Miscellaneous Movie Musings the Sequel [Archive] - Page 5

flippyshark

06-10-2011, 09:46 PM

During my middle and high school years, I spent quite a bit of time making dumb Super8 mm films with my friends, so I was eager to see JJ Abrams new release, Super 8. A few comments, guaranteed spoiler free:

- It will remind you of a lot of other movies, but it does find its own genial vibe. And it gets the whole Super 8 Filmmaker thing just right. (Ah, Super 8 Filmmaker magazine. I used to have a subscription.)

- Though I enjoyed it, I don't get why Abrams insists on that silly lens flare that creates a horizontal line across the screen. It seems to be a trademark, but it's kinda annoying. He should ditch it.

- Apart from that, Super 8 gets most things right. It's a summer movie that places its focus on an engaging bunch of young characters, and the genre element is a distant second place. (So much so that when it eventually comes to the fore, it's a little underwhelming.) The slow build-up to the weird events was nicely played, even if the destination wasn't anything terribly new.

- It has the best end credits bonus I've seen in quite a while.

I will add one quibble that probably isn't even quite a spoiler, but I'll treat it as such anyway.

If your movie has a missing dog element, you must actually show the dog (or dogs) returning. It isn't enough to just have some dialogue where someone says "We found your dog." Honestly!

Alex

06-10-2011, 10:27 PM

Super 8 is entertaining enough (though it isn't going to stick with me very long).

But I'm going to have to kick Abrams in the balls if he doesn't get over his lens flare fetish right quick.

And I wouldn't have minded at least one line of dialog to explain

why, after 25 years they were moving an alien and its magic spaceship cross country and together

Also, the Rubik's Cube didn't appear in the US until February 1980 (the movie takes place in June '79) so that reference was a bit out of place and such an obvious thing that I wonder if it was an intentional anachronism.

alphabassettgrrl

06-10-2011, 10:51 PM

I'm with you on the stupid lens flare. Bothered me during Star Trek very much. Likely to bother me in Super 8.

innerSpaceman

06-11-2011, 06:07 AM

I've heard a bit about the Rubik's Cube mistake, but where in the film does it say the action takes place in 1979? Not there. Sorry, but if it's in the production materials, but not in the movie - then the time period is not nailed down at all.

The movie takes place in a general time period of late '70's, early '80's - and Abrams nailed the cinematographic look and the pacing of the Speilberg films this movie so plainly salutes. It's been noted, quite correctly, to be a mashup of elements from Close Encounters, Jaws, E.T. and The Goonies.

Um, The Goonies?? Yeah, it's got a lot in common with that movie - which, um folks, is not a Spielberg film any more than Super 8 is (he was executive producer on Goonies, and had a story credit; he's a producer on Super 8).

Super 8 is about a thousand times better than The Goonies, imo, but doesn't nearly reach the glory of any of those Steven Spielberg movies named. No matter ... it's a charming and entertaining film. Well-paced, well-acted (the two lead kids are great), mushy in all the right places, thrilling in many others.

I've heard complaints the ending is a bit of a let-down, but I thought the whole thing was by-the-book from start to finish. The sci-fi plot is the barest of McGuffins and so what? I was not disappointed with the obvious finale in such an obvious homage to films of 30 years ago.

I'm with Alex in that Super 8 likely won't be staying with me in anything remotely the way the early Spielberg films did. But I thoroughly enjoyed it ... and the train wreck was ultra rad.

:snap:

Alex

06-11-2011, 07:26 AM

I've heard a bit about the Rubik's Cube mistake, but where in the film does it say the action takes place in 1979? Not there. Sorry, but if it's in the production materials, but not in the movie - then the time period is not nailed down at all.

It's there in the movie. On the head stone mom's date of death is given as February 1979 and the events of the movie take place (per the title after the funeral scene) four months later. Also, during another scene Walter Cronkite is on the TV reporting on Three Mile Island (which was April 1979 though this is less conclusive since you could always say he was doing some type of follow up).

The movie definitely sets itself in June 1979. Further support (though again not at all conclusive on its own), "My Sharona" was released in June 1979.

Not that the Rubik's Cube thing is that big of a deal. It was just something that caught my attention because I thought by then the movie, though still date uncertain at that point was definitely more '70s feeling and I was wondering if I was wrong about when Rubik's Cubes first hit.

RStar

06-11-2011, 09:17 AM

- It has the best end credits bonus I've seen in quite a while.

So I should hang out after the credits on this one as well? I hate when they do that, but I hate it more when I leave and find out I missed something...

And I think 95% of the audiance wouldn't know when Rubik's Cube came out, so I don't think it's going to be a huge deal for most. Not that that is an excuse for doing a poor job on the research. Makes me wonder, though. The person who's job it is to make sure things are in the proper time period (what's that job's name again?) if they told someone about it and someone okay'd it, or if it was an oversight or misinformation? Inquiring minds want to know!

Alex

06-11-2011, 09:57 AM

So I should hang out after the credits on this one as well? I hate when they do that, but I hate it more when I leave and find out I missed something...

Well, so long as you don't sprint for the door as soon as the screen goes black on the last scene it would be hard to miss. It isn't something that plays after the credits but during them.

And I think 95% of the audiance wouldn't know when Rubik's Cube

I don't know. This isn't a kids movie for kids, it is a kids movie for adults to reminisce about when they were kids. So I'm guessing that somewhat more than 5% would confidently say that Rubik's Cubes were an '80s fad.

But you're right that it isn't a big deal, just something so not obscure that I wonder if it was intentional (there are some other meta-nods to its genre nature, such as:

There's a train wreck that is just completely over the top impossible for how it was caused and actual physics. One of the kids says "there's no way a car on the tracks caused this" and other replies "well obviously it did." Abrams way of saying "shut up and go with it.")

innerSpaceman

06-11-2011, 10:22 AM

not to mention the professor in the truck who caused the wreck, and impossibly survives it

I stand duly corrected about the time period. Ooops. In that case, I think the Rubik's Cube is a lazy error that should have been avoided. But what really took me out of the time period, almost right away, was one of the kids saying "whatever" with a clear '90's inflection as one of his first lines.

That kind of stuff bugs me. Oh, it's ALL over X-Men: First Class, which is horribly lazy about its early 60's time period in just about every way.

But I suppose things like that creep in, and it's rare period piece that's totally free of anachronisms. Super 8 sure isn't bad in that regard. It in no way detracts from its considerable charms.

It was undoubtedly easier capture the era of the late '70's/early 80's when Speilberg made his films IN that time period - - but one of his greats of that day, Raiders of the Lost Ark, does not - to me at least - reveal any jarring anachronisms of it's pre-WWII period setting.

And all in all, what I take away from Super 8 is that Abrams is no Spielberg, and he should not try to be. But his obvious affection for the source material of this and his last film (Star Trek) does work in his favor in establishing a fantastic mood and overall feeling that serves him well in these nostalgia projects.

I'd like to see him move on to something more forward looking though.

JWBear

06-11-2011, 09:46 PM

Whatever you do, DO NOT watch Titanic II. Trust me on this. It's an hour and a half you will never get back.

RStar

06-11-2011, 10:55 PM

Saw Super 8 tonight. Loved it! I thought it was even better than I expected it would be. The only thing I could complain about was that stupid lens flair. It's something that good photographers and film makers avoid, for good reason. Alex, please kick JJ Abrams in the balls for me too, won't you?

That and the odd fact that Zach Mills (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1517875/) got so little screen time. He's a pretty good actor, and you'd hardly know he was in this film. Most of the time he only had single word lines.

The bit after the end of the movie is great:

Seeing the kids' movie durring the credits was a great idea! I loved that!

BarTopDancer

06-11-2011, 11:28 PM

Whatever you do, DO NOT watch Titanic II. Trust me on this. It's an hour and a half you will never get back.

Wait. They made a sequel? The damn boat sinks, what else is there?

Moonliner

06-12-2011, 04:46 AM

Wait. They made a sequel? The damn boat sinks, what else is there?

Zombies!

flippyshark

06-12-2011, 07:51 AM

Titanic II takes place in 2012, and is a "history repeats itself" story. It's from the "Mockbuster" studio, Asylum, which tells me everything I need to know. (They're the ones who made such knock-offs as "Snakes On A Train" and "Trans-morphers." These direct-to-video features are beyond pointless, not even entertaining in the so-bad-it's-good way.)

flippyshark

06-12-2011, 07:56 AM

Oh, another thing about Super 8. I was surprised to see a guy I used to work with as the town sheriff. Brett Rice has only a handful of scenes, but he is a really fun character actor presence. (He used to work at the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater here in Orlando, where I continue to appear a few times a week. So maybe someday I'll have a role in a major motion picture!)

RStar

06-12-2011, 07:10 PM

innerSpaceman

06-13-2011, 10:40 AM

Yeah, but that really bugged me. The sheriff and the foreshadowed lady in hair rollers get grabbed and impliedly killed by the alien, but then a few words and a touch from our hero, and the same alien two seconds later becomes all reasonable and peaceful. I didn't but the transition at all.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

06-13-2011, 10:59 AM

Finally saw A SINGLE MAN.

Loved the performances and the use of color to highlight specific moments, feelings, and reactions. In a way it was tackling themes similar to AMERICAN BEAUTY but with a greater amount of subtlety. I am wrestling with how I feel about the ending.

Rewatched 500 DAYS OF SUMMER with Erik, who was watching for the first time. I enjoyed it much more the 2nd time around. I think my expectations were too high the first time, and my reaction to the characters somewhat unfair. It's not a perfect film but it's hardly the disappointment I thought it was when I saw it in the theaters.

Earlier in the week I watched NEVER LET ME GO, and I had the same lukewarm reaction to the film as I did the book (in general, with regards to how the general story is conveyed), but had a very different reaction to the characters on film than I did in the book. So even though I didn't think it was particularly good, I kind of sobbed through most of the film. Something about it touched a chord. Blergh.

Kevy Baby

06-13-2011, 06:49 PM

We watched Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/) last night. Kinda liked it.

alphabassettgrrl

06-13-2011, 08:36 PM

Watching "Pteradactyl Woman from Beverly Hills" and it's appropriately craptacular. :) TromaVille studios.

Alex

06-18-2011, 11:58 PM

The drive-in is for movies that we don't expect to be very good but might still have fun with in a casual environment.

Green Lantern was, instead, simply awful.

cirquelover

06-21-2011, 10:34 AM

I saw Super 8 last night and really enjoyed it. I think the young people in the audience missed/didn't get, a lot of the movie. They just wanted action. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did. It was a great story and I thought the ending was great too! The young actors did an amazing job. The screen flare, or whatever you called it, was annoying at times though.

The Planet of the Apes trailer freaked me out. I will not be seeing that one. Their faces really creeped me out!

flippyshark

06-21-2011, 11:38 AM

The Planet of the Apes trailer freaked me out. I will not be seeing that one. Their faces really creeped me out!

