Prudence]

Would you be willing to expand more on Salt not caring about her husband?

Since how much she cared for him was the driving force behind what she did through the whole movie in not killing the Russian president, killing all the other spies, and then preventing the missiles from being launched.

She didn't react visibly when he was killed, but that was because she couldn't since killing him in front of her was a test of her loyalty.


I didn't see much connection between them to justify her great efforts.

[Alex]

They didn't spend a lot of time on it but when he rescued her from North Korea she actually fell in love with him. That love is the only reason she went home after escaping the CIA office. When she learned he'd already been taken she knew she had no choice but to appear to follow through with the plan until she could get to him and when that failed everything else was revenge.

Not a lot of time was spent on it, but it seemed much more of a clear motivation that most revenge summer action movies bother with instead just starting with the murder of the wife/girlfriend/daughter and moving on from there.

[Prudence]

I would rather not see the relationship and so imagine it to be earth-moving than see what appears to be a tepid relationship and wonder why it was so motivating. There was no chemistry between them that I could see. If there isn't time to demonstrate a connection, then just allude to his contributions to securing her freedom and let me imagine how their romance might have played out.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Last night I watched THE LADY EVE. I now want to see every movie that stars Barbara Stanwyck, but I can't rate the film that highly. The dialogue is clever and charming for the most part, but the premise doesn't really hold up and I found it hard to care for Henry Fonda's character or their romance.

[Alex]

Barbara Stanwyck was the only thing I didn't like about The Lady Eve. Hers is a successful career I've never understood.

[Cynthia]

I don't think I have seen that one yet and here I thought I had see every movie older than I am made in America . . .

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Barbara Stanwyck was the only thing I didn't like about The Lady Eve. Hers is a successful career I've never understood.

Interesting. I thought her performance was unusually contemporary and understated. I always like Fonda; I just didn't care for his character.

[mousepod]

Double freakin' Indemnity!

[Snowflake]

Double freakin' Indemnity!

I second Double Freakin Indemnity and add Baby Face!

[Not Afraid]

I'm a big Preston Sturges fan and really liked The Lady Eve. He always wrote such good banter.

[Alex]

I love Double Indemnity very much, but still am of the opinion that it would have been even better with someone other than Barbara Stanwyck.

It is the best performance form her that I've seen but it still isn't all that great (in my opinion, of course, obviously a lot of people disagree with me).

[Strangler Lewis]

When I think of Barbra Stanwyck, I think of someone with an immobile face and body speaking through slightly clenched teeth with minimal inflection. She's not my favorite.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

References to Inception are seeping out everywhere, so I guess it's the thing to see. Looks like we're going to skip a fancy anniversary dinner to play pop culture catch up.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Blame it on my Jason Batemon love, but I want to see THE SWITCH.

[JWBear]

When I think of Barbra Stanwyck, I think of someone with an immobile face and body speaking through slightly clenched teeth with minimal inflection. She's not my favorite.

That certainly doesn't call to mind the Stanwyck I'm familiar with.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I can't think of a more striking and succinct demonstration of the gratuitousness and lack of subtlety that makes the Star Wars prequels so inferior to the original trilogy than this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ey3g6BmuTI&feature=player_embedded).

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I can't think of a more striking and succinct demonstration of the gratuitousness and lack of subtlety that makes the Star Wars prequels so inferior to the original trilogy than this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ey3g6BmuTI&feature=player_embedded).

GAH! I had to stop watching. It was becoming strobe-like!

[Snowflake]

In limited release, just got tickets for The Wildest Dream (http://www.thewildestdream.com/) for Monday after work. :D

Not everyone's movie of choice, I've long been fascinated by this tale and loved the bio of Mallory (http://www.amazon.com/Wildest-Dream-Biography-George-Mallory/dp/089886741X) of the same name.

Besides, I'm so terribly shallow, Alan Rickman is one of the voice-overs. Therefore, it is a must see (hear) for me.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

In limited release, just got tickets for The Wildest Dream (http://www.thewildestdream.com/) for Monday after work. :D

Not everyone's movie of choice, I've long been fascinated by this tale and loved the bio of Mallory (http://www.amazon.com/Wildest-Dream-Biography-George-Mallory/dp/089886741X) of the same name.