There was an uncanny valley effect there for me too. But, that said, I'm ridiculously psyched about that movie. (Though I should be cautious, given the movie's oft-delayed, August release status, which often indicates a stinker)

innerSpaceman

06-21-2011, 12:19 PM

Yes, whereas Green Lantern's prime June release date indicates a blockbuster, and it's the worst-reviewed movie of the decade. (Of course, Pirates 4 was the second-worst reviewed movie of the decade, and I think it turned a profit.)

flippyshark

06-21-2011, 12:35 PM

The summer movie bar is so low these days, I'll be impressed if Apes is simply more story driven than effects/action driven. (Likewise, I probably enjoyed Super 8 more in this environment than I would have in an earlier era.)

Moonliner

06-29-2011, 08:16 AM

I heard if you sync up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with Transformers: Dark of the Moon, it will ruin the Pink Floyd album forever.

(Shamelessly stolen from twitter....)

Morrigoon

06-29-2011, 11:44 PM

flippyshark

06-29-2011, 11:50 PM

As part of PBS' Masterpiece Classic, it's technically TV but still seems relevant here.

So I am watching the new Sherlock on Netflix, and so far absolutely LOVING IT. It's a modern take on the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but very effectively captures the spirit of the old stories, even though they also clearly take it in a new direction.

I just loved those, wish there were more than three episodes, can't wait for season two, and am going to enjoy seeing both Freeman and Cumberbatch in The Hobbit. (Martin Freeman will make a great Bilbo.) And isn't Benedict Cumberbatch the greatest name ever? Okay, giggly fan boy calming down now.

Morrigoon

06-29-2011, 11:54 PM

Oh God, you're telling me there's only THREE??? Nooooooooo! That's like having to wait till September for the rest of Downton Abbey, aaaaaaaah!

flippyshark

06-30-2011, 12:08 AM

Oh God, you're telling me there's only THREE??? Nooooooooo! That's like having to wait till September for the rest of Downton Abbey, aaaaaaaah!

Only three, but each one is pretty much feature film length. And the third one is a stunner!

Morrigoon

06-30-2011, 01:01 AM

Martin Freeman: loved him in Love, Actually. You HAVE seen it, right? He's nekkid!

Benedict Cumberbatch: Yeah, I'd hit that. A couple times. Per hour.

innerSpaceman

06-30-2011, 06:09 AM

Are there any new New Sherlock's yet? The original batch was rad.

mousepod

06-30-2011, 08:14 AM

Count me in as a fan of the Sherlock series. And you're right, Flippy, Heather and I are seriously considering naming our next chihuahua Benedict Cumberbatch.

JWBear

06-30-2011, 10:19 AM

Snowflake

06-30-2011, 10:45 AM

Oh God, you're telling me there's only THREE??? Nooooooooo! That's like having to wait till September for the rest of Downton Abbey, aaaaaaaah!

There are more in production, thank heaven. I'm really loving this new take on Sherlock, as well. Cumberbatch is fabulous and hilarious, too when warranted.

I also LOVED him in the National Theatre's production of Frankestein. :snap:

The new Poirot's on Mystery started well last week. Excellent production values as always and David Suchet as Poirot, what's not to like?

Alex

06-30-2011, 10:54 AM

Could have sworn I posted here but I guess not.

The new series (also just 3 episodes) airs on BBC in August. Don't know how long the delay to the states will be (it was 3 months for series 1 to get to PBS).

I really enjoyed series 1 but it also felt like something that might get old quick. But I'll ride it until it does.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

06-30-2011, 05:05 PM

Count me in as a fan of the Sherlock series. And you're right, Flippy, Heather and I are seriously considering naming our next chihuahua Benedict Cumberbatch.

Good name. For a cat dressed up like a chihuahua.

innerSpaceman

06-30-2011, 06:43 PM

flippyshark

07-01-2011, 01:56 PM

Is this summer the battleground for worst-reviewed movies ever, and no one told me?

Cough*Pirates4*GreenLantern*Transformers3*Cough

I don't recall ever seeing such a string of critical uber-stinkers.

With Cars 2 a surprise runner up. (Haven't seen it but the sharp critical downturn for Pixar is striking.)

JWBear

07-02-2011, 10:33 PM

We just finished watching the first episode of Sherlock. We really enjoyed it.

Cadaverous Pallor

07-03-2011, 10:28 PM

It's not often GD and I disagree this strongly on a film.

I loved Black Swan. I've never cared for Natalie Portman but she was spot-on here. Everyone else did a fabulous job as well. I loved the camera work, the stylized costuming, and the symbolism/parallels, which come on very strong but I quite liked that.

GD, not so much. It's nice to know that after 15 years together, we're still individual people.

Ghoulish Delight

07-03-2011, 10:35 PM

I get why people like it. I did not. I was Immediately turned off by the choice to stick the camera in her face the whole damned movie. "In her face, back of her head, in her face, back of her head, in her face, back of her head....." STOP! It was meant to feel trapped and closed in...overwrought is the term I'd use. Disliked Portman's performance. Never felt like it made any sense that someone SO weepy and weak would even get the opportunity to be in that position. Which brings up the question of WHY THE **** WAS SHE GIVEN THE ROLE WHEN SHE COULDN'T DO HALF OF IT?! And because everything was so overwrought, the transformation just hit me as goofy.

Of course I think ballet is overwrought and goofy, so maybe I just don't get it.

What it could use is some editing. Say, down to a particular 5 minutes in the bedroom. THAT I'd watch again.

Not Afraid

07-04-2011, 09:42 AM

That film is sitting on our coffee table waiting to be watched. Soon, I hope.

Alex

07-04-2011, 10:01 AM

I loved Black Swan.

Strangler Lewis

07-04-2011, 11:31 AM

I thought she played that one note quite well. Depending on one's mood, the ending is either breathtakingly brave symbolism or laugh out loud funny. I leaned closer to funny in that while I didn't actually laugh I did have to say, "Okay, let's remember what the auteur is trying to do here."

innerSpaceman

07-04-2011, 01:15 PM

I get both sides of the Black Swan fence. But in a piece that stylized, I decided to flow with it, and ended up really liking it. Not sure how I'd feel after a second viewing, so I doubt there'll ever be one.

Not Afraid

07-13-2011, 05:55 PM

The only thing I ended up liking about Black Swan was Barbara Hershey. (And the swan wings tattoo.)

We watched the 3 Sherlock pieces over the last couple of days. I like those quite a bit. One of the writers - Stephen Moffat - is the main writer/creator of Coupling. I think I may have found a Brit writer to stalk. I suppose that would include Dr. Who as well.

Morrigoon

07-13-2011, 06:06 PM

Doctor Who is fun. Not serious, but certainly fun.

BarTopDancer

07-13-2011, 06:39 PM

Titanic II takes place in 2012, and is a "history repeats itself" story. It's from the "Mockbuster" studio, Asylum, which tells me everything I need to know.

I love the Saturday SciFi movies put out by Asylum. The more beer you drink the better they get. Who else could get Deborah Gibson and Tiffany to have a catfight over a python and a crocodile?

alphabassettgrrl

07-13-2011, 09:09 PM

Doctor Who is fun. Not serious, but certainly fun.

Yep. I'm so glad they revived it!

Morrigoon

07-14-2011, 05:40 PM

WTF? When did the guy who plays Neville Longbottom turn into a total hottie?

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2011-07-13/neville-longbottom-wilf-wizard-id-like-to-fk/

flippyshark

07-14-2011, 06:16 PM

Going to midnight show of HP:7.2 tonight, very much against my better judgement. I despise crowded theaters, I don't stay up well, and it's a 3d showing, so my head might explode. Felt obligated. Dear friend is paying my way, and needs company as she's going through some tough times. I hope I do okay. I'm just such a small town homebody these days. But, it will be fun if the movie engenders high emotions. Nothing like sobbing behind cheap plastic polarized filters.

innerSpaceman

07-15-2011, 11:21 AM

Create an HP thread or talk about it here?

Edited to add: I decided on new thread (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?p=349661#post349661).

flippyshark

07-15-2011, 01:50 PM

My positive HP response in other thread. Now, how long until Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the movie I most want to love this summer but fear will suck.

innerSpaceman

07-15-2011, 02:19 PM

I'm still excited to see Planet of the Apes, and was glad of a new trailer before Harry Potter last night ... except that new trailer leaves me with the feeling I've seen the first hour-and-a-half of the movie.

Alex

07-21-2011, 10:25 PM

For those who might care, a bit picture of Hobbits (http://moviecitynews.com/2011/07/hobbitses/).

http://moviecitynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/hobbitslg.jpg

Ghoulish Delight

07-22-2011, 06:47 AM

Dwarves

Alex

07-22-2011, 08:18 AM

Does your nerdism know no bounds?

JWBear

07-22-2011, 09:24 AM

A hot looking dwarf... Who knew!

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_loc8av46J01qjrqlbo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId =AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1311438215&Signature=O3VyLS%2Bcoay%2BkUKby5y0zmBGEVU%3D

innerSpaceman

07-22-2011, 12:00 PM

Love it, but I object to there being a hot-looking dwarf. Find me anyone (JW excluded) who pictured any of the dwarfs as HOT when first reading The Hobbit.

Alex

07-22-2011, 03:26 PM

I first read the Hobbit when I was 9 or 10. I don't think I pictured anybody (in books or real life) as hot.

Strangler Lewis

07-25-2011, 12:35 PM

A strong recommendation for "Midnight in Paris." It was not lazy Woody, and it made me do something I did not think possible: enjoy a full movie of Owen Wilson. Plus, say what you will about Inception-like movies, this movie had the biggest surprise that I actually gave a sh*t about in some time.

Plus Marion Cotillard at her most Marion Cotillardish.

Given everything we tend to know about the lives of the people we dub heros of one sort or another, I'm not sure I totally buy the premise--or at least that I would act as starry-eyed as Wilson's character did--but it was a charming ride.

Alex

07-25-2011, 12:56 PM

I enjoyed it as well. What was the surprise?

cirquelover

07-25-2011, 02:03 PM

The boy, teenager, actually said he want to see the new Pooh movie with me and in the theater! I am so excited and thoroughly shocked!

Strangler Lewis

07-25-2011, 04:28 PM

Alex

07-25-2011, 05:40 PM

Ok, I'm sure I'm having a brain fart but I still don't know what you're talking about.

Strangler Lewis

07-25-2011, 06:08 PM

When they went to la belle epoque for her. Didn't see it coming and given how old and past it everyone was in that era, it seemed a fitting conclusion to her romantic misadventures in the 20s.

Alex

07-27-2011, 08:30 AM

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

08-03-2011, 06:23 PM

A strong recommend for Mother (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216496/combined) (available on Netflix streaming).

I really do think that South Korean cinema industry may be the best one out there. Something in the water must give them all a delightful sense of the bizarre and hyper-real.

Agreed. Most of the best, most enjoyable, interesting, and genuinely bizarre (not just something trying to be bizarre for bizarre's sake) have come from Korea. What did you think of A Tale of Two Sisters?

CoasterMatt

08-03-2011, 07:55 PM

Dead Hooker In A Trunk is now available for VOD on IFC Midnight!

Awesome horror movie made for next to nothing...

Here's a NSFW trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7A2WZkDPfw)

flippyshark

08-05-2011, 01:31 PM

The virtual apes far outshine the human actors, but Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for - a really fun Summer B movie. I wish the screenplay didn't hew so closely to the Syd Field template (I wish that about a LOT of movies!) Every story beat here is telegraphed like crazy, and the various turnarounds and come-uppances arrive with set-your-watch punctuality. But, on the bottom line, the ape action is gangbusters, and Caesar is a true star, commanding the screen and my sympathies far better than the Peter Jackson King Kong did. (Andy Serkis played both, but this story better suits the mo-cap technique.) Both a series reboot and a remake of the fourth entry in the original run, it's loaded with nods to its predecessors, but these are mostly very nicely integrated. I only rolled my eyes once or twice. So much better than the Tim Burton misfire, and set up for any number of sequels. I'll be there on opening day for all of 'em.

mousepod

08-05-2011, 01:40 PM

Looking forward to seeing Rise soon... but why don't any of the major reviews (that I've read, at least) reference Conquest?

Alex

08-05-2011, 05:42 PM

A strong recommend for The Guard, a new little movie from Ireland starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. It's not profound but it is fun to watch with some great writing and a nice '70s pacing.

Moonliner

08-05-2011, 07:23 PM

Looking forward to seeing Rise soon... but why don't any of the major reviews (that I've read, at least) reference Conquest?

Just a guess, most of the people currently writing movie reviews (especially on the web) never saw it.

Moonie Jr. and I went out and saw Rise tonight. Perhaps the last movie we'll see together before sending him off to college. A fitting coming of age story under the circumstances.

Overall a solid B+ of a movie.

Before the movie started, I commented how I'd love to see some reference to a lost space mission. I was happy to see they included that.

The "Damn dirty ape" comment seemed forced and pulled me out of the moment.

As CP asked sometime ago, where did all those damn apes come from? There sure seemed to be a lot more of them after they escaped than before.

flippyshark

08-05-2011, 07:40 PM

Moonie, I'm pretty sure that the movie cheated a bit on that last point you cited, but my assumption was:

All the extra apes were from the zoo, which appears to have a HUGE ape population on display.

Yes, that damn dirty ape line fell with a real thud from the mouth of Draco Malfoy, which is a shame because I loved what followed immediately after that moment.

Moonliner

08-05-2011, 07:44 PM

Moonie, I'm pretty sure that the movie cheated a bit on that last point you cited, but my assumption was:

I was talking about before the zoo, when they were coming down the hill right after the break out.

JWBear

08-05-2011, 08:07 PM

We saw Captain America today. Fun movie! We really enjoyed it.

Alex

08-07-2011, 06:47 AM

This is why I generally don't join in for the anguished cries about Hollywood making so many remakes, sequels, reboots, lazy adaptations, etc.

I may have my suspicions, but they are also, on occasion, good. Enjoyed Rise of the Planet of the Apes quite a bit. Some quibbles about certain things but as always, I'm willing to overlook these things if the movie meets me halfway by being entertaining.

innerSpaceman

08-08-2011, 10:01 AM

I was vaguely disappointed with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It was well-made and all, but I think it suffers from Phantom Menace syndrome - that is, two-hours to tell the bare beginnings of the known story, that should have been done in a 20-minute prologue.

And I guess I'm bugged that, despite what the manipulation of the trailers let me to assume, there's no violent battle or attempted overthrow of society by the apes. Their aims are pretty peaceful, only seeking to escape to sweet nature, and only being violent on the defensive. Bah. Kind of revisionary on the p.c. side, and I'm not really pleased with that. Seems from the ending that man was wiped out by the coincidentally-same lab's virus, and the smart apes just happened to be hanging out in the woods ready to take over when everyone died out. Pfft. Lame. But I suppose the sequels will tell for sure how this series intends the tale to play out ... and maybe by the third film, we'll have the story that's itching to be told. #StarWarsPrequelSyndrome

I did, however, vastly enjoy the mostly-clever Planet of the Apes references peppered throughout the film. And Andy Serkis realizes his best ape performance evar!

innerSpaceman

08-08-2011, 10:05 AM

Captain America, on the other hand, was a pure delight. More comic book movies should take place in the heyday of comic books. It gives license to be corny, and that's what more of these tales could use, imo.

Joe Johnston also directed the period-piece comic outing The Rocketeer, some 20 years ago. At least he knows how to do one thing right.

flippyshark

08-08-2011, 11:25 AM

The Rocketeer is so overdue for a decent video release. Surely it will hit Blu-ray someday soon.

I've been avoiding comics adaptations this summer, being still oversaturated from the last few summers. But I'm on the verge of giving in to Captain America.

Alex

08-08-2011, 11:37 AM

Re: Planet of the Apes

I'm glad they didn't have the apes themselves overthrowing human society as there is no way that could be written so as not to be incredibly stupid (unless, I guess, Caesar went out and invented the virus).

My disappointment: Not one of them sounded like Roddy McDowall.

Captain America was ok for the drive-in where we saw it, but it did nothing to make me want to see more of him.

innerSpaceman

08-08-2011, 11:54 AM

Still, I would like if (and it still may go this way) there were a violent rebellion by the apes, and not simply an escape to the redwoods. Maybe this should have played off old titles and have gone by the name "Escape by the Planet of the Apes." As it is, I really didn't see the "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," but merely the rise of the circumstances that could one day give rise to the Planet of the Apes!

And sure, no R.McD. soundalike, but I did appreciate the riff on the character name.

flippyshark

08-08-2011, 12:08 PM

Alex

08-08-2011, 12:19 PM

I know they will, but I would prefer that they not do any sequels further bridging this movie to the first Planet of the Apes movie. This one explained the alpha, that explains the omega. The middle is just needless expository.

Along the same lines

I was just saying to Lani that I liked that they didn't slap the audience in the face explaining that the virus would go on to decimate humanity making room for the apes, when the coda in the credits began to do just that (though not as explicitly as it could have).

Some other spoilers with my quibbles about the movie, just to express them (because the movie was entertaining they don't really bother me):

1. The chimpanzees in general seemed to be too tall. I know Caesar slowly became more erect as the movie went on, but in general they were all way too tall. A full grown adult chimp is about 4 feet tall when standing erect. Caesar was almost as tall as James Franco in a couple scenes.

2. Too many apes? Yes, when the girlfriends visited one of them said something about there being a couple hundred of them, but that is never otherwise indicated.

3. Capacity to learn does not equal knowledge. Capacity for language does not mean you have a language. Yet Caesar was apparently able to convey to the other group of apes "Hey, go to the San Francisco Zoo, these are the directions from San Bruno, break out the apes, and then we'll meet up at the Golden Gate Bridge" very shortly after they found their new found intelligence. Similarly, they all learned combat tactics pretty quickly.

4. Even the unexposed apes got smarter just by being with the exposed apes. The apes escaping from the San Francisco Zoo were seen grabbing spears on their way out of the exhibit.

5. I don't really blame movies for this since it is a necessary reality but over familiarity with Bay Area geography will cause issues. You can't see the Golden Gate Bridge from San Bruno, you can't get a phalanx of mounted police to the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge in 5 minutes, and most of all you can't EVER go to that part of Muir Woods and be alone.

6. Humans never really reacted in a realistic way to the apes regardless of the conditions. Draco decided to take on a chimpanzee in an open space with just a cattle prod? It doesn't take an enriched chimp to imagine him suffering the consequences of that. A mounted police officer charges a gorilla with just his baton? Hikers encounter a six foot gorilla in Muir Woods and their response is "huh, is that a chimp?"

7. It felt a little off that throughout the movie Franco's relationship with Caesar never seemed to cause him even a moment's twinge about the ethics of animal (or at least chimpanzee) testing.

Gn2Dlnd

08-08-2011, 01:38 PM

And sure, no R.McD. soundalike, but I did appreciate the riff on the character name.

At first I was :confused: as to what Ronald McDonald had to do with Planet of the Apes.

innerSpaceman

08-08-2011, 02:08 PM

By the same token as your comments re: Rise,

The relatively small army of apes at the end of Conquest could not by any means have taken over the country/world either. By the way, I got the Blu-ray set of the Apes films, and it includes the original, much harsher ending to Conquest. It's way better than the last-minute "nice guy" Caesar in the theatrical re-edit. This alone was worth the price of the set.

I cannot stomach any of the Apes sequels. Although I enjoyed two of them when they were released ... and when I was 10 years old!

The original still stands up, however, and I was pleased to see the un-edited/jiggered-with "Conquest" ending on the excellent documentary included with the original movie. Yes, much better ending. But still a sucky movie. I'm embarrassed that I liked "Escape" even as a 10-year-old. Never did like "Beneath," and never even saw "Battle for" - for which I am eternally grateful.

Alex

08-08-2011, 02:16 PM

I honestly remember nothing of the sequels beyond that they exist. Channel 12 out of Portland, OR, would have theme movie weeks. And an annual (or so) one was the five Apes movies. I know I watched them, but I don't remember them.

Much better remembered is the annual James Garner week, from which comes my undying love for Support Your Local Gunfighter and Support Your Local Sheriff. (Though it wasn't enough to make me like Tank.)

cirquelover

08-08-2011, 05:37 PM

Visible Alex mojo! Thanks for the memories of the old channel 12.

Moonliner

08-08-2011, 07:16 PM

Much better remembered is the annual James Garner week, from which comes my undying love for Support Your Local Gunfighter and Support Your Local Sheriff. (Though it wasn't enough to make me like Tank.)

I'd love to watch "Support your local sheriff" again. So of course, Netflix streaming has "Tank" but not "Support your local sheriff"

*sigh* I'll just have to add it to the queue.

flippyshark

08-08-2011, 07:48 PM

I believe Tank was one of those movies that just begged the critics to have a cheap laugh off its prophetic title.

Ghoulish Delight

08-10-2011, 01:10 PM

Get your stinking paws off me (http://boingboing.net/2011/08/10/tom-the-dancing-bug-is-rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-a-true-story-yes-and-youre-living-it.html)

innerSpaceman

08-11-2011, 01:07 PM

I gave The King's Speech another chance last night.

Really? THIS won Best Picture? It's a fine movie, but really?!?

I enjoyed it better than my first go-round (where I fell asleep within half an hour), but was not all that impressed with it. Enjoyable though.

HOWEVER, since Netflix must have fallen asleep at the switch and sent me a Real Disc with actual EXTRAS, I rapturously listened to the Director's Commentary - which I usually save for movies I like a whole lot better.

Lo and behold, the commentary was fascinating and I enjoyed it about a thousand times more than the actual movie.

Ugh. #FailedOnceHopefulFilmmaker

Oh, and it was a wonderful treat to see Helena Bonham Carter in a role that didn't require her to act insane!

Ghoulish Delight

08-11-2011, 02:34 PM

We just watched it (bringing our total to 7/10 of the Best Picture nominees!)