Besides, I'm so terribly shallow, Alan Rickman is one of the voice-overs. Therefore, it is a must see (hear) for me.

That looks very interesting.

[Strangler Lewis]

I can't think of a more striking and succinct demonstration of the gratuitousness and lack of subtlety that makes the Star Wars prequels so inferior to the original trilogy than this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ey3g6BmuTI&feature=player_embedded).

And let us praise the restraint exercised in not giving the Ewoks light sabers, lest they become unsubtle.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Saw THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT last night and was very happy to find myself watching a brief period of time in a family's life, a family that just happened to be unconventional. After seeing it, I think the film's title was clearly written to say, "This is a family portrait. This is not going to be a movie about kids struggling with their lesbian parents in a world that doesn't want lesbians raising children." And it's a very good family portrait, at that. It's not overly dramatic, doesn't sentimentalize, and doesn't fixate too much on circumstances that would be handled with the subtlety of an after-school special by other filmmakers.

Characters were incredibly well defined and I was hugely impressed with both Mia Wasikowska (who was stellar in the unstellar IN TREATMENT series, and who was kind of terrible in ALICE IN WONDERLAND) and Mark Ruffalo (some of his best and funniest work, I think).

After her parents drop her off at college, there are scenes where Joni wants a moment alone to herself before she says goodbye to her family and watches them with a trembling jaw as they drive away. I can't think of another moment in a movie where a person has better conveyed the mixed emotions you feel when you leave a family you love for the first time and feel simultaneously liberated and abandoned. She captured all of its heartbreak, terror, and excitement.

Bening and Moore were great, and each have two scenes in which they really standout. But expecting to be mostly impressed by their performances, I was surprised to be blown away by the other two.

[innerSpaceman]

I watched Monsters vs. Aliens last night on a whim, and was glad I did. Pleasantly surprised by how funny and delightful it was.


Toy Story 3 was amazing, and I loved it. But I've been consistently surprised and pleased with this year's offerings by the "lesser" animation studios - with How to Train Your Dragon, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and now Monsters vs. Aliens.

It's true I haven't seen all that many live-actioners this year, but it's seeming to me that the animateds are more consistently good.



Oh, and I loathed once-tops Disney's entry into the market. The Princess and the Frog was horrible (imo).

[innerSpaceman]

BTW, the sound of Insectosaurus's roar in Monsters vs. Aliens is the best sound I've heard in movies in decades!

[Alex]

It needs to be pointed out that I gave Lani a choice of three movies and she is the one that picked The Expendables.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

What were the other two options?

[Gemini Cricket]

What were the other two options?
Cats & Dogs the Revenge of Kitty Galore and Step Up 3D.

[Alex]

Scott Pilgrim and The Other Guys. Choices were limited to the remotely acceptable (and unseen) options at the multiplex across the street.

If I'd felt like going farther afield The Girl who Played with Fire and Animal Kingdom would have been on the list.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'd definitely choose Scott Pilgrim of those but I'd see the Expendables given the right mood.

[MouseWife]

I may see 'The Expendables', I think the Hubster would like it.

We saw 'The Other Guys'. The Hubster fell asleep. He said the most funny parts were shown in the previews. That's all I'll say. But, if anyone else has seen it, what I thought was of real value was after the end credits. They posted a lot of numbers/facts about big corporations, banks, incomes, what people have lost in the stock market. I didn't see that coming.

Anyone know about this? I tried to read it all.

[Ghoulish Delight]

On recommendation from NY Times critic A.O. Scott we watched Dead Man. Ostensibly a black and white western directed by Jim Jaramusch, starring Johnny Depp (in 1995, before he had a British accent!). But really it's an allegorical journey of death. It's simultaneously completely grounded, and totally other worldly, helped in no small part by Neil Young's score.

[flippyshark]

I forgot about Dead Man. Going immediately into my queue.