It wasn't my favorite of the nominees, but that comes down to personal taste. It was good enough that I can't argue with its victory. Sure I found 127 hours more powerful, and Social Network a more interesting story. But King's Speech told a great story, with great personalities, while doing a good job of painting a picture of the culture of the British monarchy and the specific politics of the time without distracting from the strength of the character piece. All things the make it well qualified to win the prize.

And yes, HBC was great, and underutilized.

Alex

08-11-2011, 03:00 PM

Has anybody else actually seen Winter's Bone? (Which was my favorite of the nominees though it never had a chance.)

innerSpaceman

08-11-2011, 05:05 PM

I rather think HBC was the heart of the piece, and her warm strength and obvious affection for Bertie were, for me, central to the film's charms.

I couldn't make it through Winter's Bone, Alex. Granted, I did not give it a fair shake - but the same crappy shake I give most movies I watch at home (i.e., you are on in the background and have 45 minutes max to grab my attention from all the other stuff I'm doing while I purportedly "watch" you.)

(The King's Speech did grab that attention - I stopped it in background mode, and sat and watched it from the beginning - so I'll give it that.)

What did you like about Winter's Bone, Alex? Maybe I should give it a much more fair shake and a second chance (King's Speech had a second chance, after all).

mousepod

08-12-2011, 08:45 AM

I'm with Alex on Winter's Bone. Easily my favorite, with Social Network a close second (as far as I can recall, at least).

For me, The King's Speech was only enjoyable to watch the two leads playing off each other. I guess I just don't give a crap about the British monarchy, which might have contributed to my less than engaged attitude.

What's a great movie out now? I really liked Point Blank, but not in a Best Picture sort of way...

Alex

08-12-2011, 10:01 AM

The finely crafted characters and slowly building sense of place is what I loved about Winter's Bone. Probably not something that would come across with distracted watching.

Alex

08-12-2011, 10:02 AM

I think I mentioned it above but I really liked the new Brendan Gleeson movie The Guard. Also not in a Best Picture sort of way, but it was entertaining.

Did not care for Another Earth.

innerSpaceman

08-12-2011, 03:16 PM

Believe me, I'm really not interested in ANYTHING that's good in a Best Picture kind of way.

I'll have to give Winter's Bone another shot, when my life slows down a bit. Maybe in 2015 or so.

Strangler Lewis

08-12-2011, 08:42 PM

I enjoyed The King's Speech a great deal. I also read a book on the story by Lionel Logue's grandson. In the book, Bertie was not nearly as anguished about the whole prospect of improving himself. Had me wondering how much the filmmakers out and out invented and how much they assumed the grandson had whitewashed.

innerSpaceman

08-13-2011, 06:19 AM

Actually, while I can't say the filmmakers didn't invent things for dramatic purpose, one of the bizarre tales of the movie is that 6 weeks into pre-production, they interviewed the grandson - who produced Logue's personal diary for them - which had never been used for any other source about the story. This was, as you might imagine, a treasure trove for the filmmakers.

On the commentary, the director says the diary was followed pretty closely - so I'm going to assume the movie - with allowances for dramatic license - follows Logue's point-of-view of the proceedings fairly well.

Morrigoon

08-13-2011, 11:38 AM

If the movie version of The Help is anywhere near as good as the book, it'll be worth seeing. I think the material will translate very well to the screen.

CoasterMatt

08-13-2011, 12:28 PM

Rose and I just watched "Trick R Treat" last night - we both loved it, and I especially enjoyed that Rose screamed before the opening titles even started.

lashbear

08-13-2011, 05:14 PM

Rose and I just watched "Trick R Treat" last night - we both loved it, and I especially enjoyed that Rose screamed before the opening titles even started.

Why? Did you sit on her popcorn ?

Alex

08-13-2011, 08:25 PM

30 Minutes or Less was awful.

I have issues with the movie existing. Taking a very real tragic event that happened to one specific person and making a comedy out of it raises flags. Not a comedy that exposes the awfulness of it in some way, just a straight up farce comedy.

So I was curious how I'd feel watching it.

But I'm pretty sure it just plain sucked so I don't get to explore the interior monologue of being amused by something I find kind of repugnant.

innerSpaceman

08-13-2011, 11:00 PM

So having never heard of 30 Minutes or Less beyond seeing a billboard for it somewhere, um, what real tragic event is it repugnantly based on?

Alex

08-13-2011, 11:13 PM

Brian Douglas Wells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Douglas_Wells)

The actors have said that they weren't aware of it. The writers have said that they were only minimally aware of it and their story is entirely made up by them. The producers (including Ben Stiller) say they were unaware of it.

Frankly, I don't buy it from the entire group (though am sure any one individual, other than the writers, might have been).

One reason why I say the the writer's had to know (something a spoiler here):

I can imagine the writers having a dim memory of a pizza guy strapped to a bomb and going from there (though this still wouldn't make it ok for them to make a comedy out of it) but in real life the ultimate motive of the bank robbery was to get money to hire a hit man to kill one of the conspirator's father. To get an inheritance.

That is the exact same motivation in the movie.

Cadaverous Pallor

08-14-2011, 09:51 AM

Wow, I was kind of excited about 30min or less, but now I'm just sad.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

08-17-2011, 07:25 PM

Rose and I just watched "Trick R Treat" last night - we both loved it, and I especially enjoyed that Rose screamed before the opening titles even started.

One of my favorite horror movies - yay!

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

08-17-2011, 07:26 PM

I cannot recommend ATTACK THE BLOCK highly enough. My favorite movie this year. It's filmmaking joy!

Alex

08-21-2011, 08:45 AM

I enjoyed Attack the Block quite a bit as well. If nothing else as it proves that men in monster suits can still work perfectly well if used well.

On the down side I'm sure it is triggering hipster treatises on how it sheds light on the issues underpinning the recent London riots.

Stan4dSteph

08-21-2011, 03:45 PM

Saw The Help yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot. I haven't read the book, so I don't know how it compares.

Not Afraid

08-21-2011, 10:21 PM

Saw The Help yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot. I haven't read the book, so I don't know how it compares.

I'm reading the book at the moment, but I probably won't see the movie. We can have a disjointed discussion when I'm done.

innerSpaceman

08-22-2011, 09:48 AM

Fright Night was a movie that did not need to be remade. It was entertaining, but kinda meh. IMO, completely lacked the charm of the original - and the cameo by Chris Sarandon served only to remind me of that.

I understand that kids-these-days will not see a movie that's OMG 20 years old, and that's who all these lame remakes are made for - but their loss.

The movie was not awful by any stretch, but WHY? Definitely scarier and more action-packed. Laughs, yes, but not nearly as funny. David Tennant was rad, and actually imo surpassed Roddy McDowell, who was also quite rad in the original. The kid from Kick Ass was great also, but otherwise the actors were meh. Colin Farrell was evil and a great bad guy, but had no suave vampire attractiveness. Looses to Sarandon. Toni Collette was in a nothing role as the mom. Wasted. Was most disappointed with the lead kid, Anton Yelchin - who's been good in everything else I've seen him in. Maybe he's grown out of it. Too bad.

I had a good time while I was watching it - but ultimately ... WHY?

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

08-22-2011, 05:59 PM

Hail, Caesar! I loved RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Damn you for making me cry, CGI apes!

katiesue

08-22-2011, 07:00 PM

Loved Apes as well. Conan not so much, was really horrid.

Not Afraid

08-22-2011, 07:20 PM

Fright Night was appropriate for the Drive In,

Ghoulish Delight

08-29-2011, 10:28 PM

Finally got around to watching Super.

That was...unexpected. I really ended up feeling about the same about it as I felt about Kickass. Has it's moments, Ellen Paige plays the character very well, but I just can't get behind the raw brutality. Just was not happy to watch it. And, because I wasn't connecting with that aspect of it, I was never able to allow enough suspension of disbelief to get over the glaring fact that he was driving around in a completely conspicuous car with completely conspicuous license plate. I guess, considering there was a line about it, it was on purpose? Maybe if I'd been enjoying everything I'd find it funny. But to me it just seemed sloppy.

I liked the bunnies.

Alex

08-29-2011, 10:40 PM

Saw a French action/thriller over the weekend call Point Blank. I had never heard of it before Sunday morning but it was a good local review and 100% at Rotten Tomatoes so I decided to go in cold (didn't even know it was in French until the movie started).

Tight, constant ratcheting of the action without ever veering too far into the superhuman (not omniscient villains and no hypercompetent protagonist) and it all plays out in an almost realistic way.

So, I don't know how widely this is playing but I recommend it if you're ok with subtitles and definitely keep an eye out for it on DVD/Streaming.

Alex

08-30-2011, 05:39 PM

Somehow, I expect that iSm will not approve:

http://www.badassdigest.com/2011/08/30/did-lucas-add-vader-crying-noooooo-to-return-of-the-jedi

innerSpaceman

08-30-2011, 06:48 PM

Yeah, I'm may pass on the BluRays anyway, because old quadruple-chin Georgie has messed with the movies yet again. I think it's rather funny though, that he'd pick the most derided element* of his terrible and mega-derided prequel trilogy to insert into Return of the Jedi, already the most messed-up revisionized film of the much-beloved original Trilogy that he seems determined to bring down to his prequel quality level by whatever means necessary.

I may purchase the O.T. blu-ray to see some visual quality improvements in Star Wars, but simply as a curiosity. Though it looks pretty bad, I'll watch the 2004 DVD recreation of the 1977 Star Wars as my definitive version till the day I die (though, of course, there are many non-original elements in that version as well). Le sigh. I don't wish many people dead, but I won't cry a tear when Georgie eventually chokes on that chicken bone.

* or perhaps tied with Jar-Jar Binks, though I wouldn't be surprised to now see him cavorting on Cloud City somewhere.

Strangler Lewis

08-31-2011, 09:14 AM

The original trilogy may be beloved, but Return of the Jedi is a lazy, awful movie. You can't really make it worse. Differently bad, maybe. Unfaithful to the original badness. But not worse.

innerSpaceman

08-31-2011, 09:57 AM

Eh, I think RotJ is a pretty lazy movie myself, but (imo) you can definitely make it worse, and that's been done.

Music is one of the inimitable things about a movie that are intrinsic to its quality, but so tricky. Just as a lead performance can make or break a film, so can a film score. Changing the music in Jabba's Palace and for the grand finale of the film were no small changes. After those botch jobs, no amount digital Ewok blinks or stupidly dubbed idiocies will make much of a difference to me. Ruination has already occurred - imho.

Now all I need is a time machine, so I can watch either my VHS or laserdisc of the original film. Otherwise, I will never watch Return of the Jedi again - but yeah, that's no great loss, I freely admit.

Gn2Dlnd

08-31-2011, 10:12 AM

Now all I need is a time machine, so I can watch either my VHS or laserdisc of the original film. Otherwise, I will never watch Return of the Jedi again - but yeah, that's no great loss, I freely admit.

Let me know if you want to borrow my VCR.

mousepod

08-31-2011, 12:17 PM

There are "original versions" of the whole OT on DVD - as preserved/restored by fans. But I'm still not really interested in watching Jedi again anytime soon in any version.

innerSpaceman

08-31-2011, 02:14 PM

Pfft, I was an idiot to buy a set of those once. Played once, then fell apart. Crappy cheapass burn job. Bah.

Ghoulish Delight

09-07-2011, 10:47 AM

http://boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1053cbCOMIC-lucas-revisions.jpg

Gn2Dlnd

09-07-2011, 10:42 PM

Is that the Slave 1 hovering in the background of the last panel? Is that racist?

(was recently listening to yet another bitchmoan about the phrase "tar baby," which I don't think was ever racist, it's a friggin' baby made of TAR, used to trap Bre'r Rabbit, but for all I know, was an existing term, like "jiminy crickets," used by Joel Chandler Harris to piss off illiterates 130 years in the future)

RStar

09-08-2011, 12:18 AM

Saw a test screening of a Nic Cage movie today. It has no release date yet, but I hear it will be some time in 2012. It was pretty good, but I like Nic, and enjoyed the National Treasures (they are working on the 3rd on comming up with a 3rd one). I'd tell you more, but I could get sued for over $5 million.

alphabassettgrrl

09-08-2011, 08:53 AM

I thought "tar baby" was a slur? Multiple meanings, since in the Brer Rabbit story it was used straightforwardly, but I thought it was in common use. And not in a good way.

Hopefully I'm wrong and it's just a sticky trap for a silly rabbit.

Alex

09-08-2011, 08:57 AM

(was recently listening to yet another bitchmoan about the phrase "tar baby," which I don't think was ever racist, it's a friggin' baby made of TAR, used to trap Bre'r Rabbit, but for all I know, was an existing term, like "jiminy crickets," used by Joel Chandler Harris to piss off illiterates 130 years in the future)

Because of my grandfather I reached a depressing age before learning I shouldn't say the following things:

"tar baby" in reference to a black child.
"porch monkey" in reference to a black child.
"****** knocking" in reference to knocking on a neighbor's door and running away.
"****** toes" in reference to Brazil nuts.

katiesue

09-08-2011, 09:10 AM

My Mom's childhood dog was named Tar Baby :rolleyes:

flippyshark

09-08-2011, 09:23 AM

Tar Baby is definitely taken as a slur - handily illustrated in this classic sketch from Saturday Night Live with Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6341HeJDgU

I remember this one well. It appeared in audio form on the SNL lp record released sometime in the late 70s. I recall kids at my nearly-all-white school memorizing and performing it.

Ghoulish Delight

09-08-2011, 09:28 AM

From what I understand it initially really did start as just meaning a sticky situation that gets worse the more you struggle, and in fact has roots in African folk lore. Somewhere along the line it took on the racist connotation. And therein lies the trickiness.

I mean, is it racist if I look at a small mammal with a black mask and rings on its tail and say, "Look, a coon!"? Is it homophobic to pull out a box of cigarettes and offer you a fag? Am I offending Chinese people if I talk about a chink in someone's armor?

I honestly don't know how commonly used tar baby has ever been, in either of its forms. At this point, you're probably pretty smart to avoid using it no matter what the real history is, clearly it's evolved to the point where using it is, well, a sticky trap that will just get you stuck and get worse as you struggle to get out of it.

Alex

09-08-2011, 09:38 AM

Definitely, several politicians have been in trouble in recent years and I am confident in all cases (that I'm familiar with), despite the outcry, that the use was not intended to be in any way racial or coded.

I tend to agree with James McWhorter's take (http://www.tnr.com/article/put-differently/93088/tar-baby-racist-slur) (as I do on most things related to language and usage) on this.

Ghoulish Delight

09-08-2011, 09:55 AM

Yeah, that's exactly how I feel about it.

Strangler Lewis

09-08-2011, 10:01 AM

Would it be kosher to suggest that such semantic traps are a real ****** in the woodpile?

JWBear

09-08-2011, 11:26 AM

"Niggardly" is another perfectly good word that one can no longer safely use due to PC worries.

Ghoulish Delight

09-08-2011, 02:15 PM

Fvckin why?! (http://theweek.com/article/index/218985/beetlejuice-2-fun-idea-or-travesty)

And what the hell is this about:

From Gremlins to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, a number of films have ended up with sequels that improved on the original.
Can't speak for Gremlins (or Gremlins 2), but in what universe is Bogus Journey an improvement on the original?!?!?!

Alex

09-08-2011, 02:37 PM

Gremlins 2 was definitely no improvement, but I think I liked Bogus Journey better than Excellent Adventure (but I've seen neither since shortly after they were available on VHS),

My list would include Star Trek II, Toy Story 2 (not that the first was bad), Before Sunset (Before Sunrise didn't do anything for me), Aliens, Terminator 2, The Empire Strikes Back, Shrek 2, Evil Dead 2. From the Jackie Chan oeuvre many of his sequels made after he had full control were better tahn the originals (Drunken Master, Project A, Operation Condor, Super Cop).

Kevy Baby

09-08-2011, 10:31 PM

We watched Wild Hogs over the weekend. It wasn't as bad I was expecting.

BarTopDancer

09-10-2011, 10:19 AM

I watched The Reef last night expecting a bad B-movie Skiffy shark attack movie. It was actually good, very suspenseful in a JAWS sort of way.

flippyshark

09-11-2011, 07:58 AM

I watched The Reef last night expecting a bad B-movie Skiffy shark attack movie. It was actually good, very suspenseful in a JAWS sort of way.

I liked The Reef quite a bit. (More than the similar Deep Water) If you look up the true story on which this one is based, you'll find that the similarity is not even skin deep. There's little in common between the actual and screen events. So, you can really treat The Reef as utter fiction.

I went to see Shark Night 3D a couple of days ago. The good news - it was actually shot in 3D. And a couple of the sharks are actual palpable animatronics. The bad news: The majority of the sharks are the usual lame CGI. The movie is about as unambitious as any I've ever seen. You can almost hear the writer/director and the cast and crew saying "Hey, we've filled the minimum requirements for what you came to this film expecting, we're done. Bye-bye." Then, following the credits, the fore-mentioned cast and crew stage an astoundingly amateurish on-set rap video. It's like a big group-shrug of "what the hell were you expecting, huh?"

But, I got a couple of sharks jumping right in my face, so, I guess I got what I wanted.

I'm totally stoked for Bait 3D (www.dailymotion.com/video/xiyx8f_bait-3d-trailer_shortfilms)!

Morrigoon

09-12-2011, 01:21 PM

Comparing Gremlins and Gremlins 2 is apples and oranges. The original Gremlins, while it had funny moments, was more of a horror film, whereas Gremlins 2 was straight-up slapstick. I admit a certain fondness for the moment when they mount a musical number, but then again, I've never exactly been accused of having great taste ;)

innerSpaceman

09-12-2011, 02:25 PM

That's like saying comparing Alien and Aliens is like apples and oranges, which it is. One was a straight-up horror movie and the other a straight-up action flick with one horror scene. I think both were great - and it's one of the few sequels I give high marks to ... not least for switching genres completely and not simply trying to remake or hit the same marks and tone as its predecessor.

But apples or not, it's always legitimate to compare a sequel to the original. Anything which aims to capitalize off a predecessor film must also be prepared to be compared to that predecessor film.

Alex

09-12-2011, 04:36 PM

Well, here's where I would consider Gremlins and Gremlins 2 to be equals:

Gremlins is a horror movie that isn't scary to a point that it is funny.
Gremlins 2 is a comedy movie that isn't funny to the point that it is scary.

That first condition is fine, the second condition is bad.

Kevy Baby

09-12-2011, 04:55 PM

Comparing Debbie Does Dallas I to Debbie Does Dallas II is definitely comparing apples to apples

JWBear

09-12-2011, 06:05 PM

Don't you mean "melons to melons"?

Kevy Baby

09-12-2011, 08:00 PM

Don't you mean "melons to melons"?Much better analogy!

BarTopDancer

09-12-2011, 08:31 PM

I liked The Reef quite a bit. (More than the similar Deep Water) If you look up the true story on which this one is based, you'll find that the similarity is not even skin deep. There's little in common between the actual and screen events. So, you can really treat The Reef as utter fiction.

I didn't even know it was based on a true story until the end cards.

€uroMeinke

09-12-2011, 11:29 PM

Comparing Debbie Does Dallas I to Debbie Does Dallas II is definitely comparing apples to apples

Are you sure you're not thinking Wanda Whips Wall Street? That has more of a Big Apple setting.

innerSpaceman

09-16-2011, 12:13 PM

I didn't like "Rango," and that surprised me ... after being pleasantly surprised by nearly every non-Disney/Pixar animated film of the last couple of years. How to Train Your Dragon, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Monsters vs. Aliens, Megamind, and to a lesser extent Despicable Me were all pretty much good and/or adorable ... and four out of five of those much to my surprise.

Rango did zip for me. I didn't actively hate it, but it was absolutely meh.

Oh, and in the last year or so - Tangled (by Disney) was also really good, and I admit no desire to see Pixar's Cars 2 (though I'll likely Netflix it at some point.)

cirquelover

09-16-2011, 12:51 PM

I didn't like Rango either but I did love Rio. The colors and details of the feathers was amazing.

alphabassettgrrl

09-16-2011, 02:08 PM

"Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death" :

Every bit the B movie and awesome in the craptacularness. Predictable, but it's fun so I didn't care.

Alex

09-16-2011, 02:29 PM

I really kind of loved Rango. It took me a while to get on board, but once it snagged me, I was good.

innerSpaceman

09-16-2011, 02:45 PM

Oh, and seeing Contagion in a theater full of sick people (myself included) all snifling and coughing was a complete hoot - but the film, while gripping, also left me kinda meh. There were characters you liked, but no depth to any of them. Perhaps that's typical of this type of procedural - but it felt more like a really good TV movie than an excellent theatrical film.

Interesting topic though, and handled with care and integrity.

flippyshark

09-16-2011, 06:41 PM

Like cirque lover, I was very pleasantly surprised by Rio. I just got my first HDTV a few weeks ago, and that title really pops! Not any kind of earthshaking story, but it's all invitingly pleasant and upbeat, with fun music and just plain jaw-dropping visuals. The character design, especially of the birds, is highly appealing, and the whole thing left me in a very good mood.

I'm on some kind of Tudor kick this week: A Man For All Seasons (great!), Anne of the Thousand Days, Mary, Queen of Scots ... I tried to watch the Netflix stream of the early thirties Private Life of Henry VIII, but it's faded, dupey, lousy audio - basically unwatchable.

Alex

09-17-2011, 07:56 AM

Loved Drive.

katiesue

09-18-2011, 08:49 PM

Maddie just made me watch The Man Who Cried (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206917/) which is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. OMG it's so horrible.

From the IMDB user reviews: "I am hesitant to give any film with Johnny Depp lower than a five. Yet I'm pretty sure that Johnny Depp wasn't actually in the movie. Rather, it was a cardboard cutout of Johnny Depp, brooding, with his shirt half open. Other things were mysteriously lacking in this film, such as an ending...and a middle...and character development. Well, there was that moment that Johnny Depp cried. I found myself waiting after the credits for more plot development. And did ANYONE notice that Christina Ricci cannot sing? At all? Though that little girl singing Dido's Lament was probably the best moment in the film. In conclusion, Johnny Depp likes horses."