[Ghoulish Delight]

AO Scott hasn't steered us wrong yet. We follow his "Critics' Picks" podcasts and are usually in total agreement with his take on films.

[innerSpaceman]

Dead Man is a rad, if bizarre, movie.

[Ghoulish Delight]

What's great about it is that, other than perhaps the train scene, there's nothing that happens that you can point to as "weird" or "trippy", yet the whole thing feels like a psychedelic trip.

[Gemini Cricket]

I watched The Ring for the first time this weekend. I thought it was pretty good. I prefer Ringu but the remake has some good moments.

[lashbear]

Not going to read all 600+ posts, but I am watching mr Magorians Wonder Emporioum, and I think that Dustin Hoffman is channeling Ed Wynn.

[lashbear]

On finishing the movie I discover yet again that I enjoy being shamelessly manipulated emotionally by movies.
http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac232/drdoolittle/Icons%20Animated/Smilies/AnimatedGIF-CryingSmiley.gif

[flippyshark]

I watched that on the flight to Tokyo a couple years back, and approached it in full Scrooge mode, thinking "I am not going to be sucked into this" and ended up crying like a baby. I scarcely remember it now, though.

[Snowflake]

I finally got around to watching The Last Station. I'm truly sorry I did not see this on the big screen. Cinematography was absolutely glorious. Both Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer gave wonderful performances. :snap:

[mousepod]

I enjoyed it as well. I saw it on the "big screen" in a multiplex in Los Feliz. The screen was around the size of my tv.

[Snowflake]

I enjoyed it as well. I saw it on the "big screen" in a multiplex in Los Feliz. The screen was around the size of my tv.

[green with envy]MP TV[/green with envy]

[mousepod]

I wasn't bragging... I was complaining about the teeny screen in the theater. The movie itself was well worth the price of admission though.

[Snowflake]

I wasn't bragging... I was complaining about the teeny screen in the theater. The movie itself was well worth the price of admission though.

Oh, sorry was not making myself clear. I got the complaint, but still envious that your TV is as big (or bigger) than the screen in a multiplex. :)

Still pretty large to me and I'd love to see this movie on a nice true widescreen (Cinerama Dome kind of screen)

[Moonliner]

Oh, sorry was not making myself clear. I got the complaint, but still envious that your TV is as big (or bigger) than the screen in a multiplex. :)

Still pretty large to me and I'd love to see this movie on a nice true widescreen (Cinerama Dome kind of screen)

Wait we are still talking about TV's right?

[katiesue]

We just got Beauty and the Beast bluray. We watched the DVD just a couple of days ago. Wow what an incredible difference, the bluray rocks!

[innerSpaceman]

I was very happy to learn the blu-ray is framed in the Original El Cap Theatrical Release aspect ration of 1.77:1, unlike the previous DVD release (which was in the 1.85:1 shown at many other theaters). I will be buying this.

[JWBear]

We watched the Russell Crowe Robin Hood tonight...

I have to thank the Jewish People for coming-up with the only phrase that can adequately describe my reaction.

"Oy vey."

(A distant second place would be "God! That stunk!")

[Gemini Cricket]

If this (http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/22/martin-freeman-of-the-office-to-play-bilbo-baggins-in-hobbit-film/) is true, I'll be really optimistic about The Hobbit.

[flippyshark]

If this (http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/22/martin-freeman-of-the-office-to-play-bilbo-baggins-in-hobbit-film/) is true, I'll be really optimistic about The Hobbit.

He'd be excellent. Oh dear, I'm going to be nerving out big time if this gets going soon. (I'd move to New Zealand if I thought I could get a walk- on.)

[Alex]

But Jackson is directing now so any interest is dead until people I trust see it and tell me otherwise.

[lashbear]

OMG OMG OMG Saw 3D (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQZIJr6z2g)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flippyshark]

OMG OMG OMG Saw 3D (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVQZIJr6z2g)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Saw what?"

Saw 3D!

"I know it was in 3D, but what did you see?"

"Saw."

I know, you saw it. What was it?

"Saw 3D"

(repeat until exhausted)

[Not Afraid]

I Saw 3D Charles Phoenix show last night.