And another - "I think it was supposed to be dramatic. I wanted to like it, but it just wasn't happening. Don't waste your time watching this movie, unless you want to see Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci stare at each other for an hour and a half. "

alphabassettgrrl

09-18-2011, 09:03 PM

I think "Bimbo Movie Bash" will rival "The Man Who Cried" for worst movie ever. I love B movies, but this isn't even up to that standard. It's kind of sad.

Snowflake

09-20-2011, 11:14 AM

Caught on TCM The Story of Temple Drake, a 1930's pre-code I've been positively dying to see for decades. Based on a Faulkner it, sadly, did not live up to the hype and the years of anticipation. The star of the film, for me, was the cinematography of Karl Struss. Absolutely top flight, deep shadows, depth of focus, mood, visually it had everything.

While I get how shocking it was for 1933, I really really missed the fun of the Warner Brothers pre-codes like Female and Babyface. Could have used a slight dose of humor in there somewhere.

I think I need a dose of The Women to cure me of the cinematic funk.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

09-22-2011, 02:08 PM

Has anybody else actually seen Winter's Bone? (Which was my favorite of the nominees though it never had a chance.)

It was one of my favorite films last year. John Hawkes amazed.

katiesue

10-08-2011, 09:36 PM

We just watched Paul. Really fun cute movie. Arthur not so much but we knew that going in.

Prudence

10-27-2011, 07:36 PM

Just finished watching Rango. Fan-freakin'-tastic movie! It's like someone took spaghetti western, greek tragedy, and European fairytale tropes, blended them together, topped them off with some 'shrooms, and served them forth in splendid animation.

Alex

10-28-2011, 01:44 PM

If anybody cares, I liked Puss in Boots. For reference within the Shrek universe, I hated the last two of those.

flippyshark

10-28-2011, 01:53 PM

The Muppets is fantastic. (Lucky me, I got to see it this morning. Not another word about it until Thanksgiving, other than, go see it.)

Ghoulish Delight

10-28-2011, 02:26 PM

The Muppets is fantastic. (Lucky me, I got to see it this morning. Not another word about it until Thanksgiving, other than, go see it.)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This makes me so happy.

CoasterMatt

10-28-2011, 02:35 PM

Blood Orgy of the She Devils is a great title. The movie itself sucks.

BarTopDancer

10-28-2011, 08:31 PM

I want to see the Rum Diary. It combines two of my favorite things: Johnny Depp and Rum. What's not to love!

katiesue

10-28-2011, 09:20 PM

You can take Madz.

€uroMeinke

12-05-2011, 09:00 PM

We saw Fur last night - the imaginary biography of Diana Arbus, which I found to be an enjoyable visually imaginative film even if a fiction. Loved the World created in her upstair's neighbors attic flat in all it's David Lynchian circus freak glory. Since the Arbus estate intends to keep Diane's real life private, I shall enjoy thinking this one true.

Moonliner

12-09-2011, 09:03 AM

In the be careful what you wish for category, Matt (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showpost.php?p=275673&postcount=4227).

The trailer for the Three Stooges movie (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/thethreestooges/) has been released.

Ghoulish Delight

12-09-2011, 10:20 AM

Wow.

I gotta say...in terms of invokation by the cast of the 3 Stooges, that trailer looked SPOT on. Seriously, I'm pretty impressed.

That said, I can't particularly see how, as a movie, it can be any good. Especially seeing that last sequence in the trailer. Yikes.

Kevy Baby

12-09-2011, 12:22 PM

Casting is pretty good, especially Curly. I might be interested, if for no other reason than a hot nun in a skimpy bathing suit.

And BTW, we saw The Muppet Movie on Tuesday night (we Susan and I had the theatre to ourselves). Pretty good movie!

Strangler Lewis

12-10-2011, 11:42 AM

I guess I hadn't been up to speed on the movie. I had been expecting a bio-pic, like the TV movie with Michael Chiklis. I see on IMDB that Larry David plays a nun named Sister Mary-Mengele. If we haven't seen all the good parts, this should be great--just like the original Stooges.

I wonder what, if anything, they had to pay the various estates to get the rights to play these characters straight-up.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 02:07 PM

I got a call from me mum yesterday, she's coming into town for Christmas and has a movie she want's to watch in the Mooncave.

She was recently in London and went to see "Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990 (http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/postmodernism/)" at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

A movie was featured in the exhibit, a perfect example of postmodernism deconstruction. In her words, "it's a weird off beat old British film" but she really wanted to see it so she purchased a copy to bring home.

OK, I replied, that sounds, ummm Interesting I guess. What's it called?

"Blade Runner - the Final Cut"

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 02:24 PM

British?

Well, I suppose Ridley Scott is British. But I'm pretty sure it was an American production.

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 02:26 PM

Parental carelessness aside, fine choice for the 'cave.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 02:31 PM

British?

Well, I suppose Ridley Scott is British. But I'm pretty sure it was an American production.

I'm sure Ridley Scott is the focus of the exhibit so I'll let that one pass, its her haughty art snobbery tone describing this high art film she was going to share with me in order to broaden my horizons attitude that I won't let her live down anytime soon.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 02:43 PM

On a total tangent....

Blade Runner made an art form of the future as worn out rather than new and shiny. Run down areas of town, old cars, etc...

Star Wars also touched on this concept. The Millenium Falcon and Luke's home all showed signs of ware. I'm trying to think of any main stream Science Fiction movies pre-Star Wars that depicted used/worn out items from the future. 2001 depicted a world where everything looked brand new, Planet of the Apes had lot's of low-tech stuff but it all looked new as best as I can remember.

Alex

12-13-2011, 02:55 PM

A Boy and His Dog?

mousepod

12-13-2011, 02:55 PM

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 02:59 PM

12 Monkeys

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 03:00 PM

Demolition Man, District 9, 5th Element...

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 03:00 PM

Not quite what I'm going for here. There are plenty of apocalypse type scenarios. I'm talking about future stuff, space ships, hover cars, etc.. that are depicted as old, warn out, used. Where the future has a past that's still in our future.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 03:01 PM

Demolition Man, District 9, 5th Element...

Pre - Star Wars

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 03:02 PM

Oh, missed that stipulation.

mousepod

12-13-2011, 03:03 PM

Well, if we're talking pre-Blade Runner, Ridley Scott did it years earlier in Alien.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 03:04 PM

Well, if we're talking pre-Blade Runner, Ridley Scott did it years earlier in Alien.

Pre - Star Wars

Ghoulish Delight

12-13-2011, 03:07 PM

For the record, all of mine were pre the FIRST episode of Star Wars.

I disgust me

mousepod

12-13-2011, 03:07 PM

OK, if we're talking pre-Star Wars, Doug Trumbull did it in Silent Running. Lucas wanted him for Star Wars, but didn't get him. He did do effects for Blade Runner.

Moonliner

12-13-2011, 03:12 PM

OK, if we're talking pre-Star Wars, Doug Trumbull did it in Silent Running. Lucas wanted him for Star Wars, but didn't get him. He did do effects for Blade Runner.

Humm... I'll have to go back and watch that again. Huey, dewy and Louie all seemed fairly recent models in my mind. I don't remember them being used models.

Alex

12-13-2011, 03:42 PM

The Millenium Falcon and Luke's home all showed signs of ware.

I don't know if that's the case. The Millennium Falcon seemed almost entirely mechanical. Really no ware that I recall seeing.

CoasterMatt

12-13-2011, 04:00 PM

Hugo is AWESOME.

€uroMeinke

12-13-2011, 04:35 PM

Humm... I'll have to go back and watch that again. Huey, dewy and Louie all seemed fairly recent models in my mind. I don't remember them being used models.
One of them does "break" in the film, and you can probably find other earlier examples of breaking new technology but I think Star Wars was the first sci-fi film to employ "wear" as an art direction design aesthetic.

alphabassettgrrl

12-13-2011, 08:01 PM

Blade Runner- ok, not quite so off-the-beaten-path as she seems to think, but I suspect would be a fine show for the MoonCave.

Morrigoon

12-13-2011, 09:17 PM

Muppets pleased me.

RStar

12-14-2011, 07:38 AM

Hugo is AWESOME.

I second that. It was much more than I expected, partly because the "robot" was less than I expected which made it so much more belivable. It will win awards, I'm sure.

Alex

12-14-2011, 09:29 AM

I liked much of it a lot. I disliked a bit of it a lot.

In the end I think I liked it more than I enjoyed it.

Strangler Lewis

12-14-2011, 10:30 AM

I liked Hugo a great deal. However, the fact that the narrative was woven around what was sort of a true story made the enterprise feel more forced than imaginative.

Also, it was never clear to me how the fixed automaton represented a message from Hugo's father to him. Had Mecier programmed it to write Georges Mecier? Had the father? Was it the simple act of fixing it? It eluded me.

As for The Muppets, it was okay, but, as a loyal viewer of the show when it was on, seeing them have to scrape for a guest star and pander to the youth market rubbed me the wrong way. A quick check reveals that, if you ignore Brooke Shields, the youngest hosts of the original show were in their late 20s, and there weren't too many of them. Most of them were these older, big, if slightly past it, stars. Perhaps many of them, like Selena Gomez, were just sent their by their agents, but that generally was not the thrust of the show.

Alex

12-14-2011, 10:43 AM

My take was that he recognized that he was simply wrong about the automaton containing a message from his father, that thinking so was the desperation of a lonely boy. But that cosmically it set him on the path to regaining a family.

As for the Muppets, Mickey Rooney made an appearance so I think the average age of the cameos has to be at least 162.

Ghoulish Delight

12-14-2011, 11:01 AM

After seeing the Muppets, I will not argue with anyone for whom it didn't work. I can see that, as a movie, it's weak. But it didn't matter to me one bit simply because it hit the perfect emotional resonance for me. The movie was 100% about how Jason Segel felt towards the Muppets and seeing as he's within a year and a half of my age, the emotional story it told hit close to home. That, combined with finding the various promotional Muppets appearance leading up to the movie funny and well written, I was absolutely delighted to see something that FELT like the Muppets to me (even as I was noticing that I wished there was more actual Muppet antics in the movie). And I'm hoping they parlay that into a solid revival.

mousepod

12-14-2011, 11:17 AM

I, too, hope that the current Muppets wave continues into more Muppet stuff. And while I can appreciate that this movie was waaaay better than Treasure Island and Wizard of Oz ventures, I was still disappointed. I'm not going to argue my case here because I'm really happy that other people loved it (and I'm still rooting for its success), but I sure hope they step it up in the next movie (or tv show or whatever).

Alex

12-19-2011, 10:56 PM

I grew up consuming absolutely anything that flowed out of Isaac Asimov's typewriter. One less known subcategory of his output were short stories that were essentially longform puns. 5000 words just to set up a pun. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it really didn't.