[Gn2Dlnd]

You saw Last night? Last Night of Ballyhoo? You saw Last Night of Ballyhoo in Phoenix? In 3D?

My, what they won't think of. Live theater in 3D. I suppose you don't need glasses. That'd be an improvement.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Who's Charles?

[lashbear]

"Saw what?"

Saw 3D!

"I know it was in 3D, but what did you see?"

"Saw."

I know, you saw it. What was it?

"Saw 3D"

(repeat until exhausted)

Heard of Cows ?

[lashbear]

Who's Charles?
He's the guy in charge.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Heard of Cows ?

Sure I've heard of cows, but what do you call that bunch of 'em, all standing over there in that field?

[JWBear]

A sh!tload?

[Moonliner]

I ran across this today: Movie theaters that watch you (http://gizmodo.com/5680633/get-ready-for-movie-theaters-that-watch-you).

Movie theaters are already watching you; in an effort to curb piracy, many theaters have systems that pinpoint camcorder-wielding patrons. But the next generation of those systems will be watching for something else entirely: how much you're enjoying the movie.

Aralia Systems, producer of one of the popular anti-piracy solutions, has received a grant for roughly $350,000 to develop a system that will watch moviegoers and analyze how they're reacting to what they're seeing on the big screen. Basically heavy-duty analytics for the film industry.

In soviet America theaters watch you.

[Ghoulish Delight]

When will they adapt the technology to recognize someone using a cell phone and aim a precision microwave beam to disable it?

[mousepod]

Cell phone jammers have existed for years - the problem is with the legality of theaters to use them. I think theaters in France used them a couple of years ago, but there was an outcry over 'emergency use'.

[katiesue]

Can't they go back to the good ole system of ushers. Who actually tell people to shut up, take their feet off the backs of the chairs and not talk and or text? And then if no listened the person is escorted out? I've seen people ask, and I've asked the usher/manager for help before and been told there is nothing they can do.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Cell phone jammers have existed for years - the problem is with the legality of theaters to use them. I think theaters in France used them a couple of years ago, but there was an outcry over 'emergency use'.
Fine, I'll settle for those military focused heat rays that make a person feel like their skin is burning.

[cirquelover]

I watched the movie Untinkable last night, from my Nteflix que. At first it was a very intriguing movie, if a little brutal for my tastes. I actually started to enjoy the ride but then it all came crashing down. I actually hated all the characters by the end and the end just left you hanging there. Arghhh, that was a frustrating movie!!

[Moonliner]

During the Macy's Thanksgiving parade today I saw a preview for the Yogi Bear Movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hiJ2dbpRY0).


Anyone want to take bets on how many Razzies this one walks off with? I'm guessing four nominations and two wins unless they have a category for worst use of 3D in which case I'll up it to three wins.

[Alex]

Oh my. They made a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots movie. The world can now end complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAhQA5gT62w&feature=player_embedded

And it's Touchstone so I'll be required to see it.

[innerSpaceman]

oh, i never mentioned that i saw Tangled a while back, and thoroughly loved it.

The songs weren't exactly top drawer, but it was a completely enjoyable Disney fairytale - the first done in CGI, and it looked beautiful. Not only that - I had to see it in 3-D (the only showtime that worked for me), and I was surprised and delighted to find one sequence in particular that was beyond gorgeous and stunning in that overused gimmicky format.

A very worthy addition to the canon, imo. I wish they'd kept the original title. The Shrekishness implied by the name change simply wasn't there. (whew)

[Alex]

Ok, this version of the Yogi Bear movie intrigues me. I might be willing to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6w0r-ScEG4&feature=player_embedded#!

[Prudence]

Is there an organized Tron2 outing? No?

We saw Tangled this past weekend. Much better than the last one.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I can't find any word about a US release at all, only a UK release in March, but there is a movie out in Japan based on Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood. And it's been well received so far. I intend to find a way to see it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

You know, if there's one thing I always here people say about 2001: A Space Odyssey it's Damnit, why can't this movie be longer?! (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/12/17/lost-footage-from-20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing))

[innerSpaceman]

Love this tale of opening day from a commenter to the link in the post above:

I'm one of the few living geezers who actually saw the full version — on 2001's opening day in New York, which, as I'll never forget, was April 4th, 1968. I saw it again shortly after the cuts were made. They were obvious — and to me, at least, not an improvement.

The first time HAL opens the pod bay doors, and the pod launches, we see the whole sequence in what seems like real time — very slow and stately. In the original cut, the subsequent pod scenes were handled the same way. I'm sure the repetition got a lot of criticism, and made that an easy target for cutting. I thought it was audacious and brilliant, and that it added to the suspense and tragedy when Dave goes out to rescue Frank's body, and has to deal with the same slow procedure.

Other cuts were not so obvious, though HAL's cutting of Frank's radio was another one that would have been better left in.

Getting back to 1968: I left the theatre in the psychedelic trance that 2001 (especially on the big screen) can invoke... Walked out into Times Square, and felt like I was in a dream state — it was eerily silent, shockingly different from the usual bustle of voices and cars. Down into the subway, also weirdly still. Then I saw somebody's copy of the New York Post, with a giant black EXTRA headline. Martin Luther King had just been shot in Memphis, and the news had broken during the couple of hours I was in space.

[flippyshark]

You know, if there's one thing I always here people say about 2001: A Space Odyssey it's Damnit, why can't this movie be longer?! (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/12/17/lost-footage-from-20.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing))

I know you're being sarcastic, but I am that guy. I've long despaired of seeing that footage, and I'm ecstatic at this news!

[innerSpaceman]

Well, don't be too excited. The footage has been found, and in reportedly pristine condition - but there's no plans for you to be able to see it - in fact, the documentary in the works that might have featured some or all of it has been cancelled. So, for now at least, it might as well still be buried in the salt mine.

I hope there's a way to see it someday.

[€uroMeinke]

The Tron remake they should have made:

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldfqy0kR9I1qz6f9yo1_500.jpg

[BarTopDancer]

I thoroughly enjoyed Tron.: Legacy. It's visually stunning, Jeff Bridges is awesome and the story did a great job of quickly catching up everyone who never saw or doesn't remember Tron. We may live in the age of pocket computers but the Tronverse is still a fantasy universe.

[Not Afraid]

We finally saw the last Almodovar film last night (Broken Embraces). The film had a bit more serious feel to it than some of the madcapness of many of his other films. I didn't know there was an "homage" to Women on the Verge in the film - which I loved. Penelope Cruz continues to amaze me. Paired with a great director, she is a wonderful actress (and amazingly beautiful). She reminds me of Sophia Loren quite a bit.

If you're an Almodovar fan, rent it. If you don't know who Almodovar is, then rent Women on the Verge first.

[Not Afraid]

The Tron remake they should have made:

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldfqy0kR9I1qz6f9yo1_500.jpg


DUDE!

Brilliant!

[Alex]

The Tron remake they should have made:

To a degree they did, Kevin Flynn has gone all zen master and has several lines that could have been lifted from Lebowski.

He even wears a robe for part of the movie (though that is more a rip off of Obi Wan than The Dude).

[Not Afraid]

To a degree they did, Kevin Flynn has gone all zen master and has several lines that could have been lifted from Lebowski.

He even wears a robe for part of the movie (though that is more a rip off of Obi Wan than The Dude).

So, I think we will see it and laugh the whole way through.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Saw "Waking Sleeping Beauty", which was able to translate a complex story into a moving documentary. It's been a while since I read all those Disney history books and this re-awakened my interest. Might have to pick up a recent book on the latest chapters. Disney War didn't have enough about the parks...

[Alex]

Black Swan was pretty amazing.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Burlesque sounds so bad that I may end up Netflixing it when it comes out, just to witness it.