I was reminded of that today seeing The Artist. You've probably heard about it, it is a French-made silent (almost completely) movie starring foreign (to us) leads with Americans in the supporting roles. Not exactly in the mainstream.

But it is really, really good. Until it turns out that the entire movie was a set up for a really lame gag in the final couple minutes. Well, I'm sure the makers didn't see it that way but it was such a misstep in my opinion that it kind of ruined everything that came before. I know I'm being too harsh, but stupidity must be punished.

Otherwise, it has been a slow quarter of movie going but I am starting to get some of the award bait under my belt. Of the Golden Globe noms:

The Descentants - Really liked it, good performances, quiet direction. Really happy to see a somewhat real life presentation of Hawaii (even if from the perspective of the Punahou class).

Hugo - Underwhelmed. Not enough connection between the before and after on the genre shift and while the film history was interesting the journey wasn't particularly. Very pretty though.

The Ides of March - Well done political thriller. But not really award-worthy to any great extent.

Moneyball - Complete love. Don't need to be a baseball fan but it probably will help. If familiar with the A's of the period you'll have to forget a fair amount of what you know and will notice some glaring contributions to their success that go unmentioned. But taken on its own, good stuff.

50/50 - Liked it well enough but didn't think it was particularly revelatory. Also, just because funny things are said does not mean it was a comedy. But having this in the category is nowhere near as odd as My Week with Marilyn being in the category.

The Artist - See above.

Bridesmaids - Best pure comedy I've seen this year. But it didn't have a lot of competition.

Midnight in Paris - I really liked it, though I can see the view of those who consider it overpraised. I didn't think Owen Wilson had it in him, but I couldn't help feeling there were plenty of leading men who would have done it better.

Young Adult - Just a bit too depressing without much being revealed. As an essay on the manic phase of an untreated depressive it was interesting. But knowing it would repeat in some sense kind of undercut the story.

The Guard - Wonderful little movie that about 9 people saw. Brendan Gleason as a crap (or is he) constable in small town Wales.

Crazy, Stupid, Love - A little too pat in the end but this was a better Ryan Gosling performance than Ides of March. Continue to really like Emma Stone and Steve Carrell is better at dramedy than comedy.

Cars 2 - Sadly, that was the first negative Pixar movie review I had to write.

Puss in Boots - Suprirsingly fun.

Rango - My pick for the animated nominees. Surreal in the good way. Started slow for me but had me by the halfway point.

Drive - Pretty good. Almost comatose but that serves to make you feel the violence in a way hard to get across any more. Albert Brooks is really good. Ryan Gosling again makes a good appearance. Brian Cranston continues to make me wish I had watched Malcolm in the Middle just to see if I could spot what he is capable of.

Gnomeo & Juliet - At least for once I got lambasted for writing a good review. I liked it. Hardly anybody else did.

alphabassettgrrl

12-19-2011, 11:06 PM

Really? I liked Gnomeo and Juliet. I liked the references, and I thought it was pretty well done. The animation didn't bother me, either, thought it was in a style that has potential to do so: close enough to real but just not quite....

But I liked it. And I thought the music was amazing.

innerSpaceman

12-20-2011, 03:22 PM

I really was surprised to like Mission Impossible 4. I had zero intention of seeing it (just as I have skipped all the other MI sequels), until a couple of days before when I learned that Brad Bird directed. Sold. And it's a win. Totally fun. More of a James Bond movie than anything, but is Mission Impossible really any more than a James Bond genre?

Reportedly, Bird had to jump through the hoop of saving MI4 as his first live action film before they would give him the project he really wanted.

Consider it jumped.

CoasterMatt

12-20-2011, 06:57 PM

The live action movie that was supposed to be Brad Bird's live action debut is 1906 - it sounds like a neat idea, but the studios have gotten worried about it's expense, and it has been on again, off again. I want it made, just to see Pixar recreate the San Francisco earthquake and fire...

But in Brad Bird's own words "” We’ll see if they have the courage to make it.”

Prudence

12-21-2011, 06:12 PM

We saw Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy last weekend. I really enjoyed it, and not just because the E Street Theater serves sweet potato tater tots and alcohol and no one in the sold-out crowd felt the need to chatter during the film. The performances were, for the most part quite excellent, and I really enjoyed the sense of time and place. Do not watch this in a theater where fellow patrons are the sort to freely ask their companions "what just happened?!" at audible volumes, as it's the sort of story that unfolds answers first, questions later. Sometimes much later.

Moonliner

12-21-2011, 06:41 PM

Snowflake

12-22-2011, 10:12 AM

innerSpaceman

12-28-2011, 06:20 PM

Hated, Loathed, Despised The Adventures of Tin-Tin, even though it was mildly entertaining while I watched. People comparing it to Raiders of the Lost Ark because it's a globe-trotting adventure by Steven Spielberg need to be taken out and shot.

It actually succeeded in rendering motion-capture characters not unbelievably creepy for the first time. I accepted the leads as characters and particularly noticed their eyes were not dead. (I've often wondered why I can accept The Muppets as individual characters when they have literally dead eyes - in animation, lively eyes are the key to a character not seeming to be a zombie).

But almost everything else about the movie was wretched. The story was a fine Hardy Boys plot, but it was really just one mind-numbing action set-piece after another. All of them so overblown because of the "freedom" animation suddenly provided Spielberg (though hardly unknown to producer Peter Jackson) that they were stultifying and not exhilarating after the first two. One in particular was such a defiance of physical and human possibility that it made me cringe. This might not have happened if they'd kept the cartoon style of Herge's characters. But with photo-realistic characters of motion capture, this excess cartoonishness of action really bugged me.

Worst of all, the constant attempts at humor fell embarrassingly flat. This stuff might have been funny in 1929 when Tin Tin was minted, but it was awful and cringe-worthy in 2011.

Spielberg apparently fell in love with the camera-movement freedom animation provided him, and went absolutely batsh!t crazy with the flowing, moving, soaring, squeezing everywhere camera movement. Again, as with the overboard action choreography, what was at first fun soon became annoying and mindnumbing. The only sequence that worked for me was a flashback of the pirate treasure legend origin - simply because it was a memory being told, and the crazy stylization worked in that context.

Dumb, dumb, lame, stupid. With all the surprise greats in recent animation by various studios, this was really quite the dud by comparison.

Alex

12-28-2011, 06:27 PM

I didn't hate it, but I was mildly bored by it (I fell asleep for a couple minutes).

Have in recent days seen:

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - Pretty good for the genre but it doesn't transcend.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Very good spy mystery (not so much a thriller), great performances, but very still. I imagine a lot of people are leaving bored and confused since there really isn't an "aha" moment and it doesn't spend much time at the end explaining itself.

War Horse - Pure Spielbergian schmaltz. But well crafted. For those worried about horse violence it isn't that much of a concern. It is barel a PG-13 movie with hardly anybody dying on screen. One charging of the trenches has a lot of death, but without blood and only one horse dies on screen and it is a quiet death as opposed to an immediately violent one. Honestly, it kind of felt like The Winds of War with the Robert Mitchum character replaced by a horse.

Prudence

12-28-2011, 07:28 PM

After I saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, when I was visiting the loo, one 20-something asked her companion whether she thought anyone had understood the movie. Her tone was not so much "what a crappy pointless movie" but more "please tell me everyone else was as lost as me and I'm not stupid." It was sort of comic-sad.

And I was a good girl and refrained from informing her that not everyone had been as confused as she. I was wearing a tiara, so she might not have taken me seriously.

Alex

12-28-2011, 09:14 PM

From listening to some people talk about it, what seems to be confusing people is:

They think that Smiley figured out who the mole was and they don't understand how he figured it out, thinking they missed a clue. When really he figured out the ruse and set up a trap to reveal who it was so he learned that at the same we did.

The only problem I had (unless I'm confused and don't realize it) is that I am awful at remembering names and so didn't always know who they were talking about.

I am intrigued enough that I'll probably read the book.

flippyshark

12-28-2011, 11:48 PM

iSm - I have largely given up on action movies because of the unlimited freedom filmmakers now have, and regularly abuse. I'm just never invested in blockbuster action anymore, because there is never any tension. Everyone is superhuman if they are required to be, and there is no contrivance too great. Tintin was no exception, obviously.

But, I liked it better than Indy 4. (Probably because of a lifelong affection for the characters, whose renderings in semi-realistic mo-cap worked fine for me.) Yes, the humor in the Herge Tintin stories is pretty hokey by now. There were some gags in the movie that were straight out of the comics, and seemed to mostly fall flat for the audience I saw this with. All that said, I was occasionally charmed by the movie, probably for nostalgia's sake, but found the setpieces tedious. Still, there's this irrational part of my brain thinking, hey, maybe the sequel will be really great somehow. I'll most likely go if it happens. (rolls eyes at self)

Alex

12-29-2011, 06:23 AM

Moonliner

12-29-2011, 06:40 AM

Let's talk about Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back.

Specifically, Luke and the Cave. Leave your weapons here you will not need them.....

That scene always seemed weird and out of place to me. It had no real connection with anything else. Why was that place strong with the dark side? How common are such places? Is that the entire reason Yoda is on Dagobah? What was Luke facing? What does his failure mean? and more to the point why did Lucus even put that scene in the movie? I expected to have some light shed in movies 1,2,3 but it never happened.

Then last night, Headliner explained to me why it HAD to be in the movie. simple and concise. I was schooled in Star Wars by my little girl. I was both humbled and proud at the same time.

innerSpaceman

12-29-2011, 11:10 AM

Yeah, quality CGI has taken the wonder out of action movies. The new Mission Impossible is a sign of this. Tom Cruise's stunts on that building in Dubai would have generated a ton of buzz 20 years ago but even though he really was hanging off the side of that building I think most watchers just assume green screen.

The sad thing is, and I may be wrong - but I've been led to believe a lot of that was NOT green screen and was really Tom Cruise himself, and not a stuntman, hanging off the side of a building (though not 103 stories in the air). Too bad no stunt work or action sequence is going to cut it as "authentic" anymore. (I believe the Bond series still insists on real stunt work, tho).

That all said, I loved Mission Impossible 4. It was great fun, and very much like a good Bond film. I haven't seen any of the other MI sequels, but went to this one because it was directed by Brad Bird. Did not disappoint. It was, imo, better than the original. I think I'll rent the 3rd one. I hear that's pretty good, but have been advised to skip MI2.

Carnage was good, but basically just an actor's studio type piece with no real point that I could discern and it storta just ends abruptly at a seemingly random point. Still, the actors were uniformly great, and the bickering conflict among the four of them pure fun and enjoyment.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo seeming a little too bland to me. Perhaps I'm too familiar with the material, having read the book and seen the previous movie - which this remake is a tad too similar to. Mara Rooney is spell-binding at Lizbeth, though. She's great and you can't take your eyes off her. Still ... I think Noomi Rapace in the original was even more captivating. Daniel Craig's a big improvement though (not too difficult, and his character's still rather dull). I expected something a little more stylish from David Fincher, I guess. And I was disappointed that where the book just starts to get creepy, this movie just cuts to the finale stuff ... after spending a long time getting to that point. Oh well. If you haven't seen the other movie, this one will be suitably entertaining.