[innerSpaceman]

I was disappointed in Waking Sleeping Beauty. Maybe it's just because I was familiar with the behind-the-scenes events of the animation renaissance, but - other than bringing in Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin, they never really delved (imo) into HOW or WHY the films suddenly got tremendously better than what came before. There was a lot of emphasis on new executives, especially Katzenberg. But I never got any impression of how his contributions led to the amazing difference in quality. On the talent side, the only difference the film seemed to suggest was bringing in the songwriters. There was a brief mention of the fluke of the animators who became the film directors for Little Mermaid and, later, Beauty and the Beast. But other than the fact that it happened, there was no insight presented as to why their oversight produced starkly better results.

Rather the documentary just seemed a dry litany of events, and I didn't gain a hint why a string like Robin Hood, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, and The Black Cauldron became the rather different string of The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.


Meh.




Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing The Black Swan. Maybe today.

[Ghoulish Delight]

There was mention of the influx of young talent when they shipped the work for Roger Rabbit to London.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I listened to some animation podcasts in the recent months, with in-depth interviews with the new wave of animators responsible for the better films. Seems like a changing-of-the-guard thing, with the training programs provided by CalArts as well as the in-studio training programs. There were two factions, those in those training programs, and those that did their first work experience doing features or commercials with a few different European studios. They were brought in one way or another - sometimes Roger Rabbit (a project done by the European artists) and sometimes by chance, sometimes because it was their long-term goal to get into Disney. Once the Old Men retired, the new blood - and their passion and creativity - brought a lot of new ideas to the studios. And, though he fizzled out and made poor choices at the end of his career - Michael Eisner (with Katzenberg) should be commended for pulling all of these people together and letting them run with their ideas, instead of closing down animation like the previous guard had considered.

[Alex]

Palate is now thoroughly cleansed from the Tron debacle (I know, I"m out in the wilderness).

Three great contemporary movies (plus two great old movies) since then has me restored.

I heartily recommend any and all of 127 Hours, Black Swan, or The Fighter.

[BarTopDancer]

Hey Alex, all I saw for your Tron review was a short paragraph. Did I miss something longer?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yes (http://www.mouseplanet.com/9480/TRON_Legacy)

[Moonliner]

Hey Alex, all I saw for your Tron review was a short paragraph. Did I miss something longer?

Yes (http://www.mouseplanet.com/9480/TRON_Legacy)

Do read the longer version, I'd rate it as a spot on review. Overall the movie was less of a squeal or re-boot and more of a remake.

Spoiler
I wish they had run with the idea of the Programs getting loose into the real world. That would have been some fertile new ground to cover. Although I'm not sure how they would have gotten their battle tanks and carriers into that itty-bitty portal beam. Also why do they have to keep kidnapping programs to build their army? They don't have cut-and-paste? Is this an iPhone grid?

[Alex]

In response to your spoiler:

Not to mention how they'd materialize an army into the basement of an arcade.

And then having to get all of those people jobs so they could afford to buy food and a change of clothes

[BarTopDancer]

Perhaps if I saw the original Tron I'd think differently of this one. I see what Alex saw, and knowing Alex I'm not surprised by the review at all. Then again I'm a fan of the first Transformers movie. Show me some pretty lights, explosions and a bit of eyecandy and I'm happy.

I don't think 3-D is must do. We had a pre-movie warning that some scenes were filmed in 2-D and to leave your glasses on. I couldn't pick out those scenes because most of it looked to be in 2-D.

Moonie
They did kinda leave the door open for another one. What happened to Tron? Last we saw he was flailing to his [presumed] death. The grid blew up but the rest of the world was there. Sam could go back with Quorra.

[Moonliner]

Perhaps if I saw the original Tron I'd think differently of this one. I see what Alex saw, and knowing Alex I'm not surprised by the review at all. Then again I'm a fan of the first Transformers movie. Show me some pretty lights, explosions and a bit of eyecandy and I'm happy.

I don't think 3-D is must do. We had a pre-movie warning that some scenes were filmed in 2-D and to leave your glasses on. I couldn't pick out those scenes because most of it looked to be in 2-D.

Moonie
They did kinda leave the door open for another one. What happened to Tron? Last we saw he was flailing to his [presumed] death. The grid blew up but the rest of the world was there. Sam could go back with Quorra.

Everything up the point where Sam enters the grid was 2D.

[Alex]

Yeah, everything in the grid was 3-D (I watched a fair amount with my glasses off just because with glasses on everything was frequently muddy). It wasn't always deeply 3-D (after all, frequently there was no significant background against which depth could be created), but it was 3-D.

[innerSpaceman]

I haven't seen Tron yet, but what I'm liking about it so far is it appears to be one of those Love It/Or/Hate It movies. Even if end up on the Hate It side, I find those films inherently fascinating.

I'm glad I chose The Black Swan tonight, but I'll see Tron soon, after all.



Oh ... plus, after having 4 gift's "stolen" from me in last night's annual Xmas Party gift exchange with a group of friends widely known for their film fandom, I ended up with a nifty Tron disc.


http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9204/zlicklegacy.jpg



Which is great when you switch the power on ...


http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9469/zlicktronlegacy.jpg

[Ghoulish Delight]

Edgar Wright can do no rong.

[Ghoulish Delight]

So my brother-in-law pointed out that, since we were staying at my parents' place last night, that meant we could put Theo down to sleep and...see a movie!

Tron!

Meh!

As a side note, this was my first experience with the active type 3D glasses. Holy hell are those uncomfortable. Heavy, and they slide off my nose. Suck the the Nth degree. Despite the instructions at the beginning, I kept mine off during all of the 2D parts. On the plus side, we went to Arclight Sherman Oaks, so despite the heavy rain and last minute planning, the movie going experience was hassle-free.

Now, for the movie. Y-A-W-N. Sure, it was pretty. And sure the daft punk stuff was fun. But that's IT. The pretty was not nearly enough to cover for the completely uninteresting storyline. It's not even about it being stupid, or full of holes. It was just BORING.

Not that the original had the most amazing plot to ever grace the screen, but the context it took place in was, to me, far more engaging. It explored the analogy of computer-as-living-world in depth and with (allowing for creative license) a high degree of attention to detail. This movie had none of that. So beyond that fancy visuals there was nothing more than surface stuff. And some odd goofiness that just felt out of place.

I'm glad I saw it in the theater so at least I enjoyed it as well as I possibly could. There were certainly some experiential components in there that were worth seeing. But not enough to really feel satisfied.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Tron: Husband kept thinking it was directed by George Lucas; too much like Star Wars. I liked the visuals, that's for sure. And yes, the glasses were annoying, but I did like the 3D ness.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Star Wars, Matrix, Blade Runner, etc. etc. It borrowed from many sci-fi movies (which in turn had borrowed from many other movies themselves).

That in and of itself wouldn't be a problem if it brought something else to the table to add, but I don't really think it did.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oh, and young Jeff Bridges was creeepy.

For Clue, that was fine since it's supposed to be a computery version of him anyway. But the "real" young Flynn...yuck.

[innerSpaceman]

Yep, what I found most unforgivable about Tron 2 was how BORING it was, almost as soon as it stopped being a remake of Tron 1. Though, like its predecessor, the only things to really recommend being the visuals and the score - I actually agree with GD that the original Tron is the far more engaging film. Which is a sad commentary indeed on the sequel.

And while the graphic visual delights were plussed by the very pretty (if ultimately boring) Garrett Hedlund, I was surprised to be disappointed with the vaunted Daft Punk score. Their orchestral stuff was, imo, too plentiful and too standard. The more Tron-ish electronica was better, and I wish there had been more of it.


Also, Jeff Bridges x 2 in Tron = < 1/2 of the singularly awesome performance by Bridges in True Grit. That movie rocks, and is the far better film to see if you must choose between the two. And I join with Alex in also recommending 127 Hours and Black Swan for your year-end viewing. Also Tangled, if you haven't seen it yet.

[Not Afraid]

I actually agree with GD that the original Tron is the far more engaging film. Which is a sad commentary indeed on the sequel.



Sad indeed! I like the first Tron film, but it is by no means a great movie. I always wondered why they decided to do a sequel. Of course, I wonder why there's a Yogi Bear movie out at the moment.