Alex

12-29-2011, 11:35 AM

The sad thing is, and I may be wrong - but I've been led to believe a lot of that was NOT green screen and was really Tom Cruise himself,

I didn't write that as clearly as I should ahve. Yes, it really was Tom Cruise hanging off the building (and really high up there). I saw YouTube video at the time from people who got to watch from one of the observation decks (they didn't close the building). Obviously a lot of CGI was used to remove all the safety equipment but Cruise really did hang out there, swing around and run around on the side of the building.

innerSpaceman

12-29-2011, 12:18 PM

BUT, i didn't know that at the time, and just assumed it was faked while watching the movie. Le sigh.

I did read afterwards some quotes from Brad Bird saying he knew people might think it was greenscreen bullsh!t, but he felt digital just never looks as real as real, and so wanted to avoid digital wherever possible. I'm not sure if he's right about that (since I assumed most of that was digital), but I applaud his directorial choices.

Moonie - I personally can't address your problems with The Empire Strikes Back - I think that much-loved film is a hot mess from start to finish. Yep, that cave scene makes little sense. The rest of the movie pretty much sucks as well. In my apparently lone opinion.

Oh, hey - in my movie outtings, I saw a trailer for the revival of Episode One - IN THREE DEE!!! Everyone's gonna rush out to see that dog again, right?

I admit to enjoying seeing highlights on the big screen again though

Alex

12-29-2011, 12:20 PM

No, no Episode One in 3D.

But I find myself interested in Titanic 3D. Not so much because of the 3D but more just to see it on a massive screen again (I've never watched it on TV).

innerSpaceman

12-29-2011, 12:55 PM

I'd like to see Titanic again on the big screen, too. But I don't want to see it in 3-D. And I hate seeing it with the great scene in the sinking dining room missing, which I can only do at home.

I don't watch Titanic much because it's really a pretty lame made-up passenger story, which bugs because there were so many really good real passenger and crew stories to tell. I can stomach its corniness only if I think of it as a melodrama in the style of entertainments popular at the time of the Titanic. Which is not much.

alphabassettgrrl

12-29-2011, 03:37 PM

I did read afterwards some quotes from Brad Bird saying he knew people might think it was greenscreen bullsh!t, but he felt digital just never looks as real as real, and so wanted to avoid digital wherever possible.

I agree with the director that faked looks less real than if you actually do it. I'm glad the stunts were real- now I kind of want to see it. I don't mind if a stunt double does it, rather than the real actor, so long as a real person does the stunt. It's moderately cool if the actor does their own stunts (Jackie Chan) but it's not required.

Prudence

12-29-2011, 05:52 PM

From listening to some people talk about it, what seems to be confusing people is:

They think that Smiley figured out who the mole was and they don't understand how he figured it out, thinking they missed a clue. When really he figured out the ruse and set up a trap to reveal who it was so he learned that at the same we did.

I thought that part was very necessary to understanding Smiley's position. It's the only time I recall that you really see him engaged in direct deception, as a capable spy.

Moonliner

12-29-2011, 06:18 PM

katiesue

12-29-2011, 07:01 PM

I thought Titanic sucked. It was so long and incredibly boring I was praying for the ship to go down and take them all with it.

Kevy Baby

12-29-2011, 07:08 PM

From listening to some people talk about it, what seems to be confusing people is:

They think that Smiley figured out who the mole was and they don't understand how he figured it out, thinking they missed a clue. When really he figured out the ruse and set up a trap to reveal who it was so he learned that at the same we did.I thought that part was very necessary to understanding Smiley's position. It's the only time I recall that you really see him engaged in direct deception, as a capable spy. I got nothing to add: I just felt like putting something in spoilers

Moonliner

12-29-2011, 08:08 PM

I got nothing to add: I just felt like putting something in spoilers

Ha! I knew it.

Kevy's Spoiler had no spoilers in it.

Ghoulish Delight

12-30-2011, 12:17 PM

I thought Titanic sucked. It was so long and incredibly boring I was praying for the ship to go down and take them all with it.:snap:

And it was really difficult for me to feel tension during the many, "OMG, Rose is in danger, will she make it out?!" scenes when it was old Rose telling the story.

Alex

12-30-2011, 12:19 PM

Well, I liked it as a massive display of cinematic spectacle. Which is why I haven't seen it since.

JWBear

12-30-2011, 12:30 PM

It's a much better movie if you fast-forward through the Rose and Jack scenes.

katiesue

12-30-2011, 12:53 PM

We had it on video (yes that long ago) and it got to the end of the first tape and I thought good lord there's a whole other tape left I may slit my wrists.

Alex

12-30-2011, 01:09 PM

One other thing I like about Titanic is it is like Reagan in 1984. Nobody voted Reagan and apparently nobody liked Titanic.

Strangler Lewis

12-30-2011, 02:35 PM

It's a much better movie if you fast-forward through the Rose and Jack scenes.

I disagree. In fact, the only scene I'm interested in seeing in 3D is a Rose and Jack scene.

flippyshark

12-30-2011, 03:47 PM

To hell with Titanic.

A Night To Remember (1958) remains the best movie on that topic.

In front of Tintin, I saw the trailer for Titanic 3D, and to my eye, the people were not very "well-rounded" but tended toward the flat, planar look of lesser quality post-conversion. (Some conversions have been pretty good - some, like Clash of the Titans, have been legendarily lousy.)

The best quality 3D experience I've had in some time was in my own home. (I have a "passive" 3D HDTV set from Vizio, and it's pretty great, especially for the price.) Last night I watched Carmen, captured live at London's Royal Hall, and I loved it. The high-def 3-D provided what the producers called a "shifting best seat in the house" effect. During duets, especially, the performers looked like living holograms being beamed into my living room (without the George Lucas-y static). It was a perfect illustration of the real difference between a true stereoscopic illusion, and the third-rate cheat of post-production 3D conversion. Plus, it was a really good performance. (I always forget how much I enjoy Carmen until I revisit it.)

Ever since I got my swell HDTV, I've amassed 12 3D Blu-rays, and am hungry for more, especially those that boast true stereo. The home 3D experience, for me, far surpasses the best theatrical 3D I've yet come across.

Most dazzling 3D eye candy ever? Rio!

innerSpaceman

12-30-2011, 03:52 PM

And it was really difficult for me to feel tension during the many, "OMG, Rose is in danger, will she make it out?!" scenes when it was old Rose telling the story.

Kind of ironic, considering nothing in the movie should have suspense - ya know, being that it's pretty well known the ship sinks. Heheh.

Actually, in the far better Titanic movie, A Night to Remember, it's absolutely amazing how much suspense was created from The Californian situation (completely left out of the Cameron film). You practically had to restrain yourself from yelling at the screen, even though you knew darn well the Californian never comes to Titanic's rescue. That kind of thing, where the outcome is known, but suspense is raised nonetheless, is brilliant filmmaking.

The Cameron film is not brilliant filmmaking - but it is visually striking.

JWBear

12-30-2011, 04:37 PM

I've heard that Cameron filmed some stuff with the Californian, but it got dropped from the final cut.

Prudence

12-30-2011, 07:26 PM

alphabassettgrrl

12-30-2011, 07:27 PM

So it turns out The Goonies is a pretty cool movie. Also, it's nice to watch older movies- all the trivia's on IMDB. :)

flippyshark

12-30-2011, 08:01 PM

A bunch of movies in my Netflix streaming queue are disappearing with the new year, so I'm watching as many this weekend as I can. So far today I've tackled A Man for All Seasons and Sabotage, and now I'm on to the Incredible Mr. Limpet.

Watched all of those within the last year or so. I really liked A Man For All Seasons. I followed it up with Anne of the Thousand Days, which was not as well written or compelling, but it was a logical and relevant follow-up. (I revisited Mr. Limpet not long ago, which was nostalgic fun. I know that the sung chorus of "be careful, be caaareful" rang through my head for decades after I saw this at the age of maybe 6 or so.)

Prudence

12-30-2011, 09:49 PM

Concluded the day with The 39 Steps - my clear favorite of the today's assortment.

innerSpaceman

01-03-2012, 05:34 PM

Wow, was I ever disappointed with The Muppets. What did everyone else like about this lackluster film? I enjoyed the songs. And I liked the bit about Fozzie reduced to performing in Reno with a Muppet cover band (the Moopets, bwahaha) and being forced to change his song lyrics to shill for the casino he worked for. Everything about that segment was as funny as the rest of the film WAS NOT.

It was mildly cute at best.

Next - Sherlock Holmes was fun. Wow, is Sherlock ever even MORE gay for Watson in this one! I found them both enjoyable as a couple, but less so than in the first movie since the fun of being introduced to these characters and their interaction was now absent. The plot was ridiculous, and Sherlock came off a bit less brilliant this time. But it was all good fun and I liked it well enough.

But, um, enough. I don't think I'll be splurging for any further installments at the movies.

I've enjoyed screener season way more than holiday movie season this year. So glad I got to check out Hanna. I'd been misinformed about the subject when it was in release, and it turns out to be a film I really like - about a girl bio-engineered to be a perfect soldier - then hidden in a remote ice-country to grow up when the project is shelved and all the other engineered kids destroyed. Rather charming mayhem ensues. If and when it's out on DVD, I highly recommend it. Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett star. The fantastic Saoirse Ronan plays the title character. You may have seen her in The Lovely Bones or Atonement.. She's awesome.

Ides of March was decidedly not bad. A little overwrought perhaps, but good Liberal entertainment. Good presidential campaign crew drama with a great cast - Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling and George Clooney (who also directed).

The Debt is a very fine film about Mossad agents in East Germany in the early 60's trying to nab a high-level Nazi and bring him to justice in Israel, and what happens in the present day as a result of that operation. Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson star. Seemed a little long because there's the full story of what happens in both time periods, but worth it.

I rather liked Anonymous. Quite the highbrow affair for the likes of director Roland Emmerich, and it's a fun take on the Shakespeare denialist theories. It actually makes me a bit curious to look into those a little more. Bookend bits by noted Shakespearean actor Derek Jacobi lend a bit of credence to the film's conceit that Shakespeare's plays were not written by him, and that the bard was actually (and to fun effect) a drunken, illiterate, blackmailing actor and charlatan. Much more romantic to have the works ghost written by a nobleman romantically involved with Queen Elizabeth who dare not reveal his authorship.

That's all for now. More as I watch more / remember which films I've seen.

Strangler Lewis

01-03-2012, 05:43 PM

"Young Adult" was better than the typical Adam Sandlerish "If I could only return to my youth" stuff, but it still seemed a little broad, and I'm not sure that I bought the lead character. The Patton Oswalt character was something new and worth the price of admission.

"We Bought a Zoo" was the best movie I'd ever seen about a family that bought a zoo. Good fun and reasonably involving even if none of its dramatic plot lines amount to much at the end of the day. I'm on the fence about where it belongs in the developing oeuvre of "Matt Damon as paunchy, put-upon widower" films.

Ghoulish Delight

01-03-2012, 05:57 PM