[innerSpaceman]

The more sickening question being Why is Yogi Bear having the second best box office of the holiday weekend, beating all but Tron? Sad what passes for popular.

[Ghoulish Delight]

And while the graphic visual delights were plussed by the very pretty (if ultimately boring) Garrett Hedlund, I was surprised to be disappointed with the vaunted Daft Punk score. Their orchestral stuff was, imo, too plentiful and too standard. The more Tron-ish electronica was better, and I wish there had been more of it.Totally agreed. I mean, the score was at least 20% Inception horns, wtf was that about? The dance party was great, but even then, they cut away just as Castor cued what seemed like was going to be the best beat dropped in the whole scene! With the way everyone was talking about the score I was pretty much expecting a 2 hour Daft Punk music video and it fell FAR short of that.


Also, Jeff Bridges x 2 in Tron = < 1/2 of the singularly awesome performance by Bridges in True Grit. That movie rocks, and is the far better film to see if you must choose between the two. Would have definitely been our second choice, but with theater-going opportunities a rare commodity for us it was decided that, of the two, Tron would lose the most by not seeing it in the theater. If I was going to see that movie at all, it HAD to be in the theater, True Grit I'll still be willing (and itching) to see at home.

[Not Afraid]

While I'm glad Daft Punkwas used for the score, I'm just glad we got to see them perform live 5 or so years ago.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Yeah, I'm not sure why there's a Yogi Bear movie, either.

And people are paying to see it? Wow.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The more sickening question being Why is Yogi Bear having the second best box office of the holiday weekend, beating all but Tron? Sad what passes for popular.You can't take kids to see True Grit, and this is the time to see movies with kids. Unless you're us.

I enjoyed Tron a good deal more than GD did for all the usual reasons. I'm a gullible popcorn-muncher. :D I was interested throughout, and dug the parallels between parenting and programming, however obvious and blatant. I'm easy to please and won't argue any criticism.

After all the hype, I was extremely disappointed by the young Bridges face. Did not look real for a second. If it doesn't work, don't use it, and sure as hell don't tell everyone how awesome it is. Boo.



It was video game weekend as we FINALLY saw Scott Pilgrim vs the World. LOVE! How did this movie not become a blockbuster smash? I will follow Edgar Wright anywhere.

[Alex]

You all (who agree with me) need to go see movies faster so you can agree with me when it does me some good.

[Not Afraid]

We are so far behind in our movie watching, we just saw Alice in Wonderland for the first time. I can't believe I went, what, 2 years without that gem enriching my life!

[Not Afraid]

And, when did the Cohen Bros start making remakes? Maybe they should've re-made Tron, because it sounds like their remake of True Grit is great. I saw the original in a theater with my parents when it came out. I was 7. I don't remember being impressed, but I was 7.

And, are the going to remake Rooster Cogburn next?

[Alex]

And, when did the Cohen Bros start making remakes?

At least as early as 2004 when they did a remake of The Ladykillers, which was not that good.

[innerSpaceman]

You could definitely see True Grit at home and be none the worse for the smaller screen experience. Oh, and I think it's one of only 4 movies in the marketplace that's not in 3-D, so you won't be missing that on the home front either. :D


I think a Greatest Hits Reel of Tron 1 and 2 highlights would be awesome. As standalone films? - - eh, not so much.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think what's preventing me from seeing Tron 2 is the creepy young Jeff Bridges. Ew.

[innerSpaceman]

The did it pretty well in the opening scene (btw, the only scene in the whole film that seemed to me to be in 3-D), by shooting him from the back and keeping him in the shadows. They should have nixed the reveal shot, as it was just bad-fx creepy.

No such problem with Clu, in my opinion. I guess he should look as lifelike as all the other anthropomorphic computer "progams" ... but because he was one, it didn't bug me that he looked a little fake.


GC, for every bit of off-putting Clu-looking, there's a lovely bit of Garrett-looking that's very rewarding to the eyes. He may be just as wooden as a bit of GCI, but he's prettier than most of the shiny effects in the movie.